JOIN THE FLAG IN BARBADOS - IN 2011

After years of anticipation, The Flag's latest Barbados Extravaganza has come to an end, and if you missed out this year, then you should only have 3 more years to wait. Should! Hopefully! Barbados is the doyenne of Caribbean islands, everything one would expect of a tropical wonderland. Bathed in sunshine for 300+ days a year, the waters are as crystalline as the postcards depict, the sands squeaky white, and the amiable lifestyles of its people deeply infectious; except perhaps when the cricket is town. The relaxed moods are put on hold when the teams take the field and replaced with vivacious energy. The music is played, the dancers groove, the chefs grill, fry, and roast their specialities, and the visitors invited into the frenzy at Kensington Oval, just out of the Bridgetown.

The tiny 'redeveloped' Oval capsulates the atmospheres of the cricket that seems metres away. And it is, for this is one of the extremes of following cricket in the West Indies. Most grounds are so close to the action, you'd have to be looking the other way not to see what happens. 8-hours at the game, basking in the Caribbean heat, and over indulging in rotis (curried meat or vegie parcels) and Banks Beer might be enough for some but once the game has finished it's into The Flag's transfer buses for the celebrations to continue in the resort havens of St Lawrence, on the doorsteps of our hotels.

Absolutely geared to mass American tourism more than cricket junkies, the pubs and clubs that line the narrow streets and beachfronts along the south coast, a few miles out of Bridgetown, thrive at this time of year to the thrill of cricket pundits living a dream of following cricket around the West Indies. The cosy little neighbourhoods heave and sweat with sandal shod, floral shirt clad, pale skinned bods geared for memorable opportunities to move and groove with Barbados night life.

Saying that, it isn't all drinking, eating, and watching cricket, though very close to it. Barbados is renowned for it's water sports and golf, but also it's hilly sugar-caned interior that give a drier side to the island experience with beautiful nature walks, deep caves, plantation houses, and a rugged east coast to admire if not bravely surfing. Barbados is the mecca for the non-island hopper, but if you're going to come all the way to the West Indies for cricket, you might as well do them all!

Luke Gillian 01/06/2008 03:33:55