Meanwhile, back at the ranch... Check out Bellyitch: Bellyitch Celebrity Update: The Top 10 Shirtless Hot Dads

Bellyitch: Bellyitch Celebrity Update: The Top 10 Shirtless Hot Dads

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Carib2Kwine - recap

Another Caribana season has come & gone, you are just starting to go through what pictures you want to upload, and it's 15°. *Sigh*

Carib2Kwine lived up to it's name... the whining started early, when a Carnival Nationz section sold out at their launch, causing many admirers to vent they felt that practice was unfair. I personally wasn't wowed by Secret Garden at the launch. Denise alone modeled it, doing a very quick pass on stage. When I saw it close up on their website, and then on the road however, I could see the special details that the costume had.

There was a huge collective whine heard from Hamilton devotees when they realized their Carnival wasn't happening. I know I really missed Mardigras this year, it just wasn't the same without it. I just hope 2010 sees the return of Hamilton Carnival.

Then I had something to whine about on costume pick up day when I discovered the Tembu Warrior headpiece was downsized. I could then think of much better things I needed to do the day before the parade than watch for 1+ hour the male Crees of Canada costumes being glued together.

On the positive side, security seemed better this year, and we got to the end with Saldenah without any stormers. I know CNz had a fence for most of the route, but once they reached the gate, security dropped it, & stormers made their way in. I'm not sure about the effectiveness of that gate.

I was pleased with my costume, it held up well for our las lap 2 weeks later. Most all of my face gems stayed on this year, so I know they didn't last year because of the downpour (I used the same eyelash glue). This was my busiest year with the blog, with many new readers and lots of comments. Whether you found your way here from Trinidad Carnival Diary (thanks Saucy!), or Carib101 (big up Grant & Bryant), sometime before August 1, we past 30,000 hits!

So now that Caribana & (Barrie) Carnival are over, Karabanablogspot will be on hiatus until next season. Thanks everyone for reading, commenting & saying hi at the Caribana events.
In the meantime, be sure to check out fellow local bloggers De Cocoa Panyol and Nurse Karen who's blogs are about a mix of many things or about West Indian culture, including soca and Caribana.
~Bless

Our las lap - Caribfest!

Barrie's Caribfest was a true fun & friendly vibes carnival. It saw an increase in masqueraders this year, perhaps since Hamilton's Mardigras didn't happen. I'm glad the word got out, and I certainly hope it continues to attract more Toronto bands. I believe when you've gone once, you'll return.

Getting there should be easy, but being on a Saturday morning, you sit in bumper to bumper traffic with all the cottagers. It took us 1½ hr. to finally get there, so by the time we reached the parade, it was 1:30. The (Caribana) competition was over and a cooperative spirit was felt as Saldenah & Carnival Nationz jumped up together since CNz had problems with their music truck. Trini-in-Toronto & I still got in more than an hour with the band(s) and it was such a wonderful time!

Caribfest has everything I want in a carnival - a manageable amount of masqueraders, the spectators that do jump in are respectable & in small numbers, a parade through the streets & downtown, and you wind up at a beach park. There you find food, a beer tent, entertainment, fair rides, artists & craft vendors, and the beach!! What's not to like?

Everyone plays mas in this family!

Ouch!

posing with the knives, hah hah very Warrior like

(this is going to be an annual picture lol!)

Two of my favourite things together! Carnival & chocolate!

So what did you think of Caribfest?


If you'd like your Caribfest pictures included in the slide show I'm going to display on the blog, email them to me: karabana01@yahoo.ca

Say no to copying

Due to a recent post being copied & sent as a message to a facebook group, it's time to explain plagiarism.
This is an independent blog. It's not affiliated with any organization or company. I write my posts in my own words, and contributor Trini-in-Toronto's posts are his words. When I do post an outside article, I link the source. Even if you're taking information from official websites, you know you should be linking the source.

While Trini-in-Toronto may find it flattering that someone liked what he wrote enough to use it, the fact is, it was directly copied and sent as a message. Making it look as though the copier wrote it. Because they didn't name the source (the author), or provide a link to the blog. Yes, that's plagiarism, and it's extremely unprofessional. When this was brought to their attention, and they were asked to send a message linking the blog, they ignored it, and then sent another message copying from the post again. I can't see that blatant disregard as anything but mean spirited.

Just as other bloggers have posted my pictures (pictures I've taken) on their blogs, & they provide a link to karabanablogspot, the same is expected if you use any written work here. I know they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but truthfully, when I've read my opinions and comments practically word-for-word elsewhere, I do feel annoyed. I wonder why people can't form their own opinions? Has technology produced such laziness, that actually writing something yourself is unheard of?! There's too much copying & pasting going on.

