The next decade....what's in store?
Musings of a yamfooted traveller still trying to shake off those last 20 pounds as she treks across the Caribbean
Tomorrow is Mother's 65th birthday (and she's behaving like she's about 45!) so we decided we would go out for dinner rather than having people over.
But what restaurant should we go to? She had two requests. They had to serve lobster, and there should preferably be music....in that order. We went to the Hilton poolside last Wednesday to celebrate a friend's birthday and they had a poolside barbeque with lobster, so I guess that's where that came from.
We heard that Terra Nova had a similar thing on a Friday, so off I went. Wrong. They discontinued it after Ivan. So that put me in a tailspin. I conferred with Brother, who eats out quite a bit. He suggested I look at the following:-
Gaucho's Grill on South Avenue (heading down to the plazas)
Thai Gardens (beside Ahkbar Indian restaurant)
Restaurant Japan at the Hilton.
What about Kabana, I asked. He said he had heard mixed reviews which were mostly "nice atmosphere but indifferent food".
To Gaucho's first...
The service staff didn't give me a good first impression. The setting was very nice and included water. I think that's always a winner. The menu looked quite diverse, but ooooops....no lobster. Strike one.
Thai Gardens
I walk in (about 4:45pm) and there were some people (I assume staff) playing dominoes! Not a good first impression. Sure, the restaurant was closed, but still....Strike two.
Alexanders at the Courtleigh (where Mingles nightclub is)
No lobster no deh pon di menu. Strike three (I know, it wasn't in the original list but I had eaten there and liked it mostly)
Restaurant Japan at the Hilton
The restaurant is closed, but I saw the Japanese cooks preparing for dinner tonight. Naturally, I couldn't understand a word they were saying, but when I went up and asked about reservations, one of them could muster up "speak to cashier".
This wisp of a thing came out and I asked her what happens at the poolside (on the offchance that there was a barbeque on a friday). She didn't know. Tut, tut, tut said the trainer in me. Anyway, I asked her if I could make reservations. She proceeded to ask me for what day, what time, how many people. Standard questions. Then a not so standard one (by Jamaican standards anyway). "Is it a special occasion for anybody?"
Well....how did you know! Yes, my mother, she'll be 65 tomorrow and you have lobster which was one of her requirements. Before she came out to talk to me, I had asked the Japanese guys if they have lobster. He pointed to some on the counter top that were looking all...well....lobster coloured you might say. Then I asked him if they had bought it before the season closed. "HUH?" Never mind.
Back to Miss Wisp....
The next question she asked was "do you want to reserve the lobster?" Well, that was a surprise. I told her that I knew that at least two people wanted lobster. Mother and Father.
Well, that was certainly a pleasant encounter. That's what I will be trying to drill into the minds of the trainees later this year...that most of the times, it is their behaviour in the service encounter that will lead to satisfaction or dissatisfaction.
I'll let you know how the dinner goes tomorrow.
Miss Beatrice, the church organist, was in her eighties and had never been married. She was admired for her sweetness and kindness to all. One afternoon the pastor came to call on her and she showed him into her quaint sitting room. She invited him to have a seat while she prepared tea. As he sat facing her old pump organ, the young minister noticed a cut-glass bowl sitting on top of it. The bowl was filled with water. In the water floated, of all things, a condom!
When she returned with tea and scones, they began to chat. The pastor tried to stifle his curiosity about the bowl of water and its strange floater, but soon it got the better of him and he could no longer resist. "Miss Beatrice", he said. "I wonder if you would tell me about this?" pointing to the bowl. "Oh, yes" she replied, "isn't it wonderful? I was walking through the park a few months ago and I found this little package on the ground. The directions said to place it on the organ, keep it wet and that it would prevent the spread of disease. Do you know I haven't had the flu all winter."
That was my composite examination score for the certification programme I did in Kidnap Kountry.
There were several topics that we were examined on....ten (10) in total. I got 100% in 7 topics; 95% in one, 94% in one and 86% in the other.
Normally this would give me great pleasure but multiple choice exams where the level of evaluation is recall (as opposed to analysis or application) don't really test one's intelligence. Plus we were not required to do a practical.
But anyway, mi will tek di 98% and hug it up and wear my CHT pin with pride (as they instruct me to do in the letter).
I have to do stuff to get recertified - full time employment (never!), teaching a course, giving a presentation etc. You have to get 50 points in 5 years, so not too too unachievable.
**applause**
Suppose you were living with somebody and he/she yapped at you all day? Wore you down mentally? Abused you verbally? You would want to get away wouldn't you?
Well dogs seem to be no different. Penny, the meek mild dog (my favourite) is constantly harrassed by the bitch Kalli and the other two (imagine the likkle puppy tek up wid dat foolishness too!).
