29 Uses for an Island Wrap

This wrap is traditional to Clove Island. It's traditionally worn like a sari, but over a full outfit, adding style and propriety. Like many other things, it can serve multiple purposes. Here are just a few ideas:

1. Tortilla steamer: homemade tortillas need to steam a little after being cooked. The island wrap is perfect for this.

2. Sweat rag: what better use when you're sweating like crazy on a hike and are wearing yards of extra fabric?

2. Blanket: cold on a "winter" night? Time to break in that new island wrap by wrapping up in it!

3. Curtain: hang it up and you've got privacy anywhere! Too bright out? Hang an island wrap and you're "covered."

4. Carrying bag: not enough hands? Tie it up and sling it on your back.

5. Baby sling: an alternate on the carrying bag concept.

6. Beach blanket: packs small and spreads out large.

7. Towel: forgot your towel? Just pick up your "beach blanket" and towel off!

8. Tablecloth: want a "picnic table" look? Look no further than the island wrap!

9. Paint smock: worried about getting covered in paint? tie it around your neck and you're fully protected.

10. Handkerchief: got a cold? Allergies? Emotional? Been cutting onions? You've got a giant-sized handkerchief at hand!

11. Sword disguise: island lore says that, during the era of slave trading, men would wear the island wrap with a sword underneath, prepared to defend themselves and their women against those who would enslave them.

12. Mop head: cut a hole and put it over your broom. Instant mop!

13. Cheese strainer: making cheese from powdered milk? Grab that old (but clean) island wrap and you've got a substitute cheesecloth.

14. Tourniquet: tear off a strip and bleed no longer.

15. Flag: capture the flag? Team bonding? The island wrap will be there for you.

16. Sail: stuck on a desert island? Build a boat and hang that island wrap, you'll be out of there in no time!

17. Portable bathroom wall: using nature's facilities? Hang up your island wrap or borrowing a friend as a portable tree and no one can see a thing!

18. Apron: cooking and concerned about your clothing? Tie it on and off you go!

19. Child's hammock: kid getting bored? Sling your island wrap between a couple palm trees and they'll be entertained for hours.

20. Beach cover-up: surrounded by young men immediately after getting out of the water? Cover up quickly with your handy island wrap!

21. Sun protection: getting a burn? Relocate your island wrap and burn no more.

22. Pillow: roll and sleep

23. The "E" part of RICE: elevate your leg on your stack of island wraps

24. Cat carrying: allergic to cats and need to relocated one? Toss it in your new allergy-proof cat carrier!

25. Turban: longing for a Middle Eastern look, or needing to get your wet hair out of the way? The island wrap can be fashioned into a delightful turban.

Our accidentally matching island wraps

26. Skirt: wardrobe malfunction? Your handy island wrap can also be worn as a skirt.

27. Blindfold: pin the tail on the donkey? Look no further for a handy blindfold.

28. Present: did you forget to buy a present for that friend on their birthday? Pull out one of your (many) not yet broken-in island wraps and there's a present for any lady.

29. Wrapping paper: got the present but no wrapping paper? Any island wrap can be fashioned into delightful gift wrap, trouble-free!

So there you have it. The 29 uses of an island wrap!

It's different this month

Picnicking before the month of fasting begins

I find it intriguing how an entire society can change to revolve around fasting. 

-- Every morning I hear a guy running around at 2AM telling people to eat before the sun rises.
-- Some nights the bakery next door will be baking bread at midnight. It's easier to smell fresh baked bread when you're allowed to eat it, rather than when you're fasting.
-- Shops stay open later in the afternoon, but then open later in the evening. Instead of being closed 1-5, they're closed 3-8. This way people cooking for their "breaking the fast feast" can shop later in the day rather than first thing in the morning. Shop owners who are going to pray at the last call to prayer reopen their shops after prayer.
-- Everyone is thinking about fasting. At the beginning of the month, the question everyone asked me was always "are you fasting? Did you fast today? Are you able to fast?" Now the question is "How many days did you do?" Islanders count their days of fasting so that, later in the year, they can make up for missed days if necessary.

A big baobab tree

-- Street food is GONE. I used to be able to grab mini samosas or other random snacks during the day if I didn't have time to cook. During this month it's almost all gone. Even the local-style restaurants that do meat kebabs and chicken wings are mostly not working this month.
-- Family becomes even more significant. Having a place to belong when you break the fast is important. It's the one time of the year when families sit down together for a meal regularly, instead of everyone eating whenever it's convenient. Pity the person who has to break the fast alone!
-- Music is missing. Now that we're nearing the end of the month, I'm starting to hear more music. Normally, everywhere you go during the day there's loud music somewhere. Now, almost all the music is chants of some sort. It's so quiet out!
-- There's a taxi "dead hour." You're not likely to catch a taxi 5:30-7:00 PM. All the drivers are off breaking their fast! Before 5:30, taxis tend to drive faster, trying to reach wherever they're breaking the fast before sunset.

Anyway, those are a few of the things that are different this month. It's kind of a fun month... but I'm glad it's only a month!