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I had initially said that I was not
going to Do the Double this year (#DoTheDouble is doing Trinidad and Jamaica
carnival back to back), but I was talked into going by my friend Reese. She really didn’t have much convincing to
do. She asked once and I declined, she
asked a couple days later and I was like, “ok ok, I’m in!” I don’t need to explain to you guys how much
I love carnival. I’ve said it before and
I shall say it again, Jamaica is my 2nd favorite carnival as it
comes at 1/3 the price of Trinidad carnival but doesn’t lack on the fun
factor (I had free lodging this year, but paid $1,300 total Jamaica Carnival 2014).
Landed Thursday evening, went home to change and were off to
Blocko. *wait wait wait * Selecta Reeeeeewind… Kingston airport now has automated immigration kiosks, so
customs was EAZY frekkin BREEZY. They
are along the wall past the visitors and citizens customs lines so keep on
walking past the long lines you see. After
customs I went straight to duty free for a dirt cheap bottle of Wray and Nephew
Overproof rum or as it is simply know as in Jamaica “White Rum.”
As I was saying, we landed Thursday evening, went home to
change and were off to Blocko. I skipped
Blocko 2014 because Pandemonium was moved to the same day. This year Pandemonium was held at Hope
Gardens which I knew would mean NO Paint or Powder so I didn’t mind skipping it
and doing Blocko instead. It was
refreshing to run into so many familiar faces, so soon. All my carnivalians were in the buildAng
which mean Good Times! A new addition
this year was Vale, the Blocko after party midnight till 5am. This event lacked the vybz you expect from a
Vale event, but it was food inclusive which helped me get my life together
after leaving the drinks inclusive Blocko.
Basically I drank and then ate like a champ Thursday. I was however exhausted since I had been up and
on the go for about 22 hours.
We maxed and relaxed in bed most of Friday, stock piling energy for the weekend I suppose. Around 4pm we headed to mas camp to pick up our road march tshirts. Mas camp took about 2 hours and then we headed off to Scorch _uck Work. Scorch _uck Work was also a new addition to the Jamaica
carnival fete list. It was surprisingly
cheap with a $20 price tag. It was a
cooler fete so we brought our bottle of White Rum and just bought chasers at
the fete. Left feeling niiiiice and only
spent like $5. I have zero complaint about Scorch. They brought the vybz as always, had the best
DJs, and a sexy venue.
Power nap after Scorch and at 2am it was off to the
legendary Caesar’s Army AMBush, this year the theme was Super Roman and
everyone was encouraged to wear capes and masks. So I will start by quoting Benji
Soca does give meh meh powers
Make me jump and fete fi hours
Soca does give meh meh powers
Drink meh rum and share with others
Fete fi hours, soca powers Is a wonder feeling
 |
| J-lava of Dei Musicale |
As Skinny Fab said, “Is this a fete or is this a madhouse? Why these
humans behave like animals?” What is it
about paint and powder that turns carnivalians into mad people? Oddly enough I had NO incidents at
Ambush. I didn’t fall in the woods, I didn’t
break any gadgets, I didn’t lose any gadgets, I didn’t misplace any
friends. Sadly I can’t say the same for
the people I was with. Jouvert casualties
that we shall not speak of *teeheehee*
 |
| lil yellow Mustang |
After AmBush a lot of people headed off to Sunrise Breakfast fete. I went last year after AMBush, was exhausted
and definitely didn’t get my $60 worth. This
year we went to the beach and it was fantabulous. The beach was not lined with mansions, large
hotels, or tourist attractions. Instead it was lined with little shacks of restaurants
serving local delights and I must say, it felt like Home aka Panama! Of course
I brought Mr. Bose so we jammed, swam, and nap’d till the batteryz ran out and
then it was Party Done!
After the beach it was an afternoon of much needed rest and then
Bazodee. As Alison Hinds said, “The iron
have me so Bazodee!!!” Bazodee
is always the fanciest event of the weekend, which is why I find the name so
funny, it really doesn’t match the event.
Ate and drank like a champ as the food is always plentiful at this
event. Nothing has changed from what I’ve
said in previous years. Frenchman always
bring upscale vybz, its worth the $$$.
People are often baffled as to why the Bacchanal Jamaica tshirt sections are in the $200 range. You have to put things into perspective, you are getting 12 hours of unlimited alcohol; breakfast, lunch and dinner; security; road march vybz, vybz, vybz; and a masqueraders only after party!!! Jamaica carnival 2013 I was really inspired by the way the girls cut
and redesign their tshirts that I did the same for Atlanta carnival that
year. Jamaica carnival 2014 I made my
own costume, this year Reese and I got tshirts and converted them into our own
creations. It was fun turning my tshirt into my costume
and will be doing the same for Atlanta carnival this year.
 |
| the homie DJ Private Ryan |
I
always suffer some time of carnival casualty.
Barbados I broke my personal cell phone and my medium camera, Trinidad I broke my
work cell and lost my brand spankin new Go Pro Hero4. Why should Jamaica be any
different? I lost the Ray Bans my bro
Paco bought me for Xmas that I rarely wear. All the other glasses I own are either free or under $10, but
Nooooooooo the Ray Bans gotta go bye bye . THIS is why I don’t buy expensive
stuff. I ALMOST bought a replacement Go
Pro, I literally had it in my Amazon shopping cart and was about to hit the
SUBMIT button, but I came to the conclusion that I am not responsible enough during
carnival and bought an $80 pink DBPower SJ4000 Wi-Fi which looks like a GoPro
from a distance lololol It fits all my
GoPro accessories, has an LCD screen, and the video quality is A-ok with me!
Of course I have to leave you with a recap video of the carnival weekend. These videos really help me manage my tabanca through the year.
