What is chow? It’s basically a seasoned,
spicy fruit salad. The best part about
chow is its versatility. It can be made with virtually any unripe fruit you
have on hand. Mango and pineapple chow are current favorites, but I’m sure
there are chow connoisseurs that may disagree!
Take the poll below and let us know which is your
favorite fruit for making chow!
Which is your favorite type of CHOW
One thing that must be known the world over
is the love a Trinbagonian has for his stomach. We love food especially when
it’s chow time. This infamous snack can be found anywhere in Trinidad and
Tobago!
I consider myself a bit of a “Chow expert”. I
have made chow with almost every fruit you can think of, both local and foreign
fruits. Check out all the different type of chows below! The best part is, you
can find a chow vendor on every part of the island, but be sure to check out
Mic Dev’s on your next trip to Tobago!!
Little Tobago, also known as Bird of
Paradise, is a star-shaped mountainous island located off the coast of
Speyside. This small offshore island is one of the most spectacular seabird
sanctuaries in the Caribbean. Long ago, Little Tobago was a preferred
hiding spot for pirates but were driven from their rocky shelters of the
coastlines when agriculture and trade started to flourish in this part of
the West Indies,
In Tobago’s declining economy of the 19th
century, Little Tobago lost a lot of its value, and in 1898, Sir William Ingram
was able to purchase it for only £225. Sir William’s pet project was the
importation of pet birds. In 1909, he spent a whopping £1,000 on twenty-four
pairs of Birds of Paradise from New Guinea.
Since the splendidly-feathered animals were not able to fly the 1.5
miles to the Tobago 'mainland’, they remained in Little Tobago. When Sir
William died, they started to be neglected, and their numbers dwindled. The
birds survived on the island until at least 1958 when they were filmed by a
National Geographic crew. In the middle of the 20th century, Hurricane Flora
swept over the island, and the precious birds were all swept out to the sea and
drowned.
For many years, the main attraction of the
trip to Little Tobago has been the birds but the trip has much more to offer! Have you ever had the pleasure of meeting a
lazy barracuda? Have you seen the long tail streamer that came very close to
beating the scarlet ibis to the title of our national bird? How about viewing
the remains of the largest brain coral in the western hemisphere? Three hours
spent on and around the Island is enough for an adventure that will live long
in your memory.
UP FOR SOME ADRENALINE?? Jump off Tobago’s highest waterfall!!
At 175 feet (54 meters), Argyle, Tobago’s highest waterfall attracts locals and foreigners to its cascade of cool, crisp water that flows down from three dramatic levels. Located on the northeast side of Tobago, the falls are just outside Roxborough, on the Scarborough road (only a few hundred metres from the road to Bloody Bay along the Caribbean coast).
The Roxborough Visitor Service Co-op office serves as the entrance. Encircled by lush green foliage, the waterfall is accessed after a 15-20 minute trek along a clearly marked trail. Along the way you are greeted by butterflies and a variety of birds. But before heading off you must pay an entrance fee of TT$50 at the office. If you wish you can hire a guide for an additional fee.
With 3 levels, the thunderous sound of the waterfall is heard long before you see it. The height of the first cascade hides the real splendor of Argyle’s upper levels. If you are adventurous you can hike up a bushy path on the right hand side to the second level, where you are greeted by a thick mist. At this level, you can lie in several natural rock tubs and let the water rush over your body. Finally, going further the third pool, though the smallest is the deepest and the best for swimming, inviting you to dive, jump or swing into the water from available vines.
THISHINDU TEMPLE ISTESTAMENTOF ONE MAN’S LOVE OF HINDUISM.
The Waterloo Temple, better known as Temple in the Sea, is an octagonal- shaped colorful structure built through perseverance and strength. At the entrance of the temple, stands a statue of its designer Seewdas Sadhu. Flags and statues adorn the temple’s perimeter. Before entering, you must remove your shoes because once inside, you are on holy ground. The beauty of reverence is reflected in the well-crafted murtis of various Hindu deities and flowers adorned around them.
