tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167743462024-03-13T18:04:50.236-07:00It's All Write With Me!!A citizen of Trinidad & Tobago with a BA in History and English trying to put it to some good use through postings of intersting events, thoughts and other stuff.volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-14077666489789148152012-10-24T09:28:00.001-07:002012-10-24T09:28:21.990-07:00Second Trip To Aruba 05/08/2012-12/08/2012 Part 6<br />
<img class="sg_t" height="200" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.5015015005946245&pid=1.9" style="height: 166px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="212" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4609969567630754&pid=1.9" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 249px;" width="283" /> <br />
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<img class="sg_t" height="160" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4661968739631884&pid=1.9" style="height: 160px; left: 16px; top: 0px; width: 131px;" width="131" /><br />
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You ever notice that when you're having fun time seems to fly by even faster? Well that was the realization that greeted me when I woke up on the morning of August 10th, my flight back to Trinidad would not be until Sunday morning, while my aunt, uncle and cousin would be returning to the States on Saturday. Granted I still had a day more than them, still it was a reminder that I would be saying good bye to the wonderful and blissful Happy Island. However there was still time left and the agenda for that day was a trip out to Baby Beach on the Southern tip of the island. This would be my second trip to Baby beach, again another place that I've been to more times in the last five years than I've been to Maracas Beach in Trinidad.<br />
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<img class="sg_t" height="217" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4914487014589598&pid=1.9" style="height: 180px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="250" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4769652145719245&pid=1.9" style="height: 208px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <br />
Baby Beach is just right outside of the city of San Nicholas, the very same place we had been to the night before for the Carubbian Festival. We passed through there to pick up some food (KFC) for the afternoon at the beach, while driving through I was once again on the look out for familiar landmarks that had been featured in An Island Far Away and Under A Blue Flag, by Daniel Putkowski. I had seen Charlie's Bar the previous night and was looking out for the others that were mentioned in both novels.<br />
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The beach looked just like I remembered it, blue water, white sand, except that this time as it was Friday there were more people on the beach than the last time. We rented the beach chairs and a cabana which provided shade from the sun, but it was still hot.<br />
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<img class="sg_t" height="225" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4961422402782979&pid=1.9" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="225" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4870089940928554&pid=1.9" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /><br />
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<img class="sg_t" height="225" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4792836361945472&pid=1.9" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="200" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4910398212211444&pid=1.9" style="height: 166px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /><br />
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Going to the beach was a good idea for that day as back at CPV there were doing some work on the water plant system, which meant that they had to shut the water off from 11:45am till somewhere around 3:30/4:00pm. The plan was to spend part of the day out at Baby Beach, leave around the same time that they would be turning the water back on, get back to the hotel and take care of some laundry before and last minute shopping before commencing with the packing. <br />
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Some how time really flew by and before I knew it we were packing up our stuff, piling into the car and on out way back to the hotel. The water was back on which was great, however the laundry room was occupied with a lot of gruff looking women waiting for a free machine to throw their laundry into, guess no one wants to fly home with dirty laundry. That and the fact that dirty laundry takes up more room. My relatives went out to do some last minute shopping while I hung out in the room, monitoring the laundry room, reading and watching some ABC Family which showed Miss. Congeniality 1 and 2 back to back. When my relatives returned they found a washer and dryer than was available, I told them to take care of their stuff first then hand off to me when they were done. By the time I got through with my laundry it was well after midnight, and people were still running to the laundry room to wash their clothes. I only went to bed after all my recently washed clothes had been folded and packed away into my one suitcase. Packing tip, instead of rolling your clothing up into a ball or folding into squares, fold once and rest the flat, you actually wind up with my room that way.<br />
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Saturday morning marked my last full day on the island and the final few hours for my relatives. Before they left they made certain that my booking for the room I would be staying in had been confirmed. While waiting for the hotel staff to come over and move my stuff I killed the time watching Miss Congeniality 2....again on ABC Family. I was moved over just before it was time for my relatives to head for the airport to check in for their flight and return the rental car. I was moved from room 107 to 105, right next door. With my relatives on their way to the airport and myself moved over into room 105 I set about looking for something to do. First on the agenda was food, my relatives had left some food behind, two bottles of water, can of Pepsi, pieces of chicken and such I was going to need more than that. So I made the walk from the hotel to the Little Ceasers down the road. Originally I was going to walk to Wendy's but that would have involved a much longer walk, also I wanted to get back to the room to watch the Harry Potter movie marathon on ABC Family. I purchased a fifteen piece order of wings with two cans of coke, and while waiting I picked up a few doughnuts from the Dunkin Doughnuts. So I had enough to last me for the day and for breakfast the following morning. <br />
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Before chowing down and enjoying the movie marathon I went to the small store at CPV and picked up a few more souvenirs for the folks at home. The movie marathon for the Harry Potter movies were: Philosopher's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Goblet of Fire and The Order of The Phoenix. Fell asleep somewhere during Chamber of Secrets but made it through the remainder. The movies and the food made me forget that I would be leaving a most wonderful island yet again. When it came time for bed I had switched over to a channel that was showing the Count of Monticristo, and feel asleep watching that, only to be awoken by the alarm from my phone. Showered, dressed and with a quick breakfast in my stomach I bid farewell to room 105 and room 107 on my way to the check in counter, my bill had already been taken care of the day before and they had already called a taxi to take me to the airport. I think I amazed myself that I did not cry on my way to the airport, I was sad about leaving but on the other hand happy that I got to spend seven days on Aruba; and felt optimistic that I would return again for another visit, hopefully the next time would be more than seven days. Mashe Danke Aruba!!! Mashe Danke!!!<br />
<img class="sg_t" height="225" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4509579004806242&pid=1.9" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="143" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4606185693249687&pid=1.9" style="height: 143px; left: 0px; top: 7px; width: 217px;" width="217" /> <br />
<img class="sg_t" height="224" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4920126285940349&pid=1.9" style="height: 186px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="225" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4705433797592074&pid=1.9" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /><br />
<img class="sg_t" height="224" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4529164056986229&pid=1.9" style="height: 186px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="201" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4542328114643637&pid=1.9" style="height: 167px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /><br />
<img class="sg_t" height="225" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4620105681076724&pid=1.9" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="300" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4505082173326468&pid=1.9" style="height: 250px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 205px;" width="247" />volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-35522766036574233252012-10-16T13:56:00.001-07:002012-10-17T08:11:54.628-07:00Second Trip To Aruba 05/08/2012-12/08/2012 Part 5 Second Trip To Aruba<br />
August 5th- August 12th 2012<br />
Part 5<br />
I woke up on Thursday morning (August 9th) still feeling amped from the night before, the trip on the Kukoo Kunuku went way better than I could have expected, while I neglected to take any contact info( or trade contact info) with the people that I met that night( still working my way out of that) I was still happy with the way things went. The ladies that I had hung out with had even invited me to go with them to a Carnival Show that was slated for Thursday night, unfortuantely as my aunt had already made a booking and paid for us to attend an event out in San Nicholas I had to decline, but it was still pretty awesome of them to think of inviting me. <br />
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So that for part of Thursday we went to Moomba Beach where we had to make do with shade from a coconut tree, and once again my feet wound up with a baked look. But it was still a cool time there. There was also something that I noticed, I had been to Moomba Beach more time in the last ten years that I have to Maracas Beach in Trinidad. On the way back to the hotel we stopped at the Chinese Grocey just down the road from the hotel. During my previous vist we had gone there almost every day, this time around I was to make just one visit. The owners had changed the place around since the last time I was there, picked up two 20oz bottles of Coke( which in Aruba tastes the real way that a Coke should, same for Pepsi) two packs of peanut M&Ms, and a bag of powdered soap for laundry on Friday. On Aruba the majority if not all of the grocery stores on the island are Chinese owned and operated. From what I was able to pick up, the majority of them had originally come to Aruba to work in construction, and instead of returning home sent for their families to join them and started a business. Be it a grocery, restaurant, appliance store or what have you, they saw an opportunity, grabbed hold of it and ran with it.<br />
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The agenda for that evening revolved around dinner at the hotel, followed by a shuttle bus ride out to San Nicholas for the Carubbian Festival. San Nicholas is the second largest town on the island and located on the South Eastern portion of the island. The town was built up around the Oil Refinery that was run by the Lago Company, to suppliment the local workforce, and needs for the refinery outside labor was brought in, a great majority of whom were brought in from the English Speaking Caribbean. It was in San Nicholas that the local carnival was to have its origin when workers from Trinidad and Tobago who found themselves away from home during Carnival decided to organize their own. The festival takes place every Thursday night all year round come rain or shine. It's even held during lent, although I do beleive that they hold off on it for Holy Thursday observances. The main street in San Nicholas was closed off allowing for pedestrians to walk freely and for vendors and business owners to conduct additional trade. <br />
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The highlight of the evening was a concert featuring local bands, dance groups etc. Once again the contribution of Trinidad and Tobago was left out by the masters of ceremony, they even had a Dollar Wine Competition and still failed to acknowledge where it came from. Sigh!! I do give them points for involving the audience, the conga line through the audience was cool. For once I was not seleceted to join in, that honor went to my aunt. Anyhow at the end of the show everyone in the audience, mostly the tourists that had been invited to join in a small carnival parade up main street behind a brass band and costumed masqueraders. Once again Blue Boy's Ethel was the song of choice, I seriously beleive that if he were to go there and perform that the people of Aruba would welcome him with open arms; heck I wouldn't be surprised it they tried to keep him. Compared to our masqueraders their dancing was more choreographed, maybe if they need to take a lesson from our people when it comes to dancing while in costume. The festival was a worthwhile experience, I would like to experience their Carnival one of these years to compare it to T&T's Carnival.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47s3fkWJTGU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47s3fkWJTGU</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDKjQUCDOok">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDKjQUCDOok</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkbWeZub_fg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkbWeZub_fg</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxiXcnlyBQ4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxiXcnlyBQ4</a><br />
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<img class="sg_t" height="142" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4513199650440625&pid=1.9" style="height: 118px; left: 0px; top: 19px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="230" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4754808719278506&pid=1.9" style="height: 191px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /><br />
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<img class="sg_t" height="200" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4542212145874779&pid=1.9" style="height: 166px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="170" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4577516777046433&pid=1.9" style="height: 166px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="256" /> <br />
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<img class="sg_t" height="300" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.5064286865656136&pid=1.9" style="height: 250px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 248px;" width="298" /> <img class="sg_t" height="199" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4670262298214897&pid=1.9" style="height: 165px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <br />
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Almost forgot to mention, during the show which featured local dances guess which dance showed up? The Ribbon Dance.<br />
<img class="sg_t" height="225" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4670502809502431&pid=1.9" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /><br />
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More to come.....To be continued.......volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-56948789082439236482012-10-15T12:08:00.001-07:002012-10-17T08:12:22.720-07:00Second Trip To Aruba part 4<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Second
Trip To Aruba<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">05/08/2012-12/08/2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Part
4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Wednesday 8<sup>th</sup> of August was a day that I had
been looking forward to for months. Ever since I found out when my relatives
would be going to Aruba and made my booking, I had this particular date set
aside for a most important reason. I’ll have to take you back a bit to explain
why. You see during my first visit back in 2010 I saw this wildly coloured old
school looking school bus parked out in front of CPV. Music was blaring from it
and it reminded me of the days when Maxi Taxis used to blast music from their
sound systems and young people would only travel in the ones that played the
best music. I then learnt that it was the Kukoo Kunuku Party Bus, they take
visitors out for an evening of fun on the island. It was not till long after I
got back while looking at youtube videos about Aruba that I came across a video
post on the Kukoo Kunuku <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>made by someone
that had been on one of their trips. From what I saw of that videos and others
like it that it looked like something fun and interesting to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promised myself that when next I went back
that I would go on the Kukoo Kunuku. (link provided)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"></span><br />
<a href="http://www.kukookunuku.com/">http://www.kukookunuku.com/</a><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekp9otbzI1g">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekp9otbzI1g</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzy-Dv1TanY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzy-Dv1TanY</a></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HvU8BN_0LA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HvU8BN_0LA</a></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Back to the present, well the Monday of that week.
After getting some magazines from the front desk and being directed to the
Activities office I sat down with one of the staff to sign up for the trip. He
gave me a pretty detailed description of what the trip would be like. For
starters he asked how I heard about the Kukoo Kunuku? “From catching a glimpse
of them during my last visit and from youtube.” He then told me that there were
two versions, there was the one that involved dinner and bar hopping, and there
was the other that was mostly a pub crawl for the entire night. Which one did I
want to go on? Well knowing how my stomach gets from too much alcohol, I choose
the one with the dinner and bar hopping. I signed up for the trip that was
going on Wednesday night of that week, and was informed that I needed to keep
the confirmation slip with me and that I would have to pay $55.00US on that day
when they came to meet me, and to expect a call from them on Wednesday
afternoon, sometime between 1pm and 3pm to confirm that I would still be going
on the trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So along comes Wednesday and on the agenda for that day
was a drive out to Frenchman’s Pass, which was to be followed by a drive to
Hooiberg where we would make the attempt at climbing to the very top. After
which we were going to come back to CPV in order for me to receive my call and
get ready for the evening ahead. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting
to Frenchman’s Pass took some doing as we made a wrong turn getting there and
got turned around. Thinking that we had taken a wrong turn it turns out that we
were headed in the right direction after all, we were expecting to see a lot of
birds and stuff in the trees but no luck in that area. Maybe we were there at
the wrong time for bird watching, or maybe it was that we had turned around too
soon before getting to the Bird Refuge? Anyhow we wound up getting on the
highway that took us back towards the airport( which was a reminder that I
would be seeing it again on the 12<sup>th</sup>) and into Oranjestad before
locating the road that would take us to Hooiberg.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><img class="sg_t" height="225" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4667492029235310&pid=1.9" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="225" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4676395501879707&pid=1.9" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><img class="sg_t" height="173" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4930593097449827&pid=1.9" style="height: 144px; left: 0px; top: 6px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="173" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4736640992675487&pid=1.9" style="height: 144px; left: 0px; top: 6px; width: 250px;" width="300" /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hooiberg is the second tallest mountain on the island
and is in close proximity to the town of Santa Cruz, luckily we found that one relatively
easy. The name when translated from Dutch into English means Haystack, most likely because the mountain looks a lot like one huge giant haystack. Just as we got out of the car to commence with the walk up to the top of
the mountain, my cousin noticed a sign with a bright red arrow that said “Water
Park This Way.” So instead of going up the mountain, we got back in the car to
go and check out the Water Park, and also because the folks were ready to get
something to eat before attempting to walk up the mountain. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Known as The Aruba Water Park like its name
said, it was mostly water type rides and pools. It was okay, not that many
people were in attendance, then it again it was the middle of the week. We
grabbed a quick meal before heading back to the mountain to begin the walk.
