Day: August 30, 2022

Places To See In The Caribbean Islands

There are so many places to see in the Caribbean Islands. Your choice of popular tourist destinations is almost unlimited as many countries in the Caribbean and in the area surrounding the Sea offer a lot for visitors. In the past this area was known as the West Indies and was colonized by the English, Dutch, French, Germans, Spanish, Portuguese and other European nations starting from the 14th century onwards. The area also has a native indigenous population that has been there for thousands of years as well as an African population that were brought there during the era of slave trading. For these historical reasons, the Caribbean Islands are largely multicultural and multi-ethnic. They comprise about 7000 islands, islets, reefs and cays and are considered a sub-region of North America. The name of the region comes from the local indigenous population called the Carib, who were dominant in the area at the time of European contact and settlement.

Trying to list all of the places to see in the Caribbean Islands would be a futile exercise, so the best approach is to present some of the more popular and famous islands. This article will look at two very popular summer tourist destinations – Aruba and Barbados.

Aruba

Aruba is a tiny 33 km long island located in the southern Caribbean Sea and is today still part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The first thing a tourist needs to know that to get into Aruba you need to have a valid Dutch visa or permission to enter the European Union. The tiny island is home to some 100,000 people and is very popular as a tourist destination in the summer because it is out of the hurricane area.

Some of the places to see in the Caribbean Islands in Aruba are Arikok National Park (taking up 18% of the island including a lava formation and other geological anomalies, as well as some unique snakes and birds), Eagle Beach (famous for its low-rise resorts and very wide public beach, including soft white sand), Palm Island (a small private island which is a popular tourist destination a short 5 minute ferry ride from the mainland; the island has a Water Park and is a fantastic scuba diving place) and finally the world famous Tierra del Sol Golf Club (which has villas, a spa, a fitness center and an 18 hole golf course).

Barbados

Barbados is almost as tiny as Aruba at just 34 km in length. It is located in the western area of the North Atlantic Ocean and is also outside the Atlantic hurricane belt, which makes it a popular summer destination. The European history of Barbados goes back to its status as part of Portugal, but eventually it became a British colony. Today it has a population of about 275,000 people. In 1966 Barbados became an independent nation but remained part of the Commonwealth. Barbados is the most developed. In fact, it is one of the most developed nations in the world.

Barbados has many stunning buildings to see that date from various periods of time going as far back as the Dutch and British colonization efforts. Churches, museums, universities in many different styles intermingle with beaches, resorts, spas and villas to provide a beautiful setting for tourists of all different tastes.…

Green Travel – What Is It?

Green travel simply means being a responsible, respectful traveler who continually makes decisions and contributions that enhance the destinations and cultures visited.

It’s about conducting yourself in such a way, that if everyone were to mimic you, your mentality and your actions, the world would be a better place.

It all goes back to the golden rule: ‘treat others as you would like to be treated.’

Traveling must be done with a respect for the environment, current cultures and future generations and combined with a dynamic desire to leave a continually positive impact for a progressively better tomorrow – just as you would like travelers before you to have done the same.

How exactly do you do that? Keep reading and learn the philosophy around green travel and then some concrete actions you can take to be a greener traveler.

Leave a legacy, not a trail.

Minimizing impact as you travel is essential and goes hand in hand with the footprint only mentality. Your goal should be to leave your destination looking just as it did, or better.

1. Refill. Strive to use refillable everything, disposable nothing. That goes for cameras, toiletry containers and especially water bottles.

2. Protect. Make sure the trash you do generate makes it to the garbage can and the products you use are biodegradable.

3. Recycle. Efficient waste management systems aren’t a reality in many destinations. Recycle, reuse, and repurpose items whenever possible.

Be aware.

Cultivating a habit of appreciation and awareness for your surroundings and your impact is essential for your green traveling journey. It requires seeing the bigger picture and having a direction for the legacy you want to leave behind as one, as a nationality and as a generation.

1. Minimize. Be mindful that water is a very precious, very limited resource in many destinations. Use the minimal amount possible when showering or freshening up.

2. Conserve. Leaving your AC on when you’re not in the room may make for a cooler reentry, but it also expends unnecessary amounts of energy that are difficult to generate, created by a destructive processes (like diesel generators in the Galapagos) and are costly in more ways than one.

Get local.

Supporting the local economy is the only way to ensure a destinations continued authenticity and survival. Staying in local hotels, eating in local restaurants, and utilizing local businesses empower the community rather than padding a corporate outsiders pocket book.

1. Experiment. You can have a burger and fries at home. Try the local cuisine and expand your palette.

2. Sleep in. Sleep in a family ran bed and breakfast or a non-franchised hotel that is. The owners and staff are usually eager to please and a wealth of information.

3. Insource. As opposed to outsource. The local inhabitants are usually the most knowledgeable and passionate about their homeland, its intricacies, and its way of being. Look for local companies and enthusiast to explore your destination.

Experience from the inside out.

Blending in, building relationships, and truly experiencing your destination as a participant, rather than a spectator is key for a genuine experience. A willingness to learn, step outside your comfort zone and not have all the answers is the first step to connecting to and learning from other cultures.

1. Communicate. The best way to learn about a people and a culture is to talk to them. Learning some words in the native language breaks the ice and shows eagerness to learn and to listen.

2. Blend in. Look like a local, not a tourist. Looking like a 100%, map toting, picture snapping tourist usually creates a barrier against authentic experiences. Leave your camera for the day, respect the local customs, and assimilate to your new environment.

3. Be curious. You can’t fill a full glass or a full mind so empty any preconceived notions from the get go and be prepared to see different ways of the world that still work. In other words, be open-minded. Life is interestingly different across the globe. Not wrong, just different. Learn about it, respect the differences, and broaden your horizons.

Be a contributor.

It’s always good to leave something behind – a good impression, financial assistance, a day of volunteer work; anything that leaves a positive impact.

1. Impress. Realize that you are being watched, categorized and studied. You represent your generation, your population, and all of mankind to a certain extent. Make sure that your attitude and your actions leave a positive impact and serve to enrich relationships between your destination and fellow travelers for many generations to come.

2. Donate. It can be money, time or supplies – anything to better the environment or empower the locals.

Act today for a better tomorrow.

Every decision has a consequence for …