Photo Diary - Week 2 - Tobago

The End Of The Start - Week 2 Update

Week 2! A polar opposite of week 1? Well not quite, but it does write a completely different story. For all of week 1's lounging, sunbathing and drinking (which are still ever present), week 2 contains a whole lot of walking, driving, snorkeling, hiking, diving and just generally doing a hell of a lot more.

With the addition of a car, the whole of the 40km long, 10km wide island is easily accessible... or so we thought, until we actually tried to drive round it. The winding, potholed, steep roads make even the slowest of drives across the east third of the island an adrenaline-fueled adventure, accompanied by the smell of cooking brakes and Kim's vomit (yes, again), in a car that makes Kim's 1L speed wagon (Toyota Yaris) look like it has the acceleration of a Ferrari.

Argyle Falls

Our first trip out, with only half the party daring to attempt the most heinous of holiday activities (exercise), was to go to Argyle Waterfall. The falls had been described as a must do in Tobago, with which I completely agree. When arriving at the falls we were quickly approached by our three guides who clambered out from under the car next to where we had parked; the first two appeared fit and healthy if not a bit small, the third looked to be rather crippled, unable to bend his leg, but after the initial showboating for attention walked around perfectly fine. The guides stuck with us all day, never once getting annoyed at us when we were slower up the trails than they were, but often getting in our way during the tricky bits. One even left us towards the end when he realised another group of tourists might pay out better than us, but that was the one covered in fleas so we didn't overly mind. Oh, probably should have mentioned they were three stray dogs, which we affectionately named Fido, Bruce, and Sheila. The Falls, a 54m stepped cascade had approximately 6 platforms with natural jacuzzis and deep pools for lounging around. Today was definitely 'an early bird catches the worm' moment, we had the whole falls to ourselves for all our dips in the cool, welcome water on a hot, 30 degree day. Several other groups had turned up by the time we made our way back down the falls, and whilst the pools were deep, more than a handful of people made them look incredibly crowded.

Fido and Sheila

Pigeon Point

After the first week's discovery of the idyllic Stonehaven Bay I thought we'd be hard pressed to find anything better, but Pigeon Point and Pirates Bay come very close if not slightly better.
      Pigeon Point is a stretch of Beach that stretches its white, powdery sand down the West side of the island, complete with crystal clear waters making the view truly majestic. The only downside is that to enjoy the most picturesque area (photographed right), you have to pay a whopping TT$20 or about £2.20.

Pirates Bay

   


Pirates Bay, a short but steep 15 minute walk up and down from Charlottesville lies in a cove with high forested hills all around, giving much the impression of being abandoned on a paradise island just like in Lost. This was also the location of the worst toilet we have seen so far, of which you will be pleased to see the photos once I have created an addition to our blog ...... Travel Bogs. Again, not to big these places up too much, they do have a downside; Pirates Bay is one of the most easterly points on the island, which despite only being about 25-30km away as the crow flies took us over an hour and a half to reach due to reasons stated earlier.

Manta Ray on Buccoo Reef

Definitely my favourite part of being on a Caribbean island has to be the opportunity to see amazing sea life. Along the rocks on most beaches and in reefs just off the shore, a vast range of colourful fish, eels, squids and rays are just waiting to be disturbed by some idiot splashing along, making Darth Vader noises through a plastic mouthpiece.
       An early morning glass bottomed boat trip gave by far the best chance to see the range of aquatic life, with the highlight being a flowing manta ray, which I almost got a video of trying to bury itself in the sand; but I now know for next time where the video button on my camera is!!

So a busy week, with next week looking much busier as everyone else flies home and we fly onto Panama to catch our 50ft Yacht

Photo Diary - Week 1 - Tobago

Troubles in Paradise? Week 1 update

So, we made it! and survived a whole week! 51 more to go and we might actually be able to say we're good at this travelling thing.

Plane Landing - Tobago

It was a pretty bumpy start with our nice bank account that gave free overseas withdrawals falling through (hello 3% + £1.50 from Barclays), then getting told we might have to pay up to £1,860 for a years supply of malaria tablets for the both of us! Thankfully it wasn't that bad in the end. After that having some confusion with the travel health people meaning we could only get half the injections we wanted (If I die of one of those diseases I fully blame them ;p). But we made it and survived the two weeks of trying to say goodbye to everyone. Kim even managed to fit her vast amounts of stuff she wanted to take into her Backpack, after several re-packs to shuffle some bits around, a whole year surviving with about 9kg worth of stuff each.

Now I'm one of those people that when a police car goes past I try to look as normal as possible and end up looking shifty and weird. Going through the immigration lines at the airport is a similar situation, if you just act normally, no-one will suspect a thing and you probably won't have your bag checked. Unfortunately we discovered that Kim may not be quite as cut out for travelling as we previously thought, with a bout of travel sickness rearing it's ugly head as we we're getting off the plane. So trying not to look shifty whilst Kim is having to dash out of the queue for a trip to the toilets and coming back looking a bit green and sweaty made me surprised we weren't pulled out of the line for a search there and then. After that, trying to explain why we have six months of Malaria tablets for a two week holiday in a country that doesn't have a problem with Malaria, but missing out the key detail that we are travelling and moving on from Tobago led to a bit of confusion at the declarations.

But Tobago. Actually here, and wow what a place! I love that first moment when you step off a plane and the wave of hot air washes over you, the way it never does in Britain. The first drive through from the Airport to the Villa was a bit of an eye opener, it does not appear to be a rich, affluent area with many of the buildings looking half built then abandoned. But you have to give it to them, they enjoy what they have, packed bars with music blaring, BBQ's dishing out amazing smelling food and everyone just 'Liming' (I think that's tobagonian for chilling/relaxing). The lifestyle appears to be working well for them. After talking to three locals whilst wandering round an old fort we guessed their ages at about 30 and were then enlightened that the youngest was 49 with only a few gray hairs on his beard giving a hint of his true age.

Within a five minute walk is one of the most idyllic beaches I've been on, with a bar serving cocktails so you can just sit back, take in the scenery whilst watching the morning fisherman hauling in their nets for that days catch.

But unfortunately the problem with paradise is that we aren't the only one's that love being here. The mosquitoes seem to love it just as much as we do, both Kim and Gary have been eaten alive with clusters covering their lower legs and several more spread all over. Kim must be protecting me as I've only got two so far :p
Since getting here the first aid kit has already has had about 4 outings due to bites, glass in a foot, a really nasty splinter :p and did I mention the bites? But other than that and everyone getting burnt to a crisp in the first three days due to a rather intense sun it's gone pretty well.

So, much more of a nice relaxing holiday so far as opposed to travelling and seeing the world, the serious travelling starts in a few weeks when we throw ourselves into a country we barely speak the language and have no clue what we're doing :p Now we have a car, next week should be a bit more active with wandering round the Rainforest, a few Boat trips and seeing more of the island.