Columbus Bay Lime

A couple weekends ago, Vinosh, a local manager-type who works at the refinery, took Kelly, the wife of a fellow UOP advisor, and I to Columbus Bay, a beach on the most Southern tip of the island. Columbus Bay is said to be the point at which Christopher Columbus first landed in Trinidad. The beach is surrounded by miles of coconut plantations and the "Three Sisters" (3 tiny islands) protrude just off the shoreline.

Vinosh ended up running into two of his friends while at the beach and they invited us to have dinner with them.  It turned in to quite the adventure as later that evening we ended up at Vinosh's friends home for a Fish Broth dinner (shown below) and drinks.  I always enjoy trying local food, especially if homemade, and it doesn't hurt enjoying the food with some locals as well.

54 Days Have Passed - Want Highlights?

I know I know it's been it has been 54 days since I last updated my blog; this was something I was afraid of when I first started. People even reminded me (thanks Liz) and I put the task on my to do list but somehow it kept getting pushed to the next day and the next and the 54th.....so here is a brief overview, well actually somewhat lengthy, of what has been happening.

As most of you know I am still in Trinidad. The assignment here seems to be taking one step forward and then two steps back which makes for great training!!

One day when the Instrument Advisor Ken, his wife Sylvia, and I were driving around because traffic was way too hectic to go to the beach they decided to show me a place that they found that made steel pans. The pans are all made by hand normally in someone’s back yard and for the final finish or color it is sent to a chrome shop. I ended up buying a steel pan (drum) as a practical souvenir! It makes great wall decoration and then I can take it down and play music when I am bored. The pan however did not stay with me in Trinidad too long after because my parents came down to visit again!

The purpose of my parents 2nd visit was two fold – to see their daughter (of course) but to also ship my pan back to their house so I would not have to fool with extra luggage at the airport whenever this assignment ends. Don’t I have the greatest parents in the world – thanks Mom and Dad! We ended up packing a ton of activities into a short period of time again. My parents actually went to see Pitch Lake before I have and I have been here for six months now. Pitch Lake is a lake made out of asphalt. It was raining when they arrived so they did not go on the tour but they took pictures.

                                          Pitch Lake                             Local Showing the Asphalt
That night I took them to see the turtles nesting on the beach because that was something my mom wanted to do the first visit but it was too early in the season. Again we walked out to the beach and met up with two leatherback turtles laying their eggs right next to each other (wonder if they are related?!?! Hahaha, just kidding) The group was not as large as when I went the last time so we could take up close and personal pictures!

Look at the length of that turtle!!

  

We were actually able to see two more turtles in the distance coming out of the ocean and slowly making their way onto the beach. Luckily we had already taken all of the pictures we needed and then it started to downpour. Since we were already wet and saw what we came to see we headed back to the hotel.

The next day we headed off to the Asa Wright Nature Center but of course since roads are not labeled here we went the scenic scenic route before we found the actual road we wanted; and without asking for directions! We arrived to the center an hour and a half before the scheduled tour was going to begin. Although the house did have a lovely old English charm I was not looking forward to spending that amount of time in a confined area on uncomfortable chairs. I asked the receptionist if there was anything to do and she explained that just shortly, about 10 minutes walk, up the road there was a clear water pool. This sounded great to me; my parents and I changed into our bathing suits and headed down to the pool. It was breathtaking creation. They directed the stream through the forest to collect in an area which was about 4 feet deep surrounded by stones. The pool flowed over a rock bed on the over side of the waterfall to continue down through the forest. I know my words are painting a wonderful picture but go ahead and see for yourself!

The tour of the center did not last more than an hour or so but we saw a few neat birds. My favorite was called the Bearded Bellbird and it sounds like they are hammering on an anvil when making their bird calls. It was the largest collection of leak cutting ants I have personally ever seen. Be careful not to step in the middle of their path or else you will be bitten – just ask my Mom! I did not have any ant bites but came out eaten alive from mosquitoes – I very much dislike those bugs. It made for wearing my Nomex and safety shoes on Monday quite enjoyable….not!

 

                                                                                                  Can you find the bird?

The next day we decided to take the sightseeing and adventure seeking easy and drove around the capital Port-of-Spain then upwards along the northwest coastline until it ends at Chaguarmas. My sister even joined us in spirit…

All and all the trip was awesome as expected and I enjoyed my parents visiting. Hopefully next time I see my parents it will be back in the states !

Idoko, one of our crew members, went back home for paternity leave because his wife Ruth was expecting to deliver their twin boys any day now. Idoko was replaced by another crew member, Eric, who travels with his wife, Kelly, who also happens to be approx. 3 months pregnant. Kind of ironic – is this a sign that the assignment will last another 6 months so we might need another replacement…oh goodness I hope not. It’s nice to have another gal here to hang out with although the boys are fun too :-)

No promises but I hope to not take this long to write another entry. I was recently introduced to Picasa and will try to implement that into my blog so y’all can see more pictures (and don’t have to read the boring words).  Enjoy the weekend!!

