Roadside Chicken

Enterprising chicken operation along #70 Village public road. This is halaal chicken at is very best in the strictest of religious practices. The chicken or duck is placed in a cage then turned upside down in a special hanging container that keeps the wings and legs together. The neck is pulled through the bottom opening and slit with one stroke. Bloods drains.  The bird is placed in boiling water and into a turning feather extractor. Roasting is done as desired. After a clean bath the bird is chopped to desired size, placed in a bag and ready for the carahy (spelling?) cooking vessel.

Intercultural Unity

I went fo a drive up de coast with a close friend of my dad to see wa going on. I was pleasantly surprised to see an Islamic Education Center. I am told that this school educates, boards and houses students of all faith. They are specialized Islamic studies from well educated scholars who hail from Pakistan. The courses cover all studies from primary to secondary education and sits students for Caribbean Excellency Council (CXC). There are some scholars who never leave the school grounds. It is very interesting that Guyana can intermingle religion in education, yet focusing on a main religion. This just shows tolerance in a society plagued by race divide.

Rum suckers!

The future of Guyana spoke out on ‘all dem rum suckers who a drink from fowl cock crow to sun down.” Had a sad conversation with the little angel, Preya, tonight. She was ashamed to point out the obvious all day. There was drinking and carrying on all day in the street. Several men clustered at houses and along the street with music blasting and bottles swinging. She is concerned what I will think as a foreigner. That this is all Guyanese people do. Where is a 10 yo getting this stuff from? How does the actions of grown people affect the youths of today? Preya is sad.

The most interesting person in Corriverton….so far.

She speaks Guyanese politics, knows what is going on in Yemen, Libya, and Egypt, is well versed in local politics and affairs surrounding Corriverton. She is hailed by every fish monger, butcher, farmer, and hawker in the market. This young lady has a video collection of a 25 year old. Ladies and gents meet 10 year old Preya. (I’ll save her real name for her protection since she could very well be a future president).

I met this young lady briefly from the time I arrived. She and her mom rents the lower flat of my aunts home. They have lived there for six years. She sees her dad on weekends and regularly. Her mom and dad are separated with her dad having another family and her mom being single. Preya’s mom is a fishmonger who sells in the market. The notion of it takes a village to raise a kid is alive here.

As I was leaving for the market on Fri morning @ 7:30 am a little voice merrily said, “Good Morning” I reciprocated. She asked where I was heading this early. I replied the market. She asked if I minded her tagging along. Mind you this coming from a little person. 10 yo! Sure let’s go. Little did I know what I was in for. She asked how I felt about the old president, Mr. Jagdeo leaving office and who might be fit for a replacement. We discussed local and international politics, the current situation with remigration, sanitation issues, local market rules. 10 yo!

We arrived at the market and walked through the back gate into the fish section. Every vendor greeted her by name and waved, Several asked if she was ready for school. More asked about her home work, Even more asked if she had lunch money. Preya replied with the playfulness of a free spirit and the weight of a gifted child accepting the charge before her. As she escorted me around the market pointing out various stands and vendors and people I should avoid. I got the feeling of a proud Guyanese showcasing her home. At 8:30 am several people called out to Preya that it was time to go to school. She giggled, oops “ I got carried away, got to go to school, see you later.” And off she went to seek knowledge.  Am I witnessing a child carrying the hopes of a nation? Whatever this is I am beyond joy to know that there are people looking out for this child and all is not lost. More importantly Preya has the willingness and desire to be brilliant.

Amazing that this child, and she is still a child, with the wits of a matured person well beyond her years is so informed and well versed in matters normal 10 yos are not interested in. She reads the daily newspaper early in the morning before going to school sitting amongst fishmongers who are her extended family. Most fishmongers can not read nor write so she reads loudly. A little angel. The future of Guyana is in the hands of the fishmonger.

Down for the Count.

