Dune Preserve is perhaps the hippest spot on the lovely island of Anguilla. The creation of rasta man musician, Bankie Banx, this 2 acre oceanfront location is the place to be on any given Sunday in Anguilla. The property features a mishmash of boats, bars and decking laid out in a juxtapose fashion on one of the most magnificent Caribbean beaches, Rendezvous Bay. We arrived one Sunday around 3 PM to a mix of locals and tourists all swaying to the sound of some local jazz. The bar served us up some cold Ting, my favorite soda. We hung out amongst Rastas smoking some fragrant herbs and families dining on sumptutous BBQ. The smells coming from Dale Carty’s kitchen tantalized us enough to prompt us to find a seat in a tree house like structure and dine on grilled lobster and lovely salads. Stray cats tackled out lobster tentacles and scraps. I hope Bankie has a sterlization program in place. A lovely local named Bush joined my daughter and I as we dined on our lunch. He shared stories of his life living in paradise. We ended the day walking the beach enjoying the chill vibe.
Bankie hosts Moonsplash, a musical extravaganza each March around the full moon. I hope to attend in ’10. Dune is my fav island chill on AXA.
Check out http://bankiebanx.net for more info.
Tags: Bankie Banx, Bush from Anguilla, Dune Preserve, Moonsplash Festival, music in Anguilla, Rendezvous Bay
May 30, 2009 at 6:45 am |
this place was a blast
December 22, 2009 at 7:55 pm |
thanks SO much Rick…I appreciate your sharing..Not a fan of Willie but music is music and I am sure he will be most welcome..preserve island reggae myself…cheers
December 22, 2009 at 4:06 pm |
bankie banx, whom i first met as editor of a weekly newspaper in st. kitts, is a great host, a fine songwriter, a talented musician and an excellent poet. he catches his own fish, eats one meal a day — usually fish — smokes the best herb in the eastern caribbean, and promotes the best beach concerts.
one of his concerts drew 60,000 people. it featured jimmy buffet. i am working with him to bring willie nelson to anguilla and we are making progress. the place itself, dune preserve, could have been created by federico fellini or don juan casteneda. you will get delightfully lost wandering through the wild flowers, the coconut palms, the green monkeys, the birds, the sound of reggae and calypson, the drums, past the bar where bankie sips his special rum drinks and on and on.
you will watch sunsets and sunrises of blazing glory. you will lean back in a lounge chair or hammock and close your eyes and forget all your troubles. yes, go to anguilla and visit dune preserve. you will have a long time forgetting the place. rick lanning, international photojournalist