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Gambia Smiling Coast of Africa
  • Lady Di
  • Lady Di

Gambia Smiling Coast of Africa

For my wonderful soul mate 🫂😘🥰😍 Leia mais
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  • Inicio da viagem
    19 de janeiro de 2022
    Lady DiGambia Smiling Coast of AfricaViajante

    From B to B to B

    19 de janeiro de 2022, Alemanha ⋅ ⛅ 1 °C

    We start punctually at 4.30 a.m. in GRH and are on the plane to Brussels on time. Departure in Brussels also on time.
    The flight to Banjul is actually quite pleasant.
    Upon arrival, a man is standing by the gangway with a note with our names on it. He wears work clothes and is sort of part of the airport staff and he greets us and explains that he is a relative of Seedy's who will be waiting for us in the lobby.
    It takes quite a while to get through the controls, but while we're waiting we spot Seedy, or better he us. What joy we express with exuberant waving.
    Then finally the moment when we fall into each other's arms. Long dreamed and now true.
    Seedy helps us with the luggage and at customs we push our luggage through the machine. There is a little discussion about the cot, but then we are "free" without experiencing any of the horror stories told about customs in The Gambia.
    The drive to the apartment is exciting because the streets are so busy and also because there seem to be no traffic rules. But Seedy drives safely through all this crowd and we arrive safely at the apartment. It is well furnished and we have enough space to live here completely relaxed for the next few days.
    Binta has a lot of work in the kitchen, but then a delicious meal of fish, potatoes, vegetable onions and salad is on the table and we enjoy it very much.
    It's getting late and we fall into bed tired and sleep better than the last nights at home. The area around the apartment is very quiet.    Leia mais

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    Tanji

    20 de janeiro de 2022, Gâmbia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Binta makes us a delicious breakfast with shrimp and onions and so we set out on our way to Tanji.
    The fish market of Tanji is advertised in every travel guide and it is really impressive for us how many people stay there. The boats are very beautiful. Seedy explains to us that most of the boats are owned by Senegalese and unfortunately the Gambians' business is mostly just selling the fish.
    Then we drive to the beach, which we almost have to ourselves and just enjoy being lazy. Jürgen even goes swimming in the Atlantic.
    On the way back we eat at Ali Baby's and so Binta doesn't have to cook today.
    We see Gambia's third game at AFCON 2022 on TV. It's 0-0 for a long time, just before the end the power goes out for a moment when it comes back the game is over and it's 1-0 for Gambia. Hooray!    Leia mais

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    Bakau - Kachykalli - Banjul

    21 de janeiro de 2022, Gâmbia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    After a good breakfast we head to Banjul with a few stops.
    First we visit the Independence Stadium where Seedy has already played football with his regional team. A few track and field athletes are training while we're there.
    Continue to the Kachikally Crocodile Pool. There is a small museum where we see masquerades from different tribes, musical instruments and also some photos of the history of Gambia. Then we come to the crocodiles. A nice guy explains a lot to us and the most important thing seems to us that they are fed very well with fish every morning and then just lie around lazily. So we can be very brave and touch them. It feels kind of lifeless, but to prove they're alive, the guy shoos them up a bit, and sure enough - they're moving.
    Continue to Banjul to Arch 22, from where we have a nice view over the small capital. There is a small exhibition about the sad story of the victims of the former dictator Jammeh, who tolerated no criticism and had countless people kidnapped and tortured, many of whom did not survive the ordeal.
    Then we visit the Albert Market and are simply overwhelmed by the abundance and the narrow paths. In view of the abundance of the offer, it is hard to imagine that every dealer can do good business there.    Leia mais

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    Monkey Park

    22 de janeiro de 2022, Gâmbia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Admission to the Monkey Park costs only a small amount of money. However a guide is recommended which is negotiable and after much talking the guy suggests 700D (11€). He is nice and explains a lot to us about the monkeys and the park. The monkeys are very trusting and a bit cheeky, but we have a lot of fun. I think it's especially fun for everyone when I have two monkeys on my shoulders and feed them. But it doesn't take long for them to get into a fight.
    When it comes to paying, the guy says if we give 1000D then he could also buy rice for his family.?.?.?. Crazy world. 😉I end up obliging him, but I have a weird feeling about it.    Leia mais

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    Serekunda Market

    22 de janeiro de 2022, Gâmbia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    We have to exchange money and get about D30000 for our €500. That's a decent chunk of money, and we're glad Seedy is doing the counting.
    Probably the "busiest place" in the world is the huge Serekunda Market. We visit the phone shop that Seedy used to run with two friends and we meet one of the friends there who is busy fixing phones.
    Then into the hustle and bustle of the market. There is everything and I buy myself a shirt. With a lot of fanfare, the saleswoman wants me to buy several pieces, but we leave it at one and Seedy helps with the haggling. I still have to practice that.
    Binta buys some things that she needs to continue to host us so well. When we come back she goes into the kitchen and has been busy there for a very long time. She refuses my support again. Then she serves us a delicious meat domoda with rice.
    She is the perfect chef.😋    Leia mais

