Trini River lime

 The Recreational river lime provides a lot of nonalcoholic homemade juices together with commercial carbonated sweet drinks, solo drinks, pear drinks, cokes and Pepsi Cola . These soft drinks are provided with children in mind, the intention is not to indulge the children in Alcohol.  Beers of all types are chilled in coolers under crush ice and provides a refreshing beverage with minimal alcohol to quench your thirst in the Sun. Most common are our very own Carib and Stag, People are now showing preference to lighter beers i.e beers with lower calorie and alcohol content since most of the outdoor enthusiast are looking at their body weight. But what is a Trini river lime without our famous "hard liquors." Our hard Liquor range from the basic white oak to double dog scotch whiskey, this depends on the affluence and taste of members of the river lime. The occasion also place an important role e.g. birthdays or Job promotion, since on these occasions more exot

Hinduism was introduced in Trinidad by the indentured Indian Laborers in 1845 , the religion continued today despite the many obstacles, misunderstandings and misrepresentation from persons within and out of the religion. One of the practices involve is the "Tonsure" ,the act of cutting the hair or shaving the head after the death   of a member   is a age-old Hindu custom.   The underlying concept is that hair is a symbolic offering to the gods, representing a real sacrifice of beauty of the persons doing it, hence shaving your head shows your grief for the departed soul. Another similar belief is the hair on the head is treated as an adornment and as a symbol of vanity. On the occasion of death   the Hindus consider the children of the family not to be egoistic in nature but   humble, devoted and submitted to nature. So they need them to give up their adornment and vanity in humiliation. Whatever the belief the practice is performed in different variations, depe

Traditionally the crayfish have been hunted for food in Trinidad, It is mostly hunted in the Northern range and parts of the Central range due to the transparency of the river water which allows them to be easily seen, they   are pursued in areas where the river bed is rocky and the water is clear than murky.   The Cray fish is mainly sought in the rainy season June to November, usually the coming of full moon brings with it heavy rains which floods the streams and displaced the Crayfish, they usually find niches along the bank and on the undersides of large stones. These are washed out and carried with the main current downriver. The crayfish is usually haunted at nights when they come out to feed, this is because it is easier than having to fish them out from underneath large stones and boulders along the riverbed during the day time. Some people practice simple ways of luring the crayfish out of its hiding place.

Baptism by immersion is understood by some to imply submersion of the whole body beneath the surface of the water. It is distinguished from Affusion (pouring) and by aspiration (Sprinkling) It was practiced by John, the Baptiste who Baptized the lord Jesus Christ in the River Jordon. Almost all practicing Religions inhabiting Trinidad used the river water in worship at some time or the other. The   river water were used in various forms since it represented cleanliness.   The various forms of Christianity used the river water to baptize, a form of religious teaching common to   all. Baptism today have taken many forms, since running water in pipes are now common, taking water to homes and places of worship. Persons no longer have to go to the volumes of water to be baptized (rivers) The said water now purified flows to them. The Baptiste faith however, a Christian religion with African influences  still use the Trinidad rivers in practicing Baptistism. The rivers an

The Black river conch in has provided food for man through many generations and still continues to provide food for those willing to accept it. It is used as food for man and other carnivores’ e.g the ocelot and birds such as the “Crow”. Agricultural use of pesticide, infrastructural development, drain clearing to prevent flooding,   the harvesting of oil and gas, over catching among others have impacted on their numbers. In the dry season, they breed as the water level goes down, then burrows into the mud. The females would then lay it’s eggs and they will keep it in the shell. The eggs will hatch while they are there but they will remain at a very dormant phase in a sort of hibernation. In the rainy season when the soil becomes water logged and water flows into many streams, the conchs would then enter the water. The flood waters distribute the young conchs far and wide, it is not uncommon to see these conchs in roadside drains. The adult as well as the adults grows duri

