Hi everyone,

I have a trip report posted. http://bonaire-02-2004.tripod.com

It is probably not for the bandwidth impaired and tripod being a free site only allows so much traffic per day so if it is hit heavily it is possible that you might get an error message when you try to access it. If so, try again the next day.

I would appreciate any comments and especially help with identifying any fish I have not labeled.

Thanks in advance.

Belinda

Belinda - great trip report - nice reading over lunch!!!LOL!!!
I see you have fallen in love with the island as so many of us do as son as you take your first breath!!!
Most of you unidentified fish are file fish - could not figure out the what the blue fish was - as it was not very clear.
The misc fish at LaDania's looked like wrasses - but I could be wrong - don't have my fish id book with me.
The schools of fish at LacBay were grunts.
Thanks for taking the time to write a detailed report - brought back many memories!!
One thing I did notice is how green your topside pics were - the rain has brought color to everything!!!

Belinda, GREAT report, and great pictures. I truly enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing.

Masha danki.

Kelly

Belinda -

Thank you for taking time to post your Bonaire trip report. As you know from personal experience, each posting is a wealth of information for others.

Might I please ask your help reading the report?

I can access your site, but I can only read the report down to the line: We head to the restaurant and eat a light breakfast to help pass the time until we can begin our journey to Bonaire.

I do not see a link to the next page.

Thank you.

Charles Poteet
Dallas

Great report! I hate to snorkle because I always get great mouthfulls of water. I prefer to float under the surface with a regulator in my mouth! But maybe if I try a good dry snorkle and it works for me, I may enjoy my between dive time on top of the water as well.

Also - Maybe my foot cramps aren't from the cold water either, but from my cheap fins! Maybe it's time for new footwear too!

Thanks for all of the good ideas!

Belinda,
Nice report! We were there during your stay, too (Feb 19-29).

One thing - I think Ulf's friend was pulling your leg. That boat is the Samur, a Thai junk. It's moored off the Habitat, where we stayed. Those might be our wetsuits hanging on the wall in the background to the left.

Susan's correct about the Samur. Sorry, Belinda, you fell for THAT one!

I really enjoyed your report. I especially enjoyed your Lac Bay experience as I feel the same when "too up close and personal" with the coral. Plus on the day we went the wind/current was strong and we had also decided to walk part of the way and then snorkel. I was so tired by the time we got to the raft, I needed to rest awhile. The fish and coral are always the reward!

Mary

I have indeed fallen hard for Bonaire - it is all I think about any more - how and when I can return and how I can manage to stay forever. Thanks for all the fish ids - I'm still new to this.


Kelly,

Thanks so much for you nice comments. I enjoyed doing the report - made my PBD sometimes better and sometimes worse.

C,

If you wait for the entire page to load you should see a brown bar at the bottom and top with white letters saying "Previous Page" and "Next Page" - those are the links you need.

Gail,

I have never had any trouble with my Ocean Master dry snorkel - even in water where waves were washing over me it kept water out of my mouth but never failed to let me breathe when there was no water danger. And I could not believe the difference the new fins made - I had accepted foot cramps as a cost of snorkeling and now know that I don't have to do that - the TUSA fins are awesome!

Susan,

I may have thought my picture was of the same boat - I believe the error is mine and not Ulf's friend. I will definitely be altering my report to correct my error.

Belinda

Linda,

See my comments to Susan above. I'm pretty sure that Ulf lives on a boat with his family because we waved to them as we were taking the Kantiki water taxi to Klein Bonaire. Once again correct me if I am wrong about this - it is entirely possible! I had thought I had taken a picture of his boat but I guess it did not turn out and I assumed the picture I posted was it.

I'm glad someone else feels about Lac Bay the way I do - everyone else I've talked to seems to absolutely love it. I loved all the fish but I don't like the feeling of having to constantly avoid running into the reef. But being so close to the fish was definitely the one thing that might convince me to snorkel it again :-)

Belinda

Belinda,

I love your horses! Foundation QH are so beautiful and well put together. If you weren't in Missouri (pretty far away from Mass), and I wasn't about to have a hip replaced... my old palomino QH takes care of me, but sometimes I start dreaming about having another horse, a horse who wasn't on a couple million supplements and meds!

