July 28, 2023 • 32 mins
In this episode of the Traveling Black Women Podcast, Nadine sits down with Eshe Herbert-Davis, the Carnivalista-in-Chief of Events by Ashe for an IG Live Broadcast on surviving a Caribbean Carnival! Tune in as Eshe shares 3 Ways to Survive Carnival (and perhaps life in general)!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hello, hello.
(00:01):
Welcome to the Traveling Black Women podcast.
This is your host, Nadine, and we have a bonus episode for you today.
So today's episode is actually an IG live replay of our conversation with Mrs Esha
Herbert-Davis, the Carnivalista-in-Chief of events by Ashe.
(00:23):
So we're going to allow her to tell us three ways to survive Carnival based on her own
experience over the last 20 years.
Yes, sure.
Well, thank you so much for having me.
First of all, Nadine TBW tribe.
I'm so happy to talk with you today.
My name is Esha.
I am the Carnivalista in chief with Events by Ashe.
(00:44):
And that's where we plan unique and life changing Caribbean Carnival experiences.
I have been attending carnivals globally for over two decades.
If you can believe that I look young, you know, black don't crack.
So I know a lot about carnivals period.
I have been in business for over one decade and we have been taking, taking hundreds of
(01:06):
people globally to experience Caribbean carnival.
So I'm so excited to be here today and share with you all three ways to survive carnival.
Because what you said was right, Nadine, you don't just show up, put on the costume and
right.
Yeah.
Okay.
So I don't have as much carnival experience as you.
(01:26):
I only started in 2016.
But I mean, you have to have various particular like just ways of knowing how to move in order
to survive the whole day.
Because you all I'm talking about 6am before 6am up makeup, putting on your costume, figure
out how your costume comes and gets on.
And then the parade.
(01:47):
I mean, you're walking for miles.
It doesn't feel like because you're dancing and drinking and having fun, but then you
look up it's nine o'clock and you're still in the middle of the road dancing.
And you still party in.
Exactly.
You're still dancing, costume on and everything.
And in addition to that, Nadine, I mean, it's not just the one day, you know, there are
(02:08):
several countries in the Caribbean that have a two day carnival, you know, where one day
you're not in full costume.
And then the second day or sometimes it's the first day, depending on what country you're
in, you're in more casual clothes or Monday wear, you know, or whatever the case may be.
And then before that, it's all the Fete'n, all the partyin, you know, you go into one
(02:28):
Sunny Side up, you goin' Phuket, you're going this, you're going whatever.
So you are constantly on the go even before you get to the parade.
After Fete, I mean, when you look at a Fete itinerary, I know you're going to talk about
this a little bit, but when you look at a Fete itinerary, it is the morning Fete, afternoon
(02:49):
Fete, night time Fete
And I mean, parties are starting at 3am, starting at 3am, not coming home, not leaving, starting
at 3am watching the sun come up.
And I'm not just talking about regular j'ouvert, I'm talking about a party, like a true Fete.
Yes, a true Fete.
And in case you don't understand the lingo, the party, the word for party, it's very Trini,
(03:15):
but also throughout the Caribbean, people will say Fete.
So let's try to get you accustomed to the lingo one time.
But yes, there are Fetes that start at three o'clock in the morning, right?
Not J'ouvert.
This is like a party and people show up full makeup, dress up in pretty dandan, as my mother
used to say, and they're fit in, they're dancing, drinking, they're eating, they're having a
good time.
(03:35):
So yeah, you have to be ready for all of that, you know, and hopefully we'll give you some
really simple tips.
Now these tips, I'm going to say it out loud, Nadine, they're not earth shattering, okay?
But they are very, very important.
And this is from, you know, 27 years of seeing people who didn't follow these tips, you know,
laid up on the side of the road somewhere because they passed out, or, you know, they
(03:57):
passed out in the bathroom, or they're stumbling out of the fet, because they didn't follow
these tips, right?
So they go back home, they're sick like a dog, you know, I have had the, you know, I
had the carnival tabanca sickness before, trust me, it's not fun.
It is not fun.
So this, hopefully you listen to these three tips that we have today, and help you to survive
(04:22):
your next carnival.
Okay, all right, I'm ready to hear it.
All right, so yes, tip number one is stay hydrated, okay?
Now before you turn off the phone and you're like, listen, what is this woman talking about?
Hydration, okay, is very, very, very, very important, right?
(04:45):
You have to be hydrated because if you are hydrated and you're flowing, you're good,
you can get through a lot of things.
You know, they'll say people can live without food for however long, but live without water,
your body cannot live without it.
And you're ready in a hot climate, especially if you're going to a Caribbean carnival, or
even if you're going to one of the summer North American carnivals, you know, we have
(05:07):
Toronto Caribbean carnival, or as I say, caribana, I still call it caribana, I'm a diehard caribana,
I keep calling it Caribana, but you have caribana coming up, Notting Hill carnival, Raleigh
carnival, like you have all of these North American carnivals that are in the heat of
summer, where the heat, the humidity is 80, 90% outside.
So you definitely have to stay hydrated.
(05:29):
So when you are drinking alcohol, if you're in the parade, if you're in the thick of things,
definitely have your, see, there you go.
Drink water in 90 a business, right?
Have a bottle of water for every alcoholic drink that you have.
Imperative.
You must, must, must do that.
It's so important.
I would agree with that.
Like on my second episode of the podcast, I talk about what my routine was for staying
(05:53):
hydrated.
It was Johnny Walker, water, Red Bull.
Johnny Walker, water, Red Bull.
Like that was my routine because I had to get the water in, but I had to get the Johnny
Walker in too.
Right?
Of course you have to.
Now my own personal routine, and I do not recommend this to any of our newbies.
(06:13):
I mean, I'm a vet.
I've been doing this for a long time is coconut water.
So any, any alcohol that I'm drinking, the chaser is definitely coconut water in there.
And that's because of course coconut water is good for electrolytes and you know, all
of the good hydration stuff, right?
And you know that I will be on heavy rotation on that, whether it's Johnny Walker or even
of the, since I just got back from St. Lucia, I have to big up the St. Lucian rums.
(06:36):
Oh my gosh.
St. Lucia, if anybody from St. Lucia is listening to this, you have the luck on rum.
I mean, they were just delicious.
Oh my goodness.
From Chairman's reserve to Marigold rum cream.
I had a coffee rum cream.
I was like, and I'm not a coffee drinker.
(06:57):
I'm not a big coffee at all, at all.
And you know, the person I traveled with on my team, she's a big, she's like, let me get
the coffee cream.
I'm like, I don't really drink coffee cream, but if you want to get it, get it.
And I'll have the chairman's room.
She's like, just have a little bit and I tasted it.
I was like, Oh, this is good.
Yeah, there's, I don't know what they put it in their rum in St. Lucia.
(07:18):
I don't know.
Okay.
But it's some good stuff, but it's dangerous though.
It's dangerous.
Right?
So my drink when we were there, cause we were in St. Lucia and they have such a good rum
was coconut water and rum.
Of course.
Right?
So, but that's what I have on Hairy Rotation, but the coconut water is a must for me.
And it's always hard when I go to islands that don't really do, don't really have coconut
(07:42):
water readily like Barbados where I'm going on Monday, because they don't really have
coconut water.
I'm like, you're on an island.
There's palm trees everywhere.
How do you not have coconut water?
It makes no sense.
It's okay.
