Yesterday was a post from our friends up north, so today, we’ll take to an article from our friends in Latin America.  Yes, they like St Lucia too.

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St Lucia Caribbean island is tourist-friendly but wise in its approach. Most developments are kept to the north west corner, around Rodney Bay and neighbouring beaches, leaving vast swathes of coastline and the lush mountainous interior largely untouched.

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Castries, the capital, is only really busy on market day or when a cruise ship is in the harbour. Soufriere, the oldest town, is quiet most of the time but surrounded by some of St Lucia’s finest natural attractions.

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Castries, Shopping and Art in St Lucia’s Capital

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Set around a natural harbour, Castries is a colourful capital, easy to explore on foot. Dainty colonial buildings still stand on Brazil street near the town square. Named after local poet and playwright, Nobel laureate Derek Walcott, the square holds free concerts during the annual Jazz Festival.

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The nearby cathedral displays some striking stained glass windows by local artist Dunstan St Omer while a thriving artist community lives on the outskirts of town in the hills of Morne Fortune. There, one can see craftsmen at work and shop for quality batik, woodcarving and art.

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Cheaper options are available in the lively central market, alongside fresh produce and spices. Near the cruise terminal, duty-free malls sell ceramics, fashion, jazz memorabilia, emeralds and diamonds. A passport is needed for duty-free purchases.

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Attractions in St Lucia, Soufriere and the Pitons World Heritage Site

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The former capital of Soufriere is a maze of pastel colours and gingerbread balconies, seen at their best in the Old Courthouse by the waterfront. The harbour glistens with yachts and sailing ships and one can often spot the Brig Unicorn, used in the ‘Roots’ TV series and now entertaining day trippers from Castries.

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Soufriere is pleasant though the biggest attractions are out of town. There’s the Anse Chastanet national marine park, a top diving site, the Botanical Gardens and their stunning multicoloured waterfall and the so called drive-in volcano spewing out sulphurous fumes.

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Top of the list are the jungle-clad Petit and Gros Pitons, two dramatic peaks which appear on every postcard and have been awarded World Heritage status. Guided treks are demanding, particularly on the smaller peak which requires technical skills. Wildlife includes birds, such as the rare St Lucia oriole, iguana and the deadly snake, fer de lance.

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Beach and Rodney Bay in St Lucia Caribbean Island

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Rodney Bay in the north west is St Lucia’s main tourist hub with luxury hotels and fine sands, most popular Reduit Beach which stretches all the way to Pigeon Island. Now linked by a causeway, this near barren hill claims historical remains and spectacular views over both Caribbean and Atlantic coasts. It also hosts the Jazz Festival while the nearby village of Gros Islet attracts weekly crowds to the Friday night street party, known as the ‘Jump Up’.

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Rodney Bay has a large marina and there are more sheltered beaches and coves along the Caribbean coast, prettiest of all Marigot Bay, and sleepy fishing villages like Anse la Raye. Battered by the Atlantic on the other hand, the east coast shows St Lucia’s wilder side, fringed with nature reserves, like the Maria and Fregate islands and Grande Anse, the nesting grounds of leatherback turtles.

http://latinamcaribbeantravel.suite101.com/article.cfm/top-attractions-in-st-lucia-caribbean-island

Just recently we posted an article about writer from Vancouver coming to St Lucia. It seems the Canadian city has more of an interest in St Lucia than I would have initially guessed.  Here’s an article from the Vancouver Sun…  I guess the cold weather up there has really encouraged them to find a place to hide in the winter:

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If you enjoy being waited on, Sandals Regency St. Lucia has a variety of butler suites at your service.

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St. Lucia is a lush, tropical Caribbean island in the West Indies, catering to all walks of life, from sun-soaking resort visitors to more-adventurous villa dwellers.

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As we descended into Vieux Fort at the southern tip of the island, I was immediately taken in by the mysterious, jagged views of the Pitons, the renowned mountain peaks that were featured in the movie Superman II.

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Our destination was Soufriere (pronounced sue-FREE), a fishing village on the west coast, known for its wide range of unique attractions and rustic charm. Soufriere boasts two beautiful beaches — Jalousie and Anse Chastanet — the world’s only drive-in volcano, waterfalls and cocoa plantations.

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The vast green-blue stretches of the Caribbean extended to our left, while the road snaked up and down rolling hills covered in miles of lush rainforest. Coconuts, palm trees, mangoes, tamarinds and banana trees all flew past our window, as our driver took the neck-breaking turns like a rally racer.

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Skirting around the rugged west coastline, our cab driver gave us the names of the little villages we drove through as we headed west: Laborie, La Fargue, Choiseul. Most names of villages, towns and bays come from the French, who fought the British over possession of the island from 1651 to 1814.

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Each side ruled the island seven times, with the British finally securing dominance over St. Lucia, which remains a part of the Commonwealth. Thus, islanders speak both English and Patois or broken French.

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The Villas

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It was 32 C at 4:10 p.m. when we arrived at the Stonefield Estate Villas, which had once been a plantation. We caught the tail end of the wet season: short showers with tiny drops, lasting only a few minutes.

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Stonefield, five minutes uphill from Soufriere, entices travellers with private villas, pools and, for the cooking enthusiasts, even your own kitchen. The walk to our villa was quite steep, like most areas on the island.

