This is a delightful tropical treat that many tropical destinations offer on their menu. It comes from the locals although no one knows exactly who. The cake is a bit difficult to make but well worth the effort!

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 cups sliced, ripe mangoes
• 1 tablespoon margarine
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup oil
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg, well beaten
• 1-1/4 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk

Directions:

Sprinkle lemon juice over sliced mangoes. Melt margarine in an 8-inch cake pan. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over the margarine. Place mangoes on top of brown sugar. In a mixing bowl, cream oil and sugar thoroughly. Add egg and mix again. Sift dry ingredients and add alternately with milk. Pour batter over mangoes. Bake about 1 hour in a 375 degree oven. When cake is done, remove from oven and turn it upside-down onto a platter. Serve warm with whipped cream.
This is again, a delightful desert that comes to us from the tropics. Tackle it and enjoy!

More than a million people live in the rain forests throughout the world. Usually they are descendents of those that came before them dating back hundreds and even thousands of years.

The primary rain forests of the tropics are located in Brazil, inhabited by the Kayapo and Yanomami people; Mexico, inhabited by the Lacandon people and Zaire or New Guinea, inhabited by the Efe Pygmies. They are able to live and sustain themselves in these forests through hunting, fishing, and using forest products. Sometimes they keep these things for themselves, other times they use them to sell or trade. As a people, in all rain forests throughout the world, the number of inhabitants is in decline as the forests shrink. This has been occurring for many years.

The inhabitants use rivers and paths as their method of travel. Most live among the rivers where they can easily fish, trade and sell their catches.

There are those people of the tropics that make their living by using the rain forest. They don’t live there but they use the resources found there to make their livelihood; for example the rubber tappers. Rubber tappers do just that; they tap and collect latex from wild rubber trees. They then sell or trade the latex to the companies and businesses that use it.

As precious as the rain forests are for our tropics, we must be aware they are in decline. As more and more destruction takes place, the inhabitants die of and the vegetation turns to soil. Visit a rain forest on a tropical vacation while you can! You might just become and advocate for there continued vitality and health!

The following information came straight from locals. It is in no way meant to insult any area’s or parts of any destinations. These are places that locals say are dangerous and need to be avoided by tourists. Please heed their advice. For they know their islands and destinations much like we know our own. They can be our best resource in finding the most dangerous places to be and avoid as a tourist.

Currently Jamaica has a drug problem. It seems to be relatively safe to travel to Montego Bay but don’t venture off into the Mountains or the areas where most of the locals live. Remember the beauty of Jamaica is still very real and the destination is gorgeous. Just heed these places to avoid and one should be okay and have a delightful, memorable trip.

In St. Thomas, the advice is to stay on Main Street, Back Street, and the Waterfront. The reason is that when one gets off these streets and places there are no shops or resorts and it has been known by locals to be the home of drug dealers and unpleasant people. So the advice is to just stay on those streets and the Waterfront. Those are the fun places to be anyways! Finally in Puerto Rico, the locals recommend that after dark, tourists stay in the resorts. There are many beautiful and magnificent resorts in Puerto Rico to visit and adventure inside of. The recommendation is not to hang with the locals after dark.

Again, these are words of wisdom coming straight from locals who live in these areas. I personally will heed their words when traveling to their destination. I would advise one to also consider their wisdom.

Besides all the gorgeous views, sparkling waters, tropical foliage and marvelous sights there are some historic landmarks worth taking the time to see upon traveling to St. Croix.

St. Croix is an oasis of beauty, clean waters, pearly white sand and treasures to find. One of the historic landmarks found within St. Croix is the easternmost point of the United States; not by longitude but by travel. The landmark is called Point Udall and is named after Stewart Udall who was the United States Secretary of the Interior under both John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson.

Above Point Udall a sundial was built to commemorate the new Millennium in the year 2000. The sundial is known as the Millennium Monument. To get to the sundial from the Point, one must travel a difficult path comprised of volcanic rock. The locals warn tourists that this path is moderately difficult to travel and to use care when visiting the Monument. But the path is worth traveling for Point Udall and the Monument are full of history and significance for the United States and are absolutely meaningful and profound when seen.

Another sight to see is not so beautiful but very important to the people of St. Croix. It is one of the largest oil refineries in the world. It's called the Hovensa Oil Refinery and rumor has it that the refinery is owned by a Venezuela Oil Refinery company. The people of St. Croix find much employment there and when asked the answer is always one of hush-hush. It is a sight worth seeing and will startle one in its size.

Columbus's Landing is found in Salt River Bay in St. Croix. This is the location where Columbus made land fall in 1493. It is also the sight of the first clash between the Europeans and the Americans. It is an historical place to go visit when in St. Croix.