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    Sanyang Beach

    23 de janeiro de 2022, Gâmbia ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    For breakfast, Binta makes us delicious seafood with salad and bread.
    Afterwards we head to Sanyang Beach and spend a relaxing day there. The water is warm and the waves are good and not too high. I'm trying to teach Seedy to swim and he's doing quite well. Hopefully we'll have more opportunities to practice this.
    We eat a nice fruit platter with papaya, coconut, oranges and more. We actually wanted to watch wrestling, but unfortunately that's not happening at the moment.
    So we make our way back and see the Kankurang on the way.    Leia mais

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    Lazy day

    24 de janeiro de 2022, Gâmbia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Binta has to cook before we head to Yundum to Seedy's house. Cooking always takes a long time.
    We start around 2 p.m. and the two show us their tiny domicile and we are happy that it is equipped with many things that I sent.
    We also visit relatives in the neighborhood. There are many children in the compound and they all want to shake hands with us. This is so cute. Other children on the street, who must be seeing white people for the first time, get scared and start crying. Just as we know it vice versa.
    Then we bring Binta to her sister who gave birth two days ago. We see the cute little boy. They live in an exceptionally well equipped house.
    Then we drive back because today Gambia is playing Guinea at AFCON 2022 and we can't miss that. Luckily we have the tablet, because the TV only shows distorted pictures or "no signal".
    WE WIN 0:1 !!! What a joy.    Leia mais

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    Bintang Bolong Lodge

    25 de janeiro de 2022, Gâmbia ⋅ ⛅ 35 °C

    A magnificent place ❤️
    After the days in the cities with a lot of noise and hustle and bustle we want to stay directly on the river for 2 days in the Bintang Bolong Lodge. It's a beautiful lodge with a restaurant and so we sit on the terrace, enjoy tea and later dinner and can relax. On request from Seedy, I have a part of my fishing tackle and now it will be time to unpack. We sit cozy in front of our hut and catch a few crabs and a little catfish and we are happy about it. 🐟Leia mais

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    No reason to be sad ;-)

    Kani Kunda - Family

    27 de janeiro de 2022, Gâmbia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Let's go to Kanikunda, Seedy's home village. There are countless police stations on the way and I have no idea what they are supposed to be good for. Even a drug officer stops us, but after a short back and forth he is satisfied and we continue.
    Then we arrive in the village. I'm a little nervous, but the excitement quickly disappears because Seedy's mom, Mariama, welcomes me so warmly. There is a big hug and we are both happy to finally meet. We spend some time in her house. She also shows me her kitchen which is so different from my usual standard and I am impressed at how much effort it takes to cook in these conditions.
    Luckily I have some toys with me and I give them out to the many children in the compound. We feel like a big attraction and I enjoy hugging a baby and other children.
    When we left, the car caused problems again. The clutch isn't working properly and Seedy decides we shouldn't continue like this. So we take the car to a workshop. The mechanic takes us to an accommodation somewhere between Mansakonko and Pakalinding.    Leia mais

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    Kanikunda School and Footall Match

    27 de janeiro de 2022, Gâmbia ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

    Seedy organizes a driver and now we go again to Kanikunda, where a football game was organized especially for us. The field is right next to the school, which we are now going to visit. At the moment they have project days and the children have to show their facial expressions and prove their ability to read in categories such as reciting poems. It's like a competition and at the end there should be a winner in each category.
    The children are very excited and affectionate and scramble to shake my hand later we change to high five. That's just better in the crowd, also because everyone wants to say hello several times. The children marvel at us and want to know our names and where we come from. My hair is the attraction for the girls and everyone wants to touch it and also touch my skin. This is so cute.

    Then the football match starts. It's a bit confusing for us because we don't really know who belongs to which team. Actually, the old hands play against the juniors. I'm happy to see Seedy play and after 45 minutes it's 1-0 for his team. After that there is a penalty shoot-out and then the winner is determined. Seedy's team wins. I gave 1000 Dalasi to both teams. There is a lot of discussion about this, because the winning team should get a larger amount than the losers. I agree, but then the old hands are generous and give everything to the juniors who can need it for their next tournament.    Leia mais

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    Trip to Janjanbureh

    28 de janeiro de 2022, Gâmbia ⋅ ⛅ 35 °C

    Seedy is a star. We have to exchange money again and he negotiates a good exchange rate at the bank in Soma.
    When that's done, the car is repaired and we pick it up. Since there was no new clutch disc, the old one was refurbished and now it works again.
    We drive again to Mariama for a short stop and then we go to Janjanbureh. On the way we stop at Jata Koto for Friday prayers. Jürgen and I are sitting in the shade of a mango tree.
    On the way we pass a German-financed hospital in Jakhaly, which Markus Lanz opened in 2004.    Leia mais

