SXM Survival

Masquerade and Book Fair

2008-04-24T11:50:00.001-04:00

Both of these events look interesting, still trying to figure out exact time and place they are happening!

Dine SXM

2008-04-18T08:40:00.003-04:00

Dine SXM - St. Maarten / St. Martin restaurant reservations and dining guide. Current restaurant descriptions and information: opening hours, menu suggestions, reviews, detailed maps, and the ability to make a guaranteed reservation online.

This is a very ambitious website that is in development, so the restaurant list is not complete. Hopefully it will end up being a full listing of all the island's eateries, as it has the possibility of being a very comprehensive reference site.

Island Nannies

2008-04-18T08:35:00.001-04:00

Island Nannies
Proud member of the International Nanny Association
Office hours: 9AM until 6 PM, 7 days a week.
Phone: 599-580-2739

All nannies have substantial experience working with children and are carefully screened including criminal background checks. Each nanny has First Aid and CPR training. References are also checked. All nannies attend an extensive interview and orientation session.

Kuala Sitter Services

2008-03-30T12:44:00.001-04:00

Kuala Sitter Services provides professional baby-sitting services in St. Maarten for families at Hotels, Resorts and Villas. Corporations meetings and conferences, personnel and more!

Kuala Sitter Services provides temporary or long-term professional baby-sitting service to families on vacation or residing on the island of St. Maarten. We will bring the sitter to your place of residence or if you’re on vacation, your place of lodging. Day Nannies are available and can travel to neighboring islands such as Anguilla, St. Barts and
St. Kitts.

All Kuala Sitters have been thoroughly screened and are CPR & First Aid Certified.

+(599) 526-3841

Eddy's Water Delivery

2008-03-30T12:22:00.000-04:00

Eddy's Water Delivery
+590.690.39.40.38
+599-552-8963

Oliver Repair

2008-03-19T13:16:00.000-04:00

J&E Catering and Rental Sevices

2008-03-19T13:15:00.001-04:00

Taxi driver Maria

2008-03-19T11:27:00.002-04:00

Sometimes a good way to get a taxi is to have a driver's personal contact information.
I found a Myspace page with contact info -

About me:
My name is Maria and I will be your driver for the day! For all those who are planning to take any trips to the beautiful island of St. Maarten you can come right on this page and book my services. Ive been taxiing from since march of 1991 and I love it! Ive never had a road accident, I'm a very pleasant person and I aim to make your time on the island memorable by taking you to all the best locations I know from personal experience. So call me up when you get down here (If your not already here!) and hop on into my air-conditioned 14-seater van of luxury!

Cell: (011)-(599)-(5229639)
Home: (011)-(599)-(5424937)
E-mail: taxi122@gmail.com

St. Martin Limo

2008-03-19T11:24:00.001-04:00

St. Martin Limo

St. Martin Limo Service
Blvd de Grand Case 107
Grand Case 97150
St. Martin, F.W.I.
+590690885260

Dispatchers may be reached around the clock.

Special services may be booked Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. via telephone or fax (for faxed requests, please call to confirm receipt).

SXM Taxi Association Info

2008-03-19T11:18:00.003-04:00

The Dutch side Taxi Association ~~used to have a web page but I can't find it now~~ has a web page right here. However I did find some info on the airport's page, here are the links:

Rates for 12 key spots
Zone Listing
Zone Map

Taxi Dispatcher: (599) 543-7815

Deepbleu Water Taxi

2008-03-19T10:58:00.004-04:00

Deepbleu has just begun water taxi service. They are based out of the Summit Hotel near Cupecoy, and can currently offer pickup anywhere in the lagoon that has water access. Service starts at 8AM daily and runs through the evening. Call them on their Dutch side cell phone for information (599)580-3314.

Ambiance-et-Art

2008-03-17T07:08:00.000-04:00

Ambiance-et-Art (there is also a blog)
Decoration, Design and Art

Esther Jacques
ej@ambiance-et-art.com
French West Indies (059) 0690 40 90 17
Netherlands Antilles (599)5863606

FULL SERVICE INTERIOR DECORATING From the beginning of the process where I work closely with you to create a room(s) that meets your desires, taste, and lifestyle, to the final physical hands-on of putting the room together, I will address the finest of details with the utmost attention to quality, timeliness, and value.
Rates vary - The price is according to the size of space and depth of work, but typically run between Euros 700 & 3000 and items purchased are not included in the amount.

“ONE DAY ROOM MAKEOVER” I use your existing furnishings to give you a new room in a day. Your furniture will be placed in the most attractive arrangement for the space. Art will be re-hung and accessories placed to complete the finishing touch.

SHOPPING/BUYING SERVICE I’ll help you find the perfect item for your space. I’ll track down that perfect piece. Minimum charge ½ day.

REDESIGN FOR RESALE As an objective observer, I will walk through your home, garage, and property and suggest what changes would present your property in the most flattering way to get the most money for your property in the shortest possible time. Redesign for Resale increases your property value.

RELOCATION/Move-In Design
I will put your new home together to get the full potential of your new rooms with your current and, or, additional new belongings.

Eden Cafe in Oyster Pond

2008-03-16T20:30:00.001-04:00

These folks have taken over the spot where Tabba Khaddy was. I haven't been there yet, has anyone?

