Adventures for Anyone: February 2023

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

St. Lucia...The Wildest Ride I've Ever Had!

As you all know, I visited St. Lucia recently and discovered that most people I've ever talked to have been missing most of the experience of visiting the country. When I booked my trip, I purposely didn't take a cruise or stay at a resort. As a matter of fact, I didn't visit the north end of the country at all. I'd seen videos about it and read all about it. It seemed nice, but I felt and still feel that it only has so much to do with the country. We all know that all inclusive resorts are for people who like things to be easy. You get to go there and everyone else worries about your good time. I get it, but that's not traveling. That's tourism. I believe that, and you'll never convince me otherwise.

When you arrive in St. Lucia, it most likely will be mid to late afternoon. This especially rings true if you come in from the United States. The airlines tend to have one flight a day. They come in with visitors, turn the plane and take visitors back home. Remember, this is an international airport and that means that there are flights coming in from all over the world. Afternoon is just the time allotted mostly for American tourists.

The first thing that you notice when you arrive is that it isn't the type of airport you're used to if coming from the states. You will be exiting down stairs and not through a jetway. It seems old school, but it works. From that point you expect a kind of backwards experience, but wrong again. You will find yourself in a line for entry into the country. Your passport will be examined and the security staff will ask questions. For instance, they wanted to know where I was staying and I didn't have much to tell them. We rented an apartment in Marigot Bay from a person who we knew their name, but we didn't have a regular street address to report. The official hopped on her computer with the information I gave her and found what she needed. Once again, not backward. Tech savvy and able to solve the issue in a matter of minutes. Then we were on our way.

Another thing that might surprise you about Hewanorra International Airport is that most services are provided right at the terminal and are outside. There's an outdoor terrace area where all of the shuttles and rental cars and such are provided. We noticed immediately that most people weren't picking up a rental car as we were. There were a plethora of vans, cars and so forth with the standard color coded license plates that most tourists didn't understand the significance of anyway.

Learn this one. Black license plates tend to be regular cars and vehicles. Blue tends to mean taxi. Green tends to mean public transportation. Yellow tends to mean government vehicle. That covers most vehicles you may encounter in the country. Public transportation tends to be minibuses and vans with green plates. They run semi regular routes across the country. Make sure you do some research before being that much of a local. I didn't even go there, but I did see how it could be a lot of fun if done properly.

Taxis are a way of life in St. Lucia. They tend to have blue license plates and they are a viable mode of transportation. Always make sure you discuss your fare before setting out. They can be expensive. Most taxis also offer guided tours if scheduled ahead of time. Once again, discuss the price for your adventure before taking off on said adventure. Other things to remember about taxis are that you should see the credentials of your driver. If you see the roads in St. Lucia, you'll know how important it is to have a qualified driver. Professional drivers in St. Lucia go to school for their license. In Castries where the cruise ships dock and at the airport you'll find tons of people with cars and vans asking if you want a taxi. They can be quite insistent, so be clear and decisive if you don't want one. I didn't make it to the north end of the country, but I'm guessing that my advice is useful up there as well.

We had a rough day of travel, so after an easy pick up of our rental car (minimum age 21, maximum age 65 for rentals) and purchase of required driving permits for St. Lucia ($22 US) we went in search of basic needs before driving halfway across the country or 37 miles. One of our first stops was at a stand nearby the exit from the airport, sitting directly on the shore that sold chicken and sides for dinner. This was my first look and taste of local food. The chicken was Caribbean spicy and so was the rice. It was delicious. Stands turned out to be some of the best places in the country to eat. They aren't designed for the sheltered tourist and tend to have real local food. However, if you take a day tour with a guide, you will have the chance to stop a stand along the way and try local faire.

We met our first two stray dogs at that stand. Strays are what Americans would call a problem, but in St. Lucia are just a way of life. The random animals, whether dogs, cats, chickens or goats are calm and friendly and tend to be pretty good at taking care of themselves. It was something to get used to, but perfectly normal in St. Lucia.

