St. Maarten Travel Tips

One of the Leeward Islands located in the West Indies, St. Maarten is an island less than forty-square miles in size and is divided in half shared by two governments. St. Martin is the northern side of the region and answers to France, while St. Maarten is part of the Netherlands Antilles on the southern side. Both regions are autonomous and have had a peaceful coexistence over the past three-hundred fifty years. Like most West Indies islands, its sunny nature, lush natural beauty, and amazing beaches attracts visitors year-round.

Visitors traveling to this ‘hidden gem of the Spanish main’ should be aware of some essential information about the place to help prepare and plan a great trip. Here are some St. Maarten Travel tips to keep you on top of things on your visit:

St. Maarten travel tips #1 -Climate
The temperature of St. Maarten remains constant year-round averaging about 80F and water temperature averages 78F. Trade winds give a little cooling on the coasts. Occasional rain showers in the late summer and early fall are be expected, with an average yearly rainfall of forty-five inches.

St. Maarten travel tips #2 - Currency
Dutch St. Maarten’s official currency is the Netherlands Antilles Florin or Guilder (NAF). However, US dollars are widely accepted as well. Almost all of the prices in the island are listed in dollars and the local currency.

St. Maarten travel tips #3 - Banking Hours
Dutch St. Maarten banks are open from 8:30am to 3:30pm Monday through Friday, although some banks also open on Saturdays.

St. Maarten travel tips #4 - Customs
The island of St. Maarten is fully and completely duty free.

St. Maarten travel tips #5 - Entry Requirements
For US citizens entering St. Maarten for three months or less need a current passport or an original birth certificate together with a picture ID. For Canadian citizens entering for fourteen days or less must have a valid passport or birth certificate, or naturalization certificate. If staying more not fourteen days but less than thirty days, a certificate of admission for temporary stay is issued upon arrival. Also required are return tickets, documents for next destination, and sufficient funds. For UK citizens or British protected persons entering for three months or less is required a valid passport, return tickets, sufficient funds, and documents for next destination. Citizens from other countries should verify with a travel agent for the proper documents needed to enter St. Maarten. Vaccinations are not required unless travelers are arriving from places experiencing an epidemic.

St. Maarten travel tips #6 - Departure Tax
The departure tax is $20.00

St. Maarten travel tips #7 -Language
The official language of St. Maarten is Dutch; however, almost everybody speaks English. Spanish and Papiamento are also other common languages spoken in the island.

St. Maarten travel tips #8 - Time Zone
The island of St. Maarten follows Atlantic Standard Time all year-round. For the duration of fall and winter, noon on the East Coast of the US is 1pm on the island. During US daylight savings time, the hour on the Eastern Seaboard is the same as it is on the island.

St. Maarten travel tips #9 - Shopping
Shopping in the island is completely duty-free. Stores are open from Monday through Saturday from 9am till 6pm, other shops on the island open till 10pm or later.

St. Maarten travel tips #10 - Tipping
The majority of restaurants and hotels add ten to fifteen percent to the bill as a service charge. Tourists may tip more for special service and it is traditional to tip taxi drivers ten to fifteen percent. Porters at the airport usually receive one dollar per bag.

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All about Fly Fishing Salmon in Canada

In the realm of fishing, the method of angling fish is no doubt the oldest fishing method in existence. It is as old as when man learns to fish with the spear as to hunt prey with it. Using spear as the rod and pieces of bone fashioned into hooks, we can only surmise how successful the 2000 BC anglers were with fishing. And obviously what they do was no fly fishing.

In any event, we could tell that the art of fishing did somewhat gain success since it was delivered throughout the ages. The next recorded event of fishing was in fact a more sophisticated technique (or art as some others would like to call it) called fly fishing today. It was around the 2nd century AD when Roman rhetorician Claudius Aelian took notes on how Macedonian anglers used artificial bait as lures to catch fish; widely presumed that these fishes to be trout from the description ’spotted exterior’.

