Happy Christmas from Natures Healing Home!
This year, I spent it in the Philippines with a fantastic couple Prescilla and Richard from Natures Healing Home and their family and friends. I wanted to share my Christmas with you, so here it is.
Most Christmases you will find me at work and then later on in the day, I will go to my parents and have a family Christmas dinner with them. But not this year. This is my second Christmas away in 32 years. My first being 8 years ago when I went to Hawaii.
The day started at 7am after a great night before which involved a Christmas Eve feast, a bonfire with toasted marshmallows and chocolate bananas and live music in the way of a guitar and a recorder. Very retro, I hear you say. Does a recorder remind you of nails on a blackboard? Well the talented person behind this one could play the version of the Titanic theme tune which would make Leonardo DiCaprio never want to let go!
So at 7am, we start yoga as the sun slowly started to rise over the mountains in Natures Healing Home. This taught by Healer and Yogi, Prescilla. The twist to this was 3 minutes of dancing to a club hit classic, one of my favourite parts along with literally Laughing out Loud. Well laughter is the best form of medicine!
Following a large Filipino breakfast, we all headed to the truck. All 16 of us closely followed by the car which was packed also with the addition of two of the three dogs. So what do you sit on in the back of a truck? Well we had plastic chairs. What else do you need?
The journey down the mountain was slightly hair raising at times as the roads are windy and steep in places but there was an immense feeling of freedom alongside this.
San Fernando La Union City was a lot quieter than usual but still there were plenty of people going about their daily lives. The beach we went to was nearby so we were soon there once we got down the mountain.
Considering it was 10.30am on Christmas day morning, the beach was already busy with locals swimming and having picnics. We grabbed a table under a roof and left our stuff to go swimming. The feel of the warm sea on my skin felt amazing especially when I am used to being cold at Christmas.
The day passed quickly with a great lunch which had been packed back at Natures Healing Home and with the entertainment of some local children.
Along with a French couple, we had shoulder ride wars with the children in the sea, I was buried in the sand by them and I was also used as a life raft by a few smaller children who couldn’t swim.
When we got back to Natures Healing Home, I was worn out. We arrived back just in time for sunset.
In the evening we went to a Sikh Temple to take part in their prayers. The Sikh Gurdwara welcomes people of all faiths. Prior to the service we ate bhaji (can’t spell but like onion bhaji) and following the service we had one large communal meal. I didn’t take any photographs during the service out of respect.
On entering the temple, we washed our hands and feet and covered our hair (both males and females). Our shoulders and legs also had to be covered and you sit separately, males and females. It was such a wonderful experience.
So this is how I spent Christmas this year in Natures Healing Home. How did you spend yours? Please comment below. Don’t forget to subscribe (It’s free!) to my blog for more posts like this and interesting travel tips.
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Sounds like a great day…totally different then what you would have done back at home. I love the dancing to a club hit during your yoga session – I totally would have been laughing out loud too. Your trip on the truck sounds fun…love that they have plastic chairs for you to sit on. How cool! What a unique Christmas experience.
It really was a very unique experience. I feel so lucky to have been part of it. Yes the dancing really made me smile 🙂
That sunset photo is absolutely stunning! What an awesome way to spend Christmas. Looks like you had a very awesome holiday! Thank you for sharing 🙂
The sun set is amazing from Natures Healing Home. It was a lovely Christmas 🙂
I spent me Christmas planning and getting ready for Thailand. You did have a wonderful time. I prefer not to travel during the season time to avoid crowd and high prices.
Yes prices always jump up over special Holidays. I was so lucky to spend it with this lovely family. Enjoy Thailand 🙂
What a fun way to spend a Christmas day. Is that a sand Santa you made on the beach? How was it being almost buried under sand 🙂
They told me it was a mermaid but I like the sound of a sand santa 🙂 It was very grainy but I washed it off in the sea!
You had a great day, what a beautiful way to spend Christmas vacation. Have a lovely year ahead
Thank you Neha. I wish you a great 2017 🙂
Sounds like a perfect day! I love bonfire what a great idea. This year was my second year away from home at the beach and I liked it, but still weird without snow.
So very weird without snow (or rain in my case) isn’t it!! The chocolate bananas on the bonfire was perfect 🙂
Super fun photos! I’m a sucker for sunsets, and that is one amazing sunset right there. Looks like a fun time!
The sunset was just so so beautiful. I had such a fun day 🙂
What a fantastic day you had! Christmas Day where it’s warm is so much better.
It was a great day. Yes it was so much nicer to spend Christmas away from the rain