Highlights of Mum and Dad’s Visit to The Gambia

So Mum and Dad took the plunge and headed for the Gambia on 14th January 2010. It was touch and go whether they would make it due to the snow crisis in UK but all went smoothly. Here are some of the highlights of their trip: ·         Surprised Mum and Dad at the airport- lots of screaming from Mum! ·         Swiftly introduced them both to the air-conditioned cafe on the main street (which was much needed due to the fact that, after half a day in The Gambia, Mum was beginning to resemble an over-ripe tomato) ·         Gradually getting used to the importance of greetings in The Gambia by asking everyone you meet how the family are, where they are going and how their day has been (not that mum found it that difficult as we all know she likes to chat). Took us about an hour every day just to leave the hotel! ·         Dad having a go at riding my motorbike, stood up, in the sand... now that is a challenge... one that he accomplished I may add... ·         Went to visit Charlie the crocodile and both Mum and Dad touched him. Mum kept saying 'but he doesn't look real' while Dad haggled for a crocodile's tooth by asking how much it was and when the guy said 150 dalasi he replied with 'OK'. Think we need to work on their haggling skills! ·         Watched the fish come in at Bakau fish market and got a personal tour by a couple of friendly bumsters. Saw a fish with human looking teeth... that will help my Larium dreams! Dad wandered into the sea to chat to the fishermen and then we ate ladyfish and domada as the sun went down on the beach. ·         Took a tuk tuk ride while Mum gave us constant status updates on how likely it was to tip over. ·         Met the VSO gang on the beach for a few beers on the Sunday- by the end of the day we had put the world to rights and hatched a plan for a Filipino party at Max's house after the up-country trip. ·         Mum and I took a gelli gelli to Serekunda to choose some fabric for our Gambian dresses- Abdol our tailor was fab and did a really good job! ·         Me and Mum dancing on stage with a drumming troop (what tourists!) while I admired the arms of the drummers.... beautiful men...  ·         Watched women carry 4 tubs of millet on their head, a bag on each arm and a baby on their back while pushing through the crowds to get on the ferry to Barra. ·         Visited James Island (where they kept the slaves before taking them to America and also where they defended the shores once slavery was abolished) on a small motor boat that refused to start and then when it did, threatened to stop the whole way across. Mum grabbed a life jacket and clung onto the sides of her seat like her life depended on it... and to be honest it probably did. ·         Surviving the trip from Albreda to Kerewan in an open-backed pick-up truck with no brakes (not even a handbrake!). We spent the entire hour and a bit long journey shouting at random children, goats, donkeys, cows and even monkeys at one point to GET OUT OF THE WAY AS WE HAVE NO BRAKES while the driver sang "don't worry about a thing... cause every little thing is gonna be alright"... ·         Gaining a new found respect for a flush toilet and running water. ·         Mum and Dad coping surprisingly well with the pit latrine, ants, bucket baths and my housemate, Charlie the gecko. ·         Getting a rotten horse and cart to the lumo (market) in Farafenni (which we fell though on the way!) ·         Experiencing the up-country Gambian service: ordered chicken and chips, waited an hour and then while ordering more drinks on the way to the toilet was told "did they tell you there was no chicken?" ·         Visiting Riders for Health and chatting with the lady in charge about what the charity does (see www.riders.org for more info). Also meeting Nigel there who has sold all of his possessions to travel around Africa on his bike raising money for Riders for health (check out his blog: www.bignoseontour.org ). ·         Sang our hearts out after 3 bottles of gin at Max's house party... Dad even played the guitar! ·         Enjoyed the Gambian food, especially domada, with most importantly... no dodgy stomachs! ·         Delivering toys donated to the hospital... see next blog entry for more details It was lovely to have Mum and Dad here and I am missing them already L (despite the fact that we spent about one third of their time here looking for things they had lost... padlock keys, sunglasses, after sun, room key, clothes, camera.... the list goes on... hee hee J ).  I had a lovely holiday with them... back to work for me now...