The decided location was this picturesque little cove that is home to this beautiful secluded beach, no more than a hundred yards long. This withdrawn strip of beach is attached to an outstretched piece of land that looks like a turtle, hence the name "Turtle Cove". This place is known amongst the locals for fishing, and rarely do outsiders get to see this attractive location. Aside from this cove being completely isolated, it also held tons of activities to keep us busy all day and into the night. The outstretched turtle's head allowed a great little cliff to jump off of into the crystal blue waters below. We spent hours jumping off the nose of this turtle, enjoying every second of this carefree experience. We of course brought our snorkeling masks and headed out to see the life that thrived among the coral and sea plants that gently waved back and forth as the tide swept past it. Just past the beach, no more than ten steps, was thick jungle that only when I stopped and became still, was I able to appreciate how alive the jungle actually was. The trees were long and skinny, no more than six inches or so in diameter that reached up high, trying to grasp every bit of afternoon sunlight possible since the morning sun was blocked by a huge wall of sheer rocky cliff. There I sat, perfectly still doing nothing, but at the same time hearing and seeing everything. The trees swaying in the light breeze would creek and scritch almost as if talking to one another. Towards the water I could hear the small waves lapping at the beach's shore, and only after twenty minutes or so did I begin to see the creatures of the jungle start to resume their lives. The geckos started to hunt about, seeking their prey of small insects. The black and purple butterflies effortlessly floated through the air landing on small twigs, pulsing their delicate wings. And the giant tree spiders spread out like an X in their enormous webs, waiting for their next catch to fly by.
After a while I then emerged from the jungle and walked to the far right of the beach where these shallow caves became front row seats to an amazing sight that so many of us take for granted, which is unfortunate because the sunset that was before me was one I will never forget. The entire sky was filled with radiant oranges and yellows with the now quiescent water in the cove mirroring every ray that beamed through the cotton like clouds that floated by. The hillside in the distance once filled with lustrous greens now became more and more of a silhouette as the sun sank behind them, changing the mood to a more tranquil tone of pinks and purples that were brushed upon the clouds above. The prevailing moon slowly began to illuminate with the young night's stars becoming more incandescent with each passing minute that the sun fell deeper out of sight. As I began to walk back to camp I could smell the bbq chicken and short ribs that my friend had begun to cook. We feasted on all of the different dishes everyone contributed to the group. With our bellies full and our minds at ease we took pleasure listening to each others stories, conversing among one another, laughing and feeling completely content with all that was around us. A friend and I decided to take a walk out into the shallow water to see the stars above and witness the beautiful night scenery around us. The gibbous moon was so incredibly brilliant that when a cloud passed overhead, it was as if someone was turning a light switch on and off. Even late into the night we could see outstretches of the cove, the caves in the distance, and the turtle that was now seemingly in slumber. Upon making our way back to shore, one of our local buddies brought out a guitar and began to play island music as we then laid by the glowing campfire that gently warmed our skin. "It just doesn't get better than this", I thought to myself. The rest of the night was entirely lighthearted and gladsome as we forgot about any sort of albatross and became completely appeased with exactly where we were at that point in our lives with one another in this beautiful paradise.
Sleeping under the stars that night was such an incredible experience. It was so peaceful and calm with the temperature outside being just right to where all you needed was a light blanket and good friends around you to be comfortable. As the transcending moon reached further and further away, my eyes became heavier and heavier with each crackle of the fire. The next morning we were woken up by the warm sunlight and a breathtaking double rainbow that really topped off this camping trip. If only words could truly express what an amazing experience this trip held.
Love and miss you,
See the Turtle?
Backflip off the Turtle's nose
Another day in paradise
Our own little private cove
100 yds of beach
Backflip off the Turtle's head
Look closely, theres two rainbows!
Look for more pictures to come!
I have been there and am now writing a book that includes an experience there. I didn't recall the name of it until I found old pictures. I am in the water under where you all jumped off the cliff. I also had an experience in a rip tide there. It must have been on the other side of the cove by the reef. Good to see it again. Thanks for posting.
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