pattiwhite's TravelStream™ — Recent TravelPod.com entries TravelStream™ news feed for member pattiwhite on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/pattiwhite en-us Copyright ©2010 TravelPod.com Sat, 16 Dec 2006 19:13:23 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com Starting all of the "lasts" — Georgetown, Guyana http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1166313120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1166313120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1166313120/tpod.html Sat, 16 Dec 2006 19:13:23 -0500 A journal of my expedition to Guyana and everywhere else life takes me!
Georgetown, Guyana

This past week we have been doing alot of "lasts". Jackie flew back home yesterday (Friday), so we have been trying to fit everything in. On Wednesday we had our farewell bash with the foreigners at our favourite bar. When you get us all together we are a fare sized croud. It was fun though we took upmost of the bar, so Wednesday at Guiness was not typical, but it was nice to see everyone, then they left for another bar, and our Guyanese friends started filtering in and the night turned way too late.
Friday (last night) there was an opening of a fish shop and there had to be a couple thousand people that went. Its really neat, if you advertise an even here well, hire a DJ and you have a street part of thousands. It was crazy, as that party finished everyone just walked down the street to the two clubs. One was our favourite club, but we took too long to get there and it was the first time I have ever seen a club at capacity here. The gates were closed, and you know thats not because of a fire code, friends of mine were in there and it was so full that all you could do was stand, there was no room to dance, just crazy.
Today Annika and I were off to an early start and had to get some serious shopping done, but then realized that Saturday prices were in effect - everything significantly more expensive on Saturday, so we only getting a few things, but then we hopped on a boat and went across the river to another town and region. Their version of provences are called regions here, so it was like me travelling to a different province. alot of fun though, the boat ride was about 4 minutes long. Tonight we are off to a fish shop to hang out then probably going to the movies. I don't know what it is about fish shops here, they just love them!
I am taking most of next week off to do sight seeing and shopping, and just soaking up as much of Guyana as I possibly can, I sure am going to miss this place!
]]> Another week gone — Georgetown, Guyana http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1165266000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1165266000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1165266000/tpod.html Mon, 04 Dec 2006 16:21:15 -0500 A journal of my expedition to Guyana and everywhere else life takes me!
Georgetown, Guyana

The week was pretty slow, I am trying to recall what I did, and the only thing that is coming to memory is my weekly Wednesday bar trip with Jackie. Last week was a fish shop. It was really nice, didn't smell like fish, not so crowded and we were able to sit down for a drink without being constantly interrupted.
Friday night I was off to a foreigner party, didn't stay long, just long enough to see and meet with some of the cool people I have met that are down here volunteering as well. I left there and was off to a friend's house, overall it was a really quiet night, I was not complaining, it had been a long week of work, so I was tired.
Saturday I was up and raren to go from all the sleep I had had the night before. Jackie and I headed out and spent the day shopping. This was the first time that I have just gone out and gotten whatever I wanted, it was a lot of fun, I am a really good shopper, and the beauty of it all is that everything is cheep when compared to Canadian prices, so you can do a fair amount of shopping. After the shopping we went up and spend the afternoon at a beautiful rooftop bar in the bus park. There are plants all over the place, and the alcohol is cheep, it is the only place in Georgetown that I know of that serves draft beer. After it got dark we head down to the bus park and ran into a bunch of people we knew so hung out with all of them for a while. We went home, changed clothes then headed right back out to the rooftop bar where we met up with some friends and spent the rest of the night there.
Sunday I went to a pool party where there was more than enough food drinks and a nice pool. I really couldn't have asked for more, so I spent the afternoon and evening at that event. By the time I got home I was so tired from the weekend activities I had to call it a night.
Tonight it is my friends birthday so I am going to be heading out again for that, but I am hoping it w ill be more low key, Monday's always are a little rough from the events on the weekend, but I will push through as I always do!
]]> An action packed Sunday — Georgetown, Guyana http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1164656520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1164656520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1164656520/tpod.html Mon, 27 Nov 2006 14:57:00 -0500 A journal of my expedition to Guyana and everywhere else life takes me!
Georgetown, Guyana

