It's a bummer that it still rains now, but I can't wait for summer. Can't wait for beaching and traveling again.
So, anyway, whenever there's sun, it's always great to go on wheels and follow the scent of the warmed up sea. Nothing beats the cliche white sand, though the coarse black sand is still fine, see what I did there?
The coast of Leyte is so diverse, and you can choose a place to do whatever you like. Sometimes, just seeing the view of the sea is okay.
That's Manaya, a place in Macrohon, Southern Leyte.
It's so far south and planning is very important, you may need to buy groceries beforehand or hire a private vehicle for less hassle. Also, just a reminder, bringing certain foods and alcoholic beverages may have corkage on most resorts.
I'm not so sure with public transportation, you can ride from Tacloban to Maasin or Ormoc to Maasin, depending on your place of arrival in Leyte. Then from Maasin, maybe you can ride buses or what. Anyway, if you hire a private vehicle, then all is well.
During the long trip, be sure to have a power bank so you can play offline games, since most places that you'll pass by don't have a good reception. Or you can also sleep till you arrive at the resort. The resort is pretty okay, it's sitting on a cliff side with a very wide space overlooking the rugged sea, just don't jump, okay?
If you're the host, you can go to the reception area to verify your reservation, but if you're just a guest then feel free to run around and enjoy!
There are different cottages to choose from, since you'll likely want to stay for two or more days. I prefer the compact ones, but already have two beds and a hot shower. You can wake up at dawn and have a warm bath. Our room has a tiny veranda overlooking the swimming pool and the sea, so it's a great place to brew your favorite hot drink and sip while you wait for the sunrise.
We went as a large group, we're more than 20 families in three big buses. So, we booked all the cottages and the huts. Since we arrived late in the afternoon, we soon had our dinner buffet at the huts by the cliff side watching the sunset, but just low key before the events on the next day.
After the hot choco during the dawn, we were called in for the breakfast buffet. Though I just ate hotdogs, ham, and egg with rice for breakfast at the room. The adults started the events by 8 AM while I was busy strolling around the resort. Not much to see, but being secluded in nature is just amazing.
Some went swimming in the pool, but mom didn't bring any swimming attires, so we weren't allowed to.
The limestone cliff is decorated with cement railings and comes with a steep staircase down to the rugged coastline. The sea was so clear, that you can see the bottom clearly. There are some rock formations nearby, and the view is so mesmerizing. The adults played games, drank, and played again, they had fun in the morning.
The buffet at lunch was crazy! Though the receptionist charged the big Lechon, yeah, that happens. A little ruckus, but the day continued until the events ended. Before sundown, we prepared to go back home.
Vacations are meant to be enjoyed and have fun, surely it is meant for beautiful memories. Now that the world has now opened, book that flight, ride the bus, and bring yourself to new places!