Normally I would be just as hard core as the next guy and go all out in hiking
up the mountain. But as I was looking forward to going out that night, I
figured that I would go up halfway and wait for everyone else to come back
down. On the way up I found a cool concrete bench that was under some shade and
sat there to wait, my cousin opted to do the same and wait for his parents to
come back down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a pretty nice
view of the surrounding area and the cool breeze made the wait quite relaxing. (link for the Aruba Waterpark provided below)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><a href="http://www.arubavacationpark.com/aruba-waterpark/">http://www.arubavacationpark.com/aruba-waterpark/</a></o:p></span></div>
<img class="sg_t" height="213" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4715535541666077&pid=1.9" style="height: 177px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="480" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4638114464989245&pid=1.9" style="height: 250px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 249px;" width="479" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The folks made it back down, and my aunt made the
observation that if someone were to walk up and down this mountain once a day,
five days a week, it would make for a good weight loss routine. On our way down
we ran into this middle aged woman that was from the island who was on her way
up the mountain. She told us that she was 50 years old and that she walks up
and down the mountain almost every day of the week. WOW!!!! If the Aruban
Olympic team used the mountain as part of their training regimen they could
give T&T, Jamaica and the rest of the world serious competition in the
Olympics. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><img class="sg_t" height="185" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4600073939585022&pid=1.9" style="height: 154px; left: 0px; top: 1px; width: 250px;" width="300" /></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p>I also came across a short story written in three parts which is set on Aruba and features Hooiberg. It runds in the Aruba morning news in the issues from the 12/10/2012 to 15/10/2012. It's a cool story, if you're interested you should check it out.</o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><a href="http://www.themorningnewsaruba.com/">http://www.themorningnewsaruba.com/</a></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">With Hooiberg in our rare view mirror we headed back to
CPV. The relatives were going to relax in the Jacuzzi and then take a swim in
the pool before going out to dinner. As for myself, I had to check the phone
for a message, which was there from someone from the Kukoo Kunuku. I called
them back and confirmed that I would indeed be going, upon which I was advised
to wait for them near the front of the hotel. With that taken care of I grabbed
a quick shower, threw on some clean clothes which included a brand new t-shirt
that I had purchased the day before. There was still a lot of time till my
pickup so I killed the time watching some ABC Family, which has some really
great shows. Some of which I can actually admit to becoming invested in from
the short time that I was there. Shows like Pretty Little Liars, Baby Daddy,
Bun Heads, Melissa and Joey, and The Secret Life of The American Teenager made
for some interesting viewing and helped to pass a lot of down time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">With my eyes checking my watch the time soon came for me to head out to the front of the hotel. Now there are two ways to get into and out of our room. There is the front which goes through the porch, and then there is the back which will take you to the hallway. I took the back way and in doing so I missed the person from the Kukoo Kunuku that was coming in to meet me. You could imagine my surprise when I got to the front and saw that the bus was already there, and already loaded up with people from the other hotels. To think the guy in the activities office told me that they would pick me up first, yeah right! For a few nerve racking minutes, that felt like forever when one feels embarrassed and on the verge of humiliation; I had considered faking sick and asking postponing till another night. However I reminded myself that I had been looking forward to doing this for a long time, that doing this would be good for me, and that I was a Course Coach in Dale Carneigie where I encouraged people to go out and do uncomfortable things outside of their comfort zone to stretch themselves. So after taking several deep breaths I approached the bus driver and told him that I was the one that they were waiting on. He then hit the horn a few times to let the person inside know that I was outside, he even tried to call her on her phone. That's right I said her. The guide for the bus that I was going to be on that night was none other than the famous Mama! The woman is an icon of the Kukoo Kunkuk on Aruba, you can't mention one and not hear about the other. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><img class="sg_t" height="225" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4919254398141894&pid=1.9" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="168" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4977670252136038&pid=1.9" style="height: 140px; left: 0px; top: 9px; width: 250px;" width="300" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"></span><br />
Once Mama showed up, collected the rest of my payment and got me on board the bus we were on our way. Being the last person on the bus I was seated near the front next to a couple that was visiting from Deleware, and just right behind the Jonhson family who on that evening was marking the 10th time on the Kukoo Kunkuk. Not so sure if this was a coincidence or not, but the few black people on the bus were all up near the front. Hmmm? Anyhow the bus was packed with people that were ready to party, and judging by the level that they were singing and carrying on it was fair to guess that some of them had begun drinking long before they got on the bus. Our first stop was the beach just below the California light house on the Northern tip of the island to make the sunset toast, receive our briefing on the events for the evening, and take out a group picture before boarding the bus and proceeding to the Ambassador's Residence in Noord for dinner. <br />
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One inside we were divided up to sit at different tables, the couple that I had been sitting next to went to one table, while I wound up at another table, with one married couple and three sisters that were originally from NY who now called Florida home. They were cool and nice, included me in the conversation and discussion about the island and the trip so far. The food was good, interesting local meal. Drink wise I had a drink known as a Sex On The Bus, which was vodka, rum and fruit punch mixed together. To counter this I drank several cups of water and made certain that the water bottle I purchased from the souvenir counter was filled with water. With dinner out of the way we were all loaded up onto our respective buses and commenced with the bar hopping and partying. As we were making out way onto the bus we were presented with Drink Tickets, at each of the three stops we would present out drink tickets to the bar tenders and we would get a complementary drink, everything else after that we would have to pay for.<br />
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<img class="sg_t" height="224" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4685827254911467&pid=1.9" style="height: 186px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="197" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4968148325695865&pid=1.9" style="height: 164px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <br />
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With the music pumping, enthusiasm amped, spirits boosted with some alcohol from dinner at the Ambassadors residence( or long before in the case of some attendees) and the encouragement of Mama we headed off towards out first stop of the night. It was a small bar, but a good enough size for the number of people on the two buses, they had the AC cranked up and the music was blaring; and what could I hear upon entry into the bar/club...SOCA!! Not just any Soca, but Destra Garcia and Sean Paul's Free It Up!!! (If you're interested in hearing it just click on the link below)<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXKzwmCWnaI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXKzwmCWnaI</a><br />
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<img class="sg_t" height="199" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4780239226340204&pid=1.9" style="height: 165px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /><br />
You could imagine how good my soul felt to hear music from my home at the first stop, imagine how I felt to see all these people from the two buses letting loose on the dance floor to this. If I had not been aware of where I was I could have sworn that I was at a party in Trinidad just judging by the number of dancing and wining white people on the dance floor. There was this one pretty young lady in a long sleeved white shirt, blue cutoff denim shorts and heals that went down to the ground, that there was one American that would fit in really easy with the partying crowd in T&T. It would take a good couple minutes before yours truly found himself on the dance floor. For a while it looked as though I would spend the entire night as a spectator on the sidelines instead of an actual participant. Then the most interesting thing happened. One of the ladies from my table from dinner was out on the dance floor partying with her sisters when she noticed me standing by one of the pool tables looking on. She waved, I waved back, she came off and asked if I wanted to dance and hang out with them. Of course I said Yes and joined them out on the dance floor. This would be my first time dancing out in public in....ages. They played all sorts of music, from Latin samba, hip hop, soca, etc. If they had it and it was party related they played it. Used my drink card to fill up my drink bottle with water.<br />
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We were at the first bar for an hour or so before we moved onto the second one, more music, more dancing, more drinking and more fun. It was at the second bar that I was introduced to a dance known as the Wobble, which is very popular on Aruba. The best way to describe the Wobble would be as an updated version of the Electric Slide( wonder when it will catch on in T&T?) There is an official video and several how to videos, which I have posted below.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vTIY0xHBUg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vTIY0xHBUg</a><br />
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I followed along as best as I could, luckily I was in good company as there were many who were now learning how to do the Wobble for the first time. But it was a good effort and fun was had by all. It was during the second stop that I would have my only beer for the night. I had a Balashi, a local beer that I had heard a lot about, figured that I would give it a try. Pretty Good actually, don't really see it give Carib or Stag much competition, but still good. I was also asked to become something of an unofficial photographer for several people during the second stop. Guess it meant that I was not invisible and that they trusted me to take some good pictures with their expensive digital cameras. Got no complaints, mostly a whole lot of 'Thank Yous', which was cool by me. From there it was off to the third and final stop which was a bar with the most cool name. "U-Wanna Beer" The name says it all.<br />
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<img class="sg_t" height="225" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4965824710641324&pid=1.9" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /><br />
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We met up with the folks that were on the Bar Crawl and their guide who was known as Big Daddy. People were dancing on the dance floor, which was just about anywhere in this club and on the bar. Actually dancing on the bar was encouraged. Stuck to water on this stop as I did not want to get too tipsy and do anything silly. There was one part of the night when Mama and the cute guide from the other bus selected some guys to go up on the bar to do the Chicken Dance, albeit a bit more perverted version. The song then quickly transitioned into Y.M.C.A. and the brave guys on the bar soon lost their shirts and were dancing around bare back. Better them than me. The DJ threw on some more great tunes, he even played Don't Stop Believing by Journey and Sweet Child O Mine by Guns and Roses. <br />
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They say all good things come to an end, and that was what happened, the night came to an end and they loaded us up to take us back to our respective hotels. Before boarding I thanked the three ladies who included and made me a part of their fun that night. Just when I was ready to count humanity the three ladies made me want to give them another try. Who knows how the night would have gone for me. As I was the last person picked up I was the last one dropped off, small price to pay for a fun filled night. Being the last person on bus it gave me an opportunity to talk to both Victor( the bus driver) and Mama, they both recognised my accent and were able to place me as being from T&T. They said that the next time I was in Aruba to request them when next I wanted to go on the Kukoo Kunuku. Rest assured I most certainly will.<br />
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<br />
Going on that trip made me realize that I needed to go out more often, and not just wait till I come to Aruba but to do it more at home. All it takes is to just step outside of my comfort zone and to take some risks in the process. The end result being a fun time that's had by one and all, especially yours truly.<br />
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Stay tuned, still more to report on. Another trip to Moomba Beach and The Caruban Festival in San Nicholas.<br />
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<img class="sg_t" height="85" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.5043301662524202&pid=1.9" style="height: 85px; left: 2px; top: 36px; width: 160px;" width="160" /> </div>
volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-62674585178298438212012-10-10T13:19:00.001-07:002012-10-10T13:19:08.952-07:00Second Trip To Aruba 05/08/2012-12/08/2012 Part 3.
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Second
Trip To Aruba<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">05/08/2012-12/08/2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Part
3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Tuesday August 7<sup>th</sup>, lounged around the hotel
for most of the morning, the plan was to go into the city of Oranjestad, look
around then go and check out the Bon Bini Festival. Guess an explanation would
fit in best right around here, firstly Bon Bini is Papiamento for Welcome; and
the festival is a year round folkloric event that is held on Tuesday evenings
from 6:30pm till 8:30pm. So off to the city we went, on the way we made a few
stops. First at a local bookstore( that stop was made on my behalf) which was
having their back to school sale on backpacks, stationary and other sundry
school related stuff. They had a decent stock of novels and magazines, although
on a closer look the magazines were a mix of Dutch, Spanish and English. The
novels were for the most part in Dutch, although there was one rack that
contained the books that were in English. Got to say that the place was well
put away and organized, and her is something else that I was surprised to
learn. All schools in Aruba were to open the following week, either on the 15<sup>th</sup>
or 16<sup>th</sup> of August. Which means that they must have been on vacation
since June. They also get a week off in October and they then close for
Christmas break around the end of November, returning back to school right
after New Year’s Day. Then they get time off for Carnival, two weeks for Easter
then the school year comes to an end in June. I’m sure that they also get
public holidays off as well. Interesting school year if you ask me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><img class="sg_t" height="170" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4560701989388479&pid=1.9" style="height: 170px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 227px;" width="227" /> <img class="sg_t" height="91" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=i.4708646406128216&pid=1.9" style="height: 91px; left: 7px; top: 33px; width: 150px;" width="150" /> <img class="sg_t" height="199" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4541563598932218&pid=1.9" style="height: 165px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="210" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4780170485893964&pid=1.9" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="280" /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After the bookstore we stopped at a few more local souvenir
type places, one of which was a small liquor store where we got to sample some
Coconut Rum. DAMN THAT WAS SOME GOOD RUM!!!! My only regret was not picking up
a bottle for myself, I was watching my money as I would need to have cash handy
for the 11<sup>th</sup> and 12<sup>th</sup>….more on that later. I did pick up
some key chains, pendants <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and t-shirts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Met this really friendly couple and their
baby boy who were visiting from Alabama, I guess there is something about the
island that makes folks more sociable, and that applies to both locals and
visitors alike. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From there it was off to
Oranjestad and the parking lot in the vicinity of the Renaissance Marketplace, which was close to the Renaissance Aruba Beach-
Marina Hotel and the Renaissance Aruba Beach-Ocean Suites.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our first priority was to see about lunch, our options
in the Renaissance Marketplace was a Cuban restaurant, Starbucks, another local type restaurant and Subway.