The river attracts many persons who love the outdoors, they are attracted for the food it produces, the spirit of freedom or the comradry and the moments of happiness they enjoy with friends. The river gives the appearance of moving along its merry way, undisturbed. It pushes as long as “it's strength” the water velocity is available. In the rainy season at times the rivers overflows its banks and the surrounding areas resulting in lots of damage. This causes short term human distress which appears to subside as the water level decreases. It may repeat this behavior time and again in the rainy season, but generally it flows slowly but surely until it is fuelled again by excess water or it further diminishes in the dry season. The river is part of the Trinidad & Tobago landscape, hated and loved by the people who surrounds it. To some it is a place to meet with family and friends, cook and have a good time , to others it is a quiet place which is enjoyable, a place to m

In 1498 , the time which was reported as the discovery of Trinidad & Tobago by Christopher Columbus on his third voyage. The inhabitants of Trinidad & Tobago were the   Caribs and Arawaks. They were mainly hunters and gatherers. Sweetwater fishing was however practiced by both groups, the use of canoes, spears, bows and arrows and hand crafted nets were used , they captured most of the fish type we capture including the Guabine and Cascadoux.    The fish which live in sweet and salt water like the river Catfish and sea fishes like King fish and shark. These fishes were captured by individuals fishing alone or in groups . One method of fishing that involved a group of people was “Balbarking”. Small or even large groups of natives collected the Balbark vine from the forest and grounded it into very small pieces so that the toxins from the vines would be easily released. The grounded vines would be introduced into the water which was usually stagnant, to get the most ef

A thrilling river adventure consists of a hike or walk to new untouched beauty of our natural environment. One may wonder, where can one find such a place or river in Trinidad? The answer to this may introduce quite a dilemma, as their are a number of these natural wonders tucked away in our picturesque setting of our mountainous areas. One is just a twenty-minute walk up the Marianne River in Blanchisseuse that brings you to 3 Pools, this river destination features 3 deep basins that were formed as the river plunged across a plateau over a steep rock shelf. The hike to the pools is rated 2 (out of 5, 5 being the hardest) so it is suitable for all ages. The first pool features shallower waters and is ideal for wading and non-swimmers. Between the first and second pools one finds a naturally formed water-slide that adds a great fun element. The 3rd pool is where the adventurous finds the greatest enjoyment. One can climb the nearby rocks and jump 15 feet in the pool below. A vi

The river lime is a known activity in Trinidad where family and friends get together to enjoy the outdoors, they get together on “untamed” or “wild” rivers in the country and cook, fish, play games, socialize and generally have a good time. This lime usually occurs when the population finds free time away from the normal obligations and commitments of life.   The river lime is a traditional activity and is now incorporated in our economic land scape by our many business entrepreneurs who see the river lime not only as  relaxing but  as a means of attracting people to their organizations. They provide safety instead of the wild outdoors, Carat sheds with seating, tables, running water and electricity for late limes, secured parking, live performances and DJ music for entertainment, food on sale and lots of activities for kids like paddle boat rides, kayaking, horse back riding and fishing where they provide bait and hooks and a section of the river that has lots of fishes t

Ganga Dhaaraa Teerath (also spelt tirath ) also known as pilgrimage  to the river represents an ancient tradition in Hinduism. Man, God and Nature are not separate. Water is life and human life has depended upon this element since the beginning of time. Villages, towns and even cities have been birthed at the river's edge, dependent on the water's flow. The teerath is about the leap in the journey of life from physical to spiritual and it is natural that such worship should occur in the river which is the provider of all life. In Trinidad this festival happens every year in June by at Marianne river, Blanchisseuse, North coast. Families congregate at the entrance of the river, down makeshift stairs built with bamboo lathes, mud and in some places covered with planks of wood, waiting to pay respects to the water before going on. A mantra is said which calls the Goddess to the head of the river and offerings of flowers and small coins are also made before entering the wate

