Travel Musings

Here’s a couple of shots from the main pool at Sandals Emerald Bay in Great Exuma. We spent a lot of time relaxing here during the week while being catered to by the superb Butler Service staff at the property.

Sandals Emerald Bay Main Pool

Sandals Emerald Bay signature pool

We could not have asked for a more enjoyable holiday at what has to be considered the flagship property for Sandals in the Caribbean, and our hosts made sure we would want to return as soon as possible. I can tell you that I’m ready to go once again, anytime !

Lisa and I have just recently returned from a fabulous week at Sandals flagship property in what is commonly referred to as the “Out Islands” of the Bahamas, Great Exuma.  Sandals Emerald Bay is breath-taking, particularly the descent from the flight where azure blue waters beckon and a luxurious resort awaits your every wish.   This is truly a romantic, relaxation holiday where pampering guests is not going above and beyond the norm…it is an every day occurrence.

From the moment we set foot on this tropical oasis and right through until our ultimate return to reality (the departure) we were treated with the brand that has become the trademark of Sandals, “Welcome Home”…and it certainly felt that way.

For the moment, I’ve just about finished the photo editing of approximately 600 shots I took during our week in Great Exuma, but here’s the traditional video photo journal just to wet your appetites until I post all the pictures in the gallery.  Enjoy, I know we did !

Lisa and I want to extend our sincere appreciation to our wonderful hosts for the week, Jeremy (GM, Sandals Emerald Bay), and Kyle (Hotel Manager, Sandals Emerald Bay).  Gentlemen, it will be our pleasure to see you once again in the very near future.

There were so many photos that turned out well from Lisa’s most recent trip to South Africa, and in particular the incredible shots she managed to capture on the numerous game drives in Kruger National Park. I keep being pulled back to look at them again and again, so I thought I might post a few that really caught my eye, for so many reasons including the proximity to this beautiful large cat, how relaxed it appears to be without a care in the world (likely the beauty of a private game reserve and being protected from poachers), and most of all, how well it turned out with very little post-processing required.

Touted to be Oprah’s favourite resort in South Africa, and also well known as the temporary home of former South African president Nelson Mandela, the Saxon Boutique Hotel is a five star luxury property and a member of The Leading Small Hotels of the World. Located in Johannesburg, it has been voted a LHW property every year since 2001. Tucked away inside ‘compound-like grounds’ that blend discreetly with neighbouring heavily guarded upscale properties, this gem caters to even the most discerning tastes. And since it just happened to be one of the spots on Lisa’s itinerary, I couldn’t help but include this sunset in paradise framed with the infinity pool from a tropical destination that beckons you to stay, even if just for one night.

But as if these weren’t enough to wet your appetite to want to book the next flight out for your African Safari, I am literally blown away by this shot from one of the evening game drives where the group happened upon the patriarch of the lion pride, and according to the recap from Lisa, this old fella wasn’t more than 5 metres away from the land rover when she snapped the photo. I can guarantee you one thing, you’ll never get a shot like this in any zoo !!!

I have a hard time choosing any of these as a “favourite”, so I thought I would do them all a little justice and frame them – don’t you just love Photoshop

Well, we have begun the countdown for what will be a group ‘trip of a lifetime’ African Safari which at the moment, will be sometime in August or September 2013.  At last count, Lisa and I have tallied up 8 couples who have either expressed more than just a ‘marginal’ interest, or have down right said ‘count us in’.  Given that this adventure is still almost 24 months away, only time will tell who maintains that faith and who drops out.  I’m thinking at the moment that we will have a larger number that stay the course, which would make this a fabulous trip knowing each of the couples as we do.

Before that grand adventure begins, there are a lot of variables to consider, and so the immediate plans (i.e. in the next 30 – 60 days) are for Lisa and I to develop a high level presentation for the benefit of the group that would include things like; itinerary, flights, duration, destinations and potential resorts, visa requirements, vaccinations, optional ‘things to do’, and not to mention the most obvious…how much will all this cost.

