Ti Domnik Tales Takes a Break!

Dear Readers,

Gwendominica is taking a bit of a break from Ti Domink Tales. Summertime is almost here, and plentiful plans are afoot! Stories about my summer adventures elsewhere will be posted on www.canarygal.com.

Gwendominica waves from the seaside section of the Fort Young Hotel on May 22,2015

Gwendominica waved as if to say ‘see you in September’ from the seaside terrace of the Fort Young Hotel on May 22,2015. Photo taken by Jenny Spencer.

Before I fly away for a short while, I would like to once again thank everyone for

I am not exactly sailing off into the sunset - just taking a little time away for some northern summer days!

I am not exactly sailing off into the sunset – just taking a little time away to enjoy some idyllic summer days and the wonderful people in my home circle!

their support and interest in my blog about my experiences on Dominica, the Nature Island. I am always encouraged to write more when I see that people are reading my posts!

This particular piece marks the 150th post on Ti Domnik Tales, and I must now seriously consider the next step: the possibility of an e-book. Expressions of interest from professional editors would be welcome!

As of May 31, 2015, there have been over 66,000 visits to www.gwenithwhitford.com. I am delighted with this response, and intend to continue to record my Nature Island outings and encounters as of September. Rest assured that on Dominica, the capacity for adventure is endless.

Meanwhile, I hope you will have a wonderful summer, wherever you are on the planet.

As my dear friend Jude would say, we are “under the same moon,” no matter where we happen to be on planet Earth! (This is a late-spring moon-set on Dominica – at daybreak!)

Thanks again for checking out Ti Domnik Tales!

Gwendominica

I’ll see you in September! Photo taken by Jenny Spencer.

P.S. If you feel inclined, please let me know what you think of TDT in the comment box below. Do you have a favourite post? Why do you (or did you) read TDT? I will reply to your responses, with pleasure!

Ti Domnik Tales Turns Three! The Adventures Continue on the Beautiful Nature Island

Mar15

Gwendominica is delighted to celebrate the third birthday of Ti Domnik Tales in March 2015!

Gwendominica is delighted to celebrate the third anniversary of Ti Domnik Tales in March 2015!

Ti Domnik Tales, my personal blog about adventures, experiences and personalities on Dominica has just turned

This map of Dominica, located in the dining room of Papillote Wilderness Retreat was crafted by a local artisan.

This map of Dominica in the dining room of Papillote Wilderness Retreat was crafted by a local artisan.

three!

I wish to express profound thanks to my extended family, 99 Followers, 116 Facebook friends, growing Twitter tweeters, those who have ‘liked’ and ‘shared’ me and all other supportive readers over the past 36 months. Your interest and encouragement definitely keep me inspired to describe various aspects of my life as a Canadian expatriate who has resided for 18 years (this month!) on the Nature Island.

While this blog has a very specific niche in a very small country, I am delighted to report that there have been over 60,000 visits to the 135 posts on this site. This figure does include several re-blogged pieces from Canary Gal about my wonderful trip to Canada in the summer of 2014 and an incredible visit to Paris in December 2014/January 2015 from my home base on the Nature Island. However, the majority of musings (about 120) are dedicated to Dominica!

For your interest, here are the top 15 posts in the first three months of 2015 ( click on the title to get to the piece):

