Sandals Style Winter 2011 by Sandals Resorts

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fired up about antigua

luxury defies gravity

contents 04

Celebrating 30 years of luxury

in his own words

Time travel to the 18th century

a beach a day

sun kissed

Getting the bronze beauty look

how film got its groove back

This fruit is full of sweet surprises

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from cane to cask every step of the way

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spirit of the islands

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building a strong foundation talk ya talk, bahamas Learn the lingo the easy way

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Why loyal guests keep returning

the mango tango

what lies beneath

Sandals builds model school

Caribbean movies star again

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Glory of religious houses

You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t run out of choices in Antigua

pig tales This little piggy went to sea

Story of rum is story of the islands

the grandest great houses of jamaica

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Butch Stewart tells how he did it

page turners

Eerie beauty at Grenada underwater park

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Here, every day is Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

happy anniversary

Over and above your expectations

To know us, read our books

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Clay artists protect tradition

love nest

folklore, antigua Meet hero of slave revolt

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Antigua • Aruba • Barbados • Curacao • Freeport • Grenada Jamaica • NCL Ships • St. Maarten • St. Lucia • Turks and Caicos ColombianEmeralds.com • 1-800-6-No-Duty

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love nest

The Sweetest of Suites

Writer Nikola Lashley

Created in the true spirit of romance, Sandals’ Love Nest Suites are among some of the most lavish collection of suites in the world. The most innovative designs, exotic and private settings, luxurious bathrooms, and amenities like plush terry robes, hand-embroidered Egyptian cotton duvets, plasma TVs, and the service of a personal butler are just some of the details that make the Love Nest Suites so desirable.

millionaire suites, sandals la toc golf resort & spa The four glamorous, well-appointed Millionaire Suites at Sandals La Toc combine uber-style with the luxury, comfort and charm of the Caribbean. A smart three-level outdoor sundeck, accessible from the living room or bedroom, captures sea breezes and features a glass waterfall that spills into a zero-entry plunge pool and private whirlpool. Cantilevered above the resort’s highest point, these suites grant sweeping 180° unobstructed panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea and the majestic surroundings of Saint Lucia. Luxurious interior finishes include French-polished, handmade mahogany furniture and sliding glass walls that open the living room and bedroom to the outside. The use of marble and white onyx pebbles throughout further exude the grandeur and refinement of La Toc’s priceless hideaway.

crystal lagoon swim-up suites, sandals royal caribbean spa resort & private island The highly-exclusive Crystal Lagoon Swim-up Suites at Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort & Private Island and Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa represent the pinnacle of luxury on the island of Jamaica. The Swimup Suites are situated beside a lazy, relaxing waterway and pool leading to a private entrance area with secluded decks for dining and relaxing. Each extravagant suite is outfitted with custom furnishings and tropically inspired décor, with a spacious bedroom featuring a four-poster mahogany bed, a marvelous bathroom with marble and hand-cut mosaic tile accents, plus a Jacuzzi tub and his and her vanities. Blending tranquility and style, these suites strike just the right balance between modern design and tropical escape.

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beachfront villas, sandals emerald bay Each Beachfront Walkout Villa Suite overlooks the crystal clear waters of Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas and leads directly to a picture-perfect cove beach, where you can soak up the sun or enjoy a midnight stroll under the stars. The first thing that strikes you about Sandals Emerald Bay is just how seductively peaceful this six-star resort is. It’s also immediately evident that the 500acre estate, with its walk-in pools and surrounding gardens, is designed to enthral those in search of an intimate, luxurious, low-key getaway. When entering a Beachfront Villa for the first time, you may find yourself lingering a little while in a space so elegantly designed––where every interior detail is created in the best possible taste and to the highest standards imaginable. But you are immediately drawn to the real star of these villas––the beautiful view.

beachfront rondoval suites, sandals grande st. lucian “Luxury defined” best describes these spectacular circular cottages. Inside, natural stones and soaring conical ceilings create an exotic sanctuary, where a refined and elegant composition of imported mocha marble, bleached pebbles, and the finest mahogany create a canvas for the ultimate romantic rendezvous. These suites’ bathrooms feature a whirlpool tub set directly under a skylight, perfect for gazing at the stars above. Outside, on the suites’ private pool deck, couples can dip in their own outdoor Jacuzzi or sparkling plunge pool, complete with its own waterfall. The suites’ private hammocks are also ideal for an afternoon siesta.

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william jefferson clinton presidential suite, sandals grande st. lucian This one-of-a-kind suite is distinctly exquisite and highly sought after. A spacious suite with a wide, open-plan living space has all the comforts of a modern home. For the traveler who seeks the epitome in luxury, this is a perfect room in which to enjoy the ultimate Caribbean vacation experience. A double-sized balcony overlooks the resort’s whitesand beach and Rodney Bay, while the upstairs master suite offers the most alluring views of distant Martinique from your deck. Another intimate deck designed just for two is sure to inspire the sweetest of moments.

luxury ocean villa, sandals grande antigua These Mediterranean-styled villas sit against the backdrop of Antigua’s evocative landscapes. The Luxury Ocean Villas suites are set right on the resort’s expansive lawn––and just steps from the famed Dickenson Bay beach. The villas feature luxury accents such as Italian tile flooring, 42-inch plasma televisions, custom-designed mahogany furniture with leather trunks, and fabrics from Turkey, Italy and India. The coup de grâce is surely the villa’s private outdoor deck, complete with a plunge pool, Jacuzzi, and outdoor shower. The bathrooms feature Italian Giallo marble, custom his and her vanities, domed hand-painted ceilings, custom wall mosaics, the latest Kohler Purist® bath and shower fixtures and Jacuzzi tubs made for two with separate shower areas that feature an overhead rain shower.

Check out the “Suite” life at Sandals

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chairman’s message A warm island greeting to you! Welcome to a slice of my paradise, the Caribbean—the place where I was born, raised and where I live today. With its azure waters, warm, gentle breezes and white-sand beaches, the Caribbean has lured travelers for centuries. And while a fantastic beach, much like the 365 beautiful beaches of Antigua that we write about in this issue, still makes my heart sing. One of the things I love best about the Caribbean is its sense of tradition. We’re a people of cherished custom, which we show you in this edition of Sandals Style, from the centuries-old El Dorado, maker of one of the Caribbean’s most traditional beverages—fine rum—to a lovely piece about the unique and colorful religious houses of the region. Here in the islands, you’ll find we do things a certain way, from a polite tip of the hat and a shout of “Morning’’ to a passerby, to joining with family for Sunday dinner each week. But in all that we Caribbean folk see to each day, we start with a tradition of pride in our people, our culture, the things we create and, most importantly, family. This issue of Sandals Style celebrates that passion we have for these islands, from tantalizing details of the marvelous suites we at Sandals Resorts currently offer and those that we’re busy creating, to the work we do to make the Caribbean a better place while allowing our guests to get involved. And, of course, this issue would not be complete without tales of my own pride and joy—my family’s now 30-year tradition of great hospitality. Looking back, I believe things aren’t much different now from back then—our energetic spirit to please remains the same, to provide the best Luxury Included® vacations, not only in the Caribbean, but on the entire planet. So whether you visit the islands to celebrate with family, friends, the love of your life or all of the above, may your trip to the Caribbean be the start of your own personal traditions. And as we celebrate our 30th year, I would like to thank you, our loyal guests, for making Sandals Resorts what it is today. So please, join me in raising a glass to Sandals Resorts 30th Anniversary. Here’s to another 30! All that’s good.

The Hon. Gordon “Butch” Stewart, OJ, CD, Hon. LLD Chairman, Sandals Resorts International

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credits The Magazine of Sandals Resorts International Is published bi-annually by Toute Bagai Publishing Ltd. Publisher: Neysha Soodeen Publication Editor: Nikola Lashley Design and Layout: Jason Waithe Copy Editor: Kathy Ann Waterman Contributing Writers: Margerte Bernal, Yasmina Cherquaoui, Alina Doodnath, Nikola Lashley, Diana Loxley, Kaili Mcdonnough, Pat Meschino, Nazma Muller, Rosemary Parkinson, Bekim Rauseo, Gillian Watson, Ian Williams, Peter Williams

Contributing Photographers: Chris Huxley, Joesph Jones, Caroline Moses,

William Richards, Jason deCaires Taylor, Illustrations and Digital Re-mastering: Jason Waithe Electronic Pre-press and Printing: American Printing Company Advertising sales: neysha@macomag.com We appreciate your comments! Let us know what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to see in future issues. Send letters to nik@macomag.com

Toute Bagai Publishing Co. Ltd. 2nd Floor Vista Complex, Worthing, Christ Church, Barbados (246) 435-5582 ÂŠ Toute Bagai Publishing Ltd. 2011. No claim to original work of Sandals Resorts International or Advertisers. The entire contents of this publication are fully protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the copyright holder. 10

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forever after At Diamonds International every love story sparkles

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a special couple who finds their way to a Sandals Resort. The Caribbean is bursting with sugar white beaches caressed along turquoise waves that seemingly whisper paradise found. What sets the Sandals guest apart is a world-traveler mystique borne of inscrutable sensibilities in all things beautiful.

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What Connoisseurs Know Diamonds International--the most recommended store in the Caribbean, understands this sense of style. They open up a world of luxury watch and jewelry brands just minutes from these pristine beaches. Connoisseurs have been buying jewelry in the Caribbean for decades. The selection--the quality--and value in a Duty Free destination make buying couture jewelry at Diamonds International the obvious choice. So Many Choices . . . So Much Sparkle A dazzling array of superb loose diamonds including the Crown of Light premium cut diamond is unrivalled anywhere in the islands. Famed designers present artful jewelry to the world’s most discerning collectors; all within the luxurious Diamonds International showroom. Experience the dedication to craftsmanship and style found in each collection featured at Diamonds International. Your only dilemma will be in selecting the jewelry or timepiece from the abundance of offerings presented. To make sure an item is right for you--the knowledgeable and friendly staff will guide you through a diamond tutorial or even a brand comparison for jewelry that reflects your cultivated taste. Capture Your Love Story Modern-day romance finds its full expression at a Sandals Resort. The serene natural surroundings seem to slow the hours of the day so you can reconnect and focus on what’s important to your love story. If you long to cherish your island experience---visit Diamonds International. Let them create an extraordinary piece of jewelry that represents your carefree days in the sun--in love together--forever. ♦

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happy anniversary

Here are just a few of the personal messages from our friends and partners in the industry. Â Over the past 30 years they have contributed to the success story that is Sandals Resorts.

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sir richard branson Thirty years—wow! Together Virgin Holidays and Sandals have been helping people enjoy the Caribbean’s white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and the warm friendly people of the islands for many years. I am delighted to celebrate the 30th anniversary with everyone who has been lucky enough to stay at one of their fantastic resorts or work for the organization. Sandals, like us, knows the Caribbean is made up of both wonderful people and fantastic places and also, like us, they are dedicated to supporting those communities that’s why it is great that they are so actively involved in our non-profit Branson Centre for Entrepreneurship in the Caribbean—a hub for entrepreneurs who are passionate about growing successful and responsible Caribbean businesses and contributing to the sustainable growth of tourism across the region. It’s great that Sandals shares our commitment to be a force for good in the areas in which we both operate. Here’s to another 30 years!

greg norman I admire what Butch has accomplished. He is a gregarious, lovable person; a consummate entrepreneur; fiercely passionate; and a driven perfectionist. I look forward to working with Butch and Adam on future projects, including our most recent agreement to design their course at Sandals Whitehouse on Jamaica’s South Coast. I’m thrilled to congratulate Sandals on the first 30 years; but knowing Butch, I can’t wait to see the next 30.

martha stewart Congratulations to Butch Stewart on 30 wonderful, successful years. It has been a delight collaborating with you and your team to make destination weddings unforgettable. We look forward to many more great weddings at Sandals Resorts in the years to come.

