Monthly Archives: October 2009

Tiki Hut Halloween

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A pretty lady bug and a scarey witch with skeleton hands.

A pretty lady bug and a scarey witch with skeleton hands.

When Doug Camozzi puts on a Halloween party, it’s the only place to be especially since Michael Jackson and Elvis were sighted. The parking lot by the Tiki Hut was full of bumble bees, pirates, fairies, monsters, princesses and others too numerous to mention. Even Dorothy (aka Chevette) was there and took a break to sit on Scarecrow’s knee!

Michael was joined by some of his scary friends.

Michael was joined by some of his scary friends.

Dorothy and pumpkin Scarecrow made a lovely couple

Dorothy and pumpkin Scarecrow made a lovely couple

I’ve never seen so many colourful, imaginative costumes and so many people were dressed up from 10 week old baby fairies to toga clad Caesars and we all thought “Nicky Nicolette” had simply the most gorgeous legs!  Corey Forbes and friend provided Caribbean music, there were face painters decorating kids’ faces, the jumping castles for the kids along with an assortment of games and of course delicious food……..a grand buffet or burgers and fries served up by the great Tiki Hut staff . Drinks were over flowing too!

This gory and gastly duo were enough to scare everyone away

This gory and gastly duo were enough to scare everyone away

 

It's a family fun affair for kids of all ages big and little too.

It's a family fun affair for kids of all ages big and little too.

Lil' Miss Glamour gal with her splendid hat was a hit.

Lil' Miss Glamour gal with her splendid hat was a hit.

These two little munchkins were so adorable and cute

These two little munchkins were so adorable and cute

Even little babies got into the fun of the night.......she's so precious!

Even little babies got into the fun of the night.......she's so precious!

This couple dressed in Roman togas ate grapes and waved cooling fans

This couple dressed in Roman togas ate grapes and waved cooling fans

Contrary to rumours, Nicolette and Jungle Man/Tarzan did not arrive at the party together

Contrary to rumours, Nicolette and Jungle Man/Tarzan did not arrive at the party together

 

No we're not the three Musketeers!!!

No we're not the three Musketeers!!!

Doug, in costume, sure knows how to throw the best parties.

It's Doug under that costume and he sure knows how to throw the best parties.

Well guys, if you weren’t at the Tiki Hut this evening you missed out on all the fun! Thanks Doug and all the  Tiki Hut helpers. We’re going to be there for sure next year and I can’t wait. I have so many more photos but can’t post them all. Be sure to head down to the Tiki Hut in Turtle Cove for lunch or dinner………great specials of the day, great food and even greater friendly staff and service.

See you there!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Island Halloween

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN everyone!!  Tonight’s the night that the little gremlins will be out and about. Head down to the Tiki Hut for the island’s biggest and oldest Halloween party.

Our daughter (she's 29 now) dressed up as a scarey witch.

Our daughter (she's 29 now) dressed up as a scarey witch.

Ania says “Admit that he is the cutest thing ever Dad….. Well, let’s be honest, he’s not as cute as me but he comes a close second!!!! See our Grand-puppy below!!!!

Kona skunk is just bored with the whole affair.

Kona skunk is just bored with the whole affair.

Aren't I cute!!!!

Aren't I cute!!!!

And one more photo of Kona……………..

Look at me.............too cute hey Barry??

Look at me.............too cute hey Barry??

Barry’s comment was “That girl has too much time on her hands sending dress up photos of her dog.”

Have a great Halloween.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Coconuts

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Our godson Olique picks his first coconut that he wants to have a taste of.

Our godson Olique picks his first coconut that he wants to have a taste of.

It amazes me at how many of our guests at Harbour Club Villas have never tasted fresh coconut right off the tree. Back home, they are used to seeing a small brown nut with really hard white coconut inside and very little milk.

Barry uses his machete to cut away the fibrous husk surrounding the coconut.

Barry uses his machete to cut away the fibrous husk surrounding the coconut.

We had Olique over one day and Barry picked the coconut he wanted from off one of our coconut palms. One of our guests who was Korean, I believe, showed Barry how to cut away the fibrous husk to reveal the top end of the nut. He used to just hack into it and use his drill to make holes in the nut so we could drink the milk through a straw. Of course some rum needs to be added and a ” fresh from the tree” drink resulted. Wow, what a person won’t do to get a taste of fresh coconut milk!

Olique has his first taste of coconut milk............hmm.....not too sure about it!

Olique has his first taste of coconut milk............hmm.....not too sure about it!

I remember when living in Castries, St Lucia, my mother used to head to the market in the early mornings to “fight over” fresh green and young coconuts. These were the not fully formed ones with a delicious jelly inside and lots of milk. Still to this day, I love those young coconuts with jelly inside.

I think I like eating coconut now.

I think I like eating coconut now.

Coconut palms do not grow here naturally but were brought and introduced to the Turks and Caicos Islands. I’m not sure about the tall ones in Blue Hills as they might have been washed ashore at some point and just ended up sprouting.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Conch Season Opens

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Conch season opened several days ago.

Conch season opened several days ago.

