I spent 5 days last week by the sea: 3 days in Puerto Galera and 2 in La Union. I wouldn’t call myself a “beach person,” just because I don’t go to the beach enough. I love actually being there, lazing around and reading or swimming or jumping onto the next oncoming wave. I don’t like how fussy I feel getting there. I realize that the hassle is just all in my head (and that laziness and the lack of want to do/start things is leeching into even the pure joy of meeting the ocean, but that’s another story). So even though I didn’t get to technically get to swim in the beach on either of these trips (for srs: small awkward beach front & THE CRIMSON WAVE), they’ve made me want to spend more time away from the City, by which I mean Manila, which is getting more congested by the day.
In the advent of the Listicle (barf), here are some things I learned this week, by being at the beach. (I actually wrote something like this after a trip to Hong Kong in 2010, which you can read here, if that’s something that interests you?)
1. The world is big, and it’s not out to get you. I get punched in the face by this realization every once in a while, but I think it’s good to be frequently reminded. Setting your problems or worries or, against the grandest scheme of things makes them seem easier to overcome and get through. A lot of my worries stem from what I understand to be social anxiety (as accurately explained by Krysty here), but when I remove myself and think about it in context of the world, what ever problem that is just becomes easier to deal with.
You see the ocean, and you imagine how big the world must be beyond what you can see, and even then, it remains a pale blue dot.
2. You can’t neglect your relationships. I can be very solitary and a lot of human contact can tire me out (again, see “Social Anxiety”) but I think I sometimes push people away without really knowing it or meaning to. I’m working on it, so if you’re my friend and reading this, you should know that socializing and interacting is a really taxing thing for me, but I’d appreciate it if you were patient and worked on improving my issues with me. LOL. No pressure or anything… Just. I don’t know, I mean. I’m trying.
3. I’m OK with my body. I’ve touched on this (non-)issue many, many times but I guess I didn’t really feel as comfortable with my body any other time as much as I do now. Which is weird because I keep going back over to my “heaviest” weight range. But you know, there is a big difference between not really caring and not caring at all. And right now, I don’t care at all if people think I look like a whale.
This is the only bikini picture I will post here, because it was taken from the back, and I like how it looks, HA.
(I did buy a yoga mat and plan on exercising more regularly now, though. I think it’s really just something I need to make time for, despite frequently not being “in the mood” for it. Your body needs to be fit and healthy, dummy!)
4. Try to leave a place better than you found it. I’ve been increasingly worried about human consumption and waste for the past few months. I know it doesn’t seem like it because I keep buying things. Well, it’s hard to kick a habit, but I’m working on it. The thing is, despite how beautiful the places I’ve been to are, there are some telltale signs of neglect, always done by the hand of a human. It’s so ironic that one of the first things we’re taught in science class is that we are stewards of the earth, and yet we are the single worst species to ever inhabit the earth. We are the reason for its inevitable downfall.
I took a walk with my dad along the beach in Puerto Galera to take some pictures. We saw a line of demolished structures by the shore when we were first dropped off at the resort. At first, I was so intrigued by them because it’s such a random thing to see along the beach. But then, I realized that that was a waste footprint made by humans.
And, I know that not everyone leaves useless structures around like random bits of trash, but even throwing plastic into the sea, which is such a simple, obvious no-no, people seem to find it so easy to guiltlessly do. How hard is it to keep a wrapper in your pocket, to throw it away the next time you see a trash can?
Even in these rock formations, I saw a lot of human debris. Despite the “no littering” sign. Some bits were floating in the water. Frankly, we are being really shitty stewards, and just thinking about the sheer enormity of the damage we must be doing to the environment really terrifies me. It’s scary.
5. Life is unpredictable. The best thing to do is to ride out the wave. I think it’s pretty obvious that I am not very good at coping with things in a healthy manner, especially when it comes to change… which is weird because I don’t think I used to be this way. Anyway, my point is to take the hand you’re dealt with and just ride it out and make it as good as you can. The waves in La Union were really tiny when we went (off season), but usually, you have to make do and you should find a way to make it a valuable experience for you, instead of complaining, etc.
Anyway, here are the rest of the photographs that I couldn’t match to my “lessons.” Some things are just good in themselves and do not need to be lessonified.
Puerto Galera with fambly, for random Deal Grocer and Mama reasons.
The poop trail.
We stayed here! The property is narrow, so the beach front was kind of weird to swim around in because that’s where the boats were parked also, lol. We just swam, but the view was beautiful because on one side, you had mountains, then when you turn around ever so slightly, you’re met with a view of the sea.
Still, really beautiful view.
La Union with Seabiscuit Films as a tag-along on their company trip. La Union (we stayed in San Juan) was amazing. Two of the Seabiscuit partners, Nicky and Sabs, are so in love with the place and I can see why. The trip was too short and frankly, ruined by my period, but I hope to be back sooner rather than later. Loved this place so much.
The most water exposure I got.
River, the surfing dog!
A snorkeling man.
Halo-halo with yema.
It was my first time in both places and I didn’t get to swim in either ocean. Sometimes just being around more of the actual, undisturbed world is enough.
Originally published in May 2014.
Original URL: http://nothingspaces.com/blog/2014/05/beach-week/