Just before he left for the morning, my father made sure that I was up. This meant that I awoke about a half hour earlier than has been typical these days. The reason for the early rising was that I was to meet the university librarian and we were then going to go to Philipsburg to see the local public library. Not surprisingly, rising at this early hour allowed me plenty of preparation time, much more than I actually needed. So after completing all of the essential tasks, such as eating and cleaning, I was able to deal myself a few games of solitaire to kill the time.
Soon after I entered the university building and happened to see my father in the main office. I popped in to say ‘hello.’ As he was on his way out we were able talk while we walked the short distance to the library. During this time he was able to tell me about a book that he found that was really helping him make some progress on some of his remaining lectures.
Upon entering the library I was greeted by the librarian, Wendy, and her husband, Bobby-Ray. Bobby-Ray gave us a lift to Maho so that we would have to spend less time waiting for a bus. Soon after we were dropped off a bus picked us up and we were on our way. I should explain that when I say bus in this context I really mean ‘full-sized van driven by its owner that is operating kind of like a bus, but with routes that are much more flexible.’
The bus dropped us off just a short walk from the library, which we completed successfully. As we approached the library I was a little confused about what exactly it was we were approaching. The section of my building to my right was quite clearly part of the library, but the part of the building on my left appeared to be some kind of garage for large trucks, or something that would require huge garage doors.
As I approached the building things became much clearer. Instead of walls, much of the library was bounded by garage doors, which would be raised and lowered as desired. During our visit I saw that they opened many of these doors to allow a breeze and general air circulation rather than using a formal air conditioning system. One consequential result is that a huge amount of dust is let in, permeating most of the books.
We started our examination of the library in the room that housed the reference collection. It immediately became apparent that not only did they shelve the Dutch and English book together, but that they some pretty specialized reference sources, which was surprising for a public library in such an out of the way place. Upon closer examination I am now of the impression that some of the more specialized sources must have been acquired through donations or other low cost sources. In many cases only very spotty runs of annual publications were held, frequently with the most recent year or two not available. One might generally describe the reference collection as broad, but well aged.
It should be noted that there was a fairly large Caribbean-specific reference collection. While many of the materials were on the old side, I wouldn’t be surprised if many of them had not been since their original publication. This could definitely be useful if you were in Sint Maarten and conducting research on the surrounding islands and peoples.
In the reference room there were also several public access internet terminals. When talking to the library staff person we learned that one or two were out of order. We also learned that the person with whom we had been hoping to meet was also not present and wouldn’t be until the afternoon, and it definitely wasn’t yet the afternoon.
We proceeded to examine (in a friendly, inquisitive way) the rest of the library. The rest of the collections were quite similar to the reference collection, broad, but a little out of date. One might have also questioned the relevance of some of the materials to members of the general public. I suspect that many of these more questionable materials (only from a cost sense) were likely donated. Unfortunately, many of these donated items are now well out of date and could likely be weeded without much harm to the collection. Wendy’s thought was that such an action would then leave the shelves looking rather bare.
On the subject of bare shelves, this library had more free shelf space than just about any other library I have seen. Most shelves had some space at the end so that nothing was too tight. If I recall correctly, most of the bottom shelves may have been empty (but this may have been to protect the books because of regular flooding during hurricane season).
After our examination of the library we went for lunch. On our way to the restaurant Wendy showed me a few places that one might be gifts. One store, also the largest bookstore, sold things from the Netherlands (as we are in the Netherlands Antilles) as well as the typical tourist junk. This store also sold Heinekens from a cooler for $1. We were also able visit a tablecloth/linen store. While they had quite a large selection, it is likely that none of it was made in Sint Maarten, or anywhere near the island.
As we continued on our way to the restaurant we spotted a cruise ship at the terminal. Wendy explained why the Dutch side of the island is such a popular cruise ship destination. It seems that when originally trying to attract cruise ships to the island the government offered free waste disposal services to any cruise ship that called at Sint Maarten. The result is that not many, if not most, Caribbean cruise ships stop here to take advantage of the deal (rather than because it is such a great place for tourists).
We then reached the restaurant, which was relatively empty because it was still on the early side for lunch. Upon arriving we made our way to the bar to order. As the employee (likely the owner) was taking the order of the group in front of us I noticed that they sold a single Canadian beer. I then commented to Wendy that it was one of the worst Canadian beers, but that it seems to be the only one that I see overseas. As I was finishing up my explanation I heard the preceding group ask the woman where she was from. Not surprisingly, she answered ‘Ontario,’ thus explaining the presence of a Canadian beer. Of course I then felt like a bit of an ass as I they had probably brought this beer in to remind themselves of home (or capture the ex-pat crowd), but I still stand by my belief that it isn’t the greatest of beers, and not even close to the best beer made by that brewery.
Soon after embarrassing myself it was our turn to order. We both ordered burgers and Caribs. I didn’t bring attention to the fact that I too was from Canada, or more specifically, Newfoundland. I have found in the past that such conversations become very awkward very quickly, particularly when, after about 12 seconds, it becomes clear that you have nothing in common beyond the same citizenship (and a propensity to say ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry’ more than is necessary).
Due to our early arrival our food took a while to arrive (this likelihood had been explained to us before we ordered). We were able to sit and chat about a variety of matters while waiting for our food. The conversation was quite pleasant.
Eventually our food arrived and we started to eat. I ended up eventually ordering some fries to go with my burger (as well as another Carib). Each time I had any interactions with the staff they all seemed stereotypically Canadian, much politer than one would expect at what was basically a beach bar.
After lunch we made our way back to Back Street, where we caught a bus back to the university. The driver was kind enough to go a little out of his way and drop us off at the university’s driveway rather than at the normal stop about a block further away.
Once I returned to the apartment I found my father eating lunch. We then discussed what we might do in the afternoon. Eventually snorkeling was settled upon as the desired activity. We decided to try an area with three beaches and move from one to the next until we found a place with clear water.
Unfortunately, when we reached the first beach, Long Bay, we realized that we had forgotten to buy sunscreen along the way. Once we reached the water we realized that with the wind and waves as they were the water was likely a little riled up and probably not a good location for snorkeling. We then moved onto Plum Bay, which looked a fair bit better. Fortunately, just as we were leaving, we ran into a couple that had just been snorkeling and had found the water to be a bit murkier than they would have liked. We again set on our way, this time to Red Bay (or Baie Rouge).
