early morning swimming.

The very moment I was about to dip into the pool in the middle of my condominium, I'd always go, 'Isn't it freezing cold down there?'

Of course I wouldn't whine to my dad. So, silly as it sounds, I'd have to brace myself before jumping in, even though I'd repeat this almost at least 4 times a week. Oh, not before I do a few warm-up exercises first.

And when I get in, all preparations to embrace the freeziness of the morning water were in vain. Instead, the temperature is almost about as warm as bath water. At this moment I couldn't help but sigh in relief. The swimming can finally get a lot easier without my teeth chattering and my body shaking up.

The feeling of water passing through my fingertips, the lightweight highly-flexible matter just flowing in and out and around; makes me light, happy, and do somersaults when no one's looking. The way I can carry someone who's even 80-over kg inside the pool makes a trip to space almost replaceble.

I love the way how the light dances on my hands when it shines through the water; I love looking at the nail polish on my nails under the water: the glitter looks even prettier here. I love it how I look much, much fairer underwater. I love it when I go under and watch my hair billow and swirl under the water's current; so different from the way the wind blows my hair, yet both ways make it so pretty.

When I was a kid, I'd like to pretend that I'm a mermaid when I go into the pool. I would squeeze my legs together and try to swim like one. Then as I swam, I'd look back at my long hair, which I'd purposely did not tie up, and watch it stream along behind me. Then, when I got up from the pool, I would 'transition' into a human again. (:

I love humming underwater. I love releasing the air bubbles I held on to and watch them rise above. I love trying my very best to sink under and see how far can I stay down there.

The best of all, I really love to float with my back on the water, stretch my limbs wide like a starfish, and watch the sky and the birds fly by. I love even more, to move my arms to maneouvre around the pool, bumping my head hard on the sides if I'm not careful.

And, I absolutely love to be completely submerged in water. Letting the water envelope you without feeling blanketed, I feel carefree.

Swimming is so wonderful!