making roti and curry
and again...
sunset from back of our house
Old Lady's Pond
Monday, 27 September 2010
Saturday, 25 September 2010
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Last Part of Georgetown and Lethem
I am now currently STUCK IN LETHEM!! The cause again is the heavier than expected rains during this most recent rainy season that has washed the dirt road to Aishalton away. It is currently possible to get to Aishalton (usually a 6-7 hour truck ride from Lethem) yet the locals reckon that it will take over a day to get there by tractor. As a result, on arriving last Friday (10th) the Ministry of Education office in Lethem decided; against Dave and my wishes I must add; that we should stay in Lethem until Wednesday (tomorrow) at the earliest as the Regional Educational District Officer (REDO) returns from Georgetown.
Oh this blog was meant to include photo's but the internet's being useless atm... ill try upload them later :)
5th- 9th September (last few days in Georgetown)
As the Project Trust Volunteers (PTV’s) gradually got taken to their projects, the size of our group (of white people) in Georgetown dwindled, making us; in the eyes of our host Kala; less obvious target for muggers ect.. With this came more freedom to do what we liked in town. We took a couple of trips in to see Christine, a lovely travel agent at Worldwide Travel, who sorted out our flights and accommodation in Tobago where all the PTV’s are now spending our Christmas and New Year! I’m starting to get used to the laid back attitude of the Guyanese. I find their attitude refreshing, yet at times very frustrating. Most evenings, before it got dark, we would go play some basketball with the locals at the courts a few blocks from where we were staying. They were all much better than us, but we normally mixed up the teams to make it fair. We left Georgetown first thing on Friday 10th September.
10th – 14th September (Stuck in Lethem)
The airport we went to in order to fly to Lethem was actually in Georgetown (as opposed to the international airport which is 30 mins south of the capital which is the one where I arrived in Guyana from.) All the strict restrictions/ regulations that I’ve always associated with airports back home don’t really exist out here. Security checks are almost nonexistent. There was a sign that made me laugh on the check in desk that read something like:
For persons carrying a firearm in your hand-baggage
Please notify an Airport Personnel, Thank You.
I got chatting to the guy in charge of loading luggage for our flight and he kindly put Dave and I’s extra suitcases on the flight with us for no extra cost. In Guyana I’m quickly learning, that you can get passed a lot of regulations if you get befriend the people who are enforcing those regulations.
The flight to Lethem from Georgetown got delayed as our plane had no seats in it and it was a bit disconcerting whilst waiting as we watched them being installed! The flight was 1 hour 45 and I got a good cross section of all the types of terrain in Guyana: The coastal settlements, untouched rainforest, mountains and then the savannah where I will be. The views were amazing, but you can see for yourself rather than me explaining:
Lethem is a small but spread out town that gets a rustic look from reddy-brown dust that blows off the dirt tracks to cover almost everything. The back drop to Lethem is the Kanuku Mountains, which provide a vista I don’t think I could ever get sick of. The balcony of the Regional Guest House where Dave and I are staying whilst in Lethem gives us a nice view of most of the Lethem and we lime up there with a few beers most evenings. After having had breakfast with the REDO, the Guyana Education Minister and a guy in charge of the whole of the Rupunnini (what of it!?...) on our first morning, we were informed that we would be in Lethem for about a week or so before going down to Aishalton. This set back was annoying as we really want to get teaching. In light of this news Dave and I went to the Head Mistress of the local Secondary School, St. Ignatious offering our services for the next week or so. She was very grateful for our offer but I think she thought that having to organise work for us to do for a week would be more hassle than the help we would bring... which is fair enough.
Since then we have been exploring round Lethem and Bonfim (across the Brazilian border, a small town were not much is going on) and looking to buy bikes to take down to our project. Tomorrow we are planning of going to Moco Moco Falls, were there are meant to be cool blue water creeks in which we can swim... still need to find a ride though.
As I said before, I’m not sure when I’m off to Aishalton, but I will try and keep you all informed as much as possible. It may be tough as I don’t know if the internet in Aishalton will be working.
Hope you’re all well
Sam
Oh this blog was meant to include photo's but the internet's being useless atm... ill try upload them later :)
5th- 9th September (last few days in Georgetown)
As the Project Trust Volunteers (PTV’s) gradually got taken to their projects, the size of our group (of white people) in Georgetown dwindled, making us; in the eyes of our host Kala; less obvious target for muggers ect.. With this came more freedom to do what we liked in town. We took a couple of trips in to see Christine, a lovely travel agent at Worldwide Travel, who sorted out our flights and accommodation in Tobago where all the PTV’s are now spending our Christmas and New Year! I’m starting to get used to the laid back attitude of the Guyanese. I find their attitude refreshing, yet at times very frustrating. Most evenings, before it got dark, we would go play some basketball with the locals at the courts a few blocks from where we were staying. They were all much better than us, but we normally mixed up the teams to make it fair. We left Georgetown first thing on Friday 10th September.
