Kwanzaa means “first fruits of the harvest” in the very traditional Africa and is now celebrated around the world.  There are seven days of celebrating family, community and equality.  Each December 26^th the Kwanzaa celebration begins and it ends on January 1^st.  Each day of the Kwanzaa celebration focuses on specific principle.

The seven principles are collectively referred to as the Nguzo Saba, and serve as guideposts for meditation and daily living.  The greeting each day of Kwaanza is Habari Gani, and the reply is Habari Gani followed by the principle of the day. Kwanzaa is celebrated by people of African descent in North America, the Caribbean and other part of the world connected to African heritage.  It was created by M. Ron Karenga in 1966.

• December 26^th – Umoja – Unity
• December 27^th – Kujichagulia – Self-Determination
• December 28^th – Ujima – Collective Work & Responsibility
• December 29^th – Ujamaa – Cooperative Economics
• December 30^th – Nia – Purpose
• December 31 – Kuumba – Creativity
• January 1^st – Imani – Faith

Celebrations began all over the Caribbean today.  The traditional opening of Kwanzaa on St. John was in Cruz Bay near the ferry dock and the Beach Bar.  The Sigma Theta Omega Chapter again welcomed the community to the celebration which was made up of residents and tourists alike. The Love City Pan Dragons played the America National Anthem and Virgin Islands March. The 3 Sweet trio sang the Black National Anthem and South African Anthem.  There were other student performances, as well as the St. John Cultural Dancers.

No matter where you are in the Caribbean there will be celebrations this week.  There will be dinners each evening with family and friends who prepare Caribbean/African dishes to share with all who come.  Make sure you find a community of people with whom to celebrate this important traditional experience.  The principles are ones to integrate into all of our lives everyday, not just the last week of December.   Habari Gani!

During our conversation I asked what had changed in his life since we last met.  He gave me a great quote, “Nothing has changed sine we met two years ago except the light bulbs in my home.”  I knew there was more to the story so I probed a bit more.  He had actually moved from Miami to Seattle, and is now stationed in San Francisco.  What a fun surprise for both of us that he is just 35 miles from our Bay Area office.  During our conversation he asked if I had ever been to Alaska.  I let him know that I follow the sun wherever it is in the world.  He said, that before Alaska’s pristine beauty ends that I needed to get there.  Eddie has been flying since 1986, and as long as he still finds it interesting he will keep flying.  He did say that when he decides to quit he will buy a Winnebago and travel North America with nothing but is dog, Mason, and beautiful views each day.

As I was departing the plane, he let me know that I will see Tammy, another of the crew I met in November 2007, on my flight from Miami back to San Francisco.  I look forward to catching up to her, too.  This world is way too small.  If a person travels back and forth to the Caribbean as much as I do, I am bound to run into many of the same people who have become members of my fun community of friends.  Glad to see you again, Eddie.  I am now off to the Admrial’s Club to get a little rest before my last flights to Tortola.

I arrived in Tortola about 11PM, dropped my stuff off in my room at Maria By The Sea, and wandered over the line up of yachts to see if Jonny and Kelly from Best Revenge V were still up.   They were still up after four hours of hosting the boat brokers for a martini party.  Lots and hugs and then a bit of catching up since I had not seen them for over a year.  In addition, there were a couple of crew that had stopped by to help clean up and have a final-final.    Barry and Bridget ( Barry proposed to Bridget at Jonny and Kelly’s wedding last September in Wales!!! ) from s/y Ad Star, and Alastar from s/v Marmot are now new friends to add to the world of the crews that I look forward to following over the years.   Jonny served me a Rum Punch just for old times sake, and I was off for a few hours sleep before the marathon of four days writing and posting articles about this unforgettable charter yacht show.   Stay tuned…lots more fun to come in the next eight days.

Each of them wants to be one of the yachts the brokers put on their short list of their favorites.  The charter yacht vacation brokers can make or break a crew’s charter season by the recommendations they make.  The Caribbean charter season typically starts November 15^th and ends June 15^th, so the annual show the week before the season opens is the beginning of seven months of non-stop work and customer service for this amazing professionals.

I will again be the internet reporter for the Charter League Boat Show.  During the show I will be interviewing crews and photographing their yachts.  Many human interest stories show up each day that is connected to these owners of these floating luxury resorts.  I promise you that the stories will be inspiring and very entertaining.  These world traveling entrepreneurs  are the ones who create unforgettable experiences each day for their raving fan clients in my favorite tropical paradise – the Caribbean.  Charter yacht vacations are the BEST!

