Bahala na

This tour company had 3 or 4 boat sizes to choose from. Since there were only 6 of us, Leisel booked the smaller boat. When we got there, they told us they upgraded us to the big boat for free “because of the waves today”. They were also surprised that neither Leisel nor I were Filipino, so I wonder if Leisel’s online communication with this group in Tagalog got us a free upgrade? Either way, we wound up with a boat fit for 30 people to ourselves! This tour had three stops. The first was to the Big Lagoon. The “parking lot” for the tour boats just outside the lagoon was a crowded, hopping place. We got onto kayaks from there and after a gentle paddle with the tide, we found plenty of space inside the lagoon. Our guide showed us where the Red Bull cliff jumping competition happened. If they really jumped from there, then they’re nuts! The paddle back to our boat against the tide was more challenging, but we made it without any trouble.

The next stop was a beautiful sandy beach where we played in some waves, made sand castles, and enjoyed a delicious lunch. Try as we might, they wouldn’t eat with us. We felt like royalty. Instead of feeling guilty or bashful, we chose to enjoy their excellent hospitality.

The last stop was at Seven Commandos Beach. This was another pristine beach, but this one had great snorkelling a little further out. It turns out I LOVE SNORKELLING! It’s so fun to see the world under the sea. The more time you spend looking, the more there is to see. Equally fun was helping Russell learn to snorkel.

Island hopping – another spectacular experience in the Philippines!