Potpourri

Miscellaneous News

Friday, May 09, 2008

About.com Hosts Favorite Dive Destination Survey

About.com is a top ten web site used by one of every five viewers on the Internet, and they are currently hosting a poll entitled, “Favorite Dive Destination.”

This particular poll about the Caribbean is featured in round five of their polling, and those who visit and enjoy Bonaire can vote for the island as their favorite dive destination in the Caribbean.  Those interested in doing so may click here to participate.

About.com is a part of the prestigious New York Times news service.  (Source:  TCB-NY)

Monday, April 28, 2008

Rincon Celebrates Queen’s Birthday with Dia Di Rincon

Wednesday, April 30, is a traditional holiday within the Dutch kingdom, when everyone celebrates the Queen’s birthday.  The village of Rincon on Bonaire goes one step further, offering Dia di Rincon, a street fair of gigantic proportions, offering food, drink, music, dancing, traditional costumes, and other festivities.

Starting early in the morning and continuing all day and into the wee hours, visitors will find a cornucopia of offerings showcasing Bonaire’s unique history and culture.  There are stalls offering food, drinks, and things to buy, and there are several stages where folkloric dance groups will perform during the day and live bands take over at night.  Simply meandering down Rincon’s main street will bring any visitor close to beautifully costumed dancers, singers, and other well known Rincon inhabitants.

In conjunction with the festivities, the Bonaire Bikers Club will hold their third Parade to Rincon.  Beginning at Captain Don’s Habitat, the bikers will make their way through Bonaire’s neighborhoods and end in Rincon.  This parade is to show the group’s support to the village of Rincon and to celebrate the importance of its people.

It should be noted that the following two days are national holidays as well, and many stores, banks, and other businesses will be closed.  (Source:  Bonaire Insider reporter and Bonaire Bikers Club)

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Shooting Great Images of Bonaire’s Flora and Fauna, Bonaire Photographers Share Their Tips--Part Two

Continuing in our series of showcasing some of Bonaire’s resident photographers, Marlies Seelos shares her hummingbird images with us, as well as her tips on how to capture these elusive birds with a camera.  Her images can be viewed in the Bonaire Insider Photo Gallery by clicking here.

Marlies observed that hummingbirds would visit a certain plant in her garden each day at the same time.  In order to let the birds get accustomed to her, she spent some time with them each day.  When she was ready to start shooting, she placed a ladder so she could be at the same height as the birds.  It took about fifteen minutes for the birds to get used to her on the ladder, but after that, they resumed their normal feeding and simply ignored her.

Marlies set her camera so that it would shoot multiple images with one depression of the shutter release.  This is especially important because of the fast movement of the birds and their beating wings.

As she did with her iguanas (see previous Bonaire Insider story by clicking here), she attempted to use an upward angle as much as possible, to keep the hummingbird against a simple blue sky background.  (Source:  Bonaire Insider reporter; images by Marlies Seelos, Marlies Sail & Canvas)

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Outdoor Bonaire and the Mangrove Info Center Ask for Visitors’ Cooperation with Conservation

Outdoor Bonaire and the Mangrove Info Center are two tourism-based enterprises known for their efforts to assist with preserving Bonaire’s nature.  In recent months, management from both companies have watched the explosive growth of those who are taking normal vehicles, as well as off-road vehicles (quads, etc.), into the delicate mangrove area of Lac Bay, driving directly to the waterline.

This area has many flamingos and other water birds, and their normal behaviors are disturbed by those trying to get a closer look.  Other ground dwelling plants and animals are also damaged--last week, vehicle tires were found directly over new re-growth of black mangrove trees.

To further educate and encourage those who are causing damage and disturbance to Bonaire’s flora and fauna, the companies have joined together in posting a notice asking drivers to stay on the road.  Not only is the damage done to the island’s flora and fauna, but many vehicles get stranded in the mud of the tidal zone, and then need to be towed.  Towing is expensive and causes further damage to the environment.

Those touring the Lac Bay area are asked to please help by staying on the road. (Source:  Outdoor Bonaire and Mangove Info Center)

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Bonaire Affair’s 2008 Maps of Bonaire Are Now Available on their Web Site

Bonaire Affair’s maps of the island of Bonaire and its towns have become very popular in the past few years, as they accurately portray the island, its dive sites, highlights, restaurants, hotels, and other important services for tourists.  Although the print version comes out in December/January each year and is available free of charge around the island, those who have not yet arrived on-island can still use the Internet version for planning their vacations in advance of their arrival.

Bonaire Affair’s web site is located at www.bonaireislandmap.com.  Viewers may choose between a full island map, or individual town maps, including a great map of Kralendijk.

To view information about providers of services such as hotels, car and scooter rentals, activities, shopping, real estate, etc., you may either click on the text links at the bottom of the map pages, or click on the map itself to expand it to a large version.  (Please be patient, as the map is quite large and may take a moment or two to download.) Once you are on the full size map, you may scroll right or left and up or down to find the area in which you have an interest.  Or, simply click right on the headings on the enlarged maps, as they will also produce a list of providers.

The 2008 version of the maps is the third on-line version.  (Source:  Bonaire Affair)

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Additional Changes in Street Closures in Coming Weeks Due to Cruise Ships in Bonaire’s Port

This coming Wednesday, February 13, 2008, both the Crown Princess and the Summit will be in Kralendijk’s port.  Both piers, Town Pier (North Pier) and the Customs Pier (South Pier) will be in use during this day.  The Crown Princess will arrive at 8:00 AM and will depart at 5:00 PM.  The Summit will visit from 1:00 PM until 7:00 PM. There are five additional occasions in the coming weeks when both piers will be in use, and road closures will occur.

