Let’s Go Fly A Kite!

It’s been a busy few weeks as I’ve finally had the chance to get out of Georgetown.  Although that means that it’s been a while since my last update, I have lots to share in the coming days!

I was out of town for the Hindu holiday of Phagwah on March 27^th, but I did return in time to join the celebrations on Easter Monday.  And how do you celebrate Easter in Guyana?  By flying a kite!  Families pack picnics and head to the parks or sea wall where the skies are filled with colour as children (and adults) try to raise their kites higher and higher.

The sea wall in Georgetown is literally a wall that is meant to hold back the high tide, as the city sits several feet below sea level.  It is not a pretty part of town, since the water is more brown than blue and the beach is covered in garbage, but on Easter it all transforms.  You can walk on top of the wall and admire the kites or walk beside it and tempt yourself with the amazing smells coming from the grills and booths where vendors sell everything from fried rice to ice cream.  You can even jump on a trampoline, as there were several set up along the sea wall being enjoyed by the children.

But do beware!  Kite flying is not a spectator sport and the unwary can easily find themselves tangled in kite lines or hit on the back of the head by a free-falling kite.  That definitely didn’t happen to me… :S

 

 

Walking on the seawall

Can’t forget the ice cream!

 

 

The P’s and Q’s of Queuing

Whether you stand in line, on line, queue, or whatever the phrase may be where you live, you’ll find you do a lot of it in Guyana.  Especially for banks and government services, there is something in the bureaucracy that must not be happy until you have stood in line at least twice while trying to accomplish your task.

As a perfect example of this need to stand in line, I went to the post office today to pick up a parcel.  I stood in line to hand over my parcel slip and get my ID checked.  Then I stood in line to watch as they opened and checked my parcel.  Then I waited to receive the customs slip and bill.  Then I lined up again to pay the cashier, followed by lining up at the delivery window to hand over my receipt and finally receive the package.  This entire process took over an hour and a half, but was ultimately achievable as long as you are patient and not in a rush!

Here are some of my tips (and reminders to myself!) about receiving packages in Georgetown:

1. Arrive early – That particular part of the post office opens at 7am and I would probably recommend arriving before 8am, as when I got there shortly after 8 there was already a line.
2. Check the postmark – My package was shipped last Monday, and I received the parcel slip exactly one week later.  But the package actually arrived in Georgetown two days before that.  After one week in the post office you have to pay additional storage fees, so make sure that you are able to retrieve your package within a week from the date on the postmark.
3. Don’t send anything you want to keep private – All packages are opened and evaluated by customs in front of the twenty or more other people in line.  Even envelopes inside the package.  So be prepared.
4. Bring ID and cash – Bring your passport and enough cash to cover the fees.  There will be at least a $500 GYD handling fee, plus whatever the customs fee is.  My package was luckily appraised at much less than it was worth, so I paid only $1284 GYD (about $6.50 CAD).
5. Make sure you are standing in the correct line – You don’t want to waste your time and everyone else’s.  There is never any harm in asking which line to stand in wherever you are.  (I find the security guards are usually quite helpful.)
6. Be patient!  Make sure you have lots of time to spare just in case, and don’t let yourself get frustrated.  A smile never hurts. 🙂 

Lessons Guyana Has Taught Me: Part 1

My third day in Guyana is winding down and I can’t believe it’s been so short a time.  Although it may take a while to get used to the heat (especially coming from a Canadian winter), I am enjoying myself a great deal and I’ve already learned quite a bit.  Here are some of the lessons that Guyana has taught me so far.

1. Always take your towel with you when using the shared bathroom in your guest house.  But if you forget it, don’t worry too much; it’s so hot you’ll dry in a few minutes anyway.
2. Those chirping sounds at night aren’t crickets, but tiny little frogs the size of a fingernail.
3. Look ALL ways before you cross the street.  You drive on the left in Guyana, but you can also drive on the right or down the middle if it’s easier to get through traffic!
4. Donkeys and horse-drawn carts are perfectly valid forms of transportation.
5. Showering in the evening means the water is warmer from sitting in the sun all day.

I hope you’ve enjoyed these, and I’m sure there will be more to follow.  For now, take a look at some pictures from the National Park in Georgetown.