Bamboo Wind - Think Tiki

Knee Deep!

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:54:00 +0000

Wow, I've been away too long! The tropics are calling my name, even though it's 100+ degrees F in most of the states.

Anyway, this song came out a few weeks ago and is one of the best and most simple songs about the joys and carefree nature of the tropical mindset.

Enjoy it!

Knee Deep by Zac Brown (featuring Jimmy Buffett)

Caribbean Tortuga Rum Cake recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:28:00 +0000

Yes, I've been away from this blog too long. I'm back with a quick Rum Cake recipe that I think you'll like.

On my trips to the Bahamas, I've always made sure to try some Rum Cake before I leave. I've even had it made for me in North America and it's really a delight. You won't regret the time it takes to make this!

Ingredients:

Basic Cake Mix
2 cups cake flour
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, cut into bits
3 tablespoons vegetable oil

For the Cake
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 (3 1/2 ounce) package vanilla instant pudding mix
1/2 cup milk
4 eggs
1/2 cup whaler vanille rum (Hawaiian-style rum)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Rum soaking Glaze
1/2 cup butter (do not substitute)
1/4 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup whaler vanille rum (Hawaiian-style rum)

Directions
1 Basic Cake Mix: In a large mixing bowl, combine basic cake mix ingredients.
2 On low speed combine ingredients until the mix is the consistency of fine gravel, and all particles are about the same size.
3 This mix may be contained and stored for up to 3 months in the refrigerator.
4 For the Cake:.
5 Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
6 Spray a large Bundt pan (12 cup) with nonstick cooking spray.
7 Sprinkle the chopped walnuts on the bottom.
8 Place Basic Cake Mix, pudding mix, milk, eggs, rum, oil, and vanilla extract in a large bowl and combine on medium speed with electric mixer for 2 to 3 minutes, scrape down the bowl halfway through.
9 Batter should be very smooth.
10 Pour into Bundt pan.
11 Bake for about 55 minutes- until fully golden and tester comes out clean and cake springs back.
12 Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack while making the soaking glaze.
13 Rum Soaking Glaze:.
14 Combine butter, water and sugar in a small saucepan.
15 Bring to a boil carefully as mixture boils over very easily.
16 Reduce to a simmer and cook until sugar is dissolved and syrup is well combined and a little thicker.
17 Remove from the heat and add the rum, mix to combine.
18 While cake is still cooling, pour some of the hot syrup on top of the cake, allowing it time to soak in (this may take a few minutes as there will be a lot of syrup) continue to add syrup until all of the syrup is added.
19 Allow cake to cool completerly in pan before turning out onto serving platter.
20 This cake is delicate, so once it is turned out, it can not be moved around easily.
21 Can be eaten when fully cool, but even better the next day!

Moorea: Where Tahitians Vacation

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:05:00 +0000

Moorea (which sounds a lot like Moria from Lord of the Rings, but looks a lot more inviting), is becoming a major tourist destination. I've read that this is a place where Tahitians go to vacation. What does that say when people who live in paradise want to visit an island different from their own?

The island itself is beautiful, as you can see in images below. The same travel difficulties for Americans would apply as they would going to the main Tahiti island. This could very well be something for those who want to avoid the main tourist congested areas.

A wide, shallow lagoon surrounds the island's vertical mountains where poetic threads of waterfalls tumble down fern-softened cliffs. Peaceful meadows flanked by pinnacles of green will fill your senses and renew your belief in the majesty of nature. Pastel-painted houses surrounded by gardens of hibiscus and birds of paradise, circle the island in a fantasy of happy, yet simple villages.

The craggy volcanic peaks, reflected in the tranquil waters of Cook's Bay and Oponohu Bay, rise like a shark's jaw from the island's basaltic base. The lush mountain slopes are covered with rain forest or pineapple plantations, and white sand beaches border crystalline lagoons.

You can go on a whale and dolphin watch departing daily with marine biologist Michael Poole. Ask at you hotel desk.
The best ancient temple ( Marae) can be seen on the way up to the Belvedere. It is not a structure but flat coral slabs forming a sort of enclosure

All beaches are public, but the best one is 1/4 of a mile down a dirt road off the main road between the Sofitel Ia Ora and the airport gas station

There is no town to speak-of on Moorea, but you will find a few areas along the road with clusters of shops selling miscellaneous goods, local crafts and colorful hand printed fabrics (pareos).

