I was in Guyana about 2 weeks ago. I arrived by private jet (Fly Jamaica) for a workshop. I had a free day until the plane came back for me and I had grand plans for the day. I had intended to visit the zoo and botanical gardens. I had promised my friend from Trinidad to go see the “Cock on the Rock” as was advertised on the zoo wall.
Cock on the rock – South American bird found in the Guianas (Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana,
To my utter dismay, rain fell most of the morning on the day. I had one pair of shoes with me and I certainly was not having them spoiled just to fufill my friend’s fantasy. I therefore stayed in the hotel and caught up on some work.
In the evening a very nice taximan picked me up. He charged me US$5.00 extra, but it was worth every penny. He used to work for the television station and has interviewed several Jamaican DJs. He told me a lot of interesting stories. I wanted to find out about Guyanese Jazz singers. These are extinct apparently. Everywhere you go you hear Reggae music and this seemed to be the most popular music in Guyana. He confirmed this and told me of the number of artistes who come every year from Jamaica. His job does not define who he is, he told me. That was very clear. He was very engaging and a very good conversationalist, who spoke I suppose standard Guyanese. He spoke with little accent too.
I learnt about the bridge that stretches across the Demerara river. The Harbour Bridge which is a little over a mile long. It connects the East bank to the West Bank. (I almost asked if there was a Gaza too) You are suppossed to laugh. He lives on the West Bank side. By taxi from downtown Georgetown it costs GYD3000 – 3500(US$1:GYD200) to go to the West bank. Yet if you take a taxi to the entrance and another across the bridge the same trip will cost GYD1800. Life!
We spoke about the new highway, Guyanese life and the rising cost of living. The difference between the the various Caribbean territories.
I found it so funny when he asked me which airport I was going to. All I could say was the far one. I had no clue! I told him the one that was about an hour away. In my mind I said ‘you know the one where private jets land!’ I found out it was called Timheri.
The Waterways and lotus flowers have always fascinated me. The pictures above were taken by one of my English colleagues at the workshop I attended. Lotuses grow wild and it is such a beautiful sight to see them mixed in with the Taros and Dasheens in the waterways. I took a photo of a waterway but I can ‘t seem to find it. Guyana reminds me a lot of Curacao, with the waterways.
I love Guyana with its wooden buildings with their ornate fretwork and large windows with slats. A lot of the homes have verandahs almost circling them. Several houses on stilts. There appears to be a move away from stilts with persons obviously using the open area under the houses to increase living space. Not such a good idea! I don’t think!. Water always reclaims its space and find back its level. Meaning one day the place will flood again and that newly ceated space will be damaged, may even bring some tops down with it.
Guyana is home to one of the tallest wooden Churches in the world – St. George’s Cathedral – an Anglican Cathedral in Georgetown, Guyana.
Last time I was there I took some very nice pictures. I can’t find them so I am borrowing from the internet. Don’t worry I am only using pictures that can be used by every Tom, Dick and Harry (in other words any and everybody).
Next post I will tell you of the Guyana I experienced.
