Paradise Perspectives
Welcome to "Paradise Perspectives," where island vibes meet personal transformation! 🌴
I’m Riselle, the Traveling Island Girl, and I’m thrilled to have you here. This podcast is all about helping you live your best life—whether that means traveling the Caribbean. starting a new business, shifting your mindset, embracing change, or simply finding the courage to chase your dreams.
Drawing from the beauty and inspiration of my Caribbean home, St. Maarten, I bring you real stories, practical tips, and a whole lot of motivation to help you step into your power. Every episode is designed to empower you to create the life you truly want, with a little bit of island sunshine and a lot of heart.
We’ll dive into topics like career pivots, entrepreneurship, personal growth, and travel—all from the perspective of an island girl who believes that every day is a chance to start something amazing.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a stay-at-home mom, or someone who’s just feeling stuck, this podcast is for you.
Join me on this incredible journey as we explore how to make bold moves, live authentically, and enjoy the ride. Let’s turn those dreams into reality, one sunny day at a time.
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Paradise Perspectives
The Secrets behind the Allure of Anguilla with Local Expert Shellecia Brooks-Johnson
Prepare to embark on an exciting journey with me, your island friend Riselle, as we uncover the captivating charm of the Caribbean island of Anguilla. Joined by the insightful Shellecia Brooks-Johnson, a proud Anguilla-native and owner of My Anguilla Experience, we'll explore this stunning island and its uniqueness. Shellecia's local expertise, will help you gain insider knowledge of the best beaches, delicious local cuisine, amazing live music scene, and the different accommodation options that Anguilla offers.
But our conversation doesn't stop there. As we chat about the beauty and tranquility of the island, we touch upon the impact of the island's Goods & Services Tax on visitors' wallet and how visitors can still enjoy a budget-friendly vacation on Anguilla. Also, we highlight various activities and festivals that elevate Anguilla's allure including snorkeling, local cave explorations, and hiking trails.
Stay tuned till the end of the episode for an exciting announcement about an upcoming retreat hosted by Yours Truly. So, pack your bags and get ready for Anguilla through the eyes of a knowledgeable local!
Get in touch with Shellecia on her Instagram https://www.instagram.com/myanguillaexperience/?hl=en
and visit her blog https://www.myanguillaexperience.com/
Sign up for her newsletter and received a free 3-day itinerary for Anguilla
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Get over your fears and start creating the life you want with Riselle's Fearless Transformation 1:1 Coaching Program.
Visit the website for travel and life stories that will inspire, empower, and motivate you to step into your greatness.
Follow Riselle on Instagram and watch her YouTube channel for more travel and transformation tips.
Get in touch with Riselle at hello@thetravelingislandgirl.com. Send in your questions and topics, and be featured on the show.
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, raezal the Traveling Island Girl. Wow, I am so grateful. We are already at episode four of my new podcast about traveling the Caribbean authentically, and you know what I say Gratitude is the best attitude. And, guys, I am overwhelmed by all of you who have taken the time to listen to this podcast so far and to get your Caribbean on. I so appreciate receiving your feedback and your questions and I am really beyond grateful for you spending some time with me every week or every other week. Thank you, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.
Speaker 1:Now, today, we are talking about my own personal happy place, and if you've been following me on social media and on my YouTube channel, you probably already know which island I am talking about. But you know I get this question a lot which one of the Caribbean islands is your favorite? And, just like you know, when you ask a mother with many kids which one her favorite child is, I do have that same problem. I just can't just pick one, or at least I tell everybody I can't, and you know I love all of them equally right. That's what all of us say when we're asked to pick just one thing. But you know, you secretly have your favorite. Just like a mother with many children, you have secretly your favorite child. Let's be completely honest here. Or well, I don't have kids. But you know that's what. At least that's what I'm thinking, and I too am like that. I secretly have a favorite Caribbean island. Now, luckily for me, that island happens to be just a 30 minute ferry ride away from my island home of Simarton, and that is of course Anguilla.
Speaker 1:Now, as a longtime superfan of Anguilla, I can tell you a thing or two about the island. I can tell you where to go, where to stay, what to eat. You know all the good stuff. But there is no one better than a born and raised local from the island to share the island secrets with us, right? So of all of the great friends that I've made there in Anguilla, one stands out for this job, and that is the lovely Shalicia Brooks Johnson. Yeah, she is my fountain of information for everything in Anguilla. I love seeing her posts about her island life on Anguilla. It just gives me so much wonderlust. Even though I visited this island so many times, it just, you know, I keep finding my way back there. Now let me tell you a little bit about Shalicia.
Speaker 1:Shalicia is the owner of my Anguilla Experience. It's a boutique creative agency in Anguilla. Her work focuses on storytelling, marketing and professional development training for small and medium-sized businesses. Her popular destination blog and social media channels creatively highlights Anguilla's beaches, food, culture, people and lifestyle. Shalicia is passionate about encouraging both locals and visitors to learn more about and explore all that Anguilla has to offer, which you will hear in my conversation with her today is much more than just visiting the world famous beaches.
Speaker 1:Now here, take a listen. Hi, shalicia, hi, oh, my gosh, I'm really. I've still been looking forward to this conversation because, you know, anguilla is my favorite place, one of my favorite islands in the Caribbean, my happy place. We know that I definitely wanted those people. You know right, because I've been like having this conversation and I've been telling people all along on my social media every little chance I get, I'm there. I pretty much feel like it's my second home and this conversation with you was one of those that I was so looking forward to to having you on the show and, you know, for you to tell people about our beloved Anguilla.
Speaker 2:Our yes, we loved sharing Anguilla, so I'm happy to be here. So thanks so much for your invite to be here. I'm excited to speak about Anguilla, one of my favorite topics, for sure.
Speaker 1:Yay, perfect. So, yes, I've already introduced you and so everybody knows who you are and, of course, I'm going to leave it in the show notes. At the end of the show you can read up all about Shalicia and her social media posts and, of course, how to get in contact with her if you need to contact her in any way. So let's dive right into our favorite topic, which is, of course, anguilla, and we've already done your introduction, so it's only fair that you do the introduction for Anguilla itself. So tell us everything like what to expect if, if you are talking to somebody who has never been before and who's actually thinking of visiting Anguilla, what are some of the main things that people need to know about, like introducing Guala, when it comes to like your, let's say, like, how big the island is, how big is the population? What do you call that? Your money value? What are your thoughts Currently? Yes, I'm pleased to talk to you.
Speaker 1:Thank you for the English education right there. English lesson you know, sometimes when you're speaking more than one language, you kind of like remember the word. You know all the other languages but the one that you're talking about or that you're speaking in at the moment. So, yes, currency. You know how to drive in Anguilla. All of that good stuff.
Speaker 2:Perfect, I would love to. So Anguilla is the most northern island in the Lihuan Islands. Let's say that first of all, of course, we're based in the Caribbean and it's this really small island, so 35 square miles, 16 miles long, three miles wide, a population of about 15,000 people, maybe a little less. So it's a very tiny island. Our currency is the EC dollar. That's the official currency, but the US dollar is widely used, widely accepted. So if you're traveling to Anguilla, don't worry about converting your money to EC dollars. Just bring a US and you know we encourage you to spend.
