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Globe Travel S AT U R DAY , S E P T E M B E R 1 3 , 2 0 1 4 S E C T I O N T

EDITOR: DOMINI CLARK

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‘We’re going to snorkel into the ele-phant’s ass,” our guide announced

as the boat nosed into the scenic bay.What did he just say? I wondered. And

then I saw it: a sea cave carved into thecliff that really did resemble a pachy-derm’s rear end. Once we swam inside, thesmell was as bad as the name and we weregreeted by the surprised shrieks of the res-ident bats. Scary, smelly (the guanoreeked), but surprisingly cool.

Dominica in the eastern Caribbean isawash in water-based attractions: 365 riv-ers (it claims), countless hot thermalsprings, dozens of waterfalls, mountain-fed streams, surrounding seawater so pris-tine that sperm whales make their homein it year-round (the only place in the Car-ibbean they do so), not to mention theworld’s second largest boiling lake awaitsdiscovery in the country’s interior.

I was here to spend as much time as pos-sible in Dominica’s warm, clear aqua wa-ters, but I’d also heard that drinking itmight be a good idea, too.

According to the local Council on Agingthere are more centenarians on Dominicaper capita than anywhere else on the plan-et. The island was also home to the oldestliving person recorded, Elizabeth “Pampo”Israel was 128 when she died in 2003.Today, there are 30-some seniors 100-years-old and up, in relative good health.When asked what they owe their longevityto, drinking the country’s pristine water ishigh on the list. So I really didn’t have any-thing to lose.Dominica, Page 2

Above: Gliding silently along Indian River, an otherworldly wetland in Dominica.DISCOVER DOMINICA AUTHORITY

MAYBE THEREIS SOMETHING IN THE WATERDominica is awash in rivers, waterfalls,thermal springs and one boiling lake. Thecrystal clear waters may also be why theCaribbean island is home to many of theworld’s oldest citizens. What are you waitingfor? Getting wet on your vacation has neverbeen so much fun

SUSAN CAMPBELL ROSALIE BAY, DOMINICA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

THE ESCAPE

At the Conrad Beijing, sky-high viewsand a killer hotel app make sealingthe deal that much easier. PAGE 6

SLEEPOVER

All business in Beijing

INSIDE On the RadarA New York eatery for eggheads PAGE 4