An Unforgettable Virtual Journey to Dominica with Dr. Clementine Affana

In this episode, I'm taking you on a whirlwind journey around the beautiful island of Dominica with my well-traveled guest and friend, Dr. Clementine Affana, founder of the YouTube channel and blog, Travel with Clem. Dr. Clem's intimate knowledge of Dominica, from its lush greenery to its black sand beaches, will get you all ready to pack your bags and go on an epic adventure in the Nature Isle.

Today we explore more than just the physical beauty of Dominica. We dive headfirst into the island's culture, with a special focus on the indigenous Kalinago tribe - one of the only surviving original Caribbean tribes. With Dr. Clem guiding us, we explore the diverse music scene of Dominica, going beyond soca and reggae to discover various genres, and even get a chance to discuss culinary and cultural festivals. We also discuss how to be a respectful tourist, offering tips on choosing accommodations that align with your planned activities and the importance of respecting the local culture.

Get in Touch with Dr. Clem
Follow Clem on Instagram for more about Dominica and her travels. Visit her blog and watch her YouTube videos to learn how you too can build a life of freedom by working remotely.

Become a fan of Marie Pascale's music by following her on

Awaken your BEST LIFE  and join me, your host and island friend, Riselle at my island home St. Maarten for 5 amazing days of luxury, fun, wellness and  personal growth.

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 1:59

Welcome to Paradise Perspectives, a podcast about Caribbean travel from the locals perspective. Get ready for some authentic Caribbean travel tips, recommendations and more from the people who live where you vacation, straight from Paradise. I'm your host and island friend, raizal, the Traveling Island Girl. I have another very interesting episode of Paradise Perspectives scheduled for you today. So many of you have reached out and asked me when I will feature this particular island and the day my friend is finally here. So, before I tell you more, thank you so much for taking the time to let me whisper sweet Caribbean things into your ear and thank you for allowing me the pleasure of accompanying you in whatever it is that you're doing today, whether that is driving, walking, jogging, or perhaps, who knows, you're doing some house chores. Whatever it is, thank you so much for lending me an ear. So today's feature island is the nature is itself, and that is the island of Dominica. Not to be confused with the Dominican Republic, my friends. No, no, no. This is Dominica.

Speaker 1: 3:09

And who better to talk about Dominica than my good friend travel with Clam, dr Clementine Afana? Now I have to tell you a little bit about her so you can get to know her before we go into this conversation with her. She is the founder of the YouTube channel and blog by the same name, travel with Clam, and she's also the author of the complete digital guide on how to land your first remote job. So she's originally from Cameroon and she now travels the world and teaches people how to find remote work opportunities, pursue financial freedom and, of course, live the life of your dreams in the process. So she's been featured in Forbes, the Mathador network and many other publications. But the reason I picked her for to tell us more about Dominica is because she has also been a longtime resident of Dominica and continues, even now that she's traveling more and living for part time in other destinations, like right now she's in Toronto. She still is a part time resident of the island and she has done such great work promoting it, especially back in 2020, 2020, 2021, when we were still going through that whole scary virus thing. And she has done such a wonderful job with her videos, and that is what captivated me in the first place. She is very well versed on Dominica, even though she is not from there, and she has been doing an amazing job promoting it with her videos and her content. She's an amazing content creator, alright.

Speaker 1: 4:42

So if you are thinking of visiting Dominica or not, because you are probably going to want to listen to this anyway, because you are going to want to visit after we are done here, believe me, my friend, you are. So, anyways, get ready to take some notes. We are about to embark to the nature isle itself, dominica, with my friend, travel with Club. So today is another really exciting day. I know I'm always excited when I'm talking about a Caribbean, but today that's not extra special because we are talking to my good friend, dr Clem Afana, and she is from Travel with Club. And if you don't know it yet and you haven't really, if I wasn't really specific about that yet we are talking about Dominica, the nature isle, and that is why, well, obviously I'm excited because I'm talking to Clem, but I'm also super excited because we're talking about one of my favorite islands, and that is, of course, dominica. So, welcome to Paradise Perspectives, clem. Thank you so much for making the time for this, because I know you are like super, super busy at the moment.

Speaker 2: 5:51

No problem. Thank you so much, rizal, for having me. I am so excited to be here and to talk to the Paradise Perspective people. I remember the last conversation we had last time and it was just so much fun. It's always so great to talk with you. Thank you so much for having me.

Speaker 1: 6:09

Oh my gosh. I've been a fan of your work for a very long time and we've been following each other on Instagram forever, and we yet have to meet in real life, which is really rejected.

Speaker 3: 6:18

We have to make it happen.

Speaker 1: 6:20

But last time, oh my gosh, we need to have it like 2024 is our year.

Speaker 3: 6:24

We have to make it happen.

Speaker 1: 6:26

Whatever happens, we're making it happen. So last time we had a conversation, like you said, that was 2021. That was like right after lockdown, when things were starting to open up and the conversation was about how to enter Dominica. And then Dominica still had that bubble going on when you couldn't really travel widely. And then now we're in 2023, where things are completely different. We can travel all over, we can visit all of the good things and all of the great beautiful stuff that happens in Dominica.

Speaker 1: 7:00

But before we go into the topic at hand today, I do really want to kind of, like you know, pick your brain a little bit about what you are doing at the moment, because, yes, you're a travel blogger, but you are also somebody who teaches others on how to work online, and you've even you've published a guide for beginners on it as well. And now I am so, so happy to see, because last time you were in Dominica, but now you're actually in Toronto, so you are applying all of those lessons You're applying to yourself. That's amazing. So tell me a little bit more about this work.

Speaker 2: 7:37

Yes, thank you so much for this rise. So, for those of you who are just discovering me here, my name is Clementine Afana and I go travel with Clem on social in these online streets. For calling Dr Clem, because I'm an actual doctor and MD and, you know, I teach people how to find remote work opportunities so that they, too, can find their dreams, whatever they may be. For me, one of my dreams, I remember when I was younger, was actually travel the world as a doctor. And I tell you I'm telling you actually tough that I was going to join doctors without borders, because to me, that was the only way that you can actually travel as a doctor. But it's just so amazing when you, like you know, think about your goals and work to implement them and really put one foot in front of the other, and then God blesses you and shows you the way as you progress. So at some point in medical school, I, you know, I faced some challenges and I learned to work remotely. I started to participate in the geek economy. That's how I started to work online. That's how I learned even about a fact they can actually make money online and that's how I was able to fund a lot of my travels Fast forward.

Speaker 2: 10:22

Several years later, you know, I am still living this lifestyle by choice, and currently I am working in clinical research, because this is one of the fields that I have always, always wanted to begin and merge it with clinical practice as well. Back in Dominica, I did some time working in clinical practice and while I was doing that, I was still doing my remote jobs. I was still, you know, having my gigs on the side, and you know, now that I have, I have now in Toronto and like, traveled to Dominica, live for different events, you know, different work projects. I still do remote work. So now my work is hybrid, where I can travel to different places and while still having a full in Toronto, and I'm teaching people how they, too, can do that, whether they are looking for a hybrid work model, whether they want to work remotely fully, because so many of my students have actually been able to learn remote job opportunities from Dominica, from the Caribbean, from Africa from the US, from Canada.

