Carnival in Trinidad & Tobago once again. (Pics inside!)

[Angry Kitsune]

And once again, we're having nothing to do with it. It's too unsafe to go to any events, with bottle fights, stabbings, shootings, rapes, and all manner of debauchery being the main highlights of this time. The big government-sponsored fetes have already yielded at least 3 persons killed by some violent means and endless stampedes, resulting in injury to a wide number of persons. mad Plus, it's common-sense now that around this time, the number of persons infected with HIV-AIDS and other STI's goes up exponentially. surprised

Carnival is not what it used to be. emo We're following Brazil's more and more, with the bikini and beads-style costumes and the body paint. rolleyes Oh well.
We have Monday and Tuesday off from work and school since those two days are the parades of the three-quarter nekkid bands. rolleyes Tonight is stuff like the Carnival King and Queens competition, the National Panorama finals event, and endless soca and calypso competitions. Participants don't sleep for four days. rolleyes Tomorrow night is our annual Dimanche Gras stupidness, and a whole set of other events like (You can see how much I really love my culture. evil )

I went to the beach with my sister, and two of our mutual friends, Christianna and her boyfriend. We went to the North Coast this time and visited two beaches, Maracas Bay and Las Cuevas Bay. As usual for those areas, the sea was rough and we got pounded by the waves.



Here's some shots of Maracas:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/TorturedSoulTsion/IMG-20120218-00124.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/TorturedSoulTsion/IMG-20120218-00126.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/TorturedSoulTsion/IMG-20120218-00127.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/TorturedSoulTsion/IMG-20120218-00128.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/TorturedSoulTsion/IMG-20120218-00129.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/TorturedSoulTsion/IMG-20120218-00130.jpg




And here are some shots I took at the look-out just before Maracas, on the North Coast Road:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/TorturedSoulTsion/IMG-20120218-00131.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/TorturedSoulTsion/IMG-20120218-00132.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/TorturedSoulTsion/IMG-20120218-00133.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/TorturedSoulTsion/IMG-20120218-00134.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v508/TorturedSoulTsion/IMG-20120218-00135.jpg

Trinidad's most famous beach is Maracas and it's known as the tourist beach. Many locals prefer to drive on to Las Cuevas Bay since it's more secluded there. 3nodding

Usually, though, both beaches are packed to capacity and over-spilling with people, but we left home at 7a.m. and got there at almost 9a.m. We had the beach all to ourselves all day, too, since tonight is a big fete in Port of Spain and many people were resting up at home for it. 3nodding We were extremely glad, to say the least! whee On the way back, we bought bake and shark at Maracas, and then stopped at the look-out to buys some local snacks. 3nodding People come from all over the world just to taste bake and shark, and it's a must-have for any local visiting the beach. whee

All in all, we had a pretty chill day. We're planning on going back on Tuesday with Chris' bf's parents. biggrin

 

[Aralik]

Thank you for sharing! It looks so nice over there.

Its a shame about Carnival...  

[Angry Kitsune]

Xithios

Thank you for sharing! It looks so nice over there.

Its a shame about Carnival...

Yeah. We had alot of these before:

http://www.tntisland.com/carnivalcharacters.html

http://images.quickblogcast.com/1/1/0/0/1/117819-110011/P82900051.JPG?a=96

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshy55013/2808955790/

stretches page

http://www.fashionprojects.org/?p=1933

http://www.fashionprojects.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/TanTan-and-Saga-Boy-from-band-Tantana-1990-Peter-Minshall-copy.jpg

http://www.newsday.co.tt/galeria/2012-02-17-18-1a_Traditional_Mas-8_(12).jpg

stretches page





and now we have alot of this:

stretches page

rolleyes  

[Aralik]

Angry Kitsune

Xithios

Thank you for sharing! It looks so nice over there.

Its a shame about Carnival...

