Beaches

Posted on 11 Nov, 2008 14 comments

Beaches.

I was born on the island of Java and happened to be living on the coast. Weekends were often spent in Tandjong Priok, which was a social event. There was the yacht club which had a roundisch kind of clubhouse with a huge terrace around it. Our parents always met friends there and my sister and I mostly could play by ourselves. We each had a huge tube on which we just floated around in the safe area adjacent to the pier. Often these friends had children and they would join us. We just roamed around, paying in the change rooms, at the beach, making sand castles or just attempting to swim aided by these tubes. Sometimes there wer jelly fish and you had to be so careful. I once got stung by one, not a very happy occasion. On a couple of occasions we went to one of the coral islands which ly in front of Jakarta. Early in the morning we boarded at Tandjong Priok a small boat with about 20-30 passengers and took a 1 or 2 hour trip to one of the thousand islands which ly in front of the coast. The boat trip already was a thrill on its own. You could sit on a deck, which was nothing more than a net hanging over the rear of the boat. Here you could see the foam which it left behind and get splashed in the meantime. The island was wonderful. I remember it was called Hoorn. It was very small and an hours walk would take you around it along the beach. The water was as clear as could be and we had to disembark wading or swimming or in a little dingy, because you could not really stand on the sea bottom because of the coral and the urchins. I remember seeing people who had not been careful and they had some end bits of the urchins embedded in their legs and feet and they had to be carefully taken out. I just swam. I was surprised by the nice coral people dived up from the bottom. Not many did this, perhaps those who did had a special permit to do so. I think my love for tropical islands must have been born on this island. The pure fine white sand, the coconut trees which set off the coastline against the lush vegetation behind, just made it all appear like a fairy tale.
Holland has beaches as well. Weekends in the summer you can also go there, bath in the sun and in the sea, walk along the beach, if there is not too much wind, or else you just hide behind some erected shelters, wind shealds. But only…..if you are early enough and can get there before the mad rush. If you go by car you certainly have to be up very early or else you will have nowhere to park. In my younger years I went on my bike. We parked it somewhere and then walked another 50-100 meters through the dunes to the beach. There are many eathouses and little bars along the beaches and you can buy anything from suntan lotion to ice creams and french fries.
When I was just married we went to Brazil. In Rio we visited the famous Copa Cabana beach, a real eye opener. But, as with all beaches on the east coasts, you have to go early because after three in the afternoon they are hidden in shade, as the high rise hotels keep the sun from shining through. We also visited a beach north of Salvador. It was August and the locals call it winter time, but for us, it was warm enough to sit on the beach. We had it all to ourselves, nobody showed up.

The best beaches of course are in Australia. The South-west only gets the occasional shark and there are constant observing planes to check it out. You swim between the flags, as there the lifeguards keep an eye on you. The beaches are not too wide, but nice clean yellow sand. The inlets and bays are safest to swim in; the coastline slopes down very fast and there nearly always is a pull in the water and a big surf. The widest beach there I have seen in Dunsborough and there the slope is not too steep either. A certain time of the year the beach is covered in beautiful shells. There is a nearby shell museum worth while visiting. All beaches are free.
And of course I lived in Darwin, where beaches surround the city. So far the best and longest beach I have seen is in Casuarina. We have walked there for 1 1/2 hours and not even scratched the surface yet. The casuarina trees border the sand and a nice feature is the rock formation which goes on for a few hundere meters. They are sand stone, but pretty hard when you knock yourself on them. They have the most beautiful shapes and colours, from ocres to purples, whites, reds and browns.

Magnificent patters run along and nature sure is a good artist. Other beaches are smaller, some even man made, where the marina’s are. There are no shacks or eating places or stalls, no vendors walk on the beach selling drinks, no umbrella’s nor chairs, just sand, Ocean and trees, I love these wide open spaces, not like the ones in Holland where you have to watch where you’re going, or else you might trod on people!
Holiday beaches were in Port Douglas, Queensland, 7 miles long and quite wide, on one of the islands off the coast on the Great Barrier Reef ( coral, so keep swimming ) and of course Bali. Kuta and Legian beaches have a wonderful surf and I could just float atop these big waves all day and when you tire of it, just let the waves bring you back ashore.
Beaches have a wonderful effect on people. They bring calm and peace to the mind. Sitting on the sand, a rock or a dunetop, listening to the crashing of the waves, the ever lasting sound of water can give you an out of this world experience, even if you are in the middle of it. One will never tire of the Ocean. If you are lucky you can see seagulls, dolphins or even whales and the little creatures like sea stars, shells, coral and so on. If you are game enough you can even snorkel or dive and meet the secrets of the water world. The Southern Oceans off Australia offer some of the best deep sea life you can imagine. I have seen a documentary of it and it is mindblowing. The colours are fantastic, the rythm of life under the sea is soothing and so different from life on land. If you like to have a change, change to a sea change and come home refreshed and open minded.

