In early April 2013, I was sick and tired of the Canadian winter that was dragging on and on and decided to book a ticket to somewhere warm but not too far from Montréal as I had DJ obligations to attend to four days later.

A friend suggested Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory, reputed for its amazing beaches and a short flight from Montréal, my homebase. A Turks & Caicos vacation is exactly what I needed. I actually should call it an escape or gateaway because it only lasted four days and consisted of two major activities: lying at the beach and racing around Providenciales, the major Island, on a quest to discover it but also feel wind in my hair.

I brought my Nikon D600 camera along — of course — and I managed to capture 780 images but to keep it manageable, I will only share a few with you, if you care.

Turks & Caicos Islands is reknown for its world class beaches and resorts that are growing like mushrooms. I could go on and tell you about this island nation that is NOT considered part of the Caribbeans but I will rather let Wikipedia do all of the explaining.

This mural is a painting of the map of the tropical island. As you can see, it’s all about beachs in Turks and Caicos Islands. I was in Providenciales, the most populated part.

See where the water is slightly turquoise? It’s not deep at all. I could have walked 3 good kilometres into the water and it would have only reached my knees. Apparently this is why hurricanes do not really hit this island as hard as it hits the others because by the time they get into that shallow water, they lose their force.

Resorts in Turks and Caicos Islands are the most popular types of establishments by travellers. Why? Because they are all inclusive and you can just check in and never have to worry about anything else.

This is not my style of travel. I prefer to book a hotel and just explore the island (Providenciales, in this case). A friend advised Ports of Call Resort which was perfect for me. You will notice that they bill themselves as a resort but they’re a hotel and they should be proud of that fact. The rate was affordable because it does not have direct access to any beaches but a 3-minute walk did not kill me. It is Canadian-owned (like almost everything there!) just in case anyone cares.

I never used that pool for a good reason: why travel for hours to go to the beach then spend time in a swimming pool???? We have more than plenty in Montréal!

Beaches of Turks and Caicos Islands are the reason why this is becoming a travel destination of choice by millions of tourists every year. No matter which side of the island you find yourself on, they are just breath-taking. The waves are not too big and the water is nice and warm.

If you are travelling to Turks & Caicos, travel agents and marketers will try to sell you on many other activities there. The truth is that there is not much to do there that you cannot do better in other islands. But their beaches alone are worth the trip. The one I attended regulary got voted the best two years in a row by the leading travel website on the Internet!

The truth be told, Providenciales as a city is nothing to get excited about. As a curious person, I needed to check it out with my very own eyes. It’s a typical place like in every island except that it’s slightly pretty high-end which makes sense because this country is chock-full of people who left their rich countries to come and settle here which, I understand completely given how gorgeous it is.

Turks & Caicos Islands should just become an overseas Canadian state or territory given the sheer fact that everything there is run by Canucks even the electricity!

While I loved Turks and Caicos beaches, I needed to do something else and on my way from a lunch, I came across this scooter rental place and I thought it would be pretty cool to rent a Vespa and just tour the island.

Initially, I wanted to do it by biycle but since I was short on time, I knew there was no way, I could tour the island in less than 4 hours.

This iPhone 4S snap, shows me (JaBig) on a Vespa S50 ready to visit the island with my camera hanging from my shoulder so that I could make quick stops and take photographs of interesting places or people.

Yes, I did ride with a helmet on. It’s just that for this shot, I did not want to look ridiculous since the helmet that they had provided me with was too big and I looked funny with it on. And, no, I was not scared that my camera would fall of my shoulder. That’s what that strap is for. My only fear was that if I fell, the camera would shatter into pieces. But hey, adventure has its risks, right?

I would stop, enjoy the scenery , take some photos and move along

Turks and Caicos Islands is the capital of stray dogs in the world. I would list this as my only downer on this trip. Whenever, I stopped, they’d come running and barking and I had no idea what their intentions were.

My last objective was to get bitten or mauled so I would calmly get back on the scooter and move along. In this case though, I just had to wait for them to get bored and go bark at other interesting subjects.

Riding a Vespa scooter under the tropical sun meant that I would get hot pretty quickly! My solution was to simply stop, undress, jump in the ocean to cool off and then hop on to the moped again and travel along!

Why am I wearing shoes you ask? I am smart enough to know that I would not want to make an emergency stop on a scooter and put my feet on the ground wearing flip flops!

At one stage, I took a wrong turn and ended up on this deserted unpaved road. There is no way the Vespa Scooter was going to last 10 minutes so I got off and pushed it back to the nearest paved road.

Don’t trust any maps provided to you by locals. They told me not to trust Google Maps on my iPhone but it bailed me out more often than theirs!

