The local people in Haiti have become a Passion for me.
I have visited Haiti 2 times. I have seen the poverty & the filth.
I have seen good things happen as more & more people are helping this starving country.
The have been hit hard by Hurricane Fay.
I have yet to hear the assessment of the damage & hope the people in Cap Haitain are safe.
The Cayman Islands are an outstanding choice for couples or families looking for a fabulous vacation. The Cayman Islands consist of 3 islands – Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. This group of islands is located in Caribbean Sea, approx 150 miles (240 km) south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica. The Cayman Islands are located approx 20 degrees north of the Equator. This results in nice temperatures year-round. The coolest month in the Cayman Islands is February and the warmest month is July.
Winter (Dec-April) is the peak tourist season. This is when hotel rates are usually higher and the beaches and lodgings are more crowded. The winter temperatures average 75°F (23.9°C) during the day and 68°F (20°C) during the night & humidity is at its lowest. Summer is great time to visit if you are looking for a bargain. The weather is hot, but accommodations are less expensive (approx 40% ) and the crowds are much thinner. There is more rain in summer but it tends to clear quickly. During the summer, temperatures average 83°F (28.3°C). Rainfall is highest from middle of May to October, but the frequent showers clear as quickly as they arrive. Remember though, summer is also hurricane season.
Grand Cayman is approx 22 miles long and 8 miles at its widest point. Grand Cayman is approx 90 miles south of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, which are approx 5 miles apart.
Cayman Brac is approx 12 miles long and 1 mile at its widest spot. Cayman Brac has the highest point in all of the Islands with the impressive “Bluff” that rises 140 feet out of the sea.
The smallest island is Little Cayman. This island has a population somewhere around 150 people.
This illustration is not to scale. Little Cayman & Cayman Brac are much further north and east of Grand Cayman.
This map puts the islands into better perspective
If you are a beach lover, you have many choices on Grand Cayman – Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman Public Beach, Spotts Beach, Smith Cove, West Bay Public Beach, Cemetery Beach, Rum Point, East End Public Beach, Cayman Kai and Heritage Beach.
Depending on your likes, there are many places of interest on Grand Cayman:
There is public minibus service on Grand Cayman but I suggest renting a car. This is the best way to explore the island. Motorcycles and scooters are also available on all three islands. Traffic moves slow and driving is on the left.
Taxi are readily available on Grand Cayman, though they become fewer the further you get from George Town. Taxis are not available on Little Cayman or Cayman Brac, however, many hotels offer shuttle services to guests.
Surprisingly enough, there isn’t a ferry service from Grand Cayman to either of the sister islands. There are many private boat operators that will shuttle you between Cayman Brac and Little Cayman for a fee.If you don’t want to charter a private boat, the only way to get from Grand Cayman to the sister islands is by air. Cayman Express and Cayman Airways offer regular service from Grand Cayman to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Owen Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman is less than 3km (2mi) south of George Town. Taxis are abundant for the trip into town. Gerrard-Smith International Airport is located at the western end of Cayman Brac. On Little Cayman, Edward Bodden Airfield is located just west of South Town, on the southwestern coast. These 2 sister islands do not offer an airport taxi service, but the hotels will be happy to pick you up.
The Cayman Islands are noted for diving. If diving is your pleasure, check out these links:
http://www.petermilburndivecayman.com/index.htm
http://www.paradise-divers.com/
http://www.donfosters.com/index.html
Barbados is located in the Caribbean in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela. The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Slaves worked the sugar plantations established on the island until 1834 when slavery was abolished. The economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the 20th century. The gradual introduction of social and political reforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to complete independence from the UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance.The capital is in historic Bridgetown, is one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean.
There is much to see and do in the Barbados. You can easily rent a car or take one of the guided bus tours. If you choose to rent a car in the Barbados, the roads meander and are often unmarked, so don’t get frustrated if you get lost – seems like everybody does! If you make a wrong turn, consider it part of the adventure of touring Barbados. You might want to pick up any of the several free maps available everywhere. The locals are usually very helpful in getting you to your destination. They will do their best to try to steer you the right way, even if the directions seem a bit skewed. But not to worry, you will get there eventually.