In the meantime, as you probably know, Lisa just returned from South Africa last month, and I’m still adjusting to the disappointment of not having been able to go with her, but by all accounts, it looks like she had an incredible time.  Here’s a little evidence to support that claim, and wet the appetite for all those who plan on joining us when that journey into the unknown finally does arrive.  I still can’t believe some of the photos that she took while on this trip, and I’m constantly pulled back to the screen to view these over and over, just contemplating what it will be like when I ultimately get there.  Of course, high on the list of ‘things to do’ will be the #1 item on my bucket list – submersing into a steel cage and viewing the Great White sharks at Dyer Island.

Just in case I only happened to mention a dozen or more times already, great job on the photos honey : -)

It’s confirmed, we are headed to the flagship property for Sandals in Great Exuma, Bahamas, namely Emerald Bay (click on the link to check out the website).  Lisa broke the fabulous news to me today, and I am so excited especially since it’s only five weeks away.  Nothing beats getting a huge surprise that we are off to an incredible resort besides knowing it is just around the corner (so to speak) in terms of wait time before departure.

Lisa has been working on getting us confirmed for either Emerald Bay or Whitehouse (Jamaica) for a couple of months now, and knowing that I will be wading in the tropical aqua-blue waters of Great Exuma definitely makes up for the disappointment of not having been able to travel with her earlier this month when she went to South Africa – our # 1 bucket list destination.  I’m taking great solace in the fact that we are planning a group safari in approximately 20 months time.

I’m sure most of you have a general idea of where the Bahamas are located, but just in case, here’s a map of the area in question with Great Exuma noted by the red stick pin in the photo.

I’m barely finished post processing on our European holiday from this past June with the photo book coming along nicely, and with Lisa’s recent South African adventure where she churned out 1,300 photos for me to work on (which you can view in our gallery and are simply breath-taking), I am already chomping at the bit to photograph this luxury resort and intend to give my Canon 7D a major workout !!

Stay tuned, and what awesome news sweetie – I guess that means a trip down to the Byward Market and Puerto del Sol for you and a new bikini    Well done, you earned this one as usual.

Well, the inevitable has happened much to my dismay, and Lisa will be venturing off on a spectacular journey to the # 1 item on our (my) bucket list, South Africa…without me in tow. While I will admit I’m none to thrilled that she gets to go before I do, I know that this is ultimately in our best interest, and more importantly for those in our close circle of family and friends who have already expressed an interest in an African safari which we are planning on doing in approximately 18 months (max) from now. The only thing that has me worried is that I let her do my #2 item on the list a couple of years ago – the South Pacific, and we have yet to go there as well !

Oh well, I’ll just have to grin and bear it for the moment, and I’m going to go over several ‘educational’ items myself with her about photography because I will insist that she shoot a minimum of 1,000 shots while she is away. Believe me, I’m doing this for all of you, not just my jealousy.

Here’s the itinerary for the trip that she just departed on recently:

Monday September 12 – Johannesburg, South Africa

After clearing customs and immigration you are met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel. The Da Vinci Hotel & Suites on Nelson Mandela Square is an all suites hotel located next to Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton. Guests will have time to stroll through the Nelson Mandela Square and Sandton Mall. This evening you will visit the Michelangelo Hotel for a site inspection followed by dinner.

Overnight: Da Vinci Hotel and Suites

Tuesday September 13 – Johannesburg, South Africa

Breakfast at the hotel.  You are met for a morning tour to Soweto where you will visit the Hector Petersen Museum and the home of Nelson Mandela.  The drive takes you through the township where you will see informal settlements and shops as well as the largest hospital in the Southern Hemisphere.  You will have free time for lunch before setting out for various hotel inspections.  In the evening, you will visit the Protea Hotel Fire & Ice for an inspection and dinner.  Overnight:  African Pride Melrose Arch Hotel (continue reading…)