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Transcription: [00:29:23]
One of the most interesting inhabitants here is Mr. Hitekernick, known as Hite. He makes jewelry from tortoise shell.

[00:29:31]
Many years ago, back in his native Holland, Hite was offered a job as a jewelry salesman over in Curacao. Well, he took it, planning to stay only a year.

[00:29:41]
But one weekend, he came over to Bonaire. Well, that was 22 years ago and you know he's never been back to Holland since.

[00:29:49]
It's very difficult to work with the hard tortoise shell and the lovely dresser set he made of a rare cherry tortoise sells for $100.

[00:30:00]
One of the main places to stay here is a delightful rustic inn, the Flamingo Beach Club.

[00:30:07]
Here one can rent the club's 40-foot catch for the day, or if one prefers, swim at the club's own beach, a beach whose bathers appear quite routine, or do they?

[00:30:22]
This bather's name is Bubbles, the devoted pet of Mr. Hitekernick, who I'm sure is the only man in the world with a 165- pound pet loggerhead.

[00:30:38]
Bubbles, who dearly loves swimming with Hite and follows him around like a puppy, is a mere youngster of 8 and has many swimming years ahead of him as his life expectancy is well over a hundred years.

[00:30:50]
The story of this strange friendship began when one day a newly hatched baby turtle waddled over to Hite and enjoyed being petted by him. Well, as he grew, his devotion for Hite grew.

[00:31:03]
And as loggerheads are of the snapping, dangerous variety, this was certainly a devotion out of the ordinary.

[00:31:11]
One day, Hite decided to take Bubbles swimming with him, to see if perhaps this turtle love would dissolve in the depths of the ocean.

[00:31:18]
Instead, the turtle stayed right with him, came up for air when he did, and even swam ashore when he did. So now these improbable friends are a common sight in Bonaire.