Drinking 12 Year old Rum!! Today I was up early and decided to walk the coastal wall (a wall protecting the ocean from flooding Georgetown) - that keeps the balance as Georgetown is below sea level. Peter had told me a few of his surfers had been mobbed here during the day so I kept alert and made sure I only had a few dollars in my pocket. Halfway along the wall I decided to head inland and have a look at a small district of Georgetown which had resteraunts, supermarkets and a bunch of roadside snack sellers. I came across a lovely Indian lady selling the very typical Guyanese snack 'Egg Ball': basically a boiled egg wrapped in cassava (similar to potato) and then deep fried. The Egg Ball was ok but nothing overly amazing but at about 60 cents a very good and cheap snack for the locals. The next stop was the supermarket where I wondered around and brought a few snack like foods I had never seen before - one of my favorite things to do is sampling supermarket snacks of a place as its cheap and new and exciting. I headed back to Peters and after doing a workout cooked the rest of the dried and salted trout I had brought the other day. It was quite a process to cook the fish: soak in water, boil in water, remove bones and dry but the result was a very tasty and flavorful crunchy fish. I was a little board after lunch and feeling energetic decided to go walk the coastal wall again. This time walking the coastal wall was a bit more interesting with fisherman and people exercising along the waters edge.
Peter returned to the house around 5:30pm at the same time i was returning and asked if I wanted to join him for a ride out to his friends house to feed her dogs whilst she was away. I ofcourse jumped at the idea to see a bit more of the city in the best way possible (on a motorcycle) and get a guided tour of Georgetown. The ride out to the house was about an hour long, through all the suburbs of Georgetown and passed all the important buildings, hotels, rum distillery and cricket ground. The traffic was pretty wild but luckily Peter having lived here for the past 11 years new what he was doing. On arrival at the house of Gouyan (Peters friend) we were met by 5 starving and barking mad dogs that we had to feed. A small dilemma was presented in that the gates were locked and as I was the youngest it was up to me to jump the fence and feed the dogs. Not only was the fence high but the dogs were aggressive; Peter assured me they wouldn't attack but I had trouble believing him. In the end I got over the fence and the dogs attacked me but more for the food and as they were only small dogs I could push them off, I fed them, gave them some water and then jumped back over the fence. Peter then offered to take me to one of his favorite bars to try the local El Dorado aged rum. The ride back was even better then before with night falling and all the people coming out of their houses, people selling stuff on the side of the road and a completely different atmosphere. We made it into the city and after a quick tour we arrived at Jerries all night bar (it literally stays open 24 hours a day). Unfortunately they didn't have the El Dorado 15 year rum but they had another aged at 15 years old that Peter brought me. When served the guy went to pour coke into the rum and I had to politely ask him not to - as from where I come from a 15 year old rum should be drank clean. The rum was ok but not so smoothe but then again this wasn't a famous rum. The bar was quite empty but had a nice atmosphere and interestingly one side of the room was the bar and the other the fast food resteraunt (of which all bars have here). Turns out Guyanese are somewhat responsible drinkers and all the bars have food served (very cheap and lots of variety) - Jerries had everything from chicken, curries, rice, pastas, burgers to sweet cakes, breads, pastries and snacks and even a resteraunt room to sit and eat. The owner Jerry came down from upstairs (where he lives) and Peter introduced us; Jerry was a very interesting and friendly guy and it was only 5 minutes and he was inviting us for a drink with him. Jerry cracked open a bottle of 12 year old El Dorado and this time we drank it clean (no ice or coke) and wow oh wow this was easily the best rum to ever hit my palate with a smoothe texture a small hint of spice and a warm sensation left. I am not a liquor drinker but after this amazing rum I am half tempted to buy a bottle as the taste is unlike anything I have ever drank before and the best thing as its mades here its dirt cheap. Turns out Jerry is a real traveller aswell so we had lots to talk about and we all enjoyed a good chat and drinking the rum was just icing on the cake. I don't go to bars often but I am going to start again - I liked the atmosphere (early on 7pm - 9pm) before the place got busy and being able to chat with friends and enjoy a nice drink. At 9:30pm we headed back to Peters and I made some dinner whilst Peter headed off to sleep. I have decided to stay another night here instead of rushing down to Brazil - mainly because I am enjoying all the random unplanned things that Guyana is presenting me.

OBSERVATIONS:
- Coastal wall walk
- Try egg ball: deep-fried Casava with egg in centre
- motorcycle ride with Peter out to Gouyans
- Jerries all night bar - drinking 12 year old rum with Peter and owner Jerry