Yesterday marked 130 days until we jet off to the Dominican Republic! I already mentioned in Edmond's
Returning to Kruger National Park that this will actually be my 8th time visiting the country. I can't believe it's 8 times! I was quite young most of the times I went (first time being when I was 6 months old) so a lot of the memories blur into one, I still have many that stick out. It's also where my Mum and Dad got married the year before I was born so I feel like the place has a lot of sentiment, probably why we went back so much, and why I still feel like I need to go back!
Last time I went was in 2011 with just my Mum and Dad, we made some great memories thanks to the staff and the trips (I went quad biking!) but unfortunately the hotel we stayed at was slowly going downhill. No disrespect to the locals, because I know many of them are lovely, but many were sneaking into the hotel from a hole in the fence on the beach. It made the hotel way too overcrowded and some were incredibly rude, especially when they were pushing into the queues to get food with their hands instead of using the utensils that were there for a reason. It got so out of hand so much that police had to come in to keep a watchful eye, not that it did much. Anyway, that was all 6 years ago and I think a lot has changed. That hotel is no longer classed as a hotel for starters, instead it's become the gardens and extra pool area for it's sister hotel. I've read up on loads of recent reviews and the general consensus is that the hotels have much improved since then and things are under control, much like they used to be back in 2004 and 2006.
And so I've decided to return to the place that brings back so many memories of my childhood and what the Caribbean is really like. After going to Mexico for the past 3 years, it will be nice to see a proper Caribbean country that has not been Americanised so much. That, and it's at least £300 cheaper, each!
In the spirit of my holiday countdown, I wanted to share some photos of my previous holidays to show you all luscious beaches and grounds in the Dominican Republic (near Puerta Plata)! For now these will just be some from my 2011 trip, so I was about 13/14 (I'm not too sure) but I may do some posts soon that show my 2004 and 2006 trips to the same hotel and my 2008 trip to a different hotel. Might as well have a little laugh at me as a kid!
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| Look at those sunglasses. And that fringe. Ok, so this picture isn't so bad but it's pre-braces! eek! I was a lot better at doing buns back then though! On to the point of the holiday, there are so many naturally grown trees sticking out in the middle of the sea and on the beach! |
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| On our quad biking trip we took a well needed rest on the beach where, across the sea, you could see our hotel! I hadn't realised we had actually gone so far but what a lovely, exciting way to get to see the island/country a bit more! |
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| There I am at the beach bar! It's not so clear, but you can definitely see a change in my face since then! I also got a photo at this same bar from a different angle because when I went when I was a lot younger than this, I have a picture doing the same. There is a massive height difference. I shall show you them one day, when I've got another to add to the collection this time I go! |
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| Minding where we quad bike as the cattle cross the road! |
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| The hotel we stayed at is sisters with two other right next door (one of which we are going to this time round) and in between there is Caribbean Street. It's where you'll find the main spa, gym, doctors, and souvenir shops. The entertainment team also host a Caribbean carnival here on one of the nights which I can't wait to see again! The architecture is just so colourful and unique! |
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| I don't usually write in the sand but apparently on this holiday I though 'why not?'. I think other people were doing it so I joined in (during the quad biking trip). |
Photos taken 2011 whilst staying at the Clubhotel RIU Mambo
Isn't it so beautiful?! This post has taken me hours to write as I spent most of that time looking back through all of my old photos and reminiscing with my Mum and Dad. It's been a lovely afternoon, despite not getting anything done because of it! I'll definitely share some of the photos from the earlier trips with you soon, because the place is just so gorgeous, and I pull some odd faces. Seeing all these photos again has got me so excited to go back and has reminded me how tropical the country is! As much as I love Mexico, it's not quite like Dom Rep in terms of paradise. That said, I know I'll definitely go back to Mexico a some point because there is still so much to see and learn!
Bring on Dom Rep 2017!
- KC xx
How often do you go through old photos? Do you find it embarrassing or funny when looking back at yourself?
