Antigua’s Airport Security over kill

I am aware that maximum security is required for air travel because of the treacherous time that we live in but, the Caribbean island of Antigua took their security screening to a new level. My experience on the island during a stop-over flight from Dominica to Puerto Rico was astounding and to me frustrating. This stop was part of my eight (8) island swing through the Caribbean region gathering new information on Caribbean cruises and vacationing in the region.

My travel reservations were made with the regional airline Leeward Island Air Transport (L.I.A.T.) instead of the “American Eagle” which has direct flights from Puerto Rico to Dominica. On disembarking the aircraft we were taken through immigration where our documents were checked with boarding pass for accuracy. We then went to security for the electronic scanning of our hand luggage and complete body scan. I noted that individuals on the same flight who were traveling international were ushered to a different departure lounge from us who were domestic travelers. In the departure lounge we mingled with other passengers who were also traveling through the Caribbean.

The airline lived up to its reputation of being late as our flight was delayed due to maintenance problems. Frankly, I was not unhappy with the delay as technical problems do crop up unexpectedly. I was pleased when our flight was announced from what was a terrible intercom system, which was not audible if you were some distance from the gate.

I was surprised to see all passengers in line at our departure gate were being screened a second time before their arrival at the airline counter. This security check involved a physical pat down and a physical search of all hand luggage. Keep in mind that we had gone through an electronic scanner before entering the departure lounge. I thought we were in a secured area and the only contact we had with non travelers were the vendors who I assumed were approved by the Antigua authorities for operating their shops. If the shop vendors are smuggling items via passengers then Antigua has a serious credibility problem.

After leaving the manual pat down our passport and boarding passes were check at the gate by the airline personnel and they retained a portion of the boarding pass for their records. Our walk on the tarmac was uneventful until we arrived at the steps of the aircraft where a large number of bags were sprawled underneath the aircraft wings. We were asked to identify our luggage for placing same on the aircraft before we were permitted to enter the plane. On completion, I prepared to board the aircraft but was stopped at the base of the stairs and asked for my boarding pass and passport by another security person. With a sigh of relief, I climbed the aircraft stairs only to be confronted in the aircraft door way by the flight attendant asking for my boarding pass once again.

I understood that that the Airport terminal was recently up graded, but I consider the so called improvements a disaster. I do not see the necessity of six (6) different screening of domestic passengers. I am aware that the airline will be charged penalties for transporting illegal individuals and merchandise to the U.S. but, a better system needs implementation to avoid so many checking of documents. The action by the Antigua authorities is annoying and will be a big deterrent to visitors wishing to travel to Antigua especially when tourism is an integral component of the islands economy. I wish to recommend a thorough review of the current system by the tourism authority to make domestic travel via Antigua airport more pleasant to the traveler.

Please contact Jadd Fong Travel an Albuquerque travel agency for all your Caribbean cruises and Caribbean cruise deals.

Dominica stop in Caribbean visit

I am presently on L.I.A.T. (Leeward Island Air Transport), the Caribbean airline, flying from Dominica to Antigua. A couple days earlier I was on the island of Dominica experiencing what I considered the "true Dominican" experience because I indulged in activities at the community level. My stay in Dominica was part of an eight (8) island swing through the Caribbean region. The purpose of this visit was to explore and strengthen new information on Caribbean cruises and vacationing in the region.



I have written past articles about Dominica, the nature island of the Caribbean, but this visit was different. I visited an agricultural farm in Riviere Cyrique, in the North Eastern part of the island. While there I participated in some farm activities and was rewarded in the evening by drinking some fresh jelly coconuts. The best part was I prepared the nuts with a cutlass for drinking. I also sucked on some succulent sugar cane which was some of the sweetest sugar cane I ever tasted. On my return journey to Roseau, the capital the city, I had some fried chicken at a popular pit stop and washed it down with a Caribbean brewed drink called malt.

