Krisha

You don’t really need an excuse to escape to a beautiful Caribbean beach. But if you chose Grace Bay on the island of Providenciales (Provo as the locals call it) in Turks and Caicos, there must be something you’re celebrating. For us, it was our last hoorah for a memorable vacation before we became parents. My husband took it upon himself to surprise me by whisking us off to this unforgettable destination for our Babymoon.

Much like a “honeymoon,” a “babymoon” is the couple’s excuse to relax and take a vacation before life changes forever. My husband knew he had to make it special; we are beach people, and he had to find a spectacular one. We traveled to Bora Bora and Tahiti for our honeymoon, but our babymoon had to be something considerably closer for obvious reasons. He got on the Internet and searched “best beaches in the world”. When comparing top 10 lists from every legitimate travel site available, Grace Bay consistently landed near the top; it is easy to get to from the East Coast. He packed my bag and a passport and drove to the airport. Within 2.5 hours after our connecting flight from Charlotte, we were transported to arguably the most gorgeous beach in the Caribbean.
Grace Bay is a staggering 12-mile stretch of powdery white sand lining a backdrop of crystal clear turquoise water which goes knee-deep for miles. I have been to several beaches in the Caribbean, but honestly, Grace Bay drowns all the competition. The landscape is immaculate; the locals take so much pride in keeping their shoreline clean. No sign of trash; nothing floating in the water. No cruise ships or time shares allowed.

Most of the hotels are actually condos that are ultimately for sale – none of them with exception of the Seven Stars resort where we stayed, are allowed to be more than four stories high. The locals are self-policing, too. If anyone is caught harassing a tourist, they are reported to the authorities and reprimanded. The locals know how important the tourism industry and their beaches are to the economy.

They make it easy for Americans; although it is a British Overseas Territory. Local currency is the dollar, and ATMs are plentiful. Navigation around the island is easy if you remember to drive on the left. If that’s too much of a hassle, the locals will be happy to drive you, and their prices are fair and reasonable. There is a level of trust between people on this island – no one is here to cheat you or to haggle. In fact, most cab drivers will take you to your destination and ask that you call them back for a return trip; you pay them on your return.

The beach is untouched and not crowded. If you’re staying in one of the handful of resorts on the Bay, you most likely will have a beach attendant to serve drinks and food as you soak in the sun. The water is teeming with marine life; I found a brilliant orange star fish near the shoreline, but the conch is Provo’s main claim to fame. The locals farm them, sell their shells and eat the meat as a delicacy. Definitely visit a conch farm or go on a snorkel trip where a local swimmer will free dive to the bottom of the ocean to retrieve one for you. They will extract the conch, make a conch ceviche for you eat and teach you to clean the shell so you can take it home as a souvenir. If that’s too rustic for you, at least try the cooked conch fritters at the famous barefoot diver bar, Bugaloo’s.

Speaking of restaurants, Provo has plenty of good eats including a variety of establishments for the refined palate. The most popular, Coco Bistro, an open-air dining experience under the palm trees, requires reservations months ahead of time. We opted for the breathtaking sunset views of the bay and harbor at Magnolia on the terrace. For elegant, sophisticated flair, make reservations at Parallel23 to sample a fusion of exotic international flavors and Caribbean specialties.
But the real flavor of this island is truly experienced on the water. Grace Bay is perfect for anyone who wants to try paddle boarding, sailing or kayaking, as the water is calm and inviting for beginner water enthusiasts. If you’re more seasoned, venture to the other side of the Bay to Shore Club for some of the best kite surfing conditions in the world. Another popular water activity is horseback riding on the beach where the horses walk leg-deep in the ocean allowing you to graze your toes along water as you ride down the shoreline.
At the end of each relaxing day, we would sip cool drinks and unwind on the sand as the sun sank low on the water. Grace Bay was truly a paradise that gave us peace of mind and prepared us for the next grand adventure in our lives: parenthood.

Krisha Chachra is Vice Mayor of the Town of Blacksburg and a regular columnist and author who has traveled to over 40 countries in 6 continents and reported and hosted shows for public radio and television. Her columns are taken from her journals and personal insights from traveling nationally and internationally throughout her life. Her book about returning to Blacksburg, Homecoming Journals, may be found online or in local bookstores.