Yesterday, I was out and my sister called me to say that Penny, who was locked up in her kennel, jumped over the (high) wall into the kennel next door. That kennel door next door was open, and so she walked out.....right into the waiting jaws of the other three.
Water works every time so that was used to separate the dog from the bitches.
Now today, she was out in the yard which is separated from the front by a gate on either side of the house. Whenever my nephew goes outside with the ball, the bitch Kalli starts to abuse Penny. I don't know. The ball just excites the bitch into yapping.
To get away from it all, Penny jumped over the gate that separates the front lawn from the back yard and was on her way out the street gate, which is normally left open.
It made me think that no matter whether you are a dog or a human, there is only so much and no more that you can take. At least dogs can't commit suicide.
In Jamaica, that is a danger signal....two men and a motorcycle.
Many murders and robberies are committed that way. That bank employee who was shot in the head as he sat in the back of a route taxi was killed in that manner.
This morning, heard about a lady who went to one bank, changed cheques for cash (a lot), drove to another bank, but didn't park in the parking lot, rather parked in the plaza next door. As she opened her door, pillion rider on a motorcycle showed her his 'piece' and told her to hand over the bag.
(Don't ask me why she didn't take more care).
Two Men and a Motorcycle featured in the shooting death of my sister's ex-husband as well.
So in Jamaica, when you see men on bikes, be careful.
Now it struck me that, unless one of the gunmen was in the first bank with the lady and saw her change this large sum of money, they had to get their information via cellphone. And could it have been from the teller?
"Yow, bredren. Mi just change plenty 'bills' fi one meek-looking lady. She inna one blue skirt suit".
I avoid cash transactions like the plague, and I also avoid Two Men and a Motorcycle.
We're not 7th Day Adventists, so Sunday is the day we recognize as the day of worship.
I couldn't tell you the last time I have been to church. Why is that? Well I just don't know.
I think it is that in recent times I have begun to question religion. It came to me one day when I suddenly thought about what happens to Hindus or Muslims or Scientologists. They have strong beliefs. Who says their way of thinking about life and spirituality is not the 'right' one. Then it begs the question 'is there a right one'? And if there is a 'right one' how do you know which one it is? And if there is NO 'right one', why worship anyway?
Proof. That is what is needed. I need proof from those who have perished and followed a particular religion. I could ask them if what their religion said would happen to you at the end of your life, did in fact happen.
I used to watch John Edwards' "Crossing Over" show where he would speak to dead people. I thought that surely, not all of those people were practising Christians, but yet their souls lived on. (Of course that is assuming that Edwards doesn't just make the whole thing up for TV ratings!).
So that has got me thinking. And I ask myself regarding the tenets of Christianity.....can I keep myself pure? Can I think clean thoughts? CAn I be a Good Samaritan? And if I can do all of those things without going into a building that is called a Church, why do I have to go?
So until I know what I believe, I can't go and worship anywhere.
My seemingly heathenness came home to me on the BWIA flight last week when I realized that I had not packed my Bible. I usually never fly without it for superstitious reasons really. Since I arrived safe and sound, maybe I will ditch it. I promised myself to read the bible in its entirety but I fell asleep at Genesis!
On the morning that I left Jamaica, I heard about the hit on L G Brown, owner of two gas stations, and a lady friend, Sandra Campbell.
Imagine the criminals putting building blocks on top of each other, and putting a ladder precariously perched, on top of those to shoot the two as they were sleeping. You would have heard that the police found a man in Vineyard Town (behind Excelsior High) with a picture of Mr Brown. Clearly a contracted killing.
I knew both names, but the second I knew better. She was a flight attendant, so my sister knew her. She was also the ex-wife of a former Army Major who I worked with on a conference or two. She was the youngest sister of Mrs H, who lives in Grenada with her husband (they are both Jamaicans).
So who would have wanted Mr Brown dead? Was it his wife (if he is indeed married). Did it have something to do with extortionists (remember this is the land of murderers and extortionists)? It clearly was not random. It also was not a burglary because nothing was touched. In fact the gunmen, or rather sharp shooters since it took 3 bullets to do the job, did not even go inside the house.
Quite sad when you think about it. You sleeping peacefully in your bed on the top floor of a hilly home when *bang, bang*...you're dead.
This is the reason I don't mix up myself with nobody in Jamaica. You just never know who is out for who. I don't even like driving anybody else's car. Both my father and sister are in HR where they may have to get involved with firing people. What is to stop some angry fired employee from targetting one of them? Imagine we have to be thinking about these things. Sad.
I can't wait to leave. (and I say that without apology)
Did I tell you that when I was leaving on the 5th that the flight was delayed by 5 hours? Yup. That gave me a chance to go to cricket on Day 3 of the Test match between Pakistan and the West Indies.