Sometime was spent in Roseau where the heat was unbearable. Moving across town on foot was a task as I was sweating profusely. Because of the humidity and heat it was necessary to drink a lot of water during my city exploration. Everything is within walking distance in the city and it is not recommended to use a car to move from one location to another as there are very few packing spaces in the city. It is also very difficult to maneuver a vehicle around the narrow streets of the city.



The most relaxing part of my trip to Dominica was a visit to Screw's Sulphur Spa, a popular tourist destination in Wotton Waven. It is about a 30 minute drive from the city of Roseau and is nestled in the rain forest of the Morne Trois Piton National Park. The area is famous for having hot water sulphur springs in the back yard of homes. Screw’s has harnessed the hot water into five (5) man-made pools. Each pool is different in temperature ranging from cold to extreme hot water.



I was impressed with the work done to maintain the natural green look of the forest. A lot of effort was taken to make the rain forest appear undisturbed giving the feeling that you are part of the forest. The area is tranquil with the silence occasionally interrupted by the beautiful melodious sounds of birds flying overhead.  To add to the warm atmosphere, there is the constant sound of reggae music  in the back ground. The evening can be just as romantic with beautiful colored lights making you feel like there is no tomorrow. A soak in the pools can be soothing and takes the tension and worries away. The place opens weekly from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm  with the exception of Tuesdays for a modest fee of $10 US per person.

I would strongly recommend Screw's to all including my friends and clients because a soak in the hot sulphur pools is an unbelievable experience.



The visit was part of the continued education of agents of Jadd Fong Travel, an Albuquerque travel agency. Please contact us for all your future vacations as we specialize in Caribbean cruises and vacation tarvel.

Bahamas Sun, Sea and Sand

Bahamas.

    The Bahamas,  an English-speaking countryconsists of 29 islands, 650 cays, and close to 2,500 islets and is located in the Atlantic, north of Cuba and Hispaniola. It stretches East of Miami as far South as the Turks and Caicos Islands. Infact it is claimed that the Bahamas are not part of the Caribbean because of their location in the Atlantic ocean.  A small number of the iuslands are habited and the majority is very small or mere rocks in the ocean. When you add up the land area, it is slightly larger than Connecticut and Rhode Island.

   The Bahamas is one of the most prosperous nations in the Caribbean basin and relies on tourism to generate most of the economy. Tourism accounts for 60% of their gross domestic product and provides jobs for more than 50% of the country's workforce. To see the impact of tourism at work, one only needs to look at the number of cruise ships which dock in the capital city of Nassau.
 An example of Tourism in the Bahamas is the number of cruise ships that land in the capital of Nassau where tourists visit the straw market to buy different items or have their hair braided. After tourism, the most important economic sector is financial services, accounting for around 15 percent of GDP.
There are four main areas of the Bahamas, New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco, and the Out Islands. The rest are, relatively speaking, uninhabited.

New Providence

This is the island most visitors erroneously call Nassau. Nassau is the capital city of the Bahamas and is by far the largest of the island. Nassau was named in 1695 for the Dutch Prince of Orange-Nassau after he took over the British throne. New Providence is home to 2/3 of the population and is not the largest island. The allure of Nassau, and its fame Straw Market, have fueled incredible development on the island. Some of the most popular resorts are Atlantis, Cable Beach, & Paradise Island. Atlantis is one of the biggest draws to Nassau. The hotel is famous for hosting the famous pop star Michael Jackson and the room is still a big attraction. Also, Atlantis is famous for it water park activities and its walk through aquarium. 

Grand Bahama

I was in Grand Bahamas for a three day visit which was memorable because of numerous incidents that involved my family on the island. We visited several beauty spots and spent a lot of time on the beaches. During one of our beach time, we were frolicking in the clear cyrstal sea water, my son left foot was bitten by what I later learnt was a barracda fish. It was very severe and required the family spending several hours at the Emergency hospital room in the Bahamas. He got four stitches from the cut and he was unable to take any sporting activities on his return to the US.  For a much lower key experience, head to Grand Bahama Island. GBI offers many activities for the environmentalist in us all. They include eco-adventures such as kayaking, hiking and jeep tours through remote areas for a close-up look at mangroves, birds and marine life. Or you could snorkel on a spectacular reef, ride horseback along trails and beaches or enjoy the sheer beauty of nature in wild and cultivated settings. But GBI is not without some cosmopolitan flair. Freeport boasts the Port Lucaya Marketplace and the International Bazaar for shopping and dining as well as some great resorts.

