“How come they speak Spanish in here???” – my first reaction when we landed in Miami Beach, Florida. Apparently, my ignorance to world geography became so apparent – not realizing how close the place is to Cuba, hence, the use of another language.
Anyway, the focal point is that Miami Beach is indeed a paradise – enough said! Despite being so accustomed and biased to the exhilarating beaches of Asia, I caught myself surprised again – this time to see that the USA also have something to be proud of in the “beach department”. All these great photos summarizes the experience that I would want to go back to, over and over again…
Wake up sleepy head! Breakfast in paradise is ready!!! 
My first meal in an all-American resto along Ocean Drive.
After resting and sleeping the whole day, we're ready for dinner and party...
This slab of meat looks deadly, yet so yummy! This is my first dinner in this restaurant called "Meat Market".
While I was dying for rice, this mashed potato with lobster seemed so appetizing...
...and the perfect ending, another deadly dessert from Ghirardelli!
While strolling around, we found so many artists from Cuba scattered around the area, selling their products to tourists. Lau bought a lot of this guy's Miami memorabilia for "pasalubong"!
Then just lounged around Ocean Drive - with my standard Mojito fix!
On the second day, we hit the beach - finally!
So serene...
Spent the afternoon with my regular beach essentials - shades, iPod, book (this time, I chose "Inside Steve's Brain" - perfect choice, very inspiring!). Thought of the moment - "Can this be everyday?"...
This was one interesting bit - ads for parties, para sailing, jet ski and a whole lot more flew around the beach through helicopters! Cool!
If I was just brave enough, I could have been the guy up there! Oh well, perhaps before I die, I would have to conquer my fear of heights and deep waters!
Lots of postcard moments...
...and romantic scenes to match!
Let the picture speak for itself - there's nothing that I can say anymore!
:D
Dinner for the second night - "Nobu" at the Shore Club Hotel. Here's our yummy appetizer - the black thingie is caviar!
My prawns and mushrooms - with rice of course! 
And here's Lau's seabass dinner!
We ended the night with a couple of rounds of booze... Just perfect to have a good night sleep!
Third day in paradise... After hearing Sunday mass, we just maximized our rounds in the boutique hotel where we were staying and found this "tagline" posted in one of the glass walls... How provocative?!
Aqua Hotel's main inside - simple, yet calming...
Our mini-jacuzzi... which by the way, we were not able to use at all!
One of the art deco hotels... Actually, most of the structures in the South Beach are like this - mid to low rise...
There's the facade of our hotel, by the way...
:)
Time to hit the beach again - perhaps for the last time as we're leaving tomorrow... One of the highlights, seeing the commonality across all beaches - the vendors of all these blings! 
We've explored the other side of the beach and realized that we've made the right decision! The beach front of Ritz Carlton was even way better to what we have explored the previous day! This is simply amazing...
While marching down the alley...
Who would have thought that this one's real?! It's like putting together impossible digital images - yet, this definitely is the real deal!!!
I just can't figure out where to settle as all spots seem to be just perfect! Agree?
Kinda funky lifeguard station, huh?
Another unique thing here which you cannot find in Boracay or Bali is the pigeons roaming around! They don't fear people, perhaps it's the other way around!
This photo is supposed to have pigeons flying in the background, but then they're so fast that the lens didn't capture them in action!
After laying down on my beach chair, this is what I saw! Geeeez, I can't concentrate - everything here is just perfect!
The view on my left side...
...this on the other hand, is the one in front of me
...and a change from landscape to portrait resulted to more aesthetic magic!
Another para sailing ad!
Finally, after having been amazed by all the great stuff I saw, I started my routine which didn't even feel like a routine! Just loved it - dreaming of doing it every single day... If only I could!
Right before the sun sets and after almost three hours of just staying where I settled in, I played with the camera! Hahaha!
And when the night was about to start, the flock of pigeons came flying again, like a signal asking people to leave the beach and enjoy everything else that Miami's got to offer!
The night ended with a tapas dinner and a peaceful sleep!
The whole Miami Beach experience was just what I needed to take a break, breathe and simply do nothing! It was a moment where I was able to say that after a year and some months of working so hard, I am rejuvenated and again ready to start anew!
November 9, 2009 at 2:53 am |
nice photos, seems it was a great time.
The food however doesn’t look like the kind of food i prefer… that looks like the exagerated complicated cuisine to me. Everytime i go to a restaurant like that i regret it because i’ll feel hungry in an hour again.
November 9, 2009 at 10:35 pm |
thanks – it was really great! agree with your comment though… yet, just wanted to try anything and everything – including the most seemingly complex food!