Barbados, CARIBBEAN
Airing Date: Dec 15th, 2003
Although the Caribbean island is relatively small it has quite a presence when it comes to cricket, and the English may have had something to do with this.
Barbados has been more strongly influenced by England than any other Caribbean island - so much so that it's been dubbed the 'Little England'. If you're a cricket fan, head down to Kensington Oval, just north of Bridgetown in the town of Fontabelle. Thousands of visitors flock here every year to watch cricket history in the making.
If you're keen to explore the rest of the island it's easy to get around. At only 34 kilometres long and 22 kilometres wide, the island is relatively small. Most people start from Bridgetown, Barbados' bustling capital city, and from there drive around the island.
The locals, known as Bajans, call the west coast of Barbados the Caribbean side. With its calm bays and swaying palms it offers everything most tourists are looking for in a tropical holiday. Around these parts you can enjoy an upbeat atmosphere, with rum shops, not pubs, where you can pull up a chair and have a yarn with the Bajans. Here you can also try Barbados' national rum. A bottle of Mount Gay Rum costs around $8.
Food in Barbados can be expensive, so the best thing to do is to find places where the locals eat - at least then you won't be charged tourist prices. Six Men's Bay is a great place to buy fresh seafood and cook up your own feast.
If you fancy eating out, hit one of the small cafs. A menu favourite is flying fish, the national dish of Barbados. It costs around $10 a serve.
If you drive half an hour east from Bridgetown, you'll find a completely different type of Barbados. The locals refer to this area as the rough side because of the change in surf conditions.
Here you will find the world famous surfing spot called Soup Bowl. Only locals really surf here because of the risky elements. Tourists who are keen for some water sports generally prefer the south side where things are a bit calmer. On this side, windsurfers can be hired for $40 an hour.
The facts
Jetset can arrange flights with Qantas to Miami with connecting flights to Barbados. Return prices start from $3330 from the east coast and $4087 from Perth.
Vehicles are available for hire for around $105 per day.
Jetset
Tel: 13 63 83
Double rooms at Time Out at the Gap start from $115 per person per night including breakfast.
Time Out at the Gap
Tel: 0011 1 246 420 5021 (international)
Caribbean Destinations
Tel: 03 9813 5258
Barbados Tourism Authority
Tel: 0011 1 246 427 2623 (international)
Sports Barbados
Tel: 0011 1 246 427 2623 (international)
