BonaireTalk Discussion Group
Trip Reports: Niki's trip report Dec. 6-13, 2008
Bonaire Talk: Trip Reports: Archives: Archives 2006-2008: Archives 2008-08-01 to 2008-12-31: Niki's trip report Dec. 6-13, 2008
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1575) on Monday, December 15, 2008 - 10:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Trip Report, Bonaire, Dec. 6-13, 2008

Travel:
Continental through Houston. No problems.

Hotel:
Divi Flamingo
I am an annual visitor to Bonaire, for ten years. I have come with my husband in the past and stayed at Sorobon Beach Resort and at a small oceanfront rental house through HHH. This is the first time for me at Divi Flamingo. I came without Bob this time, but I did have a girl-friend with me, a snorkeler. I specifically came to work on diving, not just play. I planned to take a PADI specialty course in buoyancy, and practice diving with an instructor. I chose Divi Flamingo solely to be within comfortable walking distance from town for dinners out. I figured I’d shore dive Calabas Reef and maybe go on boat dives.

Divi was a pleasant place to live for the week. [Full disclosure: I don’t generally choose busy resorts, and I prefer an independent environment for vacation. Also Divi is doing an admirable job of recovering from Omar’s damage. And of being nearly overrun with cruise ship passengers.] Some of my preferences were met, but some were not. The main hiccup turned out to be booking with the corporate headquarters in the US through their website and trusting that the booking came to Bonaire Divi staff intact. I reserved the room in May2008 responding to an announced special: 7 nights deluxe room for the price of standard room. Then I booked the PADI class later, in November. The contact through the website is so poorly designed that it resulted in the cancellation of the original reservation when all I was doing was adding the diving. When we checked in, we received a standard room. The staff didn’t seem to take it very seriously that I was surprised to see a downgrade of the room. We settled in, but really I didn’t like the room. On the second night in the wee hours of sleeplessness, I determined to push for the original deal I had paid for. It took all day (on the third day!) to get the information straight and be given the oceanfront deluxe room I had reserved and paid for. Oh well. Once it was clear, all went nicely. Lesson to the readers: use the website to reserve at your own risk. And when you talk to the agents in person, both in US and Bonaire, double check your deal. People can learn from the next paragraph too.

Another hiccup related to booking happened. I was uninformed and will know better in the future. Reserving the diving portion at Divi Dive shop via Divi Flamingo hotel was like using a reseller, not a direct transaction. Then at the dive shop they were at pains to adjust to my personal diving needs in the moment, saying that reseller deals are rigid. That did cost me extra money in the end. I did argue my point, but did not win. Oh, well.

Restaurants:
No disappointments, We were very well served at the following places:
Dinners: Unbelievable, Warung Louise, Donna & Giorgio, Bistro de Paris, La Guernica, Sunset Bar & Grill, Bambu
Lunches: Chibi Chibi, Angel Restaurant, China Nobo, De Bonairiaan Lunchroom (quickie lunch, benefits special ed. programs for young people), Plazita Limona, Le Flamboyant, Rose Inn in Rincon

Diving:
Klein Bonaire: Captain Don’s Reef and Jerry’s Reef: both in great shape.
North end: Rappel and Petrie’s Pillar. Loved Rappel for best viz because no sand kicked up after Omar. Saw two seahorses.
Calabas Reef: I found local Octopus and enjoyed watching him for 20 minutes! Rubble and sand everywhere, Many fish. but coral is not what it used to be, alas.
PADI Peak Buoyancy Specialty: I’m a whiz now!
A photographer/reporter from Sport Diver magazine (British edition) took shots of me diving at the new cooking sculpture (land culture meets undersea artificial reef) out from ChaChaCha beach and at the anchor near Divi. Wonder if I will be published! My little underwater camera (Pentax Optio W30) leaked and died when I was just testing it out in shallows. Oh, well.

Rental car:
Hertz for one day, to tour the whole island. Got a brand new spotless car with only 47 km on it, and I was nervous all day that it would get a scratch. I added 100 km, but no dings. I would have had a more relaxed day if I had asked for a beat-up car....Lol!

People:
Said hello to Linda, Bas, Krystyana Richter, Ellen Muller, Gibi, Michael Gaynor, Louise of HHH, Larry of Wild Side, Gisela of watercolors. Had no transportation or time to look up Renee and Bryan. Oh, well.

