Before Hurricane Gustav !

Calm before the storm !

Ever since I arrived on Grand Cayman last year people and indeed certain locations constantly give me some valuable insight as to how devastating Hurricane Ivan was to the Cayman Islands. As a newbie, your first impression is that maybe people are exaggerating a bit, but when you see some of the physical evidence in various places like a certain block of flats in West Bay, you begin to realise the enormity of nature’s might. Where I come from there is no real freak weather phenomena apart from a real heavy shower occasionally or a sustained period of drought, so when I had to prepare for the forth coming Hurricane Gustav, it was all a new experience for me.

At work, we have a hurricane committee which has been monitoring Gustav since it begun and today the committee took the all important decision to close the office at 1.30 pm until Monday morning. We all had to pack up our computers and ensure that all files and computer equipment were safely packed in plastic bags. By 12.30 pm most of the staff had headed home to prepare for the hurricane, I have my shutters up, I have all my essential survival items such as 3 torches, a 200 litre drum of fresh water, tinned food, medical supplies, fuel for the generator, hard cash etc.

On my way home, I witnessed people parking their cars on “high” ground just behind the Ritz Carlton Estelle Tibbetts highway, at North Sound Golf course the workers were busy getting hurricane ready and the place was actually closed. Shopping carts at the supermarkets were full to the brim as everyone stocked up and people seemed very irritable at the gas stations not being used to queuing for petrol. Anyway, Gustav is expected to hit us tomorrow afternoon, I will just have to wait and experience my first hurricane, otherwise tonight I am just going to go out and have a nice dinner somewhere and the listen to some live jazz at Cohiba Lounge…

Night Life In Cayman Islands !

Night Life In Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands is hardly the mecca of night life in the Caribbean Islands, in fact if you are a party animal and you like to stay out in night clubs till say 5 am, then you will struggle here. The Cayman Islands are a very conservative place, so much so that, when two gay people kissed on one of the beaches a couple of months ago, it made headlines in the local newspapers and it triggered a mighty uproar and a national debate. Also there is no gambling or prostitution (at least in the open, anyway - but I have come across underground forms of these two vices). All establishments of entertainment (ie bars and nightclubs) have to be closed by 12 midnight on Saturdays and there can be no loud music played in the bars and restaurants on a Sunday.

However, having said all of that, people here know how to party! There are nightclubs and bars here to cater for most needs. Two great night clubs are O Bar and Next Level, these two clubs seem to have the lead on all the other nightclubs in Cayman Islands and they are both conveniently located on West Bay road, which means that a lot of the tourists staying on Seven Mile Beach road can walk to either of these clubs if they so wish. Next Level is right next door to the famous Aqua Beach bar and restaurant, while O Bar is located closer to George Town and has a bar with big screen TVs and pool tables.

The dress code is casual for all night clubs (and I mean casual because I have seen people wearing a t-shirt, shorts and slippers in the night clubs). As long as your attire is not offensive, it okay to wear practically anything when going out on the town.

Shopping in Cayman Islands

Kirk Freeport Cayman Islands

Shopping ? What is that ? For those of you who love to shop, Cayman Islands are not exactly the epitome of the ultimate shopping experience. The population here is about 60,000, give or take a couple of thousand, and about half of that population is on roll over (that is they are about to leave the island within a maximum of seven years) so you are not going to get many stores stocking up here. Shopping can also be an expensive hobby here in Grand Cayman, because everything sold in shops here is imported and after the freight, duties and other charges to get the products here, you may think twice before you buy anything in Cayman Islands.

Many of my Caymanian friends actually boast about going to Panama or Miami simply to shop, so if you are coming to Cayman Islands take shopping of your list of things to do because you will be disappointed. However, having said that, you may want to check out the duty free shops for designer perfumes, jewelery and watches, as these tend to be much cheaper than most countries I have visited.