Some of the other things to get used to is driving. St. Lucians drive on the left of the road and the drivers side of the car is the right. We found out quickly that since we got an automatic transmission vehicle, which isn't a foregone conclusion so make sure you're specific when renting a car, that most parts of driving backward from what we're used to isn't really a problem. Two of the most aggravating parts of the adjustment from right to left was remembering which way to look at intersections and turn signals. We spent days turning on the windshield wipers instead of turn signals before getting it right.

Once we'd done our business in Vieux Fort, we headed across the country to our apartment in Marigot Bay. St. Lucia has a main road called the Micoud Highway. This main drag goes from Vieux Fort to Point du Cap. It goes up the east side of the island and crosses the midsection to the west coast then up through the capital of Castries to the resort areas of the north. It's a handy road that if you follow it, you won't get lost.

Driving in St. Lucia is a bit tricky and it's more than just being on the alien side of the road and hitting the windshield wipers every time you make a turn. The roads in St. Lucia are part of the adventure. They're narrow, curvy, and full of potholes. If you're expecting signs to give you any kind of information, forget that. Google shows most roads as unknown roads. That's how hard it is to get information about where you are. That doesn't meant that Google won't get you where you're going. It did a great job of that. We never got lost once.

What you will find is that driving in St. Lucia isn't for the feint of heart. A curve is normally a hairpin turn. The roads go up and down elevations like a roller coaster. There are no shoulders, lines on the road, and very few guard rails. This means you need to pay attention. If you pay attention to where you're driving, you'll be fine. I recommend taking a full sized map along with you. It helps get your bearings about where you're at and where you're going. By the time you've driven the thirty miles or so to your destination, you'll get the lay of the land. It's really not hard.

The other thing that you'll need to get used to about driving is the locals and the potholes and road construction. The locals know the roads well. They tend to drive like they know the roads by heart and that can be unnerving for us tourists. Our method was just to let them pass and go on their way. But also remember, if for any reason you find yourself by the side of the road with a flat tire or just being a lost tourist; the locals will stop and make sure you're all right before they go on their way. The people of St. Lucia are some of the most wonderful people you'll ever meet.

We didn't have any car trouble on our trip, so no locals had to help us with that. But, we were coming back from a day out and decided to check out a local village near our apartment. We went down a side road through banana plantations and discovered a rainbow. We pulled over to take pictures of said rainbow and couldn't get the view we wanted. We went back and forth a bit to find the optimum view. By the time we'd driven up and down the road a bit, a local came by and stopped to ask if we were lost or needed help with anything. We explained the rainbow and he smiled and told us to have a good time. Friendly and wonderful. This you will find in St. Lucia.

Then, there are potholes. I don't mean regular potholes. I mean things that could eat your car. When we rented our car, the agent highly recommended we get the insurance. When we returned the car, he was genuinely surprised that the car had survived.

It can be tricky. Sometimes, you're driving along a cliff and there's a giant pothole. You have to make sure you don't drive into the drainage ditch at the side of the road or off the cliff while trying to miss the potholes. Also the roads are narrow. I mean not even two lanes wide here in the U.S. Throw in some hairpin turns and it can become a sport very quickly. So, here we were driving up and down mountains, on narrow roads with hairpin turns, along cliffs, dodging potholes, on the left side of the road. Was it worth it? Absolutely. I recommend it highly. By day two, you're pretty used to it and after a few days, you're a pro. It gives you freedom to see the country on your own time and feel like you've immersed yourself in the culture. Make sure you aren't driving alone though. You will need a navigator so you can keep your eyes on the road.

There are other things to be aware of when you drive yourself around the island. Traffic is the biggest one. By day three I was calling the cruise and resort crowd an invasive species. We went to Castries on day two and the traffic was outrageous; particularly at 8 am and 4 pm. It was all due to the guided tours leaving and arriving back at the cruise ship port. We sat in traffic jams that were almost entirely tour vans. It really puts a damper on an otherwise great day of checking out the capital.

Other things that we discovered are as follows. There are treacherous drainage ditches both in the cities and in the country across the island. It rains five times a day during the dry season and the ditches are necessary to keep the roads from flooding. However, the roads are narrow and you have to be careful not to run off the road into a ditch.

