Bonaire 5/29-6/4 - trip report with pics

[fuggler]

lodging: Stayed at Golden Reef Inn, room #6. It was very comfortable and had everything we needed. We got food from Cultimara to make sandwiches and ramen for lunch and our apartment's kitchen was well-equipped. Shower's water pressure was good, bed was decent. Only thing that could be made better is a bigger safe. For a few days, we gave our bigger valuables to the front desk while we were out (slrs, laptops, ipad, chargers that all couldn't fit in the small safe inside the closet). We got tired of doing that so we just hoped for the best, locked everything up, and hid everything in the oven/under the mattress/etc. Thankfully we did not experience thievery or burglary. (and we left bags full of snacks, a beach towel, and a couple of shirts in our truck and nothing was taken either)

food: It can get expensive. You're screwed if you're vegetarian, pretty much. We're not though; we're meat-loving foodies who appreciate anything from Michelin-starred places to taco trucks and hole in the walls. Went to Patagonia on our first night since everyone loves it so much. Blah, we were underwhelmed. I'd recommend El Fogon Latino for good and affordable Colombian, Plazita Limena for good Peruvian (try the paella), and KFC if you don't want to deal with mosquitoes and "island service". That's what we had for our 5th year anniversary dinner, lol.

diving: In 6 days, we did 21 dives: 18 shore and 3 off Wannadive's boat. Visibility was excellent on most dives and we were both so happy to be able to dive in just rash guards and shorts. As for diversity in marine life, after the 2nd day we were wondering if we'd ever see odd critters. Maybe we needed a spotter but that would have taken the fun out of it. Dive sites started to look alike with the usual Caribbean fish and the sloping reefs. As a wannabe photographer who's constantly looking for things to shoot, I hate to admit I got bored with the subjects. (I spotted a seahorse on our 1st day though!) Bonaire is beautiful and its reputation for being a "diver's paradise" is well-deserved.

some strictly amateur-ish pics are here: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/un...52-bonaire-photos-5-29-6-4-a.html#post5297688

 

[OH2OD]

Thanks for posting the trip report.
Glad you had a good trip and the pictures are excellant.

 

[Jersey]

Great photos and thanks for the report! Jotting down new goals:
1. New camera
2. New housing
3. Strobe
4. Book another Bonaire trip to practice, practice, practice taking pictures!

Always surprised when folks mention food prices - coming from CA you found them to be high? Could be a regional thing - I think Bonaire (restaurant) prices are slightly lower then what I'm used to in Mid-Atlantic metro (DC, Phila, NYC) area. Grocery store a bit more, but still cheaper to eat in compared to out.

 

[fuggler]

Great photos and thanks for the report! Jotting down new goals:
1. New camera
2. New housing
3. Strobe
4. Book another Bonaire trip to practice, practice, practice taking pictures!

Always surprised when folks mention food prices - coming from CA you found them to be high? Could be a regional thing - I think Bonaire (restaurant) prices are slightly lower then what I'm used to in Mid-Atlantic metro (DC, Phila, NYC) area. Grocery store a bit more, but still cheaper to eat in compared to out.

Bonaire is the perfect place to practice with a new camera rig!

I don't mind paying a lot of money for good food. We eat out at fancy schmancy restaurants in San Francisco all the time. What I had a problem with in Bonaire is paying $17 for crappy beef steak that didn't even taste like cow. Even the two Chinese restaurants that we tried were disappointing in both price and food quality/taste compared to bloody Panda Express.

 

[drrich2]

What I had a problem with in Bonaire is paying $17 for crappy beef steak that didn't even taste like cow.

It's my understanding that in Bonaire they use a lot of Argentine beef from free range cattle and yes, it's said to taste a lot different from the cattle we're used to in the U.S. My wife got a steak at a well-regarded restaurant there and to this day isn't convinced it was beef. There've been a lot of donkey meat jokes, actually! Granted, I've never heard of anyone actually eating a donkey...

It's worth warning beef lovers that the Bonairean beef experience is a bit different from what they're used to.

Richard.

 

[DiveMaven]

Great photos and thanks for the report! Jotting down new goals:
1. New camera
2. New housing
3. Strobe
4. Book another Bonaire trip to practice, practice, practice taking pictures!

Always surprised when folks mention food prices - coming from CA you found them to be high? Could be a regional thing - I think Bonaire (restaurant) prices are slightly lower then what I'm used to in Mid-Atlantic metro (DC, Phila, NYC) area. Grocery store a bit more, but still cheaper to eat in compared to out.

