Back in 1997 we took our first cruise (the one we kept saying we would take "someday" for 20 years) and the last port of call was Sint Marteen. We did the 12 metre America's Cup sailboat race, had an early lunch, bought a couple rings on Front St. and took a cab to "see what this Orient Beach is all about..."

The cab dropped us off at Pedros and we walked over to the Perch for drinks and to ask about getting two chairs and an umbrella. Within ten minutes we noticed that WE were the only ones wearing swim suits. Linda took off her top and I smiled and looked around and looked back...she was standing there nude and asking "...well, are you going to join me in that beautiful water?"

We had skinny dipped in our pool at home, but this was a new, and wonderful experience. By the time we were on the tender headed back to the ship we were planning to fly down the following year and spend an entire week at Club Orient in a mini-suite... that was followed by well over a decade of annual trips for one or two weeks, staying in mini-suites mainly, but also in studio, mini-suite Delux, and with friends or family, twice in La Villa.

We loved it. We loved the freedom of wandering around the resort nude, dining at papagayo and dancing nude, taking TikoTiko every year nude, and relaxing with some of the nicest and friendliest people in the world...nudists...!

We also loved throwing on our clothes to shop in Phillipsburg, dine in Grand Case, and gamble in the Dutch side casinos.

We did not miss hotel features because we had a most wonderful feature of all, swimming in our skins in that warm, beautiful, crystal clear water on the Club O beach.

Club Orient is a unique, wonderful place and we are eagerly awaiting its rebuilding and opening...