Tropical paradise comes home.

After departing the concrete jungle that is Port-of-Spain, it was refreshing to know that the first stop for the day was at Cleaver Woods, located just off the Eastern Main Road in Arima. With its canopy of various types of trees, this secluded area is popular among primary school groups and extended families. Cristo Adonis, Shaman (priest) of the Santa Rosa Karina (Carib)Community, took us on tour of the area.

Adonis, who was recently awarded for his contribution towards the development of Arima, led us through the area, highlighting the uses of the various trees and shrubs found there. He also made a stop in one of the thatched huts where a display of Amerindian artefacts is located. There, he pointed out the uses of the various utensils and antidotes used by the Amerindians. The Shaman also dispelled the belief that the Karina tribe was a fierce and war-like one, pointing out that the belief was simply an European stereotype.

From Cleaver Woods the next stop was through the dense Arima Valley, past several acres of christophene vines to the Asa Wright Nature Centre. Once referred to by a nature magazine as one of the 1,000 places to visit before you die, the trip to the centre proved to be a truly worthwhile experience.

While basking in the ambience of fresh air and the nature calls of the many different creatures who find their home there and with the yellow-tailed Oropendola flying overhead and Banananquits (birds) milling around, the group journeyed along the Discovery Trail where the tour began. Led by communications manager of the centre, Jason Radix, we were taken through dense liana vines and to the white bearded manakin lek. This lek, the largest in the world, is where the female manakins come to look at the males who jump between twigs while they make loud wing snaps.

These loud wing snaps are quite amazing considering that the White Bearded Manakin is quite a small bird. The short but highly informative tour served only to whet the appetites of the tour group. Some were evidently eager not only to learn more about the centre and discover all that it entails, but also to plan their next visit to this island getaway.

One of Trinidad’s most popular eco-tourist attractions, the Caroni Bird Sanctuary, was the last stop for the day. Wildlife photographer and ornithologist, Winston Nanan, led the group through a series of waterways while informing us of the different types of mangrove and of other creatures who find their home there. This included the Cookii Tree Boa that was spotted resting on an overhead branch.

The series of waterways eventually led us to one of the large lagoons which provided a 360 degree view of the marshland. The group was not bale to see the Scarlet Ibis out in their full numbers as Nanan informed that many of them were still nesting, but there was still a glimpse of a few flocks flying overhead.

The Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Tourism Development Company (TDC) hosted the tour in keeping with the theme of the Tourism Park 2006, “The Seven Wonders of T&T”. The park will be officially opened tonight and will be opened to the public from tomorrow to April 27. The tours, led by Elton Pouchet of In Joy Tours, Stephen Broadbridge of Caribbean Discovery Tours Ltd and Vanessa Hoating of the Trinidad and Tobago Incoming Tour Operators Association (TTITOA), proved not only to be highly informative but also facilitated the transition from industrial Port-of-Spain to our “tropical island getaways.”

As the golden sun set beautifully over the Caroni lagoon, many who attended were obviously tired from the day’s activities but evidently happy to have been part of it. The day surpassed expectations as it proved to be not only well-organised and highly informative but a truly rewarding experience for all.

So the question was posed to us again. Is it possible to feel as if you are in a tropical island getaway without even leaving the country? After having had this experience, definitely it is.