Sand!

One of my greatest goals is to see the world, like many people. I have many wonders that I want to see. I have a fascination with the different colored beaches that exist, and want to set foot upon one in each color. We all know about the white and tan sandy beaches, but I want to share with you the magic of the lesser-known colored beaches. Join me, won't you?

Black sand beaches

These are found throughout Hawaii's Big Island. When I visit Hawaii, this is the island I want to experience first. It is not as touristy as some of the other islands, and many hotels do not have TV, phone, or internet. It's just you, your hammock, and nature. The black sand was created by the volcanic activity on the island; when the lava meets/met with the ocean. Black sand beaches are also found in Santorini, Greece.

Pink sand beaches

These are found in the Bahamas, specifically Harbour Island. I hope the next reuinion I go to in 2012 I can visit more of the outer islands, and Harbour Island is on that list. The pink sand is a result of the color of the shells of a microscopic creature. Check out these lovely pink sand beaches in Barbuda that Farsighted Fly Girl posted about. Pink sand beaches are also found in Bermuda.

Red sand beaches

This is found in Hawaii; Maui specifically. It's secluded and not really meant for swimming. Word on the street is nude sunbathers often visit here. Look at the gorgeous contrast with the ocean; I love it! There is also a gorgeous red-sand beach surrounded by breathtaking cliffs in Santorini, Greece.

Green sand beach

Another Hawaii beach--I am so wanting to do an island-hopping spree--this one is also on the Big Island. The sand gets its coloring from olivine crystals. This beach is supposedly difficult to access; a lot of hiking involved etc. If you have an adventurous spirit, this will be worth it. There are only two green sand beaches in the world--here and in Guam.

Notes From The Bahamas-Monday

Monday was a public holiday in Nassau: Emancipation Day (which is sort of like celebrating Independence Day in the United States). Mostly everything was closed, so we took a taxi over to Paradise Island to frolick. We visited picturesque Versailles Gardens and the Cloister. Here is some interesting information about the Cloister, copied from nassauparadiseisland.com:

This Greco-Gothic masterpiece stands high on a bluff overlooking the harbour. It is a popular spot for wedding ceremonies and is especially beautiful when illuminated at night. Augustinian monks in France originally built the stone structure in the 13th century. In the 1920s, William Randolph Hearst bought the Cloister and had it disassembled and moved to the United States. There the stones lay in a warehouse for years because the contractors did not have the plans needed to reassemble it. Huntington Hartford, the millionaire developer of Paradise Island, purchased the structure and reconstructed it on the island in 1962. It is located in the Versailles Gardens.

The Cloister and I.

Poinciana trees were all over the Bahamas.

We then headed over to the Atlantis for aquarium-visiting, beach-lounging, and inner-tubing. I made friends with this fish; video evidence right here:

In the various lagoons in the Atlantis, I got a little video of indigenous Bahamian turtles, manta rays, and sawfish, among other marine life.

And just because they're awesome, here is a clip of some seahorse(s?).

Cabbage Beach at the Atlantis.

I also saw this bird on the Atlantis grounds........does anyone know what kind of bird this is?

We took a water taxi back to Nassau at the end of the day and ate at Conch Fritters Bar and Grill again. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I had the best (virgin?) strawberry daiquiri ever in life.

Yum to the nth degree.

We and some family members then ventured (via taxi) into Fox Hill Village to see any Emancipation Day celebrations. We were hoping to see the Junkanoo Rushout but we missed it. Instead, there were just local Bahamians hanging out eating, listening to music, and other "festival" activities. We did catch one of the traditions, where there is a greased pole climbing competition. Check out this brief clip I got of it:

When we were ready to leave, the police had to call for one of their own vehicles to take us back because taxis/tourists don't really come out to Fox Hill Village.

Monday was probably the most enjoyable day I had in the Bahamas.

Capped off the night with a Goombay Punch. Tastes like lemon-lime bubblegum soda.

*Dates are incorrect on the picture....all of the pictures/video here are from August 5th, 2008. Stupid digital camera.

Notes From The Bahamas-Sunday

Sunday, we went to 2 hour long Bahamian church service (Religion is a mandatory subject taught in schools) and the accompanying family luncheon. I waited way too long to review this day; as I have nothing more interesting to say about Sunday. But Monday was awesome and that review is coming soon!

Bahamian Slang: The Happening=The Event

More slang bottom left.

Cute Bahamian houses

Notes From Bahamas Trip-Saturday

*I forgot to note that Friday night, as well as every night we were in the Bahamas, there was lightning. One night there was just silent, cloud lightning that we watched from the hotel beach (possibly a liiiiiiiiittle unsafe).


