frame.of.mind: beaches.

Hawaii, part 3.

I have never understood people who don't enjoy the beach.

There is just something about it that seems particularly mystifying and deeply disturbing to me. What do you mean you don't like the beach?! You don't enjoy feeling the warmth of the sun browning your skin or the smell of the salty ocean breeze through your hair? You hate the feeling of soft sand between your toes and really could do without the incredible view? You just get so BORED watching the magnificent waves and clouds and sea and sky? You have better things to do than frolic in the ocean spray, walk along the shore with your sweetheart and go for a swim?

I just don't get it. Not one single bit.

BUT.....even if you are one of those people (hopefully you aren't) even YOU could find something to enjoy about a Hawaiian beach. I dare you to try and NOT enjoy yourself at one of these slices of paradise. It's just not happening. And so here are my top 5 things to do at a beach, even if you hate the beach.

1. Get moving. If you're one of those people that gets bored at the beach and hates laying out....then for goodness sakes get moving! I don't understand why people think that if they go to the beach they are somehow getting roped into sweating in the sun on a towel against their will for the next few hours. It's not like you're there under court orders or something, swim! Snorkel! Surf! Jog! Or find an awesome rock to jump off of, like we did. Can't stay bored for long doing that. (Randy jumping above, me below)

2. Go for long walks along the shoreline. Look for shells. People watch. See what all there is to discover. Strike up conversations with strangers. Or don't. The world (or the beach) is your oyster. I found some seriously cool white coral on this walk that I desperately wanted to take home in my carryon for home decor, but we were filled to the max coming home and they were left behind. :(

3. Watch the surfers. Or in this case, kite surfers. (I think that's what this is called??) You might even get lucky and see someone sporting a top hat as he bounds across the waves. Downton Abbey meets tropical island paradise.

4. Go exploring. Look up what beaches in your area might be known for (historical sites, tide pools, etc.) and go check it out. In our case, we went searching for the VERY BEACH on which they filmed the crash scene from the TV show Lost. And we're 99% sure we found it. Oh and we stumbled upon a sea lion too.

5. Take pictures. This one is kind of a no-brainer but a favorite, nonetheless. Blow up the pictures for canvas art when you get back home. Make your own postcards. I haven't done either of those, but hey, the thought should count for something. And last but not least, you can always sit in cool trees and avoid the ants crawling all over the branches for a quick picture before your escape.