Why Siargao Was More Relaxing than Bali
Why Siargao Was More Relaxing than Bali Has Not Left Me.
Honestly, when I first heard about Siargao, I thought that I would never want to go to any other island again because Bali would have ruined everything for me. Until now, my dream vacation spot has been Bali. It has all you need: beach clubs, expensive smoothie bowls, villas that serve floating breakfasts, and natural sunsets so picturesque that they look like pictures. Bali is a paradise in its own right.
But after visiting Siargao, something weird kept coming into my mind throughout my plane ride going back home. Why did I feel calmer there? Not happier? Not more amazed. Just calmer. That is actually Why Siargao Was More Relaxing than Bali.
This isn’t a sensational piece about how “Bali is overrated,” because I really liked Bali. Siargao, on the other hand, provided me with something I didn’t know I lacked —the experience of slowing down without having to try.
But strangely enough, the most memorable experiences were not necessarily the grand ones. They came from the small occurrences. The power outage during dinner. The stormy day that messed up all of our plans. The surfing session where I fell off the board every single time. These are the memories that have stuck with me.
First day in Bali versus First day in Siargao
There is a difference from the very start. Upon landing in Bali, everything was too noisy for my liking – a good type of noise. There were drivers in front of the airport gates, there were cars right there, scooters weaving through small spaces. Initially, it was cool.
However, after about an hour passed, I noticed my head spinning. I was checking out maps, writing back to people, looking up fares, hunting down restaurants, and trying not to act like an amateur abroad.
It then struck me – first day in Siargao. Complete opposite experience. The airport was smaller than expected. People were moving more leisurely. No one seemed stressed. The road to General Luna felt almost peaceful – coconut trees on both sides, stray dogs sleeping around the shops, tricycles moving slowly as if they have no place to go urgently.
What surprised me when I was in Siargao was that I stopped checking my phone along the way. Maybe it’s a minor thing, but normally it doesn’t happen when I travel. Normally, I take pictures and notes of everything. But there, it seemed like all I wanted to do was sit there silently.
But Bali Made Me Feel Tired – In An Odd Way
This is the unexpected bit. There’s just so much to do and see in Bali: Cafes, Beaches, Restaurants, Shopping centers, Workspaces, Offbeat spots on TikTok that became a hit over night.
Everything seemed to start with: “You MUST check out this cafe.” Even chilling out became a source of anxiety.Once in Canggu, we wasted ages trying to choose which cafe to have our breakfast at, considering that they all looked amazing in the pictures. No exaggeration – I’m sure we spent more time picking a spot than eating at it.
One time, I seriously asked myself: “Why am I stressed about pancakes in paradise?” That’s when I realized Bali has an interesting way of making you feel like you should be hustling all the time. Siargao never made me feel that way.
The Day It Rained Hard And Made Everything Different
My most memorable experience in Siargao came from our plans not working out. We had planned on doing an island hopping tour in the morning, but it started raining really hard.
Like tropical rainfall hard enough that the streets were flooded almost instantly. I got frustrated right away. I tend to over plan everything about my travel experiences, so canceled plans seem like an infringement to me.
But everyone seemed completely fine. Not the locals. Not the boatmen. Not even the tourists. They just adapted accordingly. We spent hours at this small roadside cafe in the rain, which was falling so loud it made us practically deaf trying to talk to one another. The owner cooked some instant pancit canton for all of us since we got hungry waiting for the rain to pass.
To be honest? That spontaneous day ended up being one of my most memorable days during the entire trip. Without any planned itinerary. Without visiting any of those famous spots. Without taking any content-worthy photos. Sitting inside that place while rain was flooding half the street outside was one of those rare experiences when you realize why Siargao felt more relaxing than Bali. Nobody was trying too hard there.
Used My Phone Less in Siargao Without Realizing It
This took me aback the most. In Bali, I couldn’t stop using my phone: Google Maps, Café searches. Reviews, Posting stories, “Hidden spots” search. Even during my downtime, my mind was working overtime.
