Ma'am

I've been hanging out with some local kids lately and there is one thing that is so similar about Caymanian kids and Bermudian kids. They are so very respectful of their elders, doesn't matter if the age difference is 10 years or more. Here in Cayman I have seen this respectful demeanour carried forward even in adults addressing the older generation.

When the kids (all boys) first saw me last evening, I was greeted with a resounding Hi Ms (X) and for every question I'd ask, I'd get a Yes Ma'am or a No Ma'am response. Sheesh, I was starting to feel really old, much older than my years. If this were to happen to you, you too would feel one of two things or maybe even both - either that the MA'AM makes you feel like you're an old(er) woman or that it makes you feel special. I'm not complaining and while I wanted to tell them that they don't need to address me as such, I did not want to break or interfere with their tradition, especially since they have been taught to address everyone in this manner. I think it's nice to see children be so respectful in this day and age, especially boys (especially since they are known to be more free spirited than girls are). Is that a sexist comment? I don't mean it to be and as much as I try to stay away from stereotypes, sometimes it's just the way it is.

You can leave your hat on

How religious is Cayman? Well, a woman here was arrested last night for gambling. That's how! If you're looking for a piece of Vegas on this island, then look elsewhere, preferably in Vegas. Although, I'm sure a quick trip to Miami will cure that gambling itch and while you're there, the strip club itch as well, because strip clubs here are also outlawed. Bachelor parties here must be so boring. Whatever do the guys do? Oh yeah, quick weekend trips to Miami, or so I've heard.

Bermuda is no different but in an effort to mix it up, some have resorted to gambling boats while offshore. I've heard of these 'gentlemen's night' being hosted on a big fancy boat, complete with strippers and of course, as close to Vegas as one can get. Which just goes to show, just because there aren't any strip clubs, doesn't mean the island lacks strippers. Technically they're not on land so that's just fine, but to avoid getting caught once you dock is a whole different ball game. Discretion is the key here and as well belonging to a certain level of affluence doesn't hurt either. Whether the same happens here in Cayman, I'm not sure and if it doesn't, no one should say that I've shown this island a loophole. That's the thing about loopholes - one always exists.

Lay of the land

You know he's walking around like he's got the lay of the land. This iguana was in our backyard one afternoon and I had to make haste and tread lightly to capture this before he got away, which they are quick to do most times. What was amusing was watching him bob his head a few times, as he made his way out of our reach. I wouldn't want to get any closer though, not because they're not harmful (unless provoked), they're just not the prettiest things. And since they're quick on their feet, you never know which direction its going to take. Iguana roadkill is the worst kind I've seen here in Cayman and although I should know better than avoid taking a look, I inevitably do. Will I ever learn?

The village

You know that saying: IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD? Well, I am a firm believer in that adage. That's because I grew up in India & Dubai where among our community, every one's business was really every one's business. Heck, it still is. Privacy is not a right, you are expected to receive comments on your weight, why you still haven't tied the knot, why you don't have kids yet...a whole lotta whys. And it's not like you can tell them to um...go sod off. You're actually expected to give them a probable, respectable answer, no less. But with this interrogation of a lifestyle, also comes that watchful eye over one's children. You know some one's watching out for all your kids, constantly correcting them, making sure they keep their hands and noses clean. No one has been sat down and told it takes a village, it's just automatically understood, learned behaviour, if you will.

On the other end, if you're in North America, it's the 'It just takes Mom & Dad to raise a child' philosophy. God forbid if you ever offer your two cents, you'd get a rude, mind your own business look. Even new immigrant families are quick to adopt this. It never used to be like this. I think it's the introduction and strong presence of Children's Aid and Child Protection Services (which is there for a good reason), that has everyone on edge. Parents feel that someone commenting or correcting or making sure that their child is doing OK, is proof that they are not doing their job well enough, enough proof to file a complaint to Children's Aid. Every one's on pins and needles. I was once at the mall and I came across a child probably no more than two, wandering aimlessly, with no parent in sight. All I did was ask him, Where's your Mommy? and I was met with the most ferocious thickly accented Middle Eastern woman who came out of nowhere and practically yelled, 'Mommy's right here. So what? What's the problem?' I was taken aback and walked away thinking, Lady if your child is ever in trouble, you're going to have to be a whole lot nicer, because Karma's a bi*ch.

I suppose it's much different when in a smaller city or town. Take the islands for that matter, both Bermuda and Cayman, where the 'It takes a village' philosophy is strongly practiced. While everyone is in every one's business, there's a certain comfort in knowing that children here are looked out for. Of course, lack of privacy is a high price to pay, but for some that is a price worth paying for even if it means that there are watchful eyes out there, protecting and guiding the younger generation. And while I cherish my privacy, I'd want people watching out for my children (when I have them), just like I have been watching out for others', backlash or not.

So, what brought this post on? Well, a certain tragic event that took place last week among the local Cayman community has showed just how much of a child raising village this is and how they are not afraid to ask the questions that need to be asked. I cannot go into any more detail yet but I do want to hear from you - Do you feel it takes a village to raise a child or do you feel like you should mind your own business?

Who you gonna call?

