Having come from a hectic life back in England (always busy, fretting about all kinds of things), arriving in Dominica has forced me to adapt my lifestyle. I’ve learnt to take things at a slower pace; there’s no reason to rush to the shop, why sweat extra when you can walk slowly and still buy the things you need.

You can’t walk from one end of town to the other without someone stopping you to say hello, asking where you are from and seeing if you are enjoying your stay in their beautiful country. It’s amazing to meet people who are so proud of where they live and who want to show it off at every opportunity!

When I first arrived in Dominica so many people said that I’d fall in love with the island, they were certain that I would be staying and not want to leave; I have to say, they were right!

Something about this place has gotten under my skin, and it’s left me craving more.

I know there are so many more adventures to be had on The Nature Island of The Caribbean; so many things that I haven’t managed to do this time. Believe me they’ve been added to list for next time.

• Sea turtle watching
• Whale watching
• Try to spear a Lionfish
• Hike as many of the Waitukubuli National Trail Segments as I possibly can
• Spend a day with Wacky Rollers
• Enjoy the white sand beaches on the island
• Do my first night dive

Those are just the things off the top of my head, I know there is so much more to experience.

I recently learnt of the phrase “I going, to come back”, it took me a few moments to figure it out; you’re going and you’re coming back.

So you might be in a bar and you need to go home to get something but you will be back.

In my case, I’m going back to England for a while and I will be coming back to Dominica!

To read read more about Kim’s adventures click here

Having become a certified diver within the last 5 months, the idea of going diving without the watchful eye of my Dad ( a Dive Instructor) was a bit daunting; alas I’m so glad that I did it, and to have done it with a friend too was a great experience.

Brenda and I booked our dives with Al-Dive. Our boat captain said that we were headed South to Scott’s Head for our the experience. During the boat ride Brenda and I were asking questions about the dive site, what to expect to see, how deep is it, and at what depth would we be doing our safety stop; things every diver should know before they get into the water.

As a standard hand signal to the trained diver the “thumbs-up” indicates you’re going up to the surface. For me I do this signal on a daily basis; on dry land it means cool! So to not confuse our dive guide, we had switched to the “rock-on” hand signal instead of the “thumbs-up”. At least this way we both knew we were having fun!

Now as you know, Lionfish are an issue for the population of the fish on the island, my dad and his business partner are your local ‘Lionfish Hunters’, they get them from the sea, to the restaurant and onto your plates!

I was on the lookout for these deadly yet beautiful fish and only spotted one; the Lionfish cull is doing well in the south of the island.

After our adventure into the Big Blue, Brenda and I toasted with a Kubuli and a Guinness at The Loft, whilst watching the dolphins at sunset. It was a perfect way to end the day.

 To read read more about Kim’s adventures click here

Victoria Falls taken by Images Dominica Getting Married in Dominica

Warm days allow for picnicking on wild Atlantic beaches or snorkeling among bubbling springs. Perhaps an excursion to hidden waterfalls or taking in the crystal night sky.

When it rains, you can soak in steamy sulfur pools, or snuggle with your partner as raindrops pat against the roof.

Amid Bird Watching, Canyoning, Scuba diving, Hiking, Kayaking, Whale Watching, Sightseeing… or simply taking in a sunset on a quiet beach, there’s a little bit of everything for the romantic adventurer in you.

So if you are preparing a 12-13-14 wedding or just a special get-away,  December in Dominica will not disappoint.

For more information about tieing the knot in Dominica, check out Getting Married in Dominica

As the month of June rolls in, warm salty evenings prickle with the pulsing drum and bass, with trumpets, clarinets and flutes in a build up the main stage event held on Sunday.

On the day, in the restored fortress at Cabrits National Park, the view is spectacular. Vast skies crash into the raw forested mountains, and the calm cobalt blue bay is dotted with yachts and sailboats.

The stage is set among the ruins of the old Fort and the crowd feasts and sashés to the energetic songs of each musical artist.

It is an intimate setting shared with incredible performances by Angelique Kidjo, Marlow Rosado y La Riqueña, Heston Francis, the 8th Note Jazz Band, Breve, and the Jacques Schwarz-Bart Voodoo Trio. At this celebration, it is a meeting place, where everyone becomes immersed in the musical, cultural and historical smoothie that is Jazz and Creole.

For more information about Jazz ‘n Creole, see Visit-Dominica.com

“For the adjective meaning of or relating to botany or the cultivation of plants, botanic and botanical are both acceptable, and there is no difference between them, but botanical is more common in 21st-century English.” – source: grammarist.com

There’s something magical about walking through the 40 acres that make up Dominica’s Botanical Gardens.

The gardens were originally created in 1890 with over 500 different species of tropical trees and shrubs when the garden was fully developed, I can’t even begin to imagine the various wildlife inhabitants that would have been thriving in there at the time.

