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Of Caving,Thai kids, Omens and, Claustrophobia

Entrance to Blue Hole, Westmorland

What I think will be the most memorable story for 2018, is what I dub the Cave Event in Thailand.

In brief, On June 23, 2018, 12 young soccer players ranging in ages from 11-16, who went exploring the six-mile-long Than Luang cave complex at a park in Northern Thailand along with their 25-year-old coach, went missing.

For ten nail-biting days parents and indeed the  entire world, anxiously followed the progress of searchers from that country plus numerous international volunteers, many of them experienced divers, as they braved the murky waters inside the flooded caverns, squeezed through narrow twisting tunnels, climbed sharp ledges at great peril to themselves, but despite not finding them for days, they refused to give up hope and just kept going.

All geared up to enter Green Grotto cave, Discovery Bay, Jamaica

 
Miraculously, on July 2nd, they were spotted by two British divers, fearful and hungry but thankfully safe, on a high ledge deep inside the cave.  

After feeding and giving them medical assistance, the rescuers were faced the awesome task of getting them out of the flooded caverns, a journey of some three miles, without even knowing how many of the stranded youth could actually even swim. 

This was a dangerous and staggering task that had to be completed quickly too, as the rescuers soon realized that oxygen levels were being rapidly depleted. Further, the rainy monsoon season was due to begin in days, thus further flooding the caves, despite the effort being undertaken to use a massive pump to get out the millions of gallons  of water already inside the flooded caverns.

Outside the Guadirikiri Caves in Aruba

At one point, it was even feared that they would have to keep the boys inside for months for their own safety as getting them out looked too dangerous. And it was indeed dangerous, as a former Thai Petty Officer,  Saman Gunam,  unfortunately, lost consciousness on his way out, after delivering air tanks inside the cave to facilitate the rescue.

Sadly,  Saman  Gunam later died.

Finally thanks to the skills and technology of  dozens of 

Engineers, geologists, military persons, health care volunteers etc from all over the world, assigning two divers to each boy and medicating the young people so they would not panic in the murky waters, all the boys and their youthful coach were rescued on 

July 10th 2018.

Inside Two Sisters cave, Hellshire

And would you believe that the pump that had been taking out the water from the cave to facilitate their exit, broke down almost immediately after the last person was rescued? This caused the water to start rising rapidly to the point where experienced divers who had gone back inside to recover the gear that was left inside, had to exit quickly to save their own lives!

Eerie isn't it?

Considering all this happened during the exciting  FIFA World Cup which was being played out in Russia and in which upsets have been the order of the day, I couldn't help wondering if this event involving the young Thai soccer players was some kind of omen. 

Marking inside the cave at  Cudjoe Hill, St. Catherine, made by the Tainos in Jamaica before Columbus arrived and wiped them out. Nanny's brother Cudjoe also hid out in that cave for months, when the British were trying  to capture and subjugate the Maroons. 

For example, could it be that in four or eight years, Thailand, a rank outsider in the soccer world, could become a world beater or this young soccer team would eventually represent their county at World Cup? 

I hope I will be around to find out if this was really a soccer omen!

While I know this drama held the attention of people all over the world for all sorts of reasons, for me it was especially eye-opening in understanding my own self!

For I am an enigma in that, although I tend to be extremely claustrophobic, I actually enjoy caving. 

Native Americans built fascinating abodes in the caves at Mesa Verde

However get this clear, when I say caving I do not mean I am a spelunker.

 No sir, I don't go into unexplored caves to study anything. I just like to go into well-established caves with professional guides to look and learn.

However, its is only since the incident with these boys that I realize that my love of exploring the underground and claustrophobia just cannot co-exist! 

For it has never occurred to me before that something like a flood or earthquake could occur while I was under the ground.... especially in my homeland, Jamaica, which sits on a serious seismic fault.

One of the caves along the Cuna Cuna trail in which Nanny hid for months

I cannot even conceive of how I would survive trapped underground for an hour much less 10 days. 

In fact, I have no doubt that I would actually go crazy if I was trappedn underground, anywhere.

This Thai drama has caused me to have a great deal of respect and admiration for those Thai youth who all seem to be in reasonably good spirits, despite being trapped in the dark, no bathroom, no food and not knowing if they would ever come out alive! 

What a terrible 10 days that must have been. 

This has also prompted me to have even greater respect for Jamaica's only female National Heroine, Nanny of the Maroons.

She led the Maroons in Jamaica to victory against the British in the early 1700's when they defeated the Spanish, captured the island and tried to re-enslave the former slaves who the Spaniards had transported from Africa to work on their plantations.

It was the complex caving system that the Maroons studied, which helped them in their struggles, as they were able to strategically select those caves which had water inside, in which they could hide for months on end while waiting to ambush and kill the  British soldiers. 