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vanna white As a huge fan of Beaches Resorts and, as a Sandals Select Member, I am honored to congratulate Mr. Stewart on 30 wonderful years and on creating an amazing resort that I can enjoy with my family in the beautiful Caribbean year after year. I always look forward to working with the Sandals team on Wheel of Fortune and to spending quality time with my kids on our annual family vacation at Beaches Turks & Caicos.

donald trump and joe cinque Sandals Resorts and their Chairman, Butch Stewart, most definitely deserve the Six Star Diamond Award for what they have created in the luxury, all-inclusive resort world. Congratulations and Happy 30th Anniversary! - Donald J. Trump Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s truly impressive how the Sandals Resorts have grown in the hospitality industry over the past 30 years. Congratulations on a triumphant 30th anniversary! My best wishes to Butch Stewart, as well, for his superb leadership in creating the finest Luxury IncludedÂŽ Resorts in the Caribbean for the last three decades. It gives me great pleasure and honor to call him my friend. - Joseph D. Cinque

laurie hook At Beringer Vineyards, it is important to us that every experience our consumers have with our wines is a superior one. Sandals Resorts is our ideal partner, as they are experts in creating wonderful experiences day in and day out for their guests. We raise our glass and toast Mr. Stewart on a remarkable 30 years of providing unforgettable moments.

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jon secada My experience with Sandals takes me to the beginning of my career and a concert I did at one of their resorts. To this day it still remains one of the most wonderful for me and my family. Sandals has always set a mark in hospitality. Congratulations on 30 years, and all that’s to come!

maria menounos Congratulations to the Stewart family on an incredible 30 years. Experiencing Sandals Emerald Bay was a special treat for me and the resort was just top notch. If that’s a sign of what’s to come, I’m excited to see what the future holds for Sandals!

elmo Elmo wants to congratulate his friend Mr. Gordon “Butch” Stewart on his special 30th anniversary. Elmo always has so much fun at the beach. Everyone Elmo meets is so friendly and there are so many fun activities! Mr. Stewart makes beach time so much fun for Elmo and his friends. Elmo Loves You!!!

30TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

harry belafonte Having traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean, I have had the opportunity to make comparisons between the many facilities that are accessible to people who would like to experience the gifts that the region has to offer. I am fortunate to have had the pleasure of being a guest at Sandals and I can say that it would afford all those adventurers willing to discover it the greatest satisfaction.

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in his own words For 30 years, the man behind the world’s leading all–inclusive company has searched the globe to bring the most romantic and luxurious amenities and services to couples in love with Sandals Resorts. He is also the mastermind behind Beaches Resorts, providing a world-class getaway for families. With 23 resorts across 5 Caribbean countries, Sandals Style sat down with the man behind the Sandals Resorts International empire, Mr. Gordon “Butch” Stewart, to find out what inspires him and why he believes hard work is the ticket to happiness.

Mr. Stewart with son, Adam Stewart, CEO of Sandals Resorts

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Mr. Stewart receiving an honorary degree from Florida International University

Mr. Stewart in front of his first business, Appliance Traders Limited, in Kingston

Mr. Stewart and former Jamaican Prime Minister Edward Seaga

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Mr. Stewart with former US President Bill Clinton

On his abiding love for Jamaica: I have never wanted to leave Jamaica, even though it’s been through some pretty tough periods and there were times when it might have been easier for me to go... but I couldn’t. I love the Bahamas, I love the sea there and the fishing, and while it’s a great second home, it is not home. For me, Jamaica is by the far the most beautiful country in the world. On having to make his own way in life: My old man grew up in a very wealthy household but he had had no interest in how the wealth was made, or indeed in the farm, and that upset my grandmother a lot, so much so that she refused to make a will. He was only interested in radio, which was all the rage in Jamaica then. But he was also a fun seeker—he loved wine, women and song, and of course, that upset his mother, even more so when he had no liking for the land. I’m blessed that my children have all taken a real interest in not just how our business runs, but how we can make it even better and continue to exceed our guest expectations. On how Bay Roc (now Sandals Montego Bay) nearly didn’t happen: For us it was a very large investment and we really didn’t know what to do. The resort was in a state of horrendous disrepair—a total nightmare. We didn’t own the cottages on the property and we didn’t have enough rooms to make it financially viable so we decided to convert the conference room into another 12 bedrooms just to give ourselves more rooms to sell! Over time, the word got out about what we were offering, and the guests just kept coming. And we kept wowing them every time. On the business of building luxury: I always loved the idea of Club Med—I loved their energy and their style and thought we should emulate what they were doing. However, we kept going round in circles for about six months not sure about anything, and not knowing which way to go, changing our minds and then going back again. Eventually, we put together a formula based on the all-inclusives of the time BUT always with the idea of luxury at the forefront. On developing a winning philosophy: If the offering is good, people will remember and the name will then become well known. We had already established a reputation for service with ATL (Appliance Traders Limited, Stewart’s first company that sold air conditioners and small appliances), and we would turn somersaults for people to keep them happy, and to be sure they were happy with our product and what we had done for them. And it paid off.

Mr. Stewart as he departs for secondary school in England, at age 15

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Mr. Stewart with son Adam and daughter Jaime

On the clenched fist of Hurricane Gilbert in Jamaica, 1988 (recounted by Eleanor Miller, longtime Sandals team member): Of course, all the phone lines were down, but we still had some radio contact. Butch called me from the plane, but we kept losing the signal, as I tried to explain what it was like. But nothing could prepare anyone for what had happened. He cried. He stood in the wreck of Montego Bay and cried. But we all cried—all that work, all that fun, all those dreams. But we rebuilt and we came back better than ever. On the early years, where service always came with a smile (and still does): Staff were chosen more for their attitude and a ready smile, rather than their experience, because we could always train them to our standards. If they were fun, lively and interested with the right attitude, then we knew they were right for Sandals. On the power of delivering good service: Good service doesn’t happen by mistake. We built one company on service, and we knew that we could build another. Our customers are our best salesmen. On getting it done the Sandals way: Our job is to ensure that when guests come to our hotels they get more than they were expecting. This allows you constantly to lead in service, innovation, awards, and reputation. On managing the CEO, his son, Adam Stewart: I am still very much in charge, and I’m traditionally a pretty handson manager. But Adam knows what I’m up to and I know what he’s up to. I also come from the school where two heads are better than one. He’s done great things for this company. On the importance of knowing his product: There isn’t one hotel that I don’t know every part of, from the kitchen, dining room, each and every bedroom and all the facilities, because I have been part and parcel of its development. You cannot dilute the spirit of a company as it grows, because the whole thing will be at risk if you don’t develop its identity, its corporate knowledge. You have to understand what works best for the guests. For some of our guests, this is their only vacation this year and you have to deliver. I do not want a dollar of anyone’s money that we haven’t worked for and properly delivered.

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Dining hall, Good Hope, Trelawny

The island of Jamaica is swathed by a series of long mountain ranges running roughly northwest to southeast, which clasp the island in a secure green embrace. Long, sinuous rivers cradle these ranges, with equally languid names—Rio Grande, Wag Water River, Rio Cobre, Cabarita.

They are flanked by myriad towns, big and small, and by tiny hamlets clinging to a toehold of verdant hillside. And throughout, whether on coastline or plain or mountain heights, like a random scattering of grain from the biblical sower’s hand, an array of great houses punctuates the landscape.

The oldest known existing great house is Stokes Hall(c 1710), which today lies in ruins below the foothills of the Blue Mountains in St. Thomas. Meanwhile, the renovated Rose Hall Great House, at the other end of the island found just outside Montego Bay, dates from between 1753-1760. It is one of the largest great houses built during the first hundred years of occupation by the English of their new territory, which was “acquired by force” in 1655. An imposing ruin during much of the 19th century, after a painstaking, lengthy restoration that started in 1965 and cost US$2.5 million, it has regained its ranking as the island’s most famous great house.

Varying in size and detail, but all finely styled and solidly built, these residences are inspired by the classic forms and elements of a Georgian period in England (c 1702–1910), but demonstrate a distinctive Jamaican style. They stand today as testaments of long traditional building standards and of the expertise of unnamed, unknown craftsmen who labored to build them. They surprise the fortunate traveler with intimations of a multi-layered island past, arrivals from a wider world, and histories intertwined to create one rich heritage tapestry.

Today, between these two extreme examples, there abounds across the island an enthralling array of buildings described as the most prominent and tangible symbols of the plantation era. They stand guard in various locations across the island’s 14 parishes, testifying to the successive chapters in the unfolding history of the island. These sentinels are architectural symbols of the sugar industry that England (and indeed the Old World) dominated—an industry that, ultimately, configured both the social and physical landscape.

The great houses indeed present, in conditions ranging from exquisite to decrepitude, a time capsule from the island’s 400year story since the arrival of Christopher Columbus, who, after thanking God for a “safe arrival, inquired urgently after gold”.

The residences which the planters commissioned, whether as intermittent or permanent landlords on their vast sugar estates, remain impressive testaments to their aspirations and

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the grandest great houses of jamaica Writer Margerte Bernal Photographer William Richards

lavish lifestyles in a time of excess and harsh inequity. Equally, however, the houses stand as monuments to the creativity and construction skills of the men and women who built them, fashioning their graceful barge boards, timber eaves and verandah railings and, above all, displaying their consummate mastery of Jamaican woods, especially mahogany, whether crafting highly polished floors, staircases, carved fret designs or furniture. Certainly at a deeper level, the building of these houses summoned up in those who labored in an unequal and prolonged social system, an inner reserve of great resilience and a triumphant capacity to survive, adapt and create. This capacity has remained a hallmark of the Jamaican character to this day. The great houses of the northwest plains flourished when sugar was king. In Hanover, the ruins of Kenilworth Sugar Works partially house the Heart Academy, a government training institution. In adjacent St. James, the Barnett Estate boasts “Bellfield,” an exquisitely restored great house, built in 1794, and museum, taking in bookings for special events and dining, all available in the restored Sugar Mill House. Further east in Trelawny, the elegantly appointed Good Hope Great House hotel (c. 1755) offers a time traveler’s glimpse into the real great house lifestyle, where, beyond the antique sash windows, the extensive sugar ruins stand

out against an undulating landscape. The Greenwood Great House and Antique Museum, the Orange Valley Great House, site of the Outameni Cultural Experience, and the private family-owned Hampden Great House are all within easy reach of the newly opened Falmouth Cruise ship pier. Seville Great House (c.1745), on the site of the island’s first Spanish settlement, today welcomes visitors as a historical museum under the aegis of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust, which promotes and cares for national heritage treasures islandwide. Many private family homes abound here, lovingly restored and prized, among the cool open mountainsides of this parish and the next, St. Mary. Here, the great houses offer a varying agricultural history that extends to pimento cultivation and cattle breeding and rearing. The grand Roaring River Great House, formerly “seat” of the Pringle family but now in private use, is one such example, as is Bromely, with its 18th-century fortified stone foundations, purchased by Sir John Pringle for his daughter. Bromley is still under family control. Other interesting country “seats” include Green Park, the modest Arthur’s Seat, now home to an eclectic collection of antiques and the graceful Winefield, overlooking its luscious, cultivated blackberry fields. Eastwards around the island, one encounters such evocative names as Grays Inn, Fort George and Agualta Vale, a shadowy ruin, a wedding gift to his son by the

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Photo above:Equi bla vel illa Stone patio and stairway, vollest emodio. Genia ipi Bellfield Great House and Gardens, Montego Bay

Antique door lock, Greenwood Great House, Montego Bay

View of Rose Hall from gardens, Montego Bay

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estate-rich Sir John, already owner of more than 50 estates and 800 ghost-white Brahmin cattle. The Decoy is the name of the vanished pleasure palace of the most influential man in early Jamaica, Sir Charles Price, described in 1769 when he was appointed Baronet, as a man “endued (sic) with uncommon natural talents, which were improved by education and polished by travel in the early part of his life”. The Decoy, with the exquisitely landscaped pleasure walks—and complement of albino animals, monkeys, peacocks, opossum—practiced such old-fashioned hospitality and that open house that “few gentlemen of rank, on service here, quitted the island without having passed some of their time at the Decoy.” As the heritage trail winds around the island’s southerly parishes, the high mountain houses emerge. In the foothills of the Blue Mountains, Craighton Great House today is devoted to the growing of Blue Mountain coffee. Clifton Mount, next door to the military hill station of Newcastle, grows cool-climate flowers as well as coffee, and desolate Arntully, in the craggy wilds of Cedar Valley, grows neither, hearkening wistfully to early days as a favorite long-stay retreat, as well as a coffee producer. Belvedere, looking out towards the Caribbean, dreams of new stirrings to come, with renewed corporate interest and economic revivals prompted by the proximity of its home parish, St. Thomas, to the capital Kingston. Kingston is blessed with the only arguable rival to Rose Hall— the 1881 grandee, Devon House, a bustling multi-functional “must-see” on any island tour. The privately owned Cherry Gardens is the residence of National Hero George William Gordon, and Kings House, (c 1872) is the official residence of the Governor General of Jamaica. As one turns again towards the west, the main highway bypasses the magnificent ruins of Colbeck Castle, the graveyard at Halse Hall, Clarendon, where Sir Thomas de La Beche’s lineage lies slumbering; the now active Bloomfield Great House in the middle of bustling Mandeville; and the hilltop high Georgian-cum-regency- influenced Marlborough House (c 1795). The south coast road is less traveled now, as it traverses the swamp lands and plains of the Great Morass. The heritage sentinels are still there, however, standing watch from low foothills of the parishes of St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland. Chebucktoo, a private, beautifully restored pimento property is much–prized by its owners, while the fortified but ruined Auchindown, built in the 1790s, shares its fate with the crumbling but magnificent Bluefields Great House. Some of the heritage sentinels may have fallen victim to the harshness of time but there is no silencing of the histories they bear and no dampening of the mastery of the craftsmen who inspire us to excellence. Veranda seating area, Good Hope, Trelawny

B e a ch, y a B g n Lo A nt i g u a

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ntigua and Barbuda was made for romantic weddings and idyllic honeymoons â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a treasure trove of the finest palm-fringed beaches, spectacular natural beauty and enough activities to exhaust the most energetic couple... To discover Antigua and Barbuda see your local travel agent, visit www.visitantiguabarbuda.co.uk or call us on 020 7031 8160.