The one thing I can't understand about Cayman is the way the phone plans work here. Be it a land line or a cell phone, they each have calling rates that are billed by the minute. It's very similar to England (so I've heard) and of course, India (from what I remember from the younger days). Landlines here are about 3 cents a minute to call another land line (after the initial 9c/min for the first minute), but to call a cell phone it's about 22c/min. And this is all locally within Grand Cayman and the sister islands, so you can just about imagine what international calling rates are like.

While Cayman does have post paid cell phone plans, its minutes are peanuts compared to what you actually pay and once you go over your monthly quota, the per min rates pretty much end up costing you an arm and a leg. And so, most here in Cayman opt out for prepaid phones, which unlike Bermuda, allows you to call overseas numbers. In Bermuda you'd have to sign up with a long distance company before you can gain access to even think about dialing a 1-800 number, if that. But unlike Cayman, Bermuda's cell phone plans do incorporate unlimited evenings and weekends for an extra $10/month. This is virtually unheard of in Cayman. There's no unlimited anything! All these restrictions will sure curb one's talkative habit, but there are ways to beat the system. Google Talk and MSN Messenger sure are the popular choice here, because it's free. However, the one thing that Cayman does have that Bermuda doesn't is free incoming calls on your cell phone, which can be pretty neat if every one's calling you all the time. The less phone credit you use is a clear indication of how popular you are.

So, is there such a thing as mobile heaven? Sure is! It's called Canada, where evenings and weekends area regular features, along with free incoming calls, where there are no charges to call a cell phone from a land line. It's the best of both the worlds of Bermuda & Cayman.

Sinky Bay

Bermuda, I have neglected ye long enough. With all the chaos that we thought Hurricane Gustav was going to bring to Cayman, I failed to blog about you. But I could never forget you. How have you been? I have been reading the Gazette and wanted to blog about one of the ongoings, but I think I shall make this post a nice one. Everything in moderation, right?

Today we're talking about Sinky Bay, a small private beach nestled on the South Shore, on one's way to Gibb's Hill Lighthouse. While most beaches in Bermuda are public, there are a certain few that are not. Sinky Bay here, aptly named, is reserved for the residents living in close proximity to it (you won't find this beach on a map). We stumbled upon this by accident and really I've made it out there a few times and no one's asked me to prove my residence or to leave. And you can see why this beach is an exclusive. It's beautiful, no less and it's also so very tranquil. White sands and thatch umbrellas make this an ideal place to rest up. It's also a very less frequented beach and all the times I've stopped by there, I've encountered not one soul -which is probably why no one's asked me to leave. This was a favourite spot to bring guests to since driving or walking downhill towards the beach never failed to give one satisfying visual treat to our eyes. It turns you into a beach zombie. There aren't many beaches like this that can deliver a satisfying walk such as this one does. Just walking towards those aqua blues, would make you want to set up tent there permanently.

Post Gustav

While Grand Cayman was spared, the sister islands took a real beating from Hurricane Gustav. And while I feel for the people on the island, my thoughts always turn to the wildlife which is abundant on both these islands. It has been reported that 2004's Category 5 Hurricane Ivan all but wiped out many of the species of wildlife on the sister islands, so much so that many made the endangered list. Four years later numbers are finally beginning to increase and I am hoping that Gustav managed to leave the wildlife alone.

Here on Grand Cayman, no sooner than Saturday morning hit we were up and about ready to take a drive around town to see what's what. We first had to wait for our car to arrive. The one thing that people worry about on this island during hurricanes and the flood that follow is their cars. Grand Cayman is as flat as they come and many cars get flooded. Most park theirs on any higher ground they find. We left our with friends living in West Bay, which is more elevated than where we are. Peace of mind is everything during a storm and our car was one less thing we had to worry about. Of course, this time around we hardly had any rain.

We were guided to some of the hotspots to check out on Saturday and here are some shots & videos (pre & post Gustav) that made the cut.


Gas pumps that were properly secured in preparation of Gustav. This is something we definitely didn't see happening in Bermuda during Hurricane Flory.

Georgetown was a virtual ghost town on Saturday afternoon.

As we drove by, you couldn't help but look at the iridescent pale green ocean courtesy of hurricane induced stormy waters. Bermuda's waters were very much the same after Hurricane Flory.










And here are my favourite nature shots, of things as they seem and of little treasures washed up on shore.












Which one's your favourite?

And just how windy was it? Check out the videos below to see for yourself. Keep in mind that it's even more intense than captured on film. Those that took advantage of the winds and waves, left me wishing that this was me!

Brilliant Blog Award

I have been awarded the Brilliant Weblog award by Det-Res. I am proud that this doctor is my friend. She is intelligent, humble and will make you think. Thank you, Det-Res.


The Brilliant Weblog Award’s is given to sites and blogs that are smart and brilliant both in their content and their design. The purpose of the prize is to promote as many blogs as possible in the blog sphere.

The rules to be followed are:

1. When you receive the prize you must write a post showing it, together with the name of who has given it to you, and link back to them.
2. Choose a minimum of 7 blogs (or even more) that you find brilliant in content or design.
3. Show their names and links and leave them a comment informing them that they have been awarded with the ‘Brilliant Weblog’ award.
4. Show a picture of those who awarded you and those you give the prize to (optional).