The Taco Bell and Burger King that was there the last time I was on the island
was long gone. So it was Subway for lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Before I forget, there are many Subway outlets on the island, with more
on the way. Subway now outnumbers all the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>KFC, Mc Donald’s, Burger King, Pizza Hut,
Dominos and Wendy’s <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>outlets on the
island. Arubans must love eating fresh I guess. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first I could not believe that I left
Trinidad where there is a Subway just down the road from where I live, to
travel all the way to Aruba to eat Subway?? Then I saw that they had a burger
sub and opted to try that. Hopefully the burger will make its way to the menus at
the Subways in T&T. That was one great meal!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><img class="sg_t" height="225" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4805205872935820&pid=1.9" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="152" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=i.4589147524236462&pid=1.9" style="height: 152px; left: 6px; top: 3px; width: 152px;" width="152" /> <img class="sg_t" height="225" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.5035003746058297&pid=1.9" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="196" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4629198091977298&pid=1.9" style="height: 163px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /><img class="sg_t" height="224" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4673114148372677&pid=1.9" style="height: 186px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><img class="sg_t" height="300" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4788141948011291&pid=1.9" style="height: 250px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 165px;" width="199" /> <img class="sg_t" height="234" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4711695835727114&pid=1.9" style="height: 234px; left: 1px; top: 0px; width: 162px;" width="162" /> <img class="sg_t" height="225" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4943486602576557&pid=1.9" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><img class="sg_t" height="148" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4689525231716149&pid=1.9" style="height: 148px; left: 0px; top: 5px; width: 198px;" width="198" /> <img class="sg_t" height="225" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4582344304624514&pid=1.9" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="199" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4954374365054428&pid=1.9" style="height: 165px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="200" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.5035025232037078&pid=1.9" style="height: 166px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><img class="sg_t" height="215" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4968728136975361&pid=1.9" style="height: 179px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We then did some exploring of the area and here is what
I’ve noticed. The fact that there are local outlets of Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger,
Louis Vouton and such places is a firm indication that the locals are doing
well. These stores were not placed there to appeal to the tourists alone, they
were put there to appeal to and meet the needs of the locals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they work for it and can afford to buy it,
without doing anything illegal or hurting anyone then more power to them I say.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the heat and humidity due to the
islands close proximity to the Equator almost every store that we went into had
air conditioning, actually there is a law that requires all homes and business
on the island to have AC to beat the heat. Now there’s one law that I would
follow to the letter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Having a mall right under and next to a hotel is a good idea. The entire ground floor of the Renaissance Marina Hotel was mostly stores, which lead right over to the Renaissance Mall.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As it got closer to 5pm we went back to the same place
where we had lunch, found some outdoor chairs and tables and sat down to wait
for the venue where the Bon Bini festival was being held to open. It was
sometime around 6.00pm that I heard a band playing a familiar tune. That was an
indication that Fort Zoutman, the venue for the festival and a historical
attraction in down town Oranjestad was open. Crossing traffic was not as tricky
as crossing in downtown POS. For one thing, the drivers actually slow down or
stop to allow pedestrians to cross. As we got closer to the Fort I recognised the
song that the band was playing, it was Ethel by Blue boy, a performer from
T&T. I would soon find out that like Nigel and Marvin the music of Blue Boy
and Collin Lucas is still in rotation over there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Entrance to the fort was $5US, and prior to the start
of the show there were vendors selling locally made arts, crafts and food. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The festival itself was a telling of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a year in the Aruban calendar through music
and dance; they began with New Years Day going all the way to Christmas and New
Years Eve. They even touched on a local instrument known as the Caha di Orgel,
which when translated into English means Cylinder Box. They played a few songs
on it, one of which was Drunk and Disorderly, another calypso from T&T. As
I mentioned in the previous post about the Ribbon Dance, well I saw it again
that Tuesday night. They touched on their Carnival celebration which as I mentioned
coincides with ours in that it falls just before Ash Wednesday. The MC when
describing Carnival said that it originated in the town of San Nicholas. Which
was where the Valero Oil Refinery is located, back in the 1950s when it first
went into operation they had to bring in foreign workers to work there, and a
good many of them came from the English speaking Caribbean. That was it! No
mention of which countries, just that it originated with workers from the
English speaking Caribbean. It’s blatantly obvious which English speaking
workers brought the celebration of Carnival with them to Aruba, thereby
introducing it to the island. The ones from Trinidad and Tobago of course!! I
was actually tempted to yell out, “YOU GOT IT FROM TRINIDAD & TOBAGO YA
BASTARDS!!!” That and “YOU’RE WELCOME F*****S!!”. But being the type of guy
that I am, and seeing that I was in a place that I liked and still hope to some
day migrate to, I kept quiet, but made occasional glances at my aunt who was
probably thinking the same thing that I was thinking. “That they really need to
acknowledge where Carnival Originated, and mention that it came from Trinidad
and Tobago.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><img class="sg_t" height="130" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=i.4879388541321744&pid=1.9" style="height: 130px; left: 24px; top: 14px; width: 116px;" width="116" /> <img class="sg_t" height="197" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4817128699724291&pid=1.9" style="height: 164px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="300" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4545738320314494&pid=1.9" style="height: 250px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 166px;" width="200" /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><img class="sg_t" height="226" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4518649963021785&pid=1.9" style="height: 188px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="156" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4786655911150807&pid=1.9" style="height: 130px; left: 0px; top: 14px; width: 250px;" width="300" /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><img class="sg_t" height="195" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4853249370097046&pid=1.9" style="height: 162px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="206" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4794807744791897&pid=1.9" style="height: 171px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><img class="sg_t" height="125" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=i.5011488830587095&pid=1.9" style="height: 125px; left: 19px; top: 16px; width: 125px;" width="125" /> <img class="sg_t" height="100" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=i.4888858928545845&pid=1.9" style="height: 100px; left: 7px; top: 29px; width: 150px;" width="150" /> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But all in all the show was great! On our way out the
brass band was playing Ethel once again, but before we left the audience made a
donation into a hat that was being passed around, which would go towards maintain
the fort and keeping the festival going. On the way out some tourist, I figure
he was most likely American was dancing and acting goofy came dancing my way
with his hands cupped for a donation. Why? I do not know, yet again it seems
that odd balls somehow find their way towards me. Now if that could just happen
with attractive women. For that to happen I would need to stop being clumsy and
embarrassing in front of them. By the way Aruba, YOU’RE MOST WELCOMED!!!!!! For the contribution of Trinis to your culture!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><img class="sg_t" height="142" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4868711250136458&pid=1.9" style="height: 142px; left: 0px; top: 8px; width: 237px;" width="237" /> <img class="sg_t" height="235" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4780174791279116&pid=1.9" style="height: 235px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 201px;" width="201" /> </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">With the Festival and Oranjestad behind is it was back
to Noord, but first there was a stop to be made for dinner. Which was Pizza and
Wings from Little Caesar’s, something that we do not have in T&T as yet.
The plan for Wednesday would be a trip to Frenchman’s Pass to see some birds
and to Hoolberg the second highest mountain on Aruba, where once you get to the
top one can see the other nearby islands and the South American continent. I
was looking forward to Wednesday for another reason, which will be mentioned in
the next entry. So stay tuned!!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To be continued…….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-9240266047764064682012-10-09T15:23:00.000-07:002012-10-09T15:23:53.286-07:00Second Trip To Aruba part 2
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Second
Trip To Aruba<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">05/08/2012-12/08/2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Part
2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Monday 6<sup>th</sup> August was the first Monday in a
long time that I woke up not feeling ticked off or apathetic towards it being
Monday. I woke up a few times between 2am and 5am but quickly drifted back to
sleep with the hum of the air conditioning unit to lull me to sleep. Speaking
of the AC there is a note in the room where they tell you what level to keep it
at. They recommend that we keep it at 25*, which was really honking cold. For a
while there I thought that I had fallen asleep in line at the airport. The
first time I woke up was to grab the heavy quilt from the small closet to cover
with, I would use that quilt for the duration of my stay. Getting up and out of
bed was a bit difficult as I felt soooooooooooooo relaxed!!! But the thoughts
of what the day had in store was enough to convince me to get up and moving.
Breakfast that morning was leftover barbecue, I had planned to make it last
till Tuesday, but it was just too damn tasty and impossible to ignore. The
remainder from Sunday night was finished off that morning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The relatives plans for the day involved going to
Moomba Beach after midday, then out to dinner later that evening. With the huge
amount of time that we had left I made some plans of my own. First I went over
to the reservations desk where guests normally check-in upon arrival. It’s
where guests can also go if they need to get currency changed or broken up into
something smaller, purchase tokens for the washers and dryers, pick up some of
the local tourism magazines, and inquire or make arrangements to go on tours
into the city or around the island. I went for the magazines and to also
inquire about a certain outing that I had every intention of going on. The
staff at the front desk were courteous, cordial and friendly, and sent me in
the right direction to the activities office. More on that later on! Trust me,
I’ll get to that later on down the line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Till we left for the beach I spent most of the morning
relaxing on the porch/gallery of the room, got re-acquainted with the basic
cable channel line up for Aruba. Divided my viewing time between ABC Family,
National Geographic Channel, NBC( for the Olympics) Boomerang and a few of the
movie channels. Once I had that figured out it was off to Moomba Beach. How to
describe Moomba Beach? Picture Pigeon Point with whiter sand, more hotels
within close proximity, several beach bars and restaurants, and a mixture of
tourists and locals all up and down the beach. That’s Moomba Beach!! As CPV is
part of an arrangement with several of the beach facilities on the island we
were allowed to use the beach chairs for free, we did have to pay for the huge
beach umbrella though. The afternoon sun on the island makes for a hot time, as
my feet could testify to. The umbrella provided us with some good shade, except
that with my long legs stuck out and my feet were baking in the sun. No matter
how many times I applied sun block or poured water on my feet, they were baking
and from time to time I had to get up from the beach chair, and walk into the
water them off. I also learned a really important lesson, when it comes to
applying sun block be careful how much you put on your face. Some of it got
into my eyes from the perspiration which lead to irritated eyes. Which got in
the way of reading and observing the fine talent that was on parade( i.e. local
and tourist women) walking up and down the beach. Those women could give Trini
women some stiff competition!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><img class="sg_t" height="225" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4822956946687652&pid=1.9" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="225" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4667272987017879&pid=1.9" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><img class="sg_t" height="225" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4822956946687658&pid=1.9" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> <img class="sg_t" height="148" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4855328113950873&pid=1.9" style="height: 148px; left: 0px; top: 5px; width: 198px;" width="198" /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><img class="sg_t" height="214" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4968186978894615&pid=1.9" style="height: 178px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We stayed there till the beach staff began to gather
the chairs and as beach goers began to depart to their respective hotels,
walking back to the car reminded me of going to Pigeon Point with my dad and having
to wash our feet off before we got into the car. The trick to that is to wait
till you get to your car then begin washing your feet off, that way you won’t
have to do it twice. With the beach behind us it was back to CPV to shower,
relax and cool off before going out to dinner. All that we need to do was
figure out where we were going for dinner, deep down I was hankering for some
TGI Fridays style burgers, I had a great burger from them the last time I was
on the island and was looking forward to the prospect of getting to experience
it again. My cousin made the request for Iguana Joe's, which was a Mexican restaurant
in the mall within the Palm beach area. While not what I was hoping for just being
on Aruba was enough to convince me to go there for dinner( note to self, next
time speak up with regards to where to go for dinner).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><img class="sg_t" height="160" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=i.4898191903426474&pid=1.9" style="height: 160px; left: 2px; top: 0px; width: 160px;" width="160" /> <img class="sg_t" height="299" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4536143348826953&pid=1.9" style="height: 186px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="400" /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Iguana Joes was on the second floor overlooking the
mall plaza down below, where we were seated situated us right behind a tree
which made it challenging to see the goings on down below. That night a local
youth dance troupe had a performance in the plaza. From where we were sitting
it was a challenge to really see what was going on along with hearing what the
MC was saying. There was no problem when it came to the music, we heard that
loud and clear. As for everything else it was a challenge. Could not help but
think that we would have been able to see and hear if we had gone to TGI
Fridays. That night was to be the first night that I would catch a glimpse of
the Ribbon<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dance, which is a traditional
dance done in Aruba to commemorate the Queen’s Birthday. I would see it
performed two more times. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><img class="sg_t" height="199" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4994588129232322&pid=1.9" style="height: 165px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One of the dance numbers would come as a major surprise
for me. It was in the part of the show when they were on their Carnival Season
which coincides with ours, that I would hear Soca, and it was a song by Destra.
Believe it or not Soca is quite popular there, both local and regional
performers have songs that are in heavy rotation. Nigel and Marvin’s Follow the
Leader is still a big tune over there. Anyhow it was great hearing a soca song
that I recognised, which helped to emphasise that T&T has made
contributions to the culture of the island, and that service was slow and my
stomach was complaining.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There were four waiters and waitresses on duty that
night, and they were obviously swamped. For the most part they were all trying
to keep up, with the exception of one waitress who was moving s-l-o-w!!!. In
the time that it took her to deliver an order and return to the kitchen to
collect another order, her fellow co-worker had already delivered orders to two
tables and taken the orders from three tables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In spite of that dinner was good, I had the Mexican Burger. What makes
it a Mexican Burger? The huge serving of avocado or guacamole that was heaped
on top of the burger. I ate it off the burger before putting the bread back on
top to eat the burger. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Before leaving we took a quick walk around through the
plaza which I learnt is always busy no matter what day of the week. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judging by the number of people that we there,
both tourists and locals, it was a sure sign that businesses in that mall were
doing well. Looking around I could not help but think that this is what Tobago
could be tourism was doing right. I could picture something like Palm Beach in
the Pigeon Point , Mount Irving areas. Something like that could probably even
work in Trinidad. Maybe someday the authorities will take a page from Aruba’s
Tourism play book, apply it and actually get it right. Just a matter of time I
guess. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
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<a href="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4636138760045542&pid=1.9" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="sg_t" height="177" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4636138760045542&pid=1.9" style="height: 147px; left: 0px; top: 5px; width: 250px;" width="300" /></a><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <img class="sg_t" height="199" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4950564711694847&pid=1.9" style="height: 165px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Day one came and went all too quickly, but I still had
six days left on the trip. Six more days to enjoy, two more days than the last
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To Be Continued……….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-54192550776670125142012-10-08T14:31:00.001-07:002012-10-08T14:53:34.923-07:00Second Trip To Aruba 05/08/2012-12/08/2012<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="183" data-width="275" height="183" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR7iQ1WIFTYDSAUhNKjw6kvPAKaNkZ2h7kY-_9fhlEYdUuMJc6_cA" style="height: 183px; width: 275px;" width="275" /> <img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="232" data-width="218" height="232" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ4u6CsWkk4ApFMfj2ixzNMgatOWNBYu26JAC1P2afy-67AxXCH" style="height: 232px; width: 218px;" width="218" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The first
time that I ever went to Aruba was in early August of 2010. My first visit was
excellent, the most relaxed that I had been in ages and just as I was getting
into the swing of things it was time to fly back home to Trini. Four days was
not enough to really get the true Aruba experience, but in those four quick days
I fell in love with the country; and it was only my first visit. If someone
were to offer me the opportunity to live and there during my first visit I
would have Yes in a heartbeat. However getting to live and work on Aruba is
almost as complex as migrating to the U.S., Canada and the U.K. So it looks as
though I would have to be content with just being allowed to visit, and that
was would I would do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of my first visit I told myself
two things: 1. I would return to visit again sometime in the future. 2. I would
try to stay longer the next time, anywhere from a week to two weeks if
possible. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be another two years
before I would return to Aruba. When my aunt told me that herself, husband and
son would be heading to Aruba for a week in August I was, Happy to hear that
they would be going back, because that meant I would be able to go as well.
Secondly I was a wee bit disappointed that they would only be there for a week,
I was hoping for two maybe three weeks at most. But a week would be sufficient.
They were confirmed to fly into Aruba on Saturday 4<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> August 2012
and would be returning to the States on Saturday 11<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> August 2012.
Right away I knew what my plans would look like , I would fly in on Sunday 5<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
August, the return was going to be the tricky part. You see in going to and
returning from Aruba I have to fly through Curacao by Suriname Airways, and said
airline only flies that route on Sundays, and Thursdays (and I think also on
Tuesdays but I’m not too certain about that). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As returning on the 9<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> of August
would mean another quick four day trip I opted for the next best option, to
book a hotel room for the extra night and return on the 12<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> of
August. Luckily I had discussed this likely hood with my aunt and uncle and the
arrangements for the additional night had already been booked way in
advance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Sometime in
mid-July I made my travel arrangements and was all ready to go. All I had to do
was count the days till the August 5<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>. Once Emancipation Day (a
public holiday here in T&T) came and went the countdown to the trip was on
in full earnest. Prior to that I had picked up some additional articles of
clothing, shorts, t-shirts, polo shirts, and a pair of flip-flops , in
anticipation of the trip. As my aunt and company were flying into Aruba on the
4<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> I was attending a small anime and comic themed event, picked up
some interesting graphic novels which helped to pass the time for the remainder
of that day. Now here is something that I have yet to mention to my family,
although I had all my things organised for the trip, I did not<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>locate the small suitcase that I normally
travel with till Sunday morning, which was when I finally finished my packing.