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Our villa was beautiful, breezy, air-conditioned, with a kitchen and ocean view, complete with its own small, private pool. We had a generous veranda with a hammock and a secluded yard area, where one could enjoy breakfast, lounge by the pool or take in the panoramic view of the Caribbean Sea, framed by the Petit Piton to the left and a mixture of banana, coconut, palm and mango trees to the right.

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In the Caribbean, the sun sets at 6 p.m. and, as everything sank in complete darkness, we were immediately surrounded by a cacophony of sounds. Birds, crickets and tree frogs, all making their noises, made my earplugs a necessity.

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Our room had screens and slat windows, but no glass, typical features of accommodations on the island.

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The next morning, the sound of gentle rainfall and the whooshing of the gigantic banana tree leaves woke us up. We enjoyed baguettes and nutmeg jam as part of our Creole breakfast at The Mango Tree Restaurant, which draws you in with gorgeous views and nightly specials, including a delectable vegetarian menu.

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Jalousie Beach

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Stonefield offers free shuttles to Jalousie Beach, a 10-minute drive south of the estate. The beach is nestled between the two steep peaks, known as the Gros and Petit Pitons. There is a narrow strip of white, warm sand, but the entrance to the green waters is rocky. The area is divided by a boating dock, and the marine reserve area to the right of the beach is open for free snorkelling.

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Swim a few dozen feet from the shore and you are in a snorkellers’ paradise. Schools of needle, puffer, trumpet, parrot and damsel fish, as well as chromis, the occasional sea snake and lobster, await you.

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Jalousie Plantation Beach Resort charges $20 US for renting a beach chair; however, the beach is public and guests can use it freely. The Bayside Bar & Grill was not open the day we came, although lunch is supposedly served at noon. There was, however, a small beach bar offering limited snacks. There are also washrooms on-site.

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Morne Coubaril Estate

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A 15-minute walk uphill from Stonefield is the beautiful Morne Colbier Estate. A short tour for $7 US shows visitors how cocoa, sugar cane and coconut are processed, using traditional methods. Tasty samples of each stage of production are provided along the way. We were treated to roasted cocoa beans and fresh coconut milk, to mention a few. There is an excellent gift shop on the estate, which has local coconut candy, a must for anyone going to the Soufriere area, as it is difficult to find anywhere else on the island. Cocoa tea, another local delight, is also sold there, with instructions on how to make it.

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Drive-in volcano

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The visit to the St. Lucia drive-in volcano was unique. The collapsed crater of the dormant volcano that last erupted in 1780 is accessible by car. Visitors take a 30-minute tour, observing the unusual landscape — a conglomerate of sulphur, magnesium, copper oxide, sapphire and other minerals.

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Steam flows upward from the numerous boiling pots of water and mud, and the overpowering stench of sulphur resembled that of a truckload of rotten eggs.

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The name of the nearby town, Soufriere, is said to come from the French, meaning “sulphur in the air.”

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Sulphur springs flowing from the volcano reach temperatures of 80 C.

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You can bathe in their healing warm waters, but the best time is in early morning.

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Anse Chastanet Beach

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Anse Chastanet Beach is amazing, with its black volcanic sand. The resort, like Jalousie, offers beach chairs for a fee of $15 US.

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The area boasts some of the best snorkelling around the island. Scuba St. Lucia offers two daily snorkel and dive tours.

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Our morning trip took us to Superman’s Flight, at the base of the Petit Piton. The strong current allowed for an easygoing snorkel, and the clear waters offered a delight of vivid marine life alongside the coral reef wall. We saw snappers, groupers, parrot and trumpet fish, a solitary barracuda and other schools of fish.

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Lunch at Anse Chastanet’s Trou Au Diable waterfront restaurant is a must. A delicious pumpkin soup tingled our taste buds, while the chef prepared the catch of the day: dorado.

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Seared to perfection, the fresh fish, served with spicy Creole sauces, satisfied our appetites. The restaurant’s vegetarian menu is also impressive. The view is great, the atmosphere relaxing and the food amazing. Worth the trip on its own.

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In the afternoon we slipped into the waters again to snorkel at the Devil’s Hole. Once again we enjoyed coral heads and schools of fish, similar to yet less abundant than Superman’s Flight.

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IF YOU GO

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Tips for the frugal traveller:

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-Do not buy East Caribbean dollars (ECD), the currency in St. Lucia and other Caribbean islands, before departing for your holiday. Not only do you have to buy American currency first, but you also receive only two ECD for every U.S. dollar. However, in St. Lucia, the ECD is pegged at a whopping 2.7 for each dollar. So, by waiting I saved $250 Cdn for every 1,000 U.S. dollars converted. Not a bad sum for doing nothing.

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-Bring your own snorkel gear instead of renting. Some dive shops include free snorkel rentals with their trips; however, some places charge up to $20 US per trip or per hour. If you’re planning to do a lot of snorkelling at different sites, buying your own gear will save you money and peace of mind, knowing that the only mouth blowing through the snorkel and snorting into the mask is your own. A good snorkel set (mask, snorkel, fins, strap and carrying bag) costs about $250. If you use the money saved by not converting your money prior to your departure, then the snorkel gear is free.

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-Watch out for seat sales. I set up WestJet’s main website as the home page on my computer and every time I started my web browser the page reminded me to check and compare tariffs. West-Jet’s lowest Internet price I found for a one-way ticket to St. Lucia in early December was $204.99 Cdn, before taxes; the highest price was $799.99, before taxes. Prices for the return trip fell approximately in the same range. A couple of minutes every morning and afternoon may save you up to $1,000.

