i yawned, slowly dragging in the chilly breeze. the tinge of sea-salt peppered in the breeze was very slight. looking up, the morning sun was peering through the canopy of coconut trees. i shut my eyes, adjusting my senses. tuning in to the familiar sound; the rise and fall of the coming tide. with the soft warmth of the sun on my face, the sea breeze in my hair and toes in the sand, i thought to myself;

this is paradise.

i looked out to the sea. the waves didn't seem that big. nothing i thought i couldn't handle. although, the waves were more frequent, and i guess had more power then the ones i experienced in bali. no worries. the boards ally had with him were about the same length as the ones we had in bali. i was pretty disappointed. i wanted to try a smaller board, but hey, i'm still just a noob. right?

i knelt on one knee. the sand was pretty coarse. and strapped on the velcro to my right ankle and adjusted the leash. i was nervous. jittery all over; like a little kid. "calm down kal. it's gonna be just like bali".

i stood up, picked up the board and tucked it under my right arm. i paused at the water's edge, easing up my muscles in anticipation for the paddling that was to come. i took a deep breathe, and i said to myself; welcome home, kal.

- memoirs of siargao,
1st march 2011,
cloud 9, gen. luna (siargao island, philippines)

and it was night again -12:22 PM-