Cambios

Change is (most of the time) always good, isn't it? I believe everything in life has to evolve at some point, if it doesn't grow, change, or at least moves, it simply gets stuck...

When I was a little girl I loved to be able to change the layout of my bedroom, I will change my bed direction every couple of months and it made me feel like I was in a completely different place.

Now in my house our bed can't really be moved to any other way, so I guess from that point of view I am kind of stuck... Will have to figure out a way to fix that in the future!

So, the reason why I am all about change today is because I just changed my blog image (again) as well as some of the colors for the blog itself, what do you thing?

If you've been reading my blog for a while you probably remember that I used to have this image before, well, sometimes change is all about recycling, right?

Please let me know your thoughts about the "brand new, second hand" image, thumbs up or down???

Have a wonderful day : )

Guilty Pleasure

It's been a while since my last Wednesday Movie Post, so today's post is about a movie I just watched last night at the movies with a few girlfriends.

I guess this movie is like a guilty pleasure, the closest thing to a modern fairy tale; full of love, friendship, relationships, glamour and fashion.

I guess if there's such a thing as a mother ship of "chick flicks" this movie and part 1 would be it.

Even though this last one is the sequel, I have to say it is the perfect ending to a wonderful tv/movie series, and I am talking about not other than SEX AND THE CITY 2.

Anyway, if you've never watched the series and decide to get into it, just watch the two movies and you'll have an idea of what's all about, if you a woman there's got to be something that you can relate to in any of these movies or the tv series, I know I can relate to a lot.

So if you haven't seen any series episodes or the movies, do not think this is your average "desperate housewives" (full of envy, deceive, murders and all those horrible thing that do happen in that show!), of course there is crazy stuff that goes on (I mean c'mon the whole thing is based in a city like NY) but it also takes about the daily life and struggle of 4 girls to find love but not without their love and friendship for each other...

I really enjoyed both of this movies and specially the last one, I would recommend it to any girlfriend and to guys... mmmh, maybe not!

Happy Wednesday!

3 day break

It's Tuesday but it only feels like Monday because we just had a 3 day weekend, now for the rest of the week I am going to be a day short, but don't get me wrong, I am not complaining!

The weekend was very relaxing, didn't do much, went to the beach on Saturday, Sunday and yesterday was a stay at home day, it was so hot during the day that it was just nice to be inside with the A/C on,  our outside thermometer measured 104F or 42C, pretty hot, uh?

So these are the days when it's important to

I do have to admit I'm sort of a sun worshiper myself.

I love laying down for a while, read a book, listen to music or just meditate, but I am also aware of the dangers of too much sun exposure on your skin, so I do use protection and try not to lay down everyday or at the peak hours of the day.

We have only one skin and it's the biggest organ on our body, so we need to take the necessary precautions so it would last us until the end of our days!!!

Well, time to go to work, have a wonderful Monday, oops, I meant Tuesday!!!

Holiday, celebrate...

Today I have two reasons to celebrate, the main is that Such Life in The Tropics turns a year old,

Happy Blog Birthday to Me!!!

But of course this milestone would not mean much without my followers, readers that comment and even those who just stop by to take a peek every now and then...

As of today my blog has 30 official followers (that's about 2.5 per month in the last year), but regardless of how many "officially" read and comment on my humble blog, it's pretty exciting to even think that there's somebody out there paying some kind of attention to what I write and share everyday...

From the bottom of my heart, thanks to all of you out there making a difference in my life, I hope anything of what I write and share makes a difference in yours...

The other reason to celebrate is because today is also a holiday on the island and it's a day off... The Cayman Islands are a British Colony so they (or should I say we?) celebrate Queen Elizabeth's Birthday on this day, "Long Live the Queen"!

Have a wonderful week and hope this is one of many more years of blogger life!!!

Award

Yesterday I was honored with a small award recognition by Kat at Heart 2 Heart and for that I am really thankful and happy.

Now, like most awards, for me to accept this one, I must list 7 things you don't know about me, of course this is not the first time I do this so I apologize before hand in case I already share something before.

1. I struggle to think about what to share on this blog almost every day, but it gives a reason to be creative and keep it up.

2. I am a very peculiar toast eater, I have to always eat the entire crust of the bread and then the inside last (crazy, uh?).

3. I've had my picture publish in 3 different newspapers around the world (Costa Rica, USA and the Cayman Islands) and all of them by chance!

