Back when island trotting was my thing, I had my eyes on Apo Island.
Every travel blogger I met swore the sea turtles practically greet you with a “good morning” on the island’s shores. Now that’s a far cry from my past snorkeling adventures, where those turtles are either missing in action or flat-out avoiding me. Who wouldn’t want a chance to see these graceful creatures up close?
My travel friends were not about to miss that.
But getting to this stunner is a whole journey in itself – a bit of a metaphor for my life if you will. Curious? Read on. (P.S. If you just want the eye candy, scroll down for the beach pics. But if you’re into the story behind these stormy beach photos, stick with me.)
I checked photos of Apo Island before our trip and I expected dramatic cliffs against the ocean, green landscape, and a world teeming with underwater life. It was all true. But when you go around September, the picture is slightly different.
Sea Turtle Chasers vs. the Mighty Waves
The boat lurched violently, each wave a salty slap to the face. The taste of the ocean clung to my lips, a constant reminder of the untamed power that surrounded us. Smooth sailing? Not today.
The pump boat that had seemed so sturdy back in the harbor now felt fragile, a mere speck against the vastness of the open sea. Our destination, a distant blur on the horizon, did little to ease the knot in my stomach.
Was this what they call leaving your comfort zone?
I tried to think of something else. But I was quite terrible at distractions.
First, my mind went to our brand-new camera. No scratches, and no ROI yet… just the hope of capturing some amazing shots for our websites.
Then, I started worrying about my MacBook. It’s three years old, and I was suddenly so relieved I left it at home. Wait a minute… why am I even thinking about this?!
If this boat flipped and we all went down, my stuff wouldn’t matter one bit. I let that sink in.
This paranoia got stronger as the waves kept crashing. I was starting to seriously question this whole trip.
But then I looked around.
Four Friends Facing the Unknown
Jewel sat in front of me, quiet but composed. Maybe she’d accepted our fate, or perhaps she was just better at hiding her fear.
Rob, the resident pessimist, was surprisingly calm. He even cracked a few jokes, proving that even introverts have their moments.
And Neil? Well, he was having a blast, grinning and whooping with every wave that jolted the boat. The guy could find humor in anything, even in a potentially disastrous boat ride.
It hit me then: I wasn’t alone in this struggle. We were all facing it together. And if you want to experience true beauty, sometimes you have to endure a bit of discomfort.
Spoiler Alert: The sea turtles were a no-show that day, tucked away somewhere safe. But our day trip was extended to an overnight stay because of the bad weather but this revealed the side of Apo Island in all its raw, powerful glory.
Sometimes, the greatest treasures are found not in what we seek, but in what we unexpectedly encounter.
