Chaguaramas bay, Trinidad 15 November 2007 Les på norsk

Busy but pleasant days in Trinidad

**RAQUEL** The people here in Trinidad are beautiful. Most of them have a varied ethnical background, giving very exotic and exciting variants. Raquel Joseph (24) from St. James had her debut as a tour guide and photomodel together with us at underveis.net.

NEWS AND FEATURE STORIES

CHAGUARAMAS: Underveis is now ready to go to sea again, following a long and pleasant stay in Trinidad. We have upgraded the boat and been very busy doing journalism.

**PANORAMIC VIEW** The capital of Trinidad and Tobago is Port of Spain. It has a population of 46,000. And a great view!

**EVENING LIGHT** The evening light in the Caribbean is magic, with vivid colours fantastic cloud formations and a heavy, humid air.

**HINDUS** The Hindu have banners in their gardens. The difference between rich and poor is big, this photo shows the simple sheet metal sheds that many people live in.

**TRAFFIC** The traffic in Trinidad is very dangerous. Speeding, many vehicles, terrible roads and ditto drivers.

FACTS ABOUT TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

The republic of Trinidad and Tobago comprises two islands. It gained its independence from Great Britain in 1962.
The republic has approximately 1.261.000 inhabitants. The capital, situated on the island of Trinidad, is Port of Spain and it has approximately 49.000 inhabitants.
Production and export of oil and gas are important sources of income, along with some tourism and rum production. Trinidad and Tobago is considered one of the most industrialized countries in the Caribbean.
The population consists of native American Indians, descendents of African slaves, Indians, Chinese, some Syrians and Lebanese, and some descendents s of the European colonial masters.
The slave trade was officially banned in Trinidad and Tobago in 1807, as in the rest of the British Empire, but slavery itself was only banned in 1830
The currency in use is Trinidad and Tobago dollars. One TT dollar is approximately ten US cents. Bankcards are widely accepted, and ATMs are found everywhere.

(Kilde: World info Zone, CIA World fact book)

**RASCAL** Little Jedaiah (2) is commonly referred to as "The judge" by her relatives because she is always so serious. She quickly thawed up with us, and did all sorts of mischief, making us all laugh. (Photo: Nicholas Buschmann (3 years) )

**HIGH UP THERE** They made it look so simple, balancing on three meter tall stilts. In the background a socalled steelband is playing, very popular in Trinidad.

**DIVALI** We also experienced Divali, a Hindu festival that is often described as Hindu Christmas.

**HINDU CELEBRATION** The family of Tore Torsteinson, who live in Trinidad, invited us to their home and drove us around in the streets to watch all the colourful decorations people had made.

**LEATHERBACK TURTLE** The large sea turtles come in to the northern beaches of Trinidad every spring to lay eggs in the sand. We watched them, and they seemed completely undisturbed by our photographing them. (Photo: Irwin DeGannes)

**EXOTIC** We went with Felicia, Dawn and Dwayne to watch the turtles. (Photo: Irwin DeGannes)

**REAL OMELET** Every turtle can lay hundreds of eggs, burying them in the sand before they return to the ocean again. (Photo: Irwin DeGannes)

**BIG BOSS** Gunnar Buschmann is originally from Røst, but now lives in Trinidad. We spent a lot of time with him, and had a great time. Here from the wheelhouse at the ferry Panorama, where he is captain.

**PURE GOLD** In the presidential suit on board tthe Panorama, the showers have gold plated floors. Fun, but also disconcerning.

**BIG GIRL** The Panorama was built in Norway and presented to the Trinidadian government as a gift in 1987. She has build number 0001 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Chaguaramas bay, Trinidad, 15.11.2007