It was not until hearing about the Thai youth and seeing their plight in living color that I got a much greater appreciation for the suffering that Nanny and her people had to endure, as they hid from the oppressors.

As for me, will I continue going into caves? 

Maybe not right now. Luckily, I have been into all the interesting caves in Jamaica but maybe later if I am in another country and hear about a fascinating cave, who knows what will happen?

You have to ascend many steps to reach the entrance of Hato Cave, Curacao

Cruising around Biscayne Bay

Bird Cay

Just before sunset on Saturday 23rd June, our Meet Up group organised by the knowledgeable and adventurous Jennifer Weise, head out with the Pelican Harbor Seabird  Bird Station staff to Bird Cay to return an injured pelican they had treated, to the wild.

The station is located on Biscayne Bay in Miami .

The rehabilitation station was founded almost 40 years ago to care for injured brown pelicans but has since become internationally recognized for its work with all types of native wildlife.

When we arrived at Bird Cay, our now fully cured pelican was a bit reluctant to leave its cage to join his cohorts on the peaceful and densely inhabited Cay, but finally, it swam off while we circled the mangrove, observing the dozens of fascinating species of seabirds and their young hatchlings which were preparing to turn in for the night.

Afterward, we set out to tour the larger expanse of the harbor hoping to see some manatees which live nearby at Little River. We were not fortunate enough though as I suspect they are smart enough to know by now that they need stay out of the harbor area on busy Saturdays when the waters are being traversed by hundreds of boats with sharp propellers which can do them harm.

One lone dolphin did not appear to get the message though, as we saw him romping by himself close to shore.

The real toast of the harbor cruise was when sunset came thus providing us with the most scenic backdrop to the dense, creative architecture of downtown Miami that adds to so much to the attractiveness of that city.

I really find these Meet-up events a great way to become familiar with a new city its activities and scenery.

Return to Jamaica 2018

L-R, Taureans Hector, Joan, Kippo, Delroy and MC Audley

Although I have been residing in Florida since my retirement from radio, an annual May visit to Silver Sands will always be on the agenda. For you see, my brother Bernie is a party animal who never needs a reason to host one, so my birthday has been hosted there, compliments of he and his wife Judy,  every year for around eight years now.

Coretta looks fabulous in her bikini

This year was no exception. The pleasant addition though was having my niece Coretta from Canada, joining us there for a week.

Others in-house for the week too were Bernie's friend from days at school at Cornwall College, Howard Johnson aka Kippo and his wife Joyce.

The usual Taureans were in attendance except for my good friend, Michael James who had some health issues. Delroy and Hector, the other regulars, cut the cake along with a newcomer Kippo. It was quite funny though, for in calling up the Taureans, MC Audely forgot his own daughter Kim, another Taurean, who was very much in attendance!

She, therefore was out of the cake cutting this year.

Coretta and I pose at Noisy River

As usual, when we hang out at Silver Sands, despite the fabulous beach which is always inviting, we do go out touring.

We were all therefore extremely disappointed on the Labour day holiday when we drove all the way to St. Elizabeth to visit YS falls, only to find it closed. It seems to be the tradition in St. Elizabeth to close their attractions on holidays, for we drove over to Appleton to do the rum tour and that too was closed.

The magnificent Good Hope great house in the background

As we were near to Middlequarters where my grandparents had lived, we visited their old home, a place about which I have fond memories. Their old house was sold and is so beautifully remodeled that no one would recognize the place. The Moravian church built on land which my grandmother donated is still there though as are the tombs of my grandparents, their two daughters who died in infancy and my uncle. Coretta has land there so we got lots of papayas from the gentleman who looks after her place.

We also visited Noisy River which is always open and saw them setting up sound equipment for what would no doubt be an exciting day of frolicking for the thousands who often flock that venue for a swim and general lyme later.

Bernie relaxes at Good Hope. One of the former slave quarters is in the background

We did not tarry there, however, instead headed to the popular Bluefileds beach in Westmorland only to find it jam-packed.  In fact, it was so crowded that we could barely maneuver our way back out to the main road after driving down to the beach.

Bernie and Judy enjoy the fabulous view

What we discovered on Labour day was that there is an ackee shortage in western Jamaica. It was really shocking for we traversed four parishes, St.James, Trelawny, St. Elizabeth and Westmoraland but although everyone was looking out for some,  we could not find one vendor selling the main ingredient in Jamaica's national dish! That is extremely abnormal, for it is customary to always find people selling this popular product on the sidewalks.

We later learned that there is no similar shortage in the eastern side of the island though for we easily found some in Kingston and heard that in places such as St. Thomas, it is always available.