Web cam captures:
I stood in front of 3 cameras, but nothing got posted. Sunday the 7th at about
5-5:15pm at Yellow Submarine. I stood on the bench on the dock. Tuesday the 9th at the downtown Remax cam, I stood with my arm up on the pink pillar. It must have been mid afternoon, I forget exactly. I also saw Larry of Wild Side and he may have been captured with me as we talked. Lastly, Friday the 12th, I was at Eden Beach, but I gather the cams weren’t working then. [Cecil, will you try to find these in the archives?]

Those are the basics. I might add more later.

It sure was wonderful to see Bonaire again!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #14498) on Monday, December 15, 2008 - 11:04 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Well done Niki, thank you for taking the time to post.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1576) on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 12:17 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

LOL! :-) Bob says I made it look like I dumped him and took up with a girl-friend. I am still married! I just needed to go for a focussed diving refresher after a dicey experience in April in the BVI. He was under a lot of pressure at work so I invited my old college buddy Elizabeth to join me. We've been friends for 34 years. She had heard of our going to Bonaire all these years and was excited to see it first hand. She loved it too. Unfortunately she lost her camera with all the pictures on the way home yesterday in the ladies room at San Juan airport. :-( That's two cameras down.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By R J (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #111) on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 12:19 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thank you for posting about your trip.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole B. (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6999) on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 12:50 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi, Niki!! How wonderful to see you on BT again. It's been a long time, my friend. So glad you were able to get back to our little piece of paradise in the world. Doesn't it feel great when you get off that plane...feels like home.

Sounds like you had a nice trip, too. Sorry to hear about the cameras...that's a real bummer.

We are returning for Christmas week. Our first trip over the holidays. Should be very nice and colorful. Can't wait to see all of our friends again.

Poor Bob....I guess he'll get over it, tho, right? LOL. Please give Bob our best, too.

Boy, you had a couple of scares in the water, eh? I'm glad you are OK. I remember the one on Bonaire when we were down on island at the same time. Very scary.

Don't be a stranger on BT, OK? Hugs to you and to Bob, too. Ayo. Carole & Joe

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1577) on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 1:15 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Carole! Yes, it's been a long time. I thought of you often last week. And you're doing a first December/winter trip too! You'll love it. Greener than ever, milder heat and wind than May/June. It was just perfect. Minus the bug bites on my legs, though; Rains have brought water everywhere. You'll be amazed.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Pegi Sue, PegiPie******************* (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7819) on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 7:03 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Great report Niki!:-)

Here's YOU....
niki
niki1

There's a lot more there, but I don't have time, they would make a great flicky if anyone has time. Niki, you should become a Gold Member on the Webcams, then you would have access to the archives, there's neat stuff in there!!!:-):-):-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Skip C (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #154) on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 8:08 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Way to go Pegi Sue. There are great people on BT!
Niki, thanks for sharing. Only 6 months till we get back.
Skip

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cecil* (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7102) on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 8:08 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Great report and you are right about verifying, I've been burned by that a few times now and still have not learned a thing. You know the definition of crazy...

To bad about Bob, I know he really enjoys those trips. Maybe next one.

Sucks about the cameras. The lesson I have learned from similar experiences is to always have two cameras and always keep the pictures in two places. My first trip I lost a third of my pictures. I flooded a camera this last trip but did not lose a picture or a dive with a camera.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim McPeak (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1780) on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 9:47 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Niki, the first time we ever went to Bonaire, 16 trips ago, we had the exact same problem with the Divi. I did a Popeye with the "That's all I can stand, I can't stands no more." I went down to the front desk at 2:00 in the morning, as we came in on American very late. I got very Philadelphian on them. They thought this guy is a lunatic, and gave us the oceanfront room, 206 if I remember correctly. Life was all good after that.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5895) on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 11:46 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jim, maybe they knew of your malaria symptoms and thought it better to keep you quarantined?

Niki, you look fab., as always. Glad you had a great time.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1578) on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 4:59 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks PegiSue, you rock!
Jim, frustrating wasn't it!? I was afraid to let my temper flare, so I was just sure, calm and emphatic, and I had proof. Which is what I should have done the first night, in the face of their bland denials. Afterwards, I think they felt for me, waiting two nights out of seven to solve it.
Kelly, you look fab, too!! :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ****Tink**** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7993) on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 6:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Niki, glad you got back to Bon, and had a good time.

Kelly, it was probably the combination of malaria and Jim's "donkey" immitation that set Divi off...LOL!

Dicey experience in the BVIs? We love the BVIs...hope all is ok now. Anything we can learn from your experience?

A good dive buddy locally got bent in September, it was pretty much a shock to us all, but she shared her experience and I learned a lot from what she got out of it....