I'm done.
I'm done ranting.
That's my rants.
I have water and rum or coconut water and Johnny, that's usually my go-to and have that
on Hairy Rotation when it's really hot.
(08:03):
Yes.
Yes.
I have to second that.
I have to second that.
Coconut water and Johnny.
Yes.
That's the drink.
That is the drink.
All right.
So tell us what's the number two.
What's the next one?
So tip number two, and this kind of segues into tip number one, but take care of your
body.
All right?
You only have one.
You can't take off your head and switch out your body if something broke up.
(08:26):
You have to take care of the one that you have wherever you are in contact.
All right?
So that is sunscreen.
Make sure you have a good sunscreen or sunblock.
Even better.
I love black girl sunscreen.
That is my go-to.
Make sure that you're protecting yourself.
Any sun that you're going in, because the sun hits different in the Caribbean.
(08:48):
Okay?
I'm just kidding.
It hits different.
So you need to make sure, right?
You're protecting your skin.
We want to keep the blackness not cracking.
So let's make sure we put on that sunscreen.
Right?
Listen, I'm just saying.
All right?
So that's the sunscreen.
Whatever vitamins or supplements you take, definitely have lots of those when you travel.
(09:12):
Right?
You know, I have to take my multivitamin.
I'll take my, I'm currently taking some things for my allergies.
You know, I take those supplements too.
I take my elderberry supplements.
You know, my B12.
Listen, I could go down the list, but yes, all of those supplements, whatever you take,
let's think of it like during flu season.
Whatever you take to keep yourself well during flu season, that is what you need to take
(09:37):
with you to carnival.
Okay?
Because the exhaustion is real.
You're drinking, you're dancing, you're having a great time, but your body gets worn down
as you do all of that.
You have to make sure that you're doing as much as you can to take care of your body.
So definitely vitamins.
Let's talk about eating.
Food.
All right.
So the food thing is hard, right?
(10:02):
Because you know, you're trying to look good in your costume and all.
I get it.
I get it ladies, right?
Okay.
However, again, you only have one body and your body runs on food.
That is its fuel.
Right.
So you make sure that you're trying to eat as best as you can when you are partying,
having a good time during carnival.
(10:22):
As best as you can.
And make sure that you're keeping yourself fed because you need that energy.
You know, I have hit the wall before where my body was like, okay, look, you need to
get something.
You just need to be aware of all of that and make sure that you are keeping yourself well
throughout the entire carnival period.
So taking care of your body is going to be really, really, really important.
(10:44):
Now I don't know if you had anything to add to that tip Nadine in terms of, you know,
taking care of your body during the carnival time.
And not quite during carnival, but before carnival is what I would add to that.
Now a lot of people feel like, oh, I have to work out.
I have to get my body right.
Carnival, first of all, is a body positive experience.
That's what I love about it.
Is come bring yourself as you are and getting your costume.
What a lot of people don't know is when you get your costume, you can personalize it.
Like no one's going to be on the road with a measuring stick saying, hey, your costume
don't look like your costume.
When you get your costume, you can't personalize it.
(11:04):
Like no one's going to be on the road with a measuring stick saying, hey, your costume
don't look like your costume was supposed to look on the website.
Like no, no one's doing that.
Some people have on shorts, they have on the thongs, they have on the panty bottoms.
Some people have on a tankini where their stomach is covered.
(11:24):
You can do a little thing with it.
So how your body looks is not a problem, but that stamina is something that you're definitely
going to need in order to not feel so exhausted by lunchtime.
I went with a friend and by lunchtime she was like, Nadine, this was great.
I promise you this was great and I don't want you to feel like this was not great, but I
(11:46):
got to go home.
I am tired.
These shoes are cutting into my heels.
I got to go home.
And you know, it was fun because she still had the experience that she came to have.
So we were good with that.
But at the same time, it is, there is something that you got to remember about life.
If you're taking care of your body, then you also have to do a little bit of prep ahead
of time to make sure that your body is not stocked because you can do all these things
(12:10):
to take care of your body right there in a moment.
But then your body can still be like, girl, what are you doing?
We're from home.
We're usually sitting down.
Why are you jumping?
What is this new thing?
What is going on?
Go sit down in that corner right there under that tree.
Yes, 100%.
I agree with you.
Absolutely.
That is so true.
Definitely getting ready.
And on the piggybacking on what you're saying about your friend, we have several clients
(12:36):
that happens as well, right?
They're like, they cross the stage and they're ready to go.
They're like, can we get a ride back to the Hilton now?
Yeah, I'm ready.
I'm good.
I'm ready.
Yeah.
So we get that all the time on both days, Carnival Monday and Tuesday for that matter.
Yes, for sure.
Because of course, Carnival Monday and Tuesday is Juvé.
(12:58):
And then Carnival Monday.
So that is a long day.
Yes, yes.
Because you are literally partying from about 1 a.m. to about 8 a.m. and then you might
take about two hour nap and you're back on the road by 10 a.m., 11 a.m.
10, 11, maybe noon.
And then at noon, at noon you're chasing the truck.
You're trying to figure out where the truck is.
So you're on the avid, the
(13:24):
your band has an app.
You know, you're calling somebody if you know who's in the band.
Yes, that is exactly how it is.
You have called it out.
And think about it.
OK, so I've been, you know, doing this for over two decades.
We didn't have no app back in 2001.
OK, listen, there was no app, no cell phones for that matter.
(13:45):
Right.
OK, like, let's talk about that.
Right.
It was just completely different.
You, but you found the band.
You know, you know how you did, you know, you get like meets up hand in hand.
Then we'll try to scout and then you'll pass one by me.
We're like, oh, did you see this band?
Did you see that band?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, they went down.
So, you know, so you're like walking down that way and then you're like, oh, finally,
(14:05):
I found you.
But yeah, I mean, back in those days, there was none of this technology stuff, none of
it at all.
So it was just a totally different ballgame.
And then, of course, taking care of your body and taking care of yourself played in so much
more, I think, back then, you know, because you may have to walk a long time to find your
(14:27):
band on both days of the parade, you know, or even if it was a one day parade.
Right.
So it really, it's really, really, really, really important.
I mean, imagine spending an hour, maybe 30 minutes looking for your band and then you
get there, you're so tired and hot that it's like, I don't even want to dance anymore.
I have spent an hour trying to find a band.
(14:49):
Yes.
Yes.
So you see, back in the days of, okay, so you're going back, I'm going to date myself
here but Poison in Trinidad.
So Poison became Prime and, you know, all of these other bands.
But Poison was her band back then, right?
That was my very first year, I think, my very first Trinidad Carnival as an adult.
(15:09):
Yeah, it was a good hour.
We were trying to find the band because we got down there late.
And then it was like, okay, so where they go?
They, no, I think they hadn't crossed the stage yet.
We knew that because they didn't come on TV because of course we left home.
And Auntie was like, yeah, Poison didn't cross the stage yet.
You should meet them.
Go here.
(15:29):
You know, we're like, okay.
So we went there.
No Poison.
We're like, where's Poison?
Oh my gosh.
And you know, asking around for people or whatever.
We literally met them just before they crossed the stage.
Oh man.
Yes.
That was an hour.
An hour or more looking for the band in the hot sun, because it was not early morning.
(15:50):
It was probably 10 o'clock, 11 o'clock in the morning.
Hot sun, no drinks because you know, you didn't have, you didn't have drinks, trucks and stuff
back then, right?
