Bringing the vacation home
By Utamu Bell
This year, instead of travelling overseas for vacation as he usually does, Lindener, Deon Anderson, after rediscovering the perfect, natural, calm and relaxing getaway right in his hometown, has decided that he will be “bringing the vacation home” instead. After stumbling across one of the beautiful, picturesque, naturally occurring blue lakes in the mining town of Linden during one of his outdoor voyages, Anderson along with his family, fiancé and friends are on a mission to spread awareness about the potential tourist attraction, to draw as many visitors as possible to the pristine lake situated at Kara Kara, MacKenzie.
For years, the blue lakes were considered dangerous, known only for sightseeing extravaganzas, but with each visit, Anderson and his crew have turned this particular lake into a nature lover’s paradise, with water sporting activities such as kayaking and a haven for getaways, parties, weddings and celebrations or just the perfect place to relax. Having travelled to different tourist destinations outside of Guyana, including Antigua and Barcelona for vacation, Anderson, who is a Chemical Engineer by profession, has decided to take a page from his overseas trips, and ventured to create the perfect setting at the Lakes.
He believes that the picturesque beauty of the lake is comparible with the beaches in other Caribbean islands and are definitely worth showcasing! Having consulted with local and international entities mandated to test recreational facilities, Anderson says it was found to be a fairly safe area to swim and free of toxic chemicals.
“Actually, this is an area that has evolved into a lake as a result of bauxite mining, which is one of the safest mining practices…no harmful chemicals are used. It’s just excavation and because of what was left, there is a lot of rainfall and as such water coming out of the ground. So, most of what you see here is just ground water. Contrary to popular belief, this area is actually free of any toxic chemicals, there are no heavy metals”, he mused. Nevertheless, he recommends that visitors put safety first. “The only precaution here is the depths of the water, it’s very deep. Safety is number one priority. So come with life vests, professional swimmers and you’re good to go”, he advises. Anderson said he visits the lakes every chance he gets with family and friends, taking professional swimmers and lifeguards to the area. He said he has come to the realization that it is a pristine area away from all the hustle and bustle. Just a week ago, his stepfather Roy Murray celebrated his 70th birthday at the blue lake in exquisite style.
It featured a cake sticking exercise by the lake, with a touch of decoration and a performance by the winning dance group at this year’s Linden costume competition, ‘Iswe’. Family and friends flocked the location for an afternoon of fun, food and music. For persons who might be interested in visiting the lake, boats are available through local tourist agencies in Linden such as Kara kayaking and tours, which Anderson has collaborated with. “I was able to do some packages in collaboration with them, so that persons who want to have the experience can rent the kayak boats or request a guided tour of Linden. They can have kayaking as part of their tour. They can kayak down the Kara Kara creek and have tours over the hills; see the history of bauxite mining, see some of the plants; the hills give a Birdseye view of Linden. They can have a fully booked day, with lunch included by just contacting these tourist companies”, he said. Adorable decorations used to enhance the lake on different occasions are done by Anderson’s fiance Schenelle Johnson. She uses various decorative themes to suit the occasion.
“If you come on a normal day it looks just simply beautiful. When we enhance it with various colours to go along with the water or a holiday theme, you find that it looks even more beautiful. People don’t actually realize that Linden has such beauty. We’re thinking about promoting here for photos and the ‘beach wedding’ idea also. One time we even tried out the Hawaiian and Valentine’s Day setting”, Johnson related. Anderson believes that Linden is one of the best destinations for nature lovers. “Everyone should visit Linden. This is just one of the many tourist attractions”, he said. After posting images of his experiences on social media, he said he has received positive reviews from persons who never thought that kayaking was even possible at the lakes in Linden or that it possessed such beauty. He now aims to highlight, reflect, and showcase the natural beauty of Linden as he shared his belief noting that “Life is a vacation” and we all should “celebrate it every day, with a touch of class and finesse”. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)
