Sunday, March 25, 2007
bahamas, baby (cont'd)
We woke up on Thursday all eager and ready to get going on the highlight of our trip -- a 200USD cruise package that promises to bring us to all the best best islands in Bahamas. One thing sucky about the Bahamas is that the most beautiful beaches are on private islands and the only access to them is through expensive tour packages that cost 150 bucks. We weighed our choices carefully and decided to splurge our money on this expensive package since it was the only 'real' thing we were going to do on our trip (everything and everyday else was basically reserved for nua-ing). But the skies were cloudy at 7am and the tour operator called us to notify us that the trip was cancelled. Horrors of horrors. Imagine going to the Bahamas but not visiting the real deals. Thankfully, we managed to squeeze ourselves into some cheaper package which also consisted of cruise + bbq lunch + drinks + snorkelling + beaching even though the destination wasn't as breathtaking. Still, it beats nua-ing at the hotel (by then we really had enough of nua-ing). It was really nice having our own private yacht, chilling and enjoying the sea breeze :D It made all the horror stories at Newark + Fort Lauderdale seem all so insignificant.
With good company on the yacht :)
I want to sail my own yacht next time!
Snorkelling + Pitstop at the private island
It was really better than expected, considering that we only paid half the price of the other package. Lunch was good and the captain bbq-ed ribs and chicken onboard the yacht while we went snorkelling. Snorkelling was damn fun too...I remember how my dad used to bring us to places like Tioman and Langkawi when I was alot younger to snorkel but then I really hated the taste of seawater and water always went into my nose because I didn't know how to use the snorkel mask. This time round, I finally learnt to use the mask properly so I didn't have to be up on the surface every 2 seconds to spout water out of my water. It was a pity the coral reefs weren't that abundant, so we didn't really get to see many colorful fishies...but still, I spotted a 2 metre long Manta Ray which I thought was damn cool :D
After snorkelling, we decided to explore the nearby island which had a small beach. Even though the beach was really tiny, it was really nice because we had the entire place to ourselves. The waves were crashing against the cliffs along the beach and it was really romantic to be having the entire sea + beach to ourselves.
The last day at Bahamas was spent nua-ing again. While everyone was doing their last minute touristy shopping, I decided to revisit the beach at Cabbage Bay to recapture the moment for the last time before returning back to freezing Ithaca. We finally left Bahamas in the late afternoon all toasted and slightly red from the days in the sun, arriving at Newark for another night of waiting and waiting because we missed the last bus back to Cornell =S
I guess that marks the end of our little adventure to Bahamas. The countless hours at the airport waiting, the nervewrecking wait for flights one after another, the group being separated at the airport, the sun+sea+sand at Bahamas, frolicking on the beaches and the great company.
School starts in less than 9 hours time...till then, its another adventure that makes up life away from home. (:
ilovetotwirl at 7:46 PM
bahamas, baby
So after all the wait at Newark Airport, we did manage to get to Bahamas after all. But it wasn't without a stopover at Fort Lauderdale in Florida where we were all ready to camp over another night in the airport to wait for the first flight out. Thankfully, the Continental counter staff took pity on our situation and gave us a complementary room at the Hilton. We didn't really get to chill in our hotel room for long though, having to wake up at 4am and be on standby for our flight all over again. I was too shagged and tired by the time we got to Nassau to do anything besides sleep. Basically, I was just nua-ing everyday along the trip, trying to soak up as much sunshine as possible and getting tons of rest.
Everyone in our group was equally shagged too from the ordeal that we had to undergo. So the first day was spent exploring the town of Nassau, which is capital to Bahamas. Nassua has the old sea-port charm, and reminds me alot of Malacca. Wasn't too impressed by the touristy stores and the exorbitant prices for commonplace accessories that can be easily bought for less than 1/2 of its price in Far East Plaza.
Everyone in our group was equally shagged too from the ordeal that we had to undergo. So the first day was spent exploring the town of Nassau, which is capital to Bahamas. Nassua has the old sea-port charm, and reminds me alot of Malacca. Wasn't too impressed by the touristy stores and the exorbitant prices for commonplace accessories that can be easily bought for less than 1/2 of its price in Far East Plaza.
