THE SECOND COMING IN PARADISE
12/11/06
The West Indies Cricket Team and loyal West Indian fans are hoping for a "second coming" in 2007. For cricket lovers the world over, the Caribbean will be the centerpiece of the more exciting version of the game in a few short months. Countries from all over the world will gather at spectacular venues all over "Paradise" to compete for the "Kingship" of One Day Cricket and the West Indies playing at home must think they are in with a very good chance to snag the title.
The title that has eluded them for over 10 plus years. But every man, lest we forget, should know that when the West Indies ruled World Cricket, they also ruled One Day Cricket. In fact, they won in 1975, 1979 and only lost in the final to India in 1983 in absolute shocker, that many people still dont believe to this day. This time around there are euphoric thoughts of Victory and the hope that it will be the springboard to launch the team back to the forefront of World Cricket.
The competing countries are Australia, South Africa, Scotland, Zimbabwe, Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Ireland, Bermuda, Bangladesh, England, Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Canada, and The West Indies. The matches will be played at beautifully remodeled and newly built venues in Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Lucia.
This indeed promises to be a spectacle, being the greatest sporting event hosted in the Caribbean's history. The host countries are hoping to benefit significantly from the the media exposure, but also from the obvious commercial benefits of such a gathering in the form of travel, and tours. It promises to be a massive undertaking and from the looks of it ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 - a Subsidiary of the West Indies Cricket Board - is up to the task. They have been charged in managing this "Grand Gala of Cricket".
But back to the real meat of the matter: Can the "Woeful Windies" pull it out. No...simply no. Not with the likes of Australia, the defending champions, who have won three World Cup finals, and other higher ranked teams such as South Africa, Paskistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka looking to justify themselves. Let's face it, the problems (structural, managerial and otherwise) plaguing West Indies Cricket won't suddenly disapear in one glorious sunny day.
It's just not going to happen. Additionally, this team or which ever final eleven they come up with is weak, and mediocre at best. Lets face it, the bowling is nothing to speak about and the batting, apart from the genius Lara and Chris Gayle and Chanderpaul to a lesser extent, is brittle...very brittle as was recently exposed by the marauding Australians in the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy.
The West Indies has only 2 potential match winners in Gayle and Lara, but I would not bet on it. Lara is too old to compete consistently at the highest level in a tournament lasting over almost two months and Gayle is too inconsistent from match to match and series to series. So, will there be a second coming...no! Don't even bother to waste your emotions and be bothered with going through the inevitable let down and feelings of depression that will follow.
Been there, done that and suffered badly. It's...just...not...going...to...happen! The second coming of West Indies Cricket will have to wait. Do like I will be doing: I will certainly be rallying...but rallying around the beautiful game, that lovely game of cricket, that we all love so much! Have you gotten your tickets yet?
Reader Comments (8)
The Caribbean Islands (www.jamaicastorytours.com)
The Caribbean is blessed with a year round tropical climate, plus a cultural and geographical diversity together with a fascinating colonial history. It stretches for 1000 miles between North and South America with a dozen or so main islands and hundreds of smaller islands. Whilst all the islands boast the necessary ingredients of sun, sand and sea all offer the highest standards available; they are all actually different in terms of their personality.
If you look at a map of the Americas, the Caribbean is in the centre, the heart of this continent and the islands that make up this archipelago encloses the Caribbean Sea moderating the cold currents of the Atlantic Ocean. (Just as the heart keeps the body warm and alive) All ensconced in much rugged beauty, lush tropical vegetation freshened by tropical/trade winds, and exotic fauna. It is this centrality or fortuitous geographical location and climate that give the Caribbean its unique selling point as a vacation paradise.
To be continued...
What are the features of the HEART of the Caribbean?
The essence of Caribbean mystique is captured in its romanticized ethno-historical background, which defines the Caribbean in terms of its accommodation of racial and ethnic (language, religion, etc.) diversity across different patterns of colonization and immigration. Having survived this history, the Caribbean lends itself to a laissez faire, easy going lifestyle and natural open friendliness.
The heart is the seat of the emotions, or “feelings”, as we say in the tropics. The Caribbean stirs up all possible human emotions and stimulates all the senses to induce and seduce with its flavourful cuisine, redolent flowers and herbs wafting in the breeze.
