Oh Whale…Shark?!

Last year, we booked a tour in Cebu. One of those spontaneous “why not” decisions that lead to something you didn’t know you needed. It was my first time in Cebu and also my first time swimming with whale sharks.

I thought I’d write something from memory. Just a glimpse of that time in Oslob.

Sunrise over Oslob

There’s probably a quote somewhere about how discomfort heightens beauty. I usually don’t believe in that kind of thing, but in this case it fits.

We landed in Cebu late at night. After a quick dinner and a few hours of hotel sleep (or no sleep at all), our driver picked us up at 4 a.m. to take us to Oslob.

The van ride was long and bumpy, I genuinely feared I’d get whiplash. I had hoped to rest a little on the way, but instead, I watched the sky shift from darkness to soft light, revealing a long stretch of coastline to our left.

As we got closer to Oslob, the scenery started to change and I was glad to be awake. I got to watch a beautiful sunrise and it made the whole ride worth it.

Morning crowd

By the time we arrived, it was already packed. Maybe fifty people ahead of us. But thanks to our guide, we got our names listed and waited for our turn. At the end of the line, we filled out some forms with our names and information and then waited for our number to be called for a briefing. While waiting, we noticed a few stores selling souvenirs and a karinderya (local eatery) across the road where we could grab some breakfast. We hadn’t eaten yet, so we ordered some cup noodles and Milo or coffee to tide us over.

After the briefing, we waited again until it was our turn to prepare for the boat ride. Finally, at 8:30 a.m., we got on the boat, and the activity lasted for about 30 minutes. Even though we had to wait for two hours, it was worth it.

Face-to-face

The water was clear. As I leaned over and dipped my head beneath the surface, I saw the whale shark, massive but calm, gliding just beneath us.

I don’t know how to swim, so there was a moment of panic, but that passed quickly. They didn’t feel threatening at all. If anything, being next to something that enormous made everything else go silent. We got lucky with some beautiful photos and videos, and our guide made sure to capture the moment for us.

It only lasted about 30 minutes, but it lingers in my memory like a dream.

There’s a side to this experience that I didn’t know until after the trip.

Things I Learned Later

Feeding whale sharks to keep them in one place interferes with their migration and natural behavior. It can make them dependent on humans and more vulnerable to harm. I wish I had known this before we booked. It doesn’t undo what happened but it does make me think differently about future travels.

If you’re planning something similar, consider choosing marine experiences that prioritize wildlife conservation. Let’s protect what we still have. Let’s be a little more careful with the beauty we’re lucky enough to witness.

I still carry that morning with me. Not just for the whale sharks but for the way the sea looked at sunrise, for the cup noodles, and the feeling of standing in line at 6 a.m. wondering what the day would bring.

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2023 playlist

Hiiiii!

It’s the end of the year.

This one started kinda off, maybe that’s what I felt with most of the start of my year in the past too but this year has turned out different from what I expected.

If I had to choose a line to describe this year, it would be:
“Last year I abstained; this year I devour without guilt, which is also an art.” —Margaret Atwood

This was the year I took my first solo out of the country trip to Japan. I still don’t know where I found the nerve, but I did. And for someone like me (introvert, daydreamer), that meant everything.

This year a lot didn’t work out. A few things went sideways. But I like the thought that there’s no such thing as failure, only redirection. And maybe the peace comes from knowing I made the best choices I could, with what I knew, in that exact moment.

Below is a playlist I curated for 2023. I didn’t listen to it the whole year (I’ve been listening to podcasts), but it holds the songs I discovered and replayed. Maybe you’ll find something in it, too.

– Belle ⭐

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Christmas Playlist

Haluuu,

It’s only a few days until Christmas. Have you wrapped your gifts yet? Or maybe lit up your space with a little holiday magic?

I just finished setting up our tree in the living room and hung a parol outside. Usually, I start decorating the moment the -ber months arrive, but this year… the spirit didn’t come as easily.

Still, I made this playlist to keep the feeling alive. Maybe you’ve felt it too? That quiet shift as we grow older, when the magic of the season feels just a little out of reach.

Sometimes, a song can bring it back. Even for a moment.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas,
Belle🎄

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My fav Taylor Swift Tracks in 2023

The first Taylor Swift song I ever heard was Love Story. It was also my first favorite. I loved it so much, I wrote the lyrics down by hand and memorized every word (at that time I’m not really good at memorizing at school). I even translated it into Tagalog once, just so I could show a friend how beautiful it was.

Now, years later, Peace is my favorite.

There’s something quiet and devastating about it. I interpret it as a song about feeling like your very existence disrupts someone else’s peace. And yet, that person stays and loves you unconditionally. Accepts you for who you are not just the soft, admirable parts, but the difficult ones too. And in that, there’s a bittersweet question: Can you love me even if I can’t give you peace?

I made a playlist of my favorite Taylor Swift songs this year. If you’d like to sit with them for a while, it’s linked below.

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I Took An MBTI Test Again

I took an MBTI test again. Not out of curiosity. Just one of those days where I felt a little detached from myself and wanted something to hold onto. What’s better than learning about yourself through a personality test?

This time, the result was ISTP-A (The Virtuoso)

Which is… interesting. Last year, I was an INFJ. Then INFP sometime mid-July. Now I’m here wondering if I’ve always been this person underneath. I attached below a screen capture of my result for you to compare.

Virtuosos are typically steady for a while, but then they suddenly get a burst of impulsive energy that makes them pursue new interests. They enjoy living in the present and don’t stress about the future. They’re always eager to try new activities and experiences. The thought of being stuck scares them the most. What matters most to Virtuosos is the freedom to explore, make their own plans, and control their own lives. These are just some of the few insights about Virtuosos I got from 16 personalities that I found relatable.

