We did make it into Banjul, at least 4 of us did. We wandered through the very smelly market and were accosted by lots of market vendors. We did try to practise our Mandinka but that seemed to encourage them even more so we made a hasty retreat and found the museum of the Gambia. We then took a walk up the arch to see the view over Banjul which was good and finally we got in a gelle back to the hotel. The gelle had lots of holes in it and did sound as if it was about to give up towards the end of the journey. But it was very cheap and the locals are usually very accommodating.
Well we were finally thrown out of our hotel haven to fend for ourselves in the Kanifing House. Its bucket baths and candles all the way now. No it's actually a good house. We have a gas hob, fridge and electricity and a 24 hour security guard. We have only had one power cut but we played poker by candlelight. We have enough gadgets - ipods, laptops, shortwave radios etc to never have an excuse to get bored. The maid comes into clean twice a week and I also pay her to do my washing. So the roughing it hasn't begun in earnest. We are taking it in turns to cook, although I have to team up with Phil to do my turn as it's really not my forte. We are off to the market after this. Kanti cooked us a delicious potato curry and Pete has made us homemade crisps, homemade chapatis and rice pudding. I landed on my feet with a house full of people who can cook. I have decided to try to engineer a labour swap. Ironing for cooking. That seems fair
The only thing about the kanifing house is the noise. The cockerel doesn't seem to want to keep his crowing hours to dawn but prefers to crow every hour throughout the night. The call to prayer at the mosque is very early! Then comes the dawn chorus of birdsong. So sleep is hard to obtain.
We spent another day at the beach on Sunday and treated ourselves to lunch at Kizzys and a bottle of the local Julbrew. We had our fair share of bumsters on the walk up there. One maintained that he knew us from the hotel and he wanted us to come and pay our respects to his wife as he had go married yesterday. They're really not that persistent though. You can usually shake them off pretty easily.
Well we were finally thrown out of our hotel haven to fend for ourselves in the Kanifing House. Its bucket baths and candles all the way now. No it's actually a good house. We have a gas hob, fridge and electricity and a 24 hour security guard. We have only had one power cut but we played poker by candlelight. We have enough gadgets - ipods, laptops, shortwave radios etc to never have an excuse to get bored. The maid comes into clean twice a week and I also pay her to do my washing. So the roughing it hasn't begun in earnest. We are taking it in turns to cook, although I have to team up with Phil to do my turn as it's really not my forte. We are off to the market after this. Kanti cooked us a delicious potato curry and Pete has made us homemade crisps, homemade chapatis and rice pudding. I landed on my feet with a house full of people who can cook. I have decided to try to engineer a labour swap. Ironing for cooking. That seems fair
The only thing about the kanifing house is the noise. The cockerel doesn't seem to want to keep his crowing hours to dawn but prefers to crow every hour throughout the night. The call to prayer at the mosque is very early! Then comes the dawn chorus of birdsong. So sleep is hard to obtain.
We spent another day at the beach on Sunday and treated ourselves to lunch at Kizzys and a bottle of the local Julbrew. We had our fair share of bumsters on the walk up there. One maintained that he knew us from the hotel and he wanted us to come and pay our respects to his wife as he had go married yesterday. They're really not that persistent though. You can usually shake them off pretty easily.
Hey Luce, just managed to get the right link to start following your experience- which sounds amazing already although I am sure it has come with its challenges!!!! Sounds like you are getting used to the locals and the wildlife!!! How long will you stay at the house before moving up country??
ReplyDeleteAll good here, had some more snow today so your climate is far nicer than ours right now- more forecast overnight so disruption all round!!!
The people you have met sound like good fun too!! Hope you are well and speak soon xxxx