Abaco

The Abaco islands are really a crescent shaped mini-archipelago comprising 130 square miles of land, 82 cays and 208 rocks. They are The Bahamas' crown jewel, according fans and residents alike. The Abaco islands are distinctly distant from modern feel of New Providence or Grand Bahama. These serene islands are renowned for clear turquoise waters, coral reefs and silky beaches. The Bone fishing in the flats is also a winner. Rare Bahama Parrots can be found in Abaco National Park; and if you are lucky, you might catch a peek at some descendents of horses that travelled with Columbus when he landed here in 1492.

The Out Islands

About two dozen of the Bahamian islands are inhabited, and each has its own, distinct personality. Even the terrain and weather varies, as the islands are scattered over 100,000 sq miles of ocean &emdash; an area about the size of Great Britain. With so many islands, cays, and around 2,000 islets, the country could take months of exploration.
All in all, the islands are low lying, with sandy beaches, coral reefs (cays), and a laid back culture that is a mix of American (Grand Bahama Island) and British (New Providence). This difference also flows over into the architecture where you are apt to spot simple wooden homes in bright pastels, luxury Florida-esqe villas all next to the latest Arnold Palmer golf course.
New Providence has the most attractions, including the Christ Church Cathedral, galleries, museums, gardens and forts. Fort Charlotte is the largest and most impressive with its 42 cannons, moat and dungeons. Of course, the Atlantis Hotel on Paradise Island is a destination in and of itself. However, some of the most memorable sights are the natural ones: the Bahamas has the world's third largest barrier reef, one of the largest systems of underwater caves and clearest waters with visibility of more than two hundred feet. There are whales and dolphins to spot, world class dive sites and 109 species of birds breeding. And don't forget the marine reserves, like Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, which are accessible by boat.
The Bahamas will have an appeal to everyone from the eco-traveler, to the adventurist, to the shopper, to the one looking for glitz and glamour, to the sportsman, and to the one that just wants to sit on a beach with an umbrella in their drink. And you wonder why the Bahamian Ministry of Tourism's tag line is "It's better in the Bahamas"?
What are you waiting for? Contact Jadd Fong Travel and get started in planning your trip.

Ghostly tornado of bats – USA Must See

Bats exit area

I was informed that the highlight of visiting the Carlsbad's Cavern should be the evening bat flight from the caves. The picture painted of the event was almost beyond comprehension. Can you Imagine about 4 thousands bats exiting from a whole in the mountain forming a dark cloud in the gloomy twilight. I learnt that the number of bats at at one time was as large as 400, 000 thousand. No it is not a movie from Hollywood but an event right in the Carlsbad Caverns in the Carlsbad National Forest.

An out-door amphitheatre was built outside the caves, so  persons can view the bats exit in a comfortable seat. I was anxious and excited about the viewing, so I made an early entrance to the venue. I was also interested in getting to a good vantage point where I could maximize my view of the spectacle. Just visualize me perched at the end of my seat, twitting my fingers awaiting the start of the evening show.
As an introduction before the main course, the forest ranger present provided a short history of a bats life. Everyone was asked to turn off all electronic equipment including cameras and video recorders as the radio waves do affect the small critters. According to the rangers, the bats fly Southeast on exiting the caves towards Mexico in early Spring through October and stays in Mexico for the winter. During their flight they feast on small insects and each bat would eat about half of its body weight nightly. This exercise is of tremendous benefit to farmers, as the bats reduce the number of insects affecting agricultural produce. 

