Beach

July 14th, Wednesday

Every morning I walk to the beach about 400 or 600 meters from our apartment building. Today it was 37 degree with dry air. Having problems to decide which camera to bring with me, I took the point-and-shoot LUMIX DMC-ZS1, as I did not want to cause too much of attention.

When I walked along the side walk beside the Coastal Road to the beach, I could feel that the dry air was taking the moisture from my nostrils. As usual the warm air surrounded my body – Ah, nice! I should’ve drunk some water before I left.

There are security guards every 20 meters in front of some of the apartment buildings, and some of them I talked to are from Nepal. I’ve never seen Nepalese before. Again they never failed to ask my nationality (Everyone I talked to must ask this question.) Then I took out my recorder and played where I was born, where I was raised and where I came from….the recorder is embedded in my brain though.  Dressing in yoga loose shorts (covering my knees), a T-shirt, a baseball hat, runners and sunglasses surely makes them think I am from Mars or Qing Dynasty of China - maybe. I do get lots of attention here in malls, supermarkets, and anywhere you name it. Women here are dressed very conservative, dressy and formal. They walk slowly too, unlike my Calgary downtown fast-mission-to-be-accomplished paces. By the way, I do not mind their questions at all, as I get to know them too!

The beach was empty and quiet, except a senior man walking back and forth along the wave line. The waves sounded beautifully when touching the sand shore lightly like anywhere in the world. The Gulf water is full of peace with no roaring waves. The sea shells and corals were washed white and shiny in the morning sun on the low tide sand. I could see some guys gathering on the reef rocks (or maybe an old tier) from far. Some guys had fishing nets on their shoulders and fish in a net bag while some men were swimming in the water. A couple were digging something from the reef, maybe oysters or crabs or shell fish?

I do see some broken glasses and cans here and there. I thought maybe I should organize some women and kids to clean the beach one day – no need to wait for the Earth Day.

I was warned later by our Western neighbour that it might not be safe for a single woman to go to the beach. Is this warning out of fear or real? May God bless the beach and I pray for the safety of the people who go there.

Our appartment building