As we entered the parking area at Baie Rouge a teenage boy directed us to a parking spot. As we exited the same boy asked us if we were interested in chairs and umbrellas. He also tried to encourage us to use a staircase different than the one we had intended to use. While following us to the beach he again asked us if we wanted chairs. Only after a third or fourth rejection did he seem to appreciate that we would not be renting chairs from Chez Raymond that afternoon.
The water at Baie Rouge was also a fair bit more riled than we were hoping. The waves were also much larger than any that we have seen elsewhere on the island. Since the last time we were there much of the beach had been sucked into the sea, leaving a sharp drop from the much smaller area with chairs to the area that was intermittently covered with surf and water. While this place look like a great deal of fun, it wasn’t quite appropriate for snorkeling so we moved on.
Our next stop, instead of a beach, was actually at a store. We hoped to buy some sunscreen. The prices at this particular store were on the outrageous side so we decided to head back to Maho and make our purchase at a store we knew wasn’t likely to rip us off.
After making our purchase we decided to give Mullet Beach a try, particularly as we were now on the Dutch side of the island. Not surprisingly this beach wasn’t all that different than the others, but in this case we actually had to go in the water to find out. After just a few minutes of unsuccessful snorkeling we decided to head in and re-group.
While on the shore we decided that since we were already wet we might as well try Maho beach, which is the beach located at the end of the runway. While this place doesn’t seem as though it would be that good, a student of my father’s said that she once saw both a sea turtle and a barracuda while snorkeling there.
As soon as we arrived it was clear that as at all of the other beaches, the waves were larger than usual. As the snorkeling is a fair ways out at this beach, we decided that I would be sent out to check thing and that my father would wait for my return. Once I was in the water I had the sense that things would be the same. Nonetheless, I did swim all the way out just in case there was some magical clear spot near the rocks. Not surprisingly as I approached the final location it was clear that the water was just as cloudy as it had been elsewhere.
I then started to swim back. As I was swimming back I intentionally decided not to wave or attempt to signal in anyway as I was pretty sure it could cause confusion. I was most worried about falsely signaling that I was in distress when I actually meant to signal to stay on shore. Somehow, even with my decision not to signal, my father pick up something that he thought was a signal indicating that he should come out. The frustrating thing was that I could see this happening but still was not in a position to effectively signal, especially once he had exchanged his glasses for the mask.
I was able to meet him relatively near the shore. We again returned to the shore and packed up our equipment. Instead of heading home, we decided to head to the Sunset Beach Bar on the other side of the beach.
Just as we were approaching the end of the beach we noticed that there was a photo being taken of a guy surrounded by about five well-endowed topless women. Many of the women then went back to the water to play in the surf while the forty-year-old guy in stripped Speedo-styled swimming attire stayed on the beach. It was a scene that didn’t, and still doesn’t, make that much sense to me.
Once we reached the bar and took a seat we again encountered the quality service for with the establishment is known. Eventually my father just went to the bar and ordered. After a relatively lengthy stay at the bar he returned with his iced tea and a rum punch for me.
I should explain that while I don’t normally drink rum, or any of the other hard liquors, I did feel it was appropriate to try one such drink while here, as rum is clearly the choice of the local population. I should say that I was pleasantly surprised. The rum punch was much more than just drinkable; I might even go so far as to say satisfying and tasty. The aspects of rum’s flavour that I normally dislike seem to have been masked by a range of juices and other flavours.
As we were sitting at the bar working on our drinks a family entered the establishment. At first only three members, the father, mother, and daughter, came in, they were soon joined by the youngest member of the family, a somewhat out of sorts son (of about twelve years of age). While the father and daughter were at the bar ordering drinks the sullen son was left sitting at the table with his prudish mother. As the kid was busy staring at his picnic table three of the topless women from the beach came in to order drinks. As this bar has a policy of free drinks for topless women they were drinking for free. While ordering they became engaged in a friendly conversation with a couple seated at the bar, thus significantly extending the duration of their stay in the bar area.
If this kid hadn’t been so intently staring at the table he would have seen these three topless women, which would have been a pretty cool sight for a twelve year-old. He would have had a great story when he returned to his friends in a few days time. His only other problem, which may actually have been part of the reason for great focus on the table, was that he was seated with his mother, who likely wouldn’t have been all that impressed with her young son checking out three topless women at the bar.
Soon after we finished our respective drinks we again returned the grocery store to pick up meat for dinner. I purchased two chicken breasts as they didn’t have reasonably priced steak and their pork chops were being sold only in packages of three.
Soon after we returned home my father took to the couch, where he soon drifted off. While he was in and out of sleep I worked on dinner. Again we had two vegetables, a starch component, and broiled meat. Again we had a colourful meal. This, like the previous meals we have cooked in the apartment was entirely consumed, allowing us to remain members of the Clean Plate Club, a group we have been members of since arriving.
Shortly after dinner, but after an attempted Skype call to my mother and sister, my father went back to work for a few hours. I stayed in the apartment to read. As the hour approached 8:30 I decided to hit the rack. As far as I know, I was asleep well before 9:00 and possibly even before 8:30.
Showing posts with label Snorkeling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Snorkeling. Show all posts
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Sint Maarten: Day 10
For some reason, presumably his early departure, my father decided not to wake me before he left. It turned out that this wasn’t really all that problematic as I ended up waking up at about 8:00 AM on my own.
I spent much of the morning on computer related tasks, but was also able to throw in some eating and relaxing. While it was a less productive morning that I might have hoped, it certainly wasn’t unpleasant.
Shortly after I finished lunch I received a call from my father. We decided that it would be best to try and take a snorkeling tour that afternoon, rather than try to fit in later in our rapidly filling week. The advantage of this snorkeling tour is that those taking the tour get to pilot their own dinghies to the snorkeling site, which is an underwater wildlife reserve.
Upon learning that there were a few slots let we gather our snorkeling equipment and bathing costumes and set off for Simpson Bay. Fortunately, on our way there we didn’t encounter serious traffic and we were able to cross the drawbridge with no delays.
Once on-site we stashed our belongings, but on sun screen and sat to wait for instructions. Shortly, someone that could have been the owner came out and gave the basic safety run down and described hand signals that would be used during the trip.