Speaker 2:We drive on the left side of the road and we have roundabouts and three stop lights on the island. We have a flat island made of limestone, so it's really easy to drive around, to explore and be encouraged persons when they visit to explore the island. So we are British overseas territory, so that means we do have UK passports, but we are internally self-governing. So we have a premier, a house of assembly, elected ministers of government, all of those fun things. So we're just like this really cool island in the Caribbean Sea. So we encourage you to come and visit.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, I knew that you were the right person to talk about Anguilla because you went like so in depth into the political status and what you can expect and that it's made of limestone, and I love the like when you see, like on the map, what Anguilla looks like. They say it looks like an island, it's like long and flat. And what I personally love is every time when, especially, I'm on the Frank side of Sumartian, which is just 30 minutes away by ferry, I always love to be on the Frank side and I can see clearly, I can see Anguilla and it's always like this flat pancake on the horizon which is, you know, and I'm like always when I'm sitting on the beach and I'm looking at Anguilla, I'm like, oh yes, it's time to go visit again.
Speaker 2:And we look over and, of course, we see the mountains of Sumartian and it's a really gorgeous view, you know, just really adds to when we are driving through the island, of when we're on the beach and we're looking over and we're like, oh, look the mountains, and we think, I don't know if we think we should go to Sumartian maybe sometimes. Yeah, for shopping, yes, definitely.
Speaker 1:Great shopping.
Speaker 1:Oh, it's just for the ones who are tuning in. We're talking about, of course, about Anguilla, but the thing that you need to know is coming from Saint Martin. I often hear when I'm in Anguilla people are like, oh, I miss Saint Martin, because Saint Martin is then perceived as like the city where you can get your shopping done, and people from Anguilla often go just for a staycation, just like we do, to get away from the Hossalan Bustle. Yes, we go to Anguilla. Anguilla goes away from the tranquility and into the Hossalan Bustle.
Speaker 2:And we need that balance. We do need that balance. I love Anguilla, I love it Absolutely. But you know, you've also heard me say that I needed to get away, I needed a break, and Saint Martin is the perfect break, as you said it's such a short for a ride and it's affordable.
Speaker 1:It's super simple to get there and, of course it's just for clarification. You have about 40,000 people that live on the dark side of Saint Martin alone. So, compared to you said, your population is about under 20,000. So way under 20,000. So, you can imagine and that's why I always thought in the beginning you know, before I actually really dove into the details of Anguilla I always thought it was much smaller than Saint Martin, but it's actually just two square miles small.
Speaker 1:That's right, and it's 37 and you guys are 35, which blows my mind every time. Yeah, now, of course, anguilla is very famous for its beaches. Yes, but that's not the only thing that's attractive about Anguilla, is it?
Speaker 2:And you're right, and people would think our 33 beautiful beaches, you know, would be the main reason why people come to Anguilla. But the actual reason is our people and people who visit love or people because we're so friendly, we're so welcoming, we're so hospitable and Anguilla just feels like home and that's why we have repeat visitors. We have people who come here 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, and they bring their children and then their grandchildren and we love that and I think it's kind of unique for Anguilla and it's something that we are very, very proud of.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I have to say, as an avid traveler to Anguilla and you know how often I try to visit pretty much it's been recently it's been like almost every month, and right now I miss it already and I kind of like having like this, you know, trying to kick the habit, so to speak, because I haven't been to Anguilla in like what a month. It's like crazy. But that is exactly what it is. It's the people, it's the hospitality that you feel. People are so welcoming when you're in Anguilla. I mean, it's a small population and people make you feel part of the family. You don't feel like you're traveling, like you're just visiting, you feel like you're part of the population and that's it and we are happy.
Speaker 2:We love welcoming visitors and I know you're going to link my bio and stuff through my blog and stuff. I've met so much wonderful people and I think we benefit just as much. You know, just meeting new people as well, because our population is so small as they do coming to this island, this little island, where they feel like again it's their second home, yeah, but your hospitality is, of course, out of this world.
Speaker 1:I mean, like I'm comparing it to all the other islands that I visited. And, of course, one thing that always, you know, blows my mind about Anguilla is every time when you go to a restaurant or if you go to a hotel, that's like the level of hospitality is like top notch. It's like people have so much pride in this in their island. It's amazing and it makes you feel like you know that you, that pride, is almost like you're taking that over. When you're in Anguilla, you kind of like feel like you're proud to be there too.
Speaker 2:Yes, and very much so. And you rightly said, from the person who's serving a meal to the general manager, everybody is really exuding the same amount of hospitality and at every level, as we know, in customer service, at every single level, at every single interaction point, persons feel welcome.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it doesn't matter what you are at it's a five star resort or if it's like a small little Airbnb, it's always. People are always nice. So definitely the people. You are completely right about that. So another thing is like you have so many of these five star resorts and the luxury experience that you can experience there, when and Anguilla is top notch, like I said, there are people that are definitely in the high levels of income that visit Anguilla, of course, and they're able to tell that they are.
Speaker 2:No, you can't.
Speaker 1:Because they just kind of like vibe with the locals. Everybody's treated the same. I was like here I come with my little budget travel and I'll be sitting in a restaurant next to a multimillionaire and everybody's treated the same.
Speaker 2:I was just to know. Yeah, and I think that's important because if you're on vacation, I've always felt that you should have the kind of exact same experience, whether you're doing budget travel or not. You're here for an experience and we try to give that experience, that same experience, to everyone.
Speaker 1:Yeah, exactly. So let's go back to the beaches, and I have to ask you, when I posted something recently on my Instagram about it and I think you were one of the first ones to comment, because you thought my number one spot was kind of weird I chose Sandy Ground as my favorite beach, but I think it's just for the local vibe. But tell me which are your top five beaches.
Speaker 2:Okay, so my top five beaches are, and not necessarily in a particular auto, but I would say rendezvous meets day, show day, little day, and then crocus day. Yeah, oh yeah.
Speaker 1:Well, you see, that's the thing when you only have to pick five out of the 33, it's kind of hard to pick just five. It is kind of hard Because there are so many great beaches on Anguilla and the one is more tranquil than the next, or the one has a little bit more of amenities than the next, so it's always something. But let's talk a little bit about sorry. What were you going to say? You know I'm always like interrupting, no problem.
Speaker 2:No, I was just going to say you're right, because while I thought your top choice, sandy Ground, was a bit strange, I do love that beach because we go a lot, because it is so shallow and it is so perfect for children, and I have a family and it's the beach we go where we feel that it's probably like the most safe for our children.
Speaker 2:So they're different parts definitely different reasons why I choose different beaches and I don't. I can't go into all of that, so persons would just have to visit my blog or something.
Speaker 1:We're just gonna have to settle for the top five that you mentioned now, but there are also some, some of the beaches that you don't hear mentioned a lot like the ones that you mentioned. A lot of people, if you asked them what their top five are, I mean like at least three of those are always in there, which is, of course, meats Bay, shobey East, because you have two Shoabays, shoabay East and you said Rendezvous, rendezvous are like that. Those three beaches are always in everybody's top five. But what are some? There are, of course, more beaches and there are some less known or less well known beaches, like Barnes Bay and those which one of those do you think are an absolute must visit if you are in Angola.
Speaker 2:I think maybe Mondays I always think I think Mondays with Capsules is located, is an absolutely spectacular beach and I know a lot of people unless this thing at the resort don't necessarily visit Mondays a lot. But I want to plug in that all of our beaches well pretty much all of our beaches are public and do have public access. So don't feel because a hotel is located on the beach that you are unable to visit that particular beach. And Mondays is a spectacular stretch of beach, do you agree?
