Trinidad and Tobago (a very different trip!!)

As I said in my last blog I was invited to Trinidad for a wedding by my friend Jenny, her niece was getting married, a very large wedding, with 5 days of celebrations and my wardrobe had to be extensive! We arrived, and as I had been warned, very hot, no need to ask temperature (just hot and humid)! We stayed with Jenny’s sister, Val (lovely lady) she has large home in the rural area of Trinidad, family owns number of furniture stores on the island, the house had 2 very large floors with bedrooms and bathrooms off to the side, so the first floor was reception area, and second floor was set up with many beds for visitor’s. I think maybe 15 people were staying there and I was lucky enough to have actual bedroom that had air conditioner, only drawback it was the main walkway to the shower and the bathroom everyone liked to use! The first night we arrived, there was a traditional henna and manicure party (called mehndi night), lady did the henna, which I had put on my leg, it wears off in 2 weeks and I had design put on my nails with rhinestones (very fancy). I went to bed early, and the next morning I awoke to hear the news, sadly
The groom’s grandfather passed away the night before, and Dale, the Groom was very close to him, so the bride-to-be Shivani, made the decision to postpone wedding. Now this was very difficult decision, people were already there from all over the world; in the Hindu tradition, the senior person (called the pundit) from the temple has to be the person that decides on the next date for the wedding (preferably in 6 months). The jewelry and the wardrobe would all come home unworn!! Jenny and I just continued our trip, and next day set out in the Land Cruiser for shopping, parked the car, no problem, but when we came back to car side back window had been shattered and apparently, which we didn’t know that a computer was on floor in back with sizable amount of US cash inside, to be used for wedding (not anymore more). We called the police and started the long wait, a car drove up and BK sister Uma arrived with believe or not hot picnic lunch with the entire trimmings (unbelievable, but lovely).

Finally we drove car to police Station, and waited until all the interviews were over, the Trinidad Police males and females were very imposing and I wouldn’t want to be on their bad side!!! It all took hours for interviews fingerprinting,

pictures, etc., and I think we got home by about 10pm, it was long rough day for Jenny. We decided to go to Tobago early and Jenny’s Brother had very kindly given us apartment, and when we arrived I discovered very fancy bathroom, but no hot water, I grew to tolerate that because we were in the Tropics, so lukewarm water was okay, but for me to discover the next morning that there no water at all, was major problem, the caretaker for the house hadn’t told us we were operating with last tank of water and the town had turned off water for repair, we had to find the guesthouse and move, which was a real pain. Oh! I forgot to say plane to Tobago (20 minute ride), got us there and couldn’t land, so we went back to Trinidad, only to try again few minutes later, and we finally arrived in Tobago. Back to the guesthouse story, at this point I decided this whole trip was jinxed, and wondered what would happen next. We found a pretty guesthouse, when I travel I always I flush toilet, turn on shower and check for hot water in any new room. So when I flushed toilet, it wouldn’t work, and made a very loud noise, so we were waiting for an hour while they made up another room.
Tobago is beautiful island, with deserted beaches, and we drove the whole Island in 2 days.

We went back to Jenny’s sister’s house, in Trinidad, for last night and I had to get up at 1am for airport. A cousin’s birthday party was planned for that evening, but I went to bed, which was silly because the music started at 7pm and was still going when I left house at 2am for airport.
Wow what a trip! It was very stressful week for all!! I came home with allergy to something, and went to walk in clinic, but am fine, also Dale the groom was in car accident, while we were in Tobago, but he is okay. I wish only the very best for Dale and Shivani.