Our B.V.I. Adventure

We had another splendid day on the Mystique.  This is such a stress-free way to visit one of our favorite islands, Jost van Dyke.  The captain and hostess aboard the boat take care of everything, including mixing the drinks!  That's the catamaran anchored in White Bay.  (Looks kind of small in this photo, but it's 45' long.)


The itinerary was the same as our trip with Whitney...  Sailed to Diamond Point, where we snorkeled and even tried out the kayak, then we headed over to Soggy Dollar Bar for the afternoon before returning to Tortola!  We loved every minute and Anna Drake was such a good little sailor!

We enjoyed meeting some folks from Wrightsville Beach, NC.  My dad wanted them to hear some music by Da Tree Men, Michael's old BVI band, so he confiscated Michael's iPhone and had them play "Jost van Dyke - Tropical Paradise" on the sound system.  It was a nice way to end our excursion.

I really miss the band...  You may remember, the lead singer moved back to the states almost a year ago.  We've worn out the CD of the band's original songs.  Michael's drums are now collecting dust on top of a closet in the nursery.  Sad.

We had a "last supper" of sorts on Sunday night.  (I hate these - they don't get any easier!)  This time we were saying good-by to Da Tree Men's lead singer, Adam.  He's moving back to Miami.

Adam was the first friend we made on Tortola.  I remember that hot December night when Michael and I arrived on Tortola.  We dropped our things off at the house and went into town for dinner.  Adam, who Michael had met at work during his first two weeks down here, texted and invited us to meet for a drink.

It's funny to think back on that night...  We knew so little about eachother, but the commonality was this: We had just left all things familiar and found ourselves navigating this island none of us knew all that much about!     

Adam started Da Tree Men and definitely left his mark on the music scene in the BVI with the creation of bvimusic.com and the dozen or so songs about the BVI.  It's amazing how far they've come since their first paid gig at The Elm.  In just a few short months, they ended up playing for Sir Richard Branson on his private island!  With Adam's departure, the band is no more...

Well, I suppose there's still hope for some sort of reunion tour. 

Do you have a favorite Da Tree Men song?  Mine is a tie...Virgin Gorda and Bushwhacker.  Of course, who can forget Cane Garden Bay and Jost van Dyke?

Cheers Adam!  All the best in your post-BVI adventures!

Of the five Pusser's locations, which ones did you visit on your trip? (Soper's Hole, Marina Cay, Charlie T's Lobster House, Leverick Bay, Road Town Pub)

Answer(s): Charlie T's Lobster House for delicious lobster & Road Town Pub for our first Roti

True or False. Driving on the left side of the road feels as weird as I thought it would.

Answer(s): Per Shane (as the driver & a man), false. But as the passenger...my eyes were peeled for him to cross over to the right side out of habit.  However - in his defense, the stayed left throughout the trip!

Shane not only drove in the BVI, but he drove without either me or Michael in the car, offering friendly reminders about the roundabouts and speed bumps.  He and Kaley made their way to the grocery store to get the ingredients for a delicious dinner that they prepared for us! 

What was the most bizarre thing you saw on Tortola?

Answer(s): The two hen gang bangs that we were fortunate enough to witness or Charlie Sheen's interview on the Today show...um, WINNER!

Can't believe this guy below didn't make the list for "most bizarre."  HA!

Favorite dining experience on the island?

Answer: They were all wonderful, but if I had to pick just one?  Barfly...a pork tostada, calamari, olive & mussel spread under the stars!  Couldn't be beat!

Which "island drink" will you be craving next week when it's a rainy 52 degrees back in Knoxville?

Answer: And as you predicted, it was 51 degrees and raining today and am definitely craving a Bushwhacker!

Which Da Tree Men original song was your favorite?
a) Bomba Punch
b) Cane Garden Bay
c) Jost van Dyke: Tropical Paradise
d) Bushwhacker
e) Virgin Gorda

Answer(s): Couldn't come to a joint decision on this one...Kaley's favorite is Cane Garden Bay, and Shane's is Bushwhacker.

What surprised you most about life in the BVI?

Answer(s): Most coveted position on the island: Ms. Delta Petroleum!  The grocery store chicken counts: 4 breasts / over 20,000 frozen wings available for purchase.  And of course the tree growing out of Michael's car!

It was great having Kaley and Shane here.  One of our most pleasurable experiences was a late afternoon SUP in Brewer's Bay.  Even though it was their first time trying stand-up paddle boarding, Kaley and Shane did great!  They never fell, not even once!

During their weekly gig at The Elm Beach Bar in Cane Garden Bay, Da Tree Men dropped it down low for a group from Chicago.  Dressed in 70's costumes, these people knew how to have a good time!  Even our guests Kaley and Shane got in on the fun by holding the limbo stick!  Check out the video.