This is definitely a stop to visit if you are going to Tahiti anyway.

Here's an island map:

Summertime Margarita (from Margaritaville)

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:11:00 +0000

Here's a quick one for you to make it through the summer heat:
Jimmy Buffett's own recipe for the PERFECT Margarita!

Crushed ice
3 wedges lime
2 ounces gold tequila (Cuervo 1800)
1/2 ounce tequila (Cuervo white)
1 1/4 ounces Rose's Lime Juice
1/2 ounce triple sec (Bols)
1 splash orange Cura?ao (Bols)

Put all ingredients except the 3 lime wedges into a shaker. Squeeze 2 of the lime wedges into the shaker. SHAKE WELL! Rim outside of glass only with lime. Salt only the outside of the glass. Add fresh crushed ice to glass. Strain mixture over ice. Squeeze remaining lime wedge in glass.

Some may think this is too strong so here are a few alternatives:

From Chow.com

INGREDIENTS

Salt, for rimming the glass (optional)
Ice
1 1/2 ounces tequila (blanco, 100 percent agave)
1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 ounce Cointreau (not Triple Sec)

INSTRUCTIONS

If using salt, place in a shallow dish. Moisten the rim of a rocks glass with a dampened paper towel, then dip in salt.
Fill the glass with ice; add tequila, lime juice, and Cointreau; and stir a few times until chilled. Serve immediately.

Here's one from Allrecipe.com

Ingredients

1 (6 ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate
6 fluid ounces tequila
2 fluid ounces triple sec

Directions

Fill blender with crushed ice. Pour in limeade concentrate, tequila and triple sec. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.

And there is a full website with lots of different versions over at Margaritarecipe.org

Someone else's list of the top 10 little known dream islands

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:19:00 +0000

Well, I have several places I want to blog about and very little time to get to it, so I'll put up a post with someone else's picks for the top 10 little known dream islands.

Anegada, British Virgin Islands

Cat Ba Island, Vietnam

Fakarava, French Polynesia

Iles de la Madeleine, Quebec

Ischia, Italy

Lamu, Kenya

Monhegan Island, Maine

Terre-de-Haut, Guadeloupe

Vis, Croatia

Yap, Micronesia

Be sure to read the article linked ->HERE<- to get insights on the authors' reasons why they chose these locations.

The Village of Islands - Islamorada

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:11:00 +0000

The Village of Islands, also known as the "purple isle" by Spanish explorers and later as Islamorada, is 1/3 of the way down the Florida Keys from Key Largo at the far northeast (near Miami) to the Southwest (Key West).

It's knowns for many things, including the beaches, the restaurants, watersports, the diving, but many know it for the fishing opportunities. Some of the local restaurants will even cook what you've caught the same day.

It can be a relatively inexpensive vacation, from a travel standpoint, from many locations in North America. Miami's Airport has several arriving discount airlines from other major airports, and renting a car to drive the remaining distance will only be about 2 hours or less driving time.

Here's a promo video from their Chamber of Commerce:

Known as the "Sportfishing Capital of the World," Islamorada is heralded for its angling diversity and features the Keys’ largest fleet of offshore charter boats and shallow water "backcountry" boats.

Islamorada is actually 4 islands. Every 28 days, there is are beachfront events called "Full Moon Parties". There are bonfires, live bands, barbeques, bars, and a lot of people dancing on the sand. A great place to take loved ones for romantic moonlit nights.

Don't forget to check out the world famous "Islamorada Fish Company" restaurant.

There's a lot to do on this little piece of tropical paradise. On top of that, Key West, the other Keys and Miami are very close so you can vary your vacation to include those spots as well.

Tropical Drink - The Blue Hawaiian

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:37:00 +0000

Here's a tropical drink for you to try. Very popular among tourists in Hawaii; its' a blend of the blue Hawaiian skies as well as rum, curacao, coconuts and pineapples. Yep, sounds like Hawaii to me!