Anyhow for those that know me it does not take me all that long to pack. I knew
from two weeks in advance what I planned to take with me and that was what I
packed into my one piece of luggage. My backpack was a whole different
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess I should make mention that
I do A GREAT AMOUNT OF READING!!!! Which means that at any given time I’ll be
reading more than one book at time, earlier this year I purchased a kindle fire
from amazon.com , and having it helped to cut down on the number of books that
I would carry around with me. Even though I have a kindle I still purchase
regular physical paperbacks and hardcover books, you see there are several
authors and publishers that have not made their books available on kindle, which
means I still have to go into the local bookstores to purchase them or order
them online.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I figured
that with my kindle I would not have to carry more than two additional novels with
me, and that as a result my backpack would be relatively light…even with my
laptop included. Well to make a long story short, I added four more paperbacks
to the backpack, which had it feeling heavier than usual. But that was all
pushed aside as I loaded all my one small suitcase and backpack into my
Step-father’s van and with my mother along for the ride made my way to the
airport.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p><img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="176" data-width="286" height="176" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRPvzL5yiyb2ysMiDieTblTIgACtdj2-NdUZ8uZBvcCwQeqc_uT" style="height: 176px; width: 286px;" width="286" /> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Check-in
for Surname Airways flight PY743 was rather quick, one minute I was near the
entrance to the line filling out a departure form and writing up stickers for
my luggage and the next thing you know I was being handed back my passport with
my boarding pass. As someone that has travelled into and out of Piarco
International Airport on weekends I knew what the place could be like,
CHAOTIC!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So after a quick pass by the newsstand
in the main atrium I made a quick b-line for the International departure area.
Before hitting the security check point I ducked into the newsstand /bookstore
to see if they had anything that would grab my interest. Yeah I know I already
had the four paperbacks and my kindle in my backpack, and that there was no
need for any more additional reading material. But it just so happened that
they had a Sci-Fi anthology novel that I was interested, so out came the cash,
into my backpack it went and off to the security check I went. <img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="184" data-width="274" height="184" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQSlnO4tlxcpdvZVmvYOP4f-W0VqV72HTk3mCsZZeNqABzo2Q9H" style="height: 184px; width: 274px;" width="274" /> <img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="194" data-width="259" height="194" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQFm64j-wlhHUOnq3hf-Jeva3hF3t8Rk5x_nokSmLTX-wGXjF9P" style="height: 194px; width: 259px;" width="259" /> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><img height="212" id="il_fi" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2473/3626145548_bf23b001e5_o.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">This proved
to be an interesting experience to say the least as I found myself going
through right behind some ladies from Curacao and smack dab in the middle of
some Chinese Fishermen who knew little to no English who were all on the same
flight to Curacao. The Airport Security Officers need to understand that
yelling in English will not get non-English speakers to follow your
instructions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could not help but feel
sorry for the fishermen, one of the guards was about to yell instructions to me
till he took a good look at me, noticed my passport and realized that I was a
local and that there was no need to YELL at me. With that behind me I made my
way to Gate#6 and settled in for my flight to arrive and board.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"></span> <img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="196" data-width="258" height="196" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSeWGWykZHTPfvWrjw2eHUdXDbrlOiCRotjdzFR2FNb8SPEjQle" style="height: 196px; width: 258px;" width="258" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Boarding was relatively
smooth, even the fishermen rushing to board did not put a damper on my mood. I
was so close to getting to Aruba that I was not going to allow them to kill my
good mood. Found my seat with no problem, surprised that <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>other passengers had some difficulty finding
their seats. It’s simple really. On the ticket there is a heading that says
SEAT and underneath it there is a number which indicates seat row and a letter
which indicates if the assigned seat is on and if it is the seat by the window,
in the middle or on the aisle. Simple right? Not for some of these people,
especially the ones who brag and boast about being accomplished and experienced
travellers. There was a couple ahead of me whose seats were 10B & 10C. They
walked right past them and it was not until they reached row 25 that they
realized they had passed their row. Would you believe that these oh so
intelligent people wanted me to turn around so that they could get to their
seats? And this was as I was putting my backpack into the overhead bind before
I took my seat. I asked them to hold on for a few seconds, slipped into my seat
and allowed them to pass before getting back up to take a novel out of my
backpack to read during the flight. With the way they were glaring at me you
could sworn that I told them to wait for ten minutes or so. And people wonder
why I sometimes can’t stand being around my own people? Anyhow, with the
passengers on board we took off for the one hour and fifteen minute flight to
Curacao. Immigration Cards were given out as soon as the flight had levelled
out and before we even got the free drinks. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The flight was smooth going
over and I think I managed to nod off for about six minutes or so before the
Captain announced that we would be landing in fifteen minutes. Talk about
quick? Must have had<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a strong wind
pushing us towards Curacao. Just like Trinidad I managed to breeze through
Immigration and as my one piece of luggage had been tagged to go straight
through to Aruba I did not have to pick it up at baggage claim. With this being
my third time flying through Willemstad International I knew where to go and
what to expect. For starters there was a lot of Dutch, Spanish and Papiamento
being spoken, and for some reason I was mistaken for a local. Can’t say that I
blame them, there were a lot of light skinned black people all over the place.
Whenever someone spoke to me in either Dutch, Spanish or Papiamento I gave them
my confused I don’t know what you’re saying look; and then they realize, “Hey
wait a minute! You’re not from Curacao are you? You look like a local!!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="150" data-width="336" height="150" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQiT2_aqyJ-kjr08VEzI-uK_4AEKes9bCKzvtGWKPrHamDnIAORoA" style="height: 150px; width: 336px;" width="336" /> <img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="179" data-width="282" height="179" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSY5Cqw_yS2BzKIF1_FSMuy2oDAJftSX5WiHwCfuTIX-7trHRNy" style="height: 179px; width: 282px;" width="282" /><br />
<br />
<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="152" data-width="332" height="152" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTsAEHMwzCqTvz-gehzkmE2v8nVp2jXiHLvKMf1NGrA--g88GYTWQ" style="height: 152px; width: 332px;" width="332" /> <img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="194" data-width="259" height="194" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQcTU-inuFScU3X-SZfmHSQIfSXT-wGbtsX1O9ujVolpQ40uqDP" style="height: 194px; width: 259px;" width="259" /><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Now before going through
security and immigration I had to stop by a little window to pay the airport
tax. For those who are flying right out of Curacao the cost if about $35.00US,
for transit passengers like myself the cost was $2.00US. With that taken care
of I made my way through security, emptying my pockets and shoving the contents
into my backpack, only putting them back in once I cleared immigration. Well I
did have to put my belt back on, my jeans were slipping down on me, don’t know
how rappers can perform entire shows that way. Anyhow, made it inside the
departure area, I wanted to take a look around but decided to scout out my
departure gate for Aruba which was Gate#7. Found it, it would be another three
hours before my flight was due to board so I turned around and began to check
out the souvenir stores. Picked up a book on the ABC islands, some pendants and
a magazine before going to the waiting area by Gate #7 to wait for the boarding
of InselAir flight 455. Boarding was to commence at 7pm with the flight to
take off at 7:30pm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p><img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="183" data-width="276" height="183" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRgfRVEWiDOhqEkYKa3dX4tz937GZyWhs93hmRoCXr-ZnWwi7Rs" style="height: 183px; width: 276px;" width="276" /> <img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="194" data-width="259" height="194" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQEvBi6WpDekZkowRlAMu6uZ0zcpBxhV1HK3IXS_0ZcwpPFDlUj7g" style="height: 194px; width: 259px;" width="259" /></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The last time I flew
through Curacao on my way to Aruba I had to wait by the very same gate, which
was close to a gate where passengers going to Holland were boarding; that many
people in the vicinity made it feel like a hot box. Even with the gigantic
ceiling fans above it still felt hot as Hades. This time around sure enough
there was a flight boarding for Holland not too far from gate #7, somehow all
the passengers for that flight had not assembled when they began boarding, which
explained why it did not feel like a hot box this time around. For some reason
I found it difficult to focus on the books in my backpack, I would read a few
pages, get bored with it then exchange it for another one and so it went for
the next few hours. I think the excitement about being so close to Aruba and a
few hours away from boarding <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>had
overwhelmed my normal reading mode. I just wanted to get going, the hours that
I had spent waiting for the transit flight was time that could have been better
utilized on Aruba if there had been a direct flight there from Trinidad. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually I managed to focus on one of the
paperbacks which helped the remaining hour till boarding to fly by. When the announcement
to board was made I was among the first group to start lining up by the gate
with my ticket and passport in hand.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<img height="300" id="il_fi" src="https://is1.4sqi.net/derived_pix/VFYXMQCXOGSWQ54JODZBYXO01XU1O4GA2ICWZPDDALGMFRDX_300x300.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="300" /> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Looking around I could not
help but notice that there were a lot of people in line for this flight, the
last time I flew over there were about eight of us on the flight and it was in
a really small aircraft. How small you wonder? Myself and all my fellow
passengers could see out luggage in the back of the aircraft. Forget going to
baggage claim we could have taken them then and there if we wanted to…well not
really…but it sure felt like it. With the current flight I was surprised by the
amount which should have told me that this flight over was going to be on one
of Insel’s bigger aircraft. That and the fact that my boarding pass listed my
seat as #22B alone should have been a huge hint that we would be flying over on
a big aircraft.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="160" data-width="260" height="160" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ9ACdhNeTOPr2lA0y3M-1JCHtkkQ3BowYwZj8C6tL6J4GJEu6v" style="height: 160px; width: 260px;" width="260" /> <img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="195" data-width="259" height="195" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRmSVYRqeQXPxOxvKLnHaqrcStimNKQO4dHYrn-M5NxFDFVMcjs" style="height: 195px; width: 259px;" width="259" /><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Before boarding we were all
herded onto two air-conditioned buses to take us out to the aircraft, the last
time we had to walk out to our flight. And unlike the last time there were more
Trini’s on the flight going over to Aruba( they had been on the flight from
T&T to Curacao). I made my way up the steps to the cabin feeling more and
more excited at the prospect of getting even closer to my destination. Upon
boarding I asked one of the flight attendants if this was the flight to Aruba?
He replied, “Yes! But we have to make a ten minute stop on Bon Aire before
continuing onto Aruba.” I shrugged and said, “Alright, sounds cool as long as
we get there tonight.” To which he then said, “Just kidding with you! This
flight is going direct to Aruba, wish that I had more passengers that were as
mellow as you!” As I explained to the guy, “Hey! I’ve been waiting to make this
trip for two years!! One stop on Bon Aire would not make that much of a
difference!! Just knowing that I’m on my way back to Aruba is enough to make
anything seem minor!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Flying time over to Aruba
was fifteen minutes, and as it was a bigger aircraft I honestly thought that I
would have received my immigration card to fill out in advance of landing.
Apparently InselAir has a problem with the issuing of immigration cards to
passengers, they did give out card to fill out, but this was for the chance to
win a free round trip flight with them the next time that we flew with them.
Well I’ll cut to the suspense, I did not win the free ticket. A young woman
across the aisle from me was the lucky winner. Anyhow upon landing after the
normal welcome and all that stuff, there was no mention of immigration cards or
where we could get them. It felt like déjà vu all over again, except this time
there were a lot of us as compared to the small handful the last time. As if
that was not bad enough, passengers from another flight that landed right after
us, who were lucky to receive their immigration cards before landing were
greeted with the confusion of us InselAir passengers filling out the cards
while standing in line. Lucky for me I was in between a couple fellow Trinis,
who were cool with what was going on. Here’s an interesting comparison between
airports, Willemstad on Curacao has very few areas that are air conditioned,
those areas being the security check, immigration( when going to the departure
area), and inside the souvenir stores. The airport on Aruba, EVERYWHERE is air
conditioned. So much so that I was tempted to put on my sweatshirt while
waiting to go through immigration. Forget Hot in Here it was more like Bloody
Cold!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p><img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="159" data-width="318" height="159" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR5z2rFGA6yeW41OCBWzew0Tf2X_EszSMmSdkAb6JroKxDwFBvw" style="height: 159px; width: 318px;" width="318" /> <img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="219" data-width="230" height="219" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRN2IEulLpdgl4Zs7uwjc0wa2i6t8ueK55jJnu1ipRA2-y2ZBhnbQ" style="height: 219px; width: 230px;" width="230" /></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p><img height="194" id="il_fi" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSol-G1AEr9UxTbZrKseTK0f9LVdfnu2M9nafpktUpqdl38n1uL4PaV35Ha" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="259" /><img alt="Queen Beatrix Airport/Aeropuerto Internacional Reina Beatrix, Aruba International Airport, Aruba" src="http://www.bridgeandtunnelclub.com/bigmap/outoftown/aruba/queenbeatrixairport/03airport.jpg" /></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">A few minutes later I had
made it past immigration, found my one piece of luggage and then made my way
outside where my aunt was waiting. My uncle and cousin were in the rental car
making the rounds but they were soon back and once my suitcase was in the trunk
we were on our way to Caribbean Palm Village in Noord. For once it would have
been great of I could have arrived during daylight, but that did not matter as
I was finally back on Aruba. Our route to the hotel took us through the capital
city of Oranjestad, and also through the Palm Beach area; which regardless of time
or day was abuzz with people (mostly tourists) going here and there. I recall
reading online that there was a Sunday night dance party on Moomba Beach near
one of the hotels. If I had gotten in earlier, by a few hours or a few days I
would have made an attempt to go. At that moment though I was ready to reach
the hotel, unwind and get something to eat. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="191" data-width="263" height="191" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRzbFYHS4fw7qftcPL_LDXzcOhmwR_PIX7Ury4hFAQl5_-0Wq6d" style="height: 191px; width: 263px;" width="263" /> <img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="201" data-width="251" height="201" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRbNiuDOG5i7BPJCxv-1MnaOGq8y1ymc4VjmSVy305aCvTuClnJZQ" style="height: 201px; width: 251px;" width="251" /> <img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="194" data-width="259" height="194" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS0AOyuAWFl3Vo08x2JjSB-SFmP8Lqhhk8kp9UjlEW6AXxlXEdY7Q" style="height: 194px; width: 259px;" width="259" /> <img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="194" data-width="259" height="194" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQIVMELqn4CQVuDkui0hs3tlWm2z1TPkPoTEpu7f7bRq-bskDg-" style="height: 194px; width: 259px;" width="259" /> <img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="184" data-width="274" height="184" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSYL-TLzfEQHY0Cn0QdfE1V_c3v0rn8w6gr_QXmneX9qN_vnLj8CQ" style="height: 184px; width: 274px;" width="274" /> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Here is an interesting fact
about Aruba, on Sundays they have what is known as the Sunday Barbecue, where
many vendors will cook and prepare traditional Aruban Barbecue. The meal itself
is HUGE. You get two pieces of chicken, two racks of ribs, two pieces of corn,
rice, cold slaw etc. My fondest memory of my first visit to Aruba was the
Sunday Barbecue as my first meal. It lasted me till Tuesday morning. Knowing
that my relatives were going to be there a day before I made the request for
them to get me an order form the Chinese food restaurant down the road from the
hotel. On the way to CPV my relatives informed me that the folks at the
restaurant <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>no longer do the Sunday Barbecue,
and that they had to get it from somewhere else. I’ll admit upon hearing that I
was a bit disappointed, but then </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">told myself say what, I’m in Aruba so it’s all
good. <img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="134" data-width="128" height="134" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTE7kwk8rBS5pA9F7wupuQjGDEDunNafWmZgvlSjoiMoWh0chht" style="height: 134px; width: 128px;" width="128" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="151" data-width="334" height="151" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSHKJ7qN-VsbCj8Hj2e_icCwKYr2nV3evRxdfzrA1wDXKGnizJFqQ" style="height: 151px; width: 334px;" width="334" /> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<img height="287" id="il_fi" src="http://i2.bookcdn.com/data/Photos/LargePhoto2/106/10699/10699052/Caribbean-Palm-Village-Resort-photos-Room-Bed.JPEG" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="429" /><img class="fotorama__img" height="333" src="http://i0.bookcdn.com/data/Photos/LargePhoto2/106/10699/10699059/Caribbean-Palm-Village-Resort-photos-Facilities-Pool.JPEG" style="display: inline-block; height: 333px; left: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: visible; width: 500px;" width="500" /><br />
<br />
<img class="fotorama__img" height="333" src="http://i2.bookcdn.com/data/Photos/LargePhoto2/106/10699/10699055/Caribbean-Palm-Village-Resort-photos-Hotel-Exterior-YCPVR.JPEG" style="display: inline-block; height: 333px; left: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: visible; width: 500px;" width="500" /><br />
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<img height="476" id="il_fi" src="http://www.arubaluxurycondos.com/images/arubamap1.gif" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="420" /><br />
<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="160" data-width="200" height="160" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRNtyAbllfibT9pWomMpTHAqbwrxVVQyRlmY4NQxj4-1tWVS3bd" style="height: 160px; width: 200px;" width="200" /> <img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="184" data-width="274" height="184" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQmXneznbyt5jE1izOwy_0ABxyLqQs80TWrkZGeEFkLvAOLGkBK" style="height: 184px; width: 274px;" width="274" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Got to the hotel and headed
straight for the room, which was not the same room that we had stayed in the
last time that we were there. Instead we were staying in the room that they had
booked as part of their timeshare agreement. Living room, kitchenette, bedroom,
two bathrooms and a porch/gallery area. I would be bunking on the fold out
couch in the living room, no big deal as long as I was there, air conditioning
worked and the cable had some decent channels. Then came a pleasant surprise.