It was such a fun night! 

A new shiny banner provided the perfect backdrop for Da Tree Men's gig at The Elm on Wednesday night.

They played one of their newer cover songs or "an orignal by somebody else," as Pier likes to say into the mic.  It's called Kingston Town and it was written and recorded by UB40.  I really like the melody and Pier's voice fits it perfectly.



Kingston Town

The night seems to fade,
But the moonlight lingers on
There are wonders for everyone...woo ho
The stars shine so bright,
But they're fading after dawn
There is magic in Kingston Town

(chorus)
Oh Kingston Town,
The place I long to be
If I had the whole world
I would give it away
Just to see the girls at play

When I am king,
Surely I would need a queen
And a palace and everything, yeah yeah
And now, I am king,
And my queen will come at dawn
She'll be waiting in Kingston Town

(repeat chorus)
Oh Kingston Town,
The place I long to be
If I had the whole world
I would give it away
Just to see the girls at play, yeahhhh

When I am king,
Surely I would need a queen
And a palace and everything, yeah yeah
And now I am king,
And my queen will come at dawn
She'll be waiting in Kingston Town

She'll be waiting in Kingston Town, by now
She'll be waiting in Kingston Town, oh ya
She'll be waiting in Kingston Town, oh ya

Our apologies...
This exit survey is somewhat delayed.  With the craziness of Christmas and the back-to-back house guests, this post has been sitting in the drafts folder for more than a week! 

We had such a great time with Sharon and Dennis and we're so grateful that their trip could be extended due to Mother Nature!  Not only were we able to share Christmas together, but Michael's parents celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary while in the BVI...Happy Anniversary you two!  {Thanks to the staff at Charlie's at the Moorings who made it so special!  Dinner was delicious!}

Answer: I believe there were approximately 18 cruise ships and a few awesome sail boats!!

Answer:  OMG!! A HUGE DIFFERENCE! We actually felt like we were in the states.

Answer: Hey Jude! They rocked the night we saw them perform – all their music was great, but Hey Jude was the best!!

Answer: Breaking out into a cold sweat and fainting really does get you through the line faster, but then you have to deal with the EMTs who will discourage you from flying.

Answer: TRUE!! When we saw Santa at Soggy Dollar and his three "hoes" it certainly felt like Christmas!! What a fun day!

Remember that mammoth gig Da Tree Men were practicing for???  Well, Thursday night was the night.  The band boarded a boat bound for Necker Island! 

The gig? A Christmas party for Sir Richard Branson and family!  Necker is his private 74-acre island.  We were all a bit nervous - well, everyone but Pier.  He was calm, cool and collected...must be a Jamaican thing!  Regardless, we took the edge off with a beer on the way out there.  We also toasted Joanna (bottom left) since she was responsible for the booking.   


None of us had been to Necker Island before and it absolutely lived up to the hype.  The grounds were stunning!  The band played on a stage that overlooked the beach and pool area.  Behind the hammock is a large table where dinner was served.

Everyone was so friendly, especially Richard's son, Sam who introduced himself to us and thanked Da Tree Men for being there.  Most of the party guests were his friends, so it was a young and hip crowd.  Adam brought two guitars, so Sam joined the guys on stage for a few songs.  And he wasn't the only one!  We had a harmonica player and yours truly played the jingle bells!  Da Tree Men performed a few Christmas songs, including Mele Kalikimaka, which was a huge hit.

It was such a fun night - we completely lost track of time!  Before we knew it, it was half past twelve and we were heading back to Tortola.  Whew!  What a night!!!  So proud of Da Tree Men! 

Michael's band has a mammoth gig coming up next week so it's practice, practice, practice...even with our company here. 

Before heading up to Da Tree's Nest (Adam's house), we took Sharon and Dennis to dinner at Pusser's East.  It's been so cool here these past few days, we were a little chilly sitting outside on the deck.  Now, before you roll your eyes, our weathermen used the words "cold front" to describe the system that moved in.  Sharon and Dennis weren't complaining.  A cool breeze sure beats the 8 inches of snow they left back in Tennessee! 

{The conch fritters at Pusser's East are really yummy, BTW!} 


Since the band's mammoth gig is a private Christmas party, they've added a few holiday tunes to their repitoire, including Mele Kelikimaka!  Christmas Vacation, anyone?  They're going to be playing at The Elm on Sunday night, so I"ll have to get some video of their performance of that song.

At a recent Da Tree Men gig, the band perfomed some of their original songs.

