How A Paradise Gave Me Thalassophobia

(Photo credits: pinterest)

It happened in March 2010. Our family decided to go out of town and specifically, to explore the hidden beauty of Zambales. We checked in to my Aunt's resort, which happened to be a new ones because of the ongoing construction of the place when we reached there. I was really astonished and amazed of how beautiful the place was! The calming sound of the sea, the sound of the birds singing, the tingling sensation brought about by the sun, the whiteness and purity of the sand, the beautiful mountains surrounding the sea, the crystal clear water, everything! Everything was a masterpiece! At that very moment, I felt like we're on a paradise. We reached the place at 8AM and we've taken countless pictures featuring the breathtaking view. At 10:30AM, we ate our lunch as we're preparing to go to the island where we'll have our swimming and bathing moments. We're advised that we'll ride on a motor boat for 30 minutes in order to reach the island. On our way to the island, I felt this sudden jolt as the boat kisses the seawater. I just told myself that I wasn't just used to it but I'll get to as time goes by. The water is as clear as crystal! You can see the living creatures beneath the sea, the rocky but beautiful mountains, and the clouds and sun that as if is following our journey. Everything went well til we reached our destination. Upon reaching the place, I was surprised to find pine tress on a hot place, knowing that those only grow on high altitude places. Anyway, we've taken pictures, as usual, and stayed just at the seashore cause we're really afraid to go far. Others were enjoying the sea and its waves. Then all of a sudden, someone seemed to be crying out for help. I found out that it was my cousin and we cried for help but no one attended. I rushed to the shore together with my sister to found out that my Aunt & her friends were also drowning. We're about to leave to call our relatives when we're also taken by the waves. It was difficult to explained how we've ended up to the middle of the sea. During that moment, I didn't think of anything. I could remember how I closed my eyes and prayed. I thanked God for giving me my life and prayed for the safety of my family. I was about to completely let the waves get me to the bottom of the sea when I felt like someone's pulling me up. It was my cousin who pulled me up, only to find out that I'm alive, we're alive. From that very moment, we rode the motor boat to get back to where we're staying. When it was my turn to walked inside the boat, I was shaking and unknowingly, I accidentally dropped the camera at the sea which was quickly retrieved by the boater but, it was soaking wet. We didn't mind it then as we're all on a state of fear and shock. Going to our place will took us 30 minutes and it was the scariest one that I've ever encountered. We found our boat at the middle of the sea, dancing non stop with the waves and was about to flip over due to the intensity of the sea water coming inside the boat. After a while, the motor stopped and we're floating on the sea. I couldn't forget how many times I prayed the rosary and called all the Saints that I could ever call, just to help us get through that deadly sea. Fortunately, a boat came to helped us go near the seashore. From that moment, we jumped off the water and walked to look for any mode of land transportation. Luckily, we found motorcycles on the place and rode all the way back to my Aunt's resort. Upon reaching the resort, my Aunt was shocked as she heard the news from the boaters. She then told us that many people already died at that point of the sea and the day before we arrived, she saw onto her Tarot cards that members of her family should not go in to contact with water the day after, which unluckily happened to us. She said that she told her children but did not bother to tell us because she didn't solely believe those cards. I was really shaking and crying as I heard those words from her. After the incident, we fixed ourselves and prepared for dinner and an early rest as the supposed to be three-day vacation became a single one. Before we went to sleep, we all prayed together and on my own, I thanked God for protecting us and giving us our second life. I couldn't helped but cry then every time I remember that incident. Truly, the sea is mysterious. We didn't know what awaits us down below. Now, as I got to see oceans & seas, I can't explain the terrible fear that I could feel. I don't know why even if it took place years ago, I didn't and wouldn't even dare go near to it again.

#lifestyle #travel