water's edge

We waited almost two years, since our move to the Philippines, to finally make it out to the beach.  A real one at that even.  Mike was fearing a potential burnout from his work load and he knew that the only way to shut his brain off from all things work related was to get out of Manila and someplace where he could avoid wifi.

5am Monday morning we raced the city traffic to the bus station, took the bus for a two hour drive down to the Batangas Pier, took the ferry to Puerto Galera, Mindoro island and landed at Mengie's Resort.  A very basic place that fits our low budget.  Margie (co-owner with her husband) calls it missionary price.  She's had her place for 29 years and knows a lot of mutual missionary friends.  We heard of her through the McDougals who apparently always stay at her place whenever they go out that way for a family vacation.

When the ferry landed on the inviting Talipanan beach Maverick zoned into his own world and just plopped on the beautiful white sand entertaining himself to his heart's content.  Orlando was itching to get his near two year old feet in the turquoise colored water and I was itching to romance the surroundings with my camera.  Holy moly what a beautiful spot.

Margie was very warm and inviting when we arrived by 10am.  She was all ready to feed us a big scoop each of fried rice topped with a fried egg.  But we first got ourselves situated in the tiny rooms and everyone changed to go into the water.  She would call us back to her dining area when she had our meal set on the table.  

By the end of the afternoon everyone was sporting the red lobster look.  Everyone except for Orlando and myself.  The winds kept us from getting hot and the water seemed pretty cool.   Almost cold.

Fortunately, there were other Faith Academy families and friends who's minds were ingeniously [and unknowingly] in sync for Spring Break.  The boys hooked up with Brody Clark and Daniel Quackenbush.  Underclassmen but very nice boys.  By evening I was so glad we didn't make any reservations for White Beach as their partying rhythmic sounds seemed to reverberate through the atmosphere and drown out the lapping waves towards our end of the beach.  Unbelievable considering how far White Beach is from Talipanan Beach.  Because we left Manila's high volume chaos, it wouldn't have made any sense to spend bus, ferry and vacation money just to go someplace for a different kind of loud.  

I thought I had woken up just after the break of dawn Tuesday morning....but 8am isn't exactly that.  At least it was still early enough to catch the pandesol vendor.....mmmm....!!!!! At that point Sierra and Tori had both woken up and so there'd be no such thing as enjoying pandesol and coffee on the beach by myself.  Certainly didn't mind sharing the beautiful moment with them, though.  By breakfast everyone was up and Mav was too miserable over his burned back to enjoy eating.  He couldn't fathom why a sunburn would hurt so much. But being all boy, he was back on the white sands and in the water right after breakfast.  This time with a shirt on.

Margie sent her employee to the fishermen who'd just brought in their fresh catch from during the night.  She pranced up with a huge mahi mahi.  Margie cooked up a beautiful lunch spread for us that included tuna and sweet and sour mahi mahi.  Oy....what symphony !!!  

Dylan's high light was communicating with the McDougals, getting Keith's permission to take Joy to the junior/senior banquet, planning how he'd ask her and then the big moment Wednesday noon.  So, Wednesday morning Tyler and Daniel helped Dylan write the ask in the sand for Joy.  Margie had made a bouquet from flowers all around her resort property.  Dylan ordered some delectable light crispy cheese pizza from Luca's next door and Joy had no idea what she had coming when the McDougals and all their friends (of three other families) jeepneyed over from the otherside of Mindoro for the afternoon.  She had no idea Dylan would be whisking her off to the newly Ayala purchased beach which is a good walk from Mengie's.  Was able to get some great pics of almost everyone jumping off the rocks into this near hidden cove when they got back.  

It was an incredible, though short, beach vacation.  So beautiful. I couldn't think of a better place to enjoy reading my Bible, mango shakes, pandesol, espresso, great food or family time.