The land of Sunshine and Hurricanes

Cayman Islands, the land of sunshine, beautiful sunsets, sandy beachs and hurricanes… The hurricane season this year, officially started on 1 June 2008 and ends on 30 November 2008. When I first arrived in the Cayman Islands in November last year, I was fortunate enough to have just missed Hurricane Dean, so I have yet to experience a hurricane in the Cayman Islands (not that I am waiting for it in eager anticipation). With Hurricane Fay approaching (although it may miss Grand Cayman), I now know what all the fuss is about when it comes to hurricanes in the caribbean. Today, at the office, I received my Hurricane information “be-prepared” booklet (we have a group of people in the office that monitor hurricane activity and advise the staff accordingly). The booklet details everything you need to know about the dangers of hurricanes, the supllies that you need to stock, protecting your property and choosing a safe shelter. It is a must-read, if you are on the island during the hurricane season.

The last major hurricane to hit the Cayman Islands was Hurricane Ivan in 2004, this had a devastating effect on Cayman Islands and other Caribbean countries such as Grenada. In fact, those that were on island during that Hurricane still talk about “Ivan” with a certain hint of fear in their eyes. In fact, when selling a car most people will state the fact that the car was imported post-Hurricane Ivan as a value add. This means that any car that was on island during the hurricane would be less desirable as a purchase than a car that was brought onto the island after hurricane Ivan.

If you are on island during this hurricane season, please read CaymanPrepared, it could save your life…

Casanova’s By The Sea !

Casanova's By The Sea

Ah ! The name itself inspires romantic thoughts of sunsets, good food and fine wine! This restaurant is an absolute must for any couple visiting or living in Grand Cayman. The view from the verandah deck is absolutely gorgeous, that it was actually criminal of me to have forgotten my trusted camera on the night that my better half and I visited Casanova’s By The Sea. Never mind, I will not forget the next time (you can be assured that there will definitely be a next time!)

Casanova’s is situated on North Church Street, and is easily accessible for lunch for those visitors coming from the cruise ships that frequently visit Grand Cayman. It is in the heart of a super clean George Town and there is plenty of parking across the road from Casanova’s. But for me, the best time to visit Casanova’s is at night time, when you are not in a hurry to go anywhere else. Immediately, as you walk through the entrance, you get that feeling of “family-owned restaurant”, because everyone is so friendly and they take tremendous pride in even the simplest of tasks. The menu is obviously Italian and I chose the Grigliata di Pesce Salmoriglio, which is a seafood platter of sorts, as my main dish (divine…). They also have an extensive wine selection, even though on this particular night, we chose not to have any wine and to top it all off, they had this guy from Paraguay playing a harp and moving from table to table. All in all it was a very pleasant night thanks to the staff of Casanova’s.

Buying Property In The Cayman Islands

West Bay Property

There are several location options for those that are interested in purchasing a property in Cayman Islands. Most people tend to buy property in Grand Cayman, although those that are more interested in a quieter holiday spot, the Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are the perfect choices for your dream property in the Caribbean. Grand Cayman is growing quite rapidly at the moment, this is evidenced by the many construction sites one passes when driving from home to work and although Grand Cayman is very tiny in terms of land mass, (a tiny dot on most maps) there seems to be plenty of land parcels for sale.

Grand Cayman, the largest of the three Cayman Islands, has emerged as one of the top five financial centers in the world. The Cayman Islands are one of the safest places in the world and they have some of the cleanest, purest beaches. The Cayman Islands have come a long way from the time that they were nearly obliterated by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

Grand Cayman is a wonderful location to own property and provides many advantages for the owner such as the fact that there are no capital gains, income, property or inheritance taxes in Cayman Islands. Rentals are pretty high in Cayman compared to most islands in the Caribbean and there are plenty of professional real estate agents on the islands that can manage your property for you. There are no restrictions on foreign ownership of property in the Cayman Islands. A modern land registration system is run by the Government’s Department of Lands and Survey. Stamp duty is payable on transfers of land and mortgage deeds. The Cayman Islands are a British Overseas Territory, pretty much guaranteeing the islands’ stability and rule of law.

From what I have seen so far in Cayman Islands, property is a very solid investment and will generate great tax-free returns over the long term.

Marriott Courtyard in Grand Cayman

The Marriott Courtyard on West Bay Road

The Marriott Courtyard is located on West Bay Road in Grand Cayman. I had the opportunity to spend 3 days at this very affordable hotel. Even though I do live and work on the island, I booked into this hotel so that my better half, who was visiting me could walk to the beach whenever she wanted. The Marriot courtyard is a very affordable hotel in Grand Cayman and has well laid out comfortable rooms. In terms of comfort, it is very much comparable to other hotel chains such as Summerfield Suites, Comfort Suites, Day’s Inn, Holiday Inn Garden Court etc. It is convenient for those that want to be close to the action along Seven Mile Beach, yet it’s also pretty much stand alone from the rest of the hotels on West Bay road, enough so to be able to enjoy some deserved peace and quiet.

