Mixin' it up

Monkey Business: 14 May 08

Waterloo Mandir

And so the journey continues, which literally means there are too many photos for one post…

After the heady excitement of the Pitch Lake, we took an unofficial stop at a “puja shop” to buy a prayer flag for Penawar’s garden (and taste even more snacks).  Back on the bus, Jesse drove us north along an interesting coastal corridor.  This took us past busy oil refineries (a source of this country’s wealth) and huge industrial depots, through open fields that were recently once home to large sugar cane plantations and into pretty fishing villages.  Trinidad isn’t a huge island; it would only take a few hours to drive from one side to the other.

Shiva guards the Mandir entrance

At the village of Waterloo, we pulled into the Siew Dass Sadhu Temple, a white onion domed structure at the end of a pier built out into the shallow Gulf of Paria.  This temple took Siew Dass, an indentured Indian labourer some 25 years to build by hand. It's certainly a monument to resilience in the face of adversity.  His dream project finally came to fruition many years later when in 1995 it became part of a Government project to celebrate the 150^th year of Indian arrival in Trinidad.  Now it is a meditative temple, home to expressive statues of Hindu gods and the site of an open-air crematorium.  Colourful prayer flags flap in trade winds – petitions for prosperity and good fortune, while surrounding mudflats are a peaceful home to a large array of Trinidad’s birdlife.

Hanuman Murti

A little further on, we saw monkeys.  Well one big one actually!  Eighty-five feet in all, the Hanuman Murti stands in colourful splendour, looking over a bright pink and very intricate Hindu Temple.  I felt as if I was suddenly whisked back to Delhi!  Did I have my cute little ruby slippers on that day?  No, but isn’t it interesting to see how life is cut, styled and moulded by cultural differences.  The Caribbean zest for colour just cannot be contained.  Now that’s deep for a post and for 5am on a Tuesday morning!

How is this for a tropical flower?

No elephants 'ere

Pitch & Chutney: 14 May 09

Pitch Lake Beauty

Never let it be said that you starve when you do a tour with Jesse James!  This time we managed to snack our way down south to Pitch Lake.  We munched on saheena, phulourie, doubles and aloo pies, tasted unusual local fruits (pomerac) and scoffed tooth-achingly sweet barfi.  All this before our substantial roti “wrap” for lunch.  I had the chicken – with bones!, laced with channa & a potato curry filling, a little chutney and NO pepper sauce, thanks!! 

Gooey "Mother of the Lake" pitch

Despite the Pitch Lake having a reputation as a tourist non-event, it was actually quite interesting.  Rediscovered by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1595 when he needed to caulk his ships, the lake is still worked today.  Refined pitch is in fact asphalt, and its quality is said to be the best in the world, if you’re into that kind of thing.  We’re told the road in front of Buckingham Palace is paved with it, but you can’t help but wonder how they managed to load up all that black messy goo to transport it back in sailing ships.  At least they wouldn’t leak….

Pitch Lake Reflection

Our guide patiently explained the lake’s complex geology, as we poked and prodded our way around its surface.  Some parts are very soft (mother of the lake), some parts burp methane gas, others collect pools of therapeutic sulphuric water and generally it exudes mild smells of rotten eggs.  Otherwise, its pleats and folds resemble the backside of a very large elephant.  Don’t stand too long in one spot either or you’ll start to sink into its spongy mass.  Not to worry if you do, the lake manages to turn itself over every few months, so you’d be coughed up & spat out….eventually.

"Fountain of Youth" sulphur water

The photo above shows the ghastly green and warm (but very good for you) waters of the lake.  The masses come to bathe in it.  Remedy for all ailments so we were told.  Even said to be the fountain of youth.

So our GS is waiting for these therapeutic properties of the lake’s fountain of youth to kick in.  And waiting. Still waiting.

Not working yet?  Oh well...

Glamour Puss

Barkin’ Mad: 6 May 09

Model Manners

This will not be a long post.  Let the photos speak for themselves.  And so, on with our fairytale:

Once upon a time at a Roti Hut “potluck” deep in Chaguaramas backwaters, a stranger joined our group for a chat.  Worse luck!  He was an Aussie (the accent was a dead give-away!).  “I’m looking for a handsome man” he said, eyes twinkling and gold tooth sparkling.  “Yep, righto” we all thought!

Barker's Bow Ties

Near enough to the next day, the Cap’n was delivered a calling card from The Admiral, who sat in splendour aboard his barge, Bow Tie Lady.  “Report to said film studio” he ordered “to meet glamorous makeup lady, professional photographer, and efficient management consultant”.  "But first, off to see hair stylist to the stars." And so we did; Mrs Cap’n riding shotgun (just to be safe & sure)! 

Strike a pose.  And another!  Work that floor….you got it goin’ boy! 

Afterwards, the Cap’n swept on his darkers (Trini for sunnies) a la CSI Miami style & the Crew squealed (we’d had a few wines by then!).  To maintain his incognito status (thus avoiding fan mobbings, silly!), home we travelled in a local, but nicely appointed mini-bus appropriately called “Obama”.

Dressed to Kill

Soon to be advertisement fodder on a website for bow ties, himself now has 5 mins of credit up on his 15 minutes of fame.  The Admiral, task achieved, then sailed off into the sunset (actually for St Lucia). 

Strange but (nearly) true!