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a beach a day Writer Diana Loxley

There are 365 beaches in Antigua, one question: which one?

It’s no secret that Antigua is awash with sensational beaches. Everyone has a favorite, but here’s our pick of 10 of the best, from windswept and dramatic to secluded and romantic —and not forgetting the hardcore kitesurfer’s paradise.

spot for swimming, snorkeling, watersports, sunset drinks and romantic, moonlit strolls. Photo ops galore (guaranteed to make your Facebook friends green with envy)! What better place to call home?

Sun, sea, and sand! That’s what you’re here for, right? So, grab your shades and sunhat … our island tour kicks off, appropriately enough, at the tip of Antigua’s north coast on Dickenson Bay. This glorious stretch of beach, host to Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and Spa, would make even the most seasoned tropical traveler sit up and take notice. It’s got the lot: golden sand, azure-blue waters, swaying palms—an idyllic

Moving around the north coast in a clockwise direction you encounter the porcelain-white sand and magnificent turquoise waters of Jabberwok Beach, Apart from its jaw-dropping natural beauty, it’s also a prime spot for kitesurfing. Professional training for this adrenalin-fired thrill is available from two mobile units that have set up residence on the beach in recent years, their colorful sails flying high. But if this sounds way too energetic,

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map of antigua dickenson bay

st.john Nation’s Captal

fryers bay

caribbean sea

long bay

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you could always try your luck on an uninhabited Crusoe isle for the day. Bird Island (just off the east coast and a short hop from the mainland by boat), as its name suggests, is a favorite haunt of some magnificent tropical birds. There are lovely beaches and terrific snorkeling around the island’s peaceful waters. A picturesque, 30-minute drive from the north of the island, through tiny villages and tropical countryside, will bring you to Long Bay, on the east coast. With its powder-white sand and calm, reef-protected waters, this is a top spot for swimming, snorkeling and people watching. Here, too, there are a couple of no-frills, but very good restaurants to try. Also on the east coast is Half Moon Bay, arguably the jewel in the crown. From dramatic offshore waves and calm nearshore waters, to heavenly snorkeling, this sensational, mile-long, crescent-shaped bay has got it all. You can even find a special type of mud here that works wonders on the skin. The exact location is a closely guarded secret, but those “in the know” emerge plastered from head to toe in the rejuvenating ochre-colored exfoliant. It doesn’t get much better than this, even by Antiguan standards. Antigua’s southern coastline is full of fabulous coves and bays, although some aren’t easily accessible. Happily, Galleon Beach is. This achingly picturesque bay has stunning views and, with boats bobbing on its shimmering waters, a distinctly nautical vibe. Visit during April or December and you can enjoy the unique spectacle of some of the world’s swankiest yachts passing within a few feet of you. The nearby Pigeon Beach also has knockout views, gently lapping waters and a half-mile ribbon of white sand. There are designated picnic sites, restrooms and good parking. Wooded areas are great for barbecues or for somewhere to read or doze before contemplating your next move. But if you’re after some serious south-coast seclusion, a touch of romance, and a bit of exercise, Rendezvous Bay is unbeatable. It’s not accessible by car, but the half-hour walk to get there is well worth it. The chances are you’ll have the place to yourselves. Driving from the south coast westwards, through Antigua’s luscious rainforest (a treat not to be missed), you’ll eventually reach Turners: a vast stretch of glorious golden-sand beach punctuated only by a handful of thatched umbrellas. A popular, rustic restaurant at the eastern end serves a good selection of tasty food. A little further along the west coast you’ll be beckoned off the road by the tantalizing waters of Darkwood, which have an almost mesmeric quality, changing from deep greens to vibrant blues as you walk the half-mile stretch of beach. Shady trees and sea-grape bushes provide some shade. A friendly husband-and-wife team hosts the cozy bar/restaurant, serving a wide choice of cuisine, from hamburgers to seafood chowder and local dishes, such as goat water (a spicy stew). On clear days, there are views of Montserrat, Redonda, St. Kitts, and Nevis. Finally, a short drive from Darkwood will bring you to Fryers Beach. There are loads of reasons to love this tropical hideaway, from its glistening waters and long, sweeping shoreline to its cool, shaded areas, ideal for barbecues and games. And to clinch it, there’s a little bar/restaurant perched on the hill above, commanding billiondollar views along the west coast of the island. Just the place to kick back and check out that breathtaking sunset, a tropical cocktail in hand. Mmmm.

a vacation ESSENTIAL

Whether you are looking to massage away tension, give your skin a healthy glow, or restore your body, our specialists will take you on a jour ney of balance and harmony, w i t h a f o c u s o n w e l l - b e i n g . F r o m t h e n a t u r a l i ngre di ent s in our custom-formulated products to the exotic Caribbean surroundings, every aspect of the Red Lane ® experience is inspired by the soothing essence of the islands. Most of all, you can choose the perfect setting...on the beach, on a pier, in the spa, or in the comfort of your suite–there are no limits to your jour ney.

Call 1-800-SANDALS or visit www.sandals.com/redlane At the resort? Just call the Red Lane ® Spa Desk.

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Antigua

Saint Lucia

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Turks & Caicos

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Acquiring that healthy sun-kissed complexion while on vacation is a low-intensity pursuit, best undertaken with a cool, tall cocktail in one hand and a good novel in the other.

sun kissed! Writer Nikola Lashley

Before you close your eyes and stretch out beneath the sultry skies of the Caribbean, read our best tips for prolonging that summer glow.

The key to banishing winter-weary skin is three-fold: gradual exposure to the sun, healthful eating and great after-sun skin care products. Here in the Caribbean, the ultraviolet (UV) rays are stronger and the heat can be intense. So don’t be complacent—ensure you always wear a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF that protects against UVA & UVB rays and keep light cotton clothes at hand for a quick cover up. There are no rules for the “right” amount of time to expose your skin to the sun, so play it safe and limit your lounging to a time when the sun is a little less fierce—usually before 11 a.m. and after 3 p.m. Taking in a good source of vitamin D from the sun is essential for glowing vitality but your skin also needs to be nourished from the inside. The Caribbean is the ideal spot to add healthy and delicious exotic options to your diet, including: mangoes, bursting with vitamins

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C and E and antioxidants; natural coconut water, packed with electrolytes; fresh seafood, high in omega 3s; and natural spring water, packed with nutrient rich minerals from the aquifer, all of which will help to improve your skin care regime. A great looking sun-kissed complexion leaves you with an overall sense of feeling rather fabulous. Keeping that skin glowing requires a range of skin care products packed with healthy, natural nutrients. But before you embark on your “just got back from the Caribbean look,” the most important step is to rid your body of dead skin cells through exfoliation. Next, adopt a regime that traps in as much moisture as possible. So before you bare all on the beach, a little preparation is in order. Venture into the blissful realm of Sandals Resorts’ exclusive Red Lane® Spa, where the sole purpose of its highly trained team is to make you look and feel your best. The Red Lane® Spa offers treatments designed especially to get you ready for your time in the sun. The salt scrub or sugar glow treatment prepares and pampers the skin for an even overall tan by gently cleansing the pores, leaving the surface fresh and smooth.

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Most importantly, focusing on your sensitive facial skin will ensure you have a long-lasting glow all year round. The Red Lane® Spa uses Dermalogica®’s line of products, for all of their skin care treatments, and with good reason: scientifically– speaking, this leading skin care brand has flawless credentials when it comes to after-sun skin care. Their innovative Face Mapping® skin analysis, unique to Dermalogica®, zones in on your facial landscape, detecting problem areas, which allows a therapist to remedy any trouble spots that could be standing between you and great looking skin. You can think of Dermalogica®’s signature white bottles as your personal tool-kit for luminous looking skin. Whether you’re using one of their rich moisturizers or delicate toners, you can see and feel the results. Each product in the line-up is available for purchase from the Red Lane® Spa. From soap-free cleansers to After Sun Repair balms, or Skin Hydrating Boosters, they’re all created with a lavish blend of active ingredients. Before you travel back home, be sure to book a Rehydrating Wrap using Red Lane® Spa’s organic line of hydrating essential oils to ensure that you retain your island glow long after your vacation ends.

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Short Man (Everaldo Creary) toasting in a late 70s dancehall style, a scene from the film Better Mus Come

Director Chris Browne (center) gives advice to Kadeem Wilson (left) and Kevoy Burton, two of the young stars in his film Ghettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;a Life

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how film got its groove back Writer Patricia Meschino

Following a sustained drought that spanned almost an entire decade, a newfound, refreshing stream of films is being produced in Jamaica. Each depicts distinctively Jamaican storylines, yet resonating with universal human themes—such as determination, succeeding against all odds and the perils of misplaced loyalties—that are certain to attract audiences far beyond the island’s shores. In late 2010, three Jamaican films were rolled out with red carpet, star-studded premieres in the island’s capital, Kingston: Better Mus Come, the highly provocative featurelength directorial debut by Storm Saulter, skillfully weaves a love story into its composited depiction of Jamaica’s political tribalism as it unfolded in the late 70s, a turbulent time in Jamaica’s history. Better Mus Come played for five consecutive weeks following its opening at Kingston’s Carib Theatre`, selling out most weekends at the 350-seat venue. Another breakthrough film, Rise Up, winner of the 2009 AFI/ the Discovery Channel’s Silverdocs Best Music Documentary Award, is directed by Argentinaborn Luciano Blotta. The film focuses on three aspiring Jamaican artists, including the talented dancehall sing-jay Turbulence who journeyed during filming from obscurity to prominence with his redemptive single “Notorious”. A Dance For Grace, directed by New York-based Jamaican, Orville Matherson, utilizes reggae/dancehall routines to propel its sentimental plot line, as a group of American

high school students journey to Jamaica to learn the latest dance steps with the hope of winning a cash prize to pay for a friend’s life-saving operation. The much anticipated Ghett’a Life, scheduled for release this year, presents a moving portrayal of an inner city teenager (Kevoy Burton) whose dream of becoming a professional boxer is threatened by the deep-seated political volatility in his troubled Kingston community. The film’s exceptional ensemble balances newcomers alongside venerable talents such as Winston “Bello” Bell, a longstanding comedian, Teddy Price, who starred in the popular 1993 movie Cool Runnings, and Munair Zacca, who plays alongside Wyclef Jean in the gritty 2002 movie Shottas (the Jamaican term for gangsters) that tells the story of two young men that run drugs in Kingston. But it’s the award-winning actor Christopher McFarlane’s steeled rendering of the heartless “don” Sin that provides the film’s most mesmerizing moments. “Jamaica’s film industry is booming! We have acting, technical talent and so much variety here, and we can accomplish so much more with partners and distributors in other parts of the world,” enthuses Kim Marie Spence, Film Commissioner at Jampro, Jamaica’s Promotion Corporation, a governmentfunded group that promotes trade and investment and is busy securing licenses and permits for films earmarked to be promoted at festivals throughout the Caribbean, North America and Europe.

