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!
Leftover Turkey?
Ah yes, the leftovers. Thanksgiving itself is always wonderful - the gathering of family and friends, a bit of leisure, and of course, the food. It is the latter that keeps on giving days after the actual celebration - there is always more food prepared than can be consumed at one time.
The turkey was not exactly easy to come by here in Jamaica, and it wasn't quite the same without my family around. But it was still good, and was especially tasty in today's stirfry with a bunch of Jamaican vegetables.
Happy Thanksgiving.
More about fish
One of the local staff at work takes orders for fish from a local fisherman. Today he brought in parrot fish for me - always a bit of a gamble, trying a fish you've never seen that is named after something with feathers - but this time it paid off. Grilled with garlic and some liquid aminos, the meat is firm and a little bit tangy. (Note: it looked even better AFTER it was cooked...)
Jamaican Parrot fish, fresh from the sea
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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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