Last few days.....

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