Speaker 2: 11:20

And now they are like full-time, remote and I'm like good for you. So, yeah, that is so amazing, yeah. And then you asked me about a guide. So I developed a remote work guide where you can actually learn all the basics that you need to do for you to get started working remotely. If you want to maybe try it out, if you're still looking into exploring this topic, if it's something that has been at the back of your mind, the guide is amazing because it puts all the resources that I have used for my students and you can get it for yourself self-paste and so forth so it's like the most entry-level product that I offer. Of course, I have additional products, but I think for somebody who's looking to get started, this is like the perfect product to really get your food in the door.

Speaker 1: 12:07

I love that, and you know, what I love more is that for a very long time, people in the Caribbean felt that this was not accessible to them. Just because we're so restricted in a lot of ways PayPal not working in a lot of islands, stripe not working in a lot of islands you are now showing Caribbean people a way that they, too, can work remotely. It is so amazing. I am so, so grateful that you took the time to tell us a little bit more about that. So if you are in the Caribbean, you are a Caribbean person and you are looking to work remotely, worry not, dr Klem is here and she has all the goodies on how to get you started.

Speaker 1: 12:48

So I will link all of it in the show notes so you can go to the show notes and get to know more about how to get in contact with Dr Klem. All right? So Right, this is episode Don. Let's talk a little bit about travel and let's talk specifically about your nature isle, and that is Dominica. Now, you are not originally from Dominica, but you have made it home.

Speaker 1: 13:12

Yes wow, okay, so how long? How long have you lived in? Yes, that's actually a long long, long time.

Speaker 2: 13:19

Okay, I know I've lived for 50 years. You know, in our generation, like 10 years is like 50 years. Yes, oh, that's right, forever I've been doing this for 50 years. What I've been doing for 50 years, what I've been doing for 50 years. But, yeah, I moved to America to study medicine and when I finished studying medicine, I always told people that I wanted to leave as soon as I finished, but it was always something holding me back and then I think I finally figured out what I am figuring out, what was holding me back. I feel like I still had so much to contribute to the island, so much to explore, so much to give, so much to share. So, to answer your question, I've been to Dominica since 2009, actually, yeah, like fresh out of high school. I did a few months of university before moving to Dominica and that's what last like 10 years.

Speaker 2: 14:07

That's like 14 years now. So yeah, it feels like 15 years.

Speaker 3: 14:11

Wow.

Speaker 1: 14:13

That's amazing, yeah, but I can. I can totally like relate to that because, of course, you know, I too Moved to see Martin in 2001,. So I'm be calling the silent now for almost 23 years, which is amazing. But, um, yeah, I mean, it's like looking back, like you said. You know, for our generation it's like, oh my god, that's a lifetime and a half ago you know, but in your case, yes, kind of like the same.

Speaker 1: 14:40

You have been in Dominica pretty much forever and it is, um, you've now been in Dominica. Probably Is it longer that. I'm not really sure of your age, but I think it's longer than you've been in You're from Cameroon.

Speaker 2: 14:52

Yeah, I would say, yeah, let's just say like, let's say Without really revealing your age. Because I say a lady never reveals her age. You guys should say like maybe in five exactly. In five years, I would have been in Dominica longer than I have been in my home country and, according to millennials, that is, that's crazy, that's crazy.

Speaker 2: 15:17

So, like I said, I was originally from Cameroon, right and. But then you know, so we say, and I tell people Dominica is my hope, away from hope. Because my Dominican friends which is having let me have it like don't stop saying are you from coming? I'm from Cameroon, with Dominica is my home away from home. But now, like in five years, I think I'm gonna say Cameroon is my home away from home.

Speaker 1: 15:40

Yes, yeah, just imagine how you would have been in Dominica longer, I know, and it's the same with me. It's like I always say when I'm talking to somebody, I always say us, like referring to people here in San Martin, it's us and them versus. You know Curacao, where I'm from, so it's like really weird. It's like I have completely adopted this island as my own. I pretty much. It's still a place I love coming back to after my travels. So it is a wonderful, wonderful feeling to have like feel that home base somewhere else, you know um, instead, instead of where you're actually from. So it doesn't in my books, it doesn't really matter, it's just where you call home, and I think in your case it's Dominica, and right now you're in Toronto, but you're still, I mean, I can see the Dominica flag behind you.

Speaker 2: 16:25

Oh, yes, I have to rip. I have to rip for my people I heard you got to represent, girl.

Speaker 1: 16:34

Listen, let's talk about this beautiful island that we've been discussing so far, and that is Just oh my gosh. The nature there is just so amazing the waterfalls, the rivers, the everything. So let's start first. We like, let's say somebody has never been to Dominica before. What would be the things that you would tell them they need to look out for when they're planning to go to Dominica? So they haven't, they haven't set foot on the island yet, but what should they plan for? How should they plan for it? What should they plan?

Speaker 2: 17:09

Let's go that, thank you. So I'm hearing what should they plan for, how should they, what should they plan for, how they should plan for it, and so forth. Right, so um?

Speaker 1: 17:19

I want to pack because I don't know if there's anything like special to pack right.

Speaker 2: 17:23

Great question, thank you. So, uh, you know and I want to take it more from the perspective of what people think about islands, and that is also what I was thinking when I was, before I moved to Dominica a lot of times, when you think about an island, you're thinking about, you know, like just white sand beaches and I'm very specific about the white sand beaches you think about like the towering coconut trees, you think about even like women dancing in their hoolas. You know, like you think about that. That is so true. The TV has done some damage, you know, and it's not just that, it's wrong, oh my gosh, yeah, absolutely Exactly.

Speaker 2: 17:57

So it's not to say that it's wrong, but it's to say that, um, having lived in Dominica has really helped me expand my perspective on what an island is. There are some commonalities, but for Dominica specifically, this is the black sand island with um green or lush green, lush greenery. You know, I like Dominica is like nature like you've never seen before. So when you come to Dominica, expect to see a lot of green, like literally riser. Every time I go back and I never really used to notice it before until I started to travel, go and come and go every time I go back, when I drive, like to where I leave, I just feel like there's a road and then around you just see like nature, like green, green, green, rainforest, and it's just, oh my gosh, it feels like you are driving into Um Fairy tale or like into a postcard. Literally that's what it feels like. So for somebody travel to Dominica, uh, expect a lot of greenery and because of that it's called the nature isle of the Caribbean, because it's really like it's really what it is, you know, uh, expect a lot of waterfalls, expect a lot of black sand beaches. I mean, so gorgeous, they are not white sand. They are black sand because the island is a volcanic island. Do the volcanoes are dormant, like dormant and are not like active, active, um so, and it's so interesting because in Cameroon we also have a volcano, so, um so. So that's why it's a black sand beach. That is the black sand, which is that you're mostly going to see in Dominica. So expect a lot of that and, as a result, we have a lot of nature friendly activities, like you know. You have like hiking, uh, river tubing, you know boat riding, being on jetties, you know going like this kind of like nature experiences and so forth. So that is really what Dominica is.

Speaker 2: 19:39

Is is like, and in addition to that, you also have the culture a very small island, but a mighty island. Right there. We have about 70 to 72 thousand people in the island. It's like the city this is like a city in some of those countries out there, like I think Toronto has. Toronto probably has like three or four times I mean we have double check the facts it's having like a borrow in Toronto. Right, this is the island, but the culture it's like. The culture is like, it feels like the culture of 10 of of 10 countries.

Speaker 2: 20:09

Think about David and your life, david was like I am small and mighty, but what I have, you know, it's beyond compare. You know what I mean.

