NTITT’s “Hikers Digest”
Happy Holidays once again to you and your family and loved ones. Hope that the season passed nicely and peacefully thus far. I at Nature Trekking, though acknowledging the yuletide season, the action must however go on in accordance to requests from clients for once again my motto is to “AIM TO PLEASE” in whatever way possible as far as hiking and touring is concerned.
Review of Last Week.
Unlike the previous week where things were at a lull, this week was quite a good one for me, as far as tours are concerned. A client of mine who was in Trinidad earlier this year from England….a Trinidadian by birth, but now a resident of England hired my services along with her Irish husband and was impressed and so, this trip once again, she hired my services once again, this time together with her husband’s father and his companion who for their very first time came to this part of this world and so, it was up to me to really show off my island to them.
Monday 19th December 2011. I picked up my clients on time as usual and from there, we went on a tour at Fort George. We reached barely on time for it was almost 5:30pm and in the middle of the tour, the security said that they were about to close up; we departed and headed to the Queen’s Park Savannah where a detailed historical tour was given. From there, we headed on to the “Look-Out” at the Lady Young Road where they really appreciated the lights of P.O.S. from where we stood. From there, we departed back to where they were staying.
Wednesday 21st December 2011. Picked up my clients once again and we headed to the southern part of Trinidad where our first stop off was at La Brea Pitch Lake where my site guide “Ameena” was as usual on spot to receive us together with other guests from the U.S.A. and a thorough tour of the Lake was given much to the satisfaction of everyone. Although the weather was not of the best, God was with us for throughout the tour, the rains held up admirably indeed. From there, we proceeded onto the San Fernando Hill where my clients thoroughly enjoyed the vistas of the hill. We did not stay there for long as we had to journey back to where they were staying. Our last stop off was at “Ali’s Roti Shop” where we purchased roti and buss up shut with the different meats and vegetables in order to really give the folks the taste of Trinidad’s delights.
Saturday 24th December 2011. Today I had to do a “double whammy”, for initially, I was carded to have taken my clients to Maracas Bay yesterday, but due to one of my clients not feeling well, we adjourned for today; only that I had to cut out stay at the beach short because I had another client and her folks to take on a hike. Anyway, the weather today was glorious compared to a couple of days ago and they stay at Maracas was memorable to my Irish folks. They swam, soaked in the sun, chatted a lot, had their first bake and shark sandwich from Richards together with a couple of Shandys and then it was back to where they were staying.
I departed at once for home, for time was against me and thank God that I had everything packed and so, it was just a quick change of clothes, grabbed by belongings and off again to Arima where they were waiting and after introductions were made, we made our way to Guaico Tamana where we were hiking to the “Bat Cave” to see the evening spectacle. My (10) clients were all in awe when they saw the actual scenario……at first, some of them said that they weren’t interested in the bats but only the hike they came to enjoy, but all that changed when they saw the thousands of bats exiting the cave into the darkening skies. The night hike afterwards also went down well, for despite the trail being a bit muddy and slippery, my clients actually did a remarkable job in dealing with the fairly difficult conditions actually and in the end, all remarked excitedly of a great evening and all expressed total satisfaction and yours truly was indeed a very pleased man….”Mission Accomplished”.
Sunday 25th December 2011. I originally had a church group to carry on a hike to “Rio Seco Waterfall”, but due to circumstances that were genuinely out of their control, they had to cancel and they regretted taking such action. Aaah well……….. There goes my freedom in the forest and so, I now have to do like everyone else and go through the rituals of enjoying the Christmas with loved ones…..say what. Merry Christmas anyway.
Activities this upcoming week.
This week is another busy one for me as a number of activities are carded. As a matter of fact, every day this week I am working. I have a hike to Marianne Waterfall and River Exploration, pickups and drop offs at and to the airport, hiking to Paria Bay and Waterfall, a tour to Central Trinidad and another hike to Mount Tamana (evening Bat Experience). Ironically, every one of my expeditions this coming week are with exclusively visitors to our shores who are now openly expressing their interest in future hiking in Trinidad as they are now aware of my website and the information that is provided in it. They never knew that Trinidad possessed such beauty from the interior and I am really pleased that the awareness is now getting out there. It is now time for me to execute what is advertised on the site and make what looks like a fantasy into reality.
GENERAL INFORMATION.
Once again fellow hikers, as time goes along when you see my upcoming public hikes being advertised, you will see that the prices to hike with me is far more superior than the other hiking clubs…..that is simply because in future on most of my hikes in particular, there will be security for the parked vehicles as more and more hikers are expressing concern about their parked vehicles and I am striving for perfection in that area; the majority of my hikes as well I am providing finger foods, as well as juices and waters for all hikers upon conclusion of hikes hence one of the reason for “Pre-Paid Registration”, and of course the level of professionalism at all times on the nature trail.
Emile Serrette (NTITT)