“Bajan” is the colloquial term for Barbadians. Many tourists travel to this tropical island for the sight seeing, water activities, gardening and other fun filled activities. That is why the local restaurants offer a variety of food to serve to their hungry foreign guests after all of those activities. So what is on the Menu?

Pork
One of the sources of family income in the island is breeding pigs; their pigs are very well taken care of which is why the meat coming from these pigs are very succulent and delicious. Meat lovers will have their stomachs full in this tropical country. They can choose from stewed down pork chops, roasted pork with diamonds of crackling, baked ham and other pork cuisine.

Vegetable
For vegetarian tourists, there are many meat free dishes they can enjoy. Lime juice is often used for seasoning vegetables in this country. Okras are served sprinkled with fresh lime juice; Asparagus are also splashed with lime juice and sautéed in butter. Pumpkin fritters are ideal for those who have a taste for something sweet and spicy. The continental island also has a variety of unusual vegetables. Another popular veggie dish also is Christophene. It is a sugarless member of the melon family which is often served with cheese sauce. Plantain maybe unappealing when it is raw but once prepared the Bajan way it is a delicious treat. Plantain is a member of the banana family and it is usually wrapped in bacon and baked, a must try for all tourists.

Chicken
Chicken is often stuffed with Bajan seasoning. It is a blend of spices and herbs which includes: black pepper, paprika, salt, thyme, marjoram, spring onions, onions, garlic, parsley, basil, scotch bonnet, and clove. Baked Chicken with eclipse crackers is one of must taste chicken cuisine of the island.

Desserts
A meal is not complete if you don not end it with a dessert. For those who a sweet tooth you can choose from Tamarind balls, peanut brittle and guava cheese. There are also pastries like baked custard, Chocolate icebox pudding, lemon meringue pie and the country’s most common dessert is the traditional Coconut bread.

There are many delicious dishes in this Caribbean Island and everyone will surely have their own favorite. So if you are visiting the country make sure to drop by any local restaurants and Barbados Travel Hotels and enjoy Bajan cuisine.

A Barbados vacation experience is proven to be exceptional. Starting from luxury or cheap flights to Barbados, visitors of this stunning coral island can explore natural wonders like The Baobab Tree, Harrison’s Cave, the Famous Jewish Synagogue and Citrus Paradise. The island has numerous sites of architectural, natural and historical interest.

Scenic Barbados is very accessible from Europe and North America. Matter of fact, there are daily international cheap flights to Barbados. Another option is to take a Caribbean cruise aboard many cruise ships that are either based or just pass through Barbados. For flights, you can travel from Caracas (2 hours and 30 minutes travel time), Brussels (9 hours), London (8 hours), Frankfurt (9 hours), Montreal (5 hours), Miami (3 hours and 40 minutes), Toronto (5 hours), New York (4 hours and 20 minutes) and the shortest travel time is from San Juan (1 hour and 30 minutes).

Tourists who want a piece of Barbados have a lot of travel options. For those who really want to get good but cheap flights to Barbados can go with Jet Blue Airways who has recently incorporated the Island as their newest destination in the Caribbean. Travelers from the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York can use Jet Blue Airways going to Barbados for a starting rate of only $99.

Jet Blue Airways has truly made traveling to the Caribbean more inexpensive. This airway usually operates for about 76 daily flights to a variety of destinations throughout the Caribbean and Latin America including the remarkable and exciting Barbados Island. They offer travelers the convenience and comfort through their large aircrafts and Airbus A320.

Cricket is another popular sport that you can take part in while visiting Barbados. The national sport of Barbados and the West Indies is cricket. Each year thousands of people arrive in Barbados to watch the world cricket tournaments at the famous Kingston Oval.

There are plenty of opportunities for water sports while visiting Barbados. The beautiful, crystal clear water and beaches will keep you outdoors in the sun for hours, going inside only in the evening as you enjoy some of the find dining experiences unique to Barbados. Some of the water sports available include:

(1) snorkeling among the rocks and reef close to shore, (2) kayaking near the shoreline, (3) water skiing through the calming waters, (4) wind surfing as the wind comes up, (5) sailing in one of the many scenic coves, and (6) boogie boarding for the more adventurous.

If you love to play in the water, you won’t have time to partake of all the water sports available in Barbados unless you plan to take an extended holiday.

The best time of the year to visit Barbados is during February to May when the weather is cooler and drier than at any other time of the year. One thing that you will have to remember is that this time is considered tourist time and will be very busy with tourists from all over the world. This also means that the prices of everything will be higher than at any other time of the year.

There are a number of festivals and events happening in Barbados year- round. The Crop-Over Festival began in colonial times. It lasts for several weeks, starting in July, and celebrates the sugar cane harvest. During February, if you are there, be sure to enjoy the Holetown Festival. This commemorates the arrival of the first English settlers in 1627.