1. Dominica’s Carnival 2015 Opening Parade: A Spectacular, Sinister, Sensational Masquerade*
2. Dominica`s Floral Splendour: The Giraudel-Eggleston Flower Show 2013
3. ‘Paradise Found’ in Dominica’s Papillote Tropical Gardens*
4. Scenes from a (Tropical!) Winter Wonderland: Dominica’s Carnival 2015 Season*
5. Recognizing Acts of Kindness at Christmas-time on Dominica, the Nature Island
6. Dominica’s Carnival Celebrations: Original, Traditional, Fun!
7. A Walk Around Freshwater Lake in Dominica’s Morne Trois Pitons National Park
8. A Warm Welcome in Wotten Waven, Dominica’s ‘Natural Spa’ Village
9. Learning about Indigenous Kalinago Culture and History in Dominica
10. Strangers in Paradise: A Canadian Family Spends an Unforgettable Day in Dominica!*
11. Springfield Dominica: My Favourite Place on the Nature Isle*
12. The Voice of Ti Domnik Tales (Page about me, Gwendominica)
13. The Marvellous Tastes, Sights and Sounds of Creole Day 2014 around Roseau Dominica
14. Celebrating Creole Day in Dominica
15. A Canadian Canary Visits Paris: A New Year Adventure in the City of Light

And for those who are curious, the TOP THREE POSTS of the past three years are:

Papilotte Wilderness Retreat is a piece of paradise nestled near the village of Trafalgar in the Roseau Valley.

Papillote Wilderness Retreat is an intimate hotel set in tropical gardens with natural hot and cold pools. It’s nestled above the village of Trafalgar in the Roseau Valley.

1. The Voice of Ti Domnik Tales (Page about me, Gwendominica)

2. Spending a Spa Day at Dominica’s Papillote Wilderness Retreat

Morne Watt, in Morne Trois Pitons National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) can be seen from the heights of Wotten Waven, a very friendly village in the Roseau Valley that offers plentiful sulphur spas and access to the Waitukubuli National Trail!

3.A Warm Welcome in Wotten Waven, Dominica’s ‘Natural Spa’ Village

Watch for more pieces about Dominica’s Roseau Valley, as the popularity of this area is confirmed by numbers two and three!

Thanks for reading Ti Domnik Tales! Sincerely, Gwendominica

And look for other tales about my life on Dominica in due course. The possibility of an e-book may become a reality too!

Thanks for reading Ti Domnik Tales!!!

My Life in Dominica Featured on ExpatsBlog.com

Jul29

Gwendominica in contemporary Creole wear.

If you are curious about how and why I have lived as an expatriate in Dominica, then have a look at my commentary by clicking here.

Admittedly, I have been candid and would like to remind everyone that what I have said about my life on the Nature Island is not necessarily representative of other expatriates. I have tried to emphasize that as we are all individuals, we all have different perspectives and responses to our experiences. That’s what makes being a citizen of the world so interesting! Please feel free to comment at the bottom of the interview, if you are so inclined.

I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Karen and Liz for being the first two people to comment on the ExpatsBlog.com website about Ti Domnik Tales. Their kind and thoughtful remarks are very much appreciated.

It is hoped that this additional exposure on the ExpatsBlog.com website will generate more interest in lovely Dominica, the beautiful Nature Island. I am honoured to have the privilege of spending so many years in this remarkable country and delighted to have an improved quality of life because of my long-term residency here.
You can go directly to the interview from RIGHT HERE.

Ti Domnik Tales Blog Has Published 100 Posts about Dominica, the Nature Island!

Jun10

Dominica, the Nature Island as seen from the coastal waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Mission accomplished! The piece I wrote about Kalinago Culture and History was the 100th article posted on Ti Domnik Tales blog. I have now realized my original objective with this significant posting about an important cultural aspect of Dominica. When I created this blog in March 2012, I was not sure how far I would get in terms of the number of published posts. But as you can see, the fascinating topics about the Nature Island are virtually endless!

Therefore, I will continue to write about my experiences on Dominica, as there is much more terrain to cover! Postings may be more sporadic though, as I am turning my attention to my other blog which has been dormant for a while.

Gwendominica walks on red rocks at beautiful Pointe Baptiste, on Dominica's northeast coast - to be presented in a forthcoming post. Photo by Edwin Whitford.

Gwendominica walks on famous Red Rocks at beautiful Pointe Baptiste, on Dominica’s northeast coast – to be presented in a forthcoming post. Photo by Edwin Whitford.

