Beautiful Barbados

On Sunday, 9 August 2009, the tropical wave was located about 12.5 north and 20.6 west or about 2000 miles east of Barbados.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, 9 August 2009 - The first storm of the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season could form around midweek.

The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami says a low pressure centre associated with a tropical wave in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean is showing signs of organisation.

This means that it is developing thunderstorms and beginning to take on the characteristics of a tropical cyclone.

"This system ... could become a tropical depression during the next couple of days as it moves westward at 10 to 15 mph," says NHC hurricane specialist Robbie Berg.

"There is a medium chance - 30 to 50 percent - of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours."

On Sunday, 9 August 2009, the tropical wave was located about 12.5 north and 20.6 west or about 2000 miles east of Barbados.

Computer models are agreed that it will develop into a tropical storm and this could happen by Wednesday or Thursday.

What they radically disagree on is the track - where will it go? Long range tracking models are not reliable and forecasters will have to wait several more days until the global models can get a better fix on the system and the atmosphere around it.

If this wave does develop into a tropical storm, it will be named Ana.

From http://www.caribbean360.com/News/Caribbean/Stories/2009/08/09/NEWS0000008409.html

From http://www.guardian.co.uk/country-profile/barbados

Country profile: Barbados

Facts and statistics on Barbados including history, population, politics, geography, economy, religion and climate

• The Guardian, Saturday 18 April 2009
• Article history

Map of Barbados. Source: Graphic

Potted history of the country: With Caribs long gone from Barbados, British settlers found the island uninhibited on their arrival in 1627. The demand for sugar, rum and molasses made it a common destination for slaves, and the industries flourished long after the abolition of slavery in 1834. The nation retains a strong British culture, four decades after independence in 1966.

1. At a glance
2. Location: The most easterly of the Caribbean islands
3. Neighbours: Trinidad
4. Size: 166 square miles
5. Population: 273,987 (180th)
6. Density: 1,650.5 people per square mile
7. Capital city: Bridgetown (population 116,000)
8. Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II
   Head of government: Prime minister David Thompson
9. Currency: Barbados dollar
10. Time zone: Barbados time (-4 hours)
11. International dialling code: +1 246
12. Website: barbados.gov.bb
13. Data correct on Saturday 18 April 2009

Political pressure points: The prime minister, David Thompson, in power since January 2008, won a no-confidence vote in March over his handling of a financial crisis involving the troubled insurer CLICO. The Barbados Labour party had accused him of masking the extent of an emergency that threatens jobs and pensions.

Population mix: African-Caribbean 80%, European 4%, mixed 16%

Religious makeup: Protestant 36%, Catholic 3%, Muslim 1%

Main languages: English

Living national icons: Kamau Brathwaite (writer), George Lamming (writer), Rihanna (singer), Sir Garry Sobers (cricketer, retired), Obadele Thompson (athletics)

Barbados on a map. Source: Graphic

Landscape and climate: Almost completely encircled by coral reefs, the easternmost Caribbean island's position, tropical climate and gently sloping limestone plains make it fertile growing ground for sugarcane, which covers about 80% of the island's surface. The wet season runs from June to November and the dry season from December to May.

Highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 metres

Area covered by water: Less than one square mile

Healthcare and disease: Occasional outbreaks of Dengue fever are among the few concerns on an island that has some of the best healthcare facilities in the region. The government is funding a $90m (£64m) programme to reduce the country's prevalence of HIV nearer the Caribbean average of 1.2%.

Average life expectancy (m/f): 72/78

Average number of children per mother: 1.5

Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births: 16

Infant deaths per 1,000 births: 12

Adults HIV/Aids rate: 1.5%

Doctors per 1,000 head of population: 1.2

Adult literacy rate: 99.7% (m 99.7%/f 99.7%)

Economic outlook: The end of the construction boom has hurt the tourism industry, and foreign exchange earnings have suffered as offshore banking activities have slowed. The government has committed to stronger trade ties with China.

Main industries: Tourism, banking, insurance, rum

Key crops/livestock: Sweet potatoes, coconuts, poultry

Key export: Rum

GDP: £1,752m (145th)

GDP per head: £5,980

Unemployment rate: 9.8%

Proportion of global carbon emissions: 0.01%

Most popular tourist attractions: Enterprise beach, one of the most popular white-sand beaches, the Andromeda botanic gardens

Local recommendation: A tour of the 350-year-old Sunbury Plantation House, 25 minutes from Bridgetown in the St Philip countryside

Traditional dish: Coucou (cornmeal and okra paste) and flying fish

Foreign tourist visitors per year: 547,534

Media freedom index (ranked out of 173): n/a

Did you know ... Road tennis, originally played on quiet streets with a wooden paddle and a de-fuzzed tennis ball was invented on the island.

National anthem:
We write our names on history's page
With expectations great
Strict guardians of our heritage
Firm craftsmen of our fate

· Information correct on date of first publication, Saturday 18 April 2009.