Nothing all that eventful has been happening over this past week. Visiting with friends, and that's about it. Friday night was spent in bed, there was not a lot of sleep happening during the week, between hanging out with friends who apparently don't believe in sleeping, or going to our favourite local bar, finding that one thing leads to another and I am getting to bed at 4:00 am on a Wednesday night/Thursday morning.
Saturday was spent shopping, it was nice, got myself some things, I am finding that I don't shop well for others unless I am under pressure, and I still have plenty of time left here, but the thought was there to start Christmas shopping. Saturday night was another relaxing one over at a friends house.
Sunday was my first eventful day of the weekend. There was a football match going on in the day, so we were off to Bourda Stadium to watch the game, Guyana won 3-2 against Trinidad & Tobago. It was so neat to be in the stadium, they love their football here. At the end of the game I was able to go out onto the field and walk around, so plenty of pictures were taken. After that we walked over to the Botanical Gardens, and it was so pretty, the sun was setting behind all the palm trees, and there were so many birds, just beautiful, I will have to go back earlier on in the day to get the full effect. Sunday night we were hanging out at our place for a while, then Jackie and I decided to go out, so we did the classic hop in a cab and tell him to take us somewhere. We ended up at a bar with our cab driver and his friend, the plus being we didn't have to pay for our drop. I think I am going to try and take it easy this week, but I always have that intention. Things are going well though here, less than a month left, I can't believe it!
]]> Birthday in Guyana — Georgetown, Guyana http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1164123600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1164123600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1164123600/tpod.html Tue, 21 Nov 2006 10:42:04 -0500 A journal of my expedition to Guyana and everywhere else life takes me!
Georgetown, Guyana

As per usual Jackie and I headed to the bus park for the day last Sunday, it was fun, we now have our regular bus park friends, so we lime there, hop on a bus hang out at a local bar then head on back to the bus park. The eventful part of last week was one of our buddies let me be the conductor of his but. That meant that I would open and close the door for everyone and collect the money. Let me tell you I wasn't that good at it because I missed a whole bunch of people coming out of an event, but I am going to get better at it in weeks to come.
Monday I took the day off because I worked so much the week before. Another friend of mine had the day off as well, so we just toured around the "towns" in his area, it was so nice to have the extra day though.
Wednesday night we went to our favourite bar, Guinness Bar, it is right down the street from us and the people there are so nice. Anyways Wednesday is their big night, the music is so loud (as always) but there are people dancing all over the place, in the bar, on the patio, on the street. It is really cool to see, and we met so many people as well. After that we were over at my friends place and spent the night playing cards (poo poo head). It was so neat though to see this part of the city, they were all wood houses, my friends place was just 2 rooms, the outer room was for his mom and the kitchen, the inner room was for whatever kid relative or friend that decided to sleep there for the night, so that night there were 3 of us sleeping on a foam on the floor. I love it when my friends bring me over to their houses because there are so many extremely different ways a person can live around here.
Friday we were off to Guinness bar again, for karaoke night, then some friends came back to our place and just chilled there until way too late.
Saturday I celebrated my birthday Guyana style. I just hung out with Annika and Jackie during the day, it was low key day, and it was great. The two of t hem made me a cake that was so good. That night it is sad to say that I was off to Guinness bar for the third time that week. The group of us stayed there for a few hours then we were off to our favourite club and danced the night away. It was a great night, and I was so happy to get all the birthday wishes from everyone.
Sunday was fantastic, the roommates got me 3 movies, and we sat down and watched them all. We didn't get off the couch until 6:30 pm when we dragged ourselves up and went to our friends lime. Stayed there for a few hours then we were off to the seawall. Hopefully going to get a chance to catch up on some must needed sleep in the next couple days!
]]> Past the halfway point — Georgetown, Guyana http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1163185860/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1163185860/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1163185860/tpod.html Fri, 10 Nov 2006 14:33:15 -0500 A journal of my expedition to Guyana and everywhere else life takes me!
Georgetown, Guyana

Well the end of Guyexpo was just as good as the beginning. It was so busy every night I went there. Everyone goes out almost every night to these kind of events. The Blue & White party was a lot of fun. All the local bands come out and sang, it was so packed, you couldn't move much, but these concerts are so cool because everyone gets so into the music and is dancing, singing and overall going nuts. I was there again for the last night, that is when everyone wants to get rid of their stuff, so that's when I spent the most time at the venders, got some really cool locally made earrings and such.
Last weekend was slower than usual. Friday night we went to a house party, then off to a karaoke bar, then to our favourite club. Ran into so many people that we knew.
Saturday was a nice day, so we went shopping and then to the market. All the roommates were tired from the night before so we stayed in and watched cheesy TV movies all night.
Sunday was a lot of fun, Jackie and I went to the bus park (where all the mini busses drop you off and pick you up). We just started hopping on different busses and seeing where they took us. The good thing is that they all just do a loop and go back to the bus park, so you can never get lost. Then w came up with the idea to get off at any patio that we thought looked fun. One thing led to another and we had all these bus driver and conductor friends, so we spent a lot of time liming in the bus park with whomever was parked. We were able to do t his for 8 hours. We left at 10, and the next thing I knew it was getting dark, such a fun day, so we are doing it again this Sunday.
This week was very hectic with work. There was a anniversary celebration for the Convalescent Home and I was the organizer, so there were many 15 hour days, but it is over now and I am happy it went well, so I am taking Monday off and doing the tourist thing, something I haven't really done a lot of yet.
Plans for this weekend are shaping up quite nicely, I will keep you all posted about my adventures!
]]> The Last Two Weeks — Georgetown, Guyana http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1162153920/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1162153920/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1162153920/tpod.html Sun, 29 Oct 2006 16:02:19 -0500 A journal of my expedition to Guyana and everywhere else life takes me!
Georgetown, Guyana

