Maripipi Island: Away from it all!

Modernity surrounds people with technology that makes living comfortable and easy. This is especially so with people living in big cities. There are appliances and gadgets that do things for people – even things that people themselves cannot do.

Air-conditioners make for the right indoor temperatures, even when it’s scorching hot outside. There’s electric coffee maker that makes great brews in just minutes, hi-tech cooking equipment that readies breakfast – or any other meal – in a little fraction of the time it takes people do it the traditional way. And there’s always something to snatch from the ref, anytime.

But there’s a downside to the amazing modern technology. It can promote indolence or voluntary lethargy, which can eventually bring on various physical – not to mention, psychological and social – ailments. One example would be how people these days would prefer to simply send a text message or email rather than meet in person.

Too much comfort and convenience can make for a kind of ‘half-awake’ existence. People begin to give importance on the non-important. Their lives can turn miserable because they lack something that they don’t really need in the first place.

The website www.triptheislands.com is right in asking: What does it mean to be totally unplugged from the world? Put another way: How would it feel to rid oneself of all these fantastic frills that have become so commonplace today? How would it be to go back to basics?

The www.triptheislands.com website suggests a means to get away from it all – albeit temporarily. It says, “Come to the province of Biliran,” hinting that it’s the place where one can do just that. Life is simple there – with no WiFi or mobile signal in most areas, which makes it indispensable for one to put his or her gadgets away for a while.

The province of Biliran consists of two main islands – Biliran Island and Maripipi Island. For those wanting to really get away from it all, Maripipi Island would be more fitting. It is a volcanic island with the ‘potentially active’ volcano located right at the center. (No worries, it has no history of eruption.) The landscape is mountainous with narrow coastal areas.

Maripipi is an unspoiled paradise. It has not caught the attention of resort developers and is known only to a few. Which is actually a good thing if the island has to remain as it is for a long time.

To get to Maripipi, one shall first get to the port of Naval from Cebu. There are boats that regularly ply the Cebu-Naval route. One only need ask at the various booking counters that are found at almost every street corner in the city downtown.

Upon reaching Naval, one may book a ride with the Brian Claire for Maripipi or with the Viga Express for the coastal barangay of Binalayan, which is about 15 minutes motorcycle ride to the town proper. To go around Maripipi proper, one may contract a “sikad” or manual tricycle.

The visitor can relish his or her time at Maripipi in various ways. The www.triptheislands.com website cites two main possibilities:

Enjoy the quiet life. A trip to this lovely and quiet island in Eastern Visayas might just force one to do the important ‘nothings’ one has always wanted to do. Whether reading a book or reflecting on life, this is the perfect place to do it – no distractions whatsoever, other than the very inviting shores.

Make a trip to Sambawan Island. One who loves to see the beauty of marine life shall not miss making a quick trip to and spend a whole day at Sambawan Island. The marine life there bursts with life and there’s a good chance to see reef sharks, nurse sharks and even a bull shark.

Maripipi Island – and, well, Sambawan Island – is life away from it all. It’s nature at its best. And it does not have to cost much.