Dan don’t forget to count me in.

I have told you about my home town, right in the side of blue turqoise sea, no?

Well, on my nearly finished days I was away, I had the chance to visit it for the first time. And did I see you crunching your forehead? Honey, I have never been there, but I know, the place will be a part of my heart.

After 8 hours of bus ride, a stop in the middle of nowhere at dawn, and then next 5 hours car ride, finally me and my beib, reached the place. The road was a little bit hilly, and the air was surely salty.

And our decision to stay in this place was obviously accurate.
“Have we arrived in Sabang yet?”
No dahling, we are in Bira. But it feels like it is.

And I saw the port. Oh boy, I always love the port. It is the gate to sail away, or else, a place to stay after a rough journey. And Bira has the finest one. Not the modern and sophisticated, butit has  shallow turqoise water and traditional ships that made you time travel into another dimension. Yes, I’m exagerrating here, but I just don’t know how to describe the way I love it.

We skipped a port for a while, and headed to the beach.

Despite of the sound of our “ooohhh aahhh ooohh.. beautiful..” I know we echoed this sentence within our heart “We are home, yes we are”. Nothing to argue about. Gradually bluish water, creamy white sand, rocks and corals and typical small beach village. A continuous friendly hello from the natives made me blend as a part of the community right away.

We had fun with the beach for sure. Swimming, taking pictures, sunbathing, trekking or just a plain gazing and daydreaming. Being adventurous, we went to the ship workshop. And I am not exageratting, but I feel like want to jump in the bussiness. Because I see this magnificent wooden ships. Ordered by expats from German and done hand made by Indonesian. They only need less than one year to finish them. Just add finishing furnish and they are ready to sail away. Isnt’ that amazing?

As we walked back to our little lodge by the main road that lead to Bira beach, I heard somebody is singing soflt “Nenek Moyangku seorang pelaut…”

Now, that is something to be proud of.

Or, is it just an imaginary voice inside my head?

Pulau Peucang, 20 October 2007

Dear Babe,
            Been missing you very much. I’m here, in such a paradise, with 8 boys, and they are nothing compare to you. Uhm, most of them are my old friends, and connecting with them was like opening an old diary. Names, places and memories sometimes pop up in my head.
            If I’m not mistaken, we’ve been missing each other recently. I know there will be another session of running away from reality, only time will define. But, surely, I will do that again with you, babe. We are definitely a great team when it comes to the beach. We stuff our backpack with goggles, bikinis, mosquitos repellent, mineral water, MP3 player + portable speaker, bigframe sunglasses, teabags and of course thousand stories of our rollercoaster life.
            You are one of a rare kind that can enjoy the beach exactly the way I do. Some pepole can never enjoy the beach, they say beach is too hot and sticky and nothing challenging about it. Some people can enjoy it too much by diving into it and nevermind the sunset. While the rest afraid of the sun and prefer to go to the mall instead.
            I don’t know what is it with me and you and beach, babe. I love blue and beige colour. So the sky, the water, and the sand are perfect combination. I also enjoy the freedom of minimalize outfit to wear. A plain t-shirt, short and flip flops, that’s all you have to wear to enjoy the place. Ouw, and you know now I have started a set of bikinis collection.
            My friend, Blinky, once said, that the best way to enjoy the beach is to sit in a distance, not too far so you still can enjoy the breeze and the scenery, accompanied by a bottle of cold beer. For me, the best part of summer hodliday is when we have cups of tea or coffee, after all afternoon of swimming and getting our skin tanned. Our heart are still warm because of the sunset. Seems like the sun gives its shine for us before it take a rest for a while. The quiet of the evening and the sounds of our laughters. The way we manage to reach the shoreline and proof that our dark skin is still exotically attempting. Surely, I will repat it once more. Ah, this kind of missing you is too painful, babe.
            Please remind me one day, if we are old and too busy with our family life, that this kind of escapade is willing to be taken again. We couldn’t run forever babe, but at least knowing that you are exist in the world, make me realize that I’m not the only person who’s in love with the sea and worship it like crazy. Together we are strong babe. Jalesveva jayamahe. Haha.
            Still the question popped up in my head, what is it with you and me and the beach, Babe?

Love, as always,

Dita