Welcome to Miami

 

 

There are only a handful of places in the world where the summer sun can be enjoyed outdoors without cribbing about the sunburns on every contact with its bright radiance. And rarer still are those frontiers where the shimmering waters, with never-ending stretches of white sands, make the perfect cocktail for undying excitement. It was the month of December when I went to Miami. I was flying in from the near-freezing New York and despite people telling me that it’s a warm state, I was sceptical of packing my knapsack without a single woolly. However, nothing else could have warmed my senses more than the sight of the balmy sun piercing the scanty clouds and that peculiar redolence of the sea. No matter how lethargic your journey would have left you, Miami has a certain live-wire energy that will just not let you fret even for a single minute.

Officially recognised as a town in 1896, Miami and the areas encompassing it have a heavy influence of Spanish culture, mainly because of colonisation by Spain in the past. In fact, official statistics state that there are more Spanish speaking people in Florida than those who speak English. But for an adventure hunter like me, Miami and Florida were the stairways to heaven, with language hardly being an impediment. Finding accommodation in Miami is as easy as spotting a Harley Davidson on the wide, palm-dotted roads. From shacks for $20 for a night to the Presidential Suite at the Setai Hotel at $25,000 (which is the most expensive in North America), there are rooms available to fit any budget and taste. Miami is also home to one of the most famous beaches in the world, and being a water baby myself, lodging at the South Beach was an obvious pick. Being one of the popular attractions of Miami, the South Beach isn’t the only place that pulls crowds. A trip to Miami is incomplete without a visit to the botanical garden called Butterfly World where the sight of more than 1000 types of butterflies astounded me. Another place worth checking out is the Miami Seaquarium which hosts one of the best choreographed dolphin, otter and turtle shows in the world. My personal favourite was the Everglades – vast expanses of marshlands that are home to the biggest population of alligators. The night safari was spell binding where alligators were just a stone’s throw away from our base camp. At Miami, life seldom comes to a standstill. From 24-hour shopping arcades to Parisian cafes, from souvenir shops to seafood restaurants, everything seems inviting. The seafood buffets at the beach would be a sight for sore eyes for those with a weakness for sea food. Do try the steamed lobster in oyster sauce which is the staple diet there. For those who would want to satiate their craving for Indian food, the India Kebab and the New Delhi Indian restaurants are the places to visit. And after paying homage to the food gods, comes the time to shake a leg. The strip of nightclubs and lounges all along the South Beach is packed to the brim every single night.

Having captured the best memoirs to cherish for a lifetime, a peculiar sight that I took note of is that the majority of the population commutes either on choppers or on cruiser bikes! And, strangely, wearing a helmet is not mandatory, but sunglasses are! Besides, if you’re not keen on bike rides, a pair of roller blades would serve as the best replacement. Rest assured, the excursion would definitely be such that it will have you smiling a long time after...