This group of islands throb with the warmth of the people, the cadence of mellifluous languages distilled from Spanish, French, English, Africa and Dutch and the rhythm of Latin and African music forms creolized into reggae (African), zouk and compas (French influence), rhumba, salsa and samba-reggae (Spanish).
Caribbean people wear their hearts on their sleeve with their signature open warmth and hospitality. Many have opened their homes and hearths to welcome visitors in intimate settings of bed and breakfast offerings. Through community-based tourism products visitors are allowed a glimpse of the past in Maroon villages deep in the tropical forests of Jamaica and Suriname.
The alluring physical beauty of the region has led to many love affairs with the islands and the people over the years; and the movie industry has been lured to capture this beauty and flavour forever in blockbuster films.
The rich cuisine, a blend of African, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian, British, French and Spanish, flavours all simmered into a distinct taste for each destination. The spicy “jerk”, seafood offerings purported to have strong aphrodisiac qualities, coconut steeped desserts and succulent, exotic fruits served up “au naturel” or in cocktails. All destinations offer lean cuisine options and healthy vegetarian concoctions.
Spa and medical tourism are currently hot niche travel markets! We keep your heart, mind and body healthy and happy in the Caribbean with a range of wellness offerings. Cuba, St Lucia and Jamaican are leading the way developing adventure, sports, e.g. golf, scuba diving, and other fitness packages with spas.
It’s GREAT! To circulate in the Caribbean! To keep curiosity and intrigue alive, the Caribbean offers cruise options unlike anywhere else ion the world. Because of the proximity of the islands in the eastern Caribbean, you can stay at one and visit three! or four! or five! No where else in the worlds is year round warm weather cruising as exciting and colourful as the Caribbean from the Disney cruise in the Bahamas to Mexico, Caracas and the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao).
We also offer a piece of the Caribbean in the sky with warm friendly service and care from BWIA and Air Jamaica. Island hopping is also a favourite of locals and visitors with transportation options provided by domestic flights and ferries.
Sharon Stimpson
www.jamaicastorytours.com
What is the Caribbean doing to reach its markets?
The Caribbean tourism sector is expected to improve by 4 – 5% due to recovering economies in the U.S. Canada and Europe and favourable exchange rates. However, the Caribbean cannot afford to become complacent, hence aggressive marketing of diversified tourism products such as eco- tourism, heritage and cultural. Caribbean government policies have been very favourable towards tourism over the last 50 years recognize the value of tourism as a lucrative industry, investing in education and training of the people who deliver the product and in the infrastructure (telecommunications, ports, roads) to provide a comfortable, safe environment to welcome visitors. Local tourism umbrella bodies such as the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) have been a very strong support in these policies.
Caribbean destinations have been investing in interactive websites as an aggressive marketing tool because the travelling public wants up-to-date information that is easily accessible, and uses the Internet for online bookings and virtual visits to destinations. Internet hotel bookings were expected to increase from 13% to 24% in 2005. Email is now the most effective direct personalized tool to market travel promotions.
The CTO has capitalized on its over 2 million website visitors per year, to offer online marketing opportunities to its stakeholders in five languages! Allowing tourism providers a vast global reach. Since its inception doitcaribbean.com has been seen as the official website for Caribbean tourism by the majority of global earch engines. This has added legitimacy to any information sought those seeking the best travel options in the Caribbean. The CTO intends to reinvest all revenues from the sale of online advertising on the website to further market and promote the site to consumers.
The world-wide trend placing a huge emphasis on value and discounting has forced National Tourism boards and organization to recognize that they must go beyond the value added to keep visitors returning for multiple visits. Therefore packaged incentives are offered in many forms including tours, services, spa treatments, meals and discounted land based stays for cruisers.
Market trends indicate that the Caribbean ranks thirds in terms of world visitor arrivals with over 18 million arrivals per year ( can we get 2005? Figures). The Caribbean welcomes the eco-traveller to Costa Rica, Belize and Dominica, the Asian outbound tourists have been seeking out Jamaica and Cuba, while the Spanish market is on the rise in the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Jamaica, other European markets and Canadians dominate in the eastern Caribbean.
