Turtle take two

I will never tire of taking Turtle videos and can't ever resist it either. Here's one of my best taken over the holidays. I could have easily taken one home with me.

Sparky

Today I give you Sparky! Sparky is the oldest turtle at the Turtle Farm and she's quite bossy too. You know what they say, the older you get the more you get to call the shots. And does Sparky ever. She won't be too happy with me revealing her age but I'm not afraid of her one bit. Sparky is 70! You can't help but spot her among all her turtle friends, with her yellow hued shell, she stands out among from them all. Plus she's from the Galapagos Islands. So that's two reasons. Don't mess with her and her food though. She's not afraid to dunk anyone underwater if they get in her way. You just know she rules the roost.

Turtle capture

Cayman's Turtle Farm at times, receives a bad rap on account of how a portion of their turtles are sold as turtle meat to many restaurants around the island. On my last turtle post I was told it was shocking that 'I would promote this place'. I certainly don't applaud what the Turtle Farm does(near heartbroken, in fact), even if 40% of Boatswains turtles are released into the wild every year (this time around, I asked). For me, this is one chance to get up close to a turtle. And I am sure this is the same for many. So many people I know have never had the chance to see a turtle in action, let alone touch it. Practically everyone I know, in fact.

For three summers in Bermuda, I hoped to spot baby turtles at Clearwater Beach (the one place that turtles are seen during the summer months), but had no luck, whatsoever. I am no marine biologist, nor a diver to be able to see these creatures in action and so to Cayman's Turtle Farm I go. And this is where I'll take visitors too. I've never held a turtle before coming to Cayman (not counting the tiny pet turtle a friend had in Toronto as a pet, many years ago). And since I don't dive yet, it will be a while before I get footage like this, unless the next time I go snorkeling, I'll be on alert and not miss the chance to capture what I was able to during my second trip to the Turtle Farm (post Olympus Stylus camera purchase). This time around I was able to dunk the camera right in and capture what I think came out quite well, despite the sun's glare in my eyes. In fact, I love it! Sorry, Marie!

Turtles at Boatswain's Beach

It's not often that one gets the chance to hold a turtle, unless you're a Marine Biologist. So, I highly recommend this trip to the Turtle Farm at Boatswain's Beach, where you can walk on over to their many 'Touch Tanks' and get up close and personal with baby turtles and see just how heavy a mid size turtle can be. And if you're really strong and have packed on some serious muscle action, then try them out by carrying an adult turtle. And so, no trip in Grand Cayman is complete without this visit. There's loads more than just turtles too, including a Predator Reef exhibit, the Caribbean Bird Aviary & a Nursery. Also, check out my Turtles tag on the left, to read about my prior posts on turtles. For this post, I couldn't resist snapping up pics of these kids, who were so daring, not watching where their fingers were placed once underwater, not minding the hoards of turtles that crowded to their reach. That's some moxie they have.

Pet me

ALL THE TURTLES ARE WAVING..."HEY MAN...PET ME, PET ME."

A comment left by one of my friends on this FaceBook picture of Hubby reaching in to touch one of the turtles at Cayman's Turtle Farm. I wish I could take credit for the above caption, but alas, I can't. I thought it was hilarious and could not stop laughing. It still brings a smile to my face, and so I had to share.

Turtle talk

The turtle is to Cayman, what the frog/onion is to Bermuda, the maple leaf is to Canada, the hawk is to Dubai, and the elephant is to India. The turtle graces many local companies logos, but only in Cayman is the turtle a delicacy, a local favourite. Turtle soup is a fixture on the menus of many restaurants here. I was once at the grocery store and was shocked to see Cayman's version of the Jamaican meat patty - it was a turtle patty. Yeah, I know!