The VICL Boat Show in St. Thomas is a dream come true for anyone who loves to sail and enjoys hanging out with some of the most interesting and colorful characters in the Caribbean.  These are some of the most skilled sailors in the Caribbean who decided to monetize their skills by providing a week or two glimpse into what the Caribbean paradise really is like.

OK, so now imagine that you own one of these charter yacht businesses.  Your income is based on how many charters you are able to book during a season, and the gratuity that your guests give you at the end of their charter vacation – typically 15% to 20% of the cost of the charter vacation.  It is typical to have 20 to 25 charter weeks a season.  You are on duty 24 hours a day for EVERYTHING – four 5-Star meal presentations a day; providing Ritz Carlton-type service every moment of the day, be in charge of the safety of your six to eight guests, organize the daily water sports that are a part of this type of holiday, effortless sail and maintain your yacht each day…and do it all with a smile and enthusiasm knowing your clients will have the most relaxing and luxurious vacation adventure of their lives.

CLICK HERE  if you want more information about booking a chartered yacht vacation in the Caribbean.  Or, if you just want to stop by the show, you will have the time of your life.  We can even stop by the bar the Rum Hut for a Pain Killer and share stories about the adventures we have had, and the ones that are still to come.  I will be posting several articles a day during the show, so make sure you subscribe to my blog in order to automatically receive them.  Until next time…fair winds!

Jim Walberg’s

Tom showed up in St. Thomas on August 11^th after selling all he didn’t want to bring with him to St. Thomas.  He ended a successful career in the world of home mortgages and decided it was time to act out a life long dream.  Six months ago Tom and I started exploring what it would be like to completely change his life and move to the Caribbean.  Tom decided he wanted a job in St. Thomas in order to accelerate his entrance into a completely different life.  Below are some of the keys that I shared with Tom regarding what it takes to move to Paradise.  After you review my suggestions, I welcome any of your experiences.

I told Tom that more people have moved to “Paradise” full time, only to leave disappointed within months, compared to those who have successfully completed the transition.  The reasons are many.  For a starter, the word “paradise” is misleading: “Paradise” is not a place, it is a frame of mind,  and one person’s paradise is another’s “empty lot”.

Here are some of the reasons why a transition to living in Paradise doesn’t work:

• Not doing enough research and being unprepared for all the adjustments you will have to make.  There are a lot of them.
• Not realizing that each island is unique and picking the wrong one.  Dominica is night and day to Aruba.
• Taking way too many of your current possessions.  Unless you plan to move with only what fits in your suitcases you will find moving your personal and household items to the Caribbean to be one of your biggest projects, and an expensive one.
• Not clearly understanding such things as the amenities of a home requires some adjustments – opened windows and doors, all tile flooring, the impact of going in and out of air conditioning, and even dealing with humidity and bugs.
• The setting in of homesickness for your familiar past lifestyle.
• Missing family and friends could also be the culprit, or it could be, and often is, simply that not enough time was given before deciding whether or not it was a move that suited you.

We have made many moves in our lives: from Southern California, to Geneva, Switzerland, to Tornonto, Canada, to San Francisco, and to the Virgin Islands. And, the most difficult one of all these moves was to “Paradise”. It was difficult because of the dramatic change in lifestyle compared to the other amazing places we have lived.  AND, we absolutely love it, but we have to instantly go into the “Island mentality” when we get off the plane at Charlotte Amalie. 

If you have a list of ten things to get done today, just plan on getting only one or maybe two at the most completed.  “Paradise” is just different than any of your world metropolitan centers. The key word in Paradise is “SLOW”!  Move slow, sail fast!  That is truly the mantra of the Caribbean.  It suits us to a tee, but the reality for us is that we are only there part time, because of our other home being in the San Francisco Bay Area.  All of our friends who have successfully made the move to the Caribbean take breaks from “island life” several times a year.  However, the longer they have lived in the Caribbean the less they leave the islands.  So, what are your stories regarding moving to your version of Paradise?  Your Caribbean lifestyle detective remains on duty.  Until next time…fair winds!

