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The tiny South American nation of Guyana has one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world. Also known as the “land of many waters,” Guyana possesses a bountiful assemblage of mammals, and nearly 4,000 species of plant growing exclusively within its lush rain forests (70% of which are in pristine condition).
The nation is essentially a tropical paradise, mostly free from the commercial and industrial exploits of modern civilization. Its tiny stature and lack of economic power has kept Guyana well under the radar of international tourism. However, its exotic natural habitats have boosted the country’s international profile, making it a major destination for ecotourists.
Most people spend good money to escape the stresses and pollution of modern living. Destinations like Guyana call out, promising an experience far-removed from our daily rituals and habits. For most, the escape is short-lived, but what if there was an opportunity to move to paradise and get paid good money on top of that?
That’s what happened to Jayne Bladen. She was offered a dream job in Guyana to teach pole dancing to the locals. It was basically a paid holiday. She would be doing what she was already doing in England, except she’d be lounging in the warm Caribbean sun during the days.
Jayne didn’t require much to convince her to take the job, but David, her boyfriend, wasn’t so quick to let his love to move down to South America all by herself. He suspected it was one of those too-good-to-be-true deals. Since it is Locked Up Abroad, we know David’s intuition was right, but we also know there’d be no episode if no one went down to Guyana.
Eventually David acquiesced when he was offered the chance to accompany Jayne on the trip, and things almost immediately began to go wrong upon their arrival at Guyana’s international airport. Jayne’s dream job turned out to be a trap, but she and David were given opportunities to escape their predicament.
If you’ve received an amazing overseas job offer or a free vacation, take heed of Jayne and David’s experience, so you, too, don’t end up forced into drug smuggling.
- Obviously you need to be very, very wary of free or pre-paid vacations, especially when they’re offered by someone commonly known as “Biggs.”
- Although it’s unfair to compare hospitality standards due to varied international customs, much can be determined about your hosts when your pre-arranged transportation stands you up at the airport and your hotel does not have your names booked in the computer. Usually it means they’re not to be trusted.
- If you’re told to leave the fancy hotel you were promised for one of lesser quality, you should be suspicious. If the reason you’re leaving is because the fancy hotel “is just for when you come through customs for your visas and they like to know you’re staying somewhere that’s, you know, top of the range,” then you should be extra suspicious.
- It can be a relief to have a local in charge of your protection in a foreign land, but you need to be able to trust them. Jayne and David’s bodyguard wore a bomber jacket. It’s hard to trust a man who wears a bomber jacket in the tropics.
Tune in to Locked Up Abroad: Caribbean Nightmare tonight at 10P et/pt.
June 23, 2012, 3:25 am
June 23, 2012, 8:05 pm
April 20, 11:39 pm