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1579) on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 8:02 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'll write something that makes it educational, and post it in a bit. :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Timmmy (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6246) on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 10:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

1

Hi Niki - almost looks like the YMCA dance ;D

(Message edited by muddysoapfish on December 16, 2008)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1580) on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 11:28 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Subject: "Dicey in the BVI's"

OK. Cut to the lesson: Simply stop the dive when you are uncomfortable, emotional, annoyed or pissed off at the divemaster or situation. Pressing on regardless is unwise. I have, of course, heard that many times before -- to take control of your own dive. At the outset, the crew didn't provide accurate information. And I found that I couldn't get them to let me take control at various steps in the process, and that really frustrated me.

Now, flashback to the circumstances: This was a live-aboard. We received many, many details ahead of the trip, except a vital one: they should have mentioned that we would have to pass skills tests first thing on a dive in the first couple of hours of boarding. If I had known that, I would have been ready, and would have practiced in a pool. My gear could have been prepared better and I was the last one ready. I was using new equipment and needed a weights check. Instead we piled in the Zodiak in rough seas and back rolled in with no opportunity for weight check. I was a bit seasick and out of breath from holding myself from being bounced out. I sank right away being overweighted by a factor of two! I became calm while equalizing, but my ears didn't clear for over 6 minutes. The divemaster was on the bottom, impatient. I reached the bottom (30 ft.) and then when starting the skills, I kept inhaling water, which I couldn't figure out. I then panicked and bolted for the surface. I was not hurt because they slowed me down and I was exhaling on the way up, but it was really shocking to have panicked. It took a few more dives before I stopped being anxious and passed the mask clearing and shared air tests. There are a few more details but that's the core of it.

I don't dive cold water in the Pacific Northwest, so dushi Bonarie is the best place to recapture my diving comfort. I had 150 dives. Now 159. Every dive last week was great. My companions said I looked comfortable and had good buoyancy skills. Mainly I needed to have some more positive, relaxed, happy dives. Alternative would have been to retire from diving in defeat. Nope.

:-) Any questions?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1581) on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 11:31 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

TimmmmmY, thanks! My arms got so tired! But I didn't have a watch and thought the captures were 4 minutes apart. Did Larry show up with me that afternoon?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole B. (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7002) on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 6:27 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

So glad you are OK, Niki. Bonaire tends to make everyone feel "better", doesn't it! It's just Bonaire's "way". Hope to see you next spring. Hugs. cb

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim McPeak (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1785) on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 11:18 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Have you ever seen a jack a$$ who has had malaria? He is a very dangerous animal when you don't throw him a carrot. LOL

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By pat murphy (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1676) on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 11:39 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

niki, which liveaboard did you do in the bvi? we did the cuan law 10 1/2 years ago. it was only our fourth dive vacation after two on bonaire and one on a cattle boat in the keys. i know we had to do a checkout dive and perform various evolutions but because we were still fairly new i don't remember if we were told about that in advance or not. it wasn't a bad trip but definitely not the "diving freedom" you have on bonaire.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ****Tink**** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8004) on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 11:40 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Nikki, thanks for sharing. Did you talk with the company that runs the live aboard about the fact that they gave you no information about the skills test? Finding that out on the fly would make me a tad uncomfortable as well. I'm glad you went to Bonaire and got comfortable in the water again.

I got a new BC after 10 years, back inflate, and it definitely took a couple dives to get the "feel" of it.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1582) on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 2:58 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Pat, that's the very boat we were on. The crew is not the same as 10 years ago, and the diving crew were quite young. I did give them all the feedback I could. It seemed like an unfortunate circumstance, because the trip is really top-notch in all aspects. Other passengers who were frequent users of liveaboards world-wide said that they had never been asked to perform skills first thing, by surprise, and were also dismayed by a few other details, such as towing divers, when they were being swept away on a current, through swells, on a thin line (no gloves), instead of letting them get in the zodiak. They yelled at the driver before three divers' tanks clonked into the fourth, like emptying a skewer of meat!

We shore dive Bonaire over and over because we trust ourselves. It's really hard to put our safety and well-being in the hands of others.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bud Gillan (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #317) on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 3:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hey Niki (and Bob),

Interesting and thoughtful posts.
Bonaire is still wonderous.
Be there again this June and July.
Box jelly research is going well.


Bud

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1583) on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 5:18 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Bud! :-)
Box jelly stings plagued Elizabeth the first minute of her first night snorkel. She got out. The next day, she got a skin and then enjoyed the amazing night creatures!
Ellen M. bailed on a night dive at Divi later in the week because of box jellies....

