Tumani Tenda

On Wednesday we were all off work and school as it is a Islamic holiday. We had arranged for Keboteh to pick us up in his taxi at 8 o’clock and take us to Tumani Tenda. Tumani is a village just east of Brikama and is home to a community of Jola’s. Visitors to the site can stay overnight in basic lodges by the river and experience the rural village life. The camp is a community run venture and all profits go back into community projects such as running of the nursery school, fencing of the vegetable gardens and the planting of trees. They also offer the chance for you to have a go at various activities such as cooking, fishing, oyster gathering, batik making, tie dying, forest walks and dugout canoe trips on the river. On arrival we were offered drinks followed by a talk on what they were trying to do in the community. We were then shown around a couple of the lodges which were very basic with a separate toilet and showering area very much like camping. There were a couple of young female doctors from Ireland who had stayed overnight in the lodges. We then choose one of our activities, a trip through the mangroves in a dugout canoe. Abigail was the first to board and because the base of the canoe was wet she slipped and banged her elbow and back on one of the seats so that was a good start to our trip. Once all seated we were taken out into the river tributary and through the mangroves. We could hear the oyster shells snapping shut as we went. We sighted some herrings and king fishers within the trees however our best sighting came when Paul noticed something on a fallen tree the locals said it was a fox but on later looking in one of our books we believe it to have been a mongoose. Back on dry land we sat chatting to the two doctors and drank some coffee then a game board was produced by the Gambians for a game of ludo. Apparently the doctors had played them last night and said they were very good at the game. Abigail joined in helping to roll the die whilst Bradley watched. I went off to investigate the cooking off our lunch. The ladies were in a hut and were pounding and chopping ingredients, these were then added to the pot. After fifteen minutes I had to leave as the hut was just full of smoke, I am glad I didn’t opt to do that activity. We ate a lovely lunch of chicken yassa with rice and salad.

After a little rest the next activity began the doctors and I decided to have a go at tie dying. We were given a piece of cloth and had to decide how we wanted our design to look this was quite a hard decision as there were no samples on display for us to look at. Two of us opted for circles whilst the other girl choose squares. We had to lift up our cloth from the middle and tie string around at various stages to create the pattern. The other pattern consisted of folding the cloth into strips and then folding it into triangles. We were then given gloves and one by one our chosen colours were mixed. We had to wet the cloth then dip it into the hot dye solution being careful not to burn our fingers. It was then wrung out and the rope was cut before it was hung out to dry. As the drying took place the colours started to appear. The square design I have to say was the best choice of colours and would make a lovely beach wrap. We had enjoyed the day however I think there was a lot of sitting around, if they had really tried they could have got more activities into the day therefore earning themselves more money for the village. We finally left the camp for home just after 4 o’clock.

A BIG HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY TO JULIE!

On Thursday Paul went off to work whilst I was still off for mid term holidays. I had decided to keep Abigail and Bradley off school as they will also be off tomorrow for another holiday to celebrate Independence Day. We decided to take Uncle Chris for an early morning walk to Kotu Bridge and then continue onto the beach for a dip in the sea. We arrived at the bridge having spotted some birdlife and as usual were approached by various Gambians trying to offer us their guide services. One such guide was put out when we implied that Abigail was our guide and he remarked that she needed a permit which we found very funny. We were on the beach for 9.30am and the waves were quite rough. Uncle Chris and the children stripped off and were straight in the sea I decided to take a miss on going in as I seem to have developed a cold. Whilst on the beach Adama came over to say hello and gave Chris a friendship chain, not his style I might add. We then sat in Sailors restaurant enjoying a coffee before heading back up the hill and calling in at the craft market on route as Chris felt obliged to buy a little something. We also decided to have a look around the golf course before heading home unfortunately there was a golf competition taking place so the walk was cut short. After lunch the children took Uncle Chris off up to Safari Garden to use the pool. I stayed behind to do some shopping as we are meeting up with the other volunteers this evening for a bring your own food beach barbeque. At 5 o’clock we walked to Leybato’s and found the other volunteers. The fire was lit and we waited for it to get going. We then started putting on some of our food, tiger prawns, pepper and tomato skewers, and some peppered beef and onions. We ate these with bread and jacket potatoes. The new volunteers had brought some huge pieces of fish and salad. We left for home at about 8 o’clock leaving the other volunteers chatting around the fire.

Albreda & James Island

On Friday we were up early and waiting to be picked up by Keboteh as we were taking Uncle Chris to stay the night at Jerreh Camp Sittanunka and also calling in at Albreda and James Island. At quarter past eight there was still no sign of Keboteh so Paul phoned him he had only forgotten, ten minutes later he turned up. As we arrived in Banjul there were people all dressed up in uniform ready for the Independence Day celebrations. We arrived at the ferry terminal just missing a ferry so had a good thirty minute wait. The ferry eventually arrived however the crossing was the slowest ever as we were going against the tide it took us about an hour and forty minutes. Once across Kaba was waiting to take us onto the camp. We unpacked and then ate a lovely fish benichin lunch the only issue was all the bees which were buzzing around apparently Kaba said there was a nest in one of the trees.