So if you don't want to write your own thoughts, but use a post you've read here without asking, you MUST name karabanablogspot as the source and provide a link.

Great news for Connections

Connections Gemstones

Connections band leader Mervyn Skeete is pleased with the news that from placing second in the "B" band category, Connections will be promoted to the "A" division for 2010. As a result of this, Connections would be no lower than the 8th position in the parade, and possibly earlier. Mervyn says that being lower that 8th (in the parade) had a direct effect on registration. He also commented that hopefully they will have better crowd control next year, (from being within the first 8 bands) which will permit masqueraders to better enjoy themselves.
As well, to all those unfortunate masqueraders whose band will not be going to Barrie's Caribfest, Mervyn says they are welcome to jump with us, not a problem.

Who fuh Las lap?

Last years parade in Barrie

The lime by the beach at the end of the parade

The Fry Fish man (Real GOOD)

This is a link to see our opinions on Barrie from last year

Yes folks, allyuh ready to go again?

I know it still have plenty of you, who thinking about going but not sure if it will be good, and
yuh worried it don't have enough Trinis in Barrie and people might watch you funny. Don't worry, we went last year and it was a real nice lime. The route is pretty short but the ending point is BEEESSSST. Its a really nice park right on the beach. And they have a stage set up with live music and plenty people selling good food and crafts. And they have a beer tent.

Plus, there was no Hamilton, so I think more people going to show up. So call your band or section leader and ask them if they making the trip. If they say no, ask them why not and mention that (insert band name here) is going, so what happen to them?

I know Saldenah is going and Barrie Masqueraders, Carnival Nationz, Callaloo
Mervyn Skeets Toronto Caribbean Connection and Nip Davis were there last year. I don't know who else is coming this year. Even if your band isn't coming, just bring your costume and fall in with somebody

Incase you never been to Barrie, here are directions

Centennial Park

75 Lakeshore Dr
Barrie, ON L4N 0A1

Get directions From Google Map

Directions to Main Stage for spectators:

From Toronto to Centennial Park, location of main stage:

1. North on HWY 400
2. Exit at Essa Rd.
3. Turn Right on Essa Rd. (heading north)
4. Turn Right at Tiffin St.
5. Turn Left onto Lakeshore Dr.
6. Follow to Centennial Park at 75 Lakeshore Dr. on the Right Side

Please note that these directions are how to get to the end of the parade route.... no, I'm not drunk. We learned last year its best to park at the end of the route and walk up to the start, that way when yuh finish parade and you liming for hours in the park, yuh cooler right THERE .... you see where I am going.

Ah nearly forget, bring a blanket and towel and ting incase you want to go for a swim, they have nice clean changing facilities.
Also, unlike Caribana, Barrie Caribfest is a very child friendly event, so feel free to walk with your little ones.

You can go to the website to get the rest of the directions, or you could just follow people with plastic cups in their hand walking from the park.

They say the parade starts at 12 noon.

So Hail us out if you are coming.

Memories of Hamilton

I'm really missing Hamilton Mardigras! Right about now, we'd be chippin down de road parading our mas, with spectators watching us.

Due to the heavy rain last year that poured down once we reached Bayfront Park, the bands couldn't go into the park. At the time, people were truly freeing up themselves in the rain and getting on real bad in the parking lot - but that rain came at a cost. All those vendors lost money. So carnival couldn't happen this year. Another signifigant reason why rain ruins a parade.

Anyway, we're left with many wonderful memories of Hamilton - what are yours?

Click here for more 2008 pictures.
Our first year going ('02), we didn't know we could wear our Caribana costumes & be in the parade. We followed the bands along Main St., thought it was perfect to end up in a park, and knew we'd be returning. So in 2003 we kept our costumes in tact and were officially a part of Mardigras. Needless to say, it was a much better time wearing costumes. We were hooked! Last year they switched the gathering spot from city hall to Wilson St. We walked around downtown trying to find the bands, and luckily Hamilton is small, so we eventually found everyone.

2007
Here are more 2007 pictures.

The parade gets bigger and bigger every year, with more bands participating and more masqueraders realizing it's only a 1 hour drive from Toronto. However, the feel of Hamilton Carnival is not like Caribana. Because there are no judges and stormers, there's no pressure. The vibe has remained positive, safe, and well, free.

2006

2005

2003

We certainly hope Hamilton carnival returns in 2010. Until then, remember you still get your las lap in Barrie next Saturday!