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Kevoy Burton, the young star of Ghett’a Life

Jamaican feature films, shorts, documentaries and internationallymade movies about the island’s music will be showcased at the island’s 4th Annual Reggae Film Festival. “The Film Festival shows us we don’t have to be Oscar winners to make films. Forty percent of this year’s films are Jamaican, including three by Jamaicans living abroad, two animations with another promised and two from young film maker Kurt Fuller, whose debut Concrete Jungle, Kingston 12 was shown last year. It was heavily viewed in the US, which has made him a sort of cult figure,” says Film Festival director, Barbara Blake Hannah. Although the international acknowledgement and recognition of Jamaica’s cinematic achievements lags behind its globally embraced reggae beat, the island nonetheless boasts a noteworthy, remarkably varied film resume. Rockers, the 1978 film directed by Theodoros Bafaloukos, is a reggae interpretation of Italian directing legend Vittorio de Sica’s 1948 film The Bicycle Thief meets the legend of Robin Hood, and features a cast of legendary Jamaican musicians including the late Jacob Miller (close friend of Bob Marley) and Gregory Isaacs. Countryman, the 1983 classic Jamaican film directed by Dickie Jobson, is the story of a peaceful Rastafarian fisherman who proves to be deft at martial arts as he unwittingly finds himself as guardian for a marijuanasmuggling American couple. The Lunatic, directed by Lol Creme of the 70s British art rock band 10cc, released in 1992, is a far-fetched, yet funny and engaging story of Aloysious (Paul Campbell), who can talk to trees and other usually uncommunicative objects. Propelled by a pumping dancehall soundtrack, director Rick Elgood’s Dancehall Queen, is an oftentimes heart-rending depiction of a struggling street vendor who survives by competing, incognito, in dancehall dance contests; Dancehall Queen’s R&B flavored, upbeat title song by Beenie Man and Chevelle Franklin made it into the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1997, which brought further attention to the film. Directed by Chris Browne, Third World Cop, the 1999 thriller about a Kingston policeman

Director Chris Brown on the Kingston set of Ghett’a Life

Storm Saulter, the director of Better Mus’ Come

on a collision course with a notorious crime boss, broke box office records in Jamaica, grossing US$600,000 (more than Titanic.) In the English-speaking Caribbean, the movie netted US$75,000.00 and in the UK, six months after the film’s Jamaican release, it brought in US$140,000. The gold standard of Jamaica’s cinematic success is Perry Henzell’s iconic movie The Harder They Come. It is the compelling story of Ivanhoe Martin, an aspiring musician turned outlaw-hero. Jamaica’s signature reggae rhythm was introduced to international audiences through Island Records’ soundtrack to the 1972 film, which established its charismatic lead actor Jimmy Cliff, who also sang the film’s seminal title song. The recent announcement of the longawaited remake of The Harder They Come, to be produced by the UK based Zingu Films and Canada’s Conquering Lion, in association with Henzell’s daughter Justine, could shine an additional spotlight on the revival of Jamaican films. Henzell’s nephew Chris Browne says Jamaica’s lack of a film industry infrastructure has impeded opportunities for fully capitalizing on the success of classic Jamaican films. “America has a template for making films because they do so many, but we have never really made enough films to do it, so the idea is to create something here that Jamaicans see as an alternative industry. It is a challenge because if our films can’t make money, then it’s not much of an industry, but if we only make a few films we will never know. With established organizations like the American Film Academy honoring non-Hollywood films such as Slum Dog Millionaire which went on to win eight Oscars in 2008, Browne is confident the global marketplace will embrace Ghett’a Life, Better Mus’ Come and other wellmade Jamaican films. “The world is accepting films that are not all about white, middleclass Americans,” explains Browne, “and I think Jamaica is that next great frontier for film.”

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the mango tango Writer Rosemary Parkinson

Purported to have originated in Northeast India, where fossils date its fruit as being over 25 million years old, the mango tree is a Caribbean favorite, prized for its abundant shade and delicious fruit. Flowering occurs in the dry season and fruits are ready for picking during the wet season—the summer months. Brought by the Portuguese to the islands over 300 years ago, the fruit of the mango tree constantly evolves—every single mango seed carries the genus of more than one variety. As a result, hundreds of varieties exist in the islands with such quirky names as Bombay, Sharon, East Indian, Longie, Blackie, Hayden, and St. Julian—just to name a few! In Jamaica, there’s even a Number 11 mango that bears all year round and, while not considered great tasting, is used locally in many bottled mango and hot sauces. In Saint Lucia alone, there are 100 identified types, and just as many still remain nameless. The Pa Louis variety is the “national” mango, having invented itself here and the Imperial mango, introduced into Saint Lucia in 1907, is a monster size that easily feeds two people. However, there is no doubt (in my mind anyhow) that the Julie is probably one of the most favored mangoes of all the islands—the queen, if you will, usually fetching the highest prices in the market and fiercely guarded by owners with trees in their backyards. Mango season in the islands is a special time. Children and adults alike spend hours gazing at the various trees just

waiting for one solitary piece of fruit to turn ripe and begin the mango frenzy that always ensues. One unsuspected, but favorite, pastime begins almost immediately—“pelting mango”. This exciting game requires two skills: theft and dexterity, with the rules being: 1) never pelt a mango on your own tree; the neighbor’s is always that much sweeter, and 2) never choose a neighbor who allows indiscriminate mango pelting. That’s just not any fun. The talents involved in pelting mango include: climbing over walls or fences; avoiding snarling dogs; throwing stones 15 feet into the air to break the one-inch stems causing the fruit to drop directly into one’s hand; and getting off the property as fast as possible and undetected—all in a matter of minutes by the way! The “lime” (gathering) of participants after the game involves heated discussions on preferences of varieties, ripeness, method of eating, and of course, boastful tales of exciting escapades in procuring the fruit, all told through a face plastered with mango pulp! While many consider mango to be the king of all fruits, it has been described in historical accounts as “a ball of tow soaked in turpentine and molasses, that you have to eat in the bathtub.” In fact, there is even a mango called Turpentine. However, there’s not an islander that would agree with the first part of this very irreverent statement for the mango is indeed King of the Caribbean fruits—even more iconic in our eyes than an apple to

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an American or European. Caribbean mothers would agree with the latter part of the description, for a mango eater invariably is a messy fruit to eat! Mangoes are mostly enjoyed raw as a dessert fruit. The good-mannered way is to slice either side of the seed, then cut squares into the skin, and finally turning each piece inside out and scooping it from the skin. But it is much more fun to eat directly from the fruit, with pulp and the fruit’s sweet juice rolling down your chin. And if you are local, that seed would never be left behind to suffer the indignities of not being sucked to perdition. A mango lover would simply not forgive such an act. Now, on the street (or “outta road” as said in Jamaica) there’s a different rule—a hole is bitten off at the top, and the mango is squeezed to soften the pulp that is then sucked out slowly and most carefully—those who have this method down to a “tee” will not have lost a single drop in the ohso-technical procedure. But, I can assure you, dear reader, that there is nothing like sitting on a branch of a mango tree dipping sticky fingers into a bowl of “mango chow”—green mango, peeled, soaked in vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt (sometimes garlic powder) and red hot peppers to taste. But mango also has many uses other than just eating. In Cuba, mango pulp is made into a powder and mixed with milk for a refreshing drink. In many of the other islands, the flesh is often blended with ice for a great, refreshing cooler. Mango jam, jellies and toppings are made in almost all of the Caribbean, with top gourmet chefs using the purée to baste a favorite bird or show off its amazing color in delicious desserts. Caribbean Chinese people prepare “pepper mango” with a bright red dye; this is a schoolchild’s dream snack. In islands where East Indians have settled, mango is served with a peppery turmeric sauce and called amchar. Curried and used to make chutneys and pickles, this fruit is also canned and exported. So, my dears, while mango may have begun its life in India all those thousands of years ago, it has lived—and will continue to live—a life of total, almost spiritual, adoration right here in the Caribbean.

How to eat a mango the Caribbean way: Choose a flat piece of concrete and dust if off. Po’ng (beat) the mango on concrete turning slowly to get an even pulpiness. Bite the tip of the mango skin off. Suck all the juice out of the mango. Wipe mouth on shoulder of T-shirt and continue sucking till “it dry”.

Simple Mango Salad Chef Norma Shirley—taken from Nyam Jamaica 3 mangoes—peeled and sliced 4 cups torn Romaine lettuce leaves Arugula or mixture of greens Feta cheese. Arrange the washed lettuce or greens in a bowl. Distribute mango slices over the top. Drizzle with a light vinaigrete. Add crumbled feta cheese and grated fresh pepper. Serves 6.

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fired up about antigua Writer Diana Loxley Photographer Joseph Jones

Okay, so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve languished on beaches, sailed on a sunfish, frolicked with stingrays, kayaked, canoodled and danced under the stars. What next?

antigua pottery

Hyacinth Hillhouse, one of the few Antiguan potters still working with traditional styles and techniques.

The decoration on folk pottery is Peter Illustrator Jason Waithe oftenWriter minimal and, Williams as here, made with simple finger indentations.

3 0T H In a modest house in the tiny village of Seaview Farm, in the center of Antigua, lives an exceptional woman. Hyacinth Hillhouse is one of just two people on the island who still produce traditional folk pottery according to timehonored techniques. Hyacinth is, quite simply, a caretaker of history.Seaview Farm has been at the forefront of this Antiguan cottage industry for generations. Hyacinth learned her trade from her grandmother and her mother, Elvie, from whom the store takes its name. As you enter Elvie’s Pottery, a large Antiguan flag takes center stage: “the most beautiful flag in the Caribbean,” notes Hyacinth. And it’s against this backdrop that she pinches and pounds, molds and shapes unique objects. Coal pots and vases, bowls, pitchers, flower pots, cooking vessels, and candle holders occupy every available surface.

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Her work is functional and organic, with a wonderful simplicity of form. There is some evidence that the techniques used by Seaview Farm potters over successive generations have direct links to early West African traditions. Some aspects of the craft are thought to date from the 18th century, when Antiguan slaves produced cooking utensils from local clay. What’s not up for debate, however, is that it’s a long, labor-intensive, and highly-skilled process. The grayish colored clay is collected by hand from sources near the village and then carried to the pottery studio. Sitting on a low stool and straddling a wooden board sprinkled with ash, Hyacinth reaches for a lump of clay and begins molding—deftly, fluently, as if by instinct alone, removing grass and grit as she works. Instead of using the coiling technique preferred by many folk potters, she shapes her pieces by forming an indentation in the clay ball and then building the sides up gradually with her hands, rotating the object on the board as she goes. This method ensures durability and prevents the pottery from separating or breaking. Her pots are also waterproof and, therefore, perfect for plants and flowers. There are no molds, no wheel, no kiln—just bare hands, an eye for perfect symmetry and plenty of muscle. Tools are basic: a damp cloth and a piece of calabash shell for smoothing. “We used to use corn cobs with the kernels removed to smooth the clay,” she says, “but, like everyone, we move with the times,” adding with a grin,“ the calabash is modern technology.” Decoration is minimal and created by marks and indentations made with her fingers. The pottery is glazed and then fired in the open air over wood fires, with the finished products taking on a magnificent golden color. One of the most fascinating artifacts to be found at Elvie’s Pottery is the coal pot, or yabba, as it was traditionally known, which has a long history of use in the region. This charcoal-burning portable stove, used primarily for grilling and roasting, consists of a container bowl supported by a long neck with a grate at the bottom. If you can navigate the minor hassles of packaging and transporting it (as many visitors do), this striking local product makes a unique souvenir of the island—although Hyacinth also produces miniature versions, which are a great travel-friendly alternative.

A traditional charcoal-burning coalpot (foreground) makes a great souvenir from Antigua.

The clay that Hyacinth works with takes on a rich ochre color after firing.

As you leave Hyacinth’s workshop, there’s a large wooden board on the wall to the right that’s littered with phone numbers, handwritten in black ink. “I only write down the numbers,” she explains. “The names of the people to whom they belong are kept in my head.” Astounding! One can only hope that the skills of her craft won’t also be consigned to memory alone. “Everyone in my family knows how to make pottery this way,” says Hyacinth, “but, of course, the young ones aren’t interested.” Her words suggest a useful tip: visit while the opportunity still exists. If there’s one place in Antigua that offers a glimpse into the cultural legacy of a bygone age, this is it. Elvie’s Pottery is a far cry from the world of pictureperfect beaches, swaying palms and azure waters. But then, Antigua isn’t just about hitting the beach.

