Jamaica’s Burmese: A Hope for Democracy Back Home
Jamaica's Burmese community, I am told, is about 300 strong now. When my friend Jo arrived about 18 years ago, there were fewer than 100. Initially drawn by the availability of professional medical jobs in Jamaica (the island suffers from a chronic shortage of highly skilled medical professionals), friends followed friends, and families followed families, and the community is now quite successful.
Recent developments in Burma have sparked new hope for real change back home for this group. Many of them tell me of their support for the National League of Democracy, the political movement of Aung San Suu Kyi, back in the 1980's, and about how the government violently suppressed the peoples' calls for more democracy.
Now, for the first time in a long time, the NLD is being allowed to contest elections. Today, Jamaica's Burmese community held a potluck fundraiser for Suu Kyi and her bid for electoral office in Burma.
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- Pork. Various body parts. My interest ended there.
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- Mohingga, delicious fish soup. A taste of Burma.
Search for the Best Steamed Fish
I forgot who recommended So So Seafood, on Chelsea Road, but the claim that they had the best steamed fish in town just may have to be declared true. I'm pretty sure a planted suggestion did not become a self fulfilling prophecy - my search for the best steamed fish on the island has honed a reliable judgement for the stuff. This one was really good.
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- Fresh snapper, from the ice box
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- Hot off the grill, steamed with veggies and lots of scotch bonnet
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- Delicious – just the bones remain
Bless this coffee…
Biking through the posh neighborhoods, and gully communities, which seem to pass one into the other so abruptly in this bifurcated city, on a quiet cool Sunday morning can be a wonderful thing. Especially when there is rum to sweat out of the system, and the church choirs are just picking up steam in the omnipresent jamaican churches.
Destination: my favorite coffee shop, to check the morning's news and views and to recaffeinate for the ride home (unfortunately it is all up hill...).
One of their morning's first customers, I am privileged to witness the opening group prayer, what I assume is a daily ritual performed by the crew of pleasant young women who always serve me the lovely Blue Mountain coffee with a suggestive smile. Not simply a prayer, though, as much as a five minute plunge into song and hymn, holding hands in a tight circle, eyes closed, oblivious to the cafe patrons who continue to file in, patiently waiting for their own chance at redemption through ritual... Though their sacrament of coffee is not quite the same...
King Fish in Port Antonio
The rainy season makes it a little harder to enjoy the beaches of Portland, on the North Coast of Jamaica. But that can't stop us from indulging in the bounties of the sea!
Saturday had us at a nice place on the outskirts of Port Antonio, in the Parish of Portland, called Anna Banana. The king fish steak, steamed, was excellent.
Snacking Through a Sunday
Sunday afternoon stirfrying, Jamaican veggies
Finally arrived in Kingston - FroYo!
Finally arrived in Kingston - FroYo!
My favorite Orange Seller, on Olivier Road
Country Driving
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- The biggest Avacado ever
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- Awesome lunch at Mr. Lee’s
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- Mr. Lee’s roof, St. Mary
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- Avocado Tree
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- Giant spiders in St. Mary
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- Unique Advertising
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- Washing Clothes in the river
Permaculture and Rastas in the Jamaican hills
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- Bamboo terracing and minimal irrigation is turning this steep hill into productive farmland
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- Mount Edge Guesthouse
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- Food Basket Jamaica produce
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- Rastafarian Camp
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- Stuffed Zucchini squash
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- And presto!
“Remember, thou art mortal.”
Flesh and bone, after all. A simple act leads to a brush with death; one is reminded of the fragility of life and body.
Getting My Vitamin D
Hardly 45 minutes west of Kingston, past depressing urban sprawl, nostril burning slash and burn agriculture, and the quickly browning hillsides during this Jamaica's dry season, Fort Clarence Beach goes a long way toward adding balance to the noise and unpleasantness of the capital city.
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- Fresh fish, lobster, festival, steamed veggies… it all looked good 5 minutes ago
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- The steamed fish, 1,100J$ from the busy little food shack on the beach, was surprisingly good
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Ted Meinhover
Wednesday, May 23rd at 1:19 Ted Meinhover shared a link.
Watch now: Preview: Foreign Service Officers | To The Contrary | PBS Video
video.pbs.org
Foreign Service Officers
Ted Meinhover
Tomorrow: holiday in Jamaica. Now: vodka and dimsum with Caribbean rainstorm outside. Soon come: sleep long long time.
Ted Meinhover
Tuesday, May 22nd at 15:51 Space X, you rock. I'm changing my will right now: "My ashes are to be scattered in upper orbit..."
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0522/SpaceX-takes-Star-Trek-s-Scotty-to-the-Final-Frontier
SpaceX takes Star Trek's 'Scotty' to the Final Frontier
www.csmonitor.com
SpaceX: The ashes of the actor James Doohan, who played Scotty on 'Star Trek' were launched to space on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The price? $2,995 to launch 1 gram of ashes into Earth orbit.
Ted Meinhover
I am so happy for you and proud of you Endriani Ds!!!!
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