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Losing Interest in Haiti Fast
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The place would be great, if I had not been to Africa five times. In many ways this is like China, you can order food, move around, but incredibly difficult to find an intelligent conversation. The language of business here is Creole; they do not speak French or English. They try to speak Spanish all the time, but do not know more than two words. I have yet to meet anyone with an education over third grade.
Yes, of course, I can go find educated people, but I came understand the culture of Haiti, not to hunt for rare cultures.
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Miragoane, Haiti - Ayiti - Saturday, November 21, 2009
 Travel Gear Miragoane, Haiti Hotels
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The Lonely Planet devotes a whole chapter to Haiti Vodou. (Voodoo) Yet, where is it? If this is a major part of this country, I should be able to see something, I see nothing. I just am not in the business of making something out of nothing. This is not my first experience with Voodoo, I spent five months in Togo, went to Togoville the birthplace of Voodoo, I know Voodoo.
Port-au-Prince is a Tourist Disaster Area
Port-au-Prince, the Capital and center of everything and nothing is a zero on my wish list; I cannot muster the energy to explore the place. In what world does a city merit attention that has and does nothing, then wants you to pay 50 dollars for a Hotel room. I know why people pay it, to protect them from Haiti, not to visit Haiti.
Well, on Monday, I will venture into Port-au-Prince and hunt for a Travel Agent, if that does not work, I will go the Airport. After I am finished, I will get on a Tap Tap and head toward Cap-Hatien in the north.
I do not think of Port-au-Prince as dangerous, I think of it as expensive, the world poster child that lives close enough for a five hour flight to visit. The country is the ideal NGO-ONG, United Nations gives money to poor countries project. I am a country kid, I know when city folks are being stupid.
Please, the solution is simple, the people of Port-au-Prince, everyone inside, you need to move to a city away from Port-au-Prince. Do this and your life will be 10 times better. Immigration to the large cities has gotten out of control on the planet.
If someone wants me to live in Port-au-Prince a few days, I guess they need to Donate 200 Dollars, I am not going to pay to live in a zoo in a cage. I am more than willing to take a Tap Tap from one end to the other, I am not willing to pay for a room.
Losing Interest in Haiti Fast
Culture |
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Haiti Wooden Sailboats Ships and Dugout Canoes
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Here are photos of wooden sailboats, large container ships and wooden dugout canoes. The majority of these photos were taken in Miragoane, Haiti.
This is the Caribbean Sea; even man has a tough time destroying the beauty. This photo taken in the harbor of Miragoane Haiti.
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Miragoane, Haiti - Ayiti - Saturday, November 21, 2009
Travel Gear Miragoane, Haiti Hotels
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Haiti Wooden Sailboat in Miragoane, Haiti.
Haiti Wooden Sailboat in Miragoane, Haiti.
Pig rooting around in front of fish market in Miragoane, Haiti, there are many discarded shells of Conch.
Miragoane, Haiti Bay, Harbor or Wharf.
Catholic Church with Sailboats Docked at the Miragoane Wharf.
Container Ship in Miragoane, Haiti.
Wooden Sailboats in Petit Goave, Haiti.
Large Wooden Sailboat in Petit Goave, Haiti.
The pivotal reason why the lakes, oceans, seas and rivers of the planet are polluted is because man uses them for a toilet. Man knows that water washes away the filth of the planet. Contrary to any beachfront dreams of paradise you have, living on the ocean coast is not where the mass of people want to live. The water is an acceptable place to dump trash because people do not live on the water; they must move inland farther, water is an inhospitable environment.
Haiti Sailboats Ships and Dugout Canoes
Sailboat Cruising by Country | Shipping |
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Map to Petit Goave Haiti Hotel
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They asked 50 U.S Dollars, I am paying 17, and still double the true value, maybe this is a 7-8 Dollar room where compared to global tourist values.
I am paying 675 Gourde now in a Hotel called,
“MyTech Resto Bar Motel.”
Why do Hotels cost so much, because people lack the moral indignation to say no. I am 100 percent sure I am on the moral high ground; I know the value of a Hotel room on planet earth. In addition, I spent 14 years as a Real Estate Broker; I know the value of Real Estate and can do the math.
