Good morning, everyone! It was finally time for us to move on from San Juan. We had been there for about five days, and while it was a good stay, the road was calling again. Our next destination was Maria, specifically Salagdoong Beach, where we’d booked a resort for a few days of pure, undisturbed relaxation. I told Jessa that once we got there, I wasn't going to touch the car at all. No driving, no exploring—just staying put, eating, and charging our batteries.
The journey there was a bit of a logistical challenge. We’re currently on a road trip that’s been going for months, and the car is absolutely packed to the roof. We had to do a serious round of unpacking and repacking just to keep things organized. Liam was in high spirits, as always, though he was a bit disappointed when he realized we weren't going for a swim the second we arrived. I had to remind him that we have plenty of time for that!
I have to be honest: I arrived at the new place feeling completely "knocked out." I’d been waking up at 5:00 AM, and the last three nights had been rough. The mattress at our previous spot was just too hard for my back to handle, and I was in a lot of pain. Sometimes you just have bad luck with beds, and there’s nothing you can do but wait for a better one. I actually fell asleep pretty much as soon as we checked in, leaving Jessa to handle the cleaning and Liam to "steal" my camera and phone to play with!
After a long, much-needed sleep, I woke up feeling like a new man. I set up my "office" at the resort, made a strong cup of coffee, and got some work done while Jessa and Liam were still waking up. The resort includes breakfast, so we headed over for a classic start to the day—an American breakfast for me and some corned beef for Jessa.
One of the highlights of the morning was watching Jessa "warm up" for our activities. She’s been really into her exercises lately, and I joked that she should start her own niche channel called "Exercise with Jessa." I’m not sure she’s ready for the fitness influencer life just yet, but she’s certainly got the dedication!
We eventually made our way down to the actual Salagdoong Beach. I’ve been here before, and it’s a truly stunning spot. However, we were met with a bit of a disappointment: the main beach area is currently closed for major renovations. It used to be a bustling spot with a restaurant and local shops, but right now, it’s a construction zone. They say it’ll be finished by October, but based on my experience with "Philippine time," I’m guessing it’ll be closer to March or April next year.
Even with the construction, the views from the cliffs are still incredible. There are these iconic diving platforms—one is about 10 or 11 meters high—and they brought back a lot of memories. I didn't carry Liam up to the top because the path was a bit too dangerous and slippery for my liking, but we still enjoyed the scenery from a safe distance.
Luckily, our resort has its own private swimming area, so we weren't completely out of luck. The water there was like swimming in an aquarium—perfectly clear and full of life. We even spent some time kayaking, which is free for guests. Jessa claims she’s an expert, and I have to admit, she’s actually pretty good at it!
We’re spending two more nights here before we head off on our next big adventure—which might involve some camping. For now, it’s just about good food, family time, and enjoying the beauty of Siquijor.
Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next one!
