I was on this trip during the last stretch of 2020. Looking back, it felt like as the year was ending, the pandemic also was. But, it did not! It still ruins lives up to this moment. When will this end? We all have the same question mayhap. However, amidst the continuing threat of the Covid-19, I had still a blissful closing of the year 2020, as on its final few days I had traversed the east of the island of Cebu.

We were bound for Camotes Islands. And, going there was really a struggle. Or, we just didn't make it to the right timing. We arrived at Danao port at 8:30 in the morning, expecting that we could go onboard around 10 or 11 am. However, it didn't go that way. Did covid really exist? The port was jam-packed. It seemed like all the people from our side of Cebu went out and left for Camotes. Later did we realize that it was the 29th of December, a rushed day, the people were going home for New Year's eve. So, we waited for almost 12 hours to finally have our tickets and get on board.

We arrived at San Francisco, Camotes at 11:00 in the evening. Our stomach already growled as we still hadn't taken our dinner yet. Luckily, upon heading to our accommodation, we found a BBQ house where we had a hearty meal.

It was already my third time visiting Camotes Islands. And this trip was I could say, the most fascinating one. Probably because it felt like my life was now moving again after a several months that it had been frozed by the pandemic.

First up, we visited Lake Danao, one of the tourist spots in the place which offers different activities to enjoy like kayaking, ziplining, horseback riding, among others. The place was so peaceful, and not much had arrived at the time of our visit. It seemed like we were the first guests of the Lake Danao.

Aside from its lakes and beaches, Camotes Islands is also very well-known for its natural caves which I considered the highlight of our trip. I mean, everything in the place was worth spending time with, but I was more fascinated with the caves.

We had visited three caves: Timubo, Amazing, and Heaven cove.

In the water, COVID did not exist. Or at least it felt that way. There were no masks, face shields, or alcohol when you go swimming. It's where like everything is back to normal, and everyone's free again.

From the caves, we headed then to "Tulang Diot", the little Boracay of Camotes Islands. It used to be a busy islet for its pristine white sand and crystal clear water. But now, what's left aside from its natural charm were just empty spaces.

Our last few hours in the island were spent enjoying the cold blue waters in here. It somehow washed my stress away. Really, nothin' can suppress the feeling that the holiday always brings.

We left the island at 4:00 in the afternoon. It was just a 17-hour trip. However, it never failed to give me a break from reality. It felt like things were normal again. And as much as I want to think that real soon we are going back to the normal that we lived before, I'd felt that it's still hard. I'd realized that like others, I also need to slowly accept that it's never the same again. We have to embrace the changes and break the momentum in anything that we think is unhealthy, to fully and healthily live the present.

This trip was just one of the things that I am grateful for amidst the situation that the whole world's in now. I am now able to travel again to places of Cebu. How's that?