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Sunday January 22, 2017

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Tracing Chinese ancestry

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Experience nature in Kato

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2 Sunday Times Magazine

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JANUARY 22, 2017

Times Feature

is among the top 50 Chinese surnames.

Among those bearing this surname are the descendants of Fung A-Pan, an immigrant on the Whirlwind in 1860, and Fung A-Man, who arrived on the Arima in 1865.

There are also other Fung families whose surname is equivalent to the Mandarin name Hung which in Hakka dialect is pronounced Fung.

Fung-A-Fat: The family traces its ancestry to the Hung clan, this surname being made famous by the exploits of Hung Hsiu-ch’uan, Heavenly King of the Taiping Rebellion. The Hakka pronunciation of Hung is Fung and thereby generated the inscription Fung for the family. One of the immigrants to British Guiana was Hung Kung-fat, a passenger on the Dartmouth in 1879, whose name was transformed into Fung-A-Fatt and from whom the family name is derived. Most of the descendants are now known by the simpler spelling Fung-A-Fat and some others have resumed

T

the use of the root Hakka surname Fung.

Hing: The Hing family name is derived from different immigrants including Phang Hing, U-Hing (on the Chapman in 1861), and Wong A-Hing.

Low: Also written as Lau, Lowe and Loh, this Cantonese name is commonly associated with Liu, one of the top ten Chinese surnames. The descendants of Lau Shiu-t’ong are known by Low. Low-A-Chee: Lau Un-che (also written Lau Yun-chay) was a native of Thong Kun who traveled aboard the Dora in 1860. He married Mary Kok and had seven children who carried the surname Low-A-Chee.

For more information on other Chinese surnames, visit the National Library and ask for “Cane Reapers – Chinese Indentured Immigrants in Guyana” by Trev Sue-A-Quan. The helpful staff there will be happy to assist you.

A Chinese immigrant's view (illustrated) of exploitation on a sugar estate

he following is a listing of a few surnames of Chinese in Guyana who trace their ancestry to the original batch of indentured immigrants during the period from 1853 to 1879.

This list includes the names of some of the original immigrants and their descendants who are known at the time of printing (2003). The spellings of the names are those that have become the more generally acknowledged versions although variations in spelling do exist.

Chee-A-Tow: An immigrant from Poon Yu who arrived on the ship Bucton Castle in 1865, Chee A-Tow was allotted to Plantation Peter's Hall. He became a shopkeeper and acquired property and land at Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, in the 1880s where he raised a family of 16 chil-

dren.

Chung-A-Ming: Family history has it that the original immigrant Chung-AMing arrived in the 1870s and was given the personal name James. He married an Indian girl named Lakia and had two sons, Richard and Thomas James ChungA-Ming. James opened up a liquor store, hotel and grocery in the Corentyne district.

Some of his descendants are known by the surname James.

Foo: This surname can be derived from different Chinese written characters that have Fu as the Mandarin equivalent. Some people with the Foo surname are descended from Tong Foo. Fung: There are several families with the surname Fung: the Cantonese version of the Mandarin surname Feng, which

Thomas James Chung-A-Ming, dressed in a white suit and standing ahead of the horse, was the owner of the bus company serving the Corentyne area. This photo was taken in front of his house (Les Bovell)

Confucius Institute at University of Guyana T

o promote Chinese culture in Guyana, the Confucius Institute at University of Guyana (CIUG) was founded.

The Institute was officially established on May 19, 2014 at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus,and is a joint undertaking with UG, Dalian University of Foreign Languages (DUFL) and Hanban (Confucius Institute Headquarters).

CIUG, as a window for the Guyanese people to know China, provides Chinese teaching for different types and levels of schools, communities and educational exchange or-

ganisations between China and Guyana and cooperate with the government and

companies for training their officials and employees with tailor-made Chinese con-

tents. Meanwhile, Chinese cultural activities are shown for cultural exchanges between Guyana and China.

In brief, the aim of CIUG is in the service of teaching Chinese language and un-

derstanding Chinese culture for the Guyanese people from all walks of life. It is the official Chinese language teaching and cultural centre as well as Chinese related information centre in

Writing in Chinese at a past exhibition held by CIUG

Students learning Tai chi, an ancient Chinese tradition that is practiced as a graceful form of exercise

Learning how to eat with chopsticks

Guyana.

For more information visit Confucius Institute at University of Guyana - CI/ UG on Facebook or http:// ciug.uog.edu.gy

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 22, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Times Feature

By Peter Halder

T

he pastime games for children in Guyana in the 1940s were unique and unusual.

They were the legacy of custom and culture. Four such that were popular were Zootal, Mariddle, Cush and Cock-a-Delo.

Zootal was a game played with sticks. It was played with two, three or four players. The first thing was for each player to obtain two slender sticks, about half inch in circumference. Sapodilla, mango, genip, guava or other fruit and non-fruit tree limbs of that circumference were sought. One long limb was just what the doctor ordered.

Its leaves and stems were plucked off. The limb was then broken to provide two pieces, one about five inches long and the other about two feet. Next, a round hole about five inches in diameter was dug in the open ground of a yard.

Each player placed his/her small stick across the hole firmly.

One end of the long stick was then placed in the hole under the small stick while the other end was grasped firmly with both hands.

The player, standing still with legs firmly grounded, then gave a sudden, but deliberate and strong “voops” with his long stick sending the small stick in the air and as far away as possible.

Noting where it landed, the player used the long stick to count the distance, in a straight line, placing it at the edge of the hole and counting to the small

Youths playing a game in the 1900s

stick saying: “Aery, Dory, Tilya, Chowry, Zampa, Zig, Zootal.” Each call was a length of the stick.The amount of calls for each player was tallied. The one that “voopsed” the small stick the furthest, by the tally, won the game. It required both skill and strength. It was played for buttons. Each player staked one button per game. The buttons were placed near the side of the hole. The winner took all.

Another popular pastime after school was Mariddle. Several children would sit on steps. The one who was posing the riddle stood on the ground in front of them. It was all about fruits. For example, the riddler would say:“Mariddle, Mariddle, Marie. My father had a tree. It used to bear a kind of fruit.

The skin outside was painted light brown and flesh inside was paint-

ed reddish brown. The chairs inside were painted black. What kind of fruit did my father’s tree bear?”

The boys/girls sitting on the steps would think and think and think. The riddler would ask: “You give up?” Some said yes and others said no. One boy raised his hand.

“Well, what fruit it is?” questioned the riddler. “It is a sapodilla,” said the boy smilingly.

“You guessed right,” said the riddler. It was then the winner’s turn to pose a riddle. And so the game continued. It was played for fun, but it educated children about fruits and vegetables.

Then there was Cush, a game played for stakes which were always buttons. It was played in an open space, like a yard. It was usually played by two or three

players. First a line, measuring about four feet was drawn on the ground using a piece of slate, glass, brick or stick.

Ten paces were then counted from the line.

There a circle, about 12 inches in diameter, was drawn. The game was played for two buttons each. The buttons were all placed in a pile behind the line.

To start the game, each player stood in the circle and played a button to the line. They then picked up their buttons. The one whose button was nearest to the line played first. He pitched a button to the line again.

The others followed suit. The one closest to the line, continued the game. He picked up all the staked buttons behind the line, held them carefully between his fingers, toed the line and threw them into the circle. Whatever stayed in the circle was won by him. Those that fell outside or bounced and went outside were picked up by the next player. He toed the line and played them into the circle. Whatever remained in the circle was won by him. If any were outside the circle, the next player would take his turn. And so it would continue until all the buttons were won.

The game would restart using the same method. The game was also called “lyng” since the circle

was sometimes called a “lyng”.

Cock-a-Delo was the equivalent of hide and seek. The children would gather in the yard. The one electing to do the first hiding would say breadfruit leaf, for example. He would announce a leaf that was hard to find so as to give him enough time to find a difficult place to hide. The rest would run out of the yard, think where a breadfruit tree grew, run to that yard, climb the tree and pick a leaf.

He would then run back and begin to seek where the hider was secreted. He could be anywhere - up a tree, under a house, in an wide, empty steel drum, on top or in a latrine, behind or inside a clump of bushes and so on. Once found, the person holding the leaf, would go to the hider, touch him with the leaf and say, “Cock-a-Delo”. The hider would examine the leaf to see if it was a breadfruit tree leaf and say, “I surrender”.

However, if it was not, the finder would have to skip one month of games for being dishonest. The game was not only fun, but educational. No one knew the derivation the term “Cock-a-Delo”. All they knew was that it was a fun word. Sometimes it was called just “Delo”. The game taught children about trees, leaves and being honest.

The pastime culture of children growing up in Guyana, then British Guiana, in the 1940s was unique and quaint, but fun-filled.

4

Sunday Times Magazine

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JANUARY 22, 2017

Times Feature

M

any of the Chinese indentured immigrants who came to Guyana, then British Guiana, became citizens and worked as shopkeepers, laundry, restaurant and supermarket owners or workers, and merchants in the import and export business. Many of their descendants became civil servants and professionals. Today, Sunday Times Magazine highlights a few ‘landmarks’ of Chinese heritage that also remind us of their invaluable contributions to the country.