Oliver (from France) and Ryan (from Guyana), our guides, then took over the presentation and explained where we would be going and what we would be seeing. Their presentation was peppered with a number of prepared jokes and humorous moments (the sort of which my father is particularly fond).
After the presentation we were able to board our boats, which while dinghies are configured more like jet skies. This means that directly behind the steering wheel is the only seat, which is shared by both individuals as if they were on a motorcycle. While this is likely part of the attraction for couples that take the tour, I would have preferred to have a seat back.
Soon enough we were off, but not before the company photographed us. We made our way through the lagoon and then under the drawbridge on the French side. Once we were in the Caribbean Sea we were able to go full speed while following one of the tour guides. At various places along the journey out we stopped and were shown things such as nude beaches and communities of interest (it also served as a way of letting stragglers catch up).
We reached our final destination after only about 35 minutes on the water, which is pretty remarkable as it was almost at the most northerly tip of the French side of the island (and we started in the south of the Dutch side). While traveling we were able to spot several flying fish as they bounced across the water.
Once everyone had been tied together and provided with beverages (of the non-alcoholic variety) we were encouraged to hit the snorkeling grounds. The only warnings and instructions were not to go aground, not to stand-up (or touch the corral), and to watch out for the sea urchins.
Once in the water it became apparent that the water was clearer than anywhere else we had yet been snorkeling. As we swam from the boats towards the shore it also became apparent that the density of fish was much greater here than anywhere else we had yet been snorkeling. Seemingly dozens of fish came into view almost simultaneously.
Not surprisingly, most of the fish, and other forms of wildlife, were to be seen while floating over the rocks by the shore. While many of the same types of fish that we had seen in other locations were common, there were also many new types of fish that we had not seen in either of the two other locations were we have gone snorkeling. Unfortunately, I am not familiar enough with the identification of tropical fish to list them all here. The few things that I was able to identify, and that I am glad that I saw, included a cuttlefish, something that resembled a juvenile swordfish, a brightly coloured eel, a conch, sea urchins with large spikes, corral, and a few sea anemones.
At one point there appeared to be a sedated feeding frenzy near the top of the water. Somehow I found myself in the middle of these fish and their food (I am not sure that I want to know what the ‘food’ was). It was really remarkable to have all of these fish swimming around me, acting as though I didn’t really exist.
At least I thought they didn’t think I existed. I am confident that a few minutes into this experience that one of them took a bite of my leg, or the leg hair attached to my leg. This freaked me out and caused me to decided to leave the center of the action.
After about 45 minutes of snorkeling we returned to our boats and prepared to head back. Within a few minutes we managed to change from our snorkeling gear back into our life jackets and sunglasses. And unlike most of the couples on the trip, my father and I switched positions on the seat, meaning that I would be in control of the boat on the way back. Actually, this has been a very noticeable trend when it comes to couples and transportation. In basically all two-person forms of transportation that we have seen, the male will be driving and the female will be in the back (or in the passenger seat).
Just before returning to the drawbridge, and as we were about to enter the no wake zone, one (progressive?) couple actually did switch positions (but presumably only when the male knew that the better part of the trip was over).
As the boats arrived they were tied to the dock and the tour members made their way to the waiting area next to the dock. Once we had all been gathered, the boss (the same guy that started the presentation before the tour began) explained that the pictures of us had been taken and could be purchased along with a ‘certificate of achievement.’ While the photo was pretty good neither of us was inclined to spend $15 to acquire it (though the certificate was tempting).
While some of the individuals on the tour stuck around for a beer afterwards, we started to make our way home. But before returning home we stopped at the grocery store to try and acquire the ingredients that we needed to attempt to re-create our meal of the night before.
Almost as soon as we returned home my father started preparing our meal. I, on the other hand, took a shower to remove any remaining traces of saltwater. Within a few minutes I too was working on the remaining elements of the meal (mainly the cutting of the green beans). Once fully cooked, the meal was basically as good as that of the previous night. The major improvement was the cutting of the cassava (yucca) into more uniform pieces so that they would cook more evenly.
Shortly after we finished eating my father went back to work to continue preparing lectures and writing test questions. I stayed in the apartment and did the dishes. Soon after I had finished the dishes I spent some time online before finally finishing the evening out by reading anecdotes about former SNL cast member Chris Farley.
I spent much of the morning on computer related tasks, but was also able to throw in some eating and relaxing. While it was a less productive morning that I might have hoped, it certainly wasn’t unpleasant.
Shortly after I finished lunch I received a call from my father. We decided that it would be best to try and take a snorkeling tour that afternoon, rather than try to fit in later in our rapidly filling week. The advantage of this snorkeling tour is that those taking the tour get to pilot their own dinghies to the snorkeling site, which is an underwater wildlife reserve.
Upon learning that there were a few slots let we gather our snorkeling equipment and bathing costumes and set off for Simpson Bay. Fortunately, on our way there we didn’t encounter serious traffic and we were able to cross the drawbridge with no delays.
Once on-site we stashed our belongings, but on sun screen and sat to wait for instructions. Shortly, someone that could have been the owner came out and gave the basic safety run down and described hand signals that would be used during the trip.
Oliver (from France) and Ryan (from Guyana), our guides, then took over the presentation and explained where we would be going and what we would be seeing. Their presentation was peppered with a number of prepared jokes and humorous moments (the sort of which my father is particularly fond).
After the presentation we were able to board our boats, which while dinghies are configured more like jet skies. This means that directly behind the steering wheel is the only seat, which is shared by both individuals as if they were on a motorcycle. While this is likely part of the attraction for couples that take the tour, I would have preferred to have a seat back.
Soon enough we were off, but not before the company photographed us. We made our way through the lagoon and then under the drawbridge on the French side. Once we were in the Caribbean Sea we were able to go full speed while following one of the tour guides. At various places along the journey out we stopped and were shown things such as nude beaches and communities of interest (it also served as a way of letting stragglers catch up).
We reached our final destination after only about 35 minutes on the water, which is pretty remarkable as it was almost at the most northerly tip of the French side of the island (and we started in the south of the Dutch side). While traveling we were able to spot several flying fish as they bounced across the water.
Once everyone had been tied together and provided with beverages (of the non-alcoholic variety) we were encouraged to hit the snorkeling grounds. The only warnings and instructions were not to go aground, not to stand-up (or touch the corral), and to watch out for the sea urchins.
