Our second day dawned bright and sunny, promising another day of adventure. We started with ambitious plans for a leisurely breakfast at a charming port restaurant my father had found, known for its fresh seafood.
He'd painted such a vivid picture of the place – the salty air, the bustling atmosphere, the delicious smell of grilled fish wafting through the air.
However, reality, as it often does, had other plans. My sister's husband, bless his heart, has a bit of a fish phobia stemming from a childhood incident (which he's promised to tell us sometime, maybe over a plate of… pasta?). This meant my sister, ever supportive, also opted out of the seafood feast.
So, with our seafood dreams dashed, and the clock ticking as we needed to leave for Birhen sa Regla, we made a quick detour to the nearest McDonald's. It wasn't quite the quaint seaside breakfast we'd envisioned, but it fueled us up for the day ahead. The familiar golden arches felt strangely comforting after the initial disappointment.
After McDonald's, we scurried back to the hotel, savoring those last precious moments of hotel luxury.
This is where things got a little chaotic. My sister's luggage, which had already suffered a bit of a beating during its journey from Finland to the Philippines, had completely exploded.
Clothes, toiletries, souvenirs – everything was strewn across the room like confetti after a particularly enthusiastic celebration. I became a whirlwind of organized chaos, helping her sort through the wreckage. It was a surprisingly therapeutic experience, finding small treasures amidst the mess – a funny postcard, a quirky trinket, a slightly squashed but still functional tube of Finnish toothpaste.
Amidst the unpacking frenzy, I discovered her camera. The balcony, bathed in the morning sun, became our impromptu photo studio.
We snapped a few shots – a slightly blurry but heartwarming photo of my sister, dad, and me, and a more composed (and slightly more flattering) picture of just my dad and me. He looked particularly pleased with himself in that one.
Before we headed to the pool, I took some more pictures, capturing the hotel's beautiful surroundings. Then my sister and I ventured out to the souvenir shop.
She needed a sturdy bag, something that could handle the rigors of travel, and she found the perfect one – a bright, cheerful tote bag that perfectly matched her personality.
And then, the highlight of the day (besides the successful luggage rescue mission, of course): a ridiculously cute Korean boy in the near pool where we stand by. He was the spitting image of one of my Korean students, (because i think every korean looks the same even though they're not lol hahahahah)bringing back a flood of warm memories. He tried to engage me in conversation, smiling and waving. I took a quick picture of him without him noticing,
then he shyly offered me a piece of candy. It was the sweetest gesture, melting my heart. His father called him away shortly after, but not before a sweet goodbye wave.
My sister and her husband then headed back to the hotel to finish packing, while my brother and I lingered by the pool, searching for his missing slippers. Our search was unsuccessful.
We returned to the hotel slipperless, a slightly comical end to an already eventful day. Thankfully, my mom, ever prepared, had packed an extra pair of slippers, saving my brother from a barefoot checkout. Finally, we checked out, leaving behind a trail of memories (and a slightly more organized suitcase).