I know it has been forever since my last entry. We didn't have the Internet at work all week, and i haven't had time to get to an Internet cafe. I think i have been out every night since my last entry. There has been a few nights of pool, going to some bars.
A few of our cab drivers have taken us under their wing. Last Sunday one took us to the creek. It is a place where everyone goes on Sunday. It is basically a creek with "black water" it is nutrient rich water. But you just go and lime there for the day, a cool hangout.
Another one of out cab drivers, brought us to meet First Born. They are a popular Guyanese band. They were so nice. We sat in on a recording session, and they were so greatful that we (roommates and I) were there to see them, and the whole meeting was recorded. It was awesome though, I was beaming afterwards.
This weekend was Guyexpo, it is a trade show showcasing everything Guyana makes. It was cool, went there on Friday night, there was live entertainment on a stage, a big beer garden and lots of food. Red Cross also had a station, so i hung out there with friends from work for a while. After Guyexpo we were off to the bar. We went with friends that I haven't seen in a while, so we had a blast dancing all night. There were so many people at the bar we knew, Red Cross went there as well, so I was dancing up a storm. Stumbled in the good at about 5 am that morning, slept for a bit then was up and doing my Saturday routine of going to the market and getting ice cream.
They don't celebrate Halloween here, so a foreign friend had a party, it was weird though, because no one really got into it, there were a few costumes, but they were half ass, not anything like home.
Tonight I am going to a blue and white party at Guyexpo, you just wear blue and white and there will be tons of glow lights that we will be dancing under.
I will do better at keeping you all posted!
]]> Another weekend in Georgetown — Georgetown, Guyana http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1161026040/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1161026040/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1161026040/tpod.html Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:15:23 -0400 A journal of my expedition to Guyana and everywhere else life takes me!
Georgetown, Guyana

Well last week was nothing to write home about, just worked, and hung around, nothing that exciting. Friday night I went to a farewell party for a foreigner that was going back to England, didn't stay all that long, foreigner parties are never all that exciting, but I did get to see some people I haven't talked to in a while. Then I was off to a club with some new friends, had a great time there, really like the people I went with, and I also was able to catch up with someone I haven't seen in weeks. Since there is no last call here, I didn't end up getting in until about 5:30 am, so most of Saturday was spent sleeping and napping, those days are so nice sometimes though. Saturday night I was off again to the same club as Friday, if I am not careful I am going to become a regular, the bouncer already remembers who I am, think I am going to have to find a new place. Sunday was just spend running errands, riding the busses, and of course the seawall on Sunday night. I am becoming impressed with myself because now when I go to the seawall I actually run into people I know, before I just people watched, so that's always exciting, and I have only been here for a month. Things seem to be settling into a routine here, I still love doing basic everyday events here like going to the market or riding the mini bus, but it is not as new and exciting, anymore. People are starting to recognize me, instead of the conductor yelling "white girl" from the bus, the yell "D'urban" which is my stop. I am discovering Georgetown has a small town mentality, I may not know the people here, but everyone knows me, and everyone knows what I do, so that takes some getting used to. Still loving life down here and that's what's important.
]]> Thanksgiving in Guyana — Georgetown, Guyana http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1160490540/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1160490540/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1160490540/tpod.html Tue, 10 Oct 2006 10:29:55 -0400 A journal of my expedition to Guyana and everywhere else life takes me!
Georgetown, Guyana

