well okay everyone
here's a proper post from Ghana where the internet is frustrating at best. anyways I am into my fourth African day and i thought I'd be nice and honest (as well as not bothering to capitalise at points) and tell you boy has it been a tough slog. Apart from my severe peanut paranoia preventing me from trying, well, cooked food (boy have i had a few bananas), I have, for the first time since i hit India in 1999, really found things tough.
Accra is not a pretty city. Nor is it cool. Booking a bus ticket is a task in itself. One things Ghana seems to have going for it is that taxis are extremely frequent. But my room was grungy at best, i shared with a big spider... The heat and more to the point humidity is so oppresive. Fine when a breeze comes through, but when its still Oi vay!
I have just found it tough. I've actually met heaps of Ghanains who deserve their friendly reputation. I had to walk far too much which didn't help as i'm not eating nearly as much as normal. But despite the room quality I have slept a hell of a lot with three early nights.
I managed to get a visa which includes four of the french african countries I'll be visiting in around two hours from the Togolese embassy which was surprisingly efficient. And yesterday I was taken into Makola market by a very kind lady condsidering herself to be my Ghanain mother. I spent half the day sweating and playing Ludo.
I took the bus today to Cape Coast. As if booking the ticket wasn't hard enough, the bus left and hour and a half late. No airconditioning on this one and the road was EXCELLENT in places... and dreadful in others.
But my guest house here is cheaper and far nicer than the one in Accra, and the town is smaller and less crazy. The markets in Accra have to be seen to be believed.... so many people everywhere. whew!!!
and anyways..... whilst there is greenery everywhere, the poverty is almost as in your face as India or Bangladesh, and there are less structures. But the people so far make up for it. But i would be kidding if i didn't day I am finding life here a little incomprehensible.....
but i thought it might be more interesting to be honest rather than la la la this place is fun 24/7. After all it was my choice to come here.....
2 comments:
Thanks for the honest update, Andy. Makes for interesting reading (in a "thank goodness it's not me" sort of way). Hope you find your little oasis soon. :)
Andrew,
This blog has become my favourite travel blog. I waste hours of office time reading it. Keep it up as its cool to hear about lands afar and your adventures dodging the peanuts. Try and upload some pictures when you have the chance.
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