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-Avoid visiting towns or tourist sites on a Sunday or a cruise ship day. The entire country pretty much shuts down on Sundays, as St. Lucians spend the day going to church and enjoying time with their families. On the day a cruise ship arrives on the island, everything is extremely crowded with loud, rambunctious travellers.

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-Bring your own sunscreen, because prices in St. Lucia are up to three times higher than in Canada, and products may not be available in some areas. As well, varieties including high sun protection factor (SPF) may be limited.

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-Avoid booking tours from resorts as they charge up to five times more, are usually crowded and are not always available. Instead, decide beforehand what site you want to see or ask your cab driver for suggestions. Then, get them to take you around. Agree on a fair price beforehand and enjoy touring at your own pace, receiving personal attention and care and being able to stop when you want to. Michael’s Taxi Service had great, reliable drivers, like our cab driver/ guide Raphael, who can take you anywhere in St. Lucia at much less than any tour we researched.

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GETTING THERE

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WestJet and Air Canada offer flights to St. Lucia via Toronto.

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http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Lucia+Caribbean+island+that/2572041/story.html

To add to the list of massive news agencies that find it important to discuss St Lucia, CNN has added themselves to the list.

(Tribune Media Services) — Boiling mud pots, rain forests, and a drive-in volcano.

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All that and spectacular beaches, too, on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, which promises a lot more than your typical resort getaway. With a culture that has borrowed from both the British and French — the small island midway between Martinique and St. Vincent changed hands some 14 times before finally gaining independence in 1979. Less than 200,000 people live on this little bit of paradise — only about 27 miles long and less than 15 miles wide.

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“St. Lucia is a lot different than other Caribbean islands because it is so green and so natural,” says Rene Isaac, a native St. Lucian and US Airways pilot, and my seatmate on the nonstop (just four hours) JetBlue flight from New York.

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Now that JetBlue flies here from New York — and also offers vacation packages — there are more options for families looking for a different kind of Caribbean experience (jungle biking, Zipline or a raucous Friday night fish fry), and everyone speaks English and takes U.S. currency.

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I’m here for a weekend girls’ getaway with two of my oldest friends. We’re staying at a new Rock Resort The Landings, ideal for girls, couples or families (complimentary kids’ club, pool table for teens) because it is all spacious condo-like units (ours has a balcony hot tub) with full kitchens, multi-baths and bedrooms.

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It’s all on 19 beachfront acres on Rodney Bay near the northern tip of the island, and even has its own marina. (Stay at The Landings St. Lucia this winter and get a free night, $50 gift card and free Adventure Eye Video Systems helmet camcorder. When you get home, enter your video on RockResorts.com’s Three for Free contest page, where the winning video will win two FREE Epic Passes, allowing unlimited skiing at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly, for the 2010/2011 ski season. You’ll need to book by the end of January 2010.)

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I like that other resorts here also are similarly designed. (Without the kids, there’s also your pick of three Sandals all-inclusive hotels or small inns. We visit the deluxe Cap Maison St Lucia nearby, which is just 49 rooms and villa suites and gets raves for its restaurant Cliff at Cap, Moorish-inspired architecture and villas that have their own rooftop pools. (Stay five nights for the price of four and get a $500 food and beverage credit!) I love the rock where you can sit at a table, waves crashing all around, and enjoy drinks sent down by bucket from the bar above. I’m told it’s a popular spot for proposals.

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My gang, meanwhile, would give a thumb’s up to the Jalousie Plantation on the southern part of the island (complimentary kids’ club and water sports, including a dive each day and substantial food credits this winter that will save you big bucks.) Spread out over 192 acres on what was once a working sugar plantation, Jalousie Plantation is located just outside the town of Soufriere. I loved the plantation atmosphere — the huge verandah where dinner is served and the 21st-century amenities (a massage in a tree house in the rainforest? Dinner cooked for you on your private deck?)

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The best part: the Jalousie Plantation is just 40 minutes from the airport and smack in between the island’s famous Pitons, a UNESCO World Heritage site. They look like giant snow cones actually jutting out of the ocean, but the two peaks — yes you can climb the 2,600-plus Gros Piton — are actually lava domes — part of what makes this island different; they were formed from a volcano.

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Earlier, we’d toured the “Caribbean’s only drive-in volcano,” which our guide Ruthy Victorian told us is 1,000 feet above sea level. It smells like rotten eggs — all the sulfur in the air (the nearby town of Soufriere roughly translates to sulfur in the air.)

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There are about two-dozen bubbling pools (temperatures more than 300 degrees!), a mixture of rainwater, heat, and seawater, with the heat coming from the magma a mile down. (The colors of the rock are amazing, everything from black to brown to yellow — all the colors of the minerals from iron to sulfur to calcium oxide and more.)

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Eighty people still live on the volcano’s edge, Victorian told us. These residents farm the rich volcanic soil and the natural hot springs draw locals and tourists for their redemptive qualities. The water is supposed to cure everything from aching joints to bug bites to sunburn.

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It seems French soldiers recognized the medicinal properties of the water as far back as 1713 and built baths a short distance away at what is now Diamond Botanical Gardens and Mineral Baths. We gawk at the mineral waterfall spewing multicolored water. All varieties of plants, flowers and vegetables grow here — everything from avocado to soursop, nutmeg, and philodendron that grows 20 feet tall.

