We arrived from 2 destinations (Pittsburgh, PA and Denver), converged in Montego Bay, and spent 8 incredible days at Happy Holiday Homes in Belnem. We arranged all travel/lodging /car rental with Andy at Great Southern Island Adventures (on the web), and we can only recommend both HHH and GSIA with the HIGHEST marks! If you want a cozy, quiet, local feel to your accomodations, complete with kitchen and patio (and visiting donkeys...sorry Louise, but I couldn't resist a nightly apple!), HHH is wonderful. Not on the beach, but just across the street. Especially for us, who wanted to spend mornings sipping coffee in the sunshine with the birds, it was heaven.

We got a little rain most every day (or night), which was a blessing because (we were told) rain is so infrequent that plants go crazy to reproduce and everything "greens up." Plus the clouds were so spectacular that we found ourselves gazing up into the sky as much as down into the water.

I completed my open water referral dives with Luciano at Plaza Resort, which was very relaxed and pleasant, with an excellent, peaceful shore entry area (I'm still a shaky diver, and this experience was more reassuring than my pool dives at home!). My buddies snorkled there; great visibility. The only time we got spooked by something in the water, though, was in that area; near the pier, about 5:30 PM, we saw a HUGE (maybe 6 ft.?) fish with a big open mouth, just hanging out and not swimming, right underneath us...not a barracuda, too fat..what WAS that??? Tarpon??

Other highlights we would recommend: 1000 Steps area for snorkling (the vista itself is worth the trip); a snorkling trip to Klein Bonaire to see sea turtles (I saw FOUR!) (we went with Capt. Mike; you sign up at Zee Zicht Restaurant right across from Karel's on the waterfront); kayaking in the mangroves (sign up at the Divi Flamingo activities counter; WELL worth it!! You see very unusual coral and amazing mangrove tunnels); a visit to the salt/flamingo/slave hut area in the south of the island; a visit to the Donkey Sanctuary right by the airport, not a lot to see but you can meet the inspired woman who runs the place and help support the dear creatures she cares for; and finally, a visit to Maiky's Snack (look on the local map;its in the lower middle eastern part of the island), follow signs, for local flavor and incredible goat stew or fresh fish, its amazing. Sit in the back, with the goats, under the spreading mimosa tree...

We ate in mostly, but for a parting treat we ate at the Chibichibi Restaurant at the Divi Flamingo, and watched the eerie lights of the underwater night divers...food was great, and you just can't beat that view. We also had dinner at Zee Zicht one night and it was great. As the culinary risk-taker of the bunch, I had the iguana soup...lots of bones but worth it. Wahoo (fish) was excellent.

Speaking of fish, one more tip: if you can cook, drop in on Mr. Dewey Diaz (I think that's right), and ask what he has fresh for sale..we bought some yellowtail snapper, and right before we left some fishermen brought in a wahoo taller than he is...he filets it right before your eyes...but hmmm, how to tell you to get there? Its near the waterfront...my buddies had the directions...anybody else here know?? I'll try to get the directions; its worth it!!

Also: (I know I'm going on and on, but there is so much to Bonaire!) Do stop in at Jenny's, to see her magical garden of original artwork and hear her stories. She is an artist/craftsperson who wanted to create things locally (as opposed to plastic fish made in China with "Bonaire" painted on them). Wander around her yard and choose a special memento of your trip; they are not expensive and are highly original. Her house is located right down from the Post Office in Kralendijk; look for the life-sized dolls outside her gate.

To do all this, you definitely need a car. With our package, we got one from Budget (a two-cab truck) which was just perfect for travelling around the island on the sometimes bumpy roads. Everyone (except the Budget people!) recommends you leave cars unlocked and windows partially down, (and nothing of value in the car, obviously) to minimize break-ins (they may open the door, but not break the window). There was lots of talk of car break-ins when we were there, but they had just caught 3 youths who seemed to be doing most of it, and we had no problems at all.

Of course, the sea life is magnificent, and we could've used another week (or two) (or three..) just to get to more dive/snorkle sites. Like all of you, we 4 are now confirmed Bonaire addicts, already planning another trip while sitting in the airport. Thanks for this great website; at least we will have a place to pine together!
---The 4 Ladies

Thanks for the awesome report. I love when I drift back to Bonaire!

Loved it! Do you all plan to have a return engagement? I can picture 4 elegant elderly ladies, wearing sarongs, bikini tops, and purple hats, in front of the street cam in twenty or thirty years! Heck, we could even increase the number to AT LEAST 8 ladies...Whatdoyasay, Cynde, Carole, and Meryl?? I already have the purple hat, LOL!

Hmmmm....I can see how this could quickly get out of hand...what about Kerri, Ellen M., Rusty, Sarah, Sue, Ellen, "the other" Cindy, Darlene, Faith, Dawn (haven't heard from you in awhile,) the 2 Nancys, Beth, of course, Bubbles Baker, Kelly's Linda, "Cookie Breath, etc. This list could go on forever!!

