A love for sports, strong rum, exotic
beautiful women, the incredible deep blue sea and not a care in the world –
come experience the Caribbean for a totally different lifestyle. Once the
playground of the rich, it’s now more popular with cheap airfares and more
hotels catering to variety of budgets.
Many islands, many peoples and many
cultures from the Portugese, Spaniards, English, Irish, French, Indians,
Danish, Dutch, Chinese, Kongo, Igbo,
Akan,
Fon,
Yoruba, Creole to their many mixed off-shoots have created an environment of co-existence envied
amongst the island nations forming the Caribbean Community. The region
comprises over 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cays. The West Indies
islands form island arcs that delineate the eastern and
northern edges of the Caribbean Sea.
The name West Indies originates
as Christopher Columbus landed there in 1492 and
believed he had reached the Indies (in Asia). The Caribbean islands are classified as one of Conservation International's biodiversity hotspots because they support
exceptionally diverse ecosystems, ranging from montane cloud forests
to cactus
scrublands.
These ecosystems
have been devastated by deforestation and human encroachment. The
arrival of the first humans is correlated with extinction of giant
owls
and dwarf ground
sloths. This area has many highly threatened species of birds,
mammals and reptiles, examples are the Puerto Rican Amazon, two species of Solenodon
(giant shrews) in Cuba
and Haiti,
and the Cuban crocodile. The varied fauna here is
incredibly remarkable.
Just imagine living in a city
where because of the country's colonial heritage, the names of towns are
derived in roughly equal proportions from English
(Chatham, Brighton, Green Hill, St. Mary's, Princes Town,
Freeport, New Grant), French (Blanchisseuse,
Sans Souci, Pointe-à-Pierre, Basse Terre, Matelot, Petit Bourg), Spanish (San Fernando, Sangre Grande,
Rio Claro, San Juan, Las Cuevas, Maracas, Manzanilla, Los Bajos) Indian (Fyzabad, Barrackpore, Indian
Walk, Madras Settlement, Penal, Debe) and Amerindian
languages (Chaguanas, Tunapuna, Guayaguayare, Carapichaima,
Mucurapo, Chaguaramas, Arima, Arouca, Guaico,
Oropouche, Aripo.
A far cry from our country with a similar heritage but where today the only aim
of our political parties seems to be renaming streets and cities as a means of
getting more votes!!
Where does one begin and how does
one choose which country to write about- each is beautiful, each with its own
charm. The first time I went to the Islands was when I took a touring fashion
show for my UK based company across five of the islands and fell in love with
its peoples. So, let’s talk about Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad. We are all
familiar with the names of cricketing legends like Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Frank
Worrell, Joel Garner and Sir Clyde
Walcott. Jamaica was one the venues of 2007 Cricket World Cup and West Indies cricket team is one of the
only ten ICC full member teams who participate in
international Test Cricket. The Jamaican national cricket team competes
regionally, and also provides players for the West Indies. Sabina Park
is the only test venue and Greenfield Stadium is also used for
cricket. Jamaica has also produced dozens of world class sprinters, most
recently Usain Bolt,
world record holder in the 100m and 200m for men. Other noteworthy sprinters
include Arthur Wint,
the first Jamaican Olympic Gold Medalist, Donald
Quarrie- Olympic Champion and former 200m world record holder, Merlene Ottey,
Shelly-Ann Fraser-World and Olympic 100m
Champion, George Rhoden and Deon Hemmings-
both Olympic Gold Medalists and former 100m world record holder and Olympic
Gold medalist Asafa Powell.
What is enticing about the
Caribbean as a whole is that it still retains a lot of its charm. A typical
Caribbean town always has a post office, a supermarket, a
few churches, a bakery, a bank, a farmers market, a basic primary
and secondary school, street vendors, a
cricket pitch, a football (soccer) field. Most towns have a town square which
is the main bus station and where most street vendors sell their wares. This
square is always busy with activity. It also usually has a statue of a famous
person who did something great in that town or for the country.
Jamaica is the third largest
island and the fourth largest country in the Caribbean.
The island is home to the Blue Mountains and is surrounded by a
narrow coastal plain. Most major cities are located on the coast - the capital Kingston,
Portmore,
Spanish Town,
Mandeville, Ocho Ríos,
Port Antonio,
Negril,
and Montego Bay.
Kingston
Harbour is one of the largest natural harbours in the world. There
are several tourist attractions scattered across the country, including Dunn's River Falls in St. Ann, YS Falls in St.
Elizabeth, the Blue Lagoon in Portland, and Port Royal,
which was the site of an earthquake that helped form the island's Palisadoes.
The climate in Jamaica is tropical, with hot and humid weather, although higher
inland regions are more temperate.