BLUE HAWAIIAN RECIPE #1

Ingredients 1 ounce White Rum

1/2 ounce Blue Curacao

# 1 ounce Pineapple Juice

1 ounce Cream of Coconut

1 tsp Sugar

Instructions
Mix all ingredients in a shaker half filled with ice cubes. Strain into an old fashioned glass half filled with crushed ice. Decorate with a paper umbrella

BLUE HAWAIIAN RECIPE #2

Ingredients

1 ounce Blue Curacao

1 ounce Coconut Cream

2 ounce Pineapple Juice

1 ounce Light Rum

Pineapple slice

Cherries

Instructions

Fill a blender with 3 ounce of crushed ice and pour in all ingredients. Blend the ingredients at low speed for about 15 seconds or until smooth. Pour into a goblet, garnish as desired and serve.

And here is a video of someone making their version of the Blue Hawaiian.

Enjoy it!

Returning soon, with a sneak preview

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:49:00 +0000

I'm going to be back soon with new posts. These will include not only exotic place (like in this video below), but more cost-conscious vacations, tropical recipes, music, and drinks.

Stay tuned!

Merry Christmas Tropics-lovers!

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

My apologies for taking so long between posts recently. Many other things have kept me busy.

I plan to make many more blogs about some tropical locations you have and haven't heard of, as well as tropical recipes and drinks after the New Year celebration.

Anyway, I'm hoping you all have a great Christmas and New Year. Here's a Hawaiian Merry Christmas to you!

Barbados - Atlantic Paradise!

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:30:00 +0000

The island nation of Barbados is actually on the far western edge of the Atlantic Ocean, just to the east of the main Caribbean Islands. The name "Barbados" comes from a Portuguese explorer named Pedro Campos in 1536, who originally called the island Os Barbados ("The Bearded Ones") upon seeing the appearance of the island's fig trees whose long hanging aerial roots, he thought, resembled beards.

It has one of the highest standards of living among the developing nations. It is also a travel favorite of many westerners.

Probably highest of the attractions are the beautiful beaches. Here are some examples:

And here is a link to the Mullins beach surf cam (a live web cam which you can control).

Port St Charles has 4 webcams for your viewing.

Earlier this year, CNN had a report on how to maximize your money while traveling to Barbados:

1) Travel off-season (summer months)
2) Rent a condo or house instead of the big resorts
3) Hit the local spots instead of the touristy places
and other such ideas.

Here are a couple of videos to get you into the mood:

Golf and snorkeling are big on this island. You can also chart a tall ship mini-cruise and there are plenty of small airlines to take you to nearby caribbean locations.

It's not the cheapest destination but certainly one that will be worth the effort.

How to make a Cuban-style Mojito

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:46:00 +0000

Ever since the last Pierce Brosnan James Bond movie (Die Another Day), the world has been in love with the Mojito. Here's a real Cuban-roots Mojito recipe:

Ingredients

* Juice of 1 lime
* 1 1/2 oz white rum
* 1 1/2 tsp of sugar
* Splash of club soda
* 2 fresh mint sprig
* Crushed ice

Directions

1. Combine 1 fresh mint sprig , 1 1/2 teaspoon of sugar and the lime juice in a tall glass.
2. Crush the mint spring and sugar on the button of the glass. Add the ice, rum and a splash of club soda and stir. Garnish with mint sprig and enjoy!

Cozumel - Mexico's biggest Island

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:07:00 +0000

Just 12 miles off the coast of the Yucatan is Cozumel, one of the favorite locations for tourist and cruise lines. One thing most people notice first is the ultra-blue waters around the island. This is prime-time Caribbean paradise!

There are no end of things to do while there: hanging out at the beach, snorkeling, scuba diving, golf, watching the sunsets, weddings, etc. Click here to see a list of some of the inland attractions.

Much of the island is undeveloped jungle, full of wildlife like tropical birds and reptiles. (You'll find restaurants, bars, and other amenities in San Miguel de Cozumel, the island's only town.) Don't miss Cozumel's Mayan ruins and bright coral reefs.

Click here to load a very large panoramic view of the beach

The warm waters, clear and turquoise Cozumel guarding the second largest reef network in the world, full of limestone caves, tunnels and rare black coral. His lucid marine life attracts divers from all over the world. The Cozumel Reefs National Park is a protected area of 30,000 acres south of Cozumel, covering 85 per cent of places for diving on the island.

