WHY MY HEART BROKE A LITTLE LAST FRIDAY NIGHT

I was getting Joaquin ready for bed but he wouldn't listen...

Me: How will you be a big boy?
Joaquin: Tito J is a big boy
Me: You still remember Tito J?
Joaquin: Yes!
Me: Did you like Tito J?
Joaquin: Yes!
Me: Why?
Joaquin: Because he go faster when the light is green and he go slower when it's red. It means stop.

It was a little game J would play with Joaquin in the car. He would ask my son to look at the stoplight and he would wait for Joaquin's cue to go or stop.

It broke my heart a little that my son has a very distinct and quite cute memory of J.

REQUEST

Before bedtime last night:

Me: Joaquin, look at Mama.

(little boy looks at me)

Me: Mama will tell you something, ha?  Please don't ever leave me.

Joaquin: Okay.

Revisited my secret blog today with a motive, which did not fall through.  Instead, I wrote:

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I came here today with the very distinct intent to take this blog out, to shut it down.

I re-read every single entry.  It's worse than I remembered.

Writing has always been my release and this is what's incredible about writing down how you feel when you're in the middle of something you can't seem to get a way out of--one day you can look back on what you wrote and realize that you got through it, particularly when you never thought you could.

So I'm not taking this down.  Instead, it will stay. I am keeping this blog.

Because one day, when things get tough again for whatever reason, all I need to do is come here and I know that re-reading every entry will be a good and simple reminder that there are happy endings.  Sometimes, going over how painful something felt and knowing that you overcame it is actually helpful.

I guess failure instills something positive in each of us.

Till then,
Bunny

CARAMOAN: 5 ISLANDS, 2 DAYS

Gad, this post is looong overdue.

Hang on, let me just put my earphones on and play my beach playlist before I start writing this entry.

Ohkay, here we go.

I could tell you that Airphil kind of ruined our itinerary by changing our ETD for Naga to 850am instead of 6am.  You see, travel time from Naga to Caramoan takes 3-4 hours.

The view from Sabang Port

Naga to Sabang Port: 1 hour
Sabang Port to Guijalo Port: 2 hours
Waiting for the boat to get filled up, finding a cab, bathroom breaks, etc: approx. 45 mins

The view from Guijalo Port

We were told that the last boat going to Guijalo Port would leave at noon, so instead of going to the van/bus terminal from the airport, we decided to hire a cab so we can get to Sabang Port faster.  Super bummer because we ended up spending so much more.  The van fare from the terminal to Sabang is only Php100. Cab fares from the airport to Sabang is usually Php1500 but we were able to bring it down to Php1100.

When we got to Sabang Port, we couldn't find the boat to Guijalo. We were told that because of the waves, the boat to Guijalo had to dock (?) somewhere in the middle of the sea.  So for Php150, we had to rent this little bangka to take us out to sea.

Our little boat

Koyaaaa!

When we got to the boat, we had to wait for a little under an hour for more passengers.  Then we started the 2-hour journey to Guijalo Port.  (Sabang to Guijalo boat fare: Php120)

We got off the port of Guijalo a little past 2pm, where we were met by our tricycle driver  (Kuya Mike) and he took us to our home for the weekend, Traveler's Camp.  We loved our stay there!  The package we got (Php4500 per person) included accommodations for 3 days and 2 nights, full board meals and island hopping.  They did not disappoint.  AT ALL!  The meals were sooooo good!!! It was just me and Carla but the servings could feed 4 people. May unlimited coffee and milo pa! Winner!

Our "soshal" room with LV sheets and LCD TV (not in photo). Hahaha!  Was not able to take photos of the food because we ate it all!

After checking in, we had a quick lunch, changed into our beachwear and took off!

ISLAND #1: Matukad Island

I've read about a secret lagoon in Matukad Island hidden behind a rock wall that you need to scale.  So I asked our boatman about it and he showed me where it was.  The wall was approximately 20-25 feet.  I was up for the challenge, so up up and away I went.

This gave me an adrenalin rush that I haven't felt in a long time

This is what greeted me when I reached the top. Gorgeous, right?

   

ISLAND #2: Cagbalinad Island

I didn't take a lot of photos here because I was busy drinking wine. Sorrryy! Hahaha!

HULI!!!

ISLAND #3: Cotivas Island

Possibly my favorite island because of it's soft brown sand.  Plus the water is blue in different kind of hues.

May beach na, may buko pa!

ISLAND #4: Manlawi Sandbar

The largest sandbar I have eveerr seeeen!!!

High tide

Low tide

 

Aiming for a jumpshot

Ayun!

ISLAND #5: Sabitang Laya

It was drizzling on our way to this island and it didn't stop. Since we couldn't laze in the sand, we decided to just walk around the island.

Off the beaten path.  

Another beach at the back of the island

These rocks were sooo huge!

We had a really good trip.  Caramoan is pristine and gorgeous and everything Boracay is not.  I intend to take Joaquin there next year. Magsawa siya sa beach! :)

This trip really gave me the diversion I needed.  It reminded me of how much life my life has.

And so, I'm baaaaccckk! Sooo back! :)

P.S.
If you would like the contact information of Traveler's Camp, see photo below.  Ask for Jun Padua.