Arriving
Let me escape into the sea. Let me travel alone and feel the excitement of spontaneity. Let me return from a trip all charged up and renewed.
I miss this.
I have gone on many solo travels but couldn't quite capture the feeling I had when I went to Bantayan Island back in December 2019.
The year 2019 was a year when my life was about to change. The decisions I made during that year made a new course in my life. I came from a breakup, resigned from work, decided to pursue graduate studies, and met someone new.
At the start of my master's, I told myself I would go on a solo trip to the beach after finishing my first semester. There was no question as to where I would go. Bantayan Island is one of my favorite destinations here in Cebu. The place is filled with many memories, some I treasure and others I'd like replaced.
I arrived in Hagnaya, a port town in the north of Cebu early in the morning. Getting to Bantayan Island requires riding a ferry that takes about an hour. Looking out the window, my spirits were up upon seeing that the weather was perfect for a solo beach getaway despite being in the middle of December.
I spent most of my travel time sleeping. I've already seen the sights going to the island a couple of times. But when I woke up in time for our docking, I was still caught in awe by the beautiful beach that welcomed me when we reached the port on the southeastern part of the island.
I only got a glimpse of the beach because we still had to make our way to the southern part of the island where most of the beach resorts and restaurants were situated. I booked a hotel called Sunshine Bantayan Garden Resort. It was aptly named so because when I entered the property, they had a manicured front yard with Bermuda grass, a few trees and bushes, and some ornamental plants.
This solo trip was only two days and one night, but as I look back, I never had the feeling that I needed to hurry up to make the most of my time. It was as if time slowed down for my sake. I only wanted to stay at the beach, read my book, and drink some beer.
Venturing
It was mid-afternoon when I ventured my way to the beach. The prime beach in Bantayan is located near Kota Beach Resort in Santa Fe. It's where you get a spacious white-sand beach and gorgeous waters. The place can get crowded when there are special events but when I arrived there, there were only a handful of people on it.
I looked out into the beach and savored everything. This was the reason why I came here. The place was so tranquil and peaceful. There were no worries, only the sand and the sea.
I looked out to the west side of the beach and saw a sliver of a rainbow. I took it as a sign of better beginnings. My first semester of graduate school was not free of bumps, but reaching the end of it, I realized that this was what I really wanted in life.
And I think nothing makes you more at peace than knowing that you are doing what you're meant to do in life.
Tethering
I took out a small blanket and laid it on the sand. I sat on it and stretched my feet on the sand. I was bringing a bottle of Mojitos with me, which was leftover from a previous drinking session. I took shots of the strong drink while letting the sun drift down closer to the horizon. I went into the water occasionally to wash off the drunkenness or to pee. I was bringing a Bluetooth speaker and I blasted it to my favorite songs.
I was in the moment surrounded by some of my favorite things in life.
I looked up and saw a kite flying overhead. It had a drawing of a dog's face. I stared at it and its hypnotic flight path. You'd think that the kite was really flying on its own but despite not seeing, I could imagine the string that tethered the kite, perhaps to a kid's hand at the ground.
In a way, this island had me tethered as well. I could go wherever I go and fly to faraway places, but I wouldn't be able to fully let go of the allure of Bantayan Island and its beaches.
Ebbing
Somewhere along the way, in between the shots of tequila, the sky had turned slowly orange. The sun was sitting on the horizon and I was witnessing a glorious sunset. The water was ebbing away leaving behind wet sand illuminated by the faint glow of the sunset.
The sky was turning into a palette of pastel and soft colors. The beach remained free from crowds. I changed my playlist and matched the vibe of the sunset and the darkening skies. I couldn't stay on the beach at night.
My day was done. I remember telling myself that I could go home already. I was good and satisfied.
But I still had the next day to enjoy. I made my way out of the beach and saw the Christmas decorations of Santa Fe. It was turning out to be Merry time for me.
That's it for now. I still have the next day to share with you. It's more eventful and less peaceful than the first day. Thank you for reaching this far. I hope you also have a time in your life when you've felt so at peace and satisfied, and I encourage you to go back to those times and remind yourself of the feeling.
Because peace and satisfaction are states of mind, which is something I also have to remind myself of. So I should stop chasing the next solo trip to recharge or renew myself. Instead, I should actively find peace and satisfaction in the here and now.
See you next time! Cheers!
