Sweet rice recipe help? Panama cook book recipe

This is from my vague Panama cookbook for "Sweet Rice." It's a side dish, not dessert.

Ingredients:

- 4 or 5 coconuts (Google says 1 coconut is 1 or 2 cups of coconut milk)    
- 1/2 pound of ginger (?)
- 1 box of raisins (my guess is 2 cups since I'll be making 4 cups of rice)
- 1 pound of rice (Google says 2 cups uncooked)
- Cinnamon to taste (?)
- Clove to taste (?)
- Salt to taste
- Light brown sugar (?)
- White sugar (?)

Please help me with "to taste" directions. I can't cook, I need specifics. 1/2 pound of ground ginger? How many thumbs would you use? Cinnamon and clove to taste? How many ml? And what's your guess on the amounts of sugar?

These directions sound so easy but I can't guess on these amounts myself. Appreciate any help, thanks.