---

Thank you, Det Res. And now I get to pay it forward.


AT HOME DADDY
He's a stay at home dad that is totally comfortable with his wife being the boss and in a good way! When I first started reading his blog, I thought...I could do this. And here I am two years later.

MIGHTY AFRODITEE
She's a feisty no-nonsense gyal. I've been an avid fan of her writing since before I moved to Cayman.

ME NO BIG CHIEF
Not only do I love the Native Indian saying quoted on his blog, I love his passion for politics and the environment.

THE LITTLE TORTOISE
A woman with two children, one of whom has PDD-NOS, she inspires me with her patience and strength and more importantly her courage to share and indeed show that life can be fun and normal when dealing with a special needs child.

TRIVIAL MATTERS
His passion for the underdogs of India and for the simple pleasures of life is vividly portrayed on his blog with his breathtaking photography.

TWISTED DNA
His posts are few and far in between but they never fail to make me laugh, which just goes to show, quality over quantity is better any day.

ZEN DENIZEN
Here's another feisty blogger, funny, equally ambitious and all too aware of what it's like as a brown woman in corporate America.

Hurricane Gustav

Saturday, 10:30 AM
We're up and Gustav has passed with minor incident. Some parts of Cayman lost power and got some flooding, particularly the East side. I'm really surprised that there wasn't as much rain as I thought there would be and that our electricity held up. It's a bright day here, albeit a little windy. But the worst has passed. Now here's hoping that TS Hanna stays where she is and doesn't cause much problem for us.

Saturday, 4:04AM
Just a few minutes ago I peeked outside and actually saw a dog, looking like it was confused before dashing off beyond my view. I'm hoping it ran off to its owner, because even though Cayman has its fair share of stray dogs, I don't think this was one of them. And I was so tempted to go out there to try and find it, but I know better and besides Hubby would have a fit. I just checked the online sources and even though it's still windy here, Gustav looks like it's moved AWAY from Cayman. Whoo hoo! Unfortunately for those in Cuba & the US, Gustav went from a Category 1 to a Category 3 in the span of such a short time. I hate to think of the damage it's going to cause, hopefully no more loss of life. I think we here in Cayman really lucked out. Thank goodness!

Saturday, 3:30AM
My fellow blogger is up as well and blogging. Something tells me that it's just us women who are up, doing the night watch while the men are snoring away the storm. And why is it that the American media always exaggerates to the nines? Unless the American networks have a Cayman correspondent here, they should not report of things they know nothing of. Of course the entire island is not out of power, because I would not be up blogging. And I am sure no sooner than I post this the power will go out. Bloody Murphy! All I hear right now is strong winds with something rattling outside, which is mighty annoying. I wonder which fool forgot to secure whatever it is that's causing all that noise. Cuba & the Gulf of Mexico, I feel for you because what's coming your way is at least a Category 3, and on the Labour Day long weekend, that's gotta blow.

Saturday, 1:30AM
This is Gustav right now at 1:30am Cayman time. Yes I'm still up. We've still got power and I hope it continues to stay that way. I don't want to jinx anything but I shall post a follow up on how Gustav has been impacting us. But if this picture here is any indication of how fortunate we are, then I don't know what is. Thank the Lord that the hurricane is passing us right in between Grand Cayman & the sister islands. So, far we've not had as much rain as we did during Tropical Storm Dolly which occurred last month, but the night is still young.

Going back to 1932

So we've got Gustav coming our way and are every so often glued to the set to find out its path. We're prepared - tub filled with water, windows taped up, sandbags ready (just in case), phones charged, stocked up on food & supplies - the works. Technology is unbelievable in today's world, where hurricane predictions are able to warn us before hand, much before hand, so we can prepare, evacuate, do what we need to do. Which brings to mind, what did people do in the olden days when there was no form of mass communication, no satellite images to aid meteorologists in their hurricane and tropical storm predictions and no forewarnings. While we were talking about this very same thing yesterday with friends they asked if we had heard of the Storm of '32. I looked it up further today and what I read complied with what they told me was so sad and unfortunate.

The 1932 Cuba Hurricane was apparently the worst that the Caribbean has seen in the 20th Century. It was responsible for over 3,000 deaths in Cuba and 69 in Cayman Brac. The storm path can be seen here. In the days before shelters existed, many seeked in caves. One such story about Rebecca's Cave and why it's called just that, can be read here. I was told that because there was no way to track a hurricane back in those days, no one knew when a hurricane had completely passed. While the eye of the hurricane hovered over the island, there was dead calm, blue skies and the sun blazing. Not knowing that it was just the eye that was passing over, and the latter half of the hurricane was about to pass by, many thought the hurricane had completed wreaking its havoc and that it was time to leave the caves and go to what was left of their homes. It was when the eye began to leave, bringing with it the latter half of the hurricane, that people we caught in the storm and sadly perished.

Today we have infinite technology at our resources, tracking mechanisms that are able to tell us when exactly the hurricane is bound to pass over and when it's finally safe to come out. How fortunate are we to be able to take advantage of such resources and prepare accordingly. Yes, we have to deal with hurricanes but at least we're better prepared now than anyone in previous history.