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    Janjanbureh 2

    29 de janeiro de 2022, Gâmbia ⋅ ⛅ 37 °C

    At noon the festival is like a small street festival and so we walk the streets and mainly see kankurangs. The kankurang is pretty scary, but I still have my picture taken with "witch catcher from the circumcision ceremony".
    We go back to the fairground, where the official opening is now taking place. It's a lot of talk, but we sit in the shade and rest. It's really very warm.
    In the afternoon the AFCON match Gambia vs Cameroon starts. There is a television set up in the lodge and we experience the game with lots of Gambian fans. The Scorpions made it to the round of 16 and surprised and delighted their fans. Now they are eliminated with 0-2, but one is not that sad about it, rather proud about the first participation in this championship and about the games that the team had shown up to here.    Leia mais

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    Historie > Bunker - Freedom Tree

    30 de janeiro de 2022, Gâmbia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    On our way to find a fishing spot, Seedy is offered a tour of a bunker where resisting slaves were imprisoned. They were tortured and some were starved to death. We got an interesting lecture about the history of Janjanbureh and slavery. It's a pity that this story isn't presented better, for example in a real museum. There is so much interesting here, but it is not "marketed". There are only a few people volunteering to tell the stories so they won't be forgotten.
    We are happy to pay the voluntary fee in a tin cassette. The fact that the guide then asks for a personal contribution is strange (but we're used to it by now) and we don't want to blame him. But what does it mean that he says the amount is too small and he insists on asking for more? Is that cheeky or not reprehensible in his culture?
    The three of us take a nice photo and go to the Freedom Tree, where we get another lecture and are happy to pay our fee without being hassled.
    We walk through the market and then back to the lodge where we fish again. Only Seedy is lucky and catches a fish. I'm happy for him.    Leia mais

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    Wassu Steinkreise - Stone Circles

    31 de janeiro de 2022, Gâmbia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    We were now at the easternmost point of our journey and now want to drive back along the north bank of the river. However, after waiting at the ferry, the car does not start. Helpful people are there immediately and push the car. I try to explain to Seedy what to do with the accelerator and clutch and the car starts on the third try - we're the perfect team. 🫂🥰
    We cross over and drive to the stone circles in Wassu, where a young man explains the meaning to us. Within the stone circles are tombs, and the more powerful the stelae, the more important the person. Today it is a kind of place of worship, many people come there to pray and also stay overnight.
    Then he tells us the interesting story of the wise Stoneman and Seedy plays the song by Bintang Bolong on the balafon.
    We continue along the Nordbank Road and in Farafeni we cross the Senegambia Bridge. We make a short stop in Kanikunda and Mariama has cooked rice and a spicy paste made from leaves. It tastes great and we enjoy it very much. Unfortunately, this will be our last visit to her, but I'll be back - I promise!    Leia mais

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    Tendaba Camp

    31 de janeiro de 2022, Gâmbia ⋅ ⛅ 39 °C

    Tendaba Logde is a fairly large camp with several cabins for overnight stays and a restaurant. But this place has probably seen better days.
    When we arrive there is no water or electricity, so no WiFi either, but there is a pool where we can cool off. Seedy is doing really passable strokes. He learns really fast. After we had made the first attempts in the Atlantic, he watched a few videos and obviously learned a lot. I'm happy he can swim.
    Chapeau my soul mate 🎩    Leia mais

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    Tendaba Bootsfahrt - Boat Trip

    1 de fevereiro de 2022, Gâmbia ⋅ ☀️ 39 °C

    It's a very hot day. I'm also sluggish because I have a cold. Cooling off in the pool is still essential.
    As the water slowly rises again, Seedy goes fishing, but there aren't any opportunities for it anywhere in the shade, so I'm better off not doing it. He catches seven fish and he's beaming with joy and I'm happy with him.
    In the late afternoon we take another boat trip. With a very old boat that doesn't look very trustworthy, we cross the Gambia River. During the crossing, dolphins accompany us at a distance.
    Then we turn into a side arm / bolong and drive through the mangroves. It really is a bird paradise. I have no idea about the bird species, but there are a lot of different herons and the gray fisherman (a species of kingfisher). But I get the best photos of the African darter. We also see a crocodile some distance away. Unfortunately it is too fast to photograph it.
    As we drive back and turn into the big river we see a beautiful sunset. You can call it luck that the timing worked out that way, because the sunset here only lasts a few minutes.    Leia mais

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    Brufut Beach

    3 de fevereiro de 2022, Gâmbia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    After a short trip to Cape Point, where I buy a few things at the Craft Market, we go to Cape Point Beach. For D700 we could get a sunbed each, but that's really not a real price, later they go down to D200, but we decided to go back towards Brufut and look for a nice place there.
    We find a nice beach where the loungers are free and we have drinks at the bar.
    In the evening we drive to the Yasmina restaurant on the Senegambia Strip for dinner and watch the AFCON semifinals Cameroon vs. Egypt.    Leia mais

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