Other festivals and events include the Oistins Fish Festival during Easter and the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts that takes place in November.

When it comes down to the bottom line, it really doesn’t matter when you go to Barbados. It is always beautiful, exciting with lost of activity.

Barbados’ Eastern and Western coasts are very distinct – the Eastern coast (Atlantic side) is ruggedly beautiful, but less developed. The Caribbean Western coast, on the other hand, is very developed with lots of hotels and resorts. Its coastline, however, remains very attractive. The calm and clear sea, to which water sports come almost naturally, is a visitors’ delight. The sight of the warm Caribbean water teaming up with colorful fishes swimming across vibrant coral reefs is almost a feast to the eyes. Must sees in Barbados are the famous underwater caves, sugarcane factories, lush tropical gardens and rum distilleries/ plantation houses.

Barbados beaches are just perfect for all forms of water sports. So if you are very keen on them, there are plentiful vacation packages for you to choose from, such as golfing holidays, fishing day trips or even fishing holidays. You can also go windsurfing, kite surfing, skiing, etc among many other sports. If you like horse riding, you will find spending a day at the historic Garrison Savannah racecourse delightful. You may even take a horse for a memorable ride on the golden beaches. The whole family will enjoy the thrill of a submarine trip, or maybe a helicopter ride to see the island from above! A safari trip is also a wonderful way to enjoy the natural beauty of Barbados. And after a day of Caribbean adventure you can always return to the peace and relaxation of your resort!

There are many family-friendly resorts which offer reduced rates for children, and many also include special children’s activities, so that Dad and Mom can have some time to themselves to enjoy the marvelous Barbados, knowing the children are safe and having fun. Babysitting services can also be arranged at several resorts. Barbados offers a wide range of family vacation activities, resorts and packages, making the island a great location for a family vacation.

Make the most of the beautiful surroundings by spending your days lazing on the beach and swimming in the blissfully warm water – or check out the south coast if you’re into surfing, where the slightly rougher seas account for the fact that Spring Break Barbados is the surfing capital of the Caribbean. Surfing is a big hit here, along with a variety of other water-sports that will make sure your days are filled with action and fun!

If you prefer to stay dry, there’s lots of sightseeing to be done in Barbados, which is a thriving tourist hotspot with no shortage of things to see and do. Even just wandering through the streets and shops can be a fun experience, with plenty of street vendors to haggle with, and let’s not forget the duty free shopping! Pick up some bargains and treat yourself.

There are also loads of entertainment choices in Barbados during Spring Break. Local bars are great for hanging out with friends and shooting some pool or taking in a sports game on plasma screens. Nightclubs are plentiful and full of tourists and locals alike – packed with young people who want to let their hair down and have some fun! You can dance the night away at many Barbados clubs, as they stay open almost till dawn – perfect for the Spring Break crowd who just don’t want to stop. There are also casinos for the thrill-seekers, which stay open almost 24 hours a day, and not to mention the many, many smaller bars and entertainment venues where you can take in a show, see a live band, or just mingle with the friendly natives.

Spring Break in Barbados will be full of fun and sun – thousands of American and Canadian college students can’t be wrong!

History

Evidence will show that the first indigenous settlers were the Arawaks, who lived seemingly peacefully on the island for many years. They were recorded to be particularly good at practising agricultural techniques that included growing corn and cotton. They had designed and created advanced tools of their own to aid them with the agricultural farming and for fishing.

The Arawaks were believed to have been the settlers of Barbados until 1200 AD, when the seemingly violent and aggressive Carib groups had almost wiped out the Arawak settlers. The Spanish and Portuguese had then entered into the country, with the Spanish deciding not to settle in Barbados. The Portuguese colonized the island in the 16th century, with these settlers cam the name of Los Barbados meaning ‘bearded one’ on account of the fig trees that would grow on the island.

The English would not follow suit in the colonization until 1625, in which they claimed the land as their own in the name of King Kames I. Two years later settlers were brought in to the land, with the worlds third parliamentary democracy formed. 80 settlers and 10 slaves were brought to the island, with many of the settlers being rich and wealthy.

It was not long before the Dutch had introduced the sugar cane, and very quickly, the crop became the main sources of making money. This also included cotton and tobacco crops. The island became the place, which would dominate the sugar industry until around 1720. This was also the period in which slaves from West Africa were introduced to the island to work along on the crops and fields.

The end of slavery came about around 1834 whereby some had decided to continue working on the crops. However, 1838 saw their freedom become imminent, and many of the Bajan (Barbadian) people began taking on high roles and filled high ranking jobs on the island.

The quality of life reduced dramatically on the island during the period of the Great Depression. Jobs were lost and rioting had developed amongst the people in the streets, the sugar industry was thriving up until this point and the English had stepping to fund the island keeping it as it was. However it was evident that the people of Barbados wanted to take control of their island, and so independence was granted in 1966.