So on the way back up last Sunday, I was just hoping that there would be another delay. This was because it would take me an hour from where I was staying in the North East, and the flight was at 7:00am. Do the math and you will realize that I had to wake up at 3:00am. Anyway, after calling BWIA twice the evening before, they assured me that there was no delay.
Shucks. I barely got any sleep.
Arrived at Piarco at 5:00am. Checked in quickly, bought some tea and a cookie, drank the tea, bought a book for Niecy then made my way on to the plane. I was wearing the same Sony Ericsson polo shirt that I wore from Jamaica (why complicate things with having to find something else to wear?). As I reached near the plane door, a man stopped and asked me if I worked there because he has a phone that blah blah blah blah. I had to disappoint he.
In row 8, I had the aisle seat on the left of the plane. A man was at the window but he got off in Bimshire, so I had the row to myself until Antigua when a couple got in. I told them that if no one came for row 7 which was empty, I would move there in order to give them more space.
No sooner had I said that than a man came and claimed the window seat in Row 7. He had on one of them sports outfit, sleeveless, and rings on every finger he owns. A baby was in the bulkhead in Row 5 and chose then to start crying. Mr Sky Juice (my brother says that is his name - he is some music person) says "hey baby, nuh badda wid di noise today yuh nuh, caw mi 'ungry". Don't ask me about the connection between hunger and the baby crying.
In order for this to be easier to read, I will now do some bullet points of my observations on the flight..
* Purser Joan making many mistakes in her announcements. Saw her rushing on to flight about 1/2 hour before departure. She must be confuffled.
* Why di ass people don't ensure their crap gets flushed properly when they use the toilet? Jeez man. Now I have to spend time wetting toilet paper and slapping it on the residue to try and encourage it down when I flush. Phew....there is no one waiting outside to think that it was me who don it.
* BWIA must be conserving. No food until the last sector from Antigua to Kingston. No, that is not jerk chicken, as the flight attendant announced.
* Hey...in the Express newspaper, mention is made of Thomas Thistlewood's diaries. I like it when I recognize some obscure sounding book that I have read. (That is the diary of an English plantation owner in the 18th century in Jamaica. I have written about that book on this blog, so do a search and you'll find it).
* Wait! Isn't that Jimmy Aboud? He's a big fabric store owner in Trinidad. Syrian. Very rich. What he doing sitting in Cattle Class? Well I guess that is how come he has money!
* How do people travel with young breast feeding babies? That must be inconvenient. The baby in Row 5 started to holler again. From row 7, Mr Sky Juice says "Mammi, di baby want tea....or juice.......or titty". He probably was right on the latter.
* Realize that the row behind me is almost empty so I migrate there. A woman is reading a French magazine, so I assume she is French, but when I see her eating her meal I have to wonder. She ate the salad first! Usually, the French eat the salad after the main course, so by that rule, I am French.
* What a talkative Antiguan lady in row 10! I tune her out and read my Oprah. Oprah is good company on a flight.
So we land ontime, on Father's Day. I was dog tired when I reached home but I was determined to empty every suitcase. This was achieved.
Till my next BWIA flight episode, which should be in about two months or so, this is the Flight Watcher saying "over and out".
Men, don't wish to be a woman. Then you'll have the curse. And if you have those blood sucking things on your insides, then it's even worserer.
(Forgive me for being so open!)
In Trinidad, they have Route taxis, just like in Jamaica.
On the Friday after the course, a group of us took one into downtown Port of Spain. A nice old man. Quite coincidentally, he was at the taxi stand when we were ready a couple hours later. The 3 others were staying at the Normandie Hotel, so he dropped them there first, then dropped me up to the house in Cascade where I was staying. The normal fare for stops along the route is TT$3. So when we got up the hill to my house, I asked him how much extra it was for me and he said TT$10. So I thought that was $13, but he said no.....TT$10 in total for my trip.
Not having bought enough fabric on Friday, on Saturday morning I went back into town (got a ride with landlady). Coming back now, I see an available taxi. I ask him how much to go to Springbank Avenue in Cascade. He said how much you normally pay. I say $10. He said "can you give me $15?". I said no (because I didnt have that much TT and since I had paid $10 the previous day). He said ok, he would take me.
So after he drops off some other passengers, he turns off and then we drive. When we turn on to Springbank and start going up the hill, he said is supposed to be $20 because it is off the route. I told him I didnt have that much, and that was precisely the reason I asked him BEFORE I got into the taxi, how much the ride was. He said I didnt tell him we had to go "inside" (that means off the main road). I told him I was a visitor, and didn't know that that there was a term like that, and that I had to tell him. I told him that I told him the name of the road before I got into the taxi.
Well he start to take me on and say he travel all over and whatever the fare is, you have to pay it. I told him that in all of them places, they would know where the destination is, and tell you the proper fare. He started to shout at me and say he know what I trying.
