Discover Paradise!
By Jeana Noel
It is said that good things come in small packages. This is definitely true of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. St. Vincent or SVG as we call it for short, is barely visible on the world map, however those lucky enough to have the chance to explore her hidden treasures are amazed by her beauty and often come back for more. Few of us, like me, are most fortunate to be able to call it home.
SVG is a group of 32 islands located between the Cribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. St. Vincent is the largest and the smaller islands comprise what is known as the Grenadines. Don’t be fooled by the number of islands though, it really is a tiny package. Altogether, the land size is 389 sq km. Just to give you a clearer picture, it can fit into Taiwan 92.5 times. The population of SVG is just over 117, 000. It was an English colony until 1979, so the official language is English. Christianity is the major religion but small groups of Muslims, Hindus and others also exist.
St. Vincent has a tropical climate and the temperature is almost the same all year round, between 24 and 30 degrees Celsius. There’s a hurricane season from May to November and during this time it rains a lot, but on most days the weather is still quite good. Most visitors come from Europe and the United States between November and May to escape the cold winter weather. In spite of its small size, SVG is rich in natural beauty and there is much to see and do. Majestic mountains and lush green valleys are visible from just about everywhere. La Soufriere, an active volcano, stands tallest and proudest and is a must see for anyone who dares to hike the 1, 234 meters to its peak. The many beautiful beaches and bays that surround the islands further enhance the picturesque scenery. Beach lovers can take their pick of black, golden, or almost white sandy beaches. The calm blue waters of the Grenadines are a favorite of yachtsmen, and the colorful coral reefs are among the most beautiful and famous in the world. Awards include “World’s Best Caribbean Island Destination” in Travel & Leisure Magazine’s 2004 World Best Awards and “Best Sailing & Yachting Island of the Year” from Caribbean World Magazine in 2004 and 2005. St. Vincent has also been trying to develop itself as a movie filming location, with the trilogy ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ filmed at various locations in SVG.
Just like the weather, the people of St.Vincent (Vincentians) are warm and friendly. No…we do not spend all day on the beach partying, nor do we wear bikinis and grass skirts on the street. (I’ve met people who sincerely have this idea. Sorry, it’s only a myth). Vincentians know how to work hard, but they also know how to have a good time. This fun atmosphere comes out on the weekends and during our many annual festivals. Festivals range from dance, music and drama to sailing, food…there is always something happening every month of the year. The two largest are the Christmas Festival and Vincy Mas. Vincy Mas takes place in July and is a ten-day celebration showing off Vincentian music, pageantry and costume design. It ends with an explosion of color on the streets of the capital, Kingstown, where thousands of costumes with different themes are displayed. Some years ago a group even chose Taiwan as the theme and costumes showing different aspects of Taiwanese culture were displayed. The Christmas festival takes place in December and features what we call Nine Mornings, where street concerts are held from 4 am for 9 mornings from December 16th to 24th. During the entire month, businesses and houses around the country are decorated with lights, which is quite a lovely sight at night. Nine mornings is unique to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
I left my beautiful homeland about two and a half years ago. In fact, I remember precisely the date, the time, the last moments of saying goodbye to family, friends and loved ones. It was August 18th 2004, and while I said bittersweet goodbyes I looked forward with excitement to my life in Taiwan. Life in Taiwan has been great so far. I’ve made many wonderful friends from all over the world and I would forever cherish my Taiwan experience. But no matter where life takes me, my heart is never far from home. I long for delicious Vincentian food, a lazy day on the beach, a hike up a rugged mountain path, a dip under a cool waterfall on a hot day, the beauty of a summer sunset. I know it will be waiting for me with open arms when I return. Of course, you are more than welcome to come along.
(For more information on St Vincent and the Grenadines, click here and here.)
See natural, non-public-relations-type photos of SVG taken by a foreigner
Kenton’s note: Vincentian Jeana Noel is a 3rd year undergraduate student at the National Cheng Chi University in Taiwan. She is double majoring in Public Relations and Diplomacy and has been in Taiwan for three years.