It was here Jacques Cousteau came again and again to scuba dive in the 1960's which help put Cozumel on the map, and if you come and don't dive, or at least snorkel, you leave without experiencing the main tourist attraction.

Here are a couple of videos showing the beauty both above and below the surface.

This is quite a beautiful island and not very pricey for North American visitors.

How to make a Lava Flow cocktail like the ones in Hawaii

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:47:00 +0000

There is a popular drink in Hawaiian tourist locations (and the airport), known as the Lava Flow. Here are two ways to make this great drink:

Lava Flow Cocktail

1 oz. coconut rum
1 oz. light rum
1/2 banana
2 oz. pineapple juice
2 oz. coconut cream
2 oz. frozen strawberries

The key to preparation is to blend the strawberries and rums separately from the other ingredients, rinsing the blender between steps. (If using strawberry puree, you can skip this and simply blend all ingredients except the puree.)

Pour the strawberry mix or the puree to the bottom of a large glass (a collins or hurricane glass). Then add the blender ingredients, or as it’s often done, reverse and pour the strawberry mix on top. The red strawberry mix swirls in the drink, simulating a lava flow.

Royal Hawaiian Lava Flow

Mix these in the bottom of a Boston shaker glass:

2 fresh strawberries
1-2 in. slice of banana

Fill shaker glass with ice and then add:

1 oz. coconut cream (Coco Lopez)
1 oz. pineapple juice
1.5 oz. Mount Gay Rum (or other golden rum)

Cover with top of the Boston shaker, shake vigorously. Pour into a hurricane glass. Garnish pineapple wedge and paper parasol. Enjoy

Cancun - Mexico's Caribbean

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:07:00 +0000

Cancun is Mexico's Caribbean Paradise, situated on the Yucatan Peninsula. It is renowned for unspoiled powder-white beaches, soothing aquamarine seas, and remnants of ancient Indian civilizations.

A Cancun vacation means long stretches of fine white sand beaches, the bluest waters of the Caribbean Sea and all under the hot Mexican Sun. Cancun is situated on the south-east coast of Mexico in the state of Quintana Roo.

There are a thousand and one things to do in Cancun. There are many world-class luxury hotels dotted all along the edge of the beautiful Caribbean Sea, and on the other side you have the Nichupte Lagoon with many romantic waterside restaurants and trendy bars.

Cancun is the ultimate vacation and resort destination whether your idea of a good time is surfing, kayaking, fishing and swimming or just laying in the tropical sun. On the lagoon side, there is an abundance of water sports equipment for rental for one day or an entire vacation. On the Caribbean side, enjoy great swimming, surfing and sunbathing.

For divers and snorkelers, Cancun is a paradise. The crystal-blue Caribbean waters hold an abundance of underwater wildlife, and most of the resorts have trainers who can show you which end of the fin to flap and how to handle the equipment.

Cancun is not only a great place to spend Spring Break but also a great place for a wedding or a honeymoon. Being not far from America, it's a short flight from any of the southern states. Americans make up the bulk of the tourists and there are seemingly always great values on vacations to this location.

Don't forget to check out the nearby Indian ruins. Many of Central America's best pyramids can be found not far from Cancun. Many tourist packages include a day trip to the local ruins.

A Cancun trip/vacation one of the better uses of your money if you are in North America.

Bali - An Asian Island Paradise

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Another nice place to vacation or spend your honeymoon is the island of Bali. Bali is located off the cost of Indonesia and is one of the more exotic locations due to it's Asian heritage.

Bali goes by many other names, like "the jewel of the Indonesian archipelago", or the "island of the gods". It's definitely one of the more unique places one could visit.

It's known not only for it's tourism, but also Aribica coffee. On top of that, it has an unusual mixture of Hindu and Islamic religions, unlike most island nations in the area.

Visiting Bali is not easy from North America. You will lose a day due to crossing the International timeline. You will regain this on the return trip, however. And being that far isn't going to be cheap. Due to these reasons, many choose a two week visit to maximize time on the island.

Bali is very picturesque, which is why many computer wallpaper images use Bali Beach scenes. Here is a short video montage of many sites to see in Bali.