10th – 14th September (Stuck in Lethem)
The airport we went to in order to fly to Lethem was actually in Georgetown (as opposed to the international airport which is 30 mins south of the capital which is the one where I arrived in Guyana from.) All the strict restrictions/ regulations that I’ve always associated with airports back home don’t really exist out here. Security checks are almost nonexistent. There was a sign that made me laugh on the check in desk that read something like:
For persons carrying a firearm in your hand-baggage
Please notify an Airport Personnel, Thank You.
I got chatting to the guy in charge of loading luggage for our flight and he kindly put Dave and I’s extra suitcases on the flight with us for no extra cost. In Guyana I’m quickly learning, that you can get passed a lot of regulations if you get befriend the people who are enforcing those regulations.
The flight to Lethem from Georgetown got delayed as our plane had no seats in it and it was a bit disconcerting whilst waiting as we watched them being installed! The flight was 1 hour 45 and I got a good cross section of all the types of terrain in Guyana: The coastal settlements, untouched rainforest, mountains and then the savannah where I will be. The views were amazing, but you can see for yourself rather than me explaining:
Lethem is a small but spread out town that gets a rustic look from reddy-brown dust that blows off the dirt tracks to cover almost everything. The back drop to Lethem is the Kanuku Mountains, which provide a vista I don’t think I could ever get sick of. The balcony of the Regional Guest House where Dave and I are staying whilst in Lethem gives us a nice view of most of the Lethem and we lime up there with a few beers most evenings. After having had breakfast with the REDO, the Guyana Education Minister and a guy in charge of the whole of the Rupunnini (what of it!?...) on our first morning, we were informed that we would be in Lethem for about a week or so before going down to Aishalton. This set back was annoying as we really want to get teaching. In light of this news Dave and I went to the Head Mistress of the local Secondary School, St. Ignatious offering our services for the next week or so. She was very grateful for our offer but I think she thought that having to organise work for us to do for a week would be more hassle than the help we would bring... which is fair enough.
Since then we have been exploring round Lethem and Bonfim (across the Brazilian border, a small town were not much is going on) and looking to buy bikes to take down to our project. Tomorrow we are planning of going to Moco Moco Falls, were there are meant to be cool blue water creeks in which we can swim... still need to find a ride though.
As I said before, I’m not sure when I’m off to Aishalton, but I will try and keep you all informed as much as possible. It may be tough as I don’t know if the internet in Aishalton will be working.
Hope you’re all well
Sam
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Saturday, 4 September 2010
First Week in Georgetown
Ok well I’ve been in Georgetown (Town as they call it here) a few days now, it’s all been a bit manic and this is the first time I’ve had enough time/ energy to make my way down to the internet cafe in Town to let you know how I’m getting on .
Saying good bye at the Heathrow was a weird experience, it didn’t really kick in that I was going to be away for a whole year, I met up with the other 15 volunteers who were going to Guyana, said a brief goodbye to the family members that were with me and then off I went.... quite tame really, but I don’t like saying goodbye anyway, so I guess it was probably a good thing.
my first flight was from Heathrow to JFK (New York) and was 6 hours long , I spent most the flight just chatting away to the other volunteers seeing how their summers were etc. I slept the most of the second flight from JFK to Georgetown, waking up just in time to witness our descent through Guyana into the airport. The outlook from the plane was spectacular and gave me my first glimpse on how pristine and undeveloped Guyana is. Rainforest was everywhere, it looked like a giant field of broccoli from above. Trees extended for miles right up to the coast only being broken up by the massive rivers that run right through Guyana. There was a mist that hung just above the tree tops near the airport added to the scenery giving the others and I a stunning aerial panorama of the surrounding land as the plane encircled in the sky waiting for the fog to clear before attempting to land. 4 attempts and 1 and a half hours of stalling later we landed..... FINALLY!
A man from the Guyanese Ministry Of Education picked us all up from the airport and took us to the flat that Project Trust (PT) own in Georgetown (the airport is actually 30 mins outside Georgetown). The capital is a typical developing city: All the main development has occurred along a central street, Sherriff Street (near to where the PT flat is). The rest of the city is a bit run down; most of the houses are remnants from when Guyana was a British colony back in the 60’s and so all look a bit shabby. Having said that, there are some really nice parts of town. St. George’s Cathedral is impressive and claims to be the largest unsupported wooden structure in the world! It is strange how stuctures like that and Umana Yana can exist in so close in proximity to the majority of buildings in Georgetown that are neglected and worn out.
Today we got given a tour round town by Kala’s son Rishtan and his friend Peter, then did a bit of shopping to get hammocks/ mosquito nets and anything we had forgotten to pack. When we got back it had got seriously hot so we slung up our hammock and limed (chilled out) for most the afternoon, it was good to catch up on some sleep. In the evening we attended the Opening Ceremony of the Amerindian Heritage Month... the speeches given by each of the tribes were pretty dull though I met the Prime Minister of Guyana, who seemed genuinely interested in the teaching about to do in his country. After an all-you-can eat Brazilian we went to sleep in our hammocks as it was cooler than inside.
