By Edward So Kua
Pre-lockdown, I often take my kids on a holiday as this is our way of beating the humdrum of daily grind and an opportune time for me to be with my family sans the workload concerns.
I always want it hassle-free, that is the reason I planned for everything. From the target destination, accommodation, flight schedule, food and of course must it must within our budget.
I know the reality of what to expect — that different place offers a different experience. At one point, I start getting questions and comments from my kids such as “Why is our room like this? The previous hotel is much better than this”.
Hearing all these grumblings, I realized that they’re still young, and yet they have their own standard in mind based on their previous experience. And this struck me, and I realized that apparently, luxury is now becoming their standard and basis of happiness.
The lockdown is a wake-up call. Our business really suffered, we were barely afloat. We got stuck in the comfort of our home for several months and this never happened before. As days turn to weeks and weeks turn to months, we are keeping our sanity by keeping ourselves busy and entertained. Everyone is trying to learn skills. Different cooking recipes for my wife, piano and TikTok for my kids and I realized I can do so many household repairs, installations, and cleanings. It’s just that I didn’t have the time to do it, or perhaps, I was not keen on doing it.
There is one thing I appreciate about the lockdown, at least in my personal experience with my family. It brought our family closer and made our life simpler. Sharing a meal three times a day together is becoming normal. Unlike pre-pandemic, since I have some social and business obligations to fulfill, I never had this golden opportunity that I am enjoying now which is sharing meal with my family three times a day. Then after our dinner, we watch a movie at night and that is our routine.
Our life is literally eating, sleeping, and playing together, and that is true on the following day. We all experienced the varying lockdowns —from Enhanced Community Quarantine, then later on to a more relaxed General Community Quarantine.
Complying with the IATF guidelines and requirements, I managed to drive my kids to a friend’s house in Lipa, Batangas for an overnight. Like animals who were set free from their cage, it’s total freedom for them. A totally different environment from what they have gotten used to. A place which is not luxurious, not expensive as everything was provided free, but a place which is “fun”.
The stories I collected over the months are finally told through my column. From our experience and skills that we thought we never had were unlocked were finally shared. The recipes we have been wanting to cook are finally tried.
In hindsight, I realized that a day is not just enough for us.
As we planned for our next destination, we sought the help of Air BNB. We find hotels too crowded and risky, and most of them aren’t into operations as well. We were keener on renting a whole place, a private villa, a farm, a beach house, or something that we will be exclusive to our family. And if we could find one, that is when the idea of camping came in.
I love driving, I love exploring, I love offroad and I love the beach. However, my kids are used to hotels. Washroom and airconditioning must be available. However, those amenities were not available, so our first camping was a total disaster. We only have 1 tent that fits 3, but we are 5 in the family. To get by the night, we tried to squeeze 4 in the tent leaving me with my camping chair for the night while the mosquitoes feasted on me. But that was the sacrifice I had to make for the love of my children and my wife.
The agony of my children could have been abated because I brought an airbed for us. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring the pump for our airbed leaving my kids sleeping on rocky ground. As inevitable, my wife was complaining, kids are crying… It just didn’t work as I thought it would!
So on our 2nd camping trip, we all came prepared. We brought 2 tents that fit 3 people in each, 2 air beds, and the pump for the airbed. I prepared a checklist and ensured that the unpleasant experience of my family will never happen again.
So we drove to our destination at Cabongaon Beach, Burgos, Pangasinan. It was a 5-6 hour trip from Makati. There is no need to take a plane. We have access to a very basic toilet and a manual pump for freshwater. What the accommodation fell short of was compensated by the crystal clear water and those fine white sands! What can be enjoyed by us was amplified by the presence of the good company of friends, and relatives who obliged to join us when I invited them.
After our 3 days and 2 nights trip, we are finally home. But what soothed my tiredness is when I heard from my kids these three simple words — “Best day ever!” Interestingly, I did not hear a single grumbling from them and much more from my wallet.
As I was ruminating about that memorable outing we had, I realized that life need not have to be complicated, and in our experience that gave satisfaction and joy to my children. I said to myself, the BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE.
Free from complicated life. Free from setting a luxurious standard of living our life, and lastly, free to explore the beauty of our country and nature created by God for everyone to enjoy while it is there.
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