So, in short, driving in St. Lucia is challenging, but worth it. Parking isn't really a problem. If you're somewhere and can't figure out where to park the car, the locals will help you figure it out. They will also charge you for helping you find a place to park in a parking lot, so watch out for that. Most people will happily just answer your questions. We couldn't figure out where to park in Castries and the locals explained every integral quirk about parking in their city. We were grateful for the information and then had no problem finding a place to park. The key to getting around St. Lucia is meeting the people. They are always willing to help and give information on whatever you need.

The thing about St. Lucia is that we didn't want to miss it by barely having contact with the island. We rented our car and drove it for a week and had a great time. We didn't have a massive accident. We didn't get lost. The car didn't break down. It was wonderful, even though in the beginning it was a challenge. I can say the by the time I returned to New England, I was wondering why there were so many road signs. Suddenly they seemed unnecessary. So, rent a car, see the island of St. Lucia and enjoy!

Links to accommodations, tours, resorts, and cruises can be found at:

https://adventuresforanyone.blogspot.com/2023/02/st-lucia-post-1overview.html

St. Lucia Post 1...Overview

Hello, and welcome to a series of posts about the Caribbean Island Nation of St. Lucia. Please note that several links provided in this post will not be included in any posts after this and will be referenced as previous material to look at. The reason for this is that there's just too much and I don't want to link it all again.

St. Lucia is one of the more southern Caribbean Islands and is just south of Martinique and north of St. Vincent. It is tropical, mountainous, heavily populated, rain forested, dramatic, and busy most of the time. That's just how it is. St. Lucia is modern, business minded, and a place where things happen. The island was riddled with the invasive algae and seaweed plaguing the Caribbean and they solved the problem by turning it into a fertilizer business. The creativity will amaze you in that country.

You don't wear anything camouflage in St. Lucia. They are a country that was invaded 14 separate times by European behemoths France and Britain. Seven times by each empire. After countless decades, even centuries, St. Lucia was finally able to declare its independence in 1979. By choice, they remain a protectorate of Great Britain.

Independence day is February 22nd and is a well observed holiday. Most businesses are closed and people have a chance to celebrate with their families.

What can I say as an overview about this magnificent country? They're tech savvy. They're industrious. They know where their money comes from and they work hard to make all they can. This means tourism.

As you can see, I've listed more links than ever below about this country's options for visiting. Cruise ships stop by daily. Resort hotels abound. I've never seen so many tour companies in my life. Over 300 ship visits a year in the harbor in Castries, the capital. Between 25 and 40 resort hotels across the country, mostly in the north end of the island. There are so many tour companies of various kinds that I can't give an accurate number or even come close. Tourism is the thing in St. Lucia.

Here's the question. What do visitors learn about St. Lucia when they visit?

Absolutely nothing. Most tourists come in and visit some key locations and spend a lot of money at markets and duty free shops across the country. Most visitors only see any bit of the real St. Lucia between 8 am and 4 pm on any given day. Most people go home with their souvenirs and think they've had an experience. Most people are missing it. It's like they come in with their money, their tour guides, and their phones and then go running before dinner time. Folks, you're looking but not seeing. You've just taken a well designed trip to the main tourist attractions and missed it. I'm writing these blogs to try and get people to take some time and visit the Caribbean Islands that they barely see from all inclusive resorts and day visits on cruises. Take a closer look. You'll be amazed at what you see.

Let's just tackle the basics. Vieux Fort at the very south point of the island is where the international airport is. There's a Sandals Lounge there. This is because Sandals owns three different all inclusive resorts on the island and this is where you wait for your transfer to their resorts on the opposite end of the island. You can take shuttle, boat or even helicopter to get from one end of the island to the other. What will you miss? The entire country. Think about that.

Those tours? They are all offered by locals and their companies. That's great. In St. Lucia you've entered a country where they know their industry, and that's tourism. They take you where you want to go. You can personalize over 200 tours in that country. The locals will tell you the history, the industry, the holidays and so on. They give wonderful information. They also go to work at 4 am to make that local food that you buy at the stands along the way. They sometimes don't get home until 8 or 9 pm because they were busy making money on other people's time. They show you what you want to see, because it's how they make money. They never complain. They almost never show you the real St. Lucia. They don't mind, because it's how they earn a living. What do the tourists miss? So much.

