Cultural Aspects of Off Shore Cruising

[aeventyr60]

Thought I'd try a new thread to share some of Aeventyr's offshore experiences over the past 13 years. Anybody else like to contribute stories, pictures, interesting cultural events, the kindness of strangers etc? A pic form my voyage to begin...

Indonesian dancers somewhere on Flores Island

[tdw]

What a great idea. Sadly I have no OS cruising experience to contribute but knowing what one might expect in an unfamiliar country must be a significant plus.

[TQA]

Carnival in Grenada

[Faster]

The place: St Annes on Martinique, a nice little town outside the harbour at Le Marin. A traditional community fishing exercise (tourists did join in) A couple of boats deployed a net a 1/4 mile or so off the beach, the ends were brought ashore and everyone drags the net ashore, finally harvesting the catch when it's all been gathered in. This probably took over an hour all told..









This puffer fish was an unhappy casualty

[wingNwing]

This conch didn't even make it off the fishing boat before being turned into conch salad, the day we cleared into Andros in the Bahamas:

[aeventyr60]

Morning market, Gili Air, Indonesia

[wingNwing]

Well, SOMEbody has to post some Carnival photos ... guess it might as well be me! The first is from a night parade; all those bright points are LED lights, it was wonderful:

The second was my favorite costume at the daytime "Grand Parade" on Aruba a couple of years ago:

[smackdaddy]

Awesome thread aev!

[aeventyr60]

Meet and greet. Camp Leakey Orangutuan Rehabilitation Center, Deep up the Kumai River, Indonesian Borneo.

[Faster]

Marie Gallant, these beautifully kept, ornate cemetaries are all over the Caribbean chain.



Typical "Boat Boy', this one in Domineca. These guys come miles out to greet you and offer their services (buoys, fuel, water, sometimes whatever) Though seldom really needed, it's cheap enough to engage them in some manner, lots of goodwill and you do help support the locals. We've even had one guy row out a couple of miles.. This is the more typical setup. They'll run you to customs too if you need it.



Dominican fisherman dragging their HEAVY boats out of the surf. This was at the extreme southern tip, a beautiful bay sheltered by a peninsula but it's a park and no anchoring is permitted.



Saturday morning market, St Pierre, Martinique



Barren ruins from Pele's eruption.. quite a powerful testament to that event.



Anchored off the Pitons, St Lucia.. this boat came by at 12 knots or so, with all these gentlemen standing at attention. After passing us they slowed over a reef, all of them jumped in the water with bags. 20 minutes later they left in the same posture. Apparently gathering bait fish for traps from the reefs.



And now some 'not so cultured'... remains of the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie set in Wallilaloo Bay, St Vincent.