1st September
Spent 9am-3pm at the Ministry Of Education, where we were given lots of talks on Child Friendly Schools and the correct procedure for lesson plans, schemes of work and etiquette in the classroom. Useful yet tedious!
2nd – 3th September
Well not really much to say... it’s been a pretty boring last few days, Kala who was meant to be looking after us did not expect to look after us for so long, meaning she’s started work again leaving us to our own devices. We can’t really do much as security in the capital is pretty bad at the moment. I just really want to get down to my project and start doing the things that I came to Guyana to do :( not just sit in the capital doing jack all. I guess these days in town will provide me with a bit more time to get to know the PT volunteers. I’m glad that there is a really good bunch of guys and girls to spend time with. At the moment we are booking our x mas flights to Tobago. I have been put in charge of this task which means that it’s on my head if the plan all falls through!! Two of the volunteers have now gone to their project which has made me jealous.
Sorry this blog doesn't have a lot of interesting content, the real fun will start will come when I get down to Aishalton... feel free to leave any comments :)
Sam
Saying good bye at the Heathrow was a weird experience, it didn’t really kick in that I was going to be away for a whole year, I met up with the other 15 volunteers who were going to Guyana, said a brief goodbye to the family members that were with me and then off I went.... quite tame really, but I don’t like saying goodbye anyway, so I guess it was probably a good thing.
my first flight was from Heathrow to JFK (New York) and was 6 hours long , I spent most the flight just chatting away to the other volunteers seeing how their summers were etc. I slept the most of the second flight from JFK to Georgetown, waking up just in time to witness our descent through Guyana into the airport. The outlook from the plane was spectacular and gave me my first glimpse on how pristine and undeveloped Guyana is. Rainforest was everywhere, it looked like a giant field of broccoli from above. Trees extended for miles right up to the coast only being broken up by the massive rivers that run right through Guyana. There was a mist that hung just above the tree tops near the airport added to the scenery giving the others and I a stunning aerial panorama of the surrounding land as the plane encircled in the sky waiting for the fog to clear before attempting to land. 4 attempts and 1 and a half hours of stalling later we landed..... FINALLY!
30th August
 |
A man from the Guyanese Ministry Of Education picked us all up from the airport and took us to the flat that Project Trust (PT) own in Georgetown (the airport is actually 30 mins outside Georgetown). The capital is a typical developing city: All the main development has occurred along a central street, Sherriff Street (near to where the PT flat is). The rest of the city is a bit run down; most of the houses are remnants from when Guyana was a British colony back in the 60’s and so all look a bit shabby. Having said that, there are some really nice parts of town. St. George’s Cathedral is impressive and claims to be the largest unsupported wooden structure in the world! It is strange how stuctures like that and Umana Yana can exist in so close in proximity to the majority of buildings in Georgetown that are neglected and worn out. |
| St. George's Cathedral |
 |
| Typical Street in Georgetown |
 |
| Umana Yana |
 |
| Siamese tortoises!! |
 |
| Harpy Eagle |
After unpacking and a quick debriefing from Kala our host in Guyana, we headed to the Georgetown zoo. There were pretty cool animals like jaguars, anacondas, siamese tortoises and harpy eagles, seeing the animals locked away didn’t really do it for me. At least if anything it has wet my appetite to seeing them in the wild around Aishalton. Everyone I’ve spoken to so far keeps on talking about the amazing wild life down in South Rupununi (the area where I’ll be living)!
The evening brought some bad news: The Road down to Aishalton has been washed away by the heavy rains that went on for the 6 weeks preceded our arrival in the country. This means that Dave and I won’t be leaving till the 10th, and we will be flying instead of taking a bus. Although it cuts the journey time down by about 22 hours, I can only take 10kg worth of stuff with me to live off until my other 46kg can be transported down to me... and that could take a while :(
31st August
 |
| Dave, Me, Lucy |
1st September
Spent 9am-3pm at the Ministry Of Education, where we were given lots of talks on Child Friendly Schools and the correct procedure for lesson plans, schemes of work and etiquette in the classroom. Useful yet tedious!
2nd – 3th September
Well not really much to say... it’s been a pretty boring last few days, Kala who was meant to be looking after us did not expect to look after us for so long, meaning she’s started work again leaving us to our own devices. We can’t really do much as security in the capital is pretty bad at the moment. I just really want to get down to my project and start doing the things that I came to Guyana to do :( not just sit in the capital doing jack all. I guess these days in town will provide me with a bit more time to get to know the PT volunteers. I’m glad that there is a really good bunch of guys and girls to spend time with. At the moment we are booking our x mas flights to Tobago. I have been put in charge of this task which means that it’s on my head if the plan all falls through!! Two of the volunteers have now gone to their project which has made me jealous.
Sorry this blog doesn't have a lot of interesting content, the real fun will start will come when I get down to Aishalton... feel free to leave any comments :)
Friday, 3 September 2010
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