The barbecue was from the Chinese Restaurant, my relatives had tried to play a
trick on me. Good attempt but it really did not make that big of a deal. So
dinner that night was excellent, glad that I did not fill up with too much food
from earlier in the day. I had considered going to Wendy’s at the airport in
Curacao, but then changed my mind and decided to wait till I got to Aruba. Good
thing that I did.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><img src="http://v011o.popscreen.com/S2JkV3N5bURfR2Mx_o_uncle-kennys-bbq-aruba.jpg" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The rest of the first night
there was a mix of channel surfing to find my away around the channels,
watching some of the Olympics, figuring out how to get the couch bed out and
going over some of the things and places that I wanted to go and see. This time
around seven days would make a lot of things more possible, no rush.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Part 2: Moomba Beach, Soca
Music all over, Eating out, Hoolberg, the Kukoo Kunkuk and more!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"></span><br />
<img height="417" id="il_fi" src="http://bentpage.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/moomc.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="735" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p><img height="180" id="il_fi" src="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-ash4/373039_141330002600165_1711790727_n.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="180" /></o:p></span>volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-78623253397582607812012-07-31T10:14:00.000-07:002012-07-31T10:15:40.607-07:00Voltron vs Grand Ma LawIt was back in early December of 1984, and I was in NY to spend the Christmas vacation with my relatives. My mother, step-father, and brother would join us the day after Christmas. Till then, I was enjoying every moment and all the perks of being in Brooklyn NY. No school, going out to buy the latest in G.I. Joe action <img height="320" src="http://www.gijoeactionfigures.net/images/gi-joe-snowjob-2.jpg" width="212" /> <img alt="GI Joe 3 3/4" Mutt and Junkyard Action Figure" height="320" src="http://www.gijoeactionfigures.net/images/gi-joe-muttjunkyard2.jpg" width="211" /> <img src="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQVvPiqubbG-uaI2jSALKlLY_PBzz0MoLzPrXegzv4YIYplv34xig" /> figures and comics, but most importantly checking out the latest cartoons that were gracing the channels at that time.<br />
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One cartoon that I would become a die hard fan of was Voltron, at that time there were two versions. The first was the one with the Lions that could be seen twice daily (mornings and afternoons) Monday to Friday, the second was the one with the Vehicles that could be seen on Saturday and Sunday mornings just before Transformers. As luck with have it, Voltorn was part of the cartoon lineup on Channel 11 WPIX NY( long before it became the WB and then the CW). Which was one of my favorite channels to watch. On this particular afternoon I had been eagerly awaiting the commencement of the latest episode, after going through the entire day doing any and everything to pass the time till the cartoons came on. I read books, watched shows on PBS, and even the WPIX Afternoon movie while waiting for Voltron.<br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOE_kJ23GXc76fAEEISsxxW5a-xMJsJ9Ue4B8pXIAcoLrRqR5UmWLgXFYZDXYQkxsOH9hMGt7-SnhavRUemfUyJrk99kgCioqdsPdcOypvRoerWXSPiB79uuFft2fyeGQ4Bpr9Tg/s1600/voltron.jpg" />
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<img src="http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/7/74840/2303226-voltron_pilots.jpg" />
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<br />
With the afternoon movie out of the way the Magical Garden with Paula and Carol lead the way into the cartoons. First up was Tom and Jerry, followed by The Super Friends, Heath-Cliff, before getting onto Voltron. As the introduction was now starting my grandmother told me that we would be going to downtown Brooklyn to do some shopping. That was the one thing that I did not want to hear. Especially not as Voltron was about to begin. I told her to go on ahead and that I would stay home by myself. That idea was rejected, and instead I was "Ordered" to get my coat and be ready to leave in ten minutes.<br />
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I was left with only one option. I had to stall. Every time my grandmother came to call me to leave I would ask her for five more minutes, just another five more minutes. Normally I liked watching the commercials, but this was the first time I wished that there were none to get in the way. Thankfully I managed to see the entire episode, from beginning right to the aftermath with the battle against the guest Ro-Beast. And good thing too, as my grandmother was ready to loose it. Needless to say during the subway trip to downtown Brooklyn I kept quiet and was one my BEST behavior with my grandmother. When we went into Mays department store to spend an eternity on the floors dealing with clothing, curtains and mats. I kept quiet and did not even ask to go up to the 4th floor to the Toy Department to look around.<br />
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By the time we finally exited Mays with several bags worth of shopping it was close to six in the evening and dark like midnight outside. Did I forget to mention that it was also cold? Well it was!! So ma asked if I wanted something to eat? I was surprised by this, after all the stalling that I did to watch Voltron and delay her shopping she was willing to still feed me? Yes, I replied, and we set out looking for someplace to get something to eat before catching the bus back to Bergen Street. At the time we were in the vicinity of the Brooklyn campus of Long Island University where my youngest aunt was a student at the time, and in this area there was a wide variety of places where one could get something to eat. We crossed a busy street to a Burger King, only to walk past it. Okay, I said to myself, maybe we'll be going to the McDonald's close to the mall by LIU. We headed in that direction, but did not even get close. We went into the mall and my hopes rose, as this was the mall that had the great tasting pizza. Nope not even close. We went through a few stores then back out into the cold.<br />
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Not too far from the bus stop was a hot dog vendor, and that was what my grandmother got me to eat. Before I could tell the vendor what I wanted on my hot dog, ma told her to put mustard and beans on it. Back then I did not like mustard and would not eat anything that had mustard on it. There we stood, with a whole bunch of shopping bags, me with a steaming hot hot dog covered in mustard and beans. Ma then told me to hurry up and eat it all, as no eating was not allowed on the bus and she did not want to miss it. As if to drive it home, she pointed out the bus that was five blocks away ans creeping ever closer. With no other choice, I began to eat as fast as I could. Ignoring the burning heat from the hot dog and the toppings I finished it when the bus was still two blocks away. As we boarded the bus ma told me, "The next time I tell you to get ready to go down de road, get yuh self ready to go!! Yuh real lucky this time!!" The hot dog with mustard and beans was punishment enough, added to that was the extra long walk from the bus stop for several blocks back to Bergan Street.<br />
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Thankfully there were never any repeats of that type of incident with my grandmother or any other family member. By that time I head learnt how to set the vcr to record whenever I had to go out with relatives, or to look out for the repeats on weekends. Kids today have it so good, in that they not only have the option of catching repeats on weekends. They can also check for the episodes of their favorite shows on the net, youtube or saving it on their DVR. As a footnote I would not eat anything with mustard till I was seventeen, as long as there was ketchup in the mix then it was okay.volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-18032094718905000482012-07-23T07:27:00.004-07:002012-07-23T07:27:40.864-07:00I Should Be Doing More Of This<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As someone who has dreams and aspirations of being a full time writer as a career, I have not been doing a great job at it. I'll be the first to admit that it's due in part to my constant state of procrastination added in with the nagging feeling that if my writing does not look perfect from the first three paragraphs, it's not going to be great and I put it aside. If anyone were to go through all the notebooks, notepads, scraps of paper and my blackberry; they would find outlines to several stories that would make great short stories or full length novels. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So what's the holdup you wonder? Me! I'm the holdup! My own self-doubts, insecurities and feelings that my writing might not be good enough for publication. There is this overwhelming fear that when I send out my completed woks of science fiction, alternate history and fantasy that they will be either wind up in the slush pile at the publishing house never to be read. Or that I'll receive a big fat rejection letter from them telling me, "Hey! You're writing is horrible! YOU SUCK AS A WRITER!! Do us and the world a favor and stop writing altogether, you will be doing the world a great service by doing so."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">However, lately I've been getting this odd tingling in the back of my mind, like an incoming text message. Upon opening it the message reads, "Better to try and fail than never to try at all!" I'm then reminded of a saying that my lessons teacher Mr. Arden "The Gun" Williams used to always tell me, "A man can fail many time, but he is not a failure until he gives up!" A lot of famous and popular authors had some of their best works rejected before they finally saw the light of day in the world of the published authors. If they had given up, the world would have been denied some great works of fiction, television shows, movies, comics, animes, mangas etc.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I had originally revived my blog to get back into writing on a more regular basis. To write about some of the everyday things that I experience in my neck of the world, and that one of these posts would be the basis for either a short or long story that people would want to read about. Or that it would be a place to lay a snippet of whatever I'm working on fiction wise with the hopes of getting some feedback as to how I can make it better. I've been putting off updating for long enough, its time to get back into the saddle and utilize this forum to get the word out. All that I can ask you all out there in the net verse to do is to stay tuned, and expect to see more from me in the coming days, weeks and months. Thanks!!</span>volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-91788339093082139932012-02-14T06:22:00.000-08:002012-02-14T06:22:53.991-08:00That Time of Year Is Here Again.This is the time of year that a great majority of Trinis both here and overseas look forward to more than Christmas, New Years and other sundry long weekends combined. Carnival! Yes, Carnival 2012 or 2K12 in some circles. The lead up to Carnival commences from the day after Christmas but really gets into full mode following New Years Day. Last Year the season was an exceptionally long one as Carnival 2K11 was in early March. This year Carnival is set for mid February, 20th and 21st February to be exact; and as usual locals are hitting up nearly every carnival related event that they can get to, while nationals residing abroad are flying in from all over. With the main influx of arrivals due between Thursday and Friday.<br />
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During my time overseas during College I never had the opportunity to come home for carnival as the dates always fell a few weeks before Spring Break, either way I probably would not have come home anyhow. For starters I am not much of a carnival person, I refuse to go all Gung-Ho crazy for it. There were a few reason that I looked forward to carnival back when I was growing up:<br />
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1. The long weekend! For part of high school I lived with my dad over on Tobago, and it was pretty much a given that I would spend Carnival weekend in Trinidad with my mother, siblings, step-father and visiting relatives. Coming to Trinidad from Tobago for that weekend was like going on R&R. And that is exactly what I did, relaxed. No home work! The only time I would pick up a text book the entire weekend was on Ash Wednesday morning when I was on the first flight from Trinidad back to Tobago.<br />
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2. New Video Tapes. This was back in the BC Days( before cable), the one local TV station would be tuned into carnival related events, which meant that there would be nothing else to watch. My relatives from the States would always record and send somewhere between two to three tapes worth of recorded cartoons. This was long before Cartoon Network, when all the major networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, UPN, WGN, WPIX/WB) all showed cartoons on weekdays and on weekends, particularly on Saturday morning. Anyhow, my siblings and I would watch all three tapes over and over from the moment I arrived till my last day before returning back to Tobago. In addition to the tapes, there was also the boxes of cereal that we would get, once again this was back before the local groceries started to stock a lot of the popular named cereals from overseas. Back then if you wanted to get a box of Trix, Pac-Man cereal, Lucky Charms or Cocoa Puffs you would have to wait for relatives to bring them in. Needless to say by the time I was ready to return to Tobago the majority of the cereal would be finished. Between my brother, sister( who is a bottom less eating machine) and I, the cereal never stood a hope of lasting long.<br />
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3. An opportunity to catch up on my other reading. For a while during the school term my dad had banned me from reading any books that were not school related. No comics, no magazines, no novels...nothing...it was text books only. Whenever I came to Trinidad it was an opportunity to become re-acquainted with all the comics I had to leave behind and finally get to read the novels that I had to hide from my dad. Eventually the ban on reading non-school related books was lifted after my dad saw me reading a Physics text during a trip to the beach. That and my mom telling him that I could not study 24/7 and needed to read other books to relax.<br />
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When I got to college I knew that it would be impossible to make it back home for Carnival, and the last thing that I wanted to do was to fly down to Trinidad on the Friday, spend about a week only to have to pack up to return to the cold of Rochester NY just as I began to thaw out and regain my tan. Besides, spending my Spring Break at my friend's house in Liverpool NY was a blast in itself( will do a post on that in the future).<br />
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I recall a few years ago watching the news about heavy fog and bad weather in places like Atlanta and Houston Texas causing a lot of flight delays and cancellations. As Atlanta was a main transit point for passengers making their way to Miami to catch connecting flights to Trinidad, I wondered how many T&T nationals wound up missing their connecting flights to Trinidad because of the fog and bad weather? If they were flying out of Houston Texas to Trinidad then the delay would not have been that bad, as the G.W. Bush International Airport is in my opinion the best airport to be delayed in, as it feels more like a shopping mall than an airport. There is so much to do while waiting for your flight.<br />
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For the next few days, if not already, locals and visitors are going to be all more hyper than kids on sugar as the week moves towards the weekend and right into Carnival Monday and Tuesday. Then come Ash Wednesday they will all be going through carnival withdraws, skipping work and school to go to the beach to cool down then begin counting the days till Carnival 2K13.<br />
