Ode to things I love: Beaches and swimming in the ocean

What I love most about beaches

• Gorgeous white sand and the vast ocean, as far as the eye can see.
• The sound of the waves crashing on the beach.
• Walking along the beach.
• Tropical beaches with palm trees.
• Diving into the ocean on a hot day.
• Playing beach volleyball and bat and ball.
• Riding waves (paddle skiing, boogey boarding, body surfing)
• Watching the sun rise and sun set over the ocean's distant horizon.
• Beach picnics.
• Rock pools to explore life in.
• Tidal pools to swim in.
• And last, but not least:  Girls in bikinis!

Priceless memories

As a kid

• Swimming in the tidal pool at St James.
• The pebbles on Brighton beach.
• Swimming with the family at Muizenberg.
• Paddling in a blow up boat with Gramps at Boulder's Beach.
• Walking along Muizenberg beach with Grandpa, after going there by train.

Later memories

• Watching terns and waders roosting on The Uilenskraal lagoon.
• Boogy boarding on Llandudno beach.
• Paddle skiing at Muizenberg.
• Penguins on Boulder's Beach.
• Volleyball on Clifton beach and watching the sun set.
• Photographing herons on a beach in Mauritius.
• Falling in love with Ally at Onrus beach after finding a feather and tickling each other's faces.
• Oggling at Brazilian bubble buts on Copacabana beach.

Favourite beaches

Cape Town

• Muizenberg
• St James
• Boulders
• Clifton
• Llandudno
• Camps Bay
• Sandy Bay
• Houtbay beach

Rest of South Africa 

• Betties Bay
• Pringle Bay
• Kleinmond beach
• Secluded beaches along The Otter Trail  (South Africa)
• Plettenberg Bay
• Nature's Valley
• Hermanus Grotto beach
• Onrus beach
• Uilenskraal lagoon and beach
• Cintsa beach (near The Buckaneers Backpackers)
• Port St Johns
• Wilderness
• Jeffrey's Bay

Sydney

• Manly
• Bondi
• Dee Why
• La Perouse
• Collaroy
• Camp Cove (Watson's Bay)
• Garie Beach (Royal National Park)
• Palm Beach

Rest of Australia

• Jarvis Bay (NSW)
• Forrester's Beach (central coast, NSW)
• Scott's Head (Northern NSW)
• Port Douglas (Queensland)
• Kiama
• Port Stephens
• Chinder's Cove along the Great Ocean Road

Rest of the world

• Paradise Island (Mozambique)
• Copacabana (Rio de Janiero, Brazil)
• Isla Grande (Brazil)
• Brighton beach (UK)
• Ko Bulane island beach (Thailand)
• Dahab (Egypt)
• Ölüdeniz (Turkey)
• Fetiye (Turkey)
• Butterfly Valley (Turkey)
• Barbados beaches
• Croatia beaches

Related

• All posts labelled as "beach"