Latest update April 20th, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 13, 2008 Letters
Dear Editor,
I say this because I am a frequent traveler to various countries, traveling on my own, and at times at the auspices of The Universal Peace Federation. I have been blessed to visit, at time with my families, such exotic countries as Arabia, India, Japan, South Korea, Egypt, etc.
Our most recent trip was to Egypt, to see the ancient Pyramids, travel on a cruise on the Nile, one of the Cradle of Civilizations, and the historic monuments built by the Pharaohs.
We were astounded by the history of these ancients, their knowledge of astronomy, medical sciences, architecture and embalming. What was interesting is the fact that the images on pyramid drawings were mostly that of Negroid/Africanised people.
The Great Statue of Giza, which nose was blown out by Napoleon to hide the African physical trait to mislead history, definitely was carved off an African Pharaoh. The aim of this letter is not to necessarily extol African contributions in history, which mankind need to know and understand as a reality of life, but rather to establish our great fortune to be living in a country like Guyana.
Egypt, except for the oasis, is desert, difficult to live in, with little water, where oil is cheaper than water, yet they persevere to make themselves food sufficient. On the highways I traveled, except for maybe 50 to 100ft of greenery by the highway, where wells were rigged to provide the water for vegetation, everything else was brown sand, and desert stone.
The entire country seems dependent on tourism, which has turned the nation into what appears a nation of “tip-seekers, baksheesh, as they say.” They are so dependent on tourism, that they have lost their ability to create, to craft and invent, it appears. From the airport, to the malls, restaurants, the toilets, the historical sites, it is panhandling as an art.
On one occasion, while returning from Alexandria, we stopped at a shopping centre to use the washroom. It was a beautiful European and Arabian architecture. Upon stepping out of our bus, we were blasted by millions of flies, the size of at least one inch in length and thickness.
We rushed into the building, did our business and rushed back into our bus, with hundreds of flies. One lash by a fly was like a bee sting. I then explained to our tour guide and bus driver, the greenery of our country, the canals, the rivers, the jungles and forests, our waterfalls, the abundance of fresh water, and all the movie-making picturesque scenes, everywhere. She said: “I am sure your people do not value their fortune and wealth of green.”
They grow bananas as if bananas would go out of season, never attractive, aromatic nor delicious like ours. When told of our varieties, she was in a state of shock. Then I told her of plantains, that it can grow there, if bananas can grow, so can plantains, and if they can grow mangoes, they can grow our Buxton Spice, which is a most delicious variety.
When told of the use of plantain as food, she was shocked. I told her it can ripen and then fried, or half turned and then fried, or boiled and then fried with or without salted-fish. I told her of its uses when green, in soups, boiled and fried, roasted, dried and grounded into nutritious plantain flour.
She wanted to taste it, see it and use its powder. I had to promise that if ever I go to Egypt again, I must take a plant for her. I promised and will try to get her a few plants somehow. Their mangoes are always lightly sour. I wish to use the opportunity to encourage every Guyanese to plant a banana tree in their yard, and a few papaws as well.
Before I conclude this letter, I must state our experience with what they call hibiscus drink. After our tour of the Great Statue of Giza, and the surrounding area, we were taken to a perfume market, where perfumes, non-alcoholic, were manufactured for thousands of years.
On entering the structure, the convergence of aroma placed us in a therapeutic state, and we relaxed. Then we were offered Sprite, Pepsi, or tea, coffee and then they recommended cool “Hibiscus drink.” Most of us went for the hibiscus drink.
When brought, and savored, it not only energized and refreshed us, but it tasted kind of familiar. Now I keep questioning about this hibiscus, as we have dozens of varieties in Guyana, and the red ones grow almost wild.
Then our Guide told us it grows near the Nile, and when we fly to Aswan the next day, we can ask for it. On reaching the Aswan, my brother, Esaw (who plans to re-migrate to Guyana soon with his wife), went late that night on a carriage ride, and asked for the hibiscus. Myself, getting there, being an older man now, was tired and decided to sleep the night on the Nile on the cruise ship.
They returned, very excited and recalled how invigorated they were after taking the drink. They gave it to me, and when I opened the package of what appeared to be dried flowers, I was in a state of shock, I could have collapsed.
The hibiscus drink that Egyptians are so proud of, that they said the Ancient Gods drank it, and was a favourite of Ramses 11, and here all I was looking at was something we do not cherish in Guyana, which used to grow wild, and can still grow anywhere, without fertilizer or special treatment, and in Guyana, we Guyanese treat it as nothing.
At one time, former Late President Forbes Burnham talked about banning Pepsi, and encouraged us in National Service to grow this flower anywhere and everywhere. Credit must be given when it should; he encouraged the use of local fruit drinks for energy and natural taste. When he encouraged us to BE LOCAL AND BUY LOCAL, I recall as a youth, I wanted like most Guyanese then, to maybe kill him.
But fellow Guyanese, do you know what is the HIBISCUS DRINK, the Egyptians craving as DRINK OF THE GODS, DRINK OF THE PHAROAHS? It is simply our…it may be shocking, but it is…..our….SORREL. Believe it or leave it! Let us all strive to use more and more of this Divine Nectar of GOD ALMIGHTY.
Friends, Guyanese, let us cherish our country; never try to destroy it, and never bad talk Guyana in foreign countries. All countries have their fair share of problems. GOD BLESS GUYANA.
Roshan Khan
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
Apr 20, 2024
– Elton Dharry and Dexter Marques to headline tonight’s card Kaieteur Sports – The Everest Cricket Club pavilion crackled with tension yesterday as the Guyana Boxing Board hosted its...Kaieteur News – Once a habit has been drilled into you, it returns almost automatically when you return to the setting... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]