Hazel ~ thanks for including the Kellys! Can't forget the Kellys!!!!

Wow, Wonderful report. I have been very busy lately and haven't had much time to visit the site, but when I do... such rewards... like this wonderful report. Thanks. You mentioned a lot of goodies to do that we didn't have time to do on our trip. Can't wait to go back and check them out! I remember the place with the dolls out front. Didn't realize what it was. So happy you had a great time.
Yes, Hazel, all us ladies need to gather and spend a couple weeks there. We could rent a big ole house and have a blast. Just think of all the good cooking (my mind is always on food!) Never a dull moment... I love Bonaire.

me too me too me too :-)

hazel, i could buy a purple hat.

Don't forget me. purple is my favorite color!

Outrageous report, Jane...sounds like you all had a ball and fell in love with Bonaire. Thanks for the details, just loved it.

I'm game for the ladies to appear in front of the street cam! What a riot that would be...Jake would be slamming the shutters and locking the doors in fear of what might occur with this bunch of nuts!

I'll bring Joe with me...he LOVES to cook, so we can all sit back and enjoy his cooking and culinary delights, OK? He is not too keen on the cleanup, however...we will have to toss the coin on that detail. He is a very handsome young man who is entertaining, as well! Let's go! Carole

I DID forget quite a few ladies, including Lea and Lorraine, Susan the tatooed (sp?) lady, the other Susan, Josie our diving inspiration, Gail Currie and the gang, jan, Emma, Sarah, and CiJai. No offense, Carole, but if we invited Joan Zale, we might be able to get Emeril to be the resident chef :-) Joe DOES like older womwn, however...hmmmm....this is getting complicated! For sure we would have to invite that Navy guy Cecil, but he'd still have to wear the purple hat and bikini ;-)

Won't take me long to buy a purple hat...or can I use feathers? They may not be purple but they would look quite stylish..and would do quite well in the water and on land.....please count me in!

Whatever we need in purple...I'm game too!! Hat, shoes, whatever!! Have luggage will travel!

Hazel, I don't know about the bikini, I think that falls under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Hi Hazel - think I'll use "the other" as my name from now on. LOL I like that. I've been wearing purple for ages and the only way I'll get to Bonaire is a hen trip. Just can't tear Jim away from the mountains. Count me in.

Great report Jane and we loved watching you on the cams.

This is cracking me up! My mother used to have a purple outfit and every time she'd put it on, she'd say "I'm a symphony in purple!"

It sounds like we'd have a symphony orchestra!

Susan

i think the whole idea sounds totally fun. count me in!! - if the guys want to join us, i dont care so long as they also wear the purple hats etc.!!

My mother's favorite poem began "When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple"... It's a great poem called Warning, by Jenny Joseph. I used to loathe purple -- my worst enemy in high school wore it all the time. But she and I made our peace at our 10 year reunion, and now I rather like purple...

Whaddya think, ladies -- a couple dozen of us at the front door cam, all wearing bikinis and purple hats? Wouldn't that raise eyebrows!

Faith

Ok I'm game-- Anyone available 2/3-2/15/02--Why not go all out-- just bring a thong

We didn't forget Kerri Mango did we??? Have purple thong, will travel.

Faith, that's the EXACT poem I was thinking of when I suggested purple hats!!! Jan and Kelly, I'm not sure about the thong thing - in twenty or thirty years when we do this hen party thing, I may not care. At this point in my life, I don't even know how to put one on, LOL!

Okay, I've "rethunk" the thong thing, and to quote the immortal words of Kerri Mange, "I used to be that kind of girl, and you know what? I STILL AM!" So we'll see.

Oops...that should read, Kerri Mango. Typos R Us!

My mother LOVED that poem! It was so funny, because it described my grandmother so well, but it was so UNlike my mother -- Mom definitely wasn't the type to learn to spit...

I did a search for "I shall wear purple" (including the quotes) on http://www.yahoo.com and found lots of websites with the full text. I just printed it off one of them, and it's hanging outside my office. Priceless...

And yeah, I've never quite understood thongs. They always seem rather painful to me...

Faith

So when is this purple hat and thong trip?

I can't tell you how delighted I am that our trip report generated such great purple hat-and-thong energy!! We are definitely the purple hat types..(especially if they're purple FISH hats!)...as you all seem to be also! So lets go! We were actually, and only half kiddingly, looking into resort properties while we were there...there was an awfully cute one at the end of the street HHH is on...run down a bit but mucho potential...of course none of us has any $$$ but we can always dream...we already came up with a name, "The Happy Donkey"...have any of you ever dreamed about that?? We had such fun concocting our specialty drinks: gin, lime, and aloe juice with its secret healing properties, etc etc. ...

ANyway, up with purple!!