Originally published in NRV Magazine

Imagine this: There is a great big, blue hole in the middle of the water off the coast of Belize. If you’re a diver, you know I’m talking about the place Jacques Cousteau once called the best scuba site on earth. It sounds counter intuitive: A deep, dark blue void in the middle of endless turquoise water. But the reality is that it was forged out of solid rock caverns thousands of years ago during the last ice age. Over time, water filtered through the rock and into great stone cathedrals, creating an underwater maze of mysterious spires. From above, the great blue hole is circular in shape – as if the ocean itself had an open eye.
If you go to Belize, you must see this for yourself. Everyone will ask if you’re been there. Boat excursions from the popular tourist destinations of Amergris Caye or Belize City leave daily with adventurers on board eager to discover this World Heritage Site also named the number one most amazing place by Discovery Channel.
Of course, there is plenty to do on dry land in Belize as well. From Belize City, take a quick flight on Maya Island Air to San Pedro, made famous in the Madonna song, “La Isla Bonita”. You can tour the island which is a web of unfinished streets and beaches. From Captain Morgan’s Resort, where we stayed, no cars could make it into town so you have to rent a water taxi or golf cart and hold on to your hat as the driver jumps the pot holes and flies over rickety bridges where crocodiles lie below.
If you like nightlife, everyone seems to start at Fido’s for live music and ends up at Jaguar’s night club. But skip the late night tourist trap and instead take a Jaguar paw cave tube ride through the ancient Mayan Nahoch che’en cave system and float by ghostly stalactites and stalagmites. If history is on your radar, leave the island and travel a short way to western Belize to the Guatemalan border. Here you’ll witness Xunantunich (meaning “Stone Woman”), the ancient Mayan ruins. Dating back to 800 AD, the site is divided into four sections with the “El Castillo” pyramid being the largest structure – once used as a Maya civil ceremony center.
All these sites are food for the imagination, but nothing trumps the great blue hole. I’m no diver, but I’m definitely not one to miss a “must-do” activity. Snorkelers are welcome so I jumped on board and hitched a boat ride out to the ocean to see what all the chatter was about. Peering into the rich sapphire water, I could only imagine what life lay beneath. The great blue hole – about 1,000 feet wide and 400 deep – is home to rare species of colorful fish and larger Caribbean reef and bull sharks. I gingerly got into the water; the captain warned me that the elevation could drop from a few to hundreds of feet deep in just a few steps. When you’re in the water, suddenly it seems as if the world has gone silent; your body relaxes and everything feels serene and calm.
But dunking your head in the water and taking a look through a snorkel mask reveals a much different pace of life. Fish of all colors and sizes jockey for position in the unmarked lanes of current; dodging and darting around each other in the underwater traffic. No fish seems to look the same. I watch a rainbow parrot fish sail past a group of striped black and white. Suddenly, I see a dark, long shadow about 50 feet in front of me. Is it a shark? I don’t wait to find out. I jerk my head up and reach for the captain’s arm to pull me out of the water. It might be a blue hole full or wonder and life under the surface to see, but sometimes it’s better to stick to your imagination.

Originally published in NRV Magazine

Often the site of an unforgettable bachelor or bachelorette event, Las Vegas has long held the reputation for ‘round-the-clock partying. From gambling to good food, casinos to clubs, shows to shopping – whatever your pleasure – you can find an abundance of it in Sin City.

But away from all the glitz and glamour, Vegas has a less scandalous soul. This international entertainment capital boasts more artists per capita than New York City and hosts an active arts and entrepreneurial culture. Near the Freemont Street Experience, Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh has pumped $350 million in his Downtown Project to redevelop abandoned casinos into hip lounges and parks that hold start-up meetings and live music.

Still, the best reason to come to Vegas is for a party. And one of the biggest celebrations in Las Vegas is Chinese New Year. Called the Spring Festival in China, this year’s lunar festival welcomed the year of the Wooden Horse. The Chinese believe that during the Year of the Horse, success and victories arrive like a stampede – fast and furious. Energy is high, so in that respect, Vegas is the perfect place to usher in the New Year.

Practically every major hotel on the strip will offer the opportunity to see the dynamic and colorful lion dance. This dance is performed to frighten away evil spirits. According to legend, a mythical beast called Nian (meaning “year” in Chinese) would attack the villagers at the same time every year in China. In order to ward off this creature, the villagers created a false lion out of cloth and bamboo to scare Nian away. Check out the lion dance performances at the Aria, MGM and Bellagio.

The most impressive Chinese New Year display, however, is found at the Bellagio’s Conservatory and Botanical Garden with an open atrium layout lined with fresh, hand-cut carnations. The highlight is the mountain of seven life-size horses charging around a magnificent gold stallion at the peak. Throw a coin in the ding-pots and make a wish in front of the towering lucky tree dripping with hundreds of “I-Ching” coins for good fortune. Visit in the evening for live music under the pagoda, and don’t miss the framed carnation canvas in the back of the room on an easel with the Chinese “Fu” symbol for luck and blessings.

Finally, you can’t celebrate the Chinese New Year without a trip to Chinatown Plaza on Spring Mountain Road and the Freemont Street Experience in Downtown Las Vegas. The Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Las Vegas organizes its largest New Year celebration at both locations complete with an Asian food festival highlighting authentic fare from more than 10 countries. While you’re on Freemont Street, make sure you look up. Half the show is projected above on the LED canopy 90 feet high and 1,500 feet long. As the images gallop over you, the lights go down, and the crowd goes wild like the horses representing the Chinese New Year. That’s when you know you’re in the right place for an unforgettable party.

Originally published in NRV Magazine