Goodbye, Adios, Hasta Nunca y Buena Suerte..

I sold my unit a few years ago. The progress, problems and drama, I followed for a couple years. The condo was sold at a loss. Why? because, unfortunately, the developers and property management could never properly bring the resort to reach it's potential. I won't go into details here except to say that the employees are good people and try to do their best with limited training and resources. To all of you who choose to visit or still have a unit there, I wish you good luck and much patience.

Moving In: Food Shopping List

If you are coming to stay for a period of time in your apartment, wouldn't it be great if you could stop in Panama City or Sabanitas and buy everything you need to get started?

Not having to run back and forth means more time at the pool, or more time on the beach, and who wouldn't like that?

Following is a list of basic foods that you can choose from to stock your cupboard and refrigerator to get you through for a while. You will want to add and subtract from this list to suit your individual tastes, but I have tried to include most of the basics.

Stop at either Super 99 or El Rey in Sabanitas on your way to the resort and you should be able to find everything one might need to avoid starvation. See the previous blog regarding local shopping in Maria Chiquita for an idea of what you might obtain locally.

BALA BEACH MOVE-IN

SHOPPING LISTS: FOOD AND PERISHABLES

English	Spanish
Salt	Sal
Pepper	Pimienta Negra
Sugar	Azucar
Seasoning	Sason
Coffee	Cafe
Tea	Te
Juice	Jugo
Milk/ cream	Leche/ Crema
Butter	Mantequilla
Beer/ Wine	Cervesa/ Vino
Sodas	Refrescos
Bread	Pan (The Flauta is very inexpensive)
Rice	Arroz
Olive Oil	Aceite Oliva
Hot Sauce	Salsa Picante
Fruits	Frutas
Oranges	Naranjas
Lemons	Limones
Mango	Mango
Coconut	Coco
Banana	Gineo
Vegetables	Vegetales
Plantain	Platano
Mild Pepper	Aji
Garlic	Ajo
Potatoes	Papas
Ketchup	Catsup or Salsa de Tomate
Tomato Sauce	Salsa de Tomate
Meats	Carnes
Chicken	Pollo
Beef	Res

(meats, continued)
Goat	Chivo
Fish	Peces
Lobster	Langosta
Octopus	Pulpo
Squid	Calamare
Shrimp	Camarones
Ground Beef	Carne de res molida
Noodles	Fideos
Spaghetti	Espagueti
Spaghetti Sauce	Salsa de Espagueti
Candies	Dulces (sweets)
Cake	Pastel or Bizcocho
Cookies	Galletas
Canned Beans	Abichuelas (or frijoles) enlatados

The blank spaces are to fill in with your favorite foods. Don't be afraid to ask one of the many store employees at either supermarket for help locating an item and don't forget to thank them for their help.

If you are a member of the BalaBeach Owner's Forum, I will be happy to send you this list as a pdf document. Just let me know. Don't forget that there are many fresh fruits and vegetables for sale in small stalls outside El Rey.

Furnishing A Furnished Apartment - Housekeeping, Entertainment and Communication - Updated

If you bought or are buying a furnished apartment, and you plan to stay there or equip your apartment for others to stay more than a night or two, here are a few suggestions of some extra items to bring to your apartment.

If you have any other things to add to this list, please reply and I will post your additions. Equipping your apartment with food and related items will be in my next post. This article deals only with the items you might need to set up housekeeping.

The furnishing packages are fairly comprehensive and include most of the things a person might need to stay a night or two. But without housekeeping, you will need at least the following things, especially for longer stays:

HOUSEKEEPING
1. Broom and dustpan
2. Kitchen wash cloths
3. Dish detergent
4. Laundry detergent
5. Something to clean the floor beyond sweeping. A cleaner that is safe for bamboo floors is recommended, and you will need a mop or something to apply it.
6, A torch (flashlight) and batteries (or candles) in case of power loss.
7. 2 D cell batteries for the hot water heater.
8 Food bag clips
9. Collapsible insulated bag to keep food cool or hot.
10. Cooking utensils (they are on the list, but are not provided). (Spatula, serving spoons etc.)
11. WD 40 or other corrosion preventative spray. Keep metal protected from the corrosive sea air.
12. Toilet tissue
13. Paper towels or re-useable cleaning towels.
14. Soaps for the bathroom.

My thanks to a fellow Bala apartment owner for the following additions:
15. Dishwasher detergent.
16. An emergency contact list (phone contacts)
17. Resort employee contact telephone numbers.


ENTERTAINMENT:
If you will be staying for any length of time, remember, that great novel that you read on the flight down won't last forever! Bring your e-reader, ipad or something for entertainment. If you are not using the optional TV programming, consider bringing a tv streaming device (i.e. Roku (r), Apple TV (r), etc.) and be sure your subscription is paid up. Then you will need the internet service connected to your apartment and you will need to install and configure your own wireless internet router, so bring a router. Don't forget the cables needed to hook everything up. Also, a laptop can be handy for other sources of news and entertainment etc.
1. Ethernet cables
2. Wireless modem/router
3. Streaming device for tv and cables to connect it. (HDMI)
4. Current subscriptions to media as per your preferences.
5. Laptop or other devices.