Saturday morning, we rose and stretched and I looked out the window at the activity below.

View from hotel window


We walked down Bay Street and ate breakfast at Cafe' Skans (I couldn't find a good link to this place). ZOMG, this place had the Best. Strawberry. Pancakes. Ever. I don't even like pancakes but unicorns and rainbows and sparkles happened when I ate these pancakes.

*Unicorns, rainbows, and sparkles not pictured.


We then joined other members of our family on a ferry cruise to Rose Island. On the way there (and while we were there) we could see beautiful Sandy Cay, or Honeymoon Island. Before we got to Rose Island, some of the boat passengers went snorkeling, including my younger sister and I.

I am the snorkeler right above the person nearest the bottom of the picture.


It was too big of a group to get individual help and guidance, so after almost drowning (in my mind, but really just swallowing some water) I made my way back to the boat. Once the ferry stopped at Rose Island, much merriment ensued. Frolicking in the water, and banana boating were the main highlights.


Back at the hotel, despite my futile and desperate efforts at applying SPF-frickin-55 sunblock, I realized that I had what you young folks like to call the sunburn. Not a severe case, but enough to cause my melodramatic self to proclaim that the stage had been set for skin cancer.


We ate dinner right across from the hotel, at Conch Fritters Bar and Grill. We sat by the window much to my people-watching delight. During the course of the evening, there were a lot of police officers on the street, one of them carrying some sort of assault weapon. I wanted to get a picture, but my husband and I had really over-the-top dramatic visions of the police officer then crashing through the glass of the window at the restaurant and gunning us down. Yes, this is how we entertain ourselves.


At my younger sister and cousin's request, the four of us took a taxi over to Atlantis on Paradise Island to walk around. The opulence at the Atlantis is insane. The drunk teenagers we saw were insane. The fake boobs tra-la-la-ing around the casino were insane. The high-end retail stores were insane. The SIZE of the Atlantis is insane. Did any of this stop us from returning there the upcoming Monday? No, it didn't. Shut up.


On our way back, nature treated us to more silent lightning. The Bahamas treated us to a taxicab driver whose dilapidated taxi-van was for whatever reason tricked out with TVs that seemed to only run two rap videos on a continuous loop. I also saw a gem of a sign on the way back that said 'Protect Your Tings. Use A Rubber At All Times' or something to that effect. Oh, how I wish I had gotten a picture of that. I feel like I missed capturing a Pokemon or something.

Notes From Bahamas Trip-Friday

Overall, I had a great time getting to know certain family members better and making connections. I got an extreme tan. I miss the beach. I will do a separate post for each day I was up there to make things easier for all (but especially me).

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Friday, we flew from Houston to Ft. Lauderdale. We ate in the airport. Here, I noticed most of the airport staff had Caribbean-sounding accents. There was an Eastern-European looking/sounding couple who were extreme assholes to one of the hostesses. The woman in the couple even told the hostess she needs to go back to school. It is amazing to me how disgusting some people are and are either oblivious or are just content nesting in their rudeness....but I digress. We then got in a small propellor plane to Nassau. Upon landing, I thought how glad I was that we didn't check any bags on this leg so we could just frolick along without stopping for the luggage claim. We rode in a taxi to the hotel.

View from the taxi window

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We arrived around 4:30pm to the British Colonial Hilton. We then ate and walked around a little bit and promptly crashed from jet lag/flying so early in the morning (we had only slept about 3 hours before waking up for the flight).

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I will post on the other days of the trip soon.

Gone Sunnin'

I am enjoying Nassau, New Providence Island, Bahamas until further notice.

Bag Lady

I really don't want to be that bag lady. I really don't want to check any bags this Friday. I need your help, if anyone actually is reading this? *crickets*

If anyone has flown recently, can I get away with this larger suitcase as a carry-on or am I stuck with the smaller one?

Upcoming Journey-Nassau, Bahamas

I will be traveling to Nassau for a family reunion in the beginning of August. This branch of my family tree (paternal grandmother) can be traced back to 1800, to the original three men/family names. Two were from Scotland; one was from England. Unfortunately of course, the African part of the family cannot be traced as far back. Anyhoo, here is what I want to and/or will see and/or do:

1. National Art Gallery of the Bahamas
2. Family Banquet/Entertainment
3. Family Beach Picnic
4. Family Dinner Cruise/Entertainment
5. Offer souls to Sun-god on the beaches of Paradise Island
6. Sunset at the Cloisters
7. Birding tour?
8. Emancipation Day Celebration

Shopping will be sprinkled liberally throughout the days I'm sure.

Things I Need Before Nassau/Things I Want To Get In Nassau
Restaurants