Monday, March 12, 2007

Conditions Were Perfect for Bonaire’s Wave Challenge 2007

The wind was howling and the waves were rolling at Lac Cai on Bonaire’s windward coastline for yesterday’s windsurfing event, the Wave Challenge 2007. 

Bonaire’s windsurfers did not disappoint the crowds which gathered to watch the competition.  Locals and visiting windsurfers took to the waves, and in many cases, the air, to show their moves while jumping the waves.  The troughs of the waves were so deep that, many times, the windsurfers themselves simply disappeared into the trough with only their sail showing, until they re-emerged when cresting the wave on the other side.  However, these large waves were perfect for catapulting the sailors into the air for a fine show of aerobatics.

As usual, brothers Taty and Tonky Frans were popular with the crowd (currently ranked #2 and 5 respectively in Mens Freestyle in the World Tour), but also Bonaire’s Kiri Thode thrilled the crowds with his jumps and twirls (currently ranked #4 in Mens Freestyle in the World Tour).

Images from yesterday’s competition are available on the Bonaire Insider Photo Gallery by clicking here.  (Source:  Bonaire Insider reporter)

Sunday, March 11, 2007

New Bonaire “Ambassador”, Mrs. Ursula Vogt

Recently, Mrs. Ursula Vogt from Switzerland was honored with the bronze ambassador medal for visiting the island of Bonaire each year for the last 10 years. Two friends had told her about their travels to Bonaire, and so she decided to come for herself.

Ten years ago she first came here with her husband, who, like Ursula, is a dive-instructor, and their two children Dominik and Martina. Since then they have spent their diving-holidays in Bonaire, year after year.  Now she visits with their friends and dive club, bringing five to ten persons each year.

Ursula says that since the first day she was in Bonaire, she caught the “Bonaire virus.” She loves Bonaire and its beauty on land and underwater.  She enjoys the friendly people and the fact that Bonaireans work hard to keep their culture alive.

They’ve stayed at Palm Studio/Blue Divers during all their visits and were very satisfied. They enjoy the garden with the palm trees and the pool. Many people ask Ursula about Bonaire:  the only thing that she tells them then is, “Go there; you must see it, you must feel it, you must smell it – it’s something special, it’s beautiful!” (Source:  TCB Release)

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Sand Dollar Resort Condominiums Announces September Special

In conjunction with the island’s Dive Into Summer promotion, Sand Dollar Condominium Resort is dedicating the month of September to recently certified divers by offering several specials aimed at boosting their excitement about diving and also their skill levels.

Participants in this September event will have a chance to win a ScubaPro regulator, take a free buoyancy clinic with a custom video, enjoy discounts on diving courses to advance their education, and have an opportunity to receive a free subscription to Scuba Diving Magazine.  Click here for full details.  (Source:  Sand Dollar Resort Condominiums)

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Bonaire’s Wave Challenge to be Held on Sunday, March 11, 2007

Residents and visitors to Bonaire who are lucky enough to be on-island this Sunday, March 11, 2007, will once again have the opportunity to be thrilled by the island’s resident windsurfing champions with this year’s Bonaire Wave Challenge.

This popular event will take place at Lac Cai beginning at 10:00 AM on Sunday, and will most likely run throughout the day until 5:00 PM. 

For those not familiar with the Bonaire Wave Challenge, our resident and visiting windsurfers will move from their normal location at Sorobon, to the mouth of Lac Bay at Cai.  There, where the waves are rolling in with our spring winds, these young athletes will be jumping the waves, and many times doing aerobatics while airborne.  Not only the island’s professional windsurfers will be there, but also those up-and-coming “Bonaire Kids"--the proving ground for our future champions.

Aqua Speed Bonaire Windsurfer welcomes everyone to come and cheer on the sailors during the 20th annual event.  Thanks go to Akkerman’s Auto Supplies, Digicel, Dew Point, and many others who have sponsored this event. 

For more information, or to register to participate, contact Elvis Martinus at Bonaire Windsurf Place.  (Source:  Extra)

Coco Palm Garden Adds New Oceanfront House to Their Rental Properties

Coco Palm Garden has recently announced the addition of a new waterfront house to their group of rental homes and properties in Bonaire’s Belnem area.

The house, named Casa del Mar, is now available for rent.  It features two bedrooms and two bathrooms directly on the Caribbean Sea.  Additional information and images are available at http://www.cocopalmgarden.org/CasaDelMarEnglish.html.

