Two Little Birds: Room Number 655

“Two little birds sat by my door step singing sweet songs of melodies pure and true, singing this is my message to you”. As I laid in bed that cool Wednesday morn, I could only think of the legendary Bob Marley’s ‘One Love’.

Probably because the previous evening, models on the Dominicana Moda catwalk had strutted to the beat while showcasing the Patwa collection in the Dominican Republic. More certainly it was due to the sweet melody that was coming from the outside in the skies. It was music to my ear morning and evening for the length of time I was in room 655 at Hotel el Embajador. I could not resist the strong urge to sit on the balcony and observed what I was only hearing before.

If we thought Marley’s two birds were melodious, picture scores of these flying creatures bellowing out tunes as though thoroughly rehearsed for their performance of a lifetime, an act only to be outdone by the New York Philharmonic.

How could this be though? I was in Central Santo Domingo – a city with the perfect blend of Florida and parts of the Caribbean. Sometimes I was unsure as to whether I was in the country side some place or maybe even in the heart of New Kingston, Jamaica. Buildings of varying sizes, shapes, structures and colours in between trees ubiquitously found in the topics such as ackees and mangoes never helped to clear this ambiguity.

A bird’s eye view from room 655 revealed they were green in colour, only visible as they flew to and fro the tree of varying hues of green. Their chirps sounded parrot-like which was later confirmed to be a fact.

 

Parrots similar to the ones in Santo Domingo

‘What’s their mission?’ I pondered. I couldn’t tell. One thing was clear; they had no intention of being outdone by all the glitz, excitement and fanciness happening inside the hotel mall and garden tent.  What they definitely had in common though with the fashionistas was that they too had to get you to be aware of their presence whether by default or design. They too had their way of parading and getting noticed during their more than 15 minutes of fame with lots of action albeit without any spotlight or flashing camera lens.

These parrots had no clothes to make several changes throughout day; they had no fancy hairstyles that could secure a place on the front page of Oh! and A La Moda. They were no VIP seating arrangements for them. Neither was there any press release focusing on them before or after their routine. They had what many of us in the fashion industry could do with. To start, a freedom to do as they please - be who or what they want to be without compromising their standards. They sure can go a day without talking trends. And who knows, maybe they are not as shallow as some of us are.

Like the birds I continued to go about my business. I had an ‘all access’ pass and tickets to all fashion shows for the week. I had all the privileges that accompanied the fashion show that many have travelled from across the world to see, opportunities that many would classify as ‘to die for’. Yet in a strange way I never needed to be part of it all to know that I am VVIP. I felt more at peace working, writing and in quiet contemplation. I have been sponsored to be there and I grasped the opportunity with both hands. I was thinking about how I could improve the Patwa brand in the most cost effective way. The changes to be made will have to be bold and will take lots of capital. Click on link for more information: https://www.facebook.com/PATWAAPPAREL?ref=hl

I was also thinking of another brand that I launched on October 31^, 2013 – 10 Fyah Side, a producer of excitingly hot gourmet salsas, sauces, seasonings, jams and jellies with a healthy fusion of taste, personality and passion.  Click here for more information:  https://www.facebook.com/10fyahside?ref=hl

Am I ready for this? It’s a question that must be answered long after number 655. 

Those parrots could teach us a thing or two about team work too. They moved in clusters and on each journey there is a team leader giving support to their team members.   Indeed ‘together everyone achieves more’.

Among the several things I missed about the Dominican Republic, no doubt the chatty, green parrots fall high on the list.