Speaker 2: 20:18

So the culture is so rich, and so, when someone plans to travel to Dominica, look out for the cultural events. I always say that the culture is the way you really connect with the people wherever you travel, specifically in islands and, um, yeah, and for those reasons, dominica is just a very beautiful ecotourism destination that you know. Anyone who loves the journey, anyone who just wants to come and rest in nature, explore a different type of nature, should definitely come to. No, that being said, right, isl? Uh, what should you pack? Um, you know, when you come to Dominica you want to pack your hiking shoes.

Speaker 2: 20:52

You know your hiking gear and when, I talk about hiking shoes and hiking gear.

Speaker 2: 20:56

It doesn't mean like you have to. Like you know, wear like this big, like hiking pants and stuff, like people hiking Dominica with your short pants and like their tan tops and their tennis shoes. Once your tennis shoe has a good grip, you're good to go. Like this is where people wear to go hiking. You know, like your backpack to get your snacks, your water, water roads. You know you're in separate planets and stuff and you're good to go and you want to pack your bathing suits.

Speaker 2: 21:17

I always tell people, if you go to Dominica with just one bathing suit, you're wrong. You do imagine with yourself or in any Caribbean island and you would attend that yeah, exactly, never come with only one bathing suit.

Speaker 1: 21:30

What is wrong with you? Yeah, back to the wall.

Speaker 2: 21:34

Yeah, exactly because you want you go. You're probably gonna be in a body of water every day or every other day and you can't just with what I've been used to dry, so you have to like find like three or four so that you can rotate, you know.

Speaker 1: 21:45

So you're gonna have a hiring suit, yeah and then people taking pictures for the ground, and definitely you want more than one because you know you need to like show off that new bathing suit.

Speaker 2: 21:54

Yeah, exactly, show the beauty that you are and the beauty that nature is in, exactly, exactly. And then you also want to buy. Like I, like wearing colorful things. So like your colorful clothings, like you know. Your like sun dresses and stuff. But you know, even if you come like with simple clothes and stuff, that's good Whatever makes you comfortable. But like essentials will be things that you can wear to hike, things that you can wear to be in water, you know, and, and yeah, and now, you tell yeah and that you can easily decide that you can know.

Speaker 1: 22:23

You know, if you're like on on a day just exploring downtown area, you can easily just take that sundry out of sundries often and jump in whatever body of water you find yourself in Exactly.

Speaker 2: 22:34

Yeah, right, yeah. And now, in terms of like, uh, how to plan your trip to dominica, I always love talking about it because you know what Whenever you look for like where to go and like when is the best time to go. We're usually doing this on the weather, right, and I think it's good because people, especially in north america we have four seasons, right Uh, you have four seasons, and those seasons really advise what to pack, what to wear and things like that.

Speaker 1: 22:58

Exactly.

Speaker 2: 23:00

Uh, even though we have a hurricane season, like in the korean, in general it's always.

Speaker 1: 23:04

Exactly.

Speaker 2: 23:05

It's always sunny. So you travel, travel to dominica whenever you get a time off, but if you wear remotely, hey, that's not a problem, you know you don't have to wear what time off. Uh, travel to dominica when your budget allows it. But if you really want to connect, um like with the culture and the people and get like the amazing food, like at key times, you really want to come either during the carnival season, which is in february, or during the independent season, which is in october.

Speaker 3: 23:33

Nature is there all year round.

Speaker 2: 23:35

Like nature, you know the world. Yes, exactly, Amazing people. But if you really want to get like this explosion of culture, these are the two months where you really want to plan your vacation in dominica around.

Speaker 1: 23:46

Oh my gosh, it's like somebody needs to say this so much louder because we get this. Every single caribbean person gets this all the time. It's like, when should we visit? And, yes, the caribbean is sunny year round. But I have to say also that we do have rain. It doesn't mean I mean like, for instance, dominica. Dominica, it's so green for a reason because you do have rain, for otherwise it wouldn't be so green.

Speaker 1: 24:10

So don't expect that, when you're on vacation and you get the occasional green or you get the occasional gray days, that you're all like, oh my gosh, it was terrible. No, so this is how we survive on the islands. We do need rain as well, so don't expect it to be sunny, sunny, sunny all the time. There needs to be a little bit of rain, but it is still. Even on a gray day, it's still more beautiful than everything else. So, yeah, it is gorgeous, and thank you also so much for you know, confirming all of the things that people think caribbean living is like before they actually get here, and that the islands are all different. None of us are the same. We all have something to offer and we all have something worth visiting and exploring. So, yeah, absolutely, I love that.

Speaker 1: 25:00

Now we spoke about the two biggest seasons that you're talking about, which is? You talked about carnival season and, of course, the independence Season or independence time right in october, but you also have a creole fest that I saw that you're doing. Is that fall? That falls in that?

Speaker 2: 25:21

Last one that we spoke about, right? Yes, yes, so the creole fest is you, the independent season, which is in october? Um, and it's actually at the end of the month of october, so we call it three nights of post-sitting rhythms, because, rise out you post it for three nights literally.

Speaker 2: 25:36

I was telling like, whatever, whatever I check on about the creole fest because I travel this year, I didn't really have coverage for the event. You know I post like on facebook, instagram, you know youtube and tiktok, so, guys, you can follow me on all these platforms, the content is different.

Speaker 2: 25:53

So my mom is the content and after that I was talking to my mom and she's like I've just never seen people who are always partying and always happy, morning and night, nothing. It's like I just like the way these people are enjoying themselves. It's like I like this. I'm like, yes, mom, that's what it's probably three nights of post-sitting rhythms, because she truly posted for three nights and they still like oh, yeah, yeah, so it is, you know.

Speaker 3: 26:19

But but I oh yes.

Speaker 1: 26:20

I. But that's exactly why I was actually bringing it up because, yes, like like everybody else who follows you, I was like my face was just buried in my phone watching all of these video content that you make about you know.

Speaker 1: 26:34

All the food oh my gosh, the food that is available and all of the other stuff in the culture I did so much culture in dominica. It is amazing, yeah, and we have to mention this because this is like so special about dominica as well. I mean dominica special in so many ways. But one thing that I truly, truly love about it is that you guys are you have one of the only surviving tribes, original Caribbean tribes in the Caribbean, that is still there, that is still functioning, that is still calling the Caribbean home, and that is the Kalinago people. Yeah, please explain to the people a little bit more about this, because, oh my gosh, that is like so amazing it is it is right.

Speaker 2: 27:20

So you know what, as somebody you know from African descent. I mean, you are also of African descent, you know.

Speaker 2: 27:26

Having an understanding of history is really really important, and especially when it comes to understanding things like native land and our position and our place where we are, and even right now, I mean Canada. Toronto is native land. Well, canada is native land right. So I think it's really important to really always acknowledge that whenever you go into a country where you have native people from the native land, you know traditionally they are called indigenous right, because, I mean, that's what it means you know from the native land. And so in Dominica, these are the Kalinagos, you know the Amerindians, so the culture is really really rich and in a way, it's kind of similar to African culture, because whenever I visit the Kalinago territory.

Speaker 2: 28:10

I'm like, yeah, this is what we do home. You know, this is what we do home, like the basket weaving the herbal healing. You know the connection with the land, with the soil, the connection with nature, the traditional dances and stuff, and so to me, when I go there, when I explore the Kalinago territory and learn about your customs, your practices and the things that they do, it makes me feel a lot home because it's similar to what some of the things that we do in Africa too, you know, in African countries, and it makes sense because African countries are native native lands and African slaves in their native land.