4. I am granddaughter #13 (from older to youngest) on one side of my family and # 3 on the other.

5. My best friend in the entire world is my Mom.

6. I speak 3 languages; Spanish, English and Italian.

7. I always wanted to write a book, I guess having this blog is the closest I've ever been to fulfilling that dream!

I guess I am supposed to pass this along, but this time it's for any "versatile bloggers" out there that would like such an honor, please feel free to grab the award and enjoy it.

Have a wonderful Sunday!!!

Water Therapy

Yesterday I forgot to share this picture.

A week ago today, I was at Dunn's River Falls enjoy the beautiful water, it felt like my spirit was being purged out of negativity and unnecessary loads... I recommend you try this at a fall near you! Happy Saturday : )

Jam Highlights #3

My 3rd highlight of last weekend trip to Jamaica has got to be Dunn's River Falls, although this was also the 2nd time I've been there I really enjoyed it this time and had a fab time with my friend Natalia.

 Beautiful falls

Sexy pose? (yeah right!, but only one)

strike a pose!

told you we had a great time!!!

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Jam Highlight #2

Being I was born/raised in Costa Rica and that I absolutely love nature, I am a big fan of big trees, green luscious vegetation, rivers and mountains...

Unfortunately the Cayman Island geology does not contain any of the above mention elements of nature but a few big trees, and that is something I really, really miss around here.

But last weekend during my visit to Jamaica, I managed to filled up my spirit with all of this, so that's why the Rio Cobre which we drove by on our way to Ocho Rios is the highlight #2 of my trip, here are some pictures of the area.

river, mountains and trees all in one!

HUGE wonderful trees all over...

see what I mean about luscious vegetation?

a wonderful drive all the way!

I also took a little video on our way back from Ocho Rios, sorry for the noise of the wind on my camera, I hope you enjoy the Bob Marley music on the background...

Happy Thursday!

cayman bECOme

My post today is not about my short trip to Jamaica (although I still have a little more to share with you about that), it's about a much more important news about making a difference for the future of our islands and our environment as a whole.

Check out this important news:

Yeap, isn't it exciting to think that more and more people are starting to realize that we really need to start charging our approach towards plastic bags.

Starting today June 9, 2010 every main grocery store on the island (about 6 in total) will start charging 5 cents for each plastic bag used, well, I know that is not much but at least makes people think twice before getting all those plastic bags.

It's been a while since I've been using plastic bags so to me it's just one more reason to add to the decision that I do not want any more plastic in my life... Change has to start from somewhere and only together we can all make a difference, so bECOme green today!

Jam Highlights 1

If you ever get to go to Jamaica and you are a big fan of reggae (like me) then it's a must to visit the Bob Marley Museum.

The museum is located on a beautiful old Jamaican house (56 Hope Road) that once belong to Chris Blackwell owner of Island Records which was the record label that first sign with Bob, years later the house was acquired by Mr. Marley.

 Unfortunately it is not allowed to take any pictures or video inside the actual museum in order to prevent all of his memorabilia to slip through the "cracks" of the world wide web, so photos are only allowed on the grounds and parking area that once used to be the yard where Marley played his favorite sport, football (to Americans known as soccer).

After we took some pictures of the outside premises then we took the 1/2 hour tour of the inside of the house, where you can see all of the awards that his records received (a few gold record, triple platinum for the album Legend and even a Grammy given to him for Lifetime Achivement Award back in 2001- 20 yrs after his passing- among many others), there are a few rooms completely full of newspapers and magazine articles about his life and career. You can also visit his room (supposedly pretty much intact, same bed, guitar, clothes and even his meditation pillow), his kitchen and the famous shot room (where he was once shot in the arm).

After you finish the tour inside the house, there's a short film about his life and at the end you visit the souvenir store with everything Bob.

Although this was my second visit to the island as well as the museum, it is definitely a place that you don't want to miss, specially if you are a big fan like me, and if you are not, just even for the interesting story of his life and what an amazing character he was. To me, this is the closest I will ever get to see my favorite singer of all times...

So if you are ever in Kingston don't forget to stop by...

And that would be my the first highlight of the trip... Irie mon'!

Jamaica

Well, I am back after some wonderful sunny days, I had a great time.

Jamaica is such a beautiful place, reminds me a lot of my own country, with it's luscious vegetation, huge old trees, big magnificent mountains and it's very, very green.

People in general are very nice, helpful and even friendlier than even many of the local people of Cayman.

Although in Ocho Rios some people are very different, there's a big situation of harassment from men (and sometimes even women) that it's pretty bad, you can't walk anywhere without being annoyed and offered all sorts of deals and ways to have a good time (so they think!) makes you feel like you are a walking sex symbol, (yeah right!). There's also people that are constantly trying to sell you stuff and those makes you feel like you walking dollar bill, LOL!