The first one is a new song, one that Our BVI Adventure readers haven't heard before.  It's called "Virgin Gorda" and Adam wrote it for children.  But as an adult, I love it too!



Here are the lyrics...

If I was a tree on Virgin Gorda,
Standing tall for everyone to see.
I'd provide the shade
While you drank lemonade.
If I were a tree on Virgin Gorda.


If I was a fish on Virgin Gorda,
swimming in the Baths next to you.
I'd swim right up to you,
And we'd play peek-a-boo.
If I were a fish on Virgin Gorda.


If I was a frog on Virgin Gorda,
Peepin' all the time just for you.
I'd hop right on your face,
Just to liven up the place
If I was a frog on Virgin Gorda.


If I was a bird on Virgin Gorda,
Flying high and lookin' out for you
I'd fly right over you;
And I swear I wouldn't poo...
If I was a bird on Virgin Gorda.


You know I'd fly...
High to Leverick Bay.
Relying on the wind as it changed,
Looking out for you along the way...

Funny and sweet - the perfect combination for a children's song, don't you think? 

The band also performed Bushwhacker which is Da Tree Men's first single.  If you've never had one, the bushwhacker is a popular frozen concoction that tastes something resembling an iced coffee, with rum of course.  As you listen, the song really isn't about the drink itself, but rather "Tortola's favorite girl" who enjoys them all too often!

Pusser's East recently unveiled a new menu and I just had to take Travis back there, considering it was one of his favorite restaurant experiences the last time he was in the BVI...

We started off with some cocktails: the Naked Lorna and the classic Bushwhacker.  Andre was tending bar so these were extra delicious!

For dinner we both had the fish tacos, made with fresh, grilled mahi, cabbage, tomatoes, housemade pickles and new spicy aoli that was most definitely spicy!  Yum!

Afterwards we headed to Nanny Cay where Da Tree Men were playing for the Carib 1500 - the largest and longest sailing race.  The boats set sail on November 7th from Hampton, Virginia and arrived in the BVI on November 18th!  Long trip!

This was Travis's first time hearing the band - I think he enjoyed it!
Oh, and the band became "Da Tree Men and a Lady" when a crew member of the boat Smidge got up and sang House of the Rising Sun.  She killed it! 

That's the tagline of  - what has to be - one of the funniest events here in the British Virgin Islands.  It's called Movember {pronounced Moe-vember.}  Participants will attempt to grow a mustache - the creepier the better, I hear - and raise money for charity at the same time.  It is a competition of course and the reigning Mr. Movemember wrote this funny piece about the event in the BVI Beacon.

On Sunday at the Tamarind Club, guys could pre-register and get a nice clean shave poolside.  They want to make sure everyone starts on a level playing field.  {Insert stache joke here.}
Michael's band, Da Tree Men played and entertained the crowd.  My friend Joanna took this photo of Michael and Adam, two of "da tree" band members.  She has a really awesome camera (a Canon I believe) and she's quite talented behind the lense!
It was the perfect end to the Halloween weekend.  Swimming in the pool, listening to great live music (I'm not biased, am I?) and hanging out with friends make the perfect Sunday Funday.

In the days leading up to Da Tree Men's Sunday night gig, several attempts were made to lure Rolling Stones guitarist, Keith Richards to the Jolly Roger.  Richards has been in the BVI for the last two weeks as chronicled on bvimusic.com.

Da Tree Men even played a few of the Stones' hits, including a reggae version of Wild Horses. Their encore song was Sympathy for the Devil and they killed it!  Keith would have loved it. 


The band also performed some originals, including Tropical Paradise (Jost van Dyke), Bushwacker, and Cane Garden Bay.  It was great to hear so many people in the crowd sing along!  Many of them had already downloaded  Bushwacker and watched their videos online. 

Da Tree Men's rendition of Folsom Prison got the crowd dancing...check it out:



A huge thank you to the TTOL Catfighters!  They specially requested Da Tree Men play for their kick-off event!

Michael's band has been gearing up for a few big gigs...  Da Tree Men have even recorded a few songs, written by the band's leader, Adam.  If you haven't already heard their first single, Bushwacker, it's a must listen!  {I think it's even for sale on CDBaby...}

Da Tree Men will play at the Jolly Roger on Sunday night.  It should be a good time.  The event got a shout out on the cover of the Limin' Times!  Check it out:

Da Tree Men headlined their first Full Moon Party at the infamous Bomba's Shack on Monday night.
A great crowd turned out to sip mushroom tea, bask in the light of the full moon and listen to Da Tree Men.  A shout out to new friends, Jim and his wife Cynthia, Lisa-Marie, Kimmy, and the LSU gang!  It was great meeting y'all!


