Good morning! It’s that bittersweet moment when you realize the vacation is officially over. We’ve been traveling for a long time—taking us through different parts of the Philippines and even all the way to Norway and back—but now it’s time to head back to Cebu. As much as I love the nomadic life, we have big projects on the horizon, and life has to start again at some point.
We started our final morning in Bantayan with a trip to the local fish market. It was a bit smaller than I expected, but it was bustling with fresh catches. Jessa picked out some fish for a final lunch with our friends, Mike and company. We had a great spread—fish soup, vegetables, and even some seaweed, which I made sure was there specifically for Mike. It was a perfect way to wind down before the journey ahead.
Packing the car was the usual "extreme Tetris" challenge. We arrived with the car about half-full, but somehow we were leaving with it packed to the roof. Between all the gifts and toys Liam received and Jessa’s "essentials"—which I jokingly call garbage, but she insists are necessary clothes and shoes—we could barely fit everything in. Jessa even had to travel with bags at her feet. That’s just the reality of traveling with a growing family!
The trip back involves a boat ride to the mainland and then a long drive to Cebu City. I’m actually looking forward to the drive; it’s about three to four hours, and since the weather is a bit cloudy, it's perfect for driving. Jessa and Liam usually fall asleep pretty quickly, which gives me some quiet time to catch up on my favorite podcasts and enjoy a 7-Eleven iced coffee.
We aren't heading straight to our permanent base just yet. We’re spending three nights in the city because Jessa needs a medical check-up. She’s been suffering from these recurring, intense headache attacks that usually hit around 10:00 PM when Liam is getting tired. It’s been really tough on her, and we want to rule out migraines or figure out exactly what’s causing them. We’re heading to UC Med to see if she needs an MRI or other tests. If any of you have experience with this kind of thing, please do share—we’re looking for any help we can get to find her some relief.
We eventually made it to our hotel in the city. They promised a "City View," but looking out the window, I’m not so sure I’d call it that! Still, it’s a decent place with enough room for Liam to move around and, most importantly for me, a good workstation so I can keep things moving while Jessa is at the hospital.
Our long travel journey is officially over for now. It’s been an incredible time, but I’m ready to shift gears. We have some exciting new projects coming up that I’ve hinted at before, and I’ll be sharing more about those in the next few videos.
Thanks for following our journey.
