st kitts part 2 - caribelle batik

since we had been to st kitts so many times before
we tried to find some new things to do
so we headed to the caribelle batik and historic romney manor

where they practice the ancient art of batik

whereby they hand-paint wax onto fabric

and then dye the fabric

over and over until they have the most beautiful result

of course we had to pick up some new "hawaiian shirts" for sean
and a dress and bag for me! :)

the batik shop also sits on a historic site
that apparently was once owned by an ancestor of thomas jefferson
and used to be a sugar plantation
other than the building for the batik shop
this station where the owner would watch the workers is the only thing that remains

it also houses the oldest tree on the island
over 350 years old!

and btw...the ride to get to the batik was just as exciting as the batik itself!