Campsite, Oasis, Coffee Bean and NightCap..
One of the things about working from home is that there is a need to have alternative places of meeting for various reasons. I don't like rumshops and some places which have too loud music don't work.
Kudos to the people in Guyana who have decided to open coffeeshops/cafes which provide different kinds of venues for people to sit and gaff. I am not a connoisseur of coffee or cake and I go more for the atmosphere than for the taste of anything.
Campsite
Campsite at the corner of Camp Street and South road is a good meeting place for me.. I like the location, near two minibus routes and there is this open plan and bright light which means nobody can hide. For me it has been the place to see and be seen.
SASOD has its trustee meeting there.. and there is something about sitting down in a meeting and peoplewatching.. seeing who passing, who coming in.. and at Campsite.. President, President in waiting, beggar man, sane person, not so sane person all come in. Some people talk to others, some talk to themselves and nobody seems to mind.. or unless they like me and too polite to say anything.
I like to eavesdrop on the men from the racing service who come over for their coffee.. some I understand win their bets and use the lil money to buy a coffee. There are others I see every time, sitting in the same place.. reading newspapers and talking loudly.. I do not know if from impaired hearing. A lady came up to me to express her concerns about the morality of the government and to share her knowledge of the homosexual indiscretions of one of the members of the Cabinet.. and she did this in a very loud way that I get friken and wonder if the said member of Cabinet would walk in any time to hear .
A friend and I played a few games of Scrabble there and twice, the security guard on duty joined in.. we sat as close as we could to the door so he could play while working. In my moments of crisis, when seeking sweet.. I find that Campsite is a good place to have a Sundae and to watch other people.. move out of my body.. and to be alone while not being too alone and if I had the urge to mumble to myself.. then it would be a good outlet.
The service in Campsite.. you get a sense sometimes that they don't want you there.. and you have to wait long.. but if you there for a meeting or so, then no problems with the waiting... just factor that in, or sit down and stare at everybody else.
Oasis Cafe
Oasis's decor works on the mind to create a warm cosy atmosphere which is not claustrophobic. It is not as close to minibus routes like Campsite - and I have been robbed twice on my way to minibus in the evening hours. The coffee, juices and food are excellent - I go for capuccino or mauby when I am there.
Different comments about the service from different people. If I have a problem, I raise it with the owners who take note. The owners have used the space to do different things - so music, SASOD's first poetry reading, art displays, aural acupuncture demonstration, play scrabble, cards all have happened.
The bookclub has found a home there, and the owners encourage the reading with their own bookshelf . It is the kind of place where I cannot eavesdrop on conversations though and I get the feeling that I would stand out if I start mumbling to myself.
Once I tried to get away there to do some reading but .. it was one of those days when nice people I know came in and I ended up talking about all the things I was trying to avoid talking about, but Guyana like that.
The Coffee Bean
I visited there for the first time this week.. to meet a guy who liked the atmosphere there because it was quieter than Oasis and he could talk a bit louder. Service is friendly and with different kinds of seating arrangements - soft chairs, table and chairs and the padded benches. Nice decor - though the lighting.. maybe my eyesight is a bit bad, I could not see to read well. It is easy when playing music to forget to change the CD.
No bookshelves here, but a table with some magazines near the door - I was hooked on one but blocked the entrance. The two times I was there, I was surprised to learn no local juices.. most places have these in some form or another and the waitress said Sprite was the closest thing they had to local juice.
[ Update on 13 August, 2011 - There is a comment from Ms Dewnath which says that Coffee Bean does stock local juices ]
Night cap
I had written about Nightcap. It is not far from where I live , so walking distance and when I get the urge for a chocolate milkshake.
I have also had a couple of meetings there on the outside park benches - though when the place gets dark (it is called Nightcap) , difficult to see to write on paper.
The inside decor is perfect to sit down and gaff, though I found the seats a bit low. They have a bookshelf as well but reading could be difficult in some spots since the lighting is dim. I like that they have an outdoors space - and a woman told me that her kids like running around the yard there.
So what is the point of writing all this.. to celebrate that there are places now to go meet and talk and for me.. not worry too much about drunk people breathing over you or loud music so you cannot hear yourself. As with everywhere, you could choose to buy what you want depending on your budget.
I aint a good hangout person.. and I not good to go and lime just so.. all my interactions are purpose driven (well so I like to think anyway which is why some of the meetings go on too long). Georgetown life has been enhanced for me by having these places around. Other people who read this probably wandering what I talking about.
Kudos to the people in Guyana who have decided to open coffeeshops/cafes which provide different kinds of venues for people to sit and gaff. I am not a connoisseur of coffee or cake and I go more for the atmosphere than for the taste of anything.
