VUE

palette and feature designer furniture, loy ceilings, retractable TVs, Sonos sound system and kitchens with top-of-the-line appliances. Before arrival, guests can provide Wymara with a preference sheet and they'll have the fridge stocked and ready. Similar to my experience, by request you can arrange for a private yoga lesson or to have a chef-prepared meal. e day wrapped up with a candle-lit dinner on the beach back at the resort. Zest's nighttime offerings include proteins prepared robata-style—a Japenese grilling technique meaning "fireside cooking." I awoke the next morning feeling the aermath of one too many chaturangas, which sounds more like a Mexican street food snack than it does a yoga pose. On the day's itinerary was a four- hour snorkeling excursion. In some ways, a trip to the Caribbean feels incomplete without any type of water activity and for many, snorkeling is the easiest to partake in. Out on the water, fellow snorkelers shouted out species le and right that they identified. In that moment, I had wished I'd known more about fish, or at least which ones to stay away from. A large barracuda, someone noted, made itself comfortable under our boat, which simultaneously made me as an onlooker very uncomfortable. We then set out for Little Water Cay, stopping at points to catch conch that our boat captains would later prepare as a ceviche-style salad. In more shallow waters, we spotted a sea turtle, lobster and stingrays. Aer arriving at the island, nicknamed "Iguana Island" for reasons I hope are obvious, I got to explore the nature reserve on foot. Following a sandy, limestone path and lush vegetation led me to an unforeseen opening that literally took my breath away. Beneath a bright blue sky was crystal-clear water and a pristine stretch of uncharted beach that seemed to have come out of nowhere. I was glad I had made the trek, which cost me more than a few mosquito bites. A part of me wanted to whip out my phone and take pictures but at the same time, I also wanted to just stand there soak it in. Ultimately, I made a beeline for the ocean because it was too hot not to. Should you choose to stay within the confines of Wymara, however, there is plenty to do on-site including kayaking, paddle boarding and sailing on a Hobie Cat. If water sports aren't your thing, the spa is definitely worth a visit to unwind. You'll find typical offerings expected at a luxury hotel including an array of facials, massages and body treatments with options for couples, too. Post-snorkeling, I couldn't wait for my 60-minute massage. I felt my grip loosen (literally) and much to my surprise, my body didn't fight back in the way it normally does when I tell it to slow down. I had no urge to get up and see what else was going on, nor did I have the mental capacity to think beyond the present. I had set my intention earlier during yoga to live in the moment and at that specific point in time, laying seemingly lifeless on a massage table in Turks and Caicos, I finally felt relaxed. 1 1 WHITE ST, RED BANK, NJ 07701 • 732-747-3550 • SWEETESTSINBRAS.COM • @SWEETESTSINBRAS V U E N J . C O M 143

• Cover