Good morning Set Lisi! It's always a blessing to get to right these. Firstly because who doesn't love to travel. Secondly, to a place to are familiar with. But it in the end, nothing beats God ordained movements. After a quick flight and delayed wait and the airport, I took my first trip from Vieux Fort to Gros Islet. It is not for the faint. But my friend of friends and enjoying the most random fireworks in the middle of a December night was the needed reminder. There is too much to be grateful for to complain.

Sunday is apparently Kweyol Day at the hotel, which means I got to enjoy a plate of sautéed green bananas and a bowl of fresh fruit. The hotel cats quickly got the message that there was nothing of interest. But that did not stop them preening and cleaning themselves around me. 

Sunday was also a wonderful time to visit a nearby church and reunite with a long lost classmate turn friend. Calvary Baptiste was such a lovely experience, the rich teaching, the reminder that the gospel in sufficient. The exposition of the Christmas story was the quite insightful as it caused us to reflect on new whats and why. Why the shepherds, why a star and why Jesus. That humility, confidence in God's message is what ushers in the coming of Jesus Christ. 

Royal Palm fka Triangle Club knows their food and has the best deal out there. 5 sides a meal that doesn't pass $30.00. Teach me that math. And they have vegan options. I was able to get vegetables, protein and a creole sauce, which is unheard of an any Grenadian food outlet that isn't an Ital spot. I plan to be back soon. 

As with most Caribbean life, ending it on the beach with the sprays of Pigeon Beach and the clouded views of Martinique, fueling the talks God and kingdom through out the Caribbean. 

Today I was reminded of God's omniscience, His ability to be present in every place at once and that I was loved by that God. 

My memories of Trinidad are poised with stops through Port of Spain so of course I was excited to visit some old haunts. Of course we had to power up and I did so with a Popeye's sandwich. I'm not sure why Trinidad needs to have every international franchise of fried chicken but I'm not complaining.

By the time we got to Port of Spain, things were in full swing. Stalls of all sizes, sluggish traffic and actually,  respectful vendors. Getting around was actually way more challenging than I expected. I weaved through and asked directions as much as possible but I'll be the first to admit that it was quite overwhelming.

I spent most of that time hunting through cloth stores for potential work fabric, hoping to even cop an African print or two. It was quite interesting that the pricing was very comparable to Grenada. Therefore the main advantage was variety. There was an abundance of Syrians and Indians in business. And of course it's always a pleasure to peruse the Chinese stores. Definitely got some much needed electronic pieces for next nothing.

Once I finished up with St. James, I fueled up on some local, local food. I definitely played myself into thinking that all Trinidad had to offer was Indian food. Seeing a big box of mac n cheese pie with some stew meat was the surprise of my life. But my belly was satisfied.

It so happened that today was World Steel Pan Day, so being in the land of Steelpan dictated that the evening be dedicated to that. Woodford Square was suggested by a friend, so I circled back ready for the evening to begin. Turns out people here are on-time time but they like long-drawn out speeches. So I used that time to explore the neighbouring buildings. Turns out the square is a whole heritage site and home to several historical buildings, including the Red House.

I didn't dare enter. The presence of law enforcement officers was enough, but I marvelled at the stature and foreboding existence. The setting of the sun didn't help at all.

Back at Independence Square, I watched the doubles men going at it. I never knew Trinidadians liked their doubles open. I figured that would be a challenge for another day. Kudos to the Rasta man on the other end taking one for the ital team.

I tried to quench my thirst by gravitating towards one of the many snow-cone men and women around me. But one look at the prep made me long for home. I am truly spoilt and I don't care. I want large cups and thick syrup.

Instead I returned to the square to take in the bands that were chosen to play that night. Trinis are known to love a fete so I was not surprised to see moko jumbies shaking their tailfeathers or free red scarfs being giving out to wave (I love a good souvenir).

Skiffle set us up with covers of many popular modern tunes that I allowed my musical ear to pull out. But it was the "forever young" players of ...... mixing the Mission Impossible theme into their performance that warmed my soul. 

