White Beach: The Perfect Ending to My Philippine Islands Vacation
Just before moving to Cebu for work, Moalboal bid me farewell with an experience I'll never forget
📍Moalboal, The Philippines
This morning I spent recovering, looking for a good breakfast and coffee, and found a crowded café (always a good sign). I sat there watching the staff behind the counter – one worker running to buy ice (who in the hospitality industry doesn't know that particular emergency?), another squeezing juices energetically, the cashier trying not to make eye contact with anyone... I know that feeling all too well.
Empty tables piled with dishes waiting to be cleared, one of the chefs coming out with his apron on to take plates from tables (because he ran out), and there I was sitting in the corner, fighting the urge to get up and help.
Yes, I'm weird like that – I wanted to clear all the tables because hospitality is embedded in me like a native language, but I'm on vacation, it's not my job, and it would look strange, so "sit down and relax," I tell myself.
I sat eating slowly, recovering gradually, with no concrete plans for my last day here. I remembered two pilots yesterday mentioned visiting White Beach. It's the same place every tricycle driver asks me about when I walk down the street – "White Beach?" every few meters. Even though I hadn't known about it before or considered going there, everyone around me had already done an INCEPTION on me and planted the idea in my head until I thought it was my own.
I passed a sign advertising "Motorcycle rental for 300 pesos" and thought about it for a moment, but it seemed unnecessary to rent a scooter just to go to one beach and come back. I also remembered one of the pilots saying they asked for his passport, and mine wasn't with me.
So for the first time after saying 'no' so many times, when one of the drivers asked me "White Beach?" I answered "yes." I wonder if he's telling himself now: "See, after 100 'nos', you can get a 'yes', keep trying!" and other motivational stuff... yeah right.
We drove for fifteen minutes between villages, past makeshift houses made of metal sheets and bamboo. I saw people's yards, essentially their entire homes, and imagined their lives. How many opportunities do they really have? What do they dream about? What would they want most? How do they raise their children and with what values?
I can only imagine, and then return to experiencing my own reality, because while I might peek into the lives of other cultures, I arrive with my own baggage, my own background, and that's all I have.
We arrived at the beach, where I paid 100 pesos for the tricycle and 25 pesos for an ecological fee. Ecological fees are very common in the Philippines, and I assume it's a tax they collect from tourists to keep the beaches clean and the ecosystem functioning.
Here too, after a few steps, I discovered a wide beach with white sand (ah, hence the name, duh), blue waters, gentle waves, and wonderful sunshine.
I lay on the beach, close to the water, among people. I heard various languages, including Hebrew. This time I chose my own silence – maybe I'm still recovering, maybe I came here to disconnect.
That didn't stop me from overhearing conversations about everyone's travel experiences, and yes, news updates too, because for us joy and pain go hand in hand, even at the edge of the world.
I entered the water when I got a bit hot, and just sat peacefully, appreciating the view. After a few minutes, I felt something on my leg, and when I looked down I saw fish circling around me, in all sorts of colors and sizes, and I could see them very clearly.
I understood why many people here go snorkeling – there's an entire aquarium here, nature's aquarium. I moved my leg from side to side, and saw the fish swim away and come back to me. Each time I moved my leg, I saw I created a movement in the water they enjoyed, and they came back asking me to do it again.
That's how I found myself sitting in the sea playing with fish! I felt like I'd thrown a ball for a dog who was having so much fun playing with me. Slowly I made bigger movements and watched the water current move the fish, especially one black fish that I could almost hear laughing with joy in my head.
The more I moved my leg, the more fish came to see the new attraction in town, and every movement I made actually touched them. Maybe I enjoyed this improvised game more than they did.
"Look at this," I said to myself, "you came alone, chose to stay quiet instead of connecting with people, and here you are finding friendship with animals. Just like a Disney princess talking to creatures."
I decided to get out and warm up again, but not before thanking the fish for this special experience, and lay down on the warm sand, absorbing the moment.
When I felt I'd had enough, I realized this was the last beach I'd see for a while, because I'm heading to Cebu City, mainly to work. My vacation in the Philippines ends right here, at this moment.
I felt full of appreciation, and thanked the universe for giving me the opportunity to be here. I felt a small pride that my plan had worked out – although I started this vacation on the wrong foot, I ended it properly, and enjoyed it so much along the way.
I understood that the Philippines is just my first stop on my path as a digital nomad. Once again I looked back, as I do at the end of each period (my periods are short as I move to a different country every two or three months) and this gives me the chance to reevaluate frequently, to look at my path from a broader perspective and not get lost in the daily routine.
Every day anew, asking myself if I'm moving toward my goal. I think this is one of the surest paths to success – not letting life just happen, but taking the reins, waking up, and understanding that it's in our hands.
Your support helps me keep experiencing new worlds – and sharing them with you through my words. Sometimes, one cup of coffee can make all the difference.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
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What an interesting take. You are more impressed with making the fish happy than you are with them making you happy. Kind of an insight into your personality, especially after the hospitality bit.
I very much enjoyed this little episode. It reminded me of my travels around South America and the Caribbean. I certainly think you've cracked the 'subscribe to me' nut.
Maybe I should change my profile picture from old geezer to pretty young woman that would help? (Only joking).