Speaker 1:Mondays is just stunning. Mondays is a stunner. Mondays, one of those, and and it's spelled M-A-U-N-D-A-Y correct is it Mondays with apostrophe S or is it just Mondays? Mondays with apostrophe S? Okay, I wonder where that name came from. Do you know?
Speaker 2:I do not know, but it's something definitely that I will have to research now.
Speaker 1:I think you have to. But yeah, monday Bay is one of those spectacular beaches and, of course, like you said, it's not always like I have it in my top five, because that is always always one of the stops that I make, whether I'm only there for the day or if I'm staying a little bit longer.
Speaker 2:Monday Beach is always one that I try to visit and it is, it feels, a little intimidating because it's because the Balmond Capsuleluka is right there but definitely a beach that is a must, must, must, visit and can I put a flag in for, yeah, for a beach which a lot of people, but most people, will never visit but I love, not for swimming, but of course it would be katoosh, but because it's just so secluded, it's just so great for reflection and solitude and it's just it feels a little bit wild and rustic. Again, like I said, I have different reasons why I love beaches and it is one of my favorite places to visit. What I thought low on all with my husband.
Speaker 1:I just knew that you were the perfect person to talk to you about Anguilla today, because I didn't even have katoosh on my radar. Thank you very much for introducing me to that, and next time when I'm there I'm gonna bring you up and we're gonna go together yes, let's do it okay all right.
Speaker 1:So now that we've talked about the beaches and we've talked about the people of Anguilla, which, of course, the two biggest attractions of the island, the other one is and I think this is where you and I will probably disagree because St Martin calls itself the culinary or the gourmet capital of the Caribbean, but Anguilla calls itself the exact same thing too. So we're a bit of like I don't know, it's like maybe we have more restaurants, but at the same time, I have been to many restaurants in Anguilla and, I have to say, amazing. So I think that is definitely I mean, you would probably agree that is one of the other big attractions definitely so.
Speaker 2:We've talked about beaches, we've talked about people, and then third will definitely be our restaurants, like you right, rightly said, and from five star restaurants to roadside girls, it's all good. And I love visiting St Martin, I love eating in St Martin. But you know, I've also said, you know, while the food is good and you know I'm gonna be biased I always say, you know, but Anguilla is better. Shock, I know, shock. They really both do have really great restaurants, but if you're in Anguilla, you definitely will not be disappointed by the food no, I agree when you're on the forums like say the Anguilla forums and what's not, and persons are always planning their food itinerary in advance and they're like really excited.
Speaker 2:So they're always asking for recommendations like which restaurant should I try? I only have like seven days. I know seven lunches, seven dinners like oh my god, I don't want to get this wrong. You know, it's that kind of like exploration of food which I think which makes Anguilla so exciting and so special. And we get a set of a food, because guess what? A lot of what we do is eat. Everything like every social activity is surrounded, is engaged, involves food. So we eat a lot here, we eat out a lot here so, yeah, I can imagine.
Speaker 1:Why not? I mean, there are some amazing, amazing restaurants there and then, like you said, you know from from budget places to you know, five stars. So, yeah, absolutely the food's gotta be on the list if you are planning to visit Anguilla. Now let's talk a little bit about the local cuisine. What is some of your traditional local Anguillian dishes? And I think we've spoken about this before. I've done a video of a video on my youtube channel and you were one of the people that I interviewed for it and we spoke about local dishes. I can't remember exactly what you said. What did you? What did you say?
Speaker 2:I have no idea what's your local oh, what's? Oh, I probably said conk. I'm pretty sure I said conk. Most probably I did say conk. So, but in terms of local food, well, you would have mentioned for sure on your youtube channel that our local dish is actually kunji and fish. So, whether it's steam, fish, fry fish, grilled fish, you know you can get kunji um. A place I would recommend for that would be jaunos for real, jaunas underground, yeah, they have. So look, yeah, that is another one like one.
Speaker 1:Just like I said, monday Bay is one of my must stops when I'm in Anguilla whether for a day or longer.
Speaker 1:Jaunos is the other one. Jaunos is always a must for me. I mean, like there are don't get me wrong, there are countless other places where you can get really, really good, um, local seafood, but my gosh, jaunos says I don't know what the magic is that he puts into his dishes, but and the kunji and and fried fish is always my go to, always okay. So that's your go to awesome, yeah, but always my go to, yeah, and a little bit with that homemade hot sauce on the side yeah, yeah, we were just there, just last week, last Thursday, we were there yeah sure, go ahead, make me jealous, I know right, but yeah, so definitely jaunos, but then there's also a couple of other places.
Speaker 1:What other local places would you recommend for, uh, not only local dishes, but just a great ambience, good atmosphere and good food okay.
Speaker 2:So in terms of locals and of course I don't want to leave out anywhere because everywhere that's local, I will have to say, is great.
Speaker 1:But if you're looking for barbecue.
Speaker 2:Let's jump on to barbecue, because a lot of people like barbecue um roadside grills. So things like Ken's barbecue valley, which is in the valley valley, is barbecue. Which is in sofield, um Jay's bar and grill barbecue bar and grill, which is under the tree close to ash list supermarket, you can get your barbecue and your Johnny cakes. Don't get me started on Johnny cakes.
Speaker 1:You know, yes, yes, yes, yes, johnny cakes is a must.
Speaker 2:Yes, you can usually get your barbecue and your Johnny cakes. In terms of other local dishes, whether you want conk or goat or ox tail, local places you can try include tasties and tasties point of view. You know, which is a new addition?
Speaker 1:yes, exactly, I was very amazed with with the new part of tasties. I liked it. It's got a beautiful view of sandy ground gorgeous.
Speaker 2:It does. I love that. Yeah, and we know how important views are in Anglo. We love a good view.
Speaker 1:We just, we just said it's quite flat, but a tasties point of view is one of those places where you can get a really remarkable view of sandy ground below.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, definitely a gorgeous view up there, and then on shore bay we have places like maderman and elodious, which are also local, where you can go and you can get your, whether it's mussels, your crayfish, your lobster, all of those things. Um ocean echo again, you know if you go for a great view on me's bay.
Speaker 2:On me's bay, so it's gorgeous and you can get all of your faves as well. And I will encourage persons to not just stay in the on the beach kind of like bars and restaurants, that there are lots of places that are internal are inside of anguilla as well, like little holes in the walls and, yeah, if you see a place you know you can see locals and talk about it, definitely go and visit. You know the prices are going to be a lot lower and the food is going to be just as good.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we're gonna. We're gonna talk about prices in just a second, because that is, of course, one of the things that most people visiting anguilla mention is, of course, the prices. But going back to the dishes, one thing I forgot to mention is for those of you who do not know what fuji is. Fuji is actually a type of corn, it's a cornmeal, it's a type of polenta, it's uh, so just think it's polenta, and I think, um, jonno's especially likes putting a little bit of okra in it, which just adds to the taste.
Speaker 1:Oh, I feel like having fried, uh, fried fish with fuji, like right about now, and you know, the only place I have fuji is like jonno's, like I don't make it or anything a lot of people do not make it, but yeah, I can make it, I'm from kura so originally, and in kura, so fuji is big, so I can definitely make fuji, but I make it sometimes at home, um, but yeah, no, jonno's is one of those only places, indeed, that I've seen.
Speaker 2:Fuji I haven't really seen it in a lot of other places yeah, it's our national dish, but you don't see it a lot. Yeah, but also some people will say you know what fuji? But they will also say rice and peas is also yeah because we eat a lot of rice and peas as well yeah, that is correct, that's true.