Did you know that Carnival weekend means a music fest across the island? Local businesses shut down and the parking lots are turned into local concert venues. Did you know that many locals like country music? I didn't, but I learned that. It's an interesting thing that I would never have learned on a tour. There's so much to learn. There's so many wonderful things most people don't know. The people who live in this island paradise know their jobs. Their jobs are to show tourists what they want to see. This is quite often not the real St. Lucia.

Are you surprised yet? You should be. Did you know that most places to get food in the entire country close early? The tourists go back to the boat and the resort by 5 pm. At that point, almost every food outlet in the touristy parts of the country close down. Their business is over for the day. The restaurants at the resorts stay open late for guests returning from a tour and charge ridiculous amounts of money for food that has nothing to do with local faire. Fact. The worst part of that is that those few travelers who want to experience the country are left wondering what to do about food. There were times that we got heat and eat from the local grocery store like the locals do after a long day at work.

Most tourists love their souvenirs. They go to stands, or the market in Castries and shop. They come away with all sorts of souvenirs and take them home to remember their visit. Did you buy an authentic St. Lucian item? Probably not. Most of the souvenirs sold in the country can be found at any stand. That's because they probably came from China. Fact. Sarongs, tote bags, clothes, and those necklaces that the locals tell you stories about that they made? They didn't. Think about it. These are people who spend all day at work 364 days a year. After that, they go home and raise families. If you don't see them making the items where you buy them, then rest assured; they didn't make them. Once again, they know what tourists expect to buy and they sell it. Don't feel slighted, especially Americans. They give you what you expect.

You want to know what to buy? Baron's products. They have banana ketchup and other spicy things. It's produced right on the island by locals. You could also buy rum. Bounty Rum products and Marigot Bay are local. Piton Beer is another local product. You may be lucky enough to find a wood carver working at their stand or stall. That's a local handicraft. So, be different, buy something that actually comes from the island. Talk to the people at their stands and stalls. Ask a lot of questions. They'll tell you what's what and you can buy some authentic souvenirs. If you don't know where to look, I can tell you that there's a stand in Marigot Bay that sells wooden wind chimes that are hand made. There's a stand on the way to Soufriere from Castries that sells all the Baron products. There's a café at Rainforest Adventures where you can try juices made from local fruits. There's a chocolate factory on the way to Soufriere from Castries with authentic local products and chocolates. Look for the real. You'll be impressed.

And so we begin a discussion that I think is important to put out there. I intend in the following blog posts to discuss why St. Lucia is the perfect example of overlooked wonders. I think that it's time we learned to explore instead of momentarily invade a wonderful country. In the following posts, I hope that you'll learn enough about truly experiencing St. Lucia to want to explore it yourselves. Even if you only look at this one post and see the overwhelming list of links for cruises, tours, taxis, resorts and so on; think about what this says. It says that you've missed the real country. If that's what you really want to do, then stop reading here and enjoy.

http://www.baronfoodsltd.com/

https://www.minube.net/place/pointe-seraphine--a111232

https://allaboutstlucia.com/duty-free/

https://seaspraycruises.com/cruise-ship-excursions/

https://www.beachvacationsandmore.com/st-lucia-shore-excursions.html

https://www.cruisehive.com/top-things-to-do-in-st-lucia-while-on-a-cruise/27828

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https://www.cruises.com/?gclid=CjwKCAiAxvGfBhB-EiwAMPakqp8diOHnbFp-8C2sgHGun-DKs0B1__Br6WmPqhuIAUhxAjOqQHmqoxoCcGEQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

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https://www.seabourn.com/en_US/find-a-cruise.html?xid=EXTSPS20230217N478N6GBUR&gclid=CjwKCAiAxvGfBhB-EiwAMPakqk0n_6mCd6wDI7wXQyhX1TpQlQaYbA0R7Fms_AQ4omKmpwBifIh8vBoCoYMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#soldOut=false&group.sort=&sort=departDate%20asc,price_USD_anonymous%20asc&&%7B!tag=destinationTag%7DdestinationIds=&%7B!tag=embarkTag%7DembarkPortCode=&%7B!tag=departTag%7DdepartDate=&%7B!tag=durationTag%7Dduration=&%7B!tag=shipsTag%7DshipId=&%7B!tag=cruisetypeTag%7DcruiseType=&%7B!tag=portsTag%7DportsOfCall=&&&&&&start=72

