Sea or Mountain? || I'm A Mermaid With Human Feet

Hello beautiful Steemit friends! Greetings of peace and love wherever you might be- whether you're cuddling your pup, sipping your cup of tea, reading your favorite author, listening to the chirping cicadas or feeling the sea breeze.

The Ruins, Olango Island

I am so thrilled to have came across this new contest in Steem Geography initiated by @belenguera : SEA OR MOUNTAIN? And my choice would be the sea.

It isn't a hard choice for me to make because I was born and raised in one of the 7,107 islands in the Philippines. I grew up in Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. A town that is home to many beautiful beaches.

Let me tell you the reasons why I love the sea:

I am a sunset person. I always love and in awe of how magical every sunset is. And to me, the sea makes a very beautiful background of every setting sun. It always reminds me that endings can be beautiful too. It also makes me ponder that there aren't beautiful goodbyes, only sunsets.

Boracay Island

Bird Sanctuary, Olango Island

Sunset watching at Olango Island

Olango Island sunset

I love the sea because it provides us food. In our place, fishing is one of the major livelihood. People get to catch their own fish, shellfish and other seafoods. They can either sell their fresh catch or prepare them for the family's table.

One of my favorites, saang or conch best paired with coconut vinegar

Swake or sea urchins has seaweedy, sweet taste. Best eaten by the shore with some stale rice or boiled sweet potatoes.

And of course, broiled fresh fish.

I love spending weekends and holidays in the sea. Swimming, island hopping, eating seafoods, bonding with family and friends and just enjoying the sun. It makes me more of me. Like when you go back to nature, when you feel the water embracing you as you dip in the sea, it makes you feel one with the sea. That if the sea wants to take me, I am willing to drown in its beauty.

Weekend bonding with family at San Vicente, Olango Island.

Taking a dip at Punta Engano with friends.

At White Island in Camiguin.

Enjoying the fine sand of Bantayan Island with friends.

The sea makes me feel I am home. I feel calmness and tranquility from within. That everytime I dive down, I just forget everything on the surface. Only the sea can listen to my thoughts.

Camiguin Island

I would always say over and over again that my heart belongs to the sea. I think, I'm a mermaid with human feet.

Island hopping in Olango Island

Costabella Beach Resort

Off to Kalanggaman Island

Malapascua Island

Puka Beach in Boracay

And on vacations, I would always prefer spending time by the beach. It's as food to the body and so is the sea to my soul and well-being. I always feel full and happy and so much alive seeing the water, hearing the waves, smelling the breeze. The sea is my ultimate heaven on Earth!

The Ruins in Olango Island

Living near the sea is what makes me happy. It gives me the feeling of serenity, freedom, security, the calmness that no money can buy. It is just pure happiness especially spending time together and making happy memories with family and friends in the sea. It's the kind of happiness that never fades, the kind that makes you smile everytime.

After taking a dip in Olango

And even if I go travel places, climb mountains, still the mermaid in me, would always want to go home, to where I truly belong- TO THE SEA.

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I would like to especially thank @belenguerra for this very beautiful contest, @worldgeography for such wonderful community of sharing and to @steemitblog @steemcurator01 @steemcurator02 @stephenkendal for always supporting this beautiful community of Steem Geography. Thank you so much.

Your Pinay mermaid,
Rose