Speaker 1:All right, so we just said um something about um prices and and anguilla remind me, I think it's, if it's not last summer, it's two summers ago um anguilla introduced a 13 percent on top, for it was. Was it 13 percent of eight percent? Something was added in, in fact. Now it's when you go to a restaurant, it's like 28 percent on top of whatever your total is, and that's 20 to 30 percent, oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:So it's like 15 percent of that goes to service charge, and what is the 13 percent that came on top?
Speaker 2:so the 13 percent is our goods and service tax, which was introduced I believe you right so last year, june. So it's a goods and service tax. So it's on all goods and services across the island. So whether you're buying groceries, buying furniture, whether you're going out to restaurants to eat, this 13 percent is going to be added to your bill. There are, of course, as well marks, some different things like exemptions, but generally, once you're eating out, you're looking to pay 28 percent to 30 percent. I think some places charge 2 percent as some sort of environmental levy as well. So it's pretty. It's a pretty hefty addition, right?
Speaker 1:and I mean like not to say that anguilla is expensive. I hate to say that something's expensive, something might be above your budget or it might be a little bit more than what you're used to, but I wouldn't necessarily call anguilla expensive, although a lot of people will. And then so your normal prices were already let's put it this way, it's a little higher than what we're used to in simarton, for instance, and simartons already considered by a lot, a lot of visitors to be a little high when it comes to prices. So your prices were already up there. And then, with the 28 percent have you had, do you think it has turned people away, or some visitors saying they won't come back because of that?
Speaker 2:I think our numbers, according to the tourism department, or ministers and what's not they're saying, our numbers are at an all-time high, which I can believe, because persons would have booked their travel way out in advance and what's not, and of course we're going to have the persons who missed the vacations during the pandemic just want to come back to their favorite place and all of those different things.
Speaker 2:So I think there are a number of factors contributions to the fact that we are still seeing good numbers, but I have seen a lot of concerns that Anguilla is becoming something, a place that is probably out of some persons budgets, because I think for a long time there was this idea that Anguilla was only for rich people and it was just rich people that came to Anguilla. And we've actually deboned that myth and we've seen that it's actually a lot of people who say for the vacation to Anguilla, it's kind of like their treat and yes, a person can love a place and a person can want to visit a place, but I think at some point you still have to think, okay, I love you, but I may just have to find somewhere I might love just a little bit less and go to that place.
Speaker 2:Of course we don't want that to happen. We don't want that to happen. But I do think there has been some concern about the increasing cost of coming to Anguilla. But what I've also seen is some people who have said they're not going to stop coming, but they are. They're the tipping less, they're eating out less. They're saying, okay, maybe I can't stay at this five star resort, but I'm going to stay at this Airbnb or you know this more kind of like budget hotel. So we're seeing that as well.
Speaker 2:So I think it's something that we have to keep a very, very close eye on.
Speaker 1:I am definitely one of those visitors. I mean like, yes, you know whether I'm traveling on a budget or not and I choose Anguilla to visit Anguilla. In one of my many visits I do always make it a point to still go out to eat and it's and I know ahead of time that, yes, I'm going to be spending some money, so it's not going to deter me from going to Anguilla. I think Anguilla is special enough that you know. This has not really deterred me, at least, from coming back. So when I think a lot of people trying to feel the same way too.
Speaker 2:I agree. I agree, but I think the spending habits might change a little bit and I guess over time, like anything, it will become a new normal. It may it may not, but we will see. Like anything, of course we have to let the research come in. It takes time to determine, to determine what kind of economic impact this new GST will have on the island.
Speaker 1:Right? Exactly, it's a little soon to tell, but I can tell you one thing is like I did before the 13% was introduced, I did a whole video series on my YouTube channel about affordable Anguilla and I was actually surprised to find out that, yes, you can still travel on a budget if you're traveling to Anguilla. It's not it's definitely not only for the rich and famous. There is a lot of places that you could stay at and I've done like a whole research on some of the local airbnbs, smaller hotels, locally owned places, like Franklity Beach, for instance, is one of my absolute favoritly, favorite locally owned hotels on the island, Right on Meats Bay Fantastic, and the prices are, when you compare it to some of the five star hotels, it's not that bad at all, but there are so many local little spots that you can stay at that will not break the bank. So, ken, do you have, do you have a couple of those that are your favorites that you can tell our listeners a little about?
Speaker 2:On the top of my head I will say she'll be fearless. I love she'll be fearless again. I mean a local family, beautiful on a. She'll be hummingbird. I know you've stayed there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, shout out to Trudy, shout out to Trudy no host with the mostest, no host with the mostest. She's absolutely fantastic.
Speaker 2:Yes, she's a great way. And Angola Great House is still a great option, I mean right on rendezvous, you know. So, again, we're talking about places which may not necessarily be five star, but they're still, you know, clean, comfortable and all of those still you know, like you know nice, you know all those different things.
Speaker 1:Yeah, exactly Clean, comfortable like you said, and let me tell you something the service and the service that you get is five star yes you might not be paying for a five star place, but the service is definitely five star in most of these places. And of course, you've got some Airbnb apartments here and there too. I mean, I've stayed at the pool house and some others.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:So yeah, so there are options for those on the budget, for sure.
Speaker 2:And I was just going to jump in and say that exact same thing, that just jump on Airbnb. Put an Angola, and I know a lot of people who are putting new places up on Airbnb now. So you know, again, very affordable options. I just saw one last night and I think it's like $108 a night. You know which is?
Speaker 1:not bad at all.
Speaker 1:That's a really great, great deal and I have to say, since we're talking about Airbnb, and especially if you're looking as we put in Anguilla and we have the same problem on Samaritan too because we're so small on the map you need to zoom in and make sure that you're not, because every time when you keep it on like a regular search, it automatically picks places in Samaritan and I've had people that have tried to book an Anguilla and have accidentally booked in Samaritan instead, because when you type in Anguilla it doesn't really differentiate because if you look on the map it's like the two of them are so close together. So zoom in and make sure that you're actually on Anguilla when you're making a booking on Airbnb. Just a little thing that people need to know about.
Speaker 2:Definitely that's a good tip.
Speaker 1:Yeah for sure. Right, let's talk a little bit about local artisans. And you know, Anguilla is so famous for the talent that lives on the island. I mean you have, when it comes to music, ridiculously good bands and artists. I mean we have world renowned banky banks and his son, Omari, which is fantastic. Shout out to Omari. I mean, every chance I get and I'm on Anguilla, I always make a point of going somewhere where he's performing life and he has like a packed schedule, which I love because you can go on his little.
Speaker 1:you can go on his Instagram and he always has a post of where he will be which day of the week, which is fantastic, fantastic. I love seeing him at Veya on Friday nights and then or at Sunshine, sunshine what's it called? Sunshine will, I think Sunshine, sunshine, sunshine on Sundays on the beach, and there's so many, there's 360, there's so many bands and great artists. But what are some of your favorite places to go for live music?
Speaker 2:Okay, so Sunset Lounge at Four Seasons. I think that's like a really great place to relax and listen to whether it's Mollye 360.
Speaker 1:And to watch the spectacular sunset? Absolutely yeah. To watch the sunset, yeah, so.
Speaker 2:I think it's just. It's just like such a great setting, you know, for live music. But, like you know, like almost anywhere that you choose to eat, there will be some sort of live music. So, whether you're at Ocean Echo, the other day we had Ocean Echo and we had a new she's relatively new to the scene, so Riri's music, you know, which was really, you know it was a.