I arrived in Redondo Beach  in 1948, and lived on the beach for the first 21 years of my life.  I thought it was normal to live a block from the pier and enjoy all the Pacific Ocean offered – everyday!  I thought all things connected to the Pacific Ocean were normal – sailing, surfing, diving, beach volleyball, pier fishing, boat deliveries to Mexico, and a hundred more activities.  In hindsight I was one the luckiest kids I know because of growing up with amazing experiences connected to the Pacific Ocean – every day.  I had no idea that my love for the ocean would lead me to the Caribbean Islands and then create an international real estate company.

A life changing discovery happened for me in the mid-1970s while on my first sailing adventure in the Caribbean.  Up to that point I had only sailed in the Pacific and Mexico.  My Caribbean sailing trips began in the BVI, and then broaden out over the years to sailing the entire chain of the Caribbean Islands. 

I had no idea that the Caribbean had any surfing opportunities.  So, during my Caribbean sailing adventures I discovered the “Soup Bowl” in Barbados, and Lambert Bay in the BVI.  Not only are there some GREAT surf spots in the Caribbean, the beaches are breathtaking while you are sitting watching the left and right breaks.  Did you know there is a surf shop, Totem,  on St. Barts?  St. Barts is my favorite jewel of the Caribbean for pure decadence.  And,  I could not believe there was a surf shop on the island.  I still have a Totem decal on the back window of my Lexus SUV.  The staff at Totem opened up a whole new world to explore – Caribbean surfing.

The best surfing in the Caribbean is in Barbados.  Melanie Pitcher runs one of the best surfing schools in the Caribbean – Surf Barbados.  And, boy can she surf.  There is even a surf camp in the BVI on Tortola.   I just discovered that one last year!  So, you are probably thinking that I have the Caribbean scene wired after all of my discoveries the past 35 years of diligent detective work.  You are mistaken.  There is a life time of discoveries in this magical part of the world.  That is why I keep coming back, and the reason why we are having so much fun serving our international real estate customer’s appetite for owning their piece of Paradise. 

So, contact me  about some of your favorite surf spots in the world, or for even information about your next home purchase in Paradise.  Your Caribbean Islands lifestyle detective remains on duty!

The Caribbean is not just a place for adults to vacation and play.

Your kids are completely aware of the Caribbean.  Ask them if they have watched the movie Pirates Of The Caribbean .  I know many of you have never been to the Caribbean.  Your kids are now asking that you take them there for your next vacation.  I have done my homework, so here are some suggested Caribbean destinations for your first or next visit:

• Booking a cruise could be your easiest introduction to the Caribbean.  It allows you to scout out many different islands during a week cruise that is not possible by just vacationing on one island. ( A cruise vacation is not my favorite way to see the Caribbean, but it is a very Kid Friendly vacation.  Check out the 100-passenger Pacific Explorer  as a possible option for an unforgettable cruise. 
• The next step into the kid-friendly Caribbean is an all-inclusive resort.  Some resorts to consider for this type of vacation are; Jamaica’s Starfish Trelawny Resort; The Beaches in the Turks and Caicos Islands; Iberostar’s resort on Mexico’s Mayan Riviera; and the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.  All four of these are great choices for you to consider as a destination your kids will love.
• The next step up in kid-friendly Caribbean adventures would be to choose a region.  Three of my family favorites are Jamaica, Mexico’s Yucatan with Cancun as the center of action,  and the Dominican Republic. You can visit each of these region’s with Google or Yahoo! as your resources.  Just put into their search bars “Kid Friendly Vacations In The Caribbean”, and then design your own vacation adventures.
• A charter sailing vacation in the British Virgin Islands would be another one to consider a with your kids. You pick the can yacht together on the internet, or call me as your guide.  You decide your daily anchorages.  You decide on your daily adventures.  You even decide on your daily menus and beverages. ( This is my personal choice for a family adventure in the Caribbean.)
• A final destination to consider is a 5-star luxury resort like Azul Beach Resort on Mexico’s Mayan Riviera. This all-inclusive resort even has “beach butlers”, luxury spas, hair braiding and fun manicures.  This resort is one of the most luxurious for any family wanting to have every one of their needs met at the resort.

So, here is the real deal…the Caribbean can be the most family-focused vacation destination you have ever experienced!  No matter how you decide to experience the Caribbean,  your kids will be eternally grateful you decided to provide a vacation that included them.  Contact me  any time for information on any of this family vacation options.  So, what have been some of your favorite family vacations!  Until next time…your Caribbean Islands lifestyle detective remains on duty!!!!

