Good morning from Bantayan Island! Today, we’re heading out for a bit of a different adventure. We’re about a 20-minute ride away from Santa Fe, and we’re visiting the Mangrove Garden, also known as the Echo Park. I’ve actually never been to a place like this before, so I’m really curious to see what it’s all about.
For those who are fans of Philippine cinema, this place is quite famous because it’s where the movie "Camp Sawi" was filmed. Jessa was particularly excited about that part, and they even have the "Camp Sawi" sign right there at the entrance. It’s funny how a filming location can turn into such a big tourist draw, but the nature reserve itself is what I was really there to see.
As soon as we stepped onto the bamboo walkways, I was struck by how beautiful and peaceful the area is. The entire park is built over the mangroves with these winding bamboo paths that take you deep into the reserve. It’s a bit of a long walk, but Liam was in high spirits. He was actually dragging me along; he was so excited to explore! He really seems to have a natural curiosity for the outdoors, which I love to see.
The park is incredibly well-maintained, and walking through the dense mangroves gives you a real appreciation for this kind of ecosystem. It’s a very different vibe from the white sand beaches we’ve been spending time on, but just as beautiful in its own way. We spent a good amount of time just wandering the paths and taking in the greenery.
At the end of our walk, we had a bit of a surprise encounter. We actually met a couple of fans of the channel! It’s always a bit surreal but very humbling to meet people who follow our journey when we’re out in the middle of nowhere. They were incredibly kind and invited us to join them for dinner later that evening. We happily accepted—meeting new people is one of the best parts of traveling like this.
After a quick rest back at our place, we met up with our new friends at a restaurant called "Hungry Beach." They have a great rooftop area with a perfect view. We ordered a massive seafood platter to share, and I have to say, it looked—and tasted—absolutely amazing. There’s nothing like fresh seafood and good conversation to cap off a day of exploring. I even tried a Mango Graham dessert, which was the perfect sweet finish to the meal.
We ended the night with some ice cream and a lot of laughs. It’s been a really productive and social day. Meeting Edna and our new German friend reminded me why we do this—it’s about the connections you make along the road just as much as the places you see.
Tomorrow, we’re hoping the weather holds up because we’ve got big plans to head out to Virgin Island. If the sun is shining, it’s going to be another spectacular day of filming and exploring.
Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next one!