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Mckale Chandelier in polished nickel

luxury defies gravity Writer Kaili Mcdonnough

Sandals Resorts has long been the leader in luxury vacations in the Caribbean, but the plans for the development of over-the-water bungalows in Saint Lucia are upping the ante to heights never seen before in the region. Dream vacations have always been the mantra of Sandals Resorts and the group’s latest project may just be its most defining statement yet of opulence, luxury and creativity in the Caribbean. The theme is East meets West for the soonto-be-constructed over-the-water bungalows at Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort, which are inspired by the original style of over-the-water hotel rooms first seen in French Polynesia in the 1960s and later, those in the Maldives, which represent some of the most iconic travel imagery in the world.

The Loop Dining Chair

The concept behind this project was to create an idyllic retreat at Sandals Grande St. Lucian, a Five Star Diamond Resort, in a setting that is exclusive, therapeutic and utterly romantic. With more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Sandals’ executives set out to make a statement in the Caribbean with a collection of over-thewater bungalows firmly rooted in the azure waters of the Caribbean Sea. According to Adam Stewart, CEO of Sandals Resorts International, “We traveled to all four corners of the globe to see what others had done; then we went away and made ours stand above.” When Senior Interior Designer Sarah Hartman set out to produce the look of the 16, 1300-square foot over-thewater suites on the island of Saint Lucia, her main intention was to bring the feeling of outdoors in. “I want our guests to be able to feel like they are staying under the stars and

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Low profile Teak outdoor seating

Ribbon king size bed

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hear the sounds of the lapping waves beneath them when they are lying in their beds,” she said.

colonies, so the building will not have impact on local fish populations or coral heads.”

In keeping with Sandals’ uniquely Caribbean style, the design team has opted for custom-fitted mahogany furnishings and stainless steel fixtures. Hartman achieved her goal of bringing the environment to the interior of the suites by conceptualizing the use of natural materials such as glass, stone and thatch, accented with warm shades of aqua, grey, silver and blue. Each bathroom will offer an indoor/outdoor shower, pebble floors and a large soaking tub clad in teak and marble. Plush hammocks will line the patios, which will be decked with Guyanese greenheart timber. Additionally, the deck will have an exterior living room atop of 50 square feet of glass floors, which will create the spectacular illusion of an indoor aquarium. All suites will come equipped with a private whirlpool with an infinity edge overlooking the ocean and 10 deluxe suites will have plunge pools, as well as other first class amenities such as private butler service.

Sandals Resorts International has plans to break ground with this landmark project in 2012, with the estimated construction time from 12 to 18 months. “These bungalows are going to add an unbelievable room category for Sandals, allowing Saint Lucia to stand out even more as an exclusive Caribbean destination,” Hartman says.

The luxurious bungalows will rest seven feet above the Caribbean sea in one of Saint Lucia’s calmest bays, and will be accessible by a pier. Guests can rest assured that these suites will be constructed from environmentallyfriendly materials such an Envior Thatch and recycled glass. Senior Project Manager Mark Harding adds, “These suites are being built in an area where there are no coral

Over-the-water-suites at Sandals Grande Saint Lucian Spa & Beach Resort, due to break ground in 2012 and open in 2013.

Exterior coral stone finish

Legendary Experiences

For more information call your travel professional or contact our office nearest you: Saint Lucia: 758 452 4094 USA: 1800 456 3984 Canada: 1800 869 0377 UK: 44 207 341 7000 Germany: 49 69 89 00 9081 France: 33 1 46 04 4061 slutour@candw.lc stluciatourism@aol.com sltbcanada@aol.com sltbinfo@stluciauk.org info@stluciafr.org info@stluciafr.org www.stlucianow.com www.stlucianow.com www.stlucianow.ca www.stlucianow.co.uk www.stlucianow.com www.stlucianow.com

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page turners

lose Yourself in the islands...

Writer Nazma Muller

They call it a Walcott acra, a fish cake named after the greatest living poet of the English language. The image of Derek Walcott, poet laureate of Saint Lucia, can be found everywhere in this island nation, even on stamps and postcards. And in 1992, Columbus Square in the capital of Castries was re-named Walcott Square. The man, claimed by the whole Caribbean is part of our consciousness and he has always written passionately about this region he calls home, about our history, our people and the beauty of our islands, though his view can also be unromantic and tinged with irony. The works of luminaries such as Walcott, Trinidad’s Sir VS Naipual, Earl Lovelace, Samuel Selvon, Antigua’s Jamaica Kincaid, Jamaica’s Andrew Salkey, Louise Bennett and Claude Mckay, Guyana’s Edgar Mittelholzer, Martin Carter and Wilson Harris are a journey beyond the narrow fantasies of the islands as cute places where they serve cocktails with tiny umbrellas. The real Caribbean— where people love and laugh and hope and dream and work and pray—is complex, intense, and passionate. Here is a selection of just a few titles so you can feel the energy of the islands.

Power Game by Perry Henzell Macmillan Caribbean, 1982, 2009 Magical realism meets political thriller—with a little sex and reggae thrown in. That’s Power Game, written in 1982 by Perry Henzell, the late maverick director and producer of The Harder They Come, a cult classic about a country boy come to town and his attempts to make it big in the music world. Re-released last year, Power Game is an even more riveting read this time around. Fact is, Perry Henzell out did himself. And he drew people from all walks of life to him. His own magnetic charm and humility gave Henzell the material to fictionalize the almost unreal events of 1980, when Jamaica was on the brink of civil war. The IMF, the army and the world oil crisis conspired to bring Jamaica to its knees economically. But one man, a reggae star, made a big difference. His music bridged the divide in the ghettos, where the island’s two political parties were at war. In Power Game, the musician, with the help of a Rasta prophet, leads the people out of the crowded tenement yards in Kingston to create their own farming community called Rasta City, where the weed grew tall and the ganja farmers run things. This is a dystopian view of Jamaica that, under Henzell’s pen, becomes its own inimitable Utopia—what he would have called I-topia.

Pink Teacups and Blue Dresses By Floree Williams Enaz Publications, 2008 Memories of childhood stay with us forever and, in the islands, these days of happy innocence feature crabs, bunny rabbits and summer storms. For children who have never gone hunting for crabs in the moonlight, Pink Teacups and Blue Dresses will be a treat. Floree Williams remembers very clearly the colors, sights and sounds of her school days in Antigua, taking care of her pet rabbit, moving to a small house on a crowded street while her home is being repaired after a hurricane, the arrival of her new baby brother, and playing games like “Brown Girl in the Ring” at school. She recalls the excitement and anxiety of the first day of “big school” when she must learn the rules and make friends. Those of us who grew up in the Caribbean will remember being sent to stand in the hot sun as punishment, the sweaty humiliation, and the thrill of disobeying teachers when they were nowhere around. Finally, the annual sports day comes around, and the much-anticipated march past. For the young at heart, this is a book to (discreetly) borrow from your children and reminisce about days long gone, but never forgotten.

Nyam Jamaica By Rosemary Parkinson Self-published, 2008 Imagine going on a road trip across Jamaica with a writer who is an organic food enthusiast, and the Caribbean’s answer to both Annie Leibovitz and Martha Stewart. In addition to the inevitable barrels of laughter on such an adventure with characters like photographer Cookie Kinkead and chef Norma Shirley, Parkinson unveils some of the most amazing food—with pictures to prove it. The hardcover Nyam Jamaica (nyam being patois for eat), which easily took three World Gourmand Cookbook Awards in Paris in 2009 (Best Easy Recipes, Best Photography and Best Design) will send you hunting for ackee and the testicles of a goat. From a vineyard in St. Thomas to Boston Beach, where anything that moves is jerked, the threesome introduces readers to a chef with a fetish for ackee;

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crabbing in the moonlight; yam wine in the mountains of Trelawny; bees that produce top-quality honey in the hills of Clarendon; curry at Alex in Little Ochi; and the roasting of a pig in an old homemade oven in German Town.

Walcott takes on Homer, Virgil, and also Dante, as the form of the poem is reminiscent of the Dante-invented terza rima. If any theme binds the characters together, it is a universal human desire for communion with the past.

Finally, in true Jamaican style, these two white women and the most famous chef in the Caribbean stroll downtown Kingston to Coronation Market, the island’s main market, where hundreds of farmers from across the island come to sell their goods. There, who should they find but the man who used to be Bob Marley’s chef, his old friend George (“Georgie” from No Woman No Cry), before they end up in the kitchens of no less than the Governor General, representative of the head of state, Queen Elizabeth II.

“No poet rivals Mr. Walcott in humor, emotional depth, lavish inventiveness in language, or the ability to express the thoughts of his characters and compel the reader to follow the swift mutations of ideas and images in their minds,” wrote Mary Lefkowitz in The New York Times Book Review. “This wonderful story moves in a spiral, replicating human thought, and in the end, surprisingly, it makes us realize that history, all of it, belongs to us.”

Journeycakes: Memories with My Antiguan Mama By Monica Matthew Gray Farm Publishing, 2008 “Who goes to a funeral and brings home a child? Mama May, born Mary Ambrose.” And so it was that Mama May became the author’s adopted mother. She raised her well, despite many trials. A memoir of a mother’s love, Journeycakes brings together many generations on the island of Antigua, with Mama May the embodiment of a universal tradition of mothers who sacrifice everything for their children—in spite of slavery, plantation living, poverty, illness and death. Vivid imagery, local dialects and striking humor transport the reader to a childhood in the Caribbean, where lessons and truths about sacrifice, hard work, perseverance and generosity are learned. An emotional and uplifting read, Journeycakes portrays motherhood and parenting in the many different contexts in which they exist on this small island.

Omeros By Derek Walcott Macmillan, 1990 A poem in five books, of circular narrative design, titled with the Greek name for Homer, simultaneously charts two currents of history: the visible history recorded in events— the tribal losses of the American Indian, the tragedy of African enslavement—and the interior, an unwritten epic fashioned from the suffering of the individual in exile. A retelling of the story of the Odyssey in part, this epic narrative is multilayered, with themes of nostalgia, colonialism, paternity and love. Walcott focuses on no single character, unlike Homer with Achilles in the Iliad, and Odysseus. Rather, many critics have taken the “hero” of Omeros to be the island of Saint Lucia itself.

Running the Dusk by Christian Campbell Peepal Tree Press, 2010 Rhodes Scholar and now a (rather young) professor of English at the University of Toronto, Campbell realized he always seemed to end up on the beach when the sun was setting. “Dusk is neither day nor night and it’s also, in many cultures, a sort of mystical time when other worlds are opened,” he says. That spiritual experience provided the focus for his book. He takes us to dusk at Goodman’s Bay in Nassau, what the French call l’heure entre chien et loup, the hour between dog and wolf, to explore ambiguity and intersection, danger and desire, loss and possibility. These poems of wild imagination shift shape and shift generation, remapping Caribbean, British and African-American geographies: Oxford becomes Oxfraud; Shabba Ranks duets with Césaire; Sidney Poitier is reconsidered in an exam question; market women hawk poetry beside knock-off Gucci bags; elegies for ancestors are also for land and sea. Here is dancing at the crossroads between reverence and irreverence. Dusk is memory; dusk is dream; dusk is a way to re-imagine the past.

“Who Let the Dog Out???” (Dottie’s Story) by Carole Hughes AuthorHouse, 2004 Born into a world of tropical splendor on the tiny Bahamian island of Green Turtle Cay is Dottie, whose life is one long adventure. Not content to stick around her eight sisters and one brother, this daring Dalmatian sets off to discover the wonders of the world, and discover them she does! From head-on clashes with a vicious pitbull puppy and a giant loggerhead turtle, to surviving a category four hurricane, Dottie races from adventure to adventure. The story flows along, gaining momentum with each chapter, until the final and greatest adventure of all leaves the reader gasping for more.

Writer Yasmina Cherquaoui

The waters around the Islands of the Exumas are dazzling and arguably the most beautiful in the whole Bahamas.

