www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-18/miami-s…

"How is the sex of a sea turtle determined? By the temperature of the sand surrounding the egg during incubation—generally, warmer for a female, cooler for a male. Each person who buys a pair of Waterlust leggings or board shorts emblazoned with the...www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-18/miami-s…

"How is the sex of a sea turtle determined? By the temperature of the sand surrounding the egg during incubation—generally, warmer for a female, cooler for a male. Each person who buys a pair of Waterlust leggings or board shorts emblazoned with the brand’s sea turtle motif receives a series of emails sharing this and other encyclopedia-worthy facts.

..etc" Show more

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/13/bali-is-reop…

A rather interesting new mindset coming out of Bali as they reopen for tourism..

"Government officials have spoken of the need to alter the tourism sector to focus on attracting “quality” tourists. Luhut Pandjaitan, the coordinating minister for...www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/13/bali-is-reop…

A rather interesting new mindset coming out of Bali as they reopen for tourism..

"Government officials have spoken of the need to alter the tourism sector to focus on attracting “quality” tourists. Luhut Pandjaitan, the coordinating minister for maritime affairs and investment, said last month that the authorities would “filter” tourists. “We do not want backpackers,” he said.

Bali Tourism Agency head I Putu Astawa says the island is hoping to receive travellers who will spend more money, stay longer and have a better attitude.

He pointed to foreigners who have not complied with Covid guidelines, who have abused their tourist visas by working illegally, or broken the law in other ways. “Those are parasites that we need to put in order and keep an eye on,” Putu Astawa said."

I would dearly love to know how you can filter out people with a bad attitude. Maybe a new site called
"TouristAdvisor.com" (TwitAdvisor?) where owners can write reviews of the behaviour of their guests [when requested] to give some well-behaved tourists the edge over others [who have no reviews] - nothing negative/libelous, just the absence of anything positive should do it:

"Mr Rigsby stayed with us between these dates"
vs
"Ms Jones was a wonderful friendly guest and a great tipper..." Show more

www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2021/03/wer…

..more on the Evergreen Ever Given from the Atlantic magazine, enjoy.

..

www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56505413

"Dozens of vessels are stuck after a giant container ship became wedged across Egypt's Suez Canal, one of the world's busiest trade routes.

Rescue boats are working to free the 400m-long (1312ft) vessel, which was knocked off course by strong winds...www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56505413

"Dozens of vessels are stuck after a giant container ship became wedged across Egypt's Suez Canal, one of the world's busiest trade routes.

Rescue boats are working to free the 400m-long (1312ft) vessel, which was knocked off course by strong winds.

Egypt says it has reopened the canal's older channel to divert traffic, amid fears it could remain blocked for days.

The incident has already created long tailbacks on the waterway, stopping dozens of other vessels from passing.

About 10% of global trade passes through the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean to the Red Sea and provides the shortest sea link between Asia and Europe.

The Ever Given, registered in Panama, was bound for the port city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands from China and was passing northwards through the canal on its way to the Mediterranean.

The 200,000 tonne ship, built in 2018 and operated by Taiwanese transport company Evergreen Marine, ran aground and became lodged sideways across the waterway at about 07:40 local time (05:40 GMT) on Tuesday.

At 400m long - the length of four football pitches - and 59m-wide, the ship has blocked the path of other vessels which are now trapped in lines in both directions.

A tracking website, Vessel Finder, shows the build up of marine traffic on both the northern and southern sides of the blocked waterway. "

www.fleetmon.com/maritime-news/2021/33105/mega-con…

..yup - pretty much no getting around that! Show more

Missing Florida sailor found clinging to capsized vessel www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-55138488

A very lucky guy...

www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2020/nov/1…

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/27/jamaica-he…

"Climate change is eroding beaches all over the Caribbean – even though the region contributes a tiny fraction of the emissions heating the planet"

Ignoring the crowbar used to assemble that description.. I'm not sure that this is a problem...www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/27/jamaica-he…

"Climate change is eroding beaches all over the Caribbean – even though the region contributes a tiny fraction of the emissions heating the planet"

Ignoring the crowbar used to assemble that description.. I'm not sure that this is a problem. Beaches come and go - you can betcha all that sand got washed up somewhere.

