From New York Skyscrapers to Dominica's Green Canopy: Amber and Simon's Eco-Conscious Caribbean Dream

Imagine swapping the skyscraper skyline of New York for the lush, green nature of Dominica—a dream come true for Amber and Simon, my guests in this episode. They tell the tale of their move and transition from city bustle to the tranquil embrace of an eco-conscious Caribbean lifestyle at Seacliff Eco Cottages. Their story is one of solar-powered living, integration into a rich new culture, and the sheer joy of raising a family amid Dominica's natural beauty.

In this episode, we also step beyond the cottages into the island's culture through vibrant stories of game nights, whale watching, and the never-ending natural adventures of the island.  Amber and Simon's story serves as a reminder of the rewards that come with pursuing a dream, and it's a call to anyone who wants a life less ordinary.

Visit Sea Cliff Eco Cottages website to learn more and to book your stay in nature or follow their adventures on Instagram.

You can find out more about the i Have a Right Foundation we spoke about in this episode, you can visit their website.

For those who want to join me in St. Maarten this June at the Island Awakening Luxury Retreat, visit my website now to reserve your spot.

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.

The Island Awakening Luxury Retreat is a retreat like no other and a unique way for you to dedicate some time to yourself in the company of like-minded people. Don't hesitate because space is limited. Visit the website to secure your spot.

Top Villas has the best selection of luxury villas in the best spots in the Caribbean. Visit Top Villas now to start planning your dream Island Getaway. 

Transcript

Speaker 1: 2:04

Why. Hello there, and thanks so much for tuning in Now. I know you have so many choices when it comes to podcasts to listen to, but you chose to listen to this one and for that, my friend, I am so grateful. So thank you. There is one thing that a lot of my listeners, viewers on YouTube and readers of my blog tell me all the time, and that is I hope to move to the Caribbean one day. Well, that's exactly what my guests today did. They packed up their boys and their life as they knew it, said goodbye to the hustle and bustle that is New York and they moved to the beautiful Caribbean island of Dominica, where they now own and operate Seacliff Eco Cottages. I mean, that's just amazing.

Speaker 1: 2:52

So what's it like living and working in Dominica? That is just one of the many questions that I asked Amber and Simon. So let's get into today's conversation, get ready to experience Dominica from a whole different perspective. So, my friend, get comfortable and take a listen. I am super, duper excited because today, in this episode, my friend, we are about to head back to Dominica and, of course, why not? Because it is so, so beautiful there. And today, on today's podcast, is even more exciting because I am having as a guest to talk to us a little bit about their life in Dominica. Amber and Simon, thank you so much for being here. These guys are the owners of Seacliff Dominica and they are going to tell us a little bit about how they started, but also about how it is to actually live in paradise, like so many people want to do, and also, of course, about their little slice of heaven Seacliff Cottages. I'm seeing it right. Right, it's a Seacliff Cottages Dominica.

Speaker 2: 4:03

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you could put Eco in there. Seacliff Eco Cottages oh yes, let's not yes, definitely.

Speaker 1: 4:09

let's not forget about the Eco part, which is the part that I actually got Also, so like I fell in love with that part because that is so close to what I love to do, you know, everything that is sustainable, environmentally friendly. I am there and that is actually what attracted me to your brand in the first place. So welcome again. And just for my listening, friend, if you could just introduce yourself.

Speaker 2: 4:36

Yeah, absolutely my name's Simon.

Speaker 3: 4:39

And I'm Amber.

Speaker 2: 4:41

We lived before here. We lived in New York for 11 years. I'm British originally, I'm from California, but about two and a half years ago we moved to Dominica with our two sons, teddy he's 10, louis is eight. We made the big leap a bit of a life pivot from New York City to Dominica. Wow, no, looking back, we love it here.

Speaker 1: 5:03

I love how you say a little pivot that is, in my books, the biggest pivot I've ever heard, if I've ever heard one. You're going from California, oh, completely, my goodness, from California, and then all of a sudden, on this tiny Caribbean island, where that must have been such an adjustment for you, but you're still. I mean, for some reason you have turned it into something magical. Now, how did you guys get about doing this? Because, of course, before we had into the more of the travel part of the story, I am just so curious to how it is going for you guys and what kind of adjustments you had to make to your everyday life.

Speaker 2: 5:46

Coming from New York to Dominica, yeah, I mean, we traveled here we were actually on a sabbatical kind of traveling for two months here in the middle of COVID and we fully fell in love with Dominica. I mean, the island is, you know, it's the nature island of the Caribbean and it does not disappoint from its title, like the raw, unspoiled beauty here of mountains and waterfalls and rivers and beaches is incredible. So we really did. We didn't come here planning to move here, but we came and really really fell in love and it did really appeal to us a bit of a slowing down of our life and getting to spend more time with our kids and getting to be in nature year round, right, just the climate where you get the outside all the time. So those were the things that really appealed about the island.