Speaker 1:Really I've seen her, I've seen her name come across.
Speaker 2:Yes, and then, of course, like a place like Leon's on a Sunday where you have like Bear you know Bear Music.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, he's, amazing Bear is amazing, I know he was.
Speaker 2:I was the a couple weeks ago and that was like a gem.
Speaker 1:Yes, For some reason, Bear can always get me to get up and dance. Bear has that voodoo on me that you know. Usually I'll sit on my side and I'll just watch him play, but Bear has a way of getting me on the dance floor. So yeah, absolutely yes.
Speaker 2:And, like you said, with Banki Banks, of course, a lot of people love Sunday School at the June Preserve, so you know to go in here. Banki and the other persons who come there, you know surprise audience in different places, so it's just like a whole experience. And while we're talking about live music, I think we should also do a show total, just like DJs, because DJs are really really big here as well.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, and we have some really great ones who are really good at just like getting people up and moving as well. But I love, I love, love, love how a live music scene has developed in Anguilla and I think it's such a nice addition to our whole kind of tourism products.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely. But what I love most is and I'm comparing it, of course, to St Martin Anguilla has the live music that you get on. Anguilla is most of it, if not. All that I've seen are local performances. Yes, people from the soil born in Anguilla, which is amazing.
Speaker 2:Yes, homegrown, homegrown talent. I know the other day Aurora had auditions for persons, so I guess for their result, and I'm sure that it was primarily Anguillians.
Speaker 1:Yes, absolutely, you know, because for years I know Anguilla has so much talent.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and for years. You know people I know people who are on, who are creatives and who you know always complain about how hard it was to be a creative in Anguilla, and it's so good to see at least this aspect of being a creative, generating revenue and opportunities for these persons.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So this is one of the things that I always try to advocate for is like, especially people that are coming down to the Caribbean for weddings, instead of bringing your own photographer and your own from from wherever you're coming in from, look into the local talent, and I know Anguilla, st Martin and a lot of other islands have so much local talent. I mean like, yeah, look at Kevin from K sharp, with so many others, to do a magnificent job with shooting videos and photos, and you know all of these. You have makeup artists that are amazing, so there's always some kind of homegrown talent that you can find when on the island. Now, speaking of creatives, I wanted to also talk a little bit about artisans other artisans on the islands. I know I keep forgetting the lady's name, but I know that she makes handbags and our handbags are amazing. And we were just talking just before I hit record. We were talking about your beautiful earrings and then you mentioned that those are actually also made by somebody local. Please tell me more.
Speaker 2:Alright, so let's talk about Gilda. So you were talking about Gilda, samuel? Yes, that's it.
Speaker 1:I'm going to write down her name because I keep forgetting. And Gilda makes like these spectacular handbags which I still have to go and see for myself.
Speaker 2:Okay, so I do own one of Gilda's bags, so in an African print, but she also makes bags which have anguilla on it or a flag and different things like that, if persons want something that stays specifically more anguilla. So her company is called Honey, butter and Cream, so persons can look up online these earrings and I know for persons just listening they won't be able to see them but these earrings were made by Quinn, so they're actually Quinn by the Webster Twin. They are twin, so they are identical twins. Yeah, and they're. So. Their company is called Quinn and they make jewelry, primarily earrings, and they had a whole Anguilla Day line. You might know that we just celebrated Anguilla Day on May 30th with boat racing, a parade, all different types of activities, but they make beautiful handcrafted local jewelry. So if you're looking for souvenirs, you can definitely check out Quinn. If you love beautiful earrings, then we have Anguilla Sand and Salt.
Speaker 1:And Jospeak.
Speaker 2:Yes, jospeak is doing a great, great job with his little store. He's a boutique where you can go and you can get local stalls, you can get little souvenirs where you have a beach scene.
Speaker 1:I just love. I bought for Christmas for my girlfriends and I bought for as a Christmas present. I bought it because we had such a great time on Shobey East. I bought all of them and you can choose which beach sand you want in your jewelry. So I chose pendants for each one of us from with sand from Shobey East, which I thought was such a phenomenal thing. And also, you know, speaking of Anguilla, sand and Salt, is it salt and sand or sand and salt? I always get it Sand and salt, thank you. He also has in the back. He has that little patio where on.
Speaker 1:Thursdays he's got Margarita nights, and I think Monday is something else and Wednesday is like little drinks. Yes fantastic.
Speaker 2:Yes, and that's close because you might have seen. Have you seen his recent post?
Speaker 1:I just well, I didn't see the recent post, but I have been. The last time. When I was there, I saw that he's making a new addition. He's adding a whole building on the side where you can actually see the process of him making the I think I guess the jewelry and the salt, because the salt that he has he picks himself correct.
Speaker 2:Well, he, I don't know if he picks it himself, but he definitely goes through the whole process of making it himself.
Speaker 1:But it is salt from Anguilla. It's like locally picked salt.
Speaker 2:Right right, but he also just put out a post saying that he's creating, he's going to be doing chocolate, so, and it's going to be a place where you can come and you can make your own chocolate and what's not, so you can definitely just check that out after. And I'm sure no one next time we talk, we'll talk a little bit more about that.
Speaker 1:Well, that should be coming for the new season. Sure Wow, and I'm definitely need to, but I'm not exactly. I'm like one of those like odd birds who's not really into chocolate, but I could definitely see him making a salty caramel.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Yes, and I like, and I do like the.
Speaker 2:I think like we talked about creatives again, such as people who come up with like new ideas and new additions in terms of things to do at Anguilla. So you know, there was a time where people were like we need more than sun, sand and sea, which we did, and I'm glad we do have more than sun, sand and sea now.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and then, of course, you have also the natural bridge, which is another natural attraction on its own, which is also something that I think a lot of people want to visit when they're. How is the status of the natural bridge right now?
Speaker 2:The what.
Speaker 1:Well, I'm talking, I'm calling it a natural bridge, natural arch, sorry, oh okay. Yes, the arch. I was like I call it a bridge because I've seen, you know, people can actually be on top of the arch, which I still think is a little scary, but yeah, yeah, I've been once or twice.
Speaker 2:I don't know if I need to go again, since I've got my pictures. Yes, but the arch is good.
Speaker 1:It's still standing, so it's good to go. It's still standing, it's still standing.
Speaker 2:So of course, persons visit the arch, whether they visit go to West End and walk around to go on top of the arch Awesome. People prefer to go by boat and get their pictures and be under it Either way. Either way, it is spectacular.
Speaker 1:So you get a spectacular picture. It really is.
Speaker 2:So it's just a natural formation from the limestone which has formed a whole, making a bridge like this.
Speaker 1:Right, it's beautiful, it's beautiful. It's like I think I've been about five times, but I can't get enough of it, and there are certain times of the day when you go, like in the morning, you can get like a really good shot of it If you're coming from land and if you're seeing it from water in the afternoon would be a better lighting. I know all of that with all of my visits to the natural arch. So, all right. So we've talked about local artisans, we've talked about local products and souvenirs that you can get, and, of course, there are so much more of these local artisans I know also for a fact. Somebody was telling me about somebody who's really into hair products and soaps, and so there's all of that that is actually Carabella.
Speaker 2:Let me show them out. There's Carabella. There's Lady Empress naturals. These are persons who do like natural stuff your skin, for your hair. Yes, I'm so glad you mentioned them because I definitely want to show them out.
Speaker 1:Oh good, so it's Carabella, carabella, carabella.
