StMaartenintern

Hi all, my name is Manon and I will share my experiences while I am doing my internship in the island St Maarten and will show you many hotspots to go!

[stmaartenintern]

Amazing weekend!

SXM By Night | ELEV8

ELEV8 is a sky-high house and techno party in St. Maarten/Saint Martin on top of Sentry Hill with local and international DJ talent.

Marit, Heather, Manon and me (also Manon)

And at Sunday I went again for beach hopping, which is my favorite thing to do. This time we was with the whole intern house on the boat.

[stmaartenintern]

2022/2023 New Years Day

Loterie Farm Pool Party 31/12/22 -Kim Sha Beach 01/01/23

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December holiday recap

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Pinel Island

Memory of 23 December 2022

Pinel island is a little uninhabited island about a 5-10 minute boat ride off the shores of French Saint Martin.

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Naked Boy Hike Trail

This was my first day of my X-mas holiday (22-12-22)

There is some discussion as to where the name “Naked Boy Hill” came from. According to local legend, the hill was named after a man who lived on the hill. He would take off his clothes on the challenging trek home to keep his clothes clean and sweat-free.

Others say the name derives from a tree that grows on the hill, the Parinari Campestrus, which is locally known as Bois Bandé, Naked Boy or Tourist Tree, because the reddish bark is always peeling off – quite like naked sunburnt skin.

I understand why they are talking about the sunburnt skin, because when I came down and looked in the mirror of the car I was sunburned as well.

[stmaartenintern]

Back in the days to October and November

Not blogged for a long time but I am back. A lot of things had happened last year....

Despite sad news and having some problems with my health, I did meet new people. Not just new people, amazing people!

And made lots of memories:

In October I went back to the Netherlands but when I came back, I had a Halloween party. I was dressed up in Mexican Halloween style. (See the photos for creepy and wrong outfits). That day, I was still a bit affected by the jet lag, but the party soon got me back into the rhythm of St Martin. The next day was spent cleaning up and I chilled on the beach for a while.

Memories made in November

In November, I did not do very much because my health was not good.

This are the highlights from November:

-Burna Boy concert ( what was cancelled) but still had an great evening. And still drove through streets that had flooded with water. What an adventure!

Anguilla Beach hopping with locals and Canadians.

Halloween

Dinner at La Palapa

Going out for dinner with the team for St Maarten Flavors Month at Palapa Grill. The food was delicious, and it was a good menu.

[stmaartenintern]

Long weekend

Sunday and a Monday off

Sunday

Marit and I came across a nice beach club in Grand Case (La Temps de Cherise) on our restaurant hunt, so on Sunday we decided to go there. After spending the whole afternoon there, we went home because Marit and I were going to Nowhere Special with our colleagues. On Sundays a Steel Pan band plays live music here. After the band was finished, we went to Kingsman, a cocktail bar where they also had live music. We had a great time again!

Monday

A beach visit to Oyster Bay with Tanya, Kelly, Fiel and Wesley. Sunbathing because the weather was better! Also had lunch together at a cabin table. After lunch we swam in the sea. And we went to a very special place after the beach in the afternoon: La belle creole. A hotel destroyed by the hurricane in 1995 with a very special story. We walked around the abandoned and destroyed hotel with a very beautiful natural environment. I was very impressed. These places are all in the French part.

At home in the evening, I watched some Netflix and chilled out.

Time flies when you' are having fun

Nowhere Special Steel Pan band

La Belle Creole

[stmaartenintern]

An unexpected rain hike

Saturday morning, I woke up and the first thing I did was looking outside. The sky was cloudy and dark. Still, I avoided myself to stay in the bed and got out of bed. Time for washing and cleaning up. After doing this I wanted to do something sportive and asked 2 housemates to go hiking with me in the mountains. Meanwhile it was dry again, but not really weather to lay on the beach. Together with my roommates I went hiking and we enjoyed the beautiful surroundings and the many butterflies flying around. Unexpectedly out of the blue it started raining, and the hiking trail turned into a waterfall. Nevertheless, we continued walking and did some climbing. It was a great refresher the rain. Well, when we arrived home, we had to wash our shoes.

[stmaartenintern]

House party at the Canadians' home in Maho

Last Friday I went to a house party of Canadian friends in Maho. It was very nice and fun to see how their lives. They live in a school and are teachers and teach different kinds of subjects. Together with the Dutch internship house we visited. There was music, food and a homemade cocktail bar with menu through a standing table. I also played beer pong and had a nice chat with the people around me.

Did anything else exciting happen?

Yes, I fell through a garden chair and then lay on the ground. And 1 minute before that happened, I was wondering if the chair was in good condition. Very soon I got confirmation. No charmed picture of this for you guys!