On another trek, we visited Good Hope great house in Trelawny from where you get a  scenic view of our important national treasure, the Cockpit Country.

Everyone believed the washerwoman was real!

This was once a brutal slave plantation but today it is operated as a small hotel and there are numerous attractions on the grounds. Of all the attractions, my favorite was this carving of a washerwoman. It is so lifelike, that when I posted the picture of me standing beside the carving on Facebook, it fooled everyone into believing she was real!

We also went over to Negril to visit friends there.

Hanging out at a rest stop on  the way to Negril

Boats anchored at Negril beach

Later, we journeyed to Kingston (minus Coretta who had to go back to Canada), to attend my former in-laws' family reunion. By then, my daughter Michele, granddaughter Maddy and daughter in law, Michelle had already flown into Kingston to attend.

 This is the second occasion on which I attended such a gathering,  for although I have long divorced my ex-husband, his family remains near and dear to me.

No one believes aunt Gladys is 90 years old!

In fact, his mom, Hazel has been my best friend and alternative mother for decades.

Posing with my friend Hazel

She is now 96 years old and extremely alert although she cannot move around by herself due to having a stroke some years ago.

She is well taken care of by her son Chully who ensures that she lacks nothing and can live out the rest of her life in peace and comfort.

Her sister, aunt Gladys also attended the reunion. At 90 years old she looks phenomenal, not a day over 60 and I hear she still drives when at home in Canada. Her family was well represented too as some 15 of them, including children, their spouses, and children, traveled to Jamaica for the event.

After the reunion, my daughter, granddaughter

Overlooking Montego Freeport

 and I went to Montego Bay for a few days at what she describes the Pirate hotel there, for it really caters to children.

It was another unforgettable vacation at home, spoilt only by the fact that we have an extremely lousy member of parliament in Kingson, one DelroyChuck, who has made no effort to fix the roads in the area where my home is.

Here the potholes have become so large and disgraceful that some of them have even taken on distinctive shapes......like the one below which is shaped like a heart.

In this case, the heart is definitely not the symbol of love!

Wow. She's 7 years old!

It seems like just the other day that my granddaughter was born, but today she turns 7 years old.                                                                      It was supposed to be spring in Colorado but despite knowing that their idea of spring can end up being like the heart of winter, I longed to see my family there and so wanted to celebrate with her that I timidly decided to attend for the party they planned for  Saturday last.                                                                                                                                                                                                    The weather report was indicating temperatures of 53 high for the weekend so I was not too worried but boy were they ever wrong for it snowed heavily on Friday night and by Saturday morning we knew we would be in trouble with almost twenty kids to entertain INSIDE!

Luckily, her parents are very resilient so they rose to the occasion and the kids all had a wonderful time, doing arts and crafts and horsing around, as did us oldsters!

Most of the parents stayed at the party too to assist and keep their and the other kids entertained, in light of the changing circumstances caused by the weather.

Maddy, whose main concern was getting many gifts was not disappointed either and there was food galore many dishes creatively named and decorated.

The kids did get to go outside for a wee bit too, to play Pinata which involves beating a  stuffed dragon with a baseball bat until it opens up and the sweets stored inside fall out.                                                 Some kids would have liked to have stayed outside longer if they were allowed, but the parents weren't taking any chances with the flu season not yet over.                                                                                                                                             My granddaughter does not allow the snow to stop her from doing anything though as she even went to swimming lessons, yes in an inside pool. She is becoming quite a good swimmer having mastered even the backstroke already.                                                                                                    It was a wonderful party and a great family gathering despite the weather and I am sure happy I went to cold Colorado to celebrate with my granddaughter who is rapidly growing into a beautiful and brilliant young lady.

Touring the Everglades and jamming mento style

Airboats ready to go

I think from the first moment I saw a photograph of an airboat, I was sold.

Last weekend I finally got the opportunity to ride in one and was not at all disappointed.

I can't say why it took me so long or how my grandson Shadrach found a tour before I did since I am normally the "tour guide" who drags every willing participant

Shadrach holding a baby gator

along!

Anyway, he found Sawgrass Recreation center some time ago, went on the tour, showed me pictures and told me about it and I couldn't wait to do the tour myself.

It sure lived up to all my expectations, not the gators and colorful birds we saw in the Everglades but the boat ride.

 I was extremely fascinated each time I saw the captain heading towards a patch of sawgrass reeds then
drive straight through it.
I actually felt like a child for, no matter how often he did it, it still pleasantly surprised me.

I have been around boats most of my life for I absolutely love the water. In fact, I swear I was a mermaid in my past life but that's for another blog!

However,  these airboats go straight through bushes, not around them, for as the name implies, it appears they navigate through the air rather than through the water.

