Friday, March 29, 2013

BBC Beach (also known as Morne Rouge Beach) Grenada, West Indies.

Grenada, West Indies.
© Katherine Fung, All rights reserved.
By far... my favorite beach in Grenada. <3

As soon as I stepped foot on this beach, I asked myself... "Why haven't I herd about this beach before from others?"  It's one of those places you want everyone to experience, just as you would your favorite ice cream flavor, movie... favorite restaurant.  I have so many other spots (restaurants, sights) I visited before I discovered BBC beach, but BBC stuck out to me so much that it is now taking precedence over any other place I plan on including on this blog.  

What I love about this beach:
*beautiful turquoise waters ahhhh, unlike the waters from other beached I've seen in Grenada
*It's bay like, enclosed by land (quarantine point) shaped like a U...making for calmer waters---> less choppiness= less sediment stirring around in the ocean= clearer waters= better snorkelling
*peaceful and quiet
*the 3 times I visited this beach, I've seen exotic birds and insects
*there's a cute bar/restaurant right at the entrance of the beach (Sur La Mer Restaurant).  They have an awesome breakfast sandwich and serve great virgin Pina Coladas. 
*water is on the shallow side so you can get pretty far without having to swim
*the bartender at the restaurant told me that there's a reef nearby, ideal for snorkelling
*the sand is white, nice and soft
*it's not right next to the main road, like Grand Anse, so it's more quiet and more like paradise
*on weekdays, it's really quiet and most people you run into are workers or tourist from nearby resorts
*you can eat at the resort restaurants for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
*It packs a big punch for its size (size comparable to LAE Beach)
*ideal for picnics

DETAILS
*Getting Here:
From SGU take Grand View Inn Bus.  Get off at last stop on top of hill.  Walk down pavement you see before making a left turn to parking lot.  Make a left at next street after passing a few hotel rooms.  Or ask bus driver to point you in the right direction.   
OR
Since Grand View Inn only runs every hour, instead you can take the Grand Anse bus, Get off at stop before police station (tell driver) and walk all the way up the hill (past the Owl and Mt. Cinnamon).  Walk down pavement you see before making a left turn to parking lot.  Make a left at next street after passing a few hotel rooms.  Or ask bus driver to point you in the right direction. 
OR
for non SGU students, From Le Marquis Complex (roundhouses with carib sushi)  Follow straight road all the way down towards IGA... and up hill (past the Owl and Mt. Cinnamon).  Walk down pavement you see before making a left turn to parking lot.  Make a left at next street after passing a few hotel rooms.  Or ask bus driver to point you in the right direction. 

*The Sur La Mer Restaurant is located within the Gem Beach Resort.  Click HERE to visit The Gem's website for more details.  
-The Gem Resort Phone: 1+ (473) 444-4224 (or 2288/3267) 
-Sur La Mer Restaurant Phone: 1+ (473) 444-3737
-Riviews for Sur La Mer on Tripadvisor 
-Hours for Sur Le Mer
Breakfast 7am-10:30am
Lunch 12pm-3pm
Dinner 6pm-10pm
*Next Door to The Gem, you will find another resort "Kalinago."  Click HERE to visit their website for rates and more details.
*Other places nearby short driving (5min or so) or ~10-20min walks:
-La Luna Restaurant, Spa, and Resort
-Mt. Cinnamon Resort (and Mt. Cinnamon park + end of Grand Anse Beach) across street
-Flamboyant Hotel (with The Owl bar and restaurant) + Scuba Diving Certification Center
-IGA Main Grocery Store

Sur La Mer Restaurant Menu. Click to Enlarge.
Kalinago Beach Resort

Categorized under "Things to do, Sights to See" and "My Photo Jounal"

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Nick's Donut World

-Location: Dusty Highway in Lance Aux Epines. From SGU take Lance Aux Epines bus. Get off first stop after you pass intersection with tires in middle (next to colorful fruit stands).  Walk ~one min away from tires to immediate road on your right.   Walk down hill. Shop will be on left after electric plant area.  
-Phone: (473) 457-1880, 457-7291, 444-2462
-Hours: M-Th 7:30am-5pm; F 7:30am-9pm (BBQ 6pm-9pm), Sa 7:30-5pm, Su closed

One day, I passed by Nick's Donut World out of curiosity and found a cute shop atop a hill with a nice breeze and a nice owner named Nick.

