Hello Hivers š, a few days from now, and itās Valentineās Day! This is a reminder that Valentineās Day is not just for couples, but this is for yourself as well to celebrate and treat yourself like the heartās ā¤ļø day you deserve.
Well, todayās content is not about the upcoming Valentineās Day; howeverā¦ this could be something you want to do with your loved ones.
A few weeks ago, my extended family decided to have a beach day since we can no longer remember when was the last time we had some sandy-sunny day. It was a sudden and budget trip, so for the final say, we chose to go to the nearest beach in our town, and it is truly money-saving because it is a public beach, so we donāt need to pay for an entrance fee or accommodations. There is no official name of the place since it is a public beach, so the people call it Fishport or Mangrove Beach, which is located at Brgy. Inoburan is just within our town, City of Naga, Cebu.
We arrived at the place around 8 in the morning, and the seawater is within our knee level, so it is not too difficult for us to walk to the area where we can put our things. To give you some idea, the place doesnāt have a shore, so basically, the area is surrounded with seawater and mangroves, so during high tide, the water level is at your chest level.
There are a few people there selling goods and drinks and even doing business like table rentals. For some who donāt want to rent tables, mostly they are going to hang their things at the mangrove branches, but of course, with proper caution and to make sure not to harm or break any mangrove trees because these areas are protected and preserved by our government.
We only brought a few important things since we cannot put a lot of stuff at the beach, so we brought only food, a hammock, and drinks. Unfortunately, I wasnāt able to take pictures of the foods we broughtāour ābaonā was halang-halang chicken (spicy chicken), rice, banana cue, buttered chicken, and grilled fish. Well, nothing extravagant, but it was delicious food to be eaten at the beach with your family. I almost forgot; we also brought the mouth-watering appetizer, which is the green mango, or Indian mango, paired with a deep sauce. So perfect!
After eating, we had so much fun swimming since the water kept on rising and had some kick drinks. GSM mojitos are our favorite go-to drinks on every occasion because the taste is not too strong. Disclaimer: Drink Responsibly. š
My heart is full while looking at my nieces having fun and enjoying themselves, and I can say we all deserve a beach breakāit doesnāt matter if it is expensive or not; what only matters is the time you spend to detoxify yourself and be with your loved ones. There could be a lot of definitions of luxury, and it depends on how you put life to those definitions because luxury is everywhere. So, imagine you are sitting at the beach with yourself or with your family and friends, enjoying the sounds of waves, and itās definitely the most peaceful thing ever.
While looking around, I can see a group of people; they are families, spending quality time like us. Some of them are ābarkadasā playing volleyball, and some are dancing. They even brought Bluetooth speakers so there are no boring moments here. These kinds of moments should be treasured forever because not all the time we could repeat happy memories.
Photo taken after the beach trip
From the morning to the afternoon, my cousins and I were swimming. While I was enjoying it, I didn't realize that my whole body was sunburned, hahaha. After a few hours of swimming, I decided to stay under the mangrove trees to find a shade because I noticed some pain in my skin due to long sun exposure. . I was in a hurry to bathe; after that, I put an ice pack on my face, but it was just a few pieces of ice, and I still havenāt gotten rid of the burning sensation.
But despite the circumstances, I was so happy because we were just bonding that way, and that was one of the most memorable days, so it was unexpected; we were celebrating at Mangrove. And I realized how much I had missed these times of being fully present with my family, away from the distractions and noise of daily life. With those trees and silent might, the mangrove appeared to remind us how important it is to slow down and restore connections. The ocean was bathed in golden light as the sun started to set. I looked at my family, their faces lighted by the last of the light. They all expressed the same feelings to me without using words: thankfulness for this brief but priceless peace and quiet and togetherness. I made the decision at that moment that they needed to do this more frequently.
I can personally recall as per experience the meaningful moments in my life arenāt spent in the rush of the world but in the quiet stillness of nature, where time slows down. In the mangrove, surrounded by my family, I found the beauty of simply being present together. There, between the roots and the water, I didnāt need grand gestures to feel close; we just needed each other for everyday. Every laugh shared, every quiet moment on the side of mangrove trees, and every footstep on the wood was a reminder of how precious these bonds are, and I love seeing my family happy. It wasnāt the destination or the activity; it was the connection we built with each other, woven as gently as the mangroveās roots beneath the water. Those were the days that doesnāt just fill your heart; it teaches you what truly matters. We can all surely create precious memories when we slow down and share them with the ones we love. I'm so genuinely happy to be bonded with my family.