My Trinidadian debut was speculated to be a blur of feathers, glitter, and whining to soca music. As a substitute, this summer season I discovered myself deep in a distant rainforest, caked in mud, and peering right into a bat cave. Like most individuals, I knew about Trinidad’s well-known Carnival, scrumptious doubles, and soca music, however my latest journey challenged my understanding of this tiny Caribbean island.
Though Carnival is arguably the island’s most well-known occasion, Trinidad additionally has a rugged facet that showcases among the world’s most original wildlife. All through my travels within the Caribbean, you’ll usually discover me poolside with a frozen drink, however every week in Trinidad, bird-watching, exploring caves, and releasing sea turtles helped me embrace my adventurous facet.
The Artwork of Birdwatching
I traded in my common resort keep for the rainforest, signing up for a weeklong trek with the native eco-adventure firm HADCO Expertise. After a fast flight from Miami to Port of Spain and an hour and a half drive, I arrived at Asa Wright Nature Centre. The eco-lodge is nestled deep into the rainforest, removed from the hum of visitors, and I instantly felt a way of peacefulness that may observe me all through my keep.
The Asa Wright Nature Heart is known for its birds (there are over 180 species of birds across the 1,500-acre property), and although I wouldn’t take into account myself a bird-watching fanatic, it was exhausting to not get sucked into the joy of getting an up-close encounter. One in every of my first finds was a toucan; the eco-lodge supervisor, Warren, identified a tiny speck on a department and handed me a pair of binoculars. I used to be skeptical, however once I raised the binoculars, I used to be stunned to see a brightly painted invoice come into focus. Birdwatchers, I get it now; there’s one thing a little bit bit magical about recognizing birds of their pure habitat.
However one of many actions that almost all pushed me out of my consolation zone was bat looking. Our tour chief instructed that we hike to the Tamana Caves, house to one of many largest bat colonies on this planet. At sunset, thousands and thousands of bats emerge from the caves to search out meals and can return at sunup the following day. I begrudgingly agreed to go alongside on the sunset hike to witness the bat exodus, which is how I discovered myself trudging up a steep, muddy hill within the close to darkish.
Once we reached the caves, silence descended on our group whereas we waited for the nocturnal animals to look. Inside minutes, tons of of hundreds of bats emerged from the collapse a stream, their papery wings flapping within the heat air. Terrified, I stood utterly nonetheless, praying none would make contact with me (they didn’t since their elocution helps them keep away from something of their approach, like people). Although it was scary, as soon as I bought previous my preliminary worry, I noticed what a privilege it was to witness nature in motion.
Embracing Swamp Life
One in every of our day journeys from the Asa Wright Nature Centre included a ship journey by the Caroni Swamp and Chook Sanctuary. The spotlight of the boat journey was visiting the Chook Sanctuary, the place we watched a flight of vibrant purple Scarlet Ibis, the island’s native chook, gracefully land within the mangroves. To our left, a flock of flamingos stepped gracefully by the murky swamp water. It felt like time stopped: we had been too far out to get any cell service, and there was no sound, no distractions, simply the sound of rustling birds and the water lapping towards the boat. It was a reminder that essentially the most stunning moments once we’re touring are sometimes the quietest, a sense I knew I might carry with me lengthy after I returned house.
Releasing Turtles
After a couple of blissful days on the Asa Nature Wright Centre, we drove two hours to Mt. Plaisire Property Resort, situated in Grande Riviere, a tiny, distant seaside city. Grande Riviere is house to probably the most energetic Leatherback sea turtle nesting grounds on this planet, which we had the chance to witness.
Throughout nesting season, native turtle conservationists acquire the hatchlings, defending them from predators, after which releasing the infant turtles at sunset. Throughout our keep, we had been invited to take part in an unforgettable sundown ritual: releasing dozens of Leatherback turtle hatchlings proper on Grande Riviere Seashore. It was such a particular second watching the hatchlings make their approach by the moist sand to the water, and a humbling reminder of how essential it’s to guard nature.
Embracing Journey
Spending every week in swamps, caves, and on muddy hikes pushed me out of my consolation zone and stunned me with how a lot I loved issues like climbing and bird-watching. Though you received’t catch me chasing bats once more, the journey was a reminder that I shouldn’t field myself in as a sure sort of traveler simply because it’s unfamiliar.
Touring has given me so many unforgettable experiences that I don’t take without any consideration, particularly as a Black girl who has the liberty and means to journey internationally. Whereas I am nonetheless a woman who loves a very good pool day, now I do know I am additionally one who is not afraid to get a little bit mud on her boots.
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Featured picture by Mariette Williams
