Stabroek Market, Georgetown, Guyana:

Posted April 4, 2018 by Jan
Guyana

Georgetown (pop 235,000)

Co-operative Republic of Guyana (pop 773,000)

Saturday

January 20, 2018

 

“Let’s take a photo with the white guy!”

Just outside the Stabroek Market, a group of taxi drivers are curious about me.   I approach them with my usual big smile, and one of them hollers, “Hey, let’s take a photo with the white guy.”  We all have a good laugh as we pose together.

The guidebooks caution against visiting the large and complex Stabroek Market.  Dodgy characters, beggars, pickpockets, unpleasant sights and treacherous walkways, etc.  White guys are a rarity.  Naturally it is my first stop.  Is there a market anywhere in the world sans dodgy characters?

Special Advisor

Posted April 1, 2018 by Jan

Bangkok

Thailand

Sunday

April 1, 2018

Hot, Humid and Hazy

Chance of Rain 

My Dear Family and Friends, 

You can’t make this stuff up….

Except I already did …. 

In 2007, I wrote an “essay” called “An Arrogant Proposal” published on my website.

Here’s “An Arrogant Proposal” reprinted:

Bangkok

Thailand

May 15, 2007

Dear Business Editor:

As an owner of equities of several international airlines companies, I read with glee your recent reports describing the airlines' new policy for raising revenue.

Isn't it obvious that the fuel surcharge be raised? And ticket prices too. Business is business. To hell with those "supposed" low cost carriers. Eventually most of them drop out anyway.

I agree, if a passenger wants to eat, then let him pay for his food. The ticket is for a seat, and only a seat.

Grand Anse Tours

Posted March 25, 2018 by Jan
Grenada

Grand Anse

Grenada

Windward Islands

West Indies

January 15, 2018

 

Greetings,

On this perennially warm, hilly, flora drenched island, dotted with lakes and surrounded by lovely beaches, where relaxation is the national pastime, can anyone please explain why everyone drives so fast?  

Furiously fast?  Surprising and frightening.

Folks Chatter

Posted March 18, 2018 by Jan
Grenada

Grand Anse

Grenada

January 17, 2018

 

One of the best features of Grenada is that people love to chat and joke, even if the chatter is self-deprecating.  Quite different from my experience in Asia where amusing insult, irony and sarcasm are unknown.  Here I can have a good laugh with everyone I meet.

(The local brew and funny cigarettes surely contribute to the easy chatter.)

Mardi Gras

Posted February 13, 2018 by Jan
Trinidad-Tobago

Carnival

St. James District

Port of Spain

Trinidad and Tobago (pop 1.4 million)

West Indies

February 13, 2018

Tuesday - Mardi Gras

 

My guest house called Heart of Carnival is a taxi ride to most of the important Carnival events.  (Unless you count hanging out with the party-goers at the local restaurants and pubs.)

Today, Heart of Carnival is the appropriate name.  Hundreds of marchers and the fleet of trucks with their cargo of enormous sound equipment pass just up the street in this otherwise quiet residential neighborhood.

Barrel-chested men and bikini-clad, feather-festooned, half naked women strut their stuff as they keep pace with the beat of the ever-present piercing music.  

Pages