life by the beach
Her fear made her uncomfortable enough to turn it into rage.
As a child, I felt small and weak in a big, cruel world. Chaos within the walls hovering nonstop in my head coming from the words of the one who’s supposed to give me peace, security, and stable mind.
…though the mental warfare I was raised with made me adamant inside despite my small frame.
In my sleep the horror continues… in one dream
Is it possible to read a person’s behaviour through instinct?
Or is it really instinct?
Back in high school, I met a classmate. She’s one of those quiet kids who were behaved and were afraid to create trouble, a shy type who wore glasses and always followed the school rules. She was a complete opposite of me. I had always thought that those kinds of kids were not confident and somewhat afraid to speak out or act according to what they really want or be who they want to be due to insecurities or maybe fear.
She was bullied sometimes by other dominant kids so I thought I wanted to be friends with her to protect her. I knew that no one would bully her once everybody saw we were friends so I did. I hung out with her inside the classroom sometimes since I had my own circle from different class levels that were close to me. Sometimes I’d walk with her to the canteen as well.
Our friendship made her more confident and “in” at school. She became a little bit outgoing and mischievous in a non harmful way. I was happy that she was normal in my eyes. Just like any other high school kids who were confident and free to speak and act though she was still controlled by her own shyness and insecurities. She was comfortable around me, I could tell.
One day during our class break, she told me that last summer, she went back to her hometown and found a boyfriend. She said his name was Kenji. She said he looked innocent and shy but different when they were alone. She said a lot of things that I could not remember in detail but I could remember the whole idea. Strange.
During that moment, when I was listening to her, my guts was adamant that she was making up a story. So I stopped her in the middle of her story and told her that I wanted to tell her something and I needed her to be honest. I said that I cared as her friend and that she should listen and tell me the truth.
She gave me a puzzled and a bit nervous look as she asked me what is was. So I told her not to be embarrassed and told her that she was just making up a story. That Kenji is her imaginary boyfriend whom she wished he had. As I explained what I thought and felt about her story, her eyes grew big and teary.
She covered her mouth shocked and her face turned very red up to her ears. She said she couldn’t believe how I knew that. She told me that as if I could see through inside her mind. She was very shocked and told me how strong her heart was pounding.
Honestly, that was not the first incident and definitely not the last that I was able to read or figure out someone’s true thoughts and feelings. I cannot say that it happens all the time. It happens when I am attentive and whenever I feel that all my sense is sharp.
Aside from figuring out someone, I also have strong instincts about the future outcome of the circumstances around me. For example, before my students tell me that they’d quit my class I I’d already feel that. Before some gets angry or say no, I’d fell that no matter how much they hide it. Whenever I meet people for the first time, I’d know mostly know if we’d get into each others’ bad side or not in the future.
Before I figure the positive and good outcome of an incident or situation, I’d feel light, excited, and unbothered. However, I’d feel heavy, bothered, and worried before a negative outcome. This helps me prepare and decide whether to pursue a trip or engagement. However, there are times that I am careless and unfocused, and this does not allow me to predict results or read someone.
I have always loved crabs, shrimps, seashells, and fish since I was a child and living by the beach is a dream-come-true.
Before moving to the sea side, I can never tell the difference between fresh and frozen seafood. When I went to the wet market back in my hometown, I’d hear vendors say, “Buy fish here! All these are fresh,” when they were actually soaked in ice for so many hours before arriving at the market. As for me, as long as it does not smell and taste weird, I’d actually agree to their claims. Well, what do I know?
When I started living by the beach and enjoyed fish every day, I then realized that real fresh fish is juicer and sweeter. It is not as fishy as what I thought it was before. You don’t even have to put a lot of condiments to create a great tasting fish soup!
From 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. we would wait for boats to arrive and buy fish straight from the fishermen, bring it home to remove the scales and innards, wash, and boil it together with onions and tomatoes, add a little bit of salt and done! The taste is clean and refreshing. It is a very satisfying breakfast. Guilt free and healthy! Buying fish by the beach is way cheaper compared to the market because they cost three times there.
