Wednesday
Today we left Kumasi, and headed off on our journey to Cape
Coast. We headed back to the orphanage for a final goodbye- emotional, but it
was lovely to see that the children were ok, and looked happy playing with the
equipment that we had left with them!
The journey to Cape Coast was bumpy, but was also very
interesting, seeing African villages along the way- we even stopped to use the
non-existent toilet, and also had a stop as our tro-tro needed a new tyre!
On the way to Cape Coast, we stopped off at Kakum national
park. Visiting the park was amazing- it is a beautiful tropical rainforest,
with lianas, buttress roots and basket ferns- the lot! We had a 10 minute walk
up to the high rope course, a wood and rope contraption about 30ft up in the air
through the canopy of Kakum's rainforest! It was awesome to be able to look
down into the tops of the trees, and up to the really tall ones, but it was
also a bit daunting- I'm sure Becky will agree! It was quite a way down, and a
bit wobbly.
We then headed on to Cape Coast, and we were all very
excited to see the sea! It looks very different to other places that we have
visited, with sandy beaches, boats pulled up to the shore, and lots of palm
trees! Our accommodation is really lovely- the Babob foundation, aiming to
teach skills and provide employment for the locals. Claire and Cara were very
excited to discover it's vegetarian restaurant, where Ellie decided to try
Palava sauce- we still aren't sure what to make of it!!
Thursday
Today, after being woken up by a loud man praying and some
gospel singing, we explored Cape Coast.
We enjoyed watching the waves at the beach before going on the visit the slave
castle. Ghana, especially the coastal regions, have been subject to much
fighting over by varying countries, but after a colourful history of invading
European countries, including Denmark and Holland, the English gained control
of Ghana, and therefore Cape Coast Castle. The English established the slave
trade in Ghana, capturing Ghanaian people and taking them to America or to work
in plantations- somthing that we were all appalled at. The English stored
slaves in the Cape Coast castle, and so visiting was quite moving. It was very
emotional to see the dungeons in which men and women would stand for up to 3
months in the dark, cramped conditions before being moved on the ships. We also
saw a room where the slaves would be assessed by prospective purchasers, and
the "gates of no return", which when the Ghanaians passes, the lost
their rights, property and identity.
Whilst we were inside, Mary and Leah met a young girl
selling water, who helped them to try carrying water sachets in a large bowl on
their heads- apparently it was really hard and very heavy. We then headed back
to our accommodation for lunch, before packing our bags into the minibus, and
heading to just outside of the settlement to a very special experience- a dance
and drumming workshop!
We started off singing a song, during which you had to go
and dance in the middle of the circle, depending on the day that you were born-
embarrassing , but highly amusing! We were most definitely out-danced by the
workshop leaders. After a gruelling warm up in the Ghanaian sun (it was sort of
sunny!!), we started to learn a traditional Ghanaian dwarf dance, which was
nothing short of hilarious, as it included a lot of wiggling of our hips and
moving our bodies in a way that I don't think any of us have before! Some of us
(Becky....) got the wrong end of the stick of some of the moves, but in the end
we all got the hang of it, and I think the teachers weren't too appalled.
We then did some African drumming , which was really good
fun, and I thought it sounded amazing. We learnt some really cool rhythms, some
with sticks and some with our hands, before amalgamating them all together. It
required a lot of concentration, but even then Cara simply could not get the
hang of one particular riff that we were taught!
We then had to say goodbye to Cape Coast, and set off to
Accra- a very memorable journey to put it mildly. We experienced Accra's rush
hour- involving driving between lanes, up the wrong lanes towards oncoming
traffic, and even off the road! It's all part of the Ghana experience....
We arrived at our accommodation to find it located in a
Muslim area of Accra, between 2 night clubs on the last day of Ramadan..... I
can't say it was my best nights sleep ever!
Friday
:( Our last day in Ghana, and the last proper day of was had
been the most incredible trip and experience ever!
We were picked up from our hostel by the Chief Commissioner
of Ghana Girl Guides- who incidentally had been at an international guide camp
in Settle, and bumped into Becky's grandparents!! She told us about her job, on
the way to Guide training centre that we had visited and worked at on arriving
in Ghana, which felt like a really long time ago! They seemed delighted with
the equipment that we gave them.
We then went on to the Global Mama's shop- a fair-trade shop
and foundation, aiming to empower Ghana's women. After lunch we returned to the
first craft market we visited in Ghana, which was a lot less scary than the
first time! We all spent pretty much every last Cedi that we had.... Claire,
Cara and I spent about half an hour choosing then haggling over the cost of an
awesome african Djembe drum each! It was a bit intimidating with 8 African guys
all arguing over who was selling what to whom- but it sounds less so than Mary
and Nat's experience. Everyone bought lots of lovely souvenirs and gifts,
before heading back to the Hostel. We caused a racket drumming on our balcony-
disrupting the leaders pre-dinner nap! We had a lot of careful packing to do,
and spent a lot of time chatting and playing cards, before an early night.
Travelling
After getting up at 2am, we headed off to the airport (just
as the night club music ended), saying goodbye to Ghana. We had to say goodbye
to our drums, before snoozing in the airport, and then sleeping in the plane.
We had a very long stop over (of about 6 hours?) in a very hot Casablanca
airport, eating pizza, sleeping and browsing the shops! We then had another
scary take-off (I think I was the only person scared though!), and saw the
really dry deserts of Morrocco.
Landing in Gatwick was a very surreal experience.....
toilets that flush with loo roll (!), lots of white people, and people not
saying 'obrunei' too you! We had a tearful team hug and farewell to Claire,
before setting off on what felt like a very
long drive back up north. We said goodbye to half our team at
Knutsford and then arrived back home at Preston, to see all our parents
waiting-.
it was very strange to see our parents- it was nice to have
a big hug, and start on the telling of our many stories, but also the
realisation that our trip was over.
The trip to Ghana has been amazing, crammed full of
wonderful experiences that none of us will ever forget, meeting many special
people along the way, being part of a fantastic team. I have learnt so much,
and it is so touching to know that we made a difference to the lives of the
children in the orphanage. It's so exciting now, sharing all my stories and
photos with everyone.
Laura
