Calypso Cocktail
Rabeed Imam from Grenada
The South Winds Cottages and Apartments were shining in all its glory when we returned from the Queen's Park Stadium on Tuesday. There had been a bout of rain a bit earlier which prevented the West Indies team from having too much practice at the five-year old venue. The sun however came out just after the squad had left.But Gloria, who works at the hilltop office of the South Winds, wasn't prepared to be impressed by the sunny weather. "It could be pouring tomorrow. Let me check," as she dug her head into a calendar in front of her. As I was wondering whether it contained the meteorological report or something, Gloria straightened. "Aha! Just as I thought. It's full moon today." "So, what if it's full moon?" "It always rains after full moon. So tomorrow, it could be a wet day. Bad for cricket," she sounded a warning. We woke up Wednesday morning to the sound of showers. It rained all night and an hour from the start of the third and final ODI, the clouds are still hovering above threateningly. TOURISTS' PARADISE St George's is a capital built at the foot of the hills and by cutting into them. Where the land has ended, it has touched the sea. Grenada has one of the world's most amazing natural harbours and yachts, boats, ferries and even cruise ships can sail straight into the city and could be anchored right beside your house. It looks a very British establishment with cars driving on the left, yellow number plates with black writing and the roads and corners packed with tourists, mostly from Britain. If you enter the town from Grand Anse, the tourist resort, you get a different feel of St George's. Although everything is very systematic and neat, Grand Anse is like a carefully nurtured garden where you would think twice before even talking loud it seems. Deeper into the capital, you begin to notice the shaky-looking quarters, the slums and possibly struggle. "It's a great place to live. There's very little crime. That's because we have managed to control the drugs epidemic which is such a problem in other parts of the Caribbean. "If you are caught with drugs here, penalties could range from 50,000 dollars to much more in fine. And there are lengthy jail-terms too," said Terry who was driving our taxi. WANNA GO TO USA? Two slightly built bearded Muslim men came to watch the Tigers practice on Tuesday. They didn't look local and had that unmistakable sub-continental accent when they spoke. "We are from Gujrat in India. We came here three years ago and haven't left since," said one. So what's the attraction here, apart from the obvious natural beauty? It's business. "We sell stuff, all kinds of them twice a week at a local market. The other five days, we just hang around or rest. On those two days, we make a profit of around 300 dollars," he added. "You see Grenada's economy needs business. So the government here encourages people to come here. You can get a Grenadian passport for 10,000 dollars. "Many people arrive here from the sub-continent, get their passports and then head off to the USA or Canada," he informed.
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