Never again, with Caribbean Airlines.

At the time we booked our flights to the U.S.A , Caribbean Airlines seemed the best bet. We were told we could check in online, but were unable to due to problems with the site. Might I add that we had to be there at 2:30 AM for a 5:30 AM flight? Customs was ok. Most of the time was spend shivering in the waiting lounge.

After take off they served breakfast. However at Trinidad, we were made to come out of the plane , with our hand luggage and go thru customs. All jewellery had to be taken off even our watch, and my hairclip because it was metal. No other airport security has this rule - they just tell you to remove metal stuff like your belt and coins.

Nothing, even a handkerchief could be left in your pocket. All electronics including laptops, kindles, dvd players etc also had to be removed and placed in a seperate bin. No shoes or bags in the tray. Then when you get out of the scan area you got to hurry and move you stuff , to get out of the way. Lesson learned you want to smuggle something make your child keep it., They dont make children take off stuff.

We also got a light snack on the way from T&T to U.S.A. But the long wait between trinidad and U.S.A added to the long travelling time.

The way back was worse. We were told at the desk we did not have to come off the plane. However once we were in Trinidad we were told we had to change planes. We came off had to go all the way downstairs , to the transit desk. Then up back. Through the check points again. We asked to change seats and were told that they couldnt do that. We just moved to the empty seat once we were on the plane as it was practially empty on the way back. We got a snack - a bag of chips and a bag of cookies from Miami but they did not even serve us a snack from Trinidad to Guyana only a beverage. Then again, they never give you anything when your coming into Guyana. Next time i walking with me damm curry to eat and not relying on these people to feed me.

The flying and service itself is not bad. However, having to come out at Trinidad is too much of a hassel to travel with them again unless I have no choice.

Salvaging Saturday!

Ok showed up to the where was supposed to be the Anansi Story Time at the Botanical Gardens, with a friend. After walking around and not finding anyone we went to the zoo ticket office and asked the clerk if he knew about it. Turns out the staff there had no idea about the story time. After we walked around some more I remembered seeing a notice on the gate which did not read – so we went to check it. Turns out the story time was canceled due to inclement weather. Pity – the gardens was very dry surprising for all the rain we had these past couple of days. Many families were enjoying the holiday, playing and relaxing in the park.

Now having nothing to do we took a quick walk around the gardens before heading to the city mall hoping to get some dvd shopping done at Avon. Avon was closing up and a lot of the stores within the mall were closed. (I had passed just an hour earlier to a very bustling and open city mall by the way).

We then decided to head down to Red Cherry on Lamaha Street because it was open and I had never been in either of the red cherries.  Nice walk down the road passing Monument Gardens with preparations going on for the Arrival Day festivities starting at 6.

Arrived at Red Cherry, greeted by some nice oldies, Madonna’s Say Goodbye which was changed because another group of youngsters there complained the music was boring. They put on some nice pop tunes with Pitbull , Jlo and Bruno Mars. It was not too loud but I think the music should have been a little softer. You go to an ice cream parlor to hang out with friends not much so to listen to the music. The music, I might add is a complement to the surroundings not the focal point of it.

Friend and I both ordered Candy Man’s Dream. Mmmm  ice cream sprinkles, raisins , mini MM’s, with their signature red cherry on top.  Ice cream on top was hard but the bottom layer melted fast.

I loved it. They did not take very long to bring our orders, possibly because there were only two other groups there at the time and business was slow being midafternoon and a holiday.

Candy Man's Dream 

Décor inside of Red Cherry had a nice colour scheme. Red and Green went nice together in the stripe pattern.  Unusual rest room or should I say “est room,” entrance with Wild West type swinging doors. Nothing to wipe my hands on after I washed it!

Ended the day by coming home and watching Avengers.

All in all, Saturday Salvaged! 

Cross Dressing in Guyana

It came as a surprise to me that cross dressing is illegal in Guyana. I learnt his after watching a you tube video asking people opinions on cross dressing. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaXESfHYIYc&feature=share )

The uploader was inspired by the Documentary "My Wardrobe , My Right," which was shown at SASOD's recent flim festival. In addition i read GT Observes thoughts on My Wardrobe My Right. Both of these are worth checking out when you’re finished reading this!

Although, the word cross dresser springs to mind drag queens. Cross Dressing by definition is wearing the clothing that is associated with a gender that is not your own. There are also female cross dresser. Perhaps they can more easily pull this off, as many women adopt male clothing either because its a uniform as in the military , or for ease and comfort.

Many persons also associate cross dressing with homosexuality, or transgender. However cross dressers sometimes cross dress simply because they feel more comfortable in the clothing of the opposite sex. They may not be homosexual at all.

A little more research on Cross Dressing in Guyana, led me to find that men have even been arrested for cross dressing in Guyana in the past. Thankfully SASOD and several transgender men have appealled to the courts to overturn cross dressing laws. In fact: "Guyanese law prohibits men from appearing in public in female attire, and vice versa. The law appears in a section of Guyana’s legal code that also makes homosexuality a crime." (1) If this is truly the case, then many women should charged as well.

Thinking of Cross Dressers, i recall what Kiera Knightley's Character in the Duchess: Georgiana Cavendish, said in relation to her extravagant fashions. Her dress was the only way she could express herself. Fashion is after all expression. And our clothing are an extension of who we are. I can recall several occasions that i've worn clothing that i did not like wearing, and did not feel at all like myself in them. Much less, for cross dressers who are forced to wear the socially acceptable gender associated clothing. Imagine it just for a moment. It is almost as if you are in someone else's body and not your own.

So yes, I feel that cross dressing should be legalized. Persons should dress the way they want to as long as they are not harming others. This extends to dress codes but I will rant about that another time. This may be complicated for those in institutional jobs. Would employers want their male employees wearing a dress to work? This is especially important in government and other formal intuitions. How would you feel if the “Sir,” teaching you, or teaching your child, dresses like “Miss.”

To end my commentary I will quote Lady Gaga’s ‘Born this Way,’ which I ranted about in my last post:

“Don't hide yourself in regret / Just love yourself and you're set.”
and don’t forget “Don't be a drag - just be a queen!”



(1) http://propagandapress.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/transgender-men-sasod-in-guyana-court-to-overturn-cross-dressing-laws/

John Travolta in Hairspray