J'Ouvert Baje Party - (intraductible)

Baje J'ouvert
Crop over Party time has begun !!!!!!!

Before, clean......

 

Ok, i'm not that shocked anymore by the Wuk Up,
the dance that I used to call "a sexual public inappropriate demonstration"
now takes actually place under my eyes pretty well in this dirty context anyway

( In order to protect my camera, i left it in a plastic bag in my purse, so i'm giving you pictures from the official event website, sorry about that, but it's the same don't worry, my pics would have been the same.
The only thing is that you won't see me all green.)

Paint.....

Mud....

Soap......

and RAIIIIIIN......
to wash everything !!!!!

 

Official description

he Foreday Morning Jam in Barbados is a night-time street party with a parade of organised bands of revellers, covered in mud & body paint partying through the streets. It is one of the many Crop Over Events for the season, and is a precursor to the Grand Kadooment Celebrations.
Fore-day Morning is a cooler option to Grand Kadooment, offering those who want to play mas the opportunity to do so, without the heat and long route of Kadooment Day.
This event signals the start of the adult street parades for the Crop Over Festival, and takes place immediately after the Pic-O-De Crop Calypso competition Finals in the early hours of the Saturday of the last weekend of the festival. It is similar to what Trinidadians call "Mud Mas" on Jouvert Morning (pronounced ‘Jouvay’).
The Foreday Morning Jump Up which some describe as the modern version of "Ole Mas" (old masquerade) started in Barbados in 1995 as a small spectacle, but quickly grew to over 15 000 revellers, with more than 1 500 associated with bands. Costumes usually depict social issues or are just comical.
A key factor in the planning of the event is the safety and security of the revellers and the spectators, and as such the route is well lit, the music trucks are fitted with lights and private security is deployed with each group. In addition, the Royal Barbados Police Force is present in its numbers from the start to the finish so as to ensure that the event is enjoyed by all. The National Cultural Foundation also deploys marshals with each band to ensure that a pace is kept that would allow everyone to get their money's worth.

Duration: 4hrs - usually 1:30am until 6am (daybreak)
Distance: 3.5 km (Bridgetown to Spring Garden Highway)
After the Foreday Morning Festivities and you still have energy left, stay on for the Bridgetown Market, the biggest street fair of the festival.
Foreday Mornin’ Jam bands usually offer packages for a fee, which can include; Drinks & entertainment, mud & paint, plus more extras depending on the band of choice.

It is around 7 am......  the madness has not finished yet...

Crazyyyyy amaziiiiing night....... We finished dead tired.....

Rihanna Concert

RiRi Loud in Barbados is not a simple concert,
this is THE event of the century,
the biggest show ever given in the Island.....
Companies closed earlier in the afternoon.... ( I personally left the Advocate at 3pm),
town was blocked for cars, the stadium gates opened at 4 pm.....
Everyone was talking exclusively about... TONIGHT!!!!

and i hadn't gotten tickets.... they got sold out in a few weeks, when i was in France.
Peeps were selling some for $150 bbd in town a few days ago,
but the next day it was $200 bbd, and the following one the guys were not at the corner anymore...
(I could have used one a friend was selling me for $150 bbd , but only one......
I wanted to go with Shawn.)
So, I spent my all friday looking for tickets, asking around by bbm, facebook, emails, calls....
They were alllllll gooooonnne !!!!

Desperate, i made calls on my way home, Simbah told me she may have one she wouldn't use !!!
I called Alicia, bbmed Simbah again, Maria, called Fran, David at the same time.....
Alicia was ok to sell hers for $100, Jerry had an extra one for $150 !!!!! YYYEEEESSS !!!!!!
(finally Jerry's one was for $180..)

In the Blue Bus chartered for the event.

The line to get in the bus looked long like more than 100m....
Sorry for the nice people who were waiting quietly.... we got in straight...

(no camera allowed.... so here are a photographer's pics)

Now, my feed back:
Disappointment !
OK she sings and dances very well, BUT
she just did her job, like if she was doing it for a camera, not for a public.
No interaction with the public,
(like "Barbados are you readyyyyyyyy", or "put you hands in the aaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir",
or "sing with meeeeeeeee", the normal concert stuff)
no songs remix,
no guests on the stage,
no surprises
at aaaaallllll !!!

and a pause of 1hour between the first part and her.....
Shawn and I had to kill the time..... We got drinks..... That was the best part of the night :) :)

At the end, the war to get a Blue Bus back to the Gymnasium (where we left the cars) was not easy....
We had to get drinks again to overcome it......
Finally home, i was dead ..... but happy !!

Animal Flower Cave

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Animal Flower cave, Monday 18th July 2011