Once in the water it became apparent that the water was clearer than anywhere else we had yet been snorkeling. As we swam from the boats towards the shore it also became apparent that the density of fish was much greater here than anywhere else we had yet been snorkeling. Seemingly dozens of fish came into view almost simultaneously.
Not surprisingly, most of the fish, and other forms of wildlife, were to be seen while floating over the rocks by the shore. While many of the same types of fish that we had seen in other locations were common, there were also many new types of fish that we had not seen in either of the two other locations were we have gone snorkeling. Unfortunately, I am not familiar enough with the identification of tropical fish to list them all here. The few things that I was able to identify, and that I am glad that I saw, included a cuttlefish, something that resembled a juvenile swordfish, a brightly coloured eel, a conch, sea urchins with large spikes, corral, and a few sea anemones.
At one point there appeared to be a sedated feeding frenzy near the top of the water. Somehow I found myself in the middle of these fish and their food (I am not sure that I want to know what the ‘food’ was). It was really remarkable to have all of these fish swimming around me, acting as though I didn’t really exist.
At least I thought they didn’t think I existed. I am confident that a few minutes into this experience that one of them took a bite of my leg, or the leg hair attached to my leg. This freaked me out and caused me to decided to leave the center of the action.
After about 45 minutes of snorkeling we returned to our boats and prepared to head back. Within a few minutes we managed to change from our snorkeling gear back into our life jackets and sunglasses. And unlike most of the couples on the trip, my father and I switched positions on the seat, meaning that I would be in control of the boat on the way back. Actually, this has been a very noticeable trend when it comes to couples and transportation. In basically all two-person forms of transportation that we have seen, the male will be driving and the female will be in the back (or in the passenger seat).
Just before returning to the drawbridge, and as we were about to enter the no wake zone, one (progressive?) couple actually did switch positions (but presumably only when the male knew that the better part of the trip was over).
As the boats arrived they were tied to the dock and the tour members made their way to the waiting area next to the dock. Once we had all been gathered, the boss (the same guy that started the presentation before the tour began) explained that the pictures of us had been taken and could be purchased along with a ‘certificate of achievement.’ While the photo was pretty good neither of us was inclined to spend $15 to acquire it (though the certificate was tempting).
While some of the individuals on the tour stuck around for a beer afterwards, we started to make our way home. But before returning home we stopped at the grocery store to try and acquire the ingredients that we needed to attempt to re-create our meal of the night before.
Almost as soon as we returned home my father started preparing our meal. I, on the other hand, took a shower to remove any remaining traces of saltwater. Within a few minutes I too was working on the remaining elements of the meal (mainly the cutting of the green beans). Once fully cooked, the meal was basically as good as that of the previous night. The major improvement was the cutting of the cassava (yucca) into more uniform pieces so that they would cook more evenly.
Shortly after we finished eating my father went back to work to continue preparing lectures and writing test questions. I stayed in the apartment and did the dishes. Soon after I had finished the dishes I spent some time online before finally finishing the evening out by reading anecdotes about former SNL cast member Chris Farley.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Sint Maarten: Day 7
It seems that at some point I started to misspell Sint Maarten and have since had trouble keeping straight which vowel it is that I am to double. Amazingly, no one mentioned my very noticeable misspelling of the name in the titles of these posts (as nice as that would have been). Hopefully now that I am aware of the problem I will be more vigilant and eliminate any such problems before I post them.
******
Not surprisingly, several things about Sint Maarten are a little different than they are in North America. One of the most noticeable changes is that while doors do have door knobs most function only as handles as there is no catch for them to pull in. The problem with this design, at least as far as I can see, is that it means that doors always have to be locked or they will be pushed open by moving air (such as wind or a draft). Fortunately, some bathroom and bedroom doors are equipped with more traditional mechanisms.
Toilets also tend to have less powerful flushes. This is likely to conserve water. As much of the drinking water is produced through various desalinization processes this makes sense. As water is expensive and difficult and expensive to produce its use should be minimized. Strangely, this seems to be just about the only gesture towards reduced consumption and environmental abuse that I have yet seen.
******
Unlike the previous days this week my father had to be on campus before 7:30. This change in schedule meant that he did not wake me up for breakfast before he left for the morning, allowing me to get another hour and a half of sleep.
Upon waking I again proceeded to blow a substantial portion of the morning with various internet based activities (a few of which were actually useful and related trip). Eventually, I did manage to get ready for the day and make it outside.
I walked to Mullet Beach and made my way out on the rocky outcropping above the snorkeling grounds. While sitting alone on the rocks I was able to watch the rocks and the waves. One impression I had was that the water seemed particularly clear. Many of the rocks were clearly visible from high above the water.
Soon enough I received a call from my father indicating that he would be heading home for lunch. I climbed back down to the beach and then walked across the golf course and home. We ended up having sandwiches and odds and ends for lunch,
After lunch we made our way back to the university building. The main justification for the trip was so that I could stop by the library and get a tour. As I had previously met the librarian and suggested this, it wasn’t too much of a problem to arrange this once we arrived.
Wendy showed me the physical components of the library and also discussed many of the administrative decisions that she had made since arriving. As my library experience hasn’t been all that varied, this was a nice experience. I was particularly glad that she showed me her catalogue and associated system as it differed from the system with which I am most familiar but seemed quite functional and affordable.
While sitting in her office talking to me, Wendy received a call from her husband. It seemed that someone had chained a dinghy to their dinghy instead of the piece of cement, forcing Bob to tow it to their boat. When the person returned to the site they would find that their dinghy was missing. Unfortunately, they didn’t seem to have any means of identifying the dinghy to let the owners know what had happened. Presumably they were able to work this matter out within the next few hours.
After departing from the library, and then the university, we returned to the apartment where, based my assessment of the conditions earlier in the day, we decided to go snorkeling at Mullet Beach. Almost as soon as we arrived we saw that the water wasn’t as clear as our previous visit. The water was so cloudy that we were prevented from seeing most of the fish in the area. I also wonder if the slightly altered conditions either changed the behaviour patterns of the fish, or caused them to relocated as I know that I should have been able to make out many of the bigger fish, had they been there.