Jane, Joe and I dream of buying a home on Bonaire every waking hour! You have to have a dream...keeps us going. We check out the real estate listings and drive thru all of the neighborhoods checking out a lot of the homes. Someday.....Carole

I have no idea how I missed this thread! I have been so busy at work (I hate it when my work gets in my way)...purple has always been my favorite color (my hubbies too)...our bedroom is purple! so...Jane you probably saw a snook. they are quite large and thick and hang on the bottom and will follow you around without getting too close. we had one follow us at bari in the shallows one day, we were watching him and laughing, trying to get him to get a little closer...Haz...sounds good to me, although i think i will leave my fanny flosser at home... I agree with faith not very comfortable (at least not since my bottom has gotten a little wider!)...Cecil you can forgo the bikini, but you must wear a hat...shutterbug Michael is quite a bit younger than me and loves to cook too...so, we have 2 chefs so far to wait on us! lol!...Meryl and shutterbug i am still workin on the late may trip, so we could make an appearance (the boys will have to wear chef hats and thongs!)...

Cynde Lee, sounds like we have a great plan in the making! My "thong" days were over about twenty years and many, many pounds ago...BUT, I do wear the color purple very well! Aren't we the lucky ladies with the "younger" men! Who love to cook, to boot...life is good. Carole (Shutterbug)

Oh...I used to have a purple bedroom, too, Cynde...see, there is a very common link on this board! Hmmm, Joe and I saw a very, very large fish hovering near a boulder on the bottom (hard to float those boulders, ya know) of the water in front of the Divi one afternoon..down about 15-20 feeet or so...it was light in color, about 6 or more feet long, maybe 1.5 feet wide with a lower jaw jutting out with large teeth and mouth agape....snook? Don't know...no one in the water that day could tell us what it was, but we gave it plenty of room to do whatever it wanted to do! It was HUGE! No film left in the camera at that moment, either, of course! Carole

Jan, I'll be there 2/5 -- 3/6. The hat's on, but I WILL NOT wear a thong. I'm too "mature" for uncomfortable. I'm also trying to plan a "east shore clean-up". Interested?

Josie,
One of the best parts of wearing a thong is that you never keep pulling at your botom to keep those cheeks covered----and it doesn't ride up on you!!!!
Clean-up------isn't that why we go on vacation----maybe someday the first week late in the afternoon.
Where are you staying-- I think I asked this on another thread-- but you must of missed it.

Jan, just looked at your bio...what is "setvice" industry?? ;-)

Ok--- Cynde--OOOOPPPPSSSS so there was a typo-- should have said Food Service Industry------and even that has changed---company closed nationaly and laid off 5,700 back in June-- so I am still unemployed-- might even think about being semi-retired--but just maybe that Food manufacturer that I am waiting to hear from will call soon-- if not then with those reallt resonable airfares-- Bonaire here I go-------

Jan, that is too bad about the lay offs...seems so many companies have been following suit...i just figured maybe you were part of the "vice" squad or something

That is one of the main reasons I was seeking out a Government job for the past three or four years...I had been downsized twice in the private sector and am not getting any younger. My quest was fulfilled in August 2000. The pay is just about half of the private sector for my field, but I don't mind. The benefits of security (civil service position) and paid holidays and sick time (I needed that this past March with the Gallbladder mess) and being 1.5 miles from home is a HUGE bonus for me, too! I am also very fortunate in that I work for the most wonderful boss in the world, too. My search was 24/7 with tenacity and relentlessness, but it paid off, for sure. I wish everyone luck out there that is looking for exmployment at this time. Things will be looking up in 2002...you can bank on that. Carole (a/k/a "Relentless")

Jan, good luck on the position you are seeking...just keep after them, hound them and be relentless...it really does pay off, believe me! Good luck and keep us posted. Carole (Relentless)

Jan, We'll be at our all-time fave place: Bonaire Townhomes, which is pretty much off thebeaten track: 1 Kaya Hermes, which is off the street with Samara carrental on the corner, off Nikiboko Sud. I'll be sending a message to all the Feb/March BT group when I have more details on the shore clean-up.

Carole and Cynde, thanks for the fish speculations. What we saw sounds like yours, Carole, BIG TEETH and mouth open. Not friendly-looking, but then I don't really know my fish that well. Could it have possibly been a Jewfish, I heard they can be in the Caribbean?
About thongs...once on the island of Tenerife, I saw the most amazing thing, and have never seen it since: a vendor walking among the sunbathers, with a one piece suit/thong thing that went around the neck, over the front, through the legs and tied at the hips...looked incredible on the vendor lady but you definitely had to have the body for it...anyway I wish I'd bought one just to figure out how the thing was put together!

Cynde, depending on the amount of Tequilla's Steve will be more apt to put on the thong before the chef's hat....He has "dabbled" in cooking (his mom's...or mum...depending on where your from!) is a wonderful cook...he's learning and enjoys his creations...he just has a hard time in cutting down the pots/dishes/utensil use...one meal sometimes takes most of the cabinet contents to produce....but I guess I shouldn't complain!