The calm before

OK here we go...Gustav is due to arrive right smack over Grand Cayman tomorrow. Of course in preparation, there are those that are driving around town like they're on crack, paying no mind to the rules of the road, unable to focus because they're panicking on inside. Everyone's been flocking the grocery store and the construction workers are working at super sonic speed to cover up the roofs that have not yet been completed. I feel for them, working faster than usual in this heat. Oh yeah, it's such a beautiful sunny hot day here in Grand Cayman that you wouldn't think a hurricane is around the corner. I am going to try and get some pictures today because, according to one of my friends, the beach is the most beautiful and the calmest the day before the storm. Stay tuned and for the rest of you in Cayman, stay safe.

Gus

While I wouldn't say that we here on Cayman are on pins and needles waiting to see how Gustav plays out, there is a certain apprehension abound. The big question is whether we evacuate and while most stay here on the island, some companies with offices in other parts of the world (mostly in America) tend to evacuate their employees to work in those locations, so business can run smoothly without any interruption. I've heard that prior to Hurricane Ivan (2004) hitting, most people pooh poohed the idea of evacuating not know that the wrath that Ivan was about to unleash would be the worst hurricane damage this island had yet to see. Ivan was devastating and so much so that four years later, I still see remnants of Ivan around the island. Houses that were literally demolished to the ground, where all you can see is the tile flooring, is one such evidence that lays scattered sporadically around these parts. Ivan was also a hurricane that changed its mind and course at the last possible moment, making a bee line for Grand Cayman, instead of originally hitting Cayman Brac & Little Cayman. It was from Ivan that was learnt how unpredictable a hurricane can really be.

For now, Gustav has been downgraded to a Tropical Storm and I hope it stays that way. Maybe I'll shorten its name to Gus, in light of its temporary deflation. It's at times like these I wish I had a crystal ball. For now we are glued to the Internet, to the tube, to the radio to hear how it will develop. It's much like watching out for a winter blizzard storm in Toronto, where all anyone can talk about is the weather and the impending blow that's going to hit us. Here in Cayman, my thoughts always move to the fish underwater. Do they know a storm's a coming?

In action

Here are a few of my favourite close up videos from my snorkel session on Sunday. Gosh these fish sure are pretty and you realise just how much once you see them in action. This is what I love about the underwater world, so very different and pleasing to the eye than the one up above. And there's nothing like seeing it for yourself. Please excuse the pixulated look if that's how the videos look to you. Something about the way blogger processes them makes it look pixulated because the original version I have is absolutely perfect. So, here goes...

This first video features a Multicoloured and a Stoplight Parrotfish along with a few Blue Tangs. That snap crackle and pop sound you hear, is the fish munching down on the coral.

The second video you see here is all about the Blue Tangs, with a Sergeant Major thrown in for good measure.

And the third short one, is of the Stoplight Parrotfish featured in the last photo of my previous post. It was a good thing I snapped up a pic of it, before it got away.

Snorkeling in Cayman

Snorkeling in Cayman is very different than in Bermuda. There aren't as many shallow spots here in Cayman even if the fish are plenty. We went snorkeling today for the first time here in Cayman, with a couple of friends. They lent me their flippers and boy, did that make all the difference in staying afloat in water that was at least 20 feet deep. I got some awesome shots and even spotted a turtle but stupidly did not have my camera with me at that particular time. It was my first turtle sighting too, and this one was a big turtle. Well, there's always next time, especially since Cayman's waters are abundant with turtles. Of the pictures I did take, here are some that came out quite nice. Even though the water was quite deep (by my standards), it was clear and I managed to get some shots of fish that I did not get to in Bermuda. So here goes.

The BLUE TANG. There were so many of these guys and they are so used to people that I was able to get close enough and hover. They did not seem to mind one bit. Juvenille Tangs are bright yellow in colour (of which I saw one in Bermuda), which they tend to lose for the bright blue you see here.



Here are a couple of Blue Tangs with a multicoloured Parrotfish. I am so pleased with the way this shot came out and you can see why. Aren't they just gorgeous?




At one point I felt the current push me towards the rocks that were littered with sea urchins. To brace myself I reached out and ended up touching a wall of Brain Coral. It was a squishy feeling, like how touching brains is supposed to feel...not good. It was then that I noticed this Hermit Crab tucked in this bed of Brain Coral. I snapped away. It didn't like it but I didn't care. And I know they say you're not supposed to touch the coral but this was by total accident. I swear! Anyway, here it is. I've zoomed in while editing, for maximum viewing pleasure.


And finally, these guys were everywhere. You're looking at a couple of Stoplight Parrotfish. At one point I was hovering over four of them. They're obviously quite used to people because believe me, I was really close when I got these shots. I love this one. It looks like this one is smiling and greeting me with a: Hey, where have you been? Long time no see!



My last shot of the evening and it came out quite well, especially considering my proximity. It's awesome, in fact. This one looks scary like it's about to bite me, but really it was just getting ready to munch on some coral. I've written about Parrotfish before and if you'd like to learn more, especially about their sex changes, then please click here. (Bet I've got your attention now!).


I've also got loads of videos. In fact I was so thrilled that I couldn't decide if I should take pictures or videos. Stay tuned for those.

