Coral Reef Photos » Islands + Topside Attractions

Christoffel Park, Mount Christoffel, Chistoffelberg

barry — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:14:49 +0000

Hi friends, since I last mentioned hiking at Christoffel Park with Stijn many have asked me about the trail itself that leads to the top of the mountain and the condition it’s in. Well, it’s for sure not an easy trail as you can kind of see by this photo and if you do go please carry lots of water! The trail is very rough, plain and simple and takes most people about an hour to climb. The trail is completely littered with boulders and rocks that you must walk around, over or in most cases on and can be very moist and slippery. Along the way there are concrete benches to rest on but I advise not to sit down because it has a strange effect on the rest of your body. It’s like your legs say “great, were done” then you stand up again after climbing and your legs feel like a bowl of Jell-O, it’s best just to stop and rest but stay standing. Many come here and can’t make the climb up, Stijn and I saw a bunch of folks stopped at the benches and that was it for them. Over the years the trail has become more and more eroded, not just from foot traffic but from the insane amount of rain that comes pouring off this mountain every year, it’s kind of like walking up a dirt filled, full of large boulders water slide! Stijn and I couldn’t really decide if going up was more difficult than going down, I’m going with the going down, my advice walk slow and don’t rush. As you can see the good part is the natural beauty which helps to take your mind off the fact that your lungs are about to explode and your soaked from sweat. Be on the lookout for beautiful lichens, bearded moss, bromeliads and orchids not to mention all the different birds you will see and hear and our favorite animal the iguana. There are approximately 250 white tailed deer here as well but good-luck finding them, I think we have only spotted one in seven years! Mount Christoffel, also referred to as Chistoffelberg, is 1, 227 feet in height and like I said only takes about an hour to climb. The last 165 feet the trail ends and sends you literally up a tight crevice on the side of the mountain. Here you will have to use all fours to push, pull and drag yourself up to the summit, for many this is their favorite section and others hate it! Is it worth it?? Well, I think so, the view is unreal and you will want to just stay there all day! Once you are at the top there really is no where else to hike. There is a kind-of-trail that leads to the other peaks that the goats have made but it can be very dangerous so be warned!

Have a great weekend, talk to you all on Sunday!!

Barry

Mountain Biking in Curacao Along the North Coast

barry — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:08:56 +0000

“Stijn Watches While Tico Takes A GIANT Leap Into The Sea”

“North Coast Cave Fed By The Ocean”

“Riding Thru Playa Canoa”

“The Giant Windmills Have Been Torn Down”

“Stijn Checking Out The Landhouse At Koral Tabak”

Good evening friends, Stijn and I just got home from a super fun three hour mountain-bike ride along our wild and windy rough North coast. We started our ride today near a little town called Montana and rode first to Saint Joris bay. The wind was pretty heavy today making our ride really fun in one direction and not so fun in the other! We followed the waters edge at Saint Joris until we ran out of waters edge and then headed up and over a little mountain sending us straight down into where the ocean feeds Saint Joris bay, we call it the North coast. We immediately ran into my work colleagues Tico and Michiel who were on there way for a dive/lobster hunt but to get there they had to jump off this insane rock wall into very rough water! My question was and still is, “how do you get back out”?? Stijn and I both looked at each other shaking our heads and said, “no thanks”, those guys are crazy! From there you can follow a very rough but beautiful and fun two track four-wheel drive road along the whole North coast. Our next stop was this cool cave that is fed underground by the ocean. Many folks come here on calm North coast days and dive here but so far I have never done it. They say you just enter the cave as you see here with all your scuba gear on and dive under a big section of rocky shore-line and “presto” your out in the ocean! As I have been told the hard part is finding the hole to get back, just not sure I’m up for that yet, maybe after a few thousand more dives! Our next stop was Playa Canoa and seconds after taking this photo we got soaked by a surprise tropical storm, there was no where to run! Canoa is a favorite spot for surfers here in Curacao as you can see and it’s also one of the only semi-protected bays for fisherman so they use it to park their boats and have a cool little rustic village set up here. Soaked to the bone we carried on and headed West but soon we got hit with another downpour and within seconds the ground was soaked and we were caked in mud! So you guessed it we turned around and started back, now heading directly into the wind and let me tell you, that was zero fun! After drafting Stijn for around 15 minutes we finally came to what is now left of the giant windmills. The blades are all gone, must have been hauled away and all that remain are these big posts that once held the spinning giants in place. Not sure what they are doing out there but it looks like they may be building new ones, stay tuned if I hear something I will pass it along. Our final adventure of the day was riding our bikes up to this beautiful old 1800′s Landhouse. Stijn said it’s called “Landhouse Coral Tabak” which makes sense to me. He rode around investigating the whole scene while I took photos, and I think it’s safe to say we had a great time here! It was now getting late and we were still quite a ways from home so off we went back into the wind, fun, fun, fun!! We did make one more stop and that was to watch the illegal races at the speedway we have here in Curacao. It happens every Sunday evening on a paved stretch of road about a half mile in length. They race everything they can find, we even say a kid doing a long wheelie on a moped! We managed to get back to Stijn’s house just before dark and I was thankful to be done, that wind is just enough to drive one crazy! It’s so much fun having a strong tailwind but turning around and riding into it for an hour and a half is just not a good time! Fun ride.