During its first 200 years of
British rule, Jamaica became a leading sugar-exporting,
slave-dependent nation. Strong economic growth, averaging approximately 6% per
annum, marked the first ten years of independence. But like all small states,
there was a decline as optimism of the first decade plus a growing sense of
inequality and a belief that poor were not equally benefitting led to economic
decline into the mid-1980s, exacerbated by closure of the two of the largest
alumina producers and a significant reduction in production by Alcan, another large
producer. In addition, tourism decreased substantially.
Kingston can be intimidating and in places dangerous but use your street
smarts and an open mind, you will be rewarded with a city as unique to the
island as it is to the Caribbean. Kingston divides neatly into downtown and
uptown; it has a scenic waterfront, a
great art museum and most of Kingston’s historic buildings, complemented by an
active street-life – most notably on King St or the Parade around William Grant
Park, where street preachers and hawkers vie for your attention. Just a few
kilometres away, Uptown has the city’s hotels, restaurants and nightlife. In
addition, a must see are the Bob Marley Museum and Devon
House. The latter is the
architectural dream of Jamaica’s first black millionaire George Stiebel who was
among three wealthy Jamaicans who constructed elaborate homes during the late
19th century at the corner of Trafalgar Road and Hope Road, which fittingly
became known as the Millionaires Corner. The capital’s diplomatic and commercial status ensures
uptown a definite cosmopolitan suaveness. The historic city center, where
you’ll see the Caribbean’s most extensive variety of Georgian architecture and
its great cathedral, (currently in a sad state of repair). Few other places in Jamaica
bring to life the historic sweep of centuries like Spanish Town.
Though a small nation, Jamaica is
rich in culture and has a strong global presence. The musical genres which
evolved here are reggae,
ska, mento, rocksteady,
dub,
and, more recently, dancehall and ragga all from the
island's vibrant, popular urban recording industry. Jamaica also played a
critical role in the development of punk rock,
reggae and ska. Reggae without doubt influenced American rap
music as both have African styles of rhythmic music. Rappers such as The Notorious B.I.G. and Heavy D
are of Jamaican descent. Internationally known reggae musician Bob Marley
was Jamaican.
The Rastafarian movement with over a million
Rastafarians, famous for their dreadlock hairstyle, was founded here. They
believe Haile Selassie of Ethiopia was God Incarnate,
the returned Black Messiah who had come to take the lost Twelve Tribes
of Israel. Bob Marley, a believer, spread the message of Rastafari
to the world.
Ian Fleming
living in Jamaica repeatedly used the island as a setting in his famous James Bond
novels - in Live and Let Die, Doctor No,
For Your Eyes Only, The Man with the Golden Gun
and Octopussy. James Bond
uses a Jamaica-based cover in Casino Royale. The only James Bond
film adaption to have been set in Jamaica is Doctor No.
Filming for the fictional island of San Monique in Live and Let Die. The ‘James Bond
Hotel’ is not officially the ‘007,’ but Jamaica’s Goldeneye
Resort – easily one of the Caribbean’s most glamorous
destinations - is the former estate of Ian Fleming. It’s run by Island Records’
owner Chris Blackwell, but the stars keep coming - Johnny Depp, Bono, Kate
Moss, Scarlett Johansson. It’s worth a visit!
We leave
after visiting the Blue Mountain
range. Shrouded perpetually by mists
which give them their bluish color, they sprawl across the eastern part for 28
miles. They rise steeply and it is possible to drive from the coastal plains to
an elevation of over 7,000 feet in less than an hour! Jamaican Blue Mountain
coffee is amongst the best gourmet coffees in the world with 90% production
exported to Japan. These
diverse mountain forests have over 800 plants species, the world’s second
largest butterfly, Papilo homerus, 200 species of resident and migrant
birds and is one of the largest migratory bird habitats in the Caribbean. It
has over 500 species of flowering plants (almost 45% is native to Jamaica) -
the most interesting is the Jamaican bamboo Chusquea abietifolia that
flowers only once every 33 years. The next flowering will take place in 2017.
The best way to reach Barbados is on a cruise ship. There has never
been a better time for cruise deals and discounted cruise packages as the
recession is still on in this part of the world. Top cruise lines - Princess,
Holland America, Royal Caribbean etc - offer Caribbean cruise packages designed
for first timers, seasoned travelers, singles or families. Why should you take
a cruise over a vacation at a Caribbean resort or hotel? Well, the value of a
vacation on a floating hideaway like a cruise liner is giganormous. Then, more
important, the advantage of visiting multiple exciting locations without the
need to pack and repack again!
What is the best month to take a Caribbean
cruise? The answer depends upon what
one considers the most important factors.
· Peak Season: mid-December to April; warm weather time for
travelers escaping from the cold Northern American winter. These are the driest
months in the islands when one has peak prices and crowds. Book a few months in
advance.