Though we were not satisfied with the conditions we did stick it out for a while. Eventually, when it became clear that things weren’t about to improve and when it also became clear that we were both fogging up more than normal we decided to head in. As we were making our way back to the beach I looked down and saw a stingray type fish. While the animal was partly obscured by sand it was quite easy to make see the outline of the fish, including the stinging tail. When I came up to tell my father about my sighting he had to re-adjust his equipment before he was able to go back down. By the time that he was able to make it back in the water the stingray type thing had vanished, though not without alerting me to the dangers of the seemingly tame sandy beaches of Sint Maarten.
We both decided to spend a little more time on the beach after our snorkeling adventure. For the most part this meant sitting near the shore and allowing the waves to push or pull us. The result was that, once again, I ended up with sand all over my body, including my ears and my hair.
After cleaning up we made our way to Simpson Bay to look for the local post office and scooter rental locations. While we were able to find both, neither were open and neither included hours or operations or any indications of when they would be open again.
As we made our way back to the Cupecoy/university area we started to look for restaurants. After an unsuccessful scanning we decided to head to the Thai place in the casino. Once in the restaurant one of the first things we noticed was that many of the dishes weren’t really all that Thai, but just generally from Asia. While both of our meals were tolerable, neither of us was particularly impressed with our dining experience. The general consensus was that Cheri’s Café was a much better experience in terms of both food and service.
The casino itself was the next item on the evening’s agenda. While we didn’t have any plans to play, I had wanted to see what the inside of a Sint Maarten casino looked like. Not surprisingly, slot machines and various video terminals predominated. The 1 cent play machines were particularly popular with the patrons that were there while we were. Sadly, the various table games were not in operation during our exploration. From the tables that were present it was clear that this was a much smaller part of their business than the slots and related machines. Another surprise was the number of poker tables that they had. If I recall correctly they seemed to have at least six of these tables, which seemed large considering they only had about 10 other tables.
We then returned home and spoke to my mother and sister via Skype. After the call we started another game of rummy. Part way through the game we decided to have the previously purchased coconut as a snack.
We went on the balcony to smash it open. I was filming while my father was in charge of smashing. When my father first threw it down, the coconut bounced so high it almost went over the rail and off of the balcony. A second throw had similar results.
It then became clear that we should probably remove the outer husk of the fruit before we tried to smash it. With a large kitchen knife my father was able to cut into the husk to create openings that allowed him to tear it open, and eventually remove the soft protective elements.
Once the protective coating had been removed the coconut cracked on the first attempt. Both of us then tried some of the meat. I was somewhat disappointed in the eating experience. The meat was not particularly tasty, nor was it even easy to remove from the hard shell. This caused me to wonder if coconuts that they serve as beverages are slightly different in terms of maturity than those they serve as fruit, but I haven’t really been able to answer that question.
Eventually, we were able to get back to our rummy game. After only a hand or two we noticed that we had a call on Skype. It was my mother and sister. Though I have no idea what they were calling about, we did manage to talk about names of places on the island.
After the call we were able to return to the rummy game, this time to see it to its end. Unfortunately, I gave my father the victory in the dying moments of the final hand.
We then called it a night and went to bed, in an attempt to keep to our daily schedule (which resembles Newfoundland time).
******
Not surprisingly, several things about Sint Maarten are a little different than they are in North America. One of the most noticeable changes is that while doors do have door knobs most function only as handles as there is no catch for them to pull in. The problem with this design, at least as far as I can see, is that it means that doors always have to be locked or they will be pushed open by moving air (such as wind or a draft). Fortunately, some bathroom and bedroom doors are equipped with more traditional mechanisms.
Toilets also tend to have less powerful flushes. This is likely to conserve water. As much of the drinking water is produced through various desalinization processes this makes sense. As water is expensive and difficult and expensive to produce its use should be minimized. Strangely, this seems to be just about the only gesture towards reduced consumption and environmental abuse that I have yet seen.
******
Unlike the previous days this week my father had to be on campus before 7:30. This change in schedule meant that he did not wake me up for breakfast before he left for the morning, allowing me to get another hour and a half of sleep.
Upon waking I again proceeded to blow a substantial portion of the morning with various internet based activities (a few of which were actually useful and related trip). Eventually, I did manage to get ready for the day and make it outside.
I walked to Mullet Beach and made my way out on the rocky outcropping above the snorkeling grounds. While sitting alone on the rocks I was able to watch the rocks and the waves. One impression I had was that the water seemed particularly clear. Many of the rocks were clearly visible from high above the water.
Soon enough I received a call from my father indicating that he would be heading home for lunch. I climbed back down to the beach and then walked across the golf course and home. We ended up having sandwiches and odds and ends for lunch,
After lunch we made our way back to the university building. The main justification for the trip was so that I could stop by the library and get a tour. As I had previously met the librarian and suggested this, it wasn’t too much of a problem to arrange this once we arrived.
Wendy showed me the physical components of the library and also discussed many of the administrative decisions that she had made since arriving. As my library experience hasn’t been all that varied, this was a nice experience. I was particularly glad that she showed me her catalogue and associated system as it differed from the system with which I am most familiar but seemed quite functional and affordable.
While sitting in her office talking to me, Wendy received a call from her husband. It seemed that someone had chained a dinghy to their dinghy instead of the piece of cement, forcing Bob to tow it to their boat. When the person returned to the site they would find that their dinghy was missing. Unfortunately, they didn’t seem to have any means of identifying the dinghy to let the owners know what had happened. Presumably they were able to work this matter out within the next few hours.
After departing from the library, and then the university, we returned to the apartment where, based my assessment of the conditions earlier in the day, we decided to go snorkeling at Mullet Beach. Almost as soon as we arrived we saw that the water wasn’t as clear as our previous visit. The water was so cloudy that we were prevented from seeing most of the fish in the area. I also wonder if the slightly altered conditions either changed the behaviour patterns of the fish, or caused them to relocated as I know that I should have been able to make out many of the bigger fish, had they been there.
Though we were not satisfied with the conditions we did stick it out for a while. Eventually, when it became clear that things weren’t about to improve and when it also became clear that we were both fogging up more than normal we decided to head in. As we were making our way back to the beach I looked down and saw a stingray type fish. While the animal was partly obscured by sand it was quite easy to make see the outline of the fish, including the stinging tail. When I came up to tell my father about my sighting he had to re-adjust his equipment before he was able to go back down. By the time that he was able to make it back in the water the stingray type thing had vanished, though not without alerting me to the dangers of the seemingly tame sandy beaches of Sint Maarten.
