The next day was spent doing absolutely nothing, just literally enjoying each others company by the Infinity pool, ordering cocktail after cocktail before the time came for lunch. It was only at this point that we realised the hotel was completely deserted.
Everyone had left and we had the entire estate to ourselves along with the incredible staff. Even though we were the only ones there, the service didn’t even falter. We ordered a gluttonous lunch, knowing that there was no one else in the hotel that we needed to suck our stomachs in for.
We had the most incredible relaxing day and booked ourselves in for a couples massage after realising our skin was a little pink towards the afternoon.
After our little afternoon snacks, we were ready for the ultimate relaxation which is when the camera was left in the room and wasn’t picked up again until the next morning, when we were leaving the hotel.
I won’t show you the interior of the spa, you’ll have to go and visit yourself and with incredible deals being put up all the time, you’d be silly not to at least think about it.
The staff at The Peacock Garden were incredibly accommodating, and made our stay absolutely heavenly. We left with huge smiles ready for our next adventure and one that would change both of our lives forever.
We flew over the most stunning scenery and landed on a dusty runway, barely missing the sea before we pulled up next to this colourful engine.
Reminiscent of The Magic School bus, we drove the short distance to the ‘terminal’ and were greeted by some of the locals singing welcome songs.
After collecting our baggage from the bamboo conveyor belt, we jumped back on to the bus and drove towards the sea down the runway. As we got closer we noticed a rickety old bamboo pier jutting out at the end, with a boat in wait, bobbing in the moody sea.
We climbed aboard and shook hands with the captain, we were handed lifejackets and before we knew it we had set sail to Miniloc Island, El Nido. An all inclusive paradise eco island just waiting to be explored.
We had left The Peacock Garden in the early morning and arrived into Miniloc’s cove as the sun dipped behind the horizon. Singing drifted across on the waves and as we walked down the pier, it got louder with each step before we were sitting in front of the island staff listening to their welcome, sipping fresh iced coconut water with flower garlands hanging from our necks.
As far as years go, 2015 hasn’t been the easiest for me and it was at exactly this moment that I let the entire year drift out to sea carried by the birds and the fish, letting my worries flow with it.
We were lead to our room (a lovely surprise of an upgrade to a water cottage) where our bags had already been placed and relaxed into showers before walking barefoot across the sand for an incredible buffet supper.
Pre-dinner cocktails were devoured at the beach bar while the moon appeared, peaking around the cove to flood the bay with its silver light. The lights slowly blinked on, blending the island into the sea and highlighting the beauty of the surrounding foliage.
We were serenaded over supper as the resort staff showcased local dances passed down through the years, inviting us to join when we’d emptied our plates. We danced away the night until we were the last sitting at the bar, so took our cue to head to our beautiful room suspended over the water.
After reading our bed time story that had been left on our turned down sheets, we were rocked to sleep by the soft beautiful sound of the waves breaking beneath our pillows.
