At some point, I know I’m going to rave about their toilets so might as well cut to the chase and rave about it now:

Like, OMG. I was more than impressed. Not only were the toilets immaculately clean but they were architecturally interesting, as well. With its wide open window — like, literally, a gaping square hole on the wall — you are treated to a relaxing view of bamboo plants as fence. Sure, you do get a bit paranoid if someone would suddenly appear outside while you’re doing your business but hey, they had toilet papers and paper towels! What more could you ask for?

I hadn’t even started the safari tour yet and as far as I was concerned, that was it. That was money well-spent right there and I could go home happy.

If only all tourist destinations in the Philippines took the issue of proper toilets seriously. It’s frustrating having to deal with stinky, dirty toilets. And on the rare occasion where they’re not stinky or dirty, you can’t help but hold your breath to see if they flush properly. In a perverted sense, it can be quite a thrilling experience. Except that I’m being sarcastic.

Anyhow, when I flew back to Cebu in October 2022, Cebu Safari wasn’t even in my plans. But when my cousin, Dona, who had recently arrived from New Zealand mentioned that she and her family were going, I was like, why not? I wasn’t exactly crashing on their plans when I had their permission. Given wholeheartedly, I presumed.

Yeah, nah. They’re cool. They’re my mom’s side of the family that I’m very comfortable with and quite close to. So it wasn’t really that I was imposing even though I sound defensive right now. It was a very mutual agreement, okay?

Anyway…

Cebu Safari is a fairly recent tourist attraction in Carmen, Cebu. By that, I mean it wasn’t there yet when I left the country in 2013 so anything and everything after that I would automatically categorise as “recent.”

It was a long drive, I’ll tell you that much. And not in terms of distance, but in traffic. Even worse, when we were almost there, I looked at my feet and realised to my horror that my right sandal was literally falling apart! Half of the front rubber sole was no longer attached to the top layer so every time I walked, it was flapping and clapping like crazy under my foot! Bloody hell.

I didn’t even notice when I put it on in the morning. It was one of my really old ones that had been sitting in the shoe rack under the sink since I was in college or something. I figured if it broke, I’ll just walk barefoot and risk getting tetanus. Whatever. In the meantime, I prayed that it would hold.

Miraculously, it did.

One of the safari’s feature animals were the tigers. I kind of had trust issues with the viewing glass, to be honest. I mean, I’m sure it was sturdy as but at the same time, I have a very active imagination and in my head I was already plotting out my exit strategies while keeping a close eye — and distance — on Raven so I can pick her up in one adrenaline-filled swoop and friggin’ run for our lives. Just in case.

It wasn’t just with the tigers, though, so maybe it’s me. The same thought process applied while in the crocodile den as well but this time, with the added worry of losing all my pictures should I accidentally drop my phone where the huge reptiles were sunbathing.

Same thing with the safari truck ride to see the lions. Behind all the smiles and the selfies are my deepest paranoia.

Having said all that, it was so much fun exploring the place and discovering animals Raven and I never even heard of before: Savanna creatures such as gemsbok, greater kudu, impala, and wildebeest. Names I am able to recount now not because I have excellent memory, but because I took a picture of the safari’s display board for my future reference.

Raven enjoyed the bird show the most. It tickled her how the birds knew how to count and talk and perform tricks she never imagined birds could do.

It was a really good trip. I’m grateful to have spent time with my cousins and their families and sharing lunch at the back of our rental van at the carpark. I mean, you know, at the end of the day, it’s the simple things in life.

Shout out to my cousin, Aleth, now in heaven, for organising this trip. She passed away in September last year. I cannot not mention her here. It’s one of the reasons why this post had been sitting in my drafts for the longest time.

Ten months.

Her sudden passing a mere ten months after this trip broke my heart. Still does. She was such a strong person and I truly admired her from afar. She was one of those that people relied on, you know? A young person who carried so much weight of responsibility on her shoulders and yet always chose to take the high road each and every time.

Such a beautiful soul, gone too soon.

So go hug the people you love. You never know what can happen in less than a year.

*Raven at 6 years old