There are other things to do while in Bali besides just visiting the beach. Consider any of the following:

Tour the Spice Islands

Bali Cruises are plentiful, and depend on your budget.

Go Diving!

There are plenty of places that will help you achieve your diving desires while in Bali.

Visit the Temples

There are plenty of Indonesian style temples to visit while there. They are really something to see. Make sure you bring your camera.

And don't forget the beach and ocean....

Try something different: Hawaiian Zipline Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:36:00 +0000

Taking a zipline run can be one of the most fun and safe adrenaline rushes you can get. It's not risk-free but is far less dangerous than skydiving, kitesurfing and even bungee jumping. It also turns out to be something you can find in abundance in Hawaii. So far, I've found that the Big Island, Kauai, Kahola and Maui all have zip line tours starting at the tops of many of their local hills and mountains.

Some even offer couples/tandem/quad tours so you don't have to go alone down the big slope.

This site lists some of the prices per adventure, per person. They look pretty reasonable. Hey, if you just spent hundreds per flight ticket, you'll probably not think twice about this prices:

Hawaii Activities site listing

Here are some of the ones you can find spread throughout the islands:

Maui Piholo Ziplines

Hawaii Fun Tours

Kaanapali Skyline Adventures

Just another thing to do than sit on the beach all during the vacation.

How to Make a Bahama Mama

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 02:08:00 +0000

Anyone who has ever taken a Bahamian Cruise has probably encountered this drink more than once. I "encountered" it several times on my last cruise :)

It's a good blend of fruit flavor and one or more rums. I'm going to give you two versions of the recipe here (there may be more).

Recipe # 1)

Ingredients:
1 oz rum
1 oz dark rum
1 oz coconut rum
1/2 oz grenadine syrup
6 oz pineapple juice
1 whole maraschino cherry

Preparation:

Shake all ingredients together with ice in a cocktail shaker. Pour with ice into a hurricane glass and toss in the cherry.

Recipe # 2)

Glass: highball, serves: 1

Ingredients
¾ oz. Bacardi Gold rum
½ oz. Nassau Royale Liqueur or Grand Marnier
½ oz. Cointreau
2 oz. orange juice

Preparation
1 dash of Angostura Bitter, ½ oz. Grenadine, ¼ oz. lemon juice Shake well with cracked ice. Garnish with orange slice & cherry.

Enjoy!

The Island of Palau, beautiful above and below the Sea

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:11:00 +0000

Pelau (sometimes spelled and pronounced as Belau, to match the native pronounciation), is a tiny island nation 500 east of the Phillipines and 2000 miles south of Tokyo, putting it in the most tropical location in the South Pacific. It is considered one of the many Micronesian islands in Oceania.

Most visitors can easily obtain a 30 day visitation visa. Americans don't need a visa to visit. This is probably a thank to for America's help in getting the UN to recognize Palau's independence from the Micronesia Federation.

Americans who travel here are looking at a very long flight as this island is nearly on the other side of the globe. Therefore, don't be surprised by expensive hotels when you get there. From my research, it appears $200/night in the average hotel is likely.

Scuba Diving

The Republic of Palau is inimitable. Most tourists who come here like to spend their time underwater, for Palau is among the world's most spectacular diving and snorkelling destinations. It features coral reefs, blue holes, wartime wrecks, hidden caves and tunnels, more than 60 vertical drop-offs to play with, and an astonishing spectrum of coral, fish, and rare sea creatures. There are also some outright miracles of evolution: giant clams that weigh a quarter of a ton, for example, and a lake teeming with 21 million softly pulsating, stingless jellyfish.

Palau is rated as one of the world's best diving destinations by scuba aficionados. And why not...Palau has unspoiled reefs, caves, and walls with the most amazing array of marine life you can ever imagine.

Check out the Palau Dive Report.

Palau received a lot of attention in the news not long ago as President Obama was attempting to disburse many Guantanamo Bay detainees. The Chinese Muslims known at Uighers (pronounced "Weegers") were divided between Palau and Bermuda. After seeing this tropical paradise, I'm wondering why they get rewarded with a tropical paradise.

Uncommon Island paradises in America

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:56:00 +0000

There was a recent story online about Island Paradise locations within America.

