Note: This isn’t a travel guide. If you need info on how to get to Guimaras, what to see, etc., please visit this article.
Tired
I’ve always loved to travel and didn’t think that there’s such a thing as too much. However, after my trip to Bali – which was preceded by several other trips – I felt a tiredness I couldn’t shake off. Don’t get me wrong. Bali, Ubud in particular, was wonderful. I felt an alignment I’ve never felt before. I felt a deep contentment. I didn’t want to leave. But leave I had to, and when I got back to Manila, I felt the tiredness kick in.
I found it hard to believe, but I wanted to stay home for a while. But I had already booked plane tickets to Iloilo City months before. I was due to fly out of Manila 4 days after I arrived from Bali.
City break
So, fly out I did. I am not complaining. Iloilo is the best city in the country, in my opinion. It’s got the amenities the city girl in me is used to, but it’s got a rich cultural heritage and laidback atmosphere the country girl in me yearns for. I am very fortunate to have the best friends a person could ask for living in the city. The family of my longtime friend took very good care of me.
I stayed a couple of nights at GT Hotel (read my GT Hotel Iloilo review), probably the best value for money accommodations in the city. I then stayed at a friend’s house about 20 minutes away from the city proper.
As is usually the case when I travel, I worked for the most part and explored at the end of the day or during breaks. Even with work, that week was a rich and relatively relaxing one.
Read my Iloilo City guide.
Off to an island
Still, I looked forward to the weekend I had planned to revisit Guimaras Island, a 15-minute boat ride from the city. I had no real plans except:
(1) Get to the resort
(2) Work as less as possible
Related: How to get to Guimaras
Well, I did both – and more. Or, more accurately, less.
Unplugged
I came warned (thanks to online reviews) – cell signal and internet was supposed to be weak. I didn’t expect it to be that bad, though. Or maybe good.
So, it was technically bad because there was absolutely no cell signal and the resort’s Wi-Fi was intermittent.
But, it was good because I was able to truly rest. The last time I was able to do nothing – quite literally – was…I can’t remember.
Imagine this.
Breakfast with this view. Unrushed.
The whole day lying in that hammock facing the sea. Reading. Napping.
I did consider going out and exploring the island, but my body (and mind?) had a mind of its own. It was just like it plopped itself down at the Czech Beach House and said, “I’m not going anywhere. I’m resting.”
And rest it did.
Without a steady internet connection, I wasn’t constantly checking email and social media. I wasn’t playing PUBG.
I read. And read some more. And then more.
I actually finished two books and started two more.
Yes, it was an unexpected gift.
I like being busy. I don’t like feeling totally disconnected. It’s one thing when you purposely turn off your cellular data to unplug, knowing you can turn it back on anytime you need to. It’s another thing to be “stuck” in the middle of nowhere without control over your connectivity. “Worse”, the power went out for pretty much the whole morning of my second day there. The universe was telling me something, no?
The anxiety lasted only an hour or so, though.
After the initial fidgeting and worrying, I started soaking in the sound of nothing but the waves and the occasional dog barking.
I wasn’t looking for anything when I got on that boat to Guimaras, but I found the gift of doing nothing perfectly wrapped in peaceful nature, good people, and delicious food. Oh, and a friendly pup named Trouble.
If you’re looking for a place to stay in Guimaras, Czech Beach House comes highly recommended. Even if you feel iffy about not being connected, trust me, it’s worth it. Read more about it here.
You can also find them on Facebook and book rooms here.
Tips for when you visit:
- Order all the Czech items on the menu.
- Ask for the Malaysian coffee if you like it strong.
- Don’t miss the jackfruit (langka), mango, and strawberry marmalade – with bread, of course – all home made by Yvon.
- Bring books.
- Let shit go. 🙂
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