This was one of those journeys that perfectly illustrates the unpredictability of traveling in the Philippines. We set out with a clear plan: head to the terminal and catch a ferry to Masbate. We’ve been traveling for months—all the way to Norway and back—and we were looking for one final destination to explore before heading back to our normal lives in Cebu. But as we quickly learned, Masbate apparently had other ideas.
The trouble started with the weather. We drove for hours, with Jessa snacking to keep her energy up and Liam "magically" waking up every time the car stopped. When we finally reached the port, we were met with heavy winds and rough seas. The smaller ferries weren't taking any cars at all. We spent nearly 24 hours waiting, sleeping in a tiny local hotel with no hot water and a TV that barely worked, hoping the next departure would be different. It wasn't.
Despite being told there would be room for us, we were repeatedly pushed back. First, it was the wind; then, it was because trucks from the previous day had to be prioritized. Information at these local ports is often "far between," and online schedules mean very little when you're standing on the pier. After the third failed attempt to get our car on a boat, I reached my breaking point. Jessa and I decided to "surrender" the Masbate idea. Life is too short to spend your vacation sitting in a dusty terminal waiting for a boat that might never let you on.
We made a quick executive decision: we’d drive another five hours to Matnog and take a much larger, more reliable ferry to Bogo, Cebu, and then head over to Bantayan Island. It’s a place we know and love, and at this point, we just wanted some "much-needed R&R."
The trip to Bogo was an overnight ferry, which turned out to be a great move for Liam. We got him full of sugar with some ice cream and soda to keep him awake until we boarded, and then he slept through the entire crossing. It’s not quite European standards, but it gets you from A to B.
Arriving in Santa Fe, Bantayan, felt like a massive weight had been lifted. We skipped the Jollibee and went straight for a local seafood lunch—scallops, fish soup, and seaweed. We eventually found a great spot called Anaya Beach Resort. We were originally looking at another place, but it didn't have a proper beach for Liam and Jessa to swim in safely. At Anaya, we’re paying about 1,800 pesos a night for a 10-day stay, which is a steal for being right on the water.
So, after about 80 hours of "Philippine time" delays and detours, our long journey has finally come to an end. My "office" for the next ten days is a table by the beach, where I’ll be putting in a few hours of work on my web shops before hitting the water with the family. We’re going to spend our time swimming, relaxing, and grilling fresh seafood.
See you in the next one!