The bands were not always all inclusive.
So you know, getting water, coconut water from a side roadside vendor while you're like
trying to beat the heat, you're walking around trying to find your band.
Yeah, they didn't have all inclusive bands back then.
(16:12):
They didn't.
So it's a completely, completely different experience then versus now.
You know, none is better than the other, but they're just different, you know?
Yeah.
I feel that.
Yes.
So number three, and this one is an interesting one because newbies, if you are watching this,
I know you want to do everything.
(16:34):
I can assure you, you cannot.
You cannot.
It doesn't matter what carnival you are going to, with the exception of North American carnivals
and you know, North American carnivals, there might be maybe two, maybe three FETs happening
on the same night.
Come to the Caribbean where there are 10, 15 FETs happening in one day.
(16:55):
You can't do them all.
You just can't.
Okay.
So my third tip is to try to plan an itinerary that will allow you some time to rest because
rest is very important.
You cannot do all of the FETs.
You cannot drink all of the alcohol.
It will never run out.
I can assure you, right?
(17:16):
So just try to plan an itinerary where you can get some rest.
You know, there will be a lot of overwhelm from the sheer number of events that happen
in one day.
Like for example, you know, we're going to Barbados for crop over next week.
I was looking at the lineup.
There's a good, you know, five to 10 FETs that are happening on any given day, right
(17:37):
through crop over, right to the parade.
Every single day.
Oh wow.
Yes.
So you can't do them all.
All of that to say, definitely you cannot do all of the FETs.
So let's say you do one FET a day, maybe two FETs a day.
Okay.
Factor in a few things.
(17:57):
All right.
You will have to collect your costume on one of those days.
Now I know of many people who have missed an entire FET waiting to collect their costume.
True talk.
This has happened because it's going to take a long time.
You need to factor in a good two, three, four, five, six, sometimes even seven hours to go
(18:20):
collect your costume, to make sure that A, it fits you.
All of these things are important.
You have to factor in all these things.
Let's say you go, you pick up the costume and you go in the bathroom and you try it
on and your bra is too small.
Yeah.
Oh, your pants, you're not even smelling your bottom.
I mean, like really, these are things that you have to think about, right?
If that happens, that's going to add on the amount of time that it's going to take you
(18:43):
to pick up your costume if you are playing mass.
You know what I mean?
So you have to factor those things in.
Now let's say your friend was supposed to get you a ticket for a FET and oops, she didn't
get the ticket.
So you may need to stop the promoter to try to get a ticket to go to this FET.
Like you never know what could happen.
You don't even build in the transportation piece, right?
(19:05):
If you're trying to find reliable transportation to take you to where you need to go, you can
go pick up your costume and you call your driver and they're like, hey, I'm ready to
go.
And he's like, oh, I'm on the other side of the island.
I had another pickup.
I'll be there in about two hours.
Then what?
Right?
Like I can't tell you how many people have met me and they're like, oh, you're with Ultimate
Trinidad Carnival.
You're with Events by Asche.
I wish I booked with you because this is a drama I'm going through right now.
(19:28):
And they, I don't know, I have that kind of phase where people just tell me their life
stories and they just launch and I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm so sorry to hear that next
year you should book with us because you know, we're going to that same FET that you, right.
Yeah, we're going now.
Right.
But yes, these are very, very real stories and a lot of newbies to Carnival, they don't
(19:49):
understand these pieces, right?
Where you know, and your costume, your juve package or your four day morning package,
if you're going to crop over, right?
Or your jab jab package if you're going to Grenada, right?
You have to pick, these are things that have to be picked up, right?
You have to collect them in person, right?
So yeah, these are all things to factor in and balance that with your itinerary because
(20:12):
you can't choose the day that you're going to pick it up.
It's whatever day, you know, just for fun or by mass or Yuma or tribe says that your
costume is being collected, then you need to be there, right?
So it's not something that you can pick and choose in advance.
So just keeping all of that in mind before you get all those tickets, trying to go three
(20:33):
FETs in a day.
Yes.
Keep that in mind.
No, that's great advice.
That is great advice because I know I could not keep up.
I know I could not keep up.
In 2016, I didn't even make Jube.
Like that's a whole nother story.
So I'm glad I can ask you.
I didn't even make Jube.
You did my favorite thing.
That's destiny.
Everything I learned about Carnival, I had to learn the hard way.
(20:54):
So yeah, I had to learn the hard way.
So yes, yes, definitely.
The exhaustion is real.
The exhaustion is real.
So that's why I tell people I can assure you, you cannot go to everybody.
You just can't.
Right.
So definitely planning out your itinerary so you can get some rest, which goes back
(21:16):
to taking care of your body, because exhaustion will get you sick in a minute.
And then you miss the rest of your trip.
You're too sick to play mass.
What?
You're too sick to go to Jube.
Really?
You miss everything else because you're trying to go to five parties in a day and it is just
Yes.
And these are refundable events.
You can't email somebody and say, oh, I don't feel well.
I can't come.
Can I get my money back?
No, it's a wrap.
I don't want that for you.
(21:37):
I do not want that for anybody.
Exactly, Nadine.
We're wasting money we are not going to do.
Right.
So yeah, with all of that in mind, especially if you are a newbie going to a Caribbean Carnival,
it is always best to get somebody like us who will plan your itinerary for you because
(21:58):
we have been to these parties.
We try to space things out.
I mean, we collect everything on your behalf is the first thing.
So you know, we'll collect your costume, your Jube package, all your tickets are done.
All of that is done.
And your itinerary is also spaced so that you can have some rest time.
Now if you want to build in your own events, that's I know I'm not judging, right?
(22:19):
If you want to buy your own set ticket to go here and try to do two, three sets, that's
perfectly fine.
But going with someone like us who plans Caribbean Carnival trips, we are the experts.
We understand exactly what every single individual carnival is like.
You know, each one has its nuances.
They really are not the same, although everybody seems to think so.
(22:40):
They are not created equally.
So having experts like us on your trip is really one of the reasons.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
So we're going to be in Trinidad in 2024.
Yes, definitely.
So you already mentioned Trinidad Carnival.
Yeah, that's a wrap.
That's a wrap.
We sold out months ago.
We sold out months ago.
Long time.
Long time.
They sound like overnight, y'all.
Overnight.
That's Trinidad.
(23:01):
But we are going to be in Trinidad, right?
So that is February 9th to the 14th, 2024 sold out.
We are going to St. Lucia in July next year, which again, I had such a great time in St.
Lucia.
It's an absolutely beautiful island.
Their carnival is lovely.
They have good fets, great performances, good energy.
(23:24):
Like St. Lucia just have a good vibe.
Like I really, really enjoyed that.
So we're doing Ultimate St. Lucia Carnival.
That is July 12th to the 17th, 2024.
That hasn't launched yet.
So listen, don't send me a DM saying, Isha, I went to your website.
I ain't seen no St. Lucia.
It ain't ready yet, y'all.
It ain't ready.
It's coming.
August the 18th is the launch day for Ultimate St. Lucia Carnival packages.
(23:51):
So mark your calendar, but that's the day those are coming.
And then also in 2024, we are going back to Grenada for their Spice Mass.
So Ultimate Spice Mass.
Yes, I, oh, Grenada.
I fell in love with Grenada last year.
I just have to be really, really honest.
I really, really did.
