From my many treks around Guyana I would have learnt over time that the prettiest locations I have discovered are actually the villages that are sometimes secluded in the middle of ‘nowhere,’ or are indeed the very dreamy and exotic villages that are not known to many.

It’s always a pleasure to explore these pristine sites and I look forward to such rare opportunities with great excitement and anticipation. What I have noticed also is that some of these villages are not often listed on our priority list of places to visit and I cannot refrain from saying that this is a ‘downright shame.’
Well just recently I overheard a close friend of mine ranting and raving about his visit to ‘Lookout Village’ and there I was perplexed as ever, just wondering where in heaven’s name could this place be located. What also struck me as odd and at the same time intriguing was the somewhat strange name of the village.
Helplessly giving heed to my curious personality and pulsing with great expectation I did some investigations and realised that this village was actually located just about a three-mile drive from the bustling Parika Public Road.
“So here I was again my heart thumping like crazy as I was yet again give one of the wildest and most scary bus rides ever by a driver seemed intent on having his vehicle take wings and fly off into the afternoon sky.”
“People meh got tuh admit that meh getting really tired ah dem crazy bus drivas and de dangerous manner in which dem ah dirve dem bus fasta dan dem express train. I was suh scared fuh meh life that menah even get time fuh enjy de lush country scenery like me does always duh when ah doing meh village focus trips.”

Touching down with relief
In no time I arrived at the Parika Bus Park and disembarked hurriedly sending the driver some venomous stares as I did so. He of course paid me no mind and just busied himself with collecting the fares from passengers for fear of losing them in the busy crowd at the Parika Market Square.

In no time at all a well- mannered car driver upon overhearing my enquiries took me to my location and promised to return for me in just about an hour.
Since there was no signboard to signal the beginning of the village, he took me to a spot where he indicated the village began and there I was breathing deeply the fresh, crisp ‘country breeze’ as my eyes took in with wonder the cluster of little homely cottages as well as some stately houses.
Now this village is flanked by the somewhat busier Hyde Park on the east and Naamryck on the west.
Lookout has about just over 20 households with a population that has not reached one thousand according to residents. While the village is predominantly inhabited by East Indians, a sizeable percent of Negroes and mixed races can be found there too.

Enthralling beauty
This village does not feature majestic buildings, posh shops, fancy stores or elegant boutiques like many others, but what may cause it to top the list but has a quiet existence, fuelled by the humility and charm of its residents, and its dazzling beauty and simplicity.
The minute I stepped into the village I was swept up in a whirlpool of lush green foliage, surrounded by startling tropical ‘flower plant species,’ thriving naturally alongside bubbling drains and small trenches where hassar, patwah and huri flipped about and somersaulted, their shiny scales glistening in the sunshine.
Pond flies and butterflies seemed to ‘dance meringue’ about my head making pleasant whirring sounds.
Healthy looking coconut palms waved lazily in the wind flowing from the nearby Essequibo River, and in each yard there was a bright fusion of fruit trees. Some trees seemed to be groaning under their weight of ripened mangoes, while the branches of breadfruit trees were almost sweeping the earth with the weight of the large healthy looking fruits upon them.
Banana trees were in full bloom and genip and dunks were there too in abundance.
I almost swooned in delight and amazement as I passed a few yards where various flower plants bloomed in wild array filling the yard spaces with the striking hues and shades associated with the Caribbean.
Sheep and cattle grazed lazily in open fields, savouring their afternoon meals with relish. From open spaces between the trees I caught glimpses of the Essequibo River as waves crashed noisily, gurgling and groaning their way to the Atlantic Ocean.
In some yards young children dashed about playing marbles and hop-scotch, while on street corner elderly men stood chatting, opening their mouths and throwing back their heads as they bellowed their mirth over jovial jokes and tales of their childhood days.

A little ‘chit-chat’ with residents
I was welcomed there with wide hugs and smiles and residents were ready to engage me in pleasant conversations.