COMMUNICATION
If you get the wifi going, why not take advantage of Skype, Facetime or Viber to talk to friends and family back home? My experience was that the internet service was less reliable during peak evening useage times. Many, including myself, get a local sim card and buy minutes for cell phone communications. Make sure your cell phone used the frequency band used in Panama. Most quad band phones and iphones do this, but make sure your iphone had a removeable sim card.
1. Sim card
2. Minutes (I use Mas Movil).
3. Wifi if needed
4. Ipad, cell phone, laptop or tablet and software/ subscriptions.
5. Phone contacts. Be sure to add numbers for Resort Management, Resort Maintenance and emergencies.

Local Shopping Revisited - Maria Chiquita Has It!

At first, I thought that only the most basic of supplies could be had in the village of Maria Chiquita. If you get hungry, you must go at least to Sabanitas to find food. If you want prepared food, you must at least travel to Portobelo. NOT SO! There is a surprising variety of foods and supplies available in Maria Chiquita. A special thank you to my neighbor in building one who has explored and found some very useful local resources.

If you are needing some ready-to-eat food, how about a tasty rotisserie chicken? Try this small shop located to your left if coming from Sabanitas, just before the turn into town:

A note: next to this shop, just before it, there is a small business where furniture is repaired. I inquired about buying some wood from them, but prices were quite high.

There are three shops where you can buy food and basic supplies. The closest two face the small plaza. From Bala Beach Resort, walk east along the beach or the entrance road until you come to the small plaza in the center of town. There are two small shops here. They are both pretty basic, but you can walk to them and get a cold drink, a snack, basic household supplies. Check them out:

These shops are basic, but close. Maybe the one should be called "Micro-Mini Not-So-Super"?

The most extensive selection of food, supplies, even including some fruits, vegetables and meats is located at the entrance to Maria Chiquita. When you turn to enter town, it is on your right on the corner:

I have been to all of the above shops. Super 99 and El Rey in Sabanitas are nice, but these local shops are convenient and the more we can support the local community, the better.

March 2014 Visit: A Nature Walk and the New Neighbors

I have had a few days staying in my own condo at Bala Beach Resort. For me, it has been perfect. If you enjoy peace and quiet, nature, a swim in a nice clean pool and a place to explore, come enjoy Bala Beach Resort.

Speaking of exploring, I went for a walk with one of the other owner-residents on the trail and along the beach to the west of the resort. One of the first posts on this blog was from a walk I took along this same route. When the tide is out, often, villagers go to this area to find seafood (octopus, squid, lobster etc.) on the extensive reefs. There are a couple of nice places to swim with a sandy beach and clear water. The reef keeps these areas calm, when the tide is out, and this walk is much easier when the tide is out (low).


A Big Surprise at Trail's End
When this trek was originally done, you came to a spot where mangroves prevent further progress and a small river empties into the bay. On the other side, dense jungle and mangroves made a beautiful site. Now, the land on the west side of this bay has been prepared for a large scale resort development. "Prepared" is a nice way of saying stripped clean of most all vegetation. Palms have been left or planted, and it looks like sand was brought in for a swimming beach.


As an owner here at the resort, I have mixed feelings about these new neighbors. It will be years before anything is actually constructed, and, while I would welcome the possible upside effect on the value of my investment here at Bala, the loss of that beautiful wild coastline is a real loss for the environment. In the meantime the natural coastline and beaches between Bala and the mega development can continue to provide many hours of enjoyment.


I hope you enjoy these pictures from the recent hike on the west trail.

The trail is visible below the restaurant just above the waterline. Look back after you have started down the path and you will see Bala Beach Resort.

It is a nice walk and easy to see where to go. You will always be on the beach or very close to it.

Beach walk looking back toward Maria Chiquita

Many interesting things to see.

Clear water. Perfect for a swim or snorkel.

When you can't go much further you are looking across a bay to the next big development.

There is a white sand beach just visible at the right side of this image. When I first saw this area it was mangroves. It was beautiful. More about our new neighbors later. This walk on the west trail is not overly difficult and it doesn't take long to get to the point where you can not easily go further. It is most easily done at low tide and very low tides make the walk even more interesting. Take your swim suit and enjoy one of the nice swimming spots along the way.  Bring a plastic bag to bring back some trash that has washed up on the beach to make it even more beautiful for the next explorer.

A New Website for Owners at Bala Beach Resort

If you have purchased your apartment at Bala Beach Resort, have a look at this new forum, managed by an owner, for owners:

www.balabeachowners.org

It is a good place to get in touch with other owners who are working on the details of ownership. A recent facility for photos has just been added. I highly recommend it as the site allows for the easy sharing of information. You must be a legitimate owner to join.

Next Visit Coming Soon

I will be visiting Bala Beach Resort for just a few days later this month (March, 2014). Look for more pictures and information on life at Bala following the site visit.