One Road- Ariann Mieka

Singing at the Spring We can spend time in nature to regain balance, to de-stress, to remember who we are and to gain a new perspective. Meditation really works for me but for those who find it’s hard to sit in silence during the day, make an effort to get into nature regularly.  Four-Step Mantra: On the first in-breath say to yourself, “In this perfect moment.” On the first out-breath, say, “dwells my perfect peace.” On the second in-breath, say, “I cherish this perfect moment.” On the second out-breath, say, “I cherish this perfect peace.” What is your favorite nature spot? Share in the comments below!  

Brought to you by the 2019 Calendar by Ariann Mieka Photography . I believe in creating local content that features the culture, history and beauty of our country. All of my calendars thus far have focused on T&T and they have even been printed locally as well! I am in good company when it comes to creating and producing products locally with love, passion and dedication.  This Christmas season, I wanted to do a series that showcases products and artists who hail from sweet T&T and offer items that would make excellent gifts for loved ones! Buying for people both home and abroad, these are great ideas for the different types of people on your list! There are ALOT of great local brands in T&T and below are just a few. Find them online (IG pages linked up below!), in store or at various pop up markets during the season. Bene Caribe   CLOTHING Talk about vibrant colours – the Bene Caribe pieces really embody Caribbean style. Beautiful, bright pat...

The wide trail to the beach was sandwiched between a dense mix of vegetation that included what looked like mangrove and an array of beautiful local flowers. The thick foliage captured my attention and my eyes darted from side to side marveling at the plants. Nearing the end of the trail, I looked in front of me and caught a glimpse of the Marianne beach. I smiled and the wind blew as if to greet me. “Welcome to paradise,” it whispered.  L: Marianne Beach, Blanchichesse, R: A lone coconut on the sand The waves rolling in at Marianne Beach Our country possesses some of most beautiful places in the world and Blanchisseuse is certainly on the list. Exploring this small scenic village, in the north coast of Trinidad, you find that adventure and breathtaking views are always right around the corner. Spreading a mat down on the sand I was filled with a joy that can only come from being within an oasis!  Beautiful Scenery at the bea...

Note: I loved the discussion "On Being" had with Pico Iyer from which the above quote comes from.  Find the full interview at this link:  http://www.onbeing.org/program/pico-iyer-the-art-of-stillness/7615/audio?embed=1

In this Relive and Reveal, segment I am sharing a shoot I did in Tobago. Various parts of the Dutch soldier’s uniforms were spread all over the furniture of a family friends living room to air out. We were in Tobago for a shoot for the Citizens for Conservation calendar and we were lucky to have access to these costumes that were used previously for a documentary about Tobago . The Lighthouse on the grounds of Fort King George The shoot had been organized weeks in advance and our helpful liaison K had everything set for us when we arrived. After another shoot for the calendar in the morning, we were to arrive at Fort King George in the afternoon to meet four young school children and four members from the Tobago Cadets who were going to wear the Dutch soldiers outfits. The theme for the calendar was to promote our natural and built heritage sites and each shoot included people utilizing the spaces to highlight the fact that these spaces can be sustainably managed and ser...

The drumming, singing, and dancing were captivating. As I looked on I was totally engrossed in what I was witnessing and I felt like I was on a tour in another country when I was in fact only a stone’s throw away from Port of Spain! We were in Laventille to learn more about the Orisha religion for a project on East Port of Spain and the camera crew was dutifully filming three ladies who belong to the faith.   Several shrines of different colours were laid out in a row in one section within an open yard. They went to each shrine and told us about the deity they were built for, what offerings were usually given and a short sample of what songs might be sung in various ceremonies throughout the year. The singing was mesmerizing as their voices and the Yoruba derived lyrics they belted out pulsated a rhythmic vibration through the air. The ladies explain different aspects of the faith and answer questions The Yard with some of the shrines to the various Deities A tour ...