Sometimes life is too noisy to be endured. There is too much going on in the city, notifications never stop and every hour seems to be planned before it even starts. It took us getting out of the city and out on the road to the south, towards Moalboal, that I knew how tired I was.
The trip started before sunrise. There was nothing much on the streets and the air was cool and fresh in the morning, while people were enjoying the music in the background. The whole car was in a daze, everyone holding coffee cups and talking in a detached manner on various topics. No hurry to get to the scene. The ride to there already seemed soothing somehow.
The further we got from the city, the more things started to change. Tall buildings became coconut trees, the noise of the cars decreased, the air was fresher and fresher with every kilometer. School, work and the day to day stresses gradually faded along the way.
Finally, after some hours we had reached the Basdaku Beach. What I first noticed was the colour of the water. It was a bluish color, and it glinted in the light of the sun, as though it were meant to be in a postcard. The waves were soothing, moving towards the shore gently and invitingly. It was not the type of beach where there are noisy crowds and almost constant activity. It felt peaceful. The place where time flows, slowly, if you'll please.
Coral Blue was a peaceful beachfront community, nestled along the coast. No one made an effort in trying. It was a part of its charm. The atmosphere was simple, cozy, relaxed, it was a place one could spend hours doing nothing and feel happy.
We first were welcomed by the sea breeze. It smelt a bit of salt water, a bit of sun. We set up our bags near the beach area, and stood there, just gazing out at the sea for a while. No one scrambled to see what was going on on their cell phone. There were no deadlines or responsibilities discussed. It was like the world had stopped for a bit, and we needed it.
The morning dragged on and we didn't mind.
Some of us walked by the sea's edge without shoes on our feet and others sat silently in the shade, listening to the waves. The sand was soft and warm under our feet. Sometimes there was laughter in the distance, but the sounds around us were soothing. Nothing was in chaos here—just serenity.
Drifting towards the sea as excited children, we didn't mind the cold temperature of the water at first. The sea was quiet and we were able to float without any worries and the waves gently carried us up and down. We just sat there, drifting in the water, gazing up at the sky, which was blue, blue, blue.
I recall how special it was to me, thinking that things like this don't happen often.
People are always in a rush in their daily life. It's never quiet; there's always something to get done, someone to wait for a response from, something to be somewhere else. However, at that moment I was in the waters of Moalboal with people in my life that I cared about and all that mattered was no more.
We enjoyed snacks by the shore, and we took random pictures and laughed at the tiniest things. Someone tried to take dramatic beach pictures but couldn't do so due to the wind. One person accidentally dropped his slippers into the water, and everyone laughed dory while that person was running around after the slippers.One person dropped his slippers in the water and all the people laughed continuously as he ran around after the slippers. It's those little moments that made the trip the funniest.
There was nothing fancy about it, but what made the day special, was what a great day it was. Not luxury resorts or high priced activities. It was being in the moment.
I did some straying from the crowd some time and sat down quietly by the water. The gentle waves lapped against the shore, and the wind gently caressed my skin. I saw strangers happy in their own corners; families swimming side-by-side, couples strolling by the water's edge, friends sitting in a circle, sharing stories. All seemed to be lighter there somehow.
Perhaps the sea makes one breathe more slowly.
As the afternoon wore on the light, or as it was made warm and beautiful by the light of the sun. That hour transformed the beach into a fairytale place. The sun was shining brightly in the water and the sky was beginning to turn shades of orange and pink.
How things changed in the late afternoon, cooler, calmer, quieter, the sea. This time we floated longer with a peaceful silence in the water, and observed the colors in the sky above us. Not yet were any on board desiring to get off.
All the times I go out to the beach, I always feel the sunsets there and I can't help but think about it a little bit.
Perhaps it's because they remind us that all beautiful things are not eternal. Or perhaps it's due to the fact that sunsets make individuals pause and think about what they are viewing.
The sun was slowly setting as we sat together on the sand. No loud conversations. No distractions. Only the waves, and the dying light of day.
I glanced at my friends back then, and I knew that these were the memories they will cherish for years to come, always in a happy state.
Just some simple days with the right people.
It was a night for quiet moments on the shore, as the darkness gradually fell over the beach, and the lights of nearby businesses began to softly glow. It was cooler out at night and the ocean was placid under the light of the moon. We remained for a bit longer, yet we weren't prepared to let the day slip away.
Finally, however, it was time for them to depart.
We packed our bags and brushed sand off our clothes (but it would get on our clothes anyway). Everyone was quieter on the ride home to the city, not because it was a dull ride, but because we were happy.
It's a kind of joy that can only be found at the beach on such an occasion. The peaceful kind. The type that you will remember long after your trip.
To this day, when life gets challenging, I consider that day in Moalboal. I can still see the waves, feel the salty air, see the golden sunset and feel my worries fade away for a while.