Coconuts

Here is Alex with a carved coconut that we bought from a local. We have seen him selling these coconuts since we got here and we finally decided to buy one. I can still here the coconut water inside. A few weeks ago there was a local in our neighborhood selling them so we bought a couple and drank the coconut water inside. It wasn't so good! I guess it must be an acquired taste. It sounds like the coconut water is good for you. They also sell bottles of coconut water at the store, which I tried once and it was not so good.

I mentioned in my last post about our electricity always going out. Well, it went out again last night! and this morning! So I hope it doesn't happen again tonight. At first our landlord told us that it is because we are not getting as much rain and usual and then last night he said it was a fuse, which makes sense since it is only our block that is losing electricity. It's just not fun spending the evenings sitting the dark! Alex hasn't gotten much sleep the last few nights because of this and I could tell today! I plan to put her to bed early tonight because she has been a bit cranky!

Guavas and Avocados

Keith took a break out of studying on Sunday to pick some Guava's and Avocados from the trees in our yard. The first picture is Keith and a neighbor kid trying to get some avocados high in the tree. The second picture is Keith in the Guava tree. Alex loves Guavas! It's her new favorite fruit!!

Milton Falls and Syndicate Nature Trail

Today Keith, Alex, and I went with another family to Milton (Syndicate) Falls and walked through the Syndicate Nature Trail. Below I have pics and a video of the falls and some trees at the nature trail. I have seen a quite a few waterfalls on the island and this one, I'm sorry to say, is my least favorite. What I like about the waterfalls is the ability to jump in and swim in the pool the waterfall lands in. This waterfall had a fence around the pool so nobody could enter. I do understand why the fence is there (because it is the drinking supply for neighboring communities) but it is an ugly fence and you wish it wasn't there when you take pictures. The hike is about 20 minutes and is not that challenging. I mean Alex could do it and she is three! The cool thing about this area is that it is known to to be the home of two parrots, the Jaco, and Sisserou Parrots. These parrots are indigenous to Dominica. I was fortunate enough to see the Jaco Parrots today but didn't get a pic. I wasn't fast enough.

Milton Falls and Syndicate Nature Trail

Starfruit

We've just found a starfruit tree on campus. So we have been picking them when they are ripe. Alex loves them. I love all the fruits and vegetables here. Just outside our front door we can see trees with Mangos, Avocado's, and Guava's. It's so nice of the little boys that live below us to climb up in the trees and get them for us.

Soursop

When I took Alex to Cabrits National Park we saw a tree with soursop on it. I picked one and waited a few days until it was ripe to try it. It was o.k. but a little sour... I think next time I will try a soursop cheesecake recipe if I can ever find some cream cheese here on the island.

For all of you who have never heard of this fruit here are a few links to learn more about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soursop
http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/soursop.htm

Papaya

The other day I decided to buy a papaya. I have had the fruit before but have never bought it. So I looked up some recipes online and found one for a roasted papaya with brown sugar. It turned out soooo good.

Today I went hiking at Cabrits National Park with Alex and I found a soursop tree. So I picked one and can't wait to try it. I haven't tried one yet and heard it is really good and really healthy for you. I will post more pics of our hike tomorrow.

Marigot, Dominica

Today I went to a river in Marigot, Dominica with some friends. On the river lives a couple that has a beautiful '"cottage", although I would hardly call it a cottage. The owner thought that the name of the river, "Canal River" was too boring so they named their place the "Coffee River Cottages". It was so neat because the whole place was totally energy independent. They don't pay any electric bills to DOMLEC (The Dominican Electric Company). They use the river for everything, they drink from it and use it for all sources of water in the home. They also have hydroelectric energy and solar panels. I also took a walk around their home and I saw so many different types of vegetation, everything from guava trees to a traveler's palm tree.

Here are some links to some of the tree's and vegetation that I saw:
The Traveler's Palm
Breadfruit Tree- Breadfruit is a common fruit here.
Carambola or Star fruit Tree
Cocoa Tree
Yucca Plant


After coming home Alex, Keith, and I went out to eat here in Glanvillia. I took a couple of pics along the way (I also have some more on Facebook). Click on the picture below to link to our picasa web page to see all the pictures.

Canal River and Glanvillia, Dominica