We both decided to spend a little more time on the beach after our snorkeling adventure. For the most part this meant sitting near the shore and allowing the waves to push or pull us. The result was that, once again, I ended up with sand all over my body, including my ears and my hair.
After cleaning up we made our way to Simpson Bay to look for the local post office and scooter rental locations. While we were able to find both, neither were open and neither included hours or operations or any indications of when they would be open again.
As we made our way back to the Cupecoy/university area we started to look for restaurants. After an unsuccessful scanning we decided to head to the Thai place in the casino. Once in the restaurant one of the first things we noticed was that many of the dishes weren’t really all that Thai, but just generally from Asia. While both of our meals were tolerable, neither of us was particularly impressed with our dining experience. The general consensus was that Cheri’s Café was a much better experience in terms of both food and service.
The casino itself was the next item on the evening’s agenda. While we didn’t have any plans to play, I had wanted to see what the inside of a Sint Maarten casino looked like. Not surprisingly, slot machines and various video terminals predominated. The 1 cent play machines were particularly popular with the patrons that were there while we were. Sadly, the various table games were not in operation during our exploration. From the tables that were present it was clear that this was a much smaller part of their business than the slots and related machines. Another surprise was the number of poker tables that they had. If I recall correctly they seemed to have at least six of these tables, which seemed large considering they only had about 10 other tables.
We then returned home and spoke to my mother and sister via Skype. After the call we started another game of rummy. Part way through the game we decided to have the previously purchased coconut as a snack.
We went on the balcony to smash it open. I was filming while my father was in charge of smashing. When my father first threw it down, the coconut bounced so high it almost went over the rail and off of the balcony. A second throw had similar results.
It then became clear that we should probably remove the outer husk of the fruit before we tried to smash it. With a large kitchen knife my father was able to cut into the husk to create openings that allowed him to tear it open, and eventually remove the soft protective elements.
Once the protective coating had been removed the coconut cracked on the first attempt. Both of us then tried some of the meat. I was somewhat disappointed in the eating experience. The meat was not particularly tasty, nor was it even easy to remove from the hard shell. This caused me to wonder if coconuts that they serve as beverages are slightly different in terms of maturity than those they serve as fruit, but I haven’t really been able to answer that question.
Eventually, we were able to get back to our rummy game. After only a hand or two we noticed that we had a call on Skype. It was my mother and sister. Though I have no idea what they were calling about, we did manage to talk about names of places on the island.
After the call we were able to return to the rummy game, this time to see it to its end. Unfortunately, I gave my father the victory in the dying moments of the final hand.
We then called it a night and went to bed, in an attempt to keep to our daily schedule (which resembles Newfoundland time).
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Sint Maarten: Day 4
While my father was at school to give his second lecture, I was busy doing our laundry.
I quickly learned why they charged $4.00 a load for laundry, which is because they only have commercial washers, each of which is able to hold two or more normal loads. These washers seem to be able to take about twice the load that a typical washer is capable of handling. Fortunately, the driers are also commercial size and therefore able to handle in a single load the same quantity of laundry that can be washed by the washers.
One thing that I noticed while I was transferring the laundry from the washer to the drier was that I managed to forget a number of my own clothing items. Most notably, I forgot to wash my swimming costume and the shirt that I have been wearing to the beach (likely the two dirtiest items of clothing in my possession). I was able to remember all of the other key pieces of laundry.
The only problem, that I have noticed so far, is that one pair of my fathers pants came out completely covered in lint. Though I tried to shake them off I wasn’t really able to make much progress and they are still pretty bad looking. Hopefully he knows how the stuff without an additional washing, or he doesn’t need them until they can be washed again.
After my father’s school related activities, and then a quick lunch, we went on the hunt for diving fins. After checking at a diving shop we ended up making a purchase at the same place where we had previously purchased a mask and snorkel. The main deciding factor was that the fins at the latter shop were adjustable, making them usable by a wider number of people.
With fins in hand we went back to Baie Rouge, the location we scouted the previous day. The waves, which had been sizeable yesterday, were quite reasonable today. Without much trouble we made our way around the rocky out cropping and towards the intended destination. The only problem that we had was that we couldn’t really tell when we were at the spot as the water was loaded with so much sand that visibility was significantly reduced. After a fair test and a bit of drift and watching we returned to the beach having seen a few fish, though many less than we expected.
After another Carib from Gus’s Beach Bar we made our way back to Mullet Beach where we again strapped on our flipped and masks and entered the water. Immediately we noticed an appreciable difference between the visibilities at the two sites, with the latter being much better. We soon were both able to see all kinds of fish, both larger and more colourful than during previous outings. Furthermore, the water was of a more uniform temperature, meaning fewer cold spots to contend with while drifting along.
As Mullet Beach is within walking distance, and as it is pretty good snorkeling, it is likely that we will be back here at least a few more times before we head off.
The major problem posed by visits to the beaches seem to be the resulting sand problem. Unlike when visiting sandy beaches at lakes, this sand seems to go everywhere and then want to stay. Even after a shower and a shampooing of my hair my head is still quite covered in sand. The most effective removal method I have yet come across is to brush my hair with the narrowly spaced tines of my comb. With each stroke I am able to remove some number of grains of sand, though never all of them.
Another problem, though much less troublesome, is that while swimming in the ocean one tends to have salt water in their mouth. While this is not the end of the world it is certainly less than pleasant. Fortunately, this problem can be easily rectified by the drinking of a beer or two.
******
While I am able to get some internet access each day it seems that we might still be some time away from having full internet access at our apartment.
The sudden departure of the IT guy and the appearance of a new class have likely slowed down movement on this front. The only good news, from our perspective, is that just when we arrived a few days ago so too did an IT consultant. Hopefully her presence will mean the smooth transition from one regime to another.
******
We were both quite hungry by the time we made it back to our apartment after our trip to two beaches and a number of commercial outlets. Fortunately, we were able to relatively quickly prepare a meal from groceries that we purchased a day or so ago.
While the meal that we did end up preparing was nothing fancy, it was satisfying. Each of us had a pork chop along with white rice, boiled and buttered carrots, and brocoflower (some kind of broccoli/cauliflower vegetable). For desert my father had a tangerine while had another helping of rice along with two brocoflower sprigs.