The guys were excited at the end of the night when Bomba himself presented them with a check, complete with palm tree clip art in the top left corner.  This may seem like an insignificant detail to most, but if and when the guys get paid, it's usually cash and not all that "official."  So this was different and nice...at least that was the feeling at 1:30 in the morning when we felt the need to snap this photo!  Ha!
      
What I love most about this photo is the simplicity of the address for Bomba's Shack!  That's how it is all over the island.  No house numbers, no zip codes, just bays, hills and coves...

There is a new video magazine making its debut here in the British Virgin Islands this month.  It is very well done, if I do say so myself!


I've emailed back and forth with the publisher, "Island" Jim Kelley a few times.  He also has a BVI video sharing site where I've posted Da Tree Men's performance of their Jost Van Dyke song.  By the way, that song is gaining some traction online!  My YouTube post has more than 350 views.  It has also been embedded on several sites like bvimusic.com, onlinebvi.net, and countless Facebook pages!

The band is working on some other songs that Adam wrote.  I can't wait to hear Bushwacker and Bomba.  Da Tree Men had a rehearsal last night as they're playing the Full Moon Party at Bomba Shack next week!  Very exciting!

Da Tree Men performed an original at The Elm on Sunday night.  Adam, the lead singer of the band, has been writing songs about the British Virgin Islands for the past several months, and I was anxious to hear one of them.

The title is "Jost van Dyke" and for those of you who've been there, you will most definitely relate to the lyrics!  That means you, Caty, Matt, Liz, Jeff, Gerry, Felicity, Whitney, mom, dad, JMac, McRee, KK, Lauren, Brian and Beth!!!  :)

So, without further ado, here it is!



Lyrics...
I got drunk as a skunk last night at a bar on Jost van Dyke
Which bar I can't tell you by its name
Played with Reuben Chinnery, you were sitting next to me
Felt the sun and played the ring toss game
I've got to get myself back there again


Tropical paradise so nice - yeah yeah, take my advice
You have got to get yourself to Jost van Dyke
(repeat)


They've got a drink to kill your pain while the breezes cool your brain
Get out there and you'll see what I mean
In this world of broken dreams where things are not what they seem
Take one trip out there and you'll see what I mean


Tropical paradise so nice - yeah yeah, take my advice
You have got to get yourself to Jost van Dyke
(repeat)


Take a plane, take a boat, maybe build a raft and float
Click your heels three times and just pretend you're there
In this world of broken dreams where things are not what they seem
Take one trip out there and you'll see what I mean


Tropical paradise so nice - yeah yeah, take my advice
You have got to get yourself to Jost van Dyke
(repeat)
You have got to get yourself to Jost van Dyke
You have got to get yourself to Jost van Dyke

The song is catchy isn't it?  I just love it!!!  As I listen to it over and over again, a slideshow of all the good times we've had there plays in my head.  Maybe once the song is recorded - which is the intent - I'll have to make such a slideshow set to Jost van Dyke! 

Our friend, Adam - the lead singer of Da Tree Men - has launched a website dedicated to live music in the British Virgin Islands.  It is www.bvimusic.com.



You have to check it out!  While it's a work is progress and new bands and venues will be added regularly, there's plenty to see, read, and soon enough, to hear!

Adam has been writing songs about the BVI over the last several months and if we're lucky, Da Tree Men will perform one of them on Sunday night at The Elm.  I'll make sure to take a video of that performance!

Michael's band played the weekly gig at The Elm in Cane Garden Bay on Sunday night.  Our friends Brian and Beth - who had been on charter all week - were staying with us for a few days, so they were able to see and hear the band in person!



We also played a game of coaster flip.  (If you know another name for this game, let me know!)  While Brian was quite good - Beth ended up winning with 10 coasters!



It was so great to have company while watching the band play...I'm usually the lone "groupie."  Ha!

Cheers!

The band, formerly known as Let's Be Friends {now called Da Tree Men} played The Elm in Cane Garden Bay on Sunday night.  The crowd was fabulous and included an insanely good harmonica player.  That's Captain Bob going to work.  He was amazing!  
A saxophonist also joined in the fun - he usually plays with the Elmtones, the house band that's on hiatus right now because of an injury the lead singer sustained while surfing. 

There was a lot of dancing, especially to the country tunes.  The crowd stayed seated for this next song, in part because they were asked to participate.  So much fun!!!



Here's my favorite band member:


One sad little note: the tip jar that was filled to the top went missing after the show - no joke!  Whoever took it must have needed the money more than the guys - honestly, they were just happy the crowd enjoyed their music enough to tip in the first place!

Here are some other shots from the night: