Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos: Snorking & Stingray
10:03 AMFinally, the long await post about my Grand Turk & my Princess Caribbean cruise experience is here!!!! Sorry for the delay guys, I should have never gone to work on December 29, 2014 because by the time I went home, my body started to ache really bad and I was knocked out for a couple of days. I’m happy to say I'm fine now, and I'm looking forward to enjoying what this year has to offer.
Grand Turk was truly a beautiful island, with crystal clear blue water and white sands. It did rain there from time to time, but the showers went by rather quickly, and didn't damper our fun at all. When you first arrived at the port, you can easily lounge all day at the beach, which is right in front of you as you exit the ship from the port. I choose to explore this island a bit, and play with the Stingray and Fishes.
Grand Turk is the capital of the Turks and Caicos, and even though it is part of Eastern Caribbean Itineraries, this island is not part of the Caribbean at all. While Grand Turk is the popular spot for cruise ships, most tourists opt for the faster pace and nightlife of Providenciales, the most developed island in the chain.
While we were on our way to our first snorkeling spot, we got to see a couple of abandoned boats. One boat that was dock near the shore will be removed soon and sink below for future dives. So it was pretty cool to get a glimpse of that boat that will be used for diving spot for future tourists.
Snorkeling in Grand Turk
Beyond Grand Turk gorgeous white sandy beaches, a lot of people that comes to visit have no idea that Grand Turk sits on the world's third-largest coral reef. Having experience this amazing opportunity was truly rewarding, and even though I panicked a lot, I was able to capture some of these coral reef and I have to say this is a must see in person type of thing.
Snorkeling for the First Time
This was my first time snorkeling, and I'm glad I wore a life jacket, because as soon as I entered the water, I panicked. My daughter, who is a decent swimmer as well, was scared also. So between us two, we each had some issue we had to deal with before we really started enjoying ourselves.
The life jacket helps us concentrate on other things, for example things like BREATHING under water. It may seem simple, but for first timers, it something that you have to experience, and know.
In the end, I really had a great time once I figured out that I could actually breath through my mouth (trust me, it took a couple try to figure that out lol) Note: You are not required to be a swimmer to snorkel, but it is helpful to have some kind of technique like kicking the legs to move etc.
Gibbs Cay in Grand Turk
To quickly get to Gibbs Cay, you do have to own a boat, and that is why I went the route of booking a tour, since I can get a nice tour and a ride at the same time... Below was the boat we were on while we were snorkeling, as well as for diving for couch, that we would later on ate.
My Stingray Experience.
I didn't really play much with the Stingray because I was scared shitless. I'm NOT a nature person, and I have to admit that I get easily freaked out by every type of animals, insects, etc. Unfortunate because of that fact that I'm a big chicken, I brought those fear onto my daughter, who didn't even try to playing with the stingray.
Enjoying the Couch at Gibbs Cay
After a long day snorkeling and playing around, the tour concluded with us viewing how to clean and make fresh couch salad. Growing up with Haitian parents, whenever they would have couch, they would shoo us away by saying “Don’t eat that because it will make you hot.”
Well to my Haitian peeps, that wasn't the complete truth. If you look at the picture with the man eating the clear stringy thing, that is what the islander called “nature natural Viagra”. That clear thing really never makes it to the couch dishes, and I’m still trying to figure out why they didn’t want to share with us kids. I think they were being stingy, but that is just me. Note: The guy on the left had eaten eight of those while I was there and now I understand why his wife has 7 children.
This post concluded my experience at Grand Turk, if you like to check out the separate post about the cruise, please click here.
39 comments
Kreyola I don't know where to begin.......OK first, sorry to hear you felt under the weather. Glad you're much better by now. What a bummer! Second, that cutie pie of your daughter is the spitting image of you. Third..........OMG!!!! these pictures are so cool, what a beautiful place. Looks like paradise. I was longing to see the pics, thanks a million girlfriend. This place just jumped up the ladder to #1 on my travel list. What a beautiful, beautiful place.
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Lenya
FashionDreams&Lifestyle
OMG have a vacay as gorgeous as Turks and Caicos!!
ReplyDeleteRebecca
www.redtagchiclosangeles.com
Oh my! This place is divine! Your daughter is so beautiful. I can tell you guys had a great time!!
ReplyDeletewww.effortlesslady.com
Wow this looks incredible! Also, I must say, the stingray looks kinda adorable! It seems like you had a fantastic time (:
ReplyDelete- Deniz
www.dressedupdeniz.com
Glad to hear you are feeling better :) What stunning photos, that place looks gorgeous :) Sounds like such a fun time I would love to do this! Your daughter is beautiful btw! Looks so much like you :)
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Great job on this post. Happy 2015! :)
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Ha, okay, I am glad to know I am not the only one who struggles with the mouth breathing in snorkeling. I've only done it once and that was enough inhaled salt water for me to last a lifetime.I couldn't get the hang of it! The photos of the white sand and beautiful blue water are just gorgeous. The underwater pics are SO cool too! Thanks for sharing your experiences!
