This Subic getaway wasn’t planned at all. It was one of those sudden, “Let’s just go!” long weekend decisions. Bags were thrown together in minutes, snacks piled into the car, and off we went. The only problem? A typhoon was passing through. Great timing, right?

The drive down had me second-guessing. The sky was grim, the wipers were working overtime, and I braced for a weekend of sulking in the hotel room. But Subic had other plans. By the time we arrived, the storm had loosened its grip. Clouds began breaking apart, and eventually the sun peeked through. It felt like the weather was apologizing for the rough welcome.

And then the trip surprised us in the best ways. While at the beach, we stumbled into a troop of monkeys hanging around like they owned the place. At first, it was fun, up close, playful, almost charming. Until a couple of bold little guys decided our food was fair game. In a blink, chips were swiped, and an apple disappeared faster than we could shout “Hey!” Lesson learned: never argue with locals who have sharper reflexes and better climbing skills.

In between monkey raids and seaside strolls, we soaked in the air, the views, and the feeling of having escaped the daily grind. The food tasted fresher, the downtime felt sweeter, and even the unpredictability of it all made the trip more memorable.

What started as a gamble in stormy weather turned into one of those trips you’ll talk about for years, not because everything went perfectly, but because it didn’t. Subic gave us sunshine, laughter, and a monkey thief story for the books. Not bad for a spur-of-the-moment getaway.