Speaker 2: 28:46

So also Kalinago's live in their native lands. Now, does that mean that you know the African people of the Caribbean, the African descent while now in Caribbean islands I've seen Dominica, the people like me or Dominicans doesn't mean that it's in their native land, no, it's their home. Of course you know they were brought there, right, they were brought there.

Speaker 1: 29:06

Exactly Struggling, not willingly, not willingly right, not willingly.

Speaker 2: 29:10

They developed the island, they contributed, they did work, they invested in India pour sweat, tears and blood, and now it's also their home. But in it being your home, you need to recognize that it is also somebody else's home, and so you need to really be in tune and aware and promote, you know, that original culture that was there before you came, because if you think about it right now you know the thing that if you're not being aware of those things, then you are doing to them what they did to you.

Speaker 1: 29:45

Right, exactly, mom, oh my gosh, thank you for saying that. It's just. It is so true. Yes, slavery was brought to the Caribbean and, yes, we are all descendants of, but and while the original original inhabitants of these islands were all killed off, whether it was by Western diseases or by sending dogs upon them, or in any other cruel way that Westerners destroyed all of these precious, precious people.

Speaker 1: 30:12

The Kalanago people are still there and they are the original people that were there from the beginning, and it is so amazing that they, too, still show similarities to the African people or to the African traditions, without actually having set foot in Africa or coming from African descent. Exactly, exactly.

Speaker 2: 30:34

It's amazing. Yeah, that is amazing, it is, and I think you know what, right, actually I was talking. You made me think about something like when you think about indigenous culture or, like you know, original culture, you know that you would just see that there are similarities. You know, we people from the land, you know, were always in touch with nature, always in touch with the land, and always use, you know, whatever the land had to provide as the primary, whatever modern nature had to provide as a primary source of provision. Right, it doesn't matter where you're going, whatever country you're going, even like in the Americas, the Amerindians, the indigenous, there, there is always indigenous culture, is always attached with, like connection with nature, which is also what we see in Africa.

Speaker 2: 31:16

And even what you see in other countries, like you know, India and so forth?

Speaker 1: 31:20

Yes, yes, absolutely. So last time we spoke was in 2021. Last time not the way we spoke, but last time we had an interview and we did it on my YouTube channel. Then you can still go and watch that right away. If you haven't, I'm going to link it in the show notes if you want, if you're interested in watching that early conversation. But we spoke about that and was, of course, we needed to conserve everybody and we needed to protect everybody during that time when Corona was still at a high but, and it was difficult to visit the Kalinago people at that time. But now, of course, it's a little bit more open. So how can one go about visiting the Kalinago people, learning about it? And I also want to know from you, clam, what was one of the things that you were taught by the Kalinago people? That still is something that you thought was so beautiful, worth sharing today.

Speaker 2: 32:14

To me, it was a simplicity, honestly, simplicity, and the reason why it's so important right now is because we live in a world, you know, in a society where we want everything now, where the more we have the better. You know, or we feel like the more we have the better. If we have the latest thing, the latest, this is like so fulfilling and whatnot. But when you really look at how they live, it's a very simple life and it's a very happy life too, you know. Like you know, granted, you have the challenges and everybody does. But it's like sometimes I wish, like you know, I wish I could say if I just spend like a month living in this, in simplicity, you know, like with the essentials.

Speaker 1: 32:53

No folks, no electronics, just the essentials.

Speaker 2: 32:56

The basic food that is nutritious for my body, you know, and it's connected with nature. How will my life be, you know? So to me, that was really, really striking, and also I could also see that a lot of them live long. Dominica is one of the islands in the Caribbean that has a lot of how do you, how do you?

Speaker 1: 33:14

in French, we say something there, something there people who live like 100 years, oh, yes, yes, I don't well long livers, yeah, yeah, yeah, this is when I'm putting my place again because, you know, english is my first language, so I was like I need to look that up. I know exactly what you mean. But yeah, those are the people that live longer than the usual 80 to 85 years.

Speaker 2: 33:42

And a handful of them. A lot of them are, like you know, black. A handful of them are, a lot of them are also, you know, kalinago descent. So it tells you something really long. And so those are the things that were really really interesting to me In terms of how you can visit the Kalinago territory. So in Dominica is called the Kalinago territory or Karinago Paraná Ote, and they are tour guides that organize tours. So when you do island tours they are stops within the Kalinago territory, which you know I'll definitely recommend In September and you can also link it in the show notes. Around September they have different festivals that happen within the Kalinago region. So, like for like weeks you have different showings, arts and crafts, you know, traditional dances, music and so forth. You can actually go and visit it, I think. And if you have the bandwidth and the latitude to explore Dominica between September and October, you can maybe use, you know, part of September and then site it October, you know if you have a remote job you can work for two months remotely.

Speaker 1: 34:40

That was just going to say that I shall let you say Exactly what I was going to say I was like.

Speaker 3: 34:47

well, if you work online if you're a remote worker, that is exactly one of those things that you get to do.

Speaker 1: 34:54

You can spend two to three months in Dominica. It's just amazing, of course. Amazing. I love it. I remember, also on your Instagram, that you posted a video of you. I don't know if you were in the dance, but there were people in purple and they were dancing. Was that the dance?

Speaker 2: 35:14

Yes, so let me tell you about it. So during the Creole Festival which we talked about, it happened in October. Guys, listeners of the Paradise Perspective, come to the Dominica Paradise next year. October Come come come for the World Creole Music Festival.

Speaker 1: 35:27

We're in, we are so in.

Speaker 2: 35:29

Right. So so there's an event that is called Watu right, watu. And then it's basically I don't want to say basically that is really a nice event A culinary and culture festival. I rebranded it a culinary and culture festival because it's an event where you come and cook by the fire, by the river, while you are listening to traditional music and seeing people doing traditional dances how you call that how do you call that?

Speaker 1: 35:58

Oh my gosh, that is like that is what I call the experience of a lifetime. That's what I call that. That's what I want, like most experience thing, absolutely yeah. So this is an experience where you can.

Speaker 2: 36:09

So I think that what I posted a video about that, just like recapping how they experienced. But and then they were like traditional dances from the Kalinago. We also had Kalinago traditional dances from Dominic, from you know the Dominican, um the non-Kalinagos. You know like Dominica, so you had like these things that were drillings too for it.

Speaker 2: 36:26

So yes, and then I think in another video I was kind of like I was doing one of the dances uh, helento, so um, but that wasn't in the same location, but it was also still in the same, the same season.

Speaker 1: 36:36

Yeah, so let's talk about music for a while, because of course, there are so many different kind of music in Dominica alone. Uh, you know, it's like a lot of people that have never set foot in the Caribbean have a feeling that it's all about Soka and Rage, but that is not it.

Speaker 1: 36:53

There are so many different genres of music, so let's talk a little bit about music, and you know where I'm bleeding with this question already but, let's talk about the traditional music first, and then we're gonna go into that other thing that we need to talk about, of course, of course yes, so, um, yeah, and you were right in saying that.

Speaker 2: 37:12

You know, soka and Rage are really popular musical genres that have been, that are born in the Caribbean and have really helped to propel the region and I think the artists have done such an amazing job, you know amazing like Mali, in Jamaica, and now the new generation um Soka artists, you know, like in Trinidad, like in Mashin Montana, patrice Roberta Stragarcia, um, you know cast, cast the band, cast the band, cast the band.

Speaker 1: 37:38

Oh, I thought how could I forget?

Speaker 2: 37:39

how could I love them? Give me like if you're listening.

Speaker 1: 37:45

If you're listening, please.