Speaker 2:Yeah. I use a lot of our products on, like my skin and what's not. And then, yeah so, and Lady Empress naturals.
Speaker 1:Fantastic. Like that is all going on my list of places to check out when I visit. You have so much things.
Speaker 2:I know.
Speaker 1:So we were just talking briefly. You mentioned Anguilla Day, which I really I'm so, so sad I missed it this year. How was it? And what day is it for our listeners? What day is Anguilla Day and what is it exactly? Did you celebrate on Anguilla Day?
Speaker 2:Okay, anguilla Day is celebrated on May 30th and we celebrate the anniversary. So what happened happened on May 30th 1967. And, if I'm not incorrect, it was the day that Anguillians basically kicked the petition police off of Anguilla. So just a little bit of history. Anguilla and Sinkits and Nevis used to be together, so they used to be.
Speaker 2:We were known as Anguilla, sinkits and Nevis, and Anguillians, and our national hero, mr Ronald Webster, decided that we no longer wanted to be part of this trio and we did what needed to be done, which led us to become our individual with the London, the British, with the British overseas territory, but we're no longer part of Sinkits and Nevis.
Speaker 1:And that is what we celebrate.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so similar. So we move towards well, not independence, but separation.
Speaker 1:Right, okay, so not independence, but separation from Sinkits and Nevis.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, which is very similar to what St Martin did in 2010. We voted to be out of the then known Netherlands and Thillies, so we used to be grouped together all six Dutch islands St Martin, cebas, interstatius, bonair, aruba and Curacao and now we also voted the St Martin. The Dutch part of St Martin at least voted to be an independent, but still under the or still part of the Dutch kingdom.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so it's a little similar, but yes, you know, we need our independence girl. We're like and especially when you're when we were grouped together, I know exactly what that's like. When the islands are grouped together, there's always one that benefits the most out of that group, and then the little ones are always the ones that are left as an example of our history. Well, your history, my history, are so similar.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, and we, you know we were the smaller islands, so you know they did not do this very well.
Speaker 1:Oh, I'm sure, Cause it's the same thing between Curacao and St Martin. So, yeah, so all right. So let me see here in my list, because I've made sure to write down everything that I wanted to discuss with you. Snorkel and diving it's another of those things that people always ask me you know where to go for snorkeling? And I'm like, oh, because I don't go snorkeling myself a lot, but I know that it's one of those questions that a lot of people want to know, Like do you know where you can get some good snorkeling experience?
Speaker 2:So I'm also not a diver or snorkel. I didn't do a discover dive many, many years ago and I thought I was going to become a diver but I did not. But it's still on my list and we actually, before we jump into that, we actually do have a growing dive club, like a lot of like, maybe 10, 20, 30 people who have taken up diving and I love to see it. It's growing, yeah, so there's definitely a lot more local interests in diving.
Speaker 1:That's amazing.
Speaker 2:I don't know if you ever heard the saying because I heard a lot from my locals that the sea has no back door. But it's so good that locals are taking up diving.
Speaker 2:But in terms of places where persons can dive little bit. That's why I did my discover dive, you know, a natural reef, beautiful Socrocos Bay, the offshore keys. So for persons who are listening, who may not know, anguilla has a number of beautiful offshore keys, many of which have wonderful restaurants on them and you can feel a little bit like Robin Cruise. So you know you get away for the day and you can prepare.
Speaker 2:Santa Island. Those are places where you can do some diving, some snorkeling. Shoal Bay has a natural reef and a natural park there as well where persons can scuba dive, and then somewhere like Jung Soul and Sandy Hill Bay. These are also great places where people love to snorkel as well.
Speaker 1:Okay, so there are. There are. It's not because in my experience, especially when you see a lot of places with these bright, powdery, sandy beaches, normally it doesn't have a lot happening under the water, but indeed Shobey East especially has that reef outside, which is magnificent, I heard. I haven't done it myself yet, but it's definitely on my list. But you can snorkel there as well, or is it only diving Because it's a little far from shore, isn't it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I guess if you go out on a boat you can snorkel, but I don't think most persons will probably go that far out. But I do know I've seen people not going that far out and still being able to see fish.
Speaker 1:Even some places like Sandahill yeah. Sandahill, yes.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I see a lot of small ones. I've done some at what's the one where DeVitas is located? What's DeVitas?
Speaker 2:located. You just mentioned it. Yeah, for the space right there.
Speaker 1:You can definitely see that Definitely good for some good. Yeah, and of course Little Bay is known for the spot to see a sea turtle or two.
Speaker 2:Yes, and I actually went night kayaking earlier this year as well in Alhambra.
Speaker 1:Oh, you did that Fantastic. How was it?
Speaker 2:It was good we saw a couple of turtles as well, so that was nice, and some stingrays and stuff as well.
Speaker 1:Beautiful. Yeah, I think I saw that post from you and I was like, ok, mental note, we need to do that as well. So is there any hiking that you can do on Anguilla? I think there are some organizations that organize some hiking and, if I'm not mistaken, there are also some caves. I just haven't had the time to really kind of dive into that and experience it for myself, but I have heard about caves, some caves and hiking possibilities, so what?
Speaker 2:do you know about it? Ok, hiking Before kids. I used to meet my husband. I used to love going with Anguilla National Trust.
Speaker 1:Before kids BK.
Speaker 2:BK. Yes, anguilla National Trust, and they're definitely an organization that I recommend, so just joining. I think it's not much. I think it's like $20 US for the year Awesome, like that.
Speaker 1:Oh wow, and they do so for the whole year, and then you can join them whenever they have hikes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think if you don't want to pay for that, I think maybe it's just a couple of dollars if you want to join the hikes. But they do a hike of exploration of coastline et cetera every month at the end of every month, sadly probably starting around 6 or 7 o'clock in the morning, and I've been on some spectacular ones with them, whether we're hiking from Bromwichan and Otsay to Shul Day along the coast, we've been in some dicey positions for sure.
Speaker 2:We were on the cliff and you're like we didn't know this fence was here, how are we going to get around here? But no, it's so much fun and I always encourage persons to go along on those hikes. Recently, another group popped up. It's called Axla Hike Light and you can contact them if you want to do a particular hike or they can recommend something for you as well, so they will take you out again on the coast and you can hike on the rocks, et cetera.
Speaker 1:In terms of caves, yeah, axla, I have seen them come about on my Instagram. I've seen their feed pop up here and there.
Speaker 2:I think you can see there Again locals, local young people, and I love that. I love that for them. We're seeing that there is value.
Speaker 1:For those who do not know, axla is, of course, the airport code right. Just like we have a six-sam, you guys have Axla AXA.
Speaker 2:Correct.
Speaker 1:All right, and then AXA AXA A-A-A-A-A yes.
Speaker 2:You can talk about music. I can go ahead. Oh, so can music. It's almost carnival, so carnival is in August.
Speaker 1:Yes, Before we go into festivals, because you know I got to ask you about that you were mentioning. You were about to mention something about a cave. I don't want to get people to miss out on the cave information, no problem.
Speaker 2:So one of the most famous ones, I guess what people like to visit, would be Goat Cave. And it's off, it's a show day. So off of show day and you can. Either there's a short path to get there, but you do still have to do a little bit of hiking, a little bit of climbing, or you can take the long route, which is fun, is the adventure, and what people love about it is that it's a natural kind of pool in the cave so you can jump in into the waterhole and you know you have the water coming from the oceans like the middle of the water coming into the cave and it's just like a little swim hole.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's definitely something I need to do next time. You see, I knew you were the right person for this show. My goodness, I'm getting so much really good information here Awesome, I have Gilda. I need to check out the chocolates with sand and salt when that comes out. I need to. You see, that is why I keep returning to Anguilla every month, if I can Wow so much happening.
