Paramin Jeep Tour: Escape to the mountains for a day

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By Jevan Soyer. A media tour titled Belle Plas de Paramin which translates to Beauty of My Paramin was hosted by Tourism Trinidad Ltd on Friday October 21, 2022. The all-day event showcased the language, culture, history, lifestyle and landscape that are unique to the community of Paramin.

The tour touched on many aspects of life in Paramin, one that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. The day started with a jeep ride to Mahogany Ridge.

The jeep, specifically the Toyota Land Cruiser, is the unofficial taxi of Paramin. With its high altitude and winding steep concrete roads it is one of the few vehicles that is up to the task.

Mahogany Ridge

The media was greeted at Mahogany Ridge in unique Paramin flair in Patois by Peter Tardieu. The group was then given a tour overview by Nathan Greene, Director at Limitless Living.

Interim Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Trinidad Limited, Carla Cupid, then took over to thank the participants for attending the event and proceeded with some opening remarks.

This was then followed by the Limitless Living co-founder Mariessa Newallo leading the group in a mindfulness exercise. The intent being an icebreaker and preparing everyone for what the rest of the day had to offer.

About Mahogany Ridge

Mahogany Ridge Bed & Breakfast is Trinidad’s most unique travel experience for the intrepid soul and the adventurous traveller. It is located above picturesque La Vache Bay, and can be accessed via Fond Pois Doux Road, which is on your way to Maracas Beach.

Mahogany Ridge is one of the Caribbean’s premium locations for exotic travel destinations. Rainforest, exotic flora and fauna, a rich diversity of birds and stratospheric vistas of the Caribbean Sea, Northern tip of Venezuela, and neighbouring Tobago. For bookings click here

Property amenities

• Free parking
• Free high-speed internet (Wi-Fi)
• Bar / lounge
• Hiking
• Airport transportation
• Shuttle bus service
• Adults only
• Mosquito net

Room features

• Clothes rack
• Wake-up service / alarm clock
• Coffee / tea maker
• Refrigerator
• Bath / shower

Dirt Oven Brunch

Next, it was off to the Fond Pois Doux Road to visit Julia Lucio, better known as Auntie Julie. There, the members of the media were treated to an “ital” brunch, Paramin style.

On the menu were coconut bake made in front of you in a dirt oven, fried bake, fried plantains, tomato choka, baigan choka and zaboka choka all served in a calabash bowl. The meal was paired with a cup of hot chocolate served in a traditional enamel cup. This was keeping with the theme of the tour being zero waste generation.

After a second serving of freshly made coconut bake, the party was treated to a brief history of Paramin and examples of patois being used in everyday conversation in Trinidad and Tobago by Cornelius Carlos Felician. Then, it was off again to the next stop.

To contact Auntie Julia to reserve a spot, order in advance or get directions call 1-868-276-5127.

Mountain man of Paramin

The next stop brought us to the residence of Peter Celestine, also known as the “Mountain Man of Paramin”, “Jap” and “Skiro”. His is a story of perseverance and determination, of not letting life’s speed bumps slow you down.

Celestine who lost his left leg in a tragic hunting accident, has not let it slow him down. He still carries himself as if it didn’t happen, tending to his crops, climbing trees and even swimming in the ocean to harvest see moss.

The story goes on that he lost his prosthetic leg during one of his sea moss expeditions, and instead of waiting to be rescued, he fashioned a makeshift prosthetic leg and climbed his way up the mountainside back home and resumed his daily chores.

All of the invited representatives from media houses gathered around and jostled for a position to hear of the Mountain Man of Paramin. You can find him as he sells his fresh produce and seasoning in his shed that he constructed which is located along the Fond Pois Doux Road in Paramin.

Hi members, friends and onlookers, Mr Peter Celetine the man with many names, (Mountain Man, Scooroo, Jap), was interviewed and deemed to be a Super Hero. | By Cornelius Carlos Felician | Facebook

Created by Cornelius Carlos Felician. . 0 views, 29 likes, 6 loves, 4 comments, 5 shares: 0 views, 29 likes, 6 loves, 4 comments, 5 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Cornelius Carlos Felician: Hi…

Parang at La Vigie

One of the things that Paramin is known for is Parang, and it was on show at the Paramin lookout or La Vigie. The Parang side performed above the clouds as the location was enveloped in a thick layer of mist. It is said that on clear days you can see as far as Grenada, but visibility was limited to the shore line that day.

Meyah River Spa Experience

From the La Vigie, which could be considered the top of Paramin, the jeeps took the travellers down miles of hairpin turns until we reached the Meyah River. Like a scene from a postcard or a nature documentary, it seemed as if you had travelled back in time to a period before Trinidad was inhabited.

The most notable thing, not just here but throughout the entire tour, was the fact that you could not hear any sounds that you would normally associate with urban life. There were no sounds other than those provided by nature. There were also no smells like what you may be familiar with, just clean unpolluted air.

This location was used to stage an outdoor spa complete with massages from Sashri Dass. This was very popular with the participants of the tour. So, there was the opportunity to rub out all of your tension and stress while being surrounded by nature in its purest form.

On road trip through #Paramin and discovered this beauty … Meyah Waterfall#waterfall #chasingwaterfalls #TwitterNatureCommunity #naturelovers #sweetsweettrinidad pic.twitter.com/iNSRbtGXxu

— Tourism Trinidad Limited (@TourismTriniLtd) March 14, 2022

Chive Field Tour

The next stop was a chive field, undulating hills covered with chive and various seasoning herbs as far as the eyes could see, with Port of Spain nestled in the background. The tour took the media representatives through a chive field that grew different varieties of chive. As they proceeded further and further into the field they were promised a surprise.

The track through the chive curved around the hillside. Most were distracted by either the majestic views or maintaining a steady footing as they walked along the narrow footpath. Then, out of nowhere around the corner is the opening to the Colosseum Cave.

Colosseum Cave

The Colosseum Cave is on private property and not generally accessible to the general public. The entrance to the cave could be overlooked if you do not know what you are looking for, but when you enter, it opens up into a huge cavity.

The floor of the cave is littered with guano and seedlings of native fruit trees. This demonstrates the importance of bats in the environment as they disperse seeds, pollinate flowers, eat insect pests and produce rich fertiliser for the surrounding farmers.

The Colosseum is just one of four caves to be found in Paramin, the rest are kept a secret by its residents for the safety of the caves. Aside from being a roost for bats, it is also a favoured nesting site for corbeaux (black vulture, Coragyps atratus). The cave has been visited by naturalists from around the world, who would camp out for days on end documenting the various bats that inhabit the cave.

Paramin Blue Devils

As the group exited the cave and retraced their steps back through the seemingly endless fields of chive, they were surprised by an impromptu performance by Next Level Devils. This is another activity that has made Paramin popular in Trinidad and Tobago. The performance of Next Level Devils captivated the crowd of onlookers and scared a few.

North Deck

The final leg of the tour took us back on the road to The North Deck, with its picturesque view of the North Coast, which was the perfect way to wind down the day’s activities.

Fond Pois Doux Road in Paramin is one of the few roads in Trinidad constructed entirely of concrete. The road branches off from the North Coast Road and takes you all the way to the La Vigie (Paramin Lookout).

Paramin Tours

Limitless Living Tours

Nathan Greene – +1868-3311900

Mariessa Newallo – +1868-3902451

Email – limitlesslivingtt@gmail.com

Website – limitlesslivingtt.com

Facebook – facebook.com/limitlesslivingtt

Instagram – @limitlesslivingtt

La Rose De Paramin –

Facebook – facebook.com/Larosedeparamin/

Paramin Mountains Jeep Tour

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