Speaker 2: 37:47

If you're listening, I was gonna say he sent me the episode. I hope he has time on his flight.

Speaker 1: 37:52

Oh, I know right. Well, he's actually very busy preparing for an actual event here in Samaritan very soon. Oh yeah, I think it's this weekend. Oh, this weekend they're gonna be in Samaritan. Yes, I know right, I love.

Speaker 2: 38:05

Thank you, but yeah, but then. So these are popular genres that people know really. The Caribbean, like we're saying. You know, each Caribbean island is also different. It has a little spin on things. So in Dominica, there is one musical genre that was actually born in.

Speaker 2: 38:19

Dominica. Um, you know, and it's called Bouillon Bouillon music. So, uh, bouillon music is like very much like dancing to the, to the beat of the drum, but in a traditional but yet in modern way. So when you listen to Bouillon music, right you, all you want to do is just pull six. You know, you just move like you cannot listen to Bouillon music and just be like, yeah, like you cannot listen to it, to like just clean at home if you want to listen to it.

Speaker 3: 38:42

Clean at home, you're not gonna clean right.

Speaker 2: 38:44

Like you, all you want to do is dance right and the meaning and the meaning of Bouillon is basically like, it comes from Bouillon, which is like a Bouillon, or like, or a broth, which is a French, it's a French exactly just a different. I know you will be familiar with it and what is?

Speaker 3: 39:01

what is that kind?

Speaker 2: 39:01

of broth. Really it's a mixture of different things. So you know, uh, our moms will cook things like a one pot where they put, like you know, your fish, maybe your, if it's a fish, push fish Bouillon, your fish, your tomatoes, your ground provisions, your spices and stuff like that. So that is a fish Bouillon. There can be a chicken Bouillon there. It can be like a big Bouillon or pork Bouillon so exactly the idea is a melting pot.

Speaker 2: 39:22

So when you listen to Bouillon music you can actually feel the African energy from, like, the way they make the bits and stuff, and then you can also feel the Caribbean impact you know like, from, you know having now, from being these Africans living in the Caribbean and how the island life has, in fact, has impacted your life, so you can really hear that mix and it's just such a rich musical genre that is just, you know, going farther and farther. We have, like Pyrenees or Bouillon music you know, in the Bouillon and new generation Bouillon artists who are not, you know like coming up.

Speaker 1: 39:54

So it's really um, it's really beautiful yes yes, that is amazing, that is so, so beautiful. And then, of course, I do need to mention your sister yes yeah.

Speaker 1: 40:10

I know my gosh, I I told you this last time we had this interview and we were talking about you know music as well, and we were talking about Maripa skull, and I am so in love with her music. Her songs are just so inspiring. Every time I have very few, um. I mean, I love all the genres in the Caribbean, but there are a few artists, and especially the female artists, that I'm like, oh, I'm fangirling over over them, and that is that is Sabrina Francis in Granada and Marie Pascal in America those two are like oh my gosh, amazing, amazing.

Speaker 1: 40:50

So, please, we need to talk a little bit about Marie Pascal and, with her permission, I would like to end this episode. So keep on listening until the end of this episode, because I'm going to share with you one of my favorite songs by Marie Pascal amazing.

Speaker 2: 41:05

Yes, thank you so much. Yes, and for those so so. Marie Pascal is my sister. We give Dominica together. She's always been a singer at heart and you know what right. So, like you know, I think we really need to believe that god bless these people with different talents, like you can have.

Speaker 2: 41:18

Oh, my gosh you have talents that you know about, and then you have talents that are hidden. So she has many talents and singing has been one that uh was hidden, then it wasn't actually written like it was revealed, you know. And so she, she knew she was always a singer at heart and so when she came to the Caribbean, um, she really used um the Caribbean to prepare her music career, specifically Dominica and I remember a lot of times I could talk a lot and we had um some work that we also did with the tourism board, and then she revealed that, um, it really being in nature inspires her a lot, inspires her writing, her music and so forth, because Dominica has this way of just making you feel safe, making you feel serene, you feel like your problems don't exist, and that's probably why we are always dancing, always happy, you know, because, like, exactly, I don't have any problems, you know you listen to a little bit of Maripa Skala, a little bit of Booyoung, and all your worries are like just the thing of the past exactly, exactly.

Speaker 2: 42:14

So she sings a lot about love, you know, love for yourself, love for god and in love in relationships, because you know, a lot of people promote I don't want to say a lot of people think about you know the reality, not necessarily about what they want to see. And one of the things that I love about her yes, she's my sister, but he said she sings about like a type of pure love. You know, when you fall in love with someone, you want to take care of them. They want to take care of you, yeah, want to be there for them, that kind of pure and authentic love that we tend to look for in the wrong ways or in the wrong places. So when you listen to her and she goes with like music is medicine, right?

Speaker 1: 42:49

um, and she calls us absolutely so. I mean, let's be completely honest, she's a doctor and she's a doctor of music. Really, she's just, she's just she's giving you the medicine through music.

Speaker 2: 43:02

That's amazing, exactly exactly that's really what she's about, and she's the afro-bitt princess of the caribbean. So so you will know, like from the african influence and you do like living in the caribbean, it makes sense that she's the afro-bitt princess of the caribbean, and so she, she has that kind of like vibe um zoop, compare afro-bitt kind of vibe, so it's actually mixes everything together and it works fabulously.

Speaker 1: 43:26

And then, while I'm talking to you, it's like that one song keeps like repeating into my head and I'm trying to remember the words, because I listened to it all the time.

Speaker 2: 43:33

It was the one for like order.

Speaker 1: 43:35

Of course it's melanine. I love that song. It's like when you see my sister, yeah, when you see the right. Now we need to bend her on some shows in san martin I want us to work towards it we need to get her here and I need to get her on this podcast as well, actually, in fact, I should get another podcast episode with the both of you that would be so nice and we need to record that one, I think in dominica.

Speaker 2: 44:03

So in dominica. Okay, well, how? How about we do one in dominica and one in san martin? San martin. When she comes, one event, let me know we need to bring her here.

Speaker 1: 44:12

That's for sure, absolutely, I totally agree yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, that would be a good one, so yeah. So if you have never heard of maripa skull, go look for it. Of course I am gonna link some of her stuff in the show notes, so that you can go and check that out absolutely. It's a must. I mean, melanine alone is one of my absolute favorites, but there are so many other great songs and she's been she's been coming out with some new stuff yeah, a lot of new.

Speaker 2: 44:41

Yeah, a lot of new upcoming releases for 2024.

Speaker 1: 44:44

Yeah, and it's energy. Her energy is just oh, it's so good, it's so, so good. So if you think glam has all the energy, no, it's like it's all in the family.

Speaker 1: 44:54

I think both of you are just, you're such bright people, like the notes, you fill a room. It's beautiful, all right. So, um, we've talked today about working online, we have talked about music in dominica, we talked about cultural places, or actually cultural events, and we've talked about what to pack and how to prepare for your trip to dominica. Now let's talk a little bit more about you know what food I mean. That is like one of those things that we need to talk about so in depth, I think, because food in dominica is everything and there is so much wonderful stuff that you can eat. Can you share with us a few of the must-ry dishes in dominica?

Speaker 2: 45:41

definitely. First, um pilau, which is the rice based dish, and I think every caribbean island has its own version of this rice based dish exactly. Interestingly, every african country has has a rice based dish.

