Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago is a relatively populous island nation off the Northern coast of South America that is generally considered part of the Caribbean, but it pushes the definition of what that means. There are about 30 separate islands in the country. The official language is English, but Trinidadian Creole and Tobagonian Creole are also spoken. The largest ethnic group is–ready for it?–Afro-Trinbagonian, and close behind is East Indian. Christianity is the most popular religion, followed by Hinduism, and also accompanied by Shouter or Spiritual Baptists and the Orisha (which can be termed African syncretic faiths). The terrain includes rainforests, plains, mountains, and wetlands, and the amount of biodiversity is high. Overall the climate is tropical. Native animal species include blanks the green loggerhead turtle, the silky anteater, and red howler monkeys. Mainstays of the economy include petroleum, tourism, and manufacturing. Trinidad and Tobago has a high level of development and financial success compared to most other countries in the Caribbean.

It seems like the nighttime is the right time to lime. Shade in Crown Point and the Mas Camp Pub in Port of Spain offer music and dancing, which is most likely to be soca or calypso, but may include Latin styles too. You can soak up a lot of East Indian culture in Trinidad and Tobago. Carapichaima has both the Indian Caribbean Museum and the Hanuman Murti and Davenna Yoga Centre and Ashram, which is housed in the only Southern IndianÔÇôstyle temple in the whole Western Hemisphere. The trip to Little Tobago, a bird sanctuary on an island that used to have a cotton plantation, includes snorkeling at Angel Reef. Diving in this area is supposed to be great, as are the views from the island’s hilltops.

Cornmeal, cassava, rice, and pumpkin are a few of many popular starchy staples. Typical vegetables include eggplant, tomatoes, cucumbers, and leafy greans. Pork, chicken, and seafood are commonly eaten. The cuisine is a blend of widely varying influences, including Chinese, Creole, African, and Lebanese cultures. For breakfast, you can have fried bake (a flatbread) along with buljol, which is saltfish with fresh peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and sometimes boiled eggs. Bake can be served with shark later in the day. Try macaroni pie, a bake-up of pasta with eggs and cheese. There are organic Caribbean restaurants, vegan-friendly menus, and health food stores in a few locations. Have naturally sweet treats of local fruit. There are acerola cherries, starfruit, tamarinds, and dozens of kinds of mangoes, so you can taste widely and figure out what you like.