Kia ora ano!
Well it is our last day here in the Cayman Islands - and it has been nothing short of luxurious...Friends, Kai, Activities, Beach... Our tans are super topped up, beachwear fully used and we are starting the mental prep for winter in New York.
Here are three answered questions about our stay on the island...
Q.1 What are some of your highlights of the Caymans?
Dee: Well, first of all I must say that I didn't know where the Caymans were, or what it would be like here. I just knew we had friends to visit, so were going to spent 10 days. Upon arriving, the heat felt instantly like Hawai'i... I guess it hadn't sunk in that we were actually in the Caribbean!
The beach is definitely the highlight for me. The water here is so clear where visibility is second to none. I can see the bottom of the ocean while jetskiing around the water. That's trippy. We were out on a boat and the water was such a beautiful blue colour, that we made a video :) Anyway, so the beach has been a real highlight for me. We spent everyday at the beach and got the meanest blackest tan that's going to fade once we hit New York, but hei aha.
I'd say that the second highlight has been the kai. We've been so well looked after by Jessie & Lachie since being here. They opened their home up to us, and their juice bar. They cooked the most delicious meals for us and shared beers, wine, sangria and tequila (amongst other delights) at the end of a long day and we had some great chats. Such a lovely, down to earth couple who have over the past 10 days inspired Tu and I in what they have done with their lives and business and what they continue to do with healthy living and eating through the juice bar. The food has been phenomenal. We've eaten NZ lambshanks, calamari, the most delicious salads, fish, juices, smoothies, sandwiches and wraps and mostly all healthy. The smoothies at Jessies have been a real treat. Almond Bob is one of my favs, with almond butter and banana... I reckon Tu and I have probably dropped some kg's since starting this trip!
The third highlight I'd say would have to be the stingrays. We boarded a catamaran at 730 one morning as part of a tour, called "Breakfast with the Stingrays". We had a delicious breakfast on board as we sailed out to the famous Stingray city. Upon arrival, we could see these black shadows all swimming up to our boat. In the old days, fishing boats would stop off at this shallow sandbar and drop their bait and old fish so it became a feeding ground for the local stingrays. The sound of boats means one thing: kai time! So over the years they have become friendly with people.
Getting into the water was SCARY. These massive creatures swimming up to you, under your feet, brushing past you, 5-6 at a time coming to check you out. After the initial horror of being bombarded by stingrays, I felt calm and relaxed enough to try and touch one. Their touch is a soft smooth feel on the bottom and on top is more rougher. I managed to hold one of the stingrays and dance with her (it was definitely a her, the big big ones are females and the small ones are males). It was such an amazing experience seeing their eyes look straight at you, into you almost. It was a humbling and privileging experience for me... I feel really grateful to have met one of Tangaroa's tamariki. Respect at all times of course. And thankfully, everyone walked away without any Steve Irwin action!
Cayman Islands - I will be back again!
Tu: Kia ora Dee for that 'novel' korero... :) First highlight, catching up and staying with Lachie and Jess, in their new whare, ki Snug Harbour. Massive whare, with a beautiful wairua, always has yummy kai, the 2nd beer fridge in the lounge, and some Breaking Bad too. Our stay here has been real easy, relaxing and enjoyable. And as Dee mentioned, their Juice bar is A MAZ ING!!! Finally got there, and we'll go there this morning for our last breaky.
Tautoko the moana, it is unreal here! Snug Harbour is directly opposite Seven Mile Beach and it was our second home on the island. Beach Suites (Resort/Hotel) was our local hangout, and Red Sails was our activity provider... Breaky with the Stingrays, Dee and I sailing a hobie (baby catamaran), snokelling around coral reefs and the dive wreck 'Kittiwake', Jetskiing off 7 mile beach, and last night we took Lach and Jess out on a three course dinner cruise - perfect way to end our stay here.
Highly recommend this place people.
Q.2 What made the Cayman Islands such a wonderful stay?
Dee: So many things, but our friends Jess & Lachie and their hospitality, their home they opened up to us, their friendship. It's been so neat staying here with them and hanging out.
Tu: Lachie and Jess, drinking with them, Jessie's Juice Bar, meeting their friends, all our activities on the moana (and getting 50% discount on all because we're have friends on the island), Dee and I sunbathing and getting pango at Beach Suites, seeing Dee and her turtles, some Br Ba, eating and drinking like kings and queens!
Q.3 What was a typical day on the island?
Dee: Typical day... wake up at around 8-830, walk to Jessies Juice bar for some breakfast, a smoothie, a honey glazed ham grilled cheese and a coffee, walk to the beach, set up a spot on a sun chair, order a Cayman Lemonade, take a dip in the caribbean waters, order another drink, sunbathe, repeat. Love the Caymans!
Tu: What Dee said... Followed by an amazing dinner at Lach and Jess' and some night caps.
Well whanau, that was some of the Caymans. Amazing place, people and sea. Dee and I are off for breaky now, catch some last summer rays for 2013, and prepare for a New York State of Mind.
Posted with Blogsy
No comments:
Post a Comment