A Guest Blog from a Trip to the Turks and Caicos
In keeping with one of my favorite sayings, "learn something new every day," I always enjoy seeing photos from others taken during their vacations.
Not long ago, my executive assistant, Dorian Arrich, traveled to the Turks and Caicos Islands located in the Lucayan Archipelago of the the Atlantic Ocean and northern West Indies. The Turks and Caicos are best known for their beautiful beaches, turquoise colored waters, and interesting marine life. During Dorian's brief stay with her boyfriend, the two enjoyed kayak tours through the mangroves, learned about the area's animals and plants, visited various fruit plantations, and feasted on delicious island dishes - every day was filled with activity, learning, and fun.
Here are some of Dorian's photos, enjoy.
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- Dorian sits on the Board of Directors for The New York Celebrity Assistants Organization and won the trip as a raffle prize. It included a three night stay at the exclusive COMO Parrot Cay Hotel. Here she is just minutes from landing. The turquoise waters off the Turks and Caicos, or TCI, are a shade truly unique to the islands.
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- The flag of the TCI displays their sovereign state, The United Kingdom.
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- After a 15-minute drive from the airport, they arrived at COMO’s welcome center for refreshments before departing on a scenic 35-minute boat ride.
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- During this time of year, the Turks and Caicos weather is generally sunny with temperatures in the 80s. It was just a short distance to the dock where the Captain was preparing the boat for departure.
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- Upon arrival at the COMO Hotel, Dorian was greeted by their butler, Rikardus, from Indonesia. He’s been working at the hotel for more than 10 years. Because there are no passenger cars allowed on Parrot Cay, Rikardus also provided most of the transportation to and from activities.
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- The trip fell over Dorian’s birthday weekend, so COMO welcomed her with tasty treats and champagne to start the celebration.
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- Dorian enjoyed a complimentary lunch with Dr. Ed Butler, Director of Marine Science & Sustainability at COMO Hotel. Before joining COMO Hotels and Resorts in 2022, Dr. Ed led a UK government-funded grant focused on improving sustainability and management of small-scale fisheries in the Turks and Caicos. His research centered on the social-ecological system sciences — the study of linked systems between people and nature — with the aim of uncovering solutions for conservation issues.
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- During one excursion, Dr. Ed talked about the oceanic white tip shark, which is now critically endangered. Earlier this year, Dr. Ed and his team established the Parrot Cay Conservation Trust, which partnered with US researchers to tag sharks with satellite transmitters and learn more about their behaviors and travels.
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- Dorian and her boyfriend, Tommy, also went on a guided kayak tour through the mangroves. Mangroves are tropical and subtropical trees and shrubs that thrive in coastal intertidal zones with low-oxygen soil and slow-moving water.
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- These are leaves of the red mangrove, Rhizophora mangle. These leaves, which turn yellow and eventually drop off, accumulate excess salt from the mangrove tree, effectively shedding the salt to maintain the overall health of the plant.
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- Christian and Rohan were the tour guides. They pointed out an array of fascinating creatures and vibrant plant life.
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- Christian held a jelly fish upside down avoiding the stinging tentacles. Never touch a jellyfish!
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- This is a sea anemone. Sea anemones are marine invertebrates, related to corals and jellyfish, known for their flower-like appearance. Their tentacles also sting and are used for both defense and prey capture.
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- Christian shows a conch in its shell. Conch shells are primarily found in warm, shallow tropical waters. They inhabit areas with sandy bottoms and seagrass beds where they feed on algae and other plant matter.
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- The sand in Turks and Caicos is known for its brilliant white, soft texture. It is primarily composed of naturally broken-down coral and seashells.
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- Here’s another shell Dorian found during a beach walk – ever have a face off with a shell?
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- COMO treated Dorian to a lovely birthday sunset dinner.
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- … complete with cake. Here she is making her birthday wish.
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- Every morning, Dorian and Tommy enjoyed fresh island-made juices – a great way to start the day.
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- The hotel also offers numerous daily wellness activities and holistic wellness therapies.
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- Parrot Cay is a private island with a history dating back to the early 18th century. The original name is reported to be Pirate Cay. Legend tells it that pirate Ann Bonny took refuge here in the 1720s when Jamaican authorities dealt with her Captain, “Calico Jack Rackham”.
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- The tamarind tree, Tamarindus indica, is a tropical evergreen tree introduced to the Caribbean from Africa centuries ago. Locally, it’s sometimes called a “dilly”. The tree is known for its edible fruit, which has a sweet and sour taste, and is used in various dishes and drinks.
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- Rikardus took Dorian and Tommy to the on-site coconut plantation. The chef made delicious coconut sorbet from fruits just picked that day. One can email the hotel at [email protected] and request to adopt a coconut tree and then have one’s name and year displayed on a sign.
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- Next on the itinerary – a banana plantation. The hotel’s banana baked cakes are all made using these bananas.
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- The time went quickly. Here’s Rikardus sending the two back to Provo for their flight home. A great getaway – now back to work. For more information on how you can help save the oceanic white tip shark, reach out to [email protected].
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