All in all, it was a great day. I ended the night with Haagen Dags in hand staring out at Queen's Savannah with one of life's most existential questions. Why did the Moko-Jumbie cross the road? If you figure it out, please let me know and put me out of my misery.

 The aim today was simple. Peruse the UWI Campus. When I was coming to the end of my teaching stint at my alma mater, I applied to UWI Mona Campus. I was ready to pursue this food science thing. The acceptance was quick but the funds, not so much. Once China came into the picture, it was such a fluid thing, that Mona became a thing of the past.

And although I visited St. Augustine, during my TAMCC days, this was my first solo adventure. I woke very early, Honey Bunches of Oats in my stomach, and heading down from Sir Arthur Lewis dorms. Thanks to google maps, I was able to connect some of the landmarks I barely glimpsed yesterday.

I could truly feel the legacy along the paths and see the history in the walls. I passed familiar signs and halls as I pressed towards to my appointment, which surprisingly I was on time for. The whole meeting was God-breathed, but we'll get into that another time.

After that, I headed to the food court. Pita Pit much to my surprise had an outlet in Trinidad and was reminiscent of my time in NZ. But Rituals had my full attention. All I needed was my chiller and my laptop and suddenly I found work to do. 

After writing and reading severalll articles, like the good student I was😜, I conceded to a take away chickpea and quinoa lunch from Subway. As I eased onto the other side of campus, I was so shocked to see the sign, Confucius Learning Institute.

A couple years ago, when I wanted to upgrade my HSK certification, I found out that there was a Confucius Institute on UWI campus. So of course, I rushed into the building and up the stairs just to realise I couldn't find the office. After speaking to a secretary nearby, come to find out, they disappeared after Covid and didn't come back. But she was such a rich resource for books and self- learning of Chinese, which was my current journey.

The joy of that must have really topped me up, because in no time I found myself walking the streets of Tunapuna. After circling most of the street and seeing many closing shops, I circled back to the one with the friendly cashier. She didn't convince me to purchase 3 boxes of Fruta for TT$30 but we totally across that the morbid smell slipping through the door was more than a dead animal.

The rest of the evening was spent in my room, chilling and taking in my tiny student bed. The dorm is really quiet without the usual students around, which I appreciate. It's a similar set up to NZ but a larger bathroom to room ratio, like undergrad. There's also a melting pot of ethnicities so I could imagine the pots they be throwing down. But I won't let my imagination run away from me. I am going to be home pretty soon.

It might be soon to call myself a musician. However, as I grow beyond an appreciation for music to a sensing and interpretation of sound, the world itself appears different. Something as simple as hearing Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" salsified has awakened my curiosity. What else have I been missing? Which switches need to flipped and how can I do so? And like many unsolved questions, they were suddenly answered on this trip.

I think everyone has a bucket list of places to visit once coming to New Zealand. I've never encountered a country that spewed natural beauty from every crevice. An Gen Xer may describe it as instagrammable or reelworthy but there are feelings here that a camera simply cannot capture. Trust me I have tried using a couple of the trending reels but it never does it justice. So why did I think this location would be any different.

New Zealand apparently has almost as many islands as the Caribbean (her 600 vs  our 700). Kapiti Island is one of the smaller islands just off the coast of the Wellington Region, as small as 10km (6 miles long). It's mainly known as a bird sanctuary and conservation center and is home to New Zealand's oldest species of flora and fauna.

Our guide, Cindy, explain that the breaking of New Zealand from its initial continental mass is the main reason for its composition. The only mammals which made the transition was three different species of bats, one of which is now extinct. It's also the reason that New Zealand is absent of snakes whereas Australia is home to the world's most poisonous. As animals were gradually introduced to the island, it was easier to maintain a less predatory environment in the space now known as Kapiti.

Weka

Since most of my travelling companions were Wildlife Conservation enthusiasts, they were already familiar with the necessary taxonomy, so I've already forgotten most of them. I will not, however, forget their cheekiness. For animals which have limited encounter with humans, they sure knew how to express their needs. As soon as Cindy warned us not to feed the birds, the friendly Weka that greeted us earlier, started pecking her poster in obvious protest.