Today

Tourism became a lucrative business in the Barbados resorts, with its diverse history and many different cultural influences this has become one of the most popular destinations to visit. The island exhibits a rich British culture, with cricket being its main sport. The people are religious and resemble an Anglican culture, and surrounded by Georgian and Victorian housing.

The African slave had helped in building the foundation for the sugar plantations, with many of the African people having built some of the first chattel houses to move from one plantation to another. Other lasting impressions of the African culture are in their art, crafts, food and music of Barbados.

Hiking on a brown sugar coloured crunchy sandy east coast beach, one can explore the sandy shoreline, and may discover “sea coconuts”, “lucky seeds”, a washed up Portuguese Man of War, just to mention a few likely findings. Venturing inland, there are different walking surfaces, namely grassy uphill footpaths, and rugged sandy clay trails. One continues to climb to a height of 167m (547 feet), to reach the very breezy lookout point, that offers a wide sweeping panoramic view of fifteen per cent of the island.

Descending from this lookout point along more rugged footpaths, which give way to paved roads one enters a typical Barbadian village. A village of timber chattel houses, concrete houses, at least five small churches, in this small community, and of course not forgetting the rum shops, surprisingly only two serve this village. Visit a village resident who is an accomplished potter and is a descendant of potters going back 200 years.

These hills of the Scotland District, are a fusion of sand stone, clays, and alluvial muds. This part of the island actually looks like another country, compared to the other eighty five per cent of the land mass. In fact geologists refer to this Scotland District as Ancestral Barbados, and it is really the material of another country, that is three hundred miles south of Barbados. Out of this, apparently inconsequential material, Barbados was formed, rising like a sphinx out of the Atlantic Ocean, just two million years ago.

Learn about Manjak, its various uses as you visit what is left of this mine. Manjak is a type of hydrocarbon that was utilized as a fuel in the furnaces of the local trains, it was also exported to be used as a main ingredient in the manufacture of black paint, as well as in the production of the the earliest, but brittle, 33 1/3 vinyl music records.

On a Barbados hiking vacation one may visit a national park, the location of the ruins of a historic Great House, and by way of cart roads a wild life reserve. An outstanding, highlight, is a heritage site, a 355 year old Jacobian styled plantation great house, chock full of history, stories of greed and murder to name but a few. It’s a functioning sugar plantation, with a fully refurbished and working 19th century steam mill used for extracting sugar cane juice. Just last year 2008 this old plantation won an international award for its very fine rum, it’s outstanding stories continue.

In this area there are cozy country villages, a very scenic lookout point that offers a majestic view of the Scotland District. a two hundred year old sugar wind mill, which operates during the local sugar harvest season, effectively demonstrating how sugar cane juice was extracted using wind power. There is also an interesting goat farmer, who is a popular newspaper columnist, and a musician in a local music band, outstanding personality in his own right.

There are down hill trails for those who do not want to engage up hill terrain, as well as trails that are flat coastal, rugged and scenic. Barbados offers trails leading between sugar cane fields, and into gullies (also known as ravines) with rock formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and flow stone.

A hiking vacation on tropical Barbados, is rewarding in so many ways, healthy fresh air, and exercise, with vitamin D from the sunshine, a welcomed relaxing change of pace, as you discover a new land and it’s people. Being out in the natural environment, is relaxing, and has proven to be therapeutic for spirit soul and body. A healthy and rejuvenating way to spend a vacation.

Let me start off by introducing to you the national dish of the famous island. Cou Cou and Flying Fish has made this little Caribbean island stand out among the rest. The first recipe is an exotic and sophisticated blend of cornmeal, okra and tomatoes with an accent of salt, peppers and the famous Bajan hot sauce. Meanwhile, flying fish is abundant in this location since it thrives well among the warm waters that surround the island. This dish is commonly served fried or steamed, depending on your choice.

Fish here in the island is a common choice for food since the place clearly is full of aqua culture resources. People have created and come up with different kinds of recipes that use fish as its main ingredient. Another one of their famous cooking inventions is the Bajan Macaroni Pie and Flying Fish. This unique recipe is the Bajan’s own version of Mac and cheese.

This time, let’s talk about the famous thirst quencher. It’s called the Mauby drink. It’s a carbonated drink made from the bark as well as the leaves of a Colubrina arborescence tree. Although there are already a lot of commercialized carbonated drinks in the market out there, Mauby still stands out as a symbol of the Caribbean island’s pride. This drink can be of an alcoholic nature as well as a non-fermented drink. It is consumed as a cold drink in most cases. So team up your flavorful meals with this native drink and get to feel the whole tropical experience of being in Barbados.