To create a room or house of tropical flare there are certain types of furniture that are usually used. Teak is very popular as is wicker, seagrass and rattan. These types of furniture and materials add lots of texture to a room to create a tropical feel. Additionally, chairs, ottomans and tables that are made with these materials add interest and color that is representative of the colors of the sands, the palms and foliage and the spirit of the tropics. Sofas are suggested to be made in an open wood frame with cushions that are upholstered. Sofas and beds can also be woven from wicker, covered in seagrass and framed with rattan. Arm chairs, ottomans and coffee tables sometimes can be found to be made entirely of seagrass. This adds tremendously to the tropical flare desired.

Bamboo flooring is a wonderful and beautiful type of flooring to be used. The rich color base matches the furniture. Add rugs made of seagrass and your setting is beginning to take a tropical shape.

Fabrics, such as window treatments and upholstery can be made in floral patterns common to the tropics. They may be subdued or vibrant with colors of pink, blue, red and orange. Also, silk fabrics are found in tropical decorated homes. Silks are available in solid as well as tropical patterns.

Decorating your home or a room to the flavor of the tropics takes a bit of looking and an investment. But to imagine that you can hear the ocean waves crashing on the beach and smell the flowers that abound, it is a very worthwhile and exciting investment!

When creating a room to look and feel like the tropics the following brief article contains some helpful color tips. Creating a tropical room is a wonderful use of space. It creates the tranquil atmosphere that is found in island paradises. Inspiration will come from scenic spots- like found in Hawaii and the Caribbean. When your room is finished, it will create such an atmosphere that you will almost be able to hear the ocean waves crashing on the beach and the smell of exotic flowers.

Let's look at the color palette that is found in most tropical designs. The palette itself is mostly drawn from natural elements such as the sea, the sky and the habitat or vegetation. Hues may be deep and rich or they can also be on the lighter, brighter side. The sea and sky provide tones of blue. The sand produces golden tone hues. Other colors come from the flowers and vegetation of the tropics; lushly green and brilliant colors found among the flowers.

Popular colors in a tropical décor room or home setting include:

By mixing these colors a beautiful beginning to a tropical decorated room or house can begin!

Hawaii; the destination of many seeking the ultimate in tropical weather, lifestyle and beauty has given us many delicious recipes to enjoy. With the many fresh fruits and native eatable treats available we can only begin to imagine the number of tropical recipes that come from this region. This one below is a delightful appetizer that can be shared among many guests and family. Hawaii, the tropical island that we love!

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Ready in: 40 minutes

Servings: Six

Ingredients:

• 4 cups shredded cabbage
• 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained and liquid reserved
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon white pepper
• 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, toss together the cabbage, 1 tablespoon of reserved orange juice, salt, ginger, nutmeg and pepper

2. Toss the oranges and pineapple into the mixture. Stir in mayonnaise until evenly coated. Chill well before serving.

Once chilled, remove the coleslaw from the fridge and watch as your guests enjoy the refreshing and tropical treat that is Hawaiian coleslaw. Memories and questions for the recipe will abound!

Per serving: Calories 139 - Total Fat 9.9 g - Cholesterol 7 mg

Courtesy All Recipes

Key Lime Pie dates back to the 1800's and probably even before. It originated where key limes grow; the southern United States and the tropical havens of the world. It is a staple of the tropics and seems to always delight those who indulge in the delicious fresh key lime pie. When in the tropics don't pass it up! But now you can bring it home with this recipe.

Prep time is 20 minutes. Cook time is 15 minutes. This fabulous desert is ready in 35 minutes.

The usually serving size of a standard key lime pie is eight. So everyone can get in on the fun and enjoyment!

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees

2. Combine the egg yolks, sweetened condensed milk and lime juice. Mix well. Pour into unbaked graham cracker shell.

3. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Allow to cool. Top with whipped topping and garnish with lime slices if desired.

Per serving: Calories 324- Total Fat 13.6 g- Cholesterol 145mg

Courtesy All Recipes

This recipe comes to us courtesy of Joe Nekrasz of All Recipes. As he states, "grilled rock lobster tails lightly seasoned with lemon and garlic. Ready in no time at all and oh so delicious!"

The preparation time for this delightful tropical recipe is 15 minutes. The cook time is 12 minutes and the dinner should be ready in 27 minutes. The recipe below yields 2 servings and is a wonderful treat to have on the veranda or porch as the surf crashes on the beach below.

Ingredients:

Directions:

1.Preheat grill for high heat

2.Squeeze lemon juice into a small bowl and slowly whisk in olive oil. Whisk in salt, paprika, white pepper and garlic powder. Split lobster tails lengthwise with a large knife and brush flesh side with marinade.

3.Lightly oil grill grate. Place tails, flesh side down on preheated grill. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, turning once, and basting frequently with marinade. Throw out any remaining marinade. Lobster is done when opaque and firm to the touch.

Courtesty: All Recipes

For information that we all are counting; calories 743- Total fat 60.9- Cholesterol 170 mg per lobster.

This is a tropical feast that can be enjoyed on both the beach and at home or a hotel. All you need is a grill and a beautiful setting and your meal will be a delightful memory forever!