It’s an “S” ting (lose the ‘h’ in thing – Creole)

Today I feel like SSSSSS – therefore my chapters will all start with S. Because S makes me think of all kinds of pleasant words: sun, sea, shower, soap, sleeping, Skype, swimming, songs, sweets…

Showers, Sunscreen and Shoo!
At least 15 % of my days here are reserved for daily inevitable rituals. Showers, at least 3 a day, not that it makes much of a difference. Since you’ll be sweaty again after 10 minutes. After the shower it’s time for a thorough sunscreen session followed by a Shoo session. Shoo is a Guyanese thing (made in Guyana – so must be good) on the bottle it says: “For your personal protection – Effectively repels mosquitoes, sandflies & other biting insects for up to 4 hours per application.” So shoo shoo mosquitoes. Since there appears to be a breakout of Dengue fever (even Bouterse has it now) we also have to use Shoo during the day (dengue mosquito is active during the day) in the evenings Shoo has to protect me from the Malaria mosquito. Yeah shooing 24/7. My skin seems to be less happy with all the chemicals, am now trying the crab oil a natural equivalent of Shoo but it stinks! (Don’t ask me what it is).

Sticks in mini buses
Ever wondered why Guyanese mini bus drivers carry sticks in their buses? Here comes the explanation from the driver: “I always have it in my bus to chase away the drunken men, whenever I see one, I stop the bus, get out with my stick and chase him. I even hit him when necessary. I mean better that than him causing a serious accident.”

Staying at the Marriot
It was Christina’s (Marriott) birthday! So off to New Amsterdam with the whole group. It was really nice to see her little palace and to discover the New Amsterdam nightlife, which apparently is nothing more that hanging on the streets listening to music from a car with a set of huge speakers in the trunk accompanied with lots of booze.

Sunshine girl
Walking down Mainstreet in New Amsterdam, an old Rastafarian guy with some grey Rasta’s in between sitting on a simple stool moving to the sounds of the reggae beats, holla’s out to me, sunshine gyal, ya (h)ave de san (sun) in ya (h)air!
Comparing to my previous list, this is my favourite one. Old wise man.

Surprise evening
Ping-ponging was on last Wednesdays menu. Instead we ended up at a basketball game. Guyana against the DC Jammers (yeah yeah from Washington DC – doing their goodwill tour). The game wasn’t that interesting, less professional I would say. But it was great to see the whole entourage. ‘Beautifully’ dressed ladies, ganja smoking man, interesting acts in between, LOUD music and no AC. I was already hot just sitting there, imagine playing basketball.

So called eco-travelling
Being in an interesting country also comes with interesting travelers. Not the for example Thailand crowd but somewhat more adventurous/extreme/extravagant types. To give you two examples: the so called eco-travellers (well we call them like that), 2 guys that are travelling the world without money. So yes that includes hitch hiking and dumpster diving. They believe in an eco friendly world without money. While they travel they are spreading this message.
And then we have a Canadian rainforest photographer. He goes into the jungle all by himself just with his photo gear and a machete. No satellite phone, no nothing. That’s what I call a hardcore adventurer.

Smoking hot
That’s how I look on my brand new dirt bike. And I feel smoking hot too by the way, the bike itself also produces a lot of heat. The first day we tried to ride on paved roads, that was easy, then off road. Which includes, mudd, potholes, goats, dogs & cows on the road. It went amazingly well. I even liked it!

Sitting, waiting, wishing
Part of my everyday life, true Caribbean style. I’m a quick learner though, now always carrying water, something to read and my Ipod to kill time. If you have to believe the Guyanese everything will happen ‘just now’ which has a range of about 5 minutes to 5 months.