Bats are very sensitive to the environment around them as their numbers are being seriously dwindled over the years. The biggest danger to bats are humans. The US bat population is also being seriously affected by a new deadly disease called White Nose-syndrome. The name originates from a white fungus which grows around the nose and wings of bats. The fungus  awakens the bat during hibernation causing them to wander outside in the cold and where they die. So far, it appears that the bats at Carlsbad Caverns have not been affected by the disease.

My expectations were dashed at about 8:00 pm when the forest ranger announced that there would not be a mass exodus of bats that evening. Only a small insignificant number of bats had left the cave that evening. We were informed that the number of bats that fly in and out of the caves varies depending on the time of year, weather or season. The dry spell in the area meant fewer insects for the bats to feast on. The lack of food and the time of the year could be some of the numerous reason for the poor showing of the bats. It appears the best bats showing in term of numbers happens during the fall season. You can contact Jadd Fong Travel, An Albuquerque Travel Agency for reservations to the Carlsbad Caverns.

Carlsbad Caverns Underground Beauty and Enchantment - USA Must See

I had a unique experience when my family and I visited one of New Mexico’s major tourist attractions - the Carlsbad Cavern in Carlsbad National Park during the Memorial day weekend.

Carlsbad cavern is located in the Southeastern section of NM and is approximately 23 miles from the town of Carlsbad. Although the caverns are an unbelievable sight and worth the trip. Getting there from Albuquerque is a very boring and unsightly 4 hour drive. The communities are very far apart and in between them is nothing but large expanse of bare land covered in shrubs and dotted with the occasional tree. The most interesting sight was a few cows grazing in pastures along the way.

The caves were originally called the “Bat Caves” because of the numerous bats residing there. It is reported that miners visited the caves to extract bat guano which was shipped to California for use as fertilizer in orchards. The early explorers never ventured deep into the cave and were only interested in the excretion from the bats. A young local by the name of James Lackin White was intrigued by the cave and he ventured beyond the bats to explore the caves. His interest and exploration resulted in the caves becoming a national monument  in 1923 and a national park 7 years later.

I entered the caves the easy way via an elevator instead of the grueling track down hill. The decent was quick as we travelled about 750 ft below ground. On exiting the elevator you enter a large chamber called the visitors center containing souvenir shops and a small restaurant.
I was struck by the cold temperature within the caves. It was amazing to leave the hot temperature of 90 F above and experience the 56 F within the caves. I was dressed for summer in my shorts and a light t-shirt. There are several tours available to explore the caves. They were sold out  so I had no choice doing a self guided tour. Being in the caves some 750 ft below ground felt like another world. It was strange to listen to the quietness apart from the human chatter. There were no sounds of birds or crickets only the occasional sound of footsteps interrupting the silence. 
 
Our self guided tour covered a mile walking for about an hour and a half at a moderate pace in the big room. I would recommend the purchase of a light and the electronic audio recorder to learn of the caves history. It was a circular walk during which we came across several beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. The most notable ones were the twin domes , the totem poles and the giant domes. The big room is approximately 8.2 acres and contain a bottom less pit which I did not mind exploring to see how deep it was. The big room is so vast that it is estimated that 13 football fields would fit comfortable in it. I must commend the park authorities for the work done in the caves and making it accessible to persons with wheel chairs. It is advisable that a person on wheel chair should be accompanied by a companion to assist them along the trail.

There are other tours including the Kings Palace guided tours that takes about 11/2 hours. The tour is conducted by forest rangers and goes into the deepest portions of the caves. I should also mention the other self guided tour which goes through the natural entrance. It should be noted that this tour is for persons in good physical condition as you are required to travel through steep and narrow trails with a decent to 750 ft below ground.

After 2 hours below ground in very mild temperatures, I was ready to see the sunlight above ground. After waiting approximately one hour, I was finally able to get the elevator to higher ground. Please contact Jadd Fong Travel, an Albuquerque travel agency if you wish to make reservations to the Carlsbad Caverns. Return for new blogs on  "US Must See Places."