Bottom line,
“Owners of Hotels will lower the price to what they feel is morally correct.”
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Miragoane, Haiti - Ayiti - Friday, November 20, 2009
Travel Gear Miragoane, Haiti Hotels
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The Hotel is great, I just had to twist the arms of the brother and sister who manage it. There is a steady stream of wanna be Haiti yuppies entering to eat and drink.
Relais Hotel in Petit Goave
65 U.S. Dollars per night.
I took a tour of many Hotels in Petit Goave, this over-priced, but elegant Hotel was the first one on the tour. It has to be Historical, but gave me the feeling of being “Hotel California Haiti.”
“You can check in anytime you like, but you can never leave.”
There was nobody, zero, a big nada, nothing going in the Hotel, like living on a desert island and having to pay. Why would I pay to live on a deserted island? I would for sure recommend it for a group of 10 with more money donated to them by a Church in the USA. More or less, bring your own party, but then again people on mission over here don’t drink, or do they.
The second on the tour was even funnier, a truly nice building, took 30 minutes to track down the owner. He asked 50 Dollars, I said,
“Ce’st fou.”
My French is rusty, but I think I said, this is crazy.
The man goes down to 30.
I started walking to the door.
He says why.
I get on the back of the Motorcycle Taxi.
He says 10.
He would have went lower.
I had to force the Moto driver to leave.
I do not rent rooms from outrageously dishonest people.
Fun stuff, he then proceeded to take me to two short-term Hotels. The first one was good, up front and wanted 750 Gourde, however was so far outside of town, only a man with a women to hide would find the place. The other one was 500 Gourde, I said yes, the Moto left. The man says, I have to pay 1000 to check in now, he said it was 500 after 7:00 PM, I said he is a nut.
I then asked,
“Is this a place to F…k.”
He knew the word, and spoke some rather good English.
He said,
“Yes.”
I said,
“Goodbye.”
I took another Moto to the Market, I spied the sign that said Motel on the tour. I think the Haiti people cannot read; for sure, the Motorcycle drivers cannot read signs. It was a fun trip.
Generally, in poor countries like Haiti, a person needs to be close the Market. If not, there just is not anything to do, a person needs people around for both safety and the reminder we are still alive and kicking. If I walk into a Hotel and there is nobody around, some girl better be following me.
I suppose I could have got an oceanfront room on the Caribbean Sea. This is not a room on the sea; what is it?
I found some more bark to eat, truly this Canelle Tree taste good, it has to be organic.
Map to Petit Goave Haiti Hotel
Accommodations | Choosing a Hotel | Maps |
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Cinnamon in Haiti
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I like to eat wood. I have found some good Cinnamon bark to chew on here in Haiti.
Cinnamon looks like Cinnamon, what is this stuff?
The locals call Cinnamon “Canale” or something like that, I am sure I spelled it wrong.
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Miragoane, Haiti - Ayiti - Friday, November 20, 2009
Travel Gear Miragoane, Haiti Hotels
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I think this is part of the Cinnamon tree, but I not sure. The man in the Miragoane market was helpful; however my French fails me on specific questions.
What is this?
Cinnamon in Haiti
Food | Plants |
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Petit Goave Haiti Today
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I leave Miragoene today, and travel to Petit Goave, Haiti. I now believe the interesting aspect of Haiti is its Seaports. The country has more coastal communities than any country I have ever visited.
Plenty of beaches, but a beach needs people to be fun. I have not observed beach-going cultures here in Haiti. NGO’s are like nerds with a mission, United Nations military are compose of men from Sra Lanka, and Uruguay, I am sure there are more countries, but I assure you, these cultures are not going to the beach for fun, yes to drink, but not to lie around in the sun.
I am positive I could find a naked black Haitian girl at the beach. To find one girl in a bikini would be more difficult. I found a few naked ones bathing in the river; I was not brave enough to take the photos. A person needs to enjoy the culture of seaports here in Haiti, which is great for me, terrible for tourism.
