It's about time i did another blog, ack!!!!
Trip Start
Dec 07, 2009
1
14
Trip End
Ongoing
Where I stayed
A nice little hotel, for only 26 cedis a night (about $20)
Akosombo, Ghana
Friday, May 21, 2010
The rainy season has started, but it's not raining all the time...just some heavy downpours, like yesterday morning. Not only did it rain heavily outside, it was raining in my house!!! Hmmm....some leaks to repair:)
I've done a few fun things - a bunch of other expat ladies and I rented a mini-van and driver and visited a bead 'factory' (not really a factory, since everything is done by hand!) Met the amazing Mr. Cedi, who has been making beads since he was a little boy...Beads are a traditional craft of Ghana, and in fact they have played an important role in Ghanaian culture and economics for centuries - chiefs will wear many layers of beads, and have large ones created for them....beads showed wealth and position in the tribe traditionally. Beads from the west were one of the things that were traded for slaves (!!!) Anyways, Mr. Cedi has done a fantastic job of building up his business, and has traveled all over the world showcasing his work.
As you can imagine, he was pretty happy to see 8 ex-pat women with their wallets open, lol. I think we made his day!
On the way there we went through a police checkpoint - normally we stop if asked to. However, the driver just drove right through - we asked him why, and he said it was because they were 'just' city police. Well, it's not like the police have cars here and can chase you I guess, lol.
We also went into Accra, the capital, and went shopping - visited Koala, a 'real' supermarket where you can buy cheese, cold meats and cereals..
The other women here are very interesting too - Anita, a nurse married to the boss of the cement company - they are from Sweden and have lived all over the world...Joanne...a woman from England, who with her husband, have set up the Green Turtle Lodge and Resort and are raising their two little kids here! MJ, from Quebed, who overlanded here from England in this crazy landrover vehicle, planned to go all around Africa, but decided to settle down in Ghana with her husband (British) where he is the director of a company that sells tires to the mining industry (did you know one tire can cost $80,000?!?!) Just to give you an idea of what kind of expats are here.....
Allright, I'm going to add some photos now!!
Comments
Hey its rainy season here too. Ours only lasts from the beginning of June to the end of May though. You'll be here soon enough to enjoy it.
Add more photos. The place looks too nice from your pictures. Find some litter, potholes, sweaty foreheads, or depressed slum areas.
Ok, two messages on the same day. I think its the most I've written you since you were in Japan. And those letters had to be handwritten and posted!
I went back and read the entry about the cops in Ghana. Sounds a lot less stressful than the work here. Maybe I could go for a ride along.....or in this case a walk along. What is a Cedi worth? Is it an expensive gratuity for justice ignored?