uShaka Beach, Durban KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

uShaka Beach, located in close proximity to uShaka Marine World, is a great beach to go for if you’re keen for a surf, or if you’re simply into some beach relaxation. South Africa often crops up on lists of world’s best surfing destinations and Cape Town is often the city that makes that list, but Durban, the sleepy coastal town on the opposite coast has waves that can match the best of them. Bob Mamet is an internationally-acclaimed jazz pianist and composer. Incorporating vibrant and diverse styles into acoustic piano performances, Mamet has collaborated with some of the biggest names in jazz and released several highly successful albums. Enjoy our channel on XUMO from your Connected

Camps Bay Cape Town, South Africa

Full version of the single song episodes featured here, in our Media Library showcase, are available to watch free on the eScapes’ Xumo Lifestyle Channel # 452 Upmarket Camps Bay draws crowds to its namesake beach, known for its fine white sand, natural rock swimming pool and views of the Twelve Apostles mountains. Behind the beach, posh seafood restaurants, mellow cafes and cocktail bars with patios overlook the promenade. Nearby, Promenade Mall has boutiques selling fashion and beachwear, while the intimate Theatre on the Bay stages drama, musicals and comedy. Brian Hughes is a Canadian guitarist whose work draws from smooth jazz and Latin music. Although known as a guitarist, Hughes also plays oud, bouzouki, and

Poda Island, Thailand

Watch a full HD version of this single song sample episode on the eScapes’ XUMO Lifestyle Channel # 452 Thailand’s Krabi province is known for its great natural beauty and nicknamed “The Emerald of the Andaman,” but it’s most relaxing spot may be Poda Island. Located about five miles from the Thai mainland and the popular tourist resort town of Ao Nang, Poda Island (or Koh Poda in Thai) is a filled with lush forests and surrounded by white sand beaches. The most distinctive feature of the small island is the improbable limestone formation protruding from the nearby sea, featured in this video. Another interesting sight on Koh Poda, and throughout the rest of Thailand, is

Zanzibar Sunrise

Tropical Beaches
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Full version of the single song episodes featured here, in our Media Library showcase, are available to watch free on the eScapes’ Xumo Lifestyle Channel # 452 Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous archipelago just off the mainland of Tanzania, is known for its relaxed lifestyle, fabulous beaches and reefs, unique animals, and it’s largest export, fine spices. This tranquil scene brings you a sunrise from a quintessential Zanzibar beach. The palm-thatched umbrella on the beach demonstrates one of the many uses for the abundant coconut palm trees. Locals use the trees to their fullest potential, extracting building resources, foods, and drinks from them. Acoustic Alchemy is a smooth jazz group from London. Originally a duo of acoustic guitarists,

Umhlanga Beach, South Africa

For eScapes’ 1000th produced episode, we take you to Umhlanga Beach, one of the most popular beaches on the South African coast. Here, a beautiful beach lends itself to fishing, swimming, and surfing, while nearby hotels, restaurants, and attractions offer even more reasons to visit. Whale- and dolphin-watching excursions often launch from Uhmlanga while freighters pass in the distance. The beach’s lighthouse, featured in this video, was built in 1954 and has become an icon of the beach and harbor. Administered by a nearby hotel, the lighthouse has never had a traditional lighthouse keeper. The word “Umhlanga” means “Place of Reeds” in the Zulu language. The sound of the “hl” is similar to the Welsh “ll”

Bondi Beach, Australia

Australia’s most famous beach, Bondi, is located just 7 kilometers (about 4 miles) from downtown Sydney in the state of New South Wales. A public beach since the last 19th century, Bondi’s kilometer-long shoreline offers opportunities for surfing, swimming, and simple relaxation on the beach. The southern end of the beach, with more hazardous waves, is reserved for surfboarding and is also the home of the Bondi Iceberg Swimming Club and its famous tidal swimming pools. Peter White is an English smooth jazz guitarist who played with several artists, including a 20-year span as accompanist and writer for Al Stewart, before launching a solo career in 1990. With several Top 10 jazz albums under his belt,

Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro, the most visited city in the Southern Hemisphere, is known for its vibrant culture, diverse population, and festive atmosphere. Even away from the nightclubs and the excitement of Carnival, a good time is never hard to find, thanks to the miles of beaches provided by Rio’s natural setting. This eScapes video highlights Ipanema Beach, one of Rio’s most famous beaches, where progressive beach fashions and fads have been visibly set (and broken) since the 1960s. Ipanema Beach sits just a bit south of the entrance to Guanabara Bay, which was mistakenly identified as a river mouth by Portuguese explorers when they named the area Rio de Janeiro, or “River of January.” Ken Navarro

Key West, Florida (Ocean Sunset)

Full version of the single song episodes featured here, in our Media Library showcase, are available to watch free on the eScapes’ Xumo Lifestyle Channel # 452 Perhaps best known for its location at the southernmost point of the continental United States, Key West, Florida is a destination for anyone seeking a tropical climate, interesting people, and a rich history. Just 90 miles north of Cuba, Key West is a cultural melting pot that has inspired great works from Ernest Hemingway, Tennesee Williams, and more recently, Jimmy Buffett. This eScapes video takes you to the beach for a gorgeous sunset over the sea. Even as night falls, passing boats bring the water to life and swarms

Hansen Bay, St. John

Hansen Bay, on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, sits just outside of Virgin Islands National Park, which encompasses most of the island. Perfect beaches, some of them privately owned, surround the bay, just isolated enough to allow a relaxing break from the more crowded beaches on the island. Marc Antoine is contemporary jazz guitarist. Though gifted from a young age, his playing was threatened by a serious accident to his left hand while he was a teenager. Despite a grim prognosis, Antoine recovered to become one of today’s leading jazz guitar acts. Currently living in Spain, Antoine frequently tours with other contemporary jazz greats including David Benoit, Dave Koz, and Chris Botti. Links National

Red Hook, St. Thomas

Red Hook, on the east end of Saint Thomas, is an area known for its seaside shopping, dining, and its vibrant yacht harbor. As long as the weather permits landing in the harbor, boaters can find a full-service marina, a diving center, and a large new ferry terminal. Ken Navarro is an award-winning contemporary jazz guitarist. His impressive discography of nineteen top charting albums showcases his appeal to a wide range of listeners with inspiring compositions and superb guitar performances. Links U.S. Virgin Islands Official Tourism Site Wikipedia article: Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands Ken Navarro Official Site