Belinda-

Great report thanks so much for taking the time to create it! I still have soooooo long to go before my first trip, I can't bear to start a countdown yet! July 2005



C Poteet-

If you're using a browser other than Internet Explorer, that might explain your problem. I use Mozilla and didn't get the links for the next (or previous) page, but when I opened it up with IE, no problem.

Susan,

Thanks! I am in the process of updating the web page - I'll let you know when it has been updated with more recent pictures (since my baby horse Buster is now 3 years old!) I LOVE palomino horses - I would truly love to see a picture of yours! A horse that takes care of you is worth their weight in gold! My big gray gelding is my do anything horse and I wouldn't part with him for a million dollars!

Amy,

Bonaire is worth the wait! My husband's countdown to Bonaire calendar for 2005 is currently at 289 days and it seems like an eternity. I can't imagine having to wait until July 2005 (our trip is in February 2005).

Thanks for the tips on Internet Browsers - I honestly didn't try it with any other browsers. I developed it with Microsoft FrontPage and that probably has things specific to IE - never thought of that!

Belinda

Belinda,
I'll get a photo of him this weekend (I live in a city, and board him 45 minutes away, so I only get to see him on weekends).

He's pretty much all shed out - a couple of weeks ago he looked like a perlino paintaloosa - it wasn't pretty! I'll need to get a photo soon, before he starts to fade (such are the trials and tribulations of a palomino owner )

Where I board him, he's used to give lessons to a 4 year old, a 7 year old, and a teenaged autistic girl - that's what a good doobie he is. They're not too hard on him and it keeps him moving when I can't get over there to give him exercise. He's 21, and kind of tubby (better than too skinny though).

Oh, and do let me know when you update your page - I thought Buster was a cutie but those weren't photos of a 3 year old!! I'd love to see how he turned out!

Susan

Belinda, just a great report and pictures. Very enjoyable, the "War and Peace" of trip reports. One thing you might add is a conclusion page of your overall thought on the trip. One thing I noticed is one week is not enough.

Cecil,

Thanks! I probably should have warned people that it is a wee bit long before they started reading huh :-)

I like your idea of a conclusion page - fortunately this is a work in progress so I will be adding one soon! And I just re-read it and realized I totally left out our meeting with Michael at Chat 'n Browse so that will of course have to be added as well! Any other suggestions???

And you are so right - one week is DEFINITELY not enough!! My husband mentions at least once a week how we should be on Bonaire - he has dreams to move there some day when we can retire.

Belinda

Belinda - I made the conclusion with my first to Bonaire last October that 1 week was not enough and am going back for a 2 week stint in July of this year!!! I am afraid that after this trip I will want to stay longer than 2 weeks!!!LOL!!!

This time I will be a diver!!! Can't wait!!! I loved snorkeling there and know that diving will be equally rewarding!!!

Belinda, I think you will see a quantum increase in your picture quality when you switch to digital. Not only will you get better pictures, you also will not have to carry as much equipment.

The other comment is about getting certified for diving. I understand your concern about panicking, but you were in some tough spots and you did not panic. The other thing that is interesting is that I've sucked in more salt water in one snorkel than all of my 100+ dives. You can always dive in your comfort level, stay shallow if you want. I love snorkeling but I adore diving, it's that much better.

Oh, I forgot one of your unidentified fish is a White Spotted Filefish.

Mary,

I'm SOOOOO envious! I really can't imagine getting to stay for 2 weeks! With all the animals we do good to get away for one week you lucky, lucky person. And congrats on your diving certification! Woo Hoo!!! I'll be looking forward to your trip report!


Cecil,

I am looking very forward to trying out my new digital next year - at least I have plenty of time to practice - 289 days to be exact :-(

Mike and I actually started taking diving lessons but neither one of us could equalize even just trying to go down 10 feet in a pool. I have chronic sinus problems and just decided that it was not worth the pain and loss of hearing afterwards (sounded like I was in a tunnel) to carry on. I am really quite content (most of the time) to stay on top of the water. Although every time I see divers up close and personal with the fishes I get the longing to try again. Just like your AWESOME File Fish picture - I really want to take pictures like that but it is really hard from the surface. Maybe some day...