It’s funny how these tests try to map us. As if we can be simplified into four letters, when in reality we are made of seasons, spirals, contradictions. I don’t believe any test or chart can define what a person truly is. We change. We mirror. We react. We grow out of ourselves and back into new shapes all the time.

Maybe I’m all three types. Maybe none. Maybe we’re not meant to be one fixed thing.

I still like the quiet satisfaction of answering those oddly specific questions, though. There’s something about trying to understand yourself even if the results are temporary.

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Taylor Swift Eras Tour Movie

Hiii…

I just saw the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie with a friend! She invited me and booked the tickets on the same day. Most of the seats were already taken, and the only one left was right at the front but we went the very next day anyway. It was abrupt, spontaneous, and honestly, I liked that about it.

I’m not really a Swiftie (or maybe I’m just in denial?), but lately, I’ve found myself enjoying more mainstream things like The Barbie Movie, for example.

It’s funny because I used to avoid anything popular on purpose. If something was trending or everyone loved it, I’d feel this urge to run in the opposite direction. I didn’t want to feel like I was part of the crowd. But then during the pandemic, I started noticing that a lot of the things I quietly liked became mainstream. Songs like Strawberry Blonde, aesthetics, moods, interests and it threw me off a bit. If the things I loved became popular… does that make me someone who likes mainstream things? Am I overthinking it? Probably.

Anyway, back to Taylor.

The movie felt like a concert and also like an extended soundtrip with hundreds of strangers who just happened to love the same songs. It was a shared moment, and something about that felt special.

What I appreciate about her music is how certain lines suddenly hit you. You catch yourself thinking, “Wait, I’ve felt that exact thing before.” Maybe it’s because someone did something to me that Taylor has written or will write about. It’s amazing how she captures heartbreak, nostalgia, anger, and longing, and turns them into art we can feel through.

My Tears Ricochet gave me chills. Shake It Off had everyone hyped. Every song felt like it could be my favorite, just depending on the mood.

So, I made a playlist of Taylor Swift songs I really loved this year. Some were new to me, some were familiar. Most of them hit a little too close to home. I also shuffled some of my favorite lines from her songs and made a Pinterest shuffle for it.

I hope you like it.

With love,
– Belle

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2022 Playlist

Helloooooooo!!!

I hope your day’s going well.

Here a playlist I made back in 2022. I’ve decided that from now on, I’ll make a playlist for every year. Just like a little time capsule for each season of my life.

In 2022, I learned how to be alone. Not just the physical kind, but the emotional kind. And honestly? It’s not as bad as I once thought.

I remember reading a quote before that said something like, “You’re born alone and you’ll die alone.” At the time, I liked it in a poetic kind of way, but I didn’t fully understand it. Now I think I do. I understand why a character would say something like that and mean it.

Sometimes I wonder if I really am meant to be alone. Maybe if I had just gone with the flow and stopped bending myself into shapes to keep people from leaving, I’d be alone by now. But maybe that wouldn’t be such a terrible thing after all.

I know I’ve said the word alone too many times already… but oh well. If I’m going to be alone, I might as well do cool things, go to beautiful places, and make the best playlists while I’m at it.

With love (and a little solitude),
– LonelyBelle

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Vecna Playlist

Hiii…

I made this playlist just in case Vecna (from Stranger Things) tries to take me hahah but honestly? I’d probably go with him willingly after finding out he’s played by Jamie 😳.

I’ve had a crush on him ever since I saw him in The Mortal Instruments. So if this is my “running up that hill” moment… I guess I’ll be vibing on the way out 🫠

– Belle

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Just Like Magic

Hi there,

Here’s my first playlist blog for the year 2022.

Since it’s a new year, I’m taking this as a chance for a fresh start. Last year… I’m not even sure what happened. All I know is that it wasn’t good. It was a mess. I was a mess.

But this year, I want to try something different. I want to cultivate self-worth, embrace self-love, and shift into a more positive mindset and then see where that takes me.

When I was younger, I used to imagine myself as characters from the books I’d read. I’d ask myself, “What would they do if they were me?” It helped me get through difficult moments. It was easier to take action when I could borrow the bravery or clarity of a fictional character who always seemed to know what to do.

There were traits these characters had that I wished I had like confidence, boldness, self-esteem. Traits that don’t just appear with the snap of a finger. Now that I’m older, I’ve been thinking more about the idea of a “highest self.” It’s not exactly a fictional character, but not quite real yet either. Just a version of me in the future, if things go well.

So, I made a playlist that reflects the energy of that version of me. The one I’m slowly becoming. The one I’m manifesting. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope it brings you a little closer to your own highest self too.

With love,
– Belle

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2021 Playlist

Hello there,

We’re nearing the end of the year.

This year started out okay for me, even brightly. Then a full-blown high. And now? It’s dropped. Hard.

It’s made me wonder… Is there a thin line between happiness and rage? Because lately, I’ve been dancing on that line more often than I’d like.

I’ve been feeling rage but it’s not the dramatic, screaming kind. It’s the quiet burn that disappears before anyone even notices. It fizzles so fast that I’m only left with the guilt like an aftertaste.

Unrelated, but I’ll leave you with something I’ve been circling around lately:

Love isn’t supposed to feel like a chore, a burden, or an obligation.

And yet… this year, I was lucky to feel a sweet kind of love. Like honey. But why does it still feel heavy on my chest?

…Maybe I’m just a mosquito?

With conflicted feelings,
– Belle

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