Adriane grabbed the pole by his side tightly, fearing the large waves of ocean toppling the local fishing boat. Even though he's confident on his swimming, he can feel his heart almost jump out of his chest a few times now since the boat left the beach. The shaking and how it almost tumbles over for five times now, together with the laughing and cheering of all the people he's with inside that fishing boat, made him regret his decision of going on this excursion.
"Stop it." Adrian said to Isla that's staring at him with a knowing grin as he bites his lips because he feels like barfing. "Don't say anything." His voice low and giving every word a stress of seriousness. Isla just shrugs as she looks back to the one driving the boat.
"Don't worry, after a few minutes, the waves will calm down and the ride will be steady." And as she said that, the rocking boat slowly calms down and steadied as the cold breeze of the sea at early hours. All he can see was darkness, a bit of that flickering lights from the now distant island, the light from the lighthouse, and the clear view of the stars. He was supposed to fear the dark and dreary scenery, but instead, it made him feel nostalgic and calm.
"Wow. It was so..." as a writer, it was the first time he can't find a word to describe how he feels and what he's seeing right now. He just sighs.
"Beautiful, right?" Isla interjected as she walks slowly and sat beside me. "Feeling better now?" Adrian nods as his eyes never left the scenery in front of him - burying it into his memory.
"Just wait for the sunrise, I know you'll love it, for sure." Isla said as she stood up and help one of the residents, Miko, to lift the other end of the net that they're supposed to cast out.
"Is there anything I can help with?" He finally asked when he realized how busy the four people, he's with. There was him, Isla, Tatang Jose, Miko the fisherman, and Nick the person in charge of the boat's motor and also the other fisherman partner of Miko.
"Do you want to try fishing? There's a fishing rod there." Old man Jose offers to him.
"At this hour? How does that work?" Curious on how things work when fishing, he has many questions to them. It's his first time doing fishing on a boat, in the sea, and not on the pond.
One good thing in this country was how everyone can speak English and can converse easily with foreigners. They explain to him what to do, the bait, the style of rod they use, and techniques in fishing in the sea. And as it was one of the spots where they can catch fish easily, after just a few minutes, the rod starts to move frantically. Isla and others assist him and he felt accomplished when he saw how big the fish he had caught.
As the sun starts to rise, the scenery was even more breath-taking. It was like having a front row seat where the sun slowly rises before his very eyes. The sky being painted with the sun's rays, the warmth of the light spreading every second, the reflection of it on the sea, and how mesmerizing and majestic it looks like at each passing moment. He forgot all about the slow rocking of the boat and the waves, he starts to walk towards the end of the boat and found a spot overviewing the whole scene directly and sat there all the while not removing his eyes away from the sight. The waves that are moving in a steady rhythm, the salty but cool breeze, it was a quiet moment that looks like it can last for a life time in his mind.
The sleeping color of the sea and the sky was now painted with the thin line of gold and as the sun rose high on the sky, the golden light finally touched the island's cliff. And as they pull the net up and put the fishes on the big tub they have on board before going back to the shore.
"How's the experience so far?" Isla inquires as they wait for the others to disembark from the boat with the big tubs containing their catch.
"It was uncommon, but exhilarating at the same time. I bet you just want to hear my opinion if this can be included as part of the tour, am I right?" Adrian glanced at her with a grin.
"Am I that obvious?" She bit her lower lip and tuck her hair behind her ear in embarrassment.
"Not really, but I will still recommend it as one option for those who are willing to wake up early and want to watch the sunrise, but a later time for the fishing. Also, you need more stable boat than the one we rode. I felt like my soul leaving me a few times on our ride." He admits as his only experience was riding a tourist boat – which was more stable and comfortable riding.
"Of course. That was the plan in the first place. Who would want to tour around the island with this kind of boat." Isla awkwardly laughs as Adrian looks with confusion at her.
"Then why did you make me ride that one?" He was truly shocked at the sudden revelation. He almost barf, and made himself a laughing stock with the rocking boat, and here she was, almost saying that he was her trial experiment? Her first preliminary test? He can't help but smack his face when he realized.
"Sorry."' She whispered. "But you said, you did enjoy the experience!" She pouted and replied in her defense while looking at another direction. When she saw Jose slowly walking to the nearest hut, she ran towards them and loudly say something to the group.
At the nearest hut, there are the wives and other elders being busy at cooking something. There were two table placed side by side with big leaves spread out on top like a cover. It was a shock to Adrian when he saw the ladies placing rice directly on the big leaves, then goes some vegetables, meat, and fish – they were all on the leaf, on the table!
"First time seeing this? This will be our breakfast." Jose said as they walk near the hut.
"Rice? Breakfast? All of those are just for breakfast? And why is the food on the table? No plates or utensils?" He got a lot of question which match the confusion visible on his face. They all smiled at him as another lady nudge Isla to explain the situation.
Isla clears her throat, "As you can see, there are no plates or utensils, we'll be eating from the leaf-covered table, using our hands. This is one of many ways how we eat, here on our country. Here, let me show you." She lightly pushes him towards the end of the table. In front of him were a lot of rice, sliced tomatoes, some green vegetables, a fried fish that was cut in half, some pork in dark sauce, and fried little fish that looks like baby fish.
"You see, here, these are the typical breakfast for us. Maybe not this much, but most likely, you can find people eating the same in the morning." Isla introduced to him all the food in front of them, what they are, and what they are called. "And this is the way we eat using our hands." She grabs few viands, placed them on top of rice and pinch them all together using her fingers before lifting them up and pushing it on her mouth. And as she demonstrates the steps, Adriane can't help but swallow his saliva in hunger as the aroma of the food makes him salivate.
"Try it. Just copy what I am doing." And as he followed her instructions messily, the others also joined them at the table. They were all standing up while eating. He looks around, the group seems to be enjoying the food, while he was still awkwardly and messily tried to eat his portion.
It was a weird way to start his day, but he admits to himself that he enjoys every moment of it. The new experiences, the once-in-a-lifetime moments that he will sure to remember time and time again, and the smile of the people around him right now.