Its more an article about two businesses who based their revenue stream on onw commodity and are now failing because that commodity has expired.

Time to adapt?

Can they not place a few dozen deep water moorings offshore and provide a water taxi to overnighting yachts for example? Show more

"Palmyra had been an isolated and tranquil Pacific atoll, until a 20th-Century invasion of black rats arrived, setting the whole atoll’s ecology hurtling down a different path.

During World War Two, the US military stationed thousands of sailors on the Palmyra Atoll, a ring of pristine,..."Palmyra had been an isolated and tranquil Pacific atoll, until a 20th-Century invasion of black rats arrived, setting the whole atoll’s ecology hurtling down a different path.

During World War Two, the US military stationed thousands of sailors on the Palmyra Atoll, a ring of pristine, coral-fringed islets in the Central Pacific Ocean. But the ships also brought a host of stowaways to the islands: black rats. On warm, wet Palmyra, the rodents thrived, quickly multiplying and feasting on young crabs, tree seedlings, and seabird eggs and chicks. Invasive coconut palms from abandoned plantations spelled further trouble for the birds, depriving them of their native habitat.

By the end of the century, the rats and palms had transformed the atoll’s entire ecosystem. Eight seabird species roaming the wider area were ominously missing – according to conservationists, possibly because the rats had driven them into local extinction. Some crab species were dwindling, or had even completely disappeared from sight. On other tropical islands, evidence emerged that rodent invasions were affecting species as ostensibly far-removed as coral reefs, by disrupting their supply of nutrient-rich seabird droppings.

The coconut palms also damaged the delicate chain of nutrients that sustained life on and around Palmyra. They took over half the atoll. Seabirds avoided nesting in the palms, preferring sturdy native trees with branches. As the supply of bird droppings declined, the impact rippled through the ecosystem. On islets with palm forests, the soil was poorer in nutrients than on those with native forests, as was the water running off them. The plankton along the palm forest coastlines was less abundant, and there were fewer manta rays, which feed on plankton, than along native forest coastlines."

.. read more at bbc.in/3iPppJ5

Show less Show more

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/16/barbados-rev…

"Barbados would join Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica and Guyana if it proceeds with its plan to become a republic. Jamaica has also flagged such a transition, with prime minister Andrew Holness saying it is a priority of his government."

Hmm.

www.thenautilusmaldives.com/offers/the-nautilus-wo…

"Work remotely from paradise your private Nautilus Beach Houses with our exclusive workation package; have the ultimate zoom call background from our castaway sandbank that will be your office for a day, have a private PA on hand 24/7 and...www.thenautilusmaldives.com/offers/the-nautilus-wo…

"Work remotely from paradise your private Nautilus Beach Houses with our exclusive workation package; have the ultimate zoom call background from our castaway sandbank that will be your office for a day, have a private PA on hand 24/7 and continue your corporate errands whilst your children engage in a bespoke educational programme by Young Wonderers.

Available from seven nights or longer if you decide you simply can’t leave your new paradise office!"

Just $23,250 pw Show more

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/14/atlantic-ber…

"Meanwhile the entire island of Bermuda, where homes are built to withstand major hurricanes, was inside the eye of Hurricane Paulette on Monday morning.

The strong category 1 storm arrived hours after the wealthy British territory shuttered...www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/14/atlantic-ber…

"Meanwhile the entire island of Bermuda, where homes are built to withstand major hurricanes, was inside the eye of Hurricane Paulette on Monday morning.

The strong category 1 storm arrived hours after the wealthy British territory shuttered schools, government agencies and air and sea ports. Officials warned of heavy flooding given that the hit coincided with an unusually high tide. Forecasters said the island would experience hurricane-force winds for roughly seven hours. Power was out across much of the island."

Will nobody think of the tax havens?? Show more

globetrender.com/2020/07/16/barbados-one-year-work…

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-29/thailan…

Three weeks quarantined in Phuket gains you a 9 month visa

www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53900565

Bali is half a world away but it usually has good waves.