Speaker 2: 6:38

And then the people we met, just some amazing Dominicans while we were traveling here and also, I'll be honest, we were quite interested in as a family, as a white family living in a country where we're not the dominant culture. So we were also interested in all of us in terms of learning about other cultures and being in different settings. We were really interested about a life lived where, yeah, we're not the dominant culture, and so there was a number of things that were really appealing about this incredible country and, yeah, Beautiful and I'm hearing the birds sing in the background and it's just given me so much peace in my life right now.

Speaker 1: 7:16

You have no idea. It's just so beautiful living in the Caribbean, but you guys are. Obviously you are living the dream, and I'm sure you have heard this countless, countless times before, not only from friends and family, but also probably guests that come and spend some time with you at Sea Clif that are probably saying you know, you guys are living the dream and you are living the dream of money.

Speaker 3: 7:39

Yeah, we, honestly, we know it, we're really grateful for it and we know it's like such a privilege to be here and to get to make the choice to live here. Yeah, so we're full of gratitude for it and, honestly, Dominica reminds us every day. It's very easy to be grateful and awe inspired here. You just wake up and look outside and you're just like I'm the luckiest person in the world. You know so.

Speaker 2: 8:08

Yeah, exactly, exactly I was also just grateful for just how we've been so received here and, yeah, I feel like Dominican culture is so warm and welcoming and understanding. You know, like definitely like you know, you come from the Western country with all its ways and even though we were like, oh yeah, we want to come and slow down and this and that, like there's so much you need to learn and sure, english is the same language, but there's so many cultural things to learn and we are so grateful. We have a few really close Dominican friends and who live near us and you know, we got to know them because our kids are the same age and this and that, these nice ways that we've kind of connected with them. But they are our life source for everything. We're like, oh my gosh, how do we do this here? How do we do what?

Speaker 2: 8:54

Google? When you're in the Caribbean? You know you're not finding things out in that really impersonal way, right, it's this beautiful relational way that you go about life in Dominica and that didn't come naturally to us, sadly, but so beautiful. And we soon realized that our friends are everything like we want to know something. You give them a call, you give them a WhatsApp and like so, and they've been so. Our Dominicans have been so patient with us. We're like sorry, we got another question.

Speaker 1: 9:22

It is so interesting that you mentioned that, because, indeed, whenever we want to know more about other Caribbean places that it's not only Dominica it is actually a Caribbean issue that whenever you type in Caribbean into Google and you can see now how small the region is and how we are put into a box that doesn't completely, it doesn't actually say anything about the islands at all. Every single time when you pop in Caribbean, the word Caribbean, into Google, the first three sites to show up is something to do with Pirates of the Caribbean, and I like that. It's just to show how little the world knows about the Caribbean, and it's so hard to find stuff that is locally adequate or precise about the region online. So, yeah, the only way you have you can find out is by talking to other locals and kind of like, pick their brains and how things work where you are. So, yeah, thanks for bringing that up front. It's always something that I struggle with all the time.

Speaker 1: 10:27

But, yes, welcome to the Caribbean guys and I'm so happy that you have made time to be on the show. And one thing that I really, really want to pick your brain on today, since you know we already spoke about that a little Please, of course, the eco-seeklyv cottages. I am so in awe of what you guys have done there, so can you tell us a little bit about how you started and what made you come up with this brilliant idea? To you know, I mean, you're already parents, you're doing this in a new country and now you're putting that on top of your shoulders as well to entertain guests and bring this unique product to the Islet. So how did that come about?

Speaker 2: 12:50

Yeah, I mean it feels so right that on the nature island we're all just trying to be tread very lightly, likely very light footprints on this island, so like the solar powered piece just feels like it fits so well with a combination tourism here. You know, like we're lucky enough to be on a cliff with amazing sea breezes, so we don't need air conditioning. But also we don't want air conditioning because it's solar powered. Right, we want the power to be lessened, but we have fans, we have insect screens. We're obviously very mindful of guests' comfort, but at the same we have solar heaters, also for the hot water, so we have hot showers and so you know we meet in the middle in terms of comfort for our guests. But we all always just want to encourage our guests to. You know, yeah, the solar, and then we have composting here we kind of definitely want to encourage our guests just to embrace all those kind of nature vibes of this island, you know.

Speaker 1: 13:49

That's fantastic. So tell me a little bit about the cottages. It's like, how many cottages are there? How did you come about the name? I guess C-Cliff speaks for itself, because before we started recording, simon was. You know, he was so generous with me because he just showed me a little bit of your background and what your view is like from that deck and I'm like, oh my gosh, I totally see it now and better yet, I can see myself on that deck one day.

Speaker 3: 14:17

So yeah, it's absolutely, it's magical.

Speaker 1: 14:22

It's like, if you have not seen it, my listening friend, please go to their website. I'm going to, of course, leave that linked in the show notes so you can go and click on that and please visit their website and check it out, because it is just gorgeous. But let's continue our conversation about C-Cliff. I want to know a little bit more about it. You have how many cottages?

