a warm vacation?

Visit Caribbean With An Open Mind
By William Doyle-Marshall
When one entertains the thought of tourism, visions of sandy beaches where some foreigners land and mindlessly collapse for days burning themselves crisp. But that image is seriously changing especially when the vacation spot is on any of the Caribbean islands.
   Promoters of tourism in that part of the world have begun to recognize that the industry known as tourism extends beyond that very narrow confine. Gone are the times when mainly people of European heritage were catered to under this rubric. Anyone qualifies for this designation as long as you are a traveler and spends at least one night in a particular community. It doesn’t matter where you sleep – in a rooming house, a tent, on the river bank, at the YMCA or YWCA or maybe a hotel. To put it simply, you could be a tourist in the country of your birth or the same city where you live with members of your family.
    A loud hallelujah has to go out to the leadership of the Caribbean Tourism Organization. The irony of this situation is truly mind boggling. For decades some leaders from that region have spoken of their respective islands being cosmopolitan in nature. But that boast, while accurate, did not extend into the real world that followed their glorious speeches. Most likely those same leaders never went too far from their very comfortable homes and places of work. A few did but most feared to explore the unknown. And the adventurous ones are richer for it.

   Clearly there is emerging on the Caribbean archipelago a fresh breed of thinkers. And this is visible at a glance to a point. Colourful brochures that fall into our hands beckon us to come and explore natural beauties.

   A place in point is St. Kitts and Nevis. I am always at home when I land on that blessed soil. There is a certain calm that occupies you from the moment you arrive at the lovely airport where very attentive and personable staff process your travel documents. They seem to set the scene for you to enjoy your stay. For some good reason their smiling faces are real. According to the song ‘their smiling faces tell no lie’.
    I love to eat. My greatest pleasure is enjoying the delight in the middle of the city or countryside beaches where the nationals of the country create dishes based on their true natural customs. I am talking about those ladies who use the pinch method. They create the dishes from day to day with a heavy serving of love. You can tell by its taste that the creator of that meal wanted you to enjoy it so they did their natural best to tantalize your pallet.
    Let’s say for a moment you know nothing about the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis, you would be compelled to read about the place prior to even purchasing your airline ticket or maybe you plan to use your boat. But whatever your method of transportation, you feel compelled to explore by letting your fingers do the advance walking.
   There are exhausting, mind-boggling culinary offerings awaiting your arrival. The well produced colourful periodical – St. Kitts & Nevis Visitor – Two Islands, One paradise – that the government and hoteliers make available leaves very little to your imagination. It is a must read if you are the cautious kind of conservative traveler.
   Chief Damien Hearney offers you “fire roasted shrimp with a passion fruit and sorrel vinaigrette served over rainforest greens with a refreshing Banana Coolata at The Beach House. At Serendipity Restaurant Chef Alex ensures that everyone who dines under his roof savours the taste of royalty in his beef tenderloin and Sauteed Black Tiger Shrimp topped with pate and sliced truffles. The Royal Palm at Ottley’s Plantation Inn merges island favourites with cuisines from around the world.
   Dominica prides itself on being the only Caribbean destination with a walking trail that extends the length of the island. The Waitukubuli National Trail – named after the Carib Indian name for Dominica – is 115 miles long and is divided into 14 contiguous segments that can take an experienced hiker nearly two weeks to complete. The trail leads visitors into the heart of local communities while passing through mountainous landscapes and rainforests, and past rivers and waterfalls. The annual Hike Fest in May every year, celebrates the Nature Island’s best hiking venues, which include the Waitukubuli National Trail.
    According to the country’s press information, Creole food is its specialty. It featuring fresh tropical fruits and vegetables, local fish, island herbs and spices. Dishes are spicy, but not flaming hot. Dominica's restaurants serve an eclectic menu of continental and West Indian dishes served with a backdrop of captivating panoramas of the island's unmatched natural beauty.
   Shopping in Grenada is truly a treat.  It is advised that best buys are locally made handicrafts, spice baskets, straw work, wood carvings, batik and screen-painted items, spices, herbal teas, and locally produced jams, jellies and syrups, and nutmeg in particular. The “Spice Island" of Grenada retains a pre-eminent position in the production of nutmeg. Duty free buys include crystal, jewelry, liquor and perfume.
    Statistics show that tourist appeals include the country’s 40 plus stunning white-sand beaches and 9 black-sand beaches, national parks, spectacular waterfalls, museums, historical landmarks, open-air markets, and anything else you can imagine. There are excellent restaurants from which to choose and accommodation ranges from cozy guesthouses, cottages, apartments  to luxury resorts and villas.
The vast array of options available to visitors to Caribbean countries, including nationals who live in the Diaspora forces unto us a greater sense of curiosity. For instance instead of searching for the foods that you consume at home daily, you are now blessed with the privilege of sampling something different. And difference is usually good. Even in the broader expanse of culture it is time to stop asking musicians to play “Hot, Hot, Hot”. That is a major and important musical act but Caribbean cultural expressions is much larger than one song.
   Unless we are prepared to expand our limitations, there is grave danger of going fast asleep one day with cockeyed knowledge and never waking up to fresh realities.