Floral Garden Hotel Dominica

... nature is a gentle peace; quiet in a land of towering mountains and cascading rivers. Stepping back in time, you are miles away from the modern world and its fast pace, time moves slowly in Dominica and that is the way Dominicans like it.

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Well, yesterday was an annoying day. LIAT doesn't tell you that they are making 2-3 stops, so what was a 1.5 hour flight became a 5 hour flight. ON the plane, I learned that my new beautiful silver bracelet, which cost me $180 EC, or $60 US, really should have cost $160 EC for 2 (they are supposed to come in pairs). That's what I get for rushing around and for buying at stupid duty free, and not from a local. Ok, 3rd annoying thing. Got ...

I'm leaving today. I'm a mixture of happy and sad. I got a ride to the airport with the american couple which saved me $70 US. Yesterday was fairly uneventful. Got back on the bus from Roseau. Getting around has been an intricate system of connections. Some people know who I am before I get there because of staying with the Grand Fond families. That village was remote ...

... types of "local rum" (infused rum). Dandelion, basil, and lemongrass. Got pretty tipsy off of that. Then drove back. (I left out the videos from this). Double timed it up to my treehouse because it was near dark and I didn't have my flashlight. Took a shower by flashlight, which i Love. Tomorrow I am going back to my homestays. Also doing a "mystery tour" for $60 US. Don't know how else to get around without doing that. It keeps me from having to rent a car. Today I just tried ...

... it's incredibly worth it! I recommend renting one of the lifejackets or noodles if you're not a strong swimmer, as the current can be strong. However, it's not a long swim to the end. The waterfall at the end of the gorge is breathtaking...We're shooting ourselves every day, since no one brought their water cameras...but that scene will stay with us.

Afterwards we had the choice of going to Trafalgar falls or ...

... guide on an approximately 20 minute trek on rustic paths, negotiating many steep steps, to the Emerald Pool which is formed by delicate waterfall cascading over a fern-covered cliff. Well, let me tell you that the name is quite suited for the falls. It has this deep rich greeny colour which is a reflection of all of the tropical foliage and ferns around it. It was extremely outstanding. People were swimming in the ...

Each Island/Country we travel to have its own set of customs and immigrations rules, based on the same principles as each other but sometimes implemented differently. After a confusing dinghy ride in which we circled a cruise ship, got pulled over and reprimanded by the Coast Guard we finally found The Customs and Immigration in Roseau the Capital of Dominica. To say the customs official was an over officious, power wielding thug may be a bit over the top or then ...

... movements of a boat at sea...needless to say, I lost twice, but it was so much fun.

Afterwards, we enjoyed an evening stroll around the upper decks of the ship. Even right now, there is still a very warm breeze and the stars are all out tonight. You could see one island way off in the distance, as well as a couple of ships, but the rest is blackness. You can see the dark waves right around the boat, especially at ...

... and nothing grows there. It was like the moon, or mars, but smelly. Kept climbing up and up and along mountain ridges higher and higher until finally got to Boiling Lake - and it was worth every step. An evil, weird place - a massive grey lake spinning and bubbling out of control - boiling hugely. Crazy. We chose this crazy place to eat our sandwiches and watch a group of older english people gradually collapse. And then we had to go all the way back down - 3 hours of agony and ...

... into the ditch. With the local guy behind the wheel he puts it in 4 wheel drive and starts to rock the vehicle as I push from behind. Now that I think about it, I'm surprised and lucky that I didn't get run over by our own rental while he was rocking the vehicle. Finally after a few stressed filled sweaty minutes we force the vehicle out of the ditch. We thank the guy and are on our way, albeit in 4 wheel drive ...