Sunset over and under the Gulf of Mexico

Watching sunset, especially at the horizon, unencumbered by terrestrial obstructions, is an activity that requires the observer to be at the edge of a vast body of water to the west. And that geographical location is found at our backyard, at the Clearwater Beach across the Bay. And that was what we set out to do yesterday. After checking the Internet earlier in the day, my bro announced that the sun would set at 8.15pm.

So we left our home at 6.30pm, driving along I-275 and then S60, crossing the Clearwater Bridge, and arriving at our destination at 7.30pm. It was still bright, but without the torrid afternoon heat, purportedly reaching a high of 91 degree F.

Some of us frolicked in the surf, while others preferred the dryness and soft feel of the beach, scanning the scenery seaward, landward, skyward. When the moment came, we marveled at the sun dropping out of sight under the Gulf of Mexico, but still illuminating the sky with a crimson orange glow. Here then are the pictorial moments, our moods captured, and the wonder of nature frozen in time.

The belles of the Lee Family, taking to water like ducklings.

On the other hand, the men (except for yours truly and Dan) staked their claim on dry land, perhaps keeping a lookout for ...

The love birds posing at the water edge

The setting sun silhouetting, the surf caressing, and the lone bird gliding.

The lady of the house holding the sun in her palm, achieving the seemingly impossible.

The horizon forming a tangent to the sun, a fleeting, but recurring, moment of geometrical touch.

And then it's twilight, ushering in sun rise on another part of the world.

Clearwater Beach: Sandy, Windy, and Crabby

“Clearwater Beach is the Best City Beach on the Gulf of Mexico according to Dr. Stephen Leatherman ("Dr. Beach"), a Florida International University professor who has been ranking America’s beaches for nine years.” So says the website of Clearwater, Florida.

Since we moved to Tampa, we have heard so much about Clearwater Beach. And we did visit it a couple of times, though not really with a view to enjoying its wide expanse of white beach sand, the panoramic view of the wide surf, and its scenic beauty as I shall explain. The first visit, on a weekend, turned out to be a non-starter as we were overwhelmed by the tremendous traffic that literally clogged up the SR60 road leading to it from Tampa. So we decided to turn back at the point the road narrowed to two lanes, with a seemingly endless line of cars ahead.

The next two occasions were in conjunction with the releasing life activity. So dropping by the Clearwater Beach was like an after thought one of which I had blogged here.

So when our D (CY) and her boyfriend, Dan, from Oregon visited us during the Christmas Holidays, we decided to head out there, ostensibly to let Dan, who has not seen another ocean body other than the Pacific Ocean, which Oregon abuts, to have a taste, or rather a smell, of GOM (Gulf of Mexico).

The moment we disembarked from the car and stepped onto the white beach, we were hit by the swirling breeze that brought a chill down my spine. Both CY and Dan felt especially at home, as this is the usual winter beach condition over at Oregon, perhaps even chillier.

The beach sand felt firm, and hardly any sand got into my shoes, unlike previous visits. Perhaps the air was damp, and the sand particles were held together by the moisture.

And the surf was energetic, evidenced from the white foam and the lapping sound of broken waves running up the wide beach. However, no evidence was more forceful than the color of the flag raised in front of the life-guard house shown here: Orange.

After a group huddle, we fanned out. As we trudged along the beach, heads down, hands in pockets (see who is the odd one out?) and bodies slightly leaned forward, we came across a group of seagulls who have perfected the art of standing motionless in the wind gust. Facing wind, wings tucked back, tail erect, one after the other, and leeward of a steel trash bin, all in the effort to present as small an area to the wind as possible.

On the pier, the first view that struck us was the display of brightly colored parasols, but placed with the surface in a vertical position to act as a wind break. But for what purpose? We soon found out that these are used to shield the vendors who peddle their wares from the wind. They are ornamental items made from shells, shark and alligator teeth. Here you can see CY picking up a pair of erring while Dan was looking for something for his brother.

And we have to have something to show that we have visited, and had a good time, at one of the premier beaches in Florida. And here is the photographic proof.

