From the desk of Victor Pride
subj: Lost at the beach of peace
—
Every morning I've been waking up around 4 am and going to the beach of peace.
I don't go here so early because I want to be alone in solitude, lost in thought or something like that.
I go here so early because that's the best time to go, which I found out by accident…
I woke up the first day here at 3:30 am and she wanted to see the sunrise so we went to see the sunrise. How can anyone say no to this request?
The beach was only a few minutes from the hotel so that's where we went. What I saw there shocked me…
At 4 am, the beach was full of people.
I'd found some beautiful place to get lost, and it turns out a lot of other people found the same place.
I couldn't believe the beach was so busy, but who cares about believing. Believing is for people who don't have eyes and cannot see. I went there and I saw it - a packed beach before sunrise.
So that's what I do every day now. I rise before the sun and I go to the beach of peace.
I watch the ladies exercising, I watch the people swimming, I watch the old men watching the girls.
In the distance I can always see Monkey Mountain and the bright white lady who lives there. Her name is Lady Buddha and she is hard to miss.
So early in the morning, before the sun washes the fog away, she is lit in brilliant white and the pink mist envelopes her. She is 30 stories tall and can be seen from anywhere in this city.
I went to see her up close and personal but to be honest I prefer to gaze at her from a distance. Up close and personal she loses a bit of her mystique, but from a distance I can feel her warmth.
In the morning the horizon is a pink mist, Lady Buddha is bathed in fog, partially hidden in clouds, but always shining bright white. Her warm aura envelops the beach.
When the sun rises she disappears for a moment so you have to come before sunrise to feel her true warmth. Even after the sun rises I can still see her shadow, she is always lit, always watching over this city.
I love it here and I come to the beach every morning. If you get here too late, like after sunrise, the magic is already gone, so you have to wake up early.
Thankfully it's not hard to wake up so early. The distinction between night and day just isn't there. Whenever, wherever, however.
People are outside at all hours of the day or night. It's not like Venice Beach where the only people out at night are bums on drugs. No one does drugs here and there isn't a beer in sight. In the early hours of the morning, everyone is warm.
All people are outside here, there is no fear, there are no muggings, there are no bums. There are just people who love to be outside among other people.
At 4:57 am there are too many people on the beach to count. All are doing exercise in the natural way. Walking, swimming and stretching the body. There are no fat people.
People walk by me and they say hello with a big smile and they wave. I'm a simple man, when people smile, wave wildly and say hello to me I cannot help but smile back.
Maybe I'm a sucker but all you have to do to win me over is be nice without fear of looking too nice. When people say hello to me and wave it makes me happy in a way I don't want to explain.
Where I come from, people don't act like this anymore. They're too cool I suppose. That's why I found some beautiful place to get lost.
You should see it, it is really amazing. Close your eyes, I'll try to help you to see it…
Imagine a group of nice people walking by you, smiling, waving wildly and saying hello! and having no intention to cheat, rob or harm you. You cannot do such things under the enchanting gaze of Lady Buddha.
That's why I'm here and not anywhere else.
Where am I?
Friend I don't want to ruin a good place by telling bad people about it. But I can give you one hint. If you can play true detective you can find it. Here's the hint…
If you can find Lady Buddha at the base of Monkey Mountain, you can find a beautiful place to get lost.
Maybe I can see you here some morning and we can be lost together. Wouldn't that be nice?
I just hope you aren't too cool to say hello. That's all I want really. Just say hello to me and mean it.
I will respond in kind because under the benevolent eyes of Lady Buddha I cannot be anything other than kind. No one can and that's why I'm in love here.
Until then.
Your man,
-Victor Pride
Bro, I will definitely find this place to see this magic
Monkey Mountain sounds fantastic. For me I go up on my roof to watch the sunset over the water. As the sun goes down I see its reflection over the ocean. Then as I look up into the sky I see one star appear before hundreds come out one by one.
I cannot wait to find her Victor.
Victor,
Too cool to say hello or smile, this is indeed what I encounter where I currently live. All normal people have become leeches and are full of fear of being nice. Only abnormal people seem to still have integrity or be nice. To be in a place where people still smile and are positive must be a smell of fresh air.
From Ronin to Shogun, thank you.
Thank you Sebastian.
Woaw.
You made me travel. It was beautiful.
Have you thought about writing a novel?
I feel at peace now. What the hell.
“Have you thought about writing a novel?”
Sure, I’m always thinking about words. The format I don’t care. It’s always words.
That was beautiful.
Thanks Wes.
I know where you mean. I know because I was there just a little while ago. It’s a gorgeous place, and surprisingly clean. That beach is truly an amazing sight.
Da Nang Baby.
Man, you’re writing has inspired me so powerfully. So many times. Thank you for your soul. Thank you for your words. The value of it all, I cannot put into words.