Some areas are very dirty and full of trash (unlike my beloved Cayman that now even more I found it very clean). Everybody drives like a maniac and it's pretty nerve-wracking at times, plus if you are visiting from the US you'll need the add up the fact that they drive on the left side of the road, so that's one more factor the get used to (but not in my case).

I have lots of pictures to share, unfortunately I haven't even gotten around to sort them out cause I arrived late last night, so meanwhile I am going to share this collage postcard I bought in 8 Rios and that gives a pretty good idea of what Jamaica is all about (and more!).

So, if you ask me: Should I visit Jamaica? I would say, Yeh Mon'! it's a great Caribbean destination, nice people, good food, wonderful beaches, beautiful rain forest, rivers, reggae, and more! You won't be disappointed...

More to share, soon come... Have a great week!

Quick Update

It's Sunday and today is our last day in Jamaica, we have been in Ocho Rios since Friday and so far having a wonderful time, people are very nice and once again I feel very happy around Jamaicans (well, not so much around the guys that are constantly harrasing you). I have lots of pictures to share in this my little space on the world wide web, so those coming soon!

Have a wonderful Sunday, yeh mon'!

I'll be jammin'

Today in the afternoon I am going to visit our neighbor, but not the one next door to our house, but more like next door to our island, I am going to the beautiful island of Jamaica!

This is sort of a last minute trip, didn't planned it until yesterday morning, when a good friend of mine called me to tell me that on Friday she has an appointment to get her American Visa at the US embassy in Kingston and because of the recent violence situation on the capital her boyfriend chicken out on her and told her he didn't want to go so she was going by herself, unbelievable right? What a nerve of that guy.

Anyway, she called me to ask me about a contact I have in Kingston that is taxi driver friend of a good friend of mine, to see if he was able to pick her up at the airport, drive her around and stuff... At this point I was kind of shocked to hear that her boyfriend was going to let her go by herself to a place that she has never been to before.

So I called my husband and asked him if it was o.k. with him if I go with her, help her get around and keep her company, I was there once before for about 3 weeks, so I have an idea of what is all about.

I have a good friend that lives in Kingston so I emailed him and now he knows we are coming, plus my boss and his wife are both from Kingston and I asked their opinion about security and they said that the whole violence thing in concentrated in just one area, what they show on the news is not necessary the reality (and I totally agree with that), so the both think it's pretty safe as long as we don't wander by ourselves and go near old Kingston downtown.

I am excited and hope we are going to have a great time, I am not taking my computer with me cause I just want to be extra careful and not take anything valuable other than my camera that is small and I can carry around.

It's going to be a short trip and I will be back on Sunday, promise some pictures and good stories to share, yeah mon'!

I am here!

We have arrived at June 2nd and it's been 2 weeks since the last time I saw my brother and more than a month a half since I saw his wife.

A few months ago when they first moved to the island I wrote a post title Happy me about their arrival. Well, silly me to think that the fact that they were going to live on the island we were actually going to have some kind of relationship with them, obviously I was wrong!

They don't call, don't visit and the only times that I get to see them is when they have to come into town to run some errands, so they manage to squeeze me into their "busy" schedule and they stop by work to say Hi, I am usually very busy so I don't even get to talk to them much.

But when they need me, then I do exist. If they need a package to be sent to my postal address (I am here!), when they need to borrow our camping tent cause they have friends visiting (I am here!)... Ugh, I just hate it when people only use you for their own benefit.

Anyway, just thought I vent a little bit about this, this doesn't make me happy but I need to get over it and don't take it personal, they rather spend time with people that they just met than with family, and I unfortunately I don't really see a change in their attitude any time soon.

Oh well, their loss... right?

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Today's date

We have finally arrived to another June 1st, to many people this particular date doesn't mean much, but for us living in the Caribbean this marks the beginning of a season full of expectancy and hopefully not much activity from the weather, it's Hurricane Season.

But besides this, for my husband and me, today marks the 2 anniversary of us moving into our house. Now being more than a house it's a home that we enjoy every day of our lives.

When we built the house two years ago, it was with the idea of Hurricane Ivan's path of destruction that he left all over Grand Cayman, fortunately we have not being able to put it fully to the test, but, according to NHC-NOAA the 2010 season is expected to be a very active one, I am keeping all of my fingers crossed for the exact opposite.

So, happy anniversary to our house and here's to a happy & calm 2010 season, blessings to all!!!

