My Forever Memories in an Unknown island

by Annie Dequit (United States of America)

A leap into the unknown Philippines

Summer was about to end it was year 2017 month of September. Scrolling at the photos that I took two months earlier from my vacation at Santorini Greece. Quite disappointed to see lots of tourist behind my photos but definitely worth the time to visit and experience the Greek sunset and the blue dome , white-blue building facing the beautiful enormous deep blue water . I was facing the ceiling while laying and suddenly thinking what if I’ll just go in a place where nobody else know it as much as those tourists places. So heading to google I found this small island called “Calaguas “ located in the Philippines . At first I was not so determined to search about it but there’s something on me that pushed myself to just check it out . Reading things about it made me decide that I should go there even just for once . So I booked a trip there with two friends and off we go within the next week . The island has one big electric generator and it’s only turned on during 5pm to 5am . There’s no hotels or resort in the island , you have to either sleep in a tent ,placed right at the white sand or pay for a stay in a cottage offer by locals . The people who are locals were just few and you can even just count them by walking at the shore. There’s lots of activities in the island from hiking to the top of a small mountain where you can see the 360 view of the island . During the time we were there , there was a fire dancing and singing competition which was really fun to watched . Never forget to mention that the island has an amazing sunset which will melt your heart and warm your soul . I realized I don’t need always a famous tourist places to feel the inner peace that I’m looking for . Bonding with nature is really a truly different feeling that you can’t even explain . Just imagine yourself ,sitting by the white calm beach listening to the smooth wind , the sound that water makes on every waves approaching the shore as you glance at the colorful sunset . The island I will forever remember, where peace ,virgin nature and not mob with people “calaguas” that’s the island that comes into my mind . If you’re a foodie ,you would fall in love with seafood that the island offers , comes from the abundant water resources. There’s fresh veges, coconut ,papaya , mango and other local yummies. They also have this “latik” which came from a coconut caramelized with special sugar. Yummy! Every time I get up in the morning we head to this place where you can take shower but you have to pump to get the water going which was really funny since we lived in the city and there’s no where we have those back in town . It was a great adventure that I have never expect to impact my view of traveling . Such a simple island where you can enjoy for a weekend and just be away from the city for awhile . The reception was pretty bad there that you could barely get a bar of signal . So ,hey ! I don’t have to tell you that most of the time during our stay there ,we have our electronics stored away . And that’s the best way to fully get away ! It was actually not ideal for me because I was used to check and always on the Internet . But I was shocked that I didn’t even think of it when I was there for the 4-5days . Being laugh by the locals ,on the first day I wanna make myself pretty and curl my hair but they have this electric generator schedules which must be use in a bit conservative way . The locals laughed at me for even thinking . We’ve always been to that point that we didn’t realize what we’ll experience til we’ll be there ourselves . So , to my next future adventures I’m up for more unusual circumstances where I would develop more of what I am truly capable when it comes to feeling the nature and not just be there for the so-famous places .