*Note: All pictures have been taken with the Olympus Stylus 850 Underwater Camera. All images are copyrighted.

Who are you wearing?

I have resolved to go snorkelling this weekend and am almost ready. All I've got to do is arm myself with a pair of flippers & a beach umbrella. Looks like I'll be going shopping this Saturday, which is pretty much the only day one can get out and run errands, including grocery shopping. The islands here literally shut down on Sunday.

And if I thought Bermuda came to a total standstill on Sunday, welcome to Cayman where this island takes the Sabbath ever more seriously. Of course stores and businesses are closed on Sunday, but Cayman goes one step further and has all clubs stop playing their music by 11:59pm on Saturday night. There's no dancing at the clubs here past midnight on Sunday, which is why Friday is the big day to go out clubbing here on the island. And Caymanians do this in style. They take their clubbing very seriously. Piglet (my local friend) will never wear an outfit twice and absolutely has to go shopping for a new outfit every time she goes clubbing. A repeat outfit is such the faux pas. Why? Well, apparently those websites (BLACK & COKE in Bermuda and PARTY SURFERS in Cayman) that go around taking pictures of party people to post them online for all the community to see is quite the hotspot to check out (on Monday morning) who was out where, when and with whom and most importantly wearing what (or who). Piglet said there's no way she'll be caught on that website wearing a repeat outfit. Why? 'Because Cayman is so small, Yo. And everyone knows everyone. You do not understand.' Those were her exact words, in her delightful Caymanian accent. Actually I think I do understand, Piglet. I think I do…

Highway robbery

I was just taking a peek at Bermuda's E-moo website at their apartment rentals section, and I have but one word...HIGHWAY ROBBERY! Well that's two words but hey, it's unbelievable. The price of a studio apartment in Bermuda is now USD $2,000/ mth. Who are these people kidding? I'd love for someone to make mention of that it's the expats that are driving up the rent prices in Bermuda because boy, I'd just redirect them to the greedy landlords. Half of the stuff they are passing off as new is not even nearly as good as what's available here in Cayman. Can we say highway robbery again?

Ship shape

It has been recently reported that Grand Cayman's population is now sitting at about 60,000 people. Not that that's any cause for concern. This island is plenty big to house more than 60,000 of us, unlike Bermuda where at 66,000 the island is busting at the seams, which makes sense given that it's only 21 sq miles. It is because of this, that on any given day three is the maximum number of cruise ships that dock in Hamilton, Bermuda. Some of these ships eventually make their way to Dockyard, the West side of the island or they move onto the Bahamas. But for the few days that the ships are docked in town, Hamilton is busting with cruise ship tourists and it's quite difficult during lunch hour trying to get errands done while manouvering through the droves of tourists.

What is interesting about Cayman, is that cruise ships are not allowed to dock close to the harbour, probably because of the shallow waters combined with corals that deem it an unsafe and impractical place to dock. On any given day, one can see about five cruise ships (during peak tourist season) docked way yonder. So, how do the tourists get to town from their ships? Get this: by little boats. There are no ramps that let you walk right off the ships onto the dock. There are just little boats that take you from ship to shore. But imagine this, with five cruise ships docked, and the tourists that make their way onto the island, its population is literally increased by one half just one given day. That's a lot of people. Luckily it's just temporary, because those ships and the tourists that come along with it have got to leave sometime.

Bee aware

Here's a Bermuda bee hard at work, pollinating a banana flower. If you love bananas, heck if you love food, love to eat, you'd want the bees to stick around. Remember my previous posts on the plight and disappearance of the bees and how detrimental this is to our survival as a species. Well, scientists have finally figured out what has been causing the global disappearance of bees (which has now spread to Europe), why they are dying off in the field and why their numbers are dwindling in epic proportions. They have figured out the origins of the virus that seems to be killing off the bees in the field. Not surprisingly, this virus originated from greenhouse bees and has spread to the wild bees. You can bet those greenhouse bees caught something not so nice either from that enclosed greenhouse environment or from the pesticides used on the crops they have been pollinating. Not surprising at all. We continue to mess with Mother Nature, and then continue to scratch our heads wondering why she retaliates. When are we ever going to learn not to mess with nature, not to mess with things that are meant to be? When are we ever going to learn to leave well enough alone? Are we paying attention? I hope those scientists have figured out how to fix this, because time is running out for the bees and for us.

Driving Ms Cute Pants

The car market is quite different here in Cayman than in Bermuda. For one there aren't any restrictions on how many cars one can own (local or expat). But the second hand car market is ruthless here, in the sense that dealers & private owners can get away with charging prices on cars that are at least eight years old - that is one would charge for a two year car in Bermuda. However, registration fees are a lot cheaper here in Cayman than in Bermuda, and cars here are not categorised by classes unlike in Bermuda where it's bigger the car, more the registration fee and insurance premium.

Many here in Cayman go the route of buying their cars in the US and getting them shipped down here. Even with the exorbitant duty and shipping charges, for most it works out cheaper. The downside to this is the waiting time (which is generally at least a couple of months and that the car you get is a left hand drive. Not much fun to drive that on the left hand side of the road here in Cayman. I used to think this would be the most logical thing to do but I now better. I went from driving a left hand drive rental yesterday to a right hand drive car today and although I have to re adjust, it's so much easier.