As we flew along through the weeds at really high speeds, I was even more intrigued ( though I shouldn't have been,) when the captain told us that we were in only six inches of water! 

Before we started the tour, we were given earplugs and told the engine was loud and it was, but to me, that was part of the adventure so I lost my plugs quickly.
We saw quite a few gators out there but I am accustomed to seeing them and their cousins, the crocs, so my real fascination was the boat ride, though, at the small zoo section of this attraction, I did see the absolute largest reptile I have ever seen in my life. And he was green to boot. All the other gators I have ever seen were black or grey. This one was green and so huge it gave me the shivers.

Made me kinda feel he could have been around in the days of the dinosaurs!

Anyway loved my airboat ride through the Everglades and can't wait to repeat it.

The versatile musician and distinguished artist Colin Smith (in glasses) leads the jam.

As if that ride was not enough for a  great weekend, my cousin Barry (aka Colin Smith) leads a great mento band, the only mento band in Florida too. It is called Tallawah. 
He had a musical feast at his home on Sunday afternoon, despite the weather reporters predicting a storm starting about 4.30 pm. Well, the prediction was partially correct but fortunately for us, they got the time wrong.

 We, therefore, enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of familiar and entertaining mento music and had repaired inside for a food feast of delicious Jamaican dishes including curry goat and roti, now renamed "coati" by my other cousin super-cyclist Hayden, all before the prediction came through. That storm struck at about 8.30 pm but luckily did not last too long although it was quite fierce.

 Glad the forecasters were wrong for it was really a pleasurable evening with family including one, Everett, who is tracing the family tree and satisfied my curiosity on many angles, therefore making it a satisfying way to bring a really enjoyable weekend to a close.

March for our lives

This gun owner summed it up

On March 24th, 2018, I joined millions of people throughout the entire world who marched against the toll being taken on innocent people, many of whom are mere children, because of the not only lax but also ridiculous gun laws in the USA.

These marches were organized by the students who were survivors of the latest mass shootings, this time on Valentine's day at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland Florida.


I live about two miles from where this massacre took place but due to what I heard would be parking constraints, I went up to North Lauderdale City Hall, where a group was also marching in solidarity with the Parkland students.

This was a much smaller march but just as enthusiastic as the bigger one in Parkland and the gun owner with the placard saying "This gun owner says no AR-15," summed up our sentiments  exactly, for most of the frequent massacres are carried out by persons who lawfully bought assault rifles, then turned them on civilians.

Look at what that white terrorist did in LasVegas with the dozens of assault rifles that he had transported to his hotel. He murdered 58 music lovers and injured 851, in one fell swoop and using weapons which he acquired legally, Cruz murdered 17 students in 6 minutes with one such rifle which he too had legally acquired although he was only nineteen years old, in other words, too young to buy liquor!

Some students bearing placards wait for the march to start 

This madness is caused by the laws in the USA which allow civilians to buy and keep assault rifles but this is counter to the wishes of  67% of the population according to a February 20, 2018 poll conducted by Quinnipiac University.

That same poll shows that only 29% are opposed to the banning of this weapon.

He came out to make his feelings for the NRA known

Why should civilians
want assault rifles which are clearly weapons of war,  except to murder people?

The National Rifle Association (NRA) which is a white terrorist organization, has for decades paid politicians in Congress, the Senate and the presidency, to keep these weapons on the streets under the guise that to ban them would be a violation of the constitution which gives individuals the right to bear arms.

That is absolute crap.

 I have never heard anyone who is calling for the banning of assault rifles and greater regulation of guns in general, calling for the banning of all guns. However, these assault weapons are designed to kill numerous people quickly and that is what everyone has a problem with as that type of weapon is only necessary when one is on a battlefield.

Will the new energy being injected into the issue by the young people demonstrating and mobilizing people all over the world, which caused close to 750,000 persons to gather in in Washington DC alone, be effective?

I am sure it will despite the fact that a number of politicians, including president Donald Trump, have sold their souls to the NRA.  His campaign got almost $50 million from the NRA for his presidential campaign and he promised the young people who went to see him, to take action, but reversed his decision the minute the NRA went so see him at nightfall!

However, despite the fact that leaders like Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell and numerous Republican legislators are also on the payroll of the NRA because these young people influenced support in 80 countries in every continent except Antartica. They have pledged not to give up and have made a solemn undertaking to get registered to vote as soon as they reach the required age, power-hungry politicians who had previously been swayed by campaign contributions, will soon have to either bow to the  majority of voters while the NRA watches their millions in contributions go down the drain or get out of politics for the good of the nation.

People socializing after the march in North Lauderdale

In Isiah 11;6, it says  "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them" and while most of this prophecy has yet to be manifested, what I saw on Saturday, convinced me that the last prediction quoted above, is right on target .