It is official. Beaches in Lebanon have turned into morning night-clubs. When I was younger, I remember we impatiently waited for the summer season to arrive, to go to the beach, and spend the day playing, lying on the sand, swimming in the pool… We used to get a tan without even meaning to. It used to be fun and full of life. Playing, running around, feeling free and energetic, that’s what it was all about. But nowadays, the Lebanese beach experience has changed drastically.
You now go to selected, hip places. You arrive fashionably late (not before 12; you don’t want to look desperate). You get there with makeup, and potentially heels (girls), or hair gel and tight shirts (guys); just because you are going to the beach doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look glamorous! Of course, you can’t just sit anywhere you please. There are places for VIPs and VVIPs; that’s where the beds are, which you can reserve for around 100 bucks if you’re a big shot… And then there’s the grass, where all the “average people” go. You can sip on your drinks at the bar, in the pool (it’s your problem to figure out a way to keep the money dry until you reach the bar), while wearing your huge Prada sunglasses, or your Ray Bans. Then the music starts playing really loud. That’s when everyone starts dancing (in the pool, on the bar, on the grass, everywhere). It is frowned upon to consider actually swimming in the pool. You should just sit there and look cool. By 2 PM, the color of the water in the pool turns from blue to cream (a consequence of tanning oil blends) mixed with whatever kids have done in there... But everyone is dancing and singing, going with the flow. And then you have the “18+” entrance policy at some resorts. These are mostly there for people who claim they want to relax without being disturbed by kids, but the truth is, they are mainly there to either watch or perform in a live, umm…let’s call it “pool-porn show”, shall we?
Last week I went to one of the beach resorts in Damour. What started out as a calm day with Bob Marley in the background, and the soothing sound of the sea, soon turned into techno, RnB, and Mohammad Iskandar singing about the republic of his heart. Then there was the “aragueel” extravaganza, accompanied by the dance moves of the guys sitting next to me, which pretty much put an end to my “lazy day at the beach”.
Another example which would illustrate my point is Abu Philippe, a seafood restaurant/ beach in Jbeil, which my family and I first went to a couple of years ago. I remember falling in love with the place back then. The place was so simple and natural, with palm trees everywhere, and a big sandy beach. We went again last week to revive those memories, only to find that it had turned into a completely different concept, obviously targeting a completely different audience; (my guess is Philippe has taken over). The pool is now double the size, the food twice as expensive, the music way too loud, and the experience beyond disappointing. It breaks my heart to see such a simple place turn into something so commercial. Makes you think, does anything successful remain so, while preserving its original concept? Everyone ends up wanting more. More attention, more exposure, more money… Everyone just needs to follow the trend, and ends up forgetting all about heritage and memories…
Entrance fees to the beach are increasing by the year, and you now pay no less than $22 to go into any of the beach resorts (Did the price of sun increase??) Correct me if I’m wrong, but last time I checked, access to the beach was a right, not a privilege. What’s next? Paying for oxygen consumption? In civilized countries, beaches are publicly open for anyone who would like to enjoy them. I don’t understand why we have to be any different. And what is with the Jet Ski rental prices! Although jet-skiing is so great and liberating, but between the beach entrance, the lunch, and Jet Ski, there goes your salary! So in the end, it is easier to just forget about it, and go play Jet Moto on your PS instead…
Trying to work a way around these price increases, some people (including me of course) have developed a tactic of grabbing a man2oushe from Oumara, or even better, a Kaake from Abu Arab while on the way to the beach, then wait till they are back home to have a late lunch; pretty neat isn't it? Food at the beach is a rip-off and not that good anyway.
If you ask me, I would have loved to go to a public beach like Ramlet el Bayda for example, to swim and enjoy my day freely, if it weren’t for several worrying factors: first of all, mingling with the douche bags that go there is a big no-no. “Bezer”, “termos”, corn cobs and dabkeh are the last thing I need when I go to the beach. Which brings me to my second point: who knows what is there on those beaches; from what I see, they are very rarely (if ever) cleaned. And finally, God forbid someone might see me there! “Meshen el prestige mesh 7elwe”…
The way I see it, it is down to two options: a salary spent on today’s trendy resorts, with nothing but a chaise longue in return, or free access to public beaches, with potential life threatening encounters…Which one will it be?
