5-5:30am wake up without alarm. Due to time difference with Jakarta (2 hrs ahead), it’s earlier than my normal wake up time. But I get up to fit my run before departure time.
6:15/30: run for an hour per coach suggestion to keep fitness. Not the most pleasant run as I have to run in 1 mile loop by the beach with soft sand, but great way to start my day watching the sunrise and listening to the quiet morning ocean wave sounds and meeting baby shark
7:30am breakfast and getting ready. Family goes early.
8am departure for snorkeling. Each day we go to a different location, sometimes close (10 min boat ride) or 30 min.
8:45/9am: snorkeling for an hour
An hour coffee/tea break at homestay or beach
Another hour snorkling
Back to resort, shower, unpack, wash
1:30/2pm lunch
2:30/3pm to 6:30 downtime for napping reading, chatting, homework, card games for the girls, sometimes a movie. I finished three books during this trip, These Precious Years, and the Paper Palace are enjoyable reads. In Love: A memoir of loss and love is a sad but beautiful story.
4pm snack is served.
5:30pm Enjoy the sunset at the jetty deck, doing some stretching
6:30pm briefing for next day activities
7-8pm dinner. I really enjoy chatting with the girls when mealtime is not rushed. 
8-9pm shower, pack for next day, reading.
9pm light out
We also visited Piaynemo, the iconic view point of Raja Ampat. 300 staircases to get there.
That day, we bought a live lobster from the local community and ate it for dinner. It was the most delicious lobster I’ve ever tasted.
while enjoying the blood moon
We did have some accidents. Sofia bumped her head while playing by the beach, hitting a coral. Fortunately, she only had to skip one day of snorkeling. Daddy also hit coral while snorkeling early on and had to skip two days.
I love our vacation routine of morning activities and afternoon chill and relax. For two days when we had full day of activities, we were exhausted by the time we get to the hotel, 4 or 5pm. So half way of activities is ideal for us.
Since we didn’t have internet connection, we spent zero minutes scrolling. Instead, we either read, nap, chat with each other, or just contemplate. I wrote down my thoughts when they come, many of them as part of my 43 thoughts, others are part of my 2024 intentions and goals. I aim to continue this practice in 2024, minimal scrolling, write down notes, let the mind wander.
Our New Journey 
Poor Sofia. That looks painful.
What a great vacation. Such a lovely mix of relaxing and reading. I have just ordered In Love from my library. Gorgeous views.
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The rhythm to your day sounds perfect! We also tend to do things in the morning and then have quiet afternoons, especially since we’ve had a napping child for almost 6 years now although we are coming to the end of daily naps. Sofia looks so sad in that photo! I’m glad she only had to do a day of rest and didn’t miss out on much!
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This sounds really great! I discovered that on our last vacation as well- some planned downtime in the afternoon is really nice. It sounds like you had an amazing trip, and your photos are beautiful.
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Glad you figured out how to get your runs in! I was watching your routes on Strava and figured you were basically running back and forth on the beach! lol! Hey, could be worse… what views!! And the sunrise!! Awesome.
Poooor Sofia!!! Ouch! That sounds like it really hurt. We have never actually been snorkeling as a family although I have done it several times before. I got stung by a jellyfish once and am a little jumpy in general about sharks and marine life… but I assume we will do it in Hawaii this summer.
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