After Amazon, Orinoco River is considered one of the largest intact wetland areas left on Earth. The Orinoco delta is a vast, intricate labyrinth of waterways weaving through a simmering jungle to carry the waters of the Orinoco to the Atlantic Ocean. Area is home for Warao - "the boat people". They still maintain they own language and life style. Some of them migrate to the bigger cities where they not able adapt to city living and become homeless beggars. Venezuelan government provides monetary help and protection. Number of Cuban teachers and doctors works in the villages. That good, but handouts has some negative effect. People loosing any initiative to work, hunt or grow food. Most fertile land and water resources unused. In the villages built on the river almost hardly anybody fishes. Alcoholism is rampant. Orinoco delta is rich with still untaped oil fields. Soon more drilling and pumping coming to pristine rain forest. Can't expect anything good from that.
Venezuella still unspoiled by mass tourism, full charm and innocence. Looks like eco tourism to Orinoco Delta is picking up. All over I saw construction of jungle lodges. Every village have designated person who will take care of backpackers, show around and provide place to sleep.
Venezuelans are most warm, friendly and hospitable and generous people. I met by chance with area Mayor Selgio RamÃrez (Alcalde Pedernales). Very nice and down to earth guy. If Venezuella has more politicians like him, country is in good hands. In general I have not heard any complains about Chavez and his politics. I think country has problem with high crime rate and total absence of police. Only army check posts reminds presence of authority. Military guys very friendly and helpful.
2 comments:
The president of Venezuela is a dictadorship comunist. I am a Venezuelan citizen, every day venezuelans are more poor and without constitutional garanties. Please change your comments about politics in Venezuela because this is an insult for Venezuelan people what you said. We are fighting to recover our democracy, some of us, had been persecuted and torturated under this regime.
I tell what I saw. I have no illusions about Chavez, He is dictator, yes. He runs a country like street gang. At the same time Chavez doing some good for poor people in his own populist way. Unfortunately he alienated middle class and educated people who would be able do good for the country with their entrepreneurial skills. But is partially their own fault. Upper classes of Venezuela feel more at home in Miami than in Caracas anyway. They neglected their own people for long time. If peasants and workers had better life before Chavez they would not stand by him now. I just doubt that their life will gets much better. History has no such precedent. Look at Cuba or Zimbabwe. Petro dollars spent for handouts and buying votes. Not earn, free money never do good for people. Most man in the villages spent most of it on alcohol, loosing ability to work land and earn living. People literally drunk and spaced out on Bolivarian revolution. Freedom manifest as right to rob and destroy what good was left. It's what you get when street takes power. Indolent, lazy people, who put their faith only in what others' work produces, or in liquid wealth, such people get their just deserts in the form of poverty, decline and ruin.
I'm still think that still plenty decent people left in Venezuela to take care of country even in difficult times. Nothing last forever.
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