And I love the fact that Cayman, unlike Bermuda, has more than a hundred radio stations. Plenty of genres of music to choose from. Plenty! After being out of the loop for three years in terms of what's new on the radio, I am catching up quite nicely.

Paradise - Take 2

Don'tcha wish your island was hot like mine?

Don'tcha?

An even tan

One of the things I will have to get used to here in Cayman is my perpetual tan that is deemed to follow me year round, which is not so much of a problem, except it is. The tan lines, that is. It gets worse when you’re three different shades all over. At least in Bermuda I had a bit of a reprieve during the winter, since it was too cold to swim and of course snorkel, it was naturally too cold to get a tan. Besides the winter sun in Bermuda was not nearly as strong as in the summer.

Which brings me back to Cayman. Because I love snorkeling I am afraid my back will never lose it’s uneven tan. We all know how sunblock is only ever effective in keeping the harmful UVA-B rays off our skin, but not that tan (although one of my friends seems to think otherwise). To which I have to say that North America markets products that give you tan that one so desperately wants. There is much demand for this. Why would they create a product that blocks out any sort of tan? There's no market for that kind of product in North America. For that she’ll have to go to India where bleaching lotions are all the rage now. Anyway, getting back to my tan line of a problem. How do I fix this? I think I just may have my answer. Enter the diver's suit, or the top half of a diver's suit anyway. I’m going to invest in one and don it on every time I’m out snorkeling and in a few months time, I shall let you know how I made out. Tan lines, they're about to be begone!

Counting cars

Of course Cayman is more open and tolerant of foreigners/expats than Bermuda is. If one were to take out Cayman's expat population you'd only be left with 30,000+ local people on this island. 30,000? That's a small number. If one were to take out Bermuda's expat population (8,000 out of 66,000), that would barely make a dent. Yet it's the expats in Bermuda that get blamed for the recent rise in the number of cars on the road (never mind that I've heard of some local landlords keeping the assessment numbers of their rental properties for themselves, so they can have up to FIVE cars. True story!). Which makes me think, if that were the case and given that each household restricted to just one car, just how many cars do expats really have, especially when they're getting blamed for the rise? Sounds like an ugly math problem, doesn't it?

The skinny on the work permit

Bermuda's immigration laws are restrictive when it comes to foreign workers & work permits. As a work permit holder, you can only have two employers in your first five years and a third employer in your sixth year. If you are a key employee then you may stay here longer than the six years, but with the same employer. Most expats have no choice but to leave after their sixth year if they feel like they have to change employers. There's nowhere to go but back home or to another island.

The most logical island would be Cayman, I suppose, although many move to Guernsey (Channel Islands) or to the Bahamas or even Singapore or Ireland. The choices when you are in the Fund industry are limitless. If you do move to Cayman you will find that as a foreign worker there are fewer restrictions than Bermuda. While Cayman does have the term limit, it's a limit of seven years, after which as a key employee one can stay on and continue to work. Once you pass your eighth year you are eligible to apply for residency - a route that many expats take, if they are key employees. This is not an option available in Bermuda which no longer allows persons to apply for residency unless they are married to a Bermudian for more than 10 years. And while Cayman may have no restrictions on the number of employers like Bermuda does, it still frowns on a foreigner changing employers too often. Which basically means I have no idea what number the government likes. I guess we have to pick one!

The Cayman Parrot

Parrots are one thing I know about. Growing up we always had a Senegal Parrot around (very popular in India), and later in Dubai even added on two African Greys (the smartest parrots) on the face of the planet! In Toronto, my parents now have a Green Cheek Conure (native to Brazil and Venezuela) - and boy does he give you a run for your money. Anyway, when I do come across a parrot I've noticed how they instinctively let me run their neck - a sign that they trust you. They must smell the parrot on me! It's like dogs, right? Other dogs just know you are a dog person/owner.

While at the Turtle Farm, we got to see these three Cayman Parrots in an enclosed aviary. And even though I am a parrot person, I was a bit wary of these guys. We were advised not to use the flash while taking pictures, as this tends to irritate them. And since we were already in an enclosed space with them, I didn't want to take my chances. But pose all three of them did as you can see, and we did get to feed them which was really neat for Hubby, as he didn't grow up around pet parrots. And while they were quite calm you can see from the pictures how wary they themselves are looking at us wondering what our next move was. I was almost sorry to leave them. The sign outside their enclosure read as follows:

ROSE-THROATED (CAYMAN) PARROT
National Bird of the Cayman Islands

RANGE: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac
STATUS: Endangered (limited geographical range)

There are 2 endemic sub-species of the Rose-throated Amazon Parrot in the Cayman Islands. The Cayman parrot is a protected species and was declared the National bird in 1997. The population of approximately +/- 2000 parrots on Grand Cayman was significantly reduced after Hurricane Ivan in 2004, but numbers seem to be recovering. The Cayman Brac population seems to be holding steady at approximately +/- 400 birds.

The 3 male birds in this cage are friendly and will usually pose for photographs. Our national bird displays all the colours of the Cayman Islands flag when in flight. Note the hidden colours in the folded wings and tails.