"Many shops, bars, restaurants, and hotels are closed, including the ones in popular tourist areas of Seminyak and Kuta, which normally bustle with Australian, British, and European tourists in summer...www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53900565

Bali is half a world away but it usually has good waves.

"Many shops, bars, restaurants, and hotels are closed, including the ones in popular tourist areas of Seminyak and Kuta, which normally bustle with Australian, British, and European tourists in summer months like August.

Diving shops and yoga studios are also largely closed or empty, as well as fancy resorts alongside Nusa Dua beach." Show more

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/07/mauritius-de…

"The Indian Ocean island of Mauritius has declared a “state of environmental emergency” after a Japanese-owned ship that ran aground offshore days ago began spilling tons of fuel.

The prime minister, Pravind Jugnauth, made the announcement late on...www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/07/mauritius-de…

"The Indian Ocean island of Mauritius has declared a “state of environmental emergency” after a Japanese-owned ship that ran aground offshore days ago began spilling tons of fuel.

The prime minister, Pravind Jugnauth, made the announcement late on Friday as satellite images showed a dark slick spreading in the turquoise waters near environmental areas that the government called “very sensitive”.

Mauritius has said the ship was carrying nearly 4,000 tons of fuel and cracks have appeared in its hull." Show more

www.bbc.com/future/article/20200803-the-deal-that-…

..the Seychelles signed a unique deal in 2015: almost $22m (£16.8m) of its national debt was written off, in exchange for the country doing more to protect its oceans. "

"..In the five years since, the Seychelles has progressed from protecting...www.bbc.com/future/article/20200803-the-deal-that-…

..the Seychelles signed a unique deal in 2015: almost $22m (£16.8m) of its national debt was written off, in exchange for the country doing more to protect its oceans. "

"..In the five years since, the Seychelles has progressed from protecting 0.04% to 30% of its national waters, covering 410,000 square kilometres (158,000 square miles) of ocean – an area larger than Germany. Fishing, oil exploration and other marine development has been banned or severely restricted in the MPAs. Anyone who carries out illegal activities in these areas faces a hefty fine, or, in some cases, imprisonment."

Less than £17m to protect 158000 square miles of ocean seems incredibly good value - and such low numbers on national debt terms.

Some quick maths later that's £106 per square mile, the surface area of all the world's oceans is about 140 million square miles so that's around £14.8 trillion to protect the whole lot - or roughly ten times our national debt. Show more

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/23/deserted-bea…

"Tourism ground to a halt in April, when Thailand imposed a ban on all incoming passenger flights. The country – which has so far managed to contain Covid-19, recording 3,255 cases and 58 deaths – is discussing travel bubbles with low-risk...www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/23/deserted-bea…

"Tourism ground to a halt in April, when Thailand imposed a ban on all incoming passenger flights. The country – which has so far managed to contain Covid-19, recording 3,255 cases and 58 deaths – is discussing travel bubbles with low-risk neighbouring countries, but no one knows when these might be established. Borders remain shut to almost all foreign tourists."

There's starting to be a theme here where countries open up to 'all except the Brits'. That could be down to our Covid stats but it does make you wonder what other factors might me at play.. our behaviour for example. Show more

opm.gov.bs/national-address/

July 21st 2020

The Bahamas Bans UK, US and Canadian flights

International commercial flights and commercial vessels carrying passengers will not be permitted to enter our borders, except for commercial flights from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union...opm.gov.bs/national-address/

July 21st 2020

The Bahamas Bans UK, US and Canadian flights

International commercial flights and commercial vessels carrying passengers will not be permitted to enter our borders, except for commercial flights from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.

This will come into effect as of Wednesday the 22nd of July 2020 at midnight.

Bahamasair will cease outgoing flights to the United States of America, effective immediately Show more

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-52723056

"Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez concedes "things will be slow" but says there are "promising signs" vacationers are keen to return to the Caribbean.

With the Atlantic hurricane season around the corner, those who have traditionally relied on the...www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-52723056

"Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez concedes "things will be slow" but says there are "promising signs" vacationers are keen to return to the Caribbean.

With the Atlantic hurricane season around the corner, those who have traditionally relied on the peak winter season to see them through the quiet summer months are hoping those predictions bear fruit." Show more