Kralendijk, Bonaire - May 2010 View On Black
Bonaire is known as the "diver's paradise," and avid divers have known about this unspoiled treasure for years. Certain natural advantages make Bonaire ideal for diving. Rainfall is negligible, minimizing the runoff of sediment into the reef, and the island, south of the hurricane belt, is unscathed by storms. What makes Bonaire truly unique, though, is its inspired, visionary plan to preserve and nurture its marine resources. Twenty years ago, the Bonaire Marine Park was established to protect the island's entire coastal waters, and the net result of these efforts is one of the healthiest underwater ecosystems on the planet and a veritable environmental showcase. (source: Frommer's)
Although we have never dived and didn't have time for a snorkeling trip, Bonaire is a definite must see for anyone who is interested in visiting the Southern Carribean. The island is full of history and incredible scenery as well as a bit of wildlife, including iguanas, fluorescent lora parrots, blue-tailed lizards, wild donkeys, goats, and graceful flamingos....and for those who know me well enough, know that my real passion is for wildlife photography, so I couldn't resist photographing a few of these creatures along the way (to be posted at a later date). Have a great Wednesday; thanks for your visit!!!!
© Darlene Bushue - All of my images are protected by copyright and may not be used on any site, blog, or forum without my permission.
Tags: Bonaire Caribbean ocean pier lounge divers paradise turquoise landscape scenery 2010 absolutelystunningscapes flickrclassique friends
© All Rights Reserved
#3 of 5 new posts.....View On Black
Crab photographed on the island of Bonaire - May 2010....located along the same pier as the iguana, these little guys were crawling all over the rocks surrounding the pier as well as all along the pier....amazing to see how fast they can move.....not sure what type of crabs they were; perhaps someone can help with an id???
© Darlene Bushue - All of my images are protected by copyright and may not be used on any site, blog, or forum without my permission.
Tags: crab pier Bonaire Caribbean seafood 2010 wildlife
© All Rights Reserved
#2 of 5 new posts....View On Black
Fluorescent Lora Parrots photographed on the island of Bonaire - May 2010....they two were a hoot to watch, as they landed not far from an overlook where we stopped and seemed to enjoy the attention they received from all the spectators....definitely not camera shy :-)
© Darlene Bushue - All of my images are protected by copyright and may not be used on any site, blog, or forum without my permission.
Tags: parrots Caribbean Bonaire wildlife birds 2010 eiap AvianExcellence
© All Rights Reserved
#1 of 5 new posts......View On Black
okay, so anyone that knows me well enough knows that I cannot go anywhere without finding some wildlife to photograph, so here's the first of five from our latest trip to the Caribbean. Feel free to visit my photostream if you would like to see the others individually - www.flickr.com/photos/lakota41/
Iguana photographed on the island of Bonaire - May 2010...this rather large, creepy, prehistoric looking creature nearly scared the pants off me as we walked along a pier at a private resort in Bonaire (previous post - www.flickr.com/photos/lakota41/4620557946/). Between it and the crabs that were running all over the pier, it was a bit difficult to relax :-)
© Darlene Bushue - All of my images are protected by copyright and may not be used on any site, blog, or forum without my permission.
Tags: wildlife iguana reptile Bonaire Caribbean 2010 coth naturallywonderful DailyNature-TNC11
© All Rights Reserved
Port of Kralendijk, Bonaire - May 2010 View On Black
"Bon Bini" is a word from the Papiamentu language which means WELCOME. There are a number of theories concerning the origin of the Papiamentu language. One simply states it is a mixture of the language of the early Spanish settlers and the indigenous Indian culture. The other theory is one of a more modern origin dating back the importation of African slaves. The theory is that when the Dutch laid claim to the ABC islands in 1634 and with Curacao becoming a Slave trading center, a common language was needed to communicate with the people who had come from so many different African tribes and European countries. When Brazil became part of Spain, many Brazilians who spoke Portuguese came to Curacao. Combining the two origin theories forms the basis of the Papiamentu language: Arawak Indian, Spanish, Dutch, African Dialects, and Portuguese. Later, English and French words became part of the language. Today in listening to a conversation, it is possible to understand many words and get a fair idea of what is being said.
Hope everyone has a great week.....and as always, thanks for the comments & invites :-)
© Darlene Bushue - All of my images are protected by copyright and may not be used on any site, blog, or forum without my permission.
Tags: Bonaire Kralendijk Caribbean Papiamentu port harbor sea ocean colorful city pier landscape nature scenery 2010 citrit coth itsawonderfulworld
© All Rights Reserved