Christmas in Siquijor…4th time in a row
Our long lost relatives live on the beautiful island of Siquijor, and we have been spending Christmas with them every year since 2012. So this year was no different. Again we stayed at our “home away from home”, Coco Grove Beach Resort. We love the staff there who know us by name. (Having a staff member be Blake’s nanny while we are there really means everyone knows Blake and we are just his family) And word has spread throughout the International School of Manila about Coco Grove Beach Resort, so our kids saw their friends and teachers at the resort. Our agenda is more or less the same thing every year with what we do around the island. This year was a little different in that we are now scuba certified, so we had a day trip to Apo island where we ate lunch, did some snorkeling with turtles, and had two dives around the island (Apo is one of the top dive sites in the country).
Our flight was delayed leaving Manila so we didn’t get to see our welcome sign until the next day. Being at Coco Grove really does feel like we are coming home.
Six year old Mason doing a flip off a rock at Cambugahay Falls
Lugnason Falls got a major make-over from the last time we visited two years ago.
Our kids love to ride on the motorcycle with their cousin Sherwin.
We had lunch at our cousin’s home and then sat around chatting and some people took naps.
We had dinner at another cousin’s home.
On the way back to the resort from our cousin’s home we saw the moon shining over the ocean.
Christmas Eve dinner party at Coco Grove we got to listen to these sisters sing.
Coco Grove fire dancers also performed.
Island Melody Band were the final number for the Christmas Eve party. (we’ve seen them perform 4-5 times now and they’re always great)
Christmas Day we got on a boat and headed towards Apo Island. Our kids wanted to be in the front.
Apo Island is in sight after an hour boat ride from the resort.
We had lunch here and also went to the turtle sanctuary nearby to snorkel with some turtles.
Mason and Tia snorkeling while a turtle eats grass.
Apo Island has some beautiful coral.
We saw a sleeping turtle while scuba diving.
Christmas dinner we had about 25 family members over and four missionaries from the LDS Church. Dinner was delicious, the company was great and the entertainment was memorable.
Missionaries shared a message about our Savior Jesus Christ to our family members on this Christmas night.
Nearly 30 descendents from grandpa Limary/Limatoc together for Christmas in Siquijor.
Wacky photo with everyone who was participating in our Christmas celebration…family members, missionaries, and resort staff.
We love Siquijor and the beautiful people and scenery that fills our days there. (photo from our balcony at Coco Grove)
… and don’t miss this compilation video Matt put together!
More photos of Siquijor here.