Do yourself a favor. When you get that new camera/housing/strobe and find yourself back on Bonaire, spend a 1/2 day or more with Tim at Fish Eye Photo in a class. He's an outstanding instructor who really understands photography and teaches it in a way that is guaranteed to improve your photos. He will customize his course for YOUR level and needs instead of simply offering a "canned curriculum".

We did the 3-day UW Digital Photography course from him a couple of years ago and it was arguably the best class we've taken. My husband plans to spend at least 1/2 day with Tim this summer in a refresher and to learn to better use his new camera.

 

[dvrliz1]

Hi Rich,

Actually the grocery stores are getting in more and more US beef. It is a bit more expensive, but if you prefer it, it is available. If you want US Beef at a restaurant, my 3 favs are "Unbelieveable" (best T Bone I've ever had on island), Zeezicht's(best shishkabab with chicken and steak) and Sunset at Den Laman has the best burgers going.

Fug...regarding the chinese food..it cannot be compared to "American" Chinese food at all, you are correct. Don't expect to find it here. If however you would like good quality chinese food, I have to suggest Nada Snack, 2 doors down from China Nobo. It is probably the closest thing to American Chinese I can find on island. I would highly recommend the Beef with Tomatoes and peppers. One order is enough for 2 persons and is reasonably priced. You might also want to try the new place "Zhong Kong" where the new grocery store is by Captain Don's Buddy and or place. It is a little expensive compared to the other snacks, but the quality is much better, they have a great bar selection and the place is fully air conditioned. I especially love their fried wontons!

 

[boat sju]

Didn't you try the "yummy" meals down at the roundabout ? Came with ice cream . . .

 

[Jersey]

Bonaire is the perfect place to practice with a new camera rig!

I don't mind paying a lot of money for good food. We eat out at fancy schmancy restaurants in San Francisco all the time. What I had a problem with in Bonaire is paying $17 for crappy beef steak that didn't even taste like cow. Even the two Chinese restaurants that we tried were disappointing in both price and food quality/taste compared to bloody Panda Express.

No offense intended fuggler and fortunately I can't think of too many bad meals in Bonaire or maybe I'm just so darn hungry from all the diving! We usually do Casablanca for the mixed grill and noticed last trip it seemed a little overdone - like leather. But at $40 or so and enough leftovers to make 3-4 meals, we were OK with it, espec after a bunch of Sapphire and Tonics to wash it down. Mona Lisa, Wills Tropical Grill and Sense were our top 3 dining events during last trip, got to have a KFC run (though not as enjoyable as the old waterfront locale) and interspersed with my grocery and left-over 'must-a-go' meals (that's when you go through the fridge and say this must a go, that must a go...)

Do yourself a favor. When you get that new camera/housing/strobe and find yourself back on Bonaire, spend a 1/2 day or more with Tim at Fish Eye Photo in a class. He's an outstanding instructor who really understands photography and teaches it in a way that is guaranteed to improve your photos. He will customize his course for YOUR level and needs instead of simply offering a "canned curriculum".

We did the 3-day UW Digital Photography course from him a couple of years ago and it was arguably the best class we've taken. My husband plans to spend at least 1/2 day with Tim this summer in a refresher and to learn to better use his new camera.

Thanks Maven! I can take the class and send the Curmudgeon out to dive more advanced/technical stuff as I feel badly when he's stuck with me and I want to spend half an hour on one coral head. Been shooting with a Sony digi that I thought was adequate and thought my skills were bad. Took a 1/2 day w/ John @ Buddy in March and while my dive skills got an A, subject matter/composition a strong B, we validated my camera an F-. Just not enough a$$ to do anything well - not macro, not mid-range not wide angle. But that's OK, it was bought as a starter and I've taken it as far as it will go. Time to move along! Considering a Canon G9, leaning toward Ike for housing, haven't researched any add lenses or strobes. We have an EOS Rebel T series, don't know if there is a housing or if I want to risk the family camera...

 

[DeputyDan]

No offense intended fuggler and fortunately I can't think of too many bad meals in Bonaire or maybe I'm just so darn hungry from all the diving! We usually do Casablanca for the mixed grill and noticed last trip it seemed a little overdone - like leather. But at $40 or so and enough leftovers to make 3-4 meals, we were OK with it, espec after a bunch of Sapphire and Tonics to wash it down. Mona Lisa, Wills Tropical Grill and Sense were our top 3 dining events during last trip, got to have a KFC run (though not as enjoyable as the old waterfront locale) and interspersed with my grocery and left-over 'must-a-go' meals (that's when you go through the fridge and say this must a go, that must a go...)
..

We did the mixed grill once and had the same experience. My wife said - not again!