Of course, I asked my local friend, Piglet if she eats turtle. She told me that as a child she once walked in on her grandfather 'shelling' a turtle in the kitchen and the sight of it along with the blood turned her off any kind of turtle dish forever. Many ask me if I've tried turtle soup. Seriously? Take one good look at this picture (taken at Cayman's Turtle Farm). Does it look like I would eat turtle? No, I didn't think so. The way I see it, turtles are pretty darn cute. Not to mention they live and are able to survive for a couple of hundred years. That in itself is a major feat. Imagine, there are turtles out there that have swam the oceans through the many different revolutions, WW's I & II, and countless other historical events, not to mention the environmental changes we've wreaked this past century. So, why shorten their amazing feat of a lifespan, by eating them? It seems too cruel. And no, it's not the same as eating chicken or beef. Eating turtle is different. I just know I could never do it. How about you? Would you/ have you?

Las Tortugas

Label on a bottle of Cayman Islands' TORTUGA RUM:

The Cayman Islands...originally called Las Tortugas by Columbus, who first sighted them in 1503. His son wrote, "We were in sight of two very small and low islands full of tortoises as was the sea all about, insomuch that they looked like rocks." It is for this reason that the Cayman Islands were originally called LAS TORTUGAS meaning "The Turtles".

These islands became a popular haunt for men like Henry Morgan and Edward Teach, those infamous pirates of old, who undoubtedly were well stocked with kegs of rum. Rum was the favourite and perhaps the only drink of those adventurers.

a hot winter day - part 1

Winter has set in early this year in many parts of the world and Bermuda is no exception. But for the first time in a month, yesterday was an exceptionally hot day making me regret layering up while I was out. And what a day it was. Perfect for getting out and spending it by the water, feeding the fish.

Bermuda's fish will eat anything. I've seen people use dough and even fried chicken as bait. But feeding the fish is always a soothing and stress relieving experience, not to mention fun for the kids. So, if you've got left over rice or bread, don't chuck it away! Save it for the fish. And since I had some leftover rice stored in the freezer (especially for this purpose) a trip to the Flatts Inlet (which is also home to the Bermuda Aquarium) was in good order. The hot sun was just the beginning of one of my favourites ways to spend a Sunday afternoon. Feeding the fish was the other. I managed to take a little VIDEO (which of course does not do the actual viewing any justice, but nevertheless). This one features the most common fish that are always lurking by the docks: Sargeant Majors (the stripped ones), Spotfin Butterfly fish, Snappers and Breams. A Cowfish also managed to make its presence, but I did not move fast enough, what with the camera in one hand, the food in the other & me being partially distracted while chatting with some tourists.

As I made my way onto the outdoor Turtle exhibit, I was disappointed to see the tank water level reduced significantly, leaving me with no chance whatsoever of touching the turtles. But I did manage to capture some excitement courtesy of a couple of local kids practically ready to dive in and swim with the turtles. Stay tuned for more....

turtle love

Bermuda has recently celebrated the return of its loggerhead turtles after three decades of no show from the waters around the island. It was thought that the loggerheads had gone extinct as one had not been seen for years. Until last summer. The return of the loggerheads signifies a change for the better - environmentally.

However, caution is still required. One of the major pollutants is the plastic bags or balloons found in the ocean. Once let go, helium filled balloons, eventually pop & end up in the ocean. Unbeknownst to them, turtles think that the balloons or plastics are food & of course ingest them. Unfortunately, these inedible items are unable to pass through the turtles' system & so become permanently logged in the their system resulting in bloating. This further gives rise to infections or of the turtles eventually dying of starvation. It's a sad fact.

Personally, I love turtles (I have yet to spot one while I'm snorkelling but all in good time). And what's not to love? Who can forget Squirt from Finding Nemo - my favourite character. In reality, this species has a lifespan going well into the 100's. Seeing a tiny baby turtle making it's way into the ocean to forage for itself - that's a major feat. Add to that the ability to survive in the vast ocean for a couple of centuries. It is no one's fault but our own that we have begun to invade & damage their habitat with our rubbish, contributing to their disappearance & decline. The government has been urging it's residents to dispose off plastics responsibly & to be ever so mindful before indulging in helium filled balloons. The time has come to be environmentally responsible. Lets give the turtles a helping hand, shall we?