Henri, Nalini, Heather and me on the picture

[stmaartenintern]

ELEV8 Hilltop Sunset Party @ Rainforest Adventures

1 October: a day at ele8

Into the mountains with a chairlift. Last Saturday, there was a techno party in the mountains at Cul de Sac. Upon arrival, you go up by chairlift. Four people can get in at a time and a lot of people can be brought up. Once at the top, we enjoyed the beautiful view and good music. The party had started in the afternoon and ended around 20:00. Afterwards, we went to eat at the Mac Donalds, because there was no food available in the mountains. Strangely enough, drinks were :)

By the way, I scored some nice glasses. From now on always disco!

*Pictured are the one and only Dutch people from the internship house

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Reminder: 24 September 2022

An evening out with my colleagues in Simpson Bay. Sang, danced and had drinks at Nowhere Special.

Not much content this post, it was a fun night!

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Red Rock Hill hike

Did a big hike a week ago and discovered the mountains of the French part. After went for a brunch at Grand Case Resort because needed my energy back! It was a nice brunch with good company. All with all a good day!

[stmaartenintern]

The Woman King

In the first week of my internship, I was asked to go to the cinema with my colleagues. Last Sunday, I finally went to the cinema in Simpson Bay. And I enjoyed this movie: The Woman King.

I really recommended to go to see this movie. I say this because I think this is the best movie I have seen so far.

[stmaartenintern]

Lunch at Juliette's Bistro, and a visit to pelican beach and sunset bar at Maho.

Fiona was fairly calmed down on Sunday. Time to get outside and have a nice lunch. Together with the girls to Juliette's Bistro. Great food and had the first coffee since I've been here. We were looking for a good coffee and they had it here. After all the food we wanted to go for a walk. It was enough to cross the street to find the beach. Near Pelican Beach Bar is a very lovely quiet beach where when the sun shines you can sunbathe. In our case a walk along the beach and a quick but spontaneous photo shoot.

It was still early in the afternoon so we took another drive to the Sunset Bar at Maho where you can spot airplanes super well. And I don't know if you guys know, but I absolutely love plane watching!

Had a Despo at the Sunset Bar and looked around the airport a bit. When we walked out of the bar we were just barely blown over by a plane taking off. I really enjoyed looking around in Maho and observing the airplanes taking off and land.

After this we headed home and quickly changed for an evening out with my co-workers to the movies.

[stmaartenintern]

Last week Friday weather forecast

It was time again a storm came. Storm by the name of Fiona. While Fiona was fairly active, it fortunately did not turn into a Hurricane in St. Maarten. We still had to enjoy ourselves and made sure we were safe in the house. After all I live with 15 other people in a big house and that's a lot of entertainment all together. A good idea for a Friday night: a house party and to celebrate the birthday of Jasmijn!

Drinks and food were pre-stocked in advance. Water and cans of food was essential. But that wasn't the only thing… Creations were made with sodas and liquor. Rum Punch was also on hand this evening.

What a fun time we had. I did some dancing and had a nice conversation with everyone in in the house. Not to forget there was a beach ball in attendance (well inflated!) which we played soccer with. Glad no one was injured and furniture was still in tact..

Fiona stayed an extra night and on Saturday the sky was super dark. Pails of rain and lots of thunderstorms. By by the way, we also flash but with our camera. Just look at the pictures!

On Saturday I had a good rest and I worked on school for a report. In the evening I had a game night with some other housemates. This was as a replacement for going out at Lotus . Always nice when there is cosines and a good vibe.

So far the Friday and Saturday of this past weekend.

[stmaartenintern]

Rum Bar and Chill

Nowhere Special the bar the place to be on a Thursday evening!

Every Thursday there is good live music and some salsa vibes. It is a nice place to go for a drink and meet new people. Especially on Thursday it is extra nice because there is ladies night. That means free drinks till 22:00 PM.

Last night I went with some people from the intern house to this place and we enjoyed. We life in Cay Hill and everything is really close. This is nice because you never take long to go to another place on the island. Nowhere Special is located in Simpson Bay.

One cosmopolitan please! Cheersss ( Not to forget, they also have very very good Rum Punch cocktails over here)

[stmaartenintern]

Anguilla boat day

Last Saturday I went to Anguilla by boat. I was invited at a birthday party from a friend. We went early in the morning around 11 o clock to the marina and on the boat. On the boat was a big box filled with drinks and there was also a lot of food. The boat was very nice and big, and not to forget fast!

With the boat on tour to..........Anguilla

Anguilla is a beautiful island it is bare and flat and fringed by white sand beaches. We went Island Hopping and I jumped many times from the boat to take a refresh, because it was a very sunny day.

I can tell you a lot about this adventurous day, but the pictures are better to have an impression.

Now back in the office, have a nice Monday ya all!