Postcard: Neil McKenzie - The Calypso Vibe
Neil McKenzie - 3 April 2001

We've been in the Caribbean for just over 4 weeks and we've seen Guyana, Trinidad and
Barbados so far. All 3 are unique places, Trinidad and Barbados being islands and Guyana the
mainland of South America.

In my opinion, Barbados is definitely the more entertaining of the places so far. The beaches
are great, the scenery fairly idyllic and there are some great beach bars and all with their own Caribbean come calypso vibe.

Last week in between the 3-day game and the test match, we went on a yacht excursion
around the coast of the Barbados. We cruised from the port out to sea and proceeded with
lunch and a few of the local beers and rum were consumed. Thereafter, we stopped off at a
small island where there is a group of turtles and other mixes of sea life.

Most of the guys donned the goggles, snorkels and flippers and took to the water to check out the undersea life. Makhaya was only guy who chose to stay firmly attached to the catamaran. It's a big thing getting Makhaya to swim in the shallow end of the hotel pool so you can understand his reluctance to swim in the sea.

He decision was vindicated in a way as Justin Kemp tore a sizable chunk out of his heel when
he dove off the yacht's steel ladder into the water. Kempie is struggling to put a boot on and
bowl due to the large gash and the Fizz is hard at work trying to get the wound to heal.

Another excursion we had on the high seas was in Trinidad where we went deep-sea fishing. I was accompanied by the Free State fly-fisherman Boeta Dippenaar, the EP eel tamer Justin
Kemp and the Durban Dorado basher Lance Klusener. I was simply referred to as the Gautie
newcomer to the sea, Neil Mac.

The trip started out fairly nicely but once we hit the high seas and a few waves, cheese rolls
and tuna bait later, Boeta Dippenaar was last seen heading for the edge of the boat impersonating what looked to be an eating pelican – vomiting overboard.

Fortunately, we returned home to Port-of-Spain safely even though we caught jack-sky.
However, a good morning was had by all, even Boeta.

Besides the two boat trips, most of our time has been spent practicing and playing the test
matches and a bit of traveling in between.

The test matches have been hard fought battles between the two sides with the wickets not
really assisting our quartet of seam bowlers.

Everyone has contributed throughout the matches with a few outstanding performances by
Daryll Cullinan and Shaun Pollock.

Besides the win of the second test match it was a great experience to be able to mingle
afterwards with the locals at the cricket-wicket bar outside our dressing room. The locals are
very friendly and knowledgeable people and it was a pleasure having a few cricketing
conversations with them.

Until another time this is Neil McKenzie signing off for CricInfo.

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