Five Photos, Five Stories – Day Three

Today’s photo was taken in May 2010.

We were holidaying on the island of Hudhuranfushi, North Male Atoll in the Maldives and Dean was off surfing (somewhere), so I had the morning to myself.  I could have had a massage or any number of luxurious treatments on offer.

Instead, I chose to find a seat by the water’s edge.

I sat there with my broad-brimmed hat and dark sunglasses keeping the glare out of my eyes.  I held a cool drink I’d sneaked away from the dining room and had a good book I was intent on sticking my nose into.

But before long, and without realising it, as I sat there I was drawn into watching the water and the gentle ripple of the tide.  My eyelids closed and the book went untouched.

While my ears came alive, and I became lost, trapped in another dimension where the only thing I heard was the sound of the water caressing the sand.

My breathing and heartbeat slowed to match the hypnotic tempo.  My mind began painting images the music conjured.

Landscapes appeared.  Seascapes emerged.  Galaxies sprung forth.  Each one a masterpiece of vibrant images and colours, each one a mural my mind imagined.  Each one quickly painted and just as quickly washed away to be replaced by another as the water flowed in and out.

In, and out.

A slow, continuous, rhythmic ebb and flow that tenderly, lovingly soothed my soul and cleansed my spirit.

– ⋅ o ♥ o ⋅ –

It was the most relaxing, tranquil experience and surpasses, by far, any spa treatment I’ve ever had.  At the time I thought there was nowhere else I’d rather be, just me, the chair, and the ocean.  It’s hard to imagine that was almost five years ago and so much has happened since. 

Now that Dean and I are travelling around Australia, I’ve found lots of other places I’d rather be and I’ve saved the best for last.

The Five Photos, Five Stories Challenge rules require you to post a photo each day for five consecutive days and attach a story to the photo.  It can be fiction or non-fiction, a poem or simply a short paragraph – it’s entirely up to you. 

Then each day, nominate another blogger to carry on this challenge.

Accepting the challenge is entirely up to the person nominated, it is not a command.  Today, I invite Dancing Echos to join the challenge. 

Thank you Rosalyn for inviting me to join this wonderful challenge.