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“ Here piggy, piggy”— Frolicking in the crystal clear waters of The Exumas

It is an experience prompted by tales of an odd little tribe that lives on the Island. It is their custom, as the story goes, to greet visitors to their home by charging into the water and swimming up to their vessels. It is also seen as fitting and proper to make an offering of food to these tribesmen or you risk your boat being pursued by the insulted natives. Big Major Spot’s tribe is a small but hearty group of pigs—yes, pigs—that live and play in the crystal clear waters around the island. They supplement their diet of native flora and fauna with handouts from tourists who pass by in their boats.

We produce a loaf of bread we brought along for the trip and toss the pieces down for the pigs who have circled our boat. They attack the morsels with dexterity like ducks eating crumbs off the surface of a pond. We reach over the edge of the boat and stroke the coarse fur on their backs but our captain sternly warns us to stay clear of their faces, particularly while they are feeding. “We’re too far off for anyone to lose a finger,” he says, nodding his head, agreeing with his own statement.

Big Major Spot is found in the Exumas, an island chain within the 700 islands and cays that make up the Bahamas. It rests 100 miles to the southwest of the “mainland” of New Providence and its bustling little city of Nassau.

As we make our way onto the beach, we are followed by the proud trotting of our omnivorous hosts. Locals have no idea how these once domesticated pigs came to be on the island but they have been feeding them for years.

We leave Great Exuma, the largest island in the chain and home to Sandals Emerald Bay, and head north for Big Major Spot.

In choice spots on the beach, mostly near where the crystal clear waters lap against the shoreline, the pigs have made little trenches where they rest their bodies to keep cool. It is an elegant wallow of turquoise seawater and powdery white sand. Sometimes they just stand a little off shore, their little bellies dipping below the temperate surface of the water.

The waters around the Islands of the Exumas are dazzling and arguably the most beautiful in the whole Bahamas. In a country that already has a reputation for some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world, that is quite a distinction. As we approach Big Major Spot, the small but hearty herd of pigs stand on the snow-white shoreline, tense with anticipation, attempting to discern whether or not our small vessel will stay or pass them by. The persistent drone of the outboard is silenced and then, with an enthusiastic crash, the brown and pink sows, boars and piglets enter the water. They are fast swimmers and make their way to our port side with a kind of awkward grace, their trotters quickly paddling beneath their portly stomachs. Their flaring snouts in the air, they sniff for the food they believe we will inevitably offer them.

The only competition for food the pigs have is a rival tribe of stray cats who also make their home on Big Major Spot. The two groups keep a respectful distance from each other. The kitties also find themselves beneficiaries of the largesse of the locals who come to the island with food. We leave Big Major Spot with just an empty plastic bread bag. Our once gracious hosts have lost their interest in us. Some of the piglets stop for a moment when our boat’s engine starts again. When they see it’s just us and not another boat approaching, they turn their heads and trot behind their parents, disappearing into the bush. They’re gone as quickly as they came, until next time...

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The sculpture, Vicissitudes

what lies beneath

Writer Bekim Rauseo Photography Courtesy Jason deCaires Taylor

They lie in the shallow waters of Grenada’s Molinere Bay and there they remain still. The various installations at the world’s first underwater sculpture park are the brainchild of Jason deCaires Taylor who, after Hurricane Ivan, lent his assistance to the ravaged island by creating his set of artificial reefs. These statues; created for the endangered lives of coral polyps, are Taylor’s beautiful reinterpretations of coral gardens built in honor of Grenada’s people and their simple everyday stories.

The many formations such as “Sienna,” “Circle of Children” and “The Lone Correspondent” are scattered amongst the coral enclaves of the majestic gallery where water ripples the light to make the discovery of these fascinating forms ever more intriguing to stumble upon. Their silent grace has inspired divers the world over and, as a result, led to the creation of other underwater sculpture parks dotted around the globe, from Mexico to the United Kingdom. When all is

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The Fall From Grace

The Lost Correspondent

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Tam CC Project

said and done, it’s still good to get back to the root of Jason deCaires Taylor’s new found fame—back to where it all started on the shores of the island with a local woman called Grace. All cast from one female subject, the 16 statues that comprise Grace Reef are in a constant game of hide and seek. Sand clouds constantly stir and cover the formation, revealing sometimes four figures one day and then 10 the next. It is almost as if Grace is inviting divers to get a closer look, to sweep away at the ocean’s carpet, to reveal the treasure of her presence. It is from this experiment that Jason deCaires Taylor began his many other creations at the now famous bay. In moving the 26-piece “Circle of Children,” the artist (again replicating children of the island) did face some challenges, Taylor who managed a full week of underwater digging and preparation for the installation was forced to lower the 15-ton work of art in several stages. The underwater assembly made for some tinkering of the individual figures as well, perpetuated by the sloping gradient of the ocean floor that altered the leveling of the now perfect circle featuring the children hand in hand facing outward to the expanse of sea.

Perhaps the most intriguing of his pieces is “The Lost Correspondent,” a scene featuring a journalist forever absorbed in his work at a desk, complete with laminated clippings of Grenada’s war history. Sitting at a lone typewriter, the figure (molded after the form of his friend) can be found surrounded by walls of rising coral. The ironically titled “Unstill Life,” one of the most unique formations, is a representation of Dutch still life paintings of the 15th century. Using fruit and a water jug as his subjects, Taylor has allowed these materials to support the living paint (corals) that add and provide dimension to his installation year after year, its constant growth inviting change into the artist’s unique art concept. These are the scenes that Taylor has placed before us in his underwater sculpture park, imagery of daily life, suspended in time (or rather sunken) at the depths of the ocean floor. Although Taylor’s work is forever embedded in the sands of Grenada, there is a temporal nature to his sculpture at Molinere Bay, where Nature applies her brush and with every stroke provides evolution to his work.

Sienna

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Quality control at El Darado distillery

from cane to cask Writer Ian Williams Photographer courtesy El Dorado

the global spirit with its warm beating heart in the Caribbean

Master distiller

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Cane cutter in fields

3 0T H The conquistadors may have come in search of gold, but it was sugar that made the Caribbean desirable—along with the rum made from it. The Spanish told tales of El Dorado, the “land of gold”, and even Sir Walter Raleigh went looking for it in what is now Guyana. While not finding the elusive metal, he did, however, return to England with a different precious commodity—tobacco. Now Guyana willingly serves up liquid gold, in its prize-winning El Dorado Rum, the real treasure of the Caribbean and the Spanish Main. Rum was first recorded in Barbados and described as a “hot hellish and terrible liquor,” “killdevil” and “rumbullion.” It was meant for raging thirsts, not refined palates. Barbados was one of the first British settlements in the New World and, from what is now Guyana, where the Dutch, English and Jewish planters were being driven out by the Portuguese, its first settlers imported sugar cane and techniques to extract sugar from it, leaving the rich, dark molasses as a by-product. One can easily venture a guess as to how rum was invented. From the Civil Wars in the British Isles, prisoners were sent to Barbados to work the canefields. It’s not hard to imagine some thirsty and inventive Scots or Irish prisoners of war, who had dealt with malt to make a mash for whisky back at home, looking at the molasses fermenting with the natural yeasts in warm Caribbean air, and realizing how to make it drinkable—and how to make their toil in the fields more bearable. Trial and error showed that distilling twice, and even three times, led to a smoother and less toxic drink. The next happy accident occurred when rum was sent back by ship to the home country. The shipping containers of the day were, of course, oak barrels. Miraculously, the rum improved even further by the end of the voyage, becoming smoother and more palatable. Some assumed it was the sea air and the length of the trip that improved it but, in fact, it was the barrels which allowed in oxygen and lent their own rich flavors and aromas to the spirit inside. From Barbados, rum spread across the English-speaking Caribbean very quickly. France and Spain soon stopped their colonies from exporting rum, lest it compete with their brandy makers at home. But Britain, however, did not make brandy. It produced only gin and whisky; that used grain, which raised bread prices—which, in turn, raised Cain with hungry mobs who were known to burn down town halls. London quickly realized it preferred rum made in the Caribbean. Soon Barbados, Jamaica and other Islands began making their own specialized rums, to be joined later by Demerara, in Guyana, where El Dorado is now made. Later, the North American colonists made New England rum from molasses they smuggled from the French islands. It was really the molasses for rum, and not tea, that played such Georgetown wharf

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a large part in the American Revolution. Not even strait-laced Brits fought wars about Earl Grey…but rum, now that was serious stuff! Armies on both sides of the Revolution were given copious rum rations. Indeed, George Washington reprimanded one general for trying to fob off his troops with French wine, pointing out, “Wine cannot be distributed to the soldiers instead of rum, except if the quantity is much increased.” Above all, the Demerara rum coming from what is now El Dorado’s homeland was not only an important Guyanese export, but also a major component of the Royal Navy, the grog ration whose fortifying effects kept Britannia ruling the waves for centuries. El Dorado has some of the oldest working stills in the world—and isn’t it a sobering thought that they might have actually made some of the rum that Admiral Nelson’s men drank before destroying the combined Spanish and French fleet at Trafalgar in 1805. Rum is now made almost everywhere that sugar cane is cultivated, but it has never outgrown its roots. This is why it is forever know as “the global spirit with its warm, beating heart in the Caribbean”. Indeed, if you look at the Caribbean, with its English, French, Dutch and Spanish languages, its diverse Carib, East Indian and African traditions in music and food, the one thing that the whole region has in common is an appreciation for making, and drinking, quality rum. In recent decades this spirit that the islands conceived and nurtured, and El Dorado rums in particular, has been at the heart of a rescue operation. After long decades during which drinkers all too often treated rum as a mere mixer in cocktails, it is coming back into its own as a premium spirit to be sipped by connoisseurs. Emulating single malt whiskies, El Dorado began to put a precise minimum age statement on its rums, which is now being matched by the company’s Caribbean colleagues. Other rums may list numbers on the bottle but, upon further research, one often finds that it is a mysterious, and effectively meaningless, average. In the Caricom countries, an age statement now means what El Dorado established decades ago: it is the minimum age of the contents. But there is more to fine rums than simply numbers. People tasting rum properly for the first time notice the chocolate, vanilla, banana, spices and other floral overtones and often wonder if these are added. They are not. They are a naturally occurring part of the complexities and subtleties of that biological broth that the yeasts make out of the molasses, and the long and devoted attention of the still masters who contrive to express them. El Dorado has a comprehensive range of rums that almost make up the recent history of the spirit. Even its white rum is aged in casks, and then filtered, while its more traditional rums are sold in five-, eight-, 12-, 15-, 21- and 25-year-old editions. It takes an appreciation of tradition to make liquid history like this. The men who made the original stills passed away 10 generations ago. Even the still master, who casked the 25-year-old rum, has long since retired. The Caribbean has sand, sun and sea, but visitors should never forget that it has spirit as well, a spirit that has moved armies, navies and nations and changed the world. Raise a glass and let it change your world, too!

Heritage Quay, St. John’s, Antigua • 268.462.3107 www.AbbottsJewellery.com

every step of the way Writer Bekim Rauseo

You’ve just escaped the hustle and bustle of the airport and then you enter a state of bliss when you arrive at your Sandals Resort. You are greeted with a chilled cocktail or glass of sparkling wine and the warmest salutation: “Welcome home,” a greeting that opens up an experience that goes way beyond your expectations. No detail is ignored during a Luxury Included® vacation at Sandals. Dedicated team members ensure that guests enjoy everything the Caribbean has to offer. Sandals Resorts, the largest operator of all-inclusives, satisfies every guest’s most whimsical desires. It is this almost telepathic service that has become the signature of all the 23 resorts and villas. Over the past 30 years, Sandals Resorts has not only become the Caribbean’s leading hotel brand, but the company has become a leader in brand loyalty—their guests keep returning year after year. Some of the most loyal guests, Diamond Level members, look back over the years to share their sweetest memories of the resorts they have come to call their “home away from home’’ and the people they now consider family.

