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Tiny Caribbean Islands You May Have Never Heard Of
I was
born and live in The Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, a two-island country at the southernmost end of the Caribbean
archipelago. Nowadays, many people have heard of Trinidad & Tobago; however, when I was a child and had moved
to America, the way most people acted, you might have thought I was from a country on Mars. "Trinidad?"
people would say inquisitively. "Trinidad, TEXAS?" When I finally managed to make them understand
that no, not Trinidad, Texas, but Trinidad, an island in the Caribbean, their eyes would invariably light up:
"Oh, like Jamaica? Cool! Go on, then -- speak Jamaican!"Come to think of it, even now many non-West-Indians ask me to speak "Jamaican."
This can be pretty frustrating, especially since Trinidad is actually one of the larger, more industrial islands of the Caribbean, primarily because of its strong oil & gas industry. "Jamaica isn't the only island in the Caribbean," I think to myself, irritably. "There are other islands, you know."
But if I'm irritable about being from an oft-forgotten island, imagine how the people from Terre de Haut, Barbuda and Saba feel!
Conde Nast Traveler is featuring an article written by Gully Wells, who traveled to these three all-but-forgotten islands on a quest to discover the true meaning of paradise. Turns out, she found it:
As idyllic antidotes to big-city life, Terre-de-Haut, Barbuda, and Saba all had the requisite degree of remoteness, that delicious sense of being totally cut off from the demonic demands of the modern world, but it was ultimately their size that seduced me. It may be an illusion—or possibly a luxury experienced only by the visitor—but life did seem calmer, simpler, and less out of control on these islands.
Sounds amazingly wonderful -- even for a "big-island" girl like me.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Willy May 4th 2006 5:15PM
Saba Bank Atoll is the largest in the Caribbean (and the 3rd largest in the world) and is home to an abundance of marine life. Recently, in fact, scientists discovered 2 new fish and 20 new species of algae.
http://www.divester.com/2006/02/15/saba-bank-reveals-new-species-of-fish-algae/
In addition to the good marine life, it's a good deal, as well. Scuba Diving Magazine readers recently rated Saba among the Top Values in diving in the Caribbean.
http://www.divester.com/2005/03/21/top-five-dives-for-value-caribbean-atlantic/
In addition to the diving, I want to hit Saba, because I love eco-lodges. One of the Earthfoot Lodges on Saba is made almost entirely out of recycled material.
http://www.earthfoot.org/p2/an001.htm
JR Wasneechak May 9th 2006 8:20AM
Are/is there any golf courses avaailable on the Islands? As a retired and 100% disabled american service member, golf has becom my passion (my wife's as well). Please let me know if golfing is available on these paradise islands. Thanks, JR Wasneechak jrwas7315@aol.com
Kristy May 9th 2006 9:16AM
what is the route to get there? Do you fly into a larger island and take a boat to the smaller and how do I get information on lodging, prices, activities, etc?
kriss May 9th 2006 9:27AM
Only once in my life did I meet someone from Trinidad. This person also had an unique accent. It puzzled everyone. I thought she sounded like a British princess.
Dee May 9th 2006 9:37AM
I am Jamaican but went to school in Barbados. When I tell people, invariably I hear "oh where in Jamaica is that ? "
Dee May 9th 2006 9:38AM
...But I will admit,(shamefully) even as a caribbean national, I have never heard of Saba. Go figure
Dee May 9th 2006 9:45AM
BTW what does it mean exactly to "speak Jamaican" ? I get that request quite often or a commnet that I don't sound Jamaican or more puzzling (and frankly insulting) people will comment how good my English is, to which I always respond, why wouldn't it be? Jamaican's official language is English and it is the ONLY language of instruction in schools.
Karen Walrond May 9th 2006 9:48AM
Dee --
My impression, when people have asked me to "speak Jamaican," is that they want to hear my Trinidadian accent. I believe there is an (incorrect) assumption that all people from the Caribbean have one accent, called "Jamaican" -- not realizing that we all have very distinct accents!
K.
Darlene May 9th 2006 9:58AM
Saba is one of the three "sister islands" in the Caribbean. Saba, St. Maarten, and St. Eustacious. The other three Dutch islands are the ABC islands much closer to South America, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. Wonderful Scuba, hiking the Dutch Queen's stairs up the jutting mountain, and dancing with the locals in The Bottom. The walk from The Bottom through Windwardside, St. John's and up to Hell's Gate (do it over a day, stopping in each for visiting, and local shopping and fare), will show you how only 1,000 people can have so many different lifestyles. I studied for two summers on Saba, NA as a part of the Wake Forest Overseas Research Center under the mentorship of Dr. David K Evans, emeritus professor at WFU, and still have a great love and passion for the people and ways of Saba. I met Richard Gere there as he was vacationing, and met so many wonderful people who are still in my heart.