Comments

Amy

You have visit some beautiful places Marquerite and have some wonderful memories .
My cousin lives in queensland , Banksia beach and has a boat there !

11 Nov, 2008

Milky

What an interesting Blog, Thanks Marguerite for sharing you childhood memories with us. You lucky, lucky girl to have grown up on Java Maureen

11 Nov, 2008

Delonix1

Marguerite,

What an adventurous life you've had! It sounds wonderful... all the traveling and living on exotic Islands. You've must have met some really interesting people from many cultures.
Cultural diversity makes the World so very interesting.

It appears you live by some amazingly beautiful beaches, I bet the water is nice and warm year-round. Do you surf or
snorkel?

Take care,
Andy aka Delonix1

11 Nov, 2008

Steve

our beaches are unfortunately of the pebble variety here on the south coast of england.but a walk along the beach is still invigorating, especially when it's only 10 deg and blowing a gale!! you can see the windsurfers and dinghy sailors battling with the elements and all the shipping in the solent , people fishing off the beach walls .my best beach by a mile was in australia, palm cove nr cairns , a beautiful sandy cove with only us walking along , didn't dare swim though , too many things in the sea that can kill you!! but the walk was heavenly..........steve

14 Nov, 2008

Raquel

I think where you're born and grow up marks part of what you love in nature...I love my parents garden for example, just sitting still and being in the garden reading, thinking, listening...withthe volcano in the background...it makes me happy. The ocean makes me happy, the dark blue color, the waves, the black sand. There are no doubt far more beautiful places in the world, but none are as special as these...

Do you have Dutch ancestry, Marguerite? My brother-in-law is Dutch, he grew up in Hilversum and he and my sister often visit...though to my poor sister the beaches are only for walking not swimming as she has told me the ocean is COLD at least for our central american taste...But Jan goes in as does his sister, Anneleen. Ana just watches, amazed. I have never been to Holland but would like to, it looks beautiful in pictures. Though Anneleen says there is little summer as it is often rainy and cold. But I would like to see the tulips. =)

15 Nov, 2008

Panther

Interesting blog Marguerite and wonderful memories of childhood. Very enjoyable reading:-)
Panther

18 Nov, 2008

Marguerite

Thank you all for for reading my blog and commenting. In a way, yes I have been a lucky girl to have been to so many places. It was not often for travelling, but plainly living. You'd think I always been close to the beach, but for 37 years I have lived in the bush ( read: forest ). That was 50 kms from the sea, yet we did go walking there, took the dogs, the kids and have Christmas parties on the beach. I love the forests too. They are more sheltered in a way, and of course more vegetation. I love trees and leaves. It is nice to be able to have a choice. Raquel, yes I was born Dutch and have Dutch ancestors. But we became Australians soon after we lived here. I know Hilversum and my hubbies fam. comes from there. We have just been there in September. For sure, who in their right mind goes swimming in the North sea, lol? Far too cold for us. Amy, I am ashamed to admit, I do not know Banksia Beach. I have only lived in QLD for 15 months now, came from Darwin here. I am right in the North of QLD you see.
Milky, it is just an accident of birth that I was born on Java, lol. In those days it was still a Dutch colony, and I think this is why Raquel thought I had Dutch ancestry. That was a long time ago, in fact tomorrow it is 66 years ago! Going to bed now, it is nearly tomorrow here....