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1584) on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 5:55 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

You know what, Cynde? When I asked the crew in BVI, 'why don't you tell divers in advance about the requirements on the orientation dive?' they said something like, 'you should at all times be ready to pass mask and air tests.' It had a kind of "gotcha" feel to me, like they accomplished something by causing surprise discomfort. OK, maybe so. But really, isn't it better to have the most informed guests possible? What if I did get hurt? Not worth it one bit. The tests were standard procedure on the yacht; so why not a standard part of the advance information? I learned ahead of time all about how to get beverages on board. and many other trivial things.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ****Tink**** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8019) on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 6:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Niki, that is a beautiful yacht! I think that you are correct, in that it should be part of the prepartion (telling you where the drinks are, and that you will be required to pass as skills test). I admit, that the mask removal thing for me has always been an issue, so at least twice a year, I sit at the bottom of the pool and take it off, put it on, take it off, put it on, take it off, put it on, until I am 100% comfortable and it's second nature. I do this because if my mask ever does come off, or get kicked off, I don't want to panic.

Some folks may thing that I should be prepared at all times for this emergency. I'd like to think I'd do OK in that situation, that's why I practice it so dang much in the pool. It's something about the COLD water hitting my nose. Maybe I should try it in warm water and see if I felt the same way...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1585) on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 8:05 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Right, it's extremely beautiful on board. I would recommend it to anyone. Best thing for me was the gourmet meals! Oh my! did we eat well! :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ****Tink**** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8028) on Thursday, December 18, 2008 - 12:02 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Niki, based on your experience, would you do it again?

We chartered a 62 foot cat 3 years ago and island hopped through the bvi islands, it was the best vacation I've ever had. It beat Bonaire I have to say, hands down. We got to do some diving, which was ok, not as good as Bonaire, but as far as a relaxing vacation diving and snorkeling a LOT, it was great.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1587) on Thursday, December 18, 2008 - 2:22 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I would do it again, yes! I could also see chartering one's own. We have thought seriously of doing that after seeing how nice the islands are. Then you have your freedom again!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By pat murphy (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1683) on Thursday, December 18, 2008 - 8:23 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

i have an old plastic underwater slate...haven't used it in years and years...it's in our house on bonaire now. last year i was looking for something and found the slate. on it was written "can we go and play now?" that's what i had written underwater after our skills review on the cuan law.

our experience on the cuan law was about 95% positive. we had a great time and there were only 15 passengers on it...and there are 7 in the crew so mary and i almost qualified to have a crew member assigned to us personally. i'll admit it would be easy to get spoiled like that...come out of a dive and have them take your gear, rinse it, and get it ready for the next dive. and we loved the big bowl of candy bars on the bar.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By pat murphy (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1684) on Thursday, December 18, 2008 - 8:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

also, on the cuan law we did our skills checkout right off the boat, not off a zodiac. and they told us beforehand what we would have to do. they also said that it wasn't a test, just a checkout to see how comfortable each of us was underwater and how closely we would have to be watched. that took a lot of pressure off us.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1591) on Thursday, December 18, 2008 - 8:58 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The week before we were on cuan law the crew had experienced the worst ocean conditions in decades. 30-40ft waves and such! They had to hole up in a harbor much of the week. Then our week came, with a load of very experienced divers plus me. The ocean was starting to calm down, and the crew were excited to go to some challenging sites they hadn't been to in a long time. Also to do an open ocean reach in full sail and full speed. It was a great week. I just didn't quite fit in. But I enjoyed every aspect of it when I finally let go of diving at my own level. I skipped many of the dives. Bob had a blast on the last dive using a personal underwater scooter!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1592) on Thursday, December 18, 2008 - 9:04 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Speaking of slates, as a result of the DM on the cuan law having an etch-a-sketch slate and being able to discuss details of the skills, I passed. I used one in Bonaire last week, and I really like getting to say more than the usual signs allow. Really useful.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2899) on Thursday, December 18, 2008 - 10:04 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Niki is back on BT!!! Hi.

Now, please fill us in on the 'back story' behind 'she lost her camera with all the pictures on the way home yesterday in the ladies room at San Juan airport.' That just must be a little bit out of the ordinary air travel story!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1595) on Thursday, December 18, 2008 - 10:29 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Glen!! I thought of you last week too. Remember we met in person at Divi for the first time. :-)

As for the camera disappearance, I wasn't there! But from what I gather, she was just sitting in the ladies room, leisurely "passing the time," reviewing digital photos, and back in the departure lounge she realized that the camera was not there and must have been left in the stall on the shelf. Rushing back and looking in all the stalls, then talking to American Airlines lost-and-found and the airport police, yielded nothing. Aside from Bonaire pictures, she had not downloaded the card containing many other treasured memories. Lesson there? Download and back up as often as possible.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ****Tink**** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8043) on Friday, December 19, 2008 - 12:39 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I used to use a slate, but you can't erase. I now use one of those kids slates, like an etch a sketch, you write, swipe the thingie, and write again. Michael had fun last Jan drawing pictures of underwater monkey's he saw while diving (he gets VERY bored after 30 minutes) so I threw (ok, not threw) gave him the slate and told him to draw pictures of things he liked seeing.

