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Cordell Thompson, local Exuma Historian and Director of the Pompey Center for Studies in Traditional Art, Music, Food and the Unresolved Mysteries, describes the origins and components of the Bahamian Junkanoo festival.

Q: What exactly is Junkanoo?
A: Junkanoo is the colorful, energetic, and breath-taking Bahamian festival that takes place every year on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Starting at 2:00 a.m. and coming to an end only when the sun rises (around 9:00 a.m.), hundreds of people dressed in bright, extravagant costumes parade through the streets playing authentic Bahamian instruments, performing choreographed dance routines, and celebrating their culture. The influence of Junkanoo is seen in all aspects of Bahamian society, in the fine arts, in music and dance, and particularly the personality and attitudes of the Bahamian people who understand the necessity for taking time out to celebrate life.

Found at ExpressionsByAnn

Q: When and how did it start? 
A: Around the 16^th or 17^th century, Bahamian slaves were given several days off around Christmas time, during which they would celebrate by spending time with their families. In their three days of freedom, they would dance, play music, and create costumes as a way to enjoy the holiday. Even after slavery was abolished, this tradition continued in the Bahamas and eventually transformed into the spectacular festival it is today.

Q: Where does Junkanoo take place?
A: Junkanoo has its roots in harvest festivals in the African countries of Ghana and Nigeria. Most Africans who came to the Americas came from these two countries and Junkanoo is celebrated in some shape or form from the Southern United States to as far south as Belize in Central America.… Read More

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Chat ‘N’ Chill® Pops The Question to Engaged British Couple Lisa Gant and Alex Pelling to Bring Their
‘Perfect Wedding Destination Search’ off The Beaten Aisle to Marry in The Exotic Exuma Islands of The Bahamas

Global marrying couple, Lisa and Alex of Manchester, England, say “yes” [to The Invite] and continue to their discovery of the world’s cultures and marriage traditions in The Bahamas while building their database of unique customs and unusual places to get married.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GEORGE TOWN, EXUMA, BAHAMAS (December, 2012) – Chat ‘N’ Chill®, Ltd., a Bahamian restaurant, beach bar and special event venue located in The Exumas, invites global marrying couple, Lisa Gant and Alex Pelling of Manchester, England, to marry on their 9 acre private island beach on Stocking Island. “I and thought ‘how cool is that!’ and wonder if they could come here to The Exumas to get married?”, says Kwanza Clay Bowe, co-owner of Chat ‘N’ Chill®.

Their journey began as a longtime desire to see and travel the world. After they saved up their money, sold everything they owned and planned their escape, they decided it might be nice to get married somewhere along the way. “While we both are very romantic, we also like to do things a little bit differently than most. We looked for ‘unique wedding locations,’ ‘wild weddings,’ ‘traveling weddings,’ we read wedding blogs, travel blogs, and love stories but we just couldn’t quite find what we wanted,” Alex said. So they set off to see what they could find on their own.… Read More

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Steve & Mary were my very first wedding clients at Chat ‘N’ Chill, 7 months after I moved to Great Exuma and I was 5 months pregnant. They threw a fun-filled wedding party spanning over 4 days for about 40 of their closest friends and family.  Since Mary & Steve fell in love while on a sailboat anchored at Chat ‘N’ Chill, they set their plans to have a wedding a Chat ‘N’ Chill.  Before the ceremony, Mary had an “Amazon” cruise where she and her best girlfriends cruised around the harbour in a houseboat that delivered her ashore for her late afternoon wedding.  During a special part of their ceremony, Mary’s son “scooped the sands” where they pledged their vows to preserve as a keepsake.

They even “jumped the broom” too.

A hot day it was, most of the wedding guests enjoyed cocktails during the ceremony and half of them stripped of their tropical attire and swimsuit cover-ups and cooled off in the sea immediately following the ceremony.

Everyone partied late into the evening to Bahamian, Calypso and Reggae music played by a local band. From the looks of the photos, Steve, Mary and all of their guests had very memorable destination wedding in paradise.

And the crew at Chat ‘N’ Chill had a fabulous time throwing them an unforgettable island party!