Speaker 2:Lots of good content for you, because there's going to be lots of new things.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yes, I think you see it. So let's just say, let's just pretend I'm going for work, yes, I'm going to offer myself and sacrifice my time to go to Anguilla, just so I can present everybody with more details. You know, it's a hard job.
Speaker 2:Somebody's got to have to do it.
Speaker 1:It's a hard job, yeah, okay. So local festivities. My goodness, your carnival is up and coming. Summer Fest is right around the corner. This is the time that not only you guys celebrate, but, as you know, simarton being so close, we celebrate too, because August Monday, girl, august Monday is coming, yes. So please tell everybody about this great opportunity to visit in the summer.
Speaker 2:Okay. So Anguilla Summer Festival. I think this year it starts from. It starts early. It's actually, I think, going pretty long, maybe like some like July 26th to like August 9th or something. So during that time we have a lot going on. So we have our national sport, which is boat racing. So most days you're going to have a boat race, just shorter boat races, not around the island boat races like our Anguilla day boat race, which is that around the island boat race, which is pretty exciting. You're going to have pageantry. So we have our Prince and Princess show, where you have participants from all of the primary schools, a male and a female, and they're competing against each other. Our teenage pageant, where we have females from the high school competing against each other to be to be crowned Miss Teen Anguilla. You have our queen show, which we actually haven't had since Fun fact, I think it's 2019, before the pandemic. So our reigning queen, who's actually on the cover of true Anguilla, latonya she has been through Anguilla.
Speaker 1:by the way, for those of you who are planning on going, you definitely need to check through Anguilla, either online or grab a copy when you're on the island, cause it's like so much information about the islands in there.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:All right, please go ahead.
Speaker 2:So she's been reigning for four years, but I think we have four girls who are competing now for Miss Anguilla, so that should be.
Speaker 1:So she's finally after four years, she's going to have to step down. Yeah, I think she probably got tired of the title by now. Anyway, she was supposed to be there for a year, found herself doing it for four. Wow.
Speaker 2:Okay. So then you have Soka Fest. You have all Calypso show, local Calypso, I think, bigginson Martin as well. So, social commentary, I will say there's going to be a lot for Calypsoians to sing about this year.
Speaker 1:Oh well, I know for sure they're going to target. Was you know, calypso always, always tends to go about after politicians and definitely about the government. It's one of the games I'm sure there's going to be a lot of them talking about that 13%. That was added to the title Definitely.
Speaker 2:Definitely.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:And those are the kind of like, because kind of all kind of falls like um under the government, but then over the years we've had a lot of private events. Oh, august Monday, before you jump into that.
Speaker 1:So August Monday. Yes, August Monday.
Speaker 2:The August Monday Festivuses at Santa Crown Huge. So you start with Juvee in the morning and then you have the August Monday Boat Race and then you have the August Monday Beach Party.
Speaker 1:And what happens is that, which is what I'm all over that this year, I'm definitely going to be here oh yes, I'll be there for August Monday this year. I haven't been part of it for the last, I think almost 10 years, so this is going to be my first August Monday again in a while.
Speaker 2:Wow, yes, and that's what we're bringing in. We have lots of local artists, so great performers, but we also bring in persons from overseas, so it's just a really, really big beach party and we have tons of persons coming in from St Martin, from St Bart's on, by a boat, say but you know different places, girl people take the day off.
Speaker 1:I mean, it's a holiday in Anguilla but it's not in the neighboring islands, and people from St Bart's and Anguilla take the day off to be part of August Monday.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, that's how big it is. It's an amazing event, I know, but you also have, of course, your Carnival Parade.
Speaker 1:When is your Carnival Parade this year?
Speaker 2:So it's the Friday. So it's the Friday in August, so it's the first Friday in August. So yes, and Monday is the first Monday of August.
Speaker 1:Right, august Monday is always on the first Monday in August, and the Friday after that is your parade. Yes, Parade so it's not to be there for the entire week, but you know there are the huge events which persons come to Anguilla for which have grown exponentially, would be Ice White Shuts. So these are private events which are now part of the.
Speaker 2:Carnival schedule and Ice White Shut is a daybreak party, so it starts at 12, but basically it goes from like 12 on to like 11 in the morning and last day we had like 10 to 11.
Speaker 1:Yes yes, yes, wow. So last year, actually last year was my first year.
Speaker 2:I have always resisted going because I'm like, why am I going to a party? And I'm like you know, I'm like I'm old. Yeah, I was like I'm old.
Speaker 1:That's what I like about Anguela too. It's like you can go to any, pretty much anywhere and there's always like a good mixture of inches.
Speaker 2:That's definitely, definitely. They're all ages. So I went last year and I had so much fun, so probably we'll go back this year.
Speaker 1:And when is the Ice White Shark event? I?
Speaker 2:would have to check the carnival schedule, but it's during that week, so it's sometime in August, like the first week in August. Most of these things happen the first week in August. And then the other big event would be Pokeran, which is a new event. Oh yes, absolutely, and that's a race by sea, so persons are on boats and it's like a lot of fun as well, and it's always like a thing we just like.
Speaker 1:I always see it sometimes on Facebook People will be like we have two more spots on our boat and before they finish clicking on post, somebody already grabbed those two spots.
Speaker 2:Oh my God, it's like a hot ticket. Everybody wants to be part of the Pokeran. So so much fun.
Speaker 1:Yes, so, shalicia, we're getting to the end of our conversation today. Which tears in my eyes, because I really do not want to stop listening to you Talk about my favorite place on earth. Thank you so much.
Speaker 2:That was my pleasure.
Speaker 1:What, as a local person, you were born and raised in Angola.
Speaker 2:Born and raised.
Speaker 1:What is? What do you love about living there so much? I love I love the sigh it's like I hope.
Speaker 2:Yes, angola is home. You know, no matter where I room, you know I definitely love coming back home. For me, it would definitely be the fact that we're such a small knit community. It's still a close community and I love the fact that most of my family still live here and a lot of my childhood friends still live here, and I always say that Angola is a place where I know, even if I was ever to struggle, you know that I will be taken care of. You know that persons are still very neighborly, persons will still look out for you and I love that about Angola. And growing up, I enjoyed things like going to the beach with my family members and my cousins, and I wanted that for my children you know, I still wanted them to be able to do these things, grow up with their family, be able to go to the beach.
Speaker 2:And my children, they think that they want to. What do you want to do on the weekend? Go to the restaurant, go to the pool, go to the hotel, Like okay. Other children will say you know, okay, but okay, but I love that for them. And also just the safety aspect. I don't think it's something that we talked about a lot, but Angola is still pretty safe, so I can feel comfortable now making this outside that is true.
Speaker 1:We didn't even talk about the fact that you can actually still have your windows open, and you know like people sometimes leave without locking their doors. I'm not saying don't lock.
Speaker 2:Don't do that.
Speaker 1:It is still it still has that feeling of safety. It's in my recommended places for solo female travelers. If you want to get your, if you want to dip into the little pool of safe places to visit in the Caribbean for as a solo female, then definitely that.
