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A St. Lucian's Trini Carnival Virgin Account -- Carnival Monday & Tuesday

It's the grand finale of the Fetealotathon® 2008. For my first time we following some Trini's who basically tell us we go be in TRIBE, and we eh have no other choice. On Carnival Monday, nobody really wearing costumes, and apparently most people not deh on Monday. But it was in my opinion still pleasantly full. I know I quarrel about how much TRIBE costs, so you know from the moment I reach we dun in the drinks. I would like to add some commentary in point form to sum up my two days:

1. TRIBE service was impeccable. I never waited more than 1 minute for a drink, maybe less.
2. For lunch, we sat in a park with blankets laid out for us to eat lunch (nice touch), which was a choice of 3 meals - BBQ, Creole or Mexican.
3. They had a tent with full length mirrors and deodorant to freshen up.
4. The mobile bathrooms had mints safety pins and more deodorant.
5. The security was so tight, it was like every 2 feet was someone on the rope (no exaggeration).
6. Tuesday breakfast was doubles (of which I ate like 5), bake, yogurt, banana, or cereal.

As the TJJ Team reported last year, the TRIBE quality of service is exactly what we have come to expect. Fast courteous service at the drinks trucks, an abundance of TRIBE security, clear instructions, time tables and maps for all masqueraders and top notch food service. All this may be seen as standard for some Trini's, but as a 1st timer I was very impressed. Again, the music was on point as well, with all the big DJs from North America and the Caribbean blazin' all the hits. And this year, TRIBE introduced a new music truck... Pyramid Entertainment was reppin' in full effect with all their Bajan artists (Peter Ram, Biggie Irie, Mr. Dale) alongside other entertainers who made their way onto the truck through out Monday and Tuesday. With X-Caliber Disco (Mr. Slaughter & Hollywood Sachy) on the Pyramid truck, the vibes was jus nice. Of course we gotta big up DJ Rene, Sprang International, D'Bandit, Radioactive (Hoppie) all other TRIBE DJs on the road.

So Monday we saw familiar faces, we wine on the green-eyed padna (Michael Ealy) from Barbershop (and break his waist), who apparently in TRIBE every year, and saw Jeanille (TEMPO), Destra (Atlantik), Kees (KES The Band) and even Uncle Max - yes, the president of T&T. The rest is pretty much a blur, just know plenty wine and jook go on!

Carnival Tuesday we had to be up from early, cuz apparently we had to be on the road from SEVEN? Boy ... amm.... hmm.... well we got there for 8AM and I eat my doubles, so I dun content. You basically remained stationary for like 2 hrs, but I eh vex cuz I feel I getting a cough, so maybe I should drink some Hennessy straight? At 9am? Yeah man... it's amm... medication!

Come Tuesday everyone dolled up in their costumes, so it looked all so pretty... seeing the frontline costumes and all the sections grouped was really beautiful. After admiring my band gassa no time to waste, we basically wine from then til 8pm, with an extended and well needed break for lunch... I well fell asleep for 20 mins in the park. One memorable highlight on Tuesday was when TRIBE was waiting to cross the Savannah judging point, and Faye-Ann Lyons ("Get On") was going head to head on a music truck with Roy Cape's Blaxx ("Breathless") trying to see who would take the Road March 2008 title. Well, Faye-Ann blow out Blaxx bad bad. So Blaze (RED 96.7FM) had to get on the mic, telling Blaxx that de ambulance was coming for him, yes! Blaxx tek he licks like a big man, and finally conceded to Faye-Ann.

My only thing about TRIBE is that they don't have any jamets. I eh see no one on the ground, or legs on a truck... no people in a upside down wine!!! Everyone was generally so well composed. Otherwise, the band irie!! Oh yeah, a lot of masqueraders complained about all trucks being too close together. Did TRIBE get too big? Many times there was no room for people to chip behind a truck. This was especially frustratin' on the narrow roads. So again, please let masqueraders have some room to play mas! Like last year, we not asking for much... jus ah lil 2-3 truck lengths when the route gets tight.

For those who askin'... yes the route long, and I do suggest you do a lil' exercise before going down and not too get toooooo drunk, cuz u go burn out. Doh wear a new new shoe, and girls if you wearing heels you crazy!!!

For those men wondering... YES THE WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL, but ladies not everybody are super models, and trust me after a while you not even concerned if a Tyra Banks look alike standing next to you cuz it's all irie vibes.... and who cares when you have a drink in your hand!

To be honest, what more can I say about Trini Carnival is I wine for the whole of St. Lucia and I'd recommend anyone who like to fete to come down!!

What to read my full Trini Carnival Virgin's Account? Click Here to go to the Jungle Jabber™ blog.

Fiona of the TJJ UK Camp
(Chooks aka Daddy Juice contributed to this review)
-- TJJ Carnival 2008 Frontline

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TnT Carnival 2008 Coverage
TNT Carnival 2007 Coverage
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