An old fashioned love/ hate relationship--a day at the beach.

[Mars Man]

A soft warm breeze whipping up waves of beautiful white and blue returns the smile of pleasure that I give them. I run across clean, sparkling sand, absorbed with the comfort as it gently gives beneath my feet... Oh how I love the beach !!

THEN...I awake to the alarm clock. It's Obon season in Japan, so you know you're gonna have to get up much earlier than usual, and it's a pain in the brain to do so. The kids are up already, trying to bug me to hurry up with my morning 'get going' drug--caffine. Pack the car, make sure everything's right, then hit the road for that long drive to the Japan Sea--or East Sea, for some.

I love going to the ocean. I love jumping to the rhythym of the waves as they come bulldozing in. Hey, it's summer ! Everyone should hit the beach in the summer--such great memories await you there, so many even greater memories from your childhood days remain there.

At the beach houses in Japan you can enjoy some, well, 'home cooked' food at not too high a price--I mean 500 yen for ramen--that's not too bad. (what you get is one small slice of meat, some chopped green onions, some ramen, and a lot of soup; that's at least tastier than, though as salty as, the seawater)

The sun becomes unbearable--quite unlike the dream. The heat of the sand will have you either standing in the water or squatting under the beach parasol--inevibably exposing some spot of yet un-sunscreened skin without your being aware of it. You have to keep you eyes open for broken glass, beer cans, all the little sticks left over from the bottle rockets--and of course as you swim, the plastic, the netting pieces, drift wood and such.

There's the stress on the heart when a kid's head can no longer be seen on the not too far away horizon--only to pop back up after a 'longer-than-the-breath-can-be-held' moment. ( I forgot about the snorkle, and couldn't see it.)

The typical complaints--'I don't wanna put on any cream--I play soccer! ending in Ouch...I can't sleep...whine, whine, whine... The I'm thirstys, hungrys, need to go to the bathrooms that never come in unison. And of course the sand all over the place.

Some 12 hours later, I get home. . . all hurting around the neck, arms, legs and waist. Don't worry !! I put lots of cream on my head FIRST !!! I'm a hot body tonight ! I'm exhausted ! I hate the days at the beach, you know...but I just love them too, too much to give them up !! DON'T YOU !! Tell us about your day at the beach !! (AND be sure to go...it's summer--in much of the northern hemisphere and tropical zone, at least.)

 

[Void]

Oh, don`t make me started, Mars Man sama!

The day at the beach or the school composition "How i`ve spent the summer"

I both love and hate those days before vacation, when you count them in excitement of anticipation and grow annoyed with slow pace of time. And finally it comes - the day X. Since it take 2-3 days to get to the desired
location it would be the waste of time and effort to spend just a day on the
beach, so it turnes into few of them or even weeks.

I prefer it this way (pic 1).
When you crawl out and greet first splashes and rare people. Hate those who come just to drop their towel in order to peg the place, they show up in 2 or 3 hours later, often leaving little space for other who wsnt to swim right away.
And i dread it this way %) (pic 2)
Therefore the beach hours split in the morning and after 16. I am not loaded
with worries abut kids who swim too far or neglect the lotion and can fully
enjoy the sight and sound of the sea. However, no one insured against few grumbing thoughts "hey, did you have to run over me all wet and cold?!" or "gosh! can you yell a bit more louder?!" or "get the hell out of the water with your mattresses, leave some room for swimming"

the sun grows hot and mind more lazy, it`s about time to look for a shelter
with glass of cold milk and fresh baking. Watermelon also will do but in this
case it is vital to ensure that certain facilities are located nearby %)
If body didn`t melt into amorphous amoeba there is a chance to have some fun with beach tennis (it also can bring some feeleing of revenge when you occidentally step on bodies that ran over you hours before )

It is also great to walk along the waterline looking for what the sea left for
us, some seashells or stones can make good souvenirs. Or just sit and listen,
watch the rolling waves, while the sun slowly melts in water, and catch the glimpse of the dusk before night will come into force

 

[Mars Man]

LOL !! I know just what you mean !! We didn't have it that crowded--as in pic. 2--but, I have been to places that were, and can understand.

Yes...you understand (and also have experienced) the love/hate relationship of a day--or number of days at the beach! I'm sure others have too.

