Flow of words

This is a chapter from my latest book called Breezes of Tobago . I stood before the road that crosses the Hampden river under a clear blue sky trying to get the best photo of the moment. The branches of the coconut trees dance with the breeze. My walk started in Sou Sou Lands. Sou Sou Lands is a quiet village that is not in a hurry. It was a Sunday morning and there were not many vehicles on the road there. I imagine that people were sleeping late and others were preparing for church. I walked through the back roads crossing the highway at the midway point. Nobody and nothing was in a hurry that morning and neither was I. I was soaking up the calmness and happy to be heading somewhere new to my walking. Little Rockly Bay was filled with the sounds of the sea water coming to shore. The air was fresh. The water in the sea must have travelled far to be here. In total I had walked eight kilometers that morning to and from where I had started. That morning, the road felt less like a line to...

This is a chapter from my latest book called Breezes of Tobago . The smooth sounds of conscious reggae music fill the hall. The rickety standing fan oscillates breezes that carry the smell of fresh paint. Today we are with a group of volunteers at the community center applying a new coat of paint. The color of the paint for this room is Soca Rose, a rich matte pinkish red. For breakfast we had saltfish and coconut bake. Like a new coat of paint, Tobago does not change what it is, it just reminds you why you loved it in the first place. There was a Pomerac tree in the yard so we helped ourselves to a few of the freshly picked fruits. If we took the time we could have made some pomerac chow by cutting the fruits into pieces and seasoning with shadon beni, salt, black pepper and habanero pepper. The idea alone is enough to make the mouth water. In the yard sit steelpan carriages that transports my imagination to a night at Panorama. In a corner was a bin for adding plastic bottles to recy...

This is a chapter from my latest book called Breezes of Tobago . I was sweating from the heat and being too close to the dirt oven for comfort. I was a never see come see at that moment. The breezes carried the rising smoke away from us. I was here to experience the well known dirt oven baking. Dirt ovens are remnants of the good old days. I surmise that these things become popular as we long for the good old days. It is a way of experiencing life of long ago today. My mom knows about the dirt oven. The oven is made of clay. Wood is burned inside the oven. There is a small door to the front. The burnt wood becomes like coals. A stick is then used to clean the oven after the wood burns. Then the baking begins. The breads are covered with fig leaves and left to bake. In the olden days people had to be creative with having less technology and less convenience. The baker wiped his hands on his apron, smiled, and said that a dirt oven teaches patience more than baking. He explained that the...

This is a chapter from my latest book called Breezes of Tobago . I sit on the veranda drinking passion fruit juice. My laptop in front of me. I have reached chapter six of my latest book. Tobago is a great escape to get some writing done. The atmosphere gives you room for thought and being creative. I have about ten ideas for future chapters. I love that I can create memories with my writing. I love that I can express myself. Writing gives me the freedom to be creative. My friend Chatty tells me that my love for beauty and freedom fits the island perfectly. This feels like one of those books I will look back on and say, this is where I was becoming more myself. My friend Chatty tells me that my experience as a writer reminds him of this Maya Angelou quote, "You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." This quote highlights how my time in Tobago — breathing, thinking, exploring, writing, and simply being creative — is not draining my creativity but invigo...

This is a chapter from my latest book called Breezes of Tobago . I got up early. I brush my teeth. I had a good bowel movement and I emptied my bladder. There are no bathroom stops along the way and the plan is to walk from Crown Point to Scarborough. I put on my favourite shorts and jersey, comfortable socks and my shoes that have already covered some distance. My smartphone is fully charged and I plan to take photos along the way. Walking is a great form of exercise and great for mental health and well being. Walking has been a good friend to me over the years. I do not run because my body is not strong enough for running. Walking is a great way to explore a country. The smells, sights and sounds. If I am lucky I will pass by a mango stall or other fruit. Maybe even a fruit tree or two that is available to the public. Sometimes I even break off pieces of plants to carry home for my mom to plant. My friend Chatty tells me that walking is an honest, gentle partnership with the body tha...

This is a chapter from my latest book called Breezes of Tobago . I love the sound of the azan and you can find that in Tobago also. I sit in a quiet corner waiting for the start of the namaz (daily prayer) and I thank God for everything and for waking me up to see another day. The fan breeze pours over me as my eyes are closed and face downward. I can hear the birds chirping outside. It is good to always make time for God. God has blessed me with much patience and love and the ability to see the beauty of God in everything. I thank God for that. In Trinidad and Tobago we celebrate religious freedom. There are at least two mosques in Tobago. The Lowlands mosque is the older mosque conveniently located just off the highway. The mosque is a peaceful and calming place. Good for the soul. The same can be said about the other places of worship. Tobago has mostly Christians of different groupings and the largest group being the Seventh-day Adventists. There are many more churches in Tobago an...

This is a chapter from my latest book called Breezes of Tobago . They say we should treasure the moments and live for the now. Right now, the warm mid-morning breeze is pushing its way through the car windows. We are on our way to Speyside and moments like this feel surreal. We passed a couple of goats grazing at the side of the road. Then a jeep with two surfboards in the back seat. We stopped at a parlour and bought bourbon biscuits and peanut punch. My friend Chatty tells me that he read that Speyside is a small fishing village, calm and close-knit, where life moves at a gentler pace. Mornings often start with fishermen heading out to sea, and evenings wind down with ocean breezes and cricket talk. It is surrounded by dramatic hills, rainforest, and rocky coastline—very postcard-worthy. Speyside is considered one of the best diving spots in Tobago. How about bird watching on Little Tobago island? Maybe you are lucky to spot the Red-billed Tropicbird with its white body, red bill, an...