Speaker 3: 14:45

You want me to talk. We have five cottages. Three of them are two bedrooms and we have a one bedroom and also a studio cottage. They're all self-catering, so they all have fully equipped kitchens where you can just make yourself right at home make your coffee, cook what you want to cook, use all of the amazing fresh fruits and vegetables that this gorgeous soil of Dominica provides. And, yeah, it's nice because we're on to acres. Each cottage has a privacy and you kind of feel like you don't feel like you're in a hotel. You feel like you're in a comfortable home where you have a view and the breeze and a kitchen and you can kind of just do your thing.

Speaker 1: 15:36

It's perfection is what I call it, yeah.

Speaker 2: 15:41

And then on the sustainable thing as well.

Speaker 2: 15:42

Another thing that we've really enjoyed doing is just kind of like trying to collaborate and partner and obviously learn so much from the community here.

Speaker 2: 15:52

And it's nice because we're a little bit outside of the village of Calabishu, which is this beautiful fishing village, but we're also walkable and close.

Speaker 2: 15:58

So guests who come here it's so nice they get an opportunity not just to see the views and see nature, but they get an opportunity to connect and walk to the bars and hang out in these amazing Bushron bars and, like you know, make friends and meet Dominicans and see, like you talked about, see a bit of that real culture and that real community, exactly, and then even with I mean, I'm sure we'll get to this, but we started making gin recently, so we're making gin from the incredible local botanicals from Dominica, so it's our flavors that are like nutmeg and cacao, nibs and bay leaves and all these things.

Speaker 2: 16:33

But one thing with the gin that we're doing is we're giving a percentage of our profits and we're doing this with a local charity called I have a Right Foundation, and it's an amazing foundation that works to empower and mentor young girls in rural communities around where we live, and so we've always even, yes, with the gin and with our costas we're always trying to think of how, the ways that we can be sustainable, in the bigger sense of that word, to the environment. Yes, but how are we connecting with community? How are we connecting with people? How are we learning all the time? How are we learning from Dominican culture? How can we just keep being humble and learning, you know, from this amazing culture here?

Speaker 1: 17:13

Yeah, well, that is amazing. And since you gave that introduction into the gin, why not let's just dive into that part of it, which is something that you know? When I was looking at your website, I was like, oh my gosh, why don't these people do? It's like now you have the gin on the property as well. Like, how did that? How did you actually start thinking? You know what? It's not like? We have enough work, let's just start making gin too.

Speaker 3: 17:42

Well, actually it's the idea started thinking it would just be kind of a hobby, thinking, you know, like, we like gin and we see everywhere we look in Dominica we see all of this amazing vegetation, a lot of what in the gin world you would call botanicals, but here local might just call like, oh, this is that's bush, that's herbs, that's how I'm making my tea, that's how I'm making my bush rum. But we saw gin botanicals and we saw them everywhere. And there's not, there aren't very many gins produced in the Caribbean, so there aren't very many gins using all of these gorgeous botanicals that grow here. So we, as gin drinkers, we're like let's, that'd be fun, that'd be fun, like let's, let's try making gin.

Speaker 3: 18:36

And when we started, we gathered some of our Dominican friends and we're like what are you guys thinking about this? Let's, you know, let's make this palatable for Dominicans as much as it is for us. And they were like this is good, people are going to want this, we have to sell this. And so then it started brewing, literally and figuratively, where you're just like, I think. I mean, this is a business, it's not just a first project, it's a business. So so I got really excited about designing some labels and packaging and I we had a lot of fun experimenting with different gin recipes, taste testing, taste testing it's a hard life.

Speaker 1: 19:25

Oh my gosh, it's a terrible life.

Speaker 2: 19:26

all that tasting that you must do yeah it is a lot of work, but you know how it is when it's when it's when you're working on something that you genuinely enjoy, it's life giving, it's not life sucking.

Speaker 3: 19:41

you know exactly the whole process of like coming up with a product that we're excited to like share with people. I mean, that's, that's all fun and game. So yeah, so now. Yeah, so now it's off to a great start. People are very excited about it and now the work is kind of kicking in.

Speaker 2: 20:01

I'm like Can you tell he makes it? I talk about it when she makes the gin, oh that's how it works, so she's the master gin person.

Speaker 1: 20:12

You know, one thing that I thought I loved about moving to St Martin is because and then and that's you, that's how you could see how you know different each island is. Because I was born and raised on Curacao, moved to St Martin and that was already like, even though we're both part of the Dutch Kingdom, it was still a shock, you know, with with a lot of things, and I remember my the lady that brought that, helped, brought us up as little girls in in in Curacao was from Dominica, so she used to always tell us stories about the place. So I grew up knowing so much about Dominica. To this day, my sisters and one of my sisters she speaks with a Dominica accent. I've never said foot in Dominica, but she has like it's like, oh, I'm going to take a bath. You know, I'm like what? So Dominica has always been such an integral, integral part of our upbringing.

Speaker 1: 21:10

But what I thought it was so different was that everybody calls something with alcohol is rum and it's just something general in a lot of the Caribbean islands. So you guys are actually basically you're making bush. Rum is what you're doing.