St. Saviour’s Church

St. Saviour’s Chinese Church – formerly a branch of St. Philip's Church, St. Saviour's Church – was raised to the status of a Parish Church of the Anglican Diocese on Jan. 1, 1939 when it was given its own priest, the Reverend E. C. Lampriere. The word “Chinese” was omitted from the church’s name to become simply St. Saviour’s Church, but it still continued to be the focal worshipping building for the Chinese community.

The Windsor Forest Monument

The church is situated at Broad and Saffon Streets, Charlestown in Georgetown, on land formerly owned by a Frenchman named Pierre Louis de Saffon, (1724 – 1784) who had fled to Guyana to escape arrest after he killed his brother in a duel over a woman at the time when duelling was banned in France.

When Saffon died in 1784, he was buried on his La Penitence estate in what is now the churchyard of St. Saviour's Church, with the Saffon Monument marking his grave. In his will he left

The now St. Saviour's Church

his money to a fund for the upkeep of poor orphans up to the age of 16.

The cornerstone of the “old” St. Saviour's Church was laid Aug. 14, 1874 to provide a place of worship for the Chinese community of Georgetown where services could be conducted in the Chinese language by a Chinese catechist. A chancel was added in 1911. In June 1921, on St. John's Day, a dispensation was granted to the Freemasons of Silent Temple Lodge (Chinese) to hold its first Divine Service at St. Saviour's Church.

The present St. Saviour's Church was dedicated by the archbishop of the West Indies, Dr John Alan Knight on Sunday, Oct.14, 1951.

The Chinese Sports Club

The Chinese Sports Club (Cosmos) started informally in 1924, and when it acquired its own sports pavilion and ground at Thomas Lands in 1931, it formally began as an off-shoot of the Chinese Association at Lot 3, Brickdam, where billiards and other indoor games and meetings were still held.

In 1932, it was decided to amalgamate with the Narcissus Tennis Club of La Penitence, which had been started in 1909 comprising Chinese lawn tennis players.

Cricket, tennis, hockey and basketball were the

club's main outdoor games, but the club shone at hockey. In 1961, eight of its members were selected to tour with the national hockey team which won the first and only Quadrangular Hockey Tournament between British Guiana, Trinidad, Jamaica and Barbados. By 1974, it had the leading hockey team in Guyana, winning all the hockey tournaments that year.

In May 1945, a larger pavilion was built and all indoor activities were now transferred from the Chinese Association to the Chinese Sports Club at Thomas Lands. In 1963, it was decided that membership of the club should no longer be restricted to Chinese but should be opened to all races. The club's name was also changed to Cosmos Sports Club.

By 1984, most of the Chinese members of the club had migrated, and it was decided to merge Cosmos Sports Club with the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club and to rename the club the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club.

Central High School

Founded in 1927 by a Chinese immigrant’s son, Joseph Clement (J.C) Luck, Central High School was one of the best private secondary schools of its time. It

became a government-aided secondary school in 1969 and it became fully government-owned in 1976 when all secondary schools were taken over by the government.

J. C. Luck served as principal of the school from 1927-1956, as did two of his children: Stella Lowe (19561961) and Joseph Rudolph (Rudy) Luck (1972-1974).

J. C. Luck's youngest son, Donald Luck, was the school's first and only Guyana Scholar in 1950, at a time when only one Guyana Scholarship per year was awarded. J. C. Luck also started the Central Book Shop next door to the school to supply its students and those of other schools, with textbooks.

The Windsor Forest Monument

The Windsor Forest Monument was erected in 1986 by the GuyanaChina Friendship Society, to commemorate the coming of the first Chinese immigrants to Guyana on the Glentanner from Amoy in China. They were all assigned to work on the West Coast Demerara at Windsor Forest (105), Pouderoyen (103) and Union (1). Nine had died on the journey to Guyana. The monument still stands today. (Research done by Marlene Kwok Crawford and Rosemarie Choo-Shee-Nam)

Original wooden Central High School house built on the same land where the school stands today

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JANUARY 22, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Times Women

C

anadian-based Guyanese novelist Karin Lowachee was born in Guyana, and moved to Toronto, Canada when she was two. She has written three highly-acclaimed award-winning science fiction novels and continues to receive rave reviews for them.

Her first novel “Warchild” won the 2001 Warner Aspect First Novel Contest. Both “Warchild” (2002) and her third novel “Cagebird” (2005) were finalists for the Philip K. Dick Award (an award given for distinguished science fiction). “Cagebird” won the Prix Aurora Award in 2006 for Best Long-Form Work in English and the Spectrum Award also in 2006. Her second novel “Burndive” debuted at #7 on the Locus Bestseller List.

Karin’s books have been translated into French, Hebrew, and Japanese, and her short stories have appeared in anthologies edited by Julie Czerneda, Nalo Hopkinson, and John Joseph Adams. Her fantasy novel, “The Gaslight Dogs”, was published through Orbit Books USA in April 2010.

“I’ve been writing stories in some form or another since kindergarten and began to think about doing it as a career around Grade 5 or 6. In high school I became more conscious of it, and by university it was definitely a goal I was driven to attain.

Looking back on it, writing is the only thing that I can

Karin (center) with her 2006 Aurora Award for 'Best Long-Form Work in English'

remember doing my entire life, consistently and without need of outside encouragement. I’ve always loved writing and it’s the only thing I can sweat blood over without too much complaint.

I have many different interests but writing is my passion. It’s the endeavour that encourages my education, exploration, and edification all in one,” she said in an interview with Orbit Books.

The writer’s inspiration comes from “the world or the universe.” She is fascinated by people, places, and ideas, and writing is her way of making sense of it all, or examining things that particularly interest her. A lot of writers inspire her as well, from across many genres.

Film, history, art, psychology, they have always been an inspiration too. Karin is also inspired by a desire to get

'The Gaslight Dogs' book cover

better. Every book she tackles is a conscious attempt to become a better writer, not just to tell a different story.

Commenting on the hours she spends writing, Karin said, “I'm not a quantitative person. For me it's quality and working when the time is right (unless you're under a contract and deadline of course). This doesn't mean that I write purely on inspiration. I believe you need discipline for the long haul of novel writing and waiting solely on inspiration is a road to nowhere. Sometimes I write in my mind for a day; other times, when I'm on deadline or fed up of planning/researching, I will be back and forth from my computer for 12 hours. That being said, writing isn't the only thing in my life and I believe it's healthy to get my head out of the world of it and do other things. All the things that go into a book, for me, have as much to do with my development as a person as well as the development of a plot.”

Additionally, the writer also uses music as an inspiration. It is a “muse” for her. She would usually write with it on. For Karin, certain types of music will help the mood of a scene. For instance, in fight scenes, she usually plays harder music.

She believes that the lyrics and vocalists have a lot to do with mood as well. The lyrics go with a theme, or the psychology the characters are going through at the time.

For some writers the publishing process can be a tedious one, however, Karin is gathering as much experience as she gets and applying this to better her narrative skills. “I love the entire publishing process from the nitty-gritty development of the book, to the editorial conversation, to the artwork and the production and everything that follows after. I don’t find any of it tedious, probably because I’m still grateful that I get to experience it in the first

place and I’ve consistently worked with truly fantastic individuals, even when editors or publishers change. I love telling stories that are important to me and being published allows me to reach a wide audience (many of whom contact me and constantly surprise me with their dedication and creativity). There is nothing that isn’t exciting about that!”

The author’s most recent short story “Gold Mountain” was released in 2016. “Gold Mountain” is about a widow named Jules, who meets a Chinese hermit in the mountains of southern British Columbia, during the time of the gold rush and the building of the railroad. Her husband died on the mountain but she has no proof, so she goes searching.

What she finds instead is a man who draws power from the very nature that killed her husband.

“My ancestors, like Lin in the story, left China for a better life in the ‘west’. Instead of settling in Australia or North America, mine went to South America. But the sto-

Award-winning novel, 'Cagebird'

ry, regardless of where they might have landed, is similar. I wanted to explore that.

I was also inspired by research into the Shaolin and their dedication and connection to healing and nature...” she explained in an interview with https://airshipambassador.wordpress.com.

Karin’s advice to fellow

writers is: “Just write. If you don’t discipline yourself to do that, nothing else is going to matter. And read a lot of everything good.”

Visit www.karinlowachee.com for more information on her books or download the app GREAT JONES STREET to read her short stories.

6 Sunday Times Magazine

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JANUARY 22, 2017

Times Book World The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

By Petamber Persaud

Part II

I

n Part One, we had a peek at non-Indian nonGuyanese writers who attempted to explore the Indian presence in Guyana.

We also had a peek at the Indian presence/experience through the eyes of a handful of Indo-Guyanese writers who experienced indentureship and others who were first and second generation descendants privy to firsthand accounts of that scheme.

Non-Indian Guyanese writers also attempted to explore the Indian presence/experience, some with a nominal degree of success. Edgar Mittelholzer was the first of this lot with “Corentyne Thunder” (1943) followed by Wilson Haris in “The Far Journey of Oudin” (1961) and Roy Heath in “The Shadow Bride” (1988).