Yeah. We had alot of these before:

http://www.tntisland.com/carnivalcharacters.html

http://images.quickblogcast.com/1/1/0/0/1/117819-110011/P82900051.JPG?a=96

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshy55013/2808955790/

stretches page

http://www.fashionprojects.org/?p=1933

http://www.fashionprojects.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/TanTan-and-Saga-Boy-from-band-Tantana-1990-Peter-Minshall-copy.jpg

http://www.newsday.co.tt/galeria/2012-02-17-18-1a_Traditional_Mas-8_(12).jpg

stretches page





and now we have alot of this:

stretches page

rolleyes

Why don't they just walk around naked? might save them some money on clothing  

[Angry Kitsune]

Xithios

Why don't they just walk around naked? might save them some money on clothing

My sentiments exactly. evil Up to 10 years ago, mas was all about the history and culture of the country with bands trying to make a statement, whether it as something political or something dealing with the times the country and world were in. But recently, our news channels have interviewed the costume-makers and the band leaders, and they've all admitted that they shifted their policy from actually caring about what they created, to ensuring that the masqueraders have a good time. mad rolleyes One of the top band leaders blatantly said that it's no longer about the costumes themselves to him, but about the profit he makes each year and how happy he can make his performers who pay to wear his semi-nude costumes. rolleyes  

[Aralik]

Angry Kitsune

Xithios

Why don't they just walk around naked? might save them some money on clothing

My sentiments exactly. evil Up to 10 years ago, mas was all about the history and culture of the country with bands trying to make a statement, whether it as something political or something dealing with the times the country and world were in. But recently, our news channels have interviewed the costume-makers and the band leaders, and they've all admitted that they shifted their policy from actually caring about what they created, to ensuring that the masqueraders have a good time. mad rolleyes One of the top band leaders blatantly said that it's no longer about the costumes themselves to him, but about the profit he makes each year and how happy he can make his performers who pay to wear his semi-nude costumes. rolleyes

So he's basically a pimp?  

[Angry Kitsune]

Xithios

Angry Kitsune

Xithios

Why don't they just walk around naked? might save them some money on clothing

My sentiments exactly. evil Up to 10 years ago, mas was all about the history and culture of the country with bands trying to make a statement, whether it as something political or something dealing with the times the country and world were in. But recently, our news channels have interviewed the costume-makers and the band leaders, and they've all admitted that they shifted their policy from actually caring about what they created, to ensuring that the masqueraders have a good time. mad rolleyes One of the top band leaders blatantly said that it's no longer about the costumes themselves to him, but about the profit he makes each year and how happy he can make his performers who pay to wear his semi-nude costumes. rolleyes

So he's basically a pimp?

LMAO!!! xd I would definitely say that! burning_eyes His band has sometimes up to 5,000 people, all of whom paid him up TT$5,000 (U.S.$779.52!!!) for either a bikini with some beads and feathers, or a board shorts with beads and feathers. rolleyes So he's raking in alot of money during the Carnival season, considering that for the rest of the year, he's out of work since he's a professional band leader and costume designer. xp  

[Aralik]

Angry Kitsune

Xithios

Angry Kitsune

Xithios

Why don't they just walk around naked? might save them some money on clothing

My sentiments exactly. evil Up to 10 years ago, mas was all about the history and culture of the country with bands trying to make a statement, whether it as something political or something dealing with the times the country and world were in. But recently, our news channels have interviewed the costume-makers and the band leaders, and they've all admitted that they shifted their policy from actually caring about what they created, to ensuring that the masqueraders have a good time. mad rolleyes One of the top band leaders blatantly said that it's no longer about the costumes themselves to him, but about the profit he makes each year and how happy he can make his performers who pay to wear his semi-nude costumes. rolleyes

So he's basically a pimp?

LMAO!!! xd I would definitely say that! burning_eyes His band has sometimes up to 5,000 people, all of whom paid him up TT$5,000 (U.S.$779.52!!!) for either a bikini with some beads and feathers, or a board shorts with beads and feathers. rolleyes So he's raking in alot of money during the Carnival season, considering that for the rest of the year, he's out of work since he's a professional band leader and costume designer. xp

dang....  

[Angry Kitsune]

Xithios

dang....

Yup. Carnival is big business in the Caribbean. Many movie stars visit us each year just to jump up on Monday and Tuesday, and even our President and Prime Minister are known masqueraders. 3nodding In fact, band leaders pay THEM to be in their band as a sort of public advertisement. xd