It was one of those days when things didn’t go according to plan. The main reason we went to Dauin was to visit Apo Island, where we had heard that hundreds of sea turtles (pawikan) could be seen. We were excited for the experience, but sometimes travel has its own surprises, and not everything turns out the way we expect.

We were excited, but when we arrived at Malatapay Wharf, we were told that the Coast Guard would not allow any boats to leave because of the strong waves.

This was the nearest view that we got of the Apo Island 😢

There was quite a commotion, with many tourists eager to get to Apo Island, especially those who already had hotel reservations there. The people in charge and some barangay officials were trying to contact the Coast Guard, hoping they could change his mind, but the officer would not budge and refused to give permission for the boats to leave.

So instead of dwelling on our bad luck, I asked one of the people standing nearby if there were any other places we could visit. Luckily, he happened to be a Tricycle driver, and he suggested taking us to Turtle Island instead. Sometimes, unexpected detours lead to new adventures.

The tricycle ride was already an adventure before we had even reached our destination. Our driver wasn’t just taking us from one place to another…he became our tour guide as well, pointing out landmarks, sharing local stories, and making the journey just as enjoyable as the destination itself.

This historic marker commemorates the surrender of the Japanese forces in Negros Oriental, marking the end of World War II in the province and the beginning of a new chapter of peace and rebuilding.

Eventually, he stopped and told us that this was as far as the tricycle could go. From there, we would have to continue on foot. With the road behind us and the path ahead waiting to be explored, the real adventure was only just beginning.

We walked for several minutes along an unpaved road, taking our time as the scenery unfolded around us. I hadn’t brought my walking stick because I never expected we’d be walking this far, so I had to slow my pace and carefully watch every step. Our driver assisted me every step of the way.

Next, we took a boat to the beach. All the effort was so worth it. We were greeted by white sand and, best of all, we had the whole place almost to ourselves. It felt like we had rented the entire beach!

I asked the locals why there were hardly any people around, and they said it was probably because it was graduation season in the Philippines, so everyone was busy with preparations or celebrations.

The locals were so friendly. They offered to cook fish for our lunch, delivered our drinks, and even lent us their plates and cutlery. But of course, we had to pay for everything. When I asked the lady how much I owed her, she simply said, “Kung magkano ang gusto niyo ibigay, galing sa puso niyo.” In English, that means, “Whatever you want to give, from your heart.” Oh dear, that was an even harder decision to make! 😂

We stayed there for a few hours, enjoying the powdery white sand, the food and drinks, and the warm company of the locals. We were laughing, chatting away and slowly walking around the island appreciating the serenity. Time seemed to slow down as we simply relaxed and soaked in the laid-back island atmosphere.

At the agreed time, our boatman came back to pick us up and took us back to the mainland. 

We then walked back to our tricycle, passing through dirt roads, farm animals, and houses that were basically the backyards of the neighbourhood. It felt like we were getting a glimpse of everyday island life… simple, peaceful, and untouched by the usual tourist crowds. 

Then this was our last dinner together in Dauin. Pat was going to her next destination, Siargao, while the rest of us were going back to Manila.

And who would have thought that this day would turn out to be one of the most memorable times with family, even though it didn’t start out right?

It reminded me of an Indian proverb—which I actually remembered from watching the K-drama Crash Landing on You:

“Sometimes the wrong train takes you to the right station.”

And that was exactly our story that day.

I am linking this to Jo’s Monday Walk, Pepper’s One Step at a Time and Ju-Lyn’s Happy Place Happy Space