Puerto Rico --- Jan 2014

Puerto Rico (together with Puerto Rican sister islands Culebra and Vieques) is absolutely beautiful with pristine white sand beaches minus crowd. Water is of amazing color, and is warm with higher density. I loved floating and enjoying drinks in ocean.  Old San Juan has amazing vibe and one can feel that life is meant to be enjoyed to the fullest. Drinks allowed on streets and nobody checks your ID. First time sat directly under the fall and it was amazing; didn’t feel like leaving the El Yunque rainforest.

Currency and Language-

•   US Dollars is the main currency in Puerto Rico as Puerto Rico is US territory
•   Credit cards are accepted at all places
•            You can easily get around with English, but may come across only Spanish speaking people
•          Drink bottled or boiled water only as water there can cause diarrhea

 High-level Transportation Tips-

• Ferries (2 hrs max) to islands- Culebra and Vieques start from city- Fajardo
•           Ferry tickets are super cheap
•           There are big lines at ferry terminal so better come one hour early from ferry start time. Make sure to buy the return ticket as well at the same time
•           Flights also go to islands and this option can be considered in case ferries are full or ~$80 (flight) vs ~$2.50 (ferry) don’t bother you

Detailed Planner for Culebra-

• Don't miss world famous Flamenco beach
•          There are cheap shared taxis to Flamenco beach from Culebra ferry terminal and airport
•           Flamenco beach have rest rooms, change rooms and food/drink
•           If renting the car (Jeep is the only option) in Culebra, please be aware that driving is not easy when people drive rashly on narrow roads with parked vehicles
•           Kayaking, snorkeling and swim with turtles (Not much reefs though so will suggest to do snorkeling some other part of the Puerto Rico than Culebra) 
•           Suggestion: 1 day is enough unless you want to be in a beautiful place with nothing to do but relax

Detailed Planner for Vieques-

• Caracas beach- Absolutely gorgeous, you will see horses too
•          Sun bay- A very long beach with variety of terrain, lie on rocks or sand
•           Blue beach- Another beautiful long beach
•           Mosquito bay kayaking or boat tour to see the bioluminescent organisms (stars look beautiful at night above the bay, plan to go on darkest of the nights)
•           Rental car is needed  and easy to drive here
•           1 or 2 local bars turn into nightclubs at night- don’t miss it 
•           Suggestion: Rent a house

Detailed Planner for Puerto Rico Main Land

-  San Juan- A lot to do in this happening place and try to spend most of your time here in Puerto Rican main island.

• Old San Juan with castle, museum and court
•  Old San cobble streets along with blue ocean and green grass - mesmerizing
•            Pubs/clubs in San Juan
•            Bacardi Rum factory near San Juan, plan carefully so that last tour is not missed. The last tour goes in late afternoon
•            El Yunque rainforest (La mina waterfall and rainforest trails hiking and Luquillo beach)

-  Arecibo-

•  Window Cave
•  Arecibo telescope

- Cabo Rojo-

• Palaya Sucia and lighthouse- mesmerizingly beautiful

- Fajardo-

•  Bioluminescent tour can be done from here as well

  Must Do-

• Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
•           Bacardi Rum factory, Puerto Rico
•           Flamenco beach, Culebra
•        Kayaking/snorkeling/scuba diving

Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket --- Aug 2014

I had super fun in gay village. It was wonderful to see gay couples enjoying their lives which is not the case in countries like India. The market was also very colorful with hippie touch. There were interesting art and home décor stores. The clothes, jewelry and souvenirs were not that expensive. Whale watching was such an amazing experience and the tour people exactly know what they are doing. Our boat was literally chasing whales at sunset. It was so beautiful. Also, there are so many beaches to choose from n Cape Cod. I learnt to make sand castles and to play beach ball.
We played poker, black jack and other card games on ferry. Ferries are huge and no problem in finding seats. They also have TVs in ferries. In Martha's Vineyard, we took 2.5 hrs tour in school bus(painted colorfully than yellow) with our interesting tour guide. No tour company picks up the phone so its better you get the details few days before. So, just to share one of the jokes of our guide- he stopped the bus near sheep farm and started making some sounds to sheep but they didn't respond. He asked us to listen intently and then he said "What we just heard is called silence of lambs". Yes, he actually did this short drama for us.
In Oak Bluff town, we saw how brownies are made and we ate fresh walnut-chocolate and pecan-chocolate brownies. People were nice to talk in the town, again lots of restaurants and shopping places here and things are not that expensive here. Gingerbread houses are great to look at. Some places are so remote in Martha's Vineyard where there is no phone signal and when President Obama visits there, he brings the mobile satellite. Suddenly people get the phone signals and they understand President Obama has arrived.
Last day, we went to Nantucket where we biked on tandem bikes which was fun. The person sitting on the back does not have to do much work. Houses (or shall I say mansions) are gorgeous there and beaches are awesome. We had perfect biking weather with no sun.

Transportation Tips-
1) Drive to Cape Cod
2) Ferry (30 min) to Martha's Vineyard from Woods hole, Cape Cod
 - Tickets can be bought that day itself as the boat is huge. Cars can also go in boat.
 - Car can be handy in Martha's Vineyard
 - If not taking your car to the island, they have good bus service
3) Ferry (2 hrs regular) to Nantucket from Hyannis, Cape Cod
 - Tickets can be bought that day itself as the boat is huge. Cars can also go in boat.
 - Car is not needed in the island
 - Biking or bus should be good enough
4) Better to get the ferry schedule before hand
5) Parking is not that expensive at ferry terminal, so drive to ferry terminal parking area and board the ferry
6) Take the maps of of islands when you go there; they come very handy

Beaches to Consider-
1) Craigville Beach in Centerville, Hyannis, Cape Cod- Water is warm here and perfect for swimming
2) Nauset Light beach, Cape Cod National seashore
3) Race Point beach, Provincetown, Cape Cod
4) Marconi beach, Cape Cod National seashore - Beach is beautiful but there are pebbles and stones when you enter the ocean
5) You won't go wrong with any beach in Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket; ask the locals from map

Planner for Martha's Vineyard-
1) Edgartown- lighthouse and beach
2) Gay head cliffs
3) Oak Bluffs

Planner for Nantucket-
1) Whale museum near Nantucket ferry terminal
2) Cobble street market near ferry terminal
3) Pick any beach from map

Planner for Cape Cod-
1) Provincetown
2) Pick a beach
3) Hyannis

Must do-
1) Whale watching in Provincetown, Cape Cod
2) Biking in Nantucket
3) Beaches