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After our tour of the gardens, our group adjourned to a small inn called Villa des Pitons (found up a steep hill and an even steeper flight of stairs.) Here we were treated to a gorgeous view of the pitons and the pastel-painted Caribbean houses spilling down the hillside to the coast. As fishing and sailboats bobbed in the water, we feasted on local foods — breadfruit (very bland), plantains (similar to yams), barbecued chicken, lamb, Creole tuna and Dasheen, a kind of squash (not much flavor at all).

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On the sail back to the north part of the island, we stop at Anse Cochon, which roughly translated means Bay of Pigs. Centuries ago this area was known for swimming wild pigs. Today, there are none, just colorful fish, as it is a marine sanctuary where locals try their hardest to convince us to buy souvenirs.

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Meanwhile, more rum punch, anyone?

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http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/01/26/st.lucia.family.travel/index.html

The Twenty20 World Cup of Cricket is coming to St Lucia in May, but it looks like the Irish are going to get a good helping of the West Indian team before the event begins.. and then again once it starts.

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Ireland will still play three Twenty20 internationals against the West Indies in April even though the teams are due meet on the opening day of the World T20 in Guyana on the last day of the month.

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Following Ireland’s second place finish at the qualifying tournament in UAE, they are in the same group as West Indies and England with the game against Paul Collingwood’s side taking place on Tuesday, May 4, the day after the two ICC Full Members meet in the other group match.

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Although they have missed out on the more attractive destinations of Barbados and St Lucia — Afghanistan’s ‘reward’ for winning the final in Dubai on Saturday — Ireland will play in both holiday islands if they repeat their exploits, of both 2007 in the Caribbean and last year in England, and reach the Super Eight stages of the World T20. All the Super Eight teams will play two games in Barbados and one in St Lucia before the top four go through to the semi-finals, also in St Lucia.

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The Irish team played no fewer than 11 T20 games in 14 days in Sri Lanka and the UAE and they are scheduled to play nine more before they face Chris Gayle’s side in their third successive world event.

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As well as the three internationals, one scheduled for the Trelawney Stadium and the other two in Sabina Park, in Kingston, Jamaica, Ireland will also face Jamaica during a two-week stay before they head to Florida for a training camp where three more Twenty20 games will be played.

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All 12 teams in the World T20 will be given two warm-up games before the action begins in earnest.

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The majority of the players who got Ireland to the West Indies can look forward to being selected for the finals with Boyd Rankin the only absentee in the UAE who can expect a call-up.

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The giant Warwickshire pace bowler is nursing a sore foot but he will hope to have recovered in plenty of time for Ireland’s departure on April Fool’s Day for what could be another six-week tour.

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Waringstown’s Gary Kidd was the only player not to take any part in the qualifying tournament — upstaged by his slow left arm colleague teenager George Dockrell, who took 17 wickets in 10 games on tour — while Phil Eaglestone, who remained with the party despite not being in the official 14-squad seems certain to lose out to Rankin.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/other-sports/ireland-are-going-to-get-very-familiar-with-windies-14683832.html

Pole Vault St Lucia (PVSL) consisting of coaches Clivus Jules, Andre Rodney, Andy Behl, and vaulters Shem Edward and St Lucia National Champion Rick Valcin, recently took part in National Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nevada.

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On day one of the summit, PVSL received an unexpected surprise as coach Andy Behl was presented with a Community Action Award by the USATF Pole Vault Development Committee, for his pioneering work with the sport in St Lucia. Immediately following this presentation, the program was approached by NACAC representatives, university programs and individual coaches and athletes interested in exchange programs, visits and sports development initiatives with the St Lucia program.

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Breakout sessions with coaches included topics in techniques, drills, athlete identification AND mental focus of successful vaulters, led by 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Nick Hysong. Other areas included Approaches to Competition, Competition Management and specialized topics such as flexibility, rhythm and balance in the event, with a focus on yoga for all athletes.  Both developing coaches Andre Rodney and Clivus Jules came along with Coach Andy Behl. They came away with extremely valuable knowledge and information, setting the wheels in motion for modifications to the current approach to pole vault development in St Lucia.

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Meanwhile, St Lucian vaulters Rick Valcin and Shem Edward were involved in discussions with elite US vaulters and hands-on training at the Reno Livestock Events centre, where they worked with coaches to continue developing their approach and technique. The evening session featured “Vaulting with the Stars” where elite vaulters across North America and even Europe come together to compete in front of a packed house of young aspiring vaulters, coaches and parents.

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Day 2 at the National Pole Vault Summit is competition day. Athletes were placed in groups according to ability and had the chance to compete on one of the fourteen runways and landing pits set up in the arena. While both St Lucian vaulters put up marks that were consistent with their prior performances, Rick Valcin jumped 13’ (3.96) and Shem Edward 11’8” (3.56m), much experience was gained as they participated in a slower environment that featured up to 15 other competitors in their heats, compared to the smaller numbers and faster heats they face on island.

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The National Pole Vault Summit was a major success for PVSL. Coaches and athletes are already planning a return next January with the goal of bringing St Lucia’s top female vaulting prospects to help develop the women’s side. Vast arrays of personal connections were made with top coaches, clubs, and universities that will open up great opportunities in the future for the St Lucian program and athletes.  The participants came away inspired and energized to implement new ideas in St. Lucia.

