Lime like a Trini

  Photo by Trevette Ramlakhan here On a regular work day Ariapita Avenue is business as usual serving customers and provides a quick lunch stop for many persons working in the Port of Spain area but by night, it comes alive as one of the most exciting things to do. As you may know by now, Trinis love a lime and trust me when I say we don't let things like a silly weekday stop that. I'll tell you something ; the avenue is open every week night. Yes, I said week night because we know how to go to work, take a power nap, reach a party and make it to work the next day normal. This is the land of party and vibes. Situated near the capital city, the avenue is packed with bars and lounges to cater to every budget. Local 'rumshops' for cheap beer and alcohol and fancy or 'stush' lounges that charge cover fees for entry (without drinks, lawd a mercy).  Photo by Stephanie Lalla here A popular habit is to go bar hopping usually from 10pm on til...

Whether you're visiting home after a while, or just need to know what the yout and dem saying here's a quick guide. Now I want to make it clear, Trini slang is different from other Caribbean regions' slang. A lot of tourists compare our dialect to Jamaican but don't say that to either country before you get a cut eye. However, since the country is a mix of all ethnicities, races and people there will be some cross twang but this post will feature general words utilised throughout the nation. 1. Lime / liming - Not only a fruit but this also means 'hanging out' or 'going out' usually with friends. A lime may or may not include alcohol. Sentences include: I feeling to lime. When last you lime with her? When we liming? I having a lime by me tonight. 2. Wine/wining - Similar to 'grinding' not necessarily sexual but definitely flirtatious. Lots of hip movement, common in every lime or fete. Sentences include: She could real wine. Watch h...

Welcome to Hotel 21 where all your fantasies come true. The play opened with a raunchy rendition of Britney Spears' "Gimme More" and for a second I thought I bought tickets for the wrong kind of "play."  Without giving too much away from the plot, it focuses around a annoying persistent police inspector who is investigating the premises in connection with a 5 million dollar robbery that happened a month before. What follows is the inspector's seemingly daft interrogation of the girls including the hotel's madam (played by Nikki Crosby) as they pass in and out of the hotel lobby. Packed with laughs, pokes at ministries, police and union officials patronizing the hotel the comedy unfolded into a riveting end. Whilst we were prohibited from taking flash photography and recording videos of the performance, believe me when I say I had a barrel of laughs. The ticket price was $250 for reserved which included a complimentary tea pl...

La Brea's pitch lake the largest natural asphalt deposit in the world. Known to cure many skin conditions and join pains, visitors are encouraged to bathe in the 75 meter deep, sulphur rich pools. Legend says the Amerindian people called it 'piche' and believed the lake swallowed a tribe because they ate hummingbirds. Thus it was created as punishment by the Gods and many Amerindian artifacts have surfaced which are on display at the museum. Another says two lovers from different Amerindian tribes could not bear to be apart so after the girl left the La Brea tribe to be with her prince. The father's tribe sought to return his daughter and battle the Cumana tribe but this angered an Arawak God that sucked the tribe into the earth, replacing it with pitch. (Watch nah that have me rolling like an episode of those Indian soap opera my mother does watch every week) It was concluded that the Spanish began refining it in 1782 calling it "Tierra de Brea...

Ready for an adventure?  Turure Watersteps is located in Cumaca, east of the island of Trinidad and requires a 45 minute trek to get to the limestone steps and glistening pools. I did this hike with a nature group called Outdoor TT which wasn't my first time with them. The team is really friendly and takes good care of both their experienced and first time hikers.  The trek was rated a 3/10 on the website but I'd admit it was a little more engaging than I anticipated. A lot of hilly climbs and three streams to walk through before reaching the base of the steps. (Watch nah, you shoulda see yuh girl in action, climbing rocks and holding on to tree branches like a monkey).  The streams are shallow, in case you were wondering not reaching past knee height. When we got to the base I was pretty disappointed at first. (All that hiking, for this little piece ah ting? NAH!) The guides told us there are taller steps and deeper pools if we dared t...

By now I don't think the Green Market is a stranger on anybody's lips. (But just in case yuh ain't out dey) . This wonderful, bustling market operates like a loving, tight knit family, supporting local organic farmers for both fresh produce and cooked foods. The 3rd annual Pineapple festival, by the name alone featured lots of homegrown produce and food varieties that were sure to please. Their Instagram page is very active and posts updates regularly so make sure to follow for cool events in the future (I plan to attend their first Coffee day on 17 Jun 2017, doh tell my teachers I breaking biche).  Now, I've been to the market many times before. All of the vendors are friendly and welcoming, (Meh favorite is that Venezulan lady, oh gad them arepas and pulled pork does lash). Another crowd pleaser is the chow man, Brian , carefully blending spices and hot peppers to present a visually appealing bowl of chow...mmm a real Trini delight!  Admission...

 Photo by: Earthwatch Each year between March to September more than 10,000 turtles visit the warm Trinidad shores to nest in the island's beaches. One of the most popular beaches is located in the village of Grand Riviere. which is visited by both local and international nature seekers alike, turtle watching is one of the many exciting activities that one can partake on the island. The experience was one like no other, we drove for what felt like ages (you know them country people does tell you it right dey and is a whole 45 mins you driving). When we finally got to the beach, in the dead of night, tour guides greeted us and lead us to the beach. It was a short trek and they explained the rules to us on the way; no flash photography before the mother turtle has started laying, don't startle the turtles and don't steal any eggs. Soon enough large dark bodies emerged from the ocean and let me tell you, I misjudged their sizes. They are HUGE anim...