Speaker 2: 21:32

Bushram yes, yes, of course. We were those people who arrived here, you know, nearly three years ago, and we're like sipping our bush rum. I was like take, take it back.

Speaker 3: 21:44

What are you doing?

Speaker 1: 21:50

So funny. It's just one of those things. It's like tea as well. It's like here have a cocoa tea, or you have a coffee tea, or you can have a bush tea, and like there's so many different teas. It's just it's as soon as it's hot, it's tea, but it's actually. It could be cocoa, cocoa, it could be whatever, but yeah so.

Speaker 1: 22:09

I love that. I love how you guys are actually now making your own type of bush rum, which in this case happens to be Jen, and you're using everything around you and Also, of course, the specialties from the, from your friends and local community, to kind of like bring this product. So what is the name of the? Of the Jen again.

Speaker 2: 22:31

Snappily C Cliff gin. We just thought let's stick with it. Let's stick with the name, stick with a brand. Yeah, yeah C.

Speaker 1: 22:37

Cliff C, cliff gin love it and you're bottling it yourself as well. I know you're selling it because I saw that you offered tours, but that's not all you do with it. You. You said that some of the proceeds go to Girls. Is it a foundation? What is it for?

Speaker 2: 22:57

exactly. It's a foundation of someone who lives very locally and it basically works to empower and mentor young girls, young women, in rural communities, right, so we're quite far from the capital here, and so I think she's done an amazing job of just seeing this kind of need for girls to have this kind of like Inspiration, mentorship, empowerment in a more rural community where those services are not really so accessible for young people. So, yeah, she's doing an amazing, amazing work with that. They just opened we're big book readers, we have little libraries and all the cottages and it's all. It's mainly Caribbean authors, because we wanted to again be relevant To culture and not just have a bunch of random you know whatever no offense to John Grisham, but you know, just just, you know local books, and so they recently, the foundation just opened what they call the girls for success library and it's this incredibly well-stocked library of all these awesome books aimed at teenagers and and it's just Caribbean authors relevant. So even to such like that, they've got these great initiatives that are super creative and empowering.

Speaker 2: 24:04

So but yeah, but we do tours again, like Amazon's the one making the gin, but I'm the extrovert who like talks about it. So I, I do, I do the tours we have a couple of times a week. The tours are just free, people can just come. You know we didn't want to charge people for that, so folks can come. We take them on a little tour of our Gin botanicals trail where we have all the botanicals growing in our gardens and people can pick the bay leaf and smell it and, you know, really get a sense of these incredible Local botanicals. And we also we have all the Creole names for the botanicals in the garden on little signs Want to give honor to the incredible knowledge of herbs and medicines in the Caribbean and Dominique, and so and then and then people can also then obviously taste the gin and Then bottles for sale of people want to buy it. So those are our gin tours.

Speaker 1: 24:57

Wow, you guys are just precious. You are just precious and not only because of what you've done so far. I have to say that I was introduced by you all from by book of sins. Cindy has posted, of course, quite a lot About her retreats that she, that she holds there for you guys, and I'm considering actually being part of one of her book retreats this year. I think one is coming up soon. I mean, we're like Simon is giving me that the thumbs up like yeah.

Speaker 1: 25:32

I am definitely coming, whether it is on this retreat or not. I will be coming to Dominique this year and it's one of those things that I promised myself and I am not about to, you know, back down from that promise. It is definitely something that I now finally have to do and, and, you know, not only because I want to, but also in honor of Our nanny, who has since departed this world as well. So it's just an honor to her to kind of visit where she's from. But, yeah, it is, it's just so. I was introduced by Cindy and now it's just like one of those things that I have to be there. I have to go and check this out for myself. Now, if I come over and I want to, is it possible to kind of like donate in other ways as well to this, not only to the Ccliff, like when I'm talking about donating it's? It's like kind of bring books, or do you?

Speaker 1: 26:27

have like a book exchange or how does that work?

Speaker 2: 26:30

I love you mentioned books, because that's exactly what they're doing in this Girls for Success library. They're just accepting book donations. They have an Amazon link that I can share with you, so because they want to just build it out more and more, so, yeah, it's huge because actually books are pretty rare in Dominica. There's this. There's kind of one bookshop kind of in the capital and again, that's far from us where we live, so it's really hard to get books here. So yeah, that's absolutely book donation. This, this nonprofit, definitely would love that.

Speaker 1: 26:58

Right, and I think it's. It's interesting to kind of like explain to the listener today how it actually works. When you're talking about rural, there's a lot of places and then for me also it's a little hard to understand that because the Martin is so tiny and Dominica, in a large, large scale of things it's much, it's bigger than see Martin is, but in the larger scale it is, of course, a tiny island in the Caribbean. So how rural are we talking? It's like I guess a lot of people don't understand how you know there are people that are living in communities that are completely Not, I'm gonna say completely isolated, but it's harder to get to the capital every day and then stuff like that. So can you elaborate a little bit on that? Does I think? I have a feeling that a lot of people might not grasp that.

