Grand Cayman - Camana Bay

It's always fun to discover a new place to explore. We've been diving at Grand Cayman for over 10 years now and have watched many changes over the year. This year Camana Bay caught our eye and when we drove to Georgetown from the East End to attend the First Baptist Church of Cayman, we decided to visit Camana Bay and check it out.

Visiting on a Sunday was a joy for Bob. The stores were all closed so there were no shopping opportunities.  We managed to find a few restaurants open though and chose the Black Trumpet Delicatessen when we walked past a couple eating and asked if they recommended it. The choices on the menu were all tempting and luckily we only ordered one sandwich and a salad to split. The sandwich was more than enough for us.

After satisfying our hunger pains, we strolled around the area. It was very pleasant on the eye and offered respite from the sun with all the trees and overhead decorative awnings. There were several courts each named for a particular flower. Each court had some type of fountain and any one of the areas would have been a great place to just sit and relax. One of the fountains is interactive--meaning the kids can run through the sprays of water that pop up all over the place.

The shops we passed looked a bit upscale but you would expect that in this kind of area away from the hustle of Seven Mile Beach (although it is near there) and the frantic shopping for souvenirs in downtown Georgetown as the cruise ships come in.

Camana Bay is also developed with a residential area, a hotel, and offices. It is a community in every sense of the word and very well planned. I look forward to returning--maybe when the stores are open?

Wordless Wednesday

Books For The Road - How Fast Do You Read?

Staples has put together this neat little test to see how fast you read. I tested 12% above the national average. The test is not just for speed but comprehension as well. So if you take it, don't skim. Have a go. The results are interesting at the end. You can see how long it will take you to read War and Peace--should you wish to indulge in heavy reading.

Source: Staples eReader Department

Through My Lens - Colors of Cayman

Grand Cayman - Scuba Diving

Picture by Elly Wray

Scuba diving is really a lot like going on a scavenger hunt except you strap on a "self contained underwater breathing apparatus" to do so. The equipment has changed quite a bit from the days of Lloyd Bridges and Sea Hunt. There is a vest, called a buoyancy control device or BCD, a regulator and pressure gauge that hooks to your air source, a pressurized tank, mask, fins, and a dive computer. There is also a secondary regulator called an octopus so that in an emergency, your dive buddy could breathe off of your tank if necessary. Bridges in his series rarely dived with a buddy.

Dive skins or wet suits are a necessary evil depending upon the dive conditions. Colder water demands thicker covering to keep the body warm. Divers in the extreme cold areas dive in what are called dry skins. Our policy: if you need more than a 1/2 millimeter dive skin, the water's too cold for us. That's why we love Cayman for diving. The water on our recent dive trip was at a balmy 82-84 degrees Fahrenheit. And very very clear!

The scavenger hunt comes into play as you listen to the dive briefing before each dive. Each site is different and the dive master will give some sort of briefing. With Ocean Frontiers, it is a drawing on a dry erase board that roughly shows what lies below the boat. From there you can choose to make your own dive plan or follow the dive master on his guided tour.

Along with the directional briefing comes a hint of what might be seen at the dive site. Now, knowing that fish and other marine critters are mobile, it doesn't always follow that you will see what is "advertised" and you may also be in for some great surprises. So in a sense it is a scavenger hunt. You jump in with a mental list of things to look for. Some you find and some you don't.

Bob and I have our own scavenger list of sorts. He likes to look for scorpion fish. They have the nickname of rock fish because they look just like the rocks they hide between. I like to look for peacock flounder--again a bit hard to find because they blend into their background like a chameleon. We found 5 scorpion fish and only one peacock flounder this time but the flounder turned on its blue spots for me when I waved my hand over the top of him. So amazing.

Also amazing, a couple of sharks, a huge spotted eagle ray, a couple of large green eels, the tiniest of juvenile drum fish, curious turtles, and miles of sea fans, sponges of all shapes, and soft and hard corals. Did I mention the schools of bright blue fish and of course the happiest, the parrot fish.

Our other quest was to finish the Green Shorts Challenge. Since we have been diving on the East End of Grand Cayman for over ten years now, we have almost dived each of the 55 dive sites on that end of the island. With only four to go, the weather wouldn't permit us to finish the ones we needed. Next year. . .green dive shorts, a trophy, and a plaque on the walkway, weather permitting.

[Our picture is by Elly Wray who is the staff photographer for Ocean Frontiers. She does a great job. It's not easy to steady a camera while the ocean around you is constantly moving.]

Wordless Wednesday

Tips For Flying With Kids

We didn't travel with our children a lot when they were young but we did take several outstanding vacations that they remember quite vividly. Of course they remember Disney World but the trips to the Smokey Mountains, the North Carolina coast, and Washington, D.C. are also mentioned when we are together reminiscing. We didn't fly often. There were five kids and even back then it was too expensive for us. Today, I see more and more families traveling with young children and I applaud their sense of adventure in this day and age of airport security lines.