I mean, again, Grenadians have a vibe.
(24:12):
Every carnival has their own differences, nuances, and different vibes, you know?
So the Grenadian, of course, the Jab-Jab, their Juvé was amazing.
They have a great parade.
What my favorite thing though was their Monday night mass.
And they have a parade on Carnival Monday night.
And they have all of these lights.
(24:33):
You get these light sticks, so you have light up sunglasses or hats or whatever.
And it's just so beautiful.
It is to see, you know, anywhere where my people can congregate and get together and
just have a great time and be free.
I love that.
But on top of that, we were illuminated with lights.
I was like, yes, this is it.
(24:54):
It was absolutely wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
So Grenada Spice Mass or Ultimate Spice Mass, I should say, is February 9th to the 14th,
not February, August 9th to the 14th next year.
And the Monday night mass is just a spectacle to see.
It is a real spectacle to see.
I just love it.
That sounds amazing.
That sounds amazing.
I feel like next year is going to be my year of carnivals because I'm hanging with you.
(25:17):
I'm hanging wherever you are.
Hey girl, I'm right here.
I'm right there, right?
Please do.
Please do.
Because you're going to have a good time, Nadine.
I mean, yeah, you know, after going to exclusively, you know, Trinidad Carnival and North American
(25:37):
carnivals for so many years and then going to experience carnivals at all of these other
islands, you know, and getting to really get immersed in the middle of Barbados or the
middle of St. Lucia or, you know, just getting in that vibe.
I mean, it was it's just been amazing to experience.
And it's been amazing to take our clients to experience as well.
(25:59):
You know, we're taking 40 people to crop over next week.
And you know, they're all excited.
They're ready to go.
They can't wait to get on that plane, you know, and just get into the Beijing culture
and get the Beijing flavor and the food and everything, all the things.
But yeah, I've traveled so much to just just on regular days.
(26:20):
Right.
But I'm always when I think carnival automatically go to Trinidad, of course, because that's
just where my mind is.
But after speaking with you, I'm like, you know what?
I really do need to go and hop around different carnivals, like see what the energy is like,
what the vibe is like.
Of course, there's going to be similarities, but I really am interested in finding those
cultural differences that still give you a nice like, oh, this is cool.
(26:42):
I went to Guadaloupe this past February, like the first week.
And it wasn't the main carnival yet, but they have the same kind of stuff where they, you
know, they kind of build up to it.
They have different events.
So we did see a few a few parades and things like that.
And I was like, this is so dope just to see the connection and the differences at the
(27:02):
same time.
You know, so that's what I love.
I love to be made in seeing all of the similarities and seeing the differences as well and seeing
how they all like just.
It's just love, you know, it's just love and it's just amazing energy.
And as you're saying, the body positivity and all of the things right.
And just the freedom of us as people just experiencing it, really experiencing it and
(27:26):
feeling free, you know, like that is just that there's nothing that beats that for me.
There's nothing that.
And speaking of Guadaloupe, I've heard that Guadaloupe Day Carnival is like a month because
we've had clients from Guadaloupe before and their parades like their parades all month,
apparently, like in January and going into February leading up to the big, big parade.
(27:49):
That's what I've heard.
I haven't experienced it myself, but yeah, in talking to clients that we've had from
Guadaloupe, they're like, oh yeah, we started parading like a month ago.
Now I did spy a little comment, so I want to shout out and I hope she didn't log off.
Teresa, I am Reese's storyteller.
Hello.
She's one of our long time clients.
She's actually going to Barbados with us next month.
(28:10):
So hey, Teresa, thanks for doing this.
Teresa is ready to get back to the store.
I love it.
I love it.
That's says a lot about you.
I do have amazing clients.
I have been blessed with pretty amazing clients.
We love our carnivalistas.
They are amazing.
Yeah.
(28:30):
I love carnivalistas.
Sorry, don't want to leave out the males.
Yes.
Oh, and I forgot to mention going into 2025, of course, we're going to do Trinidad 2025.
We may be doing St. Thomas or Vinci Mass.
Okay.
One of the two.
That hasn't been decided yet, but definitely in 2025, we're going back to Barbados for
(28:52):
Crop Over.
2024 Crop Over or no?
No, we're going to do Grenada Spice Mas because they fall is basically one week after the
other.
Oh, yeah.
So we're alternating Crop Over, alternating Grenada.
We're going to alternate St. Lucia with a carnival yet to be named in 2025.
Yeah.
I think that is great.
(29:13):
So in two year time span, you can pretty much cover the whole Caribbean or cover a good
chunk of the Caribbean.
Pretty much.
At least in the Caribbean.
Yay.
These are the best parts of carnival in the Caribbean or the best carnivals.
There you go.
The biggest ones for sure.
For sure.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Because I've heard great things about St. Thomas and about Vinci Mass.
So I'm definitely looking forward to hopefully checking those out next year.
(29:36):
Okay.
I'm going to get out there and try those with you.
So it might be a 24 and 25 type of thing.
You are welcome.
And we would definitely love to have anybody from the TBW plan come on out.
We definitely want you all to join us in 2024 and beyond.
Yes.
Absolutely.
You all right now on the website, you'll see two of them.
If you go onto the Traveling Black Women website, there is a link directly to Issa's website
(30:00):
that will have the two that are actually available now.
And then like she said, August 18, the St. Lucian carnival, am I correct?
The St. Lucian carnival will be released.
So if you're interested and you're like, you know what, I need to get on board.
These Caribbean carnivals are amazing.
I mean, it's just a celebration of life, of love, of Diaspora.
You know, please go onto the website, click on the links, find out the information.
(30:24):
You know, even just join the mailing list.
That way you can stay abreast of everything that's going on.
Absolutely.
When you join our mailing list on our website, you will also get our ultimate guide of getting
to and surviving carnival, which is a 15 page guide.
It is a very, very comprehensive guide, but lots of stuff.
(30:45):
So it has information about, like if you're wondering what happens at a Fete or what is
a Fete or how do I figure out this whole costume thing?
We have lots of tips about a lot of those things that are really unique about carnival
that you may not have encountered anywhere else or any time in your life really.
So we break it all down for you in that guide.
(31:06):
And we also have destination profiles.
So these profiles kind of go through each destination and list what's unique about that
destination, what you can expect at that destination.
So in that document, we have destination profiles for Trinidad.
We have St. Lucia.
We have Grenada and we have Barbados.
We have destination profiles for those islands.
Yes.
(31:27):
Great resource.
Thank you.
Great resource.
Yeah.
But Isha, I am so grateful for you coming on board today and just chatting about carnival.
I know like right now is the time that people are not starting to look at costumes, now
starting to think about accommodations and you know, flyers and all of these different
things for Trinidad carnival.
(31:48):
But it's still the summertime where we're just talking about carnivals in general, especially
with American carnival.
I know Jersey City was a couple of weeks ago.
So we're here.
We're in this space now.
So now it's time to like, all right, I'm seeing all these beautiful things go on.
I want to know how I could be a part of it.
So I thank you for coming and just chatting with us.
Oh, no problem.
Thank you for having me.
(32:10):
This was fun, of course, and all of you traveling Black women out there, make sure that if you
do register to go on any of these trips with us in 2024, 2025 or beyond, make sure that
you mention that you heard about us from Traveling Black Women because we want to make sure that
we take care of our TBW tribe.
So I definitely thank you so much for having me.
No problem.