Speaker 3: 27:47

Yeah, yes, physically, dominica is, you know, in some sense small and sometimes larger than some of the other, larger than some of the other islands, with the population is only 70,000 people and the villages I Mean it's the.

Speaker 3: 28:05

The island is so mountainous, so to get From one village another, to get from where we are to the capital, it's an hour and a half drive over a volcano and so it's only 16 miles, but it's an hour and a half drive because it's it's a mountainous, so a lot of people don't have the opportunity to Travel around the island much or explore around the island much, and also, just in terms of infrastructure, like you know it's, you go back a generation and and they weren't driving from village to village at all, so culturally, people will have been raised, um, no, I wouldn't say an isolation, but just in this, this, this village mentality of just like Every village has someone that does that and some of the just that and some of it does that, and you kind of just like Can, can, can, you do life together and and the village is quite sustainable on its own in in that way, um, which is really beautiful, but then you're limiting yourself with access to, you know, certain, uh, I guess, uh, education or exposure, who? Maybe, right, maybe there's not an artist in your community. So are you ever, you know, or do you have any access or exposure to painting or it? So many expressions of creativity that yeah, um, you might not have access to as well, so, yeah, Wow, beautiful, um, and yeah, that is so, so true.

Speaker 1: 29:43

It's like we, I guess we take a lot of what we can do and what we see and hear and smell and taste every day. We take it all for granted. There are people who just are not exposed to that. It's not that they are poor in any way or less, but it's just that they are just not Exposed. So you, so, through this organization, you are bringing that to them. It's like which is? Which is just beautiful.

Speaker 1: 30:08

I just, I, I love that you are helping young women, um, you know, make something, uh, make something out of themselves and actually exposing them to what all there is, or what all there is out outside of where they are. Um, all right, so go back to the two of you with your boys, because I have to say, once I started following you on social media, I am just in love with your social media. Um, see, like your posts are just so, so fun because you're filming it in a lot of ways, you're filming it from the perspective of your two boys and then, so it is so beautiful to see these two, uh, little blonde kids running around in carnival and then, you know, um, and Playing in waterfalls and it it's just so beautiful. It's such a beautiful light you created for your family there. So how are the boys liking dominica?

Speaker 2: 31:05

They love it. They love it. You know, right from the beginning we wanted them to be in the local school because we really wanted them to be able to make their money can friends and and it's been really cool they adjusted so quickly. I mean, they've always liked being outdoors, so that helped. But they were so quickly bonding with their friends over fishing because both our boys were into fishing back in the States, so that translated amazingly to here and then their friends were taking them and showing them how to use a cutlass. You know we're like, oh my god, they've got a big knife. Oh, of course, this eight-year-old is like very skilled with this cutlass, so he's using his cutlass and the boys are learning about that, you know. And how to pick coconuts out of trees and like just and find hermit crabs at the hermit tree down there, and it was. I mean, honestly, the extra level of independence that kids can have somewhere so safe like this versus New York City is really cool, exactly.

Speaker 2: 31:59

They can walk up the road and get the bus on their own, and so they've loved it. I think they've loved the extra freedom. They have fitted really well into the schools. The schools, to the school's credit, have been very welcoming. I mean, you know, they're really the only white kids in their school but they in so many ways have been embraced and they're learning so much about a different culture and it's not, like I said, this kind of dominant white culture where we've always been before.

Speaker 3: 32:26

I think for all of us, I think that's such a healthy thing to be in a different setting and to learn Well and to have the opportunity to have a lot of probably I would say maybe all persons of authority in our life are people of color, and that was that was such a gorgeous opportunity that we all have right now.

Speaker 1: 32:49

It feels really, really important yeah yeah, tell me a little bit about Dominica itself. What are some of the favorite things? Like if I ask each one of you to name your favorite thing about Dominica, the one thing that you can, whether it's, you know, food or a specific place. It's like, what is your favorite thing about Dominica If you have to choose just one, because I'm sure it's many, many, many. But what is if you need to name just one thing? What is your favorite thing about Dominica?

Speaker 3: 33:25

That's hard, I know I'm not going to make it super simple. That would be my question.

Speaker 3: 33:31

I can't make it simple, I would say my favorite thing about Dominica is that she's so full of surprises. It's two and a half years in and we, we go out and explore a lot and I still, every time we go somewhere new, or even go the same place again, it's still just like jaw dropping, awe, inspiring beauty and just a completely different landscape. It's just she's so full of surprises. So, on that note, I have probably just like how many times have I said, oh, now, this is my favorite beach? It's like every time I go to the end I'm like, oh no, no, it's here, no, it's this one. So it's very, that's a hard one.

Speaker 2: 34:18

I mean I so our friends who live close by to us. They've been really good at like teaching us like. Well, they taught us dominoes, but I was really not going to dominoes but but but now they taught us a card game called 500.

