Put me anywhere in the world and I would always try to catch the sunrise. Panglao was no different, even though I knew my chances of greeting the sun were slim considering its location. Even though I wasn’t sure if I would still make it as I had no idea what time it would rise, or what time it was, as I snuck out of the airconditioned room and into the balmy morning with its promise of heat and humidity sometime around seven o’clock.

It’s always good to be back home in the Philippines.

Even better to be in such a beautiful resort with its well-manicured lawns, neatly-spaced coconut trees, and courteous staff greeting you “Good morning, Ma’am!” at every turn, their smiles as bright and sunny as the new day.

There wasn’t really much of a sunrise to witness but I was able to journal my thoughts in peace on an outdoor chair that was made for lounging and not writing before Jeff and Raven later found me at the beachfront.

Before Raven and I were tightly cocooned inside a hammock, shooting the breeze one minute and then screaming for Jeff to stop swinging us so hard the next while he cackled behind Raven’s laughter and my slight dizziness.

I don’t like being swung.

The morning was nice as it was calm. I watched as the resort staff rake rubbish and seaweeds off the shore, comfortably chatting to each other while doing so as if they had been doing it every day for the last six years.

Must be nice to work in a place that looks and feels like paradise.

Must be nicer to not have to work at all but wake up to that same paradise nonetheless.

That would be the dream.

Jeff said we don’t have to wait for retirement to make that dream a reality. He said it’s easy. We only need to sell everything we have here in Australia and move back to the Philippines.

What’s easy for him is a hard decision for me as I take Raven into consideration. I mean, sure, it’s gonna be a good life either way but I want her to have good opportunities as well. I want her to have good education. Jeff reckons she can always be an eager student of YouTube University anyway so what am i too worried about?

It’s a huge leap of faith. But so far, the universe hasn’t gotten back to me on that one yet so I’ma just sit here and chill. When I’m not working my ass off.

Either way, it’s a blessing to enjoy going back home and sampling the resort life once in a while.

On this day, we went for a ride on a glass bottom boat. Which is exactly what it was: a boat with a (fiber)glass bottom in the middle of the floor where you can see the marine life underneath. We ooh-ed and aah-ed like curious kids at the sight of colourful corals and little schools of fish, and pointed to the others whatever starfish we could find.

Apart from that, there was really nothing much else. I thought the boat tour would take us a bit farther out into the sea but, nope. I could still see the island behind us.

And what a beautiful sight it was.

The end bit of the tour was where you could jump in the water. My sister and my nieces were in there before the guides could say ‘go’. Jeff did backflips off the deck after asking me to record it on his camera, but not before telling everyone about that time he made a speech during his stepdad’s funeral where he asked me to record it as well — which I did — but I forgot to press the record button. Everyone in stitches at his graphic description of me diligently holding a camera and filming nothing at all.

Not much of a watergirl, I was happy to just sit there and admire the view, taking in the sea breeze and the beautiful memories that were unfolding right before me.

Memories that, I already knew right then and there, I would forever cherish in my heart.

I have such a wonderful family.

*Raven at 7 years old