Photos by Yohann G. & Ines J.

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Out with the Old ... in with "The New Inclusive"

It's around 6:20 PM as the TJJ team pulls into the parking lot at Pier 2. Plenty parting and just a short walk over to Pier 1. Our ARRIVE ALIVE! friends placed a severely mashed up car just outside the entrance to help all partygoers to assign that designated driver one time. The ticket collection was nicely lit with colorful lights with the "Amnesia CARNIVAL out of the box" banner in the backdrop. With the sun setting, the atmosphere was just perfect ... I'm ready to lime and of course, ready to wine!

We're greeted nicely by the door for a speedy check in to join the masses that flew into the venue. The first thing I noticed were the 3 female traditional folk dancers with masks. Once I pass them, the b-Mobile folks hand me a blinking bracelet - uh, I'm a sucker for these blinky-things!! There is a little water fountain with lights to the right, along with a b-Mobile area. Exotica handed me a promotional snack pack and I get a green rag from a sexy guy with body painting, a bottle opener key chain .... oh, I am out of room in my pockets for any more goodies.

Various vendor booths lined the venue - Wine, Martini Makers, Red Bull, Hypnotic, Margaritas, Smirnoff and Absolut Vodka, Jägermeister, Tequila, Bailey's ... okay, I just had to sample one (two, or was that three). I see the Carib/Stag Brew House serving up beer with a straw if you like (mmh, I though only the early German McDonalds would do such thing). Drinks were definitely easily accessible and served fast throughout the evening.

At this time, we caught the tail end of KES the Band with Nadia Batson, but performances were in full swing. As I approached the stage with huge flat screens all around, Stabby de Guard outta Barbados was doing his ting. "Go Stabby ... Go Stabby ... Stabbbbbbbbby!!" De guy is like a machine with reaaaally nice abs AND I'm definitely impressed (and it's not just me alone!! ). Next up was Machel Montano HD heating up de place some more. All his wining led up to a wardrobe malfunction jus beneath the zipper of his pants OR perhaps it was caused by the ladies hitting de banana with the earlier distributed balloons??!! (Nobody can say for sure at this point). Patrice Roberts also changed clothes from a leopard print bra to a pink one underneath her ripped tank top as she performed tunes like "Lookin Hot" and "Sway In D Mas". Zan ("Hold You Down"), Shal Marshall ("Bum Bum Ville") and the newest addition to the HD family, Umi Marcano ("Roll Gal") joined the HD dance crew to keep the Amnesia crowd engerized. Oh, I must mention Machel's latest release "Ravin". Aside from the always much appreciated Soca tunes, it had people in a frenzy ... especially when they mixed it with a popular techno riddim (gotta see it when released on TJJ TV). Personally, I love de lil' switch up ... reminds me of the "Love Parade" in Berlin.

Denise Belfon then entertained partygoers with the classics along with her 2k9 release "Licks" before Bunji & Fay-Ann backed by The Ayslum Band closed the show. They were joined by Edwin Yearwood ("Nah Missin' Me", "We On De Way (Handle Yuh Bizness)"), Patch ("Rum and Roti"), pannist Dane Gulston and Benjai ("Drunk Again"). Benjai is officially back with The Ayslum family!

Tasty food (all clearly labeled) was served via tray service throughout the night by professional food staff carrying foods like Seafood Paella, Chicken, Fish, Chinese noodles, Various Fruits, Ice Cream etc. We learnt that the goal of this "New Inclusive" concept was to allow partygoers to enjoy themselves while being constantly serviced with food and beverages avoiding waiting in long lines (at a more reasonable ticket price). However, based on some of the feedback we received from patrons, we're not 100% sure if the new concept was a complete success. With the hungry standing close to the kitchen-side, it was a little bit of a battle for the food trays to reach far into the crowds. It's a great idea, however, for a fete of this magnitude ... tray service in addition to the regular food stations might actually be the best way to go.

The fete went onto midnight, with a good number people still liming, wining and partying hard. On the way out I ran into Stabby, who was nice enough to stop chat and take a photo with me. And with that, I left another great fete with my b-Mobile bracelet still blinking as I realized it's early Monday morning already ... yes, yes, yes ... yes Boss!!

Tschüß and again thanks for showing TJJ much love and niceness IP!!
Ines