Quai Ouest

2008-01-21T10:41:00.000-04:00

I ate dinner at this restaurant the other night. The menu was short but looked good - however by the time we got there at 9pm many items were sold out. We tried goat cheese "samosas" served with salad, flank steak with mushroom sauce, and stingray. All were good, prices were around 14 euros and the exchange rate for the night was 1.35. There aren't too many tables and if it rains there are a few less seating options. Friendly dogs kept us company and the service was great.

Quai Ouest
+690.73.76.01
9am TO 2pm, 5:30pm until...
Closed Sunday

Villa Caribbean Jewel in Tamarind Hill

2007-12-17T08:19:00.000-04:00

Villa Caribbean Jewel in Tamarind Hill - 4 bedrooms, great views, nice beighborhood, GREAT views, lots of room. Did I mention the great, make that the Amazing views?

Webcams at Pelican Resort and Pelican Marina Residences

2007-12-11T07:31:00.002-04:00

There are 4 webcams in all:

- a front view of the new Pelican Marina residences

- a view from behind the new buildings, looking out over Simpson Bay

- a pool view at the Pelican Resort

- a beach view at the Pelican Resort

These webcam addresses change occasionally, you can also find them by going to the Royal Resorts pages for the new Residences and for the Pelican Resort.

Aquavision Photography

2007-12-10T11:49:00.000-04:00

Aquavision Photography
email: info at aquavisionphotography dot com
Phone in New York: 1-631-458-0543
Phone in SXM: 599-543-6931

Manuel Diego van der Landen

2007-12-10T11:47:00.000-04:00

Manuel Diego van der Landen
cell: (0690)352405
email address: mdvdl at hotmail dot com

James Johnston Photography

2007-12-10T11:44:00.000-04:00

James Johnston Photography
email: paradisepics at megatropic dot com

Excellent photographer and nice guy.

HeliPhoto Carib

2007-12-10T11:34:00.000-04:00

HeliPhoto Carib

HeliPhoto Carib provides aerial and other photographs of villas, roads, properties, hotels, beaches, Islands, yachts, agriculture, coasts, buildings, landscapes and much more , to customers from all over the Caribbean Islands and many countries all over the world.

Call +599 5237671 or +590690629955 or e-mail info@HeliPhotoCarib.com.

Lido Food Group and Yacht Provisioning

2007-12-10T11:27:00.000-04:00

Lido Food Group and Yacht Provisioning
Phone: (599)544-4561 (Cole Bay)
Phone: (599)545-3037 (Palapa)
Phone: (599)545-2184 (Maho)
Fax: (599) 544-5522
lido@sintmaarten.net

Lido Food Group has markets at Port de Plaisance, Maho, Cole Bay and 7 Alive in Simpson Bay.

Tangerine Tours

2007-12-10T11:15:00.000-04:00

Tangerine Tours
Exclusive Incentive Service
Transfers
Island Tours
& Dine Around on St. Maarten
(599) 524-6851

(590)690.27.43.87 (Guillermo)
(590)690.27.40.06 (Eddie)
(590)690.27.31.78/(599)580-3300 (Michael)
(590)690.27.43.88 (Marion)

Jimbo's Rock and Blues Cafe

2007-11-01T21:07:00.000-04:00

Jimbo's Rock and Blues Cafe
Simpson Bay Marina, St. Maarten
Telephone +599-544-3600 or US TEL: 214-717-4284

Open Mon-Sat
11am to midnight
Sunday 5pm to midnight

If you don't think you'll use your Jimbo dollars, send em to me. Margaritas at Jimbo's are pretty durned good. You can drink them while sitting in a swimming pool if you like that kind of thing.

Antipodes

2007-10-09T12:07:00.000-04:00

Antipodes: Tropical Accessories and Home Decor
Auberge de Mer Marina
Marigot BP 577
Phone: 0590 87 50 58
Fax: 0590 87 50 58
Cel.: 0690 509145

This store has been in Marigot for quite a while, it has breathtaking fake flowers. I know, that is strange to say, but it is true. Gorgeous displays. From what I remember they also sell some nice vases (natch) plus knick-knacky things like cute bathroom accessories (but perfect and expensive because, you know, French).

Le Phuket: Asian Lounge and Thai Restaurant

2007-10-09T12:01:00.000-04:00

Whoa! There is another Thai place on the island? Anyone been there? I am slightly suspicious of the name, Phuket. Nevertheless, in a land where Thai food is rare, any Thai food is Thai food worth trying.

Le Phuket
19 Auberge de Mer, Marina Royale
MARIGOT - 97150 Saint-Martin
For reservations, please call 0690-889-517

Going Bananas Island Boutique

2007-10-09T11:57:00.000-04:00

Going Bananas Island Boutique
Simpson Bay
12 Airport Road
Phone: 599 545 3404
9:00am - 5:30pm from Monday to Saturday

This shop has been open for a while (since 2006 perhaps) but was not in a great location. It recently moved to the new McDonald's building in Simpson Bay. I haven't been there yet but I am sure I will go at some point cause they sell Kiss My Face products, makers of heavenly patchouli scented shower gel, among lots of other things (don't worry patchouli haterz, not all their stuff smells like that)

The Pizza Galley

2007-10-09T11:47:00.000-04:00

The Pizza Galley
At the Lady C Floating Bar,
Airport Rd, Simpson Bay, St. Maarten, N.A.
(599) 557-7416

Often cited as the best pizza on the island. I don't know if that's true but I know its good.

