The lazy life...

How could we reject Matt and Grace's spontaneous invitation to spend the weekend at the family's beach house in Ginatilan? Saturday morning we stuffed the car with good food, beach outfits, toys for Saana, and were on our way!

Ginatilan is a cute little town in the most southern tip on the west coast of Cebu island. After his retirement, Grace's father returned to Ginitilan, a place dear to him, to build a beach house for the family to enjoy.

135km from Cebu City, we traversed the mountain range of Cebu, stopped for a "carabao milk" mango icecream to stretch our legs and sat on the beach mere four hours later!

The tranquility of the place was contagious! Used to the buzz of the city and the daily routine of office work we let go of all of this and just relaxed! We played with Saana on the beach and immersed ourselves in the beauty of discovering the world with the eyes of a tow-year old: a shell, a leave, an odd-shaped pebble, a hermit crab trying to outsmart us and hide, small black ants exploring our arms and legs...

In between we enjoyed Matthias' self-made German bread with cheese and grapes, Grace's stunning salad, and fresh coconuts which Glenn "plugged" for us climbing a 20 meter high coconut tree. Quick like a monkey he conquered the top of the palm tree, earning the respect of all the bystanders! Grace admitted they never eat the coconuts because they don't know how to get them down. They would sometimes pay a boy from the neighborhood to climb up there to harvest.

At night we went to the town center which impressed me with the tallest Acacia tree I've ever seen and a 200 year-old well-maintained church! People enjoyed themselves sitting in groups chatting, kids were playing at the promenade which the setting sun tinged in the most bizarre colors.

After dinner we talked about Grace and her family, her childhood and upbringing. The many framed family pictures all over the house gave us a unique glimpse into her life. What a treasure!

Thank you again, Matt and Grace, for inviting us to spent the weekend with you and Saana!

When was the last time you spent a nice and relaxed weekend with friends? I suggest you plan it out!