Kay Chung
Posted in Caribbean Islands, Sailings, South America
One of East Coco Bandero Islands, San Blas, Panama. Tourists can sleep overnight in a small building on a hammock.
Small building with palm fronds and solar panels. Coco Bandero Island, San Blas, Panama
Hammocks in the Building on Coco Bandero Island, San Blas, Panama
View from my cabin looking at the Island where we buried my cat, four years ago.
I made to my cat’s island. San Blas, Panama…
Kay Chung
Posted in Caribbean Islands, Internet Abroad, Sailings
My Experience with a Prepaid UTS Chippie Simcard in Bonaire and Curacao
(June – August 2018) The UTS Chippie store is easy to find in Kralendijk, Bonaire. There are many options for data and/or calling plans. I purchased a Chippie SIM Card (USD 7) and a 6GB data plan (USD 52), good for 30 Days. The SIM Card came with a balance of USD 5. I deposited additional money for calling. The setup was done by a store person. When my data balance ran out, I renewed by depositing additional money in the store in Bonaire.
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Kay Chung
Posted in Caribbean Islands, Sailings
(July – August 2018) Meditation at sunrise on the deck is for me one of the most valuable experiences of living on a sailboat. Doing meditation in Curacao, it is nice not to worry about bug bites. Feeling the morning calmness surrounded by water, I clear my mind and embrace a new day with dreams. It always promises me a good start.
The wind blows strong in Spanish Water Anchorage in Curacao anywhere between 15 to 30 knots most of the time. So far, I haven’t seen any mosquitoes or no-see-ums (sand fleas) on the boat. Thus, I removed the mosquito net setup from my cabin.
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Kay Chung
Posted in Caribbean Islands, Internet Abroad, Sailings
My Experience with Digicel Simcard in Trinidad
(February – May 2018) In Chaguaramas, Trinidad, I took a Maxi Taxi (Bus) to buy a SIM Card from the Digicel store at the West Moorings Shopping Mall. A SIM Card costs 44 Trinidadian Dollars (about USD 7) when you add 3GB data (for 30 days) with 200 local call minutes the cost rises to 289 Trinidadian Dollars (about USD 44) including tax. I paid it by Trinidadian Dollars as they didn’t accept US Dollars. The store person set up my phone. There was no waiting line in the store.
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Kay Chung
Posted in Caribbean Islands, Sailings
Bonaire was a brown island a month ago (late June) when we arrived here. Since then, it has rained often. It surprised me how much rain we have had in July. It washed down a lot of yellow dust from the boat. Brown mountains have changed to green mountains with fresh trees and bushes. Animals (goats and donkeys) seem to be content with a plenty of fresh leaves (food). Consequently, more birds are singing at dawn.
Park your car and SCUBA dive! Bonaire is a great place for SCUBA diving and snorkeling. Most dive sites are within walking distance from shore.
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Kay Chung
Posted in Caribbean Islands, Sailings
Escaping from hurricane season 2018 (June to November), we have chosen to stay in Bonaire, Curacao, and Colombia. This is our second time cruising in this area. It works with our scheduled goal which is “Crossing the Panama Canal in February 2019”.
People have often asked me what island is my most favorite. Each island has something which I like and dislike. In order to make a simple answer; I just say “Bonaire”. Visiting here for the second time, I realized why; it is yachting friendly, Customs and Immigration clearance is easy and simple, the mooring field is well-organized,
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Kay Chung
Posted in Caribbean Islands, Sailings
“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” – Theodore Roosevelt
(June 12 to 17, 2018) Visiting St. John Island, was not on our original plan.
We believed that shipping from Florida to St. Croix, would take about two weeks. Seeing an “In-Transit Status” for days, we went to the US Post Office in St. Croix to inquire about the delivery status. We were told it would take up to 8 weeks and there is no way to track the packages when they are in transit at sea.
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Kay Chung
Posted in Caribbean Islands, Sailings
(June 2018) When we were in Saint Croix three years ago, we met a Korean woman, Mia and her husband, Tommy. They built a beautiful waterfront house in St. Croix after retiring from Kentucky in the USA. They love SCUBA diving and an island life style. “Call us when you visit St. Croix again!” That was three years ago. At that time, I didn’t think it was going to happen.
We came to Saint Croix this time because we have some items to be delivered by the US Postal Service. Saint Croix is one of the United States Virgin Islands so it is easy to ship from the States.
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Kay Chung
Posted in Caribbean Islands, Sailings
“All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” — Pascal
(May 30 to 31, 2018) Night sailing from St. Martin to St. Croix, about 100 miles for 20 hours. Wind speed and direction led us effortlessly downwind sailing following in one direct line. As the full moon brightened the open ocean, only a few stars were visible. Gazing at the stars, I imagined the distance between the stars and I. What kind of lives there could be beyond the universe?
When we sail at night, my watch is from 2 am till 8 am.
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Kay Chung
Posted in Caribbean Islands, Medical Service Experiences, Sailings
Night sailing from Trinidad to Grenada
We were worried during our passage near the oil rig platforms after leaving Trinidad. We made sure we sailed at least 10 miles east of the oil platforms which is farther from Venezuela. We wanted to be invisible to any potential pirates so we sailed without lights and also turned our AIS off. However, we noticed there are many oil rig supply ships in this area. This made us somewhat relieved, and as soon as we felt we were in a safe zone, we turned our lights and AIS back on.
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