Everyone,

By the way, I don't think I've said this recently but I LOVE this forum!!!! Thanks Jake and Linda and everyone else that makes it possible! Everyone here is so friendly and I so very much enjoy the sharing of thoughts and ideas. Thanks to everyone for being so open and sharing - you all are the greatest!

Belinda

To bad about the diving, just a thought on that, check this link. Potential solution.

It should also be said that you can still get great pictures snorkeling. Some of my favorites from Bonaire were taken while snorkeling.

Belinda,
Thanks for the great report. Well worth the time it took to read. It really helps get that pre-trip excitement going. One thing though. You forgot to tell us. Do you like diet coke?
John

Cecil,

Thanks for the link - very, very interesting....

John,

I like Diet Coke but I LOVE Coca Cola Light :-)

Belinda

John,

I forgot to add THANKS!!

Belinda

Belinda,
I tried diving....did the classes in '02. On my first Open Water dive for certification, I injured my ear, permanent earing loss. I wanted to dive so badly that I tried again in '03 with a refresher course prior to our Bonaire trip. Traveled with the class to the Crater in Utah to become certified....Just couldn't get below 10 feet even after two days. So I decided to go to the Ear Nose Throat doctor. Unfortunately, some people (1%) just are not built to dive and I'm one of the them. RATS! So I go on the Dive boats with my spouse, wait 'til the divers go in for their wonderful dive and then I enjoy a snorkel. The dive masters at Capt. Don's always keep me in mind when they pick a site but I actually have snorkeled the Hilma Hooker a few times. Have you ever snorkeled in diver bubbles? They tickle! Keep in mind that the wave action at Karpata, etc. is on the top for us snorkelers to fight but they say it's calm below! I hear it's much easier to be a diver at these particular sites. So keep trying until the doctor says NO!

If anyone else is interested: photos of my old horse, Dusty:
http://home.comcast.net/~scamp4/

Like all palominos, he shed his winter coat on his head and neck first, so those are now fading. The rest of him was a little slower, so you can actually see gold.

The first photo is a look he gives me a lot. He's a bit of a wise-acre.

Linda,

Some day I may try diving again - but only after a visit to the ear, nose and throat doctor to verify that I'm not in that 1%. So sorry to hear about the permanent damage to your ear - too bad you didn't find out that you are in the 1% before that happened. For now I'm really quite content to stay on top of the water and with my Ocean Mater snorkel next year the waves won't be a problem!

Susan,

Thanks for sharing the photos - he's quite a looker!! Why do horses always stick out their tongues at us - especially when we are photographing them?

Belinda

Susan,
He is a beaty.. Hope you have someone riding him... as I know you are limited because of travel and your hip. My old man lived to 36 and was still riding him to the age of 35.

oops I meant beauty

Jan,

Thanks! I get to ride him on weekends, when he's sound anyway. He has some lameness issues. Even when not sound, I go over and just brush him and stuff him full of carrots (did I mention, he gives kisses for carrots?)

During the week, he does 3 lessons (2 small children and an autistic teen). The 7 year old can canter him; the others have what are really glorified pony rides but the kids enjoy it. They all trot on him, the 4 year old and the autistic girl with someone leading them.

With my hip, I can get on him ok using the mounting block. Riding is ok as long as I don't lean forward too much (ducking branches or going up steep hills is now out of the question). Posting starts out a bit painful but once I get into the rhythm I'm fine. Then I just get off on the wrong (right-hand) side.

Actually, the fact that riding has become painful and awkward was the main reason for my moving forward with getting the operation - I can't NOT ride again! I want to enjoy it ALL again, darnit!

Susan

Belinda,
I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your trip report. It was outstanding! We leave Saturday for our first trip to Bonaire.

Cindy

Cindy,

Thanks so much! You are gonna love Bonaire!

Belinda