Campsite
Campsite at the corner of Camp Street and South road is a good meeting place for me.. I like the location, near two minibus routes and there is this open plan and bright light which means nobody can hide. For me it has been the place to see and be seen.
SASOD has its trustee meeting there.. and there is something about sitting down in a meeting and peoplewatching.. seeing who passing, who coming in.. and at Campsite.. President, President in waiting, beggar man, sane person, not so sane person all come in. Some people talk to others, some talk to themselves and nobody seems to mind.. or unless they like me and too polite to say anything.
I like to eavesdrop on the men from the racing service who come over for their coffee.. some I understand win their bets and use the lil money to buy a coffee. There are others I see every time, sitting in the same place.. reading newspapers and talking loudly.. I do not know if from impaired hearing. A lady came up to me to express her concerns about the morality of the government and to share her knowledge of the homosexual indiscretions of one of the members of the Cabinet.. and she did this in a very loud way that I get friken and wonder if the said member of Cabinet would walk in any time to hear .
A friend and I played a few games of Scrabble there and twice, the security guard on duty joined in.. we sat as close as we could to the door so he could play while working. In my moments of crisis, when seeking sweet.. I find that Campsite is a good place to have a Sundae and to watch other people.. move out of my body.. and to be alone while not being too alone and if I had the urge to mumble to myself.. then it would be a good outlet.
The service in Campsite.. you get a sense sometimes that they don't want you there.. and you have to wait long.. but if you there for a meeting or so, then no problems with the waiting... just factor that in, or sit down and stare at everybody else.
Oasis Cafe
Oasis's decor works on the mind to create a warm cosy atmosphere which is not claustrophobic. It is not as close to minibus routes like Campsite - and I have been robbed twice on my way to minibus in the evening hours. The coffee, juices and food are excellent - I go for capuccino or mauby when I am there.
Different comments about the service from different people. If I have a problem, I raise it with the owners who take note. The owners have used the space to do different things - so music, SASOD's first poetry reading, art displays, aural acupuncture demonstration, play scrabble, cards all have happened.
The bookclub has found a home there, and the owners encourage the reading with their own bookshelf . It is the kind of place where I cannot eavesdrop on conversations though and I get the feeling that I would stand out if I start mumbling to myself.
Once I tried to get away there to do some reading but .. it was one of those days when nice people I know came in and I ended up talking about all the things I was trying to avoid talking about, but Guyana like that.
The Coffee Bean
I visited there for the first time this week.. to meet a guy who liked the atmosphere there because it was quieter than Oasis and he could talk a bit louder. Service is friendly and with different kinds of seating arrangements - soft chairs, table and chairs and the padded benches. Nice decor - though the lighting.. maybe my eyesight is a bit bad, I could not see to read well. It is easy when playing music to forget to change the CD.
No bookshelves here, but a table with some magazines near the door - I was hooked on one but blocked the entrance. The two times I was there, I was surprised to learn no local juices.. most places have these in some form or another and the waitress said Sprite was the closest thing they had to local juice.
[ Update on 13 August, 2011 - There is a comment from Ms Dewnath which says that Coffee Bean does stock local juices ]
Night cap
I had written about Nightcap. It is not far from where I live , so walking distance and when I get the urge for a chocolate milkshake.
I have also had a couple of meetings there on the outside park benches - though when the place gets dark (it is called Nightcap) , difficult to see to write on paper.
The inside decor is perfect to sit down and gaff, though I found the seats a bit low. They have a bookshelf as well but reading could be difficult in some spots since the lighting is dim. I like that they have an outdoors space - and a woman told me that her kids like running around the yard there.
So what is the point of writing all this.. to celebrate that there are places now to go meet and talk and for me.. not worry too much about drunk people breathing over you or loud music so you cannot hear yourself. As with everywhere, you could choose to buy what you want depending on your budget.
I aint a good hangout person.. and I not good to go and lime just so.. all my interactions are purpose driven (well so I like to think anyway which is why some of the meetings go on too long). Georgetown life has been enhanced for me by having these places around. Other people who read this probably wandering what I talking about.
I like your thoughts....although titled "ramblings" - they seem well thought out and very well written :) Pleasure reading your thoughts which mirror my own.......my only wish is that there were more "places" like these that I could afford!
ReplyDeleteYep.. well Campsite is probably the one with the lowest price range. I buy what I could afford while there though most people dont seem to mind whether you buy or not
ReplyDeletethe money I pay though I think of as the 'rent' for the time spent in the space and the value of the time.. not so much about the items themselves
ReplyDeleteHi Vidyaratha, I am extremely disappointed reading about your experience at the Coffee Bean. We do indeed stock a few local juices and it is unbelievable that the staff would claim that there was none. I do apologise for that. On your next visit, there will be a complimentary glass of fresh juice for you. Hope to see you soon! Narvini Dewnath
ReplyDelete