We spent the afternoon chilling at the resort before taking a jeep ride to Albreda. We picked up our guide on the edge of the village and first called at the museum as we had just missed a pirogue which was going to the island. We then made our way back to the jetty for the pirogue. Once in the pirogue we set off, by now it was 6 o’clock and the river was starting to get a little rough hence Paul got quite wet when a wave lapped over the boat. At the recent Roots festival the island was renamed to Kuntah Kinteh Island by the president. We looked around and our guide told us the history of the island. As the sun was setting we made our way back to the boat leaving the pelicans who were just coming in to roost on the island. We arrived back at the camp for a late dinner of fish and tiger prawn skewers with rice, chips and salad. Abigail and Bradley ate little as they were so tired so I took them off to bed.

Kaba's brother

Sittanunka Lodge

The next morning Paul and Uncle Chris were up early for a walk through the forest whilst we stayed in bed. We then ate peanut porridge for breakfast this is a mix of ground up rice and peanuts added to milk a bit like rice pudding. We then decided to walk along a track which runs parallel with the beach and leads to a new resort which has just opened. What a difference it was to last year when we were here, they have now built a bar by the river, leading from this are paths to each accommodation set in little gardens. We sat and had a cup of coffee and chatted to the manager of the resort. They plan to pick people up from Lamin Lodge in their catamaran and bring them across to stay at the resort. They already had a group of Gambians booked in for that evening. We then made our way back for a swim in the river before lunch. After lunch we relaxed before we were taken back to Barra to catch the ferry hoping it was a better crossing than yesterday unfortunately it was worse. The rest of the day was spent at home waiting for the time to take Uncle Chris off to the airport for his return flight home to the UK. The week has gone so quickly however I think we have managed to show Uncle Chris a good bit of the country I know we have all enjoyed showing him around.

New Volunteers

A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TERRY!

On Sunday we got a lift with Lynn to Sandele, she now has the use of a car from Gerry and Maurice from Safari Garden and just needs to keep it road worthy. We arrived just after 11 o’clock Malcolm, Lynn’s son is spending three days at the resort. We went off to look for Maurice as they have a large conference party being held there so he is busy getting things ready. With no luck finding Maurice we set off on our walk along the beach. We had decided to walk along to the next village of Tanji via the beach. It was a lovely walk once into the next bay we stopped to eat our picnic of sandwiches for lunch. Bradley was finding the going a bit hard as he has suddenly developed a tickly cough. We rounded the bend into the next bay and could see the brightly painted pirogues of Tanji in the distance. There were some lovely beach side residences along the way. Once at the fishing boats we made our way in land along a dirt track my only hope was for it not to be as long as the sanyang beach road. It proved to be just the same and went on for ever with no shade from the sun. Eventually we came to the road and then had a walk to the gelleh station. We arrived home just after 4 o’clock very tired and Bradley was struggling to breath luckily we had some amocycillan from his last infection left so started him on a course of them, two days later and a day off school he was back to his normal self.

Lately the weather has been a little overcast and windy especially on a night so I have felt the need to wear a cardigan and we have had a blanket in bed. We have been told it is the start of the harmatan, sand blowing down from the Sahara Dessert, it wasn’t this cold last year. However on Friday we had glorious sunshine so we decided to take a dip in Safari Garden Pool. Whilst there I met a couple of the new volunteers who arrived yesterday.

On Saturday afternoon we made our way to Kairaba Hotel at Senegambia as we were having our meeting party for the new volunteers there. We had decided to go a little earlier to use the facilities of the pool. We found Jane and June sat at the poolside they had had the same plan as us. After a swim and some chatting Lynn arrived and we dressed and made our way up to one of the conference rooms which was to host our meeting. A buffet dinner was laid on as well as soft drinks. We introduced ourselves and sat chatting until it was time to leave.

A BIG HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY TO ALAN!

On Saturday afternoon we met up with Mick and Jenny at the Sandplover for a couple of hours. They were having dinner with a friend who has a holiday home at cape point. We spent the time chatting and drinking julbrew whilst the children played in the sea and sand, I was quite tipsy when we said goodbye a couple of hours later. When we arrived home at 7 o’clock some of the other volunteers were there Lynn had arranged a barbeque for Pete’s mother and brother who are here on holiday. Lynn was still waiting for Tom and Pete to turn up with the fish so was a bit worried as there was no food ready and it was already late. I quickly showered and then set about making pilaf rice as my contribution to the barbeque. The fish turned up and with Paul and Peter working the barbeque eventually at 9 o’clock the food was on the table. We ate a starter of huge tiger prawns followed by fish Caribbean style which Lynn had prepared and was delicious. The evening was spent in the garden and came to a close just after 11 o’clock.

Weekending, 22nd January

A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JAKE!

On Sunday afternoon Paul was picked up by the college driver in a minibus, this was a first for Paul usually it is one of the four wheel trucks. He was away all week observing the teachers in the schools, luckily he was located around the village of Kerewan on the north bank so it was only one hour away from Barra ferry terminal. Each evening we received regular updates of how it was going, his sleeping arrangements were quite good only one night was spent on the floor however it does take some getting used to squatting over a pit latrine. He arrived home on Friday just before 1 o’clock so the earliest and easiest up country visit yet.

On Saturday we went out for a meal to Mama’s Restaurant. We had been sent some money from Cathy and James ex volunteers to go out for a meal, however the catch was we had to make and wear party hats. The meal was lovely we did get a few looks from the other dinners probably jealous of our party hats. We were also joined by Lynn and her son Matthew who is here visiting for three weeks.