Guyana Jungle Camp Update
Posted by Victor Crumbley
Just an email to let you know that we arrived safely in Guyana and are having a wonderful time. The internet connection at our homestay host is a dial up connection so I can't log into the club website to send emails and would ask that you please send this on to the Club.
We arrived in Guyana on time at about 10:40pm on Thursday night and our hosts were waiting for us in the customs area! A few other Rotaractors were outside to greet us and we headed straight into town for registration for the Jungle Camp. The International Service Director gave us some "cookup" to eat, which is rice, blackeyed peas, chicken and salt beef cooked together in something nice. That evening we went straight to our homestay host took a well-needed shower and went to bed. The next morning our hosts had to check that we were alive - you do know that the two representatives from Cayman are the two professional sleepers of the Club and we remained true to form! We drove around Georgetown to do a few errands and met up with other local Rotaractors as well as Surinami Rotaractors. Georgetown is nothing like George Town but it is a vibrant and busy city with a large central market and bustling streets. We were the only identifiable tourists. I can only describe it as dynamic and pulsing with activity at all times of the day and night. We exchanged currency (US$1.00 = G$200) and bought some snacks for the road trip to camp. Perhaps ignorance is bliss, but it feels alot like my borough in London but about twenty degrees hotter!
Lucky me - before heading to camp, my big toe revolted and decided to attach itself to the ground right in front our our hosts house (i.e. BUCK TOE). Cathrine performed minor surgery and while I focused on keeping what remained of my kept my pride intact and we headed to our bus. So my camp started wtih a beautifully wrapped big toe sticking out of my shoes - very lady like. Moral of the story: 1) wear proper shoes and 2) always take an amateur surgeon on your overseas trips!
That evening we headed to the camp and arrived there after dark after making a pit stop in the mining town Linden where we bought some fried fish for the remainder of the journey. The total travelling time was about four bumpy hours from Georgetown to our campsite. We arrived there after dark and most of the tents were already set set up but to her credit Rotaractor Cathrine assisted with setting up about four tents. Hop-along watched and held the flash light. Surprisingly there weren't that many mosquitos, if any, but the ants were vicious and we both have the scars to prove it.
The next day we spent hours in the creek which was freezing but absolutely beautiful with a strong current flowing through it. It was like a scene out of a movie - extremely lush and shaded over with giant trees and ferns. Nothing like anything I have experienced before. I am a creek convert. That evening the Jungle Camp reloaded party took place and lets just say that our District 7030 counterparts know how to fellowship! Unfortunately the generator rebelled and cut the mayhem short.
On Sunday we headed up to the Amerindian village of Rockstone where Secretary Cherri had organised a tour. We donated crayons and note books to the somewhat emotional youth leader. He and another leader teach approximately 50 children in a one room school house with no electricity or running water. We will give a full report on what we saw in Rockstone once we're back. We also met a few community leaders who gave us a history of the community and its struggles to actually obtain government approved funding and resources. We then headed up the trail to the boat landing on the Essequibo River through the jungle. Due to heavy rains, the river had flooded its banks so we could not go over to Gluck Island. More photos and a chat by the community leaders about the area but no swimming. I couldn't see my broken toe underwater so I wasnt about to try it. And although I'm a strong swimmer, that current was intimidating!! Creeks yes, rivers no.
That afternoon was more swimming in the campsite creek and lazing about in the cabin, playing dominoes, swinging in the hammocks and participating in a rum tasting strictly in order to provide a report back to Rotaractor Ms. Moderation. The bus was four hours late so we arrived back in Georgetown around 11pm, got showered and headed out to sample the jerk chicken.
On the agenda for the week is a visit to a few Rotary Clubs, a tour to Kaiteur Falls, a tour to the Sophia squatter camp and a presentaion at the Georgetown Rotaract Club on Saturday.
Oh - and we met CPals Vaughn, Garfield, Valerie and Kester and they all send their greetings!
Talk soon!
YIR
Dorothy
IPP Rotaract Club of Grand Cayman