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This trip would not have been possible without the support of the Micoud North District Representative, Jeannine Compton, along with the Taiwanese Embassy. This investment in people has born new inspiration that will assist pole vaulting and provide the opportunity for an increasing amount of youth on the island to develop themselves athletically and personally.

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PVSL also thanked Anthony Johnson, Dominic Johnson, Steve Behl, Ronald Promesse and Neil Shah at NSP Productions in Vieux Fort for their support of this trip, through sponsorship of clothing and hosting of the coaches and athletes.

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Further Thanks must go to corporate sponsors in St. Lucia who have supported the pole vaulting this season including Super J/ IGA, LUCELEC, True Value Building Centre in Vieux Fort and DVD Now.

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http://stluciastar.com/content/archives/10917

We met Lisa in a blog about the beaches of St Lucia not too long ago.  Well she’s back!  And this time, she’s got some great outdoor activities for you to check out when you visit St Lucia.  I’m starting to like Lisa.

Outdoor Activities You Can Try While On St Lucia Holidays

St. Lucia is one of the most ravishingly beautiful islands in the Caribbean. The island is situated in the southeast of Florida at a distance of 1300 miles. The island has a total area of 238 square miles, stretching 27 miles long and 14 miles wide. The island has a very astonishingly beautiful landscape. The island is gifted with mountain terrains, unspoiled beaches, crystal-clear waters, and luxurious accommodations, thus making it one of the best destinations for spending holidays.

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You can enjoy numerous outdoor activities in St. Lucia. Grab your swimsuit, and head along the west coast of the island where you can go for sun tanning, or for relaxing under a coconut tree on pristine beaches, and swim in the calm water that surrounds this stunning island. The island contains beaches of different types, such as white sand beaches in the north, and golden-yellow and black sand beaches in the south.

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For all the golf and tennis lovers, St. Lucia is no doubt a great place having all the facilities right in the middle of the beauty of Nature. There are many tennis courts in St. Lucia, and around 18 golf courses. Many pro shops contain everything that you would need to spend your time playing, and enjoying golf in the area. The most famous places regarding to the sport of golf is St. Lucia Golf and Country Club. As for the tennis players, the tennis courts are well equipped with required lighting, and the equipment needed to play professional tennis.

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If you want to have a relatively peaceful, and serene outdoor activity, then there are several Historical and Natural sites in St. Lucia that you could visit. You can visit Morne Fortune, which was a battleground between the French, and the British for the control of St. Lucia. Alternatively, you can go to the Pigeon Island National Park, which also holds a significant importance in the history of St. Lucia. There are several other interesting places for sightseeing, such as The Pitons and The Sulphur Springs.

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St. Lucia has ideal terrains for riding in the mountains, and through the forests. Either you can go for mountain biking, or you can go for a horse back ride in the mountain terrains to be acquainted with the historical treasures of St. Lucia. You can ride along the coastline, or go for a ride in the thick forests, or the captivating plantation.

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There are many exciting hiking trails for all those people who are on the look out for some thrill. There are many hiking tours specially arranged for such people by the Forestry Department, and the St. Lucia National Trust. Normally such tours are a full day activity.

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St. Lucia has many options of water sports as well. Some of the water sports activities are water-skiing, wind surfing, whale watching, deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, snorkelling, jet-ski riding, and many others. They also arrange beginner courses for people who are new to the sport.

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St. Lucia is a great place for people who want to have fun indulging themselves in healthy outdoor activities close to Nature. This is an amazing place to spend summers. Whoever visit it once is impressed by the captivating charm of this island, and this keeps him/her coming back here.

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For St Lucia Holidays and other Caribbean holidays visit this Caribbean holiday website.

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http://lisastravels.com/2010/02/11/outdoor-activities-you-can-try-while-on-st-lucia-holidays/

Did you know there’s paintball in St Lucia?

The paintball field at Coconut Bay Resort in St. Lucia

The lush island of St. Lucia is known for its beauty but not many people realize that you can play a game of paintball with all that Caribbean loveliness as a backdrop.   Enjoy this unexpected Caribbean activity on a 11,00 square foot paintball field, complete with fortresses and medieval props.  Located at the Coconut Bay Resort in Vieux Fort, St. Lucia, the industrial-inspired paintball arena is surrounded by coconut palms and vivid tropical blooms.

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Be prepared for heavily-equipped action in balmy  temperatures.  Guides strap on a bulky chest guard around your torso and then you pull on a heavy camouflage jumpsuit.  After a rundown of safety mandates and game rules, you top off your get up with a mask, helmet and a 3-4- pound paintball marker to pump out your paintballs.  The “poof” sound of paintballs whizzing around soon fills the air as teams battle for supremacy.  If you’re playing against season players and not very coordinated like me, you’ll find yourself covered with crayon-yellow  paint splotches pretty quickly.  A white canopy equipped with water and soda, shelters eliminated players and onlookers.  Running around in about six pounds of equipment under the tropical sun is a great workout. I believe that it warrants a deserved lounging session at the pool with the resort’s signature, rum-soaked Dirty Banana cocktail, followed by an oceanfront massage at the Kai Mer Spa. Let the kids loose in the Cocoland Water Park and you’ve set yourself up for a relaxing vacation.

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Photo by Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

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http://www.uptake.com/blog/resorts/paintball-in-st-lucia_9457.html

Want to check out the Twenty20 World Cup of Cricket in St Lucia this May?  Maybe Gulliver’s Sports Travel is the way to go..