Despite the increasing focus on the Indian presence by a cross-section of writers, the issue of Indian identity remains a complex one, a grave concern to and a major theme for writers down the ages.

Literature can be used for self-identity, self-representation and self-propagation, among other functions.

Gaiutra Bahadur

The early Indian writers were well aware of these functions of literature, making optimal use of them, even though their work was not given due regard until long after the country’s independence in 1966. (Even then their work was grudgingly accepted into the mainstream.)

It must be noted that the ranks of the early writers was infused with generations of songwriters composing protest songs. According to Gaiutra Bahadur, those protest songs were remonstrating against the ignoble label ‘coolies’. Those songs were the ties that bind.

So the early writers

had the task of erasing the dark connotations associated with the word ‘coolie’.

But that was only part of an enormous, psychological task. However, they did leave a legacy of a protest platform on which their descendants could build. And their descendants did that and more; they reclaimed the word as a badge of honour, in tribute to the resilience and fortitude of their ancestors.

From whence came the dark connotations. They came through our literature and were found firstly and mostly in official reports and letters and colonial documents like “The Coolie his rights and his Wrongs” by Edward Jenkins. In that corpus of literature, all Indian immigrants were tarred with the same brush as coolies, filtering into common usage, exacerbating the stigma. Even into the 21st century, the word ‘coolie’ is still being issued forth with much venom and bile.

As early as 1894, Joseph Ruhomon was among the first Indian to deal with the indignity. Ruhomon was the first Indian intellectual given birth to an Indian

Khal Torabully

intellectualism in the early 20th century. Although he was already wearing the labels of ‘East Indian Christian’, ‘Indianness’ and ‘East Indian Creole’, he was trying to wipe out the stigma. Ruhomon was magnanimous in his approach, coining the word ‘Guyanians’ long before the word ‘Guyanese’ was given birth and institutionalized.

Joseph’s brother, Peter, also had to go to great lengths to deal with the word. Peter Ruhomon used a page of references in his magnum opus, ‘Centenary History of East Indians in British Guiana, 1838 to 1938’, published in 1947, to set the record straight. It would be useful to note that this groundbreaking work was started in 1930. Many other writers supported the erasure of the word as being used in a derogatory manner.

And the (post-colonial) writers approached the word from a different perspective, reclaiming the word ‘coolie’ as a badge of honour, wearing it as a symbol of the courage and persistence and patience and suffering and the trials and tribulations and the triumphs of their ancestors.

Rajkumari Singh, the first established Indian woman writer, was out in front with the new perspective with her essay, ‘I am a Coolie’, first published in “Heritage 2” (1973). Singh did not only talk, but she acted, extolling the ‘Coolie Art Form’ through the British Guiana Dramatic Society.

Then there were writers like David Dabydeen who produced a telling collection of poetry, “Coolie Odyssey” (1988). In that odyssey, Dabydeen extolled the virtues of the ‘Coolie Mother’.

Even the Indian academics weighted in on the subject. In 2000, Dale Bisnauth published “The Settlement of Indians in Guyana 18901930” where he notes “[f] or most, at least during the period of this study, a new

Joseph Ruhomon

Indian-Guyanese identity, though latent, had yet to be grasped or acknowledged”.

In the same book, he mentions a ‘Coolie Hotel’.

In the new millennium, at a ‘Symposium On The Literature Of The Asian Diaspora: The Caribbean’ staged by the University of Warwick, Centre for Caribbean Studies, in 2007, I met Khal Torabully who was working on the principles of ‘Coolitude’ (my computer does not recognize this word), 100 years behind its cousin ‘Negritude’.

In 2014, Frank Birbalsingh, writing on his pet interest, found enough evidence to produce a significant work “Indian Caribbean Cricketers and

the Quest for Identity”.

Also in 2014, Gaiutra Bahadur produced a majestic and magisterial work “Coolie Woman”.

From this framework, we will move into other frames of mind and other frames of our literature.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@ yahoo.com What’s happening: Under production: a compilation of biographies of Indo-Guyanese writers.

Under production: an anthology of Indo-Caribbean poetry.

For further information, please see the aforementioned contacts.

'Coolie Woman' by Gaiutra Bahadur

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JANUARY 22, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Times Heritage

(Continued)

A

bout 60 species of mammals have been recorded from the district ranging from Mouse Opossums to Dolphins. One of the rarest is the Twotoed Anteater or Silky, of which three have been seen, the last individual in the Colony House at the Penal Settlement.

The mammals of British Guiana possess a unique historical interest, from a taxonomic point of view, for most of Linnaeus' original collections came from this region, and thus we find that the most of the forms are the types of their respective genera.

Nearly 450 species of birds have been recorded, of which breeding notes have been made on one hundred and thirty-five species. This is probably the largest number ever recorded from so limited an area.

Over 100 species of reptiles and amphibians have been collected, their bril-

Map showing location of the Kartabo research station. Its first location was at Kalacoon (Photo from “Zoologica: Scientific Contributions of the New York Zoological Society From the Tropical Research Station in British Guiana Volume III”)

liant but evanescent colouring painted, and the embryology and life history of many worked out.

Only the fishes which have been taken inshore in weir and nets have been studied. These number about 75,

Aerial view of North Road, looking East

Chinese Meeting Hall, Peter’s Hall, 19th century (BBC Library Service)

and in diversity and strangeness of form, food and habits, are an assurance of intensely interesting future work in this field. Collections have been made of the land travelling forms of study of their adaptive swim bladders.

Among the insects, ants, and termites or wood ants, are the only groups which have been studied with any thoroughness.

Professor William M. Wheeler, who is the acknowledged authority on ants, collected over 200 forms in two months, within a short distance of the laboratory, and actually secured 64 species from a single tree of medium size. In the cleared compound of the laboratory, he found every genus of fungus-growing ant known in the world.

During two seasons' work, Mr. Alfred Emerson has discovered 70 species of wood ants, within a half-mile of the Station. Fifty of these are new to science. A most remarkable series of 100 kinds of guest insects were collected, some modified to an astounding extent. The castes of soldiers, workers, kings and queens, the nests, fungus disease and parasites, wing development and general habits of many of these species have been recorded in notes, drawings and photographs.

Although no work has been completed in other groups of invertebrates, yet a hasty resume" of butterflies and moths shows that out of a possible 44 families, representatives of 39 have already been secured.

Besides the research work carried on by members of the Staff, specimens have been gathered in particular cases for immediate study elsewhere. Usually, however, requests for indefinite collections, desired for study at some future time, have been refused, for this is intended more especially as a Station for workers in the field, and not a collecting medium.

Dr. Schultz of John's Hopkins is working on the embryology of Red Howling Monkeys; Dr. Reese of the University of West Virginia on Alligators, and young Electric Eels have been sought for Dr, Dahlgren of Princeton.

Several collections of

William Beebe in British Guiana (1917). He operated the station from 1916 to 1924. Owing to the difficulty of transportation during the First World War, there was a lapse in 1917, but work resumed in 1918. By the 1940s Kartabo had suffered deforestation and a new station established in Venezuela. He died in Trinidad in 1962.

Beebe is described as a pioneer in the field now known as ecology

live animals and birds have been sent to the New York Zoological Park, including a Two-toed Sloth, several Cocks-of-the- Rock, a Hacka, Electric Eels, Bushmasters, Fer-de-Lance and a young Red " Baboon."

We have already delved more deeply into the wild life of Kartabo, than corresponding work carried on in any tropical area of equal size, and yet the more we study the living things about us, the more we realize what a vast labour confronts us and our successors.

We have hundreds of sheets of manuscript, thousands of photographs, coloured plates and moving pictures, but only the satisfaction of a little thorough and truthful work accomplished, keeps us from discouragement at the immense fields of investigation still lying ahead.

While most of the work of the Station will be brought out in scientific publications of the New York Zoological Society, yet the Director has felt it an equal duty to set forth some of the more popular aspects in magazines and books, such as the essays in " Jungle Peace " and in the later series in the " Atlantic Monthly," beginning with "A Tropic Garden" which deals with the Georgetown Botanical Gardens. Eightysix contributions from the Station, both technical and popular, have already been published.

These, then, are some of the serious activities of the

Station, its raison d'etre, present and future. But it is impossible to convey in words the joy of life in such a place as this; the wonderful sunrises and the indescribable sunsets, the full moon glowing through bamboo filigree, recalling Japan, and the wandering little storms, each with its rainbow or sometimes two; the hard work and the hard play — the evenings of violent scientific argument, others of the reading of poetry, or to tales of travel or war. The nights — dreamless and of absolute healthy repose, in preparation for days all too short.

The only regret, always present, ever more real, is the hopelessness of understanding more than a fraction of the problems which confront us.

Each strange habit or character, song or colour is no sooner studied and interpreted, than a hundred others rise to take its place.

If after all our labours we can add a single stone to the edifice of human understanding of the great world of Nature about us, if we can bring any of our fellow human beings in the world to a greater appreciation of the beauties and wonders of this splendid country, I, and the generous gentlemen of the Zoological Society who are making our Laboratory possible, will feel that we have been more than repaid. (Source: Timehri: The Journal of the Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society of British Guiana, Vol. III, August 1921)

The Kartabo Research Station circa 1920s. (Photo from “Zoologica: Scientific Contributions of the New York Zoological Society From the Tropical Research Station in British Guiana Volume III”)

8 Sunday Times Magazine

JANUARY 22, 2017

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Times Travel & Tourism

K

ato is located in Region Eight, known for its natural beauty and its stunning nature scenes, all vital aspects of village life.

