July 5th, 2013 Cayenne

5AM We left to a popular club that we have been at since 1AM. There were many Dutch women interning here..
5:15AM Yahzaaf's cab buddy took 3 hours to drive to Saint-Laurent, where I got through without a visa.  It, is technically still French, the only one of the three Ghanas to stay somewhat colonial.
7:30AM I took the small ferry over to save some money (20 vs 30 SRDs). I ended up just paying 12.5 SRDs and 100 GYDs. However, it costs 40 EURs to go to Cayenne and we didn't leave until 11.
2PM I arrived at Cayenne but Adrian was still not reachable. I stored my luggage at a Chinese grocery and then went to take some pictures.

5PM Adrian was still not reachable. I walked all over town and was done with pictures. I walked back to the bus stops next to the canal and they stopped service to St. George. Very fortunately, Laurent replied to my email and agreed to host me.
7PM Laurent picked me up from Best Western to go to his very nice flat, where I had my own room.
10PM We talked some about my trip to Brazil and I booked my ticket 3 days from now. They invited me to their company party and I accepted. There was some food and the French people were pleasant to talk to.

July 4th, 2013 Paramaribo

3AM My alarm woke me up but the bus wasn't here at 3:45 and I was feeling uneasy. There was a missed call at 3:15. I woke Tina's friend, who woke her up to return the missed call.
4:30AM I woke Tina again to get the call, which finally came at 5:15. The van was rather empty with just 3 passengers other than me.
9AM I arrived at the border to take the ferry to Suriname. Fortunately, I did get the 25 USDs tourist card in Miami, because it is definitely required.  If I hadn't had it, they would have made me go back and get it at G/town.



4PM We drove for about 4 hours after getting through the border at noon. The bus didn't want to drop me off at Yahzaaf's so we stopped near the center of the colonial buildings at 5PM.

6PM Yahzaaf drove to pick me up. He lives on top the autoworld building with huge woofs with high ceilings.
9PM He talked me into going to one of his Muslim meetings. They read Kuran and served Indonesian food and cake for the birthday girl. I found later from him that they were reading Arabic without even knowing the Arabic meaning.  Allah appreciates just the reading?

 Muslim meeting

July 3rd, 2013 Georgetown

4AM  We left again, crossed with a ferry, over many bridges.  I haven't had any food, just waiting to arrive at G/town. The mosquitoes in Venezuela killed me. I can't really tell whether I'm sick or not. The swelling has gone slight better since 4 days ago.  I wished I could have taken the plane yesterday.  That would have saved me a day.
1PM  I am still on the road.  It looks like I won't get there until 2 or so.   The road has been paved since we got to Linden, which made things a lot more comfortable.
2PM  I arrived and got Tina's number from using CS in an internet cafe.  I think I drank too much water and haven't had enough salt.  I bought a 1 liter Pepsi and a peanut punch for 380 GYDs.  The peanut punch was pretty good at 140 GYDs.

5PM  I walked past St. George's cathedral and then to Stabroek Market, where I changed some money and met Curwin.
7PM  I decided to pay the 8000 GYDs for the bus to Paramaribo tomorrow morning.  I then took a taxi for 400 GYDs.

8PM  I met with Tina, a pretty young lady working for peace corps out of Sacramento.   She showed me some good Guyanese food, which unbeknownst to me was just West Indies food, a derivative from Indian food.

9PM  Her English friend showed up and they left to drink with the new peace corps members.

July 2nd, 2013 Santa Elena, Boa Vista, Bonfim, Lethem

6AM  We arrived at the border city of Santa Elena.  The two young men from Australia got off at their hostel to climb Mout Ranaima.   I didn't have any VEFs left so they helped me with the taxi.  I gave him the dollar on me and a picture from Macccu Pichu.
6:30AM  The taxi got me to the border, which was quite away.  They searched me thoroughly. It was the the first time I had someone go through my wallet.  After they were done with me, I waited outside for a stamp on my passport until 8:30.
9AM  I got to the Brazilian side of Santa Elena and when I was using the bathroom, the taxis left for Boa Vista.  Nothing went directly to Bonfim. I waited an hour for a shared taxi to Boa Vista at 25 BRLs.
1PM  I arrived at the taxi station to Bonfim but had to wait another hour to get 5 people on the shared taxi. 3:40PM  I arrived at Lethem after crossing the border.   Luckily, the health officer didn't enforce the yellow fever requirement.  But there were no more flights today as I was forced to ride the minibus for 14 hours plus 13,000 GYDs.
6PM  We left.  The road surely bumpy.    Nothing is paved and we stopped several times with police.