Kris and Michael Murphy Kris and Michael Murphy’s first trip to Sandals Grande Riviera Beach and Villa Golf R esport in October 2005 was more than a much-needed holiday. It also officially validated their relationship as they celebrated with a Caribbean-style wedding on the beach. During that Fall trip, they fell more in love with each other—and the resort. They both knew that a return to their “Garden of Eden’’ was inevitable. “We immediately signed up for the Sandals Select program as soon as we got home,” says Kris. But it wasn’t simply the luxurious resort and its picturesque surroundings that the Murphys appreciated; the people also made an impression. “We absolutely loved the butler service! Our butlers, who have primarily been Kesmit and Humantro, are just outstanding. They tend to anticipate anything we may need or like and it makes our trips that much more special. They both really go out of their way to honestly answer any questions we may have.” The Murphys also praised Megan Martin, the Loyalty Manager present during many of their stays at Sandals Grande Riviera. “She has always been fantastic,” Kris says. “She has helped

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me out with certain room questions and an isolated spa request, and has always gone out of her way to be available and make us feel welcomed.” And Georgia, in the concierge office, greeted them like old friends. When they arrived at the resort for their third stay in October of 2007, Georgia not only remembered them, but also the conversations they’d shared during their stay the previous January. “She remembered our friends who had traveled with us previously and even asked about them. We thought it was absolutely amazing that she recalled personal things about us. That’s when we decided that Jamaica, and Sandals, really did have the nicest people we had ever encountered while on vacation,” says Kris.

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They have spent over 70 nights at Sandals Negril Beach Resort and Spa, Sandals Resort Grande Antigua and Beaches Turks and Caicos Resorts Villages and Spas, just to name a few. That comes up to 13 memorable stays at seven different resorts, and the number keeps growing. Kathleen adds, “We might visit the newest resort to check it out, but honestly, our favorite is Sandals Halcyon in Saint Lucia because of the real beach atmosphere. Our priority in a beach resort is the blueness of the water.” And when it comes to this “sensuously secluded enclave,” Sandals dots all the i’s and crosses all the t’s so that couples like the Brucatos can enjoy “the languid pace of halcyon days and passionate nights.”

Daniel and Linda Whitacre True Sandals Select Rewards fans, the Murphys say that it’s the amenities they receive as returning guests that make them feel extra special. They enjoy the returning guest dinners, as well as the special offers with their points. They have been to Sandals so many times that they’ve redeemed a free stay, a qualifying perk for the most loyal of Sandals Resorts’ returning guests. Planning a trip to paradise to experience the newly refurbished Sandals Grande Riviera next month, the Murphys are excited to be welcomed home again by their Sandals family. When asked why they are such loyal guests, the answer from Kris was profound in its simple truth: “It is, by far the people that keep us coming back again and again.’’

In February 1992, the Whitacres began their romance with Sandals Resorts. They have returned over and over again, celebrating their 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th anniversaries with Sandals. And in January 2012, they will be spending their 35th anniversary at the Sandals Carlyle, in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Linda recalls their first time: “We traveled with our best friends, Sue and Joe Johnson, to celebrate their 20th anniversary. We stayed at Sandals Grande Riviera Beach and Villa Golf Resort in Ocho Rios, in one of the garden rooms, looking out to a large hot tub, where we lived it up every night.” The Whitacres also raved about the sweet and sour snapper at the beach buffet; it simply was “the best meal ever!”

Kathleen and Joseph Brucato Since 1992, Joseph and Kathleen Brucato have been visiting the Sandals family of resorts. “We were referred by friends and advised by our travel agent,” says Kathleen.

Then there was the scuba diving! Linda admits she can’t live without Sandals’ unlimited, guided dives for certified divers. Linda was also beguiled by the Sandals wedding themes: “If I could get married at Sandals, I

Joseph and Kathleen Brucato

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Wesley Horn, Daddy Stone, and Patricia Frappier

would choose Seaside Serenade as my first choice,’’ referring to the island-themed cake and decor that celebrates sun, sand and surf with wonderful shell accents and aqua color scheme. Daniel and Linda Whitacre’s favorite place in the entire Caribbean is Negril, Jamaica—with its famed seven-mile beach. The Whitacres have visited Sandals Resorts 10 times at 10 locations. Now, those are some winning numbers!

Patricia Frappier and Wesley Horn Planning to celebrate their wedding in June 2012, Pat Frappier and Welsey Horn have found the perfect spot for their honeymoon—Sandals Resorts. Even though they have not decided where exactly they’ll stay, half the fun is in the choosing. The couple has visited Sandals Resorts a record 48 times, starting back in 1995 at the Montego Bay flagship, the place where the world first fell in love with Sandals. The resort which started it all has the largest private whitesand beach in all of Jamaica.

Linda and Daniel Whitacre, 25th anniversary at Beaches Grande Sport Ocho Rios

Patricia recalls how hard it was to say goodbye after the first trip. “I cried on the bus leaving because I did not want to leave. We re-booked as soon as we got home.” Since then, they keep seeking new highs from the Sandals family—who do not disappoint. “The New Year’s Eve celebrations there are always special. My favorite year was when they had fireworks off of the water.” Patricia and Wesley even had the pleasure of meeting Sandals Montego Bay’s icon, “Daddy Stone,’’ one of the longest-serving employees at the resort. “I was so excited to find that in the previous Sandals Style magazine there was an article about him with us pictured!” exclaims Patricia. Sandals Resorts has become synonymous with supreme service, second to none. The Caribbean’s largest private operator of all-inclusive luxury resorts promises to guests the satisfaction of knowing that all their whimsical needs will be met. It is a signature of all the 23 resorts and villas that bare the Sandals family brand, and it is one of the many reasons that travelers, like the couples mentioned above, have frequented the grand lobbies and plan to return for many more visits….and many more years!

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Saint Lucia Basilica

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Sir Dunstan St. Omer, artist

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Altar area, Saint Lucia Basilica

spirit of the islands Writer Alina Doodnath Photography Chris Huxley and Caroline Moses

The religious buildings of the Caribbean are full of history and many bear wonderful stories of human faith and endeavor. From classical Gothic spires to brightly painted Hindu murtis and Islamic domes, our places of worship have been beautifully designed and they inspire reverence and wonder in all who visit them. The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Saint Lucia is the largest church in the Caribbean and was elevated to the status of a Minor Basilica in 1999 as part of the centenary celebrations. Located in Derek Walcott Square, Castries, the cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Castries. Built in 1827, the cathedral interior is beautifully adorned with colorful murals depicting black saints, painted by renowned Saint Lucian artist Sir Dunstan St. Omer. The vaulted ceiling is covered with a giant mural. Next to the altar and in the wings of the church are statues of Jesus, Mary and the saints. Outside, a 400-year-old samaan tree provides shade and cool breezes waft through the church.

For travelers who want intrigue, a visit to the Christ Church Parish Church, Oistins, Barbados is an absolute must. The Christ Church Parish Church has been rebuilt four times as previous buildings were destroyed by hurricane, fire or flood. The most recent building was constructed in 1935. The Church is best known for the famous Chase Vault, where coffins seem to mysteriously move around. After the fourth occurrence of coffins being stirred, the bodies were removed and buried separately elsewhere. Many theories have been expounded but no one has been able to solve the mystery of the troubled vault. The Chapel of Mount Saint Benedict in Trinidad offers an alternative spiritual experience. Nestled high above the hills of the northern range, this serene retreat of the Benedictine monks has long found its home in this peaceful location. Founded in 1912 by monks fleeing persecution in Brazil, the Chapel of Mount Saint Benedict is dedicated to the Virgin Mary under the title Our Lady of Exile. It is the oldest monastery in the region and is committed to enriching the land and its inhabitants, offering pastoral counseling, retreats,

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Mount Saint Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago

and woodwork, and technical education. The monastery also produces its own yogurt for commercial sale. The way of life of the Benedictine monks is descended from Saint Benedict of Norcia, born in Italy in the year 480. Their philosophy is earnestly to seek God and to give to the community in which they are based. The chapel is decorated with beautiful religious murals and statues and holds morning mass every Sunday. The grounds of the monastery give views of low-lying lands and the Gulf of Paria. In stark contrast, Christ Church Cathedral is located in bustling Nassau, Bahamas, and is a calming oasis within the hot, dusty city. The cathedral was originally built in 1670 and granted cathedral status in 1861, in turn giving the settlement of Nassau the right to claim city status. This national landmark has played a significant role in Nassau’s history and is still very active within the community; it is considered the “Mother Church” of all the Anglican churches in the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos islands. Of Gothic architecture, Christ Church Cathedral was built using locally-quarried cut lime-stone blocks, which are held together primarily though not entirely, by their size, weight and gravity rather than by cement. The cathedral was renovated in the 1990s to restore its former beauty. A truly inspiring story of determination, faith and patience, the picturesque Hindu Temple in the Sea at Waterloo, Central Trinidad has a long and famous history. In 1947, sugarcane laborer Siewdass Sadhu tried to build a church on land then owned by sugar company Tate and Lyle. He was prosecuted for trespassing

and his temple demolished; however this only strengthened his resolve. He began to build his temple 200 meters out to sea by moving rocks and soil using only bucket and bicycle. Twenty five years later, his dream was realized, only to be dashed again after his death in 1970 when the ocean reclaimed it. However, in 1995 businessmen from Central Trinidad, with the aid of the community and government, began to rebuild the temple, completing the task in just seven months. The temple is now a symbol of human strength and spiritual faith, visited by people from around the world. Judaic buildings aren’t common in the Caribbean, but the oldest standing synagogue in continuous use in the western hemisphere is the Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue in Curacao. Viewed by many as one of the most beautiful synagogues in the western hemisphere, the Mikvé Israel (The Hope of Israel) was built between 1730 and 1732. Constructed by Jews fleeing the inquisition in the 15th and 16th centuries, the synagogue is in likeness of the mother synagogue in Amsterdam. The interior of the or “snoa’’ in Papiamentu is richly decorated and strewn with a carpet of white sand to remind Jews of their past. The “snoa’’ is a magnificent testament to the faith of a people who, fleeing persecution, came to the Caribbean and were welcomed. Although many different faiths have established their places of worship in the Caribbean, there is a shared and simple philosophy—that the sacredness of life and the beauty of our islands is cause for great praise indeed.

Flor id a

F T. L A U D E R D A L E

MIAMI

NA S SAU

Fowl Cay

STANIEL C AY

So close, yet so far... The newest addition to the Sandals Family, Fowl Cay is a peaceful and private, 50-acre out island tucked away in The Exumas, Bahamas. Here, couples, families and friends can get away from it all, reconnect, and enjoy the same, spectacular service you would expect from all of our Sandals and Beaches Resorts. It is a destination of unmatched beauty, featuring six fully-stocked one–, two– and three–bedroom villas, the Hill House Restaurant, and pristine beaches. Each villa comes with its own motor boat allowing guests to explore nearby deserted islands, coral reefs and local attractions. Only a 40-minute charter ﬂight from Nassau or an 1.5 hour ﬂight from Ft. Lauderdale to nearby Staniel Cay airstrip, this stunning island is so close, yet feels so far from the rest of the world.

RESERVATIONS

United States or Canada call toll-free (877) 845-5275 | United Kingdom call 0800 0223 773 info@fowlcay.com - www. fowlcay.com Fowl Cay Resort is represented worldwide by Unique Vacations, Inc.

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building a strong foundation Writer Nikola Lashley

For Gordon “Butch” Stewart and his family, the business of charity really does begin at home. It started out adjacent to the shoreline of Montego Bay, Jamaica, home to the very first Sandals Resort. Set in the hills above the bustling tourist city on the north coast of Jamaica, there is a closeknit, inner-city community called Flankers, where, for decades, the lives of its residents have been marred by poverty and violence. Today, the community has a place to call home and a sanctuary for children, particularly teens, to learn, grow and play: the Peace and Justice Community Center, supported by the Sandals Foundation. The center’s presence tightly binds one man’s commitment to improve the lives of his neighbors with the island of his birth. In the early days of Sandals Resorts, the people of Flankers benefited from a donation made by Stewart, as Sandals Resorts’ Chairman, by way of state-of-the-art medical equipment purchased for clinics in the area. Stewart recognized that even the most basic primary healthcare services were also paramount to improving the standard of living in the communities close by. Three decades later, and through the ongoing efforts of the Sandals Foundation, dedicated team members, willing travel partners and even loyal guests have continued Stewart’s early philanthropic vision: to support and partner with some of the Caribbean’s most needy communities. Hand in hand with governments and the local communities it seeks to help, the Sandals Foundation continues its devotion to the welfare of the Caribbean and its people under three key pillars: education, environment, and community. In this interview with Sandals Style, Heidi Clarke, Director of Programs for the Sandals Foundation, looks back at what has been accomplished by this philanthropic company over the last three decades and previews the exciting projects on the horizon.

Beyond the early support given to the Flankers community, what was the impetus for setting up the Sandals Foundation? Sesame Workshop partnership extends to the local communities and makes learning fun.