We did a whole lot of trail work on Saturday morning and on Sunday, it’s starting to look like a mountain bike park out there! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, see you again soon, Barry

Trashed Beaches in the Caribbean, Beach Trash

barry — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:45:40 +0000

Good morning from Curacao. Here is a common site if your touring the North side of Curacao or Saint Joris Bay, TRASH!! And I must say it’s not just here, we have seen trash like this at every beach we have ever been to especially in Mexico. Most of the trash here consists of plastic bottles or plastic containers but of course as you can see it’s a big mixture of everything! Did you know that;

Plastic bottles take 700 years to begin composting
90% of the cost of bottled water is due to the bottle itself
80% of plastic bottles are not recycled
38 million plastic bottles go to the dump per year in America from bottled water (not including soda)
24 million gallons of oil are needed to produce a billion plastic bottles
The average American consumes 167 bottles of water a year
Bottling and shipping water is the least energy efficient method ever used to supply water
Bottled water is the second most popular beverage in the United States

Although it can be easy and convenient to pick up bottle beverage products the end cost to the environment is staggering. So be mindful when you drink…and remember, friends don’t let friends drink from disposables!

The good side to these trash piles if there is one is that it’s also filled with many useable or recyclable products like all the driftwood! This is just one of the many little Boca’s/inlets I frequent in search of wood to build my furniture and necklace holders, every day something new comes in!! These piles are also homes to many creatures like hermit crabs, rabbits, and even quail so I usually have to be very careful when digging thru this stuff.

The rain seems to have stopped here in Curacao and the sun is back! I did one dive with the sub yesterday and again noticed how cold the water is still this year, quite a difference from last year!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day, I am off to go diving,

be well, Barry

Merry Christmas from Substation Curacao, Mini-Subs

barry — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:52:40 +0000

Good morning friends, thought you all would enjoy seeing our 2011 Substation Christmas card that we put together yesterday and starting with me going clockwise, it’s Me, Dutch (owner/operator), Santa, played by our own Rob, Bruce (below Santa), Wendy (intern), Barbara (on top), Michiel (holding Santa’s bag), and Stan (intern) hiding behind me. We had originally planned on doing this photo underwater but as the day progressed yesterday we said “let’s just do it outside”! After we took this photo Santa and Wendy went to the Sea Aquarium and entertained everyone with a photo with Santa, he was a big hit yesterday!! Someone asked me the other day how many dives did we do this year with the sub?? I really don’t know but I think around 500!! As many of you know our year was filled with famous visitors, World wide press including Discovery Channel and National Geographic, scientists from all over the World, lots of new discoveries, and hundreds of satisfied customers all getting to go where few have ever been, it has been a fun year! Next year our big ship called “The Chapman” should be ready and that means travel! The plan is to load the sub onto the deck of our new ship and take it all over the Caribbean for weeks at a time exploring new and exciting areas. So Merry Christmas from all of us at Substation and remember to check us all out underwater at www.seesubmarine.com

I am running a bit late this morning, fighting the first cold I have had in a year, see you, Barry

Curacao Kids Carnival, Karnival, Caribbean Carnival

barry — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:20:24 +0000

Good morning readers, it’s 5:30am here in Curacao, and other than the sound of my computer running and the chirping tree frogs outside it’s a very quiet morning! Aimee and the dogs are still fast asleep although we did have to get up at 4:00 because of Indi throwing up grass. Yesterday morning just as I got up from sending the daily I noticed a big clump of hair on the floor and it was moving?? As I bent down to look closer the ball of hair started jumping, which kind of startled me at first and then I knew exactly what it was. Somehow a baby tree frog got into the computer room and was stuck in this ball of hair, it was a mix of Aimee’s long hair and dog hair. I carefully scooped him up and proceeded to untangle him from the mess of hair and then took him outside to a wet area alongside the house, opened my hand, and with a single hop he was gone! With all this rain I am seeing all kinds of new creatures around here especially these big long land slugs, I think they are super cool but Aimee has different thoughts.

