Monthly Archives: October 2011

Miss Humanity International

Posted on by
5

It was not so much a contest about beauty, but about humanity. The inaugural Miss Humanity International competition was held last week in Barbados. Some 15 participants from around the globe took part, showcasing the issues they faced in their countries and their personal actions to solve them by membership in, and in some cases, founding of humanitarian or charitable organisations. At the finale on October 22nd the competition was deservedly won by Miss Lesotho ( Karabelo Mokoallo with her project Beauty on a Mission), with Miss Dominica taking a prize for Best National Costume. Founder Stephanie Yates is to be congratulated on successfully organising the first of what we hope will be an annual event.  Here’s a gallery of photos from the event.

Continue reading →

Introduction to Cuba

Posted on by
Reply

Caribbean starfish, Isla de la Juventud, Cuba

by Simon Wong

Some of the best beach holidays can be taken in sunny Cuba. The beautiful beaches of Cuba are famously seductive. Ernest Hemingway once wrote, ‘It not only looks wonderful, it is wonderful.’ when speaking of Cuba. So, get ready to jump into the Latin rhythm and spend your upcoming holiday on one of the glorious unspoiled beaches. With the temperature ranging between 24C and 29C, the warm water is cooled by light winds and the country averages 330 sunny days per year. This offers great odds for a near perfect holiday.

Beautiful Destination Points

Cuba can be divided up into 289 natural beaches. The northern beaches feature powdery sands and clear, turquoise water of the Atlantic Ocean. While the southern beaches are just as beautiful, they are a less popular tourist location, making them perfect for those who want to take beach holidays away in tranquil isolation.

A few of the popular locations include Varadero beach, St Lucia and Cayo Largo del Sur. White sands and calm blue water await at the popular Varadero beach with over 100 hotels to choose from in the area. On the other hand, St. Lucia is the perfect beach for those who like a little more seclusion. Since there are fewer hotels in the area, this beach on the north east coast is much less populated. The Cayo Largo del Sur is the destination point for hundreds of turtles each year to lay their eggs creating an amazing spectacle. This area is also wonderful for practicing water sports due to the pure, transparent water. The Bay of Pigs is another popular spot for experiencing the excitement of snorkelling, diving and fishing on your Cuba holiday.

Sightseeing

Beaches are not the only thing to enjoy in Cuba, plan to spend time strolling through Old Havana and see all the colonial sights, or visit the equally historic Trinidad. Diego Veazquez founded Trinidad back in 1514 and is exquisitely preserved with its maze of cobblestone streets, vibrant colors and unique architecture.

How to pack for Cuba holidays

Cuba is a warm, tropical island, so pack accordingly. Choose light colored, loose fitting cotton clothing for outdoor activities, but keep in mind that air conditioned restaurant and tour buses may call for a light jacket. Cuba generally calls for casual clothing, although more formal attire can be worn if you are planning on attending the theatre or spending time in an elegant restaurant.

Click here for great deals and offers on Cuba holidays and Barbados holidays. (Image:  Topyti)

Barbados officials didn’t take the bribe offered

Posted on by
Reply

If you live in the football world, as most of Barbados does, then you’ll have heard about the accusations against Caribbean football chiefs being offered bribes to vote in a certain manner for world FIFA (the world body that governs football) topics.

FIFA have found some people guilty of taking bribes with some warned about their future conduct. Some officials have not been charged because they resigned before the investigations were concluded.

Barbados had two officials being investigated and both have been totally exonerated from all changes; they didn’t take the bribes offered. They may have been offered $40,000 at the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) delegates meeting last May, but they refused the offer.

Dave Hinds is the general secretary of the Barbados Football Association. Mark ‘Bob’ Forde is a long serving FIFA referee. Both were under serious pressure to prove their innocence, but in the end, they prevailed. They have both declared their innocence all the way through.

Good to see that some justice works well in the world. Mind you, it’s sad to see that some took bribes and some ran away before they could be found guilty. Barbados officials can carry on their work with their heads held high.

Antigua’s Jolly Beach: Sun, Sand, Surf And Sound Of The Caribbean

Posted on by
Reply

by Simon Wong

Looking for a fantastic holiday destination? Consider Jolly Beach in Antigua. Antigua is one of the Leeward Islands. It is a sailor’s paradise. Many yacht and other sailing vessels routinely make port there. Antigua is also a magnet for people who love water sports. Even if you just want a place where you can sit under a coconut tree and watch out over the glorious blue Caribbean Sea, Antigua is perfect. It has phenomenal weather, great entertainment and beautiful beaches. One of the best of those beaches is Jolly Beach, an amazing stretch of pure white sugary sand located on Antigua’s west coast.

Jolly Beach, AntiguaFirst time visitors to Jolly Beach are usually stunned. The beach features over a mile of pure white powdery sand. You can just stand back and watch the beach go on forever. It looks so warm and welcoming with the turquoise Caribbean Sea on one side and a row of coconut palms on the other. You can feel the stress draining out of your body and being replaced with peace and tranquillity. You can lay in the shade and sip on fresh coconut water while you await the fresh exotic seafood dishes for which Antigua is known.

Jolly Beach is located at Jolly Harbour. Here fresh seafood is brought ashore every few hours to support the local restaurants that line Jolly Harbour. These restaurants feature the freshest seafood possible. The fish are still alive when they get to the restaurants. The chefs transform the seafood into delectable dishes that will make your taste buds do a jig. Jolly Beach also has a series of nightclubs, hotels and watersports as well as chair and umbrella rentals. It has all the entertainment someone on holiday could want. There is entertainment activities for children and adults.

There are a number of great hotels on Jolly Beach. They include a number of all inclusive resorts, large international chains and small boutique hotels. There are even some inexpensive bungalows. The prices are reasonable enough to suit any budget. So you can go all out and splurge on an all-inclusive resort or work within a moderate budget and still be able to stay on the beach in Antigua. No matter which hotel you choose you will only be a short walk from the beach. That is important because nights on Jolly Beach are truly special.

When the sun goes down on Jolly Beach millions of stars fill the blue velvet sky and create instant peace of mind. All seems well with the world when you stroll along Jolly Beach at night. The sound of the waves breaking on the shore, the cooling Trade Winds and the smell of tropical fruits and spices floats on the air. Tropical rhythms fill the night and flavourful exotic tropical drinks make the night special in Antigua. And then there are the spectacular sunrises as the skies slowly transform from navy blue to gold to brilliant white daylight. Take some time and visit Jolly Beach in Antigua.

Click here for great deals and offers at Sandals Grande Antigua and Antigua holidays . (Image: palestrina55)

Pies for the Brits in Barbados

Posted on by
Reply

The Brits just love Barbados and mostly for the difference in weather from their home town. They also look for things to remind them of home. No doubt all nationalities suffer from the same loss of favourite items only available in their old home town stores.

When I talk to Brits in Barbados they often remark that they miss the football and we talk about the differences in weather. We discuss how they’ll sit in the frozen terraces of football grounds on cold and wet winter nights. On every occasion they tell me that their half time delight in the possibility of buying a hot cup of tea and a Pukka Pie. The Pukka Pies have become a tradition at football matches and in recent years have become easily available in the UK’s high street stores. Easy to hold in one hand with tea in the other, they’re hot, taste good and warm you up.

How pleased they’ll be to see the largest food store group, Supercentre, in Barbados, is now stocking a range of Pukka Pies in the freezers. They offer a selection of oven pies together with some of the 3½ minute microwave specials. No longer will the Brits miss their Pukka Pies, but maybe they’ll chase it down with a cold Banks’ beer.

Barbados is one of the few countries around the world stocking the famous pies. Pies are usually called patties in Bimshire (code for Barbados; sounds like a British county – ‘shire’). Available in Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Malta, Portugal, Spain and the Canary Islands; they’re obviously available where the Brits congregate, to talk about the football back home.

The pies in the UK are usually about £1.50 in a store and around £2.50 at a football match. In Barbados they’re $9, around £3. For those who like their Branston pickle, a small jar in England is around £1.40, but £3 ($9) in Barbados.

http://www.pukkapies .co.uk/ from Leicester, England.