For those having the notion that food in Barbados are almost all hot and spicy, well, let me enlighten you on that. Actually, not all Barbados food is hot and spicy. As a matter of fact, one of the islands well loved delicacies is coconut bread or sweet bread as what they usually call it. Its flavor and taste is best described by three words, sweet, sweet, and sweet! The bread is accentuated with a bit of coconut filling inside before it is cooked in the oven. While this delicious treat is being cooked, it gives out the aroma of sweetness all over the place. This will surely make you crave for more.

Here’s a rare delicacy that would surely give off that exotic taste you have been looking for. Get to experience the local specialty of the island, Sea-Egg. The sea-egg is commonly known as the sea-urchin. This local delicacy is considered rare since harvesting of these eggs is controlled by local government officials due to the depletion of its resources. But don’t fret; these exotic eggs are available when they are in season. So if you happen to be in Barbados, don’t forget to check out this dish.

When it comes to food, Bajans have been known for two things: alcohol and cake. Rum Cake or also known as Great Cake has been a favorite among the locals of this island. A combination of beer and rum, this dessert would top your great food experience in Barbados.

All these food and delicacies would surely fill you up not only with a satisfied belly, but with a rewarding and complete tropical experience in the island of Barbados.

Hiring a Car in Barbados shows a measure of all the leading car rental providers including Courtesy hire a Car, Elite hire-a-Car, Stouts Car rental, Top Class to find you the very best plan on your car hiring Barbados. Online companies offer a wide range of automobiles at every destination from cheap economy cars through to luxury convertibles. Save time and let’s compare both local and global car hire Barbados services making sure that you save money on your car hire in Barbados. Barbados is the impeccable island for day trips but you will need some form of transport the most popular option is hiring a car in Barbados from a wide range available including Mini Mokes, soft top and hard top jeeps automatic or manual with or without air conditioners.

All you need to enjoy is to car hire Barbados. Taking to the road is one of the ultimate ways to get a sense of the true atmosphere of Barbados, roaming around within the vehicle. Watch the landscape change from lush rolling hills and smooth white beaches to bleak bluffs and the towering cliffs of the northern and eastern coasts. Tramp amongst quiet fishing villages, sun yourself in a centuries old plantation garden, or hit the exciting coastal towns of the west coast.

Many online sites provide facility for luxury and budget car hire Barbados. If you require a hire car in Barbados for business trips or holiday rentals, do online searches and compare prices of car hire companies in Barbados. You can easily find the cheapest car hire Barbados available on the market today. Discretely from the numerous varieties of car hire Barbados on offer you can also get full insurance coverage on all vehicles and also travel insurance. So not only do they have a great fleet of vehicles at great locations across Barbados at affordable rates but we are also the best place for any car hire Barbados you want to do.

However, Barbados is filled with a diverse and eventful history, this island may appear to be a good holiday hot spot quite literally. The island was once believed to have been inhabited by the Amerindians, who had travelled by canoe from Venezuela. There are few extracts and artefacts found to confirm the early settlers; however following settlers appeared later and were known as the Arawaks. This group practised agriculture, and grew cotton and corn, which became the main attraction of the island. Their main tools and devices for survival were hooks and nets, which seemed to keep the people living a peaceful life on the island.

However, the peaceful race was conquered in 1200 AD by the cannibalistic and seemingly powerful Carib population. The Carib people however did not survive for much longer as the Spanish people came to Barbados in 1492, where eventually through disease and slavery the Carib people were wiped out. The Spanish however, did not colonize the island, but the Portuguese did in the 16th century. They named the island Los Barbados which meant the bearded one on account of the number of fig trees.

The English settlers would later colonize the island in 1625, where unlike the Spanish and Portuguese they would immediately claim the land in the name of King James I. Wealthy or affluent citizens were granted settlement on the lands, which meant that soon after the island would be used to make money and trade goods. One of the things grown and traded were the corn and sugar cane plantation. Citizens from West Africa were brought in to work the plantation lands and bring wealth to the English settlers; however natural disasters in the mid 1700s prevented this continuing.

Some people had continued to work the plantations in exchange for accommodation, this then lead to the abolishment of slavery in 1834. Former slaves began to take on important positions on the island, which further resulted in the official freedom of the Bajan people in 1838. Barbados had claimed its full independence with the Bajan people freed from forced labour. The subsequent years followed with Barbados making profitable money on the sugar cane industry, however during The Great Depression the level unemployment increased reducing the quality of life. The English had by this time stepped in to aid the Bajan population and rejuvenate income as it was before. By 1966 Barbados claimed its official independence with the Bajan people taking full control of the islands affairs and increasing tourism making it the main lucrative source for income on the island. In the last fifty years or so, Barbados has seen a steady flow of tourism and a positive increase in a melange of different cultures and friendly neighbours.