As an Official Travel Agent for the ICC World Twenty20 Cricket West Indies 2010 series, Gullivers Sports Travel is delighted to announce an early booking offer which is in conjunction with the Barbados Tourism Authority.

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To take advantage of this tempting Twenty20 World Cup offer you need to book before 28th February 2010. As the World 20 20 Cricket offer is in partnership with the Barbados Tourism Authority your tour will need to include a minimum stay of seven nights in Barbados.

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For 20/20 Cricket World Cup fans an excellent choice is the Calypso Tour which includes the Barbados Super Eights semi finals and final. This Twenty20 cricket tour is for 15 nights and is a fully escorted package. The dates are from 4thMay to 19th May 2010 with flights from London Gatwick to Barbados with British Airways. There are domestic flights from Barbados to St. Lucia, return airport/hotel and match day transfers and of course the all important Twenty20 cricket match guaranteed tickets.

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The itinerary offers a host of choice of Barbados Super 8 Matches and on the sixth day is when the tour moves to the 20/20 St. Lucia matches. On the twelfth day the Twenty20 Tour group will fly back to Barbados for the climax for the Mens and Womens Finals of the ICC World Twenty20 West Indies 2010 Champions.
By day fourteen when the championship has been claimed happy 20/20 Cricket fans can relax on one of the many pristine beaches on offer in Barbados. The Calypso Tour can be booked from £2074 before 28th February 2010, which gives £125pp off the regular price which is £2199 thereafter the 28th February.

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This tour option is one of many possibilities available. As the ICC World Twenty20 Cricket will be played in St. Lucia, Guyana, Barbados and St. Kitts there is also the possibility to opt for a tailor made tour from £1680pp. Official supporters tours could combine the Twenty20 Cricket Barbados with the Twenty20 Cricket St. Lucia or St. Kitts, but the best thing is to contact Gullivers as an official travel agent for the event.

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Gullivers was an Official Travel Agent for ICC World Twenty20 South Africa 2007 and ICC World Twenty20 England 2009.
If you need wish to avail of the early booking offer or you require assistance please call our dedicated team on 01684 293175 or check out our website for more details.
Contact:

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Gullivers Sports Travel is the UKs leading and longest established sports cricket tour operator. Their reputation is based on personal service and a deep understanding of the needs of sporting cricket travellers.

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www.gulliverstravel.co.uk

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http://www.prfire.co.uk/press-release/save-pounds125pp-with-gullivers-sports-travel-icc-world-twenty20-cricket-west-indies-early-booking-offer-6626.html

With all of the action going on up in Vancouver for the olympics, I’m surprised someone decided to take a trip and write about their experience in St Lucia… nonetheless, here it is:

A DAY IN SOUFRIERE Savour sun in St. Lucia

By GIZELLE LAU, TRIPATLAS.COM

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As the plane began its descent into Hewanorra International Airport, I obediently buckled my seatbelt and looked out the window as the island of St. Lucia came into view. Overlooking the landscape’s lush, mountainous greenery, I understood why St. Lucia has become one of the most popular Caribbean destinations in the past few years.

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Although tourism has made its presence with numerous resorts and cruise ports, many parts of St. Lucia remain charmingly St. Lucian: Green, tropical, and down-to-earth. One way to experience this side of St. Lucia in a day — is with a visit to Soufriere.

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From Castries, catch a boat to Soufriere. The 30-45 minute ride travels south along the stunning west coast of St. Lucia towards Soufriere - past rolling green mountains decorated with bright houses and coves for snorkeling. Small coastal villages come and go — until you reach the Pitons, just outside Soufriere.

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One of St. Lucia’s most popular attractions, the Pitons, are two large peaks formed from hardened volcanic lava. Standing tall on the south west coast of St. Lucia, they’re a sight to behold, not to mention a popular attraction for rock climbers, hikers, and adventurers.

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Grab a taxi from the docks at Soufriere and head up first to visit the world’s only drive-in volcano. Here at Sulphur Springs Park, visitors can see St. Lucia’s seven-acre volcanic crater of bubbling black pools and steaming sulphur. Bring your nose plugs, because the sulphur gives off the smell of rotten eggs. Don’t miss Diamond Falls and a dip in the natural hot springs, believed to help skin ailments like eczema, acne, or psoriasis.

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For a lunch stop, visit Fond Doux Estate: a tropical hideaway. A working plantation, visitors can go for a tour of the property’s beautiful gardens, see how cocoa is harvested, and stay for a lunch of authentic home-style Caribbean food in the quiet of its lush gardens. The estate also offers plantation cottages for visitors looking for a serene, secluded getaway.

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On the way back to the boat, don’t forget to stop at the famous lookout overlooking Soufriere. Here, you can also buy sulphur soap or visit Big Mamma’s booth for some homemade spiced rum: “also known as the local Viagra,” she says.

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Almond Morgan Bay or Almond Smuggler’s Cove resorts, just outside Castries, are great launch pads for St. Lucia excursions like a day in Soufriere. You can book a day trip to Soufriere with your concierge or sign up for a day excursion for cruises stopping in St. Lucia.

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WANT TO BOOK A TRIP OR CRUISE TO ST. LUCIA? TRIPATLAS.COM’S TRIP BUILDER WILL PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH LOCAL TRAVEL AGENTS WITH CUSTOM PRICES ON YOUR TRIP. GO TO WWW.TRIPATLAS.COM FOR MORE.

