De curtain is about fall on 2010's edition of the greatest show on earth and from my perspective it has been a very successful, immensely enjoyable carnival.

I haven't spent so long on de road in Port of Spain on a Carnival Tuesday in years.  I felt very safe and enjoyed the mas that I saw. Island People, Tribe, Legacy and Ronnie and Caro were the four main bands that I spent the best part of the day watching and taking pictures.

The sun was hot, the music pumping and people were Palancing on de road. JW and Blaze are certain roadmarch winners even though the official results will not surface until tomorrow (Wednesday) at the earliest. Palance will probably win by a record margin, not since Superblue's Get Something and Wave in 1991 and Jab Jab in 1992 has a tune been so dominant on the road.

It has been a fabulous year for the tv presenters and radio hosts. They are the newly crowned Soca Monarchs and they are sure to be the roadmarch champions of 2010.

Trinidad has been a big part of my life since 1992 when I took my first visit here and almost two decades later the love is as big and as strong as ever. The vibe here is electrifying, the creativity that Trinidadians display in their mas, fetes and basically everything they do is mind boggling.

It's over now but the memory of Carnival 2010 will live on for many years to come !

If you missed this year I hope you can join me next year.

I am sitting here on the veranda of my wife's family house in Quarry Village in Siparia. It is Valentines day and more importantly it is Carnival Sunday. We are 12 hours away from Jouvert and I will be experiencing the bachannal on the south of the island for the first time ever and I can't wait.

Yesterday was Panorama and I was sat in the Grandstand for the duration of both the medium sized and large band category. The standard of competition was fierce in both categories and when it came to the large bands well boy ..... all guns were blazing !

Skiffle Bunch performed first, followed by Despers, then Soundsetters (from Tobago) Renegades, were then followed by Trinidad All Stars who up until that point got the largest cheer of the night. Fonclaire performed 6th and then bands 7 and 8 went into pan warfare. Phase II led by Boogsie Sharpe played Pan Army composed by Boogsie and performed by Kitch's son Kernal Roberts. The performance was tight and received a rapturous applause at it's conclusion.

People could have been forgiven for thinking that Phase II were going to take the title that was until the energetic Edwin Pouchet and his Silver Stars palanced on de stage playing the most popular pan tune of the night. Battle Zone was written by Edwin Pouchet and Alvin Daniel and performed by Anslem Douglas. Once Silver Stars had finished very few people would have doubted that they were going to take the Panorama title it was a performance to remember.

Silver Stars came 1st, Phase II came 2nd, Trinidad Allstars came 3rd and Invaders who very few people actually stayed behind to watch came fourth.

The next 48 hours is pace for me Jouvert in Siparia, Monday Mas in Sando and Carnival Tuesday in Port of Spain ! All of which I doing on de pavement chip ....chip !
 

The World's Greatest Show is underway and it started with an almighty bang. The B-Mobile Blackberry International Soca Monarch competition and Play Whe Groovy Soca Monarch competition has just come to a conclusion.

I am sitting in the car outside the Queen's Park Oval waiting for the results to be announced. I would be very surprised if JW and Blaze do not take the Soca Monarch title after putting the crowd into complete Palance euphoria.

Defending monarch Fayann Lyons put down a sterling performance as expected and there were good performances too from Shal Marshall and Screws, Tallpree and Mr Killa the latter both representing Grenada.

Caribbean Prestige Promotions have been putting on this show since 1993 and they spare no expense with detail or preparation. It is a well put together spectacle for the world to enjoy and every year it gets bigger and better in terms of organisation.

It's being at events like these that reinforce the reason why I love Trinidad Carnival so much. The way people party and enjoy themselves is unrivalled anywhere in the world.

The results are in and as expected JW and Blaze are the brand new 2010 B-Mobile  International Soca Monarchs and the Play Whe Groovy Monarch is Shurwayne Winchester.

What will be interesting is to see who will take the road now Palance or Fayann's True Lies.
------------------

It is 9.40pm on Carnival Thursday night and I think I can safely say that I have just been to one of the best fetes of the year.

Beachhouse 2010 took place in their new location (of two years) in Couva and this fete had everything a man could want. Pretty women, food, drink, music and most importantly great vibes. I am estimating that about 7000 people maybe more attended this $750 TT Dollar all inclusive.fete. The vibes were great from the word go the food was amazing (especially the crab and dumpling).

Imagine a football pitch full with people partying and around the edges you have tents full of alcohol, food, desserts, well provided toilets and DJs playing hit after hit after hit. The dust is the only negative thing I can think of and that is miniscule. The fete was a great one !

The anticipation, the anxiety, the wait is over Carnival 2010 is here people it is now CARNIVAL WEEKEND !

We are 24 hours away from The International Soca Monarch. Who will walk away with the prestigious title. Come back tomorrow and I will give you a full rundown of what took place.

Trinidad is sweet too bad !!!
 

It's about 10.30am here in Trinidad and we have just secured our liming spot at Caura River. De gas burner have de pot bubbling nice and I have found a quiet rock to sit on and write this blog for you.

After the Army fete on Friday night it was time to head south to where my in-laws are from. A place called Quarry Village in Siparia. It is very different to the hustle and bustle of Port of Spain and the more time I spend there the more I love it.

"Ay boy, nobody can lime like a Trini watch and see" was the talk from one of my in-laws as they drove me to Quinam beach for a cook up and lime. Geera Pork, Curry Goat, Pelau and all kinda ting was cooked right there by the beach. De cooking on site is part of de lime, you cannot cook de food home and bring you have to just bring ingredients and utensils and everybody pitching in.

The water at Quinam does not look very inviting at all but the ambiance of de place is unbeatable.

Music wise the race seems to be between Palance and Fayann's True Lies but to be honest with you all of the slower tunes to me sound much sweeter.

People are picking up their costumes every evening now and de pace is hotting up. Today is bachannal Wednesday only two days to go before the International Soca Monarch competition. I think the race for that crown is more wide open than the roadmarch. Anyone of a good 6 or 7 artists could walk away with that crown.

Today is River lime for me with the family and tomorrow it's all about The All Inclusive Party @ The Beach House in Couva !

Will touch base again by the weekend !
 

It's 6am on Saturday 6th February and it's been 12 hours since I landed in Trinidad for the carnival.  This is my 17th trip in 19 years and yet still I am filled with excitement and anticipation as if it was my first time here.
 

Trinidad carnival is like an uncontrollable drug that needs to be injected into my veins on a yearly basis. As I sit on the veranda watching day break overlooking the Angostura distillery on Eastern Main Road. I am full of good positive emotions and most of all thanks and praises to the father for getting me here safely and giving me the ability to make this journey every year.

I arrived at the Army fete about 1.30am at which point Bunji, Fayann and the Asylum band were putting a real nice performance. The vibes was nice and the 5000 plus people were having a ball. Tallpree, Buffy, Jamesy P and Iwer George were just a few of the names that went on stage and did their thing.  Roy Capes and his band went on stage about 4.30am and started to mash up de place !

My eyes are getting heavy and I have a busy one today including the Calypso Fiesta semi finals.

Will update you by Monday the latest. For now I going and catch a snooze !