The thing about being the middle child is you go where the wind blows. And by that, I mean two sisters who wanna go somewhere for a family holiday and you’re just like, mmkay.

So you go. You tag your own family with you and everyone ends up having a wonderful time.

Siargao was never really a part of my plan. Partly because it being the surfing capital of the Philippines and me not even into surfing, it only makes sense. But mainly because I never really had a plan to begin with. Leading up to our trip in June last year, both my sisters were excitedly planning about the places they wanted to visit, the food they wanted to eat, and the activities they wanted to do. I just okay’d everything, crossed my fingers, and hoped my budget would cover all the expenses.

The touchdown on Siargao’s short runway was literally the roughest landing I’ve ever experienced in my life. As soon as the plane’s tires hit the tarmac, the pilot was hard braking it like a motha, the sound of rubber and Jeff screeching as everyone else held on tight to their seats. Oh my god… Oh my god… Jeff repeated during the short ordeal. Listening to him from two rows away, I didn’t know whether to laugh or panic as well.

“THAT WAS A VERY SCARY LANDING! I ALMOST SHIT MY PANTS!” he exclaimed loudly when the plane was safely parked, sparking a conversation with other passengers about their shared experience.

Siargao was quite an interesting island. Laid back. It’s like stepping into time where life is so much simpler and technology hasn’t advanced that much yet. I watched in fascination as our van driver topped up his petrol in an unmanned station with a pump dispenser that was, well, sort of different. I loved the whole island vibe. I liked the long stretches of greens and coconut trees along the lonesome asphalt roads.

On the way to the resort, we stopped by this roadside lookout spot which seemed to be popular amongst tourists and locals alike. If you’re jaded like I initially was when I stepped out of the van to suss it out, there was nothing there, really, but a thousand coconut trees.

But like art, it’s all a matter of perspective. The longer I looked, the more I admired the scenery that lay before me: a lush carpet of coconut trees that stretched forever into the distant mountains, their leaves swaying in the gentle breeze so as to hold your wavering attention because after the poses and the selfies, well, there’s really nothing much else to look at.

So off you go.

I can’t remember the name of the resort we stayed at but I’ll sort that out in my next post, maybe. But it was a nice big cabin far away from the town centre with twelve bunk beds on either side that Raven got so excited about. Finally, she was gonna have her own bunk bed! (She knows it’s a no-go for her at home.) After picking the one she wanted (the top, of course), she immediately set about decorating her bedside window with whatever stuff she could find in her bag, marking her territory.

Bless her heart. She thought she was going to be sleeping by herself but Jeff, El, and I all took turns lying down next to her in the mornings to watch her sleep and wait for her to wake up. She’s the baby of the family, after all. Still considered cute. No offense to Aeva and Adie, who used to hold that spot when they were younger.

Look at them… so grown up. Aeva’s now taller than me and it won’t be long before Adie follows suit. They’re good kids. Very smart and creative, too. And I don’t just say that because they’re my nieces. They really are and I love them both so much.

With the resort so close to the beach, it was nice to take a stroll along the shore and watch the sun set. I probably have like, thirty-nine pictures of the sunset alone. All at slightly different angles but the exact same sunset. Like the million selfies I take of myself that never seems quite right until I declare them all rubbish and just get on with my life.

But, yeah, I love sunsets. It’s one of my most favorite things in the world.

Aside from this dude here who, I reckon, is the perfect match for me. He needed a good woman, I needed a visa. Happily ever after. Win-win.

LOL.

(Why does this joke always crack me up?)

We capped our first night off with some barbecue at some random eatery a bit outside the town centre. As it happened, General Luna, the town proper itself, was packed with revelers for a fiesta celebration and we couldn’t be bothered waiting in line at its popular barbecue joint that everyone in the whole entire island seemed to be queuing up for.

It wasn’t too bad, the eatery we ended up in. I mean, at the end of the day and especially when you’re hungry, food is food. Can’t complain.

*Raven at 7 years old