At one stage, I came across a group of people that were parasailing and they asked me to join them. I was tempted but had no idea if my travel insurance covered any risks associated with it so I politely declined, had a swim and “scooter-ed” on.

This has to be the biggest home I have ever seen in my life. It is said to belong to a wealthy (obviously!) American celebrity. I went by scooter the first time and surprisingly missed it and on the following day, I finally saw it and from about 3 kilometres away, took a photo of it.

More interesting sights from Turks and Caicos Islands…

And of course, there is no way, I was ever going to miss the amazing sunsets!

Conclusion:

Turks and Caicos Islands is a beach destination. You go there to just be lazy and also enjoy the ocean. That is what I did. It’s not far from Canada and I will return there and I encourage everyone to visit it before the party people (yes, that’s me too! There’s a Club Med there too) invade it and completely trash it! I may have found my piece of paradise in the Americas…

Playlist:

John Digweed & Nick Muir “Satellite”; Josette Sheeran “Ending hunger Now” (http://bit.ly/oFD2lp)
Pepe Bradock “Deep Burnt” – Kif
Shazz “Fallin’ in Love” – Sony
DJ Rasoul ft Star “Faith in Love” – Large
Aqua Bassino “We Could Be Friends” – F Communications
Abacus ft Kobe James “These Things” – Rethink
Verna Francis “Sunshine” – Chilli Funk
Richard Les Crees “Dengon” (Larry Heard Remix) – Distance
Next Evidence “Spirit of the Night” – Basic
A.M. ft Sky “Choose to Believe” – Mahogani Music
Goapele “Catch 22″ (Jason B Remix) – White
Lovetronic “You are Love” – Naked
Fertile Ground “Come 2 Me” (Don Ray Remix) – Gotsoul
Renaissance ft Tony Jordan “Song 4 Sydney” – Renaissance
A:xus ft Naomi “Bagdhad Cafe” – Guidance
Victor Davies “Hear the Sound” (Louie Vega Remix) – Vega
Physics “7 AM Sessions” (Thai Soul Remix) – Deeplay
Eminence “Sunlight” (Guilty Pleasures Dub) – Enuma
Soldiers of Twilight “City Life” – Serial Limited
Markus Enochson ft Ingela Olsson “Listen for it” – Ricanstruction
Aya “Sean” (Jay’s OTW Vocal)- Naked
Aya “Sean” (Eric’s 2WFU Dub)- Naked
Trevor Loveys “Elevate Your Mind” – Freerange
Freestyle Orchestra “Odyssey” – Masters at Work
Julien Jabre “Yalopa” – Basic
Soha “Gardens” – Basic
Demarkus Lewis ft Lady Sah “Untitled Love Affair” (Mr. V Dub Remix) – Shack
Mena Keys “Break it Down” – Jellybean Soul
Jeremias Santiago “Keyzzz” – Jellybean Soul
Blaze “Moonwalk” – Nuphonic
Phlash “Sparlking Not Still” – Estereo
Home And Garden ft Nkemdi “An Invitation” (Osunlade Remix) – Central Park
Project 104 ft Lotus “Spirituality” (Andy Roberts Remix) – Shines
Agoria “Les Violons Ivres” – Different
Fragile State Nocturnal Beat “From the Lounge to the Bar” – Quietriot
Motorcity Soul “Written in the Stars” (Atjazz Remix) – Infracom
Brett Dancer & Soul Mecca “Love Dance” – Sancsoul
Scott J “It’s Better” (Lost Blaze Remix) – White
The Rurals “Everything I Do” – Peng
Mister Day “Deep Ocean” -Patchworks
Juan Hoerni & Phil Sheeran “J’Attends” (Ron Trent Remix) – Chacha
Alan Smithee “?” – Sounds Like Ultra
Abstract Truth ft Monique Bingham “We Had a Thing” – Streetwave
Sterling Ensemble ft Juliet Moesha “The World” (Louie Vega Remix) – Masters At Work
280 West ft Diamond Temple “Fly” – Phuture Sole
Needs “Inner Glow” – Needs
Floetry “Say Yes” (Therapy Rerub) – Jamsteady
Shaheer Williams ft Stephanie Cooke “Show Me” – Soul Groove
Junior Palmer & Stephanie Cooke “Brand New Day” – Home
Donna Allen “He Is Joy” (U.B.P. Classic Mix) – Soulfuric
Aretha Franklin “Wonderful” (Pete Avilla & David Harness Mix) – White