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https://www.ownerdirect.com/accommodation/st-lucia

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https://www.holidayhomes.com/search/53dbaf8cedd1d?campaign=compare%2Fall%2Fa%2FhomeToGoVacationRentals%2F53dbaf8cedd1d%2F%2F%2F%2FMH1C63Y104W0TYXM&pricetype=totalPrice&puccc=eyJob2xpZGF5SG9tZXMiOjEsImhvbWV0b2dvR3JwIjoxfQ%3D%3D

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https://www.bookislandtours.com/st-lucia.html

https://www.ventureashore.com/caribbean/castries-st-lucia/?cnt=US&utm_term=&utm_campaign=DSA-Ports-Of-Call-US&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=CjwKCAiAxvGfBhB-EiwAMPakqrt1XWJ_mxLLZ4mwamfpPmyzWeuH4tFBedhrFBDFo_qUrSZhXKUYPxoCowMQAvD_BwE

https://www.realsaintluciatours.com/

https://www.stlucia.org/en/covid-19/tour-companies/

https://www.visitacity.com/en/st-lucia/activities/all-activities?activitiesSearchByName=castries%20tour&sbi=Castries&sbn_sec=tour&actid=44924P1&gclid=CjwKCAiAxvGfBhB-EiwAMPakqkeRGZyqnFJ6eW72y_-7eIjD1zDLWRkQeJ20GESSUDjUPmfy91ZSqBoCb9UQAvD_BwE

https://www.toursbylocals.com/Castries-Tour-Guides?gclid=CjwKCAiAxvGfBhB-EiwAMPakqoGb_8LFdImxzgoOf0WXGT0bsW_MwIxkzHWvt4ucE01QFu-gMEA9OhoCe60QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://happydaytoursstlucia.com/

https://www.oasismarigot.com/st-lucia-island/things-to-do/day-sail-tours/

https://www.cosol-tours.com/

https://www.islandroutes.com/caribbean-tours/st-lucia/

https://www.getyourguide.com/saint-lucia-l169165/

https://www.viator.com/St-Lucia-tourism/d38-r19995046211-s227187731?mcid=28353&tsem=true&supci=1285095383&supag=19995046211&supsc=aud-435409373039%3Akwd-166333891451&supai=275956662373&supap=&supdv=c&supnt=g&supti=aud-435409373039%3Akwd-166333891451&suplp=1014699&supli=&m=28353&supag=19995046211&supsc=aud-435409373039%3Akwd-166333891451&supai=275956662373&supap=&supdv=c&supnt=nt%3Ag&suplp=1014699&supli=&supti=aud-435409373039%3Akwd-166333891451&tsem=true&supci=aud-435409373039%3Akwd-166333891451&supap1=&supap2=&gclid=CjwKCAiAxvGfBhB-EiwAMPakqowzqIhv7p92ygXuQ7fMsoNplDKeSfhL3v6sSfpvv3KIRvOnJ2XEXxoCHx8QAvD_BwE

https://www.saintluciaairportshuttle.com/getting-around-st-lucia.html

https://www.tripsavvy.com/getting-around-st-lucia-4844167

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

It's Called Nusa Penida; Just in Case Bali Wasn't Quite Remote Enough

I love to watch travel vloggers on YouTube. It makes me smile. One of my favorites is World Wanderista, a young Belgian traveler who favors waterfalls and the locations to find them. Is it any wonder, those of you who know me, that I'd be drawn to such videos?

I was watching Joelle, the World Wanderista the other day, and discovered something I had no idea of. In Indonesia, there's an island known as Bali. That I knew, as did anyone who ever saw "South Pacific." But, in Bali you can catch a ferry to a more remote set of islands, one of which is Nusa Penida. Who knew there was something more remote than Bali close to Bali? I know there are thousands of islands in Indonesia. I'm a traveler and I get it. But, Nusa Penida has luxury hotels, cars to rent, convenient ferry service, tour companies, activities, and villages. It's not some deserted island.

