Happy Spring(?)!

Avid Reader, it is STUNNING in Seattle! Could Spring have sprung a touch early? Is the world coming to a rapid end?

I'll tell you someone who is convinced that the former is the case: Copper! She has taken to laying in the sunshine on the patio while I've enjoyed an open door in the office trying to get my life in order (taxes! new computer! Oh My!). It's been a quiet weekend -- one that had no plans as I was originally intended to leave for Hong Kong. Given the trip's been moved out a week, I've enjoyed trying to get as many things as possible checked off my Spring Cleaning list (none of which includes any actual cleaning!).

Happy Spring to you, Avid Reader. That is, if Spring has truly sprung in your neck of the woods!

I SWAM WITH TURTLES!

For those of you anticipating proof of my swimming with sea turtles, it has arrived!

WOO HOO!

Les Jeux Sont Faits.

Or as they say in France, "The Game is Up". Alas, Avid Reader, I am writing to you for the last time from one of the most amazing places I have had the opportunity to visit. I continue to count my lucky stars (as well as the hundreds of thousands we've seen here this week) and wish this place upon you at some point in your story as well. What a week. And more specifically, what a day. Again.

The day started as every one has with an amazing breakfast (I will forever remember the french toast), reading on the lounge chair on my patio overlooking the beach and bay, and not worrying about the Master Plan for the day. Of course, I had to do something and it included heading to Godahl beach to enjoy more of my book, the sun, and friends. Mission accomplished.

But Avid Reader, today's big activity included The Adventure of a Lifetime: Raffles' Amrita Spa's Balance Touch Therapy Massage. The best part? Getting it in their exclusive sea palapa! That's right! Saskia & I threw the co-worker label to the wind and booked a couple's package that included massages for two over the water! Nekkid co-worker? OK! Big deal!* It was an awesome massage, but more of an awesome overall experience. I won't soon forget it. If ever. Just sayin'.


(*For the record -- and because this is a PG-13 blog -- no nekkidness was actually witnessed during said adventure. And yes, Saskia would kill me without this little disclaimer.)

After our massages, we raced back to our villas then joined some of the final folks left here on Canouan (the majority of our large group left this morning) to hit the amazing golf course's 13th hole with 360 views around the entire island. We enjoyed adult beverages, jump photography and one of the most amazing sunsets I've had the joy of beholding. We rounded out our evening at the resort-hosted happy hour and finished up the night at Chez Galbraith Sisters for more views, beverages, stories and laughter.

Avid Reader, this trip has been one of the most amazing in all of my travels. A highlight for sure on the things I'll star for 2010 and beyond. Of course, I wish you were here for the adventure with me, yet will remain thankful that it's made real because I can share it with you here. As I say farewell to Canouan Island, I will also to you... until my next adventure... planned or no!

Guess what?! More adventures!

Another great day in the Grenadines.
Another great day in the sun!

It was certainly both of those things, but you will be proud to know that I didn't spend it on a beach chair. At least not the full day! Thankfully, I was lights out by 10PM last night and slept until 7:30 this morning. Our long day at the Tobago Cays wiped me out -- as it did many in our party.

After breakfast, I pimped my ride all over the resort to try to catch some of the beauty that is Raffles Canouan on my own film. In all honesty, it's A) not possible and B) I'm still learning the fine art of camera settings and lighting. However, I did have a great time with self-photography sessions -- some or all of which I'm happy to share. In short, my morning was a stunning hoot.

I spent the afternoon with the gang, including Michelle & Joe as well as Sarah & Rachel -- who were probably the most awesome (Sarah made me say this, but still, she's not too far off) -- at the resort's second beach where we enjoyed adult beverages, snacks, and more snorkeling close to this bay's reef. It may have been the best pure snorkeling of the entire trip as it was filled with more reefs and therefore more action including fish schools... and sting rays!

We enjoyed a all-you-can-eat beach BBQ tonight and were once again entertained my Deridee's vocals. HOWEVER, this time, yours truly requested a little George Michael. Not only did she deliver, she chose George's 'Knew You Were Waiting' duet with Aretha Franklin. And she needed a George. And I just happened to take the part! YES! I sang (poorly) to the entire beach with the one and only Deridee. No one defriended me after the performance, so I'm calling it a success! That and the dance party that followed as we all had yet another great meal and great time.

I'm going to bed tonight realizing that my seven (7) nights here on Canouan Island and at this resort are down to two (2). I'm not excited to leave, though I am excited to see my little girl Copper again; I miss her so. True to the mission, however, I will ensure I have the best tan possible so she knows I worked my butt off down here. Vacation? Hardly!

Tobago Cays!

Today was spent on the open sea... and yes, you can skip this entire entry if you like after this one sentence: I SWAM WITH TURTLES!

Our group chartered a catamaran and sailed out to Tobago Cays to enjoy snorkeling in one of the world's most famous hot spots. Tobago Cays are a collection of five islands all tucked behind a horseshoe-shaped reef, protecting all sorts of fish and sea life from the perils of the open sea. Interestingly, we learned that one of the islands was also recently used in one of the Pirates of the Caribbean films on which Captain Jack Sparrow gets stranded. Sure enough, upon seeing it, they were right on!

There were several folks in our crew who had underwater cameras, and the proof(!) is here! I can confess to nearly drowning as I started to shout aloud while underwater, completely forgetting the need to breathe. Occupational hazard. In true amazing form, after snorkeling with the turtles, we were taken to a nearby island where our resort had sent a crew of four to have lunch awaiting our arrival. Brilliant.