Speaker 2: 45:53

That is like super popular right, yeah so, yeah, so pilau is like a really like easy not I always say easy to make, but like easy to access dish that you know you can get at any restaurant in dominica, um, you know, like snack carts, you know food spots and so forth. It's definitely a must try um. The second thing that I recommend trying in dominica is, um, you know, um sorry, crab based dishes. Um, during the independent season and that's because that's a season when you usually have a lot of crabs so there's a dish made that is called crab kalalu, and kalalu is like a, is a, is a green leaf, like um, this is a cousin of spinach, so if you know spinach, kalalu is similar, right, and basically they make um, the. The crab kalalu is like a sauce, a big um like one pot, which like, um, you know, kalalu and like cram and like spices and so forth. It's absolutely delicious.

Speaker 1: 46:44

You have to try it when you come to dominica which caribbean people are so, so good at that, aren't we? We're so good at mixing everything in one pot and just making kind of like a stew making it make sense yeah very good at that.

Speaker 2: 46:57

Yeah, exactly because some people will be mixing that they wouldn't get tensed. Some people would mix it with yes, no, no, no absolutely.

Speaker 1: 47:05

You need to know what you're doing, and kalalu is something that we have here as well, so, yeah, it's very familiar with kalalu.

Speaker 2: 47:11

I love kalalu, but you have kalalu and crab in this mixture and then you have um you you want to try um dishes like your bits, you know, and salt fish. So I think, it's also something that like very popular in caribbean islands. Uh, it's not a dish dish, but it's like you know, in the morning people can have their baked, their stuffed baked with, with juice or with some capote is a is a.

Speaker 1: 47:34

Yeah, so you know, hallelujah, I think we call it johnny cakes, but yeah, bakes, you guys call it baked. It's a fried dough. Yeah, you even got it baked or fried.

Speaker 2: 47:43

Yes, baked or fried and then, yeah, even people who do it roast it right, so it's a little bit help. Yeah, these are like, yeah, it's so good. They stuff them with salt fish, they stuff them with like smoke harry, they can stuff them with even, like you know, corn beef, whatever you want to stuff them, or even with cheese, you know, and it's like a great breakfast. Drink juice and drink some kakote.

Speaker 1: 48:03

Speaking of kakote, you have to try the kakote yeah, listen, I'm already like a believer in the kakote or the kakote, because so many different islands and we've spoken about this on paradise perspectives numerous times uh, kakote, kakote, it is. Oh my gosh, I'm telling you it is something that I really really need to try I was like it's spoken, it's, it's, it's all over the korea bian.

Speaker 1: 48:29

Everybody calls it a different thing, but the majority of korea bian people will call it kakote, kakote, yes, yes, yes yes, so for, for a nice perspective listener, it's actually spelled koko kokoa, kokoa c o, c, o a right uh, in french the a o's are inverse, so in french is kakaw kakaw right.

Speaker 2: 48:49

Yes, exactly. But I don't know how dominicans end up saying kakoo. I think you know why. You know actually. I think I just realized why I said it's because in french is kakaw right. So it's spelled c a, c a o, and you know that, by colonial heritage, dominica is like french and english speaking.

Speaker 2: 49:08

So, or pre-order exactly so if you think about kakaw um, they can't like remove the a between the c and the o at the end, so they just spent the a, c, o. So that's why we say kak kakotis, kakaw kakotis. I need to get this verified in one of my local friends.

Speaker 1: 49:26

I was like you need to check that out. Yes, but I wouldn't be surprised and yes, I so beautiful for you to mention. Thank you so much for reminding everybody that you know the french had a really big influence on dominica before, so that's why you guys speak a lot of the um french what we call it, patois yeah patois, french, creole, yes, yes, as well as english, because, yeah, that is still the main language, I think on dominica, isn't it?

Speaker 1: 49:53

Yeah, okay, all right. So you were talking about we were talking about a cocoa tea, and then is there anything else that people need to like? At least try once when they're there. And is there anything that vegetarians like myself can enjoy? Oh, thank you for putting me on to this.

Speaker 2: 50:09

Yes, yes, yes. So anything that you can try. I know I gave like examples of dishes and like snacks and stuff, but I think anyone who can drink and I think anyone who comes to Dominica should definitely try one of my favorite punches on the island. I shared about this recently on my Instagram Travel with Clem and somebody said I've never heard of punch being made with that and it's called Peanut Punch. I want to specifically try out the Tony's Peanut Punch Tony is a house brand yeah, tony's Peanut Punch.

Speaker 2: 50:37

So Tony. Tony is a house brand in Dominica. Everybody in Dominica knows Tony. They do different types of punches, like peanut punch, chocolate punch, you know, passion fruit punch different types but the peanut punch is a hit every single time, right. So you want to try this. They serve these at bars and restaurants. You can also go to the supermarket, buy your bottle and drink it at home, but trust me, once you try that, you're going to be like yeah, I need to.

Speaker 1: 51:04

I need to. I wonder if I really wonder if this peanut punch is kind of similar than what we had in Curacao, because I don't know if you noticed, but there has been a lot, a lot of people from Dominica who moved to Curacao back in the 80s around that time, so we had also somebody who brought us up, was from or is no, was she on recently? She recently passed away, unfortunately, but she was from Dominica and she taught us so much and I think one of the things that she I don't know if she was the one that introduced that to us, but I do remember drinking that and I haven't found it anywhere else and that is that this, this peanut punch that you're talking about, so I wonder if it's the same thing.

Speaker 1: 51:45

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 51:48

But it's delicious whatever it is.

Speaker 1: 51:49

And do you guys does this? Tony guy, does he? Does he actually put rum in it or alcohol, or is it just non alcohol? Yeah, so when you drink it it smooths in the palette.

Speaker 2: 52:04

You're like oh, this is so good. You don't see it kicking. You don't see it kicking until you're like three or four.

Speaker 1: 52:09

No, that's the, that's the danger of it Exactly, exactly.

Speaker 3: 52:12

So it's really important, okay, so wait this peanut punch is you're talking about?

Speaker 1: 52:15

is there actual peanuts in it?

Speaker 2: 52:17

Yeah, so people would like okay allergies wouldn't be able to take it. Yeah, but there are other punches that he does that are also just as good. The reason I root so hard for the peanut punch is because I love it. I love peanuts, I don't have any allergies. But he has like chocolate punch, passion fruit punch, rum punch, lime punch oh yes, yeah, if peanut is not your jam he has many other punches.

Speaker 1: 52:41

I need to try that peanut punch and some of those other Tony's punches. For sure, for sure, for sure, yeah. All right let's talk a little bit. I'm seeing that we're going really on time already, but yes, please go ahead. What are you saying?

Speaker 2: 52:54

Yes, you were asking me about the vegan spot. I just want to put you on this one. Yes, yes yes, it's called Ital Kitchen.

Speaker 3: 53:01

Ital is like a purely vegan restaurant.

Speaker 2: 53:05

I had tried it before in Dominica, but the first time I really said you know what, let me actually have a vegan meal, let me have a full vegan meal. That I didn't try to make myself right Because, like you know, I checked out recipes and I made a few things, but I said let me try to begin me from somebody who does this every day. Yes, I went to Ital Kitchen in Dominica, downtown in Roso. If you go to Roso like capital city, where she's probably going to be, when you go to Dominica, ask anybody where is Ital. I can give you directions over in this podcast video, but where you go, ask anybody where is Ital Kitchen or Ital restaurant. Rizal, I had a full course meal. I had a full course. I was like there was zero meat, zero fish, zero seafood and that was tasty. I was like what Is that how you all are eating every day?

