/St_Lucia

After bouncing from French to British ownership 14 times, this awesomely beautiful island is an intriguing combo of sophisticated France and nature-loving Britain. Visitors are especially impressed by the island's forest-covered mountains with its bird, turtle and nature-study options.

St Lucia has perhaps the most dramatic of tropical splendours in its twin peaks: The Pitons. They are near black volcanic sands and romantic settings worthy of a Hollywood musical extravaganza.

The capital city is Castries. Britain subsequently took permanent possession of St Lucia in 1814. They established sugar plantations operated by West African slaves. Today St Lucia is an independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Queen Elizabeth II has been retained as Head of State.

For an adventure straight out of National Geographic, go see the piles exotic fruits and veggies at the Castries Market and Vendors Arcade. In the centre of the capital is Derek Walcott Square, named after St Lucia's Nobel Prize for Literature winner.

Still in the mood for "something different?" Then high-tail to the sleepy fishing village of Soufriere. Its main square boasts fine French colonial architecture in a town that was once a volcanic crater.

The Friday night "jump up" at Gros Islet is considered to be the grandest block party in the Caribbean. The skewered conch (lambi in St Lucian Creole/French) are umm-umm good. So is the other St Lucian cuisine hailing from the US, China, England, France, Japan, Mexico, Italy, Jamaica and India.

As for sports, round up the usual suspects in the Caribbean--diving, snorkelling, scuba diving, water-skiing, windsurfing, sailing and deep-sea fishing. The underwater scenery has to be seen to be believed.