While we have been supporting the communities where Sandals Resorts International operates since the very beginning, the idea for the Foundation actually started in 2008. Our CEO, Adam Stewart, simply said, “We can do so much more for our people. With all of our great partners, we can expand our community work even further.’’ So with that in mind, the Sandals Foundation was officially launched as a non-profit organization in 2009. We are not

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Reading Road Trip lets guests take a journey into local schools to help children with literacy skills.

Heidi Clarke, Director of Programs for the Sandals Foundation, shares a hug from a Balata Pre-School student from Saint Lucia

about simply providing goods and services, we’re about working with communities and schools and kids, and working towards getting their parents involved. We’re essentially helping people to help themselves.

And how is the Foundation doing that? We really want to go as far as we can possibly go and touch as many lives as possible. For us, it is really about expanding our programs, and getting more people involved. We’re always looking at what works best on the individual islands and our goal is to maintain that approach.

Are the Chairman and CEO still actively involved? Absolutely! Both are very, very passionate about the work of the Foundation–about changing people’s lives for the better. They always say, “If you’re able to teach people things so that they can help themselves, then you’re making a huge difference.’’ They firmly believe we’re not just selling a hotel; we’re selling a destination and if you don’t invest in the people and the environment that surrounds it, then you have nothing. Here at the Foundation, we are always trying to find new ways to build on that philosophy through new projects and programs.

The Foundation is now a fairly sizable operation with dedicated staff members. How do you balance your operating costs, which is usually a big challenge for many charities? We have a saying that everyone who works for Sandals works for the Foundation. That philosophy goes right across the organization, from management, to architects, engineers, project teams, etc. Everyone who works for our resorts gets involved and dedicates their professional hours. What’s so fantastic about the Foundation is that

Sandals Resorts International covers 100 per cent of the administrative costs, so all donations go straight into our community efforts and our programs.

Education seems to be a major focus; how has this developed over the years? We firmly believe that education provides the basis for shaping a child’s future. Getting good, quality teachers and equipment into schools to raise literacy levels—it is one of our major drives throughout the Caribbean. Literacy is just one aspect of our education program. Since day one of operating our resorts, we have been focused on the quality of education. To date, we have 26 adopted schools throughout the Caribbean. Our goal is to develop the infrastructure of very poor schools, work with them on teacher training and developmental skills, and bring them up to speed with the latest technology and equipment including some that they’ve never even used before.

What’s the reaction from guests who take part in the Foundation’s work? Overwhelmingly positive! More and more, guests vacationing at a Sandals or Beaches Resort want to learn about our islands; they want to become more exposed to the local culture and the people who live here. They want to “give back” to the islands they love so much and make a positive difference. They form a bond with the people they meet—whether a team member at the resort or when they volunteer in the community. We many times see this being taken a step further when they go back home and keep in touch by email or write letters and, most often, make a contribution to the community project they have visited by sending needed supplies such as books, computers, and financial contributions.

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Volunteers from Flight Centre Canada, making a “greener” difference

For example, we recently hosted a travel agent, who doesn’t normally come to Jamaica. It was never her firstchoice destination because she mistakenly believed it was a volatile and dangerous place. She signed up and came along with us on one of our Reading Road Trips, where she had the opportunity to meet and sit and talk to Jamaican children. She said it was the best part of her entire holiday! She realized that the people are really great and the communities are not what she first thought they were. She got out into the community and met the children and the people and their warmth and spirit just really impressed her. Many guests get back to the resorts after a day out assisting the Foundation and they want to get more involved with the schools and all the great children they’ve met and, in some cases actually go on to start their own book drives at home, which is really quite amazing!

How did the Reading Road Trip come about, it sounds like such a wonderful idea? The Reading Road Trip project came about because, as a Foundation, we’re always looking for useful ways to support the most vulnerable children in our communities. We saw the need particularly with the very overcrowded classrooms here in the Caribbean, some with 30 or more children, and some of them reaching the fourth grade not being able to read properly and not passing their literacy exams. It is not because they’re not smart kids, but rather that they’re just lackng the individual attention. Through this program, it’s a “win-win” for everyone! The teachers welcome the support; the kids love the extra attention and “TLC” that comes from the visitors; and the guests enjoy being able to donate their time towards a worthy cause that helps to make a difference.

In what other areas of the Foundation can people get involved? We are always glad to have the support of our guests and travel industry partners who want to “give back” to the islands they love visiting. In Jamaica, for example, we have a wonderful partnership with Great Shape! Inc. whereby more than 165 trained professionals in their respective fields, fly in over a three-month period to give free dental work, free optical work and teacher training to local residents in need. It’s really a hands-on operation; it’s really about people giving of their time. That’s just one of many projects we have happening yearly. If someone has an idea or professional services they wish to provide, they can always get in touch with us to see how they can fit into our curriculum to volunteer their time by visiting our website at www.sandalsfoundation.org. Whether it is a guest or a partner, we are always open to having them making a contribution to our programs. From our marine sanctuaries to our community centers to our adopted schools, there are ways for volunteers to donate their professional services, their time, or make in-kind donations and, of course, offer any sort of financial contribution. We have a number of specific projects across the Caribbean that we have hosted with our international partners—amazing companies such as Flight Centre, Air Canada Vacations, and Carlson Wagonlit Travel—as part of our Voluntourism efforts. To date, we are proud that we have had nearly 5,000 volunteers help us to help make a difference in the Caribbean region.

Heidi, tell us a little bit about kids who benefit from the Foundation? The lives of children in the scholarship program, for instance, are being transformed. Some time ago I was

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Icare vision project with Great Shape! Inc. gives the gift of sight to those in need

The Culloden Early Childhood Institution, Jamaica’s first environmentally friendly school built from the ground up

talking to a few children and I asked one of them, “What’s going on with you?’’ and he said, “You know my father died and that’s been really hard and I’ve been in a lot of trouble in school. Since I’ve been in the scholarship and golf program, I’ve been a lot more focused and disciplined and doing much better.” Through our “Care for Kids” scholarship program we have been able to afford children the opportunity to go farther in their lives if just given the chance. We have one recipient going on to medical school; another who has started their first year at teacher’s college and one who is working at the hospital in Kingston. Those are just some of the great stories because these are real lives that are being changed right before our eyes.

And it seems your sports programs are enjoying the same level of success? Yes, our “Youth Through Sports” programs are amazing. Take our Cricket Academies, for example. The first one started in Saint Lucia 11 years ago and we now also have one in Antigua. We’re launching the program again this year and we’ll have so many more islands involved, not only Saint Lucia, but Guyana, Barbados and Trinidad, which we are really excited about. All the children will be flown to Antigua by the West Indies Cricket Board where they will spend three weeks at the National Cricket Stadium just living and breathing their homeland sport. Cricketing legend Sir Viv Richards is a part of the program as well as Courtney Walsh and Richie Richardson. It’s not just about playing the sport; it’s also about their education through mentorship and about teaching the children to give back as well. The same holds true for our golf programs and our Golf Academy in Jamaica.

On many levels your biggest and most audacious environmental project looks to be a first for the Caribbean? Our “green” school in the remote region of Westmoreland, Jamaica is such an amazing project. We partnered with a school that, for nearly 40 years, didn’t have their own building but rather had to teach kids either on the beach or in temporary buildings that were in no way conducive to a learning environment. It’s one of the Foundation’s adopted schools, so we felt compelled to act and found a beautiful piece of land and through a generous grant from the Yellowbird Foundation in Canada, plans were drawn to build a school—one that would be as environmentally friendly and sustainable as possible. The Culloden Early Childhood Institute opened its doors this September and 120 pre-school students and the teachers are now proudly enjoying spacious classrooms, a large dining area and kitchen, a computer room, restrooms, an expansive field for various sporting activities, a “green” corner for planting and gardening and an outdoor play area outfitted with seesaws, swings and a jungle gym. The school is a state-of-the-art building which boasts environmentallyfriendly features such as natural lighting and ventilation, solar resources, the latest smart energy consumption technology including water harvesting and the use of local and recycled materials in its construction. Taking the “green” mission a step further, the school’s curriculum will include lessons on recycling and sustainability programs such as vegetable gardening. The Culloden project is particularly important to us because it is a perfect example of private interest playing its role in the development of society. Because of this Model Green project, the Government of Jamaica has taken over operation of Culloden, making it only one of 31 Early Childhood Institutions on the island, which are fully funded by the Ministry of Education. Now, that’s a true testament to our mission and it’s only the beginning!

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Biggety: brash, loud, outspoken. He a “biggety” man! Boss: Greeting term. “Boss, you gat a dollar I could have?”

talk ya talk

Writer Gillian Watson Illustrator Jason Waithe

Bahamians speak English...well...sort of. The very distinct lingo of this island nation can be hard to understand if you are a visitor. But, rest assured, the locals know what each other is talking about. Here are a few of the most widely used “Bahamianisms.” There are thousands more where these came from, but you probably have to visit the island to hear more.

Buck up: hit, crash, usually used when talking about a car crash or running into someone unexpected. My car “buck up” to duh tree or I buck him in the mall last week. Chief: friendly way to address someone. Hey Chief, gimme a ride. We do NOT say, “Hey, Mon!”. We never did. Cut Eye: look of hatred, contempt. You want to be wary if a Bahamian gives you a cut eye, you have made him unhappy in some way. Duff: boiled dough usually filled with seasonal fruit. Fantastic Bahamian dessert. Guava Duff served with a strong brandy butter is the classic presentation. Erl: oil. My car need some erl. Ferl: foil. “We ga need plenty ferl for all dis food!” Bahamians are famous for always having ferl at the end of a party to wrap up the leftovers (even if it is not their party). People who come to parties and take home food and drink are called toaters. Gat: got. He gat plenty babies! Musse: Must be. He musse scared! Gone: farewell. I gone (goodbye). Grabalishus: greedy. He grabalishus takin all them fish...hey?! I actually used this term in a short story when I was at boarding school in Canada. It was not until I was 16 that I learned that this is not a “real” word! Jam up: crowded, full. Dat bus jam up! Jook: poke, stab. He jook me in my leg! Kerpunkle up: drunk, intoxicated. He kerpunkle right up! Muddo: exclamation of excitement. Well, muddo, your number come up hey!!! Tief: steal. He tief all the people’s mangos. Sip sip: gossip. Sip sip gat it dat she tief that money! Spry: light rain. Straight Tru: all the way. He drink “straight tru.”

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folklore prince klaas Writer Peter Williams Illustrator Jason Waithe

In southeast St. Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Antigua, near a bustling intersection that funnels traffic either into town or away from it, sits a monument topped by the statue of a man known as Prince Klaas. He is blowing a conch shell horn, presumably as a clarion and not a musical instrument. Little is known about his life, but what he did just before he died has given rise to folklore and, ultimately, National Hero status. Erected at one end of Prince Klaas Street, the life-sized statue symbolizes a time when basic individual freedoms were being fought for. The story of how this man, a slave intent on liberty, organized a plot to attack the ruling sugar plutocracy of 1736, is widely told in Antiguaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the sort of heroic narrative that gets enshrined in legend in a few short centuries. The offensive was set to coincide with a gathering of slaveowning Europeans. An unexpected postponement forced a change of plan, during which time the rebellion suffered betrayal and was broken down by authorities, costing the leaders their lives in the brutal process. Historical folklore is replete with stories of heroism and at Prince Klaas Stone we are invited to contemplate what it sometimes takes to achieve immortality. It is not only well-documented figures who can be heroes. In the case of Prince Klaas, also known as Klass, Count or King Court, not even the manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name is as assured as his legend.

Swirl, sip, and savor the rich heritage of Beringer wines. Beringer is crafted in Napa and Sonomaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest appellations and vineyards, and is currently in its third century of creating award-winning wines. With time-honored and seductive eloquence, Beringer offers you a variety of ways to indulge your palate with timeless luxury. Available in various red and white wines, we invite you to savor the splendor of Beringer here at this resort.

www.beringer.com ÂŠ2011 Beringer Vineyards, Napa, CA

the last sip Beringer Vineyards was established in 1876 and is the oldest continuously operating winery in all of Napa Valley. Named Wine & Spirits “Winery of the Year” eleven times, Beringer Vineyards continues to use age-old traditions and cutting-edge technology to craft their palateinvigorating wines. With timeless appeal and seductive flavor, Beringer’s rich heritage is clearly evident in every drop of wine that’s produced.

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