(32:31):
Thank you so much.
All right, y'all.
Well, you guys take care and leave us some questions or some comments in the chat or
in the comments.
And we'll reach out.
Allrounda Beats.
Hello, hello.
(00:01):
Welcome to the Traveling Black Women podcast.
This is your host, Nadine, and we have a bonus episode for you today.
So today's episode is actually an IG live replay of our conversation with Mrs Esha
Herbert-Davis, the Carnivalista-in-Chief of events by Ashe.
(00:23):
So we're going to allow her to tell us three ways to survive Carnival based on her own
experience over the last 20 years.
Yes, sure.
Well, thank you so much for having me.
First of all, Nadine TBW tribe.
I'm so happy to talk with you today.
My name is Esha.
I am the Carnivalista in chief with Events by Ashe.
(00:44):
And that's where we plan unique and life changing Caribbean Carnival experiences.
I have been attending carnivals globally for over two decades.
If you can believe that I look young, you know, black don't crack.
So I know a lot about carnivals period.
I have been in business for over one decade and we have been taking, taking hundreds of
(01:06):
people globally to experience Caribbean carnival.
So I'm so excited to be here today and share with you all three ways to survive carnival.
Because what you said was right, Nadine, you don't just show up, put on the costume and
right.
Yeah.
Okay.
So I don't have as much carnival experience as you.
(01:26):
I only started in 2016.
But I mean, you have to have various particular like just ways of knowing how to move in order
to survive the whole day.
Because you all I'm talking about 6am before 6am up makeup, putting on your costume, figure
out how your costume comes and gets on.
And then the parade.
(01:47):
I mean, you're walking for miles.
It doesn't feel like because you're dancing and drinking and having fun, but then you
look up it's nine o'clock and you're still in the middle of the road dancing.
And you still party in.
Exactly.
You're still dancing, costume on and everything.
And in addition to that, Nadine, I mean, it's not just the one day, you know, there are
(02:08):
several countries in the Caribbean that have a two day carnival, you know, where one day
you're not in full costume.
And then the second day or sometimes it's the first day, depending on what country you're
in, you're in more casual clothes or Monday wear, you know, or whatever the case may be.
And then before that, it's all the Fete'n, all the partyin, you know, you go into one
(02:28):
Sunny Side up, you goin' Phuket, you're going this, you're going whatever.
So you are constantly on the go even before you get to the parade.
After Fete, I mean, when you look at a Fete itinerary, I know you're going to talk about
this a little bit, but when you look at a Fete itinerary, it is the morning Fete, afternoon
(02:49):
Fete, night time Fete
And I mean, parties are starting at 3am, starting at 3am, not coming home, not leaving, starting
at 3am watching the sun come up.
And I'm not just talking about regular j'ouvert, I'm talking about a party, like a true Fete.
Yes, a true Fete.
And in case you don't understand the lingo, the party, the word for party, it's very Trini,
(03:15):
but also throughout the Caribbean, people will say Fete.
So let's try to get you accustomed to the lingo one time.
But yes, there are Fetes that start at three o'clock in the morning, right?
Not J'ouvert.
This is like a party and people show up full makeup, dress up in pretty dandan, as my mother
used to say, and they're fit in, they're dancing, drinking, they're eating, they're having a
good time.
(03:35):
So yeah, you have to be ready for all of that, you know, and hopefully we'll give you some
really simple tips.
Now these tips, I'm going to say it out loud, Nadine, they're not earth shattering, okay?
But they are very, very important.
And this is from, you know, 27 years of seeing people who didn't follow these tips, you know,
laid up on the side of the road somewhere because they passed out, or, you know, they
(03:57):
passed out in the bathroom, or they're stumbling out of the fet, because they didn't follow
these tips, right?
So they go back home, they're sick like a dog, you know, I have had the, you know, I
had the carnival tabanca sickness before, trust me, it's not fun.
It is not fun.
So this, hopefully you listen to these three tips that we have today, and help you to survive
(04:22):
your next carnival.
Okay, all right, I'm ready to hear it.
All right, so yes, tip number one is stay hydrated, okay?
Now before you turn off the phone and you're like, listen, what is this woman talking about?
Hydration, okay, is very, very, very, very important, right?
(04:45):
You have to be hydrated because if you are hydrated and you're flowing, you're good,
you can get through a lot of things.
You know, they'll say people can live without food for however long, but live without water,
your body cannot live without it.
And you're ready in a hot climate, especially if you're going to a Caribbean carnival, or
even if you're going to one of the summer North American carnivals, you know, we have
(05:07):
Toronto Caribbean carnival, or as I say, caribana, I still call it caribana, I'm a diehard caribana,
I keep calling it Caribana, but you have caribana coming up, Notting Hill carnival, Raleigh
carnival, like you have all of these North American carnivals that are in the heat of
summer, where the heat, the humidity is 80, 90% outside.
So you definitely have to stay hydrated.
(05:29):
So when you are drinking alcohol, if you're in the parade, if you're in the thick of things,
definitely have your, see, there you go.
Drink water in 90 a business, right?
Have a bottle of water for every alcoholic drink that you have.
Imperative.
You must, must, must do that.
It's so important.
I would agree with that.
Like on my second episode of the podcast, I talk about what my routine was for staying
(05:53):
hydrated.
It was Johnny Walker, water, Red Bull.
Johnny Walker, water, Red Bull.
Like that was my routine because I had to get the water in, but I had to get the Johnny
Walker in too.
Right?
Of course you have to.
Now my own personal routine, and I do not recommend this to any of our newbies.
(06:13):
I mean, I'm a vet.
I've been doing this for a long time is coconut water.
So any, any alcohol that I'm drinking, the chaser is definitely coconut water in there.
And that's because of course coconut water is good for electrolytes and you know, all
of the good hydration stuff, right?
And you know that I will be on heavy rotation on that, whether it's Johnny Walker or even
of the, since I just got back from St. Lucia, I have to big up the St. Lucian rums.
(06:36):
Oh my gosh.
St. Lucia, if anybody from St. Lucia is listening to this, you have the luck on rum.
I mean, they were just delicious.
Oh my goodness.
From Chairman's reserve to Marigold rum cream.
I had a coffee rum cream.
I was like, and I'm not a coffee drinker.
(06:57):
I'm not a big coffee at all, at all.
And you know, the person I traveled with on my team, she's a big, she's like, let me get
the coffee cream.
I'm like, I don't really drink coffee cream, but if you want to get it, get it.
And I'll have the chairman's room.
She's like, just have a little bit and I tasted it.
I was like, Oh, this is good.
Yeah, there's, I don't know what they put it in their rum in St. Lucia.
(07:18):
I don't know.
Okay.
But it's some good stuff, but it's dangerous though.
It's dangerous.
Right?
So my drink when we were there, cause we were in St. Lucia and they have such a good rum
was coconut water and rum.
Of course.
Right?
So, but that's what I have on Hairy Rotation, but the coconut water is a must for me.
And it's always hard when I go to islands that don't really do, don't really have coconut
(07:42):
water readily like Barbados where I'm going on Monday, because they don't really have
coconut water.
I'm like, you're on an island.
There's palm trees everywhere.
How do you not have coconut water?
It makes no sense.
It's okay.
I'm done.
I'm done ranting.
That's my rants.
I have water and rum or coconut water and Johnny, that's usually my go-to and have that
on Hairy Rotation when it's really hot.
