Saying Goodbye to Malapascua Island: A Bittersweet Journey Home

Namaste, everyone! It's me again, @rufajane, back with another blog to share.

If you’ve been following my Malapascua Island adventures, then you already know how hard it is to leave a place that brings you so much comfort. The trip is officially over, and reality is calling us back home. Yes, you read that right—this blog is about how my very last day in Malapascua went. It’s going to be a short one, though, since our final morning on the island was a bit of a whirlwind!

The Early Morning Rush

Because my mother is a Master Teacher, she had to be on duty on Monday morning, which meant we needed to head out early. We woke up at the crack of dawn—3:30 A.M. sharp—to pack up and get ready to leave by 5:00 A.M.

Fortunately, we were offered a private pumpboat, which saved us the stress of hunting for a ride so early. Since Maya Port in Daanbantayan, Cebu is only about a 30-minute boat ride away, we calculated that we’d easily make it back before my mom’s 8:00 A.M. duty hour. Plus, we had our own car waiting for us, which made the journey seamless (and let's just say, our car is pretty fast!). Still, the moment we pushed off from the shore, I already felt a pang of sadness, like a piece of me was being left behind.

What I’ll Miss the Most

I truly miss how the island made me feel. Even now, whenever I look back on those days, tears come to my eyes thinking about how precious that time was. Our friends there were incredibly hospitable and went out of their way to make us feel welcome.

More than anything, I miss the simple, happy moments we shared around the dinner table. Even though I don't personally eat sea urchins, just watching everyone else enjoy them so much brought a real warmth to my heart.

So, if you were to ask me where I want to go for my next holiday, my answer is simple: "I'll choose Malapascua Island over and over again." There is still so much left to experience especially since I still need to fulfill my dream of swimming with the sharks! haha.

Alvida, everyone! Until the next adventure.