Made up of a close-knit, self-sufficient community that cherishes its indigenous heritage, the village of Kato includes government buildings such as the nursery and primary schools, a guest house, a police outpost, medical facilities and school dormitories. Neighbouring is Paramakatoi.

Aerial view of Kato (Photo by Sarah K)

Just outside of Kato (Photo by Thea Shahrokh)

Welcome sign at the entrance of the village (Photo by Marco Basir)

Waterfall on the Chiung River, minutes away from Kato (Photo by Sarah K)

Pathway leading to the village (Photo by James Gabbert)

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JANUARY 22, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 9

Times Healthy Living

S

hinrin-Yoku is a Japanese word that roughly translates to English as “forestbathing. But it is not about going into forests and bathing exactly; rather, it involves visiting a forest for relaxation and recreation”, or more precisely “making contact with and taking in the atmosphere of the forest” for one’s well-being.

While, as with many foreign sounding words, the phrase may bring to mind Japanese monks and mystic moments, it was coined in a marketing campaign by the Japanese Forestry Agency as far back as 1982, as a way to encourage the urban public to visit their woodland countryside as a “healthy lifestyle choice”. It was seen as a “non-destructive way to use Japan’s forests, which cover two-thirds of the country, and to soothe a perpetually wired, frenetic society that has the third-highest suicide rate in the developed world.”

Although the term may be relatively new, the Japanese tradition of a connection with nature, however, is ancient. Also called “forest medicine”, Shinrin-Yoku has since gone from a marketing word to some serious scientific research; others to hail it as the “new yoga” or even “bigger than yoga”. In short, it has become a new health trend.

So what does science have to say about Shinrin-Yoku? Studies had already shown being out in the woods benefits anxiety, depression, creativity, and cognition, but

with a window facing a natural setting had shorter hospital stays and took less pain medicine than did patients whose window faced a brick wall. Since then, researchers have asked whether the presence of trees influences people’s sense of safety in inner-city neighbourhoods; explored how gardening might improve quality of life for people with disabilities; and used physiological measures to test for restorative effects of natural environments...”

In addition, other research shows that children with ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) who spend time in natural outdoor environments have a reduction in symptoms.

Stress hormones can compromise immune defence; in particular, the activities of frontline defenders, such as antiviral natural killer cells, are suppressed by stress hormones. Since forest bathing can lower stress hormone production and elevate mood states, it’s not surprising that it also influences markers of immune system strength.

According to one study published in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health: “The results show that forest environments promote lower concentrations of cortisol, lower pulse rate, lower blood pressure, greater parasympathetic nerve activity, and lower sympathetic nerve activity than do city environments.

These results will contribute to

Forest visits are said to enhance physiological and psychological health but not for everyone; forests can also be perceived as threatening and alien places which may cause anxiety and uncertainty

smallest details, the pebbles under your feet or the branches and the bark on the trees, to how the air felt and listening to the sounds around us... It was absolutely wonderful.”

Research has also shown that the emotions of pleasure and happiness are elevated with an increase in tree density within specific settings, even in urban set-

Excess weight and lack of physical exercise pose severe threats to public health in urbanized societies. Research findings suggest that attractive green environments may enhance the motivation for physical exercise

nobody really knew what was happening to the body on a molecular level.

Health benefits

It was discovered that people in the hospital given green views after surgery had shorter stays, took fewer painkillers, and had fewer complications than those who stared out at a cement wall.

A forest bather, writing in American Scientist of her experience, explains: “One of the first and most well-known studies, published in Science by Richard S. Ulrich in 1984, found that patients recovering from surgery in rooms

the development of a research field dedicated to forest medicine, which may be used as a strategy for preventive medicine...” (‘The physiologi-

cal effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan’ by Park BJ, Tsunetsugu Y, Kasetani T, Kagawa T, Miyazaki Y.)

One forest bathing participant tells a local US newspaper of her experience at a place called Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, New York: “We walked through the woods and were just able to absorb what was surrounding us: the beauty of nature, the beauty of the world, from the

tings. The bigger and denser the trees, the higher the scenic beauty scores—up to a point. If trees are too tightly packed—if a trail is too narrow or obscured—the scene becomes foreboding and fear will be increased.

Many studies from different parts of the world report that compared with urban environments, natural environments improve human mood states, concentration and performance, and likewise produce positive changes in human physiology after stressful or attention-demanding situations.

Sceptics

One of the many other claims of the benefits of Shinrin-Yoku is that people breathe in “essential oils" derived from trees (known as phytoncides: plant chemicals that have antibacterial and antifungal qualities and increase the immune system's disease-fighting natural killer cells). The increase was observed as long as 30 days later.

In the mid- to late 1800s, physicians Peter Detweiler and Hermann Brehmer set up sanatoriums in Germany’s pine forests, as did Edward Trudeau in the Adirondack forests of New York.

All reported the benefit of the forest air; indeed, contrary to expectations, the results seemed to be magnified when the forest air trapped moisture. There was speculation among the physicians of the time that pine trees secreted a healing balm into the air.

Qing Li, an immunologist at Nippon University in Tokyo and chairman of the International Society of Forest Medicine, suspected that, in addition to the sight of nature, the scent of evergreens and other trees had a considerable role in the health benefits of forest bathing. He tested this by leaving subjects in hotel rooms with cypress aromatherapy, finding that their numbers of natural killer cells, which protect against infection and cancer, had similar increases with the simulated indoor “forest” and a visit to the real thing.

However, not everyone is convinced. In fact, science generally is sceptical of aromatherapy as effective in curing any medical condition, and more research on this “arbour-aromatherapy” is said to be needed.

In spite of the existing research base, still more evidence and systematic rigorous research is needed on the mental and physical health effects of forests.

Japan meanwhile continues its investment in Shinrin-Yoku. As of 2012, 48 forest therapy trails were

in use, with some 52 more planned for the future. South Korea is investing US$140 million in their new National Forest Therapy Centre. Finland in 2010 opened its first forest bathing experience.

Shinrin-yoku has come to mean “walking or sitting in nature” but continues to be touted as being great for your heart and body, and soothing to the brain; not unsurprisingly, many books have since been written espousing the benefits of the nature-health connection.

But it’s not only the Japanese who have locked onto our nature-body connection.

Other foreign nature-health concepts

In Germany there is the term Waldeinsamkeit, translated to English as ‘solitude of the woods”; consisting of two words: Wald meaning “forest”, and einsamkeit meaning loneliness or solitude, it is said to be the feeling of being alone in the woods, but it also suggests a connectedness to nature: its quietness and seclusion from the man-made world.

Friluftsliv (pronounced freeloofts-liv) is a Norwegian word roughly translated as “open air life”. Speaking with Mother Nature Network, Anna Stoltenberg, who is a culture coordinator for a U.S.based Norwegian heritage group, says, “It is a term in Norway that is used often to describe a way of life that is spent exploring and appreciating nature.” It appeared in 1859 in the poem Paa Vidderne ("On the Heights”) by renowned Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. According to U.N. rankings, Norway is No. 2 on the happiest country on Earth list.

The Dutch use the word Uitwaaien, translated to English as “to take a brief break in the countryside to clear one's head”, alluding to a nature-health connection that time spent outdoors with nature may help relieve stress or calm frayed nerves.

10 Sunday Times Magazine Times Fashion

O

nce considered an exotic plant in the garden, many designers have discovered that bamboo is versatile in the making of jewellery and other fashionable accessories.

Local designing business Dis Is De Place has creatively transformed simple pieces of bamboo into elegant jewellery. From pendants to earrings, the bamboo accessories perfectly complement any outfit.

Dis Is De Place, launched in 2013, is a business which creates and markets handmade jewellery and craft

made by skilled Guyanese and West Indian craftsmen.

The emphasis is on ‘upcycled’ sustainable products, which are eco-friendly and well-priced.

Notably, the business aims to help local craftsmen and women access a steady income and an acceptable level of empowerment.

This week Sunday Times Magazine features a collection of chic jewellery made from bamboo collected locally by Dis Is De Place.

For more information, call 220-4147 or visit Dis Is De Place on Facebook.

JANUARY 22, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Sunday Times Magazine 11 JANUARY 22, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Star Times Hollywood

J

oseph Jason Namakaeha Momoa, better known as Jason Momoa, is an American actor, model, director, writer and producer.

He was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Momoa is known for his television roles as Ronon Dex (2005–2009) on the military science fiction television series “Stargate Atlantis” (2004–2009) and as Khal Drogo in the HBO fantasy television series “Game of Thrones” (2011– 2012).Momoa portrayed the title character in the sword and sorcery film “Conan the Barbarian” (2011).

He appeared in the 2016 superhero film “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” as Aquaman, with a solo film for the character following in 2018. “Road to Paloma”(2014) was Momoa's first film as director, writer and producer.