So, I couldn't help but check out anything with "Paradise" in the title. Many of these are not the typical tropical paradise locations I normally blog about here.

As a summary of the article, some of these destinations are tourist resorts while others will be more of a nature hike. Here are some images and names that they listed:

Block Island, Rhode Island

Santa Cruz Island, Californica

Kodiak Island, Alaska

Sapelo Island, Georgia

Little Palm Island, Florida

Orcas Island, Washington

Isle Royale, Michigan

Daufuskie Island, South Carolina

Isle Au Haut, Maine

Smith Island, Maryland

Coco Cay, Bahamas

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:03:00 +0000

One of the most beautiful places in the Bahamas (or anywhere for that matter), is a small stretch of desert sand and palm trees, known to many as Coco Cay (formerly called Little Stirrup Cay). This island is privately leased by Royal Caribbean Cruises, and is only accessible via one of their cruise ships.

I must say that it was the high point of a cruise I took a few years ago, and the reviews online seem to agree with me. The wind and water were so warm, so clear that you just felt wrapped up in paradise.

The island is less than a mile (around one kilometer) wide from east to west and less than a 200 yards (meters) from north to south. The east end is the center of recreational activities with beaches fronting a coral basin where manatee, rays, and numerous fish can be seen. There is a rocky inlet on the north side of the island large enough for the tenders operate from. Nature trails run the entire length and width of the island.

While there, many may take kayak tours, or ski-doo tours. There's also volleyball, areas to stretch out and get a tan, snorkeling, swimming, parasailing, and other fun things to do. You can walk around the island in a very short amount of time. The tenders from the Royal Caribbean cruise ships would run quite often back and forth.

The Royal Caribbean people cook up a bountiful barbeque! Hamburger, hot dogs, and plenty of picnic food await the hungry. While dining, local people will entertain with music and dance.

Shopping, while it is available, is not a shopping center. Little booths offer the typical tourist items, and if you forget your sunscreen, hat, or cover up, they have it.

Also, the local drink is a very fruity and addictive drink called "Coco Locos". Here's a shot of this drink:

While most that take a Royal Caribbean Cruise don't see Coco Cay as the main destination (usually, it's Nassau Bahamas), it ends up being the most photographed and most commented-upon stops. It's the extra icing on the cake to a fun vacation.

Here are a few pictures and videos, some including more than just Coco Cay.

Dr Beach pronounced Hanalei Bay to be America's #1 beach

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Fri, 22 May 2009 13:23:00 +0000

"If life is a beach, Hanalei Bay must be heaven."

Hanalei Bay topped "Dr. Beach" Stephen P. Leatherman's 2009 list of top 10 beaches, which was released Friday, May 22nd, 2009.

Hanalei beat out other shores stretching from San Diego to Cape Cod.

Hanalei Bay is a scenic paradise on the north shore of Kauai in Princeville. "The sheer beauty of Hanalei Bay is breathtaking," said Leatherman, director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research. "It's really an idyllic setting."

I must agree. Kauai is one of the most beautiful islands in the Hawaiian chain of islands. They are the northermost big islands, seen here:

Hanalei Bay is a spectacular white crescent-shaped sand beach that is considered by many residents and visitors alike to be the most beautiful beach setting in Hawaii. The two-mile long strand is lined by palm trees with a backdrop of waterfalls and mountain peaks that range up to 4,000 feet high. One of the best views of the beach is from the Princeville Hotel, located on the high bluff to the east. The other end of this wide coral sand beach is anchored by a high lava point that extends into the ocean. This panorama has been the inspiration for many paintings and photo shoots.

World champion surfers and athletes call Hanalei home - if you are lucky enough to catch it on a good day expect to see some amazing wave riding (from a safe distance).

There are plenty of other things to do in the area besides lounging on the beach though. These include:

Hiking	Scuba Diving and snorkeling
Horseback Riding	Kayaking
Helicopter Tours	Golf
Wailua River & Falls	Kilohana Plantation
Kauai Museum	Kalapaki Bay
Shipwreck Beach	Spouting Horn

Dr Beach Leatherman based his selections on 50 criteria, including water quality and temperature, cleanliness, weather, sand, safety and facilities. And Hanalei is his personal favorite "getaway beach" in Hawaii.

