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The tiny, wooden, fishermen boat was sliding unsafely through the calm ocean water. Phi Phi was far behind us. The sun was reflecting from my sunglasses and the captain was waving his hand in an attempt to push the annoying sun rays away. I was looking through the clear water and could see the small fishes swimming along with us. We took a turn around the island and stopped. “Okay. Now. You take plastic bag. Put cell phone, camera, and money in it. Put around neck. Jump and swim. Swim 20 meter. Hold on rope and reach ladder. Climb up and walk 50-100 meter and The Beach. I wait here.” Ok, then. It didn’t sound that bad. I followed the instructions and put all my belongings inside the plastic, waterproof bag, sealed it and put it around my neck. Next thing – jump. I jumped and swam until I reached the rope, the local boatman was pointing at earlier. It wasn’t that easy to hold on the rope. The tide was coming strong and constantly pushing me left and right. I was stepping on the slippery stones with extreme care and holding on the rope. This was not a safe tourist environment at all. I looked down and the heel of my left foot was bleeding. “This is what you get for wanting to go authentic” – I was thinking and kept walking. As soon as I reached the wooden ladder, I grabbed on to it hard. The difficult part was over. I climbed up and all of a sudden, there was a jungle in front of me. There were birds flying around and I could hear different animal noises. A small jungle pathway and a wooden arrow sign “Maya Bay” guided me through the wilderness. Jungle creepers and vines were climbing up the palm trees and the small walkway was covered in fallen leaves. I could see the welcoming sun glimmering in the distance. “A few more steps ahead,” I thought. As soon as I walked off the jungle, the heavenly beach was waiting for me. Empty. Mine. I ran to the water like a little child. I looked around. A lagoon, sealed in by the cliffs, hidden by the sea and the green jungle behind me - it was paradise on earth. The salty ocean water was keeping me afloat while I was gazing at the sky. Pure-white sand, crystal-clear water, palm trees with coconuts and the blue sky above me felt like a part of a Bierstadt’s painting. I didn’t want to go back. I could stay like this forever. I opened my eyes and realized I fell asleep on the beach and the sun was about to set. I had to go. The boatman was asleep with a fishermen hat covering his face from the sun. I woke him up while climbing back on the boat. “You back? You like beach? Yes? Beautiful, ha?” The boat was slowly but surely taking me back to civilization and I felt sad and melancholic. I was staring at the distance while the final monologue from “The Beach” was running through my mind on repeat: “I still believe in Paradise. But now, at least I know it’s not someplace you can look for. Because it’s not where you go, it’s how you feel for a moment in your life when you’re a part of something. And if you find that moment, it lasts forever.”