Major knockout by the flu! Woke up in the middle of the night to go for a whiz and could not get out of bed. I felt like a Mack truck ran over me. This was Sat 2:00 am. I drank 2 DayQuils. Woke up @ 7:30 am feeling the same. It is THE market day. I am to meet with everyone, plans with my cousin and her family, can’t get out of bed, body hurts. 12 noon 2 more DayQuils, Less pain, 4:00 pm Finally turned a corner. Less pain better movement, Watched some crazy chutney viideos (soft porn) what the hell was that? Rescued by the 10 yr old downstairs neighbor who suggested I go through her video collection. Wow,  this girl is stocked. I settled on Krrish. Not bad at all. 8:00 pm finally able to eat. Feeling much better.

Hold It. Back Out!

“Hold it. Back Out.” Shouted the “Officer” at Central Immigration and Passport Office in Georgetown, Guyana. He was directing his rampage at me! What did I do? He pointed to the typed and clear taped sign on the door.

Oh, what the hell is that, get a closer look. Yes this is a public building conducting the people’s business at the people’s wishes. Where does “the management” get off dictating dress code to the people of this nation? This reads and looks like a cheap nightclub trying to show that they don’t tolerate rif raf. Am I reading this correct? This is still a nation of the people not an authoritarian regime, right? Did I really miss that much? Is this what they say about people who go away and then go back to a country with turned up noses. My noble friends, please trust that I am by no means a saint and wish to suggest that I too have many hang ups. But a dress code to renew a passport? WTF.

Wait, look at this.

They let this drop pants ass prance around in the building. How the hell can this be more tasteful than a decent pair of cargos? The guy’s underwear is practically jumping out of his butt crack and this is acceptable? How can this be? Major cities are banning this kind of dressing. Not that I agree or disagree with this dress style. But at least there is not underwear mopping up the floor.

Here is a clear sentiment to show how an over haul of the current “rules”---LAWS should reflect the changing times where practical heads and current thinking prevails. This kind of forcing the people to do as they are told is, is, is, is, is, oh you know what I want to say…….

The explanation from an official on a bottled Coke and shave ice break is there are a lot of hooligans who come there and look like rags or “sex workers” Huh? Did he just call the nation of Guyana a bunch of rags and whores? Oh shit I better go put on some long pants and silk shirt with nice patent leather shoes and rub some coconut oil on my hair and skin or suffer the consequences.

What….no curry chicken, fried rice, nor chow mein?

http://www.oasiscafegy.com/

Where is the Guyanese food? None on the menu, hold on…..also no rum, liquor, beer, nor wine. Did this restaurant go too far? Hell no. Au contraire my feeble globe trotting fenoms. In fact, Oasis Café, hits a six right out of Bourda or that new and shinny Stadium, whatever it is called. Man, talk about great fresh food with a global twist and international simplicity. Tucked next to the Delta and Caribbean Airlines Offices, this gem offers up fresh varied alternative to mundane and very monotonous Guyanese cuisine. Hey, Jack Wagon, get down from your soap box I love curry, fried rice, and chow mein just like any other sun burnt Guyanese. But there has to be more to food than a varied combination than those three food groups!

Okay I am aware that you well travelled folks have savored a wide range of delicacies from Calcutta to London and back. Yea there is a whole different world of food from Guyanese food. So why don’t Guyanese expand their “food groups”. Who knows? Maybe curry has addictive abilities? Either way Oasis challenges the taste buds to try different things. I was told by my fellow diner that this place had the best coffee in Georgetown. I did not try it. Not a fan of hot coffee at 11 am.

Although, the clientele seems to be predominantly expat there were at least 10% local Guyanese representation. A very international crowd gave the feel of more South Beach, Miami than Georgetown, Guyana. But I guess this is why this place works so well. I must say as a buffet and an la carte establishment they were no complains from anyone at the table. Oh I almost forgot…..FREE WIFI. For that alone I could be a regular! Great food, great ambiance, great service, great concept, FREE WIFI, happy loyal guest. Love it. Would recommend to anyone even if to just give it a try and feel how the rest of the world rolls!