After checking in, I went to my beautifully appointed room, changed into my beach attire, and wandered through the tropically landscaped grounds of the Renaissance Sanya Resort & Spa at Taitang Bay, Hainan, China, past swimming pools, over bridges, and under trees.
My destination? The sands of the beach in front of the palatial hotel, which threw open its doors just three months earlier.
It wasn’t long before I was splashing in the surf. There were gentle waves, and soon I was trying to catch them – not with a surfboard, but with my body. Body surfing is the only type of surfing I’ve ever had any luck with.
Trying to Stand Up on a Surfboard
When I was 18 years old, I took a surfing lesson at Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. There was a guarantee that you’d be able to stand up. But the beach boy that I hired gave up on me after several attempts. . . I was never much of an athlete.
But I do remember the thrilling sensation you feel when the wave picks up the tail of your surfboard and starts propelling you powerfully toward the shore. Even lying down on the board was pure ecstasy!
The waves in Hainan Island don’t hold a candle to those in Hawai’i. But still, I did manage to catch a few. Or perhaps, I should say, a few waves managed to catch me, propelling me forward, and leaving me sprawled on the beach as they withdrew.
To Be Continued
Copyright: Michael Taylor Pictured: Michael Taylor heads through the tropically landscaped grounds of the Renaissance Sanya Resort & Spa. Hainan, China, on his way to the beach Photo Credit: a pool attendant at the Renaissance Sanya Resort & Spa.