La Vega Estate, Gran Couva

I recently visited La Vega Estate in Gran Couva (Trinidad) for the first time. The compound is very well groomed and welcoming.

Dragonfly posing

You can park in the main car park and browse the flowers, fish, tools  and decorations for sale. There is a washroom available here also.
My costs for the day inside the rest of the compound were:
$25 to enter the rest of the compound for the day.
$30 for a rod and macaroni bait.
$5 for pellet to use as fish bait also.
$150 for a shed the shore of Lake George.

Compound Map

We got a small map as this was our first visit. At the same front desk where you paid for flowers etc is where you pay entrance fees. There were grocery shelf snacks,drinks and fruits available to purchase.

It took a minute slow drive on the gravel road to reach Lake George which is the largest body of water. The shed itself had benches all around and a large table in the centre. A tap was about 20 meters from the shed we were in to get water. The washrooms were at the top on a small hill close by.

Strolling peacocks

Peacock posing

Fishing

We had access to everywhere on the map until it was time to go at 5pm . Since the house on top the hill was vacant at the point in time we were able to drive up and see what it was like. If we did not rent a hut we could find a spot on the shore and fish anyway.

Morocoy

The were a lot of fish in the pond but getting them to bite was the problem. We would lose bait regularly but that is part of the fun.

Car Park and front desk

'Cappy' eating star apples

Fruits were available for sale at the front counter.

Rambutan

Toucan Trail

Red Pond

It is easy for the day to pass here so try to reach as early as possible


Site: https://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Vega-Estate/119280348155437
http://www.lavegaestate.com
726 Gran Couva Main Road,
La Vega Village,
Gran Couva,
Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.
Telephone: (868) 679-9522
Fax: (868) 679-9571
Email: info@lavegaestate.com

Blink Entertainment

I initially tried to sign up for Blink Entertainment on the 8th of January this year. On the same day I requested the same telephone line to be transferred to my name. The CSR I dealt with said to expect a phone call in a few days from them to ask about coming to do the install.

On the 20th January I called to ask why I did not get a call yet and not surprisingly I was told there was no request for Blink Entertainment. In typical TSTT/Bmobile fashion, not only did it not have that request but I was told I made a request for Internet service from them on the 18th January, which I did not. The name of the 'Field Agent' who took my request for Internet was in their notes and I was told their manager would investigate why the request was put in when I did not make it. The name change that was requested on the 8th was completed but just that. It would take 10-15 working days from this time to process the order.

On the 28th I called in again to check on the progress of the order. Impressively it was still present and I was told only 4 working days had passed... I did not ask what calendar they were using but the CSR assured me 10-15 days was expected for the installation.

On another note, for the past three years I have been getting two bills from Bmobile, one for $1.50 and one for $2.00. Three years ago I decided $650+ a month was too much to pay for two cellphones in my home and switched to Digicel. In order to terminate the Bmobile service I had to pay all outstanding arrears which was done in person at Bmobile and the phones were disconnected the same day. A month later I received the two bills for the first time. A CSR on the phone said I needed to pay the outstanding amount at a Bmobile branch as the account has been closed and trying to pay it online or other payment options are impossible. Each month after that the same bill would come with the same amount.

When I went in on the 8th January for the Blink application I asked about the recurring bills and was told I had to pay the outstanding amount for the bills to stop coming. The CSR confirmed that in order to terminate Bmobile service I had to pay all outstanding arrears, and that it is costing more to print and mail the bills than the value of the bills.

On Saturday 2nd Feb. I called in again to check for an update as I had not been called yet and was told there was a problem on the loop which the technicians were working on to allow me to get the service. That was the most I had been apologised to in my life, every half sentence was "I apologise again for this delay..". The CSR said it would be sorted out probably within a few days and then the install would be scheduled.

On Tuesday 5th Feb. 2013 I got a call from Blink to say that I cannot get the wired service because of a problem on the loop ("I had exceeded the threshold limit") and instead that wireless is available to me at the advertised prices. I asked how come a few houses away was able to get DSL and was told it depends on the distance on the wire and not on the straight line distance. I am reconsidering my options now..

Hilary Duff - Come Clean (Remix 2005) with lyrics youtube

Different area codes for Digicel, TSTT, Flow

If you are looking for a list of the different area codes used in Trinidad and Tobago or to check if a number is a cellphone on Digicel or Bmobile (TSTT) or Flow check this link:
http://tto.areacodebase.com/
 TSTT https://www.ecallchina.com/country/Trinidad%20And%20Tobago-area-code.aspx


Our international country prefix is '868' so the local area code is the 3 digits after this in the first column.

The TSTT residential phone book (the only one in the country as far as I know) has no mention of Digicel area codes in it.. typical TSTT behaviour.

Topics:
How do I know if a number is Digicel or TSTT(Bmobile)
Check if a number is Bmobile(TSTT) or Digicel or Flow(Columbus Communications)
What area code is this number
Area code for different areas

HP warranty for Trinidad and Tobago

I bought an AIO printer a couple months ago and there is a loud grinding noise when the blank paper is moving through it. The agent said the printer would probably be replaced which I am glad to hear.