"Upar Gaar" is a traditional spicy choka that has been part of Trinidad culture for many years, it was thought up by the first East Indian settlers that came to Trinidad. One of the main dishes in a river lime is none other than "Upar Gaar" locally known as         " Murtani." This spicy choka is a mixture of roasted Bhaigan, Tomatoes and Ochro blended together with seasonings and of course the main ingredient hot peppers. How is it prepared? All veges are roasted until its starts to char on the outside, they need to be soft on the inside so it will be easy to mash together. In a bowl/basin combine all roasted ingredients and start mashing them together, you can mash them with a small pestle, rum bottle or any other kitchen tool of your choice that is easiest to mash this.  When all ingredients is mashed finely and combined nicely cut lime in half and squeeze juice in the veges. In a Kalchul or Ladel or you can use a pot spoon, heat oil

In preparing for a river lime health and safety has always been a concern of the adult population , these measures have been learnt from tradition and experience and  handed down to generations of river limers. The river lime which appears to be non structured and scattered along the many river banks in the rural communities are in fact a well structured and possess many do's and don'ts, some are taught in schools but are not directly related to river liming. DO's & DON'Ts No diving in shallow waters No bathing if the river displays high velocity and high water levels as in the case of floods.  Bathing must be done in groups, isolated bathing is discouraged because of the location of most rivers. River limers must always be prepared with a rope and floating device which can be thrown to any individual facing difficulty in the water. No littering because it is not aesthetically pleasing and it pollutes the terrestrial and aquatic environments ,negativel

A holiday be it a day granted by the State in honor of an achievement, Tradition, Culture or Saturdays and Sundays when folks have no pressing commitments and the time to mingle. People choose different forms of entertainment including the river lime. The lime starts with people getting together either private single families, families and close friends. They collect the “fire cracker” three stones, four pieces of iron and fire wood, based on their desire. They purchase and put together the things they would be cooking, water, rice, flour, provisions yam, Cassava. Meat, the type depends on the composition of the party. They also put drinks together which range from nonalcoholic to alcoholic. They then journey to the river. These “river lime spaces” are located in clear spaces on the banks of river and tributaries. These spaces are situated on private lands, where there is an established “ pay per use”. Spaces on river banks which is owned by the State and maintained by the Sta

Historically the people of Trinidad and Tobago can be traced to originate from the Caribs and Arawaks the Europeans, Africans, French, Dutch, Spanish Chinese and Indians to name a few, these occupations were related to specific times in its history, but despite the time and reason for the introduction of the different people, today the country bear the influences of the different peoples, in attempting to develop their future. The influence is in song, dance, food, recreation, among others. The river lime is one such activity which originated with the Caribs and Arawak’s. The river was used as a source of food where the fresh water fishes, that is, those that spend some or all of their lives in fresh water, such as rivers and lakes, with a salinity of less than 0.05% e.g. the Cacadu and Cuscurub. These and others were  trapped using different methods of trapping which were know at the point in time.   The Carib and Arawak river lime started   as an endeavor to fi nd

Trinidad and Tobago is situated in the tropics, it experiences two types of season wet and dry. In the dry season water is low in the rivers creating pond like formations or maintaining a steady but shallow flow. The environment created is conducive to family gatherings. In  the rainy season however floods occur with the river overflowing its banks and flows in the buffer zones and surrounding areas. The rural community looks forward to the flood for it is these floods that  the river cat fish locally known as the "Crabesaw" chooses to swim from the sea up river and inland. The river cat fish uses the high volumes of water to reach great distances in land to feed on the terrestrial or sweet water crayfish. These crayfish are excellent sources of amino and fatty acids that are important for egg development. Rural folks usually in groups go to the river especially where the river crosses the road and place hooks on lines floating on the high waters, the hooks are usually b