There are different ways to catch sea foods in my area. Some use reels on a boat in the middle of the sea, where big fish like tuna are usually caught. Some cast a net along the sea shore, where a variety of fish, squid, octopus, and crustaceans are caught. And some use spears where they can catch whatever they see swimming and whatever they find under the rocks. Dynamite fishing is a double no in this area.
The sea here is rich with lobsters, eels, sharks, and many expensive fish that you can order in restaurants and hotels. Coconut crabs are not very common but you can pay a fisherman to catch one for you from the areas on land where there are many coconut trees and from the cliffs where various plants that coconut crabs eat grow. They are not a common dish here since most of the locals are not fond of eating them.
Every day life here is like vacation but there are times when we get busy with our business and work so we take time to rest and enjoy the weekend by swimming, riding the paddleboard, make sand castles, and sunbathing. We place a wide banana leaf on the table, put rice in the middle from end to end of the leaf and surround it with crabs, shrimps, fish, and squid. We cut the watermelon in many triangular shapes and put them on the sides of the banana leaf as well. Voila! Boodle fight!
What else can replenish heat during the summer in the Philippines?
The river.
To find a clean and clear river in the Philippines is an amazing thing when your body is worn out and overheating because of the scorching heat of the summer sun.
This time of year is no joke when you live in a tropical country since cold drinks and desserts are not enough to quench the heat and thirst!
Admit it! You are melting. Sweating endlessly and you are still thirsty after a glass of cold water, – you can’t actually stay away from a pitcher filled with water and ice!
Let me tell you.
Take a dip into a cool and fresh water river, sit on a shallow area and enjoy your cold favorite drink. Trust me! There is no better way to feel refreshed.
As you dip your feet, the cool river water seems to penetrate its freshness into your skin while taking away the uncomfortable warmth from the stinging sunlight.
The cold and relaxing sound of the river just compels you to indulge completely into its goodness and as you close your eyes you end all the discomforts.
As the river flows and as your skin feels it move along, all your stress and weariness feels like being carried away by the soft current, leaving you anew.
Bubbles underneath the river bed that trickle upward feels like a gentle massage and makes you want to float mindlessly while staring blankly at the blue sky, whilst, some bamboo trees in both sides of the river align to give shade.
Nothing beats the goodness from nature. Its healing starts from within and reverberates to the outside, to your whole being. Your soul and your body in harmony.
Forget the wrath of the pandemic for a while. Let the river cradle you. Let it remind you that taking care of nature offers healing and rejuvenation like no other. A life anew.
Wounded soul stay still, for time will surely heal.
Fill your eyes with beautiful sight, and let your heart see the light.
When hope seems like a dimming candle,
And everything is hard to handle,
Be still in God’s cradle,
For there is nothing that He can’t handle.
For when you wake up in the morning,
And still see the flowers blooming, Rest assured that life goes on, You will see a bright new dawn.
Where there’s seems to be no way, God will make a way, So live your life to the fullest, For as long as we have God come what may.
We all feel unready and hurled, Like a tumbleweed calamities, war, and the pandemic swirled, When will we all survive this? And finally say life’s a bliss.
Though many are now gone, The inevitable change is undone, So whilst we live we must adapt, For none survives trapped.
To win or outlast is not certain, But let us not let our soul weaken, Because we are being strengthened by burden, And good can never be beaten.
Forgive, forget, ignore, and love. Pray, enjoy, breathe, and share what you have, Because soon none on earth will matter, But the good deeds we planted in hearts will prosper. ❤
“Take me to paradise, to where my heart lies. A place so blissful, my mind peaceful. My soul, full.”
We all need a break! The hustle and bustle of every day life, the never ending worries, and even the boredom of being in the same place all the time drain and wear me out.
Fortunately, I know where to drown these burdens and sometimes the waves just wash them away. 😊
It was in 2017 when I first visited Hinugtan. We rode a boat from Boracay going there and I was excited the whole time.