The number for anyone in Trinidad and Tobago to call is 1-800-711-2884 but note that it is not toll free and I paid approximately $0.50 ttd per minute. I mentioned I was paying for the call and the rep said that is the correct number to call and maybe if I tried later it would be free. I called a little after lunchtime, and my 'toll free' calls to Dell are charged for also. The call lasted about 21 minutes. I was told it would take about 5 business days to process my complaint.

All phone numbers are here:
http://www.hp.com/latam/caribbean/contact_us/phone_assistance_after_buy.html

Update on 22nd Jan:
A brand new printer was delivered to me at the address I gave yesterday. I got to keep the old one and the delivery man I could use it for spare parts if I liked. I said thanks very much and he was off.

I am impressed by the quick service. Good job HP!


 Update on August 27th 2013:
I bought a different model AIO and it has a broken paper pickup roller. HP is sending me back to the seller to have it replaced. I hope the replacement is fine.




Topics:
HP laptop, desktop, server
HP printer, all in one, AIO
Copier, scanner fax

Madonna - Die Another Day Official Music Video HD youtube

I'm watching die another day today.

Backchatting pc

Funny stuff
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orac_%28Blake%27s_7%29

Sada roti

I tried to make sada roti for the first time today, it came out excellently, as expected with supervision from my mom. Will it be the same when I try it on my own, time will tell. It is an easy process to learn but hopefully not hard to master. I don't mind practising some more.

The sada roti recipe is basically using a ratio: 1 cup of water to 1 cup of flour to 1 tbsp baking powder.
Mix the ingredients a little of each at a time.
Let it sit for 20 minutes.
Make small balls of the dough that are flattened out with the rolling pin.
Let sit on the hot plate until each side is cooked and it starts to swell.

Topics:
How to cook sada roti.
Sada roti ingredients.

The Voice of Mario - Charles Martinet Interview (youtube)

Harry's Water Park (Tabaquite, Trinidad)

 

I recently visited Harry's Water Park and I liked what I saw. I have not been in a long time (years) and the place is much improved although there are still some rough edges. It was free to enter up to the bar and food building but $20 to just enter the water park area, no rides included. You had free re-entry for the day for this price.

Parking lot left

Parking lot right

There are native animals to look at in one section, the water slides in another and the carat sheds/liming spot in another section. Each section is accessible from each other. The use of the facilities is monitored by hand bands for different patrons. I did not get a band as I was not going on any slides.

Kids play area

The facility is clean and had workers walking throughout.

Kids area tables

Overhead video:

Official site:
http://harryswaterpark.ilitegroup.com/
Address:
160 Tabaquite Road, Rio Claro, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies

How to fix Kia Sorento leaking sunroof (clogged drain holes)

This is a guide on how to fix a leaking sunroof for a 2003 Kia Sorento EX. This vehicle is diesel and right hand drive in Trinidad but will probably work for other years and models of Sorento up to 2009 around the world.

Symptoms: 
When rain falls or you wash your vehicle-
Water may be leaking from under the dashboard, onto the driver or front passenger's feet.
Water may be leaking from the left or right corners of the ceiling liner where the ceiling meets the pillar.
Water may be dripping out of the console near the rear view mirror.
The radio and dash may be acting strangely, button functions switched around or not working at all.

The reason is that the drain holes are clogged and water gets backed up in the drain tubes and starts overflowing into the liner of the vehicle. Since the liner's backing is waterproof the water runs down into the pillars and into the dashboard where any number of things can go wrong.  The rubber around the glass window itself for the sunroof is only supposed to keep air out and some water. The drain holes are there to take care of the water. Do not try to seal the space around the glass since this is not the problem.

Sorento sunroof water drain hole

Fix:
There are two drain holes at the front corners (pictured above) that take water from around the sun roof which are probably clogged. The ends of the tubes for these holes collect silt/sand/dirt and water backs up to the top of the tube and overflows into the cabin. The hole on the opposite side of the car cannot help as the area between the holes is raised and blocks water. The rubber seals around the glass sunroof does not actually keep water out which is why the drain holes are needed.

You have to get access to the space under the shroud located between the front wiper blades and the bonnet (hood) to access the ends of the tubes. There are a few screw clips and a rubber moulding that had to be removed. I did not have to remove the shroud completely as it could be raised up enough for my hands to get to the tubing. A piece of wire or small screwdriver is sufficient to clear the debris. The entire process can take 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on how familiar you are with the type of work.

Note:
I had another leak after this which turned out to be a leak in the windshield seal, upper left corner. Water was dripping out of the ceiling liner. I took off the pillar plastic cover as well as the sun visor and a few screws holding the liner up in that corner. After testing with water from the outside I could then see where the water was coming from. I used regular silicone to fill the space around where the water was coming from. I also put some on the outside between the space for the windshield rubber and the body.

Topics:
Water coming inside Kia sorento
Leaking kia sorento roof
Dripping ceiling in kia sorento when rain falls