 The Plume is a special online photo essay showcasing Tobago by National Geographic explorer and photographer Thomas Peschak. - TOBAGO has been showcased in two National Geographic features.
In a news release on November 14, Tobago Tourism Agency Ltd (TTAL) said, "We are pleased to share that the unspoilt island of Tobago has been featured in National Geographic’s newest documentary, Expedition Amazon. "National Geographic also unveiled a special online photo essay titled The Plume, showcasing the island’s striking beauty beneath the surface through the captivating lens of noted National Geographic explorer and photographer Thomas Peschak." TTAL said in a journey that "spanned the entire Amazon River Basin – from the icy 20,000-foot peaks of the Nevado Ausangate Mountain in the eastern Andes of Peru to its freshwater plume that reaches as far as the Caribbean islands, the unspoilt shores and vibrant reefs of Tobago present a stunning finale to National Geographic’s newest documentary, Expedition Amazon." Expedition Amazon, it said, is the culmination of a two-year scientific exploration of the Amazon River Basin. Led by seven teams of National Geographic explorers under the Rolex and National Geographic Perpetual Planet Amazon Expedition, this new, ground-breaking documentary unearthed some of the region’s unique wonders, including its connection to the reefs of Tobago. “I’ve never seen blue sponges in my life,” said Angelo Bernardino, National Geographic explorer and ecologist, while exploring some of Tobago’s unique dive sites. “A lot of marine life that we see here may be directly dependent on the food that is delivered by the Amazon River plume,” explained Bernardino during his exploration of the famous Japanese Gardens off the coast of Tobago’s Goat Island. “And that translates into a completely different marine ecosystem…here, you have reefs that are dominated by sponges,” added Peschak. Known by many as a diver’s paradise, Tobago boasts over 50 well-established dive sites, including the London Bridge Arch in Charlotteville, the Kelleston Drain off the coast of Little Tobago, Angel Reef in East Tobago and the Mount Irvine Wall and Kariwak Reef to the west of the island, thick with sponges, corals and the largest known brain coral in the western hemisphere. Divers can expect to find a vast array of marine life, including moray eels, lobsters, sea horses, barracudas, tarpons, rays and the leatherback turtle. Director of marketing and communications at TTAL Jason Antoine said: “As one of the Caribbean’s hidden gems, Tobago remains a destination waiting to be discovered by many. "With our reefs now featured in National Geographic, we hope to welcome more divers and travellers eager to experience their beauty first-hand. National Geographic's spotlight on Tobago’s mesmerising underwater landscape captures the essence of our natural allure, showcasing why Tobago should be on everyone’s travel list.” "National Geographic’s recognition of Tobago further propels the island’s unique tourism offerings on the global stage, providing travellers, explorers and viewers around the world with a vibrant view of a rich dive experience that takes you beyond the ordinary," the TTAL release said. Expedition Amazon is now streaming on Disney Plus, Hulu and NGTV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCjFWTp2J_k. The Plume online photo essay, "showcasing the island’s striking beauty beneath the surface through the captivating lens of Peschak," can be viewed at: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/into-the-amazon/the-plume. (Source: Newsday, Nov 17, 2024)  According to historical records it is believed that Christmas was first celebrated in Trinidad in 1569. The season was introduced by six priests of the Order of Observantines led by Fr Miguel Diosdados. The priests visited several villages in Trinidad sharing the story of the first Nativity. On these visits they were warmly welcomed by the villagers who invited them into their homes and treated the priests to local Cuisine . Trinbago ‘s Christmas traditions have evolved over centuries, creating a festive season filled with unique flavors and heartwarming customs.
Iconic village scene from our distant past. Where do you think this photo was taken and around what time period? (Source: Angelo Bissessarsingh's virtual museum of T&T Nov 29, 2024)  It was so refreshing to buy a "press" with guava syrup and condensed milk .
(Source: Trinbago Golden Memories, Nov 29, 2024)  Wow, I had no idea about the original story of Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer! If you aren't familiar with it either, read below:
As the holiday season of 1938 came to Chicago, Bob May wasn’t feeling much comfort or joy. A 34-year-old ad writer for Montgomery Ward, May was exhausted and nearly broke. His wife, Evelyn, was bedridden, on the losing end of a two-year battle with cancer. This left Bob to look after their four-year old-daughter, Barbara. One night, Barbara asked her father, “Why isn’t my mommy like everybody else’s mommy?” As he struggled to answer his daughter’s question, Bob remembered the pain of his own childhood. A small, sickly boy, he was constantly picked on and called names. But he wanted to give his daughter hope, and show her that being different was nothing to be ashamed of. More than that, he wanted her to know that he loved her and would always take care of her. So he began to spin a tale about a reindeer with a bright red nose who found a special place on Santa’s team. Barbara loved the story so much that she made her father tell it every night before bedtime. As he did, it grew more elaborate. Because he couldn’t afford to buy his daughter a gift for Christmas, Bob decided to turn the story into a homemade picture book. In early December, Bob’s wife died. Though he was heartbroken, he kept working on the book for his daughter. A few days before Christmas, he reluctantly attended a company party at Montgomery Ward. His co-workers encouraged him to share the story he’d written. After he read it, there was a standing ovation. Everyone wanted copies of their own. Montgomery Ward bought the rights to the book from their debt-ridden employee. Over the next six years, at Christmas, they gave away six million copies of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer to shoppers. Every major publishing house in the country was making offers to obtain the book. In an incredible display of good will, the head of the department store returned all rights to Bob May. Four years later, Rudolph had made him into a millionaire. Now remarried with a growing family, May felt blessed by his good fortune. But there was more to come. His brother-in-law, a successful songwriter named Johnny Marks, set the uplifting story to music. The song was pitched to artists from Bing Crosby on down. They all passed. Finally, Marks approached Gene Autry. The cowboy star had scored a holiday hit with “Here Comes Santa Claus” a few years before. Like the others, Autry wasn’t impressed with the song about the misfit reindeer. Marks begged him to give it a second listen. Autry played it for his wife, Ina. She was so touched by the line “They wouldn’t let poor Rudolph play in any reindeer games” that she insisted her husband record the tune. Within a few years, it had become the second best-selling Christmas song ever, right behind “White Christmas.” Since then, Rudolph has come to life in TV specials, cartoons, movies, toys, games, coloring books, greeting cards and even a Ringling Bros. circus act. The little red-nosed reindeer dreamed up by Bob May and immortalized in song by Johnny Marks has come to symbolize Christmas as much as Santa Claus, evergreen trees and presents. As the last line of the song says, “He’ll go down in history.” Rudolf will air December 6th, NBC, 8:00 Eastern, 7:00 Central time. |
T&T news blogThe intent of this blog is to bring some news from home and other fun items. If you enjoy what you read, please leave us a comment.. Archives
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