oriental sweetlips and hazy sunrises


a slow walk to the beach, like i do every afternoon, listening to the sounds around. i watch the sun shine through the huge leaves that have created a thick, green canopy just above my head. soft sand sticking to my toes and soon i can hear the sound of the waves. this section of the island is one of my favorite, the tallest palm trees stretch up beyond the clouds. i feel so small here, and feel stillness. its as if for a few moments the earth slows its spinning, giving time for the suns warm light to caress my eyes and skin. 


just before i reach the beach i can hear distant voices been spoken, muffled by the waves making mysterious stories. the distinct smell of smoke drifts to me, mixing with the smell of the ocean. i join the guys standing around the fire and the mysterious stories continue. my eyes wander to the magical colours of dusk. tainted with pinks and other warm shades of oranges, the evening sky is love. the sea reflects this love by shining these colours back to the sky so she too can see her own beauty. 


the air is now a mixture of sweet, smokey, salty and spicy. sweet from the kaashi, handed to me, freshly cut from a tree. reflections all around. the fire, like the evening sun, is red, embers burning and glowing. soon the fish is laid on the grid. it does not take long for the flesh to turn white and flaky. put onto a large leaf with some pieces of bread, a delicacy is handed to me. so fresh, fingers brushing my lips as i put the food into my mouth, it is the taste of a maldivian night. 


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