April we were on the road most of the time… it was Easter family reunion time
Direct flight to New York, bus to Boston, driving to Halifax in Canada, back and forth, stopped in Boston another weekend for the lobster feast, then fly to Jacksonville Florida for the last chapter of the USA visit
Hugging, laughing, reconnecting… bonding, while fixing the missing pieces like the puzzles we played in the house
It takes time, sometimes even exhausting, yet totally worth it, the whole trip, my husband and I both know… love finally conquers gaps between over these awful years apart
Now May is here… new focus, new intention, sooner or later, resulting in new directions and paths
Happy the jolly month of May with more sunshine, my friend
Woke up in the middle of the night, there were hums and buzzes in the air… from something huge, kept moving, also very close to the roof of the house
Apparently reading too much from the book of the three-body problem recently… if it is a UFO and aliens, I wonder, even made contact finally, without any harm, meanwhile intelligence safely got developed expanded and advanced, so what
Destiny still put each of us here on the earth, no escape… if this life is not supposed to vanish at that particular moment
Continuing, and ongoing, day by day, year by year, living the simple and easy retirement lifestyle I am currently living… observing, while comprehending everything and everyone surrounded me profoundly, with more respect and mercy
Instead of setting off on a cruise for the rest of Philippine islands from yesterday on Feb 2 (Thursday), my husband and I have extended another year stay at Boracay (besides someone is offering cash to buy our sailing catamaran right now)… the island has its own way to keep people, as the locals had told us long time ago
Glad we slowly adapted to the post-pandemic vibe on the island… dining in new restaurants on the white beach, while making new friends and chit chatting about their past experiences as well as interesting life stories from all over the world
I love Boracay… oh yes, I stilldo
P. S. while stuck in Shanghai during the two and half years earlier, my friend on wechat was joking about that ‘in all people I know, you are the one who loved Boracay the most’… and I corrected immediately, ‘dear, I am still in love with that paradise under the sun even now my body is not there’; then in the latest note she wrote, ‘finally, you are free’, and I replied, ‘yes, indeed, I am’
Met a couple in the pool bar, when we celebrated the full moon at the beginning of the year… the girl is from the Philippines, and the guy is from the UK; they have known each other for eight years and planning to get married next year
‘Congrats’, I send my warmest regards to both of them… ‘another one bites the dust’, well, that was from my husband (no comment)
Have been married for almost 20 years, I finally stopped asking the meaning of the marriage… it is such a sacred thing if one ever view that two strangers attracted to each other that much and willing to be bonded for the rest of their life together
It is a commitment… while also a lasting forever maintenance, requiring full responsibility and courage for it
If the two were really made for each other, sooner or later, one would realize that there is no secret could ever be hidden… as each is the mirror clearly showing the other 100% besides day and night non-stop
There are good bad beauty and ugliness… ups and downs just like life itself
Being the best one can be, and living life to the fullest… is the ultimate freedom to love and to be loved my friend
Merry Christmas Everyone… time flew, the New Year Eve is approaching after the warm Christmas gathering
So soon, two months are in the blink of an eye on Boracay since my husband and I both decided celebrating this holiday season back on the island… where we have lived for more than 10 years before the COVID happening all of a sudden
We have extended our stay in Pinjalo for another month until February of 2023 thus… due to the ongoing celebration of the Chinese New Year we prefer not to miss
In case you wonder, it is a year of the Water Rabbit… starting from Jan 22 of next year and ending on Feb 9 of 2024
People born in the Rabbit year are normally vigilant, ingenious, and polite, easily to get out of the most difficult situations… with patience and luck, 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope, and peace, with more relaxation
May each of you letting go of problems in the past, and being prepared for unexpected difficulties in the coming year if any… Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year my friend
Back to the house in Pinjalo, where Steve picked for us after Mandala pool villa… while I was stuck in Shanghai, and he by himself stayed for an entire year then heading to Cebu for MAHAL’s upgrades and maintenances
So yes, we continue a simple yet happy island lifestyle on Boracay where he left behind one and a half years ago… well, at least for these two months to celebrate the upcoming holiday season together
People ask about our MAHAL Sailing… sadly to announce that we no longer do day sailing or sunset cruises, yet we are also so proud to make the decision to keep MAHAL for our own private use from now on, to explore further destinations of Paradise under Sun in Philippines, as part of our retirement plan
Once back on the island, it is easy getting used to the quality lifestyle we have been maintaining while indulging in at Boracay since 2010
After 6 nights and 7days’ peace and serenity of sailing back to Boracay from Cebu whilst a seafood feast on a secluded beach, provided by the super nice locals on a little tiny island… we both also learnt that there are more wonders from God, waiting for us to discover, explore, and enjoy ahead