Trinidad Leatherback Turtle Nesting

The season for turtle nesting, or laying of eggs, is from March to July with the peak period during May and June.  Ken, the instrument advisor, his wife Sylvia and I drove up to Matura, Trinidad to try to see some turtles nesting on the beach.  People kept telling us that we probably would not see anything because it was too early but you really never know and we wanted to give it a shot.  The night could have not worked out any better.  After finally finding exactly where we needed to turn and reaching the beach, we joined a tour group that was leaving.  We walked right down to the beach area and over to a turtle that was in the beginning stages of nesting. 

The only time were allowed to take pictures of the turtle using the flash was when she was laying the eggs; so I tried in complete darkness and only seeing a little red from the guides lights to try to capture the entire turtle process.  The reason the guides use red light is because white light will distract and possibly disorient the turtle from the egg laying process but they have found no negative of using red light.  They can also use the red light to help guide the hatchlings to the sea safely.

Initially she was digging the hole to the correct depth to find the temperature of the sand suitable to lay her eggs.  When she gets her flippers swinging while digging the hole the sand flies fast! 

Once she finds the temperature she starts the egg laying process and lays about 100-120 eggs.

Just after she finishs laying is the only time to be able to weigh the turtle by using the tripod to lift her.  She weighs 839 pounds and is 154cm (~5ft) in length. 

(Weights vary between 600-1000 pounds & average length is 150cm)

After weighing the turtle then she proceeds to cover her nest with sand making the area all level.  After she finishes she may go anywhere from 2-20m away from her nest to make a decoy nest.  Our turtle went about 3m away.  That is the end of the egg laying process and she heads back out to sea.  She was a little disoriented with all the people who were standing in front of her but once we moved she seemed okay.  Leatherback turtles always have to keep swimming so they will travel around for hundreds of miles but they always manage to find their way back to the same spot where they were hatchlings themselves to lay their eggs.  Nature works in mysterious ways!

Ken named her Martha :-)

In ~60days her eggs will hatch and the little ones will make their way to the sea!  I hope to see that happening as well before I leave my assignment!!

Parents Visit Trinidad & Tobago

I have been on assignment now for a little over 3 months here in Trinidad and enjoying every aspect of work and relaxation.  My mom has been itching to come down here since the Christmas plans fell through.  Finally my dad had a weekend off and they were on the next plane out.  Due to the short time period in which they would be staying I had to cram in a lot of action to ensure they received the full experience.

I first took them to Maracas Beach to enjoy some local Bake and Shark.  Luckily we went later in the afternoon so it was not too crowed.  My dad was attempting to try to get a picture of a wave curling over and one with a wave crashing into me.  He would tell me to get ready so I could brace myself; however one time our communication was not in sync and I was caught in the wave.  Needless to say I went tumbling over and over again towards the shore.  My bathing suit bottoms are a little big so it felt as though they were going to slip off.  A thought flashed through my mind like in a movie that I would pop up from the water and see my suit bottoms floating away.  Luckily it was only a thought and tradegy was avoided!

The iguana that I saw running across the road into the tree.  The local here decided to interrupt my picture taking and grab him and walk off stating he was going to eat him.  Then we wanted pictures (since I spotted him) and he wanted $5USD...kind of a jerk move!  He wouldn't have had this treat if it wasn't for me!

Majority of the weekend was spent over in Tobago, the island approximately 8 miles north of Trinidad.  The plane ride takes 20 minutes which helps to maximize on activities when you are in a time crunch.  I had not yet been to Tobago so it was a new experience for everyone.  When you think of Caribbean you think of sandy white beaches with clear warm water - exactly what you see in Tobago.  Not many tourists so the experience was that much more relaxing.  We took a glass bottom boat tour which allowed you to see the ocean floor as the boat traveled into Buccoo Reef where we went snorkeling.

The boat tour also took us to the Nylon pool which is a sandbar, only waist deep, out in the middle of the ocean.  It was formed by decomposed coral.  The guide, Ringo, told us to take a handfull and rub over your skin for exfoliation - apparently you will feel 10 years younger...I think that is supposed to hook the elder folks of the crowd.  My skin did feel nice for all of 5 minutes.  We attempted to take some underwater pictures but those are now being developed the old fashioned way....didn't have digital! I will post those at a later date if any turned out.

Afterwards we drove around and through the forest preserve on the island.  Initially we kept having trouble recognizing which direction we needed to go at each fork (there were a lot of them) to stay on the main road because most roads do not appear on the map and a "main" road does not appear like a main road as you may think.  My dad and I navigated and told my mom which direction to go...sometimes we would disagree but we always managed to get on the correct route. 

