You can't visit Harbour Island and not drop in to see Ma Ruby. That would be like going home and forgeting to visit your mother. Forget the cheeseburger, grab a drink and listen to Ma Ruby's life story and you'll glimpse a little of what life in paradise really means.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Ma Ruby's Cheeseburger in Paradise
You can't visit Harbour Island and not drop in to see Ma Ruby. That would be like going home and forgeting to visit your mother. Forget the cheeseburger, grab a drink and listen to Ma Ruby's life story and you'll glimpse a little of what life in paradise really means.
Posted by Fly Girl at 6:24 PM 13 comments Links to this post
Labels: Bahamas, Caribbean Travel, Harbour Island, Ma Ruby's, Tingam Village, tourist activities
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Taste Trippin' Part Cinq
However, nothing, not even great performances, makes me forget Les Desserts. Lavender-scented cake dripping in chocolate and strawberries ended my Parisian excursion. The dish was rich and sparingly sweet, just like the voices of the cabaret singers.
Posted by Fly Girl at 10:46 AM 15 comments Links to this post
Labels: Cyrano's Bistro, French Bistro, French food, global cusine
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Queen of Haitian Song
Posted by Fly Girl at 11:13 AM 15 comments Links to this post
Labels: Emeline Michel, Global music, Haiti
Sunday, January 17, 2010
The Power of Haitian Art
Despite the stereotypes and misinformation, Vodou remains a syncretic relligion that combines ancient African spiritual beliefs with Catholicism, in much the same way as Cuban Santeria, Brazilian Candomble and Jamaican Obeah and it does not involve devil worship. Instead, Vodou acknowledges one God, as well as other spiritual beings. Those beings, called lwa (pronounced (LO ah) are the deities represented on Vodou flags. Traditionally, these banners are carried on poles and waved during the beginning of ceremonies. They are created by hougans or mambos, Vodou priests and priestessess. During the 70s, French tourists recognized the beauty of the flags, spurring art collectors to create a market for them.
The flags displayed above were crafted by the Haitian artist, George Valris. The concentrated beading and sequin work, which often takes up to 10 days to complete, indicate that they are strictly for display. The heaviness of the sequins would make it difficult to wave these banners. The first two illustrate "La Sirene" the mermaid manifestization of Erzulie, the spirit of love and beauty. She is one of the most popular lwa on drapo vodou, as she symbolizes wealth and luck. The last one portrays "Gran Bois," the sacred spirit in the trees. These art works may simply look like pretty pictures but they represet the triumph of Haitian culture. Vodou and its practicioners have been killed and persecuted for generations and yet it lives on, through the appreciation of art lovers around the world and through the unyielding Haitian spirit.
Posted by Fly Girl at 7:36 PM 16 comments Links to this post
Labels: Caribbean culture, drapo vodou, Haiti, Harbour Island
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Help For Haiti
Yesterday, a 7.0- magnitude earthquake hit Haiti, on the Caribbean island of Hispanola. It was the worst earthquake to hit the country in 200 years, with the equivalent power of serveral nuclear bombs. When I heard the news last night, I couldn't believe it. Haiti is a country full of proud people, a vibrant culture and significant history but it suffers with violence, cruel politics and brutal poverty. A disaster like this, piled upon the other miseries just seems unbearable. When I was in the Dominican Republic, which shares Hispanola with Haiti, evidence of the agony and injustice that Haitians have to endure was unmistakable. Haitians were not allowed to cross the Dominican border, were widely discriminated against and agencies have documented Haitians being enslaved by Dominican plantation owners. I'll never forget the stoic faces of the Haitians that I spoke to. And now this. Haiti's capitol, Port- au-Prince, has been devastated, with collapsed buildings and bodies lining the streets. Officials expect the death toll to exceed 100,000.
Haiti needs help. The easiest way is to text "Yele" to 501501, this will automatically donate $5 to Haitian muscian Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti Foundation and be charged to your cell phone bill. Or you can donate $10 to the Red Cross to help by texting "Haiti" to 90999. You can also donate with a Visa card to Oxfam to provide relief. For a list of authorized agencies to donate relief for the Haiti earthquake, go here. The Red Cross and Unicief are charities that I regularly support so I 'm making my donations through them. I'm also in contact with the active Haitian community here in Chicago to figure out what supplies need to be shipped to Haiti. What will you do to help Haiti?
Posted by Fly Girl at 10:24 PM 19 comments Links to this post
Labels: Caribbean Travel, charity, Haiti
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Africa Arrives Once Again With Avatar Movie
Posted by Fly Girl at 5:20 PM 28 comments Links to this post
Labels: African culture, Avatar movie, Global fashion, Marc Jacobs, Oscar de La Renta
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
The Narrowest Place On Earth: Eleuthera's Glass Window Bridge
Posted by Fly Girl at 9:47 PM 10 comments Links to this post
Labels: Bahamas, Caribbean Travel, Eleuthera, tourist activities
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Saturday Sailboat Racing on Governor's Harbour
Some of the kids scurried across the street to the rose-colored library, where they read and created art projects. Eleuthera is noted for its old school lifestyle and witnessing these leisurely Saturday morning activities made me want to ditch my multi-tasking, contemporary habits and sink into the island's slow-paced warmth.
Posted by Fly Girl at 10:36 PM 15 comments Links to this post
Labels: Bahamas, Caribbean Travel, Eleuthera, Governor's Harbour