Day 3
Country No. 91: St. Kitts

I usually don't take a shore excursion offered by cruiseline because they are quite overpriced. A three hours' tour may easily cost up to $100, on an island the average annual income is lower than $1000! However, this next island, St. Kitts, seems not too famous for its beach (but then again, I'm not really a "beach person" unless beach going can turn into a great "spectator event") but more famous for its mountains, especially the volcanic mountains. Its main volcano, Mount Liamuiga, is almost 1000 m tall and has a beautiful crater. RCCL does offer a volcanic trekking on Mt. Liamuiga. Because it takes 7 hours, it will practically use up most of our time ashore. Though it cost a whopping $98, I guess it may be the best choice I could have. And who knows, I may meet some beautiful strangers from my ship in this excursion?

Unfortunately, it was all SOLD OUT!! I was told after I came out of the Comedy Showcase the night before. This of courze again added up my agony . There are other excursions too, including a train ride around the island (This is a really small island) that cost also $98; a rain forest walk ($62)...none seems too worhwhile. After flipping through the whole program, I decided not to join any of them

Next day, because I did not need to wake up early to join any excursion, I ended up sleeping until almost noon. Walking onto the deck, I had my first look of St. Kitts. Though it is not a very populous island (only 40,000 people live here), it does look quite lush and pristine. Not faraway, it is Mount Liamuiga, the volcano I was supposedly to climb, shrouded in the mist. Though I will not go to any beach or mountain on this island, I will at least walk around Basseterre, its capital.

St. Kitts, originally known as St. Christopher, is actually a part of two-island country - St. Kitts and Nevis. It is not only an independent country, and it is also one of very few countries that has formal diplomatic relation with my country, Taiwan. Maybe due to its tiny size, China does not even bother to steal them from us (as they had done with Senegal and Macedonia). Since some of Taiwan's "official friends" are quite unwholesome (remembr my experience with Paraguay?), I secretly hoped St. Kitts is a more welcoming place...

Of course, one exciting thing is: that St. Kitts becomes the 91th I've visited in my life. Another step towards the 100th!

The terminal is quite new but seems empty. I found there is no other cruise ship in the port aside from ours. It seems that St. Kitts is not really a popular port of call as St. Martin or St. Thomas among Caribbean cruise. So I'm glad our ship actually takes a road less traveled!

Basseterre, though its capital, is not really very big. It also does not look as prosperous as Philipsburg or Marigot. Because the World Cup Cricket Game (some sport that nobody outside of British Commonweath countries watch, I have to say) is held in the Caribbean this year, a lot of cricket related souvenirs can be seen. Flags of those countries participating in this Game are also flown everywhere. But among them, what a surprise, Taiwan's national flag!

Wait, it couldn't be that Taiwan is also in this World Cup since few people in Taiwan even knows what cricket is (we play baseball very well, by the way). Look closer, Taiwanese flags actually are hung everywhere in the main street. Maybe our President, Chen, just visited here not long ago.

Of course, it is nice and feel welcomed to see our national flags are everywhere in an island so far away from home. Later I had chance to talk to some locals, I found out their cricket stadium built for this World Cup was actually sponsored by Taiwanese government. Hopefully the friendship between our two countries will last much longer than with Macedonia...

Since it is warm and a welcoming place, I did buy some souvenirs and order some local beer at its main bus station. Most of its "buses" are mini-van and don't look too appealing. Though I was thinking about taking the bus to the other side of the island, eventually I gave up the idea. Basseterre, though friendly, actually does not have too much to see. So I headed back to the ship for a late lunch.

Looking out to Mt. Liamuiga, I am not sure if I will come back to this island. It seems welcoming and friendly. However, it is not special enough for a return visit, just like most Caribbean island. Who knows, maybe after I become the Taiwanese President, I can arrange a state visit here...

Try to grab a nice lunch, then I found out the Reflection Dining Room does not open for lunch. I had to settle for the buffet food at Windjammer Cafe (more like a cafeteria).

In late afternoon, there is a "Dog Tag Dance Party" right at the main swimming pool. The theme is military of course. It is ironic that St. Kitts government actually ban civilians and tourists wearing anything in camouflage (Is this island of 40,000 really afraid of military coup? ). So the partygoers, many of them in camouflage, are warned not to wander out of the ship. Now that is amusing for me....

Though after last night's unpleasant dining experience, I still decided to return to the main dining room for dinner. It occurrd to me that my friend, Paolo, who just returned from another cruise last month, said he only went to the main dining room for sit-down service once in the whole week and spent all other meals at the cafeteria. Because he was afraid to eat by himself (even though he also chose to go to a cruise by himself)! Well, I refused to give up on things I do enjoy (such as a formal sit-down meal in a 'real' restaurant) simply because I don't want to feel alone! Fortunately, my dinner companions tonight are more agreeable. However, we only did some superficial chit-chat, as most people do on their cruise vacation. I pretty much forget their names, faces, and conversation the next day.

Maybe I shouldn't have come to a cruise trip, alone.

First Look of St. Kitts from Our Ship

Yeah! This is My 91st Country Visited.

A Look at North Shore of St. Kitts. I am not sure if the large mountain in the afr abck actually a part of Nevis, the other island of this two-island nation.

Another Look at North Shore of St. Kitts

Sunbathers on the Ship and the Island Behind.

Welcome to St. Kitts.

Now I am stepping on my 91st country

This is St. Kitts' national flag.

City center of Basseterre. Aside from this Clock monument, there really are not many interesting sights in Basseterre.

Taiwanese flags hung right next to St. Kitts'

..and I found more Taiwanese flags, including this big one

This supposed to be it National Museum, but it is already closed by the time I dropped by.