Gutside Bar and Restaurant

2007-10-09T11:32:00.000-04:00

Gutside Bar and Restaurant
Friar's Bay
Cripple Gate

Phone: 0590 291-992

open Tuesdays to Sundays
Lunch: 12noon to 3:00pm
Dinner: 5:30pm to 9:00pm

I have not yet been to this restaurant but I hear nothing but good things about it!

Hungry Hut

2007-10-09T11:27:00.001-04:00

Hungry Hut - Jamaican Cuisine and Pool Table
Welfare Road, Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten

K Cees Snack

2007-10-09T11:23:00.000-04:00

K Cees Snack
Best local dishes around town
W.C. Buncamper Road

La Casa del Habano

2007-10-09T11:20:00.000-04:00

La Casa el Habano
Frontstreet 24, Philipsburg, St. Maarten
(599)543-1001

Namaskar Indian Cuisine

2007-10-09T11:15:00.000-04:00

Namaskar Indian Cuisine
Pastorie Steeg #2, Philipsburg
(599) 542-7048
Call for free and prompt delivery

Anyone ever called for delivery? Do they deliver to Dawn Beach?

Vanille & Chocolat Ice Cream Parlour

2007-10-09T11:12:00.000-04:00

Vanille & Chocolat Ice Cream Parlour
43G Frontstreet, Boardwalk, Philipsburg
(599) 542-1270

Kali's Beach Bar

2007-10-09T10:49:00.002-04:00

Kali's Beach Bar

Home of the famous Full Moon parties, located on Friar's Bay Beach (If you are heading from the airport towards Marigot, drive past Marigot, past the roundabout, go up and down that hill, you know the one, and the turn for Friar's Bay is on the left. If you reach Colombier you've gone too far.)

Email: kali-beach-bar@wanadoo.fr
Land Line: +590.590.29.18.09 or +590.590.51.07.44
Cell: +590.690.41.17.97

Coal Pot Cafe

2007-10-09T10:44:00.000-04:00

Coal Pot Cafe
Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner
(599) 542-0606
Juancho Yrasquin Blvd., Philipsburg

Fabulous Feasts

2007-10-09T10:38:00.000-04:00

FABULOUS FEASTS
Baie Nettle, 97150 Saint Martin, F.W.I
Tel. 0590.87.93.16
Fax. 0590.29.61.02
E-Mail. mail@fabulousfeasts.com
From USA - 011.590.590.87.93.16

Fabulous Feasts are the veteran fancy caterers of SXM. They do everything from dropping off prepared meals to serving you a romantic meal in your home to catering events. Their website has a full list of services.

Zins Cuisine Catering Service and Bar-B-Que

2007-10-09T10:33:00.000-04:00

Zins Cuisine Catering Service and Bar-B-Que
Telephone: (599)547-6595
Cell: (599)581-5485
Cell: (599)554-3737

franciscareid@msn.com
joereid1343@msn.com

Francisca was nice enough to send me a list of foods they cater, which follows:

bull-foot soup
chicken soup
oyster soup
goat-water

conch-dumplings
johnny cakes

bake ribs
bake chicken
curry chicken
curry goat
curry beef
stew beef
stew chicken
stew goat
pepper steak
fry fish
chicken with mushroom sauce
honey b.b.q wings

fry-rice
vege-rice
rice-peas
macaroni-pie
pasta with garlic butter
garlic potato
potato salad
shrimp salad
scalloped potato
coleslaw
green salad

You pick your menu and we make the price!

Cartographie de St. Martin

2007-09-05T08:23:00.000-04:00

Finding maps of St. Maarten can be difficult. This site is terrific as it has a variety of maps including one of the distances between the different islands, sea charts and detailed island maps. The site is in French but gives you an option to change the language.

"Why is the rum gone?"

2007-09-05T07:54:00.000-04:00

Am I lame for quoting Captain Jack Sparrow? Probably.

The Caribbean is famous for rum, but I know nothing about. In the market I stare dumbfounded at the different kinds. I often end up buying Barbancourt due to someone's recommendation. I found the Ministry of Rum website while prepping for a rum taste test shopping trip - among other things it has a forum and the basics of rum.

Montserrat Volcano Observatory

2007-09-04T22:39:00.000-04:00

Montserrat Volcano Observatory - I know I know, this is not in St. Maarten, but it is close by (around 100 miles I think??). Twice while I have lived here I have woken to dust everywhere, which I later found out was caused by a dome collapse on Montserrat. Looking at the pictures (which are updated fairly often) is fascinating.

Plantation Furniture and Antiques

2007-09-04T22:29:00.000-04:00

I have strolled starry-eyed through this place too may times to count. If you are furnishing a place on this island it is a spot to check if you like teak furniture.

Plantation Furniture and Antiques
Orange Grove Shopping Center
Cole Bay, St. Maarten
(on Welfare Road, close to the Harley place)
PH:(599)544-4597
FAX: (599)544-3044

Jewelry Studio of Hans Meevis

2007-09-04T22:18:00.000-04:00

Custom designed jewelry, and even pendants of the SXM map. Their studio is right in Simpson Bay, across from the Sambuca/Hot Tomatoes/ Gourmet Marche building.

