Wish you were here. Every postcard from this island says it, and for once the sender means it. Tropical Vibes is the resort brochure for an island run entirely by animals: the birds work the garden bar, the turtles staff the lifeguard stand, and the surf school has a waiting list of creatures who should not be able to stand on a board and do it anyway.
The garden bar
Flamingo Sips stands on one pink leg between hibiscus blooms and palm fronds, a frosty glass waiting at her feet like she ordered it before you arrived. Parrot Paradise perches in bright green leaves and red flowers with a bottle close at hand, Toucan Paradise shows off a rainbow bill beside a tall sunset-colored drink, and Parrot Sun Soaker has claimed a wooden beach chair on the sand, pint on the little table beside him, feathers in every shade of the evening sky. These four do not move for anyone.
The lifeguard stand
Lifeguard Turtle keeps watch from inside a striped life ring, sunglasses on, drink in flipper, and it is honestly the most relaxed rescue station on the coast. Tipsy Turtle paddles along with a mug held above the waterline, and Lifeguard Star, a sunny orange starfish in shades, holds down the beach with a tall glass and the sun shining right over her shoulder. Dolphin Splash leaps out of the blue with a bottle bobbing beside him, which is as close as this crew gets to a drill.
The surf school
Surfin Pacaderm, a painted elephant, balances on a board inside a curling wave. Surfin Simian crouches low on a green curl, Windsurfer Meerkat skims by under a striped sail in a red shirt, and Surfing Lobster rides the foam with his claws full. The sharks are here too, bursting out of blue water with a beer apiece, a dolphin and a seahorse join them against the dark night surf, and Wombat Waves and Surf, Snooze, Repeat prove that a wombat and a sloth can both ride a wave if the sunset is right. Catchin' Waves sends a skeleton surfing past under the words Ditchin' the Grave, and nobody on the beach even blinks.
For the one already dreaming of the next trip
This is for the friend who has a countdown on her phone to the cruise, the husband who wears a floral print to the barbecue in any season, the sister who orders anything with a little umbrella in it. They talk about the beach like it is a person they miss. Pick the bird, the turtle or the surfer that looks like their vacation self and hear it right away, that is SO her. The flamingo is still standing on one leg at the garden bar. She says she will switch legs after this drink.
Written by Liam. Thanks for reading.
