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One of our contributing writers, Bibi Jordan, was recently published in ZajiGirl travel blog. Her piece details the work of So Elsewhere’s Virgin Bloggers Bootcamp in the Virgin Islands, run by our consulting firm, So Elsewhere Consulting.

ZajiGirl, a hip travel and style e-zine, picked up one of my travel stories from flashnomad.com… what’s really fun is to see how they jazzed it with the help of their super flash designer. First, check out the story here in May and June posts. Then, visit ZajiGirl. Now, here’s where it helps to have a ‘traveler’s tip’ to navigate: click on the link for the full article, and then when you get to the home page if you want to skip the rather long intro, click on ’skip’ on the lower right, and then you’ll see where to click on the article. It’s really fun to see their cool layout. Thanks, ZajiGirl for Zaji’ing me up!

Bibi Jordan, Contributing Writer

View of St.John From V. I. Campground Cabin

Okay, we’ve all agreed. A stay at the Virgin Islands Campground is not for those who seek luxury sleeping accommodations and fine dining. While the grounds are pristine, lizards, snakes, fire ants, and two state of the art compost toilets surround them. You must cook your own meals using an improvised stove top and, if you have spent all your money on the flight (like us), you will find yourself eating rice, beans, and eggs for the duration of your stay. There is no grocery store on the island.

If you can handle that, then I can tell you this: This is the island of ecstasy.

Imagine waking up in a pristine open-air cottage nestled among copious amounts of trees and cacti. The sun’s swelling rays begin to illuminate the base of your queen size bed. From your porch, you can make out the bright orange mass rising behind the island of St. John.

A collection of cobalt blue water gently pats the sands shore, and though you are on a hill away from the ocean’s natural strokes, you can hear it sing its soothing melody.

At $99 a night, here is a place for folks who want a mid-range and blissful vacation.

Morgane Veronique Richardson, Writer/Editor

“US Virgin Islands: A sunny place for shady people”
-    Sticker seen at dock bar

Joe’s Bar (i.e.,: the shack surrounded by wood tables and beach chairs) down at Honeymoon beach is full of colorful characters.  That’s one of the things I love most about it.  Transient sea people and down to earth locals. I wouldn’t want to do it for too long, but its a great place to hang for a few nights.  Or, I guess I should say “for a few days.” It’s the kind of place where no matter the time of day, as long as its after 12noon, you are guaranteed to find entertaining drinking company.

Yesterday we sat with three guys who sailed in from the Northeast. They’re the guys who, it seems, haven’t left their spot at the bar for the past three days.  Each time we see them, they claim its their last day here – they’re just “recovering from last night.” But each day’s recovery process requires another day’s recovery, and so it goes…

Tracey, the bartender laughs, “Sailing people can never keep a schedule, they’re more of the tentative planning type,” emphasis on the “tentative.”

Anyhow, like I was saying, between the locals and the boat people there’s always plenty of color at Joe’s, but the guy who sauntered in yesterday beat anything I’ve seen to date.  He jumped off the dingy  with three women by his side, all of them looking a little rough around the edges (and definitely in need of a drink). With a sun dyed and sea frizzed beard divided into 3 tails with a variety of colored ties along the length of them, he looked a real Jack Sparrow. A little fatter perhaps, a protruding leathery pot belly and fewer clothes so you could see the map and compass tattooed across half his upper body. A real Jack Sparrow. A pirate if I ever saw one.

Alexandra Garcia, Editor/Writer

I wonder if anyone has considered changing the Virgin Islands name to Sinners Island?

Morgane Veronique Richardson, Editor/Writer

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Grab a slice if you happen to catch the pizza boat at Honeymoon Beach

Deplane in St.Thomas in heavy sweet smelling island air. Take bus to the harbor and get comfortable with a couple of Corona’s.  Hop on Water Island Ferry.

Get picked up by camp host and dropped off in a little private cabin furnished with futon, comfy bed, work table, shelves, and a view of the Caribbean ocean.  Apply sunscreen.

Walk down to Honeymoon Beach. Try not to trip on any baby tortoises and don’t mind the iguanas. Go to Joe’s Bar.  Order a Bushwacker (yes, you do want the nutmeg on top) and promptly forget any plans, schedules, or obligations.

After a few conversations with whatever captains, sea drifters, and locals are around head up back to campground.  Proceed to common space and raid the common container before dipping into your own reserve of food and alcohol.  Cook up a meal of rice and beans. Invite fellow guests to a swig of local rum. Exchange stories. Do as you will.

Sleep in cozy cabin to the sound of ocean breezes and chirping lizards.

Wake up and repeat at “apply sunscreen.”

Alexandra Garcia, Editor/Writer

We escape the squall’s after a ride on the small Water Island ferry (max. 25 passengers) and pass through a wall of thick, oppressive air. As we saunter off the plank, the turquoise ocean strikes us like a slap in the face. Meanwhile, residents calmly locate their golf carts at the ocean’s front and zoom back to their homes amongst the other 170 or so inhabitants, groceries in hand.

We arrive on Water Island in unusually turbid weather and yet our hosts, Deborah and Paul Quade, appear to be untroubled, forcing us to almost overlook the pounding winds.

After a speedy tour of the 491.5 acres that make up this island, we approach the night gently as black snakes slither across the pathway to our cabins. Heavy rains attempt to stir us off this miniscule and secluded island.

With the sound of WWII planes overhead, and heavy cracks of a looming storm making its way from the East, there is no denying our desire to curl into our luxurious eco-friendly cottages and fall fast asleep.

It is 9 p.m.

For more information, visit the Virgin Islands Campground.

Morgane Veronique Richardson, Editor/Writer