Then we adjourned for a hearty meal at Crabby Bill's Seafood Restaurant located just around the bend as we exited the road that is parallel to the beach. I had a broiled grouper (6 oz, see bottom left), my wife a broiled salmon (4 oz), and we traded some. My younger D had a land lubber dish: beef burger while my S decided to dig in to Jambalaya. CY and Dan shared a dish of king crabs (top right), which required some work of breaking with a pair of pliers and extracting the meat encapsulated within the hard shell. But no venture no gain. And the tasty meat that ensued (bottom right) soon made the labor all worth it.

As we bid farewell to Clearwater Beach, a visit marked by high wind, strong surf, parasol protected vending, and great crabby meals (though I had fish), we were again reminded by the relentless push of development, supplanting the pa-and-ma run beach front operations with high rise condos.

From Scenes to Glimpses of American Life

Today, I’m continuing with providing glimpses of life in US, or rather Tampa, through my camera lens. In the process, I hope to highlight some differences, but in the main you will find that it’s really not that much different as far as the daily grind goes, but perhaps the environment seems more, eh, enabling, for want of a better word. But you will be the judge.

As in Malaysia, a popular food outlet here is McDonald’s. Some of these outlets operate 24/7 and have become a favorite place of rendezvous for like-minded people prior to embarking on a trip such as our periodic release life activity. However, unlike in Malaysia, the outlet is invariably ringed with free parking lots as shown here.

I still remember going around the block a few times looking for a paid parking space (except on weekends and at night) in order to partake of McDonald’s food, more so to cater for our kids rather than for us who are wary of the food calorie.

Pasted on the glass wall on that particular day of our visit was a poster advertising for employment opportunities with McDonald’s. In large print, the hourly rates offered ranged from $7.25 to $7.75, depending on the time of the shift. This is higher than the minimum wage level enforced in Florida which for 2007 stands at $6.67 per hour, according to the notice in my office.

Why am I quoting these wages? Well, I was just wondering whether there is such a minimum wage level legislated in Malaysia and if so, how they fare in comparison. Anyone?

For the life of me, I could not fathom what this guy was doing on the Clearwater Beach one Sunday morning. He was holding down a kind of hand drill, that part I’m certain. But drilling for oil? For water? Hey, man, oil is found yonder way off in the Gulf of Mexico, which is like, what, a couple of hundred miles into the picture? I shall not let you in on what I soon found out, for now, but to point you to some clues: popular beach, sunny morning, clear water (the name of the beach, Clearwater, obviously fits the bill). The answer appears below, read at the end.

We feted our Korean neighbor to a Dim Sum lunch at a Chinese restaurant not far from our apartment. Named TC Choy, the proprietor actually hails from Ipoh, Perak. The occasion was the bidding farewell to Mr. Kim, who has completed his tour of duty in US as a Korean Airforce Pilot. But his family, Mrs. Kim (Madam Chai, and yes, both Choy and Chai share the same Chinese character, which back home we will know more readily as Chua) and their two children. The elder, a daughter, happens to be my D’s schoolmate and lately their friendship has blossomed to the chum-chum level. The son, Mark, felt to be the odd one out, according to his Mom. The two halo-like bright spots were externally induced and obviously not taken into account when the waiter took the picture. But it seems a good parting shot (no pun intended).

Outside, another photo opportunity surfaced, but this time the waiter stayed inside. So the image is marked by the prominent absence of yours truly. While TC Choy is the English name of the restaurant, the Chinese name, as represented by the two large characters to the left and right, is a propitious one, meaning the arrival/advent of prosperity. The two vertical lines on the two pillars are a couplet using the two characters in the name as the starting character in each, which is a Chinese tradition to lure patrons. Oh yes, the dim sum dishes, a Hong Kong style delicatessen, are exquisitely tasty, and offered daily from 11.00am to 2.00pm. So if you’re in the area, drop by for an unforgettable feast of the culinary delight.

That’s it for today. Oh, yes, the answer. Here it is, pictorially. That guy was actually drilling a shallow hole into the beach as a support for the big parasols that are spaced out evenly along the beach with chairs for beach goers who want to relax under the sun, feet in the sand, and eyes on the surf (hence, sun, sand, surf, the 3 Ss of the Florida appeal). The tractor that pulled the trolley with parasols is partially visible. Of course there is a charge for the use. Another outing is on the pier that juts into the Gulf, sun above, and surf under. Maybe on my next trip.