A Round Eleuthera

Far from being round, Eleuthera is more like long and skinny. But that's the nice part -- you can see the ocean all the way round when you are at Glass Window Bridge. The contrasting colors between the deep blue Atlantic ocean and the rich turquoise waters of the Caribbean is definitely cool. Actually, I prefer the adjective "hip", but now I'm dating myself. Or as I told a good friend "This is some of the best 'eye candy' I've ever laid a lens on." I've tried capturing the feel of the site in the form of a photograph for several years now and could never get it to look as cool as it really is -- until now.

I've been working with virtual reality panoramic photography and now have an interactive panoramic 360° shot of the Glass Window Bridge taken from the nearby cliffs. And it doesn't stop there... I have some more panoramics "in the can" I'll be processing and presenting over time. Unfortunately, these are not something you can just shoot and display. I use additional techniques that go into the processing workflow that allow me to capture the wide variance of contrast and exposure. I'd say more about it, but I don't want to make it too easy for the "me too" competitors to copy. (I love what's printed on the back of my official late night desktop snack -- Cheez-Its: "Dude! Get your own box!" Okay... so it doesn't say "Dude!")

I also launched a new page that is an interactive satellite map of Eleuthera. In time, I will populate it with Eleuthera "points-of-interest", Eleuthera vacation rental properties, restaurants, etc. For the moment, I am focused on the navigational functions of the satellite map. This is the kind of programming project that can really soak up a ton of your time. And so does the panoramic photography work. I now have a buzz cut so I don't have to pull out my hair. I don't want to complain, though. For all the years I've spent developing custom programs for businesses and such, this is much more rewarding and enjoyable.

Along the way to developing these latest and greatest features for my Eleuthera site, I also revived my link to the Sam Pedican and the Rage at the Glass Window Bridge story by Marvin Hunt. It's definitely one of my very favorite "stories" from Eleuthera. Mr. Hunt is a wonderful writer -- thank you! I was linking to a news site that had his article on line, but the site disappeared. Luckily, I was able to resurrect it, and with Mr. Hunt's permission, I am now hosting the article along with some of the original images on my "Eleuthera News and Reviews" page. If you haven't read this story and you're a fan of the Bahamas and / or Eleuthera, you have to check this out.

Now that I've accomplished these tasks that have taken many months to do, I look forward to working on some of my other photography work that has yet to see the light of day. And maybe now that I can spend more time away from the computer, my wife might start to remember who I am, doubtful as that is.

Just kidding, honey. Love you!

pj

Eleuthera
Copyright © 2006 Perry Joseph

Winder on Windermere

Or should I call this "Sea-beans Part 2"? Shortly after punching the "Publish Post" button and dropping some e-mail to Paul Mikkelsen et al, I get an update from Jim Winder -- turns out he's a Bahamas beach bum too.

And yes, the new chef at the Club on Windermere Island is cool -- an Italian named Freddie, and according to Jim, his food is choice.

Turns out I have competition for naming the sport of beaning... Jim does "bean brigades"... a phrase he gets to claim by Google standards. I was sort of fond of "Sea-Beaning" but since Jim's found more Sea-Beans than I, which is none, I concede to his being the master blaster of the beans on Eleuthera.

I don't think I can stand hanging with all this celebrity... What's next? Lenny Kravitz inviting me over to jam? I'm there, Dude!

pj

Eleuthera
Copyright © 2006 Perry Joseph

Seabeans from Eleuthera Bahamas

You have to check out Paul Mikkelsen's excellent www.seabean.com website -- in particular his page Sea-Beans of the Bahamas authored by Jim and Dian Winder with an assist by Ed Perry (we like that name "Perry".)

I'll be the first to admit complete ignorance on the subject. Admitting ignorance becomes easier to do as I get older. I didn't know what a Sea-bean was and now I can't wait to get back to the beach to try and find some of these gems -- perhaps take one home to captivity. You have to admit, these are definitely cool to look at.

What's a "Sea-bean" you ask? Click on over to "What's a Sea-Bean" for the full scoop including "Why do Sea-beans float?" Everyone knows Sea-beans float, right? And just because they are beans doesn't mean we are making chili.

