Henry in Guyana

I've been in Barbados for a few days now, and I have to say it's pretty nice.

Despite having to check in my hand lugguage as it was too heavy, the 8 hour flight from Gatwick was everything I had hoped for;  I managed to watch Star Trek and Terminator: Salvation although I still don't know why Christian Bale thinks whispering a post-apocolyptic radio message is the best way to reach people. I also caught a bit of Bruno but I think that caters only to a select audience. Sadly I didn't reach my target of watching four films as lunch, post-lunch nap and the system having to be rebooted for an hour got in the way.

The heat here, having come from London where it's time to start wearing a coat, is perfect. You do get sweaty just from sitting down, but I've had worse (see right). I went for a swim in the sea not long after I arrived - the taxi driver told me it's a bit chilly when you first get in. He's obviously never gone for a dip on the British south coast. It's warm enough to sit in all day - in fact quite refreshing from the heat. The water is clear and the sand is smooth. I went for a walk at sunset along the boardwalk by the sea, there were plenty of joggers and power walkers, but as the sun went down there were a lot of people just watching.



I must have stuck out a bit as during my wandering I was offered drugs twice in 5 minutes - once by a young chap with gold teeth, but another by an older chap who was a spitting image of the priest from The Wire. He also said he sold shells and souvenirs. I was trying to fit in but it's off season and there are only a few tourists around. Somehow my shorts, red beater, aviators and France Rowing cap were a dead giveaway.

On Saturday morning I fly to Guyana and the real adventure begins.



A short video I took on the Boardwalk. Music from the Ivan Chin steel band.

Right then. It's been a year in the planning. Time to actually get on with it and go. In a short while a cab will pick me up to take me to Victoria station ready for the Gatwick express. I think I've got everything.



Flights: Virgin Atlantic to Barbados, stopping over for a few days then into Georgetown (capital of Guyana) for Saturday 24th of October. I flew Virgin once before and they had the original Mario to play on your own little screen which was excellent. Now apparently there's over 250 films to choose from. I also haven't had a plane meal for a while apart from BA sandwiches around Europe. PLUS I'll be on a 747 for the first time AND I've got a window seat. This is going to be great. Tickets - Check

Jabs: Yellow fever, rabies, hep A, hep B, tetanus, diptheria and typhoid. Surprisingly expensive (nearly £300!). Check

Malaria medication: Coastal areas (such as Georgetown) are not risk areas, but for any trips into the interior it is a must. Went for doxycycline as a mid point between price (Malarone) and making you mental (Lariam). Check

Assorted gadgets: Check

Clothes: Apparently I will need one jumper for the part of my journey in the UK. Otherwise the usual clothing with plenty of t-shirts. At my mother's request more than one change of underwear. Check.

Time to go, I think I've got everything.






...passport. Check

Ivan Chin, born 1923 in Georgetown, Guyana came to the UK during the Second World War after signing up for the RAF. By the time he arrived it was all over-however he remained in the UK, staying in the RAF for a while then doing a government-sponsored business course. Later, he did a number of things including running a steel band, working for the Foreign Office and having a few children, after which I was born followed by my brother Dominic. Of mixed African and Chinese descent he met my British mother which explains to some degree my ambiguous ethnicity. Sadly, he died of cancer in 1994 aged 71.

In September 2008 I began planning what would become the adventure I am about to depart for: a six month volunteering trip to Guyana. I decided that after a number of years of following a fairly standard path through school and university it was time for a serious adventure, and so the project was born.
Having never been to Guyana (and to this day knowing very little about it), it seemed like the perfect place to go. Guyana is a little-understood developing country (the number of people who have asked about my trip to Ghana...), former British colony and the only English speaking country in South America. A little smaller than Britain, it has a population of around 750,000 with a mix of predominantly Amerindian, African and Indian ethnicities, plus significant Chinese and Portuguese communities as well. Culturally it is considered part of the Caribbean.

I began working with a small charity in London called the Daneford Trust, who whilst advertising it had projects in Guyana had yet to actually set one up! As a result I am now the guinea pig which I am very happy to be. I chose a volunteering project over classic "travelling" because I wanted the opportunity to live in and understand the country rather than just passing through. Hopefully six months will be long enough to do this (although I hear that such adventures can be addictive).

Fundraising went well with a number of contributors making a big difference to my project. Planning the project however was a little more tricky. With no (known) family there and few links, it took a long time for anything to materialise. However in the past few weeks a lot has happened; I have been put in touch with St. Stanislaus College in Georgetown (the capital) and I'm heading out there to help with their IT teaching and infra-structure. To be honest I won't know exactly what will happen there until I arrive, however they teach Computer Science at A level and have a broadband internet, so things must be quite good. I guess I'll find out when I get there!

This blog will serve as a log and a way of communicating how my adventures go. I plan to update it at least every week or two. Watch this space...