This first picture shows the shells we gathered when I went shell-picking with my aunt, friends, and cousin. It’s actually a continuation of the story I shared in my previous Hive post. After collecting them, we decided to cook the shells, and they turned out really delicious. We first sautéed them, then added broth, and that made the flavor even richer. The taste of these shells, locally called aninikad, is truly unique, especially when cooked with soup. There’s something comforting and satisfying about enjoying freshly gathered seafood with family and friends—it makes the whole experience even more special.
Look at how wide the place is where we gather shells—the area is so big that you can collect them almost anywhere. You’re sure to find some if you just keep looking. In this picture, you can also see some of my companions, while others went farther to different spots because the shoreline was really vast. We had to separate a bit since the sea was so wide, and it was low tide at that time. It felt amazing walking across such a huge open area, searching for shells together, and enjoying the beauty of nature all around us.
This is my cousin Johnrey. He’s holding a big Coke bottle that was already cut in half, which he found along the shoreline. He decided to pick it up and use it as a container while gathering crabs and shells. It’s simple but really useful because instead of carrying everything by hand, he could just place what he caught inside the bottle. I found it funny yet smart, because sometimes the most unexpected things we see by the sea can actually help us. That day, it became his little bucket while we continued exploring and collecting together.
Look at this little sea urchin—it’s so tiny and was resting in my hand. It was actually smaller than half of my palm, and I couldn’t believe how cute it looked. I was really amazed because I had never seen such a small sea urchin before. My cousin Johnrey was the one who spotted it first. He quickly placed it on my hand, and I immediately told him to take a photo so I could capture the moment. I almost stepped on it earlier, but thankfully Johnrey noticed it in time. It felt so special to hold something so rare.
I honestly looked so haggard in this selfie. Since the lighting from my phone didn’t really show me clearly while capturing it, so I only realized later how I actually looked. My face looked so chubby and tired—haha! But honestly, I didn’t really care at all. What mattered to me was that I was having so much fun collecting shells and crabs. Even though there were so many jellyfish around and my toes felt itchy from the seawater, I was still happy just to gather whatever I could. I truly enjoyed the moment because it’s not every day that I get to experience this kind of activity. I know we already had food at home, but there’s just something so special when you get to gather and prepare what you’ll eat with your own hands. That experience alone made it all worthwhile.
Look at the sea—there were so many leaves floating around, and underneath them crabs and aninikad shells were hiding. I wasn’t afraid to pick them up because I already knew how to handle and collect them properly. That gave me more confidence and excitement to keep going. Every time I spotted one, I felt eager to grab it, and I didn’t let the opportunity pass. For me, it was really satisfying to gather those shells and crabs with my own hands. It felt rewarding, like each catch was a little treasure waiting to be discovered.
I also found a crab without its shell—its body was so smooth! They say it’s because it had just shed its skin, and that kind of crab is said to be really tasty, especially when prepared as kilaw (marinated in vinegar). The moment I saw it, I quickly grabbed the vinegar I had brought with me—haha, I didn’t want to miss the chance to enjoy it fresh. Since its shell wasn’t hard, it didn’t hurt at all when I held it in my hand. I poured vinegar over it right away, ready to savor the flavor on the spot.
I ate it right away, and wow—it was incredibly sweet and delicious! My cousin Johnrey even took a photo of me while enjoying it, and of course, I let him try some too. He also liked it a lot. In the picture, you can see I used a small Coke bottle cap where I poured the vinegar. That became my little dipping cup, and after eating the crab, I sipped the vinegar straight from it. The combination of the fresh crab and the vinegar I brought was just perfect—the flavors blended so well. What made it even better was that this crab had no shell at all, so I could eat everything without any hassle. It was such a unique and satisfying experience, not just because of the taste, but because of the whole adventure itself. Honestly, moments like these are priceless and something I’ll never forget!
I can’t wait for the next adventure!