halfway in between

18.06.2011

Hi guys,

how is everybody? I’ve been gone for a little over 3 months now, and in some ways it feels like a lifetime. Guess I’m suffering from a case of island fever…

More exciting news on the iguana hunting side off things, we caught two more hatchlings last week. Still not plucking them off trees in big numbers though, which is a bit worrying. Also, the little buggers seem to have a knack for choosing the most inaccessible places for hiding, which makes hunting them down even more of a pain the behind.

Anyways, I promised a story about safety pins, and I swear I am not making this up! J Remember, I told you about going to the fish fry and the traditional dancing and stuff… well, there was yet another performance, every Caribbean island has its own dancing style, and apparently three of them are especially famous. One of them is the Lucian style called wining, and to be perfectly honest with you the only decent description for it I can come up with is: foreplay

Do a bit of youtube research, or the like, and be flabberghasted. I thought they were taking the piss when I first saw it on TV, but nope, they mean it and indeed are very proud of this most traditional form of dancing. The only part of your body you need for that kind of dancing is your hips, really, and I must admit I’ll give almost anything a try, but there comes a point… as I said, check it up. If I can find a good video, I’ll post the link. Just don’t let your children watch it, guys.

Found only videos from Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, but it's the same dancing, so here comes, even though I can't believe I'm doing this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHhbllnHxoM

Anyways, so there was this topless guy in his sixties on stage, grooving away, and not only dancing but also doing lots of crazy things on a board of nails, most memorably a headstand!!! But the fun didn’t end there, because that’s when he got out his safety pins! And yes, believe it or not, he then proceeded to pierce his belly with 6 safety pins! Ouch! Of course he would then ask 6 people on stage, preferably females, to come and remove the pins whilst he kept dancing… I just couldn’t believe it. For those who haven’t guessed it yet, yes I was one of those fortunate six, and no there are no pictures, the memories in my head are bad enough J Honestly, sometimes I think that these err cultural differences just stand so much more out for all that St. Lucia is very developed (make up your own mind as to whether or not that is a good thing) and full of Blackberries (definitely a bad thing) and the likes… every now and again, whilst your minding your own business they’ll just blow you through the roof, with a grin on their face…

Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to even keep the safety pin, so I have no proof whatsoever of this most entertaining episode of live in St. Lucia, probably for the best.

There has been more cake-making attempts, slightly more successful, but still far from anything presentable, this time I failed at making cherry and almond cake, although the guys –having in mind my last attempt- said it was nice. Damn the British for forever being polite… J

Have a good one guys, and be glad I’m not there to make cake for you…

Carola