(08:03):
Yes.
Yes.
I have to second that.
I have to second that.
Coconut water and Johnny.
Yes.
That's the drink.
That is the drink.
All right.
So tell us what's the number two.
What's the next one?
So tip number two, and this kind of segues into tip number one, but take care of your
body.
All right?
You only have one.
You can't take off your head and switch out your body if something broke up.
(08:26):
You have to take care of the one that you have wherever you are in contact.
All right?
So that is sunscreen.
Make sure you have a good sunscreen or sunblock.
Even better.
I love black girl sunscreen.
That is my go-to.
Make sure that you're protecting yourself.
Any sun that you're going in, because the sun hits different in the Caribbean.
(08:48):
Okay?
I'm just kidding.
It hits different.
So you need to make sure, right?
You're protecting your skin.
We want to keep the blackness not cracking.
So let's make sure we put on that sunscreen.
Right?
Listen, I'm just saying.
All right?
So that's the sunscreen.
Whatever vitamins or supplements you take, definitely have lots of those when you travel.
(09:12):
Right?
You know, I have to take my multivitamin.
I'll take my, I'm currently taking some things for my allergies.
You know, I take those supplements too.
I take my elderberry supplements.
You know, my B12.
Listen, I could go down the list, but yes, all of those supplements, whatever you take,
let's think of it like during flu season.
Whatever you take to keep yourself well during flu season, that is what you need to take
(09:37):
with you to carnival.
Okay?
Because the exhaustion is real.
You're drinking, you're dancing, you're having a great time, but your body gets worn down
as you do all of that.
You have to make sure that you're doing as much as you can to take care of your body.
So definitely vitamins.
Let's talk about eating.
Food.
All right.
So the food thing is hard, right?
(10:02):
Because you know, you're trying to look good in your costume and all.
I get it.
I get it ladies, right?
Okay.
However, again, you only have one body and your body runs on food.
That is its fuel.
Right.
So you make sure that you're trying to eat as best as you can when you are partying,
having a good time during carnival.
(10:22):
As best as you can.
And make sure that you're keeping yourself fed because you need that energy.
You know, I have hit the wall before where my body was like, okay, look, you need to
get something.
You just need to be aware of all of that and make sure that you are keeping yourself well
throughout the entire carnival period.
So taking care of your body is going to be really, really, really important.
(10:44):
Now I don't know if you had anything to add to that tip Nadine in terms of, you know,
taking care of your body during the carnival time.
And not quite during carnival, but before carnival is what I would add to that.
Now a lot of people feel like, oh, I have to work out.
I have to get my body right.
Carnival, first of all, is a body positive experience.
That's what I love about it.
Is come bring yourself as you are and getting your costume.
What a lot of people don't know is when you get your costume, you can personalize it.
Like no one's going to be on the road with a measuring stick saying, hey, your costume
don't look like your costume.
When you get your costume, you can't personalize it.
(11:04):
Like no one's going to be on the road with a measuring stick saying, hey, your costume
don't look like your costume was supposed to look on the website.
Like no, no one's doing that.
Some people have on shorts, they have on the thongs, they have on the panty bottoms.
Some people have on a tankini where their stomach is covered.
(11:24):
You can do a little thing with it.
So how your body looks is not a problem, but that stamina is something that you're definitely
going to need in order to not feel so exhausted by lunchtime.
I went with a friend and by lunchtime she was like, Nadine, this was great.
I promise you this was great and I don't want you to feel like this was not great, but I
(11:46):
got to go home.
I am tired.
These shoes are cutting into my heels.
I got to go home.
And you know, it was fun because she still had the experience that she came to have.
So we were good with that.
But at the same time, it is, there is something that you got to remember about life.
If you're taking care of your body, then you also have to do a little bit of prep ahead
of time to make sure that your body is not stocked because you can do all these things
(12:10):
to take care of your body right there in a moment.
But then your body can still be like, girl, what are you doing?
We're from home.
We're usually sitting down.
Why are you jumping?
What is this new thing?
What is going on?
Go sit down in that corner right there under that tree.
Yes, 100%.
I agree with you.
Absolutely.
That is so true.
Definitely getting ready.
And on the piggybacking on what you're saying about your friend, we have several clients
(12:36):
that happens as well, right?
They're like, they cross the stage and they're ready to go.
They're like, can we get a ride back to the Hilton now?
Yeah, I'm ready.
I'm good.
I'm ready.
Yeah.
So we get that all the time on both days, Carnival Monday and Tuesday for that matter.
Yes, for sure.
Because of course, Carnival Monday and Tuesday is Juvé.
(12:58):
And then Carnival Monday.
So that is a long day.
Yes, yes.
Because you are literally partying from about 1 a.m. to about 8 a.m. and then you might
take about two hour nap and you're back on the road by 10 a.m., 11 a.m.
10, 11, maybe noon.
And then at noon, at noon you're chasing the truck.
You're trying to figure out where the truck is.
So you're on the avid, the
(13:24):
your band has an app.
You know, you're calling somebody if you know who's in the band.
Yes, that is exactly how it is.
You have called it out.
And think about it.
OK, so I've been, you know, doing this for over two decades.
We didn't have no app back in 2001.
OK, listen, there was no app, no cell phones for that matter.
(13:45):
Right.
OK, like, let's talk about that.
Right.
It was just completely different.
You, but you found the band.
You know, you know how you did, you know, you get like meets up hand in hand.
Then we'll try to scout and then you'll pass one by me.
We're like, oh, did you see this band?
Did you see that band?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, they went down.
So, you know, so you're like walking down that way and then you're like, oh, finally,
(14:05):
I found you.
But yeah, I mean, back in those days, there was none of this technology stuff, none of
it at all.
So it was just a totally different ballgame.
And then, of course, taking care of your body and taking care of yourself played in so much
more, I think, back then, you know, because you may have to walk a long time to find your
(14:27):
band on both days of the parade, you know, or even if it was a one day parade.
Right.
So it really, it's really, really, really, really important.
I mean, imagine spending an hour, maybe 30 minutes looking for your band and then you
get there, you're so tired and hot that it's like, I don't even want to dance anymore.
I have spent an hour trying to find a band.
(14:49):
Yes.
Yes.
So you see, back in the days of, okay, so you're going back, I'm going to date myself
here but Poison in Trinidad.
So Poison became Prime and, you know, all of these other bands.
But Poison was her band back then, right?
That was my very first year, I think, my very first Trinidad Carnival as an adult.
(15:09):
Yeah, it was a good hour.
We were trying to find the band because we got down there late.
And then it was like, okay, so where they go?
They, no, I think they hadn't crossed the stage yet.
We knew that because they didn't come on TV because of course we left home.
And Auntie was like, yeah, Poison didn't cross the stage yet.
You should meet them.
Go here.
(15:29):
You know, we're like, okay.
So we went there.
No Poison.
We're like, where's Poison?
Oh my gosh.
And you know, asking around for people or whatever.
We literally met them just before they crossed the stage.
Oh man.
Yes.
That was an hour.
An hour or more looking for the band in the hot sun, because it was not early morning.
(15:50):
It was probably 10 o'clock, 11 o'clock in the morning.
Hot sun, no drinks because you know, you didn't have, you didn't have drinks, trucks and stuff
back then, right?
The bands were not always all inclusive.
So you know, getting water, coconut water from a side roadside vendor while you're like
trying to beat the heat, you're walking around trying to find your band.
