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Send
us your holiday experiences and views on your stay in Tobago
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| Send
us your holiday experiences and views on your stay in Tobago………. |
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OUR
TOBAGO HOLIDAY
by
Fran & Pau, Costa Brava, Spain
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We live in Spain and a couple of years ago we went with our
Mum & Dad to visit our Nan and her husband who live in Tobago.
We stayed at the Crown Point Hotel which was very nice as it
overlooked the beach and we could swim every day.
One day we went fishing and BBQ’d the Baracuda that we caught.
We saw lots of Humming birds and a beautiful Mot Mot, but best
of all was the waterfall. We also enjoyed the spicy food and
when we went back home we made some Salt Fish Fritters for our
friends at school and also done a class project to show them
about Tobago with pictures and stories.
Once we went to the reef on a glass bottom boat and later on
bought two sharks teeth and a carved calabash as souvenirs;
we even took the Cocomotion boat to go snorkeling far out in
the sea and finally, Dad rented a jet ski at Pigeon Point and
gave us a very fast, exciting ride.
We want to come back to Tobago if only to go fishing again.
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POSTCARDS FROM TOBAGO
By
Steve Rafferty, Norwich, U.K.
Tobago
is the only place I have found where I can totally switch off
when I'm on holiday. A 'mouse' means only a small furry creature
and a 'Blackberry' is a fruit that grows on a bush! After a
day getting over the arrival procedures, I can slip into the
gentle pace of life in Tobago; as gentle as the waves that just
manage to turn over at Pigeon Point beach. If you want things
done in a hurry dear visitor, you have come to the wrong place.
For me, the greatest charm of Tobago is the slow relaxing pace;
and what can you take away with you? Here is a tip - load a
picture of Pigeon Point jetty as your screen saver, it will
help to keep you cool and relaxed until your next visit!
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By
Bro. James & Sharon
N.Y
& London To describe Tobago in 250 words is almost impossible
and hardly fair to the island and its welcoming, friendly people;
so many things to do and see. Beautiful birds singing and feeding
as they dart around the flowers by our door: friendly
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little
bananaquit;
blackbirds and hummingbirds, and we cannot leave out the chacalaca
with no song to speak of, but a hauntingly funny cry.
Contented dogs, cats, goats and hens roaming around peaceful
streets. Gorgeous aromatic smells emanating from beautiful plants.
Take a trip to Pigeon Point. Stroll past the coconut trees along
the beach. You could call it Paradise. Have a dip in a sultry
lagoon pool whilst the reggae roots boats whip past and playful
dogs chase the speeding jet skis.
That is the upside of Tobago. Now for the downside! Be careful
when going to a restaurant and ordering crab and dumplings,
because what they call crab is really just two crab legs and
a gundy (pincer). How do I know? Because it happened to us,
and coming over from Trinidad you expect the whole crab. Waiters
were hiding behind the door snickering!
We've
been coming to Tobago since '96. We befriended the Rasta vendors
in the little huts on Store Bay front. On the second trip they
were nowhere to be found. I guess changes were made. All the
same it's nice and dandy. If you have a sweet tooth, walk to
the coconut water man and buy some candy!
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'SHAKIN'
MY THANG' IN TOBAGO
By
Maxine Bridgend, South Wales
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| In 2007 I visited
Tobago to spend 3 months with my relatives at the Hummingbird Hotel
in Crown Point. I attended Carnival J'ouvert, where I mastered the
art of the slow and fast wine (nothing to do with the drink). I
also went to the pan competitions, which is something that has to
be seen live. |
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I also went
to a concert called 'Gal Farm' where I saw Machel Montano the
Soca King, and other live performances. I got the chance to see
a leatherback turtle laying her eggs on the beach, which is a
once in a lifetime experience. Every morning I woke up to the
male and female Ant shrike, the tamest of Tobago's birds. On a
boat trip I saw dolphins, a turtle and a sail fish, then on to
No Man's Land where I had a beach BBQ and on to the Nylon Pool.
Easter weekend was Sunday School where I danced to the pan band
and drank lots of Rum Punch. I tried the local fish - yellow fin
tuna, red snapper, dolphin (mahi-mahi), flying fish and shark
and bake; my uncle taught me to cook lobster. My favourite local
foods are Doubles and Roti and I have become accustomed to exotic
foods from being here. Finally, I went to Parlatuvier, Castara
and Englishman's Bay. A most memorable experience was meeting
the Prince of my homeland Prince Charles and his wife Camilla
at Pigeon Point.
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MY
VACATION IN TOBAGO
By
Jon Mycal
Last
Easter my mom and I went to Tobago to visit my Grandad. As a
treat, my Grandad arranged for me to have some undersea adventures
through scuba diving lessons.
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The
instructor's name was Captain Johnny, who made me feel safe
and happy and the lessons were very interesting. I was too young
at the time so I could not get my Beginner's Certificate but
I hope to get it next time as I will be past 10 by then.
On
the days I wasn't diving I learnt to make and fly some Tobago
kites. My teachers were my neighbours, two brothers about my
age. We lost a couple in the treetops, but it was great fun
and we laughed a lot.
I also went to the Buccoo Reef Trust where we learnt about the
reef and the corals and fishes that live there as well as the
need for the reef to be protected.
