Cancun 2007

For months prior to my trip to this lush tropical island, I've been dreaming of azure landscapes, palm trees swaying in the breeze and of course, white sand lined ocean to lap at my feet. In July, this dream came true and I found myself standing in front of the gorgeous blue vista in front of me and literally not being able to believe that I was right there, taking in the gorguosity and feasting on the colors. My eyes were in heaven and I felt for a moment at least, sheer and utter aesthetic delight.

Wow, friends, it REALLY was this beautiful, it really looks like those travel magazine photography spreads, promising miles of beautiful blue water and white sand. It was a sight to behold.

Taking advantage of the fact that I'm not at an oceanfront resort every day of my life, I woke up early to greet the sun (very atypical of this lazy cat, i assure you) and everyday, in the early calm, I would find a few people, even locals just sitting there on the beach, gazing out at the majestic visage that spread before them, a centerpiece that demanded your instant awe and worship. And I wondered to myself, do the petty things in life seem to fade away when you are sitting there, gazing out at the sea? Do things seem at once more trivial but life seems at once more sacred? A bit of a paradox, since what is life but the sum of all those little things in it? Anyhow, it wasn't my desire to analyze philosophically the whys and wherefores that people feel compelled to gaze at the ocean, as if entranced. I was certainly mesmerized by its beauty. If there were sirens, they were very effective ones. I couldn't seem to tear my eyes away from the ocean. I did so ever so reluctantly and only after I made myself a promise that I shall be back.

I have taken a lot of pictures. But even as I pride myself to be a relatively decent photographer, with the knack for finding the right proportions and compositions, I don't think my camera really did the place justice. All I can say is, the image that is seared in my mind is one that shall stay with me for a long time to come. The Cancun of my dream, the Cancun now, in my memory.