Greetings,
There are few people better to write this than me as I was once one of those douche bags who would denounce Big Corn Island like some kind of ignorant fool. You know what though, life isn’t about accumulating assets or showing off to neighbours who really couldn’t care less. It’s not about anything really other than becoming a better person and growing wiser with time; chances are if you’re wise you’ll be accumulating cash too but that’s just an offshoot of wisdom or that’s how I see it.
I came to Big Corn in 2011 with these siesta loving Spanish girls and we stopped in at this dump called Casa Blanca… I remember vividly looking at the crew and saying “I didn’t just take that awful boat ride to stay here, there has to be more?!” As a result, we waited a few hours and took the panga to Little Corn Island. Then for ~2 winters I never went to Big Corn, only to get cash and would say things like it sucks and that it’s good for the ATM and not much more.
I was wrong, dead wrong and Big Corn Island is quickly becoming one of my favourite places to hang out. I can now officially say that if you come to the Corn Islands you should see the Corn Islands as there are only two of them. Think of them as brothers from the same mother and one is more grown up while the other more laid-back. One is relaxed wearing pink pants because that trip to India really melted their mind while the other is wearing a pair of Air Jordan’s and if you slip up will slap you upside the head; yeah, something like that.
Or think of it like this, Little Corn Island and Big Corn Island are two diamonds from the same mine but Little Corn has been smoothed and put into a ring of sorts where as Big Corn has only been slightly processed and is still quite rough around the edges… I’m going to stop but I think you get the point. Just remember they are both Caribbean Islands and anywhere you go in that wonderful sea is more similar than different to the rest of the world; you’ll always know you’re there.
I mention this as I’m seeing lots of people on Big Corn this year who are my age and NOT making the trip to Little Corn Island. I feel like trying to talk sense into them and then I realize that I don’t actually care what they do with their trip or their life. If they want my opinion I’ll mention it but if not, who cares? You lot on the other hand, you should know that you should see both and missing one is a real shame.
I’ve been on Big Corn Island all week living in my office and loving it. I used to come over for the morning to do web work and I’d buy this breakfast at touristy restaurant near the port. Some character one day said “Dude, why don’t you just rent a room at X, they have fast internet and it’s run by this cool family.” Naturally I investigated and years later I’m still there. I used to rent this room for not much more than a breakfast and still commute because I too was like “Forget Big Corn”. Then I started staying here…
A night or so turned into a few and then into a week at a time. Now I have no desire to really go back to Little Corn Island until the weekend as this place has 24/7 power, a faster pace, decent internet and I’m still a working man. One day, Little Corn Island will catch up and it has already started but I can’t be a 3G Vampire my whole life and hanging out with tourists, drifters or the like will get you nowhere when you’re sailing your on ship and you know exactly where you want to go…
Advice is start on Big for a night or two before going to Little for as long as you please. Just make sure you come back to Big Corn for at least a night before you fly out; unless of course you didn’t like it. If you really liked it, maybe you’ll come back for longer but the choice is yours and you’ll have an idea of what both are all about.
I’m rambling and click here to see more on the subject.
Like anything in life, either or is for small minds; always think both.
Tips hat,
P.S: Wood to concrete permit swap a success and construction starts soon(ish).
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Dubz – congrats on the permit swap! Over the weekend, I was reading a little about Nicaraguan sugar cane workers & the mystery kidney problems they’re having. Was intending to warn you away from the Chichigalpa brothels, but I see they are on the other side of the country. Looks like the Corn Islands are a safe bet.
Thanks and people eat way too much sugar here but luckily I’m not into that. I just need to keep smoking on wraps or I’ll be dying a miserable death when all my long-term plans start coming into fruition and that’s not cool.
Also not into the brothel scene lol, it’s for dirt bags and diseased / soon to be diseased degenerates.
you sounded really high in the above missive, tweaked
Oh how I love Nica. Building on Playa Maderas north of SJDS. Amazing that I’ve been to Nica 20 times and I’ve never been to the Corn Islands. But I’ve met so many wonderful people from there. And they all speak English fluently with that wonderful Caribbean accent. Definitely going there my next time back …
That’s cool man and exciting; I wish you the best of luck! Oddly enough, I’ve been to Nica a similar amount of times, maybe less but I stay for long periods and I’ve never been to SJDS haha. I was in Las Penitas and working my way north to the Bay Islands in Honduras when these Spanish girls invited me to travel with them to the Corn Islands and the rest is history…
Keep me posted on your progress, good sir.
dubz- I enjoy reading your posts and I think the island places are wonderful. Enjoy your life and being there.
It is true it does not last forever and you need to take care of yourself. Even if you do live healthy eventually your physical destiny will arrive, if you are lucky enough to not die early.
I’m in the last season of my life, and need to live within reasonable transport time to decent medical care, at least as long as I would like to be saved.
Health and mortality is no joke. Take care of your self.
Thank you for the kind words Greg and the timely advice. I’m in the process of reprogramming myself and getting in the best shape possible.
I’ve realized the end of the road for all of us is a cliff sometime ago and that I’m moving fast so I’m taking my foot off the gas and trying to get as much done while I can because all we really have is now with different times on the watch and dates on the calender.
Wishing you the best in health and wealth in 2015.
Excellent post, chap. I wholly agree with you on the false dilemma bit – it’s a line of thought for small minds.
The weekday life on Big Corn sounds pretty good. And of course now you tell them “On the weekends I like to retire to my private residence on Little Corn.”
How are the beaches on Big Corn? Well-suited for sunrise runs?
Thanks and it’s a nice change, having another island to visit and not taking advantage would be ridiculous! It’s also a decidedly different vibe and reminds me of how much I love the little island.
Lots of great beaches for sunrise runs but I’ve stopped running and swimming exclusively. In Budva, Montenegro I bought these amazing speedo racing goggles and it’s changed the game. I just need to make sure I do the swim in the morning to avoid the sun.
It’s a great way to start the day and it’s also easy on the joints so I think it’s the way to go long-term. Also, you can jog anywhere but swimming in the sea not long after sunrise is a somewhat special experience.