Some people still live on the land here in Antigua and Barbuda. Motoring by the Sir Vivian Richards cricket stadium I saw a herd of cattle being driven past my car. Being a city dweller I was shocked to see so much beef outside of the supermarket and free from plastic wrap and a bar code. I grabbed my camera and waded into the thick of them. The cattle driver urged them forward with cries of “gwan!” (“go on” in Antiguan dialect) punctuated by calls of “see!” (which I believed was short for “see here”!)
Once in the middle of all the cattle I realized that some of them had wickedly curved horns. Others were aggressively butting each other. I asked the cattle driver if the cattle were afraid of him and if that fear would prevent them from trying to trample him or any other human.
-
-
Driving Cattle
-
-
Homestead
He paused thoughtfully before saying “I don’t know”. I took his cue and stood behind the cattle and out of their way rather than relying on any understanding of their motivations.
Popularity: 7% [?]
New Year's Eve Fireworks Over Mill Reef
I have no doubt that New years eve was celebrated with fireworks in countless places worldwide. But standing before the cliffs at Mill Reef on New Year’s eve and overlooking a turquoise Caribbean Sea that was lit up by the moon, I wondered if any of those other fireworks displays could have had as beautiful a backdrop as what was in front of me.
Popularity: 6% [?]
The last sunrise ever of 2009.
At sunrise many farmers and merchants were setting up their stands at the public market. Meanwhile across the street at the West Bus Station Terminal buses were dropping off people to begin their days work in town. Buses here are different from buses in North America in that each one has a name. Some of the buses with more entertaining names were not in the terminal during the few minutes I was there to capture the sunrise so I guess capturing those bus names will have to be a project for 2010.
-
-
The last sunrise ever of 2009.
-
-
My God is Real
-
-
Raven
-
-
String Beans
-
-
West Bus Station Terminal
Popularity: 9% [?]
-
-
Egret
-
-
English Moorhen
-
-
Crab holding onto the rocks at the beach itself on Galley Bay.
-
-
Whistling Ducks
-
-
Young whistling duck
After surfing I walked past the remnants of a mangrove swamp back to where my car was parked. Past resort construction had separated the swamp from the picturesque beach nearby, but disturbing the natural flow of water in such a way proved disastrous in many ways. Without water flowing the swamp became a stinking cesspool and without the mangroves the erosion of the beach has doubtlessly been severe.
But there are still remnants of wildlife in the area. As I walked back I saw tarpon rolling literally everywhere in the swamp. I wished I had my fly fishing rod with me. We also saw a number of waterfowl which my educated local friend identified for me. “These are whistling ducks” he said of the brown ducks we passed. “They are endangered but they’re starting to make a little bit of a comeback”. He paused and looked at the ducks with more intense interest for a moment. “I tell you if I had my air rifle with me … man do they ever taste good” he added.
That comment sparked a conversation about conservation and sustainable use of resources. I’ll still come back with my fly rod and if I catch a tarpon I’ll practice catch and release since they are too full of bones to be considered edible. In any case tarpon aren’t endangered.
Popularity: 9% [?]
