In case you were wondering why I was inaccessible on the 4th, here's the answer.
For this year's summer getaway, I was tasked to arrange our trip to Isla Margarita, it being our destination was my suggestion. This is the first time that our franchise got a nod from the boss to join the team from main. It was exciting as it was taxing (to my phone plan with Myrna asking me to call instead of her calling me...hahaha).
Day 1 (April 4) - Yeah, by 10A.M., data is already off for my carrier. I was far from enjoying the trip. My mind was occupied with worry. What if they Myrna sends a jeep (my boss was expecting an AC van)? What if they find the trip very long and tiring? What if they find the place boring? What if they don't like the food? So many what ifs...
The resort owner was at the Jordan pier to meet us. With her crew and food to boot, we crammed inside two white vans that she rented for our stay. My feet felt dead after an hour seated between Myrna and Ms Belen. Its a good thing that most of the road was already finished.
At the resort, while the rest of the gang were busy with picture-taking and finding a room to their liking, I went to talk with Myrna asking if a birthday celebrant gets a free accommodation while I settled our deposit. She said I should have told her earlier so she could have prepared a birthday gift. Hahaha!
As I was busy, I ended up bunking with the boys (Junrey, JR and Emz). They're a fun bunch who spent most of the day indoors playing card games while Glen, myself and Lans swam in the beach after lunch until we thought we had enough.
As agreed, we can do as we please during our stay in the island as long as we convene at the mess hall after dinner for a round of team building activity. They sang me a birthday song with my picture taken earlier in the day projected onto the wall :)
Day 2 (April 5) - As planned, we spent most of the morning frolicking in the pristine waters that cover the sandbar which appears during low tide. At this time of year, most of it was covered by thigh deep water that even those that fear depth enjoyed. With so much adventurous people in the group, I was able to test the deep waters, sans life jacket. It was a liberating experience as it was something that I missed doing in ages.
Beside the sand bar, we went around the mangrove plantation, Balas Balabag (It's an island shaped like a bone with a sand bar on its middle part. We girls each had a solo photo by Sir Kooks who jokingly said twas for the school's 2014 calendar. There's something here that I very well want to forget besides that sealice which bite hurt as much...sniff!!!) and the Batu ("something" which serves as some black bird sanctuary which we dared dirsturb by clapping our hands, sending the poor birds flying off to the nearby island).
The morning activity had us all retire to our respective rooms after lunch. When the sun's heat was no longer biting, we explored the cove behind our cottage. There was a small paddle boat which we (Melyn, Emz and myself) "borrowed" to explore the deep end on one side of the island. It was my first time handling an oar and I think I did well. It's just I had nothing to show here.
At night, I joined JD, Glen, Emz and Sir Jester as we howled the night away. This time I sang Copacabana and had the boys dancing around like crazy. Hahahaha!
Day 3 (April 6) - After breakfast while waiting for the van to pick us up, we busied ourselves with more last minute picture-taking.
30 strong team pf LST Staff and Trainers
That concludes our brief stay at Isla Margarita
