http://www.ttltt.com/ Views of Trinidad and Tobago, seen through the eyes of photographer Marc Seyon. en-us phototakeouter@gmail.com 2007-09-27T13:57:53-05:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://www.ttltt.com/cuisine/indian_sweets.php Clockwise from top left, burfi, ladoo, gulab jamoon and pera, with jalebi in the middle. These sweets would be traditional dessert fare at any Indian ceremony. 234@http://www.ttltt.com/ Cuisine 2007-09-27T13:57:53-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/cuisine/angostura_1919_rum.php One of my earliest memories of Lord Kitchener was his appearance in an Angostura Christmas ad singing “Drink a Rum” Fitting then, that this should be the song going through my head as I experimented with some studio shots of one of Angostura's premium rums, 1919. To hear Angostura describe it, “1919 rum possesses a rich, golden-amber hue with excellent clarity. The rum exudes a complex bouquet brimming over with aromas of cocoa, molasses, caramel and vanilla.” I don't have the rum connoisseur's vocabulary, but I can tell you this is an excellent sipping rum, either straight or on the rocks. Liven it up with a splash of bitters and you good to go! 233@http://www.ttltt.com/ Cuisine 2007-09-25T13:22:14-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/nature/bamboo_patterns.php Walking back along the Marianne River from our trip to Three Pools I was drawn to this patch of fallen bamboo on the river. I'm quite pleased with this as it was handheld at 1/25 which is unusual given my usual lack of steady hands. I'm working more on training myself to observe shapes and patterns like these. Also working on posting here a bit more regularly, but one battle at a time, right. 232@http://www.ttltt.com/ Nature 2007-04-26T21:45:56-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/nature/evening_at_maracas_lookout.php View of the evening sun over one of the islets off Trinidad's north coast, seen from the Maracas Lookout. 231@http://www.ttltt.com/ Nature 2007-04-26T02:32:34-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/nature/torch_ginger_ii.php Another view of the magnificent torch ginger flower from Asa Wright. I'm planning another trip to Asa Wright soon to try out my new macro lens. Hope to post some shots from that trip soon. 230@http://www.ttltt.com/ Nature 2007-01-10T19:45:48-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/nature/torch_ginger.php There are over 2500 species of flora in Trinidad and Tobago, some indigenous and many brought by migrants over the years. The torch ginger, Etlingera eliator, is believed to be native to the East Indies. This striking specimen was growing at the Asa Wright Centre. The stalk was almost five feet high and the flower itself several inches across. 229@http://www.ttltt.com/ Nature 2007-01-08T17:13:11-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/cuisine/cocoa_drying.php 228@http://www.ttltt.com/ Cuisine 2007-01-07T22:29:45-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/architecture/orange.php Our current economic prosperity, fueled by our oil and natural gas wealth, is driving a rush for real estate, and a tendency toward urban and commercial development. Even in Arima, which for the past few years has been languishing in the doldrums, overtaken in activity by areas such as Chaguanas and Sangre Grande, new development can be seen, and previously neglected properties are being put on the market. It's only a matter of time before old houses like these are bought over, torn down and replaced by new concrete monstrosities. 227@http://www.ttltt.com/ Architecture 2006-12-31T14:33:54-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/architecture/more_sea_blast.php A closer look at this corroded gate on Mayaro Beach, the iron peeled away like so many layers of onion skin. 226@http://www.ttltt.com/ Architecture 2006-12-30T18:49:52-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/architecture/sea_blast.php 225@http://www.ttltt.com/ Architecture 2006-12-29T21:05:27-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/products/trinidad_and_tobago_2007_wall_calendar.php Sad to say, I haven't been devoting much time to TTLTT.com recently as I've been occupied with other projects. Today I'd like to unveil one of them – my very first wall calendar. It features 13 photos, some from TTLTT.com and some other previously unpublished work. The calendar itself is quite lovely, it's printed on a heavier than normal card stock and the image quality is excellent. Needless to say, I'm very excited about this project. The calendars are available online now at my new site – photoTNT.com. As the holiday season is just over a month away I'd like to take the opportunity to extend best wishes and greetings to everyone, especially my photoblogging friends whose sites I've been neglecting for months. Looking forward to reconnecting with you all soon. 222@http://www.ttltt.com/ Products 2006-11-14T18:24:28-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/architecture/republic_day.php 221@http://www.ttltt.com/ Architecture 2006-09-24T17:20:12-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/out_and_about/around_the_bend_they_go.php Action at the Independence Day races at the Santa Rosa Park in Arima. 220@http://www.ttltt.com/ Out and About 2006-09-10T19:46:33-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/nature/mapepire.php Took a trip to the Asa Wright Nature Centre over the weekend. The Centre is renowned as a destination for birdwatchers and naturalists in general and it's a great place to experience local flora and fauna. This particular species of fauna found by the grounds staff just happens to be the most dangerous snake in the Central/South America/Caribbean region. Locally it's called a mapepire (pronounced mah-pih-PEE) or bushmaster but the more common name is the fer-de-lance. Wondering why such a tight grip is being kept on its head? On average a mapipire bite injects 105mg of venom into the unlucky victim. A 50mg dose of venom is considered fatal to humans! You probably don't want to get bitten by this guy. 219@http://www.ttltt.com/ Nature 2006-08-21T21:45:59-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/portraits/soca_warriors_jump_for_joy.php One of the young fans eagerly awaiting the opportunity to welcome home the Soca Warriors. 