Momoa won Hawaii's Model of the Year in 1999.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 22, 2017

Times Hollywood

Jennifer Lopez breaks silence Nick Cannon ‘once on her relationship with Drake dated Kim Kardashian’ D R apper and TV star Nick Cannon has surprised us all by sharing a photo of himself with Kim Kardashian West on Instagram. The throwback picture from ten years ago also features her ex-BFF Paris Hilton and rapper Lil Kim. He then shared a photo from the same night with none other than Kim's hubby KanyeWest, captioned, '#tbt Same Night!!! Could it have.... Nah!!! LOL'.

Nick and Kim dated from September 2006 to January 2007, before her sex tape filmed with Ray J in 2003 surfaced. He later called her “one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet”, but said he couldn’t forgive her for denying the tape existed and believes she could have played a part in its release.

Nick, 36, went on to marry Mariah Carey in 2008

and they share five-year-old twins Monroe and Moroccan.

The pair have since divorced and he's expecting a baby with new girlfriend Brittany

Bell.

Meanwhile, Kim married Kanye West and achieved what some might call world domination. (Glamour)

espite rumors saying Jennifer Lopez and Drake are getting serious, the "Ain't Your Mama" hitmaker and her alleged beau never confirmed their romance. But now the singer/actress has broken silence on the dating rumors.

In an interview with ET to promote her crime drama "Shades of Blue", Lopez was asked about her relationship with the "One Dance" hitmaker. Without denying that they're an item, Lopez only said, "He just asked me to do a song with him and that's what we've been doing." She went on teasing about their collaboration, "We'll see if it's on his next album."

Lopez also said pretty much the same thing while making an appearance on "Extra". When host Renee Bargh tried to dig into

Lopez's relationship with the 30-year-old rapper, she only answered by confirming her latest project with Drake. "We did! We did one song together! I don't know if we will do more - we will see!" she answered.

Speaking about her TV show "Shades of Blue" with ET, Lopez said that she performed her own stunts dur-

ing the filming. "It can get intense," said Lopez, before adding, "I mean, the scenes that I do towards the end of the season were really, really rough. Lots of fighting and things like that. I'm not afraid. I know everything we do is safe, but when you're acting and you're really in it, you get hurt sometimes." (AceShowbiz)

Ed Sheeran wants to be ‘a dad to fat, chubby babies’

E

d Sheeran has revealed that he wants to be a baby-daddy, and that he has built a pub underneath his house.

The pub in his new home can only be accessed by an underground tunnel and he explained: "The problem with my house at the moment is, if I have a house party, it's all in the house.

And if I have kids, I still want to have mates around and have beers and stuff like that, so it's good to have something that's separate.”

He also said: “Me and my wife will take turns [watching the kids].”

When asked if he was looking forward to being a father, Sheeran enthusiastically replied, “Massively, yeah. I wanted to be a dad, like, last year. I'm ready, let's go – tour bus babies, little fat, chubby babies that just walk around.”

Sheeran also noted that he plans to take some time off to help raise his children.

(Glamour)

Ariana Grande criticized by followers

I

t's completely normal for Ariana Grande to think that she is a hard worker. After all, she is one of the biggest pop superstars in the game right now. But saying that she is the hardest working girl on earth is so not okay, and the petite diva had to learn it the hard way.

The whole thing started a few days ago when Grande posted on Instagram a photo of herself posing in an oversized puffy coat, skinny jeans and a pair of heels. In the caption, she bragged to her 97 million followers about how hard she's been working in the past few years.

"When you're cute but you're also the hardest working 23 year old human being on earth," she wrote alongside the black-and-white snap, adding the hashtags #cute #butalso #CEO #haventsleptinyears.

Not everyone's happy with Grande's confidence, though.

A lot of her followers flooded the comment section with harsh criticism. "Yeh snap chatting all day and getting money from your dad and being one foot tall and rude as and not very talented must

be hard," one follower sarcastically agreed.

"Omg behave! Hardest working 23 year old get out in the real world @arianagrande you muppet!!" another commenter wrote.

"Entitled much?? Haven't slept in years? please honey give it up and go back to your microphone singing about problems you pretend to have," another said.

However, some other fans defended Grande for her statement, saying that it's just a caption and she was simply being playful. "Gets hate for 'arrogant' Instagram post? Nothing wrong with a bit of Instagram sass! Dry sense of humor ppl its only a caption," one fan said.

(AceShowbiz)

Sunday Times Magazine 13 JANUARY 22, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Star Times Bollywood

T amannaah Bhatia is an Indian actress who predominantly appears in Telugu and Tamil films.

In 2005, she made her acting debut at the age of 15 in the Bollywood film, “Chand Sa Roshan Chehra”.

Tamannaah is said to be one of the highest paid actresses in South Indian cinema. She has acted in almost 50 films in three different languagesTamil, Telugu and Hindi. Tamannaah is the first actress in India who was nominated at the Saturn Awards (for Best Supporting Actress), but lost to Jessica Chastain for “Crimson Peak”. Tamannaah received the Kalaimamani Award in 2010 from the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. In 2016, the actress was named brand ambassador for the Government of India's campaign ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’, a social campaign that aims to generate awareness and improve the efficiency of welfare services meant for girls.

14 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 22, 2017

Times Bollywood

Deepika Padukone wants Vidyut Jammwal compares to work with Ryan Gosling himself to Bruce Lee

A

S

he made her Hollywood debut with Vin Diesel, but now it is Ryan Gosling on DeepikaPadukone mind. Deepika has said Ryan is the next name on her wish list.

The 31-year-old actress, who is busy promoting her Hollywood debut “xXx: Return of Xander Cage” in the United States, recently, in an interview with a leading US-based entertainment portal said that she loved “La La Land” and wishes to work with Ryan Gosling.

“There’s so much of that movie that works: the acting, the honesty, the songs.

It’s one of those classic love stories that is

told in such an interesting manner visually,” she told USA Today.

Speaking about Gosling, she said, “He’s absolutely brilliant and he’s definitely someone I want to work with.”

Further in the interview, Deepika spoke about the gender pay gap, “Do I fight for it?

Yes, of course I fight for it. But I fight for it silently. I fight for it through my work.”

On the same note, she was the lone Indian star on Forbes’ annual top-10 list, which also included Jennifer Lawrence, Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston. (ANI)

ctor and martial artist VidyutJammwal believes talent and hard work can outshine everything

else.

Although the actor works in the competitive world of showbiz, he has always chosen to remain low-key. “I believe that if you’re good at what you do, you will get noticed,” he says.

“These three years have just flown by. I have been working very hard. There’s a lot of excitement. Whatever I was training for will now be seen on the big screen. It is an overwhelming feeling.

“Any movie I sign will have action in it.

It is like hiring a top basketball player and not asking him to play his game. I believe in performing the real stuff. My path is different. Having said that, I am particular about the character and the films I associate with,” he added.

Vidyutsaid he is a martial artist and a “real fighter”, and explained that is why he is in the movies.

“My journey has been like that of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan’s, who were trained in martial arts and then began acting. I am lucky that people thought I could do something different. I aim to showcase the kind of action that hasn’t been explored in Hindi

films,” Vidyut stated.

The action hero has three releases this year –“Commando 2”, “Yaara”, and “Baadshaho”.(Hindustan Times)

Hrithik Roshan: ‘I have taken a lot of risk with Kaabil’

H

e was a paralysed magician in “Guzaarish” (2010) and a grown up boy with a mind of a 10-year-boy in “Koi… Mil Gaya” (2003). Yet, actor Hrithik Roshan says his upcoming film “Kaabil”, where he will be seen as a visually challenged person, is the toughest role of his career. And the 43-year-old seems to have a strong reason to make such a statement.

“There are a lot of risks I have taken in this film in terms of my performance, by not making it stereotypical.

All actors have their crutches; they have a way of dialogue delivery, or they fall back on commercial tricks.

All of us do that in our films.

But I have not used any of that in this film. In fact, I have not even acted in the film keeping the audience in mind. Catering to the audience is always an easy thing

to do,” says Hrithik.

While he asserts that playing this character was a great experience, he does confess that he was hesitant about his choice, initially. “I was a little more afraid with this film because I knew that it was going to be difficult. I have not done a character like this in a long time.

By this, I mean a character with emotional depth and the one which has this kind of a growth graph,” he says.

However, he is happy he took up the challenge. “I enjoyed doing this role because it was difficult,” says Hrithik, adding, “Every film comes with its difficulties and it is a good thing because if it’s an easy role then it gets boring.”

The film directed by Sanjay Gupta, also stars Yami Gautam as the lead, alongside Hrithik.

