Anguilla has many hidden delights, including this tiny cove in the middle of nowhere. . . .
November 15, 1998 - Site Map - Click to enlarge pictures

For snorkelling in protected, quiet, shallow waters, try Dropsey Bay (or Jobsie Bay as it is sometimes pronounced).

Swim or wade over to the right side of the bay and enter a small cave with a "hot tub" and an opening where you can stand up and view the coast line. Re-enter the water and look for the underwater bridge.

This is snorkelling on an intimate scale. Go slow and wear reef shoes or old runners and you will have an unforgettable experience.

There are no houses nearby (and no shade or protection from the constant wind either, so this is not a major sunbathing destination) -- you will probably be the only people in the entire area. The bay is protected by a pair of reefs offshore, so the big waves are usually reduced to tiny ripples. The water is shallow and is clear on most days.

Cautions: although it is often calm here, strong currents sometimes run through the cave and the underwater bridge. Step carefully and slowly when entering the cave to avoid cutting yourself on the rocks, or even better, wear reef gloves so you can hold on tight. If you decide to swim under the bridge, make sure the sand hasn't filled it in! Then hug the bottom to avoid scraping yourself on the coral above.

Directions: Dropsey Bay is directly south across Long Pond from the Caribbean Beacon radio tower. Leaving the airport parking lot, take the only exit and turn left on Airport road. Go straight past Island Car Rental and National Bank of Anguilla, then turn right at Albert Lake's Super Market. Go several miles, then turn right 100 yards past "Tropical Flower" wholesale liquor outlet at the road down to Long Pond Bay (if you reach the roundabout you went a little too far). Continue on the track through the seagrapes across the isthmus of Long Pond. The road goes to the right along the southern edge of Long Pond, then turns left and runs directly south to the coast. FWD suggested, or jettison the passengers at rough spots to improve clearance.

More Mini Boat Races. The model boats were out again at Shoal Bay last weekend. It is amazing to see the owners drop the small model sailboats into the water far out on the reefs, and have many of them actually sail straight to shore!

Tourism Training. Twenty-one high school students have signed up for a new work-study program in the tourism industry in Anguilla.

Shoal Bay Scuba has two new PADI certified dive masters: Tihonia "Tweedy" Brookes and Leander "Bull" Bryan. And they are helping lay buoys for the Fisheries Dept Marine Park (so boats don't drop anchor on the coral reef), and are busy building a new dive boat. Contest! If you would like to win three 2-tank dives, come up with the winning name for the new dive boat. Send your ideas to [email protected] or phone 264-497-4371. Web site: shoalbayscuba.ai

Ice Plant. Anguilla has a new ice plant in Sandy Ground for the long-line fishing project. This is to keep the fish on ice until they can be brought in and sold.

The owner Sam Mason is an Anguillian who left the island to work in St. Thomas as a plumber and returned to transform his piece of the "family land" into a resort. We've watched with fascination and admiration as he slowly and carefully develops the Allamanda.

He started with an ideal location, right on upper Shoal Bay beach, where he used to tend cattle as a child. He first planted a grove of coconut palms along the beach, then built 15 apartment suites with kitchens, then a swimming pool, then lush tropic gardens, then satellite TV, then email reservations, then Zara's gourmet restaurant, then a covered pavillion for shade and guest barbecues, then phones in the rooms, then an exercise gym and a gift shop, then a scuba and watersports shop (where you can dive, windsurf, snorkel or sail), and then a spa pool. What next?

... And now a brand new web site: www.allamanda.ai

Sam is always busy on new projects. He is now working on air conditioning and a landscaped entry from the road, ... what will be next?

Once people discover Allamanda, usually by strolling up to the quiet upper end of Shoal Bay and then wandering in, they come back year after year. Prices are $95 to $182 per night in the high season. In the low season, the 18% tax and service charge is already included in the rates, which range from $77 to $147, and the 7th night is free.

For example, this message was submitted to the Anguilla Home Page Forum by Sheila S. on 9/16/98 at 10:41 PM

Highly recommend the Allamanda on beautiful Shoal Bay. We were there for three weeks and it gets a lot of repeat family business (that's gotta tell you something). Secluded because it's at the end of the beach away from the other resorts, yet walking distance to several restaurants (one of the best is right at Allamanda). Water sports activities for you and your fourteen year old... and a great beach for romantic strolls. Kitchens, TV's, Bar-b-ques, Pool and friendly staff with repeat clientele... and unbeatable prices.

