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The main beach of Malapascua didn't exactly have 'paradise' written all over it but we knew this island had it somewhere. The white sand was lovely against the almost illuminous looking turquoise transparant sea, but the pieces of dead coral within the sand took away the 5 star element... Still, the palm fringed bay and very well set back low key beach accommodation gave this area a peaceful and very local feel - with just a handful of bars and restaurants along the bay.
Stretching our legs at night along the shore we passed so many locals and so few tourists that it gave the island a very traditional feel - especially as the resorts and eating places were more like local's own houses/back gardens and ran in a very laidback way! Even strolling inland on a random sandy path we discovered the very start of a buzzing inland local scene. More on this later.
The island has no roads of public transport so exploring the paths is a really unique and peaceful experience - no fumes, no noise and so safe. Unlike the touristy islands of Thailand or even Malaysia now, this was something very different - rather,
the island having an unpenetrable jungle interior, and its fringes rammed with resorts, this island was a true local's island with a thriving village community and cute straw huts nestled in palm trees where people lived.
Nearly every evening for the first few nights, we strolled along the shoreline looking out to sea as we saw some of the most spectacular lightning shows we have ever seen - fork and sheet lightning illuminating the sea and boats under a pink glow. I tried to film this but the camera didn't do it justice.
The food of the island is luckily better than in Malaysia with more German and Western influences. At least our stomachs could have a breather from the curries and rice combinations!
The cost of living is only marginally higher too - about 2-3 pounds for a decent meal but for the paradise location and no hassle factor we really didn't notice.
After further days exploring the walks exposed more detail of this lovely happy innocent and humble of islands. The few straw huts we observed at the beginning became the norm - again scenes time and time again reminding us of the middle
ages! The houses, typically enclosed by a rickety frame of wood would come complete with snorting pig, a few chickens, a wild dog sunbathing and a stray cat or two. The paths were just too tempting to not explore! We just picked one after the other leading us to a variety of vegetation - some denser areas of jungle, then a few more open areas where we would see kids playing volleyball or women washing their clothes in the very old fashioned way! Along the path, groups of young children played the ancient games which don't even exist in our society anymore! games with coins pebbles and sticks, or them climbing up trees with the ease that monkeys have. A few minutes more walking and we saw something else - parents and family members just sitting and smiling at us saying hello, whilst they were cooking a lovely looking stew over a hot stove or washing pots using the nearby well.
After a few more days we identified our favourite restaurant (a little in land with good food and normal' quick service!) and even our favourite stray dog who inevitibly met us either on the beach and then would
accompany us on an evening stroll, or would meet us at the restaurant and sit under our table.
We managed to walk the entire length of the island to the lighthouse at the northern tip. En route kids would follow us all excitedly before another distraction took their attention, cockrils provided the philippino sound track, the odd sqealing pig taken for someone's supper, playful dogs and cats all added to the safe and happy feel of this island.
This is truly a local's island where tourists take a happy second place but that's what makes it so fantastic. Despite nearby islands like Borocay threatening to change Malapascua somehow I don't think this will happen. The island I feel hasn't changed much for hundreds of years - and might as well be a living museum for 'western eyes' looking in. Hopefully Malapascua will keep its serenity and innocence, and happy people within the edges of its shores.
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lyn smith
non-member comment
lovely
First of all, I want to thank you for your kind and unspoil words. Those statement was really "TRUE", your right, still is HEAVEN AND PARADISE, esp. when you know, there are trully place in this world that still innocent at heart to welcome, love to care, give their best to their friends/visitors. Your dealing with "GOD MERCY" at all time in this Island. Mother Nature is your best friend, and pray that she stays. You know what I mean. I grow up there in "LOGON" till I was 12yrs. old. I know the catastrophy that nature can do. My family live on prayers, in everything that they do. I been away for too long, but my heart aches when I think back home. The fishing, fresh food, relax time always, and most of all my time with families. So I prayed that "GOD" will bring me home every year for the "FIESTA CELEBRATION" to see and feel GOD's creation that "HE" birthed me to, even I end to be the poorest girl in the world after all. I call it my ultimate sacrifice, gather all my energy for two years then back home again even just for two weeks, there "I'm broke" again. I have given it all to my people, but it's all worth it. Reading your blog, reminded me and it did brought tears to my eyes. I've been living in states since I was 19yrs. old. Taken me 13yrs. before I made it home again. I cried everytime month of May approaching, cause I know that this is the month that I will get reunited, and acquinted again with old and new members of our family, seeing most of my family from different place of the world. WE are very loyal and true to our feelings being a family. Since 99, I have been home often, as I know now 2yrs is the most, that I can take of feeling homesick. I'm hoping one day, that GOD will let me stay for as long as He let me. It's funny how growing up, I want to ran away from the innocent of life, now looking back I wish I stayed. But then, I would not know the difference what life had to offer. Now I treasure everything about the Island. And I hope that this comment will bring a lesson to the locals, that what you got on that Island is a pure "TREASURE" make the best of it, and love it because "GOD's had given you the life of "PARADISE". My thanks to the LORD OF HOW HE KEEP THAT LITTLE ISLAND WELL CARE AND PROTECTED. TO OUR MOTHER, Mahal, Virgin De Los Desamparados, (daghang salamat sa imong pagkamatuod nga inahan, wala kay pinalabi). Well, thank you for visiting there, and your true words. I hope that you will visit again. LYN MONTECLAR ROSALES