Tranquility, bliss, and paradise! The words that came to my mind when I first set foot in Hinugtan.
This is definitely my favorite beach. Why? The sand is white, the place is quiet because there are no many people, and the lilies are pretty. 💗
I have no worries letting my 3 kids roam around. The place is safe and clean. There are many beautiful shells for them to pick up and scared small crabs for them to catch too!
They would also pour sand on each other’s head 😆 and run around as if they own the place. Kids and the beach, lovely combination.
As for Jb, he is always up for diving with his dive buddy Naldo. They always make sure that their dive gears and equipment are ready to use, stored back in Naldo’s place. Of course! The dive site is a must-see in the place as well.
I could stay here for a week or more! Jb can dive, the kids can swim and play in the sand, and me stress free 😌.
It is not a sin to escape reality for a while, is it? Ok, moving forward.
One of the best things that I like to do in Hinugtan is to get cozy in a hammock when I get tired and sleepy. The gentle breeze seems to whisper lullaby to my ears.
I just relax there for hours while staring at the blue sky. I watch the clouds drift by and listen to some insects make sounds that feel comforting to me.
So how do I start my day at the beach?… Well I wake up at 4:50 a.m., make myself a cup of black coffee and head out to my office!
My coffee tastes extra good with my morning view while having my online class from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. The sunrise always starts my day beautiful.
Just like in any other beaches, boats and fishermen arrive at this time around and the locals come and wait for them. The fish is fresh and the cost is way cheaper than in the market, – and if the catch is bountiful, buyers might get more, or even free.
During the onset of the pandemic, the fishermen were blessed with good catch and they were also kind enough to give us and the rest of the locals living by the beach free fish.
People here help each other to cast the net and pull it up since it can’t be done by one man. As for the catch, they share what they get equally after a less than 40-minute of teamwork.
As for me, when everything is bright and moving already, I often get tempted by the crystal clear water in front of the beach house. Swimming, as most of us already know, is one of the best ways to stay fit.
Sometimes me and my family would walk up to the end of the other side of the cove and pickup shells, or ride the paddleboard !!!!
Some of the areas in Malay were restricted to swim and we are just lucky to be exempted. The beach is our only playground, our happiness during the lockdown, and what kept us sane.
JB is also very productive during the lockdown. He planted bok choy, eggplant, okra, string beans, and cucumber at our backyard.
With the fish from the frontyard and the vegetables from the backyard, it made us feel a little bit secure that we won’t get hungry during the lockdown.
At 4 p.m., the kids play by the beach while me and JB wait for the sun to set. We always have beautiful sight in the late afternoon.
Another day is over and another one to look forward to…
When the heat seems to be unbearable, taking a dip in a refreshingly cool river is just the best way to beat it, or for a change when you always swim at the beach.
I love soaking into the river whenever I feel hot. I usually lie down on a shallow area, listen to the gushing sound of flowing water, and let every inch of my skin cool down. 😄
..And the fun doesn’t just end there. A perfect relaxation is not complete without music. While enjoying my invigorating moment, the boys of Hambolhom played their hand drums, tambol.
In filipino culture, in the olden days and even until now, tambol is used in healing rituals and sacred ceremonies.
This may be why I feel mentally and emotionally calm, as if healing is working from the inside out whenever I listen to the hand drum music.
It sets a certain ambience that makes me feel one with nature, overflowing with positive energy.
There is a beautiful fire pit perfect for hotdogs and marshmallows by the river as well.
Hungry yet? No problem.
I was suprised that we can actually order food for lunch there. They serve native chicken, fish, meats, my favorite crayfish 😍, and the fruits and vegetables that are available in the area.
Because the water is clear, you can see small fishes, tiny crabs, and black spiral shells that the locals around the river collect for food.
Next time I might collect shells and ask the chef in Hambolhom to cook them in coconut milk 🙂.
Many tourists in Boracay come to the river for a change and for a little adventure and I think the place is worth it.
It is more or less 20 minutes away from the island of Boracay and very accessible.
Wintershins 