What does it take to create a memorable moment for the world you touch each day?

I was minding my own business yesterday, waiting in line for a sandwich at my favorite deli at Lunardi’s Market.  Pamela, one of the ladies that always is smiling and engaging who makes my sandwiches, welcomed me back to the deli.  I had just returned from the VICL Boat Show the week before.  After she made my sandwich she said she had something for me and asked me to wait just a moment.  She went in the back of the store and came out with a DVD of the movie “Pay It Forward”.  She asked that I watch the movie and return it to her the next time I came in for a sandwich.  I thanked her for her thoughtfulness, and let her know I had already seen the movie.  She asked me to please watch it again. I took the DVD from her and promised I would.

So, a moment later I walked to the check out counter and Denise was there to ring me up.  I fumbled around in my pockets and realized I had forgotten to put my wallet and money in my pants when I left the house.  I embarrassingly let Denise know I had no money, but I told her I would go back home and get some cash if she would just keep the sandwich at her check out stand until I returned.  She said, “No problem. I will pay for your sandwich today. Next time you’re in the store just pay me back.”  I was blown away by her random act of kindness.  I hurried home and came right back to the store to repay Denise within a half hour.

It takes so little to create an unforgettable moment for our customers – whether they are charter yacht vacation guests, real estate clients, or just one of the retail stores on or off island.  Just so you know, I have this experience all the time in the Caribbean.  The locals in the Caribbean are some of the kindest people I know.  Maybe that is one of the reasons I love it so much down there, and keep coming back. 

My question today is,  what are you doing to create unforgettable memories each day for the world in which you live in?  Please rent “Pay It Forward” and watch it. Also, click on “Johnny’s Story” right now in order to see “service above self” in action.  Take a moment and leave me some of your extraordinary customer service stories.

So, my wife, and fellow world adventurer and I sat down today and said, “Why don’t we share with our friends our Top Ten Romantic spots in the Caribbean?”  I have been remiss in not telling you know about these ten jewels that are our favorite romantic spots to hangout at.  They range in price from a $2,000 a day to just the cost of a Pain Killer rum drink for $10 each.  Here goes;

#1.  Isle de France – St. Barts:  This is our sentimental favorite because it is where we spent almost two weeks for our honeymoon.  It is a small boutique resort on Flamond Beach and it is in the pricy category.  You will need to book a year in advance and try and secure Suite #1.  St. Barts is only four miles long and two miles wide,  and just a few miles off the island of St. Martin.  It is a French province so it has all of the flair of St. Tropez, but in the Caribbean.  The haute courtier shopping is over the top! 

#2.  Soggy Dollar Beach Bar:  This got on the list because it is our favorite sunset beach in the Caribbean.  It is on Jost Van Dyke in the BVI.  You will probably swim ashore so that is why your dollars will be soggy.  This is the cheapest date in the Caribbean – $10 or less for a rum Pain Killer.  But, it will cost you some dough to get to the beach.

#3. The Bitter End Yacht Club:  This is the last resort in the Caribbean before you head out into the Atlantic on your way back to Europe on the island of Virgin Gorda.  This resort has it all; great food, a great bar, unbelievable sunsets, sailboats to rent for the day or the week, and every room has a view of the BVI.  It is unforgettable.

#4. Caneel Bay - St. John:  We have spent several of our wedding anniversaries at this Rockefeller Resort.  This resort is also one of the pricier ones,  but it is worth every penny.  It is on a part of St. John that connects it from both sides of the island.  The beaches are unforgettable.  There have been many times when there has been no one on the beach except us.

#5. Sandy Lane, Barbados:  Now, this one is considered the Top resort in the Caribbean.  Tiger Woods leased the entire resort for his wedding.  It is almost impossible to describe the decadence that awaits any guests that decides to experience this type of luxury vacation.  The beach,  cuisine, bars, and spa are over the top!  You must book this at least a year in advance.

#6. The Blue Parrot Hotel:  You may not realize it, but the Mayan Riviera,  just south of Cancun, Mexico is a part of the Caribbean.  This is our sentimental funky favorite.  It is built right on the sand of Playa del Carmen.  You will feel as if you are on the French Riviera.  Half of the town is Italian, French and German. The bar is the BEST!  You sit in swing seats at the bar right on the sand.  The cervices is our favorite appetizer, and the choice of beers from around the world will satisfy anyone.

