Beach Party

There was a time when I got into the ocean just about every day. I lived on Guam then, so being near the ocean wasn’t any kind of problem, and I took advantage of this fact as often as I could. Guam’s beaches are mostly reef-breaks, with giant coral heads that poke up through the surf at low tide. Owing to this and the local’s violent territorialism, surfing was more or less out for me. Diving was not, however, and I took to the aqualung as if born from Jacques Cousteau’s own womb (well, you get my meaning…).

Last week much agonizing went on over the declining interest in Miss America. Should they ditch the swimsuits? Jettison the talent show? Get off the platforms?

Tomorrow morning we are travelling to the coast to a place called Mui Ne for a few days of relaxation and sunbathing which we could really do with!!

It’s already time to start prepping for summer. Ahh, those lazy days of sleeping in, lounging on beaches and by the pool, reading under the shade of trees, and basking in the quality time spent with mom. Or something like that.

I was a second-semester freshman at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. I had turned 19 a week earlier.

The best tool for finding compromising Web information on associates and business partners. While I was on the phone with a VP we’re trying to recruit, I did a quick Google search. The first link led to a quote from him on a windsurfing-enthusiast site. It gave me an opportunity to subtly pitch the walking distance from our office to the Bay—a great spot for wind surfing.

This journey will consist of the four things he loves most; spending time with his family, scuba diving, quad biking and to be in nature. On top of this he wishes to break the record in the first cancer victim to circumnavigate Africa’s coastline on a quad bike.

After a morning Mokoro ride (local version of a canoe), the next chapter of our trip started after lunch when we took another small plane en route to our next safari camp, Chitabe. As expected, the Chitabe staff was very hospitable and they once again welcomed us with an African folk song and dance. I was afraid that I was getting so used to this that I might start expecting my co-workers to sing and dance for me when I get back to work. In terms of facilities, Chitabe was even nicer than Little Vumbura --- my definition of a luxury safari has once again been redefined. We even had the added bonus of having the camp all to ourselves --- no other guests! We spent the whole time during dinner learning from the staff all about Africa and , specifically.

The town of San Juan del Sur is a mecca for the surfers of Nicaragua. Not because of the flat waters in the bay, but due to the waves that crash onto the shorelines of the beaches to the north and south of San Juan. The Argies and I decided to check out one of the playas along the coast, not as surfers, but just beach dudes.

Now, I’d like to think the country has gotten to a point that it is ready to elect a woman president. I’d also like to think I’ll win megamillions and spend the rest of my days in a tropical villa overlooking a nude beach populated only by supermodel lesbians. Realistically, Hillary doesn’t stand a chance. The Republicans could dig up Reagan’s corpse and run him successfully on the “At least he’s not Hillary” ticket.

Still, far be it from me to give credit where credit is due: An entire fan subcommunity dedicated to making, wearing and posing for pictures in Leia’s metal bikini from Return of the Jedi. Let’s be clear that I have nothing bad whatsoever to say about this, with the possible exception that a lot of these ladies appear to be burdened with, um, stripper names. (Candy Lee? Beret? Angel? Darcienne?) Still, Ross Geller knew whereof he spoke.

This weekend I went off to the beach with a group from the spanish school. Ended up being 12 brazilians, one american guy and me, so the mix of spanish and portugese ended up getting me totally confused. Valaparaiso is a nice port town, where pablo neruda used to live at one point. We went on a boat ride around the coast to see the city and also some sea lions who were living on a big buoy. They put on a good show for us, yawning and such. I nearly landed us in trouble when they were explaining its against the law to take photos of the warships in the harbour (in spanish mind you) and I was already taking photos, but oh well.

I get to the leasing office way too early; there was a Dunkin Doughnuts next door. I go in and get a cup of coffee and a doughnut. I remember being somewhere in the Mid-Beaches. It wasn’t as wide as South Beach; the ocean was right across the street. What I did see was lots of huge abandoned hotels, I don’t know why they closed, but I would find out quickly. I walk across A1A, stepped out onto some grassy-rocky sandy beaches. It was still dark, so I couldn’t see anything but a few ships going to Bermuda or wherever they were going. I dropped my bags, and rested on the comfy sand.

I’m going to be recommending a winter beach vacation to all. There’s no crowd, the restaurants are easy to get into and grateful you came. There’s plenty of fresh fish at the seafood market. There’s no sliding on chairs because of excessive sunblocking lotion. All things considered, it was the best idea Al and Mary Ann ever had. Tip: Take an iron skillet. Blackening fish in a regular pan isn’t a very good idea…

Well it's official, the spring semester has returned, but not with a vengeance. In any case, it is good to be back and I even get a free lunch at the Marriott tomorrow, that alones makes the nearly $20,000 in loans I borrowed worth it. Some guys and I had originally planned on hitting the beaches down in Mexico this weekend, but the warm weather we have had has finally gone away and I can't imagine enjoying freezing by the ocean. In any case we have a long weekend coming up that I am pretty excited about, because after two days of class, it is hard not to enjoy a long weekend.

As long-time readers of Sticks know, many northeastern universities send their rowing teams to the University of Tampa to train in the winter. The Tampa Water Sports Center & Stewards Foundation keeps track of who is coming to downtown Tampa and when.

I know it sounds weird to be taking a break right after a long lay-off, but that’s exactly what I am doing. My aunt flew up to visit the family a little before Christmas and decided that I needed some fun in the sun. Thus, for the first time ever, I am leaving the Canadian winter behind for the sunny beaches of Florida! A week is just enough time for me to unwind and spend as long as possible swimming and windsurfing and rollerblading and generally enjoying the aforementioned ‘fun in the sun’.

When I'm not at shows or teaching, I’m helping with my brother-in-law's stall, selling hats and silk clothes (Never Give Up stall). Lots of people watching. Bikinis are the new black. So are cowboy hats. Especially with bikinis. There are costumes everywhere, and people of all shapes & sizes. People are strange.

January 4th… The day is finally here! After working my ass off in a coffee bar (Kaffebrenneriet) in Oslo for the last 6 months, I can at last lower my shoulders and start thinking of sunny beaches and girls in bikini…. ahhhhhh! My plane leaves 13:40 from Oslo Airport and after a seven hours in between stop i Vienna I will reach Bangkok on Thursday morning.

Haha… this is hilarious because they dance very well… especially the one wearing bikini hehehe. Click here to see the video.

Our hotel was just within walking distance of Pattaya Beach, so we headed for that instead of Jomtien Beach, which is supposed to be less touristy and more beautiful. Pattaya Beach was nothing much to look at: