Tag: tourism

BARBADOS – Rihannaland

Barbados is the most Eastern of the Caribbean Islands which was formerly a British Colony (again, they drive on the wrong side of the road)! This island changed hands several times – first the Spanish explorers, then the Portuguese, and finally under the British in 1625. It is often called “Little England” for its lasting British influence. The capital is Bridgetown. Like most of the Caribbean islands, their economy is (or was) dependent on rum, sugar, and molasses exports. Population is about 303,000 (2023).

Our tour guide, Kejia, was not also the driver today. Bensen was. So it looks like the tour owner can afford to pay two people unlike the other three islands we’ve already visited. Compared to the mediocre tour guide yesterday , Kejia was a fresh breath of air! Not only did she know what she was talking about, she also answered lots of questions from us. She was articulate, although she talked a little too fast for me.

Barbados is just like the other Caribbean islands – lush vegetations, rocky, hilly, hot and humid with friendly folks! Many of the local flora are also found in my country of birth: colorful plumeria, the invasive cadena de amor, banana trees, different hues of bougainvilleas, towering mango trees, coconuts, and many more. But what caught my eye are the strange-looking trees (fig variety) with their roots growing from the branches (see photo below)!

The small tour van took us through Georgetown and we drove around the island admiring the contrasting modern hotels and pastel-colored homes. You could tell that Barbados is “richer” than most of its island neighbors! Its economy is built of tourism and offshore banking.

Above was the modest house the R&B superstar- RIHANNA – grew up in! Below, the street is also named after her.

Tasting Mount Gay rum punch

This island hopping is starting to bore me. I wish I still enjoyed snorkeling and scuba diving so I can at least do something other than touring the islands. Maybe I should suggest that the Caribbean Islands cruise should be limited to four islands but stay a couple of days (or three) in every one of them so the cruisers can explore them more and enjoy their culture.

Tomorrow we visit ST JOHN’S, ANTIGUA. Ho-hum….

A TRIP TO BRAZIL

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world by land area and the seventh most populous. Portuguese is the official language.

The flight to Rio Janeiro took us more than 20 hours: Los Angeles to Dallas, Dallas to Sao Paolo, and finally Sao Paolo to Rio de Janeiro! Trini and I have been to Brazil before but only in the Iguazu Falls area which is much further to the east. Weather wise Rio is similar to most Asian countries – warm and humid!

After checking into our hotel around 5:30pm – a stone’s throw away from the world-famous COPACABANA BEACH – we went to eat a sumptuous buffet dinner at MARIUS DEGUSTARE, right beside the hotel! The exterior decor was impressive but the interior nearly knocked the socks out off me – it was filled with hanging “art” if you want to call them that – old full-size convertible car, a Samurai warrior armor, church bells, and other odds and ends very colorful items hanging from the ceiling! The waiters decked with colorful apron-like garments and loose decorated white tops! They were a funny bunch of guys too, making weird sounding giggles and chuckles while serving you steaming hot plates of steaks, prawns, oysters, lobsters and other to-die for platters!

We took our time savoring the different dishes served us and eventually we had to beg them to stop bringing us any food. The price of the delicious fare was a little pricey even for an American standard but it was well worth it!!!! When we settled the bill we gave them tip in dollars, the head waiter asked us to ring the hanging bronze bell denoting that we gave “propina” or tip!

The head waiter putting our tip in the Samurai warrior armor – we were told a nightly ritual same as the pealing of the bell!

We left the restaurant sated and will cherish the fun and fine dining we had on our first night in Rio de Janeiro!

Today we signed up for a one-day tour to take us to the highlights the city has to offer….