Jewelry Art Studio by Hans Meevis
65 Airport Road
Simpson Bay, St. Maarten
Cell: (599) 522-4433/522-4434
Fax: (599)-545-2922

Stephanie Tihanyi

2007-09-03T11:34:00.000-04:00

Stephanie Tihanyi lives in Grand Case and is an artist who also blogs (yay for blogs!) I swiped a picture of one painting from her blog for you to see:

Antoine Chapon

2007-09-03T11:28:00.000-04:00

Antoine Chapon
Les Terrasses de Cul-De-Sac #1
97150 Saint Martin - French West Indies
Tel.: + 590 590 87 40 87
Fax: + 590 590 87 41 87

If you have been to the island and toured any of the galleries in Marigot, you have seen Mr. Chapon's work. Often done with watercolors, his island images are quite distinctive.

Skull Island Recording Studio

2007-08-29T18:00:00.000-04:00

Dear Crazy Pop Stars - Why deal with L.A.? Come to SXM, there is a recording studio here! Its called Skull Island! You can dress up like Johnny Depp, drink rum and pretend to be a pirate, while recording your newest pop hit about, um, whatever. I'll bring my camera.

Yeah OK, lame intro, but you never know. Mariah Carey passes through these islands all the time.

Skull Island Records and Studio
33 Welfare Road

Cole Bay ,
St. Maarten , N.A.
(599) 553-2756 SXM
(599) 586-1423 SXM
(850) 251-2543 United States

Le Marrakech Restaurant in Marigot

2007-08-24T10:33:00.000-04:00

In celebration of Aaron's birthday the other night (happy 35th!) we went to try Le Marrakech in Marigot.

I was in this building once before back in 1998 or so, when it was a Creole restaurant. We met someone there for dinner - it seemed she had been there all day, she sort of conducted business meetings there, with drinks. This used to seem unusual to me.

It has always been a gorgeous building, and the current decor just makes it even more fabulous. I took a bunch of photos, mostly with flash as it is dim inside, but the flash just ruins the scene, so I am posting the only decent picture I took while there.

I really enjoyed our experience. When we walked in we were greeted by someone we recognize, a waiter from another restaurant, helping out the owner of Le Marrakech during the summer holidays.

In my zeal for new things, I ordered 2 different dishes which both were served encased in a pastry, good stuff but too much pastry for dinner!. I am looking forward to going back to try new things, especially a lamb tagine. Aaron had one with eggplant which had nice flavors but not a lot of actual lamb, strangely enough - I'd like to try the lamb with fruits, sounds wonderful! We were served mint tea at the end of the evening, which was a nice way to finish the meal.

Here is the menu from that night:

Le Marrakech
169 rue de Hollande, Marigot
Phone: 590.590.27.54.48
Open for dinner every evening

Rockfield Pepper Sauce

2007-08-22T12:34:00.000-04:00

If you are a hot sauce freak (you know what I mean - you go crazy in unfamiliar markets and end up with 10 hot sauces in your basket, you speak lovingly of that time you had to eat a whole loaf of bread to keep your head from bursting into flames, you buy food based on whether or not you can eat hot sauce on it...), this post is for you!

I didn't think to take a picture of this stuff until I was down to the dregs but its excellent. Not terribly hot considering it is made with scotch bonnet peppers (the hottest inna da world), but spicy and so tart with vinegar, it is great stuff. I got it in Anguilla. They do not sell it here. If you are passing through there, you know what to get me!

Webcams - sintmaartenlive.com

2007-08-17T15:37:00.000-04:00

Here is a link for a list of webcams from www.sintmaartenlive.com. There are a bunch of webcams, of places here in St. Maarten like the Link 1 road, the Ace parking lot and the Grand Marche parking lot. Not very scenic stuff but occasionally interesting.

Webcams at Sunset Beach Bar

2007-08-17T15:23:00.002-04:00

Live webcams at Sunset Beach Bar. Y'all know this bar. It's famous in St. Maarten (and in the world a little bit!) for it's "topless ladies drink for free" policy and it's position near the Princess Juliana International airport runway. They have 5 or 6 different webcams set up.

On July 25, 2008, edited to add: Looks like the webcams were taken down and the Sunset Beach Bar in its current incarnation is gone, baby, gone. I assume a new bar will go up, and that the SSBB owners will open up in a different spot. I'll changes as I find them.

Webcam Nettle Bay

2007-08-17T14:59:00.000-04:00

This one is brought to you by stmartin-meteo.com, a French St. Martin weather site (as far as I can tell!)

Here is a screen grab from today, August 17, 2007:

Webcam - Westin Dawn Beach Resort

2007-08-17T14:34:00.000-04:00

Snapshots from the Westin Dawn Beach Resort webcam taken August 17, 2007 as Hurricane Dean passes south of us. Here is the webcam URL.

Inspirations in the Orange Grove Shopping Center

2007-08-17T09:17:00.000-04:00

Inspirations
Orange Grove Shopping Center
Cole Bay
St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
(599)544-5730

This shop was opened close to 10 years ago. I think it may be a franchise of a Netherlands store, I am not sure, but on occasion they publish a circular with savings. If you are an American and feeling Martha Stewart-ish, this place is great because they sell European cleaning implements, perhaps not better than what we are used to but exotic for sure! I got a rug-beater there, not wicker as Martha would want but plastic (yet well made and hearty I assure you Martha!). They also sell lots of candles, fake flowers and their accoutrements, kitchen items (I got some beautiful demitasse spoons there once). All in all a fun place to browse for those of us with there-is-no-mall-here-and-I-need-to-shop fever, or if you are looking for a small present for someone.