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GIZELLE LAU IS A TRAVEL & FOOD WRITER IN TORONTO AND IS THE ONLINE EDITOR FOR TRIPATLAS.COM.

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http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/Lifestyle/2010/02/02/12717986-sun.html

There is, as there always will be, political disagreement over the presence of Taiwan in St Lucia over the previous presence of China, and whether the country should revert back to their previous ally.  While those opinions are many, one fact still remains- as long as the Taiwanese have been here, they have been contributing strongly and improving the overall living conditions of the island pretty dramatically.  Could China do better is a different argument, but here’s a long article on the current ambassador from Taiwan and some details on the projects he spearheads here in St Lucia.

Michael Walker (third from right) on a tour of the Taiwanese funded Orchid Farm at Union Agricultural Station. Ambassador Tom Chou (third from left) was also on the tour and explained how the Orchid Farm could make St Lucia a supplier to the world.

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It is perhaps a bit presumptuous to call an Ambassador or Diplomat a friend. A diplomat is, after all, a member or employee of a government who represents his or her country in dealings with other nations, especially by working in an embassy or consulate abroad; diplomats must be tactful and good at dealing with others in their daily lives; but diplomats are also “real people”.

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Ambassador Tom, in accordance with the wishes of his government, has gone out of his way to address the needs of the oft neglected rural St Lucians who make their living labouring on smallholdings, small plots of land; he has provided the means for them to increase their production many times over. His Embassy has introduced down-to-earth agricultural improvements such as small and medium-sized, affordable greenhouses, irrigation projects, training and guidance for agricultural workers, as well as high-profile, up-market, state-of-the-art, futuristic endeavors such as the orchid project which has made St Lucia the orchid capital of the Caribbean.

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There is scarcely a household in St Lucia that has not benefited directly or indirectly as a consumer or producer in the multitudinous areas where Taiwan has offered assistance, be it in commerce, agriculture, health services, community services, youth and sports, education, on so on and so forth; the list seems almost endless. In fact, the few diehard detractors of Ambassador Tom’s efforts have had their criticism blow up like egg in their faces thanks to the overwhelming generosity of Taiwanese in supporting projects that they deem worthwhile whilst, at the same time, never usurping the Government of St Lucia’s rights and obligations to do what is best for its country and people. How much longer can the critics of Taiwanese aid continue to deny their constituents the benefits on offer? Does their allegiance to Mainland China blind their eyes and dull their minds? Is reality such an unknown concept for those who live to criticize at any cost?

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Ambassador Tom’s efforts, and the cooperation between his team of experts at the Embassy and the dedicated, knowledgeable staff at the Ministry of Health have made the promise of agricultural self-sufficiency a distinct reality in the near future. New and exciting varieties of fruit and vegetables that will supplement and augment already locally products are being introduced; modern, efficient and humane practices in animal husbandry will help provide affordable food for our own tables and culinary delights for locals and guests alike.

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Just the other day, some friends and I were privileged to the rare treat of being given an escorted tour of the orchid facility and fruit and vegetable farms at Union, just north of Castries. Tom, Sunny, the Taiwanese agricultural expert and marine biologist and Terrence, the very affable, knowledgeable St Lucian supervisor of the facility were our guides. What an experience! What a mind-boggling mixture of high technology, traditional methods and good old common sense combined to showcase the giant strides the Ministry of Agriculture has already made, and to hint of the even greater things to come. As a Rotarian, I am reminded of one of Rotary’s mottos, “Help to Self Help”, truly a fine description of the aid that Taiwan is offering, for, at the end of the day, it is our ability to make the best use of the helping hand that will define our future.

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Taiwan, a country recently ravaged by its own natural disasters, has spent hundreds of thousands, even millions, of dollars in St Lucia improving the drainage systems along our roads, building supporting walls in areas prone to slippage, providing sidewalks to otherwise endangered pedestrians and many other small-scale initiatives that have made our everyday lives safer and more convenient.

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Dealing with people is not always easy; people are like animals; some are lions, others are pussies, some are snakes, and others are simply mosquitoes; they buzz around you, biting and stinging, blustering and bothering for no other purpose than to make life difficult for you and your friends, just like the frustrated political condemnations of Tom and the Government of Taiwan. “Political” describes, by the way, and don’t take my word for it, look it up for yourself, a decision or pronouncement “based upon a desired outcome irrespective of moral or ethical consideration”, which is what the criticism is all about. Tom’s critics do not care about all the good he has done, is doing and will do for the country; they simply stare fixatedly at unproven, unfounded, hinted at abuse by certain parties of Taiwan’s largesse.

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May I digress for a moment? Thank you. I am not quite sure whether mosquitoes actually bite or sting. Technically speaking, I believe a mosquito pierces your skin with its proboscis, or snout; however, I may be wrong. In any case, mosquitoes are Stinging Little Pests that make life miserable for us.

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You see, the opponents of Taiwan, those that are rejecting the opportunities for improvement that are being showered upon the country, started all this nonsense by kicking out the Taiwanese in 1997, I believe, and bringing in the Communists for outdated, ideological reasons in the first place. It would appear that, way back then, Odlum preferred the dictatorship and repression of Mainland China and had his way; about the only victory the poor chap ever won. I mean, I ask you, would you prefer a friend who needs you for whatever reason, as perhaps Taiwan does, or a so-called friend who only needs you because he does not want you to be friends with someone else, like Mainland China did?