Speaker 2: 34:32

I don't know if they play it in St Martin as well, but it's kind of the main yeah it's the main card game here and honestly, we've just been loving like it's nice because we have a bit of space here. So we just have a routine now with these two couples who are good friends of us and they have kids and the idea, and they all come over on a Sunday and we play 500. They bring incredible food. We'll bring food that's not as incredible. We bring gin yeah, incredible food, and it'll just be. And then, like Amber's pretty competitive, like Chase, our friend, is quite competitive.

Speaker 2: 35:09

It's just a funny dynamics and I just love it because for me it's like this slice of like real culture, of like game playing, lighthearted, but also like I also love. I feel like I've been learning like how thick skinned on, like you can take this, all this banter at times, because I'm learning the game. I'm not very good at it. Yeah, I'm a little offended, I'm trying to do a thing, but I'm like get over yourself, simon. Like this is, this is the banter in the heart of the banter, these are your good friends. Like it's funny. It's very funny. The chat is very funny, the competition is very funny. Like the game. Now I've slightly got my head around it so I started. I was like this game is hard. Now I'm like I like it.

Speaker 1: 35:46

So those moments I love because I feel like we really have been accepted into like a little Dominic community and it's so full of life but also humor and it is awesome, you know and I think I love that you guys are coming up with these two things, because it's just so different and you can see that you've completely kind of like immersed yourself in the culture of Dominica and that is so special. You could have gone with a special waterfall or a specific beach, but you went with how it makes you feel, which I think is so beautiful on its own and you know thanks Amber for saying that that she's so full of surprises I think that on its own is something that once you really love where you are, you see so much wonder every single time. It's like it doesn't matter if you visit that same place over and over again. The sun might shine just a little bit different on that day and makes it so jaw dropping gorgeous again, just you know, on a different day. It's just, it's so, so beautiful.

Speaker 1: 36:53

I love how you guys are really, really immersing yourself, but also you're loving what all you're learning from Dominica Day to Day. Now I have to ask if there's anything like take me on a day. I'm new, I'm checking in at C-Cliff. What would it look like?

Speaker 2: 37:13

I mean we always hope our guests on the day one are just gonna like stay local, stare at the view, you know, because getting to Dominique it's normally two flights. Right, there's the direct one from Miami, but sometimes it takes a minute to get here. It's the Caribbean, maybe your flight was delayed this and that, so you get here and we just always like just have a minute, look at that view out here. We're looking at it right now over the top of here and it's so peaceful just to feel that breeze, to see the pelicans flying past, and so we definitely find a lot of our guests, you know, just want to chill on the first day and maybe just walk around. There's a beach right below us called Hodges Beach. There's a little trail down to it and we definitely tell guests it's more of your kind of shipwreck, kind of like raw beach. You know, sometimes there's a bit of weed on it, there's a driftwood, but it's, it's no one will ever be on it.

Speaker 2: 38:03

There's an island offshore, there'll be a lovely fisherman doing some fishing. Possibly there's a river which meets the sea there, which is always just pristine and beautiful for swimming in, so you can go in the sea and then the river. So, yeah, I guess we always encourage, I guess just to kind of like do the local things, and then of course there's all the things to do on the island and we do. We put together really comprehensive, like welcome guides in each of the cottages, because the other thing about Dominique is still the tourism infrastructure is it's not as developed as like St Martin or other places. So sometimes you might just, you know, need a little bit more explanation on how to find that beach or find that hidden waterfall, and so we just made it super clear in these guides at how to find spots and then and it's always worth the effort, you know, I feel like you you find the spot and then there's no one else there, you know, and the beauty, the natural beauty, is always worth it.

Speaker 3: 38:57

So I was just checking out some guests this morning who this is their 10th trip to Dominique. They love it and they've stayed on the island and they said to me you have the best location of anywhere we stayed. We can access so many amazing things from here. I was like I agree, but yeah, it was really nice to meet someone who people have stayed all over the island and and just really enjoyed their time here and how much they could access from here, because we would say the most like pristine, idyllic beach is a 10 minute drive from us. A beautiful like river pool that you can jump off a huge rock into is a 15 minute drive from us. Red rocks, which are an experience like nothing I've ever experienced before. I feel like you're walking out onto the edge of the earth. That looks like Mars. That is five minutes from us, and then there's lots of other beaches and lots of other rivers.

Speaker 2: 39:54

But we have, yeah, it's and the airport's 15, 20 minutes, which is so nice, because normally when you land in an airport, that's the kind of built up part of the island and you have to get to the top. Yes, no, here you land, almost touching the mountains from the, from your plane, and then you're right in that there's a pristine river right by the airport. I think Cindy did a post.

Speaker 1: 40:15

I heard that. Yes, it's like post about it.

Speaker 2: 40:18

Oh my God, it's crazy.

Speaker 1: 40:21

There's a river next to the airport. That's crazy. It's like I can even imagine that. I think it's it's it's Cindy or it's Clem that mentioned that. Yeah, it was, it was just so. It's so amazing to hear. But, yes, you're right. So you are actually actually. Do I need a car if I'm staying with you? Like, if I don't, can I opt not to?

