Sunday, April 12, 2009

Mahi Mahi experience

Here is an overview of the Mahi Mahi Suite experience

Luxury Accommodations in Tobago
MB

Imagine staying in a three bedroom condominium, 50 feet away from the beach, surrounded by palm trees and tropical birds, in Black Rock, Tobago. Your fantasy can become a reality by booking the Mahi Mahi Suite (Black Rock Dreams complex) for yourself and your family or friends.

Staying at Mahi Mahi allows you to be a guest rather than a tourist on this tropical island. The condo comes furnished with a full kitchen including appliances (fridge/freezer and icemaker, microwave, stove/oven, juicer, toaster, coffee maker, kettle, blender and dishwasher), a master bedroom with king size bed, en suite bathroom, and patio doors leading to the balcony, a dining room, a living area with TV, DVD player, and CD player, two additional bedrooms (one with two beds and an en suite bathroom, the other with two single beds) an additional three piece bathroom and a washer and dryer. Housekeeping and towel/linen services are also included.

Your arrival at Crown Point International begins with private transportation to your accommodations, where a friendly greeter is waiting at the condominium with a welcome basket and an opportunity for you to ask any questions about travel plans you may have. You may also arrange tour bookings and car rentals.

Your day at Mahi Mahi Suite may entail drinking your morning coffee on the balcony while watching a picture perfect sunrise. There are two options for taking a dip: take advantage of the complex’s swimming pool or walk a few extra feet to Grafton Beach. On the beach there are various activities to engage in from body surfing the great waves, sunbathing, watching the locals fish and play soccer, gazing at crafts for sale by vendors, having your hair braided just like a Rasta, or drinking a rum punch at the seaside bar over lunch. If you have snorkel gear, it is a treat to view the biodiversity that Grafton Beach hosts such as corals, colorful fish and squid.

Exploring beyond the beach, there are many places to see within walking distance of your accommodations. The Bird Sanctuary is a heavily forested area with hiking trails, where birds of various feathers flock together. You must be at the Copra House (near the entrance) at 4pm when the birds are fed. The bird feeder’s relaxed essence is a true reflection of a trait that most locals possess, and by the time you have stayed in this paradise for several days you will start to become peaceful as well. As the seed and fruit are laid out, you will no doubt see the yellow feathers of banana quits and hear the distinctive call of Tobago’s official bird, the Chachalaca. Hopefully you will see the mot mot (a beautiful blue, green and orange bird with a with racket-shaped tail tip) which the feeder will try to lure with cheese and an oot-doot calls.

Also within walking distance of the condo is Fort Bennett. Here you will see the remains of British military fortifications built in 1778 which were used as look-outs for American ships. On the edge of the cliff, there is a gazebo equipped with benches where you can sit and watch the crashing waves against black rocks. The beach adjacent to the fort is an ideal place to observe unique jelly fish and crabs.

You will never go hungry in Tobago. There are many restaurants, grocery stores and fruit stands within walking or driving distance from the suite. Nearby you will also see local fishermen selling their fresh catch roadside, where they will provide the service of filleting your choice of barracuda or red snapper. A real special eating occasion called Sunday School takes place every Sunday starting at 8pm and goes all night. Fill your stomachs with local dishes such as barbeque chicken, macaroni pie, plantain, pelau (rice) and dumplings and of course rum or beer. Buy arts and crafts for people back home from the various vendors. Entertainment is provided by the Buccoo Buccaneers Steel Drum Band, where many tourists end up dancing. The best thing about this is that it takes place in Buccoo Village, which is only about a 10 minute drive or taxi ride from the Mahi Mahi suite.

Tobago is only 42km in length so you are able to take several day trips from the Black Rock condo. For example, there are two golf courses that are a 10-15 minute drive away, Tobago’s capital Scarborough boasts Fort King George, you can go on snorkelling tours at Speyside or Store Bay, visit Pigeon Point which has been dubbed “a perfect Caribbean Beach”, and hike the rainforest Gilpin Trail in Tobago’s nature reserve, with the option of having a guide to point out all the local flora and fauna.

You really must visit Tobago, a breathtaking and relaxing vacation spot. The Mahi Mahi suite of Black Rock Dreams is just the place for you and your companions to stay as it welcomes you as a guest to this tropical retreat.

For more information on the Mahi Mahi Suite and to make bookings, contact Gill Connelly by email: gillian@tobagobeachcondo.com or by phone: (868)481-5986; or (868)635-1481

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Snorkeling - part 1

We went snorkeling at Arnos Vale. This is really excellent - there are great corals. I saw a family of squid and got a quick picture of them. Also I saw a turtle (a small one, not a big leather back) there both times but of course I ran out of underwater film just before spotting it the first time. Next time!

Other fish I saw (it is teeming with fish!): BIG angel fish, parrot fish, trumpet fish and flat fish and masses of others.

I would say you will need to be a fairly strong swimmer as the water can be a bit rough; having said that I'm not talking about being Michael Phelps here!

The beach is very nice. To get there, go through the Arnos Vale hotel gate and surprisingly there is public parking in the grounds for beach access.

Note: sun beds from the hotel are TT$40 per day so you might want to take you own chairs or just lie on a towel..or pay up! We did.

Tobago 2009

In March 2009 we had a great two week stay in Tobago; trip highlight details to follow in other posts.

All was good with Delta direct from Atlanta (5 hours 15 minute flight duration). In terms of making the last phase of the journey easy, direct to Tobago was a real winner. We cleared immigration quickly and all our luggage arrived - then we were in Tobago! As opposed to arriving late in Trinidad, then enduring a long line up in Trinidad immigration. Then a night's accomodation would be needed and then there's a return trip to the airport for the Tobago flight portion.

More detail: in Tobago there were even luggage trolleys which could be brought to the roadside for vehicle loading; in Trinidad trolley loan is only provided in the baggage area and no further - not too much help then.