You may also view a map and satellite image of the house and its area at this location:  http://www.cocopalmgarden.org/office.html.  (Source:  Coco Palm Garden)

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

The Butterfly Farm Bonaire Set to Open on Thursday, March 8, 2007

This Thursday, March 8, the Bonaire Butterfly Farm will open its doors to the public, showing its visitors the most colorful species of butterflies from South and Central America through a 400-square-meter walk-through exhibit.

The Butterfly Farm Bonaire is easy to find--simply follow the road to Lac Cai ( Kaminda Lac) and follow the farm’s road-side signs.  The exhibit is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 AM through 5:00 PM.  Entrance fee is $12.00 per person for adults, and $8.00 per person for children up to 12 years old.  Group rates are available upon request.

The butterflies that are displayed are helping to preserve the hemisphere’s rain forests, as they are supplied by special rain forest preservation projects in Costa Rica. These organizations have found an effective way to preserve the rain forest by making agreements with farmers:  the farmers are to leave a portion of the rain forest intact, and, in exchange, they are to breed butterflies.  The organization then sells the butterfly pupae and guarantees the farmers a regular income.  Part of the profit goes toward education and reforestation.

In the near future the Butterfly Farm we will begin a butterfly preservation project. Bonaire boasts of 80 different species of butterflies.  Unfortunately, due to the importation of non-Bonairean trees and plants, the original host plants of Bonaire are disappearing.  It’s one of the farm’s goals to establish a garden containing host plants for Bonaire butterflies.  This endeavor will be completed in cooperation with “Vlinderstichting Nederland” and several local organizations. (Source:  Butterfly Farm Bonaire)

Friday, March 02, 2007

New Bonaire Restaurant Review, Yachtclub Restaurant and Mambo Jambo

The Yachtclub Apartments recently premiered a small, intimate patio restaurant next to their pool.  It’s been open just a few weeks, and dinner reservations have been difficult to come by, since many locals on the island have been flocking to this new eatery.

A friend and I managed to make a dinner reservation, and looked forward to sampling the Yachtclub Restaurant’s Rijsttafel (see image).  Rijsttafel is an Indonesian feast consisting of many samples of different foods and always includes pork, chicken, fish, shrimp, and other delights.  We were not disappointed.  After eating our fill of the various offerings, we had plenty of left-overs to take home. 

The menu, with entrees averaging about NAFl 28.00 (USD $15.73) per person, offers something for everyone.  In addition to the traditional Indonesian Rijsttafel, one can order beef tenderloin, fish with pasta, fried shrimp in a beer batter, or chicken.  Some folks at the table next to us ordered the beer-battered shrimps, and I have to say they looked scrumptious and will be my next entree!  Daily specials are available--the evening we dined, the special was Grilled Salmon in a basil sauce.  As for my review on desserts, well, that will just have to wait until Mambo Jambo opens, as neither my dining companion or I had enough room left to indulge in dessert.

Because the new restaurant has become so popular, and many folks who wish to dine are turned away in disappointment, the owner/operators, Jolanda and Wilfried Schoof, have just announced that beginning March 16, 2007, they will move their dinner service to Mambo Jambo, their new restaurant in Kralendijk on Kaya L. D. Gerharts (next to Maduro & Curiels Bank).  Here they will be able to accommodate additional diners, and they also plan to augment their menu with new items.  Seating will be in the dining room, in the small garden adjoining, or one can eat at the bar, which is air-conditioned.  Mambo Jambo will be open from 11:00 AM through 2:00 AM, serving lunch (11:00 AM to 4:00 PM), dinner (4:00 PM through 10:00 PM), or a late night menu (10:00 PM through 12:00 PM).  After midnight, snacks are available.

Lunch will consist of Indonesian dishes, pancakes for those who sleep in late, and various sandwiches.  Dinner will include all the items currently offered at Yachtclub Restaurant, plus an expansion of the Indonesian theme, all-you-can-eat ribs, and other new menu picks.  All prices include sales tax, but no gratuities, which are always appreciated.  Your chefs, Roland and Sander, were both trained in Holland, and they have served in fine restaurants in Australia, Belgium, and Holland.  Mambo Jambo will be closed on Wednesdays.

Once Mambo Jambo is open on March 16th, Yachtclub Restaurant will only serve breakfast (daily) from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM.  Anyone can come (no reservations needed for breakfast) and enjoy the various breads, fresh fruit, cereal, yogurt, cold cuts (a Dutch tradition for breakfast!), eggs any style or pancakes, and unlimited coffee, tea, or juice for only $10.00 per person.

For more information or reservations for either restaurant, call 701-8228. (Source:  Bonaire Insider Reporter)