Yesterday the Substation crew hauled the sub (by pulling it) all the way up the coast to Caracas bay where they then spent the whole day searching for treasure. I didn’t go so I have no idea yet was found but most likely canons and anchors, we have a bunch of that kind of stuff all over the island.

Here is another fun shot from the Curacao Kids Carnival. The big yellow fish is sewn into the costume, it’s not something they carry but did look like it when I first saw them coming. The crazy amount of work that went into this outfit is just unbelievable! Everything is underwater related, even her shoes have starfish on them, and there where at least 40-50 kids in this group, think of the work involved??

Well, time to wake everyone up, have a great day out there! Later, Barry

Cactus Blue Restaurant in Bonaire, Driftwood Signs

barry — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 10:26:41 +0000

Good morning from the tropics, yes it’s still raining!! I have to work today but before I go in I am going out to attempt and cut some trail! On the 12th there are some journalists/bike riders arriving from Holland who are doing a story on the different areas to cycle here on the island and I was asked to give them a tour of our trails, mainly the World Cup course. With all this rain I can’t keep up with the trail work now, and many trails are almost sealed shut from growing brush which you can imagine how difficult that could be to ride thru.

Since we are in the Holiday season and many of you have fridges filled with leftovers, this signs for you!! This fun driftwood sign comes from the finest restaurant in Bonaire called Cactus Blue, if you haven’t been there yet please do yourself a favor and stop in for lunch or dinner!! The whole inside of the restaurant is filled with fun signs like this and all kinds of super cool driftwood creations, you creative folks out there would go crazy with ideas! Oh yeah, ask for the owner and tell him I sent you, again some of the nicest folks you will meet!

The dogs are whining apparently wanting to be fed, I better go! Have a wonderful weekend, Barry

Carnival in the Caribbean, Curacao Carnival, Costumes

barry — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:27:15 +0000

Good morning friends, it’s Friday!! I will be underwater at 9:15 and 11:15 today with the sub, so if your near a computer that means it will be live at 10:15 and 12:15, give or take 15 minutes each way. The link again is www.seesubmarine.com I had an e-mail yesterday saying that someone saw me down there yesterday cleaning the camera and yes that was me. If we don’t scrub that camera weekly it becomes covered in algae, moss and little spots of calcium carbonate and once they form they are very hard to remove. I also noticed yesterday it was now home to dozens of small hermit crabs, they were climbing all over it and didn’t appreciate me moving them.

Here is another fun photo from the ever colorful Curacao Carnival which happens here every year in February. If I am not mistaken this “Lion King” group was the winner of the 2009 Carnival with their incredibly elaborate costumes and fun dances. I was talking to a friend here last week who knew a friend who had been working on costumes for the 2012 Carnival for a solid year now. It’s easy to see why this is hands down the biggest event that happens here in the course of the year and folks come from all over to see it.

I did another fast paced hour and a half ride with Stijn last night and ended up getting home in the dark. We started out here at the Aquarium and took off to Koral Tabak and rode the trails at Saint Joris and then back home via the trails at Jan Theil, that was about a 20 mile loop. From the Aquarium to Koral Tabak we tried to ride alongside the road the whole way in the dirt, thus adding a bit more of a workout and it proved to be much safer with all the 5:00 traffic. There is a race on Saturday I am going to try and do it with Stijn but not sure if I have time to register for it as we are so busy at work today.

I better get moving, have a great day and thanks for all the support, Barry

Old Tree, Reflections, Curacao Backroads, Salt Pond

barry — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:29:04 +0000

Good evening friends, it’s 8:00pm and we are just sitting here waiting to go diving tonight starting at 9:30. Tonight and tomorrow night is coral spawning and Aimee and I will be out there underwater until late. At approximately 10:15 tonight many of the mountainous and boulder star coral colonies will release eggs into the darkness but one never knows what else we will find on a night like this. I got two camera ready for this evening, a 105 macro and my trusty 28-70, Aimee will carry one and be next to me to trade back and forth throughout the evening. The ocean was dead calm today and very clear so I wonder if the corals will sense there is no movement and not spawn?? When the bundles are released they float to the surface where they are broken apart by waves and then mixed and fertilized by other eggs but if it’s calm, I think they will just be fish food? We will see, wish us luck!

