On Cam Pleasure

The Whales Of Samana

The Samana whale-watching season is under way. This is the best opportunity to view the giant humpback whales as they frolic in the Atlantic Ocean waters of the northeastern Dominican Republic. The whales migrate from the North Atlantic to the warm waters of the Dominican Republic's northeastern coast to mate and give birth. More than 1,500 humpbacks visit the bay, with as many as 300 present at any given time during mating season. The World Wildlife Fund considers Samana Bay one of the best places in the world to watch whales. There is something for everyone - the outer bay is where you might find aggressive males competing for the favors of willing females, and the sheltered inner bay is one of the world's leading humpback nurseries. Whale-watching boats depart from Samana piers until the end of March. The popular excursions can be arranged at the Port of Samana or from hotels in the province and travel agencies. Excursions can be booked at most hotels in Samana and Sabana de la Mar (El Seibo) for a day's outing, but it is recommended to stay in Samana overnight for a more complete experience.

Football Favorite

One of my new favorites is Victor Cruz #80 of the Super Bowl Champion NY Giants. Watch the clip at about 0:37 seconds to see him VERY excited as the Lombardi Trophy is brought onto the field and again at about 0:50 seconds as he handles his own trophy.

Southwest Enters Caribbean Market

Southwest, the largest airline in the US based on domestic passengers transported, will be flying its colors into Punta Cana soon. The Dallas-based airline made progress on its May 2011 merger with AirTran Airways and will be taking over the AirTran flight into the eastern Dominican airport. On 20 January the airline announced that Punta Cana would become one of 53 cities being added to the Southwest network. Other Caribbean destinations that will be added to the list are Montego Bay, Jamaica, Aruba, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Bermuda and Nassau, Bahamas, making the low-cost Dallas carrier a new major player in the Caribbean. www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southwest-airlines-and-airtran-airways-confirm-plans-to-maintain-airtran-airways-operations-at-22-domestic-and-international-airports-137770108.html

Battle Of The Exes

The trailer for the 22nd season of the MTV reality TV game show, The Challenge, opens with a "Welcome to the Dominican Republic" as gorgeous views of Dominican coastline unfold. The show, taking place in the contrasting settings of the Dominican Republic and Iceland, stars former cast members from MTV's The Real World, Road Rules, Fresh Meat, Fresh Meat II and the Spring Break Challenge as contestants. The Challenge: Battle of the Exes brings 13 former lovers, flings and one night stands and pairs them up together for a chance to win $300,000. "The Challenge" premiered on Wednesday, 25 January and features lovely Dominican scenery as the contestants meet physical and emotional challenges. www.mtv.com/videos/misc/720974/battle-of-the-exes-trailer.jhtml#id=1676274

Jorge

Happy Hump Day

Monday Motivation

CJ Stands For?

Do it TOGETHER

AP- Newly dating and slightly anxious, an innovative program called Testing Together would allow them to hear their test results minutes later, while sitting side by side.

Testing Together, now under way in Chicago and Atlanta, takes and unusual approach. It encourages gay male couples to get tested together and hear their results together. After delivering the results, a counselor talks with the couple aboutt what to do next, including agreements they may want to make with each other about sex and health.

The idea is to bring honesty to sexual relationships. Relationships offer only "mythical protection" from HIV. Some couples may have avoided talking about each other's HIV status.

The Testing Together program challenges conventional practices in the U.S., where HIV testing is usually for individuals only. At most clinics partners are denied getting results because of confidentiality concerns. But the number of gay Americans telling the U.S. Census they're living with same-sex partners nearly doubled in the past decade and a new line of research suggests that up to 68 percent of new HIV infections in gay men come from a main sex partner, in part because main sex partners are more likely to forgo condoms.

A Very Happy Friday

Evil Comes To The Caribbean?

Mahmoud Ahmedinejad is concluding a tour of Latin America. He has met with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, the president of Suriname and Fidel Castro in Cuba. He also plans to visit Nicaragua and Ecuador.

Ahmedinejad's visit comes after the U.S. imposed tougher sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, which Washington believes Tehran is using to develop atomic weapons.

Hugo Chavez says he and Ahmadinejad are presented as aggressors by the U.S. He accused the U.S. and its European allies of demonizing Iran and using false claims about the nuclear issue "like they used the excuse of weapons of mass destruction to do what they did in Iraq."

It is a bit unsettling that Iran is attempting to make allies so close to U.S. borders.

Sancho

See more of Sancho at Latin Jocks.

Vacation Planning 101

Be sure to visit the Travel Info Page for helpful tips when planning your vacation to the Dominican Republic. Click on the ads for great deals!

We 3 Kings

Today is 3 Kings Day. It is the close of the holiday season throughout much of latin America.