Hurricane Shelters

2007-08-16T19:11:00.000-04:00

News Release

Written by Roddy Heyliger, Communications Consultant for the Government Information Service (GIS),
Dept. Head Erno Labega,
Ennia Bldg., Longwall Rd., Philipsburg, St. Maarten D.W.I.
Tel. 00-599-543-1162, 542-4119, Fax: 543-1169; Email: gis@sintmaarten.net;

For Immediate Release: Thursday, August 16, 2007/N147

12 Hurricane shelters available

GREAT BAY, St. Maarten (GIS) – A number of inquiries came in to the GIS Office regarding hurricane shelters. The Office of Disaster Management & Preparedness (ODMP) has provided the following listing of 12 hurricane shelters for the 2007 hurricane season.

The listing is as follows:

Christian Fellowship Church - Welfare Road - Cole Bay
Dutch Quarter Community Center - Zorg en Rust Road - Lower Prince's Quarter
Genevieve de Weever School - Hope Estate - Upper Prince's Quarter
John Larmonie Center - Longwall Road - Philipsburg
Leonard Connor School - Venus Drive - Cape Bay
Leopold Bell School - Union Road - Cole Bay
Milton Peters College - L.B. Scot Road - South Reward
Raoul Illidge Sports Complex - Welgelegen Road - Cay Hill
Salvation Army Building - Union Road - Cole Bay
Simpson Bay Community Center - Simpson Bay Road - Simpson Bay
St. Maarten Academy - Cupper Drive - Cul-de-Sac
Sr. Marie Laurence School - Ellis Drive - Middle Region

# # #

Roddy Heyliger
St. Maarten Government Information Service (GIS)

Roddy Heyliger
MedPRO - Communications Consultant
Cell: 00 599 5204217, 5816323
Email: roddyheyliger@gmail.com
Email: medproprfirm@hotmail.com

House of Nehesi Publishers

2007-08-13T22:51:00.000-04:00

The first time I came to St. Maarten, I had been working in a bookstore and so while I was planning my voyage, I tried to find books about the island. I found a travel guide, a snorkeling guide and discovered that Speed 2 had been filmed here and went to see it (in the theater, mind you!) to try to gain some small tidbit of information that was individual to the island. If you've seen Speed 2 you will know that I got nothing out of that experience. The books were little more help. Why do travel guides make unusual places seem generic?

Anyway, the long lead up is just a way of saying that I find House of Nehesi Publishers pretty exciting.

From their website:

First-time writers and well-known authors from St. Martin and from throughout the Caribbean and the USA have been published successfully by the House of Nehesi Publishers imprint. Lasana M. Sekou, Drisana Deborah Jack, Louis Duzanson, Joseph H. Lake, Jr., Dr. Jay Haviser, Jennie N. Wheatley, and Cynthia Wilson are among our well-known national and regional authors. George Lamming, Kamau Brathwaite, Amiri Baraka, and Shake Keane are world-famous authors published by House of Nehesi Publishers.

Their books can be purchased direct from the website, at amazon.com, or at various shops such as The Shipwreck Shops or Van Dorp.

Macmillan Caribbean

2007-08-13T22:40:00.000-04:00

It is not always easy to find books written by Caribbean authors, about the Caribbean. So it is extremely heartening to come across Macmillan Caribbean, an imprint of the massive Macmillan Publishers Limited.

Unfortunately, there is not much representation of St. Maarten in their list though I did come across the title: Saint Martin/Sint Maarten: Portrait of an Island - a picture book.

Also unfortunately, the books are ginormously expensive. You can find some of the here on the island at Van Dorp or The Shipwreck Shop.

Island Mauby

2007-08-13T21:57:00.000-04:00

Contains water, brown sugar, mauby bark and spices.

The only "Mauby" I ever heard of before I saw this drink was Robert Townsend's character from The Mighty Quinn. Then one day my boyfriend brought home a plastic soda bottle full of something he was calling Mauby and said was made from tree bark. He got it at work where sometimes people bring in or sell their homemade foodstuff. Unfortunately we never tried it (I know I know, I regret it) so I don't know how the homemade stuff stands up to this kind, which is made here in St. Maarten. This bottled kind is tasty, the spices remind me of root beer or eggnog or both! It is sort of fermented and exploded when I opened the bottle. My next plan is to try Mauby when I go to the Ital shack. I will make a follow-up report at that time.

(This is interesting stuff, right? Are you glad you stopped by? What, you want something else? OK how 'bout some Mauby links)

Wikipedia, Slakethirst, Recipe from the Trinidad Guardian, Recipe from the Virgin Islands, a short article with an excellent photo

Philipsburg Theatre

2007-08-12T13:18:00.000-04:00

When I first moved to SXM, there were 2 movie theaters on the Dutch side. One on the Pondfill Road and one in an alley between Front Street and Back Street, next to Lal's. Man, it was so great to get some chicken tikka masala and go see a movie. I never knew the theater names. One was the Galaxy 1 and 2 but was that the Pondfill one? Can't remember.

Anyway, the Sunset Theatres in Simpson Bay obliterated the Front Street one (good memories there but always suspiciously smelly perhaps from flooding) and then the americanized Caribbean Cinemas came and suddenly the Pondfill movie theater was gone, and then Sunset. And then there was one.