Yeah, they didn't have all inclusive bands back then.
(16:12):
They didn't.
So it's a completely, completely different experience then versus now.
You know, none is better than the other, but they're just different, you know?
Yeah.
I feel that.
Yes.
So number three, and this one is an interesting one because newbies, if you are watching this,
I know you want to do everything.
(16:34):
I can assure you, you cannot.
You cannot.
It doesn't matter what carnival you are going to, with the exception of North American carnivals
and you know, North American carnivals, there might be maybe two, maybe three FETs happening
on the same night.
Come to the Caribbean where there are 10, 15 FETs happening in one day.
(16:55):
You can't do them all.
You just can't.
Okay.
So my third tip is to try to plan an itinerary that will allow you some time to rest because
rest is very important.
You cannot do all of the FETs.
You cannot drink all of the alcohol.
It will never run out.
I can assure you, right?
(17:16):
So just try to plan an itinerary where you can get some rest.
You know, there will be a lot of overwhelm from the sheer number of events that happen
in one day.
Like for example, you know, we're going to Barbados for crop over next week.
I was looking at the lineup.
There's a good, you know, five to 10 FETs that are happening on any given day, right
(17:37):
through crop over, right to the parade.
Every single day.
Oh wow.
Yes.
So you can't do them all.
All of that to say, definitely you cannot do all of the FETs.
So let's say you do one FET a day, maybe two FETs a day.
Okay.
Factor in a few things.
(17:57):
All right.
You will have to collect your costume on one of those days.
Now I know of many people who have missed an entire FET waiting to collect their costume.
True talk.
This has happened because it's going to take a long time.
You need to factor in a good two, three, four, five, six, sometimes even seven hours to go
(18:20):
collect your costume, to make sure that A, it fits you.
All of these things are important.
You have to factor in all these things.
Let's say you go, you pick up the costume and you go in the bathroom and you try it
on and your bra is too small.
Yeah.
Oh, your pants, you're not even smelling your bottom.
I mean, like really, these are things that you have to think about, right?
If that happens, that's going to add on the amount of time that it's going to take you
(18:43):
to pick up your costume if you are playing mass.
You know what I mean?
So you have to factor those things in.
Now let's say your friend was supposed to get you a ticket for a FET and oops, she didn't
get the ticket.
So you may need to stop the promoter to try to get a ticket to go to this FET.
Like you never know what could happen.
You don't even build in the transportation piece, right?
(19:05):
If you're trying to find reliable transportation to take you to where you need to go, you can
go pick up your costume and you call your driver and they're like, hey, I'm ready to
go.
And he's like, oh, I'm on the other side of the island.
I had another pickup.
I'll be there in about two hours.
Then what?
Right?
Like I can't tell you how many people have met me and they're like, oh, you're with Ultimate
Trinidad Carnival.
You're with Events by Asche.
I wish I booked with you because this is a drama I'm going through right now.
(19:28):
And they, I don't know, I have that kind of phase where people just tell me their life
stories and they just launch and I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm so sorry to hear that next
year you should book with us because you know, we're going to that same FET that you, right.
Yeah, we're going now.
Right.
But yes, these are very, very real stories and a lot of newbies to Carnival, they don't
(19:49):
understand these pieces, right?
Where you know, and your costume, your juve package or your four day morning package,
if you're going to crop over, right?
Or your jab jab package if you're going to Grenada, right?
You have to pick, these are things that have to be picked up, right?
You have to collect them in person, right?
So yeah, these are all things to factor in and balance that with your itinerary because
(20:12):
you can't choose the day that you're going to pick it up.
It's whatever day, you know, just for fun or by mass or Yuma or tribe says that your
costume is being collected, then you need to be there, right?
So it's not something that you can pick and choose in advance.
So just keeping all of that in mind before you get all those tickets, trying to go three
(20:33):
FETs in a day.
Yes.
Keep that in mind.
No, that's great advice.
That is great advice because I know I could not keep up.
I know I could not keep up.
In 2016, I didn't even make Jube.
Like that's a whole nother story.
So I'm glad I can ask you.
I didn't even make Jube.
You did my favorite thing.
That's destiny.
Everything I learned about Carnival, I had to learn the hard way.
(20:54):
So yeah, I had to learn the hard way.
So yes, yes, definitely.
The exhaustion is real.
The exhaustion is real.
So that's why I tell people I can assure you, you cannot go to everybody.
You just can't.
Right.
So definitely planning out your itinerary so you can get some rest, which goes back
(21:16):
to taking care of your body, because exhaustion will get you sick in a minute.
And then you miss the rest of your trip.
You're too sick to play mass.
What?
You're too sick to go to Jube.
Really?
You miss everything else because you're trying to go to five parties in a day and it is just
Yes.
And these are refundable events.
You can't email somebody and say, oh, I don't feel well.
I can't come.
Can I get my money back?
No, it's a wrap.
I don't want that for you.
(21:37):
I do not want that for anybody.
Exactly, Nadine.
We're wasting money we are not going to do.
Right.
So yeah, with all of that in mind, especially if you are a newbie going to a Caribbean Carnival,
it is always best to get somebody like us who will plan your itinerary for you because
(21:58):
we have been to these parties.
We try to space things out.
I mean, we collect everything on your behalf is the first thing.
So you know, we'll collect your costume, your Jube package, all your tickets are done.
All of that is done.
And your itinerary is also spaced so that you can have some rest time.
Now if you want to build in your own events, that's I know I'm not judging, right?
(22:19):
If you want to buy your own set ticket to go here and try to do two, three sets, that's
perfectly fine.
But going with someone like us who plans Caribbean Carnival trips, we are the experts.
We understand exactly what every single individual carnival is like.
You know, each one has its nuances.
They really are not the same, although everybody seems to think so.
(22:40):
They are not created equally.
So having experts like us on your trip is really one of the reasons.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
So we're going to be in Trinidad in 2024.
Yes, definitely.
So you already mentioned Trinidad Carnival.
Yeah, that's a wrap.
That's a wrap.
We sold out months ago.
We sold out months ago.
Long time.
Long time.
They sound like overnight, y'all.
Overnight.
That's Trinidad.
(23:01):
But we are going to be in Trinidad, right?
So that is February 9th to the 14th, 2024 sold out.
We are going to St. Lucia in July next year, which again, I had such a great time in St.
Lucia.
It's an absolutely beautiful island.
Their carnival is lovely.
They have good fets, great performances, good energy.
(23:24):
Like St. Lucia just have a good vibe.
Like I really, really enjoyed that.
So we're doing Ultimate St. Lucia Carnival.
That is July 12th to the 17th, 2024.
That hasn't launched yet.
So listen, don't send me a DM saying, Isha, I went to your website.
I ain't seen no St. Lucia.
It ain't ready yet, y'all.
It ain't ready.
It's coming.
August the 18th is the launch day for Ultimate St. Lucia Carnival packages.
(23:51):
So mark your calendar, but that's the day those are coming.
And then also in 2024, we are going back to Grenada for their Spice Mass.
So Ultimate Spice Mass.
Yes, I, oh, Grenada.
I fell in love with Grenada last year.
I just have to be really, really honest.
I really, really did.
I mean, again, Grenadians have a vibe.
(24:12):
Every carnival has their own differences, nuances, and different vibes, you know?
So the Grenadian, of course, the Jab-Jab, their Juvé was amazing.