PS.  Himself's Press Agent (now that he's a professional, you know) has asked the Ed to include Peter Barker Bow Ties web site in order for you to see more of his modelling portfolio.  Of course, ahem!   Links will be established when said web site is ready to go to air. Bet you can't wait......

(Ed Note, 2010.  A note to report that sadly himself & said bowties are no longer on air.  Peter is still sailing (somewhere) but the new business apparently not!)

Giving 'em the twitters

A Bird in the Hand: 5 May 09

Discovery Trail

Delayed yet again by broken or missing replacement parts, Cap’n & Crew headed out for a little local bird watching….twitchers or just plain twits?  After an early start, and snacked up on “doubles” and “saheenas”, our group arrived at the Asa Wright Nature Centre, hidden up high in the hills behind Port of Spain.  A former coffee and cocoa plantation, the centre is now an award winning eco-reserve; an old planters house (1907) set in a lush tropical rainforest reserve.  We took a tour, led by knowledgeable naturalist Molly, to see tiny, shy, flittery birds.  Only one, which resembled a tawny frogmouth, seemed to match our beefy birdlife.  He watched with disdain as we desperately tried to take photos, yawning offhandedly as we moved on down Discovery Trail.

Feeding Birdies

After lunch in the main house buildings, the Cap’n & Crew were the only takers to brave icy mountain waters of nearby Clearwater Pool for a refreshing dip – our very first swim of the season!  Too lazy to walk back up the hill to the change shed, we stripped off our wet bathers at water's edge.  It was only then that Cap’n Observant noticed a security camera!!  Bird watching of a different variety and I'm sure highly amusing for security staff.  Damn……

Jhandi Flying

Leaving the steep hills of the Northern Range, our drive took us onto the flat lands of the Caroni Plains, home to many descendents of indentured Indian workers who replaced freed slaves in 1840’s.  Hindus only make up about 24% of the population (more are of East Indian descent) as many had to convert to Catholicism during Spain’s long period of rule.  It was a requirement then to be Catholic to marry or own land.  Reminiscent of prayer flags in Nepal, many Hindu homes fly colourful flags (jhandi) on bamboo stakes to appease gods and bring blessings.

Caroni Swamp

Once at 9^th Cut, we boarded our open pirogue for a little bird watching in the Caroni Swamp, an intriguing & somewhat brackish 40 sq kilometres of mangroves, marshes and tidal lagoons.  Trinidad’s national bird, the scarlet ibis, calls this home.  Our boatman, resplendent in gold “herb leaf” (da smokin’ kine, mon) ear studs, took us through a maze of channels to see blue heron, white egret and one lonely, green tree python.  Just before dusk, we moved as closely and quietly as possible, to a designated roosting island.  Whilst our guide book mentions viewing flocks of 12000 scarlet ibis, we still felt fortunate to see hundreds of these almost luminous, bright red birds swirling through the soft evening light.  Unfortunately, unless kitted up with the latest high-tech birding cameras, catching them on film is nearly impossible.

Buying Doubles

We ended a successful day out slurping on home-made rum & raisin ice-cream from Point Cumana.  This somewhat run-down area is home of “rum & coke”.  Now a little less popular than in the 1940’s, Fernandes Rum Bar was frequented by visiting US soldiers during their stay at a nearby military base in Chaguaramas.  Now sing with me to Lord Invader’s  (he's not a Star Wars character!) calypso tune… "

Drinking rum and coca-cola,

goin' down to Point Cumana. 

Both mother and daughter,

working for the Yankee dollar…..” 

Hare's to Exercise

POSH Times: 2 May 09

Post-POSH HASH Gathering

We are starting to feel like locals.  Missing the morning net (VHF 68) can cause tantrums; bargains are missed and social events left unattended.  So, in the interests of furthering our Trini lifestyle, we answered a call to the Port of Spain Hash (POSH).  Fellow cruisers from S Y Paradise gave us a lift to the run site - they have a car!  Manuela & I instantly had a lot in common – she had broken her ankle at a recent hash run and was in plaster up to her knee. 

Cashew Nut Fruit

The Cap’n ran with Sid & the pack – a very fit looking lot I must say, and the GS ambled about with the walkers until the Hares came to rescue them, lost deep in gravel pits.  Their paper trail led us through groves of cashew nuts, past papaya plantations, around coffee and cocoa trees and into a bit of wild sugar cane for good measure.  Fortunately we saw little wildlife, only a few grazing milkers startled by our appearance in their paddock when we took a shortcut. 

Pack in a Pit

Later at the circle, the Grand Mistress saluted us (and many others) as virgins although we were newcomers really, and made the necessary “awards” to the Hares and major offenders.  Cap’n wore his Phuket shirt (which the locals think is hilariously rude!) and GS her Kathmandu one (Africa somewhere perhaps?).  

The local and very small village of Ravine Sable (said raa vin sar blur) tolerated the influx of noisy hashers, music and dancing in the streets.  A nearby roti hut had all the village ladies out rolling dough I'm sure and made a fortune by supplying substantial chicken or veggie “wraps” laced with mango chutney and ubiquitous pepper sauce.

Jungle Trail

With any luck we will be around for the next run.  It’s a great way to see Trinidad countryside first hand, meet people who don’t sail, sink a few local brews (Carib, Stag and black rums) and find out how unfit you really are!!!  ON ON….