Unable to make the long trip back to the Caribbean this year, to celebrate their 6th anniversary, Steve & Mary are touring Italy while Steve is on break from his contract in Afghanistan.  Have a fun and safe trip and we look forward to seeing you next year in The Exumas!… Read More

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The crew at Chat ‘N’ Chill wish Arash and Sonia a very happy 5th anniversary and many happy returns.  We know you are enjoying The Exumas celebrating your anniversary island hopping:-)

It is an honor that you chose Chat ‘N’ Chill as the sacred place where you two became one. And it certainly was a priveledge to plan your island wedding ceremony, meet all of your friends, especially the Ya-Ya’s and listen to Rouzbeh’s beautiful music.  We will always remember being a part of your special day. Love & best wishes!… Read More

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KB and I sincerely thank you for answering our request for rating Chat ‘N’ Chill on Trip Advisor.  This week, you catapulted us into the #1 restaurant spot in Great Exuma!! Yippie!!!  We appreciate your business and your candid feedback.  Special thanks to Jan for getting it started back in May.  Thanks Nakul, Yvette, Mark, Mary-Sumpter, and Laura who all submitted reviews this past week.  You are the best!!!

Review Chat ‘N’ Chill on TripAdvisor… Read More

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Just wanted to let you know to check out Golf Channel’s Big Break Sandals show. The reality TV show airs on Mondays at 9:00 PM.  Now there was a visit to Chat ‘N’ Chill.  But we have not heard anything official from them about if we made the final cut.   You know how these filming and video projects go, you will just have to tune in to see if your fave Exuma spot, Chat ‘N’ Chill, made the final cut or not. We certainly hope so!

The production crew along with two of the golf pros actually came to feed the stingrays, but the weather was not favorable (a little wind and a little rain) and our little friends were hiding.  So they actually sought shelter inside and did a little footage at the bar.  Don’t worry, we didn’t get them smashed!  We will post some pics later, but we don’t want to mess up any story lines for the show since we were successful at keeping it a secret this long.  In fact I almost forgot about it until my golf-loving Dad mentioned that he saw Great Exuma’s Sandals Emerald Bay on the Golf Channel the other day!

The episode I saw had a surprise visit from the shark himself, Greg Norman, who designed the exquisite Emerald Bay course.  It seemed like a pretty cool show.  I am counting on all you golf lovers to check it out.  So tune in and leave a comment to let us know if you see Chat ‘N’ Chill on the Golf Channel!… Read More

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Filmed from Chat ‘N’ Chill Beach on Stocking Island, Bahamas, newlyweds Matt & Amy Allen filmed this video of the dolphins in Elizabeth Harbour during their recent honeymoon stay at Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Resort & Spa.  Matt’s brother and sister-in-law, sent them on a surprise full day adventure to Chat ‘N’ Chill as a wedding gift.  Mark & Anne originally visited us back when the Four Seasons Resort was open.

Mark called me up and said that Chat ‘N’ Chill was the highlight during their visit to Exuma and he wanted to share the experience with his brother and new sister-in-law.  We arranged a custom, full-day adventure, including round-trip transportation from Sandals to George Town, round-trip water taxi transfers across Elizabeth Harbour to Stocking Island, conch salad, food, tropical drinks, T-shirts, souvenirs and more.

Thank you Mark & Anne for sharing Chat ‘N’ Chill!

Thank you Matt & Amy for sharing your dolphin video from your day at Chat ‘N’ Chill with all of our guests!… Read More

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The name of the Beach Inn (previously Peace & Plenty Beach Inn and Beach Inn Exuma) has been changed to Augusta Bay Bahamas.  You can check out what they have to offer at the website.  I would post a photo, but their site is in flash (not good for sharing information with others at all), so you will just have to click on over to their site and see for yourself.… Read More

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If you have never seen the swimming pigs on an Exuma Cays tour, this is a must do trip that surely will be enjoyed by the whole family.  Check out our short video from Easter 2010.  For more information, you can find tour guides on our links page.
… Read More

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Right after we are finished with the Chat ‘N’ Chill website, the new A Wedding Breeze website will follow shortly after.  Stay tuned for details.… Read More

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