For breakfast we ate at the Original House of Pancakes; now I know what y'all are all thinking ... there is an ihop there...?!  Well that is the same initial thought that crossed my mind but it is just a small mom/pop restaurant with large portions at the right price.  I recommend this place to anyway who visits.  The owner's name is Cathy who is originally from California but always wanted to retire and live on an island.  Super sweet woman that makes a mean chocolate pancake - yummy!

It was a good getaway and fun to have my parents be able to visit me on assignment.  Even though I was 8 miles from Trinidad I felt as though it was a destination in the middle of nowhere.  Quite relaxing.  I am ready to return!

The Lights Went Out in Trinidad!

Tonight was just another ordinary evening.  I was eating dinner and relaxing when all of a sudden my room went dark.  Yes, the lights went out in Trinidad...well actually only a few surrounding cities located near the hotel.  My room is equipped with an emergency back up light which they tested and found to be not functioning 2 weeks ago...which they still haven't fixed! 

The internet in my room stopped working as well so I decided to go out to the lobby of the hotel since I assumed they would have light - and they did.  After 30 minutes of sitting doing nothing I got bored so I walked around and took in the moonlite landscape and bay area - quite relaxing.

By this time it had been over an hour and nearing 10pm.  I figured that I would go back to the room and go to bed early.  I tested the shower- success there was still water! My computer provided a shred of light and I showered in almost complete darkness but the computer backlight helped a little.  Now I was refreshed and clean and ready for bed.  Not 5 minutes after I got out of the shower did the power come back on...but it was still fun to shower with moodlighting :-)

Now let's see how long it takes the hotel to fix my emergency back up light....Goodnight :-)

It's Carnival No More....

The festivities of Carnival 2k10 here in Trinidad has come to a close.  The season of Fete's which lasted from the day after Christmas until Ash Wednesday is no more.  Unfortunately I still have Fete fever but no cure...what is a girl to do now?!?!  I end up listening to Soca music which is the type of music played at the fetes and Carnival. 

So as my previous post mentioned I was going to attend J'ouvert where you get covered with mud and paint while drinking and dancing....BUT.....I was told misleading information and ended up missing the whole event!!  So no pictures which means I need to come back next year for Carnival to participate and document!

After work on Monday the younger crowd of the work crew headed up north to Port of Spain to witness the first day of Carnival.  On Monday the people who will be marching on Tuesday in costume will march the same route that day but not in costume.  It is more relaxed and everyone having a great time. 

On Tuesday starting early at 6am the parade starts and everyone are in elaborate costumes.  There are large music trucks associated with each Band playing music so they can march to the Soca beat - I swear that the sound coming out of those speakers when they pass by you will knock you down.  Definitely recommend wearing ear plugs!  There is a song that wins Carnival march and this year the song was Palance by JW & Blaze.  The song the wins Carnival march is then played at each judging point (there are 4 I was told) along the parade route.  At the end of the night we ended up by one of the judging areas; needless to say I was quite sick of Palance at that point but loved dancing to it every time!!!

Next time I am in Trinidad for Carnival I am playing Mas and I strongly recommed that if you like dancing then you too should play mas if ever in Trinidad at Carnival time - although registration is in August of the previous year so plan in advance :-)

^ Fanon & I Monday night

^ Melissa (local), Matt, Jeremy and I watching the parade of people dancing to Soca music

^ Sea of people marching Carnival Monday without costumes

^ Same sea (well not exactly) of people on Carnival Tuesday in costume

^ Jason (fellow refinery coworker) who marched Carnival Tuesday and I.  The orange headband is from Fanon's costume and the green neckgear is from Jason's costume. 

It's Carnival!!!!

Starting at 9pm tomorrow night the Carnival festivities officially begin; although the day after Christmas was the start of fun leading up to Carnival Monday and Tuesday (Feb. 15 & 16).  Even though we will have to be working during the day these two days we are going to definitely still go up north to Port-of-Spain to see everyone celebrating Carnival. 

The main event that locals and tourists participate in is called playing mas, which is where you are in a tribe within a band and march down the street having fun.  This normally occurs during the day on Monday and Tuesday but as soon as the sun goes down another kind of party beings called J'ouvert.  This starts at 9pm on Sunday and continues unti Ash Wednesday morning.  During this event there is music playing and people throwing mud, oil, paint and I have heard even chocolate into the air therefore by the end of the night you are covered - so I am will not be wearing anything nice!  I look forward to posting pictures of everything I participate in and get to see these next few days! 

Stay tuned...

My explainations regarding Carnival are somewhat elementary so you can Google more.