* Trinbago is in a time zone one hour ahead
of Eastern Standard time; when you get there you will need to
set your watch ahead one hour, unless you travel during the summer
and your watch is set for Daylight Savings Time (in that case
you're already set to Trini Time). Don't forget to set it back
when you return.
* Since Trinidad is close to the equator,
the sun will burn hotter than you have ever felt before. Exposed
skin will actually have a burning sensation, although the temperature
will rarely go above 90 degrees. Peeling and sunburn can be painful
and dangerous; you should be concerned about skin cancer and other
problems.
* Purchase a waterproof sun block with the
highest SPF rating you can find (SPF 30 or higher). A cap or sun
hat will also help keep sun off your face. Both men and women
can benefit from a broad brimmed hat to keep the sun off your
face. Salt tablets and drinking liquids can help with dehydration
and overheating.
* Mosquitos in Trinidad love visitors to
the island, literally. Tourists standing next to a Trini will
be bitten repeatedly while the Trini goes untouched. The only
defense is a strong mosquito repellant cream applied to skin and
clothing. Mosquitos also carry Dengue Fever, a nasty disease you
would prefer to avoid.
* Trinidad is a tropical country about 100
miles north of the Equator, the daytime temperature sometimes
gets above 90° F. What may be surprising is that the nights
can be on the cool side, with temperatures in the 70's and 60's,
unlike the sweltering summer nights in say Washington, D.C. It
might be a good idea to pack a long sleeved shirt, sweater or
light jacket for night time parties and concerts.
* Wildlife areas can contain unfamiliar and sometimes dangerous plants or animals. Animals rarely attack without being provoked, but care should be exercised by staying alert to the possibility of encountering wildlife not common in the U.S. Understand that you are visiting a place where frogs can be poisonous, or may climb trees to avoid the crocodiles. (Crocodiles are rare; in twenty-two trips to Trinidad I've only seen one Cayman, a dead one, on the side of a highway to the airport, but I saw none on a boat trip into Caroni Swamp).
© 2004 Afrique Publications
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