Carnival lives up to the hype
If you’ve never ventured to Trinidad and Tobago for Carnival, you might be wondering: ‘What’s all the fuss about?’
But for those who have experienced the colourful costumes and exuberant fetes, that unfold before and during the two-day event, the hype is understandable.
More and more Bermudian soca and calypso fans are flocking to the Caribbean region to take part in Carnival.
For this year’s event, held on March 3 and 4, the preparations began as far back as July or August 2013.
Getting ready for Carnival involves finding a ‘band’ or ‘camp’ to dance in the parade with; buying a costume (and getting your body in tip top shape to wear it) and planning which parties and events you want to take part in.
Local resident Corey Vance grew up in Trinidad and has become one of the first points of contact for Bermudians interested in taking part in the festivities.
His group of friends, who call themselves ‘The Invaders’ have even set up a Facebook group.
He said: “Probably about five years ago some friends said ‘Look, a lot of us from Bermuda are going to Carnival, can you sort us out with a place to stay?’ So I kind of started there when people would say ‘I am going, what parties or fetes should I go to?’”
He recommends that people fly up at least a week in advance so they can take in the exciting sights and sounds.
Mr Vance hosts meetings outside his home to help prepare first timers about what to expect. He also uses his Trinidadian contacts to help people find safe and affordable entertainment, housing and transportation during their stay.
Over the past few years, Mr Vance has seen a dramatic rise in the number of Bermudians looking to take part in the event.
“It’s ridiculous,” he said. “The first year we had probably around ten or 12 Bermudians that we helped organise their trip.
“Now I would say the contingent of Bermudians and other West Indians is probably around 80 people that go.
“A lot of newbies go because they are ‘socaholics’ and like soca music, but what really attracts them is when they hear stories from people who have been and rave about their time at Carnival.”
Carnival is the most significant event on Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural calendar.
The parade takes over the streets in the capital, Port of Spain, on Monday and Tuesday, but by the time Ash Wednesday rolls around the commotion comes to a halt and the area becomes quiet.
Local DJ Jason Sukdeo, aka ‘D’General’, said he has a group of friends who travel to take part in Carnival regularly.
“It’s one of the only places you can spend a week or more and be entertained by the best DJs and artists,” he said. “You eat good food, meet old friends and make new ones.
“Trinidad & Tobago offers beautiful backdrops of both mountains and coastlines. The environment is always positive and very high energy. Basically, it’s a vacation where you’re sure to have a great time.”
He said Carnival preparation starts many months prior to the trip. Due to its growing popularity there is high demand on everything — from flights right down to food.
But you also have to prepare yourself physically by working out months beforehand.
“You want to look your best, feel your best and have the energy and stamina to maximise the enjoyment and what Carnival has to offer,” Mr Sukdeo added.
If fetes aren’t really your thing, he said there were other family friendly activities you could take part in.
From ‘Kiddie Carnival’, which gets children involved in a parade of bands, to the steel band competition Panorama — there’s no shortage of things to do in the day time.
Another highlight is the Soca Monarch competition, which encourages artists to battle for the coveted title of Soca Monarch of the year and earn a cash prize.
Mr Sukdeo encourages people who have never been to Carnival to link up with those who go regularly.
“Let them be your ‘tour guide’ of sorts,” he said. “They can be sure you have all you need prior to getting there.”
For more information on what to expect at Carnival, check out ‘Trinidad Carnival Diary’ on Facebook.
Some tips that could help you if it’s your first time at Carnival:
1. Stay in a group. Carnival is a great time, but Jason Sukdeo warns that Trinidad can also be dangerous. He encourages people to play it safe and stay together in a group.
2. Keep hydrated. It’s a long week of events, which ends with two days of scorching hot sun on the island’s roads. Mr Sukdeo encourages people to wear sunscreen and don’t be afraid to drink water in between your drinks to keep hydrated.
3. Leave valuables behind. You won’t need expensive jewellery or any of your favourite gadgets on this trip. Mr Sukdeo said they can attract the wrong attention.
4. Keep your money close. Try not to carry large sums of cash. The cash you have, try to keep it in a pocket with a button or zipper. Pickpockets are common, he said.
5. Prepare early. The earlier you start, the better. When it comes to flights, Mr Sukdeo encourages people to fly south (for instance through Miami) to connect to Trinidad, in order to avoid weather cancellations and delays due to snow. When it comes to accommodation, he said it’s best to rent houses and apartments during your stay. It’s much cheaper than a hotel, but the good ones get booked early. Before you book your costume, he urges people to decide which ‘band’ they want to play with and register early. “The good sections often sell out soon after they release their line up for the year,” he said. “So you’ll need to pay attention to when the band you want to be a part of launches their sections. This normally happens the summer prior to Carnival.”
Mr Sukdeo, aka D’General, is a local soca DJ. You can hear him on radio station Vibe 103FM on Monday nights from 8pm until 10pm. From now until Carnival, he will be playing all the new music you can expect to hear in Trinidad. He is also looking to keep people up to date with latest information on fetes in both Trinidad and Bermuda, including a warm up fete happening at Docksiders on Saturday.
