Understand

---

The islands were first inhabited by Arawak and Carib peoples, who settled here from South America, and whose descendants make up a small minority of the population. A cosmopolitan society exists but the majority of the population descended from African slaves and East Indian indentured servants. Additionally, some laborers were imported from Portugal and China. However, most of the Portuguese laborers could not cope with the hot tropical climate and died off. The Chinese grew fed up of slave like labor and started their own businesses such as small shops and laundromats. The Spanish, French, and Dutch all had a presence here before the two islands came under British control as a single colony in the late 19th century. They became independent in 1962.

The two islands have distinct personalities. Trinidad is by far the larger of the two, and is the location of most of the country's cities and activity. It is also the country's industrial center, especially for petroleum and natural gas production, which make T&T one of the most prosperous countries in the Caribbean. Tobago is the less developed, except for tourism, which is its main industry. Recently, however, development in Tobago has increased as the island is now a popular tourist destination. Both have a share of natural beauty, however.

Eat

---

Due to its varied background, Trinidad and Tobago has excellent and varied food options. In particular, the Indian roots have provided for some of the best foods of any country in the world. If you can't tolerate extremely hot and spicy food, be sure to let the cook or waiter know in advance.

Popular throughout T&T are tasty rotis, Indian flatbreads stuffed with chickpea curry, usually some meat, and other items (including green beans, pumpkin, and mangoes). The breads, also known as the skin, can be plain or can have split chickpeas inside. Many stores also sell rotis with skin but shredded up on the side, known as buss-up-shut. Supposedly the origin of this word comes from busted shirt, or old shirt, because the piles of skin resemble an old torn up shirt. Cheap breakfasts of 'sada' roti and 'choka' - vegetables of all kinds are available for about TT$3-4. But the most popular fast snack is a 'doubles'. One Famous spot is "GEORGE DOUBLES" located in Woodbrook outside the ever famous "Brooklyn Bar". Doubles is essentially a type of fried bake with curried chick pea and your choice of condiments. It is a roadside snack, available everywhere at about TT$2-$3. "Ali's Doubles" is a chain that sells doubles. There are a few locations around Trinidad, mostly in San Fernando. Eat hot.

Phoulourie is another roadside snack that is sold, usually in the same places that sell doubles. Basically it is ground up chick peas and flour fried in the shape of little balls. Other dishes that are available are aloo pies (fried potato pies) and saheena (fried eggplant dish). The village of Debe and the town of Penal in south Trinidad are popular places to obtain...