From http://www.travel-worldwide.net/travel-middle-east/bring-yourself-back-to-life-in-barbados-barbados-travel-information

I'm not sure how this comes under the Middle East but here's the article:

 

Situated to the east of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean, Barbados is an independent island nation and a tropical getaway with considerable historical sites to boot. With a long British history and settlements dating as early as 300 CE, Barbados offers travelers a tantalizing resort rendezvous and a taste of colonial and slave legacy. Book your airfare to Barbados before the high season ends and enjoy the tranquility of one of the most remote islands in the Caribbean.

Major airlines service the island’s fairly large international airport from most regions including Canada, Mexico, Europe, and the United States. If you choose to island hop through the West Indies, airfare to Barbados is easily accessible from Trinidad and Tobago to the south, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the west, and Grenada to the southwest.

Travel to Barbados for the Sweet Life

After cotton crops failed on Barbados, the British introduced sugar cane to the island, which grew very well and also led to the development of rum drinks and molasses production. The plantation economy allegedly gave birth to the first appearance of the spiced island drink and visitors today can take a tour of the Mount Gay Rum factory, which is Barbados’ domestic rum producer.

Barbados is not all sugar and spice; the island is also a haven of white sandy beaches, surfing, fine dining and deep sea fishing. On the southern shore of Barbados you will find privately owned vacation rentals and time shares as well as the middle and lower range accommodations along the water, broken up by small seaside towns like Hastings, Maxwell, Rockley and Oistins. In the capital of Bridgetown, you will find duty free shopping, delectable restaurants and a mix of colonial and modern government buildings. Bridgetown is also the hub for docking cruise ships and mooring private boats. Travel to Oistins on a Friday night for the famous ‘fish fry.’ Dance, drink and eat with the locals until the wee hours of the morning.

Beyond the Beach of Barbados

Barbados has many activities for the active and adventurous if relaxing by the beach is just not enough. Get in with the iguanas at the extensive Barbados Wildlife Reserve and enjoy a pleasant walk through the exotic bird sanctuary or along the many footpaths surrounded by forests of monkeys. Harrison’s Cave, in St. Thomas province, is a very popular subterranean attraction and likely to be a bit crowded during the high season. If you’re still not tired, take a trip to Welchman Hall Gully where stretches of walking path are surrounded by think wooded forest and hundreds of wild exotic species.

Remember that Barbados was a long time British colony and therefore English speakers will have no problem communicating. Additionally, the island nation has one of the highest rates of literacy in the Western Hemisphere, making this tropical tryst hardly third world. Travel to any destination on the island is cheap and efficient by taxi or bus. The equator awaits, what are you waiting for?

 

Elyse Morgan

from Holiday Makers Understanding Of Barbados

Barbados situated near the Caribbean Sea and is the furthest east of all the islands in that region and is distinguished for its palm trees and white sandy beaches that slope gently into the surrounded clear blue seas. Popular belief is that the name ‘Barbados’ means bearded-ones although this has been swamped with controversy on where the name actually came from. Some believe it was named after a fig tree’s long hanging roots and some propose it is named after the foam spraying over the reefs in the shape of a beard.

A great way of checking the island out and seeing what it has to offer is by using the islands range of transport, and taking a helicopter flight is just one of the ways where you can see the islands shorelines and rural areas from a soaring view, a striking part to your holiday.

On your vacation to the sultry island of Barbados scuba diving is a must. You will get the prospect to discover the underwater world and swim with tropical fishes and turtles. On the other hand if you wish to keep your head above water there are many boat cruises that will take you on a tour of the island, unwind and enjoy the trip of a lifetime while you top up your tan. On offer are also night tours which are great for those loving moments where you get the chance to see Barbados in lights and also land expeditions that will take you by coach to the hotspots on the island.

If you would rather tour the island on your own and at your own free time there are masses of rental car places but you will need a temporary driving license for the island that will cost just $100bds that will let you drive legally in Barbados. Hiring a car will let you uncover different parts of the island that aren’t explored with designated group trips.

Let your imagination run wild and try out some foods that you didn’t know existed, Barbados in terms of food will give you an outstanding culinary experience with a plethora of foods to choose from that will arouse your taste buds. The chefs on the island use a variety of reliable dishes and join together Mediterranean, Caribbean and Eastern flavours to make a range of scrumptious cuisines to satisfy you. So whether it is a hearty lunch on the beach or a beautiful evening dinner you are sure to remember.

When your looking for a place to stay, Barbados has many top class apartments, hotels and guest houses and they all have up-to-date modern luxuries. If your looking for something a bit more extravagant there are many ways to hire villas around certain areas of the island, many of which are to be found on the sea front.

Written by Maria Tillinghous

About the Author

Amy is a part-time commentator who pens occasional pieces on tourism, whilst working on XL Holidays for eComparison.

For those of you that are thinking about going to Barbados a blog dedicated to all things related to Barbados can be found at The Barbados Blog.