Reasons To Be Cheerful Part 11
Latille Garden Waterfall & Fish Spa In Micoud (Mikou)
&
New Jerusalem Mineral Bath (Hot Warm & Cold Pools) Soufriere (Soufwiye)
Charles Dickens’ enthusiasts, please allow me an indulgence. For this tale of two waterfalls.
It was the best of times.
It was the most wonderful of times.
It was beyond the beauty of reason.
Nature’s hope in a world of despair.
(I Thank You!)
Latille Garden Waterfall & Fish Spa Micoud.
Latille Garden Waterfall & Fish Spa is not just a respectful nod to the dream of sharing, and living along-side nature and art. This venture is a testimony to the beauty and efficacy of what can be done, effecting minimum impact, in harmony with this beautiful planet. Here we bear witness to a family’s heroic endeavours in forging this most beautifully exquisite transcendental place.
Inside the House
Home Sweet Home
The waterfall is a few minutes walk from the entrance down easily walkable stairs brutally cut out of the rock by hand. (Disabled persons would need assistance and are advised to check first.)
Cheeky View
The day I went to Latille Garden Waterfall & Fish Spa was preceded by two days of heavy rain which discoloured the water in the normally clear pools, as can be seen in the photos.
At the top of the stairs, one immediately hears the cascading waterfall nearby which reverberates all around. But the majesty of the falls is hidden by the trees and vegetation, save for a peak of the waterfalls or a fleeting glance of the pools.
The Falls
Once at the bottom of the stairs it’s an easy walk to get under the waterfall. Standing under the waterfall as I did water cascades down onto your head, splashing off your body. The sound of the water mixed in with the happy screams and laugher of children playing is magical.
Another 15-minute walk away there is a larger deeper pool, where you can dive, rope-swing and treat yourself to a wonderful peaceful swim.
Fun at the Falls
One is tormented to describe something so beautiful, depicting this grace, beauty, intensity and harmony or a name to the meaning of it all.
Falling water at no matter what speed creates a kind of hypnotic trance. And one’s sense of equilibrium and reason is really put to the test here.
I am present under this beautiful waterfall – motionless almost as if I could feel the planet spinning on its axis. But I am standing totally still.
John
This is a family run operation. The culture, spirit and faith of Rastafari is engrained into the very soul, art, fabric and DNA of the domicile, it just radiates through. The estate is managed by John Joseph, one of the family patriarchs. As well as being a skilled builder, horticulturist, and a man of limitless local knowledge. John is an expert knitter with many examples of his work for sale here.
There is local food and beverages available to try, and which can be purchased here. In season the local Soursop fruit is a must.
Fish Pedicure
In the gardens we went to get a fish pedicure. (Doesn’t everyone when in Micoud?)
The setting is a clearing from the Rainforest where you sit at the edge of this amazing pool, and dangle your legs into the water where the local tiny Doctor fish do their job, going to work on your feet.
Walk on Water
Those of us who are not into foot-partialism or podophilia, or who suffer ticklish feet, fear not. This is an amazing calming soothing experience which is an absolute must do.
Top Tip: If you’re ticklish, place one’s feet in the water heel first, gently lowering down to the toes.
On the way out of the gardens, which are quite wonderful and well worth a walk through, there was some magnificent, earthy, Dub-music playing, which seems to reverberate across the ground, through our newly unsullied feet, and into our bodies.
Work-bench
As the deep rhythmic harmonic base tones of the Dub-reggae tune raised up into my soul, syncing with my heartbeat, you knew that this is the place where the ethereal and the senses combined.
I nodded to my host Victor, as he looked at me. We shared that knowing look and smile, that it doesn’t get much better than this.
New Jerusalem Mineral Baths Soufriere
One approaches a most unassuming humble entrance, to one of the most charming and exquisite places on the island of St. Lucia.
There’s no car park, no obvious entrance, no real sign to think of, just a notice-board which doesn’t do the place any justice at all. Very understated. Very St. Lucian!
First of all. Please forgive the ill-conceived sign. The experience gets better from there.
Soufriere is blessed with some of the most amazing of nature’s natural gifts which is remarkable for a place so small. It really is a place that just keeps on giving.
The Walk Down
The journey down to the pools can be particularly challenging for the physically disabled. Telephone the New Jerusalem Mineral Baths prior to attending if you’re concerned about access.
Top Tip : Sport sensible footwear.
There is the obligatory ‘tricky walk’ down-hill. On uncomfortable hand-cut steps. Walk through the bush, across some tricky Heath-Robinson bridges. Then a slight climb. Then the magic begins
The Walk Up
There are three pools, contained in local hand-made stone-baths which are served by naturally heated spring-water from the Soufriere walk-in volcano. The water is brought to the pools via a network of hollow bamboo tree trunks.
The water is beautifully soft to touch, mineral rich, and at just the right perfect temperature, but without the egg smell that signifies the sulphur Springs north of here.
Main Pool
The largest pool is approximately 9M x 3M the second pool 9M x 2M and the third pool 2M x 2M.
Top Tip : Sport sensible footwear.
Bath In The Water
The pools appear to be cut out of the rainforest. They are surrounded by lush vegetation, and tropical plants of every description, palm trees, Fern trees, bountiful Cocoa and Coconut trees. You can hear bird song. You’re often accompanied by Hummingbirds and Dragon Flies fluttering at high-speed across your face.
The Thinker
This place is unequivocally, exquisitely-mind-blowing, tranquil, and most importantly crowd free. It’s pristine and absolutely spotless. Just the joy of nature in front of your eyes.
The Journey
After the hot spring bath, we took a drink and shelter in the building that passes for the refectory. As the rain lashed down it was like an orchestral sound crashing onto the corrugated roof. The cacophony was awesome, and capped off another sensational day on this most beautiful surprising island.
Proper Bush
In a perfect world, where the desire for peace and tranquillity has been met and the end of all suffering has been achieved it will be places like Latille Garden Waterfall and Fish Spa and the New Jerusalem Mineral Bath, where pilgrims shall seek to find rest and shelter and give thanks for nature’s true gifts. That’s how highly I rate places like these.
One Against Nature.
There it is.
One should remember beautiful places visited, but you will never forget Latille Garden Waterfall and Fish Spa and the New Jerusalem Mineral Bath. As an imprint shall be left on your heart it just makes you feel truly blessed.
Latille Garden Waterfall & Fish Spa New Jerusalem Mineral Bath.
The End of the day:
I retire to the balcony at “Williams Towers” with a sunset, a family sized Gin & Tonic and the sounds of The Master Ray Charles singing the blues. (Funny But I Still Love You,) bringing the day to a perfect close.
I think of all the people I know who would have loved being at the falls. It makes me smile. And it’s extremely hard to be sad when you’re smiling. I feel a tear attempt to escape, it must be the sunburst in my eyes.
But without the odd tear, we wouldn’t be able to appreciate such joy.
Every so often I check myself and muse. “It’s a real privilege to live here!”
Acknowledgments:
- Kwéyòl Dictionary Ministry of Education
- Antoine “The Model” Nayagér
- Tony Nayager for corrective guidance. (He knows what I mean!)
- Marilyn St Rose for keeping me right.
End of Reasons to be Cheerful Part Eleven
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Thank you.
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