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Trip Reports: Trip Report (Dec. 15-29)
Bonaire Talk: Trip Reports: Archives: Archives 2000 to 2005: Archives - 2001-11-30 to 2002-09-25: Trip Report (Dec. 15-29)
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Suzanne on Monday, January 7, 2002 - 3:44 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Our holiday in Bonaire was fantastic and we really enjoyed it!

Our condo at Caribbean Court was enormous and well-equipped.

The operation (Photo Tours) was great and the diving was spectacular. We did two boat dives every morning and, in spite of our best intentions, we were too lazy to take advantage of the shore diving in the afternoons. Maybe next time!!

Bonaire is very clean and the people are very nice and extremely environment-conscious.

The town is small but offers a wide variety of very good restaurants. Some we tried include ChibiChibi (my favourite for coconut shrimp), Crocantino (excellent Italian food), Rendezvous, Cities (great casual place), The Garden Cafe (delicious Lebanese food) and ZeeZicht. The most disappointing meal we had was at "It Rains Fishes" but, in fairness, we both ordered chicken - I expect their seafood would be much better.

There were wild donkeys all over the island as well as flamingos that were really neat! The donkeys were like an alarm clock – we usually awoke each morning to hear them braying! We went to a donkey sanctuary one day and I inadvertently created a “feeding frenzy” with carrots and one of them got really excited and kicked my leg (leaving me a nasty large bruise)!!

I wasn’t sure how we’d feel about skipping Xmas at home but it was great. So low stress!

My husband really enjoyed celebrating his birthday away too and enjoyed all the little surprises including a sunset boat cruise and underwater video production.

My husand went on a night dive one evening but I passed on it – too creepy for me! They dove off the town pier and he said there was a lot of garbage/debris (tires, etc.) down there (very unlike the other dive sites).

The first week we were there was VERY quiet and we had the dive boat to ourselves every day (which was really a treat) but it got busier starting on the 22nd/23rd.

I also decided to try my hand at underwater photography but it is much harder than it looks and those darned fish just won’t cooperate!! Not sure whether this is something I want to get into – it really changes the dive experience and makes it more stressful because I’m always searching for “the perfect shot”.

We look forward to returning to Bonaire!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Martin de Weger on Monday, January 7, 2002 - 3:52 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Suzanne, Congratulations with your hubbies B'day.

I stayed in the Court a couple of times my self and it sure is great. Cann't wait to get back next may. Have you met Bert? He sayd he was of for a small holliday, but that was only for a week or so...

You were very lucky, the private boat dives, the wonderfull nature.....

Has your husband seen the seahorses under the pier? Last time I was there, there were 2 hiding at the end of the pier. That really was great!

Martin

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carlea Bauman on Monday, January 7, 2002 - 4:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Suzanne and Glen!

It was such a pleasure meeting and diving with you guys. Glad you made it home okay.

I'm expecting pics back this week. Will e-mail you the good ones (if there are any).

Best, Carlea

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Suzanne on Monday, January 7, 2002 - 6:31 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Carlea! You knew it was me!! Please do email me some photos - I'll look forward to it! It was great meeting you as well and I hope you had a safe and pleasant trip home.
And, yes Martin, we did meet Bert and he was a Godsend!! Our flight was delayed (8hours) in Miami so he had to get out of bed to greet us upon our arrival which was after midnight. The next day was Sunday and by the time we got up, washed and dressed, we had missed the breakfast hour and we had not yet picked up our rental truck due to our late arrival the night before so he was kind enough to loan us his truck so that we could go to town to get some breakfast!! We were also lucky enough to see seahorses a couple of times at "Something Special" and "Small Wall" - the really nice big orange ones!! Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera that day.
BTW; does anyone know whether it is possible to find ourselves from the ReefCam archive if we know when we were there??

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carlea Bauman on Monday, January 7, 2002 - 7:10 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Well, my powers of deduction are marvelous. It went like this:

Caribbean Court?! Well, Glen and Suz -- There for two weeks?! Whah? Kicked by a donk -- Who wrote this?

So I scrolled up and figured the coincidence was simply too strong and took my chances that you were you.