Animal Speak

One of our neighbors has a horse and every now and then he literary "parks" her next to our house, she is on an empty lot and can eat as much grass as she'll like.

In the past we have bought this big, long carrots at the grocery store and when we know that the horse is around we feed her, she loves it.

Yesterday afternoon after a very hot and humid day (but no rain) I was watering my yard, first I started with the back yard and then slowly I moved to the front. As soon as got to the front, the horse came out of the bush and gave me the most perfect stare and I immediately knew that she was telling me; she was thirsty and wanted water.

So I went to the back, looked for a bucket, clean it and filled it up with water, walked towards her and put it where she could reach it... she was super thirsty.

Less than 5 minutes later she was ready for more, but this time the bucket was pretty close to her, and although I am not really scared of horses, I have had not so pleasant encounters with some in the past, and that's why I like to be cautions about them.

So I approached her, look her in the eye and said: -If you'll like more water just push the bucket towards me... And immediately she did! WOW, it was magical, we understood each other perfectly, I was delighted to have this kind of communication with her and I am sure she was very happy and thankful for the water.

Isn't she pretty?

Have a wonderful week!!!

Saturday Event

Yesterday was the official grand opening of the Tiki Beach Bar in 7 miles beach, here are some of the highlights of the evening.

This is us when we first got there at the beginning of the evening (ck out my new dress!).

Say cheeese...!

The set up was pretty nice, this pic is at the beginning, later on the place was packed, couldn't walk around much...

The sunset was Spectacular (to say the least).... and just got better!

See what I mean?

There was dancing...

And even a live band... 

It was a pretty nice night, and today time to take it easy and rest!

Power Flower Friday

The weekend is here and what a better way to greet it that with a beautiful Caribbean flower.

Tomorrow is the grand opening of a new beach bar near 7 mile public beach (Tiki Beach) and we are invited!

The event's dress code is "elegant smart" so I have a new dress and I can't wait to wear it. Will take my camera and post pictures for the world to enjoy the happenings of that night.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

In sepia

Yesterday while looking at some pictures of my dog Sheba I realized that she is almost Sepia color, if I adjust a color picture the change is not very different, ck it out...

Obviously I don't have much to write about today, I guess I could mention the terrible disaster that it the oil spill in the Gulf but that is just too painful to even think about, nevertheless write about...

So, today this will be my post... in sepia!

Big Animals

On yesterday's post I wrote a little bit about imagining great wonders and how beauty is in the eye of the beholder or at least the camera holder.

Also on my post from the day before yesterday, I mentioned animals encounters in nature. Well, if you are looking for somebody to show you animals encounters and beauty in great wonders I believe Amos Nachoum might just be the perfect person for that.

He is an nature/underwater photographer able to imagine and experience great wonders that he captures with his camera, like this one..

 Or this one

But besides showing us those great and gentle giants, I believe he's probably the only person ever able to catch on camera the most extreme smile of the animal world, in no other than a Great White Shark...

Say cheeese!!!!

Besides taking underwater pictures he also takes land ones and has some amazing expeditions that you can read about (and sign up if you have the time and the money- in case you have both but don't feel like going on one, please contact me and I would love to go for you instead, LOL!).

Visit Amos website by clicking here.

And now, saving the best for last...

Happy Hump(whale) Day!

Wonders

"Only when we accept small wonders, we qualify ourselves to imagine great wonders"- Tom Robbins. 

Walking around my yard last weekend made me think about the above quote found on the Tom Robbins book I am currently reading. 

I walked around and took some random pictures around the edges of our property, where there's nothing but overgrown bushes, well, not really...

 

 

To some these might just seem like just plants, bushes that are just over grown and don't have any beauty to them, to me are small wonders that make this planet a great wonder. 

I am sure you have heard the expression "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", well, I guess it can also be in the eye of the camera holder, what do you think???

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Encounters

I just love it when I have encounters in nature with animals that come so close that you swear it's like they are trying to tell you something (and maybe they are). It even nicer when you see a new new animal species in nature for the first time.

Since we moved to this house almost 3 years ago we have had the pleasure to have many visitors (mostly birds) in our back porch, this weekend was not an exception, for the first time since we've lived here we had to pleasure to see a Northern Flicker, isn't it beautiful?

link

Of course I had to run to get my camera to get a shot, and yeah I got one, but this...

Don't you just love it when you take a picture and you were genius enough to have everything but the main object well focused, I know I do! LOL

Have a wonderful week... I will be keeping an eye for "Flicker" and hope to get a much better shot to post later.