Hello dear Hivers, I hope you are all feeling good today just as much as I do. For my second blog, I want to share how I spent a productive and memorable day with my family. Days like these always leave me with stories to tell, so I thought this would be the perfect time to write about it.
One thing I truly love about my family is that they enjoy going to the beach. Every time we discover a beach near our place, we always try our best to visit, even if it means a quick trip. Being by the ocean has always been something we enjoy together, and it has somehow become one of our little traditions. It is something that keeps us close and allows us to make new memories.
So today we woke up earlier than usual because my tita mentioned that there was a beach near our house in Lapu-Lapu City. She told us she came across a post on TikTok about this place called Bantayan Beach, and from the way she described it, it sounded beautiful. Excited, we quickly prepared our things, packed what we thought we needed for the day, and drove off, eager to see what the beach had to offer.
On the way there, I could not help but feel excited. It had been a while since we last went to a new beach, and the thought of discovering a new spot with my family made me really happy. I even laughed at myself because I was already thrilled while still inside the car, just waiting to get there.
When we arrived, the locals informed us that in order to reach Bantayan Beach, we had to ride a bangka, which is a small boat. They also explained that since the local government wanted to preserve the natural beauty of the beach, cottages were no longer allowed there. The only thing available was the mangroves. They advised us to leave our belongings in the car because there was no proper place to keep them safe at the beach. If we wanted to bring some items, we could only take a little, and they had to be placed in plastics so they could be left in the mangroves without getting wet.
Hearing this, my aunt and I became quite hesitant. We were unsure if we should push through with going to Bantayan Beach because we have a lot of stuffs with us like our phones, dry clothes and our snacks. But then, a tricycle driver saw our hesitation and offered us another option. He told us that there was another beach right beside the port where the bangkas were docked. He introduced us to Cordova Reef, a place that was once popular for hosting events like weddings, birthdays, and other gatherings.
Out of curiosity, we decided to check it out, and true enough, the place was still beautiful. Although the typhoon had left its mark and some parts were under renovation, the beach itself remained stunning. The locals there said that people often visit during weekends or still choose it as a place to celebrate special occasions. I found that inspiring because it showed how beauty can remain even after destruction. It reminded me of the resiliency of the Filipino people that even after facing calamities and crises, we continue to rise and find ways to move forward.
In the end, my tita and I decided to stay there since my nephew was already eager to swim. We paid the entrance fee and looked for a good spot where we could relax and settle our things. The atmosphere was light, and the place gave off a simple but comforting vibe. Me and my nephew then decided to go for a swim.
While chilling around, we saw a woman selling sea urchins. I asked my tita if we could buy some, and we bought one and a half kilos for two hundred pesos. I was a little surprised by the price since, in my hometown in San Remigio, sea urchins are much cheaper. In fact, you can even collect them yourself if you know how to swim and dive. I even remember we used to get sea orchins early in the morning in our town together with my family, we consider it as sunday family bonding. Still, the sea urchins were fresh and delicious, and the woman kindly gave us free vinegar, what we call sukang tuba. Eating them with rice was so satisfying, my tita and I really enjoyed eating the sea orchin and she said it has been a while since she ate sea orchin.
By around one-thirty in the afternoon, we decided to head home since we had another plan later in the day. My family wanted to go to Tops of Cebu for dinner, so we packed up and left. We arrived back at our house at around two in the afternoon, a little delayed because of the traffic in Cordova.
After resting a bit and getting ready, we booked a Grab taxi going to IT Park so we could catch a bus from there going up to Tops of Cebu. We chose not to use our car because my tita is still a new driver and she has not yet gained the confidence to drive in the city. It was a good choice because the traffic was already heavy, and driving there would have been stressful for her.
We finally arrived at Tops of Cebu around six fifty in the evening. The trip took longer than expected since the bus arrived late due to the heavy traffic, but it was all fine once we got there. The view and the atmosphere immediately made up for it.
We had dinner together, and I must say the food was so delicious. The only thing I regretted was not bringing a jacket or a hoodie because the cold was biting. I could feel the chill in my bones, and it made me wish I had prepared better. But the food kept me warm though, and we shared a small but meaningful conversation while enjoying our meal. I also noticed a few cats freely roaming around the place, which made the atmosphere even more homely. Sadly, I did not get the chance to take pictures of them because I was too busy eating lol.
After our meal, we decided to take some pictures of the city lights. We even went up to the rooftop called Skai360° for a better view. From there, they had something like a telescope where you could see specific parts of Cebu up close. Looking through it made me feel amazed, almost flabbergasted, seeing familiar places like SM Seaside, Nustar, and even the 10k Roses from a different perspective. It was such a unique experience. I did not stay too long, though, because there were people lining up behind me waiting for their turn.
Still, I had so much fun at Tops. There is really something magical about city lights. They have this way of making me feel excited, as if the city has something bigger that awaits me in the future. It felt like a reminder that there is so much more ahead, and it gave me hope for the future.
Days like these remind me of how important it is to spend time with family and to embrace the unexpected. Plans may change, things might not always go the way we expect, but there is always beauty waiting in the turn of events. What matters most is that we were together, sharing experiences that brought us closer.
At the end of the day, I was simply grateful. Grateful for my family, grateful for the places we visited, and grateful for the memories we created. It is moments like these that remind me how beautiful life can be when we choose to enjoy it with the people we love.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog. I truly appreciate it and I hope you enjoyed sharing a glimpse of my day as much as I enjoyed writing it down. Every experience leaves me with little lessons and memories worth keeping, and I am glad I get to share them here. I am excited to bring you along on more of my journeys, so until then, see you on my next blog.