I don't know how that archives thing works, but two bucks says that any minute Jake Richter's going to chime in with the solution.

Carlea

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Suzanne on Monday, January 7, 2002 - 7:16 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

You are so funny! Don't forget about emailing those photos (mine are crap!) BTW; are you as completely devastated as I am to be home??? I find myself constantly yearning to be back in Bonaire (already!!)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carlea Bauman on Tuesday, January 8, 2002 - 1:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I won't forget. Promise. As for the PBD (Post Bonaire Depression), my lower lip still trembles when I think about the place.

It must have been wretched to recover after two weeks there. At least I only had six days to get over.

Upon my return, I told my boss to not get used to seeing me around, as I would be moving there as soon as possible.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Tuesday, January 8, 2002 - 5:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Suzanne,

Look in the WebCams section of BonaireTalk to see if someone posted you. If not, we will have the archives available to Bonaire WebCams members (nominal fee) very soon. Just working the kinks out of the sign-up procedure.

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan on Tuesday, January 8, 2002 - 5:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Carlea, you still haven't told me what we are going to DO down there..remember I took a leave of absence for academic year 02/03..

Am ready to go..

:)

Annie
Cape Cod

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Suzanne on Tuesday, January 8, 2002 - 5:09 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I know the crew at Karel's Cappucino bar are leaving ~April so they may need some new "barristas".

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan on Tuesday, January 8, 2002 - 5:20 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

My friend spent time with those "Barristas" on the party bus and they told him they make hardly any money. I guess most folks do not tip past the 10% so they do not see much..I could do that for about a month ...I would rather sit there than work, but Suzanne, keep the ideas flowing..

:)

Annie
Cape Cod

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carlea Bauman on Tuesday, January 8, 2002 - 5:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The way I figure it, there MUST be folks with diabetes on that island and by God, they need an advocate!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Martin de Weger on Tuesday, January 8, 2002 - 6:11 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Carlea, Just start your office there. I'll be more than happy to get your computers to work...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carlea Bauman on Tuesday, January 8, 2002 - 6:37 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sounds good Martin.

Hey Annie, how 'bout we open up a store that only sells toilet paper and window blinds to the folks who stay at HHH?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Martin de Weger on Wednesday, January 9, 2002 - 1:47 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Don't forget the fire extingshers (or whatever you guys call them), I'll try to say it in a local language: Brandblussers...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carlea Bauman on Wednesday, January 9, 2002 - 12:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I like your word better. It sounds more fun.

Carlea

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Martin de Weger on Wednesday, January 9, 2002 - 12:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Well, I could write it all down in Dutch, but I dont think you'll like it a lot. On the other hand, it would be great for Bas and Yana....

:)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Wednesday, January 9, 2002 - 3:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Carlea,

In all seriousness, diabetes is all too common in the Antilles. I had a long discussion with a Dutch specialist who makes artificial limbs (legs in particular), and he commented on the fact that between Curacao & Bonaire, there are more diabetics per capita than in any country in Europe or in the U.S. (For those not aware of it, one problem diabetics face is poor circulation, especially to their feet, and amputation is an all too common solution when the circulation problem has gone too far - hence the artificial limbs).

The thought is that the diet here is a major contributor.

So, there may be work for you here after all...

Nice meeting you, by the way!!

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carlea Bauman on Wednesday, January 9, 2002 - 5:42 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jake,

I LOVE YOU MAN! I'll be right down.

Let me go tell my boss.

And, in all seriousness, diabetes is the number one cause of non-traumatic limb amputations. It's a horrible, wretched disease that deserves more attention and research funding than it currently gets.

And it was a real pleasure meeting y'all, too.

Carlea

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Meryl Virga on Wednesday, January 9, 2002 - 11:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Being from a family of diabetics...this generation so far being excluded...I have read that the only cure for diabetes is ....running....I am not exactly sure why but it must keep weight down and circulation up....

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carlea Bauman on Friday, January 11, 2002 - 1:18 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Suzanne,

I'm e-mailing you pictures. I think you guys are actually in one of them.

Carlea

 


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