It was a great holiday and I can't wait to visit Tobago again
and see what my Grandad has in store for me.
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Send
us your holiday experiences and views on your stay in Tobago………Here’s
the 4th in the series:-
WE
FELL IN LOVE WITH TOBAGO – By Egbert & Rose Schiele
 After
a lifetime of working in Germany, we holidayed in Barbados our favourite
destination, as well as taking two Caribbean cruises around 16 islands.
On our way home we met Gillian, a Trinidadian stewardess who sent us
photos and info. on Tobago which resulted in our first visit in 1993.
We did not regret it; we fell in love with Tobago! At first we
discovered Robinson Crusoe’s Cave, then Pigeon Point and all the
dreamlike beaches of the West Coast; also unforgettable days in the
wonderful rain forest and on Little Tobago. In Arnos Vale and
Copra House we admired the paradise of nature with such beautiful birds
and at Buccoo Bay we saw innumerable fishes. Last but not least,
we love the contact with the very friendly Tobagonians who now belong
to our circle of real friends and with whom we exchange letters and
calls, which are always a great pleasure!
This year we had our seventh visit to Tobago and we noticed a change,
 unfortunately
not to the better. Some people call it progress, but is that a
good friend for the future? We saw much more traffic, heard more
loud noise everywhere even at midnight and found problems with plastic
and other rubbish. For the first time we had a hard disappointment
when people showed us that money is much more important than friendship
and integrity. Is the greed for money a progress? Of course,
money belongs to the daily life of the modern world, but the greatest
good is where you live – your paradise Tobago!
Protect it from all bad influences – do it for you and your
children!
Send
us your holiday experiences and views on your stay in Tobago………Here’s
the 3rd in the series:-
Blessings
in Paradise – by Veronika Danzer
 This
is my 3rd time here in T&T and I’m enjoying it more than ever.
T&T has so much to offer and to share and in return I am sharing
my art with the people who are very gifted. It makes them very proud
and strong………especially the women here……….they
are full of energy.
It’s like you are joining a big FAMILY and everybody welcomes
you…………with love. I am getting a lot of inspiration
for my artwork here in these Islands. This is the right place for recharging
your batteries. So I am telling all my friends to ‘free your mind
and relax your soul’.
2004 was my first experience here…………I had a
wonderful time in Trinidad for Carnival and afterwards I enjoyed and
fell in love with Tobago. I have already motivated my friends and family
to come here.
One of my favourite hobbies is face painting and I had opportunities
at Carnival and Easter when I painted many faces including the one you
see here……….it was so much fun.
Send
us your holiday experiences and views on your stay in Tobago……….Here’s
the 2nd in the series:-
Coming
Home! by Maureen Heron
My
first impression on arriving in Tobago in 1999 was how much it reminded
of Jamaica as a child. People took the time to say good morning or good
night (at first I thought it was very strange being greeted with ‘good
night’ at 6 in the evening), and the thought of flagging down a
complete stranger’s car, getting in and paying him $2-$3 was unheard
of. Suffice to say I was completely smitten.Since coming to Tobago, I
have rekindled friendships with people I have known in the UK and made
so many new friends, each time I visit I feel like I am coming home. I
have also fallen victim to the Tobogonian male charm and I am happy to
say survived; ladies beware, the Tobogonian man’s chat up lines
are like nothing you have heard before!Despite the number of times I have
been to Tobago, I never tire of going to places like Sunday School to
people-watch, and of course my favourite, a trek in the rainforest. Today
the ‘tourism baby’ is growing rapidly and many flights from
Europe and America are vying for places on the landing strip. New villas,
apartments, and even a huge Shopping Mall are going up fast. You can get
all your favourites you thought you had left at home in the Supermarkets.
They had their first Jazz Festival in 2005 and I hear it will be an annual
event. In 1999 I felt as if I had stumbled on a little piece of Paradise
that not many people know about - today it’s a different story.
I think they call it progress.
THE
VIEW OF A LONG-TIME VISITOR TO TOBAGO
By Klaus-P Coeppicus 
Tobago
is one of the last jewels in the World – an Island with beautiful
rain forests and surrounded by fish-rich seawaters. It’s always
been lovely and lovable and is still so today. But there are signs that
this idyllic place is becoming more and more endangered. I believe that
the environmental mistakes in Europe, Asia and elsewhere need not be repeated
here.
The biggest problem I see is the increase in the amount of garbage and
how to discard it!
More and more durable plastic (bags, cups, containers) are available to
the public every day – these never rot! This is a time bomb and
work on intelligent solutions to this problem should be a priority i.e.
recycling & incineration for example.
Other waste includes various batteries which poison the environment and
which should have a central collection place. The beaches become spoilt
through lack of bins in which the public can place the ever-present Styrofoam
cups and food containers that people inevitably bring to the beach but
don’t take back home with them. The ocean does the rest! The people
need to be conscious of what they have and what they rely on if they want
to preserve this treasure for themselves and their children's future.
I have been coming to Tobago since 1992 having travelled widely to India,
U.S.A., Europe etc. and found that Tobago is the place I like the most
– it’s still hard to beat!!
I would like to see Tobago become an example to the World. All those with
responsibility for the Island should really do more. Regrets are no help
if it’s left too late!! Send your e-mails to – palmertobago@tstt.net.tt |
