jennyc's Travel Blog

Day 3: The Valley of Desolation and the Boiling Lake - Laudat, Dominica

 This place was Amazing visited Nov 21, 2005

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posted Nov 27, 2005 | Comments (0)

Day 2: Emerald Pool, Secret Waterfall Beach, and the Carib Indian Jungle hut - Grand Fond, Dominica

 This place was Amazing visited Nov 20, 2005

We rise with the sun, a pattern to be held for the rest of the trip. After a quick breakfast, we’re off. The first spot we plan to hit is the Emerald Pool, a waterfall and pool close to 3 Rivers. We were told avoid Emerald Pool on “Cruise Ship Days”, the days when the large cruise ships come into dock. The Emerald Pool is a popular day-tour for cruise ship guests but otherwise, the site is usually empty. When we arrive, the lot is full of mini-busses, all crammed with tourists. It is obviously a Cruise Ship Day. We immediately turn around, and head towards Secret Waterfall Beach. After getting driving directions that are to remain secret (hush! hush!), we find the trail at the top of a cliff and begin our hike down towards Secret Waterfall Beach- a beach only accessible by a steep, muddy climb down a cliff. The trail becomes muddier and steeper as we descend, until it is obvious that we cannot proceed any further by foot. A thick rope is tied to a nearby tree branch, dangling down the steep incline. This is the only way down. The rest of the hike is a combination of rappelling down the muddy cliff face, and using the rope as a support as we climb through the vertical tangle of vines and tree roots. It is slow-going and by the end, we are smeared with mud. The reward however, is fantastic. We climb to the bottom of the cliff and emerge from the jungle onto a deserted black-sand beach. A cascade of water plummets over a cliff and crashes into the pounding surf 130 feet below. Palms trees bow over the water. The black volcanic sand is dense and heavy, and somehow soothing on the feet after the difficult descent. The ascent is much easier. The trail is now familiar, and the danger of slipping on the mud is much less on the ascent. I’m grateful for my small amount of rock-climbing experience, as it certainly proved useful on this hike. We head to Emerald Pool – when we arrive the lot is empty of tour vans. We grab a quick snack at the empty gatehouse and an easy meandering walk leads down to the pool. We are the only ones there. I am prepared for an over-hyped tourist-trap, but the Emerald Pool surprises me. It really is something enchanted. The experience is more than visual. It is also the atmosphere of gentle seclusion, the feeling of quiet mysteries of the land and water, deep and calm. Although I’m sure the high volume of tourists has affected the Emerald Pool in many ways, her magic can still be felt. Just be sure to visit during the off-hours.

posted Nov 27, 2005 | Comments (0)

Untitled - T'ai-chung, Taiwan

 This place was Great visited 2005

We rise with the sun, a pattern to be held for the rest of the trip. After a quick breakfast, we’re off. The first spot we plan to hit is the Emerald Pool, a waterfall and pool close to 3 Rivers. We were told avoid Emerald Pool on “Cruise Ship Days”, the days when the large cruise ships come into dock. The Emerald Pool is a popular day-tour for cruise ship guests but otherwise, the site is usually empty. When we arrive, the lot is full of mini-busses, all crammed with tourists. It is obviously a Cruise Ship Day. We immediately turn around, and head towards Secret Waterfall Beach. After getting driving directions that are to remain secret (hush! hush!), we find the trail at the top of a cliff and begin our hike down towards Secret Waterfall Beach- a beach only accessible by a steep, muddy climb down a cliff. The trail becomes muddier and steeper as we descend, until it is obvious that we cannot proceed any further by foot. A thick rope is tied to a nearby tree branch, dangling down the steep incline. This is the only way down. The rest of the hike is a combination of rappelling down the muddy cliff face, and using the rope as a support as we climb through the vertical tangle of vines and tree roots. It is slow-going and by the end, we are smeared with mud. The reward however, is fantastic. We climb to the bottom of the cliff and emerge from the jungle onto a deserted black-sand beach. A cascade of water plummets over a cliff and crashes into the pounding surf 130 feet below. Palms trees bow over the water. The black volcanic sand is dense and heavy, and somehow soothing on the feet after the difficult descent. The ascent is much easier. The trail is now familiar, and the danger of slipping on the mud is much less on the ascent. I’m grateful for my small amount of rock-climbing experience, as it certainly proved useful on this hike. We head to Emerald Pool – when we arrive the lot is empty of tour vans. We grab a quick snack at the empty gatehouse and an easy meandering walk leads down to the pool. We are the only ones there. I am prepared for an over-hyped tourist-trap, but the Emerald Pool surprises me. It really is something enchanted. The experience is more than visual. It is also the atmosphere of gentle seclusion, the feeling of quiet mysteries of the land and water, deep and calm. Although I’m sure the high volume of tourists has affected the Emerald Pool in many ways, her magic can still be felt. Just be sure to visit during the off-hours.