(Hindustan Times)

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 22, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

15

Times Trends

F

rom a very young age, Chelsea Fung always knew the importance of giving to those who are less fortunate. Her belief is that “these values and principles are symptomatic of the environment and family” in which she was raised. Over the years, Chelsea has mostly helped with fundraising events of the Rotary Club of Demerara and Help & Shelter. She also serves as the Secretary of the Grant-A-Dream organisation, which made its most recent donation to the well-deserving Buxton Youth Developers. Through the company she co-owns, RED Entertainment, Chelsea and her colleagues donate part proceeds from every event they host to organisations such as Red Thread Women’s Organisation, Help & Shelter, East Le Penitence Children’s Theatre Workshop, among others. Notably, RED Entertainment’s humanitarian efforts involved the coordination of a campaign raising support for Haiti after the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew on October 5, 2016. This campaign was led by a collective that included Red Thread, Help & Shelter, Rotary Club of Demerara, the Lion’s Club of Durban Park, the University of Guyana African and Caribbean Studies Research Unit and others. Chelsea has completed her Master’s degree in Environmental Studies at York University in Toronto, Canada. After graduating in 2015, she continued as a co-owner of RED Entertainment as the lead person of administrative and logistical management. Additionally, Chelsea has entered into the environmental consultancy world and recently completed a project with the World Wildlife Fund Guianas. Simultaneously, she is now working on expanding the team with RED Entertainment in Guyana and also applying for consultancy research projects in Toronto. Currently residing in Canada, Chelsea’s future plan is to gain more experience in the environmental field in Toronto and continue to grow RED Entertainment in Guyana. She expects that in the near future her experience gained in Toronto will be beneficial to Guyana’s increasing need for environmental expertise. She also plans to continue her “current brain-divide” between Toronto, Canada and Guyana. The humanitarian and academic encourages youths to “not take your education for granted and absorb as much as you can from your years as a student. Some more advice comes from a few Chinese proverbs that I researched which resonated with me and will share in the spirit of the beginning of the Chinese New Year in January 2017: ‘A word spoken can never be taken back; learning without thought means labour lost; thought without learning is perilous; and a friend to everybody is a friend to nobody’.”

Star of the week

Trending Now

T

his January denotes the beginning of the Year of the Rooster (starting from January 28) as defined by the Chinese zodiac cycle.

Trending now is chic nail art inspired by the Year of the Rooster. Mostly red and gold hues are used as they

are said to be auspicious colours of the Chinese New Year. Red is for good fortune and happiness and gold is for wealth.

Here are some stylish designs for your digits in celebration of the Year of the Rooster.

3D Chinese New Year nail art

Beads and red rooster design

Dragon design

Red and gold are 'lucky' colours to wear

Red and Gold Cherry Blossom nail art

16 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 22, 2017

Times Art

Art inspired by nature and culture

A

Darshani Kistama

rtist Darshani Kistama is inspired by nature and her “commitment” to her religion, which is a central theme in most of her artworks.

“Nature is my number one inspiration. I am influenced and inspired by the magnificence and splendor of the natural environment.

However, due to my commitment to my religion, I am often driven to produce works that are closely related to my culture, that is Hinduism,” the artist said in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

Darshani is a graduate of E.R.Burrowes School of Art. Her minor at the institution was art and major was in textile designs.

She recollected that since childhood she “always loved looking at the different forms of artwork and the various techniques used in creating those masterpieces”.

“For as long as I can remember, I have always loved to draw and paint. I cannot remember a time when I didnot have a pencil or pen in my hand. I guess

my love and appreciation for art also stems from my late grandfather who has always been a big fan of paintings,” Darshani recalled.

For the artist, music always sets a mood in helping her be creative. Whether it is soft slow songs or fast rhythmic tunes, Darshani gets inspired.

'Untitled'

According to Darshani, art challenges her to better herself. For her, it is not just about paint and canvas, but a connection to her feelings and dreams. She would ask herself, “How do I bring those things to life on a canvas?” and then challenge herself to be better every time she picks up a brush/ pallet knife.

She also pointed out that she enjoys painting still life objects. Otherwise, she would often find herself painting landscapes or art inspired by her religion.

“I want to raise awareness that life is a beautiful, colourful dance of revealing and concealing what we think, feel, say and do in any given moment. While some artists prefer displaying works that are intellectual and mysterious, you would find that only a few in an audience would actually understand what they are looking at.

“What I try to do is to not only help my audience understand what they ‘see’, but to effectively communicate a story to them that would touch them in one way or the other. I believe painting becomes just another way of telling a story or expressing your feelings,

there is no need to read a book or caption, just walk into a gallery and phase through different feelings, different moods and different stories. The beauty of painting is that it is immediate to an audience,” the artist expressed.

Darshani displayed her works at Umana Yana in 2016 as a graduate of Burrowes; at Night Cap in September 2016 when it launched its first art exhibition; and more recently at the inaugural Guyana Coconut Festival, where she placed in the top ten for a painting she displayed at the event.

Currently, Darshani is working on establishing a small business, Touch of Art. She also intends to further her studies by pursuing a degree in art at a foreign University.

“I think art should be encouraged in more primary and secondary schools, as well as setting up more art exhibitions and workshops to expose children to the different types of art there is. I think it is a good way for kids to show their true potential and a way for them to learn to be creative in their own way, as well as to look at something with a different perspective,” she noted.

Darshani encourages young and aspiring artists to “paint what you feel; everyone may have their own different techniques and skills, which makes them unique at what they do, but stay true to yours; donot give in to discouragement and always try to excel yourself in whatever form of art you wish to pursue.”

In addition to painting, the artist spends time recycling wine and liquor bottles by hand-painting beautiful designs on them, transforming them into functional, artistic pieces for homes. She also does henna designs.

For more information on the artist, visit Touch of Art on Facebook or her website at darshanikistama. tk. (Cover photo: “A Divine Love”. Mixed media)

'Mixed Feelings'

Hand-painted bottles

Textile prints

The artist (left) doing bridal henna design

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 22, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 17

Times Tech

A

pple's image as an innovator and general leader of all things exciting has been assaulted of late.

There are accusations that the company has lost it, that it's dull, that its products are the same and old.

However, research con-

Tech news

Nintendo signals end for Wii U Tech BYTE

N

intendo has signalled the "end of life" for its Wii U games console, which was first released in 2012.

Reggie Fils-Aime, president of Nintendo America, told Polygon that Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild would be the company's final game for the device.

"We really are at the end of life for Wii U," he said.

The Wii U struggled to match the success of the original Wii device. It will be succeeded by the Nintendo Switch console in March.

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild -

Tech news

A

the latest instalment in one of the best-selling game franchises of all time - was first announced in 2013.

But the game has faced multiple delays and will now be released on the Wii U and Nintendo Switch simultaneously.

Nintendo has previously indicated that the production of Wii U hardware was due to end.

However, MrFils-Aime said that the company would continue to provide online services for Wii U players, and that thirdparty publishers may still decide to release software. (BBC)

Facebook urged to tackle discrimination

coalition of more than 70 civil rights groups has urged Facebook to be clearer about the content it removes.

In a letter to Mark Zuckerberg, the group accused the social network of "disproportionate censorship of Facebook users of colour".

The coalition wants the site to specify which rule a deleted post has broken, and provide an appeal process.

Facebook has previously responded to a letter submitted by the group, but has not yet replied to the latest one.

The social network sometimes removes content that has been reported or flagged by members, if it is judged to have broken the website's guidelines.

But the coalition argued that the moderation was "racially biased".

"Activists in the Movement for Black Lives have routinely reported the takedown of images discussing racism and during protests, with the justification that it violates Facebook's community standards," the coalition wrote.

"At the same time, harassment and threats directed at activists based on their race, religion, and sexual orientation is thriving on Facebook.

"Your recent response indicates you are adequately addressing the problem. We disagree."

The social network has faced a variety of complaints over perceived censorship of

R

sultancy Brand Keys has just released its 2017 Customer Loyalty Engagement Index.

This seeks to find the "category drivers that engage customers, engender loyalty and drive real profits." It's based on the views and emotions of 49,168 consumers aged between 16 and 65. It

Battery with inbuilt 'fire extinguisher' developed

esearchers have designed a lithiumion battery that contains a fire-extinguishing material, which is released if the battery gets too hot.

Flame retardant triphenyl phosphate (TPP) sits inside a shell within the electrolyte fluid. The shell melts when the temperature reaches 150C (302F), releasing the chemical compound.

In tests, battery fires were extinguished in 0.4 seconds.

Lithium-ion batteries power many devices but are a known fire hazard.

The Stanford University research team's peer-reviewed paper has been published by the journal Science Advances.

Previous attempts to incorporate TPP

content such as political views, nudity and historical photographs.

The coalition behind the letter includes organisations such as the American Civil Liberties Union, Color of Change, and the Center for Media Justice. (BBC)

reveals that when it comes to the smartphone category, the top driver is Apple. In tablets, it's Apple. In laptop computers, it's Apple.

Even in the headphones product category, Appleowned Beats ties with LG as the category driver.

(Excerpted from CNET)

inside batteries without the shell have hampered their performance.

If a lithium-ion battery cell charges too quickly or a tiny manufacturing error slips through the net it can result in a short circuit - which can lead to fire.

In February 2016, the US National Transportation Safety Board issued a warning about lithium batteries in aeroplane cargo, describing them as "a fire and explosion ignition source".