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As for me, as stated earlier I am not all that much of a carnival person and will most likely spend the weekend relaxing, catching up on and getting ahead on a whole lot of reading and maybe some writing. With a new kindle in my possession, I will need to use the time to get through all the books stored along with the new ones added. There is a plan somewhere in my future where I plan to travel out of Trinidad and Tobago during Carnival, I mean why not? Seeing as I am not doing anything here for Carnival, why not go somewhere else for a change and do something different? Only time and a bigger bank account will tell. (When that time does come, my vote will be for either St. Martin or Aruba!)volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-77155109695682923322012-01-19T11:22:00.000-08:002012-01-19T12:19:56.302-08:00The Alternate/Parallel World...That's Where I Want To Be!<span >Albert Einstein expressed the belief in Parallel Worlds, that somewhere there is a world where Wizardry, Witch Craft and Magic exist, or where mankind made first contact with alien life and there is something akin to Interstellar Tourism. Or there is a world where the Northern Hemisphere experienced a second ice age and countries in the Southern Hemisphere is now home to billions of refugees from the nations of the first world. Where its the same year, same date, same day, but things are different somehow due to events in the past that took a different turn from the way it actually happened.</span><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Back in College the show Sliders premiered and I was drawn to it right away. So much so that I tried not to miss an episode. Every now and then I check the channel line up for the Science Fiction channel (SyFy) in the hopes that one one of the few days I'm home due to illness, public holiday or day off, that a Sliders Marathon will be on. Sadly that has not happened since the Sci-Fi Channel became the SyFy Channel. Instead of shows centered in Science Fiction and Fantasy, it's more reality shows, wrestling and American made versions of British shows. And don't get me started on their original movies, their titles alone are enough to convince me to spend my Saturday night reading books or watching documentaries on NGC, TLC, or the History Channel. But that's a topic for another time. </span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >What I'm getting at here is that I am convinced there is a parallel world out there where my country is a great place to live. This is a world where Hitler's Germany was defeated in early 1945 when the Western Allies stormed into Berlin way ahead of the Russians, where JFK and Martin Luther King jr were not victims of assassination, where the C.I.A., F.B.I and NSA were able to stop the 9/11 hijackers quickly and quietly. Where Osama Bin Laden had been either captured or killed at the Battle of Tora Bora instead of being allowed to escape, where Prince William attended University in the United States, fell in love with a bi-racial American girl and married her instead of Kate Middleton. Where Hilary Clinton is the President of the USA and Barrack Obama is the Vice-President, and where my home the islands of Trinidad and Tobago is an autonomous region/overseas territory of the U.K.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Now what would life be like in this alternate/parallel T&T? For starters a vast portion of the money made from the sale of oil and natural gas...once the companies have been paid for extracting and processing....would be used towards the infrastructure of the two islands. We would have a choice of using two different types of currency; the TT Dollar and the U.S. Dollar, with an exchange rate of $1US = $1.75TT. Public Transportation would be more reliable and on schedule, City Gate ( the main transportation hub in Port of Spain) would be way bigger and more modern...more stores, comfortable seating to sit and wait for buses, and orderly way to board Maxi Taxis on the platforms. Both the old international airport would still be in use along with the new one; with the old airport once renovated being used to facilitate departures to the United States, where once passengers have checked in they will undergo Immigration and Border Control for the US before the board the aircraft, which would cut out having to do that when they arrive at their North American destination. While the new one would facilitate all arrivals, domestic flights, regional and international flights to Europe and South America.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >There would be more tertiary level schools with campuses that are not cramped into small pieces of property, with facilities for classrooms, labs, library, dinning room, student union, residence halls, recreational facilities etc. But most importantly, as citizens of a British Overseas Territory all residents of Trinidad and Tobago would be British Citizens, which would mean we would have U.K. passports; which would mean we would not have to the American, Canadian, Australian, German Embassies for visas to travel to said destinations on vacation or business. Granted we would still have to secure visas for school, extended stays and to work. There are sooooo many ways things could have been so different for us if T&T had not taken the road to independence. Who is to really say that remaining as part of the U.K. would have worked for us or would not have worked us? Who knows really. But it does make from interesting imagination, and discussions with family, friends and acquaintances...as long as they don't fly off the handle wand want to bash your brains in for talking like that. </span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >In the meantime my fellow citizens and I can only hope, pray and put in the additional towards making this nation of ours a great place to be, for ourselves and future generations yet to come.</span></div><div><div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div>volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-66044266149423408892012-01-17T04:45:00.000-08:002012-01-17T09:27:47.998-08:00It's Been A WhileIt's been a while, well more like a long time since I last posted anything here. I actually had to go back and get a whole new password and gradually learn how to re-navigate my way around the blog. For starters I wanted to change the title of the blog from Trini Grad. I just felt that it had lost its luster and appeal, plus I no longer felt the need to advertise where I'm from. There are more than enough nationals of Trinidad and Tobago out there in the blogging universe doing that.<div><br /></div><div>What will I be blogging/writing about? Figured that I would use this to get back into Creative Writing Fiction, along with writing about everyday things that I experience, random thoughts that pop into my head, things and events that I look forward to, books that I'm reading or looking forward to reading when they are published etc. </div><div><br /></div><div>So that's about it in a nutshell. Been away for a longtime, and I am back. Here's hoping that this will draw some interested readers....... constructive comments are more than welcomed, No spam please.....and I will do my best to make this interesting. See ya in a few!</div>volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-1165958063637123202006-12-12T13:09:00.000-08:002006-12-12T13:14:23.786-08:00Downside & Upside<div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">Two weeks ago as I was about to leave the bank I happened to run into a former co-worker and one time crush from the second place that I worked following completion of College. She seemed really happy to see me and all, which I found odd, seeing as I had not seen or heard from her in close to six years, during my time as her co-worker she would flirt with me on a daily basis whenever she came over to my work area while on her way to and from the snack bar. I did not think much of it as I knew that she already had a boyfriend, and women like that were what I termed as being ‘Off Limits’ to single guys like myself. The last thing I needed was to have some jealous boyfriend hunting me down to do some serious bodily harm. However, she was good on the eyes, the type that would make you find new ways to look at her as he passed by while not letting on that you were looking. Then I noticed some strange things that she was doing, for starters she was chasing after one of the guys that worked in my area; apparently she and her boyfriend had a on again off again type relationship. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">Then there was the rumor and confirmation that she had hooked up with a friend of mine that worked in the same area with her.<br /><br />Soon her flirting turned into pestering about why I had not asked her out as yet? What was I waiting for? So one day out of the blue, before she could go into her flirt routine I asked her out and much to my surprise she accepted. Well needless to say, the date never came off, she wound up canceling on me four times in a row; three of those times she called ahead to cancel, on the fourth occasion I was stood up and left standing in the rain outside of a cinema, because I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. Not too long after that I resigned from the job and went elsewhere. When I ran into her at the bank that was the first time I had seen or talked to her in a long time. After the usual pleasantries she reminded me that she still owed me a date from all those years ago; I told her it was no big deal and tried to leave. But she pleaded so I accepted, we had agreed to meet the following Friday to check out a movie and get something to eat afterwards.<br /><br />For most of the week leading up to the date I had considered canceling the date, but I figured that I would once again give her the benefit of the doubt. When Friday finally rolled around my mood was one of anxiety as to if she would be there or if she would cancel on me yet again. I showed up relatively close to the time we agreed to meet and made my way to the food court, whatever anxiety and uneasiness I had been feeling seemed to drop off of my body as I saw her sitting by herself at one of the tables. Before I could even get within range of her my cell phone went off, it was her. As I was about to tell her to turn around she proceeded to tell me that something came up at home and that she would have to cancel once again. This was puzzling? Why was she telling me this? The answer soon revealed itself, it came in the form of another guy who took a seat next to her. Apparently she had made a date with some other guy, and waited till the last minute to cancel on me, how do you like that b******t?<br /><br />I let her go on with her apologies and stuff, before I let her know that I was there looking directly at her and the other guy. She tried to apologize and wanted to explain, but I was not in the mood to hear any of it, after hanging up on her I turned off my phone and went straight home. For the remainder of the evening I was not in the best of moods, for the most part I felt so stupid for agreeing to go out with her again. I should have known that she would have done the same thing again, in the six years since I last saw her she has remained the same, if not gotten a whole lot worse in how she treats guys. I remember seeing her run after a guy that was ignoring her and treating her like crap, while ignoring guys that had been treating her with nothing but respect and courtesy. Not me and that woman ever again, never again will I allow that to happen.<br /><br />For a while I was just about ready to give up on the women of my country, as it was beginning to seem as though I would not have a prayer in the world of getting the attention of the decent ones. Instead I seem to draw the odd, crazy, off tilter, semi-insane ones; why can’t they just ignore me like the normal rational ones do? Does the stealth effect wear off whenever they are around?<br />As Saturday rolled on I found something that helped to improve my mood, I had come across it earlier in the week while surfing around on the net. It was posted online as an essay/rant from a student attending The Wharton School of Business. Whoever the author may be, I for one am grateful for this essay as it talks about everything that guys like me have to go through from time to time. Here it is:<br /><br />“Ode to the Nice Guys</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">This rant was written for the </span><a href="http://clubs.wharton.upenn.edu/fcpaper/index.html" target="new"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">Wharton Undergraduate Journal</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"><br />This is a tribute to the nice guys. The nice guys that finish last, that never become more than friends, that endure hours of whining and bitching about what assholes guys are, while disproving the very point. This is dedicated to those guys who always provide a shoulder to lean on but restrain themselves to tentative hugs, those guys who hold open doors and give reassuring pats on the back and sit patiently outside the changing room at department stores. This is in honor of the guys that obligingly reiterate how cute/beautiful/smart/funny/sexy their female friends are at the appropriate moment, because they know most girls need that litany of support. This is in honor of the guys with open minds, with laid-back attitudes, with honest concern. This is in honor of the guys who respect a girl’s every facet, from her privacy to her theology to her clothing style.<br />This is for the guys who escort their drunk, bewildered female friends back from parties and never take advantage once they’re at her door, for the guys who accompany girls to bars as buffers against the rest of the creepy male population, for the guys who know a girl is fishing for compliments but give them out anyway, for the guys who always play by the rules in a game where the rules favor cheaters, for the guys who are accredited as boyfriend material but somehow don’t end up being boyfriends, for all the nice guys who are overlooked, underestimated, and unappreciated, for all the nice guys who are manipulated, misled, and unjustly abandoned, this is for you.<br />This is for that time she left 40 urgent messages on your cell phone, and when you called her back, she spent three hours painstakingly dissecting two sentences her boyfriend said to her over dinner. And even though you thought her boyfriend was a chump and a jerk, you assured her that it was all ok and she shouldn’t worry about it. This is for that time she interrupted the best killing spree you’d ever orchestrated in GTA3 to rant about a rumor that romantically linked her and the guy she thinks is the most repulsive person in the world. And even though you thought it was immature and you had nothing against the guy, you paused the game for two hours and helped her concoct a counter-rumor to spread around the floor. This is also for that time she didn’t have a date, so after numerous vows that there was nothing “serious” between the two of you, she dragged you to a party where you knew nobody, the beer was awful, and she flirted shamelessly with you, justifying each fit of reckless teasing by announcing to everyone: “oh, but we’re just friends!” And even though you were invited purely as a symbolic warm body for her ego, you went anyways. Because you’re nice like that.<br />The nice guys don’t often get credit where credit is due. And perhaps more disturbing, the nice guys don’t seem to get laid as often as they should. And I wish I could logically explain this trend, but I can’t. From what I have observed on campus and what I have learned from talking to friends at other schools and in the workplace, the only conclusion I can form is that many girls are just illogical, manipulative bitches. Many of them claim they just want to date a nice guy, but when presented with such a specimen, they say irrational, confusing things such as “oh, he’s too nice to date” or “he would be a good boyfriend but he’s not for me” or “he already puts up with so much from me, I couldn’t possibly ask him out!” or the most frustrating of all: “no, it would ruin our friendship.” Yet, they continue to lament the lack of datable men in the world, and they expect their too-nice-to-date male friends to sympathize and apologize for the men that are jerks. Sorry, guys, girls like that are beyond my ability to fathom. I can’t figure out why the connection breaks down between what they say (I want a nice guy!) and what they do (I’m going to sleep with this complete ass now!). But one thing I can do, is say that the nice-guy-finishes-last phenomenon doesn’t last forever. There are definitely many girls who grow out of that train of thought and realize they should be dating the nice guys, not taking them for granted. The tricky part is finding those girls, and even trickier, finding the ones that are single.<br />So, until those girls are found, I propose a toast to all the nice guys. You know who you are, and I know you’re sick of hearing yourself described as ubiquitously nice. But the truth of the matter is, the world needs your patience in the department store, your holding open of doors, your party escorting services, your propensity to be a sucker for a pretty smile. For all the crazy, inane, absurd things you tolerate, for all the situations where you are the faceless, nameless hero, my accolades, my acknowledgement, and my gratitude go out to you. You do have credibility in this society, and your well deserved vindication is coming.”<br />Fu-zu Jen, SEAS/WH, 2003<br /><br />I think that just about says it all. After all that happened last Friday, I’m not going to cast blame on all the women of T&T. Sure they may be the ones out there that will treat the decent nice guys like crap while they themselves get treated like crap by the stud, model, buff type guys. However there are the ones that will appreciate decent nice guys, and will eventually come around to notice them.<br />So to the ladies I say, the day will come when you will realize that the right one for you has been right in front of you all along. Just hope that it won’t be too late and you wind up loosing him so someone else, and to my fellow Nice Guys, our day in the sun is approaching. I really can’t say when, but as sure as the sun rises each day, our day will soon be here. All those long periods of being ignored and overlooked will soon come to an end, for not only will we get our just and right reward but we will also know what it will mean to be truly grateful for the good that has finally come out way.<br /></span><br /> </div>volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-1158835279840469922006-09-21T03:39:00.001-07:002006-09-21T03:41:19.863-07:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;color:#000066;"><strong><em>By the time I post this, it will be my first day back out to work after some fifteen days of vacation. Twelve of those days being spent in Atlanta Georgia at my aunt’s place, I’ve already written about the horrid trip from Trinidad to Atlanta and my dislike for the Miami International Airport along with my promise to never fly with American Airlines ever again. This recent vacation trip has been a learning experience in that along with my brother and his two co-workers and under the advisement of my mother know how to better prepare for next years trip to DragonCon. For starters:<br />1. As this is September we should/will start saving for next years convention from now. If we each put aside somewhere between $400.00 to $600.00 per month between now and mid-August of 2007, we should each be able to save from $4,800.00 to $7,200.00TT {$755.00 to $1,133.00 US}. Which should be able to cover transport, accommodation and spending money for the entire four days of the convention. By early to mid June we should make advance hotel reservations for a room at either the Hayatt or Hilton to stay arrive there a day or two before the start on the convention, and leave a day or two after the convention. As there would be between four to six of us in attendance staying in one room, it should not cost as much for each of us.<br /><br />2. Instead of flying into Atlanta via way of Miami, we wil/shouldl fly into NY and most likely stay at my Uncle D’s place. When my brother and his co-workers went to Baltimore, and encountered some difficulty with finding accommodations for the funds that they had. My Uncle told them to get on the next bus to NY (which is a three hour bus ride), and he met them at the bus station. They stayed there from Friday into Saturday, and they were well take care of. On Saturday he drove them to Baltimore to drop them off at the Baltimore Comic Con while he went on to the Carnival. As it would be no problem to stay with him for a day or two, we would then take the bus from NY to Atlanta GA.