Tonight’s photo was taken by Aimee down at the salt ponds which as you can see are still completely flooded! This is the first year I can remember that we didn’t get to ride the trails around the ponds as they are all still underwater. Way in the background of this photo are some tiny pink specks, those are the flamingos and there must be over 200 out there right now, they are loving this water!! The mud around this pond is so nasty, it stinks like bird poop and if you step in the wrong spot you will sink up to your knees in black disgusting mud!! I was thinking the other day, if I had an old pair of snow shoes, I could wear them to walk out thru the mud to get closer to the birds, it just might work? Any ways, nice photo from Aimee of the old dead tree and the reflection, that’s my girl!

Off to the sea, talk to you all tomorrow, Barry

Curacao Carnival, Curacao Attractions, Curacao Sites

barry — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:27:36 +0000

Good morning friends, how was your weekend? I had kind of a weird, restful weekend and other than long dog walks Saturday and Sunday, I really didn’t do much! I spent all of Saturday going thru a mountain of sea glass picking out the best pieces that will be photographed for a possible book or something fun like that and on Sunday continued the big project. I did do three hours of trail work Sunday morning and then at 4:00 took the bike to another part of the island for an hour and a half ride on an old race course. The place I took my bike turned out to be a complete disaster as someone took a bulldozer to the whole course, so instead of a nice fast single track like I had remembered it was, now it’s a five meter wide dirt road!!?? This is Curacao’s answer to mountain biking! Since I had driven the whole way there I did end up doing four laps any ways but you can bet I won’t be back!

Weather wise it was a beautiful weekend here with a major feel of fall in the air. Sundays morning walk was one of the first times I can recall it being overcast and cool and I even saw a tree loosing some leaves, it really reminded me of fall back home if only for a short moment. We thought we would get some rain also this weekend but nothing fell here at the house, I am guessing it did on other parts of the island.

I had a request for a Carnival photo showing a whole group and this was about all I could find. I remember just shooting individual photos and not the groups, don’t ask me why, maybe it was because the background was so bad? This street here is one of the busiest streets in Curacao during the day but during Carnival it is all closed for days, you have to be clever in driving around at this time of year. Most folks arrive hours early with their own chairs and find a spot to sit for the whole day, I call it “street camping”. They cart in food and drinks in large coolers, umbrellas for the rain or sun, chairs, and of course everyone has a camera of sorts! The most important thing you have to take with you is ear-plugs it’s honestly the loudest event I have ever been too!

I have to get going, have a great day folks!! Barry

Sint Willibrordus Roman Catholic Church Curacao

barry — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:01:32 +0000

Good morning friends, here is one of the hundreds of beautiful churches that can be found on Curacao but this one is my personal favorite. It’s in an area called Willibrordus and is completely surrounded by fun stuff to see and do. About a half mile down the road to the East is a big salt water pond that is usually filled with flamingo’s and every other kind of bird you can imagine, it’s a photographers and bird watchers paradise. To the West about two miles down a crazy-narrow, two-way road lies the beautiful beach of Porto Mari which is by far the most visited natural beach in Curacao. There is also a locals beach called Daaibooi which is located directly in front of the church about two miles “as the crow flies” and even a resort called Coral Estates very near that on top of a very high mesa. Sint Willibrordus Roman Catholic church was built between 1884 and 1888 in the Neo-Gothic architectural style common for churches built in that period. The design being an input of architect E.K.Margrij, it was constructed by the builder-priest V.Jansen. It was common for priests to be engaged in building activities in those days. The church was the second to be built on the site. The first one was erected in 1849 by the community. Under the inspiring leadership of Monsignor Niewindt, bishop and missionary, who worked from 1824 until 1860 on the island, small parishes were set up throughout the island with a small school and a church. These structures quite often were not more than shelters. Sint Willibrord village was among the first parishes to be founded by the Roman Catholic mission. The church was renovated with the support of the Curacao Monuments Foundation in 1999 and 2011. As you can see here they just finished renovations and it’s newly painted. We have driven by here many times over the course of the year and it’s been surrounded in scaffolding and construction. For any of you wanting photos of this beauty get out there now as this paint will fade very quickly and slowly turn to a shade of white.

Many of you wrote and said you saw us underwater yesterday, that is so cool!! I should be out there again at 12:15 today, that’s 9:15 for my mom in Tucson, Arizona!! Hint, hint!!

Love to all, thanks for the support, Barry