I just arrived in Ghana's Cape Coast for a few days of much needed R&R. The bus travelled with an armed guard. I'm not an expert in high caliber weaponry but the gun he was holding sure looked like an AK47. Here we were cruising through the jungles of the Cote d'Ivoire with a bunch of 25KG bags labeled “Uncle Sam” rice from Thailand strewn all over the floor. I soon found out this rice was for a humanitarian mission; apparently public … [Read more...]
Exploring Abidjan
Took an early initiative today to explore Abidjan. Thank goodness for some European styled food and salads with real vinegar - been craving salad ever since I arrived in West Africa! Abidjan is the world's 4th largest French speaking city and my English doesn't go too far here, although I've met a few Ghana expats and Ghana travelers who speak English. Prices are high for taxis, lodging, food and most everything else I found. This is a city … [Read more...]
Arrived in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
After 19+ years of writing my first Pen Pal friend, first starting with postal mail I met up with Kwesi, a journalist in Accra. I’ve been staying with him and it was amazing to finally meet in person after all this time. I had re-read all his original letters before this trip. Today I woke up in Accra without any real plans other than I was going to leave the country for some additional exploration of West Africa. After a few phone calls it … [Read more...]
Ghana is ALIVE
The ENTIRE country is ALIVE! I'm sitting out on the darkened porch fighting mosquitoes like no tomorrow and Ghana just scored - major noise coming from all homes nearby - every type of noise imaginable, cheering, screaming, yelling, crying, chanting, horns, whistles and metal bells clanging! I'm in the country and I hear this sustained noise everywhere across the countryside! Now the music has started and people are singing! Uruguay has a long … [Read more...]
South Africa to London Trip!
Greetings from Ghana atm - just got an email today about an interesting trip. If anyone is interested post back here and I'll hook you up with Sergey who is planning this trip starting Sept/Oct of 2010. He's looking for someone relatively quickly so he can commit on this .... ~ Dave -------------------------------------------------- I’m looking for some intrepid travelers to join me on a long-term stint around eastern Africa. Let me briefly … [Read more...]
Greetings from rural Ghana
12 hours prior, I was walking along Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC just down from the White House. 3 hours after touching down in Accra, the capital city of Ghana in Western Africa I was in the middle of the rural countryside far removed from the hub of activity in the two nation's capital cities. I arrived in Ghana and walked down the jet-way to the tarmac welcoming the warm sun, heat and humidity that only the tropics can deliver. With … [Read more...]
Off to West Africa this Weekend!
Wooo Africa looming on the horizon this weekend. The World Cup craziness should be spilling out onto the streets everywhere! Every since my last trip to Africa I've been craving the shores of this huge continent. This will be the year of Africa for me, later trips are planned to Egypt and South Africa. I will be going straightaway to outskirts of Accra in small villages to volunteer with YCC Ghana for a few days. Their work is with villages, … [Read more...]
West Africa
I'm off to West Africa this month - looking to do a story on YCC Ghana - they are doing some very good work with education in small villages about 2 hours outside of Accra. Thanks to Lillie of AroundtheworldL.com for turning me on to this organization. Visits to Africa are never cheap esp even before the trip even takes place!... between visas and meds! Gotta get up to date on Yellow Fever (required for even entering a number of African … [Read more...]
Volunteer abroad with Basecamp International Centers & Make a difference
Basecamp International Centers believe international volunteering promotes cross-cultural learning that helps create global awareness, understanding between cultures and provides the platform for positive change. Our volunteers have taught in schools, provided disaster relief support for the International Red Cross, conducted essential research to improve the management strategies of threatened environments, built homes for impoverished … [Read more...]
A Journey In The Gold Coast:In Ghana
It was breezy late afternoon as I descended boarding EK 781 in the fertile soil of Ghana, a country in Western Africa. Indeed, it was my first visit to an entirely Black African nation with hospitable people. The uniqueness of humidity caught my attention next as we steered through traffic. Accompanied by my Ghanaian lawyer from the airport going to the place I was to stay. Ghana has a typical tropical climate: two rainy seasons in the … [Read more...]