They have a great parade.
What my favorite thing though was their Monday night mass.
And they have a parade on Carnival Monday night.
And they have all of these lights.
(24:33):
You get these light sticks, so you have light up sunglasses or hats or whatever.
And it's just so beautiful.
It is to see, you know, anywhere where my people can congregate and get together and
just have a great time and be free.
I love that.
But on top of that, we were illuminated with lights.
I was like, yes, this is it.
(24:54):
It was absolutely wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
So Grenada Spice Mass or Ultimate Spice Mass, I should say, is February 9th to the 14th,
not February, August 9th to the 14th next year.
And the Monday night mass is just a spectacle to see.
It is a real spectacle to see.
I just love it.
That sounds amazing.
That sounds amazing.
I feel like next year is going to be my year of carnivals because I'm hanging with you.
(25:17):
I'm hanging wherever you are.
Hey girl, I'm right here.
I'm right there, right?
Please do.
Please do.
Because you're going to have a good time, Nadine.
I mean, yeah, you know, after going to exclusively, you know, Trinidad Carnival and North American
(25:37):
carnivals for so many years and then going to experience carnivals at all of these other
islands, you know, and getting to really get immersed in the middle of Barbados or the
middle of St. Lucia or, you know, just getting in that vibe.
I mean, it was it's just been amazing to experience.
And it's been amazing to take our clients to experience as well.
(25:59):
You know, we're taking 40 people to crop over next week.
And you know, they're all excited.
They're ready to go.
They can't wait to get on that plane, you know, and just get into the Beijing culture
and get the Beijing flavor and the food and everything, all the things.
But yeah, I've traveled so much to just just on regular days.
(26:20):
Right.
But I'm always when I think carnival automatically go to Trinidad, of course, because that's
just where my mind is.
But after speaking with you, I'm like, you know what?
I really do need to go and hop around different carnivals, like see what the energy is like,
what the vibe is like.
Of course, there's going to be similarities, but I really am interested in finding those
cultural differences that still give you a nice like, oh, this is cool.
(26:42):
I went to Guadaloupe this past February, like the first week.
And it wasn't the main carnival yet, but they have the same kind of stuff where they, you
know, they kind of build up to it.
They have different events.
So we did see a few a few parades and things like that.
And I was like, this is so dope just to see the connection and the differences at the
(27:02):
same time.
You know, so that's what I love.
I love to be made in seeing all of the similarities and seeing the differences as well and seeing
how they all like just.
It's just love, you know, it's just love and it's just amazing energy.
And as you're saying, the body positivity and all of the things right.
And just the freedom of us as people just experiencing it, really experiencing it and
(27:26):
feeling free, you know, like that is just that there's nothing that beats that for me.
There's nothing that.
And speaking of Guadaloupe, I've heard that Guadaloupe Day Carnival is like a month because
we've had clients from Guadaloupe before and their parades like their parades all month,
apparently, like in January and going into February leading up to the big, big parade.
(27:49):
That's what I've heard.
I haven't experienced it myself, but yeah, in talking to clients that we've had from
Guadaloupe, they're like, oh yeah, we started parading like a month ago.
Now I did spy a little comment, so I want to shout out and I hope she didn't log off.
Teresa, I am Reese's storyteller.
Hello.
She's one of our long time clients.
She's actually going to Barbados with us next month.
(28:10):
So hey, Teresa, thanks for doing this.
Teresa is ready to get back to the store.
I love it.
I love it.
That's says a lot about you.
I do have amazing clients.
I have been blessed with pretty amazing clients.
We love our carnivalistas.
They are amazing.
Yeah.
(28:30):
I love carnivalistas.
Sorry, don't want to leave out the males.
Yes.
Oh, and I forgot to mention going into 2025, of course, we're going to do Trinidad 2025.
We may be doing St. Thomas or Vinci Mass.
Okay.
One of the two.
That hasn't been decided yet, but definitely in 2025, we're going back to Barbados for
(28:52):
Crop Over.
2024 Crop Over or no?
No, we're going to do Grenada Spice Mas because they fall is basically one week after the
other.
Oh, yeah.
So we're alternating Crop Over, alternating Grenada.
We're going to alternate St. Lucia with a carnival yet to be named in 2025.
Yeah.
I think that is great.
(29:13):
So in two year time span, you can pretty much cover the whole Caribbean or cover a good
chunk of the Caribbean.
Pretty much.
At least in the Caribbean.
Yay.
These are the best parts of carnival in the Caribbean or the best carnivals.
There you go.
The biggest ones for sure.
For sure.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Because I've heard great things about St. Thomas and about Vinci Mass.
So I'm definitely looking forward to hopefully checking those out next year.
(29:36):
Okay.
I'm going to get out there and try those with you.
So it might be a 24 and 25 type of thing.
You are welcome.
And we would definitely love to have anybody from the TBW plan come on out.
We definitely want you all to join us in 2024 and beyond.
Yes.
Absolutely.
You all right now on the website, you'll see two of them.
If you go onto the Traveling Black Women website, there is a link directly to Issa's website
(30:00):
that will have the two that are actually available now.
And then like she said, August 18, the St. Lucian carnival, am I correct?
The St. Lucian carnival will be released.
So if you're interested and you're like, you know what, I need to get on board.
These Caribbean carnivals are amazing.
I mean, it's just a celebration of life, of love, of Diaspora.
You know, please go onto the website, click on the links, find out the information.
(30:24):
You know, even just join the mailing list.
That way you can stay abreast of everything that's going on.
Absolutely.
When you join our mailing list on our website, you will also get our ultimate guide of getting
to and surviving carnival, which is a 15 page guide.
It is a very, very comprehensive guide, but lots of stuff.
(30:45):
So it has information about, like if you're wondering what happens at a Fete or what is
a Fete or how do I figure out this whole costume thing?
We have lots of tips about a lot of those things that are really unique about carnival
that you may not have encountered anywhere else or any time in your life really.
So we break it all down for you in that guide.
(31:06):
And we also have destination profiles.
So these profiles kind of go through each destination and list what's unique about that
destination, what you can expect at that destination.
So in that document, we have destination profiles for Trinidad.
We have St. Lucia.
We have Grenada and we have Barbados.
We have destination profiles for those islands.
Yes.
(31:27):
Great resource.
Thank you.
Great resource.
Yeah.
But Isha, I am so grateful for you coming on board today and just chatting about carnival.
I know like right now is the time that people are not starting to look at costumes, now
starting to think about accommodations and you know, flyers and all of these different
things for Trinidad carnival.
(31:48):
But it's still the summertime where we're just talking about carnivals in general, especially
with American carnival.
I know Jersey City was a couple of weeks ago.
So we're here.
We're in this space now.
So now it's time to like, all right, I'm seeing all these beautiful things go on.
I want to know how I could be a part of it.
So I thank you for coming and just chatting with us.
Oh, no problem.
Thank you for having me.
(32:10):
This was fun, of course, and all of you traveling Black women out there, make sure that if you
do register to go on any of these trips with us in 2024, 2025 or beyond, make sure that
you mention that you heard about us from Traveling Black Women because we want to make sure that
we take care of our TBW tribe.
So I definitely thank you so much for having me.
No problem.
(32:31):
Thank you so much.
All right, y'all.
Well, you guys take care and leave us some questions or some comments in the chat or
in the comments.
And we'll reach out.
Allrounda Beats.
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.