The Caribbean plans to take advantage of emerging trends in travel and tourism.
a) World travel has reduced and people are flying less, choosing to stay closer to home. The Caribbean offers increased opportunities for cruise/land stay over packages
b) People are looking for new destinations or renewed/refreshed destinations, therefore many Caribbean countries have been changing their image to keep up with growing competition.
c) Visitors still want personalized attention which the Caribbean people have perfected to an art and on-going training programmes focusing on delighting visitors and providing high standards of cuisine and service in any setting
d) Shopping is till a favourite activity and the Caribbean offers a wide variety of duty free shopping with the best selection of brand names and indigenous craft
e) 18% of business travellers will take a combined business and leisure trip, and trips with family grew by 2505 from 1990 – 2000. The Caribbean all-inclusive resorts offer the perfect option for these travelers with a plethora of family-based activities and out door attractions
The Caribbean has charming historic ambience and picturesque settings that lends to a relaxed atmosphere. You can find a Caribbean island to fit your lifestyle and luxury resorts throughout weave the enchantment of the Caribbean with ultimate refinement. We package your wishes to provide a taste of the essence of things Caribbean, allowing you to create lasting memories and unforgettable experiences.
My next contributions will be focused on exploring some noted Caribbean luxury destinations, Barbados, Antigua, Bahamas and Jamaica, Cuba, Aruba, Martinique, Turks and Caicos/ US Virgin islands, Mustique and Canouan in the Grenadines. We will start with Barbados.
Barbados is the farthest island of the Caribbean chain, and the one with the most repeat visitors in the Caribbean. Barbados, conjures images of “flying fish” and “green monkeys”, but also calm white sand beaches of the west coast and the raging Atlantic coast on the east, an island that offers a completely different experience on all coasts. The west coast attracts the rich and famous and hosts fabulous homes, hotels and villas, while the south coast is the lively pulse of the island. Many British and Canadian visitors make the 160 mile paradise their second home for the entire winter season every year, because of the friendly Bajans, variety of lodgings, water-based activities, fine dining and soft adventure options including walking through the St Lawrence Gap and touring Harrison’s Cave.
“There’s never a dull moment in BarbaDOS!”
Sharon Tingle-Stimpson
www.jamaicastorytours.com
With Reggae at its heartbeat, blessed with 150 white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, stunning landscapes and some of the most breathtaking natural attractions in the Caribbean, Jamaica is quite incredible! Luxury all-inclusives and villas, and world-renowned spas are a part of the Jamaican visitors’ experience. Exciting adrenalin’ rushing tours that will take you down waterfalls, around boulders, through undisturbed tropical rainforest canopy, and high into the misty bliss of the Blue Mountains gets your blood pumping and heightens the senses.
Just 146 miles long and 51 miles wide, Jamaica is the third largest Caribbean island….It won’t take long for all the stress an tension that you brought along to dissolve into an attitude that is inherently Jamaican. Once you go, YOU KNOW!
Sharon Tingle-Stimpson
www.jamaicastorytours.com
See you soon online at www.jamaicastorytours.com
The Grenadines, in the south-eastern Caribbean offer a chain of exotic boutique type hotels and private estates featuring secluded white sand beaches and surrounded by one of the world’s largest coral reefs. A noted getaway for the rich and famous. We will focus on the islands of Mustique and Canuoan. Canouan, just 3 square miles, is located a few miles from Mustique and the Tobago Cays in the heart of the Grenadines. The essence of Caribbean simplicity is captured in the enchanting, perfect degree of seclusion, enhanced with outstanding cuisine and finest amenities. Breathtaking views of the Caribbean and Atlantic draws guests to relax in the comfortable eclectic decor enjoy the peace and tranquillity of exceptional scenery. This chain of islands allows visitors to truly understand the idea of escaping into paradise!
Sharon Tingle-Stimpson
www.jamaicastorytours.com
I am impressed with the comprehensive compilation of the cup--but I don't aggree on one thing Jollyjo says! Lara is still one of the best--and still has the fire in his belly to turn a match single-handedly on his head on any given day and much better than what Tendulkar is today (anyway Lara has won far too many matches than Tendulkar has).
Cheers
John
<a href="http://amazingindiaexperience.info/">India Fan Club </a>
I think we are saying the same thing. No doubt with Lara's genius he may still be able to turn an match or two but over such a long competition and with the supporting cast woefully lacking...West Indians can dream on!