Speaker 2: 40:46

Yeah, either way, either way. So it's half and half for our guests. You know, people really want to be independent and explore. They get their four by four rental and we have some wonderful rental agent companies that we work, that we work with and recommend. Obviously, the roads are a little windy, there's some cliffs and things, so if you're at all nervous then I would say no, maybe don't, because the other option is we have an amazing guy who's worked with us for years, who's a taxi driver and he's really good prices and he will take you around places. And then we have other tour guides that we people to as well. So people could mix it up. One day could just be staying local, one day could be doing some stuff in the with the taxi guy. So, yeah, you could honestly go either way.

Speaker 3: 41:29

And there's two beaches you could walk to from here. There's several restaurants and there's a small shop. You can definitely do plenty of by foot as well, which is also a really nice way to get to know the local community better, because there's such good porch culture here. You're just sitting out when your past is going to say good morning, welcome to Dominica and you make some bread.

Speaker 1: 41:51

So I love how you made, how you're saying that the porch culture. It is so, but it is so true. Yes, yes, it's like it actually reminds me of back in the day growing up in Kurosawa. It's like see Martin had that too when I moved here 23 years ago, which is today, by the way, my anniversary. So Martin 23 years ago Amazing. So I know that's also one of the things that I'm ashamed to say 23 years living here and I haven't been to Dominica yet, you know, and now especially, that I'm closer to it. It's ridiculous.

Speaker 2: 42:30

And the right place.

Speaker 1: 42:32

We're making it direct flights. What other excuse do I have, really?

Speaker 2: 42:37

Yeah, all right.

Speaker 1: 42:38

So listening porch culture. Dominica is always entertaining and it's always so beautiful. It's got so many surprises. Like Amber said, you have the card game 500 that you should learn when you're there, like Simon mentioned. And of course, you need to try the Bush rum, the gin that they're producing there.

Speaker 1: 43:00

All of that good stuff, because it is the earth, what do you call it? It's so rich in Dominica. You guys have so many trees and you know, just when you gave me that little tour of the and you showed me the view, I could see some of some trees here and there, some fruit trees, vegetables, and wow, it's just, it's amazing. It's so, so beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. I just can't come up with another word, dan beautiful. I keep repeating myself here because I'm so. I'm such an awe of everything that Dominica has to offer and especially how you guys tell the story. Now, before I let you go, is there anything that you can share with a listener today that you think is a must to know about Dominica? Is there anything that you say like if you come into Dominica, don't do this.

Speaker 2: 43:54

I mean the don't. Do I just be like no, don't expect the million white sandy beaches with the lounges on them. You know, like that we definitely don't really have that. So you know, the best beach here is along a little bumpy four wheel drive track that you can either leave your rental car at the top and walk 20 minutes or you can take the rental car down. But so I would say it, yeah, don't expect the totally on a plate tourism convenience, yeah, but it, but it's not, it's not that hard to put a little bit of effort in and find these beautiful spots that then the upside is there will be like one other person there or no one there apart from you. You know, yeah, yeah, I would say that. So people who know that it's nature, it's raw, it's wild, it's a bit adventurous, then you're in the good friend of mine, you know fantastic, great, that's a good advice.

Speaker 1: 44:52

And one other thing that I really wanted to talk to you guys about is that you actually have wailing Is there, but by from your, from your porch, so we'll go, and then that porch culture we just spoke about. Since you spend so much time on your deck, have you ever seen whales from where you are? Can you see them from where?

Speaker 2: 45:10

you are, we from our porch. It's only what a sort of season of the year that we see. I think it's the humpback that we'd see out at sea. We haven't seen it, but you totally can. Our neighbors have said they've seen it. But the famous whales of Dominica, the sperm whales, and they are more on the Caribbean coast Now, that's only right, 35 minute drive from us over the other side, and actually there's an amazing whale watching tour catamaran that goes from this 35 minutes drive from here, but it's the Caribbean side. So, yeah, we don't, we don't see them all the time from this way, but we've done a few well watching trips on the Caribbean side and we saw them recently and it. Those whales are so magical, they are unbelievable. Yeah, it's the Moby Dick whale, right, so it's the big. It's the big classic whale.

Speaker 1: 45:57

Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 2: 46:02

And actually you know there's a preserve that's being made for them and they live here year round and amazing local tour operators who you can go with to see them. So it's one of the highlights of Dominica, for sure. Yeah.

Speaker 1: 46:14

Okay, as a guest at SeaCliff, is there anything that we can do to help maintain SeaCliff as an environmentally friendly place and also sustainable? Is there something that you say all right, make sure you pack this or don't pack that?

Speaker 2: 46:35

Yeah, good question. I think it's more just your attitude when you're here, like we always ask people, please, when you leave, turn the lights off, turn the fans off. It's solar. We do ask people to compost their natural because the people cook here a lot when they stay and we I think it's just being mindful, once people get here, you know, of how they can interact in a way with nature and with the kind of power saving measures we're trying to have here, just coming to be open to those practices.