11PM  We had to stop at the reserve because no crossing was allowed at night.  I slept in the car.

July 1st, 2013 Puerto Ordaz

7AM  I woke only to sleep again until 8:30AM.  I paid the 1300 VEFs remaining for the trip yesterday. I guess they were on to me because another guide asked me later.

Caniama Airport

10AM I arrived at the airport to wait for the plane departing at 11AM. The airport, which I didn't elaborate on earlier, is just manned by a few and everything is exposed to the elements.  Everyone just gives their receipts to get on it almost seems like its a bus station.
11:15AM  My flight took off.
12PM I arrived at Puerto Ordaz. I took a taxi to Orinokia Mall, which was a 10 minute walk away.  I changed 10 USDs for 300 VEFs with a Cantonese man.   On the way back to the mall, I realized I better buy my ticket first and walked back to the station.  I didn't realize there was a bus that went directly to Boa Vista.  They had tickets but sold out.
3PM  I had some Venezuelan dish for 160 VEFs.  I ran into some Venezuelan travelers who helped me out of the woods when I was lost.  They suggested me a Venezuelan restaurant.  For just over 5 USDs, there were steak, chicken, yuca and a soda.  I had mousse cake and another melon shake afterwards to prepare for the road.

Movies at the Mall

 So why are there so many people at the bank?

5PM  I returned to the station but didn't leave until 9PM.

June 30st, 2013 Canaima

4:30AM  I was woken up by the guide to leave for Angel Falls. You must be be prepared for both hot and cold or just suck it up like me and choose one. I wore a t shirt and swim trunks.  There is no way around the mosquitoes this way though.  It was probably around 60s but got a little better with the sun when it came up. 7AM  We arrived at a peninsula where we had to walk for 30 minutes due to rapids.  We then hopped on the boat again and stopped to have breakfast at 8.



9AM  The boat ride was extremely uncomfortable throughout.  It was very hard to sit still on a bench and have nothing onto which I could rest my back. We arrived and had to hike for 5 km up.  It was hard without water and I almost got lost in the middle because the trees obscured the paths.


10AM  We finally arrives at the viewpoint and it was somewhat disappointing considering bit was going to be 10 hours of work for just 10 minutes of view.
11AM  I walked back to the stream where we started but the guy wouldn't move the boat and I was very, very thirsty. Some others arrived in 20 minutes to give me water but told me the camp across was the wrong camp.   I walked over to the Japanese camp and had lunch there.
6PM  We are finally back and I was so exhausted.  My legs had more than 20 mosquito bites on each and they were completely inflamed.  My teeth hurt in the cold and I could barely move.
7:40PM  I woke and had dinner. I then slept for 12 hours.

June 29th, 2013 Caracas, Venezuela

12:34AM  I arrived at Caracas at this funny hour.  Just a note: don't walk past the bridge toward the exit if you intend to come back for domestic transfers.  I almost did, twice.
2AM  I changed 50 USDs with a couple at 30:1, much better than the people who stood outside offered me (27:1).  I avoided the notorious path outside the airport by finding another path inside.
5AM  I dozed off for a little before I woke just after 5. I found my way to Aeropostal, who had the first flight at 6:45.  A young man who translated for me told me that there was no availability.  We talked to another man who offered "an emergency ticket" at 1200 VEFs.  Something told me to keep looking when the guy asked me, "do you know how much tickets cost because I don't know?"  He was flying on the same plane as I found out later.  I waited in line and found a seat for just 630 VEFs.

6:45AM  I left for a one-hour flight to Puerto Ordaz.  All the airlines and tour companies are in the same tiny building.  Transmandu was the only one that flew today and they wanted 4000 VEFs.  I had no choice but to look for exchange.   I finally gave up on 30 and exchanged with the driver for a Chinese couple. I got 3250 VEFs for 120 USDs from them.

9:30AM  I got on a 18 passenger plane for Canaima Park.

11AM I met with James Ordonez, who didn't speak English. We talked through Anel the couchsurfer's wife.  The price for 2 nights and Angel Fall Tour is 4060 VEFs, more than what was quoted earlier at 3950 VEFs.
2:30PM  I went on the Sapo Tour and got bitten more than 20 times on each leg.
5PM I returned and had dinner before going to sleep at 8PM.