<br /><br />3. As there is the possibility that there will be a lot of things that will catch our interest from vendors, it would be best to save some additional funds from our regular salary. At least that way, we would each have some additional funds for extra spending on items, hotel accommodations, meals etc<br /><br />Next year hopefully, I should be able to pat a visit to my friends in Upstate NY. I tried t0 get in contact with one or two, but was unsuccessful. I spoke briefly to my college roommate, at the time he was about to watch a movie with his daughter and promised to call back when he could. Guess the demands of the job and other stuff must have kept him really busy. No big deal, the same could be said of my friend from Berkeley, he recently started working with the College in their alumni relations department, and the demands of the job probably demand a lot of his time. There is always calling cards and e-mail.<br /><br />After some three/four years of loyal service, my beloved Dell Laptop finally gave out as its motherboard burned out. Good thing I was in the states, and not too far from two Best Buy stores. On the 10th September accompanied by my aunt, I went to one of the Best Buy’s and as it was Sunday, it just so happened to be the day when they had their sales. I purchased a Compaq Laptop for $600.00, with a three year warranty for $149.00. So far it has been working quite well, and I now finally have a laptop where I can watch DVDs, along with burning info onto CDs. Should come in handy for work and other stuff.<br /><br />Last Monday I celebrated my 33rd birthday in Atlanta, my aunt took me out to see “Accepted” to dinner at a Thai restaurant and to Boarders Bookstore to get a book of my choice. With all that the 11th of September has become known for, it should be noted that two of my school mates from St. John Fisher College, Mike and Kim welcomed their second child into the world. I wonder if they know that their second child shares a birthday with me? Just today in one of the local papers was a list of famous people that were born on the 11th of September. They are as follows:<br /><br />DH Lawrence 11/09/1885<br />Ludacris 11/09/1977<br />Moby 11/09/1965<br />Harry Connick jr 11/09/1967<br /><br />Others born within this month/planet (Virgos):<br />Ruben Studdard 12/09/1978<br />Jacqueline Bisset 13/09/1944<br />Fiona Apple 13/09/1977<br />Ben Savage 13/09/1980<br />Sam Niel 14/09/1947<br />Tommy Lee Jones 15/09/1946<br />Prince Harry Windsor 15/09/1984<br />Oliver Stone 15/09/1946<br />Lauren Bacall 16/09/1924<br />Jennifer Tilly 16/09/1961<br />Marc Anthony 16/09/1968<br />Anne Bancroft 17/09/1931<br />John Ritter 17/09/1948<br />Cassandra Peterson aka “Elvira Mistress of The Dark” 17/09/1951<br /><br />Interesting don’t you think. Well, time to go, back to work tomorrow.</em></strong></span>volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-1157487092737026242006-09-05T12:17:00.001-07:002006-09-05T13:11:34.146-07:00Long Road To Vacation<strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">On the 28th August I left work thinking that this would be the last time I would see my place of employment for the next two weeks, as I was due to fly out of T&T the following day. However, mother nature well more like one of her nephews threw a monkey wrench in that plan. With Hurrican Ernesto heading for Miami, all flights heading there on the 29th were either pushed back or cancelled. Which was the case with my flight on American Airlines, originally my brother, his boss and I were supposed to have travelled on the 29th, instead we were pushed back to the 1st September. Which kinda worked out seeing as one of my brother's co-workers who was supposed to travel on the 30th would now travel with us on the 1st. As she had never travelled to the States before, having us around would make it a whole lot easier for here and her parents. In the meantime, I had to go back out to work for one more day, mostly to make arrangements for a shuttle bus to take us from the airport in Atlanta to my aunt's house. That was alll arranged and our route was supposed to look like this:</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">1st September T&T to Miami with a connecting flight to Atlanta.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">This too was to have another mon key wrench thrown in the works. This time it was mostly due to the inefiencey of American Airlines. For starters, they are soooooo cheap, instead of meal we were offered a snack. You know what it was? A pack of Ole Corn Chips, one pack of burbon biscuits and a hotdog roll with cheesepaste. Even BWIA does far better than that! There was a dleay in takeing off due to the baggage still being loaded onto the aircraft, and there was a delay in landing due to bad weather in the vacinity of the airport. By the time we landed sometime after 6:35pm, we had a small window in which to make our flight and there was still customs and baggage claim to go through. Due to the rain and lightening the baggae handlers were not going to unload anyhting until it passed. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">By the time we collected our luggage and made our way over to the counter to find out about our flight it was already too late. The flight had long departed and there would not be another one to Atlanta till the following morning. They had offered us a voucher for a hotel, yeah right. All the hotels in the area were booked up solid as it was labor day weekend. So the four of wound up spending the night in the airport. We got ourselves a little something to eat...hot dogs and chips, then found an area to settle down and wait till the following morning. Luckily the spot where we were camping out was right in front of a newstand, so we were able to get a few snacks, water and juice to tide us over. I don't think I slept at all during the 12+ hours that we spent at the Miami international Airport, as it was a group of us travelleing together it made the whole thing a bit bearable. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">Originally we had been booked for an 11:18am flight to Atlanta, but tried to get on the 8:15am flight as stand by's. Out of the four members of our party, two were confirmed on the 8:15am flight, while my bother and I were still on standy by. There were a lot of folks on stand by that were trying to get on the flight, so it did not seem like my brother and I would be on the same flight with the others. As they were near the end of boading, they had called a few names who were not there. Just as I was about to tell my brother let's go and get some pizza for breakfast, they called us. YES!!! We made the flight.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">From this trip I have decided that based on destination I will not travel with American Airlines ever again. I would sooner stick with BWIA and their cramped seating, or catch a connecting flight through either Barbados or Puerto Rico to my destination instead of going through the Miam International Airport.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">After landing and makeing our way to my aunt's place, we had a brief rest before going on to DragonCon, which is a four day Sci-Fi convention, we had already missed the opening day, but we were able to get a ticket pass for the remaining three days. After staning in a seriously looooooooooonnnnnggggggg line populated by people in costumes of every make and type that seemed to go on forever, my bother and I finally got to the ticket counter and got our passes (his boss and fellow co-woker were volounteering for the event, so they did not have to join the line), and went to check out the event.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">Compared to the ones that I had been to in Trinidad , this one was the motherload. There were a lot of vendors that offered a wide array of itmes from comics, novels, action figures, dvds, models, game stuff etc. You name it they had it. We picked up a few things on our first day there, then got some more itmes during the remaining two days. I had an opportunity to talk to several vendors, authors and such about my plans for a business and was even able to exchange business cards so I would have my contacts when it comes time to start shopping for the business. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">As I've already made a pre-registration payment for next year, the plan is as follows:</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">1. Leave at least two to three days before the start of DragonCon.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">2. Arrange to stay at one of the hotels where they will be holding the event, thay way during the course of the day we could always go back to the room to rest during the day.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">3. Save up more money, a definite, thankfully I did not spend all of my vacation money at the event and still have some left for the remainder of my time here. But nevertheless, I plan to save more for next year's event.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">4.Fly to Barbados then connect with a flight to Atlanta.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">5. Come up earlier to go and visit my friends in NY and NJ before the event.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">Inspite of the difficulty that was encountered on the way here, DragonCon made up for it in many ways.</span></em></strong>volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-1155746266940723752006-08-16T09:35:00.000-07:002006-08-16T09:37:46.960-07:00FOUR THINGS ABOUT YOURS TRUELY<span style="font-family:georgia;">FOUR THINGS<br />Four things about me-things you may or may not have known about me, all present in no specific order:<br /><br />A). Four jobs I have had in my life:<br />1. Camp Counselor<br />2. Telephone Operator<br />3. Duty Receptionist<br />4. Accounting Assistant/Merchandiser<br /><br />B). Four movies I would watch over and over:<br />1. Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle<br />2. Dodge Ball<br />3. Flash Gordon<br />4. Shaun Of The Dead<br /><br />C). Four places I have lived:<br />1. Scarborough Tobago<br />2. Glencoe, Carenage<br />3. Rochester, NY<br />4. Little Falls/West Patterson NJ<br /><br />D). Four (current) Television shows I watch:<br />1. 4400<br />2. Eureka<br />3. Battlestar Galactica<br />4. Attack of The Show<br /><br />E). Four of my favorite singers/bands<br />1. Michelle Branch<br />2. Faith No more<br />3. Weird Al Yankovich<br />4. Blessed Union Of Souls<br /><br />F).Four places I have been on vacation<br />1. Disney World<br />2. Grenada<br />3. New York<br />4. Montreal<br /><br />G). Four Websites I visit daily<br />1. </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/"><span style="font-family:georgia;">www.amazon.com</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">2. </span><a href="http://www.hi5.com/"><span style="font-family:georgia;">www.hi5.com</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">3. </span><a href="http://www.fanfiction.com/"><span style="font-family:georgia;">www.fanfiction.com</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">4. wangtastic.blogspot.com<br /><br />H). Four of my favorite foods<br />1. Pizza<br />2. Beef Roti<br />3. Chicken Fingers<br />4. Cereal (Fruit loops, Apple Jacks, Pops)<br /><br />I). Four places I would rather be right now<br />1. In a country where the crime rate is low to non-existent, the politicians actually put the interests of the country first, and the local currency is equal to or more than the US dollar<br />2. Working at a job that I actually like and look forward to going to<br />3. In a world where Fundamentalist ******** were treated like a treatable STD (easily cured by vaccinations or through abstinence)<br />4. A place where your education actually counts for something<br /><br />J). Four friends I think will respond<br />1. Jenn<br />2. Rob<br />3. CJ<br />4. Michael<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-1151663717268573872006-06-30T03:22:00.000-07:002006-06-30T03:35:17.280-07:00Surprise Surprise Still Alive<strong><em><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;color:#000099;">Well I'm still in the land of the living! Just figured that I would take some time away from the blogg until the feelings of frustration, bitterness and resentment departed for other parts. Some of it is still with me, but not as much as before. I'm still at TGS and doing my best every day to keep busy until 4pm, waiting to hear what is going to happen regarding the redevelopment of South Quay and when we will have to move. The last I heard was that we had until the end of September to move, now I am haering that one of the other tennants has asked for a one year extension on their lease, if they manage to get it then it means that we can get the same, which will allow for the purchase and development of some land out on the highway in the El Socorro area. Okay! As long as nothing sneaks up on us and catches us off guard. Hopefully the other business thing will move into prep mode, which means that not only will I be working in an area that I will know and like. But it also means, if we get a space in Trincity Mall that I will no longer have to get up at 4am on a daily basis. Sure it means going to work six days a week and having only Sundays and public holidays off, but it will be worth it to be doing something that I enjoy for a change</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">Will try to write more next month....which is tomorrow. See you then!!</span></em></strong>volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-1143628386122771402006-03-29T02:20:00.000-08:002006-03-29T02:33:06.146-08:00<strong><em><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;color:#000099;">Its been over a month since I last wrote anything here. To be quite honest, i really did not see the point in doing any more writing seeing as hardly ANYONE even visits much less reads anyhting that I write about. I was just about ready to say "Screw It All" and never return to this blogg again, but then this morning I got to my job extra, extra early; and seeing as I had no immediate e-mail correspondances to reply to I figured that I would make a quick post here. Well here it goes:</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">Since I last wrote the body count for the year so far has crossed the 100 mark, and oddly enough I found out something interesting. Women now outnumber men here in T&T. Young males in T&T are fast becoming an endangered species, so I guess when women say that there are so few good men left here in T&T, they really mean it. However, there are still many assholes out there, so they will still be in the spotlight while the "good men" like myself will be doing our best to avoid trouble, find a good woman that will apprecaite us, try our best to keep on doing right and trying to stay alive.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">Governement has decided that the area where I work needs to undergo an urban renewal. They want to put up high rise apartment building and skyscrapers; so all business and residents located within the South Quay Area of POS has until the end of May to vacate before the begin demolition of the area. I am convinced that the current government is :</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">1. Is Comprised of idiots.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">2. Wants to loose the next general election.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">3. Does not give a crap about the people of this country.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">4. Is Comprised of idiots.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">5. Have the intelligence and character of a dung bettle.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">Moving means that TGS will be undegoign a change from our regular mode of operation and that some of us.....like yours truely, may/will be going into another area of work. Lets just say that it will be an area that I will be familiar with, as compared to where I am now.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">TBC</span></em></strong>volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-1140793664239526772006-02-24T07:04:00.000-08:002006-02-24T07:07:44.256-08:00Valentine's Day & Carnival 2k6<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;color:#6666cc;">Valentine’s Day has passed (Thank God) and won’t be back for another year. While I did not get to go into POS to unleash my reign of destruction upon the flower shops, card stores, flower delivery vans, and those stores selling those ridiculous stuffed animals. There is always next year! (I’ll have more time to stock up my implements of destruction and plan my campaign) As for the stupid couples, I’m still going to be out there doing my best to avoid you all. However should you get in the way of my daily routine, delay me in any way shape or form, or heaven forbid get the last of some edible item that I’ve been craving; heaven help you bastards and bitches. Once again, I’m not ticked off at Valentine’s Day and Couples because I’m single, far from it. I just can’t stand that stupid day, and as for the couples…you just annoy me and sometimes make it difficult for me to get things done when you pause to do some stupid crap that only couples tend to do. Here is a bit of advice, save the displays of affection for the bedroom or someplace private. Okay, enough ranting about Valentine’s Day until 2007.<br /><br />As this is the week leading up to Carnival 2006 (2k6) I’ve been noticing that people have been doing a lot of stupid things. Traffic going into town yesterday was bad, today it was even worse and folks were not exactly being kind to one another either. I must have heard the word “asshole” used over sixty times while running errands this morning. But, fast forward to next week, and these same men and women that were being most impolite to each other will be linked arm in arm jumping, chipping, wining and grinding to the latest Soca song as they make their way up and down the length and width of Port of Spain. For now, they are all praying for Friday to get here as soon as possible, as it will mean:<br />(1). Payday.<br />(2). Start of a long four day weekend.<br />(3). A wide range of parties and fetes to choose from.