It is likely that we will kill off most of our remaining vegetables tomorrow, necessitating another trip to the grocery store. The positive aspect of this is that we will have a very satisfactory lunch and the chance to select a new range of groceries from the store (and maybe even visit a new grocery store).
******
As we just finished a relatively satisfactory meal and are now completing various computorological errands it is likely that we will keep things quiet for the rest of the evening. Ideally, this might mean that we play a game or two of rummy and sit on the balcony drinking Caribs straight from the bottle.
I quickly learned why they charged $4.00 a load for laundry, which is because they only have commercial washers, each of which is able to hold two or more normal loads. These washers seem to be able to take about twice the load that a typical washer is capable of handling. Fortunately, the driers are also commercial size and therefore able to handle in a single load the same quantity of laundry that can be washed by the washers.
One thing that I noticed while I was transferring the laundry from the washer to the drier was that I managed to forget a number of my own clothing items. Most notably, I forgot to wash my swimming costume and the shirt that I have been wearing to the beach (likely the two dirtiest items of clothing in my possession). I was able to remember all of the other key pieces of laundry.
The only problem, that I have noticed so far, is that one pair of my fathers pants came out completely covered in lint. Though I tried to shake them off I wasn’t really able to make much progress and they are still pretty bad looking. Hopefully he knows how the stuff without an additional washing, or he doesn’t need them until they can be washed again.
After my father’s school related activities, and then a quick lunch, we went on the hunt for diving fins. After checking at a diving shop we ended up making a purchase at the same place where we had previously purchased a mask and snorkel. The main deciding factor was that the fins at the latter shop were adjustable, making them usable by a wider number of people.
With fins in hand we went back to Baie Rouge, the location we scouted the previous day. The waves, which had been sizeable yesterday, were quite reasonable today. Without much trouble we made our way around the rocky out cropping and towards the intended destination. The only problem that we had was that we couldn’t really tell when we were at the spot as the water was loaded with so much sand that visibility was significantly reduced. After a fair test and a bit of drift and watching we returned to the beach having seen a few fish, though many less than we expected.
After another Carib from Gus’s Beach Bar we made our way back to Mullet Beach where we again strapped on our flipped and masks and entered the water. Immediately we noticed an appreciable difference between the visibilities at the two sites, with the latter being much better. We soon were both able to see all kinds of fish, both larger and more colourful than during previous outings. Furthermore, the water was of a more uniform temperature, meaning fewer cold spots to contend with while drifting along.
As Mullet Beach is within walking distance, and as it is pretty good snorkeling, it is likely that we will be back here at least a few more times before we head off.
The major problem posed by visits to the beaches seem to be the resulting sand problem. Unlike when visiting sandy beaches at lakes, this sand seems to go everywhere and then want to stay. Even after a shower and a shampooing of my hair my head is still quite covered in sand. The most effective removal method I have yet come across is to brush my hair with the narrowly spaced tines of my comb. With each stroke I am able to remove some number of grains of sand, though never all of them.
Another problem, though much less troublesome, is that while swimming in the ocean one tends to have salt water in their mouth. While this is not the end of the world it is certainly less than pleasant. Fortunately, this problem can be easily rectified by the drinking of a beer or two.
******
While I am able to get some internet access each day it seems that we might still be some time away from having full internet access at our apartment.
The sudden departure of the IT guy and the appearance of a new class have likely slowed down movement on this front. The only good news, from our perspective, is that just when we arrived a few days ago so too did an IT consultant. Hopefully her presence will mean the smooth transition from one regime to another.
******
We were both quite hungry by the time we made it back to our apartment after our trip to two beaches and a number of commercial outlets. Fortunately, we were able to relatively quickly prepare a meal from groceries that we purchased a day or so ago.
While the meal that we did end up preparing was nothing fancy, it was satisfying. Each of us had a pork chop along with white rice, boiled and buttered carrots, and brocoflower (some kind of broccoli/cauliflower vegetable). For desert my father had a tangerine while had another helping of rice along with two brocoflower sprigs.
It is likely that we will kill off most of our remaining vegetables tomorrow, necessitating another trip to the grocery store. The positive aspect of this is that we will have a very satisfactory lunch and the chance to select a new range of groceries from the store (and maybe even visit a new grocery store).
******
As we just finished a relatively satisfactory meal and are now completing various computorological errands it is likely that we will keep things quiet for the rest of the evening. Ideally, this might mean that we play a game or two of rummy and sit on the balcony drinking Caribs straight from the bottle.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Sint Maarten: Day 2
Today I arose earlier than I might have had I been left to my own devices. This was fortunate as it allowed my father to head to the school to work on some of his lectures and me to have time to explore the parts of the island within walking distance.
One of the more important accomplishments of the day was my trip to the grocery store to buy some bottled water and generally scout the store as well as others in the region. Not surprisingly, the walk back from the store with water was much more pleasant than my trip to the store. We have since returned to the store and purchased a full case of bottled water, as well as a case of beer.
After putting a few hours in on lecture preparations my father, and myself, went for lunch. We decided to go to one of the BBQ joints frequented mainly by locals. We decided to go with big fish. I had marlin while my father had swordfish.
When the plates came out I was a little disappointed to see that both plates had some kind of macaroni salad. I believe it is safe to say that we were both even more shocked to see that my father’s swordfish had been turned into some kind of swordfish mash. I think it is safe to say that the meal did not meet our expectations, we both did get something positive from each of our dishes (and we know that that is not likely the establishment for us).
After lunch we took our car and did a little bit of touring, the main goal of which was to acquire a mask and snorkel. It quickly became apparent that many stores were closed. What was less apparent is whether the stores were closed because it was a Sunday or because it was the final day of the Carnival holiday week. I guess we might get a sense of this next Sunday.
Eventually, after several unsuccessful attempts, we were able to find a local boat tour/snorkel tour company that also sold snorkeling equipment. We were able to purchase a nice mask and sophisticated water in-take reducing snorkel as well as some fin attachments for sandals. One particularly nice aspect of this shopping experience is that we received reduced prices on our items as we are here out of season.
We then continued on to Philipsburg, the large town on the Dutch side of the island. While in town we drove down the two main shopping streets. At one point my father purchased 4 mangoes for a dollar from a crew of people who were attempting to sell their wares to each passing car.