nelson May 9th 2006 9:59AM
Small, relatively unimportant places have the obligation to let the world know about them, rather than insist the world "know" about them. To those who are meeting a lot of people, supposedly, with a poor knowledge of world geography I might suggest they deal with a more educated level of people as opposed to strutting around expounding on some kind of superiority they don't have. Edcuatd people associate with educated people. The very fact that some people complain about a lack of knowledge among others means they usually asociate with their peers, uneducated peolple at their won level. They sound silly with their mean,arrogant comments about people in the developed world. It is quite natural that people know about prominent, important, developed countries. I find your anti-American comments arrogant, rude and wrong. People do not have the obligation to study every little corner of the world. Stop talking so silly and go out and get an education about people and their ways rather than strut around with some supposed, silly offense at not being known, Jamaica is famous and rightly so. Trinidad and Tobago are not. There are also many places in the world called Trinidad. Trinidad was named by the Spaniards for three peaks they first saw. Can you name some other Trinidads without looking them up? I can name around ten right off the top of my head.
I come from Venezuela. How much does this person know about Venezela, without having to look it up?
Sharon Lucey May 9th 2006 11:02AM
Dont feel bad. I am from West Virginia. Whenever we travel, we get comments like Oh, we love virginia,we go to the beach there every year. Well sorry West Virginia doesnt have a beach. I know that there is a North and South Dakota. Why do they not know about West Virginia as a state?
Karen Walrond May 9th 2006 11:10AM
Sharon ... Hah! Good point!
Thanks for your comment,
K.
Andrea May 9th 2006 11:17AM
I met the football (soccer) team from Trinidad & Tobago at a Pan Am games (I was a competitor in another sport). They were the nicest, most fun folks in all the games! I finally went to T&T (by boat) and found all residents equally nice. A wonderful place to go!
Karen V May 9th 2006 11:32AM
I can relate to the comments. I grew up in Trinidad, born in Venezuela and my dad is from England. I work around college educated professionals yet I get the remarks such as "I didn't know Venezuela had black people" or the best one yet "Your jamaican accent is a little different - did you grow up in the city" - so I bought a globe for the office.
Elba McIntosh May 9th 2006 11:46AM
Karen, you hit the nail on the head! I'm an indigenous Virgin Islander currently living in the continental U.S. Although these particular islands are U.S., I am frequently asked to speak with my "Jamaican accent". Admittedly, many people do not realize, as you pointed out, that the accents vary from island to island.
Nordean Fox May 9th 2006 11:47AM
Very interesting to read about these quite unknown islands . I have been to manyof the Carribean Islands and hope to retun again soon...
Jon Harvey May 9th 2006 11:49AM
Traveling to another small island... Bequia. It's one of my favorites. I first found it in 1978 and didn't make it back until last year. I'm getting old and didn't want to wait any longer for a return trip. It's small. It's quiet. The people are friendly. I LOVE the Caribbean. Whether it's St. Maarten, Nevis, Iles de Saints, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, Cariacou, Mayreau. They all have things to offer. YES, they have some political turmoil. Who doesn't? Yeah, I'm thinking of retiring down there.
gsmith May 9th 2006 11:57AM
WELL, I AM FROM TORTOLA IN THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS, AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE NEVER EVEN HEARD ABOUT MY LITTLE SLICE OF PARADISE. EVEN PEOPLE FROM OTHER CARIBBEAN ISLANDS DONT EVEN KNOW WHERE TORTOLA IS OR EVEN HEARD OF IT BEFORE. I FIND THIS STRANGE I WENT TO SCHOOL IN THE BVI AND I HAVE HEARD OF EVERY ISLAND IN THE CARIBBEAN, SO I FIND IT IRRITATING WHEN OTHER ISLANDERS DONT KNOW ABOUT MANY OF THEIR NIEGHBORS. DIDNT THEY HAVE A MAP, I MEAN COME ON!
carl ramkalawan May 9th 2006 12:21PM
Trinidad is an island in the Caribbean where beautiful exotic people from all parts of the world have for 100years interbread and have produced these energetic partygoers.I was born in Trinidad and I am a proud American,my kids were born in Los Angeles ,my daughter is graduating UCLA in two months.These free spirited islanders are worth the experience.The reason that it is not heard of is that no one wants to expose it to non participants."Trini luv tuh party,weh doh need ah reason tuh party."
Triniad have won Miss Universe,and Miss World a few times.Also the fastest human 100meter dash in the Olympics.I have not mention the food! Please visit.
Shaun May 9th 2006 12:58PM
I know of Trinidad. Trinidad is one of the world's largest producers of Petroleum. There is an entire lake filled with nothing but Petroleum. It's called Pitch Lake. Also, Trinidad is home to the largest Carnival celebration in the caribbean. The steel pan instrument comes from Trinidad. In addition to that, the Island is home to a number of famous recording artists and dignitaries. The "RAPSO" style of music was started in Trinidad by Cheryl Byron. RAPSO combines Poetry and Spoken word. Also, Soca and Calypso were started in Trinidad and Tobago. It's a very interesting Island. The Island isn't as "famous" as Jamaica because it doesn't have to rely on tourism to make its money. The country has the resources to do that on its own.