wanderlust

If I would have known better, having spent several days of rest in a secluded white sand beach somewhere along the shores of las islas filipinas would be enough to confirm what I have known all these years--I am a beach-bum--and a big one at that.

For some reason, having spent almost all my twenty-something years being raised in a city, I never really thought of myself as a city girl or anything similar to that account.

I have always loved the outdoors--particularly white sand beaches. I could spend the rest of my days snorkeling in sea-haven.

The crash of waves resonated over and over in an endless pursuit to touch each and every grain of white sand and wash them with clear, salted water and the perpetual draft filled our lazy afternoons with a distinctive scent of the sea as the leaves of coconut trees danced tirelessly with each gust of wind. The hot afternoon sun made everything under its brightness radiate with life and each dip in the somewhat warm beach water, orgasmic.

Unending reggae music, braided hairs, badly tanned but gorgeously toned, henna-tattooed bodies, and endless booze--I am indeed in paradise. I had to repeat that to myself over and over again before it finally sinks in.

And as the clear afternoon skies made way for dusk, a brilliant burst of different shades of reds and oranges and purples filled the horizon.

We were blessed with clear skies during our first night with infinite rows of stars and the almost full-moon made everything perfect for moon-bathing.

And despite gloomy skies during our second night, a wonderful display of lightning rolling off in the distance made the lack of stars and the cold wind tolerable.

I never wanted to go home.

I think each and every one of us, true to the essence of being born in this seven-thousand-something-island for a country, is an islander by heart and it would almost be a sin not to yield to the call of the beach.

And as we bade the beach goodbye and ferry our way back to the hubbubs of city-life, other than our sun-kissed skins and the gigabytes of photographs in our digital cameras, we brought home with us remnants of paradise, forever lodged in our spirits.

I’ll see you next summer.

To the beach, the beach ‘cause I’m a b*tch!