in Bhopal, India
Returning after a day spent in the lush green Caura Valley during our stay with our daughter’s family in Trinidad, we met their friend at the front gate.
“What’s up, boy? I eh see yuh for a few days now—like you busy with the visitors?” he asked cheerfully.
“We went liming by the river,” replied Ajay, our son-in-law.
The word liming immediately caught my attention. I had never heard it used in that way before. Curious, I asked Ajay what it meant.
“It means hanging out with friends,” he explained casually.
That simple explanation did not satisfy my curiosity. How could lime—a word I associated with a fruit or a colour—mean spending time with friends? I turned to the Oxford Dictionary but found no such meaning.
Finally, I sought help from Wikipedia, that modern-day Aladdin’s lamp capable of answering almost any riddle. It did not disappoint me this time either.
I learned that liming is a uniquely Trinidadian expression, a cultural gem that reflects the island’s easygoing spirit and warmth.
In simple terms, it is “the art of spending time doing nothing.”
But to call it doing nothing would be an understatement.
A lime is a celebration of companionship, humour and the sheer joy of existence.
It typically happens when people meet—often by chance rather than plan—at a club, grocery, roadside bar, beach or riverside. They talk, laugh, joke and share anecdotes for hours.
There is no agenda, no fixed topic and no time limit. The only unwritten rules are laughter, relaxation and freedom from responsibility.
One of the most charming aspects of liming is its spontaneity.
You can pass by a corner shop, see a few people chatting with a drink in hand and be invited to join.
It doesn’t matter whether you are a close friend or a newcomer—if you bring a smile, a good story or simply a listening ear, you are welcome. Liming is democracy in its purest social form: open, inclusive and unpretentious.
Over the years, liming has evolved remarkably. What began as a casual pastime has become a cherished national tradition.
To an outsider, a lime might seem aimless, even unproductive. But to a Trinidadian, it is an art—an affirmation of the island’s rhythm of life. In a world obsessed with schedules, deadlines and measurable outcomes, liming stands proudly as the antidote. It says, “Take it easy. Life is short; share a laugh.”
Liming is not just an activity—it is a philosophy. It teaches that human connection is more important than constant motion, that laughter is nourishment and that doing nothing together can sometimes mean doing everything that truly matters.
So, the next time someone in Trinidad says, “We’re going liming,” know that it’s not merely an invitation to pass time. It’s an open door to friendship, fun and the island’s most authentic experience—a living lesson in the art of joyfully doing nothing.
Dr Surendra Mohan Shukla
is 87 years old.