Unlike the standard  American doughnut, Nick's doughnuts are more light in fat, bread-like, and not as sweet (in others words, it's a guilt free doughnut).  If you're adaptable, I'm sure you'll enjoy this lighter version of a doughnut... call it Grenadian style.  

I love his chocolate frosting and his jam filled doughnuts are nicely balanced.  I have yet to try his sandwiches, but I've herd from friends that they're delicious and are worth more than what you pay.

Nick bakes his doughnuts fresh daily and if you're craving something specific, you can call him in advance and put in a request.  

I would love to come back with friends to try out his sandwiches and to just hang out and adore his cute little shop.
Yes, Nick has  a legit coffee machine hahaha. 
Nick preparing my doughnuts. 
When students travel around the world, they always bring something back for Nick.  Check out the cute statues above his doughnuts.

Raspberry filled chocolate and traditional glazed.

Categorized under "Restaurants. Menus. Reviews."

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

La Luna Resort, Spa, Bar, and Restaurant.


Click HERE to view daytime pictures of La Luna Resort.

When I hear La Luna I think... breathtaking views, beautiful, delightful, fun, exciting, uniquely themed, perfect ambiance, relaxing, breezy, and so much more. 

The first two times I visited this resort, it was for work and I didn't have time to grab a bite to eat, but on my third visit, I was lucky to have been able to come back with Busy Bee Brian to celebrate his 30th birthday.

Our Italian themed food was pleasant from start to finish with nice clean/simple flavors (though I found the Pumpkin soup to be a little too simple and the Torta Caprese dessert a little on the cumbly side), and I could tell that our dishes were made using fresh quality meats and produce.  

I've experienced a lot of overcooked seafood in my 2 years here in Grenada and I was so happy to have had perfectly cooked scallops, shrimp, and fish for our special birthday dinner.

To top things off at the end of our dinner, their staff greeted us with a birthday dessert, on the house.  A birthday cake and candle with a jazzed up happy birthday song, a warm gentle breeze, nature sounds, no mosquitoes, and cheerful smiling faces... our birthday celebration was perfect. 

For quality seafood, breathtaking views, and a good time... I think La Luna has it all.  Some people think dinner is a bit pricey, but it will all depend on your taste buds and budget.  You'll never know until you try it our for yourself. 

P.S.  Our food came out super fast the night we visited, but waiting times will depend on how busy it is. Whatever country you're coming from, try to bear in mind that you're in a different country that has a different operating system.  Also, everything is cooked fresh.  If you sit back, relax, and enjoy yourself, your food, and your company... time will be on your side. 

Details
-Cuisines: Italian
-Location Morne Rouge;  From the SGU take the  Grand View Inn bus to last stop. Follow dirt road following water. La Luna is a ten min walk.  I like taking a taxi. (from IGA, ~ 10min drive.  road is pretty bad getting there, but soon it will be fixed.  La Luna is also in the process of expanding).
-Hours: Breakfast 7am-10:30 (last order goes in 9:30am); Lunch 12pm-3pm; Dinner 6:30-10:30 (last order goes in at 9:30pm and reservations required)
-Phone: (473) 439-0001; USA Toll Free 1+ (866)-4-LALUNA
-Price range: $-$$$
-email:  info@laluna.com
-menu
-website
-Reviews on Tripadvisor

Seafood Spaghetti (fish of the day, clams, shrimp, scallops in a red sauce)
Freshly baked dinner rolls, and crisp thyme focaccia with butter.
Grenadian Pumpkin and Ginger Soup
Seafood Brodetto (shrimp, scallops, catch of day with garlic bread)
Tonno e Fagioli (tuna filet, olive oil, white beans, onion, and celery)

Categorized under "Restaurants.Menus.Reviews"

39th Anniversary of Grenada's Independence

2.7.13 St. George's Downtown and National Stadium Grenada, West Indies. © Katherine Fung, All rights reserved.  Grenada, The ...