25 Nov, 2008

Marguerite

Hi Delonix, I now see I forgot to answer you. The waters around the southern part of Australia are good to swim in, safe apart from sharks. But there is shark watch and if you stay in the dessigated area's you have patrolling there and lifesavers. But the northern half is difficult. In Darwin for instance NObody swims as the salties love you! You can safely swim in the waterfalls in National Parks, only alligators ( fresh water crocs ) live there, but on the beaches is different. You can swim along the coast here, it is quite safe between the Barrier Reef and the coast, but do not go near the river mouths as crocs live there. You can only swim for 6 months of the year, as now it is stinger season and yes, very toxic indeed. In special area's they have stinger nets hanging in the sea and it is quite safe to venture there, also a life saver is present. These are swimming area's. Dogs don't get bitten by them as they cannot grab onto their furry coat. I have yet to see one, but some are hard to see as they are transparent. The waters are lovely and warm, but in the South you only swim during summer months exept for the brave hearted. I do not surf, nor do I snorkel, I have tried once at one of the Great Barrier Reef islands, but I nearly choked. I hate to have my face in the water anyway, so I watched the reef through the glass bottom boat. I am a good swimmer though and in the salty water it is easy too. Hope this answers all your questions.

26 Nov, 2008

Raquel

It was just a guess about the Dutch ancestry...You just mentioned you'd been to Holland, too, and Jan had told me the Dutch had colonies..He loves Indonesian food and has told me there are lots of restaurants in Amsterdam...I'm an American citizen but I still consider myself Salvadoran too...there are at least three places I call home! lol

26 Nov, 2008

Onionhead

So you are indicating that today is your 66th birthday? ("That was a long time ago, in fact tomorrow it is 66 years ago!") I had to write and say Happy birthday!

You are exactly 1 month and 1 year older than my mother...but how fascinatingly different you two women are. My mom is a farm wife who has lived for 40 years in the house that my parents built when they got married and she grew up on another farm just a couple miles away in Pennsylvania. I am more like you, myself and plan to live in as many beautiful places on this earth as I can before the end of my time. I'm moving to Taos, NM this winter, for instance, though I hope to settle somewhere more green and less cold eventually. I love running into the stories of women such as yourself, because they are an inspiration to me. Thanks for sharing and have a great day!

26 Nov, 2008

Marguerite

Hi Raquel, the food from the spice islands as we used to call the Dutch East Indies, is out of this world. Not very hot, but very aromatic. They use things which we can't grow I guess and they each have their special taste. There are many different dishes and I love many of them. I know because of its colonial background in Holland they have a meriad of Indonesian restaurants. I guess once taste, you never want to go without. I don't consider myself Dutch, as I only lived there for 13 years, but certain things and especially food I will always treasure. The language too, is another thing, it is very colourful indeed. I still enjoy reading Dutch books. But in my heart and bones I feel a true blue aussie!
Thank you onionhead, and yes, it was my birthday yesterday. I have a suttle way of letting people know don't I? Onionhead, it all sounds facinating, you must be my daughter's age ( eldest is 41 ). Anyway, we must stick to the subject here, lol. Where is Taos and what is NM? I have to smile a bit when you said your mother lived on a farm for 40 years, as I myself lived on a farm for 37 years! Not that much difference there. Only we were the pioneers and our children grew up on the farm. Just read a few of my earlier blogs ( and more to come ) about the farmyears. Great life experience. The travelling was all just a coincidence really. Life's like that: surprises galore. Thank you for reading my blog everyone.

27 Nov, 2008

Raquel

Happy belated birthday Marguerite, guess I missed the reference! NM is the state of New Mexico and Taos a beautiful city/towm were a great many artists have lived and painted...most famously Georgia O'Keefe, I think...
Mmmm...sometimes you have to plan your travels, otherwise you might not go anywhere! But I understand your point my dad has travelled widely and it was all mostly for work...he went places he never thought he'd go...my sister too, she's even been to Africa! I will actually be in New Mexico in July for a conference but not in Taos, alas, but in Albuquerque...and plan to go to Greece in May. =)

27 Nov, 2008

Marguerite

Thank you Raquel for your good wishes. Well, when you go to Greece you must take two camera's, lol. I bet you there is so much to take pics of. I have never been to Greece, only once landed in Athens, early in the morning, when it was just getting light. It was sooooo pretty. But it is still on my list for one day. All my familie and most of my friends have been there, and everyone loved it. It is just a hop across the Atlantic for you, should be there in a whizz. Thank you for New Mexico and Taos updates.

28 Nov, 2008

Raquel

For sure! I still hope to go though with the economy not doing well I wonder if I will actually get to do it..but still it's worth planning for!

28 Nov, 2008

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