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Published: October 4th 2017
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Dear ones,
We have been lax in our blogging, mostly because we do just about the same things every day, and the fish are amazing. We get up, have a small breakfast if we are meeting Francis to snorkel, and then we went to Linda's for the fantastic Dutch pancake again. But first - Sunday. We tried to find another church, because the New Life Tabernacle can last over 2 hours, tho we love it. So the internet said the main 'Protestant Church" in Orangestad had Dutch and English at 11. Sounded reasonable. The pastor welcomed us warmly, tho they didn't have a patch on Advent's welcoming, as only one other person said anything. Well, 2 when we count the pastor's wife. And the organ was great. and a cute baptism. And almost everything else in Dutch. The translator system wasn't ready for operation. So 2 hours in a rousing worship would have passed much quicker. O well.
Back to the snorkeling. We went out one morning and saw 9 turtles. We've seen a great octopus, that got white every time David went closer to take a photo. Eels.Triggerfish. Etc, and all those over in the easy area. At
our new favorite of Arashi, we see so many porcupine fish it's laughable, for they are so endearing in their facial expressions.
Dinnerwise, we have been to Zee Rover's twice, the burning cheesy spaghetti house last night, Indo the Indonesian restaurant where we had enough for another meal. I've made a curry from red snapper - yum. And another Indonesian restaurant that was disappointing. You never know. John's meal was great. Mine was good. Robin's was good once she asked for some more curry sauce, and David's "something of the sea" was the most expensive and a total disappointment. 4 shrimp, 1 mussel that made him nervous in its consistency, supposedly some fish that were hiding.
So we have been snorkeling twice a day, generally going to Boca Catalina (we know refer to it as Turtle Bay) in the am and then Arashi in the 3:30 time frame. Heather, had a successful visit to Mopa Mopa - after trying all 3 of them.
And Lynn, went to the market for my #1 need - a dasheeki (can't remember how to spell it), so David will look like a 60's singer when he needs to.
the weather
has been cloudy, and some rain every now and then, but it leaves in 10 mins unless it's at night, and we celebrate the evening rains for the locals.
We wish that this blog took videos - because we have some amazing ones of the fish and turtles.
To explain most of the photos:
triggerfish, quite rare - in Hawaiian that's the humahumanukanukaapuaa
one of many turtles. The videos catch them in brighter water closer to the surface
octopus - normally dark, and making himself bigger and whiter when approached
sharpnosed puffer - never saw one till last year, but they are all over the Arashi reef. Only about 1.5 to 3" long
Queen parrot fish, quite colorful
tiny small fish we love to spot. look closely at the colors
giant rainbow parrot fish. David saw 12 of them together one afternoon - but not THE giant one.
The cheesy spaghetti making.
Zee rovers - Jean enjoying every morsel from her red snapper, and look at the head of the grouper. We were told it took 2 hours to heave him from the boat. enormous dude, and so old
that Zee Rover did not buy it. But it would cost $800 if they had.
and finally, a rock beauty, another rarity elsewhere but usually seen once or twice at Arashi.
Off to snorkel again this morning,
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