On my Way

**A little 'SOCA' music - for those who don't know yet -- this is the official music of the Caribbean; derived from Calypso. Listen and enjoy the beauty and the lyrics from Machel Montano (From Trinidad & Tobago)! :))

Trinidad & Tobago

Country of my birth and unique all on it’s own, Trinidad & Tobago became independent in 1962. Trinidad coming from the word ‘Trinity’ (3 ships that rediscovered  the islands with Christopher Colombus) and Tobago from ‘Tobacco’ as Tobacco and Cotton were once a form of agriculture there. Two islands, one nation, that were ruled by the French, the Spanish, the Dutch, the Courlanders and the British (last and longest). Between the countries that ruled them and the people that settled there it’s history is rich and its beauty un-mistakable. 

Our first settlers/natives were the tribes of the Caribs and Arawaks, and after the Europeans settled, they brought slaves from Africa, and then the East-Indian Indentured Labourers. Because of the countries’ rich resources like the sugar-cane plantations, cocoa, tobacco, cotton and discovery of oil, Trinidad & Tobago attracted many others like the Chinese, Portuguese and Syrians. To this day, Trinidad & Tobago is known as one of the more affluent Caribbean islands and is known for its rain-forest landscape, and musical and exotic people who have won Nobel Peace Prizes, Miss Universe competitions and gold medals in the Olympics. A variety of religions, languages and diverse culture still lives on today.

Trinidad and Tobago is located in the Caribbean Sea at the bottom of the archipelago of islands right northeast off the coast of Venezuela (South America). It is heavily forested with hundreds of species of tropical birds and beautiful white and black sand beaches in it’s smaller twin-island Tobago.

In the 20th century Trinidad & Tobago was the only country to produce an acoustic instrument known as the ‘Steel-pan’ (Steel-drum) which was made out of old oil drums. It is commonly used all over the Caribbean and it is recognized not only in steel orchestras but world wide and even taught in schools.

But perhaps what Trinidad & Tobago is known best for is for it’s CARNIVAL. Which has been dubbed  as ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’. It is an annual event held on Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and is well-known for it’s colorful costumes and exuberant celebrations! 

We are 98% literate and take our sports of cricket and football (futbol) very seriously. The Red, Black and White of the national flag is to symbolize the warmth of the people, the earth and water respectively. The motto: ‘Together we aspire, together we achieve’ reminds us that we can’t succeed on our own but like our varied history we stand stronger together as one! :))

Love is the Answer

** Beautiful video, message and tune, filmed in Trinidad & Tobago - 'Represent' - One Love - Machel Montano & Freetown :)) - EnJoY!!

What is Love

**Remember this catchy tune from 1993? Another talent from none other than the exotic and unique isles of Trinidad & Tobago!! Nester Alexander Haddaway is a Trini representing us in Germany! Enjoy! :))

Keep Working Ladies

** Lovely groovy Soca tune from Trinidad & Tobago!!! Just empowers and lifts the spirit - doesn't it!?
Bless-up to all my strong ladies out there :))

Crying

** The lovely ‘Singing Sandra’ from Trinidad & Tobago. Calypsonian with a message to the people – you may remember ‘Die with My Dignity’:  

http://journeywithjair.blogspot.com/search/label/die%20with%20my%20dignity

And here’s another called: ‘Crying’ – ENJOY!! J

Old Time Days

** By Nappy Mayers of Trinidad & Tobago.
Beautiful lyrics.
Enjoy!! :))

Celebrating 50 years

**From the shores of the lovely twin-islands of Trinidad & Tobago, small islands with mighty and diverse people – producer of oil and natural gas – creator of the steel-pan – land of beautiful men and women – with Gold medalists, Nobel Laureates Prize winners, Musical Superstars and the BEST and SWEETEST Carnival in the WORLD – we celebrate 50 years of Independence! J God Bless our small Nation. ** Discipline, Production, Tolerance** Together we Aspire; Together we Achieve! J

Sweet Sweet TnT

A people without a culture, is a people without a soul.

Instead of pointing fingers and complaining, instead of only embracing your nationals when they do well. Have patriotism for your country today and everyday. Remember where you come from; it has help mold you into who you are. Help out how you can. And never forget prayer. It is - still - very powerful. Envision it, Believe it, Love it.

I believe in a new and improved Trinidad & Tobago.

Ah love yuh TnT! Now and Always...my Trinbago!

WE don't identify ourselves!

We have Halloween parties, we know who Coby Bryan is...but do we know who we are?

Do we embrace who we are as a people? Why not be proud of cricket, and steel-pan, and know who all our past Prime-Ministers are? We always trying to be somebody else. Why don't we just be content in who we are. In who we are as a people. Isn't that good enough?

You are a special, unique, talented individual of light, and the sooner you realize it; the sooner love will radiate and surround you. Here, in Trinbago and spreading to the Universe.

De Red, de white and black... don't love us for Carnival alone...love us everyday.The curfew is sad; but it's necessary for these steps to be taken. Sometimes we have to break down, before we can build ourselves up again...

Bless-up TnT!

Jair