Nusa Penida has treehouses, wild trails, wonderful beaches, waterfalls, and a giant swing off a cliff. Quite a place to spend at least a day if you happen to be in the area. I'm not going to say much about this. I've included all kinds of material from vlogs, blogs, and YouTube for your consideration. I just thought it amazing that there was a busy place more remote than Bali available to tourists.

Nusa Penida is popular as a day trip from Bali. The idea is to catch a ferry to the island, take a tour of the high points, try some local food, and head back to Bali.

The Pura Goa Giri Putri Cave, Peguyangan Waterfall, Seganing Falls, Kelingking T-Rex, and Thousand Island Viewpoint all have rough trails. Steep trails, cliffs and tons of steps and stairs. Is the view worth it? Of course. But, just in case you're not up for a rough walk, these places may not be for you.

Maybe you'd rather go to the beach? Diamond Beach and Atuh Beach are two of the most popular beaches on the islands. There are also activities water related on this island. You can kayak, snorkel, dive or swim with manta rays. There are lots of reasons to spend time in the water in this area.

Hotels aren't hard to find, from luxury to hostel. Hoteliers know their market, and if there's a place to build, they will. The ferries run back and forth all the time, so it's easy to grab a bag and go to the quiet island for a bit and then head back to Bali, the main remote island. Restaurants are plentiful, history is in action, temples are here and there for you to see. It's a full on tourism experience on an island more remote than Bali. I love it.

So, there's a surprise that I hadn't heard of with all the amenities you might want or need. So, there's one more reason to visit Asian Pacific and Indian Ocean islands. There's one more reason to visit Indonesia.

Do consider taking a tour of this island. It's easier to get around with a guide to see all the wonders that the tiny island has to offer. If you wish to stay over, by all means use one of the many options they have available. Do not try to book a flight to this island. The ferry is how you get there. Check the State Department website as always for information before going to a foreign country. Use the advice they give wisely.

So, if your getaway to Indonesia, with a getaway to Bali in the schedule isn't a getaway enough; check out Nusa Penida and get that true getaway feeling. The nature is beautiful, the beaches are beautiful, even the treehouses are beautiful. Pack a bag and run away. Enjoy!

https://www.viator.com/Bali-attractions/Penida-Island-Nusa-Penida/d98-a16276?mcid=28353&tsem=true&supci=-987491552&supag=49463267457&supsc=aud-435409373039%3Akwd-391804426776&supai=292832933688&supap=&supdv=c&supnt=g&supti=aud-435409373039%3Akwd-391804426776&suplp=9003419&supli=&m=28353&supag=49463267457&supsc=aud-435409373039%3Akwd-391804426776&supai=292832933688&supap=&supdv=c&supnt=nt%3Ag&suplp=9003419&supli=&supti=aud-435409373039%3Akwd-391804426776&tsem=true&supci=aud-435409373039%3Akwd-391804426776&supap1=&supap2=&gclid=CjwKCAiAuOieBhAIEiwAgjCvcmCc7Q_eOe7mb8C4CVAcPOXdRPZArtlfw2m3tKD1XgNHKh6MPyz4KRoCXYsQAvD_BwE

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Products-g2538506-a_contentId.38901395922+714316317-Nusa_Penida_Bali.html

https://www.journeyera.com/things-to-do-nusa-penida/

https://www.saltinourhair.com/bali/things-to-do-nusa-penida/

https://wanderersandwarriors.com/things-to-do-on-nusa-penida/

https://lovehardtraveloften.com/indonesia/things-to-do-nusa-penida/

https://wanderingwheatleys.com/best-things-to-do-in-nusa-penida-indonesia/

https://dailytravelpill.com/top-things-to-do-nusa-penida/

https://www.jonnymelon.com/things-to-do-nusa-penida-bali/

https://digitaltravelcouple.com/best-things-to-do-nusa-penida/

https://www.wisatamurahnusapenida.com/

https://www.airbnb.com/penida-island-indonesia/things-to-do