thit_cho

http://tinyurl.com/28lv2e

I just returned from a trip to the three Guianas -- Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana -- with short visits (due to flight itineraries) in Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago.

While its not Africa, I thought I would share on this forum, since this forum seems to attract the more adventurous posters.

Travel within, and between, the three Guianas was much simpler than I had anticipated, and I worked with an excellent agent, based in Georgetown, Guyana, who made all my arrangements (hotels, excursion and transportation). While I do not expect that this region holds interest to many, I would be happy to answer questions from anyone looking to venture to this less-touristed part of South America.

Michael

cw

Great photos. I was struck by the different architectural styles in each country, though neighbors they reflected the colonial origins.

Watched Papillon again a few weeks ago. Those prisons are so grim contrasted with the beautiful surroundings.

My fear of heights is showing, but my stomach lurged a little looking at your photos near (the edge) of the Falls. Glad your home safe and sound! Thanks for posting these.

CW

Leely

Cannot believe you stood there at the top of the Falls! OMG.

Great pics. Very interesting.

cynstalker

Loved the birds - as well as a bunch of others (left a couple of comments) - thanks for sharing, Michael! I'm bookmarking for when I get closer to heading south.

Cyn

thit_cho

Cyn, yes (based on your comment), the first place that I thought of when I saw the ruins on Ile St. Joseph was Ta Promh, the unrestored temple in the ruins of Angkor (my photos from that trip are print, not digital, so I can't do a side-by-side online comparison).

I ordered Papillon from Netflix and I re-watched it this weekend. It does appear that some of the scenes were shot on the Ile du Salut and St. Laurent -- but I understand the final escape, when Papillon jumps and rides his coconut raft, was filmed near Negril, Jamaica. Some of the other scenes were shot on a set that was created based on the original blueprints for the prison.

Michael

matnikstym

Once again, beautiful pictures Michael!
I really enjoy seeing the markets and license plates from around the world. What language(s) are spoken in the Guianas? They all look so interesting, someday...
Thank you very much for sharing these!

thit_cho

Dennis

Guyana (former British Guiana) = English

Suriname (former Dutch Guiana) = Dutch

French Guiana = French

And there are also local languages, but most people can speak the identified European languages.

PredatorBiologist

Michael: thanks for sharing, I always enjoy seeing new places and getting a small feel for how they look. I especially like the outdoor market photos.

Are you at the point yet where you have been to more countries than remain to be visited? You have to be getting up there. Where to next?

thit_cho

PB, I have been to 106 of the 192 members of the United Nations, so more than half (but that list of 192 does not include some other places that are typically counted as "countries" -- for example, Vatican City, Hong Kong or Puerto Rico). I have a few more trips scheduled for this year, but I will only visit 3 more UN member states (New Zealand, Samoa (Western) and Tonga in late December).

I have trips ticketed and scheduled through next May, and I'm currently thinking about trip for next August (Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia is in the lead, but Aeroflot hasn't made those tickets available yet).

PredatorBiologist

Incredible Michael, I thought you were up in there somewhere. You may well reach every U.N. country by the time many people are just reaching the point in life that they can travel. You must be a very intersting guy to have a beer with as you must never run out of stories or experiences to share.

thit_cho

A better example than Hong Kong would be Taiwan, which, to me and many, is plainly a "country," but which has been blocked from UN membership (I have been to Taiwan, and include it on my list of countries, but I'm not sure if its technically a country, or who officially answers that question).

PB, I think that many have a willingness and resources to travel, but for myriad reasons, continue to visit the same cities, countries or continents (I have, for example, friends who only vacation in Europe, and then tend to focus on France and Italy). While I certainly have my favorite cities and countries, I never know whether or not a new place will be added to that list of favorites.

schlegal1

Michael:
You should do a little blog about all your travel. I love whenever you share photos and stories. Your desire to experience many new places is exactly the sentiment that my husband and I share--we love having a new adventure in a new country each year.

I really enjoy your off-the-beaten-path insights and photos. Thanks for sharing!