All this time we going round some steep corners. Well, when we reached a particular one, he stopped and said he wasnt dropping me any further up. He didnt know that was fine by me, because with his attitude and temper, I didnt particularly want him knowing where I was staying.
I slowly got out of the taxi (an old piece of junk), slowly took my bags (many of them), listened to him rant and rave "fine, you get what you want", and then said thank you and proceeded to walk the 30 seconds up the hill to the house.
Before I walked up, I turned to look at the licence plate of the vehicle I would ensure not to take again.
HAT 5891.
So if you go to Trinidad, there is a route taxi for you to avoid folks.
Am dying to sleep, but I managed to do two entries today, Father's Day.
Tomorrow I'll tell you some other things about my trip down south (a much nicer place for me to be, IMO)
I told you I was sharing a house in Port of Spain with many men from India and promised you more....
When I booked, the lady said she had nothing booked at the time. So here I was on my way to the house two Sundays ago, thinking I was going to meet Peace & Quiet (my two best friends). Lo and behold on the drive up, she tells me that there are these men there. The first thing I thought of was Noise - definitely my enemy.
But really, the first thing I should have thought was Mess. But, as I had experienced quite a bit of both while being an 'old' student at university in England, I knew I could handle it. I also knew I would have to set boundaries.
The men were there exhibiting at an Indo fair. One set cooked food and sold, the other set sold clothes. "Any roti tonight?" was how I greeted them when I 'checked in'. Nope. In fact, they cooked omelette for dinner quite a few nights.
The house had 6 bedrooms. Five are upstairs, one is downstairs and that was mine, which was good....far from the maddening crowd. It wasn't good when they were in the room above me, because the wooden floors squeaked, plus they moved the TV from the upstairs landing into their room and were clearly deaf, so I had to go up twice during the week and ask them to turn it down. This was after 11:00pm.
One night I was going to bed and they had not come 'home' yet, so I wrote a note which read...
Michelle is sleeping. Please whisper. ZZzzzzzz.
I put a smiley face at the bottom, and left the note on a chair right by the entrance. It worked. Not a peep was heard. That could also have been because I was using Lexotam to help my slumber.
The next day one of them said "we saw your note". I thanked them for being quiet, and explained that I was studying for an exam.
They were very nice and polite and all that, and I never felt at any moment that any of them would get 'fresh' with me. It just would have been nice if they had cleaned up after themselves.
Here are two pictures, so you can see what I mean and that I wasn't being uptight and anal-retentive...
The dining table, as it greeted me when I woke up one morning...
And next, the kitchen. Not an attempt made to clean up...
Anyway, that's life. I passed the exam. No we have not got results yet, but I know what they will be.
Strange sounding name that is. It's the name of a village in the north east of Trinidad. Yes, I know those of you who go to Trinidad probably only went to Port Of Spain. Well Trinidad does have lush green hillside and postcard perfect scenes too, just like Grenada. Didn't see any cows though.
In this village there is a resort called, expectedly, Salybia Nature Resort & Spa. I believe it's the only one of its kind in Trinidad, but I stand to be corrected. Anyway, this is where I stayed on the last night of the first stay in Trinidad, and where I stayed for the last two nights of the second stay in Trinidad.
Thanks to a friend dating back to UWI Nassau days who is a consultant there....and he insists that I put up these pictures. Wanted to know why I chose to put up pictures of Mad Bull's cousins instead of one of the resort. As I am back home now and internet connection is better, here goes....
Hmmm, either I took the picture at dusk or mi neva tun on di flash!
With a little bit of work, the resort has a lot of potential. The beach that it is on is not safe for swimming, but the mainly local clientele does not seem to mind.
As I stepped off the plane on Monday morning, I felt like I was stepping on home soil. It is so relaxing, comfortable and familiar here. And the best part is I can move about without fear, wearing all the jewellery that I have (not much!). I can walk down the road, catch a bus, walk along the beach, don't get harrassed and most importantly, not feel intimidated.
I was walking from the hotel where I was staying for the first night (I moved to a friend's house for the rest of the time - I leave here Friday), when I saw these cows...
I had to tiptoe around those, then I came up on these. I stood far away in case they objected to their photos being taken...
Here is a picture of part of the hotel....(that's for Karen)
I here in Trinidad.....Kidnap Capital of the Caribbean. Ah ent get kidnap yet....
The course has been very intensive. We went from 9am to 5pm everyday except today when we finished around 4pm. Tomorrow morning is the exam. Am I ready? NOPE!
I tired as hell right now.....the many men from India who are staying in the house I'm staying in have been keeping me up at night....
More anon..... maybe when I get to Grenada. I'll be there from Monday.
1. Did a pedicure
2. Bought a Joss Stone CD (the latest one). If you've never heard her, you need to hear her.
You would think I have money. But I was just in the mood. Bought two magazines too!