But actually, someone came up with a great idea for the Pondfill venue. They still show movies, but some are artsy, some are classics - how fantastic! Plus they classed it up with some nice velvet settees and a full bar, and classy munchies. (Um, like pesto versus funyuns, OK?, give me a break I am trying to get a lyrical feel going).

This spot is now called Philipsburg Theatre - it looks great! First hand report to follow (unless anyone out there beats me to it and wants to comment about it. y/y?)

Heavenly Water

2007-08-11T09:56:00.000-04:00

If, like me, you need a lot of bottled water (we have a cistern, no city water, so we don't drink the water) but feel guilt about all the plastic bottles, Heavenly Water is a bottler and distributor of the large size bottles for a standing cooler. They deliver.

Heavenly Water
A. Th. Illidge Road 24-26
(599)542-0619 or (599)542-9533

The Spa at La Terrasse, Maho

2007-08-11T09:41:00.000-04:00

One of the new upscale spas opened on the island this year - you can check out their menu of services here (PDF file, takes a while to load).

A friend of mine went there and did the Day pass $40 -

Use of our unique wet-area with volcanic rock ‘hydrotherapy pool with several jet beds and jet seats, jet shower, sauna, hammam (steambath, men and women separate), cold plunge and resting area.Bathing suits are required in and around the pool. Includes the use of a locker, bathrobe, slippers, towels and complimentary vital drinking water and tea.

What I found interesting about it was she said she ran into a bunch of local business people there. The owner of a real estate company talking politics in the corner, a car rental exec relaxing in the pool before going to have a massage, etc. Forget conference rooms! Let's go have a soak and some "vital drinking water" and make a deal!

Other services available:
-Various massages, such as deep tissue, Swedish, pre and post natal, lymphatic drainage (!?), healing stones, and even a couples massage. Prices start at $90.
-permanent hair removal
-cellulite reduction treatments
-body/disease readings
-facials, manicures, pedicures, waxing

Basically, you go there, you give them ALL your money, and when you come out you are a minor god or goddess.

The Spa at La Terrasse
Maho Village
+(599)545-2808
info@thespasintmaarten.com

Francis Eck

2007-08-11T08:01:00.000-04:00

If I had the chance to buy one painting by an artist who is living and working on this island, it would be one of Mr. Eck's paintings, no question.

This painting was on display at Le Chanteclair when we went there at the end of July, as well as several other paintings of his. Mr. Eck also has a website, and a studio in Concordia which a person is able to visit by appointment +590.87.12.32

Phone tidbits

2007-08-10T17:53:00.000-04:00

Just some thoughts on phones and phone numbers and etc.

The Dutch side has Telem - they provide land lines, prepaid cell phone service (TelCell) and are also an internet provider (TelNet). To get a land line you must provide some ID and if you are not a St. Maarten resident you will pay a massive deposit as proof against your long distance bill, which can of course be refunded to you when you close your account. Occasionally there is also the option of just paying some guy a large portion of that deposit to do it on the sly, however that is not refundable, and maybe Telem is cracking down on that you never know.

There is also UTS, which you can choose as your long distance provider for your land line - they also provide cell phone service (Chippie) and internet.

Phones for these prepaid services must be unlocked GSM, quad band is best, I am told the bands are as follows: 900 here in SXM, 1900 in the US, 1800 in Europe, 850 in parts of the Caribbean.

East Caribbean Cellular (ECC) is a cell phone provider. You can set up a monthly account with them for a fee.

The French side is more of a mystery to me. France Telecom is the traditional land line provider. You must give a DNA sample to get a phone line, I think.

There are also a few cellular providers like Orange and Dauphin - I think Orange is the biggest.

To save on long distance calls, Skype and Vonage are wondrous.

Here are what the phone numbers look like:

54x-xxxx is a land line. After a while you start to recognize the exchanges:
544-xxxx Pelican/Simpson Bay
545-xxxx Beacon Hill/Maho/Cupecoy
546-xxxx new Airport
542-xxxx Philipsburg
543-xxxx Dawn Beach/Oyster Pond

If you see an old sign which only has a phone number with 5 numbers in it, that is because 8 or so years ago we still had only 5 digit land line numbers - just add a 54 to the front to get the number. Thats why a lot of Dutch side land line numbers are written as 54-xxxxx instead of 54x-xxxx. Example of an old sign with 5 digit number:

Telcell (cell provider) numbers and UTS (cell provider) numbers look different but I don't know the rules. A lot of TelCell numbers are 522-xxxx and 523-xxxx where UTS numbers are 559-xxxx. ECC (cell provider) numbers start with 557-xxxx.

Why does this matter you ask? As far as I know, you cannot text message between services. TelCell cannot text message to UTS and vice versa. ECC phones have never heard of text messaging as far as I know.

French side land line numbers look like this:
0590.xx.xx.xx

If someone gives you a cell number it will look like this:
0690.xx.xx.xx

If I want to call a land line from the Dutch side I have to dial (long distance):
00590.590.xx.xx.xx

Ditto with Cell phone:
00590.690.xx.xx.xx

To call from the US you subsitute the 00 for an 011.

I don't know about texting capabilities of French cell phones.

Phew! That was boring but perhaps it'll come in useful sometime somewhere! Anyone have any addendums or different info? Let me know.

