Beach Bumming

I have accessed my inner beach bum and we have embraced.  The exact evolution of my life to this circumstance shall not be fully elaborated here because the story of how a girl born in a desert clime—who never even saw an ocean until she was almost twelve—ultimately disembarked in this state would be long and convoluted.  Suffice it to say, it happened.

My most recent endeavor in beach bumming occurred at the end of May.  Two friends and I fled our lives in the metropolis of Seoul for four days in Boracay, the Philippines.  Once inaugurated into a lifestyle befitting White Beach, I never deviated.  Whereas Chris went diving for a goodly chunk of each day, Camille and I “beached” it.  Each and every day.

We began with sunrise walks—in the constitutional style…except when I needed a photo moment—before a leisurely breakfast in venues on the beach. 

Then lounge chair activities under the umbrella interspersed with regular sea dipping ensued for pretty much the rest of the day except for a long lunch at another venue near the beach.  Most often that was the Lemon Cafe because it had such a splendid array of delectable options for consumption.  Now I am an ardent fan of mango smoothies—and I indulged in at least one per day while in Boracay—but the Lemon Café’s watermelon ginger smoothie was truly an amazing mingling and so refreshing.  Yes, the food was excellent, too!

Our lounge activities included talking, reading, dozing, and always watching the sea—okay, people, too—but mostly the beautiful sea.

One morning we rented paddle boards, something I have wanted to try for several years.  I had so much fun, and once the instructor told me I was a natural, I fully committed!  (The balancing and shifting of weight reminded me a lot of skiing for some reason.)

Sunsets on White Beach illuminate the sky in a breath-taking spectacle of sweeping, ever-changeable color for almost a half hour.  Two different evenings we spent at least a half-hour camera chasing that panorama of sea and sky at sunset.

Four perfect beach bumming days surely completed my conversion.  And, with the way my life spins out in reality, I will probably remain a converted beach bum...in four-day stints!