I had expected that the Bahamas would be all about snorkeling and sunbathing (for the guests) and had no idea there would be such unique things to see. Major Cay; located in Exuma, The Bahamas is home to a number of pigs, which themselves have become quite the tourist attraction. Descending from domesticated pigs on a nearby Cay, these little oinkers were relocated to Major Cay when their pungent odor caused a stink with the neighbours.
On this day of the itinerary I am invited to join the guests on their excursion to see the pigs. I jumped straight into my wet gear – my cute little roxy board shorts and white rash vest and hopped on the tender. I had a glitch of momentary disappointment when the sky looked grey and overcast, as this was likely to be my only sun time for the next three weeks. The owner said ‘when you don’t like the weather in the Bahamas, wait five minutes and look again’. Sure enough he was right and the clouds opened up to the golden, smiling skies.
A short ride and a chance to banter with the guests later; we spot three piggy’s on the beach. We turn off the engine and one begins to swim out to us. You can tell that they are fed very well and their menu is about to get a whole lot better; truffle pasta, seared Asian vegetables, Moroccan salad with marshmallow brownies for desert. The biggest pig I have ever seen wastes no time in sticking his trotters over the edge and announcing his hunger with several loud snorts. The chief mate brings out the slop bucket and bravely gets out of the boat, the other pigs follow, their snouts nudging his knees to keep a constant flow of food falling from the bucket. All of our attention is suddenly stolen from this scene, when one of the guests notices a trio of babes under a tree. The women of the group make their way over to catch snaps with ooh’s and ahh’s. Thankfully there seems to be enough food to keep the pigs with us for a while, the only thing they don’t seem to like is lemons, but hey they should be thankful we are not feeding them sausages.
On this day of the itinerary I am invited to join the guests on their excursion to see the pigs. I jumped straight into my wet gear – my cute little roxy board shorts and white rash vest and hopped on the tender. I had a glitch of momentary disappointment when the sky looked grey and overcast, as this was likely to be my only sun time for the next three weeks. The owner said ‘when you don’t like the weather in the Bahamas, wait five minutes and look again’. Sure enough he was right and the clouds opened up to the golden, smiling skies.
A short ride and a chance to banter with the guests later; we spot three piggy’s on the beach. We turn off the engine and one begins to swim out to us. You can tell that they are fed very well and their menu is about to get a whole lot better; truffle pasta, seared Asian vegetables, Moroccan salad with marshmallow brownies for desert. The biggest pig I have ever seen wastes no time in sticking his trotters over the edge and announcing his hunger with several loud snorts. The chief mate brings out the slop bucket and bravely gets out of the boat, the other pigs follow, their snouts nudging his knees to keep a constant flow of food falling from the bucket. All of our attention is suddenly stolen from this scene, when one of the guests notices a trio of babes under a tree. The women of the group make their way over to catch snaps with ooh’s and ahh’s. Thankfully there seems to be enough food to keep the pigs with us for a while, the only thing they don’t seem to like is lemons, but hey they should be thankful we are not feeding them sausages.
More pigs join and shortly after an entire litter of piglets come trotting down the sand. They are adorable, each their own color, character and seemingly different breed.
Misha, the chief mate offers me the bucket, just as the big one starts to get seriously into him. I politely decline as he follows me with the bucket, the two biggest of the kingpigs in tow. I don’t want to look like a wimp in front of the guests, so cleverly use the two cameras in my hand as a very valid excuse to my not holding the bucket.
I take the time to feel the water and am in heaven until a sting ray comes flying towards me. When the creature is finally lost interest in my patch of water and I begin to get comfortable; the biggest pig comes and relieves himself right next to me in a never-ending flow of brown liquid. That’ll be the brownies.
I take the time to feel the water and am in heaven until a sting ray comes flying towards me. When the creature is finally lost interest in my patch of water and I begin to get comfortable; the biggest pig comes and relieves himself right next to me in a never-ending flow of brown liquid. That’ll be the brownies.
Misha and I pull the tender out of the shallow water where it has become stuck in the sand and I am glad to have been able to contribute to something. We head back and as we are all getting off the boat I feel such a part of the group that I have to stop myself from saying ‘Shall we head to the sundeck for cocktails?’. Moments later I am back in my uniform and serving coffees on the main deck, but with an ever-growing fondness for my owner, my captain and my chief stew. I am so lucky that on the third day of my first trip on the job, I have been able to go out and see something that even my chief stew hasn’t seen. I know how lucky I am to have such fantastic owners that treat me as an employee and not a servant. My owner is the most down to earth billionaire on the planet and I genuinely enjoyed his company. Over and oink.