Bad Ending to Otherwise Good Bonaire Trip

[dvrliz1]

Bumblebee....

Thanks so much. Believe it or not, I live on Bonaire and WILL NOT go to Curacao because of the crime rate there, I mean they have gangs and murders. The last time we were there for shopping and my birthday 3 nights were couldn't have a meal on the "Punda" side of town (where the shopping is) without beggars coming up to us for money. Can you believe we actually had a guy chase us down the street with a bucket (literally) to beg us to wash our car. You should have seen his face when I addressed him in Papiamentu (a white girl speaking the local language OMG...LOL...). There was also the one time we had to stay in a small hotel, very quaint and simple, right in town for 1 night due to airline problems and let me tell you, even a local told me NOT to go outside at night as it was very dangerous.

On the other side we have stayed at Kura Hulanda (in Otrabanda side of Willemsted), driven all over the island for shopping and never had problems before. So see, it is all from a persons point of view.

We have had MANY SB'ers come to GRI or people who have used the board or other boards for information on where to go to dive. They get to Bonaire (99% of the time 1st timers) and the most often question I am asked is "I hear theft is out of control on the island, what do you suggest??? I then tell them the same thing everyone else does (windows open, etc). By the end of their trip, they can't wait to come back and there worries have pretty much been dispelled. I am not saying that it can't happen, as we all know it can, but the CHANCES that it will happen to you are very low on Bonaire.

Liz

 

[dvrliz1]

Yep Herman, I agree with you...DON join Herman....as a matter of fact....

DON, IF YOU WANT TO COME DOWN WITH HERMAN, I WILL GIVE YOU GUYS AN EXCELLENT UNBELIEVEABLE RATE.

After your trip, you then have to POST on Scubaboard how great your trip was and how you should have EXPERIENCED Bonaire, before making your decisions on the island.

I MEAN COME ON, YOU WILL VISIT A RESORT THAT HAS ARMED GUARDS AND GUNS RIGHT????

Come on, stay with us, you know know how safe we are and you can then make a determination yourself, FOR REAL by experiencing.

Liz

 

[The Chairman]

DON, IF YOU WANT TO COME DOWN WITH HERMAN, I WILL GIVE YOU GUYS AN EXCELLENT UNBELIEVEABLE RATE.

Note to self:

Remember to dis locations you want to go dive. (You're a shrewd man, Don!)

 

[BDSC]

And if you guys do go and stay with Liz, be sure to bring her lots of Crystal Light! I'm sure she has drank up the stash I bought her by now.

 

[b1gcountry]

Ummm, hey Liz, I refuse to go to Bonaire because of the crime too

We've been there twice. Stayed in Sanddollar. It was nice being able to get those afternoon/night dives in without having to truck it over there. What do your guests typically do for afternoon shore dives? Do you have a gear locker? Last time, we had a group of 15. Do you have group rates?

Just curious, I know this is a major hijack.

Tom

 

[RICHinNC]

Yep Herman, I agree with you...DON join Herman....as a matter of fact....

DON, IF YOU WANT TO COME DOWN WITH HERMAN, I WILL GIVE YOU GUYS AN EXCELLENT UNBELIEVEABLE RATE.

Liz

Be there is Sept....feel free to adjust my rate down!!!!

 

[jd950]

Bumblebee....

I live on Bonaire and WILL NOT go to Curacao because of the crime rate there, I mean they have gangs and murders. There was also the one time we had to stay in a small hotel, very quaint and simple, right in town for 1 night due to airline problems and let me tell you, even a local told me NOT to go outside at night as it was very dangerous.
Liz

Well, now I guess I will have to decide whether to take a .45 or a shotgun to Curacao next month. Anyone know who I have to call to get a permit? I guess I'll also have to buy one of those great big dive knives I see some people strap to their legs.

 

[DandyDon]

I never planned on spending a nite in El Salvador, but after being stranded on Roatan following 9-11-01 - flying home that way was better than driving thru Central America in a cheap car. TACA bused us to a superior hotel at a cheap rate tho and we didn't leave it for the night, but then - I often don't leave hotel rooms at night on trips. Just depends.

Take a baseball bat. Better reach than a knife, but if you shot someone even in defense - you'd sit in jail until proven innocent by their judges.

I'm tempted to meet Herman in Bonaire tho. Hell, not everyone will dive with me.

 

[jd950]

...but if you shot someone even in defense - you'd sit in jail until proven innocent by their judges.

The apartment is just a few steps from the shore. I'll be sure to check out a little more weight than I need just in case I have to carry anything with me on one of those pre-dawn dives I enjoy.

"A loud noise last night? Yeah, now that you mention it, I heard it too. Probably just fireworks"

 

[DandyDon]

New drill: 5# hard weight in long sock, practice offensive swinging without hitting self - got it!

I teach bullwhip popping on occasion. I often wear shorts & T, but have students wear long sleeves, long pants and glasses.