Caribbean Beat — March/April 2019 (#156)

A sociable species, the sun
parakeet is usually found
in flocks of up to thirty
individuals
Travel tip
The best time to visit Karasabai?
Dry season weather makes overland
travel easier, and the village is the
first stop for the annual North
Pakaraimas Mountain Safari, around
Easter.
Another local landmark with its own
folklore is Tiger Pond, with its Macushi
name derived from the words ludule
(“tiger”) and kuppu (“pond”). When the
pond is displeased, some believe, a white
cat emerges from the water and attacks
young children. The terrible sounds that
sometimes emanate from the pond are
also bad omens.
You may hear stories like these,
perhaps, on a tour through Karasabai’s
lush cassava farms to witness farine and
cassava bread production, and to sample
the potent local alcoholic beverage known
as piwari. On sale is a wide range of handicraft,
including intricately carved woodwork
pieces depicting the various animals
you may have encountered on your visit.
Hand-carved from a prized wood known
locally as “tigerwood” for its distinctive
patterns, beautiful jewellery boxes are
adorned with the forms of the giant river
otter and — yes — the sun parakeet. Or
look for one of the detailed needlework
panels made by Karasabai’s craftswomen,
each requiring hours of delicate work.
A splendid sun parakeet rendered in
coloured thread may be just the keepsake
to remind you, years later, of a visit to this
corner of Guyana shrouded in legend. n
imageBROKER/Alamy Stock Photo
Caribbean Airlines operates
daily flights to Cheddi Jagan
International Airport in Guyana from
destinations in the Caribbean and
North America. Local airlines operate
daily flights from Georgetown to
Lethem, with overland connections
via bus or 4x4 to Karasabai
WWW.CARIBBEAN-AIRLINES.COM
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