90 years later, Hurricane David tore through Dominica flattening trees and buildings in its path, destroying roads and bridges that went in and out of Roseau Town.

The only physical evidence of the hurricane is the yellow school bus that was crushed by a gigantic African Baobab Tree in the Gardens.

As destructive as Mother Nature is, years after this catastrophic event the African Baobab Tree continues to flourish and flower each year, even with the Bus in its clasp.

There are many different flowers and plants that can be seen throughout the gardens, displaying a beautiful array of colours and scents.

The Botanic Gardens in Roseau are a perfect getaway for a lunch break or a morning stroll before work.

There are many different spots to explore within the Gardens, whether its the Parrot Aviary, the Bamboo House or a small hike up Jacks Walk for a magnificent aerial view of Roseau from Morne Bruce.

This is the perfect destination to come to should you be have any aches and pains. Whether you’ve just hiked the beautiful Trafalgar Falls which neighbours Papillote, or you’ve come on vacation to escape the daily hustle and bustle of life, it’s time to concentrate on number one.

At Papillote you can indulge in a personal health and wellness programme, customised to your needs. Try the local juice (whichever is in season, they’re all great) combined with a dasheen puff for a quick snack. After a massage or meandering through the gardens, sip your cocoa tea on the verandah overlooking the verdant Roseau Valley. Take a calming private yoga class surrounded by the picturesque rainforest or just sit… and listen to the birds chirping and the sound of rain dripping from the foliage. Soak in a natural hot pool, then jump into the cold pool for a quick refresh, all while gazing upon your own private waterfall in a secluded, natural hideaway.

A day spent in the natural setting at Papillote is a complete health and wellness experience all its own!

One of the first things I spotted in Dominica was the abundance of Cars in the Bush, quite literally; cars that have been long forgotten at the side of the road, in the bush even on the trails.

Trying to guess how long the vehicle has been wrapped up in the tresses of Mother Nature is pretty tough. There are a few trucks where the entire front cab is a combination of vines and leaves, the front tyres are a mass of foliage, and don’t look as though they will see the tarmac again.

Seeing these trucks and cars makes me want an endless bank balance and a huge garage where I can restore them back to a working order and sell them onto a new caring owner.

This stunning island has so many hidden gems in bush, I doubt I’ll be able to see them all before I leave; so I’m going to open my blog up to the public; I’d love to get your submissions of cars or trucks in unusual places. These cars don’t necessarily have to be on the island of Dominica, if it’s a car in the bush, snap a photo of it, add brief description of where it is and email it straight to the blog: cuve143bise@post.wordpress.com

Perhaps I am a little, as this was my second time on one of the most demanding trails in Dominica in less than 5 months.

It’s one of those hikes, where if you’re not used to hiking it takes every bit of your willpower and drive to keep going. But the views along the way make the trek worth every bead of sweat and ache that your body goes through!

Knowing that I would be standing on the highest point on the trail at 2,950 ft, with an amazing view overlooking Roseau, the sort of view that you’d imagine being able to see from a helicopter ride, made the hike to the Look-Out Point well worth it.

From these luscious green mountain tops, you travel down to the Valley of Desolation, where there used to be masses of greenery and vegetation; in my mind it’s the dead zone, pools of boiling water and clay combined with the smell of sulphur in the air. You know Mother Nature has had her way here. The vegetation is pretty sparse in the Valley, there are patches of moss with a few flowers poking out and a few shrubs scattered about. It’s a huge contrast from walking for 2 hours in the rainforest!

After a few more ups and downs, scrambling over tree roots, putting my little legs through their paces, we made it to the Boiling Lake.

Once you’re there, you’ve a great sense of achievement. To be able to say that you’ve hiked to the second largest hot spring in the world is pretty awesome!

The reason for the steam and moisture in the air at the lake is due to two streams in the lake and rainfall, going down into the lava below, where it heats to boiling point and rises back up.

For someone like me who has very little hiking experience, I’m glad I did it. I can tick it off of my list of things to do.

Time to say bon voyage to my Converse, they have done me proud. They carried me to Boiling Lake and back.

Time to embark on a new adventure with a new pair.

To read read more about Kim’s adventures click here

What a colourful explosion of culture and heritage on display in the streets of Roseau today. Dominica’s Carnival got started at 4 am with “J’Ouvert” – the traditional opening jump-up of Mas Domnik. Then Traditional Ole Mas and School Bands hit the streets for their rounds from 10 am.  See some of the parade below.

From 2 pm this afternoon the T-Shirt Bands will hit the parade route.

Then don’t miss tomorrow’s parade – Carnival Tuesday features the newly crowned Carnival King & Queen and the Costume Bands. See you there!

For more about Carnival see these resources:

• Carnival in Dominica
• 2014 Carnival Winners