Well, this week was a little more low key than past, but that doesn't say much for down here. Last week I went to a karaoke bar, and the people there were actually good. I found out that some of the people I saw just travel around Georgetown karaoke bars and put on the same acts, but they were still entertaining to watch. After that I ended up at the seawall, one thing led to another and I was being thrown around in the Atlantic Ocean, but it was a blast and I came out with some mighty nice looking scrapes from the concrete seawall. On the weekend I was supposed to go camping outside of Georgetown, but I came down with a bug and wasn't able to go. It turn out to be a great weekend, I didn't leave the couch and I was basking in the first alone time I have had sine I came down here.
Yesterday Annika (roommate) and I took the afternoon off work and cooked Thanksgiving dinner for our Canadian friends as well as giving some of out Guyanese friends a taste of back home. We ended up cooking for over 20 people, and there was sill some food left over (not much though, all those people have hollow legs). Overall it was an awesome night, everyone was happy to be able to have a taste of home.
I am happy I was able to get that weekend to rest and recoop, the week has only just begun here, there seems to be a very valid reasons to party every night in Guyana!
]]> The Local Bar Scene — Georgetown, Guyana http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1159883040/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1159883040/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1159883040/tpod.html Tue, 03 Oct 2006 09:45:43 -0400 A journal of my expedition to Guyana and everywhere else life takes me!
Georgetown, Guyana

Well it has been another busy week. Work is picking up for me, I am now going to be co-facilitating the national youth aids conference that is going on in December. The neat thing about Guyana is that I get the opportunity to work on these awesome projects, and I am doing this one with someone else that is only 23, so I am looking forward to starting on that one.
I have been frequenting the local bars, there aren't that many of them, most are either pool halls or clubs, but we are finding them. We went to one called Cornbread. I think we were the youngest people there for a while by a good 30 years, but we met some sweet older ladies who wanted to learn all about us, and there were men in their 50's and 60's up dancing to oldies, convinced that we lived by them because "all us white girls look the same".
Friday night we spent drinking on the side of the road at a little beer, smokes and food booth, then we headed off to a club, not really my scene though. There was mostly Indian music, so I didn't stay too late.
Saturday we spent in the shopping district, got some shoes and a hammock, was out walking from about 10:00 am to about 5:00 pm, was exhausted but I am in love with my purchases, and the hammock has already been hung up. Saturday night there was an event called International Bar on. There was beer and food from different countries, I did what I could to support Canada and drank Coors Lite, taking one for the team you know... There was also dancing and their popular singer Natural Black performed, so that was a big highlight of the night. After International Bar I was off to a night club. It was a relatively small club, with at least 2 times as many people as there should be in there, and the entire thing was one big dance floor. There was no a/c, and with that many people and dancing, I think I lost about 5 lbs in water weight that night, but a lot of fun regardless.
Sunday was slow to get up, but headed out to my boss's house for a Thanksgiving lunch, she is originally from Canada, and it was so nice to stuff myself with all the turkey. Then Sunday night I was off to the seawall, to sit and people watch the thousands that come out. The novelty has not warn off yet about being here, so I am managing to get out almost every night and not tiring, don't know how long I can keep it up for, but I am doing alright so far, and loving it!
]]> Kaieteur Falls — Kaieteur National Park, Guyana http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1159213920/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1159213920/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pattiwhite/guyana_2006/1159213920/tpod.html Mon, 25 Sep 2006 15:53:37 -0400 A journal of my expedition to Guyana and everywhere else life takes me!
Kaieteur National Park, Guyana

Well I am wasting no time jumping on the tourist bandwagon here in Guyana. This weekend, myself and 9 other Canadians hopped on a 16 seater plane and flew into the Amazon rainforest. We went to visit Kaieteur National Park which has the tallest free falling waterfall in the world, Kaieteur Falls. The falls are 5 times taller than Niagara Falls, but not nearly as wide. When we got to the drop point we went on a 2 hour hike that took us to 5 lookout points of the falls, the last one was right at the top of the falls and you could go stand beside them. It was amazing, so beautiful, there is no way the pictures are going to be able to capture what it was really like there.
Earlier on in the week I went out with some friends and learned how to play pool, or "pools" as they call it here. It was a lot of fun, and my team kept winning, go figure! We started off in a cockroach infested pool hall, then thankfully changed to an air conditioned one, I was not complaining about this one, although it was a little cold.
Over the weekend, I went to a house party on Friday night and then out to the club. The thing about clubs here is that they have no last call, so I left when things were starting to dye down at 4:00 am. Then I was up for the exterminators bright and early the next morning, we have a termite problem that had to be dealt with. That day I went to the market, and got more fruit than you could ever hope to need, but it is so cheep here.
Saturday night I went to a music video release party for a Guyanese artist, but go figure when I left at 1:00, there was still no sign of her performing or her video. It was still a fun night though, it was held in Guyana's nicest hotel and we all had to dress up, so a lot of fun to look at all the very different styles they have here.
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