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Miragoane, Haiti - Ayiti - Friday, November 20, 2009
Travel Gear Miragoane, Haiti Hotels
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Haiti is a friendly country; the people are happy, say hello and want to mingle. However, there is no language of conversation, Creole is awkward, and the education level is low, if not the lowest.
What to do in Haiti? This place is perfect for an American that wanted to make a cheap trip to Africa without going to Africa. This is not Africa, the whole tribal culture is missing, this is an ex-slave community, pretty much like all the other Caribbean Islands. Trinidad and Tobago are about the same as Haiti, just more violent.
Hmm, I have to admit, I just realized Haiti feels safer than Trinidad and Tobago, and I for sure think it is safer than Belize City.
I have been to Africa five times, I do not need to come to Haiti to see a watered down version, but truly a great cultural experience for an American.
My big problem is still Port-au-Prince, I need to find a 500 Gourde per night Hotel, the guidebook starts out at 1400, so way over budget for a Backpacker. I am studying the map; I believe it is possible; I am still in ready-to-retreat travel mode. If there is a problem, I will retreat to the prior Hotel. I am only going 15 miles today, this is interesting, this is a small country.
I can be anywhere in the country in one good day of travel, all cities are possible, travel is not difficult, the price of Hotels is the problem.
Petit Goave, Haiti Today
Maps | Why People Visit |
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Used Clothing Imported to Haiti
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Used clothing is imported into under-developed countries. I have seen this is Africa, Guatemala and many other countries.
Bundles of used clothing being unloaded from large cargo ship in Miragoane, Haiti.
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Miragoane, Haiti - Ayiti - Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Travel Gear Miragoane, Haiti Hotels
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This truck came to the port, loaded up with bundles of used clothing, and will truck them to other cities in Haiti.
These girls are sitting in the main square of Miragoane. I conjecture that people come from neighboring cities to buy used clothing wholesale. There is an advantage to buying here in Miragoane; they are able to select the clothes they believe are sellable. While if they purchased a complete bundle of clothing, they would be working on a different level of clothing distribution.
This business is fascinating, because somewhere, somehow, in the USA there are people donating clothing. Say the Salvation Army, the Church, some organization collects used clothing. Slowly it moves it way towards a country like Haiti. Along the line the clothes are sorted, the worn out clothing are discarded, then made into bails. I would guess these bundles were assembled in Miami, and then shipped to Haiti in a large container ship.
Somewhere along the line it stopped being free, this is a business.
My friend Mike in Ghana asked me to help him get clothes from the USA. More or less go straight to the donators, bypassing all the intermediaries. I just could not get my mind around the moral issue, this is a business, but thrives on free donations. I suspect the person donating the clothes believes the end user is not paying.
Now to be just, reasonable, and understanding, this distribution system allows cheap clothing to enter Haiti in a sustainable manner. Is it free for people? No, however, it may be as cheap as it gets.
Distributing free clothing is a questionable practice; it makes beggars out of good folk. On the other hand, somewhere along the line the morals has some detours, I am sure.
Used Clothes Imported into Haiti
Clothing of World | Factory Outlets by Country | Import Export |
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Walk and Talk Travel Tip
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Why do you stop and talk with people? I stop walking, in respect for the person who spoke to me.
My advice, wave a hand, nod a head, but do not stop walking until you have accessed the situation and know you should. It is my habit, it is probably your habit, but it is not wise to stop walking.
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Miragoane, Haiti - Ayiti - Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Travel Gear Miragoane, Haiti Hotels
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Many people call out “Blanc,” more or less “Hey White Man,” here in Haiti. I continue to walk. I say hello, I nod my head, but seldom do I stop. I stop when I want to, not because they want me to.
People generally give up talking when the person does not stop. In many countries, the goal of the hawkers, the hustlers and the drunks is to make you pause. This is their opening, they will get up out of their chair when you stop. Just keep walking, do not react, keep them in their chair.
Situational awareness is needed, and that characteristic which separates the men from the boys. How to be macho, how to in control of your emotions, is this possible to learn?
Walk and Talk Travel Tip
Danger | How to be Macho |
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