Speaker 1: 53:54

Wow, yeah, literally, it's really really good. I'm amazed. I'm amazed at how it's a Rastafarian culture. Yeah Well, food genre, right, the Ital Kitchen. But I do love and especially in Dominica, you guys have so the ground there is so fertile you can grow pretty much anything, so there is so much fruit and vegetables and stuff there. It's amazing. Yeah, so, yeah, so of course you can pretty much. I can imagine that you can make some out of this world vegan dishes there.

Speaker 2: 54:30

Yes, definitely, definitely, so definitely.

Speaker 1: 54:36

So good, so so good, Okay, so we already have our spot for the vegans and the vegetarians. Now one last question. One last thing that I want to ask you is about accommodations. So, of course, that is like the one thing that everybody starts researching when they're planning, when they say okay, I want to go to Dominica, where should I stay?

Speaker 2: 54:56

Right, so I would say the Mika has different types of accommodations based on what your budget is. The most important thing that I think people should think about when they explore Dominica is sorry, and I think that also that is also applicable to many islands, actually, and even like other countries is where are you? Where are you going to spend most of your time?

Speaker 2: 55:14

right, because you can go to Airbnb and be like you know what, where to stay in Dominica, or accommodation, and you're going to see like these beautiful properties which are locally owned, locally run and stuff and they are like good options, but where in the island? This is. So I would say, when you search for your accommodation, look for, you know, regions like Rousseau, which is the capital city. You can look for also Portsmouth, which is a second city, and then if there are, you know, sightseeing activities that you want to do that are not in those regions, then you can look up where the activity is, like which parish it is in, because the Caribbean's general islands are separated by parishes, organized by parishes. Look for which parish, the places right, and then look for accommodations, like when you go on Airbnb, look for Airbnb near you know, like St David, or you know St George and whatnot, right, so that's what.

Speaker 2: 56:04

Airbnb is and stuff. The same applies to hotels. Some people like to go to pick their pick, their um, their engineering based on the hotels. I don't recommend it. I think you should know what you want to do and then find the hotels or the accommodations that are going to support you in being able to do it. So if I want to spend time in Rousseau, going to look for activities in Rousseau and then accommodation in Rousseau, right, so that's kind of like the approach that I will become in, but you know I'm always happy.

Speaker 1: 56:33

Oh my gosh, thank you so much for saying that. Yeah, thank you so much for saying that, because that is the one thing that, of course, we, as the Caribbean people, whenever, um, and especially you and I that promote our island online, that is what the one thing that everybody asks is where they should stay, and they want us to give us an answer like this hotel or that resort or that whatever? I cannot tell you that because I don't know. Not do not know what you are looking to get out of your vacation. There are so many areas, so the areas I can explain to you and you have to go and then see what you can find in that area, that area. But I think it's also important to, of course, say you know if you are willing to drive. If you are not willing to drive, then obviously you're going to have to look for something that is within walking distance in downtown area, something that's more.

Speaker 1: 57:19

You know that has a lot of activity going on. But, yes, thank you for saying that, because it's just not about just the hotel or the resort or the Airbnb, whatever it is that you want to rent, it is about the area that you're going to be staying in. So that's what we need to focus a little bit more on. I am so immensely grateful for your presence today. I cannot thank you enough for being here, because I know especially that you are super, super busy with everything that you do, because you are like, you're like me, you wear like so many different hats.

Speaker 1: 57:52

It's just you know, and our and it's only time is, I think, our most valuable thing in the world, because we need to split up that little bit of time that we have and everything that we want to do. So thank you for choosing Paradise Perspectives as one of the well, an hour that out of your time that you want to spend it with. So my last question to you before I let you go, is what are some of the things that you think visitors should know, that they should avoid doing in order not to piss off the locals? I think that is such an important thing, you know, because a lot of people don't want to talk about it, because we don't want to piss off the tourists. But what about if we can do something to not piss off the locals?

Speaker 1: 58:36

Because I think a lot of ways people can be a little.

Speaker 1: 58:39

They can completely disregard the traditions and norms of somebody's country and I think, like you said it just now, that you know. In the beginning of this conversation you said something like yes, make sure that you have, you know, your sun dressed, but also all of your bathing suits. And then this is something that I cannot stress enough it is considered extremely rude and improper in a lot of Caribbean countries If you wear just your bikini and step into stores. I don't know if that is something that is the same in Dominica, but it's definitely the case in a lot of the other islands that are visited so you know something along that line, some way that you cannot disrespect the culture would?

Speaker 2: 59:19

be nice to know. Yeah, thank you so much for this. I think it's really important to actually highlight that. I attended a conference, a travel conference, earlier in this quarter, and then one of the speakers said that. One of the panelists said that when you travel, don't think about traveling to countries. You're traveling to people's homes. Right, you're traveling to somebody's home. I think that alone is like a mic drop. That alone is like once you think about that?

Speaker 1: 59:47

Oh my gosh. I say that all the time. The one thing that I always tell people is listen you, and maybe your Caribbean destination, your vacation destination, but it is our home. Right At the end of the day, it's our home, so there needs to be some kind of mutual respect.

Speaker 2: 1:00:02

Exactly, and I think tourists usually have some some tourists, I shouldn't say all it might have a tourist privilege, thinking that you know, because this island depends on tourism and so forth. I am doing you a favor by being here, but no it's an exchange of value.

Speaker 3: 1:00:16

It's an exchange of value.

Speaker 2: 1:00:17

You pick the island. We offer you something. A man, absolutely. Tourism is business. We give you, you give us right.

Speaker 2: 1:00:25

But even in business it's not because you pay somebody, it's not because you get into. You're doing business so that you get the right to like, be disrespectful. I feel like, yeah, money, money, no. So things that I would say that you know do not to. To really stay in tune and be respectful to the locals Number one, I think, do your research.

Speaker 2: 1:00:43

You know on the island. Do your research, understand what are the values of the people. We follow some content creators who are on the island. There are a lot of people who do a lot of research, like you know, on YouTube and so forth. Do your research.

Speaker 2: 1:00:55

Even if you don't want to expense extensive research, just go in Wikipedia, read, you know, and so forth Wikipedia is still big read and so forth, and learn also about the religious beliefs within the island. Right, If you go into a Christian island, I will say Christianism is a religion where people believe in God and stuff like that, but people believe in God. Don't go on doing things that you know are not for like, are not in line with those values. It's almost like if you go to a Muslim country. You know, if you go into a Muslim country, you got to address conservatively because you understand that, so don't come and impose your ways on people's way of living. Go, you are a guest in people's homes in people's country. Yes, accordingly right. The second thing I will say, apart from doing your research, is really you know, don't, don't complain. Dominica is an island where people it's like Dominicans will complain about the islands.

Speaker 1: 1:01:55

It's almost like and.

Speaker 2: 1:01:56

I think it's like everywhere right People complain about the country.

Speaker 1: 1:01:59

Everybody complains about the country. Yes, absolutely.

Speaker 2: 1:02:02

Right, but you don't come and complain about why. You complain about my country, like if you don't want to be here, you know, and you are not very productive, very territorial, it's not just that they are open for people to visit you because we know, we know what are the things that don't work in the country.

Speaker 2: 1:02:14

But they have people and I've watched like travel people who travel and do these videos. They have people who come and they start to complain that oh, there are so many rivers, there are so many stones. You know, the roads everywhere are, driving is green. What do you think you are going to?

Speaker 3: 1:02:29

You know, and I think you stand like honestly right.