In connection with this, the previously published scheduled of street closures has been amended.  Instead, the following areas will be closed to any traffic not holding a required permit on February 13, February 20, March 5, March 12, March 19, and March 25:

1) The entrance to the parking lot next to Bestuurscollege (Government House).

2) Kaya Grandi will be closed.

3) The road by Karel’s Beach Bar.

4) The road by the Customs Pier (South Pier).

For those who require additional information, it is suggested they contact either Mr. Robert Evertsz or Mr. Rolando Marin at the TCB, phone 717-8322.  The Tourist Corporation Bonaire apologizes for any inconvenience this situation causes.

To view the TCB release in Papiamentu, click here.  (Source:  TCB Bonaire)

Saturday, February 02, 2008

Street Closures are Amended for February 6th, 2008, Due to Cruise Ships in Bonaire’s Port

This coming Wednesday, February 6, 2008, both the Crown Princess and the Summit will be in Kralendijk’s port.  Both piers, Town Pier (North Pier) and the Customs Pier (South Pier) will be in use during this day.  The Crown Princess will arrive at 12:00 Noon and will depart at 7:00 PM.  The Summit will visit from 1:00 PM until 6:00 PM.

In connection with this, the previously published scheduled of street closures has been amended.  Instead, the following areas will be closed to any traffic not holding a required permit:

1) The entrance to the parking lot next to Bestuurscollege (Government House) will be closed from 7:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

2) Kaya Grandi will be closed from 12:00 PM until 5:00 PM. 

3) The road by Karel’s Beach Bar will be closed from 7:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

4) The road by the Customs Pier (South Pier) will be closed at noon.

For those who require additional information, it is suggested they contact either Mr. Robert Evertsz or Mr. Rolando Marin at the TCB, phone 717-8322.  The Tourist Corporation Bonaire apologizes for any inconvenience this situation causes.

To view the TCB release in Papiamentu, click here.  (Source:  TCB Bonaire)

Note Update February 5, 2008: We’ve been advised by the TCB that the two ships’ amended hours are as follows:  The Crown Princess will arrive at 10:00 AM and sail at 7:00 PM, and the Summit will arrive at 11:30 AM and depart at 7:00 PM. (Source:  TCB-Bonaire)

Friday, February 01, 2008

The Bank of the Netherlands Antilles Warns About Fraudulent Bank Notes

With upcoming festivities such as Karnival, as well as other events, the Bank of the Netherlands Antilles warns the public about the possibility of the circulation of false banknotes. 

Although the extent of counterfeiting is not substantial at the moment, the bank is nevertheless warning of the possibility. The bank said it had experienced a problem last year at this time, where perpetrators were removing the gold foil found on 10 guilder notes and pasting it on false 100 guilder notes they produced, which caused the fraudulent note to appear authentic.

The bank advises paying attention to the authenticity characteristics on any notes you may receive, and when in doubt, visit the bank’s web site by clicking here for more information on how to identify fraudulent notes and also confirm authentic bank notes. 

The bank does give much emphasis on the fact that it does not accept false bank notes and does not exchange bank notes that have been manipulated. It advises that when one encounters a falsified bank note, one should contact the police. A person who falsifies or is aware of paying with false money is subject to a nine-year prison sentence.  (Source:  The Daily Herald St. Maarten)

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Shooting Great Images of Bonaire’s Flora and Fauna, Bonaire Photographers Share Their Tips

Many visitors to Bonaire always wish they could take home the perfect postcard image of their vacation on Bonaire.  So, here at the Bonaire Insider, we’ve asked some of Bonaire’s resident photographers to showcase their work and share their tips for taking great Bonaire images.  Today in the Bonaire Insider Photo Gallery we’re highlighting Marlies Seelos and her recent iguana images.

Marlies has captured each of these iguana images in her garden.  She tells us that the large one lives under her roof with his growing family.  Because the iguanas see her each day, they have lost their fear of her, and she can easily stand on a ladder to shoot when they are on sunning themselves on a roof.  In fact, the “big daddy” of them all is quite famous, as the tour buses stop on their northern route to point him out from the main street.

So, letting your subject get accustomed to you and know you don’t mean harm is the best way of getting close to your subject.  Also, try to shoot with an upward angle, with a nice clear background (such as sky) behind the iguana.  This upward angle not only will emphasize the iguana, but separate him from an otherwise “busy” background.  Be sure the eye is sharp, even if other areas of his body are in softer focus.  And last, stay with your subject awhile, it’s usually the last image which is “the keeper!” (Source:  Bonaire Insider reporter; images by Marlies Seelos, Marlies Sail & Canvas)

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

WEB N.V. and Ecopower Bonaire B.V. Sign Power Purchase Agreement

En-route to an environmentally friendly power supply on Bonaire, Water and Energy Bonaire (WEB), N.V. and Ecopower Bonaire, B.V. reached an important milestone yesterday when they opened the Sorobon Wind Turbine and officially signed the “Power Purchase Agreement.”

Ecopower Bonaire, B.V. is a consortium consisting of Evelop International, Enercom GmbH, and MAN B&W Diesel.  The planned development for both wind and biodiesel generation has a stated cost of USD 55M (nearly FL 100 M) for the island.  It is hoped that when the island is less dependent upon traditional fuel sources that the cost of electric may go down for island residents and businesses.  (Source:  WEB, N.V. and New Energy Finance)