What I always appreciate are those scientific names. Sounds like geek speak, my favorite language. Just like my cousin Gene's website for cactus and lithops, or the shelling afficionados folks like Scott Schubbe -- lots of "you lose" possibilities for the next spelling bee. Cuff me cause I'm guilty too. I used to enjoy pointing out constellations and naming the bigger stars -- just one of my many obsessive compulsive disorders.

Whatever the geek language, it's all nice stuff to look at and admire. Memorize a couple of these scientific bean names and entertain your friends on your next trip to the islands. Hey! Maybe you all should hook up! Succulants with some Mucuna Urens (that's "Red Hamburger Beans" to us mortals) along with a couple of Cyphoma Gibbosom. No doubt, the beans and shells would look cool placed next to the cactus in the planter pot. Or is that cacti? Whatever. Take note, Gene! My idea!

What I took special note of was the time spent on Windermere Island by Jim Winder -- 9.5 weeks. Yo Jim! I'll help you look for the beans! And I sure would enjoy reading your trip report. And I can't help asking whether there's any significance to your last name? Do you own half of the island?

Some of the nicer rentals on Eleuthera are on Windermere. I heard they have a new chef at the club there. How is the food? Might be worth paying the short term membership fee to eat lunch there and go sea-beaning afterwards. Sea-beaning. That's my word; get your own! (And now that I Google "sea-beaning", I see I'm late to again to the party.)

Okie dokie. Hunting sea-beans on the "to do" list for the next trip to Eleuthera, albeit I think we need to find out if the folks in agriculture are going to want us bringing these things home. I can hear my wife now: sea-beans?

Hats off to Paul Mikkelsen, Dian and Jim Winder, and Ed Perry. Nice web work!

And what a nice memoriam to Cathie Katz -- the Seabean Lady.

pj

Eleuthera
Copyright © 2006 Perry Joseph

Eleuthera trip report...

Time for an Eleuthera trip report from newlyweds Aaron and Becky. Congrats on your nuptials! Looks like you had a wonderful time. And thanks for the trip report.

Wish I could find the time to do my trip report. Sounds like a lame excuse, but I am still playing catch up since our Spring visit. I do have some interesting things to show for the last trip, and some new ideas for my Eleuthera site, but I don't want to give them away quite yet.

I will say I have been working with some new photo processing procedures and I want to use them on some of the raw footage I have in the can. Rather than take a gazillion vacation pics this last trip, I spent my time trying to capture a few of the more interesting scenics. The nice part about Eleuthera is the imagary goes well beyond "pretty beach" pictures.

I spent a very short amount of time at Haynes library this last trip and have some work to share from that session. I love the architecture of the place. Visiting Haynes and the fine people there, along with seeing some of the older structures on the peninsula that is downtown Governor's Harbour, is most delightful. For those planning on a trip to Eleuthera, be sure to put Haynes Library on your "must see" list.

Oh yeah... Almost forgot. Don't let the old style of the building fool you. Haynes has broadband internet access available in case you want to hop on the net and check your email.

pj

Eleuthera
Copyright © 2006 Perry Joseph

Eleuthera - Cotton Bay in the news...

I read where Cotton Bay Resort is having a few growing pains -- South Eleuthera Investment Faces Hiccup

Isn't it a rule of life contractors wind up taking more time than originally planned? Couple this with the time honored saying "It's the Bahamas!" and now things get a little more behind. In other words, nobody should be shocked -- island life seems to mandate one just can't be in a hurry. Do I hear an "Amen"?

In the same article, I read about the development woes for Baker's Bay on Guana Cay (photo to the right) -- a place near and dear to my heart. My wife and I were regulars at Dolphin Beach Resort for a number of years. DBR is located somewhere close to the middle of the island. Baker's Bay is on the Northernwest end of the island on the calm side. There used to be a resort there. I've got some scoop on that which I'll save for another day.

The important point is that part of Guana Cay all around the northern tip is gorgeous. The area is somewhat remote, yet not that hard to get to. I have spent quite a few afternoons on that beach in the prime of the season and never saw a sole. It was a ritual to lay under a soft pine tree and fall asleep to the sound of the ocean.

I hope they don't develop that area. I want to go back there again some day. But as we left Guana Cay for islands south years ago, it was because it started to feel like it was getting overdeveloped.

I hope Eleuthera keeps its personality on that note. What I think is most important for any Bahamian island is to keep a good chunk of it as natural and unfettered as possible or risk eventual chaos. There's a limit.

pj

Copyright © 2005 Perry Joseph