Bridgetown Hotels
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Cricket in the Carribean Mon
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Well a week has passed and as Eddie would say, what a
big week it has been. As I sit here in the inadequate
American Airlines lounge let me fill you in one some
happenings.
Arriving into the mass confusion that is Barbados
airport where the immigration are oblivious to the
hundreds of people in line and process forms at the
speed of sloth it was still good to be in the
Caribbean. They operate slowly but they are very
friendly and always want to discuss cricket (at least
I think that was it- it is damn hard to understand
them)
Waiting for us at the airport was Tugga Waugh but
unfortunately he ignored us and met his wife. Our
hotel has been untouched since 1950 a state that much
of Barbados is in. In some places it is quite run down
and when a hotel/business closes they seem to just
leave the building to slowly crumble away. But the
beaches are great.
The first night we were to meet Garrath who had our
tickets for Day 1 of the test at the Harbour Lights
and Ship Inn. Unfortunately this was 2 different
places, a $30 cab ride apart. We went to Harbour
Lights (admission $30- Barbados is damn expensive) and
the Ship Inn but could not't find him. This was a problem
as the game was sold out and we had no tickets. Doh
mon.
We got up at 6.30 am to make the 45 minute journey to
the ground in the hopes of meeting a nice little
scalper who wouldn't charge us much. Around the ground
was amazing, people everywhere, lots of Aussie flags,
locals selling different foods, people banging drums.
We got tickets to the unreserved section of the ground
for $50 each and went inside. The section was
basically like sitting on a concrete floor. Very
uncomfortable. Apart from about 10 aussies everyone
else was a local and the atmosphere was unbelievable.
People jammed in everywhere, bringing in eskies full
of alcohol (rum) and drinking from 8am. Lots of
noise. As the players came on it was deafening. Very
hard to describe but so much fun. We met lots of
people and had a ball. At lunch one of the local
ladies gave us some of her food- Bajan chicken,
macaroni, potatoes- Went very well with rum. By the
end of the day we could hardly move as we had been
squashed in for 10 hours but it was the best day of
cricket we had been to.
There were a lot of women at the cricket and they were
the most vocal. They would stand up and yell and wave
their fingers like a Ricki Lake audience. Amusing to
listen to.
Day 2 we got tickets to the same section and then
noticed that the elusive Garrath was in the party
stand so we bought tickets to that. An even better day
ensued. All you can eat and drink with a DJ and
dancing. The rums were flowing from 10am and by lunch
I was as coherent as a local. We were singing we were
dancing and more importantly we were drinking mon.
When Tugga got his century the stand erupted and one
fellow ran onto the ground with a footy. He shook
Tuggas hand, had a bounce and from 40 metres drilled
it into the crowd. The police just watched. Even they
are laid back.
As my alcohol level increased I decided to pay a visit
to the scoreboard. After passing a few beers to the 15
year olds running it they let me operate it for a few
overs. I was soon kicked out as I moved the Aussie
score onto 1000.
That night we went to an area called Oistins with
about 20 guys from the party stand. It is a fish
market where they have fish stalls and a huge outdoor
dance party. Music pumps and the locals move and
groove to reggae/R and B/ doof doof all rolled into
one. A word on the local women- they are beautiful but
as Sir Mixalot put it- "Baby Got Back" They got huge
butts which they like to jiggle around.
Day 3 and Fee had enough of cricket so we decided to
see how burnt we could get on the beach. The answer
was very. I am Simply Red. It looks like I am
permanently embarrassed (which I am as I look stupid).
The one advantage in wagging (which it what it felt
like not to go to the cricket) was that I was the only
guy around. It felt like the Playboy mansion as I
swooned around in a dressing gown. Night saw us meet
up with the guys from the party stand for more rum
mon.
Day 4 was back to the cricket in the Greenidge/Haynes
stand. This was proper seating and was more like being
at the MCG. Good for viewing cricket but not as good
atmosphere.
Day 5 and we had stupidly booked an island tour. I was
in a dilemma as the tour was supposed to be good but
it was the last day of the test. In the end the
cricket won out and Fee went on the tour as I went
with the boys to the last day. A great decision. Much
rum and an Aussie victory. After the game we went onto
the ground for the presentation and then chatted to
most of the players. They were all rapt with the
support and said it felt like a home test.
Unfortunately Fee has the camera so no photos- but Kat
I touched Brett Lees elbow for you. Bing told us they
were all going to Harbour Lights that night so we
agreed to meet them there.
They were all very friendly especially Gilly who is a
great bloke.
Harbour Lights went off. $35 all you can drink (yes of
course fee chucked this morning) and mixing with all
the players. I had my camera this time and took photos
like a 12 year old girl (albeit a 12 year old girl
full of rum) As the drinks were free I continually
shouted the boys. The girls were all over Bing and I
was all over the girls all over Bing.
What a test what a week. I bumped into heaps of people
we knew and met so many great people. There were no
Aussie yobbos everyone was friendly and the locals
were great. Always talking about the cricket. "Lara be
making a ton today Aussie." Was their favourite line.
A word about the local TV. It was very amusing like a
high school production. Very amateur and
unintentionally amusing. The sports report is going to
the local gym filming a basketball game with an
shaky hand camera and shouting over the top of the
refs whistle.
The local transport is great. Small mini vans which
they try and pack as many people on as possible. We
called them the doof doof bus as their music is
deafening and the songs have lyrics like. "Yo bitch
get out the way, get out the way bitch, get out the
way" This became a team anthem. Our record for
passengers was 25 (there are 15 seats)
Fingers sore, written to much. Thanks for your emails-
will try and reply.
Off to Jamaica so our bodies can recover
Ash
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