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Saturday, May 11: Ailsa’s Travel Theme for this week is Beaches. Here are some beaches I’ve encountered in my travels.
Let’s start at the beginning. Here is the beach of my childhood, on the York River in Yorktown, Virginia. I spent many of my teenage years hanging out with my friends on this beach.
Yorktown Beach with the York River Bridge in the background. This is my hometown.
In general, I prefer deserted, quiet, peaceful and unpopulated beaches, NOT beaches packed with people and umbrellas and chairs and tents and inner tubes like Guryongpo Beach near Pohang, South Korea or Patong Beach in Phuket, Thailand. Most beaches in South Korea are crowded, as Korea is a tiny country with a huge population of 48 million people. Haeundae Beach in Busan is nice enough in early April, when this picture was taken, but it’s usually quite crowded.
the crowded Guryongpo Beach near Pohang, South Korea
another crowded beach in Phuket, Thailand
Haeundae Beach in Busan, South Korea
It’s not so bad if the beach is set up with mostly EMPTY beach chairs and umbrellas, like this beach in Plakias, Crete, Greece. At least it’s on the Mediterranean, and what could be better than that?
Plakias Beach, Crete, Greece
Plakias Beach in Crete, Greece
Sometimes it’s nice to hang out at a hotel beach, like this beach at Shangri-La Resort near Muscat, Oman. It has a huge pool and a lazy river, so you can dip in the fresh water and wash off the salt and sand from time to time.
Beach at the Shangri-la Resort near Muscat, Oman
Beach at the Shangri-la Resort near Muscat, Oman
Some beaches in Oman are quite deserted or are used mainly by fishermen. Every time I’ve been to these beaches, they’ve been so extremely hot, I don’t find them enjoyable. Some of the beaches are so deserted they’re used only by campers.
As Sifah Beach near Muscat, Oman
Omani fisherman at Al Musanaah Beach, Oman
Seashells on the beach at Al Musanaah in Oman
a deserted beach where people camp on the east coast of Oman
This beach on the Dead Sea in Jordan is quite small, and it’s really impossible to swim in the water because of the high salt content. No matter what you do, you end up in a position like you are sitting in an armchair, with your arms, legs and head floating on the water’s surface. Only your rear end sinks in the water.
beach at the Dead Sea in Jordan
Some beaches are just little strips of sand situated on a lake shore, like this beach at Lake Langano, Ethiopia.
a small beach at Lake Langano, Ethiopia
Luckily, there are some picture-perfect beaches like Sangju “Silver Sand” Beach in South Korea.
Sangju “Silver Sand” Beach in South Korea
Sangju “Silver Sand” Beach, South Korea
To see more beaches, check out Where’s my backpack? Travel Theme: Beaches.
a nomad in the land of nizwa 
Fantastic photos – you have been some incredible places. Your images make me wish I was still traveling.
Thanks so much, Suzanne. There is always more traveling that can be done! 🙂
Beaches are my favorite place to be. I guess for shell collecting on Muscat beaches, you’d have to go in February. I think I’ll stick with Oregon beaches.
I agree, Carol. The beaches in Oman are much too hot in the summer for my taste. Oregon beaches are wonderful!
What a great selection of beaches, Cathy. It must be a weird feeling to be in the Dead Sea 😉
Thanks, Marianne. Yes, the Dead Sea is very weird to float in!
oh i have so enjoyed your beach tour cathie … so glad you took us travelling as i have had to settle for my stay at home beach this time … which is pretty enough of course … but not exotic like korea, oman, ethiopia and crete!
Oh well, one thing I’ve found is that so many beaches look alike all over the world! We all have amazing ones in our own backyards! 🙂
So impressed you’ve collected all these beach scenes Cathy – even packed busy sideshow type beaches still have that briny smell, and the sound of the waves … 🙂
Thanks so much, Meredith!
I like quiet empty beaches too and could never spend a day lying on those lougers when there is a world to see and people to talk to 🙂
Thanks, Gilly! I agree!
Great photos – you’ve been to lots of fabulous beaches. I agree with you about the crowded, tacky beaches in Pohang and Phuket – I don’t think I’d fancy going to them!
Thanks so much, Elaine. And we are definitely in agreement on this point!
Where is that gorgeous deserted beach on the east coast of Oman? There is someone I think I might like to take there maybe possibly not sure just yet hehehehehe… but only if we can get there by taxi somehow.
I don’t think you could get there by taxi. We needed Kathy’s 4WD to get there. And I couldn’t tell you how to get there. Maybe Anna could!
BTW would rather spend the day at Feeney’s Irish Pub on Shatti Beach drinking expensive Guiness all day than spend a week for free at the Shangri-La! That place was SO BORING and the beach was not even that nice. Who cares about five-star rooms when you are only there to sleep? Shops were nothing to write home about either, don’t get the appeal. One afternoon there walking around was enough and luckily that did not cost anything.
I would agree. It’s fun to go there one day a year, if only for the amazing lunch buffet. I wouldn’t pay to stay overnight there…. way too expensive. The Pub sounds like fun. Is it part of the Crowne Plaza? I’ve never been there.