With a little preparation, you can help to ease the anxiety of flying to your destination with your children. One of the best ways to keep track of your kids is to outfit them with bright neon colored tee shirts. They stand out in a crowd of travelers. Make it fun and let them design their own with fabric paint or get them printed with Family Vacation 2012 and the destinations or places you plan to visit as if it were a rock band tour.

Instead of packing several big suitcases, you might consider getting each child a rollered carry-on and/or a backpack. If it doesn’t fit in the bags, it can’t go and if you don’t have to check luggage, there’s no waiting at your destination to get that vacation started.

Be sure to have each family member wear slip on shoes and socks (although young children no longer need to take off shoes) for going through security. Avoid belts that have to come off and be sure that all of their pocket items are in a small Ziploc bag in their backpack. To avoid the issue of carrying liquids, I would just buy them at your destination. The time and aggravation saved will more than make up for the cost. Hotels and B&Bs usually have most of the toiletries you need in the room.

When you arrive at the airport, if you’ve parked your car at a lot that doesn't issue a location card, use your camera or smart phone to take a picture of where you parked. It will save wandering around with tired kids looking for that spot again.

I read one suggestion from a lady who traveled with six kids. She lined them up youngest to oldest as they went through security. One parent led the group and the other was at the end. That way everyone and everything made it through security.

Be sure everyone takes a bathroom trip before boarding the plane. You never know how long you might be on the runway at a busy airport and the restrooms are unavailable until takeoff.

Also, remember that while on the runway you cannot use electronics so be prepared with the old fashioned coloring books, puzzle books, or other gadgets without an on/off switch that can entertain the kids while you wait for takeoff.

Pass out gum or gummy bears as the plane takes off. It will help pop the ears as the kids chew and the airplane cabin pressure changes. For infants, be sure to be prepared with a bottle for them. You can always get juice or milk or water to mix formula in the airport before boarding. If they are sucking on a bottle, they will be less likely to experience discomfort in their ears. Have a little ready for your landing time as well.

Just a couple more suggestions: fly midweek if possible. The flights are less crowded which makes for a more pleasant trip and an easier passage through security. If you are leaving the country be sure to allow plenty of time to get passports and/or visas if needed. For the little ones, you might want to make a little ID card they can carry just like a grown up. Kept inside their backpack, it’s also a way to get a lost bag returned.

Happy traveling! There are many wonderful places in this world to share with your children. Make lots of memories together.

Books For The Road - Harriet Beamer Takes The Bus

When my American Christian Fiction Writer magazine arrived and I saw an ad for the book, Harriet Beamer Takes The Bus, I couldn’t help but take notice. The title sounded like a fun jaunt and that’s music to a travel addict’s ears. Added to that, I could get a copy for my new Nook and I did need to try out the downloading process. Worked like a charm and before long, I was engrossed in the discovery of a new and thoroughly likeable character, Harriet Beamer.

Harriet reminds me a bit of my mother-in-law who extremely independent although she’s quite a bit older than Harriet who is only in her seventies. Harriet’s son and daughter-in-law are convinced that she needs to give up her house and move in with them. When Harriet loses a bet with her daughter-in-law, she sells the house and concedes to moving across the country to California where they live.

But this is where you truly fall in love with Harriet. She’s not going to go easily. Instead of just packing up and flying to California, Harriet decides to take buses all the way so that she can see the countryside. And not just a Greyhound. No sir. She wants to take public transportation buses all the way. The result is a charming story filled with quirky characters along the way and some wonderful truths revealed as well.

Joyce Magnin, author of this delightful read has done a great job in making the whole story plausible and the trip quite enjoyable through Harriet’s eyes. Enjoy the ride. . .er, the read.

Through My Lens - Harry Potter Movie Set

Harry Potter - The Movie Workshops

After our lunch and butter beers on the Harry Potter movie set, we entered the workshop area that displayed many of the makeup artists creations for the various types of characters found in the stories---mostly the goblins found in Gringott's Bank. Eerie heads and hands were lined up on shelves and shelves from floor to ceiling and all around a huge room. 

The most surprising of all were two heads fashioned for Hagrid. One was hooked to complicated mechanisms that blinked eyes, moved the mouth, etc. All for the stunt doubles and for wide shots when the actor, Robbie Coltrane, wasn't needed to speak in the shot. The actor is actually 6' 1"--as he puts it, "north, south, east, and west." He's a British comedian. Of course movie magic made him appear even taller and larger.

After passing by the extremely large and hairy spider from one of the movies, we were channeled into Diagon Alley. It was amazing. All of the shop fronts were there. Purchase an owl? Want a wand? How about ingredients for your magic potions? Of course all the stylish wizarding clothes were displayed in the windows and the Weasleys were set up in a shop with their clever off the wall (even for wizards) goodies.

Deciding we didn't really need anything magical at the moment (they were only store fronts anyway), we passed along and glanced back for one last look at the Gringott's Bank entrance before entering the model display area where many of the mock-ups of sets showed the planning stages for what was to come. In the welcome video, actor Daniel Radcliffe had mentioned a surprise at the end and referred to Hogwarts. We thought the large white cardboard mock up of Hogwarts was it. Not so.