The prime resort area with its beautiful beaches can be found on the West coast. Here you will find some small towns with a wide selection of restaurants, accommodations and duty-free shopping.
The southern end of the island is the hub of the island’s nightlife with St. Lawrence Gap as the center of activity. You will find a variety of restaurants, accommodations, duty-free shopping and action-filled beaches during the day. Here you can visit the nature & wildlife reserve and/or the rum distillery.
On the east Coast, with the Atlantic coastline with its crashing waves and empty beaches, this is the quieter part of the island, though very popular with island tours. In the rugged area of the Scotland District, you can find spectacular rock formations – this is a photographers dream. A trip on one of the island’s Safari Tours will ensure that you will see it all. This area is especially known for its relaxing accommodations and restaurants.
In the northern part of the island you will find secluded coves, a wildlife reserve, weathered cliffs, pounding surfs, breathtaking viewsand sleepy fishing villages. This northern section is also the least developed part of Barbados.
In the central part of the island, you will find a great experience for lovers of natural beauty, who want to see an array of botanical wonders, gullies and cane fields. You can go underground by electric tram and see some of the most beautiful caves found anywhere, or soar sky-high over the tree tops for a bird’s eye helicopter view of the shores and countryside.
You can sail along the tranquil waters on a day or night cruise, touring the lovely coastline and witnessing the beautiful sea life. It’s fun to swim with the sea turtles or snorkel on a coral reef. You might just want to lay on one of the many palm-fringed, coral sand beaches and relax!
There are some upcoming festivals yet to come in 2008.
The Taste of Barbados Food Festival starts October 3rd and runs through October 11th.
2008 Virgin Atlantic Music Festival Barbados starts October 30 and runs through November 8th.
More links to visit if you are thinking about a trip to the Barbados:
Official website of the Barbados Tourism Authority.
Grantley Adams International Airport
Transportion on the island is good, with ‘route taxis’, travelling to most points on the island. These small buses can at times be crowded, but will usually take the more scenic routes to destinations. They typically depart from the capital Bridgetown or from Speightstown in the northern part of the island.
There is also a helicopter shuttle service, which offers air taxi services to a number of sites around the island, mainly on the West Coast tourist belt. Air and water traffic is regulated by the Barbados Port Authority. More information regarding the Port at Bridgetown can be found here: The Port of Bridgetown.
Visit Professor Beach’s Worlds Best Beachtowns Website for more information! You will find maps, photos, chamber of commerce info, airport info and more. Just click on each link below.
Click here to visit Bridgetown
Click here to visit Bushy Park
Click here to visit Speightstown
Click here to visit St. Lawrence Gap
Patong Beach is a beach on Phuket’s west coast, and to the town adjoining it. It is the main tourist resort in Phuket. If you are looking for some exciting nightlife and cheap shopping on the island, this is the place to visit. Patong Beach became popular with western tourists, especially Europeans, in the late 1980s. Numerous large hotels and chain hotels are located in Patong.
Patong Beach is the most popular & well-developed beach on Phuket Island. Long recognized as one of the world’s Top 10 diving sites, Phuket is now Thailand’s most important tourist destination, offering a variety of beaches, attractions and exciting night life. Koh Phuket is Thailand’s largest Island. It is 50 km long north to south and 21 km wide and joined to the mainland by Sarasin bridge.
Phuket Island was assumed by geologists to be once part of the mainland in the form of a cape sticking out into the Andaman Sea but millions of years later the cape was gradually eroded by natural forces and finally detached from the main land.
Phuket Island has 17 sandy beaches. Click here for the Patong Beach Guide
The Seafood Festival in May is designed to promote seafood, this festival that happens all over Phuket is also a celebration of the cornucopia of indigenous fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices available in such abundance here. Your mouth will water at the sight of stalls laden with red snapper, rainbow runner, lobster, prawns, mussels, baby clams, squid, octopus and crab. Your taste buds will tingle, especially at Patong beach as you indulge in a freshly squeezed mango juice, an ice cream or sorbet made with passion fruit, papaya or coconut… sheer heaven!
Click on these links for more information
Welcome to Patong Beach and Phuket
Professor Beach’s Worlds Best Beachtowns Website where you will find airport information, chamber of commerce info, photos and more!