We snorkeled some more, enjoyed the wildlife, met some colorful locals, shot lots of photos, then cruised to Mayreau to experience a fully sand-floored bay where we got to enjoy calm Caribbean waters once more. No snorkeling per se, just swimming and jumping from the catamaran to the taunting/cheering masses below.

It's early on Canouan Island and it turns out, I'm turning in. With the amount of adventure, exercise, sun and adult beverages enjoyed by all, it'll likely be a quiet night on the island such that we can rebound for more adventures tomorrow, including a lobster BBQ on the beach (complete with Deridee's entertainment!). I have much for which to rest up!

Breakin' Routine

Oh, Avid Reader, if you only knew how much I've altered my routine today! The fact that I'm updating you just now (1AM) on Day Four alone is enough to reveal my lapse. But just wait until you read what follows!

Everything seemed normal -- even just after my last post -- until I got a call from Saskia who invited me to the "second" beach... one requiring our golf carts to zip over the hill to another part of the resort. What-what?! Given that I thought I should probably explore more of my surrounds than just my 20-yard trek to the beach, I chose to go with. And it was only the beginning of a brand new day...

Upon arrival, we set up for another day in the sun, only to talk to Desmond and to be whisked away on a HobieCraft out to the open sea to enjoy "non-motorized" water sprots and to swim over the reef. Sadly, we had no snorkle gear, but did see a reef shark and a HUGE sting ray as we sailed around. We stopped to swim at one point and challenged one another to swim down to touch the bottom -- not easy to do in salt water. Eyes closed, effort aplenty, friend Sarah emerged with a handful of white sand... and a sand dollar! Hilarious story altogeter as she showed her haul, not realizing what was in it, only to have the rest of us ooh & ahh in amazement. She thought she had something on her face!

After our HobieCraft adventure, we sought out snorkle gear and took to the waters to practice for our adventure tomorrow. Not much to report other than me learning how to "dive" such that I can try to swim with turtles tomorrow -- my big goal!

Friends Michelle & Joe also arrived today -- a day late due to crazy airline adventures -- and they immediately settled into the beach lifestyle and let me escort them around the island with glee. We enjoyed dinner tonight, then started a dance party outside the restaurant at the pool with Deridee, one of the most amazing chanteuses I've had the joy to hear. She pulled out all the stops and had me wet-backed and bringing out some of the employees to join us. It was quite the treat for everyone.

So, new beach, sailing, snorkeling, dancing... all a complete 180 from the past couple of days. Brilliantly, I was able to do everything in the sun and continue to work on what will be the best tan of all time. That said, Avid Reader, you will be pleased to know that I have been religious about sun-screening each day. Granted, it's SPF15 and I can't always get the center of the back; however, it's religiously applied... and followed up post-shower with a likely too-heavy application of aloe. I'm being a good boy. Tanned and good!

More to come tomorrow, including an addition break from routine as we head out on a chartered catamaran to Tobago Cays -- one of the world's most famous snorkeling locales!

Day Three Update

I can't even think of a creative title for Day Three, so Day Three Update will have to do. Yes, I'm getting that lazy. And tan.

It's Tuesday morning here on Canuoan Island and not much has changed... neither in the weather nor in my daily activities (laying on the beach) nor in the amount of joy I'm getting just breathing the fresh Caribbean air. Avid Reader, I am happy.

As to yesterday's activities, we will be at least somewhat creative and bring them to you by the letter 'B': Beach. Book. Brooke (there is a sunbather here who reminds me of Brooke Burke, so I will dub her so. I'm sure Brooke would sunbathe topless, too). Beer(s). Hmmm... already out of 'B' words. And since I'm only working on my tan, those four will have to do, though as you can imagine, they really make up the majority of my days! For more detail on Day Three, please see Day Two. :)

One thing I will confess to... and you can't say a word, Avid Reader... is that I threw myself my own little DancePartyUSA yesterday after "working" on the beach and before dinner with the posse. Originally meant to capture the essence of the progress on back tanning (i.e. back burning from Day One), I set my camera to take a few shots. However, with my headphones on, I ended up capturing the next dance moves that will likely hit the stage in the coming months. Just sayin'.

Here's to Day Four! Hmmm... maybe I'll do some exploring today. Or just work on my tan. Egad! Too much to decide!

Hello Sunshine!!

Day Two is starting off much the same as Day One. Not lying: I could definitely get used to this routine. In fact, I'm going to get used to it again as soon as I log off here. In the meantime, however, I feel compelled to share my adventures!

After leaving the Internet Room yesterday, I went back to my villa to enjoy reading the paper with fresh brewed coffee on my porch overlooking the Caribbean. However, after staring at the beach not 20 yards away, temptation won out and I hit the white sand for the afternoon.

Armed with The Associate by John Grisham, I found a sunny spot (above, left. Yep, that was my spot yesterday!) and parked from about noon to 6PM when the sun went down. And yes, I both started and finished the novel. It was THAT good of an afternoon (though the book left much to be desired, it was still a great take-me-away story).

Avid Reader, I know you're dying to hear... and the answer is YES: I am well on my way to what could be the best tan ever. Without you here, however, I was unable to sunscreen my back and am slightly feeling the price this morning. I may be a little more red there than desired and/or enjoyed. Still.. don't be jealous.