We set-off from Portsmouth and made our way to our first stop, the Syndicate Falls. However, this was not a simple road journey. Every so often Martin would stop the car, get out and show us some plant or tree of interest, explaining what it was, how it was used and what it was good for. He is a professional botanist and that shone through in all his explantations and descriptions of the island's flora and fauna. After a steep climb up a very narrow and rough road we eventually arrived at the car park for the falls. We proceeded on foot and yet again, every tree, flower and plant on the way was identified and explained together with any remedy for ailments it was claimed to cure. As we worked our way up to the falls, we had to cross the river two or three times, usually with the help of some handy ropes. All very Indiana Jones! 

The falls themselves were spectacular. A torrent of water cascading down to a pool and then carrying on down the river. The noise was deafening and the spray forceful as we worked our way underneath. Martin said it was refreshing - it certainly was. This was our waterfall moment! Because we had an early start we had the falls all to ourselves which was great; we met quite a lot of people heading up as we were coming down. When we arrived back at the car park, Martin provided us with a fresh banana just picked from a nearby tree; our banana moment. He then showed us how to take apart a coconut with a machete and explained everything you could use a coconut and its various parts for - did you know that the coconut water was used to sterilise machete wounds? That was our coconut moment.

Returning towards Portsmouth, Martin stopped again and came back with barbecued plantain bananas and a fried fish fritter-type snack called Akra. Both were absolutely scrumptious.