Soca Monarch in Queen’s Park Oval – really? With all the natives?!?! Really!

Yes really!! I went to Soca Monarch in the Queen’s Park Oval. But we had Richard to guide us and give us the lay of the land! It was sooo funny though, since among Beena, myself and even Sal, we were a bit intimidated by the whole mass of humanity! So Richard gave Sal the following rules, since of course as the requisite white boy in the posse, yanno he was the obvious target!

• Toe Stepping : Anyone steps on your feet, shake it off and do not look anyone directly in the eye. In fact, do not engage anyone directly. Who knows what they are carrying on them, in term of a knives, bottle etc
• Jewelry : Take all bling off. No exceptions! Chains can be ripped off easily by someone walking into the crowd. Money and cards should be in front pockets. Better yet, all money should be in the footware and socks. It is the most safe there!!
• Walking through the crowd : avoid all coolers, posses of people, touch people gently and don’t barge through the crowd. It is quite easy to get an icepick in your side, doing stuff like that.
• Cellphones : Don’t be using your cellphone in a crowd, since it draws attention to you. Especially if you have a good phone. Hence my iPhone drew much attention in certain places!
• Lining up : Follow Rishi and Richard! I personally felt like I got to know many women with the proximity of them to me. In fact, I know some girls could tell my religion with the crush of people! Check out the mass of people!!

That being said, once we got through the total sham of security, people climbing over scaffolding, people pressed up against you like a second skin, the lack of deoderant on some people, people trying to climb over you, keeping your hands in your pockets while pushing through the crowd, we had a good time especially seeing that we got a great viewing location of the festivities.

One of the great things about feteing in the Oval though is the food being cooked in huge pots in tents for sale. This is one thing you would never really see in a fete in Toronto or anywhere else in the world.

Of course with our VIP seating in the Camera booth overlooking everything, we didnt have to worry about any crowds or any of the rules outlined about, hence making sure there was no incident and my parents wouldn’t be worried!!!