During the summer of 2014, I will be posting on: www.canarygal.wordpress.com

My Canary Gal blog focuses on environmental health issues and personal experiences related to living with this challenge. In fact, I moved to Dominica so that I could better manage this increasingly common condition. Watch for my travel diary as I spend a little time in” my home and native land” – as this Canary flies north for a few weeks.

I will post the introductory paragraphs on this blog for a short time only with a link to each complete piece on Canary Gal. I do hope you will be able to join me (vicariously) for some Canadian summer fun and adventure. If you are curious about what happens next while I am “home,” kindly click the ‘follow’ box which you will find midway down the right hand side of the page.

I would be remiss if I did not renew heartfelt thanks to my immediate and extended family, friends near and far, faithful “followers’ (close to 100!) those who ‘like” me (almost 90!) and/or particular pieces, the people who care to share a comment or two and the thousands of interested readers from around the world. Your continued support means a great deal, and helps to keep me motivated to write about the wonderful experiences that form part of my life on Dominica, the Nature Island.

With appreciation,

Gwendominica

Author

Ti Domnik Tales and Canary Gal blogs

Ti Domnik Tales Receives Distinction as Expat Blog of the Month!

Dec2

I am delighted to be recognized by expat blog, ‘the living abroad website, by expats, for expats’ this December as their ‘Blog of the Month’. You might like to check out other fascinating expat blogs on Dominica and many other countries around the world by registering to become a member of the expat blog website here. It’s a great resource for networking with other expatriates, getting information about particular countries, making new friends and finding our about their experiences around the globe. Special thanks to Julie and the expat blog team for their special interest in Ti Domnik Tales.

YOU CAN READ MY INTERVIEW ON EXPAT BLOG HERE.

Ti Domnik Tales is One Year Old!: the top 12 posts of the past 12 months

Mar30

Gwendominica is abundantly thankful to her readers and supporters of Ti Domnik Tales. Photo taken by Laasting Images Photo Studio, Roseau Dominica on Creole Day, October 26, 2012.

Gwendominica is abundantly thankful to her readers and supporters of Ti Domnik Tales. Photo taken by Lasting Images Photo Studio, Roseau Dominica on Creole Day, October 26, 2012.

March marks the first anniversary of my blog about Dominica, called Ti Domnik Tales. Coincidentally, this month also means that I am beginning the 16th year that I have lived on the Nature Isle. I am delighted to have published 50 posts and to have received more than 10,000 visits during the first year of this blog’s existence.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has referred to this website for information, curiosity or interest in some of my published experiences about Dominica. I am especially grateful to author Susan Toy for her encouragement, as well as website designers Carrie Mumford and Wendy Walsh for their technical assistance in getting the blog “up and running.” My loyal family and friends, as well as faithful “followers” and those who “like” me make this literary experience even more rewarding and gratifying.

I will definitely “keep ’em coming,” with an aim for a total of 100 posts over the next year.

Thanks again for checking into some of the places, adventures and personalities that have enriched my life on the Nature Isle! I hope you will continue to enjoy Ti Domnik Tales.

Apart from a heavily consulted archives, here are the top twelve posts of the past year:

1. Spending a Spa Day at Papillote Wilderness Retreat

2. Dominica’s Antony Agar : Australian Ringer, Caribbean Sea-Captain, Schooner Builder, Author

3. Dominica’s Hike Fest: It’s “the best!”

4. Dominica’s Carnival Celebrations: Original, Traditional, Fun!

5. The Voice of Ti Domnik Tales

6. Roseau Dominica: Charming Caribbean Capital: Part 1

7. A Morning on Mero Beach

8. ‘Ma Pampo’ and the Centenarians of Dominica

9. Roseau Dominica: Charming Caribbean Capital; Part 2

10. Celebrating ‘Canada Day’ in Dominica with Yoga, Friends and Snakes!

11. Colour, Tradition and Spectacle: Dominica’s Carnival Monday ‘Ole Mas’ and Youth Parade 2013