"If I want to get away from it all and forget about the rest of the world, Hanalei is about the best place to go, as far as I know."

I'll end with several pictures showing the sheer awesome beauty of the place.

Kitesurfing - the latest extreme watersport

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:10:00 +0000

Kitesurfing is becoming one of the more popular new extreme watersports today. You can find many kitesurfing schools and facilities at many of your tropical vacation spots.

Kitesurfing was initially considered a dangerous sport. However, innovations in board and kite design, along with the rise of dedicated schools have put this sport into the mainstreams of sports enthusiasts.

You can check out one such school in Fort Lauderdale here. And you can see some kitesurfing videos all over the web. Here are a couple I choose:

This sport has taken over the water recreation areas of some popular beaches so that people can learn the hybrid sport of both kiting and surfing. There are many cool techniques that you can learn. These dangerous maneuvers can help you improve your surfing skills immensely. By harnessing the power of the wind and ocean, your board can reach top speeds while you fly into the air at 20 feet. There is an adrenaline rush involved for thrill seekers alike.

Over on DMOZ, you can find a list of kitesurfing schools. Perhaps one is close to you.

I think it is probably going to be one of the more fun things you can learn while on vacation.

Looks fun? I know I can't wait!

Paradise Island, Bahamas & the Atlantis Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:13:00 +0000

With all the talk of the recession, sometimes you have to look closer to home for the good vacations. Fortunately for me, I'm on the east coast of America, and the Bahamas is just a 2 hour flight away. While I'm all for cruises, sometimes the flight can be more advantageous if you want to maximize time on the island. If, however, you want the full pampered experience, there are plenty of great cruise offers going on right now as well.

For this blog entry, I'm going to focus on Paradise Island, which connects to Nassau island, and is the home of the famous Atlantis hotel. Paradise Island is connected to the island of New Providence by two bridges that cross Nassau Harbour. The first was built in 1966 and the second in the late 1990s.

This island was once known as Hog Island, but was changed in the early 1960's. Some films were filmed there. The original James Bond Thunderball and Casino Royale showed some parts of Paradise Island.

The island itself is quite beautiful. The Atlantis hotel has been called the Vegas on the Ocean, as it has a full gambling license. There is also a vast aquarium at the hotel that is very popular with tourist. This hotel is a major tourist stop even for those that do not plan to stay there.

Prices can change for the season and the economy, but plan on a small room being between $250-400 per night. The magnificent bridge part of the hotel, shown in the picture below, is $250,000 per night with a 4 night stay minimum. That's $1 million!

The island has more than just beaches and hotels. Some great reef diving is found there as well.

The Bahamas are a nice place to live if you want good weather and nearly non-existent taxes (not to the Tea Partiers from the recent April 15th).

And don't forget to try the Bahamian Conch Fritters!

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:42:00 +0000

Rio de Janeiro (“River of January”), also called Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvelous City) is the second largest city of Brazil. Rio de Janeiro is famous for its natural settings, its Carnival celebrations, samba and other music, and hotel-lined tourist beaches, such as Copacabana and Ipanema, paved with decorated black and cream swirl pattern mosaics known locally as “pedra portuguesa”.

It was at one time, the capital of Brazil. It has 23 beaches and nearly 50 miles of sand unbroken. It has some very distinctive landmarks, including the famous Christ the Redeemer statue on a nearby hill, and a mountain called Sugar Loaf, accessible via cable car as seen below:

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Rio has a tropical climate. The temperature occasionally reaches over 40°C (104°F) in inland areas of the city, and extreme maximum temperatures above 30°C can happen every month. In the main tourist areas, the temperature is moderated by the cool sea-breezes from the ocean.

Rio has been an important center for the revival of traditional Samba music, especially around Lapa, an old bohemian neighborhood. This has come closely associated with a revival in Choro music, a traditional form which is mainly instrumental.

You may want to be cautious if taking your family there. Despite its charm and beauty, Rio is reputed to be one of the most violent cities in the world and motivated movies such as Bus 174, City of God and Elite Squad portraying severe social issues. Violent crime is concentrated in the slum areas known as favelas, which are located largely on the periphery of the City. The beach and touristy areas should be safe though.

