The Wanderer Prepares

It was supposed to happen over a year ago.  I would have begun this blog then, but the growing pains of a small TV Network, confusion, misunderstandings and other delays all contributed to why I am not there today.  The BBC had not  yet abandoned the Caribbean and the Network had some internal strife.   Now the BBC is gone and the Department of Labour has approved my work permit application.  The process usually takes 6 to 8 weeks, but only after two weeks I was contacted with news of the approval.  After clearing the medical, I am ready to begin the Odyssey.

I must sell, toss or give away nearly all that I own.  It is ironic that all of my Caribbean styled furniture must be sold (it would be perfect where I am going).  Dinnerware, silverware, outerwear and all my wares must go.  I am packing 5 bags with video gear, scuba gear and clothes (that are appropriate for the tropics).  The baggage is going to double my airfare and what I bring is subject to duty. 

The plan is to fly into St. Thomas and take a ferry to Tortola.  Negotiating these 5 bags (250 lbs) around the airport and ferry terminal will be difficult.  There is no direct flight to the British Virgin Islands.  This helps keep these islands somewhat isolated, maintaining some Caribbean charm. So Nomads, this is an ideal location to witness the true beauty of an unspoiled Caribbean.

There will be a moving sale in the next week or so.  If you live in the Detroit area, please stop by and see if you like anything.  It would be nice to see old friends once again.

The Odyssey continues......

The Odyssey Begins







 

As Odysseus must have wondered what lay ahead beyond the shores of Ithaca as Zeus plotted his course, I venture to Tortola not knowing much about living on a tropical island.  Although my resume includes many vacations to top dive destinations in the Caribbean, to leave family, friends and furniture behind is to say the least a daunting task.  Also, I have been gone for months at a time on video shoots in these islands, creating underwater video projects, but now will dive headfirst into a new chapter of my life.

So sit back and read the wanderings of a lost soul in a foreign land of beautiful weather and a British/Native Islander culture.

My readers shall be known as Nomads, as you follow my journey into this tropical world through my words.  Like Odysseus, I travel with both intrigue and trepidation, not knowing what adventures, romances or trials will meet me along the way.  So Nomads be prepared for anything.  I will be an adventurous wanderer and ride the tide of fate along with a consciousness of discovery to search for what I call the true Caribbean. 

My quest is to find that which represents what is most alluring about these islands.  There is a storied history of pirates, Spanish Main, sugar plantations and rum, slavery, revolution and battles between nations for island occupancy.  Sugar was king and Spanish gold flowed through from Mexico and South America.  Many ships went down with their valued cargo and there is still hope that some of this sunken treasure exists today.

I search for idyllic islands and their waterfalls, beaches, volcanoes, gardens, music, dining, coral reefs or rain forests.  I look for Caribbean charm that will not be found on cruise ships, splashy resorts, crowded beaches or in penned dolphin shows.  I seek the lone palm.  I have visited many islands in the Caribbean and have my favorites for different reasons. 

The British Virgin Islands will certainly have many attributes that I will find enchanting.  They provide an ideal backdrop for my wanderings  At times I will venture off the Carib' beaten path, and see places that have escaped tourism and find images, sounds and scents of the magic that draws us to this region.

Characters and quandaries will be met along the way.  The sailing is unclear ahead and the ride will be bumpy.  Nomads, don your Panama hats and hoist the main sail.   Smell the salty sea air and hold tight.

I have been hired to work as Director of Operations for Caribbean Broadcast Network.  As the BBC left after many years of broadcasting in the islands, CBN now fills a huge void in programming and the opportunity to create new shows.  I am being brought on board to develop programming, create advertising copy, hire and train staff, serve as producer for shows and manage the operation. 



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We broadcast to 23 island nations and hope to grow very fast and very soon.  We wont be on island time at CBN, as this wanderer with a great sense of yankee ingenuity will be anxious to create cutting edge programming and to shoot live shows of island events. We also own a radio station.  Listen to Tradewinds Radio live at:  http://www.tradewindsradio.com/







The Odyssey continues.....