I'm still in pain in those roasted spots...on bad one is my waist area--yesterday I put on some slightly tight (in the waist) jeans, and it hurt with each step, bend or twist !! OUCH !! Those were great photos, Void san !!

 

[Flashjeff]

Well, I'm only an hour away from Atlantic City, the closest beach from Philly, but I only go there to goof off (and lose my money) in A.C.'s casinos. Haven't been on an actual beach in so long, I can't remember that far back. Being on a beach never interested me much, but I can understand the love-hate relationship Mars Man had. You're made of sterner stuff than I am, my friend!

 

[Nuala]

I despise beaches.

 

[Mars Man]

Oh Flashjeff san, that brings back some good memories as well ! I lived in Jersey, just off 1 & 9 in Roselle, and went down to Atlantic City once to see the all famous boardwalk. That was back before the casinos were there. I was a bit dissapointed with the beach, however.

I think I can understand, Faustianideals.

 

[made of stone]

*made of stone sighs because, although he lives on a land with many beautiful beaches which are most glorious in the sun, and despite the particular delights of a British day out at the beach (Punch and Judy and donkey rides included, naturally!!) he's never been able to recover his pre-teen excitement about taking a dip in ice-cold waters, even when the air temperature hits 35*

Instead, he decides to offer the lyrics of a lovely ditty - throwaway pop-folk-rock at it's superfluous best - that he would be delighted to offer to share by MP3, if that practice weren't illegal!!!.

To Mars Man sir - track this song down!! It'll provide a great home-played number for any evening campfire after a long day at the beach, (and especially in Japan; the jellyfish may be more abundant, but the sea's more clement, and the beer is cold, and yakisoba more noodley!!)

The Beach by Jonathan Richman

One Two Bang Bang Bang
Well the beach be one of the best things we got,
Cause it's not what you have on but what you not.
No more silly clothes for you,
No more shoes no necktie too,
And the beach be one of the best things we got.

Well now the beach be one of the best things there be,
Well the fashion show is there for you to see.
See whose bum you like the best,
See who's got a hairy chest,
And the beach be one of the best things there be.

OK, start up the car.

Rim a nim a nim a nim a nim a nim a nim a nim,
We're going to the beach get started.

Rim a nim a nim a nim a nim a nim a nim a nim,
We're going to the beach get started.

I say the beach be one of the best place to go,
I say the beach be one of the best things that I know.
Cruddy sugar lemonade, but I love people when they're on parade,
And the beach be one of the best things that I know.

Well start up the car.

Rim a nim a nim a nim a nim a nim a nim a nim,
We're going to the beach get started.

Rim a nim a nim a nim a nim a nim a nim a nim,
We're going to the beach get started.

I said the beach be one of the best things we got,
Where it's not what you have on but what you not.
And I want that stink and I want that sweat,
In fact the beach be better than most things get.
In fact the beach be one of the best things we got.
Where it's not what you have on but what you have not.

Cruddy sugar lemonade, but I love people when they're on parade,
And the beach be one of the best things we got.
Where it's not what you have on, it's what you have not.




made of sand (in your sandwiches)

 

[EmperorHirohito]

MM I live only a mile from one of the most famous sandy beaches in the UK, will try to get some pictures, and post them on here

 

[Mars Man]

Nice one there made of stone san !!! Thanks for that share. I take note of it, and see if I can track it down. I understand the lean in it and am of that lean as well. I just love to appreciate female anatomy--as all men from Mars do--and will admit, even, that I also can appreciate good male anatomy too. (though the art standpoint is the only focus in that case. . . whereas the former, I guess, has more)

If I really wanted to do studies, it would likely be even better to go a naturist beach, but with the way I got burned (and it still tingles when I roll over on my back as I try to go to sleep) I'd say those folks must be super tough.

I'm looking forward to seeing those photos EmperorHirohito san !! They'll surely feed my imagination.

 

[Nuala]

I think I can understand, Faustianideals.

I will explain more. I'm more of a winter kind of guy, so the summer isn't that appealing to me, and staying at a beach for a day isn't much better. I think my time would be better spent hanging around a library and reading books.

 

[Mars Man]

Thanks for you extra explanation. I do know some 'winter' people, and yes, the summer weather just gets to them...summer fatigue all summer long. They too, would never go to the beach in the summer, at least.

For me, going to the beach, or the seaside, is kind of like keeping in contact with what we can consider our life source--seawater. In one small sense, it's almost a ritual, I could imagine.