The Butterfly Farm

2007-08-10T11:31:00.000-04:00

The Butterfly Farm
St Martin
(La Ferme Des Papillons)
Le Galion Beach Road
Quartier D'Orleans
Saint Martin 97150
French West Indies
Tel/Fax +599-54-43562 (Office)
Tel: +590-590-873121 (Farm)

I love the Butterfly Farm - I wrote a little about it on my other blog.

Lucky Stables

2007-08-10T11:24:00.000-04:00

Lucky Stables
Traybay drive 2
Cape Bay, Sint Maarten
Tel: (00599) 5445255
Cell: (00599) 5557246/526-3632
E-mail: info@luckystable.com

Lucky Stables has been operating on SXM for many years now and has built a reputation as a professional horseback riding and training stable.

Lucky Stables offers:

-Equitation instruction
-Doma Vaquera (Spanish dressage)
-Trail rides (mountain and beach)
-Boarding
-Bar and BBQ
-For beginner, intermediate and experienced riders!

Lee's Roadside Grill and Deep-Sea Fishing

2007-08-10T11:12:00.000-04:00

Lee's Roadside Grill and Deep-Sea Fishing
Welfare Road #82
Simpsonbay
St. Maarten N.A.

Tel:(599)-544-4233
Email: info@leesfish.com

This is a busy restaurant close to the bridge in Simpson Bay. You can go there to eat and listen to the occasional band they have playing (usually too loud for my taste!) or go to do some deep-sea fishing.

Some folks love this place and say it serves the best lobster they've had (Caribbean spiny lobster, not the New England type). I've enjoyed lobster there in my day for sure, but I have not been there for years, crowded out by toursits, loud music and no parking. Oh well.

If you are going fishing and plan to feed your family of 15 with your catch, check with the boat captain first. From what I am told, they keep the catch, though they'll give you a piece.

TriSport

2007-08-10T11:07:00.000-04:00

TriSport
14B Airport Blvd, Simpsonbay, St.Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
Tel 011(599)545-4384
Fax 011(599)545-4385
Email trisport@caribserve.net

Buy a bike, rent a bike, take a bike tour, check out the island race calendar!
Also, rent a kayak! Take a lagoon tour!

Superbikes NV - Rent a Harley

2007-08-10T11:05:00.000-04:00

SuperBikes N.V.
Harley-Davidson Distributor for the Caribbean
71 Union Road Cole Bay Sint Maarten
Phone (599) 54 42704
Fax: (599) 54 42854

Bayside Riding Club

2007-08-10T10:59:00.000-04:00

BAYSIDE RIDING CLUB
Rue du Le Galion, (Coconut Grove)
97150 St. Martin
French West Indies

French phone: +590 590 873664

Dutch cell phone: +599 557-6822

Dolphin Swims

2007-08-10T10:16:00.000-04:00

Dolphin Swims are on offer in Anguilla, but I am against this activity and I have no interest in posting information about it here. If you are thinking of trying this out, do some research on it first, perhaps read this ABC News story or The Dolphin Project - here is some info from their FAQ page:

How is a dolphin captured?

The capture of dolphins is a violent procedure. Pods of bottlenose dolphins are chased to exhaustion; surrounded with a net and dragged onto the capture boat where the capture team searches through the terrified group for the specimen they want. The lucky ones are thrown overboard. Those selected are taken ashore. They will never see their ocean world and their pod again.

According to dolphin captors, the most desirable dolphins are between two to four years old and still associate with their mothers. Many bottlenose dolphins have been brutally separated from their calves, regardless of the fact that a bottlenose dolphin normally protects and remains with her calf for at least five years. The violent and permanent separation is a traumatic experience for both mother and calf, and while the exact number of animals killed during the capture procedure remains unknown, we have documentation to show that dolphins have died from shock during capture. (Documentation available upon request.)

How do dolphins communicate?

Dolphins communicate by hearing and emitting sound, and by reading body language.

Dolphins are sound oriented. They communicate with sound by producing a large spectrum of sounds in the form of clicks and whistles. Furthermore, they constantly send out bursts of sounds of many different frequencies to navigate, forage, and explore their diverse ocean environment. With reflected sound, called echolocation or sonar, dolphins can 'see' elements that are invisible for animals -- including humans -- that are sight oriented, depending on reflected light for vision. This is how dolphins searching for food can easily detect a fish that's hiding under the sand.

The use of sonar is as important to dolphins as eyesight to humans. Chris Catton in his book Dolphins writes:

'The ability of dolphins to make a wide range of sounds and to hear clearly underwater is important because they rely on these faculties in almost every aspect of their daily lives.'

Captive dolphins are severely restricted in using their sonar. They can't use it to catch live fish, as they are fed dead fish as food rewards. They can’t put it to full use to explore their underwater world, because there isn't much to explore in a barren, concrete tank or a cage in the sea. They certainly can’t use it to navigate, because they aren’t going anywhere.

Depriving dolphins of the ability to use their most important sense -- their sense of sonar -- is stressful for dolphins. The sensory deprivation imposed on captive dolphins is one of the most damaging aspects of dolphin captivity.

Aqua Mania Adventures

2007-08-10T10:08:00.000-04:00

Aqua Mania Adventures is a great site to check out for anyone coming to visit the island who wants to do day sails, snorkeling trips etcetera. They do it all - they have activities they offer themselves such as a kid's water playstation with slides, and they are agents for other venues such as horseback riding trips and the Butterfly Farm. They bill themselves as a "one stop vacation shop" and that is absolutely accurate.

