Sokah2Soca

Have you have ever driven to Maracas beach? Well if you are a true Trini then you must have taken a dip in the salt – Maracas Bay we talking about eh! Well the road to Maracas Bay (travelling South-West) takes you through some winding roads and if you did not know it you passed through Maraval; in this area are nestled three villages, one of which has a reputation that rivals any in Trinidad. That village goes by the name of Paramin and it is famous for many things that I am sure after reading this Gailos will address me and state that I missed out on this and that and the other. Well I am from Arima and will be forgiven. The focus of this post is to present some information about the village of Paramin and eventually do the same for other villages in our beloved Trinidad and Tobago.

Paramin like the other villages in the area is nestled in the hills of Maraval that provides a unique climate for the area. This gift of nature is responsible for the famous gardens that produce the well known Paramin seasonings. Can you smell the thyme and chives? Well, let me start by posting a link to a recipe for the famous Paramin seasoning. Oh, and please take note that Paramin is considered to be the “herb basket of Trinidad” - this is no idle boast my friends.   Link to: Astray Recipes

Obviously nothing beats going into the area and getting the seasoning from the source. The Mist that descends on the gardens leaves the vegetation green and lively and is never beaten down by the tropical climate. This mist can be considered a gift to the farmers of the area. Paramin seasoning is not only famous island wide but it also making an impact in the Caribbean area.

So who are the people of Paramin? Well this community has a strong Spanish influence but not from Spain. Many Venezuelans came to Trinidad to settle and in this area created cocoa plantations and a farming community that their decedents now cultivate and cherish with great pride. I like to refer to them as "Cocoa Pyols" and this is not meant as an insult at all. Trinidad men love to talk about “they Cocoa Pyol omen”. These settlers not only brought their farming skills but also their traditions. One of those traditions gave rise to Paramin becoming famous for their music - Parang music. The Parang singers travel from home to home playing music and singing nativity songs that are still a tradition of this community even though it is fast disappearing in other communities in Trinidad. On the Monday before Christmas the community hosts a Parang festival that is well attended and keeps growing year after year. Parang and Paramin go hand in hand. When people are talking about Parang, Paramin gets loads of respect and adoration.

Carnival in Trinidad has many traditions that have been lost for some time now but in Paramin they are famous for a tradition that has almost disappeared from the carnival celebration – jab, jab. In Paramin they have kept alive the tradition with a twist and the now famous tradition of Blue Devils has even ended up in a documentary film. The documentary is 47 minutes long and was directed by Alex De Verteuil and released in 2006. Here is a link to see the trailer for the documentary. This is a must have for the culture enthusiast.

Trinidad & Tobago Film Company/Jab: Link to view a short video clip of the Jab festival/not the Grenadian Variety: Trinidad and Tobago Film Company/Jab

Every Carnival Monday evening the place to be is Paramin! Why you may ask? Well, if you want to experience this dying tradition then one needs to see and experience the celebration of  the Blue Devils of Paramin. Now please note “that yuh cyar want to play mass and fraid powder eh”. If you go to this presentation prepare to get some blue paint (colored wash) on your clothing so don’t put on yuh Sunday best to this baccanalish presentation eh.

For those whom are interested in things from the past there is “Our Lady of Lourdes/Guadalupe” perched on a very scenic terrace overlooking the valley. The church is about 150 years old and is considered to be an architectural wonder in the in the area – it just stands out with its green roof reaching out over the valley.

Finally it should also be noted that the area is also famous for its bat caves with eye catching limestone formations. It is reported that these caves are some of the most easily accessible caves in the island. I am not a friend of bats so I won’t be visiting those caves or any caves in the future. However, for the daring and enterprising traveler these caves should be a treat.

Parmin, a village in the Maraval area has given much to the Islands of Trinidad and Tobago but for us who hang out in Trinizagada we are most thankful for our very own Paramin Gold better known as Gailos. Thank you Paramin!

Addendum:
Here is a bit of information that I researched on behalf of an "anonymous comment",  Apparently Paragon Beach is one of those unspoilt areas that is well known by people living in the area. I am not sure how the beach is accessed but apparently it has the virgin feel because it is not frequented often by the general public.   In this area is an island named Saut d'Eau. Wikipedia has more information about the island and can be sourced at this URL Link: Saut_d'Eau

According to Wikipedia, "Saut d'Eau, French for "Waterfall", is a small island in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is located just off the north coast of main island of Trinidad (less than 1km) in the Caribbean Sea. It is one of thirteen government protected wildlife sanctuaries, one of two breeding grounds for Pelicans in the country." 
I hope that this update helps! If we work together we can provide information that could be helpful to others seeking for an exotic place to visit...  Why not Trinidad and Tobago?