Feteing

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The past two weeks have really been getting properly started with my research and, of course, getting ready for carnival.



Most week days we spend working - either going out and doing interviews or phoning around and sorting ourselves out. Thats another thng I love about Trinidad - everything is done by phone, no emails/texts. Its refreshing to actually talk to people and get to know them. Last weekend we went out again (standard) and ended up drinking at the main junction by our house at 4am with a guy who works in a shop which is basically a cage and our taxi driver. In hindsight, probably not the safest idea weve ever had, but being drunk and with two pretty big men, it seemed like a great idea! The next day we went to the beach to swim off our hangover. Maquripe beach is beautiful, its really tropical looking with rainforest all around. It also has three massive platforms you can dive into the sea off, it took me ALOT of guts to do that - so worth it though. The water is so clear too you can see the fish and everything around you! Theres also a zipline through the jungle by the beach which we went on.

We also went Caroni swamp this weekend. Someone we know knew someone and we got our own boat tour through the swamps, which are like loads of mangrove trees and stuff. We got to go fishing and catch catfish. And then at dusk thousands of Scarlet Ibis fly to an island in the centre of the swamp. Its such a peaceful place and an amazing thing to see!!





In the week I went to do research all around the island. Monday I went into Gran Couva, which is really dirt tracks and loads of farms. I also went up into Brasso Seco which is a small hunting community up in the depths of the Northern Range. Its a BEAUTIFUL place, all waterfalls and jungle everywhere. I also got to pick fresh fruit off the trees and eat it and I held a snake (it was tiny but stillllllllll). In a break from all this 'work' we went up to Mt St Benedict, which is a monetary high up in the hill behind my house. The view isnt great, Trinidad is a very flat island and unexciting island from above (sorry)! We did try the home made yoghurt up there though, which was pretty good!!



Despite this, the best part of the past two weeks HAS to be the carnival fetes. Honestly I cannot emphasize enough how amazing they are!!!!!! On Monday night to we went to Machel Monday. Machel Montano is like THE biggest person in Trinidad, within a day of being here I knew like all his songs because they're played everywhere all the time. (THIS is my fave

). The fetes are sort of like a mix between a party and a concert, they go on from like midnight until midday and everyone just goes for it the whole time. Last night I went to Insomnia fete (I still havent slept). Machel Montano was playing there too, he played when the sun rose and then afterwards everyone just kept dancing in the water cannons until like midday. After which we somehow managed to get in some peopels taxi home, which took forever because its the tiniest one lane road which was beyond busy. Theres also a chance we had a car crash, but no ones really sure because everyone was wining and drinking too much too notice.

Basically living here for nearly a month now, im completely obsessed with Soca music and carnival. I think it would be impossible not to be!

Tonight is J'ouvet which is the offical openng of carnival. You walk arounf the city between 2am and until it gets too hot and get paint mud and chocolate thrown everywhere. After this we go home, sleep as much as possible and then get ready for carnival! We managed to sort it out so that we could play mas (join a carnival band) cheap, which means Tuesday will be a longgggg day. Apparently playing mas is the best way to enjoy carnival though!

Anyway I need to try and get a few hours sleep before I leave for J'ouvet! I'll write again after carnival probably





PS We also got a paddling pool

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