BTW, the slates were a gift from a friend of mine. one is red, the other was sponge bob...I lost that one in Jamacia....waaaaaa!

niki...lol on the way she lost the camera...

30-40 foot seas? NOT fun! Did you dive the Georges at all? Did you see the British plane wreck at little dog? we went through and opened up the overhead bins hoping for a hiding eel...nada...did you dive the rhone? the indians?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dara Walter (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #723) on Friday, December 19, 2008 - 12:42 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Nice report, Nik! Sounds like it wasn't the best trip you've had to BON, but I'm glad you were able to make the best of the sub-optimal situations. Also really happy you have recovered from BVItis!

You didn't mention what Elizabeth thought of our favorite dive destination...nor your impression of what I understand is "uncontrolled development"...do tell!

I recognize that dance that Timmmy choreographed - it's the nah-nah,n', nah-nah dance, LOL. Or is that just my 'magination?

Did you make it out to Lac?

No pix - oh, man, I hate when that happens!

Hugs, my friend! More Bonaire Birthday Celebrations - they are in our future, just not sure when!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1597) on Friday, December 19, 2008 - 3:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Yay, here's Dara!

1. Elizabeth loved it on Bonaire, and she's going to figure out how to get back there again. No surprise there!!

2. Uncontrolled development is indeed obvious. I don't have a crystal ball, but I have a hard time imagining that this will work out in the long run. Seeing how many stalled projects there are, you got to wonder... I suppose it has something to do with the political future relative to Holland, don't you?

3. I did make it to Lac Bay briefly and it was just as before. Also, your little house is still standing and I said hi to the woman living there now! I knew enough not to ask about you, but I let it slip that I knew Annie had been there... now 3 years ago! Silly me! We laughed!

4. Click on Dara's profile and you'll see the birthday we share. Ahhhh. Someday again.

Nik


 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By r. scott nielsen (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #151) on Friday, December 19, 2008 - 9:21 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Troy and I had fun diving with you....Great time. Scott

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1606) on Friday, December 19, 2008 - 9:38 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Scott and Hi Troy! I enjoyed it tremendously, topmost the octopus!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By r. scott nielsen (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #152) on Friday, December 19, 2008 - 10:01 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

yes, the octo was amazing! Couldn't believe how he stayed out for us for over 30 minutes that we watched him. Wow... what fun! Did you happen to get the email from the brit boy? If you would like some underwater photos from bonaire trip, just let me know. scott

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1608) on Friday, December 19, 2008 - 10:44 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I sent brit boy email, but no reply yet.

I'll select a few favorites from your fabulous slide show, and let you know... thanks.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1618) on Saturday, December 27, 2008 - 8:35 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Scott, I notice now that you said, Did I happen to get "the" email from Martin [that's his name BTW]--- Was there an email you got? He hasn't written me directly.

The yellow seahorse and the octopus are my favorites of yours. Send the best ones of those? Did you get one of the sculpture?

Needless to say, I am wishing I was still on Bonaire, and dreaming of how to get back. Pictures will have to suffice.

Cheers, Niki

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1625) on Friday, January 2, 2009 - 1:15 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Just heard from Martin. I'll post one of his photos after I resize it.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1626) on Friday, January 2, 2009 - 1:29 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

These were taken by Martin Bruce at the new sculpture:

1

2

Neat, eh?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1627) on Friday, January 2, 2009 - 1:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

If my fins (and snorkel) were black, I'd be a total stealth diver!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By r. scott nielsen (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #162) on Friday, January 2, 2009 - 1:41 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

cool, can you send me his email address to scott nielsen at charter dot net. Scott
ps. wish we were there right now.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1628) on Friday, January 2, 2009 - 2:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Right!

OK, YGM.

 


Visit: The Bonaire WebCams - Current Bonaire images and weather!
The Bonaire Insider - the latest tourism news about Bonaire
The Bonaire Information Site, InfoBonaire
Search Bonaire - Search top Bonaire Web sites


Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration