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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!!
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.
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.
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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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 
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.
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. 
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. 
