It has now been 5 years since my husband Jimmy and I said “I do” in New York City. Yes, that’s right folks. People from all over the world pay top bucks to get married on the beaches in the Caribbean, and this island girl’s idea of romance was yellow cabs and skyscrapers.
By Cherise Rambhadjan, blogger at CurlyGirly.
My husband, Shyam, and I went to Cuba on our honeymoon in 2011 and it was an amazing experience. Given that Cuba has recently become more accessible than ever, it’s a fine time to document our trip. Cuba is a massive island with a lot to experience. Since the country has been frozen in time from the 1960s, it’s easy to imagine just how beautiful it was back in the day. The old buildings (often dilapidated) and the old cars offer a certain charm that helps to make Cuba magical. Given that it is a communist country, the censorship and the feeling of big brother watching you was very real for us during our stay. One of our taxi drivers looked over his shoulder and spoke in hushed tones when he spoke about his desire to leave Cuba-although it was just the three of us in the car. The movies we watched were edited and there was no available Wi-Fi anywhere. There was a lot of poverty, which in turn, makes people hustlers. By the end of our trip, we were tired of people trying to hustle us into buying something – cigars especially. I’m sure a lot has changed since 2011 but it was eye-opening. All things considered, we had a great time.
My fascination with urban decay continues with part two of my new photo series, St. Maarten Abandoned.
These photos were all taken on the French side of the island where most of the abandoned buildings are found today. Charming buildings that were once upon a time undoubtedly beautiful jewels in the middle of the center of town, now stand here slowly deteriorating into nothingness yet still somehow maintaining their majestic stature.
Toronto: the big TO, home of the Blue Jays, the CN tower and ethnic diversity.
I had the immense pleasure of visiting Toronto for two weeks last September for a wedding. It was my third visit and by far the best and most awesome. I made it my mission this time to explore this grand city and neighboring Niagara on the Lake and I am not nearly done. Toronto, you were amazing and I cannot wait to walk your streets again soon.
