Living in Paradise
By jamon johnson
13 Dec 2007
I knew this was going to be a special trip the moment I walked out of the airport and was welcomed by my brother and friends. I was immediately handed a rum punch for the ride back to the place I would be calling home for the next week. As we drove through the curvy, narrow roads, I couldn't help but pay attention to the oncoming traffic for the first few minutes. Having complete faith in my brothers driving abilities, I soon relaxed and enjoyed the scenery for the remainder of the ride.
We had the luxury of staying at a friends home that was far enough away from the many cruise ships and tourists that visit everyday, but close enough if we wanted to join our fellow Americans for an excursion or two. Once we arrived at the house I knew I would be content if we never left our immediate surroundings. First of all, the refrigerator was filled with a special imported Guiness that is not available in the states! Secondly, the ocean was directly across the street, along with extraordinary views from the rooftop that extended from my bedroom. This was turning out to be a true vacation! The type that I look forward to most, where I had nothing planned, and had a beer in my hand at all times. Turns out that the one thing I was interested in most, was getting up early for (or staying up late for) the sunrise.
My brother and I took the short walk to the shore, past the gazebo and approached the "edge of the earth". As I stood there watching waves crash at my feet and clouds being pierced by the sun's rays, I felt like I was one with heaven and earth.
The beauty of the land, the ocean, and the sky are things many of us take for granted. I took a closer look at all of these living things and gained a greater appreciation for life, the earth, and all that they encompass. When I took this trip, I used my brothers Nikon D40X for the first time, as I didn't own a camera at the time; so thanks Jeff for providing me with the tools to improve my vision.
