Article & Photos By Candace Phillips
Memories are the best souvenirs . My treasure trove is filled with such keepsakes which I have gathered from my travels throughout Guyana . Like any good collector , every now and then , I like to take mine out , hold it in my hands , close my eyes and let my mind take me on a meandering journey .
Over diverse landscapes and waterways , it comes to a stop over a warm memory which finds me sitting in a boat , attempting to perfect the artistry of quick movements that would lead me to my first catch . For a novice at fishing , these moments were filled with anticipation and a few silent wishes for good luck . .
The soft welcoming light of the evening envelopes the boat which sits silently on the Waini River , each of its occupants preoccupied with the task at hand . Their eyes are vigilant while their extended rods seek to entice life below the surface with the wiggle of the attached bait as its lure . The slightest nibble could mean the luck of a catch if one moves with great agility .
This is my memory of shrimp fishing in Warapoka , Region 1 . It remains one of my most loved mementos .
I had developed a curiosity about this activity having heard Aunty Geraldine tell of her feats of catching five hundred
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