Flow of words

This is a chapter from my latest book called Breezes of Tobago . I have been thinking. God is like the air we breathe, ever-present and essential, and like the breeze, we cannot see Him, but we feel His presence all around us. Today I am heading to Charlotteville on the 8am bus. I bought my tickets and some extra. I have been on this journey before but this time feels different. I expect a full bus this time as the bus shelter is crowded. An old man with glasses, hat and walking stick dropped his ticket and the breeze blew it away before it could drop to the ground. I rushed to retrieve the ticket for him. The bus was here and I was seated next to the same old man. He was in a talkative mood while at the same time taking his time with his words. The first thing he said to me was, "Life is a journey that begins within you long before the road ever unfolds." I think I get it. This means that life's journey does not begin with movement — it begins with intention. Before the ...

This is a chapter from my latest book called Breezes of Tobago . Today we stumbled upon a game of night football at the recreational ground. There was a red card and a penalty. Somehow the striker was able to bend the ball into the corner of the net and with what looked to me like help from a strong breeze. I was a neutral supporter and was just waiting for goals to be scored. Tobago has produced the famous Man United player in Dwight Yorke. My friend Chatty says that there is something special about local football where the breeze, the crowd noise, and pure instinct all become part of the play. Maybe we are here watching the next Dwight Yorke in the making, his story just beginning to unfold under the lights. Maybe the next famous Tobagonian footballer will play for the noisy neighbors of Man City. I spoke to a young lad selling juices from a cooler and he had to agree. He wiped his hands on his shorts and looked out at the pitch with a seriousness beyond his years. The ice clinked in...

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 . 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...

This is a chapter from my latest book called Breezes of Tobago . The cool morning breeze blew the hat off the tourist passing the coffee shop. We sat at the table waiting for our order of coffee and bagels. I had stayed up late writing and was now needing caffeine to stay awake. On entering the veranda of the coffee shop, the sign reads "happiness is a cup of coffee" and "sip your troubles away". This had me thinking about what is happiness? And was the theme of my chat with Chatty as we enjoyed our breakfast in Tobago. I told my friend Chatty that if we could put happiness in a bottle and sell it we would be rich. My friend Chatty then told me that money cannot buy happiness but it was a good idea to make a living. If according to the sign, happiness is a cup of coffee then maybe happiness is coffee in a bottle then. We could call it Caffibean, a taste of the Caribbean in Tobago, a blend of the happiest coffee beans from Tobago. Tobago is not known for its coffee p...

This is a chapter from my latest book called Breezes of Tobago . This story begins on a cool Friday evening in May. Fridays are the best days. Already a great start. It had rained earlier in the day and the clouds were moving away and the sun peeking through. I walked from the apartment where I was staying to Pigeon Point beach. Along the way I stopped for coconut water freshly extracted from the nut and straight into my mouth leaving traces on my cotton jersey. They say that coconut water is the drink of God—fresh from the nut, sweet with a hint of salt, a liquid reminder that paradise can exist in small and simple things. They did not say that but my friend Chatty did. It is my friend Chatty's first trip to Tobago. I asked him what he thinks of Tobago so far? He grinned, wiping a drop of coconut water from the corner of his mouth. "Man… it is like stepping into a painting. The air, the colors, the way everything smells after the rain—it is unreal. I did not know paradise cam...

Walking in Tobago, 2014 It is 406am and I have decided to write. I have no idea what I am going to write about. The word that comes to my mind now is gratitude. God woke me up to see another day. I got up and brushed my teeth. Soon I will make breakfast for my mom. Then I will set out on my 35 minute morning walk. No one can predict the future but a life with God is a contented and peaceful life. Peace of mind. When I am walking, sometimes, it feels like I am in Tobago. I loved my early morning Tobago walks. If heaven was a place on Earth it would be Tobago. Trinidad is nice too. But Tobago is special. Maybe distance makes the heart grow fonder. I have not been to Tobago in almost ten years. I like watching the Tobago vlogs and living vicariously through the adventures of others. I especially like the part when they are boarding the fast ferry with all the joy in their hearts. I know the feeling. Tobago must have changed much since my days. Crown Point looks more busy. The new airport ...

I was browsing my facebook feed and came across a post stating that Flow is now offering internet service in Tobago, "Just in case you have not yet heard, Flow is in TOBAGO, and we are painting the town BLUE. It's time to Switch, Join #TeamBlue. Visit here to find the plan that's right for YOU #FlowinTobago". From their website page where you can get more info, it looks like only available in certain areas of west Tobago for now. The website states that more locations to be shared soon! They want you to check back later or keep an eye on their social media channels. I contacted Flow to see if a press release was issued that could have more useful information. It took them long enough to come over to Tobago and the more options and competition should be better for Tobagonians. Also it is a fiber network which is different from Trinidad which is parts fiber and parts cable. If you are in Tobago let me know what you think of this new option.

The TTAL (Tobago Tourism Agency Limited) has launched their #DreamingOfTobago campaign . We are being encouraged to share our memories and dreams of Tobago until we can travel again, using that hashtag. What does Tobago mean to me? For me Tobago is a getaway. A vacation. A time to relax. A reason to let go of my problems and worries. A time to reflect. A time to dream of a good future. When I was an office worker, I would look forward to taking vacation and taking the ferry to Tobago. The ferry is less expensive than taking the plane and is an adventure in itself. As the ferry departs we see the waterfront cityscape and the port area then through the bocas passage. The 3 hour ferry ride is enough time to listen to music, eat some good food, take a nap, and write a blog post. Walking is my favourite thing to do. When I stayed in my uncle's place in Sou Sou lands, I would get up as soon as the sun started and I set out to walk. My walking has taken me to Crown Point, Grange Bay, Litt...