Interesting, unstimulating, bland and even boring some would agree are actually suitable adjectives that describe 'rice.' Rice however,forms one of the basic food of the population in the tropics. An Indian style of rice fondly referred to as ‘Gilaa Bhaat’ is one such form of rice that is sure to leave you wanting. ‘Gilaa Bhaat’ literally translate to ‘soft, sticky, rice.’ This rice can be easily cooked and compliments any other dish. It is however great with curry duck . Cook time is approximately thirty-forty minutes (30-40mins). There are many variations to its preparation but the simplest process is to boil the  ‘white rice,’  adding salt to taste.  As the water evaporates and the rice becomes very soft,shadow beni chipped   in small pieces almost as if it is blended  and a preferred amount of margarine(optional) is added to the mix giving it a duality of colours and a rich, creamy appearance.  This taste is a "repeat" among those who use it and for first tim

Cooking a curry duck is an ultimate part of a "Trini river lime." You may be wondering why Curry duck? One of the most prominent reasons is because it couples well with almost anything on the menu and lets not deny it "Trini's love their curry." So how is curry duck prepared? The duck has to be seasoned with Trinidad's local herbs shadow beni, cilantro, onion ,garlic, pimentos, rose mary ,hot peppers and leaves of the Murraya Koenigii known locally as "karapolay."  There are different methods of cooking,one of the favorite is a good "Chunkay" which originated from the indentured labourers. A local recipe can look like this. Ingredients to cook 6 pimento peppers, chopped 1 hot pepper 1/2 onion, sliced 6 methi seeds (fenugreek) 1 tbsp curry 1/2 tbsp saffron (Turmeric) 1 tbsp amchar masala, divided water for curry mixture + water for cooking 1 hot pepper   2 cups coconut milk   2 tbsp oil While the

Curry duck is a traditional cooking recipe starting from the days of Colonialism. It started by cooking the lagoon Duck or Yard duck on Sundays or when family or important people came to visit. The head of the household would provide this and other menus to show appreciation for their visit. Ducks were in abundance but their use was regulated, almost all families reared ducks in their backyards. As the Island moved into Independence and then a Republic, the cooking and rearing habits of the ducks changed. Not many people reared ducks in their backyard although it still occurs, these yard ducks are fed edible kitchen waste, garden products and in some cases duck feed. They roam freely eating other bits and pieces of everything they find. The majority of ducks are now reared on Duck farms to meet the existing demands. They are fed on feed specially made for their rapid growth and are clustered in small areas about 1.5 ft square. Their grow out (when they are ready for market

The outdoors and aroma from the burning wood adds flavor to the pots and excitement to the lime. It encourages our taste buds to water, men to show of their cooking skills and culture of improvising by using nature. Families will transport cooking gas, stoves, water and ingredients for cooking. Fire is started on arrival. The three ring cracker is the most popular since it  withstands any weather condition and enables quick cooking results because of the ability to create high heat. Some people use  innovative ways to capture the aroma of burning wood in the food being cook, they place dry burning wood on the side of the pot being cooked by the gas, so that the smoke from the wood seasons the pot giving a unique flavor. Wood such as "Padu", "Guava" and Cherry are mostly used. Their is also cooking on  three stones or any structure that can hold the pot securely while maintaining six inches from the ground to enable easy access of placing firewood. The wood is 

Trinidad is a small island situated in the Caribbean, Its population is about  1, 363 760 people. It is influenced by its history which include colonialism, slavery and indentureship. Today we boast of our mixed culture and heritage due to the influences of our past.                                                                                We have many n otable activities that are celebrated by all some being religious like Divali, Eid - ul - Fitir ,Christmas some that shows significance of our different cultures and races like spiritual Baptist, Indian arrival,  Emancipation even Chinese holiday. One of our embracing activity that seems to originate on the island and is enjoyed by all is the "River Lime." A "river lime" consists of groups of friends and family coming together to enjoy our crystal clear waters whilst engaging in cooking our countries delicacies, playing cards, dancing and singing  to our local productions of chutney and Soca not forgetting q