7 Remote Islands Viewing Solutions Amidst Government Restrictions on Travel

So, you’re wondering what it’s like at the beach on a faraway island right now. Who is in the water – that cute guy with the red hair and hockey jock, muscle tower body? Or the kitesurfing girl with the long, curly hair? But. You’re stuck because of travel bans. We know the feeling. 

May we present some remote island viewing solutions.

You can now view webcams of Caribbean island spots in the Virgin Islands on any of your devices right now! 

Even better, why not set the right atmosphere for remote island viewing at home right now? 

Solution 1: Make yourself a fresh Margarita – or any cocktail that you have ingredients for at home. Next, swipe your iPad and find some soft steel drum music or reggae to hum in the background. If you don’t have that ready, may we suggest you listen to Soggy Dollar Radio which streams live worldwide from the Soggy Dollar Bar. One tune and you’ll feel like you’re sitting on the soft sands of White Bay. (See Solution 7 for more info on this world famous party bar.)

Anyway, run a nice bath, add some bubbles and soak in it. Now, bring up an island on your iPad screen – maybe one in the US Virgin Islands like a view of the Caravelle Hotel in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands – and sip away at that home-made cocktail in your hand. 

Solution 2: But now that you’re alone in your bathroom with that Sex on the Beach in your hand, you’re feeling a little lonely, right? Not to worry. If you visit these following links, you’ll realize other people who are probably lonely and watching too will comment on what’s happening at the location you’re viewing. (We’re starting to get the hang of this ‘together alone’ thing now.)

Or mostly, when they are there, virtually, they just connect with whomever is also there at the same time and chatting online via Youtube. Some may use this function to hook up with the closest person willing. 

At this point you may want to swipe to iTunes and find that song that talks about “lov(ing) the one you’re with…”

This webcam seems to be particularly popular in the abovementioned sense:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x10kOY5zVhA

St. John Spice Webcam – Cruz Bay Ferry Dock, St. John, US Virgin Islands. 

Others – this might or might not be more your style – may use this for the greater good. 

Solution 3: For those who miss getting out and appreciating wildlife, the next best thing could be to check for sea turtles nesting in the middle of the night right where a beach bar was built. Normally beach bars like this come into existence during a season when the sea turtles are not nesting. The next webcam location is a bar and was named after a type of sea turtle, a Leatherback Turtle. Please note, that doesn’t mean the bar was built on a sea turtle nest. But why not just check for live, night roaming sea turtles? Wild life seems to be more rampant during human lockdown anyway. Just keep staring, maybe with a Mud Slide to sip on now? (I couldn’t think of anything more “wildlife” than a drink based on looking like mud…) – Leatherback Landing, Cane Bay, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands:

You may one day even stare at the beach in Cruz Bay, St. John and realise you’re looking at a dolphin – or golly, an alien – doing a jump for the webcam, just to show ‘em! The Beach Bar, Cruz Bay, St. John, US Virgin Islands:

or a live webcam overlooking Schooner Bay in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands:

Solution 4: See calm waters ripple and palm trees flap in an easy, possibly balmy (we hope) breeze. You’re so tired after making that umpteenth sourdough bread or attending that Zoom exercise class, like nearly everybody else was during lockdown. This webcam is basically simply for watching the beautiful ocean as it is at the newest hotel in Frederiksted, The Fred Hotel, Restaurant & Bar, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands:

Solution 5: Since you can’t physically be at a party in the Virgin Islands right now, what you can do is click on this webcam of downtown Christiansted, St. Croix – which normally is the location for a party, provided it’s not under the influence of a pandemic or hurricane. This link may help on a Friday or Saturday night as many concerts and parties happen in this area. Also, just so you can check and see that everyone else, even at a notorious party place, is also not partying. 

Caravelle Hotel & Casino Concert Cam, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands:

Solution 6: Worried about your career – like mostly everyone else in the world – and whether anyone else is mingling with potential business contacts and not you? Well, check out the remote view of 5 star, Buccaneer Hotel – that potential client you’ve been wanting to approach with your business card might be playing golf or tennis again right now or in the next week – Buccaneer Beach and Golf Resort, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. At least you can know now how often and when he normally plays tennis or golf there. 

Solution 7: Make a list of all these locations and venues for when the travel ban lifts. That way you will immediately know where and when to go in the Virgin Islands. When you get there, and the travel bans are now slowly lifting, you may also be in a boat party mood. Therefore, you shouldn’t miss a remote view of the famous Soggy Dollar Bar in Joost van Dyk now. I mean, you have to check where is the best spot to dock your boat. If you have a boat. Or if your friend has a boat. Or if your friend has a friend with a boat. Or if your boat has a friend.  Soggy Dollar Bar – Jost Van Dyke, White Bay, British Virgin Islands.

How to get there? No worries, we’ve got you covered. You can rent a boat like the Caribbean Blue Boat Charters. They can take you from St. Thomas to the British Virgin Islands, just be sure to bring your passport. 

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Remembering Virgin Gorda, BVI, post-Irma and Maria

VIRGIN GORDA, BVI. There was a saying on the island of Virgin Gorda that you should leave the key in the ignition of your car as someone might need it. Sadly, the British Virgin Islands, BVI, and the wonderful people who would create such a saying suffered a double blow with hurricanes Irma and Maria this year.

I’ve visited the island of Virgin Gorda, the smaller of the two most famous BVI islands. Tortola is the capital of the BVI and the biggest one.

The former beauty of Virgin Gorda lay not only in its spectacular scenery, but also in its friendly, peace-loving people and, consequently, also how safe it was to stay there. There weren’t any lock and keys on the doors of the house we stayed in – island people asked us: “why should there be?”

Photo of the Baths in Virgin Gorda
Virgin Gorda Baths (image from weddbook.com)

There were no traffic lights in Virgin Gorda, just some speed bumps. These included, it would still take you about 45 minutes to drive from one end of the island to the other. The resorts and beaches were spectacular, especially the signature  swimming pools formed naturally in rocks, called the Baths, and its nature reserve.

You may note this blog speaks of Virgin Gorda in the past – that is because many of its houses, businesses and resort hotels are no more.

Virgin Gorda after effects from Hurricane Irma and Maria
Virgin Gorda after Hurricanes Irma and Maria (image from Caribbean Buzz Helicopters)

But our good memories of this island are not gone – crystal blue oceans, pristine beaches, seafood dining on the ocean, yachting and diving, meeting some celebrities in a night club (which often does happen here), cute donkeys that rove the island and even a personal near-death experience involving a ‘Death Tree’ on a beach.

Now, after hurricanes Irma and Maria, it was BVI resident and Virgin Group owner, Richard Branson, who tweeted that we should act now and help restore it to its former glory:

@richardbranson: “As Mother Nature is so clearly telling us, we need more resilient, safer community planning. The time to act is now.

Fischers Cove Beach Hotel in Virgin Gorda’s Facebook post on September 25 reads: “Fischers Cove received substantial damage from Hurricanes Irma and Maria but all of our staff members survived the storms. We have limited rooms available and are on limited generator power. Our Terrace restaurant is open from 11-5:30pm with a daily special as well as our famous pizzas and wings. Sorry no phone service yet! We thank everyone for your kind thoughts and blessings.Fischers Cove Beach Hotel Continue reading “Remembering Virgin Gorda, BVI, post-Irma and Maria”Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail