OFF AND AWAY

OFF & AWAY
NEXT STOP
DREAM LAND

I am not the best at making advanced plans or anything of that sort and I can see where some could get annoyed by this "disorganization" i have created around myself. However, I have decided to organize one grand thing in my life. As I was driving back from my first solo mission in St.Maarten today I decided that my 1st thing to add to my to-do list/bucket list is to go to every beach this island holds. There are 24 on the island and thus far I have been to four and swam in three this all being done within less than 2 weeks. I intend on spreading out the beach times over a good period one must not get bored of paradise. Although I feel that with the human condition boredom of beauty is defiantly possible. Here is a list of the beachs that I have crossed off my list.

The photograph above is from Mullet Bay beach, known for it's constant parties in the back and always conducting business in the front. It's a nice and calm beach with not too many obnoxious people parading/splashing about. You can also snorkel at this bad boy if you want OR surf, something else that is on my bucket list. It costs about $5.00 for a chaise/ lounge chair. For my thrifty ways that is a bit steep so I choose to lounge on my towel. More of the people, you know?

This is the beach down the hill from where my current crib is situated. I often frequent this beach everyday after work. This is also where Mother Nature bitch slapped me. She says she loves me and does it to teach me a lesson. Ooh love! It's a nice beach but is actually part of a resort and we often sneak in with our "special" priviledge of living above the place. If i swim far enough i can see my castle on the hill.

I didn't swim in this beach here yet, mainly because I did not have my swimming suit with me. Instead I hit up the attacthed hotel for a delicious brunch, one that I still crave and will make sure to go back to before I leave this beautious island. You can see St.Barths from a far, where the wind carries along the smell of expensive perfume and celebrity aires.

I hit this bad boy up today on my "solo" missions. Naturally when I was sitting there with my camera no planes came in. I put my camera back in the car because I did not want to call my dad and be like "hey remember that bad ass camera you soo kindly got me? Yeah well some punk is taking dirty shots of him and his girlfriend with it. They say thanks"
I left my camera in the car so I could splish splash about in the waters. The sun was heating up my skin and the water was calling my name, with a Caribbean accent of course.
When I was swimming though, the planes starting flying in. I did not see anything this size though. Have no fear, I shall organize a sighting and snap away as if my life depended dearly on it.

So today was my first day roaming alone. Which is interesting because I have come to cherish my freedom as if it were a 24kt diamond ring. Before I left I felt nervous as if my outgoing self had gone up and left me. I hopped into the car and drove down the hilly streets all the while blasting cheesy 80's tunes that were playing on the radio. I felt like I was in a movie, perhaps Weekend at Bernies 3. This time sans a dead man. I drove to the French side in hopes of finding a beach called Grand Case. After many hills and a couple of round abouts I was lost and found myself at a cul de sac. I snapped some shots as Chakka Khan blasted from the radio. I asked a cute gentleman which way I needed to go to. He directed me but I am horrible at paying attention when given directions. I smiled and walked away pretending like I knew what he said. I just remember "apres une grande pointe rounde, prendre une droite". I got back in the car and decided I would just go with the flow. I passed many sights that were worthy of my cameras lens but the roads/ people driving behind me did not allow for this to happen. I ended up in Marigot, the French Capital. It was somewhat of a ghost town. I suppose b/c it was a Sunday and well who works on Sundays? I snapped some more shots befriended a marble colored cat and hopped back into my car. This time blasting Soca and dance hall tunes. I was heading to Maho beach, the beach beside the airport. I swam and snapped some shots, all the while live music played beside me playing Bob Marley and Barrington Levy covers. It was quite a nice and comforting feeling, sitting alone on the beach as i stared into the abyss that is Atlantic ocean.

Life is many things,
and I am glad to be situated under the wings of it's beauty.
I have come to appreciate this side only by falling under it's wing of pain and loss.
I know with one, the other lurks close.
Making me appeciate all that is.