Dreamgirls “Family” (Roots Remix) – Blaze Imprints
Joi Cardwell “What It Feels Like” (Quentin Harris Remix) – King Street
Zap Mama “Crazy Life” (Big Moses & Quentin Harris Remix) – Shelter
George Duke “Rhyme or Reason” (Shelter Anthem Remix) – Fall Out
Glenn Underground & Matt Hughes ft Swaylo “Slowly” – Kenlou
Jovonn “Do Your Dance” – Basic
Vikter Duplaix & Clara Hill “Paper Chase” – Sonar Kollektiv
Sterling Ensemble ft Juliet Maisha “Believe” – Rincastuction
Diviniti “Find a Way” (Danny Krivit Remix) – Women on Wax
DJ Ino ft Kisha “My Way” (Charles Webster Remix) – House Cafe Music
Robag Wruhme “K.T.B.” – Sonar Kollektiv
A Guy Called Gerald “Voodoo Ray” (Ballroom Remix) – Rotgut
Laurent Garnier “Dangerous Drive” – F Communications
Blaze “Astrology” – Papa
Mateo & Matos “Idris” – Spiritual Life
Phlash “1471″ – Estereo
Motivaçao ft Amalia “Don’t Forget” – Mixedsignal
Son.Sine “Upekah” – Lodomat
Kerri Chandler “The Machine” – Max Trax
Justin Martin “Nightowl” (Francois A. & Manoo Remix) – Buzzin’ Fly
Jimpster “Square Up” – Buzzin’ Fly
Doctor Rockit “Cafe de Flore” (Charles Webster Remix) – Lifelike
Metro Area “Proton Candy” – Environ
Crusho “Someone to Love” (Crusho TR Treatment) – Q-Tape
Glenn Underground “Inner Tech-No” – Music Vizion
Soha “Balance” – Basic
Isolée “Beau Mot Plage” – Ongaku
Trinidadian Deep “My True Love” – Future Vision
Glenn Underground “Storm Raiders” – Eargasmic
Uschi Classen & Robert Owens “Only in Your Eyes” – Earth Project
Eddie Amador “House Music” – Yoshitoshi
DJ Gregory “The Joburg Theme” (Dub du Cerf Remix) – Faya Combo
Trancesetters “Roaches” (Peace Division Remix) – HOOJ
Vince Watson “Mystical Rhythms” – NRK
TJR ft Xavier “Just Gets Better” – Catch
Agoria “Les Plastiques Ivres” – Different
Avril Brikha “Groove La Chord” – Transmat
Robert Lenier “Yemaya” – Samuel L Session
Pressure Funk “Pressure Theme” – Soma
Lucid “Crazy” – Delirious
Blaze “Lovely Dae” (20:20 Vision Remix) – Playhouse
Télépopmusik “Love Can Damage Your Heart” (Abicah Soul & Dennis Ferrer Remix) – Objektivity
Next Evidence “Blowing Drums” – Basic
Jephté Guillaume ft Erol Josué “Papa Loko” – Tet Kale
Ola Jagun & The Ancestral Rhythms “Odo Oya” – Spiritual Life
Luisito Quentero ft Francis Mbappa “Gbagada, Gbagada, Gbogodo, Gbogodo” (Louie Vega Remix) – Vega
Nick Holder “Summer Daze” – NRK
Antonio Ocasio “Mocha Latina” – Rekawa
DJ Gregory “Elle” – Faya Combo
Mateo & Matos “Idris” – Spiritual Life
Foster “Working” – Sonar Kollektiv
Franck Roger “Mysticism of Sound” – Space Kat
? “?” – Enuma Recordings
Kerri Chandler “Atmosphere” – Ibadan
Loco Dice “Menina Brasileira” – Ovum
Markus Enochson ft Jocelyn Mathieu “Endless Dance” (Karizma Remix) – Sonar Kollektiv
Mike Delgado “Phunk Carnival” – Kenlou
Tortured Soul “I Might Do Something Wrong” (Osunlade Remix) – Central Park
Greg Kozo “You Could Be The One” (Larry Heard Remix) – Place Blanche
Indigenous Space People “Across The Universe” (Ron Trent Remix) – Clone
Pepe Bradock “Deep Burnt” – Kif
Outro: Jeremy Irons “Mad As Hell” (http://bit.ly/qq0zn4);
Raphael Saadiq “Sky’s The Limit” (Yam Who’s Spiritual Rework) – Yam Who

In mid-January 2013, I embarked on a long-week trip to Halifax (Nova Scotia) by car to visit a long-lost childhood friend.

It was an opportunity for me to discover Eastern Canada for the first time, especially in winter. While the journey was such a joy, the winter weather conditions made the roads difficult to navigate and sightseeing was not as great.

Here are some of the few images that I managed to capture with some captions. This is a trip I need to undertake again in a warmer and sunnier weather.

