Re: your most favorite moment on the rock...
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 11:49 am
I have 2. The first one is a day trip from a cruise ship. I had a life-long dream of swimming with sea turtles. I researched and researched and finally settled on Francis. I made my sister, brother, their spouses and my son get up at the crack of dawn and be the first ones off the ship. Hopped a taxi, ran to the ferry and got on board to STJ. Told the taxi driver Francis and he looked at me like I was insane. I said please and he gave in and dropped us off at the ruins at the top of the trail. I was scared we'd be stuck, but when he told me to pay him when he came back to get us I felt better. As we were walking that muddy trail I was scared we were going the wrong way. Then I saw a glimpse of blue through the branches and walked faster. It was breath taking when we cleared that tree-line. My brother yelled "turtle" and I started to strip and run towards it. I forgot to put my snorkel in my mouth and held my breath at the first sight of one. It was the most peaceful thing I'd ever seen. Then I remembered my son who was 3 1/2 at the time. He'd never snorkeled, but could swim. I put him in swimming lessons as soon as I knew we were going cruising 
. We'd practiced using the mask and snorkel in the tub and pool so he was ready. I had him above the turtle in no time and he was in awe just like me. He did have issues with just floating and a kind woman who said she taught snorkeling appeared and showed him how to float. We held hands and pointed at the turtle and lived in the moment. Little did I know that was the beginning of my STJ obsession. My son and I have been 2 more times on a cruise but......
My boyfriend and I went for our first land based trip this past May. My favorite moment from that trip was our first full day we hiked to Soloman. We were the only people there and we stood waist deep in the water in complete silence just soaking it all in. I finally broke the silence and said, "you can tell how comfortable people are together when you don't say a word, but know exactly what the other person is thinking/feeling." We spent the next 9 days on island and can't wait to return.
I do have to give a shout out to Astral Ridge and that view......oh that view. It does something to ya after a day of beach bumming and vanilla rum with Sunkist
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. We'd practiced using the mask and snorkel in the tub and pool so he was ready. I had him above the turtle in no time and he was in awe just like me. He did have issues with just floating and a kind woman who said she taught snorkeling appeared and showed him how to float. We held hands and pointed at the turtle and lived in the moment. Little did I know that was the beginning of my STJ obsession. My son and I have been 2 more times on a cruise but......My boyfriend and I went for our first land based trip this past May. My favorite moment from that trip was our first full day we hiked to Soloman. We were the only people there and we stood waist deep in the water in complete silence just soaking it all in. I finally broke the silence and said, "you can tell how comfortable people are together when you don't say a word, but know exactly what the other person is thinking/feeling." We spent the next 9 days on island and can't wait to return.
I do have to give a shout out to Astral Ridge and that view......oh that view. It does something to ya after a day of beach bumming and vanilla rum with Sunkist
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