Speaker 2: 1:02:32

I said sometimes also you can do your research, but landing in the place and you know expectation versus reality, sometimes you actually need to be there to understand where you are and that's fine if it doesn't match your expectations, but then not that you are here. How about you adapt to what you're seeing? How about you learn from the locals? How about you ask questions? You know, don't complain and be like. You know I don't have this, I don't have that, you know.

Speaker 1: 1:02:55

So I think those are the two key things that and a lot of the times it's like those complaints are things that they bring from wherever it is that they're coming with their privilege and that makes them complain about basic stuff that are just so Caribbean and I'm like why are you complaining about this? You're on vacation, you're here to explore something new, you're not here to have the exact same experience that you have back home. You cannot just transport that and bring that here.

Speaker 2: 1:03:23

So just enjoy it.

Speaker 1: 1:03:25

You're here to enjoy yourself. You're on vacation, relax, just take it as it goes. Don't complain about the small little things that really don't affect your day at the end of the day, you know.

Speaker 2: 1:03:35

Yeah, and then I want to add to that also, just with the few minutes that we have. Imagine me going to Amritsa in Alizan for New York City, you know, and I'm like downtown New York City and I'm like, wow, everything is just so tall. They are like so many lights. Why are there so many buildings? Why are there so many people? Why are people just taking all these things wrong? And a local will look at me and be like what's wrong with you Like?

Speaker 1: 1:04:00

this is what's going on. You're in New York City, like you know. I guess what I'm saying is you know it's like us going to New York City and complain that we can't see the stars.

Speaker 3: 1:04:09

Oh yeah.

Speaker 1: 1:04:12

There's so many skyscrapers and so much light you can't see the stars. I get that. But yeah, you know, it's like we kind of come there and complain about things. That is so just so natural to the people out there. It's just yeah. It's just yeah. I think that's a great advice. Don't complain. What is the next one that you can think of?

Speaker 2: 1:04:31

The next time. The next one I will say is be respectful to the locals. You know you can go to the store owners. You know the hotel owners or hotel staff those are like everywhere around the world, but like particularly in the Caribbean. Be respectful, because I think there's still this privilege that happens. But if you're like, you know whatever you are cleaning my room, you're serving my food, I can see whatever.

Speaker 3: 1:04:51

I want.

Speaker 2: 1:04:52

Remember, it's a job. It's almost like if you are dining at a hilltown, right, you have to be respectful to the server at a hilltown because it's his job, right, and he's not. It's not like check your privilege and be respectful to people. Be respectful to the local, respect the rules. If you go in an institution and they say, you know, no bikini, no swimsuit, no ice-cream, no Disney, that yeah, respect that and don't complain about it.

Speaker 1: 1:05:18

Just do as it's said it's there for a reason.

Speaker 3: 1:05:22

Yes, you are a guest.

Speaker 1: 1:05:23

Yeah, I think a lot of people forget that at the end of the day. Thank you so much for that. I think it's so, so much. It's so important to kind of put emphasis on that too, because a lot of people will only focus because we are so dependent on tourism, we're so afraid of insulting the tourists, but the tourists insult us every day. So I think it is important to still stand our ground and say listen, it is like you said, it's an interaction, it's a. You're paying to come to the Caribbean for an experience, and without us you wouldn't have this experience. So, yes, be respectful. Respect is a mutual thing. You respect us, we respect you back. That's how it works. I love that you said that. Thank you so much and, glenn, whatever it is that you're doing today, I hope you have an amazing day.

Speaker 1: 1:06:09

Thank you so much for sharing so much valuable information and you know again I'm going to stress go to the show notes, because I'm going to put all of the information for how to get in contact with Dr Clementine Afana, most well known on Instagram and social media as travel with clowns. So just definitely check that out. Is there anything that you want to leave us with before you go?

Speaker 2: 1:06:35

Oh, that's all. I hope that when you put Dominica on your travel and bucket list for 2024,. Come for Carnival or come for the independence season, february or October or any other time of the year If you get the time off or if you are able to. If you need remote work advice, you can contact me. If you need travel travel advice for Dominica, you can contact me on Instagram or my social platforms and I'm really happy to help you and answer any questions that you have.

Speaker 1: 1:07:03

Oh, wonderful. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you, thank you.

Speaker 2: 1:07:09

Thank you.

Speaker 1: 1:07:11

Okay, how ready are you to visit Dominica after hearing or after listening to Clam talk about it? I don't know about you. I am definitely planning to visit in 2024. And right now, as I am recording this, it is November, end of November. It's actually the last day of November, 30th of November as I'm recording this. So I am I've already pledged to visit Dominica next year. I am going to be there.

Speaker 1: 1:07:38

If you've been listening to Baradas Respect this for a while, you know you may have probably listened to the previous episode, which was with Cindy Almond from Book of Sins, and she announced then that she will be having a read retreat in Dominica, which I totally plan to be a part of. But regardless of whether I am able to attend that retreat or not, I am making it my mission. My mission in life is going to be to get my butt to Dominica this year or this coming new year, and I think, my friend, that you need to come with me, right, alright? So Clam has told us all the things that we need to know for planning our trips, and now we are well prepared in getting it all organized. I cannot wait to get there and to finally, finally meet Clam and most probably her sister as well.

Speaker 1: 1:08:30

So, like I said in the episode, her sister is the doctor of melanin music herself, and that is Marie Pascal, and I want to leave you with my favorite song of hers, which is melanin. So, while you're listening to this, listen to the entire thing, because this song is epic. Believe me, I love, love, love this song. Every woman in the world should be listening to the song, whether you're of color or not. And after you've heard it all, after you've listened to the song, please go to the show notes, because I am leaving all the links that I can possibly leave there for you to get in contact with travel, with Clam or Dr Clementine Afana herself. So if you want to ask her any more questions about Dominica, you can do that there Now without much further ado. This is my favorite song, melanin, and I, you and I have a date for the next episode of Paradise Perspectives. Don't miss it. I love you all for listening. Thank you. My name is Rizal, the Traveling Island Girl.

Speaker 3: 1:09:57

Oh yeah, city, black, yeah, oh yeah, city dance, yeah, oh yeah, see how she moving, she moving, she moving, she moving in style, yeah, see my natural girls on the scene. See how melanin looking so clean, african, african, a waste, a fricking original, a waste of 40 women. See my natural girls on the scene. See how melanin looking so clean, african, yeah, find girl, black girl, shine girl, oh yeah, city nice, yeah, oh yeah, city size, yeah, oh yeah, see how she carry, she carry, she carry, she carry the ties girl, oh yeah, city wine, yeah, oh yeah, city mine girl, oh yeah, see how she can't see, she can't see, she can't see, she can't see, she can't see. And coins girl, see my girls on the scene. See how melanin looking so clean, african, african, a waste, a fricking original, a waste of 40 women. See my girls on the scene. See how melanin looking so clean, african, yeah, find girl, black girl, shine girl, oh yeah, see how she moving away. She must be dripping, dripping, dripping with melanin. Yeah, see how she moving away, she must be dripping, dripping, dripping with melanin, melanin, melanin, a dripping, dripping with melanin, carried, carried and fly in scale, Nice scale, five scale Dance girl Moving, moving style, young Melanie, yeah, le le le le le le See how she moving away.

Speaker 3: 1:12:22

She must be tripping, tripping, tripping with Melanie. Yeah, le le le le le le See how she moving away. She must be tripping, tripping, tripping with Melanie.