Tag Archives: Fishing

Madeira: Encumeada, Porto Moniz, Cabo Girão &…

Posted on July 19, 2015 | Leave a comment

Encumeada

Intense Blue From My Window!

The Atlantic Ocean, landing on the narrow track, then road to Calheta to stop at the Saccharum Hotel – Resort & Spa. Followed by a very nice dinner with our small team at the hotel’s Restaurante Engenho. Where I enjoyed an excellent salad with octopus and filmed my first Periscope (epic)! Yep now you can also follow my streams (live video where you can interact with me) on Periscope! We laughed a lot!

This morning I’m a little late (big mess with the time change, my phone etc …), starting at 9:15 am instead of 9 am (okay)! First stop: the Encumeada viewpoint at 1007 meters. Magnificent panorama of chains of very green mountains overlooking the northern and southern coasts of the island and valleys of Ribeira Brava and São Vicente (photo 1 & photo montage below).

We continue towards the northwest of Madeira: Porto Moniz.

Porto Moniz

The Famous Natural Pools

As we head the north of the island, the vegetation changes and the sky is overcast with clouds when we reach the village of Porto Moniz. Pretty impressive weather contrast between the South and North of the island.

What fun discovering the natural pools: shaggy rocks with the ocean in the background … Like a decor of the golden age of Italian cinema. Awesome! The water is cold but not more than Sagres (which is the colder water of all over Portugal for me!). Occasionally a clearing in the sky… Great experience!

Delicious fish for lunch on the lovely terrace of the Aqua Natura Madeira restaurant with direct views to the pools. I am hypnotised by the ocean, horizon, waves, rocks and sometimes the blinding brightness … (photos below). And my tweets (LOL)! I take this opportunity to visit this charming family hotel, with new facilities and ideally located with stunning ocean views.

Cabo Girão

Light & Vertigo

After a detour via the Saccharum, here I am at 580 meters above the sea level, on one of the highest cliffs in the world (no, these are not my feet)! Enjoying the different blues of the Ocean and beautiful golden light of late afternoon!

Câmara de Lobos

Picturesque Fishing Village

with colored boats (xavelhas). The specialty is fishing for black swordfish. It makes me think about Hemingway and The Old Man and the Sea … The navigator João Gonçalves Zarco who discovered Madeira in the fifteenth century, founded the first colony on the island in Câmara de Lobos (House of Wolves in English).

Dinner of very good fishes cooked on the grill at the Vila do Peixe terrace, enjoying the relaxing view (pictures below) … Time is pending. I could stay hours just for the peaceful view. To be continued …

Informations

Visit Madeira, Visit Portugal & TAP

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Many thanks for this beautiful invitation to Visit Madeira, Visit Portugal and TAP. As always all my opinions are mine.

Thailand: The Pak Tako Estuary in Chumphon

Posted on July 5, 2013 | Leave a comment

For the third day I am in Chumphon.

During my first trip to Thailand, I have already stopped to Chumphon on my way to Koh Samet. This time I woke up at dawn to get to the estuary Pak Tako. A 5 minute drive from Tusita Resort & Spa.

The beach is large, palm trees, a wreck and low tide. Some pictures and mosquito bites, waiting for the traditional boat in which we visit the estuary. Timidly the sun rises. Beautiful light with golden reflections through threatening clouds, the sky cleared. This is the beginning of the rainy season. And the bottom of the air is already heavy, tropical weather.

The boat is late (ahora misma, lol). Finally sat in the front “seat”, I gradually discovered each bank. Pristine luxuriant nature on one side (pictures 5,8 & 10). Fishermen’s wooden houses on stilts, boats, fishing boats and warehouses on the other side. Gently life resumes and we meet here and there a fisherman or older women drinking tea (pictures 4 & 6).

No noise except for few boat engines. I like watching the conch of traditional boats. Everything seems immutable, like a ritual that is repeated again and again, reassuring. Time slows down. A peaceful feeling without crowds or tourist. The estuary is small and the boat is fast enough. And we decide to attend the return of fishing in the warehouses. We reach them by road in less than 5 minutes. To be contunued…

Follow my whole trip in THAILAND and Twitter. You can also discover my other pictures in the Facebook of the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Facebook of the Royal Thai Embassy in Belgium. ENJOY!

Thaïland: On the road from Amphawa to Chumphon

Thailand, Klongkone Mangrove Conservation Centre

DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Thailand, Klongkone Mangrove Conservation Centre

Posted on June 16, 2013 | Leave a comment

After the plane, a mini bus and trainspotting break,

here I am in a Thai boat through the mangroves along a channel where the river flows into the sea! Yep, sounds amazing!

Welcome to Klongkone Mangrove Conservation Centre! Some residents quite intrusive spy us : omnivores macaques with sharp canines. These greedy monkeys are eager for our guide’s bananas, coming very close. Too much for my taste! I do not like them! In addition, they swim great and that move in groups! Lololol (pictures 2 and 3).

On the opposite bank, we pass fishermen masked for protection from the sun (pictures 1 and 4), making fishing for mussels (mussel farming). The look is really impressive. Once arrived at sea, we are heading to a fishermen’s shelter for lunch, standing off in the middle of nowhere (picture 5).

Acrobatic arrival (picture 6), but the setting is awsome! Soothing, I dream of a hammock (picture 7). And I recommend to all those who do not like seafood, to bring a snack. Because that menu is seafood and seafood and shrimps, clams, crabs …

I make some snapshots of the incredible tattoos of the driver of our boat (pictures 8 and 9). Time flies, it’s already time to go back: sea, river, mangrove and minibus till the next stop, a Thai massage at the Baan Amphawa Resort & Spa. The hotel where we will spend the night.