The hotel has a small bar and a breakfast/lunch room. You are not really going to get fine dining at this hotel because dining is not their focus and anyway most of the great restaurant are but a short taxi ride away from the Marriott Courtyard. There is a large inviting pool within the hotel complex if you do not feel like tasting sea water. You can also easily organise all your activities on Grand Cayman at the hotel’s friendly concierge post, these activities include trips to Hell, Sting Ray City etc.

Construction Boom In Cayman Islands

Construction on West Bay Road, Grand Cayman

Construction in the Cayman Islands, specifically in Grand Cayman seems to be in a boom from a casual observer’s perspective. Personally I have counted at least 5 large cranes at various sites on Grand Cayman and for such a small island that is quite a lot of cranes. As you drive along Seven Mile Beach road (West Bay road), you cannot help but notice the construction of commercial property, mainly hotel developments. There are some people who believe that property development is taking place at too fast a rate in the Cayman Islands and that the existing infrastructure is not suited for such rapid development. I have, however noticed that the Government is busy improving the roads and facilities such as the international airport are being upgraded. Indeed, since I arrived here (about seven months ago) there have been many roads built especially around the Savannah, Prospect areas that each time I drive out that way, I tend to get lost because of the new roads being constructed.

If you are interested in construction or property in the Cayman Islands, it is probably advisable for you to speak to an expert in the form of a real estate agent. There are many reputable real estate agents on the islands and a lot of them are part of an established worldwide franchise. A good example is Remax Cayman Islands.

Fast Food and Take Outs In Grand Cayman

KFC on West Bay Road

If you are visiting Grand Cayman and you have children you need not worry about food. Apart from having magnificent restaurants, Cayman Islands also has quite a number of fast food franchises that operate on the island. Being close to the USA, the islands retail and fast food industries are very much influenced by the Americans (you can decide whether that’s a good or bad thing). Anyway, Burger King, KFC, Domino’s, Pizza Hut and Subway are the more recognisable fast food chains on the island.

One thing to note though (and it can be pretty significant depending on your love for fast food) is that there is NO McDonald’s as you know it on the island. The reason apparently (and this I have not yet verified) is that a local business man was smart enough to register the name MacDonald’s many years ago and therefore McDonald’s cannot use the name in the Cayman Islands.

The MacDonald’s restaurant in Grand Cayman though, operates in the heart of George Town and is a favourite of many of the locals and expatriates working on the island. They serve a variety of dishes that include burgers, fries, fried chicken, fish and various other local dishes and their prices are very affordable.

Most restaurants on the island offer a take out menu as well as their normal sit-in menu, so you can order from a particular restaurant and have the food delivered to you hotel or home.

Volley Ball On Seven Mile Beach

It’s a Saturday afternoon in Grand Cayman, the temperature is in the mid 90’s and everyone on the island is seeking some sort of relief from the blazing sun. What do you do? Some people prefer to stay in their air-conditioned rooms, some plunge into a pool and others like me prefer to go to the beach where you can play beach volleyball and at any given point in time dive into the cool waters of the Caribbean sea.

On this particular Saturday, the volleyball at the beach had been organized by one of the big four accounting firms on the island. These affairs are always very well organized, with plenty of food (barbeque Caribbean style) and drinks to suit all tastes. Most of my friends work in all the big accounting and banking firms on the island, so it is never to difficult to get an invitation to one of these functions. The beach volleyball itself is played in a very relaxed manner and there are no fixed teams, you simply jus join the team that you most like (if they will accept you) and you are good to go. Do not worry about your volleyball skills because everyone is in it purely for fun and it shows. There are about 5 or 6 volleyball nets at the public beach on West Bay road, right next to Calico Jacks beach bar, the sand is absolutely wonderful and they have public “cabanas” if you feel you need to hide sun.

What always amazes me at any given function on the island, is the amount of food that is available and how good it tastes. At this particular function I had some of the best pork ribs I have ever tasted, they were very succulent and the barbeque sauce was to die for!