Something special

Some days I find myself racking my brains to think of something to post. Bermuda, Cayman, Toronto, Dubai, Bombay and a way to make it all relateable to the two islands. But I get nothing, nada, babkus, zilch! You get the idea. Well, this week is NOT one of those times my friends. I got just as many ideas this week coming out of my ears as I do smoke when I'm hopping mad. Why, just off the previous post I've got two, count 'em, not one, but TWO topics to blog about. But I'm only going to do one today and I shall leave the rest for another day. I've got to keep you coming back for more, right?

Ok so here goes...

I've blogged about the Queen's English before, specifically the pronunciations of words that are so very different from North American English. The Queen's English is not really limited to England but anywhere that England was a major force back in the colonial days (Canada does not count here). So, we're talking about India (and all them Indians of course, specifically my parents), the West Indies...et al.

So, how would you pronounce this: SPECIALITY (as in Speciality Inn).

If you're North American you're probably pronounced it speshulty BUT if you're of the Queen's English you're probably pronouncing it speci-a-lity. Am I right? Just another thing of Bermuda that reminded me of my days in India where everyone (including me) would pronounce it the latter. Somewhere along the way (in Canada) I lost it, but my parents (especially my Dad) and their friends haven't. And it makes me smile when I hear those variances.

So, I'm taking a head count...how did you pronounce it? SPESHULTY or SPECI-A-LITY?

Iguana eggs

I'm going to extend on the previous Iguana post here but not quite like you think. Looking back at our stay in Bermuda and the many dinners we had with our American expat friends, LadyBug & SharkBoy, the previous Iguana post made me think of them. Not too far from where we all used to live, is a gem of a family restaurant called Speciality Inn. It's always packed and its reasonable menu coupled with excellent customer service, have people coming back for more. Not to mention their sushi is one of the best in Bermuda. This one particular summer evening, the four of us decided to order in and chill out. It being a work day, none of us felt like cooking or firing up the grill. Along with Speciality's famous pizza, our friends decided to order IGUANA EGGS off the menu. Now I'd seen this on their menu before, but of course was not apt to try. There's only certain types of eggs I'll eat and it comes from a chicken. Hubby and I 'graciously' passed up on doubling the order because we were not about to try Iguana Eggs. Oh but it's good, they told us. Don't care, said we. The order arrived and can I just say, Iguana Eggs were not what I thought they were at all. They weren't even remotely close to anything resembling an iguana egg. So, what were they?

Well, imagine our friends taking a bite of their 'Iguana Egg' and to our surprise it revealed itself as a Jalapeño Popper! What is a Jalapeño Popper? It's a Mexican first and of late a South Western American dish - a deep friend breaded Jalapeño pepper stuffed with cream cheese (Google it!). Heck, I say. That's a Jalapeño Popper. I love those things. Yes, they say, they're also called Iguana Eggs. To which I say: well, heck guys, why didn't y'all say so in the first place? And why'd they have to go and name those Jalapeño Poppers Iguana Eggs. That just about went and made it so darn confusing because I almost came so darn close to never knowing. People would be more likely to order them if they're not known as Iguana Eggs. Don'tcha think? Lookit us for instance!

Iguanas

I've said previously that Iguanas are to Cayman as frogs are to Bermuda. Iguanas here are plentiful, varying in sizes and colours and they roam around free like no body's business. While they look very much like the feisty Komodo dragon, the iguanas are quite timid and actually run for their lives if they spot someone getting too close, even if it is for a photo op (I tried). Unfortunately because of the fact that they're roam the island, they also end up as road kill and when they do, it's not a pretty sight. Cringe worthy really. Maybe because they're bigger? I'm not sure.

A few months ago Cayman woke up to the work week and found themselves starting at the newspaper to find a picture of six dead iguanas that were laid side by side, very much like a scene from CSI. Someone went on a slaughtering spree and decided to target these iguanas. Sad really. Cayman took this very seriously and the investigation is an ongoing process. Workplaces began taking up collections for the Blue Iguana Recovery Fund to do their part.


Here are some Iguana shots taken so far around the island. This first one was during our trek to the Turtle Farm. This guy quickly slid up the tree, camouflaging itself so well that the family that just parked next to the tree had no idea of its existence. The wary look on its face says it all.


Once inside the Turtle Farm, we spotted this one, languidly making its way across the sand, with the scorching hot summer sun beating down on it. This time I did call to its attention, so everyone around me (especially the same visiting family) was able to make it to the opposite end watch it walk by.


Of course, no exhibit is complete without a showcase of Cayman's very own Iguanas. Apparently they are also highly territorial, which is why you'll find them in solitary confinement at the exhibits. Note that accompanied these exhibits says:

GRAND CAYMAN BLUE IGUANA, Grand Cayman
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (LESS THAN 300 IN THE WILD)
The Grand Cayman Blue Iguana is Cayman's largest native land animal and the most endangered iguana in the world. With international conservation assistance, the National Trust for the Cayman Islands operates a successful breed/ release programme to recover this beautiful animal from the brink of extinction.
Adult males can grow to over 5 feet long and weigh up to 25 lbs. Cayman iguanas are vegetarians feeding on fallen fruits, low-hanging flowers and leaves. Our females blue iguana on display is often a dark greyish colour. She exhibits her brilliant blue when warmed by the sun.