In Siargao, however, I found myself spending less time on my phone naturally. It wasn’t because I was trying to detox from it or anything extreme. I simply didn’t pay much attention to it anymore.
There were times when I would sit by the beach at Cloud 9 for hours on end doing nothing but watching surfers fall again and again. And yet somehow, that felt more fulfilling than browsing recommendations all day long.
My Embarrassing Surfing Lesson in Siargao Island
Here is an embarrassing confession of mine. I was really, really bad at surfing. Really really bad. I took the beginner course with this thought: “How hard can surfing be?” Turns out it can be quite hard.
I couldn’t manage to stand on the surfboard before wiping out. The salt water entered my nostrils every five minutes. I ended up exhausted from paddling in no time. In one of the lessons, I managed to drink too much seawater that I had to stop for a few seconds wondering why I ended up in such a situation.
But here’s the part that I remember most about those lessons. It wasn’t the surfing itself. No one cared how bad I was. The instructor would laugh each time I fell, telling me: “First relax. You shouldn’t struggle against the wave. It seems obvious now, doesn’t it? Yet, I came to understand that I was trying too hard to do everything. Even on vacation.
On vacations! I got carried away trying to maximize all experiences that I forgot to simply relax wherever I was.
Some Parts of Bali Made Me Feel Like I Was Watching Highlights Reels
I am not sure how to say this other than being hyperbolic about it. Bali felt like an extremely curated, polished version of beauty. Like every place was prepared to be the next scene for some content. And yes, there were times when I enjoyed that. The cafes were wonderful. The villas were incredible. The sunsets were so good that they felt staged. However, it became too much after a while. Every experience felt calculated.
In Siargao, it was the opposite. They had random power cuts. Their roads would be flooded. Internet connectivity was unreliable. Itineraries kept changing. And strangely enough, these flaws made the island more relaxing. Since nobody was expecting perfection at all times.
One Night in Siargao Explains Everything
Once while eating dinner, all the lights suddenly went off. The whole street turned pitch black for a few seconds. But instead of being pissed, everyone just adapted. The restaurants started burning candles. People continued conversing outside. Somebody started playing guitar somewhere near.
While I was sitting there feeling my sweat glands kick into overdrive because my fan had stopped, sipping my melted iced tea, asking myself: “Why is this peaceful?”
And I don’t think I can explain why Siargao Felt More Relaxing Than Bali any better than that.
The Last Morning Before I Leave Siargao
Before the day I had to fly back home, I woke up very early without setting my alarm. This is quite uncommon for me. It was quite peaceful on the streets. Some locals were sweeping in front of their shops while some dogs lazily slept by their motorcycles.
There were no dramatic moments. No perfect movie scene. All that comes to my mind was that I bought myself a coffee and sat alone in peace reflecting, “I have never been this mentally calm in months.”
That feeling actually lingered way longer than most of my trips. That is when I came to the realization why Siargao was more relaxing compared to Bali.
Bali amused me. Siargao slowed me down. And for now, slowing down is the better option.
My Final Reflections Regarding the Reasons Why Siargao Was More Relaxing Than Bali
I definitely believe that Bali was an awesome destination. If one is looking for nightlife, cafés, lavish villas, wellness treatments, and an abundance of activities, then Bali offers everything.
However, Siargao provided something completely different. Space!
- Physical space as well as mental space.
- Wherein one stops constantly checking his or her cell phone.
- Wherein canceled plans are not considered catastrophes anymore.
- Wherein just lounging by the sea is already enough.
This is what made Siargao more relaxing than Bali to me. And, to be honest, even now when thinking about the random wet afternoon while eating pancit canton in a cozy little café, I realize that it stays with me more than many other cool venues I had visited after that trip.
Let me Ask you:
Have you ever been to a destination where you suddenly felt more relaxed than ever before?
Not “relaxed” for photographs, but “lighter” mentally?
Well, for me, Siargao was one such destination. And truth be told, I would really like to hear if you have had a similar experience at Bali, Siargao, or any other destination.
