Sint Maarten

[Throwback February]

There are no direct flights from Panama to the BVI, so a connection is required—typically via San José, Sint Maarten, Barbados, or Miami. I chose to transit through Sint Maarten as it felt like the safest option, especially since my manager had been there before.

It was a three-hour flight to Sint Maarten on Copa Airlines, and I arrived at their bright international airport around noon.

Sint Maarten, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Dutch side), is a country on the southern part of a Caribbean island shared with Saint Martin, a French overseas territory. The airport is located at the Dutch side.

I spent a night in Sint Maarten before the connecting flight to BVI the next morning. There's only one flight available to BVI daily (which is in the morning).

The hotel check-in is only available at 3pm, hence I hangout the check-in hall where the restaurants/food court is located to have my brunch and to enjoy the free wifi. This airport is quite small and basic like our previous LCCT (even smaller than that) but it is well-maintained and clean.

The taxi rates are fixed from airport to various spots in the island. Good that they have these rates fixed to prevent touts. 

After checked-in the hotel, I walked and then took a 'bus' to Maho beach to watch plane landing/take-offs. It is a popular spot for plane watch. You can view some videos in Wiki.

Maho beach is located at the other end of the airport. 

As I stayed nearby the airport too, I walk around the airport on my way back. Halfway walking, I hopped on to the local bus (which is actually a van) to get back. The ride costs USD1 per person.

Reached hotel before the skies turn dark. Ventured around the vicinity to find food for dinner and I discovered a Chinese restaurant....The menu looks familiar, with some East Indies influence.

I saw a young Chinese lady at the counter, speaking English that sound like Manglish/Singlish kinda accent. She was interacting with the black Caribbeans, and those people were so 'loud' (sorry, not being rude, but they talked and laughed so hard that's so annoying). I think that's the way they chill. They were having liquor, so probably abit drunk too.

As I was placing my order in English, she looked at me and asked if I'm ethnically Chinese which I said yes. Then, she asked if I can speak Cantonese to my surprise. Definitely yes! It has been some time since I last spoke Canto with anyone in that region. Having someone who can speak a familiar lingo in a foreign land definitely cheer up my day.

I learned that she is from Taishan in Guangdong and has been working in Sint Maarten for over 10 years at this family-run restaurant owned by her relatives. She was curious too as to why a single Asian lady like me was in Sint Maarten😂

I had Chinese fried rice with sweet & sour chicken. It was yummy. The fried rice has wok-hei, tastes authentic like those you can find only in Chinese daipaidong.

There are many types of sauces and seasonings on the table, but I don't need any of them. The fried rice and the sweet & sour chicken itself are already flavorful.

This is the restaurant. Authentic Cantonese style food. It also functions as a pub as it sells liquor at the bar counter.

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Back at my hotel, I stayed just across the airport. From the balcony, I could see planes parked on the tarmac. There were no arrivals or departures after 6pm, so everything was quiet at night.

The next morning, I was up early to check-out at 7am. Reached the airport for my morning flight.

Princess Juliana International Airport. Princess Juliana was a Dutch royal who later became queen, and the airport is named after her because she visited the island during WWII when the airport first opened.

The view of the airport tarmac, with Caribbean Sea at the background.

I took Winair flight to BVI. It is a smaller aircraft (bus size) which could fit roughly 20 passengers. Free seatings.

The view of the sea from above.

Clear blue sea....

My first time taking a small aircraft. It was just a 45-minute flight. This kind of light aircraft can easily be blown away if fly under a bad weather (thunderstorm). Now I understand why there's only morning flight.

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Fast forward end of February. I transited back to Panama on Copa Airlines. Similar view but on a bigger plane.

Plenty of yachts scattered across the island.

ah, beautiful Caribbean Sea😍

Hope to be back soon!