While Samsung has not yet released the results of its investigation into what caused some of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones to catch fire last year, local reports have suggested it has found that the batteries were responsible. (Excerpted from BBC)

18 Sunday Times Magazine Times Home & Cooking

JANUARY 22, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Recipe of the Week

(Bai Qie Ji) Ingredients One 3-lb free-range chicken, at room temperature 2 whole shallots, cut into large pieces 5 slices ginger 3 tablespoons finely minced

A

sian home décor features many pleasing home accessories and furniture, many of which are associated with feng shui, known as harmony with the environment or natural world. Be inspired to recreate the beauty of the nature during the commemoration of the Chinese New Year, with a nod to our Chinese heritage here in Guyana…

shallot (white and light green parts only) 2 tablespoons finely minced ginger 3 tablespoons oil Salt Soy sauce (optional)

Antique interior hand carved wooden door blends seamlessly in a modern home

Chinese antiques and modern furniture unite effortlessly in the living room. Incorporating some aspect of culture has been at the heart of Chinese home décor for centuries

Method

C

Traditional Chinese décor usually integrates natural elements in its design

lean the chicken. Rinse it under cold water, paying special attention to the cavity. Fill a large stock pot with water–just enough to submerge the chicken completely. Add the 2 scallions and the ginger slices.

Bring it to a boil.

Once boiling, slowly lower the chicken into the pot. Add a bit more water if needed, so that it’s completely submerged.

Once the chicken goes in, the water will cool down. Don’t walk away from the pot. Bring it up to a boil again.

Once it’s just started to boil, use a large metal carving fork to lift the chicken out of the water very carefully. The goal is to empty it of any colder water that may be stuck inside the cavity.

Put the chicken back into the water, and bring it to a boil again.

Again, when the water is just

starting to boil, turn the heat down.

You want it to stay at a simmer.

Cover the pot, and keep the heat on low, so that the liquid continues to simmer. Cook for about 45 minutes. Depending on the size of your chicken, it may take a little less or more time to cook it through.

Test if the chicken is done by taking a chopstick or a fork and poking it into the thigh. If the juices run clear, the chicken is done.

Carefully take the chicken out of the pot and transfer it to a large bowl. Let cold water run over the chicken for a minute or so. Wait until it’s cooled completely.

While it’s cooling, make the sauce by combining the scallion, ginger, oil, and salt. Make sure that they’re really finely minced.

Slice up the chicken into pieces.

Serve with your sauce.

You can serve with rice or you can also garnish with scallion and serve with soy sauce on the side.

Serves 6 (Recipe from The Woks of Life)

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JANUARY 22, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine19

Family Times

PARENTING

How social media is affecting your parenting

A

(Continued)

JOKES A

How problems start

man walks into a bar and says, “Give me a beer before the problems start!”

He drinks the beer and then orders another saying, “Give me a beer before the problems start!”

The bartender looks confused. This goes on for a while, and after the fifth beer the bartender is totally confused and asks the man “When are you going to pay for these beers?”

The man answers, “Now the problems start!”

Cat Quiz

Q: Where does a cat go when they lose their tail?

A: The re-tail store.

Q: What’s the difference between a comma and a cat?

A: One has the paws before the claws, the other has the clause before the pause.

Q: Why did the cat sell its house?

A: Because the neighbourhood had gone to the dogs.

A

The argument

man and his wife are having an argument.

The wife yells, “Get out of the house, I hate you!

I want a divorce, get out now!”

Then, as her husband is walking out the door, she screams, “I hope you die a slow and painful death!”

The husband stops and says, “Hang on a minute, now you want me to stay?”

Apple jokes

Q: How do you milk sheep?

A: With iPhone accessories.

Q: What is written on Steve Jobs tombstone?

A: iCame, iSaw, iConquered, iLeft, iCameBack, iThinkDifferent, iMac, iPod, iTunes, iPhone, iPad, iCloud, iRIP Only one thing keeps me from buying an iPhone: iBroke.

O

Home early

A

Unlicensed fishing

ne day, Johnny gets home early from school and his mom asks, “Why are you home so early?”

He answers, “Because I was the only one that answered a question in my class.”

His mom says, “Wow! My son is a genius! What was the question?”

Johnny replies, “‘Who threw the trash can at the principal?’” game warden catches an unlicensed fisherman fishing. “You’re going to pay a big fine for all those fish in your bucket.”

The fisherman replies, “But, officer, I didn’t catch these - they’re my pet fish, and I just bring them here to swim.

When they’re done, they jump back into the bucket.”

The warden says, “Oh really? This I’ve got to see. If you can prove it, I’ll let you go.”

The fisherman empties the bucket into the lake and waits patiently. A few minutes go by and nothing happens.

The game warden says, “So where are the fish?”

The fisherman replies, “What fish?”

lthough most parents came of age at a time when computer use was limited to fighting for a seat to play a few games at the family desktop, kids now are learning the power and reach of social media, where everyone can be her own star.

"The emphasis on taking and uploading pictures, selfies--and in general the democratizing nature of YouTube -- make children aspire for fame much more than in prior years," says developmental psychologist Kaveri Subrahmanyam, Ph.D., director of the Media and Language Lab at California State University, Los Angeles.

Of course, it's not just children who enjoy the attention. Some parents have been spilling all -- and even making big money doing so -- for years. There's the wildly popular Heather B. Armstrong, aka "Dooce," whose website reportedly brought in US$30,000 to $50,000 a month with her blogging about everything from her leaky nursing boobs to her crippling postpartum depression.

She recently dialled back from blogging to pursue other projects but also in part because she tired of online venomous attacks.

In the past couple of years, we've seen the meteoric trending of the Holdernesses: Their 2013

video Christmas Jammies, featuring the photogenic family of four cavorting in their holiday-themed pyjamas, went viral, racked up YouTube ad dollars, and was followed by more videos and a reality show. For their

part, parents Penn and Kim seem unfettered by their critics. (Their tongue-in-cheek blog tagline: "We take ourselves very seriously.") (To Be Continued) (From: “Parenting

in a Fakebook World: How Social Media Is Affecting Your Parenting” by Mackenzie Dawson, Parents Magazine)

STORY TIME

L

in Piao used to absent himself from classes very often and one day the principal of the college made up his mind to expel him. So he sent for the young man.

Lin arrived just as the principal was about to go for lunch.

"Is this the time to come?" said the principal, sternly.

"Forgive me, Sir," said Lin, "but I got to college very late today. You see, I found a lump of gold in our field."

"A lump of gold!" said the principal, his eyes popping out. "Oh, my, what are you going to do with it?"

"I decided to build a palatial house, buy several acres of land and several head of cattle," said the student. "I also decided to give you a small sum for the trouble you have taken in educating me."

The principal was pleased and invited Lin to eat with him. The young man ate ravenously but the principal hardly touched his food. He was wondering how

Uphill much Lin would give him and if it would be enough to buy that small paddy field he had always wanted.

"I hope you've kept the gold in a safe place," he said, suddenly coming out of his reverie.

"I never got a chance to do that," said Lin. "It disappeared the moment my mother shook me awake."

"What!" screamed the principal.

"You mean it was all a dream?!"

The young man nodded.

The principal controlled himself with a great effort of will.

"I'm happy you remembered me in your dream," he said, finally. "I hope you remember me when you really get some gold.

Now please leave."

It was only when the young man had left that the principal remembered why he had sent for him. (A Chinese story)

Does the road wind uphill all the way?

Yes, to the very end.

Will the day's journey take the whole long day?

From morn to night, my friend.

But is there for the night a resting-place?

A roof for when the slow, dark hours begin.

May not the darkness hide it from my face?

You cannot miss that inn.

Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?

Those who have gone before.

Then must I knock, or call when just in sight?

They will not keep you standing at that door.

Shall I find comfort, travelsore and weak?

Of labour you shall find the sum.

Will there be beds for me and all who seek?

Yea, beds for all who come.

--- Christina Rossetti

By Grammar G.

Crutch Words

O

kay, um, how do I begin this sentence? Oh yes, well, uh, a crutch word is, ah, like, considered a “filler word”: a word that is usually used as a “verbal pause” in speech more often than in writing (note how I made my point at the start).

It can ruin any speech and, according to some persons, using them in your speech tends to make you seem not very intelligent and lacking quick wit – especially if you’re answering questions on the spot. You may find yourself using them to give yourself time to think of an answer or while searching for a word.

The technical term is “filler word” but “crutch word” is more popular. It is also known as a “pause filler” or “hesitation form”. They don’t add any meaning to a sentence either.

Here are a few crutch words that you may recognise in your own speech – perhaps without even realising it.

Um – Or er, ah, uh; those indistinct sounds you make either because you can’t think of what to say or you’re not confident about what you are saying. Some linguists consider them stammering, stalling or stuttering “words”.

Basically – A way of suggesting you are summarising something in speech: “So basically what we have here is …” It’s unnecessary because people often rattle off a list of items or spend a long time explaining – which is no longer a summary – and adds nothing to the meaning of your sentence.

Like – What can I say about this word that you don’t already know, so pervasive it has become in our grammar today? Using like in speech not for comparison or to express affection, is unnecessary. Especially if you’re, like, in front of your teacher or in a job interview.

Other crutch words include: Y’ know?; Right? (at end of sentence). Literally; I mean; At the present time, etc.

