beach bum for life.
Every summer was spent at Old Lyme. We would beg
for pocket change to go to Marvin Gardens and buy slush puppies, Bahama Mama
flavored of course. After dinner we would walk over to Sound View and ride the
Carousel hoping to grab the golden coin. Prizes were won at the arcade and Italian
ice bought at Vecchitto’s. Life was easy at the beach.
On special occasions we would travel even
farther down the parking lot of I-95 to the Rhode Island beaches. We would race my dad as he body surfed towards the shore. The giant waves were a welcomed change from the calm Sound. A long day at
Naragganset or Scarborough ended at Galilee pier with clam cakes and chowder.
Our summers consisted of packing up the van,
coolers of Doritos and Capri Sun, barbeques, puzzles, badminton, sandy bathing
suits, beachy hair, and bronzed skin.
Summers at the beach defined me and my family. Although
the beach has evolved and changed over time, it will always be a beacon of
reunion for us all. It is where we grew up, where we held birthday parties,
where we learned how to ride bikes. It is where I learned how to play card
games, where I had my first kiss, and where I found out about Rudy’s death.
The cool water, soothing waves, and warm sand,
all basked in the sun light, serve as an outlet for us all. It offers us time
for reflection, where our minds wander to what was and what could be. It is
also our escape from the harsh and sometimes cruel reality of our lives. It
gives us a place for family and friends to join together and swap old stories
and share grand dreams while taking a long walk down the shore. The beach can
make for a great day or fix a bad one.
So that is why I always gravitate toward the
sea, wherever I am. It is part of me and will forever be.
After an adventurous diving weekend on Koh Tao,
we popped back home to Chonburi for two days before we set off to another
island. 3 hours south from our charming Thai city rests the small island of Koh
Samet. A short ferry ride from Rayong brings you to a long and forested island
with white sandy beaches. An eclectic breed of people end up on its shores - travelers, hippies, locals, Russians,
Central Europeans, and families all roll out their towels and soak up the sun.
We yearned for a lazy, beach bum weekend so we
found lodging at Tot’s Bungalows – little cabanas nestled on a small hill and
overlooking Sai Kaew Beach. Tot’s open air restaurant greets the sand and sun
chairs. We had everything we needed within 50 feet.
Brittany and I woke up early to watch the sun
rise over the water. We sat next to the Phra Aphai Mani and mermaid statues and
blissfully waited for the sun to break the horizon. The cool blues and purples
stretched into radiant pinks and oranges. A new day had begun. Back into my
usual routine, I went for my morning run in hopes of exploring the island a bit
before parking myself on the beach. For being a long and narrow island, Koh
Samet is extremely hilly and forested. The island has been inhabited for about
thirty years and is a National Park. It was just after sunrise so I was the
only one on the dirt roads and feeling completely at peace and free.
Over the following two days we migrated back and
forth from our room, to the restaurant, and to the beach. We were perfectly
lazy and enjoying every minute of it. We dozed in and out of carefree naps as
we were lullabied to sleep by the loyal waves.
We traveled to the other side of the Island to
Ao Phrao in order to watch the sun set over the water. This is the ritzy side
of the island with glamorous resorts and expensive menus. We sat at a
restaurant on the sand and enjoyed our happy hour drinks with a backdrop of the Gulf of Thailand. Unfortunately, the infamous Thai haze conquered the setting
sun and left us with a glowing ball of light trying so hard to show its full
beauty.
Our beach bum weekend eventually came to a close and it was
time to make the journey home to Chonburi. I left Koh Samet rested and
tanned. I love times where I can
practice the beautiful Italian saying ‘il
bel far niente’ – the beauty of doing nothing. I had nothing to do and nothing to worry about, I just had to be. Letting my mind wander on long runs, day
dreaming while lying in the sun, and sharing personal hopes with a friend on slow walks along
the beach gave me ample time to reset my goals for the year and reflect on the
life I am living. I sat on the ferry, saddened to leave the sandy beach and
beautiful island but feeling so complete and excited for what’s to come– feelings
only a beach bum weekend can create.
congratulations guys, quality information you have given!!! tiket pesawat murah
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