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The above map depicts the itinerary. It was a 1300 km journey which I completed in 12 hours. I had to take breaks but also the driving conditions were short of ideal

This the state of the roads in their best conditions. Most of the time, they were covered with snow and ice (VERY dangerous for driving) and the sun was nowhere to be seen. So, on this Trans-Canada Highway 85 N image, this is paradise.

This is the view of the Halifax harbour from Point Pleasant Park.

Now, you know it is cold when even the ducks are freezing themselves!

My two friends walking in Point Pleasant Park catching up after almost 20 years without seeing each other.

I am standing here next to this Bonaventure’s anchor monument looking stylish and everything but in reality, I am so cold from a strong wind that I can barely make a move!

This is the road that leads into Peggys Cove, a really small town of fishermen. I learned later that it has no more than 700 inhabitants.

Peggys Point Lighthouse seen from the Swissair 111 Memorial

Some of the few dwellings in Peggys Cove

This is a fishing town so naturally, there are plenty of boats ready to go out and catch food but I doubt that in winter, there’s anything left to fish out from the almost frozen water.

This water looks so peaceful but it is rather dangerous. Everywhere there were signs warning people not to get too close (I took this photo with my feet almost in the water, so you know how much I paid attention to all this advice).

My friend told me that the water is so cold that a healthy person would probably last five minutes before they died. I promptly stepped away after hearing that.

The relaxing view of the Atlantic Ocean.

My two friends looking playful near the lighthouse. Up in the sky, notice the moon smiling down on them.

Needless to say, Peggys Point Lighthouse is the highlight of Peggys Cove  and I took as many photograph of it as I could from all the angles possible. I don’t know why but I have a weakness for lighthouses, windmills and silos as you may have noticed in previous posts or photographs.

My friend observing the sun set over the Atlantic Ocean. On her right is the lighthouse. I could not fit it into the frame because I would have had excluded the sun.

A Peggys Cove sunset. I was there to witness it in all its might.

Back into Halifax city. Nothing exciting really but I had to take some memory away from it, right?

This MINI Cooper S took me there and back without a hitch. I had to fill up twice on my way there. But this car is so very fuel efficient. I can drive 700km on a tank (more if I did not have a rather heavy foot and frantic accelerations).

For all those of you who do not live in snow countries, the car is white not from the snow but from the salt that is put on the roads to make the ice melt. In real life, this MINI Cooper S is black  but right it’s looking rather grey or rather dirty whichever way you want to look at it.

I love windmills. I got as close as possible and even tresspassed on a federal police property but I got so cold that after almost dropping my camera twice, I settled with this one shot and ran back to my car to warm up. That was the last photo of the trip I took and I drove ten hours non-stop back to Montréal via a two-night stay in Québec City.

According to Wikipedia: The Cathedral-Basilica of Mary, Queen of the World (French: Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde) in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, is the seat of the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Montreal. It is the third largest church in Quebec after St. Joseph’s Oratory (also in Montreal)

Are these stacked boxes? Nope! Here’s what Wikipedia has to say:

“Habitat 67, or simply Habitat, is a model community and housing complex in Montreal, Canada designed by Israeli–Canadian architect Moshe Safdie. It was originally conceived as his master’s thesis in architecture at McGill University and then built as a pavilion for Expo 67, the World’s Fair held from April to October 1967.” Read more…

Canadian Thanksgiving is synonymous with trees losing their leaves as Winter quickly approaches. This image was taken from a cottage house 20 minutes away from Saint-Sauveur, Québec in Canada.

Here is a landmark that you cannot miss wherever you are in the city centre of Toronto. I have never visited the CN Tower nor do I intend to anytime soon as I will get to it when my nephews grow up or I have my own children who would want to go pay it a visit.

Would you believe that I took this photograph while waiting in a car for a traffic light to turn green?

You can read all about Toronto’s CN Tower.

While in Toronto, one cannot help it by walk by their own version of New York City’s Times Square.

Parc Maisonneuve is probably my favourite park in Montréal. It’s huge, quiet and so peaceful. The only gripe is that it’s far from the city centre and perhaps that’s where its charms comes from.

While driving around Ile Bizard, an island that connects Montréal and Laval, I took a walk by the river and came across one of the most expensive houses in Canada.

The TuLyons Residence is valued at $27 million. From the outside, it does not seem to have anything so particular about it to warrant such a price tag which led me to think that as a relatively new building, it must have some fancy modern fixtures that make it worth quite a penny (see the photo gallery courtesy of a third-party site).

I could probably see myself owning such a huge mansion to have family and friends come by for summer festivities and other types of public and private events.

But, would I live in it by myself? Nope! I would be too scared to bump into some sort of random intruders that would have sneaked into the house because it’s so big and I cannot tour it daily!