#7. Anse Chastanet - St. Lucia: We love St. Lucia!  It is about half way down the chain of Caribbean islands, and it is a jewel!  The 600-acre resort is a lush garden of tropical foliage bordering one of the island’s best beaches.  With this unforgettable resort, it is hard to define where the inside of the rooms stop and the outside begins.  You will love every moment you spend here.

#8. Palm Island Resort, The Grenadines:  At the World Travel Awards it was named “The Worlds Leading Private Island“,  and Caribbean Travel & Life ranks it amongst the Caribbean’s most romantic resorts!  Travel & Leisure says it is one of the best places to stay in the WORLD!  So, how is that for an introduction?  There are 37 guest rooms and five white sandy beaches.  This is a Euro-Caribbean cuisine experience not be missed! 

#9. Coco Plum Cay Resort, Belize:  You are in for the surprise of your life if you make it to this Caribbean resort.  Belize used to be British Guiana, and is the only English speaking Central American country.  Coco Plum Cay is a tiny private island that has stand-alone cabana’s along the beach with your privacy in mind.  Romance is the experience you will have 24 hours a day. This little island has very private beaches, hidden hammocks, and a beautiful peninsula all to your self.

#10. Divi Aruba Beach Resort, Aruba:  Last, but not least, is Divi Resort in Aruba.  You are almost at the southern end of the Caribbean islands when you step off the plane in Aruba.  It is an island that is almost all sandy beaches and this resort is one of our favorites.  There are only 203 rooms at this all-inclusive beach resort and every amenity you expect in the Caribbean is there.

There you have it.  From one end of the Caribbean to the other,  our Top Ten Caribbean Romantic Spots – from $10 to thousands per day.  Let me know  what your favorite Caribbean resorts are.  I look forward to adding them to my list.  Until next time…fair winds!!!

I met Garrett and Kyle Weiss last week at my Rotary Club.  These are two high school young men who were inspired to make a difference in this world because of attending the World Cup  games several years ago.  The most impressive soccer game they watched at the World Cup include an African team with almost no support and from a war torn country.  They sat next to the small enthusiastic group of cheering fans and had the chance to speak with them about their country.  They were shocked at the conditions in the country and how difficult it was to participate in the game of soccer that Garrett and Kyle love so much, because of having almost NO soccer fields.

Garrett and Kyle  were so moved by their experience that they decided to see if they could raise a little money, send it to Africa, and continue on with their lives.  They never dreamed they would end up creating a movement that is now building soccer fields all over Africa…FundaField  was born!

The Caribbean LOVES soccer, and all eyes are on the 2010 Football World Cup  coming up in South Africa.  With statistics such as 75% of children in South Africa are surviving on less than $2 per day, have little or no access to sporting facilities, and are exposed to greater risk of violence, drug abuse and early pregnancy, there are not opportunities to do much else than to figure out how to stay alive another day.  FUNDaFIELD understands that sports can be a vital tool for the development of children in South Africa, improving overall health and physical development, improving mental abilities, developing social skills and interactions all while providing for the child to have fun and challenge themselves in the sporting arena.

The facts Garrett and Kyle have discovered about Africa were absolutely shocking to them.

• Twenty percent of Africa’s children die before the age of five. Africa has the highest infant mortality rate in the world:
• 118 African babies out of every 1,000 born alive die before their first birthday.
• One African in three is malnourished.
• More than 50 percent of Africans suffer from water-related diseases such as cholera and infant diarrhea.
• More than 40 percent of Africans do not have the ability to obtain sufficient food on a day-to-day basis.
• Nearly two million African adults and children died from AIDS in 2005. Nine out of 10 children living with HIV/AIDS are African. More than 12 million African children have lost one or both parents to AIDS. HIV/AIDS has created more than 14 million orphans – 92 percent of them live in Africa.

In magazines and on billboards, you have seen little picture squares that are used to create one BIG picture.   Their concept is the same with their fundraising efforts.  Their little squares cost $1 each, and they put your initials in that square.  When all of the little squares are sold – 100,000 of them, they will spell out, FundaField, and they will have reached their commitment of raising $100,000.  They are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization so all of the squares you purchase are tax deductible.  Contact me if you would like more information about how to assist with this amazing project.  Until next time…