My first stop was at the home of 80-year-old Eldad Adams, a cattle farmer who was actually spearheading the rearing of cattle owned by a ‘joint family arrangement.’ This contented soul explained that while villagers do not enjoy the ‘finer things of life’ they were contented to live in humble happiness enjoying the best life has to offer.
“We ain’t get no fancy business places or big time shops and such likes. But we exist quite fine and in peace with each other. In this village, everyone looks out for the other and there are no racial differences here. In Lookout Village, everyone live as one….”
Mr. Adams chatted with me at his gate and from there I could see a pot bubbling on the fireside in his yard emitting an aroma that caused my stomach to growl in anticipation. He explained that he was cooking his favourite meal of bora and salted fish, stewed down nicely with fresh coconut milk which has been known to add that extra ‘zing’ to stews in the countryside.
Being an ‘old soul’ who makes hygiene a priority he was also burning his garbage since the garbage truck only visits the village once per month according to some residents.
Adams however noted that he was somewhat concerned about the state of some drains in the village which have become overgrown with vegetation and can lead to flooding should the rains continue.
Seventy-two-year-old Seegobin Doodnauth was all smiles when I stop to chat with him as he was enjoying the afternoon breeze on the verandah belonging to his daughter-in-law with whom he was living.
He explained that life in the village was good and pleasant despite the fact that the village does not possess the facilities to facilitate entertainment development and sports.
“Bai dis village really nice and comfahtable, and real quiet. Me really ah enjy livin hea and me nah want guh nowhea else. Awe dese nah get dem fancy places like dem atha village but ah we ah live good hea stil. Awe ah get clean wata fuh drink, electricity, and if awe want sport we just gat fuh catch a car and guh Parika wha dem rum shap and disco deh plenty…. Me really like dis place fuh live in bai….
‘Aladdin’ as he prefers to be called is a farmer for over 15 years now and depends on the produce from his farm in the backlands to fend for his family of five and also to pay the young boys he employs from the village to help him in time of reaping.
He cultivates banana, cash crops and ground provisions and would sell it on a wholesale basis to buyers from Parika and Georgetown who would in turn retail the items to persons from various villages.
“Bass me ah duh dis wuk hea fuh ovah 15 years and sometime it ah pay me and sometime me ah loose big. De price fuh cash craps and provishan does guh up or down according tuh de demand. When prices low we does really suffah as farmaz. Look yuh see dem man dis wha ah buy dis banana frum me hea in this bus only ah pay thirty dollah per pound and dem does mek ah fartune because dem ah sell back fuh sometimes two and three hundred dallah fuh wan pound. Suh yuh see wha me ah talk about…”
‘Aladdin’ explained that for six days per week he would leave his home around 05:30 hours and using a speedboat to get into his far, some two and a half miles into the ‘backdam.’ He would toil there all day with his young helpers before returning to the village around 17:00 hours to rest for the next day of work. He has to use from his small earnings made from the farm to purchase gasoline for the speedboats and to put food on the table for the family.
Some residents are calling on the relevant authorities to build a playfield in the village for youths since the village is the home to some very talented upcoming cricketers. While this may be so, a few mothers lamented that the boys are not able to maximise or develop their sporting skills since there are not proper facilities there to make this possible.
Some villagers would like to have the few access roads in the village covered with asphalt so as to avoid ‘muddy conditions’ when it rain.

Lookout of the Past
Today Lookout is a striking fusion of colourful little cottages, just a few businesses and a peaceful ambience.
Just in case you are wondering what the village was like ‘donkey years ago,’ 74 -year-old Joephus Grimes who has lived there all his life was more than ready to tell with an almost boyish gleam in his eyes and he took himself back to the days when he was a little starry eyed boy chasing after lizards and mongoose in the wide open pastures.
“I barn and grow up in this village and ah neva left it fuh guh live nowhere else. In me time as a lil bai if the village had ten house he had nuff… The whole place was full ah bush and plenty fruit trees like wha yuh still ah see he today. All we could ah see was nuff bush, tall trees and big wide open fields. We nah bin get no shap and dem thing dah. We had to travel far fuh get grocery and good drinking watah. Most people used tuh bile de watah fram de riva and use it fuh drink and to cook food. We nah had no street lights and de place use d to be ‘pitch black’ at night time…”
Mr. Grimes explained that as time went by persons descended on the location which was popular for its rich farming soil and soon began to purchase plots of land for building. Hence today the village is one of the more pleasant locations in East Bank Essequibo.
Although Lookout is still caught in the grips of gradual development it still holds its almost majestic aura of simplicity that is further accentuated the serene demeanour of residents who exist in great humility.
Today residents there are employed as farmers, a few as carpenters and masons, while large numbers are employed at the Lookout Timber Products Inc., N. Lall Enterprise Sawmill, and the A. Alli & Son Sawmill and Lumber Dealers. Just a few are employed as fishermen in the village.

Entertainment
This village has no real avenues for any vibrant form of entertainment but that does not seem to bother residents since they can hop into a ‘short-drop car’ and travel to neighbouring villages and have a blast on weekends.

The elderly folks in most cases are contented to purchase their alcohol and drink it in the confines of their homes as they watch television programmes or listen to ‘oldies’ via small stereo sets.
The youths however prefer to enjoy the many concept parties hosted around Parika from time to time or would enjoy ‘chilling out’ by one of the many hangout bars that can be found alongside the Parika Public Road. They eagerly anticipate the massive live shows and parties that are customarily hosted by various promoters at the Parika Community Centre Ground.

Conclusion
If you truly desire a little solitude and quietness as you bask in the glorious beauty made possible by Mother Nature, then your ideal location is Lookout.

While you are there make sure you have your fill of every succulent fruit that thrives there in abundance. Take trip to the backlands via speedboats or take a plunge into the cool, refreshing water of their many trenches.
If you are a bit more adventurous then dare the strong currents and take a dip into the ever churning Essequibo River that flows just outside the village.
When you are done with all this call me and let me that that like myself, you have savored the ‘Lookout Experience.’ Do not miss out on this opportunity folks…
Written By Alex Wayne