ReplyDeleteGina - On the Daily Express
Such a spectacular place, and your photos are stunning! ♥
ReplyDeleteStyle with Veni | Fashion Blog
Amazing pictures, all looks perfect!!
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Amazing pictures! And what a beautiful place to go on a holiday :))
ReplyDeleteLu | www.balgarka.co.uk
These are such amazing photos. I can't wait to visit Turks and Caicos myself. But that won't happen for some time now. I love this post.
ReplyDeleteomg this looks amazing!!! All your photos are so beautiful! I would love to go to turks!
ReplyDeleteEleventh & Sixteenth
these pictures are amazing, happy you had such a nice time :)
ReplyDeletexo
PinkSole
Que show de imagens amei
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I love the underwater pics they are amazing! Looks like you had a great time! I was totally in panic mode the first time I went snorkeling too!
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Snorkeling is so much fun but I get swimmer's ear immediately after, and I freak dunking my head under water now, even wearing earplugs. Boo! Love the photos though - I shall live vicariously through you! And I must be having sympathy pains because something hit me over the weekend and now I have no voice and a cough!! Glad you are better though! Happy new year!!
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I've always wanted to go to Turks and Caicos! It looks absolutely beautiful! That water is so clear. I don't snorkel but your pictures are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteNicole
Nicole to the Nines
Omgosh babe!!!!!! Turks is beautiful and so is Caicos!!!! I am sooo envious of your scuba diving trip!!! You managed to see so so many sea creatures!! That's ahhhmazing!!! ^_^ <3
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This place looks so adventurous.......... now i can see that you must have enjoyed this trip :D
ReplyDeleteAhh, I want to visit this place! Me and my husband normally go to the Virgin Islands for Thanksgiving but we always talk about doing the turks & caicos instead! Have you been to the Caribbean before? If so, how do they compare?! Looks like you had a blast once you got the hang of breathing underwater :)
ReplyDeleteMelanie @ meandmr.com
Grand Turk is very similar to the Caribbean’s and has many Haitian living there, so I was very comfortable being there.
DeleteI have been to Saint Lucia & Puerto Rico and I have to say I had a greater time in PR because I did so much more there. I know sometime in the future, I do plan on revisiting Saint Lucia as a tourist. and not as visiting relative there like last time, and that may change my opinion of that island.
As for the best clear water, I would have to say Bahamas, Grand Turk & Cozumel, even though they are not part of the Caribbean, their waters are just beautiful.
I'm a beach bum so I like stuff like this. I'm glad your okay now. This is a nic post and Happy New Year! Hope you'll have a a happy and fun-filled 2015 :)
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Is that star fish? wao!! you had mad fun i can see and your babies are cute
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Yes...a live one at that...I was so happy. I instantly though of Patrick from SpongeBob SquarePants...ugh when you become a parent lol.
DeleteAmazing photos!
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Wow, this trip had to be excited, this place looks like a paradise (especially I love the color of sea!) And it's great that you're feeling better now :)
ReplyDeletehttp://crafty-zone.blogspot.com/
What an awesome trip!! It looks seriously gorgeous there! It has been on my list of places to go to every since the Real Housewives of OC went there haha!
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SpongeBob SquarePants ... Sis, you BUSED! Mini said you made her watch it with ya ... just had to blame the cold on her and now SB SP too ... smh
ReplyDeleteWould be calling child services, but who would finish raising you??? Don't look at me! LMBO :)
Great pictures, great post, great place!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you are well by now!!
Rosa
Styleyourselfinstyle.blogspot.com
What a fun you had with your little princess! I am glad you made it back, while not sure I would easily...
ReplyDeleteFrom Jing at www.bejingxu.com
I bet you wouldn't come back ahahah!! What amazing places, and your princess and you are just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYour family and you have a great year| :* <3
Francesca
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LOVING these shots- I have definite vacation envy right about now. :)
ReplyDelete-Ashley
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This looks like an absolutely incredible getaway! It kind of reminds me when I visited Haiti while I was also on a cruise. Great post! x
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OMG! You guys had so much fun! Love those beautiful pictures!
ReplyDeletexo, Jane
http://www.fitfabfunmom.com
Wow Kreyola!!!! You are so lucky!!! Its a very amazing place!!! I've never been In Caribbean, but I think it's a wonderful place and your pictures confirm this. Have a nice day, kisses,
ReplyDeleteEni
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This looks so perfect, I want to visit it so much. Thanks for sharing
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xoxo
http://fabulousisfreedom.blogspot.com
Oh my, love these photos, such a great experience, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteCongrats for all the sea activities, I can't do even scuba, both are brave!
xoxo
glad you're feeling better :) and just DANG!!!! those shots! i would love to be there right now. your daughter is gorgeous. looks just like her mommy :)
ReplyDeleteWOW! It really looks like you had a great trip! I would love to escape to that part of the world right about now... it's so cold here!
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