As we were returning to Maho (the nearest town to where we are staying) from Philipsburg we noticed that a big Air France jet was about to take off and that people were lining up to get blasted. We felt that the affair needed to be filmed for posterity.
As traffic was backed up to watch the take-off I decided to exit the car to try and get a better shot of the blasting. Unfortunately, the direction from which I approached the scene was not particularly conducive for filming. As I kept getting closer to the action, without a good angle, it soon became apparent to me that I would be in the path of the blast. I then decided that I would just go for it and try to film and experience as much of it as possible.
At first the experience was similar to a strong wind. Within only moments it had moved beyond the feeling of a strong storm to one more reminiscient of sand blasting, as my body was being pelted with sand and dust to such an extent that I was forced to close my eyes and turn away. Fortunately, this act didn’t cause my camera to be irreparably jammed with sand, but it does mean that I didn’t get to film the blasting of others by the Air France jet.
Shortly after returning from Philipsburg we decided to test the new snorkeling equipment out at the nearby “Mullet Beach.” As I had previously been pelted with sand, I wasn’t particularly concerned about any additional contact with sand.
Shortly after arriving at the beach we were both struck by the relative coolness of the water. Just like most North American swimming experiences, the first exposure past the waist was quite literally breathtaking. Fortunately, it was quite easy to become acclimatized to the water, so within moments we both felt quite comfortable (even when out of the water).
After a few practice maneuvers we moved our snorkeling operations from the open beach nearer to some rocks at the edge of the beach. Within moments it was possible to see a variety of types of fish. In particular, we both spotted schools of small, dark fish less than an inch long as well as several grayish fish that were six to eight inches long. I also spotted a few that resembled angel fish, as well as one that had zebra like black and white vertical stripes. Hopefully we will get to check out a few much snorkeling locations in the coming days and see an even wider range of fish.
As far as I know tomorrow, aside from it being the day on which my father’s first lecture is to occur, should be much like today. This is just fine with me as it suggests that I should be able to take care of a few computerological matters, some reading, as well as touristy activities.
Later today we will likely try and scrounge something up for dinner. At the moment I have no idea what that might be, though I presume that it will likely be something on the cheap side of things.
Presumably after we finish eating and my father finishes his lecture preparations we will have a few beers on the balcony. At the moment we have the option of either Presidente from the Dominican Republic or Carib from Trinidad.
One of the more important accomplishments of the day was my trip to the grocery store to buy some bottled water and generally scout the store as well as others in the region. Not surprisingly, the walk back from the store with water was much more pleasant than my trip to the store. We have since returned to the store and purchased a full case of bottled water, as well as a case of beer.
After putting a few hours in on lecture preparations my father, and myself, went for lunch. We decided to go to one of the BBQ joints frequented mainly by locals. We decided to go with big fish. I had marlin while my father had swordfish.
When the plates came out I was a little disappointed to see that both plates had some kind of macaroni salad. I believe it is safe to say that we were both even more shocked to see that my father’s swordfish had been turned into some kind of swordfish mash. I think it is safe to say that the meal did not meet our expectations, we both did get something positive from each of our dishes (and we know that that is not likely the establishment for us).
After lunch we took our car and did a little bit of touring, the main goal of which was to acquire a mask and snorkel. It quickly became apparent that many stores were closed. What was less apparent is whether the stores were closed because it was a Sunday or because it was the final day of the Carnival holiday week. I guess we might get a sense of this next Sunday.
Eventually, after several unsuccessful attempts, we were able to find a local boat tour/snorkel tour company that also sold snorkeling equipment. We were able to purchase a nice mask and sophisticated water in-take reducing snorkel as well as some fin attachments for sandals. One particularly nice aspect of this shopping experience is that we received reduced prices on our items as we are here out of season.
We then continued on to Philipsburg, the large town on the Dutch side of the island. While in town we drove down the two main shopping streets. At one point my father purchased 4 mangoes for a dollar from a crew of people who were attempting to sell their wares to each passing car.
As we were returning to Maho (the nearest town to where we are staying) from Philipsburg we noticed that a big Air France jet was about to take off and that people were lining up to get blasted. We felt that the affair needed to be filmed for posterity.
As traffic was backed up to watch the take-off I decided to exit the car to try and get a better shot of the blasting. Unfortunately, the direction from which I approached the scene was not particularly conducive for filming. As I kept getting closer to the action, without a good angle, it soon became apparent to me that I would be in the path of the blast. I then decided that I would just go for it and try to film and experience as much of it as possible.
At first the experience was similar to a strong wind. Within only moments it had moved beyond the feeling of a strong storm to one more reminiscient of sand blasting, as my body was being pelted with sand and dust to such an extent that I was forced to close my eyes and turn away. Fortunately, this act didn’t cause my camera to be irreparably jammed with sand, but it does mean that I didn’t get to film the blasting of others by the Air France jet.
Shortly after returning from Philipsburg we decided to test the new snorkeling equipment out at the nearby “Mullet Beach.” As I had previously been pelted with sand, I wasn’t particularly concerned about any additional contact with sand.
Shortly after arriving at the beach we were both struck by the relative coolness of the water. Just like most North American swimming experiences, the first exposure past the waist was quite literally breathtaking. Fortunately, it was quite easy to become acclimatized to the water, so within moments we both felt quite comfortable (even when out of the water).
After a few practice maneuvers we moved our snorkeling operations from the open beach nearer to some rocks at the edge of the beach. Within moments it was possible to see a variety of types of fish. In particular, we both spotted schools of small, dark fish less than an inch long as well as several grayish fish that were six to eight inches long. I also spotted a few that resembled angel fish, as well as one that had zebra like black and white vertical stripes. Hopefully we will get to check out a few much snorkeling locations in the coming days and see an even wider range of fish.
As far as I know tomorrow, aside from it being the day on which my father’s first lecture is to occur, should be much like today. This is just fine with me as it suggests that I should be able to take care of a few computerological matters, some reading, as well as touristy activities.
Later today we will likely try and scrounge something up for dinner. At the moment I have no idea what that might be, though I presume that it will likely be something on the cheap side of things.
Presumably after we finish eating and my father finishes his lecture preparations we will have a few beers on the balcony. At the moment we have the option of either Presidente from the Dominican Republic or Carib from Trinidad.
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