Right, been to Phuket (nice bits), won’t be going to Korea, south or north, nor Jordan I don’t think. I’m liking the look of Crete and those wonderful green shades and loungers and I want you to tell me if the Shangrila (Oman) would be a good week’s holiday, please.
I personally think the Shangri-La is overpriced, but you might enjoy it. At least you could visit Muscat easily from there. I love the beaches in Crete and would certainly go there instead!!
Where would you choose value for money wise???
Hmmm. All the good hotels on the beaches are very expensive here in Oman. I might look into the Grand Hyatt just because they have a swim-up bar (!!) and some great restaurants, plus the hotel is more centrally located. But I have no idea of the price!!
thank you. all intel most appreciated.
You’re certainly welcome! I do advise that you come here from November to February. Any other times are way too hot!! 🙂
my secret plan is Christmas but I probably won’t pull it off.
Well, I’ll be waiting to hear about your decision! 🙂
What did you think of the place?
Of Shangri-la? Yes, it’s pretty boring, but their lunch buffet included in the price is one of the best in Oman! 🙂
Like you, I prefer the more quiet beaches. Beautiful photos as usual.
Thanks so much, Colline!
I’d like to experience floating on the Dead Sea.
You have travelled to some wonderful places !
Nova Scotia is very close to being an island and hence it has many wonderful beaches. Since the population of the province is dropping to under 1 million, most of those beaches are empty when you visit them.
Like you, I’m not interested in going to “popular” crowded beaches.
I’m curious about what you wear to a beach in the middle East. Is there a problem in Oman with being “scantilly clad” in public ?
Sybil, I’ve heard the beaches in Nova Scotia are marvelous. I hope to visit there someday.
Actually, at many of the beaches in Oman, women wear bikinis just like anywhere else. Not Omani women, of course, but Westerners!
Hi Cathy,
Only short explanation.
When we didn’t meet on bus stop behind Nizwa fort we started to go back with hope you are on one of previous stops. Unfortunatelly I haven’t heared your second SMS sound which I can always hear. When I saw it, it was almost one hour later and I realised you must had been waiting for so long. I am really very sorry for wasting your time. Gosia
It’s okay, Gosia. No worry. I hope you had a nice trip! 🙂
Such a nice collection Cathy! Love the picture with the seashell 🙂
Thanks so much, Elisa! 🙂
Lovely beaches, can’t wait for the sun to come out to hit the beach in Vancouver.
Thanks so much, seeker! I hope the sun does come out for you soon! 🙂
Not today, not tomorrow, maybe on the weekend. Ugh. Thank you for responding.
I usually respond to comments much quicker, but I’m so far behind right now!! I need to keep on top of things!! 🙂
Is that camping beach on the east coast White Beach? We camped there one night. There was only one other group camping that night. It was lovely and so peaceful. Great photos Cathy.
Thanks so much, Carol. Honestly, I don’t think that beach has a name. I’ve never heard of White Beach either. I obviously am missing out on something!! 🙂
It was near the town of Shab.
Yes, that’s where this beach was, a little north of Shab. Maybe it is called White Beach, but I never saw any sign to that effect. 🙂
Our driver/guide called it White Beach and I think it was called that in the itinerary too. It was lovely anyway. We camped there on New Year’s Day 2010 and watched a full moon rise over the Arabian Sea. It was magical.
It sounds wonderful. My camping trip there was much too hot and miserable to be magical! I don’t care for sleeping in a tent in humidity and heat, covered in sand. Not my idea of a good time. But it’s great you enjoyed it. I think at New Year’s Day the weather would have been perfect. 🙂
It was perfect.
Beautiful beach tour Cathy! I love the chess board and the flowers of the last one.
Thanks so much, Photos with Finesse. And thanks for visiting and commenting. 🙂
I’ll be back! Love your Mother’s Day post too. – Suzan –
Thanks so much! And nice to meet you, Suzan! 🙂
Spectacular beaches (most of them!) and such good photos – the foreground chess set is very cool…the Oman shots in general – so good. Your colors are rich! And it’s nice to see where it all began. Happy Mothers Day! You’ll see them soon…
Thanks so much, Lynn. I’m ready to explore the beaches of Spain and Portugal within the next two months!
Great collection of beaches. I think I’ve been to that beach in Crete! Is it by Elounda? Your photos of the fisherman and seashells are really special.
Ruth, I’m not sure if Plakias is near Elounda. I don’t remember that name…. But I’m sure many of the beaches on the south side of Crete are similar. 🙂
millions of beaches…beaches for free?
Yes, all for free, except the Shangri-La! That costs big money. 🙂
Then we’ll boycott it and go to the cheap-cheap/free ones 🙂 spending big money on beaches bad! spending big money on self or nice things very very good!
I agree wholeheartedly!! 🙂
hehe you know it makes sense
A wonderful selection – you have captured so many aspects of beaches here!
Thanks so much, Retiring Sort! 🙂
Amazing collection, Cathy…in places where most of us have not been. I can smell the ocean i and feel the sand under my feet.
Thanks so much, Lynne! 🙂