k / san diego/ 22

It’s almost 11 pm in the Philippines and everyone is asleep, but I’m wide awake because I have a little anxiety, so Im just going to fill you guys in on my vacation to keep my mind occupied. Before I left San Diego, I was being absolutely consumed by my mental illnesses and my self esteem had hit an all time low. I have only been in the Philippines for about a week but I haven’t thought of either of those things since I’ve been here. This picture was from yesterday, we drove about six hours from my mother’s hometown in which we are staying, to stay in a cozy hotel in Zambales, just steps away from the beach. We took a small boat to a more quaint and secluded island about ten minutes away, and it was one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve ever had. I have never seen water so clear, and the water felt so warm, I could lay in it forever. The shore was surrounded by a deep green forest and giant black rocks. There are always mountains in the near horizon, and sometimes there are volcanoes too. The locals I have encountered and spoken with, with my very broken Tagalog, have been the kindest souls I have ever met, and although this is my first time being in a third world country and seeing what true poverty is, I can see the people of this island have achieved a level of happiness people back home in the states will never experience. I have been humbled and realize I could have so much more to worry about. Laying in the clear blue water and looking up at the clouds grazing the mountains, I was reminded of one of my favorite lines from one of my most favorite films, Y Tu Mama Tambien, “Life is like the surf, so give yourself away like the sea.”

‘cause you can’t miss what you forget 

:~)