Food and Travel: Taste The Caribbean - So Many Islands, So Many Flavors

Food and Travel: Taste The Caribbean - So Many Islands, So Many Flavors

Barbados Land I Love

I haven’t blogged in a while partly because I’ve been in a bit of a rut. So I thought I’d rejuvenate my blogspot with some information about my home country Barbados. I am in the process of setting up my own tour company in Barbados and this would be a good precursor to the website www.baywatertours.com. Baywater Tours is a family owned and operated company that offers exclusive visitor advisement on activities to be enjoyed while on holiday.

Barbados is the place where I got my foundation in life. From my Education to my faith (Christianity), I developed a tenacity and perspective that allowed me to progress successfully in the United States. Until recently, there were still an excessive amount of people that had never even heard of Barbados. Thanks to Barbados’ significant advancement and the popularity of R&B rising star Rihanna among others, a few more people are now aware of the 166 sq. mile rock I call home.

No matter how much strides Barbadians seem to make however, there are still a few people that ask questions like "Which part of Jamaica is Barbados in?" With a puzzled look on my face, I repugnantly reply "Barbados is not a part of Jamaica!" Yes, Barbados, like Jamaica, is an island in the Caribbean but it is a distinct and separate island from all the other islands that make up the archipelago. So separate is it, that it is known as the most easterly of the West Indian countries.

Barbados has many attributes that makes it an extra special island. Number one on the list would be the people. Visitors from all over the world comment on the friendly nature of Barbadians or Bajans as we are affectionately called. Barbadians are usually helpful, personable, good natured folks that understand that tourism is our business and we must play our part. If you are in need of help you can be certain that at least one Barbadian will come to your aid.

Outside of the people, there is the food. In Barbados, there are many indigenous dishes that are highly respected and favored by visitors from all around the world. The most indigenous of all is cou-cou and flying fish. Cou-cou, made from cornmeal and okra carefully stirred to a smooth, mouthwatering delight of the gustatory senses is a very unique meal. Other delicacies specific to Barbados include pudding and souse, fish cakes and bakes, cassava pone and buljol.

There are many other attractions I can speak of that the sunny isle of Barbados offers but I will give you a chance to peruse my website for those. I will just leave you with my final thoughts on my beloved Bim. Wherever you go you should always remember from whence you came. No matter where I go, and I do love to travel, Barbados will always be home. Pride and industry is our motto and it is certainly symbolic of the traits that I hold dear to my heart and carry with me.

Now is The Time: Yes We Can.

First of all, I would like to congratulate President Elect Barack Obama and the First Family Elect for a race well fought and won. My husband, daughter and I watched as history was etched into the pages of our time. This result has not only restored my belief in my people but it has restored my faith in the country that I live in; the country that my daughter was born in. There are no words that truly capture the spirit and emotion embodied in the United States at this time. Grown men shed tears, women squeal with uncontrollable delight and children beam with unspeakable joy. I witnessed my own husband walk out the door en route to work one inch taller, his head held a little bit higher. So what has really changed? Aside from the fact that history has been made in the election of the first African American President, hope reigns supreme once more and ideals no longer seem unattainable. Barack Obama is the epitome of what is achievable with hard work, patience, dedication and most importantly unwavering faith. The example he has set, narrows the list of self defeating thoughts that have held our race back for so long. We can now assume responsibility and accountability for our actions and rise above the odds. I have long thought that if there were any race that had an excuse to fail it would have been the Jews who faced a near genocide but far from failure they dominate in the sectors they pursue. So now is the time. Now it is our time to shine. With the refrain still ringing in our ears, “Yes We Can,” we must take our stand and just do it! I started out this year with the following as my MSN sign-in-name, "2008 is definitely the year... BIG things are happening. Have faith and receive your blessing!" and sure enough it has proven to be quite a year. Beginning with the birth of our daughter, and continuing with blessings to numerous to list, this has definitely been an outstanding year. I intend to do all that I can to share in Obama’s vision of a brighter, safer, better world and I invite you to do the same. Please join together and pray earnestly and steadfastly for the guidance and protection of the new administration of the United States of America. God bless us all.

Pregnancy: The Things They Don't Tell You

Bearing a child is a wonderful experience. It is the single most life defining moment in a woman's life. However, there are many unspokens about pregnancy that are seldom discussed. This may be due to what I like to call the 'after effect'. After the child is born we don't remember the pain, the agony, and the despair. In fact, it is pushed further into the recesses of our memories with every milestone our child reaches. Overall, it is in everyone's best interest to keep the unspokens under wraps because the future of each generation depends on procreation. That in mind, I still wish that someone had better prepared me for child birth. I read baby magazines, I asked plenty of questions during my doctor visits and I spoke with many veteran moms. But the only thing that comforts you when you are in the delivery room is the knowledge that it will be over eventually. Or so I thought. The after pain seemed more unbearable than the delivery. I think that this is the biggest unspoken about the child bearing process. People talk about the pregnancy, the morning sickness, the delivery, but hardly anyone talks about the recovery. Obviously the recovery process is easier on some than on others as is the case with the other processes of child bearing but the truth is that there is some measure of discomfort to overcome after birth. After all, your body was altered in ways that it will not be ordinarily altered. Based on my experience, I would advise those who are pregnant and those who plan on becoming pregnant to remain active during the pregnancy. Activity allows your body to maintain the flexibility necessary for a fast and pain diminished recovery. My lack of activity added to the complexity of the recovery process resulting in excruciating aches and cramps. I therefore strongly recommend walking, swimming, stretching and taking Lamaze classes wherever possible. Of course, there are many other mitigating factors that determine what level of discomfort you will experience during the child bearing process, but any activity that can help is well worth the effort.

Barack Obama: Get to know the candidate

In light of the upcoming elections, I am compelled to air my views on the electoral candidates. Senators Barack Obama and John McCain are both qualified to lead this country on paper but let's face it, only one candidate has the practical approach that is necessary to dig us out of this financial crisis. Senator Barack Obama is a man of compassion, insight and justice. He seeks to learn about the masses. He has lived the life of the middle class. He understands sacrifice, struggle and success. The thing that he probably understands better than anyone however is human nature. As an african american male raised by his middle class mother and grandparents who are white, he is more in tune to indivdualistic differences across race, age, sex and class. I am impressed by his charisma, savvy and fervor to serve our ailing country at a time when the winning candidate will be scrutinized on a macro level to the utmost. He is certainly a brave man and he has my support. To those of you who haven't taken the time to find out about Senator Barack Obama, I urge you not to let ignorance make your decision for you when you cast your vote. It is your civic duty to find out about both candidates, their stance on the issues and their fundamental differences and make an informed decision based on your findings. Do it for your country, do it for yourself, do it for our future. Do it now! Visit http://www.barackobama.com/issues/