There are plenty of top-rated hotels for travels to consider:

The beaches in and around Rio de Janeiro are probably some of the most famous in the world today. That many Brazilians and tourists alike flock to the beaches around Rio during the major holiday events of the year (for example, over 2 million party the night away New Year's on Rio's beaches!) makes the fascination with Rio's beaches only stronger. The more notable of Rio's beaches include:

- Copacabana: if you were to draw up a list of the top 10 most famous beaches around the world to visit, Copacabana would be high up on that list. Arguably one of the world's best beaches, Copacabana has over 4kms of pristine, spotless, wide white sand to relax on. Due to its notoriety, there is also plenty of local accommodation available at very affordable rates. Activities on Copacabana beach include volleyball, water sports and all night partying! Copacabana is also the home of futevolei: foot volleyball. The only note of caution about Copacabana is that it can get crowded, and with it a certain level of petty theft occurs. However, so long as you don't take any valuables to the beach with you, you should be fine. Certainly the jewel in the crown of Brazil beaches.

- Ipanema: just along the coast a little way from Copacabana, Ipanema has a reputation of being a little more sedate than its neighbor. Although this is more famously known as the "family beach" among Brazil beaches, it is nonetheless the beach to go to if you want to see the girls parading the latest designs in tropical swimwear. Indeed Ipanema beach is the spiritual home of the "tangas" - the mini-bikini! Activities on Ipanema beach include the traditional Brazilian favorite of volleyball. However, Ipanema's outstanding soft white sand and cool blue water make this beach very popular for those wishing to do a little swimming with their sunbathing.

The Brazilian Carnival, properly spelled Carnaval, is an annual festival in Brazil held four days before Ash Wednesday, the day of fasting and repentance that marks the beginning of Lent. Brazilian Carnival exhibits some from its European counterparts, having mixed African, Native and Euro elements. In 1840, the first Carnaval was celebrated with a masked ball. As years passed, adorned floats and costumed revelers became a tradition amongst the celebrants.

It's been featured in many movies. The James Bond movie "Moonraker" was filmed there showing off the cable cars and carnival season.

If you want a vacation that is both tropical yet not totally island-bound, Rio may be a place to consider.

The Maldives

noreply@blogger.com (Bamboowind) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:02:00 +0000

The Maldives are thought of by many as one of, if not THE best beach vacation in the world. This isn't just one island but over 1,100 islands. Only about 200 of them are inhabited. Some are just stretches of sand with a tree or two at most.

The Maldives may be the flattest country in the world — just 2.3 meters at its maximum elevation — but tourist arrivals and new carriers flying there continue on a steep upward trend. 50 new resorts are scheduled to be built over the next couple of years.

Unsurprisingly, sun-seeking Europeans account for the majority of visitors to the islands —representing around 80 percent of arrivals. The reason many Americans aren't visiting could be very simple: It's on the other side of the planet! These islands are in the Indian Ocean, which is just about as far away from North America as you can get for a tropical vacation. For those that do go, it is really worth it. No other location is quite like this one. I believe the best computer wallpaper images are coming from photos taken in the Maldives.

Scuba diving, cruises and honeymoons are a large source of their tourist traffic. Maldives with its beautiful coral islands, sunny beaches and tranquil and peaceful environment is a great place for a romantic vacation. More and more couples are nowadays coming to this country for a grand holiday. Because of this reason, one can find numerous honeymoon resorts in the country.

On 26 December 2004, following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, the Maldives were devastated by a tsunami. Only nine islands were reported to have escaped any flooding, while fifty-seven islands faced serious damage to critical infrastructure, fourteen islands had to be totally evacuated, and six islands were decimated. A further twenty-one resort islands were forced to shut down due to serious damage.

The world's first underwater Restaurant is located in the Maldives at the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. Ithaa (which is pronounced “eet-ha” and means “pearl” in the language of the Maldives) sits five meters below the waves of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by a vibrant coral reef and encased in clear acrylic, offering diners 270 degrees of panoramic underwater views.

And you can see a promotional video here:

Traveling to the Maldives isn't cheap, but it's quite a set of memories for anyone who's made the journey.

Here are a few parting images: