«» Travel Notes 012: Camping on Calaguas Island
HELLO. I’m Atom, and you’ve received my Travel Notes, which I send out once a week, every week:
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My goal here is to bring you with me to all 82 provinces of the Philippines. Solo travel can be thrilling, but I enjoy my travels more when I have someone to share it with.
Beautiful. Hot. Itchy.
These were the huts assigned to us on Calaguas Island, an island paradise complete with the softest white sand, the clearest blue waters, the hottest sun, and the cleverest mosquitoes.
I tried desperately to enjoy my paradise between 10 PM and 1 AM, but the mosquitoes beat me (haha). I had every patch of skin below my neck covered, yet they still found ways to bite my jaw and forehead.
I would have covered my face, too, but each hut had only one weak ceiling fan. I had to choose between sweating or scratching myself to sleep.
In desperation, I circled the resort in search of another place to sleep.
Every spot I found was either too hot or too itchy.
Eventually, I found Reni. Instead, I think he found me.
Di ka nakakatulog? He asked. He was smiling. He was always smiling. Or laughing.
I told him I couldn’t sleep because it was soo hot and there were so many mosquitoes.
May Off ka? He asked again.
No, I didn’t.
Ito, ito. Meron pa ako. He said with a laugh. He went somewhere and came back with two Off towelettes. I asked him if there were sand mites and if I could sleep on the beach, which was cooler and windier.
Mag tent ka nalang! He said with a nod of his head and another chuckle. He disappeared for a few minutes and came back with a tent and a mattress, blanket, and pillows. It was close to 1:30 AM, so I told him I could set it up myself.
He doesn’t say a word this time. He laughs.
We set up the tent together; I thanked him and said good night.
It rained at 5 AM, but because I had a mattress, I stayed dry.
I went back to sleep and stayed that way until 7 AM.
The only other problem I had with Calaguas was the wifi. They charged me P80 for 80 minutes. This time, Reni had nothing up his sleeves. He just laughed.
Looking back, I cannot help but smile with gratitude at how:
Reni was awake that late.
Reni was as happy, thoughtful, and kind as he was.
Reni had a tent, mattress, and pillow.
I stayed dry despite the rain.
I have a closed room with aircon to sleep in tonight. I don’t need to worry about mosquitoes, sand mites, or rain.
I have unlimited wifi at home.
I can’t say I enjoyed the suffering of that night, but I am definitely grateful it happened, for no other reason than because I now appreciate my room that much more.
Until next week,
Atom
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