posted Nov 27, 2005 | Comments (0)

Untitled - Kampong Sungai Sarawak, Malaysia

 This place was Great visited 1999

We rise with the sun, a pattern to be held for the rest of the trip. After a quick breakfast, we’re off. The first spot we plan to hit is the Emerald Pool, a waterfall and pool close to 3 Rivers. We were told avoid Emerald Pool on “Cruise Ship Days”, the days when the large cruise ships come into dock. The Emerald Pool is a popular day-tour for cruise ship guests but otherwise, the site is usually empty. When we arrive, the lot is full of mini-busses, all crammed with tourists. It is obviously a Cruise Ship Day. We immediately turn around, and head towards Secret Waterfall Beach. After getting driving directions that are to remain secret (hush! hush!), we find the trail at the top of a cliff and begin our hike down towards Secret Waterfall Beach- a beach only accessible by a steep, muddy climb down a cliff. The trail becomes muddier and steeper as we descend, until it is obvious that we cannot proceed any further by foot. A thick rope is tied to a nearby tree branch, dangling down the steep incline. This is the only way down. The rest of the hike is a combination of rappelling down the muddy cliff face, and using the rope as a support as we climb through the vertical tangle of vines and tree roots. It is slow-going and by the end, we are smeared with mud. The reward however, is fantastic. We climb to the bottom of the cliff and emerge from the jungle onto a deserted black-sand beach. A cascade of water plummets over a cliff and crashes into the pounding surf 130 feet below. Palms trees bow over the water. The black volcanic sand is dense and heavy, and somehow soothing on the feet after the difficult descent. The ascent is much easier. The trail is now familiar, and the danger of slipping on the mud is much less on the ascent. I’m grateful for my small amount of rock-climbing experience, as it certainly proved useful on this hike. We head to Emerald Pool – when we arrive the lot is empty of tour vans. We grab a quick snack at the empty gatehouse and an easy meandering walk leads down to the pool. We are the only ones there. I am prepared for an over-hyped tourist-trap, but the Emerald Pool surprises me. It really is something enchanted. The experience is more than visual. It is also the atmosphere of gentle seclusion, the feeling of quiet mysteries of the land and water, deep and calm. Although I’m sure the high volume of tourists has affected the Emerald Pool in many ways, her magic can still be felt. Just be sure to visit during the off-hours.

posted Nov 27, 2005 | Comments (0)

Untitled - Ubud, Indonesia

 This place was Amazing visited 2001

We rise with the sun, a pattern to be held for the rest of the trip. After a quick breakfast, we’re off. The first spot we plan to hit is the Emerald Pool, a waterfall and pool close to 3 Rivers. We were told avoid Emerald Pool on “Cruise Ship Days”, the days when the large cruise ships come into dock. The Emerald Pool is a popular day-tour for cruise ship guests but otherwise, the site is usually empty. When we arrive, the lot is full of mini-busses, all crammed with tourists. It is obviously a Cruise Ship Day. We immediately turn around, and head towards Secret Waterfall Beach. After getting driving directions that are to remain secret (hush! hush!), we find the trail at the top of a cliff and begin our hike down towards Secret Waterfall Beach- a beach only accessible by a steep, muddy climb down a cliff. The trail becomes muddier and steeper as we descend, until it is obvious that we cannot proceed any further by foot. A thick rope is tied to a nearby tree branch, dangling down the steep incline. This is the only way down. The rest of the hike is a combination of rappelling down the muddy cliff face, and using the rope as a support as we climb through the vertical tangle of vines and tree roots. It is slow-going and by the end, we are smeared with mud. The reward however, is fantastic. We climb to the bottom of the cliff and emerge from the jungle onto a deserted black-sand beach. A cascade of water plummets over a cliff and crashes into the pounding surf 130 feet below. Palms trees bow over the water. The black volcanic sand is dense and heavy, and somehow soothing on the feet after the difficult descent. The ascent is much easier. The trail is now familiar, and the danger of slipping on the mud is much less on the ascent. I’m grateful for my small amount of rock-climbing experience, as it certainly proved useful on this hike. We head to Emerald Pool – when we arrive the lot is empty of tour vans. We grab a quick snack at the empty gatehouse and an easy meandering walk leads down to the pool. We are the only ones there. I am prepared for an over-hyped tourist-trap, but the Emerald Pool surprises me. It really is something enchanted. The experience is more than visual. It is also the atmosphere of gentle seclusion, the feeling of quiet mysteries of the land and water, deep and calm. Although I’m sure the high volume of tourists has affected the Emerald Pool in many ways, her magic can still be felt. Just be sure to visit during the off-hours.

posted Nov 27, 2005 | Comments (0)