I didn’t know we had a conch season here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I found out yesterday that Conch season opened Oct 15th and will run until July 15. Conch has played an integral part in the islands’ history. The Taino and Lucayan indians subsisted on conch and the Bermudians and American Loyalists also fished for conch for their food as this was a cheap food source rich in protein. Conch from the Turks and Caicos Islands was actively traded with Haiti on board Caicos-built sloops. Millions of conch were dried and shipped reaching a peak in 1943 when 3.9 million conchs were exported

Conch assembly line on the beach in Blue Hills

Conch assembly line on the beach in Blue Hills

Using a small hammer with a pointed head, the conch is “knocked” with a hole between the second and third row of nodes on the shell’s spire and this provides access to the tendon that holds the animal in its shell. The animal can then be pulled out by its claw which is removed with a fileting knife along with some tough skin and knobs.

The conch is "knocked" and the animal removed from the shell.

The conch is "knocked" and the animal removed from the shell. The translucent "rod" can be seen against the pink of the shell.

The long, translucent  and gelatinous rod know locally as “the pistol” or nature’s own Viagra is pulled out. This is quickly eaten as it is purported to be an aphrodisiac.

To many, this is the best part of the conch!!

To many, this is the best part of the conch!!

On a really good day, about 1,000 conch can be harvested. In recent years a quota for export has been set at 1.6 million pounds which does not include the shells. Some of the discarded shells are used by local crafts persons to create some lovely looking gifts for our visitors to take back home for family and friends.

Conch shells lined up and ready for sale in Blue Hills.

Conch shells lined up and ready for sale in Blue Hills.

Enjoy a selection of conch dishes when you are in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Are you brave enough to eat “the pistol”?????
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

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Saw and photographed this colourful and lovely looking butterfly the other day

Saw and photographed this colourful and lovely looking butterfly the other day

This is a Gulf Fritillary and it is one of the most frequently seen butterflies in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Not only is it beautiful with its rich orange with black markings but on the underside, it is even more spectacular.

Intricate patterns on the underside of the butterfly's wings.

Intricate patterns on the underside of the butterfly's wings.

This butterfly is also known as the Passion butterfly as the caterpillars feed on the many passionflower vines found here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The side view shows the patterned wing which has silvery spots.

Colourful head markings on a Gult Fritillary

Colourful head markings on a Gult Fritillary

Close up of the beautiful markings found on the underside of the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

Close up of the beautiful markings found on the underside of the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

We encourage you to keep your eyes open so that you can spot these butterflies as you travel about our islands. The Turks and Caicos has some 40 species of butterflies that have been recorded.  

 

Look out for those butterflies!!

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Kestrel

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I managed to get some photos of an American Kestrel as he perched on a palm frond behind one of our villas.

I managed to get some photos of an American Kestrel as it perched on a palm frond behind one of our villas.

It was so great to see what I thought was a hawk behind one of our villas at Harbour Club today. I ran back to our villa and grabbed my camera. On looking it up, I found out that American Kestrels are also known as Sparrow Hawks but they are not true hawks but are a member of the Falcon family of birds. They resemble the Peregrine Falcon which is a distant cousin.

I'm not sure if this one is a female or a male Kestrel

I'm not sure if this one is a female or a male Kestrel

These birds are a common sight here in the Turks and Caicos Islands and are year round breeding residents. There was two of them and I’m now thinking that the one above was the female and one below is the male.

If this is the male Kestrel, he didn't stick around for me to get a better photo.

If this is the male Kestrel, he didn't stick around for me to get a better photo.

I’m sure these birds are attracted by our large population of lizards here at the villas and this makes for good hunting grounds.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

A Day on the Water

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This beautiful pink tipped sea anemone looked like it was growing out of an old conch shell.

This beautiful pink tipped sea anemone looked like it was growing out of an old conch shell.

 Another great day spent with friends on the water. As we waded to our little cay with the iguanas, I came across a pink tipped sea anemone. It appeared to be growing out of an old conch shell encrusted with marine life.

This iguana was ready to hide under the sea grape bush if we came any closer.

We saw many iguanas on the little cay and they were probably introduced some years ago.

The iguanas scurried away as we approached and this one was almost ready to put up a fight. He positioned himself so that he could hide in the brush under a sea grape bush if he needed to.
Three pelicans all in a row were feasting on a large school of little fish

Three pelicans all in a row were feasting on a large school of little fish

As we anchored off the pirate’s cave and Osprey Rock, we were treated to a pelican show…………..three Brown Pelicans and their synchronized dive bombing for fish show. It was spectacular to watch as I positioned myself in the water in the hopes that they would feed close beside me.
Look at the huge stretch of this pelican's gullet.

Look at the huge stretch of this pelican's gullet.

Little fish were jumping all around as the pelicans swooped time and time again.
I love the way they skip along the water trying to get enough lift to launch into flight.

I love the way they skip along the water trying to get enough lift to launch into flight.

And finally, front row seats for the best view in the world and a grande finale to the day. The sun sets over Turtle Rock, and we head back to Harbour Club’s Marina.

We watched the sun go down from the waters of Taylor Bay.

We watched the sun go down from the waters of Taylor Bay.

A perfect ending to another Provo day filled with sun, fun, good friends and alot of laughter. We wish the same for you as you make plans to visit soon.
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com