The temple was first built in 1947 by indentured labourer Sadhu, whose dream was to build a place of worship. That dream was short lived though, as five years later, it was destroyed by the government of the time since it was built on State-owned Caroni land. Not discouraged, Sadhu rebuilt the temple – this time in the sea to avoid further incident. For the next 25 years, Sadhu dedicated himself to completing the temple. On his bicycle and in a leather bag, he carried stone by stone, assembling the base of the temple.
The temple stood for many years, enjoyed by many before Sadhu's death in 1970. It sadly became neglected after his death and was reclaimed by the sea after years of erosion, which upset both Hindus and non-Hindus alike. In 1994, local businessmen rallied together to have the temple built for a third time, and in conjunction with the Government, the temple that still stands today began construction in 1994. Upon completion in 1995 it was consecrated as the Sewdass Sadhu Shiv Mandir with a new pier allowing persons to have access during high tide and a statue of Sewdass Sadhu, proudly standing on the shore.
The site is an active prayer site, often used for weddings, pooja ceremonies and cremations as the Waterloo Cremation Site is next to the grounds of the temple.
Check out some of the photos below and be sure to stop by on your next visit to central Trinidad!!
WHAT
DOES A HUMMINGBIRD AND A TAR BABY HAVE IN COMMON?
Well, if you're in Trinidad, the world's largest asphalt lake burst open here, according to indigenous Amerindians; it was created by the Gods as punishment. Legend has it the lake swallowed an entire tribe after they ate humming birds which were believed to be the souls of their departed ancestors.
But seriously, the Pitch Lake located at La Brea in southwest Trinidad fondly called the "Eight Wonder of the World" by villagers is still a source of amazement and mystery. The Pitch Lake is the largest natural deposit of asphalt in the world and a major supplier to the international market.
The Spaniards, who ‘discovered’ Trinidad, called the area La Brea (tar), and the name still sticks (Oh, Gawd, not again!). Ever since, its pitch has been used to asphalt roads from New York to London to Lord alone knows where. The lake, surrounded by lush cashew and mango tree, and factories for pitch refinement, ‘lives and breathes’ in constant motion, pushing up the remains of prehistoric creatures such as a giant sloth, a mastodon’s tooth and tree trunks 3,000 or more years old.
A recent study connected to the European Space Agency, discovered there are living microbes beneath the asphalt’s surface, which may one day help answer the question whether or not life exists on other planets! Spanning some 109 acres, the lake appears like a huge oval-shaped car park, but on closer inspection, it looks like very dark clay, with rough undulating patches.
Visitors can walk on the surface and you might feel it is alive – with its hissing and burping sounds. Small pools of water form on it during the rainy season and you can bathe in them. They contain high levels of sulfur and villagers claim they are the fountains of life, good for curing anything from skin conditions to joint pain.
Check out the video and be sure to visit on your next trip down south!
So...you're visiting trini and a little birdy
told me you're a nature lover? Well, you've come to the right place!! Asa
Wright Nature Centre is home to more than 400 species of native birds
thanks to diverse habitats and close proximity to South America., plus 55
different reptile species, 25 amphibians, more than 600 butterflies and more
than 2,000 types of flowering plants. In short, northern Trinidad's Asa Wright
Nature Centre a former cocoa estate, home to avifauna ranging from jewel-like
hummingbirds to cave-dwelling oilbirds. So pack your cameras and come on down.
You can see dozens of species without ever leaving the estate house verandah
and is bursting at the seams; it's the ultimate stop for both novice and
experienced bird-watchers and nature lovers.
A paradise for birders, the Asa Wright Nature
Centre & Lodge encompasses 1,500 acres of dense forest in the Arima and
Aripo Valleys. Hummingbirds, woodcreepers, pygmy owls, trogons, and the rare
nocturnal oilbird are just some of the avian species spotted at this former
cocoa, coffee, and citrus plantation. You can sign up for a birding tour, enjoy
lunch or high tea on the verandah, or stay at one of the cottages here. Income
from guests funds conservation of the surrounding forest, new land purchases, and
environmental educational programs.
Asa Wright Nature Centre is open daily from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. The property's $6 to $10 USD admission fee includes a guided
tour at 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. On-site facilities include restrooms, parking,
and a small gift shop. Lunch is also offered on the property but costs an
additional fee and requires reservations prior to arrival.