20 Sunday Times Magazine

JANUARY 22, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Times Sunday Puzzle

I

nside each set of the following words, there is a pair of smaller words. By putting ‘&’ between them, you'll make a familiar phrase. For example, “Thighbone/Swallowtail” conceals “High & Low”. Now try these: 1. Skyrocketing/Trolleyman 2. Thermometer/Apoplexy 3. Delaware/Bordering 4. Surprised/Trashiness 5. Throughout/Stumblebum see ANSWERS on page 23

see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

guyanatimesgy.com

JANUARY 22, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

21

Times Kids

Creature Corner

T

he orchid mantis (Hymenopuscoronatus), is one of about 2,000 known species of mantis. It lives in the rainforests of Southeast Asia, especially in Malaysia and Indonesia, not only among flowers and plants but also in papaya and frangipani trees.

A ferocious predator, it is a praying mantis that resembles a flower, and it uses this imagery to lure its prey close enough to snatch, even in flight.

With petal-like legs and a

Please see solution on page 23

yellow or whitish pink colour, females share little resemblance to males, which are about half the size and sport a dull, greenish brown colour.

The orchid mantis does not resemble a particular orchid or any other flower, but has evolved a general flower-like look.

In fact, scientists believe that the insect exhibits colours of flowers that produce nectar, which makes it attractive to the ants, wasps, bees and moths on which it preys.

The objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9.

GEOZONE

One of Jiuzhaigou’s breathtaking turquoise lakes

J

iuzhaigou National Park, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, is one of China's star attractions. It is a national park located in the Min Shan mountain range, Northern Sichuan in South Western China.

More than two million people visit this National Parkannually to gawk at its famous bluer-than-blue lakes, rushing waterfalls and deep woodlands backlit by snowy mountain ranges. There are also over 220 bird species as well as a number of endangered plant and animal species, including the giant panda, Sichuan golden monkey, the Sichuan takin and numerous orchids

and rhododendrons located in the Jiuzhaigou National Park.

The park's major sites are easily accessed on foot, via kilometres of wellmaintained boardwalk trails, or by bus.

There are even opportunities to camp.

Jiuzhaigou means “Nine Village Valley” and refers to the nine Tibetan villages scattered in the parklands.

According to Tibetan legend, Jiuzhaigou was created when a jealous devil caused the goddess Wunosemo to drop her magic mirror, a present from her love, the warlord god Dage. The mirror dropped to the ground and shattered into 114 shimmering turquoise lakes.

Colour by Number

22 Sunday Times Magazine

JANUARY 22, 2017

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JANUARY 22, 2017

China's economy grows 6.7% in 2016

C

hina's economy grew by 6.7% in 2016, compared with 6.9% a year earlier, according to official data, marking its slowest growth since 1990.

The figure is in line with Beijing's growth target of between 6.5% and 7%.

But the data comes days after the leader of one Chinese province admitted GDP data was faked for several years.

China is a key driver of the global economy and a growth slowdown is a major concern for investors around the world.

Some analysts have taken heart from data showing growth in the last three months of 2016 was at an annual rate of 6.8% - a slightly faster pace than the rest of the year.

But many observers have been saying for years that the country's growth was actually much weaker than the official data suggests.

And those beliefs gained more support this week, when the governor of Liaoning, Chen Qiufa, said his province had been "involved in a large-scale financial deception" between 2011 and 2014, and that economic data had been

B

Dr Jiyoun Choi of Hanyang University in Seoul led the research.

The study is the first to show that the early experience of adopted children in their birth language gives them an advantage decades later even if they think it is forgotten, she said. ''This finding indicates that useful language knowledge is laid down in [the] very early months of life, which can be retained without further input of the language and revealed via re-learning,'' she told BBC News.

Brain Teaser Answer 1. Rock & Roll 2. Mom & Pop 3. Law & Order

SUDOKU

4. Rise & Shine 5.Rough & Tumble

KID SUDOKU

CROSSWORD

Times World

Japan wants you to understand how to use its toilets

R

estrooms in Japan, both public and private, are jammed with an array of gizmos and doohickeys that can be profoundly disorienting to a first-time user. That button might mean "flush," and then again it might mean "close lid" or perhaps "undercarriage wash."

things — representatives from the nation's nine major manufacturers unveiled the new official system of symbols. The plan has been in the works for quite some time, evidently, in response to tourist complaints that Japanese bathrooms are terminally confusing.

The Japan Sanitary

overhaul of street signs, safety indicators and other common public markers.

As to the bathroom pictograms, the eight new symbols are designed to instruct visitors, via language-neutral pictograms, how to activate the "long flush" and "short flush" options; the front and back cleansing and

This week, Japanese officials made some moves to address the problem by establishing a standard system of pictograms to be adopted by all manufacturers in the industry. Going forward, this set of eight symbols will be deployed throughout all public facilities in the country.

At the official launch event in Tokyo — as we say, Japan is serious about these

Equipment Industry Association cited a 2014 study, in which 25 percent of foreign respondents said they were unable to decode the various images used on buttons in high-tech bathrooms. There's probably a "bum steer" joke in here somewhere, but we're trying to run a classy operation.

The new initiative is part of the lead-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Public officials are also planning an

drying functions; the heated seat option; automatic openand-close; and the off button.

Many Japanese bathrooms also have automated music, temperature and deodorizing systems, but you're on your own there.

According to the official statement, the ultimate goal of the public-private program is to provide visitors with "a toilet environment that anyone can use with peace of mind." (Discovery)

doctored.

Addressing reporters' questions about the Liaoning admission, the director of the National Bureau of Statistics said on Friday that the national data was "truthful and reliable".

Ning Jizhe added that "statistics departments on various levels will also be strengthening the law enforcement, supervision, and checks on figures" and "resolutely guarding and preventing" the fabricating of data. (BBC)

Babies remember their birth language – scientists

abies build knowledge about the language they hear even in the first few months of life, research shows.

If you move countries and forget your birth language, you retain this hidden ability, according to a study.

Dutch-speaking adults adopted from South Korea exceeded expectations at Korean pronunciation when retrained after losing their birth language.

Scientists say parents should talk to babies as much as possible in early life.

Sunday Times Magazine 23

In the study, adults aged about 30 who had been adopted as babies by Dutch-speaking families were asked to pronounce Korean consonants after a short training course.

Korean consonants are unlike those spoken in Dutch.

The participants were compared with a group of adults who had not been exposed to the Korean language as children and then rated by native Korean speakers.

Both groups performed to the same level before training, but after training the international adoptees exceeded expectations.

There was no difference between children who were adopted under six months of age - before they could speak - and those who were adopted after 17 months, when they had learned to talk.

This suggests that the language knowledge retained is abstract in nature, rather than dependent on the amount of experience.

Dr Jiyoun Choi said there were practical messages for parents. ''Please remember that [the] language learning process occurs very early in life, and useful language knowledge is laid down in the very early months of life as our study suggests,'' she said. ''Try to talk to your babies as much as possible because they are absorbing and digesting what you are saying.''

The process of acquiring language starts extremely early, even while the child is still in the womb.

Babies have learned their mother's voice by the time they are born.

It has long been known that the foundations for speaking and listening to a native language are laid down very early in life.

But it was not known until now that very early language acquisition is an abstract process.

The research is published in the journal, Royal Society Open Science. (BBC)

24

Sunday Times Magazine

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JANUARY 22, 2017

Fun Times

Archie

ARIES Let your charm lead the (March 21- way. You’ll be able to negoApril 19) tiate a deal or talk someone into seeing things your way if you are diplomatic. A financial gain looks promising.

Be careful not to make TAURUS an unrealistic promise. Live (April 20- within your means and only May 20) take on what you know you can handle and complete. A day trip will lead to the access of privileged information.

Get in touch with someGEMINI one from your past or attend (May 21an event that is a reminder of June 20) how you were raised or where you come from. Tradition will lead to strength, courage and success.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

Peanuts

Calvin and Hobbes

Don’t get wrapped up in the moment and make unrealistic promises that will result in disappointment and criticism. Use your intuitive intelligence to find reasonable and workable solutions.

Socialize, go on an excursion or make plans with someone who enjoys the same things you do. A pet, youngster or elder in your life will brighten your day.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Be careful how you handle domestic situations.

You’ll face opposition if you are too intent on getting your way. Compromise or offer an incentive. Romance is encouraged.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Express what you want to see happen. An emotional plea will help you bring about change, but could also leave you in a precarious position. Balance will be necessary.

If you get involved in a SCORPIO physical challenge, you’ll (Oct. 24find out exactly where you Nov. 22) stand and what you have to do in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Romance is featured.

Personal secrets are best SAGITTARIUS kept that way. Don’t trust (Nov. 23someone with information Dec. 21) that could be incriminating.

Make adjustments at home that will lower your overhead and ease your stress.

Don’t be too eager to let CAPRICORN others know what you are (Dec. 22- up to. Using the element of Jan. 19) surprise will be in your favor when it comes to gaining support.

You are sensitive, AQUARIUS charming and ready to take (Jan. 20- on whatever comes your Feb. 19) way, so don’t sit back when you should be using your insight and intelligence to gain ground.

Consider what you have PISCES (Feb. 20- been doing and what you Mar. 20) want to do in the future.

Check out the online job market, spruce up your resume and set the stage for a brighter future.