I had gone in a tuktuk on a coastal tour in Siquijor which is a verdant and beautiful island. A tuktuk is a three-wheel scooter, which has powerful shock absorbers and so it is not bouncy. They are in bright colors, and one sees them everywhere. Siquijor is considered a magical island as there are many healing plants growing there. It is renowned for its traditional healing practices.

I went to see a Bolo Bolo healer, who comes from a long lineage of healers. He placed a bowl of water with a rare stone in it on my head and blew with a bamboo pipe into it. The water was bubbling and then there was a black speck in the water. He did it three times and the black speck disappeared. I felt good and that was it.

A miracle fruit

The island is full of surprises. I came across trees with large green fruits on them. I asked what they were, and they are called Calabashes. It is called a miracle fruit as it is full of health benefits. One cannot buy it; it has to be given to one. So those who have it growing in their homes should give it, if someone asks for it.

The calabash is also used to make receptacles for holding water. Then I went to one of the scenic beaches. I was sitting under a tree and looking for shells. The beaches here, have many shells and corals. I came across a few tiny shells and then under the tree, wedged in a hole was a large shell.

Shells and Gomati chakra

I picked it up and then I saw another shell near it and had them in the palm of my hand and suddenly there was movement in the shells. I saw both shells moving and their fronds waving. I went closer to the beach and asked one of the people to put them back in the sea. What came next was a greater surprise, I found a Gomati chakra in the sand. The Gomati chakra is a fossil and is dedicated to Lakshmi and Vishnu.

I came back to the hotel and showed the shells to my husband. He could not go as he had sprained his back. One of the little shells started moving and it moved quite fast. I placed it in a glass and again left it in the sea.

So ended another beautiful day in the Philippines.

Aim Hrim Klim

Picture on top by Patrick120603 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0