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I said “outdated”, just as outdated as the One-China Policy. Do you know how many daily flights there are between Mainland China and Taiwan? Do you know how many Mainland Chinese visit Taiwan each week? Check it out! And while we are on the topic, I can tell you that even family members of Taiwanese diplomats work as entrepreneurs and company managers in Mainland China, so close is the cooperation that exists between the two countries these days!

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Fan Liqing, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference in Beijing, the capital of Mainland China, announced on December 30, 2009, that the Chinese mainland and Taiwan will add more terminals and flights to cope with increasing demand of travelers. This will increase the number of mainland terminals to 31.The number of flights will also increase to over 270 weekly. Fan also noted that flights between the two countries carried about 2.6 million passengers and 46,000 tonnes of cargo from July last year to October this year. Sooner or later reality is going to sink in and China and Taiwan will resolve their political differences just as they are solving the problems of their economic ties.

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Rick told me the other day that a prominent SLP politician who is hanging on to his seat by the skin of his proboscis had insisted that Taiwan is “not a country”, a comment I will not dignify with any response, except to say that a “country” is:
1. a nation or state that is politically independent, or a land that was formerly independent and remains separate in some respects
2. the nation or state where somebody was born or is a citizen
3. a large area of land regarded as distinct from other areas, for example, because of its natural boundaries or because it is inhabited by a particular people
4. an area that is farmed or remains in a relatively undeveloped state, as distinct from cities, towns, and other built-up areas
5. a region that is distinguished by particular characteristics or is associated with a particular activity, person, or group of people
6. the people of a nation or state, especially when affected as a group by political or other events
Education is a wondrous thing; unfortunately, so is ignorance, at least to a Stinging Little Pest.

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Tom is a gentleman who is invariably polite and accessible. In fact the first time I met him to present our InTime Project to Computerize Primary Schools he agreed to meet me without knowing me from Adam, and treated my ideas with respect and dignity—something impossible for some officials to imagine.

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Tom has suffered the contentious slings and arrows, or nibbles and bites of SLPs with stoicism and dignity. It cannot be easy to hear and read vilifications and attacks upon your person and country, yet still continue to work assiduously to render help and assistance to those amongst whom you live. Sadly, few people know of the work the Embassy has put into such projects as the Birding Book, a wonderful publication, or other such projects of cultural and environmental significance. Tom is also a great lover of music.

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Everyone should have the right to good healthcare, but this would certainly have remained an abstract notion for many people if it were not for the generous, sympathetic and kind concern for the wellbeing of St Lucians shown by the Government of Taiwan and its Ambassador. Just look at what they have done in the realm of medical care for our country!
How about dependability? The Taiwanese keep their promises and even go so far as to complete, renovate or carry through projects started by others to the betterment of our society. And, by the way, some major renovations and improvements have been carried out in the very same districts where SLPs have done nothing but protest against the generosity of Tom and his team.
Friendship is a strange commodity. To me, the commodity of friendship is not something that can be bought and sold, but it is something of great use and value. I have, perhaps strangely for some, among my very best friends a former ardent SLP member, not that he is so little, but his words can be stinging and he can certainly be a pest at times. He loathes just about everything Taiwanese, to my mind irrationally, but in what passes to be his Marxist mind quite justifiably; yet we remain friends (probably due to my incredibly tolerant, forgiving nature; I’m also kind to animals).

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But what I cannot understand is the shortsightedness of those who, for political reasons, refuse aid and assistance from Taiwan and even go so far as to refuse aid and assistance to those constituents whom they are supposed to represent in parliament.

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For my part, I reject the cynical notion that the friendship that Tom and his country have offered to St Lucia is a mere commercial commodity. They have shown great wisdom in choosing projects that will be of the greatest benefit to the greatest number of St Lucians. My SLP friend also accuses Taiwan of making St Lucia “a mendicant people”—“mendicant” is defined as “begging and living on alms”—but I disagree with him on this point too. Mendicancy, if there is such a word, is in the mind of the recipient. It is my sincere hope that St Lucians will never allow the kindness, generosity and wise friendship of Taiwan to be repaid with a rejection spawned by political expediency. If the love, affection and friendship you show depends upon the largesse of your friends, you are truly a mendicant.
I am, of course biased, but no more biased than would anyone else be who had enjoyed the privilege of getting to know Ambassador Tom Chou. I first approached the Embassy with no great expectations; I was, after all, asking for an impressive amount of help to provide every Primary School in the country with computers, enough computers to guarantee every child at least three sessions a week in which to use modern technology to further their education. This was serious stuff. Instead of receiving the anticipated, formal but polite letter blowing me off, I was asked to suggest a date for a meeting. Imagine my surprise when not only two or three representatives from the Embassy turned up, but also the Ambassador himself. After that, it was all business and efficiency, garnished with promises kept, and flavoured with respect and professionalism.

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In all my years on the international scene, in countries large and small, dealing with school populations that have varied from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands, even millions of pupils, I have never worked with a more admirable, proficient, pleasant group of people than those at the Embassy of Taiwan and the IT Centre that they fund and run just by the Library in Castries.

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I am proud to be able to call Tom and his staff my friends and, to my mind, the best friends St Lucia could ever have. As to whether Tom will appreciate this endorsement, well, we’ll never know, will we? Diplomats are a tight-lipped bunch after all, you see.

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http://stluciastar.com/content/archives/10664