The next room was at least as big as a basketball court--maybe two. And in the center was the real Hogwarts, the real model anyway. This was the one used to shoot the pictures of Hogwarts from the outside. Remember the bridge section I told you about? Well, the "real" bridge was part of the model and spanned the whole valley beneath it. The lights in the room cycled from daylight to night time so you could catch a glimpse of Hogwarts during all phases of the day and night. It was, well, magical!

Just like at Disney (everyone has learned this trick) we were funneled out to the gift shop but not until we had passed through a room full of wand boxes. Each box had a name on it that was significant to the writing, producing, and making of the books and movies. A guide in the room could point out all the significant wands if you asked.

We returned our audio guides and wandered through the gift shop wondering who might enjoy some Bertie Botts Jelly Beans.

Wordless Wednesday

Harry Potter - WB Back Lot

After having explored the Great Hall of Hogwarts, the Gryffindor boys dorm, the magic potion classroom, Dumbledore's office, and tons of other sets and props for the making of the Harry Potter movies, we were hungry. On the "back lot" just outside the main studio area, we found the commissary--the lunch line. On one side you could get all sorts of sandwiches and snacks and on the other side, butter beer. Who could resist trying butter beer? Not us. 

We sat down with our butter beers and food and took a sip. The butter beer was like a cross between ginger ale and cream soda with some sort of sweet meringue-like top that tasted almost like whipped marshmallows. It was quite a creation and a nifty treat.

The outdoor cafeteria area was surrounded by more familiar props and sets from the movies. The famous triple decker purple bus, two houses from Privet Lane where Harry lived with his aunt, uncle, and cousin, and the house where he'd been an infant and his parents had been killed by he-who-shall-not-be-named (Voldemort).

A section of the bridge the characters so often crossed as they discussed life and made plans was nearby. It was where the actors were filmed. The actual bridge of Hogwarts, as we would see later was a much smaller mock up and part of . . . well, you'll see if you come back for the next Harry Potter post.

Harry Potter - The Movie Set

Excitement escalated when we discovered that Warner Bros. was opening the movie set of the Harry Potter series to the public. Just a short train trip from London to Watford Junction where a duly decorated shuttle bus takes you straight to the studios about 15 minutes away. We purchased tickets online before we left home and arrived at the studios about forty-five minutes before our tour time of 11 a.m.

While waiting to get in line for our appointed time, we strolled around the lobby full of huge poster pictures of the cast from the movies and noticed, suspended above our heads in the corner, the Ford Anglia that was made to fly. A peek in the gift shop only left me thinking of a Christmas gift list for all the Potter fans in our family.

After a coffee and a snack, we got in line to begin our tour. As we wound our way to the entrance, we were enticed with a mock up of Harry's room under the stairs on Privet Lane. There on the shelf above the bed were the iconic glasses worn by Daniel Radcliffe. I'm sure in the 10 years or so it took to make all the movie sequels, there were more than one pair. He did grow.

A large group of us were herded into a room where we watched a short video before entering another room with a familiar giant door before us--the door to the banquet hall of Hogwarts. Sure enough when the doors opened, we were right there and the magic of Warner Brothers movie making began. The banquet hall didn't seem as large as what was on the screen in the movie but it was still very impressive. Tables were set and along the sides were original costumes representing the houses of Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff.

Once our allotted time was up in the banquet hall, we were directed out to the large studio area where we could leisurely explore all the various sets, props, costumes, etc. that were used in all the movies. Each of us had an audio guide that we could start at each station along the way. It was more of an IPod-type guide where it was possible to also see videos and pictures of the making of the movies as well as interviews with people involved. It was very well done.

The Gryffindor dorm room where Harry and Ron bunked was interesting. As the audio explained the beds were the right size for the actors when they first started filming but by the time the last movie was made, they had outgrown them and needed to curl up tight to appear to still fit. The colorful quilted bed in Ron's.

Dumbledore's office was amazing. You can't see it in the picture and it was a little difficult to see from where we stood as well but there is a large telescope up in the ceiling. All of the elements of the story line were there and visitors were allowed all the time they needed to search them out and find them.

Many of the special effects, most helped along by green screens, were displayed. The brooms and flying motorcycles of course were attached to mechanical devices that made them move while being ridden and then the background added onto the green screen later would make it seem to really fly.

But how did Harry become invisible under that cloak of his father's? Green screen material. Look closely at the picture of the cloak on the mannequin and you'll see that a part of it is folded back to reveal the green material. Ah, the magic of movie making. But some of the best was yet to come.

England on Dwellable

Sunday Morning Worship Thoughts

On the East End of Grand Cayman there is a large population of land crabs. Once in a while you see them scurrying from under one bush to another but usually they don't come out until dusk when the sun is setting. That is when you see the really large ones. When you approach them they instantly raise their claws as if they were saying, "Put up your dukes!" They always seem ready for a fight.

Last week when I spoke at my church, I talked about God Moments--those times when God uses everyday things or sometimes not so everyday to give us insights and inspiration. Seeing one of those feisty land crabs this week gave me one of those moments. How often have I raised my "dukes" and tried to fight with God over things instead of welcoming His presence into my life?