Takahe

We also came across cordoned areas which were being used to rehabilitate the Takahe With only 2 couples in existence, they  were under careful study and preservation, provided with food and protection. Due to a storm earlier this year, Rachel and Rodney lost their only chick and possibly only chance of future generations. So precautionary measures were stricter than ever.

The aim of the day was to reach the summit of the island. Although 5 km high, there were two options, the trig route or the more accessible Wilkinson Track . If it's one thing I know about hiking is my limits. There was no way I would risk passing out alone so I chose the easier path. I struggled, no joke. I felt the tiredness in my throat and needed to stop every 5 mins. Although there were many scenic spots along the way, I was honestly discouraged and thought I would never make it to the top. 

Robin

That's when I took a seat and began to listen. I realized that each bird's call was distinct as it was beautiful. Some light and chirpy, the obvious inspiration to Vivaldi's Spring. Others more rustic and reminiscent of eagles. Our guide's experience ears could all but translated their speech. But on my own, I simply enjoyed the opportunity to eavesdrop.

But it's more that the chordal. It's the rustling of leaves, the distant waves and the crunching of stones all supported by a stillness. Even the hikers knew to maintain the serenity of the forest, albeit heavy breathing. 

Bellbirds

During that break, I found the clarity to keep moving. The wisdom to understand that simply one foot in front of the other was enough the make it up the hill. In no time, I reached the bird feeder, set up for the Hihi birds but unfortunately overtaken by the bellbirds. This means that the Hihi are even closer to extinction but alas that is the law of nature. The bellbirds were so quick that the fastest shutter speed couldn't capture them. The family near me joked that birds weren't meant to actually be in the photo. 

I was warned about Haka birds swooping in and unzipping bags but thankfully that didn't happen. They are as large as my head and the last thing I wanted to encounter on my own. We were told about the Saddleback, Kolkata and Kaneki but everyone seemed to be hiding but the Tui. Which is as regular as a seeing a pigeon on the Carenage.

Even though the hill became steeper, I finally managed to find a comfortable pace. Added to that, I was able to encourage myself without any more landmarks to look for. Soon enough I met my friends at the intersection of the trig and got the push I needed to reach the summit.

The closest I've come to a summit view is the Mt. Qua Qua and Welcome Rock. But the summit of an island is a whole different view. Since the island is only 1.2 miles wide (2km), it's a sharp drop to the ocean below on the other side. Which is probably great for the birds but quite scary for any hiker.

The beautiful thing about Kapiti is that it's not just about the birds. My new friends even got to snorkel along the coast and spotted a human length stingray. Once the cold water touched my toes, my wet suit less self resigned to collecting shells along the shore. First it was ordinary stones that had been sanded smooth. Then beautiful snails with iridescent ripples in their shells. Until a rainbow caught my eye. The most beautiful pieces of Paua shell buried between the wet sand. 

I can't explain my join to find them and then my sadness to be told that I could keep them. But rules are rules. And so all the memoirs of my trip were sweat, pictures and memories.

Highlights

Transport

The boats are so light that they need to be placed in the water with a large tractor which also enters the water. On our return, we were lucky to be pulled in by Janet, wife of the general operator and give her a great applause for her efforts. I'm yet to understand the mechanics that allow a tractor to enter the water but it sure is efficient.

Plants

The Maori who first lived on this island survived by understanding the islands resources. By using plant to write and mark their path as well as  for medicine they maintained a respect for the environment that is to be admired. Many of these plants are endemic to NZ.

Kawa is considered a hippies plant and healer of all ailments.

The rings of the palm mark 2 years of existence. How old do you think this guy is. 

Accommodation

Living on this island is possible. This lodging was first used by Richard Peterson, scientist and researcher responsibility for the initial transfer of birds on the island. Now other researchers use the area but with Winter around the corner, bookings are officially off for the season.

Ice cream

One cannot come to Kapiti and not have Kapiti ice cream. There was no official outlet but we enjoyed the open serve at a nearby shop. The Affogato inspired scoop was a beautiful blend of espresso and vanilla. The nectarine was blissfully and pleasantly citrus. They have obviously mastered cream stim I'm not sure I will ever enjoy Haagen Dazs again.