<br /><br />From Friday to Sunday there will be a whole bunch of parties, concerts and fetes all over Trinidad & Tobago. Some of the more popular ones of course will be held in the West. Which for those living there will mean excess traffic of people going there. (Thank God I live in the East). Trinis will be tired from Friday night, but will find that extra burst of energy to head out again on Saturday night, Sunday night into Monday morning for Jouvert and Carnival Monday, followed by Carnival Tuesday, the big day when they get to don their $3,000.00 plus costume, which is nothing more than a beaded bra, thong panties, some glitter, a headpiece and maybe a standard of some sort…then again do bands even use standards?? Part of the $3,000.00 plus that they pay also goes to cover food, drink, security, medical, P-Truck (yes there is a truck that they trick out with a few portable bathrooms for masqueraders, particularly females to go and do their business…dudes can go up on a wall, bush or wherever) and other sundry expenses.<br /><br />When Ash Wednesday rolls around, these same people that have been living for Carnival since the previous one, will either miss work altogether on Wednesday or take it off to go to the beach. But for the most part, they will be in Carnival withdrawal just like any addict whose main fix that brought them so much joy and pleasure, has gone and will not be back for another year. That however will not be me, I only look forward to Carnival for the four-day weekend and the opportunity to catch up on sleep, reading, movies etc. Back when everyone was getting into the whole Carnival thing and going out to parties and stuff. I was at home on babysitting duty, for part of High School I lived over in Tobago. When Carnival rolled around it meant two things, the Friday before when other schools were having Calypso Shows and Jump-ups, we would be running cross country; and that I would be heading to Trinidad for the next few days to return to Tobago on the first flight up on Ash Wednesday morning. I never really got the opportunity to develop any sort of dance co-ordination when it came to dancing. So when I moved back to Trinidad for 4th Form, to a school where being un-coordinated was akin to an unforgivable sin; I just never bothered with going out at all during Carnival.<br /><br />Anyhow, no big deal as I have my books and movies to keep me entertained during the four days. Come Ash Wednesday I’ll be among the few that will be on their way to work dodging the Carnival Zombies, piles of debris, and having to contend with the smell that will permeate Port of Spain for the majority of that day and part of the next. The smell of spilled beer, spoiled food and urine, I know its not a pleasant thought but that’s the truth of the day after Carnival. Then there is the mad rush to Tobago; locals and visitors alike flood the harbor and airport in search of a means to get to the sister for a few relaxing days following the hectic pace of the past few weeks.<br /> I’ll probably go over to Tobago sometime next month and spend a few days with my father. In the meantime, I have some new books to read (including a few that have been on hold for some time), my pay Cheque was deposited this morning and will be accessible on Friday. In time to pay my phone and cable bills, maybe even pick up a used book from the used book people who will be in City Gate again on Friday. Along with trying my to get some creative writing done to post to my journal space site, and work on the Fan Fiction set in the Axis of Time books. Fun, Fun, Fun!!!!!!!</span>volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-1139587440331164612006-02-10T08:01:00.000-08:002006-02-10T08:04:00.346-08:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;color:#6600cc;">Once again, the day that I loathe is almost upon us single and unattached people. The ads are all over the place, and going into a stationary store or candy shop the reminders are overly blatant and pretty much in your face. To those that are not aware, I’m talking about Valentine’s Day (14th February) the one day when I’m forced to bite my tongue and hold my temper when I’m walking through town and have to dodge flower delivery people, or love sick suckers with their arms overflowing with cards, flowers, balloons, stuffed bears (or any silly looking stuffed animal), chocolate and perfume on their way to deliver these items to some female that they desire at her place of work. In the hopes that this outpouring of gifts and affection on their part will win over the hart of said desired female. Instead, said female will take it from the gullible sap and tell her friends back in her work area that some other guy gave it to her. Along with being bombarded by petals from some bouquet of flowers that get caught in the wind stream of the maxi taxi that I’m traveling in that afternoon. Then there are those stupid couples that are so wrapped up in each other that they get stupid and forget how to do simple things. Such as walking hand in hand and blocking the path of the single angry, fed up people that are trying to get by them. I have a hard enough time with couples on a daily basis, but on Valentines Day they just annoy me even more. Here is a hint,<br />“GET A FRIGGIN ROOM AND GET OUT OF MY WAY!!!!!!”<br /><br />There was once was a time back when I was young, gullible and stupid; when every Valentines day I would shell out mucho dollars on cards and the odd stuffed animal(s) to give out to female friends and acquaintances. In the hopes that at least one would be so impressed that she would want to get something more out of it. One year it did work, and I got a girlfriend that I was with for a year and six months. Since then, I’ve not been able to duplicate the same result; and following graduation from College I sent out cards to one special person hoping that maybe she would someday return the same feelings to me. No such luck! Eventually I gave up on the whole sending out cards thing and became a bit of a cynic on the whole Valentine’s Day Hoopla.<br /><br />If you have been single for as long as I have, tried to do right, kept it honest and been a general good person. And have been forced to watch as the jerks, assholes, and “Bad Boys” get all the attention from women while you’re ignored and relegated to the background like wall paper. Been forced to listen to women complain that “All Men Are Dogs” and “There Are No Good Decent Men Out There.” It tend to turn one into a cynic, that becoming an asshole starts to look like a damn good idea. But since its not in your character to become like the ones that you despise, you instead turn inward and dodge the couples with the public displays of affection, contend with female friends and their complaints about their ignorant/stupid/jerk of a boyfriend, while doing your best not to loose it and go on a rampage.<br /> While I would love to avoid work on the 14th, I have no choice but to go out there and face all the love struck stupid couples and their maladies. I’m just hoping that the books I ordered will get here by then; their arrival should lessen the sting and disappointment that many single people face.</span>volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-1136916007317406962006-01-10T09:56:00.000-08:002006-01-10T10:00:07.330-08:00<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;color:#6600cc;">Last night I was looking through a folder which and came across an e-mail message, which contained the following which I am going to post here and share with you all. The original date on this is listed as June 10th 2003 while I was still at the Business School in New Jersey, reading it again made me realize that the majority of the women at the school were very much like the ones mentioned in the following, now here is the essay “Why Assholes Get Girls and Nice Guys Finish Last.”<br /><br />“Always, man…It’s amazing that assholes can get girls. Actually, now that I think of it, it’s not that amazing. They are assholes at heart, but to meet girls they lavish their undying love. IT’S A CHARADE. They act nice, friendly, and they listen, until they get into what they’re after. Their prey thinks they are in love with them, however when they realize what assholes their predators really are, they pretend like the asshole is really nice inside. The girl tries to change the asshole into a nice guy, but assholes will always be assholes. She gets upset and goes to the nice guy to complain about the asshole. But she claims to love the asshole, now this is where the theory begins. She doesn’t want to look like she is easy so she won’t dump the asshole right away, instead she will stay with the assholes.<br /><br />Girls are idiots. They don’t realize that the nice guy has been there all along. He never had to pretend to be a good guy to get girls because he is naturally like that. However, girls don’t see it for some reason or another. They look at the nice guy as a friend, a trusted companion to whom they can tell their sad story to about their asshole boyfriend. But the nice guy isn’t THAT naïve. He was trying to score with the girl he listens to all along. The problem is that since he is a nice guy he keeps listening. Since girls get attached to things that pay attention to them, they think of the nice guy as a friend. A FRIEND. They don’t say, “Oh he’s hot”, or “I want to have his children” about the nice guy, they just want the emotional support. When they get the emotional support from the nice guy, they don’t need it from the asshole. The nice guy gets the shit end of the stick while the asshole gets all the action.<br /><br />I am starting to wonder if being a nice guy is really the route to take to get action? I have been down this path for all of my post-pubescent life and it has gotten me NOWHERE, at least not in the women department. Perhaps another reason why girls fall for the asshole is because assholes ignore the girl they are with. The women wonder, “Why isn’t he paying attention to me”, so they explore why. They start to get easier with each attempt to get closer. The asshole finally says, “I’ve let this beauty dangle long enough, time to boat this bass.” It is then he puts on his charade and the girl feels like she has won him, even though all she has won is an asshole.<br /><br />Once you have gone down the path as a nice guy or a “listener”, you can’t turn back. The girl will always go after the assholes because there are always nice guys there to listen. Once you realize that you are a “listener” you can’t do anything about it, just pack up and close shop. There is no way you will get into her pants, ever. There is and never will be a situation where the nice guy will get the girl he has a crush on. It just doesn’t work like that. The girl won’t “come to her senses” and realize what an asshole her boyfriend is like in the movies, instead she will just go after another asshole, and unless you stop being a nice guy, she will never go after you.<br /><br /><br />Women complain that there are no nice guys in the world. Right. They are obviously not looking hard enough because there are nice guys EVERYWHERE!!!! Girls aren’t looking for nice guys! They say they are, but they’re not. They are looking for the perfect asshole, but there is NO SUCH THING as the perfect asshole. All in all, the nice guys get the shaft.<br /><br />To all the girls out there with boyfriends that don’t treat you with respect, they don’t listen to you, and that don’t care about you I say this: look next to you. The guy that has been standing next to you the whole time is the guy you have been looking for. He is what you want your asshole to be like. He knows more about you than you know about yourself, because he has listened to it all.” </span>volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-1136679814710030912006-01-07T16:22:00.000-08:002006-01-07T16:23:34.713-08:00Cute Girl+Me=Klutzy<em><span style="color:#000066;">I highly doubt if this happens to anyone else but me, but sometimes whenever cute women are around I seem to turn into a complete klutz of some sort. On Friday I had to go over to a shipping company to pay some fees on items that the store has coming in by ship. Behind the counter sat a prime example of exotic beauty that Trini women are known to possess. She was already attending to a customer, so I went to the next available agent/teller.<br /><br />From time to time I noticed her looking my way, I’m not too certain if she was looking at me or at the clock on the wall behind me? Anyhow, time comes for me to leave and my subconscious starts saying,<br />“Okay Val, there’s a really cute chick sitting over there. Don’t do anything stupid in front of her. Just get up, go to the door and leave. That’s all you have to do.” Instead I knocked over a nearby chair, which was just number one of my klutzy moves. After setting the chair back into the upright position I was in such a hurry to get out of there, that I walked into the wall next to the door, not one but twice. As I scrambled down the stairs my subconscious was yelling, “Val! You’re not listening!”<br /><br />I swear if I’m not walking into things, tripping over stuff, I’m either dropping stuff or saying stupid things at the wrong time and in front of the wrong people….i.e…cute women. Or I get caught checking them over when I should be looking elsewhere.<br /><br />Why do these things always seems to happen to me? Why can’t these things happen to the jerks and assholes? Why must they happen to the nice guys, average Joes and shy types? What did we do to have this dumb luck heaped on us like an un-wanted flu the day before a Sci-Fi convention.</span></em>volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-1136679522349207682006-01-07T16:18:00.000-08:002006-01-07T16:18:42.350-08:00<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="350" align="center" border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="COLOR: #dddddd" align="middle"><span style="font-size:+0;"><b>Your Ideal Relationship is Friends with Benefits</b></span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#eeeeee"><center><img height="100" src="http://images.blogthings.com/whatsyouridealrelationshipquiz/friends-with-benefits.jpg" width="100" /></center><span style="color:#000000;">You're not looking for anything serious... just something hot!And you're little black book (or cell phone) always hooks you up.You want nothing more than friends with benefits. No strings.You also don't mind benefits without the friendship!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/whatsyouridealrelationshipquiz/">What's" Your Ideal Relationship?</a></div>volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-1136679164405234102006-01-07T16:12:00.000-08:002006-01-07T16:35:35.940-08:00Dateing Purity Test<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="350" align="center" border="0"><tbody><tr><td align="middle" style="color:#eeeeee;"><span style="font-size:14;"><b>Your Dating Purity Score: 79%</b></span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#dddddd"><center><img height="100" src="http://images.blogthings.com/datingpuritytest/underexperienced-dater.jpg" width="100" /></center><span style="color:#000000;"><br />You are an under-experienced dater.<br />This doesn't mean you're unexperienced - far from it.<br />It just means that there's a lot of romance left to discover!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/datingpuritytest/">Dating Purity Test</a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a>That's a good way of putting it, seems to be dead on.</a></div>volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-1136678938268576182006-01-07T16:08:00.000-08:002006-01-07T16:32:46.103-08:00<a><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="350" align="center" border="0"><tbody><tr><td align="middle" style="color:#dddddd;"><span style="font-size:0;"><b>You Are An Invisible Ex</b></span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#eeeeee"><center><img height="100" src="http://images.blogthings.com/whattypeofexareyouquiz/invisible-ex.jpg" width="100" /></center><span style="color:#000000;">You're so over your ex, you hardly even remember you have an exYou prefer leave all of the baggage behind you - far, far behindAs they say, indifference is the opposite of love!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div align="center"></a></div><a href="<a">What</a> Type of Ex Are You? <div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a>That sounds just about right. Out of my three ex-girlfriends I only hear from one, and she does most of the calling. Did I mention that she is married?</a></div>volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774346.post-1136146027008912802006-01-01T11:56:00.000-08:002006-01-01T12:07:07.020-08:00Another New Year<span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;color:#000066;">Well, once again another year has ended and yet another has begun. Did not do anything all that spectualar, stayed home, checked in on the dog when the wogs started to set off their fireworks for a non-stop 20 minutes. At the end of it all, the dog was okay, the air was cloudy with smoke from the fireworks, and I was once again wondering why the authorities does not make a formal ban on fireworks. Every year they say the same thing, but don't seem to do jack crap.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000066;">Anyhow, I have tomorrow off from work and will be back out to work on the 3rd, which is the very same day when school re-opens...oh Joy!!! With Christmas out of the way, all efforts will be dedicated towards that events leading up to Carnival 2k6 which falls on the 27th and 28th February. Which means extra time for people to go out to parties, get drunk and skip work the next day. Which will mean fewer commuters the folowing day.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000066;">As for what I am looking forward to in 2006:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000066;">1. Season 3 of BSG.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000066;">2. New episodes of Lost, Invasion, Surface, NCIS, E-Ring and The Amazing Race.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000066;">3. New books from Ian Douglas (Feb 1st), David Sherman and Dan Cragg (Jan 31st) John Birmingham (?) and Harry Turtledove (July/August 2006).</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000066;">4. The possibility of ending my drought in the dating world........yeah right.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000066;">Well gotta run, hope all goes well with you all for 2006 than it was in 2005.</span>volleyd32http://www.blogger.com/profile/15504899468605897958noreply@blogger.com0