· Off Season: July to November; the low season; it varies greatly
in the Caribbean depending on where islands fall within the hurricane belt. You
may get great hotel bargains but businesses in storm affected locations often
close during these months.
· Sweet Spot: the shoulder season - May and June come just before
the storm season. This is a good time to take advantage of low prices, fewer
passengers on the ships. But be warned, occasional showers are a possibility - depends
upon where you are.
Barbados originally known as Ichirouganaim is the easternmost island of Lesser Antilles. “Barbados” means "bearded" but what this refers to is questionable – does it refer to the long, hanging roots of the bearded fig-tree (Ficus citrifolia), indigenous to the island; to the bearded Caribs once inhabiting the island; or to the foam spraying over the outlying reefs giving the impression of a beard ? Citizens are officially called Barbadians; often shortened to Bajans (pronounced: "bay" "jan") which at times sounds like "Bar-bajan".
The capital
and largest city of Barbados is Bridgetown, founded 1628,
by Charles Wolverstone who named it ‘Indian-Bridge Town’ for the bridge
remaining from the island's native inhabitants who left after Spanish rule
ended.
Walking along Cats Castle and Cheapside leads you to Broad Street, the main
street of Bridgetown consisting of banks, department stores and duty free shops.
Other shopping areas are in Tudor Street and Swan Street which cross Broad
Street or you can go straight towards the Parliament and Cathedral sightseeing
the traditional architecture which at times reminded me of the old Portugese
style buildings in Fontenas, Panjim (Goa) or a British village square.
Due to its higher levels of development and its favourable location,
Barbados has become one of the prime Caribbean tourist destinations. Well known
hotel chains offer world-class accommodation. Time-shares, smaller local hotels
and private villas have space available if booked in advance. The southern and
western coasts of Barbados are popular, with the calm light blue Caribbean Sea
and their fine white and pinkish sandy beaches. Along the island's east coast,
which faces the Atlantic Ocean, there are tumbling waves which are perfect for
light surfing.
Just outside of
Bridgetown is the Bayshore Complex, worth a stop for its shopping
and historic value. Barbados is now home to two boardwalks. The South Coast 1.2 km boardwalk
opened in 2008 runs from Accra Beach to Hastings. Running right alongside the
beach this boardwalk is set in concrete fortified by Canadian Nova Scotia
granite rocks and planked with Brazilian hardwood. It's very popular with
locals and visitors alike. The West Coast boardwalk opened in 2009 is shorter
and made entirely of concrete. It runs along Holetown beach.
Finally we end up in the land
of Carnival and the birthplace of steelpan,
calypso,
soca,
and limbo
– Trinidad - part of the Trinidad and Tobago islands. Be prepared to experience
mesmerizing music, super beaches and first-class diving through coral landscapes;
a Carnival to end all Carnivals and for the sports inclined, luxuriant
rainforests prime for bird-watching, hiking, and cycling. Trinidad (and Tobago) is
excluded from many Caribbean birding books, essentially due to the number of
species here – about 430. Non-birders will be consider a new hobby after
visiting Trinidad’s Asa Wright Nature Center,
one of the world’s great birding outposts, with all-inclusive lodges in the Northern
Range rainforest. It’s a 90-minute drive from Port of Spain.
Trinidad’s Queens Park, St
Clair and New Town cover the main tourist area but take a walk southwards down towards
Independence Square and Woodford Square to see another interesting section of
the city.
The ethnic composition of Trinidad and Tobago reflects a history of
conquest and immigration. Two major ethnic groups, Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonians
and Afro-Trinidadian and Tobagonians,
account for almost 80% of the population, while people of mixed race,
European, Chinese
and Syrian–Lebanese
descent make up most of the rest of the population. Trinidadian English, however, is also
influenced by French, French Creole, Spanish,
and by Bhojpuri/Hindi. There are three major municipalities in Trinidad: Port of Spain,
the capital, San Fernando, and Chaguanas.
The most famous recent local persona known to all of us in India and one of
the most famous sporting icons in the country is legendary West Indian batsman Brian Lara,
world record holder for the most runs scored both in a Test and in a First
Class innings. Born in Santa Cruz, he is referred
to simply as the Prince.
Walk down any street in any of the islands and what strikes about the
Caribbean is the rich, strong and vibrant diversity of its population and
cultures. The political heritage and guidelines laid through centuries of rule
by Britain, France, Portugal and Spain has ensured that most of these islands
remain democratic, economically independent and linked to the rest of the world
through tourism, sports, and industry in recent years. What about its cuisine
if the society is so multi racial? In Barbados, I entertained a charming Chinese-Negress
having Amerindian blood with a tad of European thrown in! I can’t recall what I
ate but I had a divine evening. That’s another story ……………..
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