With three Reuters photographers here in Antigua, only two teams training and no game on yesterday, Simon took the opportunity to get the day off. The tourism board has been very generous to reporters/photographers/telly people by setting up a few "media events" that would paint the island in a better light than the one we see while trying to work.
Mostly only a few people can make it to the events because there is work to be done everyday, but yesterday we joined about 40 people on an island cruise.
It was an hour and half long bus ride to meet the boat before getting on board this huge catamaran (much bigger than the one we sailed ourselves in St Lucia!!!) then we set off around the top of the island to Bird Island, which is a wild life sancutary.
A little ferry boat met us just off the isalnd and we were transported in to the tiny beach that was standing room only. From here we all swam out to the reef to snorkel. It was so peaceful just gliding through the water with no sounds but your own breathing.
The marine life was really cool to see, loys and lots of blue fish! But the reef was not as exotic as the Pacific.
After swmming for an hour or so we all followed the guide up to the top of the hill for a great view of the bay and the Antiguan mainland.
Most hilarious things were the Indian journalists (who can go to all media events because they no longer have any work to do!!!) who did not own swimming togs and just swimming went in their little grey underpants. So so so funny, I nearly ripped my stomach muscles laughing! Especially at one who ended up floating around in the sea, attached to the boat by a life jacket and rope, singing loudly while lying on his back.
All because on the boat there was a fair amount of rum punch sampled....
Soon after that the scary little Indian men took to dancing with absolute vigour - in nothing but their little grey underpants.
Simon joined in with the dancing (of course) paticularly in the Congo dance around the boat to "Who Let the Dogs Out". Sadly there are no photos of this event, however I was laughing so hard I would not have been able to keep the camera still anyway.
(And admittedly I was just ahead of Simon in the Congo line....)
A great day out, despite the massive rain cloud that burst directly above us as the boat was cruising home. When it rains here, man it rains!!!!
I'm intending to go to the Rum Punch Sunset media party tomorrow, and hopefully Simon will be finished work in time to make the trip. Otherwise I'll just have to party with the punjabs alone.