Telephone: 1-264-497-5217. Fax: 1-264-497-5216. Email the resort: [email protected] Brochure mailed from from USA: [email protected]

There have been an above average number of days with rain over the past two weeks, although today happens to be sunny and nice.

The Second International Art Festival will be held in Anguilla during the summer of 1999, July 25 to August 1, just before Carnival. Again there is a competition, with a first prize of $10,000, plus 4 in-depth workshops by experts in oil and acrylic, watercolour, pastel and stained glass. And the organizers have put together 4 packages to match any pocketbook. Watch for full details and entry form on their web page soon (artfestival.ai) or, if you can't wait, send your physical mailing address to Margie Morani at [email protected] and she will mail you a brochure and entry form.

Click the stamp or here to see all five stamps, including works by Melsadis Felming, Juan Garcia, Ricky Recaldo Edwards, and Valerie Alix.

New Computer Club Course. The recent hardware class was a big success, so club is giving a class on web pages, aimed at adults with small businesses and 6th form high school students.

"Create Your Own Web Page"

Cost $150 (Students $50) Dec 10-17. Instructor is Bob Green, creator of News.ai

Prerequisite: at least one year experience using Win95 and some experience surfing the net. An email address and at least 3 months experience using it.

Time 5-7pm, extra lab time from 7-8pm nightly

At the end of the course, each student will have a web page, live on the Internet. To reserve a seat, call 497-4079.

Thank You From a Reader. Kim and Todd Schorr ([email protected]) wrote on November 12, 1998:

Bob, just wanted to write and say we love the paper... and we loved the Island. Stayed at Cap Juluca after 3 days in St. Martin, and have come to two conclusions:

1. 1999 will be all Anguilla
2. We will bring more friends (but only if they keep it secret!)

Your https://news.ai/ was a great resource to us. Keep up the great work, and we hope to meet up with you on our next go round. Cheers!

Kim & Todd Schorr

P.S. Attached is a nice picture of Pimms we took... feel free to use itg.

Update on Scilly Cay. Gorgeous Scilly Cay has roared back into operation before the tourist season is really even at a high pitch. On the weekend they now have a full crowd, with live music, crayfish, cool drinks, swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing.

This year the owners Eudoxie and Sandra have have added a fish dish and salad to their simple, but elegant menu. Business is booming. They have live Caribbean music on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Open 12-5pm.

From: Roger Fenn
To: [email protected]
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 1998 20:06:14 -0500

New Anguilla "Domain Names": A domain name is a home on the Internet, such as cnn.com, and any domain name that ends in .ai is an Anguilla domain name. Of course you can have a web page without a domain name of your own, such as www.servernet.com/speedycars, but it is easier for people to remember a short name that is related to you. Here are three new AI domains:

sunshine.ai for Sunshine Villas.

arawak.ai for Arawak Beach Resort.

computerclub.ai for the Anguilla Computer Club.

Email addresses:

Willies Inn: [email protected]

Do You Need an Email Tune Up? There are some people in Anguilla who have signed up for email service, but been unable to get it working for them, for various reasons that seem obvious and simple to a computer nerd but mystifying and complex to the laymen. Anyone in Anguilla who would like an "email tuneup" for the high season can get one for $100 US from Mr. Leroy Hill (home page: webdesigns.ai), president of the Computer Club, high school teacher, and part-time computer helper. He will fix up your email service, teach your staff how to send, receive and reply to emails, and teach you the etiquette of the net (it isn't considered polite to send out bulk mail messages to everyone in the world, and can make people very angry at you!). You could email Leroy at [email protected], but your email is probably not working, so telephone him at 497-4437.

Virtual Mall. Roy Peacock has announced a business to make it easier for Anguillians to shop. He will order goods for you in the States, then arrange for them to be shipped to Anguilla. Phone: 1-264-497-5012. Web page.

The cute wooden structure was built by John Lloyd in an old-fashioned West Indian style, but is actually brand new. The interior features comfortable antique furniture and local art on the walls. The current exhibit is by Diana Berry and Michelle Owen-Vasilis. All displayed works are for sale and sales will help to promote the local artists community.

Directions: From the airport parking lot, take the only exit, turn left and then left again, going back past the airport and through the roundabout and on toward the west. At the second roundabout, turn right and go down the hill into Sandy Ground. At the bottom of the hill, turn right at the sign for "Road Well Cafe", near the soccer/cricket field, taking the back road that goes past the hydroponics plant and into Sandy Ground village the back way.