Exploring downtown Nassau
The next day was slightly better when we went down to the beach. The Carribbean water is really green and clear; you can see the sunlight penetrating through the depths of the sea. The sand is pristine and white...and each grain is well-polished from all the abrasion. The water was alot more calmer than the crashing waves of the coast of California which made it suitable for swimming. I really enjoyed being by the sea during the California roadtrip, and somehow, breathing in the familiar salty air by the sea made my cough+runny nose temporarily disappear (:
Suntanning at Goodman's Bay
Meals at Bahamas were expensive -- I spent an average of 20 bucks for dinner every night sharing seafood dishes. They were yummy stuff but extremely sinful; we were having DEEP FRIED this and that plus french fries which should have been a no-no for a sick kid. Despite not doing much in the daytime, I was always sluggish and tired and turned in early instead of going out to play in the night. It really feels terrible to be sick on vacation when you're supposed to be all energetic and chirpy. Even though it was the Bahamas, somehow it always seemed soooo cold...after being stuck in sub zero temperatures for months here, I was hoping that Bahamas would be nice and HOT (not even sunny) like Singapore...but unfortunately, the days were like 17/24 deg celsius which was still wayyy too cold for my liking. =S
But still, I finally managed to trudge outside for one night of partying despite being sickly and tired. How can the Spring Break experience ever be complete if it doesn't consist of the typical college vices (booze & parties) ;) We went to this club downtown which had fantastic music but a terrible crowd. Absolutely NO guys in sight, and the people in the club were just the typical blonde sorority girls. Shots are cheap in Bahamas though, we were lucky that night and most of our drinks cost only a dollar. Alcohol is probably the only thing worth getting in Bahamas...everything is way too expensive and unaffordable.
ilovetotwirl at 7:08 PM
Sunday, March 18, 2007
spring break nightmare
22 hours since I left Cornell...18 hours of aimless waiting at Newark airport...this is truly a spring break nightmare...So we left Cornell all optimistic that we would get a flight despite us missing our plane the previous day before. After waiting in the cold airport for the entire night, having to sleep on stiff and uncomfy chairs, we thought everything would be worthed the wait once the flights resume operation in the morning.
But flight after flight, we keep getting rejected; everytime we yay in delight whenever we get to board a plane after being waitlisted on standby mode, we get rejected again. I thought our nightmare would be over once we were in the plane. But we were wrong. The rightful passengers always turned up and our seats would get recalled back. Again and again.
Now we're just aimlessly waiting for the final flight of the day departing in 3 hours. Even if we catch that plane, we would have to transit at Florida for at least another 12 hours. If we don't, we'll have to find alternative accomodation in the airport and scurry down at 4am again to get ourselves waitlisted over and over again.
Its strange how I have a standby boarding pass and am allowed to loiter in the boarding gates area. This never seemed to be a problem in Singapore -- no one has told stories about being chased out from the boarding gate after going past the security checkpoint.
But its way different here. Being inside here doesnt guarantee having a flight. Having a flight doesn't guarantee a seat. Having a seat doesn't guarantee the trip (which was why we were chased out). And then maybe in 3 hours time, we would be out rejected, praying that our luggage is still somewhere in this blardy airport and then restart this entire cycle again tomorrow.
I'm sick and tired of waiting. My nose is runny, my hands are parched, my eyes can barely open because of exhaustion, and I'm coughing ever incessantly. Really, one stupid snowstorm + one stupid inaccessible school = everything all gone wrong.
Spring break, where art thou?!
ilovetotwirl at 10:59 AM
Friday, March 16, 2007
ARGH
this place sucks. it snows a hell lot too much. now ALL the buses heading out are cancelled...we're stuck in ithaca and i will be freaking mad if i miss the freaking plane because of the freaking snow.and now its seriously game over for us because even the car rental companies dont have vehicles to spare. ArGHHHHH!!!
ilovetotwirl at 2:23 PM
spring fling
FINALLY: my long awaited/anticipated mid-term break is here! woots! Gonna head out to Bahamas for the Carribbean green sea, powdery white sand, and of course, the warmth from the sun! (geez, been missing that for awhile).Just that poor me is also bringing along a cough and one sore eye too :/
Till then. Peace out!!!
ilovetotwirl at 5:50 AM
