Question about street photography/What the locals do

[patricksmith04]

I am a photojournalist from the United States and visiting Aruba for the second time in July. I've been to the island once before - many years ago - and while I remember my trip, I wasn't a photographer then or very cultured.

During my world travels I enjoy shooting street photos and/or finding stories that speak in volumes of the country I visit. While I enjoy the typical tourist spots, I am more interested in the people and their day to day lives.

So I have a couple questions, hopefully some people can help:

1. What is Aruba's main export?
2. Other than tourism, what is the main job/career of an Aruban resident?
3. How safe is it to walk the streets alone? In Oranjestad and the east part of the island.
4. Where can I find non-profits organizations to contact?
5. Are there any relevant issues in the country that others may be unaware of?

Thanks!

[Arubalisa]

If you are looking for info on non-profits, this link may help you a little
Volunteer vacations

[Mr. Ratt]

If I might try to help a little here... (for what it's worth)

1. What is Aruba's main export?

Seemingly, sunshine and a good vacation.

2. Other than tourism, what is the main job/career of an Aruban resident?

Most everything on the island revolves around tourism, in one way or another. At one time it was oil, now, as I said above, sunshine and a good time (whatever that may be for someone) is what they provide.

3. How safe is it to walk the streets alone? In Oranjestad and the east part of the island.

Completely. After nine years of wandering around Oranjestad and various other towns/locales on the island, both in the daytime and after dark, no problems.

4. Where can I find non-profits organizations to contact?

Check the link in the previous posting above....

5. Are there any relevant issues in the country that others may be unaware of?

I don't think so... and if there are, you can surely find out about it on this site somewhere.
Some of the most informed travellers I have ever encountered here.
Experience teaches you lots, and these folks have experience with Aruba.

[fattypatty]

Mr Ratt pretty much summed it up but let me add to the following:

5. Are there any relevant issues in the country that others may be unaware of?

pick up "an island away" and you'll see the "other" side of the island that tourist are not aware of...legalized brothels sanctioned by the gov't - owing to it's roots as a territory of the netherlands.

that should provide you with some interested photo opps at night.

[patricksmith04]

legalized brothels sanctioned by the gov't - owing to it's roots as a territory of the netherlands.

See, that's interesting to me that prostitution is on the island. I would suspect that 99 percent of vistors did not know that.

As for Mr.Ratt, I appriciate your kind, fun words of Aruba, but I am seeking a legitimate answer for export, careers of Aruban locals. While I do intend to enjoy sunshine (last time I got BURNED), I highly doubt they list that as an export

[lizzardo]

1. What is Aruba's main export?

The only 2 exports that I know of is Aruba Aloe and they
have a rum company here. Besides that - this is an "desert" island
that imports everything and it's food (except there are Aruba Mushrooms now)..

[fattypatty]

Aloe is a big industry. Go to the cia's website and search foe aruba's country factshet

[Mr. Ratt]

Okay, as mentioned above, aloe is the biggie, has been for a while.
Rum, sorta. The last 5 to 8 years there has been a growing industry in the motorcycle dept.
Quite a few wonderful custom bikes have been built on the island, many of them being shipped off to California and the east coast. The quality of the machines that the local craftsmen are creating is nothing short of stunning to look at, and they run real nice.

Aruba mushrooms? Really? These I must find...

[rob o]

See, that's interesting to me that prostitution is on the island. I would suspect that 99 percent of vistors did not know that.

As for Mr.Ratt, I appriciate your kind, fun words of Aruba, but I am seeking a legitimate answer for export, careers of Aruban locals. While I do intend to enjoy sunshine (last time I got BURNED), I highly doubt they list that as an export

The Aruba Aloe factory, aloe being the prime export, is actually pretty interesting....might be worth a visit.

As for prostitution...anyone who reads the ads in the Aruba Today classifieds (a widely distributed newspaper at hotels) knows it exists. I always found it strange that it's on the page after the timeshare ads.

[fattypatty]

but those ads are for messages, no? just lie the countless escort/message ads we have here in our daily papers?