Speaker 2:Angola is high, high, high on my list, definitely, I agree, and persons always say that they feel safe here, and that is something, and for us living here that's important as well to feel safe and for me, raising a family here, that's one of the reasons why I love living here.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, and I will love Wow, beautiful, okay. So lastly, transportation. Like I know that Angola just added a flight from directly from Miami flying into, do you know when it's? If it's, how many times a week that flight is? I'm not sure.
Speaker 2:I haven't seen an update. I've seen some person saying but I haven't seen an update, so that's something you might have to just put on the screen.
Speaker 1:Yes, I'm going to have to add it into the notes if I can find out.
Speaker 1:But yes, there is in an American Airlines flight directly from Miami, which hasn't been the case for a very, very long time, but very long time. So now, of course, that is another reason to go, because it's like it has become a little bit easier to get to Angola. If not, then you can still take advantage of St Martin being one of the biggest airports in the region and then go to the airport or get into St Martin and, from St Martin, take one of the multitude of ferry rides available from St Martin into Angola, so you can still do that.
Speaker 1:And then that to me is still my favorite way, because you get that nice landing over Malho Beach in St Martin and then you just cross the road, go over to whether you're taking good time or a Calypso Charters or one of the others, and then you just hop on over and 30 minutes and Calypso Charters always, always gives you a choice of their locally made the rum punch, which everybody knows Angola makes the best and then they give you like a little rum punch on the boat and then, you, kind of like, get into that vacation mode as soon as you step into the boat. So, yes, shout out to Calypso, they're doing a wonderful job as well. But then, yes, when you're on the island, what would you recommend for people to get around?
Speaker 2:Okay, so I'm going to just give a shout out to our taxi drivers, because you know there's such great taxi drivers on the island and super friendly who will be there to take you wherever you want to. So for some persons utilizing the taxi drivers, that's the option that they choose. So if you're comfortable driving, I would definitely recommend getting a car, a MOOC, or you know some sort of thing.
Speaker 1:Oh, the MOOCs are so much fun, the MOOCs. For the ones who do not know, these are like small vehicles that used to be army vehicles back in the day, when they were actually developed for the army and then they became like this vacation mode of transportation. The MOOC M-O-K-E is you can find it in Anguilla, and they're colorful and they're cute and there's definitely Instagrammable. So if you're interested in renting a MOOC, you definitely got to do so. And then, yes, of course, the taxi drivers, it's like. One thing that I forgot to mention is, of course, that there is no public transportation.
Speaker 2:No public transportation. No public transportation. So you either have to use a taxi, you either have to rent a vehicle. So we have cars, we have Wranglers, we have jeeps, we have MOOCs. You know there's no shortage of vehicles that you can rent to. You can cycle. No, I don't recommend. Yes, we can, but you can cycle for fun, but not for your main mode of transportation. No, I wouldn't do that either. But yeah, but there is no public transportation, so there's no way you can stop to catch a bus or anything like that. If you're walking on the street, somebody may offer you a ride, but I don't recommend that either.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, absolutely Great things, Good stuff. Thank you so much, Shilisha, for taking the time out of your busy schedule. You're a mom, you're a writer, you're a content creator I mean girl, you're doing it all. So thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to be on the show today. Thank you so much. Well, what do you think? Are you ready to book your trip to Anguilla? Or maybe you're like me and you've been there before and now you cannot wait to return, right? I know I've already made plans. I cannot wait. In two weeks or so, I will be back in Anguilla, and it's just, I am overjoyed by that. Seriously, I cannot wait. So I've been just before my my annual visit to Europe, which now I've been in Europe for about two months, and now, in just a few days, I'm going to return home to see Martin and after that I'm going to be visiting Anguilla, but before Europe this year I think I have visited Anguilla once every month, and so now, having been away from it for two months, is crazy. So I cannot wait to return. Like I said, I keep repeating myself here, but I'm just so, so happy I'm going again. Can you tell? Can you tell.
Speaker 1:Now, going back to the conversation that I just had with Shalicia and that you were part of, of course, here is what we have learned from her today. Number one the island is made of limestone and is relatively flat, and it's easy to drive around here, even if you will be driving on the left. Number two the official currency is the EC dollar, but the US dollar is widely accepted. Number three the 33 beaches are not what makes Anguilla so well loved by the ones who visit, or not just the beaches. It's actually the people of Anguilla that turn first time visitors into repeat visitors. Believe me, that's true. Number four the other reason people love to visit Anguilla is for the good food, and I mean from high end restaurants to roadside grills. It's all really, really amazing. Number five speaking of food that is a must try local dish is the fish and Fungi. Fungi is cornmeal, by the way, or polenta, for those who have never heard, had it or have never heard of Fungi before, and the best place to get a good Fungi and fried fish in Anguilla is Jono's.
Speaker 1:Number six Anguilla has some amazing homegrown talent, from solo artists to photographers, videographers, local bands. Now you tell me whatever you can think of. When it comes to the word talent, you can find it in Anguilla Now, speaking of which live music can be found relatively everywhere on the island. Wherever food is served, chances are there will be a performance by one of Anguilla Many local bands or artists. One cannot leave without buying an authentic handmade souvenir from one of the local artisans, to just make sure that you find some of these and you get your hands on one of the handmade souvenirs. Believe me, you will not regret that. Number seven there are several really great snorkel on death spots, including Little Bay, crocus Bay and the little keys around Anguilla, and let's not forget the natural reef at Shobey East.
Speaker 1:Number eight a great time to visit Anguilla is for Anguilla's Summer Fest, which starts at the beginning of August, and there are several great events happening during this festival, like boat racing, which is of course, anguilla's national sport. There are pageants, the carnival parade and parties like August Monday Beach Bash and the Eyes Wetshot Daybreak Party. So again, if you are thinking of visiting the island of Anguilla, make sure you start following my Anguilla experience right now for tips and recommendations from Shilicia. And we just spoke about the Summer Fest. I just said this before, I think and, saying it again, I cannot believe I'm going to be there for Summer Fest this year. I am beyond excited.
Speaker 1:Now, should you want to combine your Anguilla trip with St Martin, which is right next door, of course, why not? Let me help you plan your time here? Or perhaps you're interested in an exclusive private island tour with me as your guide, or you just want to sit and chit chat about your upcoming travel plans to St Martin and Anguilla, whatever it is. So I'm going to say, martin, I am definitely your girl, so just check the show notes for all of my services listed there, or at least a link to my website, which is then where you can find all my services and all of the ways that I can help you plan an authentic trip to the islands, right? Well, there is something that I need to discuss with you guys today, and you're going to hear it first. So I am hosting a retreat to St Martin and Anguilla. There you have it. I said it Now.
Speaker 1:If you want to know more, I'm not going to divulge more about it right now because there's still more a lot in the planning, but it is happening early next year, around the month of May. So if you want more information, stay tuned to Paradise Perspectives or, you know, start following me right now on social media You're traveling Island Girl and of course, you can go on my blog and you need to subscribe to my newsletter to stay on top of everything that I have to share. So subscribe to my newsletter. That information is going to be in my show notes Don't forget to check that out before you leave today and I'll be releasing all of the new details regarding this retreat very, very soon, so stay tuned for that.
Speaker 1:Well, there really is nothing left for me to say here, but goodbye, so long and farewell. I hope to whisper sweet Caribbean traveler info into your ear again in two weeks, when episode five drops of Paradise Perspectives and I think we'll be visiting another fan favorite. We'll be visiting the island of Aruba next, so you do not want to miss this episode. Ciao for now, my loves. This is Resel, the traveling Island Girl, signing off.