Maybe one day I’ll be the one waving and smiling at you as we both witness that morning mist burn away with the first sunlight.
Like love so brief, our lives, and all those things that expire too soon.
Thank you Cody.
I will see you there at 5 AM Friday Victor
Wow! That hit the heart
Thanks Alan.
Vietnam?
VICTOR is in Italy. I bet you.
Lol.. just google it bro. Monkey mountain with the lady Buddha is in Vietnam.
On vacation away from Cali? Or moved back to Vietnam? Myself coming from Orange County and now living in different parts of Asia.. I can’t see myself moving back to Cali, although financially I could.. it’s just too much fun here in Asia!
So poetic..Loved the writing
Thanks Vishnu.
The moment I opened the post and saw the picture of the moto at the beach, I knew exactly where it was taken.
I only spent 4 days there last October to escape the Saigon jungle but it had such an impact, it allowed me to clearly see my mission for the following 12m. I am planning on returning for at least 3 months soon.
The best place to meet and plot with the Gods so far.
“The best place to meet and plot with the Gods so far.”
I agree and I love this line.
Nick,
Dom is a close brother among my circle now, in big part because of your work.
We first connected in Saigon and sat down to talk for close to 4 hours, including dinner. A mutual friend introduced us, because of our strikingly similar approaches to life.
I’ve now found my own slices of “lost locations” all around the world. This lifestyle Dom and I live now wouldn’t have been possible without you and others, installing unconventional paradigms in our heads, and us acting on them.
Thank you again for all you do.
Evan
I Love the Vibe of the article,Poetic and Genuine.Victor Must have been around or found a Feminine woman there,Only they can do that to a Man.
Thanks Scooter.
Man, you’ve just described another planet. You must be either in love or have a run of good luck.
Sounds like an inspiring place to be ..I want to be where you are…Show me the way brother…
Sounds like heaven on earth bro…i want to seriously be where you are…Show me the way
NEWTON’S 1ST LAW
BODY AT REST WANTS TO STAY AT REST. LETS GET THAT GREEK BODY BACK AND STAYS FOREVER.
DEAR VIC YOU SAID THAT THERE IS NO RELIGION REQUIRED UNLESS YOU’R DUMB.
I’ve traveled there. My life goal is to live in Vietnam. It’s a purer place than the States. People know how to balance their lives better than we Americans do.
Will, the Vietnamese live under extreme and brutal oppression and 100% of them want to live in America. They do understand balance, but it is not a place to aspire to live in.
That was beautiful Vic.. thanks for sharing!
Thank you.
And then we were all alone.
It all happened, but it’s like it never happened because the circle formed another circle - like the type you see magicians play with.
A circle within a circle within a circle.
Pain within Joy within Pain within Joy
1-0-1-0
The school ends.
Only once.
The bell rings.
Only once.
And what is the escape?
There is no escape.
Not for me. Not for you. Nor for them.
We are all here.
Within the circle.
All we do is dance and look at it from different angels.
Money. No Money.
The cicle has you.
The circle within the cube owns you.
You owe youself, not.
You are a subject.
To time and space.
To ego and pain.
To the fight of your soul.
Is there a way out?
I think, not.
Because…
“A circle within a circle within a circle.
Pain within Joy within Pain within Joy”
100%.
Very nice…
Throughout my entire live, the only time i’ve seen the sunrise was when i was crossing the George Washington bridge from NYC to NJ after dropping my aunt from the airport. But see the sunrise in the beach? Nah, i gotta see that, really!!!
Man, extremely poetic. Forget about being lost on Monkey Mountain, I got lost in the words.
As always, thanks bro.
Thank you Joel.
Every morning , I’ve been waking up 4:30 A.M for work (Monday - Friday). Going to the city is the perfect place to work & make money in the summer. It’s currently 8:23 AM as I’m writing this and I have to say that the morning is very peaceful and calming. My job might be viewed as hard and pathetic (window cleaner) but I like it. After all, all we have is this moment so might as well enjoy it to the best of your abilities. And once I go home I have daily habits and rituals to attend to, that I ENJOY doing. This past year has been a year filled with lots of growth and hard fought knowledge gained. It can be hard to see the other side of the coin, as in relaxation and taking time to enjoy your life. When you’re always in “momentum,” you can get lost in that and forget the reason why you originally started: to enjoy your life and kick ass! The hustle is underrated but taking time off and seeing the beauty all around you is even more so. I used to think that once ” I made enough money,” or “did this, or did that,” that I would be happy. But happiness is in the now regardless of whatever external success you achieve. The secret is quite simple, find out what to give a fuck about and then enjoy the process of getting there. If you don’t enjoy the process then you won’t enjoy the success. Quality Post, Vic.
LOVELY Victor.
It might be a dream place to live and get lost. Well is it in Asia ??
I would definitely want to chill with you victor!
Maybe we can some day!
Cheers!