 

[made of stone]

Nice one there made of stone san !!! Thanks for that share. I take note of it, and see if I can track it down. I understand the lean in it and am of that lean as well.

I found a page where you can listen to a sample of The Beach here

It's a shame it's only the first half of the song - it rises in pitch, and urgency, towards the end - it really is the best part

You can also listen to parts of other songs, too - though, alas, none of Rockin' Rockin' Leprechauns, Hey There Little Insect, Abominable Snowman In The Market, or I'm A Little Airplane are available

Sorry to go off-topic, but it seems I've been rather harsh to Richman san (I wonder if anyone caught him play when he was in Japan this summer??). From Wikipedia:

"Jonathan Richman (born 16 May 1951) is an American proto-punk icon and one of the progenitors of "indie rock." He is known for his wide-eyed, near-childlike lyrical outlook, and music that, while rooted in 50's rock and roll structures, can be wildly eclectic.

...

Richman's work with the first incarnation of Modern Lovers is a major influence on punk rock. Artists as diverse as the Sex Pistols and Joan Jett have covered "Roadrunner." Simple Minds early work contains a track called "Pablo Picasso" with similar chorus lyrics. A version of "Pablo Picasso" performed by Burning Sensations was included in the 1984 cult film Repo Man. David Bowie covered "Pablo Picasso" on his album, Reality (album). Velvet Underground founder member John Cale has a version of the song on his 1975 album Helen of Troy (album)."

 

[Kinsao]

I love the beach.
Sadly, I live about as far as it's possible to get from the beach on an island the size of the UK! :-(
I normally go to the beach every year, but I'm not disclosing my favourite part of the English coast in case everyone decides to go there! (Well, you know what I mean! )
This year, though, I didn't get to go to the beach............. yet.
I did go to Ireland and I was near the coast and in fact took a couple of boat trips and a walk to a tidal island, but the actual time spent 'on the beach' so to speak was zero.

I like both rocky beaches and sandy beaches. My favourite beach has about a mile of combination of both - rocks, caves, it's actually a pretty dangerous stretch of coast for boating and bathing (although popular with divers because the water is so clear and there are many interesting things under the water) but great for exploring ... there is also a walk on cliff tops and a part where there is a woodland with a little stream running through it and both woods and stream go right down to the beach... many times as a child I would go with my parents and we would gather driftwood and light a fire and cook there... sausages with cobs (bread rolls), and eat cake, and sometimes take a bottle of wine down there (I celebrated my 17th birthday there in fact!)... there are plenty of interesting places to explore and beautiful rock formations as well as sandy stretches... and there is a big rockpool where it's possible to swim! (the actual sea is not safe for swimming in that area) but bloody hell it's freezing! but I will always go in it anyway so as not to be chicken! and next to the rockpool are natural ledges of rock that catch the sun and are perfect for drying off/warming up after your swim.

I missed going there this year, but I don't go every year in fact (it's nice to do different things)...

On Sunday me and my partner are setting off for beautiful Cromer :haihai: I'm sure all the Brits will know Cromer... I have been many times (it's the nearest coastal place to me) but he has never been there... we are going for just 2 nights and it will be nice to walk on the beach.

Me, I prefer quiet, even deserted beaches where there is no one... I wouldn't like to go to Bournemouth on a sunny day >.< ... and I hate sunbathing, I get bored quickly. Luckily I don't get sunburned though. I like to play the games like beach football and frisbee (I don't like cricket so much) and swimming in the sea where it is safe. Even though the water off the east coast is usually freezing, I get used to it and I still swim.

 

[Mars Man]

That sounds like the makings of great memories...the trips to the place you described there, Kinsao chan, where you celebrated your 17th birthday. The kind of things that a with you forever.

I hope you and your partner have a great time there at the seaside--the source of life and love !! I could feel all your images well...good descriptions.

OH...interesting tune there. Thanks for the work on finding that one, made of stone san ! I probably never would have found it on my own.

The music portion of it, reminds me of a US group called 'The Band'--in some way. That was some interesting information there too. Thanks for that. I'll take some time later, and look into it.

Well, my burn is almost painless tonight...but there is the itching of healing now, and some little air pockets are starting to be seen. I did myself a good one there folks...hee, hee, hee.....but it was worth it !!! I hate it but I love it !!