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CAYMAN
CARNIVAL 2009 COVERAGE
We in de bidness of chasing Carnivals, so wherever there is a Carnival, TJJ bound to be there! So far this year we hit T&T Carnival, Bacchanal Jamaica and now it was Cayman Islands turn. This was a solo mission .... TJJ usually travels in packs, but with team members deployed elsewhere it was "Me, Myself & I" going to "Cayman Carnival Batabano 2009"! THE LIME: THE HISTORY: THE COUNT DOWN: Thursday: Make sure you make it down by Thursday cos you don't want to miss "Swanky's Glow Foam Fete"! Come early in the day so you can get enough beach time, work a tan, sample some foods & such. Well hear what? While getting a lil R&R on de beach, I was surprised to walk into the wedding of Carol & Ralph (TJJ's top fans from Toronto) ... well its storm I storming eh!! And what a beautiful wedding it was. Congratulations guys! Friday: More beach on de schedule... even had time to go on a boat around the Island. Folks, I highly recommend that you find a friend from KY, who have a boat. And if you don't have such a friend, find a friend who have a friend, whose daddy's neighbor's mechanic own a boat ... whateva, jus find somebody with a boat cos its a great way to explore the beautiful Islands of KY. Well lucky for us, my boy Craig N. has a boat, so de girls & I went on a joy ride and watched the beautiful sunset at Rum Point on the North coast of Grand Cayman. We then docked de boat & had a mud slide & conch fritters at Kaibo. After a quick stop at the mas camp, we went back to the hotel to get ready & head out to de Friday night fete "High Energy". Things end early in KY, and for those of us who are used to climbing on to our beds well after the sun comes up at Carnival time, you had to know de locals & find a liming spot somewhere. If not, make your own lime at the hotel and hope security don't have you packing your bags and begging for a place to stay. Saturday: Carnival Day! As in all Carnivals, you just hope & pray that it doesn't rain or have a storm!! Well at least not after 3pm because that is when KY's Carnival Road Parade starts. Weather permitting, you have plenty of time in the morning to enjoy all the water activities your heart desires, hit the town, lime or whateva. Around 2:00pm head out to de road... and if you staying somewhere on 7 Mile beach, the parade starting point is most probably right at your door step. Let me tell you, KY Carnival is boss. I never seen so much bacchanal cramped up in one lil' Carnival! De people rhel know how to get on eh. It was nonstop jamming from when we hit de road all the way to Last Lap!!!! Cayman Islands Carnival Batabano, originally named "Batabano" began in 1883. And I am sure you are thinking what is Batabano??? Well that refers to the tracks left in the sand by turtles as they drag themselves onto beaches to nest. And like the turtles in KY, we surely left our tracks on the streets of Grand Cayman. I did notice dey don't have J'Ouvert though!! And as a J'Ouvert lover, I was quite disappointed. But I hear dey used to have a mud band on de road on Carnival day, but dey get banned because dey cause too much ruckus! Now that, I woulda loved to see!! I know Mud/Paint/Oil/Chocolate does bring out de worse (or best - depending how you looking at it) in people eh... but dat is Carnival! Anything goes!!! Like I need to write a personal letter to the Governor himself. Right after Last Lap (about 11pm), it was off to Next Level club with de Baje Int'l crew .. as de special guests of DJ XS of Vibe 98.9fm. The music was great so de feteing continued. Rupee even blessed de mic for a few minutes and before you know it, it was all over! Folks please note, and this may be hard to swallow, on Saturday night, EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN AT MIDNIGHT! Yes, by 12:01 Sunday morning, all bars, clubs, restaurants, stores, everything close off .... the whole city stops!!! Well officially eh... TJJ not accustomed to going home that early, so we hadda find something to do!! Thanks to our boy DJ XS, we managed to find a food place that was still open for business and then went to this "illegal" after hours spot that played rhel Soca .... so we liming. And after exhausting all our options, its den we decide to go back to de hotel. Stueeeeps its still only 3am!!! Oh well, we put in a good fight!! Sunday: This is where you don't do as de preacher do, but do as she say! Foolish me, booked my flight to go home today. But folks, I don't recommend you leave on Sunday because Sunday is where everyone takes their boats to Rum Point. They park the boats in the middle of the water and party. I hear its real kicks, with plenty of bikinis & drinks!! And since dis ting on Sunday, you have plenty of time to find a friend with a boat. But doh forget to buy your drinks before hand, cos stores close on Sunday. Anyway, had I gotten the memo, I wouldn't have booked my flight to leave on Sunday. Doh worry, I dey next year for sure!! Final Thoughts: I think you should definitely make it to Cayman Carnival Batabano next year .... or at some point in your life ... lol. Seriously though, I had a wonderful experience. The people of Cayman Islands are beautiful, friendly & eager to show you a good time. And I was truly touched by all de love they showed TJJ. And unlike most Carnival's I've been to, I actually had time to relax and enjoy de Island in between my feteing.... and that my friends was exactly what the doctor ordered!!! Special thanks to the Cayman Carnival Batabano committee, 2009's Band of the Year Swanky International and the lovely people of Cayman Islands for de love. See you guys in 2010 (if not sooner). Off to de next Carnival... |
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