Speaker 1: 47:03

Okay, fantastic. Thank you so much for making the time today to be on the podcast. I am so happy we did this. I'm so, so in awe of everything that I've learned and now more determined than ever to come and visit you all and, of course, making Seeklif my home for a week or so.

Speaker 1: 47:22

I have a feeling that you know just four days, like I normally do with any Caribbean trip, isn't enough. What would you tell somebody who's never been? How long would you book a trip to Dominica for your first time? Like what? What do you think is long enough or not, or rather minimal, to be there to experience? You know most of what you need to experience the first time around 10 days, 10 days, 10 days, 10 days, 10 days.

Speaker 3: 47:53

Yeah, I know it's a big ask for a lot of people. Okay, so we've had people come and stay who are able to work remotely, so they'll come and stay for a month and that is obviously really sweet because then you can properly immerse and get to know some people in the community and just spend some more extended time here. But I think it also depends where you're coming from. People are coming from like a lot of hustle and bustle and then they come for four nights. I'm like you haven't even unwound yet.

Speaker 1: 48:28

Yeah, exactly by the time, by the time you kind of accept that you're there and that you're finally, exactly like you said, unwound, it's already time to get on a plane and leave.

Speaker 3: 48:38

So yeah, so definitely not four days. Yeah, we have guests that come for a month and they're just like I don't want to go Like yeah, and we have really good wifi.

Speaker 2: 48:49

for that reason, for people can work, I mean, yeah, we want to make it possible for people to work remotely here. But you know a week is also fine. You know a week because a week often we say the two parts of the island were in the north is the south. So ideally people would do part of that trip up here and then we recommend places for people to stay in the south as well. But a week is fine. A week would be great too.

Speaker 3: 49:14

It's only because of what I said before, of like she's so full of surprises, I mean. I'm gonna say it really 10 days isn't enough. But you know, I think that you take what you can get, but you can always come back again.

Speaker 2: 49:28

You're not going to be bored.

Speaker 3: 49:30

if you come for a month, I promise you that.

Speaker 2: 49:32

Yeah, that's true.

Speaker 1: 49:33

Wow, wow. Thank you so much, guys. Again, thank you, thank you. Thank you for your time and also for sharing all these beautiful experiences that you're having, and not only with me, but with our listener today. Thank you for you know the Bush the Bush Jenny you're making, and for having such a welcoming place in Dominica. I cannot wait to explore it myself. Thank you.

Speaker 2: 49:59

Well, thank you for having us. Honestly, we feel really honored that you have reached out and want to, you know, talk to us and we love what you're about and all the kind of ways that you're like exploring Caribbean culture, obviously in St Martin, but beyond the Eiffel. I'm learning a lot from your content and all your wonderful things. So, yeah, it's been really great to be part of this.

Speaker 1: 50:18

You know I have such admiration for Amber and Simon and they're two boys, I really do. I love how they do everything possible to keep Dominica as pristine as it is. They have totally immersed themselves in the culture, they've made local friends and they have become part of the community, and I think that is so, so beautiful, but also so important. A lot of times I see expats who tend to keep to themselves and only mingle with other expats, or they don't have local friends at all and don't really dive into the culture of where they are. They are the first ones to complain about the island and also, unfortunately, the first ones to leave when disaster hit. So kudos to Amber and Simon. I commend you for what you do. I really do so.

Speaker 1: 51:04

Before I run off to book my ticket to Dominica and my 10 day stay at the Sea Cliff because you know I will I want to remind you about my upcoming retreat called Island Awakening Luxury Retreat, happening right here in my hometown of St Martin from June 4th to the 9th. It is going to be an inspiring five days. You hear what I'm telling you Inspiring, it's going to have some self empowerment, we're going to do some meditation, but also there's going to be a lot, a lot of fun island activities and experiences. I really honestly cannot wait to disconnect and make new friends and, who knows, maybe you are going to be one of my new friends and let me know if you can make it. I really do hope you can. And if you need more information, I am leaving a link to the retreat page on my website in the show notes. This retreat will no doubt become an annual thing, and I'm already thinking that the next place to hold it should actually be, let me think, sea Cliff there in Dominica. What do you think? Right, I know it sounds like the perfect place for it. So if you want to book your stay with Amber and Simon and their two boys and have yourself some of that Bush Jen which I'm definitely going to try when I get there I have left a link to their website in the show notes. And if you're thinking of donating some books to the foundation that we spoke about, the link to the foundation is also there, so make sure that you head on to the show notes at the end of this episode.

Speaker 1: 52:33

So, my friend, like we say in Dutch, there's a time of coming and there's a time for going and the time for going has come. I know it sounds so much better in Dutch. Have yourself an amazing day or night. I'm not really sure where you are or what time it is in your part of the world right now, and I'm going to go and book my birthday trip to Dominica right now. So thanks for listening and I hope you can make it back here next week because I am talking to the beautiful Lea Marville, barbadian, fashion model, coach, speaker and author. You do not want to miss that. I'm Brisel, the traveling island girl. Ciao for now.