/ The Islands of the Bahamas

by Anokhi Admin

The Islands of the Bahamas

Aug 08, 2013

Rediscover Yin and Yang

The concept of yin and yang is an interesting one, as it could be applied to an integral part of my life: my relationship with my husband. But while the premise that two primal opposing principles are actually complementary, do not exclude each other, are interdependent and support each other, is certainly encouraging, I’ve come to realize that it makes for difficult vacation planning.

While I want to be in the thick of things, with commotion and hustle, and armed with an adventurous to-do list of things to conquer, my husband wants to be still and calm and unwind on the beach for some serious down time.

Given our yin yang existence, our trip to the Bahamas for a four-day getaway had disaster-like potential written all over the sand, but we quickly discovered that we could indeed meet in the middle of our cosmic universe.

We left Toronto on WestJet’s inaugural flight to the Bahamas – celebrating its new service to Nassau and its first international destination – and the party started as soon as we took off. I was pleasantly surprised by the WestJet way of doing things: friendly attendants, comfy leather seats, lots of legroom and a television on every seatback. The three-hour flight helped us ease into vacation mode and leave our worries behind.

Big & Fun

Our first two days at Atlantis, Paradise Island, was my kind of holiday destination. The 2,300-room mega-resort, owned by Sun International, calls itself "the world's most complete island resort". I’d have to agree. Atlantis, named for the lost underwater city, offers up everything you could think of: countless pool areas, waterslides, gold sand beaches, yacht-filled marinas, casinos, shopping, fine dining and a blissful spa.

We had to check out the wondrous aquarium, known worldwide for housing more than 50,000 marine animals – we spent hours ogling God’s strange creations. We also did The Dig, a maze that offers an underground passageway, to tour the mystical sunken land of Atlantis and admire the architecture of this ancient civilization. The Mayan Temple is one of the feature water rides that had us slide through a lagoon filled with sharks (a glass wall separates you from the sharks). For more thrills, one could opt for the 60-foot, vertical drop that plunges you at rapid speed into a pool, or just take it easy on your stomach with a relaxing ride on inner tubes through the seven-acre snorkeling lagoon.

After we drenched ourselves. we roamed the 65,000 square-foot marketplace where one can dine, shop and find local entertainment.

There are so many things to do, but the people at Atlantis have more stuff in the works. A new 650,000-gallon tank houses Dolphin Cay, a lagoon where guests can interact with dolphins, many of whom were rescued from the Gulf Coast during Hurrican Katrina and brought to the Bahamas for training. Future upgrades include more waterslides, a lagoon with whitewater rafting and an enhanced spa.

To get around Nassau/Paradise Island for some shopping in the city, we jumped on the Jitney (bus service), which is available from early morning until about 7p.m. Fares vary, depending on the route, and exact change is required.

Off the Beaten Path

The second half of our trip took us to Harbour Island. Rated as one of the “Best Bahamas Beaches” by the likes of Fodor and The Travel Channel, Harbour Island, or “Briland”, as it is known by the locals, is famous for its picture perfect pink sands and truly turquoise water. This dreamy backdrop was one of the most tranquil settings we had ever seen.

With hardly any people inhabiting this romantic hideaway – you can only get to it by water taxi or ferry – we almost felt like it was our own. Perhaps that would explain why the boutique hotels lining the beach are always being frequented by celebrities from around the world. I wonder if they purr around the quaint island in golf buggies like the rest of us.

The island’s main town, Dunmore, is painted with pastel gingerbread houses with white picket fences and tropical flowers, reminiscent of a New England fishing village.

Bahamian cuisine is a product of the country’s rich ethnic heritage, a blend of Spanish, West African and British culture. The restaurants use local products and fresh organic ingredients in their menus, so even the simplest of foods had the most exquisite taste. Whether we went with inexpensive, local fare or dined on gourmet, the service was friendly, and bright Bahamian smiles came with everything we ordered.

We stayed at Coral Sands (www.coralsands.com), which is perched on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Opened in 1968 and revered as one of the best small hotels in the Caribbean, the boutique hotel is now boasting a brand new look, courtesy of an extensive renovation that has meticulously restored and rejuvenated this 36-room gem of the Bahamas.

Our guestroom was glam and luxurious, and our evenings were dreamy as we sipped martinis in the lounge and listened to sultry jazz music.

By the end of our trip, I actually started to believe that part of yin is in yang and part of yang is in yin.

_{WORDS PAMELA ARORA

PHOTOS ABHI DUGGAL}