Today, fly fishing salmon is the most enjoyable branch of fishing, more so for the North American citizens. Fly fishing salmon in Canada and other parts of North America is a common outdoor sport enjoyed by multitudes of residents and non residents. Because fly fishing employs more techniques than typical angling, it provides more challenge to the anglers themselves. Using artificial flies than real baits also provides more challenge and lesser hassle in terms of preparation. In fact, most anglers that engage on this sport are more often from tours and independent groups than those living near the vicinity of salmon fishing sites. Non residents drive or fly a hundred miles towards this famed spawning ground to try their luck on a Chinook or a Coho Silver. These mighty salmons are famed for their reluctance to hand over the prize to its captors. A typical 100 pounder, these extra large salmons bust tackles and rip rods away from grinning anglers in the rush of adrenaline who’d then realize that they too can be beaten by fishes.

Fly fishing salmon in Canada is a sought after recreation. In fact, the two words became allied when it was leaked that British Columbia was the home of the most prized game salmon, the Chinook or the King Salmon. The adult fish may average 33 to 36 inches in length or sometimes up to 58 inches. Not particularly long, they made it up in body mass, averaging 10 to 50 pounds but could as easily reach 130 pounds. When the first monster catch for a world record was at 126 pounds, and another was caught at 97 pounds in Alaska, it convinced everyone that fly fishing salmon in Canada and Alaska is substance and it became the most competitive fishing sport.

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Healthy Dessert Recipe

Generally speaking, desserts are not normally considered as health foods since deserts are traditionally high in sugar, calories and fat such as cakes, pastries, ice ream and doughnuts. However, thanks to rising health consciousness in our society toady, one can easily find a dessert recipe that is both satisfying to the taste and good for the body.

A healthy dessert recipe is not limited to a fresh fruit salad. You can find a dessert recipe for almost any type of dessert that is healthy. These recipes basically make use of substitutes such as sugar free sweeteners and other ingredients that are low or free of fat, calories and sugar.

Here is a healthy frozen dessert recipe called Mango Yogurt Ice:

Using a blender or food processor, blend a pound of chopped ripe mango flesh until smooth. Transfer to a bowl. Add 1

Tips and a Recipe for Low Fat Dessert

If you are trying to lose weight, skipping desserts can be a real challenge. The great thing is you do not have to give up eating your favorite dessert in order to lose those stubborn inches. There are plenty of low fat dessert recipes that you can try for a delicious and healthy treat.

Making your own low fat dessert is actually simple. The key is to substitute the fattening ingredients in the recipe for low fat items. For example, if the recipe calls for cream cheese skip the regular one and look for fat free or low fat cream cheese. Likewise, use margarine or applesauce instead of butter. Chill evaporated milk and you have a low fat substitute for whipped cream. When using eggs, just use the egg whites or instead of using whole eggs, try an egg substitute product. Also, replace the sugar with a sugar free sweetener such as the product Splenda.

Another good idea is to use cooking spray to coat your cake pan instead of grease. A cooking spray will have less fat and cholesterol than oil and will cover the pan completely and evenly so your low fat dessert will slide perfectly onto a plate much easier.

If you are thinking that your options in making low fat dessert are limited, you would be happy to know that you can in fact make almost any type of dessert into a low fat dessert. Again, the key is using low fat ingredients, which are easily available from grocery stores. So, you can make your own low fat pudding, cake, cobbler, pie and even low fat ice cream.

To get you started right away in making a delicious low fat dessert, here is an easy recipe for a popular dessert, strawberry cream cheese shortcake. It uses substitutes to make a low sugar, low calorie and low fat dessert.

Beat 8 oz of softened fat free cream cheese and half a cup of powdered sugar. Fold in 8 oz carton of a Cool Whip Free, a fat-free whipped cream substitute. Pour into a 9×13 pan and spread evenly. Cover the pan and chill for 2 hours. While you are waiting, sweeten 5 cups of sliced strawberries with