LESSER LITTLE CAYMAN IGUANA, Cayman Brac & Little Cayman
ENDANGERED
The Lesser/ Little Cayman Rock Iguana very similar in biology and behaviour to its Grand Cayman Blue cousin. The species is quite possible extinct on Cayman Brac, but abundant on Little Cayman.
Adult males can grow to over 5 feet long and weigh up to 25 lbs. Cayman iguanas are vegetarians feeding on fallen fruits, low-hanging flowers and leaves. Our male Iguana on display usually exhibits a dark grey-brown colour, which turns lighter as he warms in the sun.


And I close with this GRUMPY fella. The reason this shot is all blurry is because he was so close to the cage that I couldn't focus, but you can still tell how grumpy his is. I half expected him to lunge at the camera lens, but surprisingly he stayed put. Yes, I say 'he' because I know he's a male iguana.

Feelings

I had barely set foot in Cayman when I felt the onslaught of a slew of "Which Island is better" and "What's it like working in Bermuda compared to Cayman" type questions. I wasn't willing to answer them then and put it off saying: I'd only know how to answer those after living in Cayman for at least a few months. Well, I believe that time has arrived.

There's always that tension in the workplace, the locals vs the expats. For the most part it's hidden, but every once in while it rears its ugly head and it's not just limited to the island life. I've never really blogged about the workplace tension in Bermuda, mainly because I didn't think it was 'safe' to do so (if a local's blog can be shut down, watch how fast they'd move on a expat, was my thinking). With the small number of expats compared to size of Bermuda's local population, there is quite a bit of resentment that exits. In the past few years, expats have been feeling less and less welcome on the island and in the workplace due to these tensions that inevitably surface. Recent government rules that have been implemented have not exactly been expat friendly and this is a feeling shared across the board. Talk of how the second car market should be made unavailable to expats, on how expats singles/ couples would no longer be eligible to purchase cars, on how it would the companies that would be allotted permits to own cars and it would be them that would decide which expat employee would get that permit - these are the asinine rules to name a few. Luckily these never got implemented because of the uproar on how these rules make expats feel like second class citizens. 'Second Class Citizens' was a phrase that was thrown around a lot last year in the expat community. Add to that, the government refuses to acknowledge that International Business is the MAIN pillar of the economy, given that tourism is an industry that only thrives in the summer due to Bermuda's sub tropical and variable climate. It has been adamant that it is tourism that is the main pillar of the economy and frankly given the facts, those numbers just don't add up.

Well, welcome to Cayman, where 58% of the population is made up of expats. Yes, there does exist that tension but it is minute compared to Bermuda's level. What's different about Cayman is that many of the current status holders started out as expats many years ago. There are no restrictions on owning cars here on this island. And unlike Bermuda, Cayman does acknowledge that International Business goes equally hand in hand with the tourism industry to make up their economy. An acknowledgement such as this can make all the difference. And it does. And coming from Bermuda, I can now feel the difference. Some may feel that I am biased and that I've no love for Bermuda any more, but that's not true. When I first got here, people would automatically tell me, 'So you're from Bermuda huh? I heard they have a lot of restrictions on things like work permits and owning cars.' They'd obviously heard it from other former Bermuda residents. Word of mouth is everything and Bermuda's reputation has unfortunately preceded it.

Open wide

After a five month break, it feels good to be driving again. It helps that the roads here in Grand Cayman are wider and that the mini highways make the commute easier, because we all know how I hate stop and go traffic. Gimme a highway any day and I am game. And while Cayman's highways are not the same as Toronto's, it'll do for now. However, the roundabouts here are bigger than Bermuda's and that can sometimes be a little daunting when it's crazy mad rush hour traffic time - definitely not my favourite thing in the world. And unlike Bermuda, Cayman does not have too many bike/scooter/moped riders on the roads.

What is not uncommon about all these places (and the rest of the world) is that they inevitably share one thing - stupid drivers.

The license collector

I was almost afraid to find out if Cayman required people to undergo a driving test, if they already have one from a previous country. At that point I don't think I could have handled taking another driving test. Turns out, the really good thing about Cayman is NOT having to undergo a drivers' test to get a Cayman drivers' license. Unlike Bermuda, when everyone has to pass the test to become eligible to drive, Cayman allows you to acquire a license if you already have a license from a country within the Geneva Convention Road Traffic Agreement. Major European countries and most English speaking countries make this list, including of course, the US and Canada (even though they drive on the right hand side of the road).

And like Bermuda, your license is issued to you right away but this is largely dependent on whether their machines are working. It's a good idea to call ahead for that day to find out which location has its machine up and running, so you won't have to make a second trip sometime later (which is what happened to me and I'm sure to plenty other people).

I will say this: my photo on my Cayman license came out the best compared to Canada and Bermuda. This may partly be due to the reason that I've lost some weight. (Bingo!) In any case, I like it. I like it a lot.

Another thing about my Cayman license? No spelling errors in my name. Thank you very much.

I'm up to three licenses now and guess what? They're all valid!

Oh one more thing, I've been staring at the word license for the past five minutes that the word has lost all meaning to me. Don't you hate it when that happens?