Time will heal all those traumas from COVID that we have suffered since we were apart from each other for those two and a half years… slowly but surely, nature is as well as working on the cure that we both appreciate deeply and gratefully
What a Happy Anniversary trip… we just spent 7days 6 nights at Boracay for our 19th anniversary celebration of finally being together
Stayed in the beachfront ocean view room at Nigi Too… thanks for the kind coordination and arrangement from our best friends Jason and Del on the island, we also joined a get together dinner besides great as usual live band entertainment with both of them at the very original Nigi Nigi one night
As well as wining and dining every day for foodies like us… we started from Nonie at Station X for a late night drink and bites upon arrival on the 12th of last Monday
Heading to Discovery Shores for beautiful sunset drinks with premium choices of my hubby’s margaritas and my favorite customized gin based cocktails… bartender Jomes is professional and as sweet as before; then to balance the tipsy from the sheer joy of our anniversary celebration on the 13th, we continued dinner at Kasbah with further drink and karaoke moments there
In addition to the indulgence, we also had a wide variety of brunches at white beach front restaurants of our own choice everyday… Sunny side up for day 1, Coast for day 2, Cafe del Sol and Aria for day 3
Certainly, both of us would not miss Nagisa for the spread of Japanese food one night, Hap Chan for dim sum selections of late afternoon, and newly air conditioned Cyma for old time catch ups in the evening… along with the exploring of Epic, Lemoni Cafe, and Heidiland at D’ Mall area
Out of all energized experiences during this entire trip however, the best is that we finally figured out what the next chapter of our life shall be… now both of us are back at the quiet dwelling at Cebu for MAHAL repaint job to be done soon, and cannot wait for the new chapter of our distinctive retirement lifestyle communing with the beauties of nature ahead
P. S. the best vacation is when u think enough is enough and start missing a peaceful life back home 😉
August, the month of Leo… Happy Birthday to my hubby, the strong, generous, and warmhearted man in my life
Ah yes, he is still who he is, good or bad, the most natural person I have ever known… not changed after all
Stopped being lonely by the moment I am back with him however… guess that is the only thing I can do and glad, he enjoys my company and starts in love with life once again
Here in Cebu, living in a little tiny apartment in garden close to dry dock where MAHAL is located for now (due to several buyers lined up for decisions, also repaint job needs be done once the boat continued staying with us)… we laugh often, bickering like normal couples (as Steve had put) occasionally, and have a very easy and simple life together
During this dark stage of the entire world, we have learnt that as long as both of us are healthy, together with true love to each other, anywhere in this entire universe is home for true happiness
Yes, I made it… flew all the way from Shanghai to Cebu
Yes, we are together… my husband met me at the airport that day and off we went hand in hand again
and Yes, life is finally back as it should be… even we are getting used to each other after the two and a half years apart, but the happiness is apparently more than sorrow, while intimacy is more than distance
Even there is trauma built in the past appeared once in a while, as time goes on, we are healing each other with love
The ongoing COVID pandemic and the rest of the chaos happening in the world, continuously reminding all of us how precious such a short and limited life each of us has, and what kind of life we shall be living in, as well as what kind of a person we should behave with conscious… as to deserve a true good life ahead after all
When life is slowly back to normal, such as people are walking on the streets everywhere, I can shop in airconed stores or call a taxi to embassy for the visa application, watching office people gathering together to chit chat during lunch time… I hope the worst is indeed over, especially after those two months’ unexpected sudden lockdown
Tapped out in morse code like the title of a science fiction series 2-0-2-0 a sort of numbers code SOS broadcast from the earth, we have found ourselves regardless of address or nation, without culture or social safety nets confronting widespread suffering, inability, fear, even death caused by a novel coronavirus… stuck in my own city of Shanghai since, I did finally realize however, that the Chinese are well protected by the government even some measures might sound harsh, ridiculous, and unbearable, and the process went through could be uncomfortable, unpleasant, besides painful for majority overseas’ understanding
So many doubts and conflicts during the lockdown, while trust were also shaking… but after all, I must admit that my government did not let us down, continued being one of the last remaining nations committed to eradicating covid even few ever appreciated, or felt grateful for what had been accomplished for a safe shield that shelters and protects the people from the rest vicious world
‘So, you have thought through and decided to leave this time?’ my father asked, ‘yes, I do’… because my husband has been waiting for me all these difficult years and time to be back beside him, living our own simple and happy life together as a lovely married couple
Jul 5 of next Tuesday, fly again, and home soon… thank God that I finally learn that nothing on earth can make up for the loss of one who has been loving you like my husband
Back in Paradise 