AQUA MANIA adventures located at Pelican Marina, Simpson Bay
PO BOX 5262, Simpson Bay | Sint Maarten | Netherlands Antilles
Ph: (599) 544 2640 / 544 2631 | Fax: (599) 544 2476

Email us at: aquamania@sintmaarten.net

Marvin Gumbs - Water Delivery

2007-08-10T08:04:00.000-04:00

When your house has cistern water only, it is smart to collect as many phone numbers as possible for water delivery trucks. I have 5 water delivery numbers in my cell phone, only 2 of which are currently viable, the other 3 have changed phone numbers or have broken down water trucks.

One of the numbers is for Marvin Gumbs, who I met recently when I called him in desperation having had a cistern run dry. He has an 8 ton water truck, a price of $140.00 per load for this neighborhood (Dawn Beach area) and has just purchased a second truck as he is fully booked during this dry season with his first. Mr. Gumbs' number is (599) 557-6155.

Mr. Water - Water Delivery Truck

2007-08-10T07:56:00.000-04:00

One of the most important numbers in my cell phone memory is that of "Mr. Water" - Tony Williams. His bright blue and yellow water truck and its distinctive squeal of brakes as it backs into place is a very familiar sight in my neighborhood, where none of us have piped in city water - we all live off our cistern water. When it runs low, as it is doing now after months of very dry weather, you call in Mr. Water. Call a few days in advance, he is a busy guy. Mr. Water has been delivering water here for many many years and chances are that if you live in the Dawn Beach area, he knows which house you are and where your cistern is.

Mr. Water's number is (599) 581-4949 and his current truckload price is $150.00.

GEBE - Dutch side water and electric

2007-08-09T18:09:00.000-04:00

G.E.B.E. NV

Philipsburg 542-2213
Simpson Bay 545-2259
Emergency: 544-3100
gebesxm@sintmaarten.net

GEBE provides electricity and the water distribution system on the Dutch side of Sint Maarten. The actual water is provided by a contracted company. Their office hours are 8AM to 3PM and they do not mess around. Your water and power will be disconnected 2 weeks after the due date if it is not paid. They don't mess around with that either. Also, don't ever bounce a check with them - you'll have to pay in cash forever more. Don't ask me how I know these things, k?

Everyone who has had to pay GEBE bills here is familiar with the lines. Things are getting better slowly. It is now possible to pay by direct debit from your bank account but beware, if there is not enough money in the account they don't try again the next day when that check clears - it's up to you to get the bill paid. Oh and, they do not take credit cards.

The Celine

2007-08-09T13:17:00.000-04:00

Neil Roebert is the captain and owner of the Celine, a 40' catamaran which does pub crawls, sunset sails and private charters.

Check out their website or for reservations or questions call Neil at (599) 526-1170 or (599) 552-1335.

Artlovers

2007-08-09T10:21:00.000-04:00

When I first came to SXM in 1997, I felt like the only place I could see any artwork was at Greenwith Galleries in Philipsburg (now closed I think), one of the galleries in Marigot which basically carried the same artists, or the Minguet gallery which mostly carried the work of Alexandre Minguet. I went to those periodically but always wanted to see new things.

Eventually I found this website, Artlovers-SXM, which I think is fantastic. It is not representative of every artist on the island but it does have a range!

Les Poissons in Point Pirouette

2007-08-09T09:49:00.000-04:00

Les Poissons is a lovely townhouse in Point Pirouette, close to Maho and Mullet Bay Beach. It has one bedroom, but can sleep four as it has two futon sofas and two full bathrooms. Guests like the fact that it has a private pool and nice views. It is on the Simpson Bay Lagoon. I would not recommend swimming there, but looking at the fish is fun!

This house can be rented direct from the owner, though it is also listed with villa rental agents. For more information check the Les Poissons website or to see if it is available for your vacation, look at the availability calendar.

Sundial School's Le Source Restaurant

2007-08-09T08:12:00.000-04:00

I've never tried this but I plan to! Has anyone ever had lunch at this school?

Wednesdays and Thursdays at 12PM. Reservations are required - 542-2910.

St. Louis Car Rentals

2007-08-08T18:24:00.002-04:00

Marius is the reason to rent from St. Louis Car Rentals.

Contact numbers:
(599)557-5750
(599)523-8971
(1-877)839-1886
stlouiscarrental at hotmail.com

I am from the USA and normally I am the person who will gravitate towards the brand names I know when arranging for a car rental- Hertz, Thrifty, etc. After dealing with visitors to the island for several years however, I have found that the small, locally owned companies are the way to go, if they are well run. This is not because the cars are super special or the prices are super duper low - it is because if you need help with your car, a small company like St. Louis Car Rentals is very responsive. Marius has been running the company for over 10 years and knows all the ins and outs of the business. He is helpful and kind, and I'd recommend his company to anyone needing a rental car on this island.

Does this sound like a barefaced plug? Yep, it is.

(P.S. St. Louis Car Rentals also offers chauffer services - go to that section on their site for a quote.)

Welcome

2007-08-08T18:20:00.000-04:00

This is a new blog. I hope it will be exciting and fun. I need a place to collect bookmarks and tips and information on how to live here in Sint Maarten. I'm thinking this is the place!