218@http://www.ttltt.com/ Portraits 2006-07-04T12:03:08-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/portraits/soca_warriors_twiggy_sings.php Twiggy, one of the performers at the impromptu open air show held at the airport prior to the team's arrival. I think what drew me to this photo was the intensity of her expression as she clearly poured her all into her performance. 217@http://www.ttltt.com/ Portraits 2006-06-29T22:13:54-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/culture/soca_warriors_wave_your_colours.php 216@http://www.ttltt.com/ Culture 2006-06-28T23:41:39-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/culture/happy_mothers_day.php Even though Carnival takes place in February/March, almost three months before Mothers' Day is celebrated here in Trinidad, this Carnival masquerader from the band Belmont Old Stylish Sailors (BOSS) saw fit to parade around Port of Spain for two days bearing this grand and unmistakable tribute to mothers. Perhaps it's just his way of proclaiming that Mothers Day truly should be every day of the year. Happy Mothers' Day to all the moms out there. 215@http://www.ttltt.com/ Culture 2006-05-14T14:40:46-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/landscapes/watching_the_sunset.php Together, just you and me. This is how simple life should be. Sitting on the beach with the one you love by your side, watching a sunset as beautiful as this. Can you think of anything better than that? I can't. 214@http://www.ttltt.com/ Landscapes 2006-04-27T20:30:46-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/nature/pink_hibiscus.php Hibiscus flowers are a popular garden plant in Trinidad. The flowers have large, showy petals usually in brilliant colours ranging from reds to pinks and yellows. This pink specimen growing in my cousin's yard is one of the largest specimens I've seen recently. I didn't have a ruler handy, but it must have been easily nine to ten inches wide. 213@http://www.ttltt.com/ Nature 2006-04-22T10:56:37-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/portraits/its_carnival_2006.php Every year for two days the entire country shuts down for the unofficial holidays of Carnival Monday and Tuesday. Bands of costumed masqueraders parade through the streets of downtown Port of Spain and environs in what has been dubbed the “Greatest Show on Earth”. For the past four years I have been capturing the sights of Trinidad Carnival and publishing a selection of photography on TTLTT.com's sister site, Playyuhself.com. ‘Play yuhself’ is a local phrase that translates loosely into ‘be yourself, enjoy yourself, come what may’. I think it really captures the spirit of revelry and abandon that dominates the Carnival season. This year there are more than 400 photos on Playyuhself.com. Take a look. 212@http://www.ttltt.com/ Portraits 2006-04-13T16:28:12-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/architecture/one_world_unity.php 209@http://www.ttltt.com/ Architecture 2006-03-04T18:26:59-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/architecture/the_falls_ceiling.php The Falls at Westmall is the latest incarnation of one of the country's larger and more upscale shopping malls. Step into this mall and it's easy to forget you're in a small Caribbean island. This may well have been the effect the architects were after, mimicking pristine, modernism of their North American counterparts. And it is eye-catching, but in a sterile, unimaginative way that seemed to me totally at odds with the vibrancy and vigour of the Caribbean. Especially, the Caribbean at Carnival time. It is also an interesting contrast on yesterday's photo of old Charlotteville, the traditional versus the modern. Tomorrow's photo will present yet another contrast, to both these images, portraying both vibe and vigour. Stay tuned. 208@http://www.ttltt.com/ Architecture 2006-03-03T09:19:57-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/out_and_about/old_charlotteville.php Old woman walking, old house, old style Charlotteville. If ever you want a Tobago vacation away from the (relative) bustle of the tourist-friendly south coast, Charlotteville is the place to stay. 207@http://www.ttltt.com/ Out and About 2006-03-02T08:36:38-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/architecture/charlotteville_entrepreneur.php It's not uncommon to see a Tobagonian storefront advertising a range of sea-going activities. And with the high tourist population, everyone needs a car rental or a taxi. It's the tropics, cold drinks are always a welcome relief. But add on a plethora of web and computer services including cd burning and scanning (for those vacationers still using film cameras, perhaps), fax and copying, and cell phone rentals, and you've got the makings of a true entrepreneur. Imagine all this business being conducted out of a beachfront hut smaller than some car interiors, and you can perhaps understand the choice of name – de Maximum – cause that's certainly the value apparently being squeezed out of this narrow slice of Caribbean real estate! 206@http://www.ttltt.com/ Architecture 2006-02-25T22:37:21-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/architecture/beachfront_store.php One of the many small stores that dot the waterfront along the route to Pigeon Point. This one appears doesn't appear to be operational any longer, but in its day was probably some sort of dive-related business. 205@http://www.ttltt.com/ Architecture 2006-02-24T23:06:47-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/nature/termites.php Termite nest in evening light. 204@http://www.ttltt.com/ Nature 2006-02-23T00:56:43-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/landscapes/a_splash_of_cloud.php The haphazard arrangement of these clouds seemed to lend itself to this composition. 203@http://www.ttltt.com/ Landscapes 2006-02-22T00:41:47-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/architecture/cocoa_buying_agent.php 202@http://www.ttltt.com/ Architecture 2006-02-19T22:10:17-05:00 http://www.ttltt.com/landscapes/fringed.php Another lovely Tobago sunset, this one taken on Sandy Bay near to Pigeon Point. There's a boat on the horizon directly in front the setting sun. Last night I dreamt I was back in Tobago seeing this same sunset. 201@http://www.ttltt.com/ Landscapes 2006-02-19T07:59:58-05:00