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West Africa - part 2

Me resting in a hammock in our hotel in Fajara just outside Banjul after a long tiring day on the road. When we entered The Gambia we abandoned our bus in favor of a smaller bush taxi from the Gambian border to the ferry going to Banjul. We seated an old but quite nice looking Ford Transit. Midway to the ferry a loud bang roared the bus and my eyes followed the side-door to my right flying out of the car landing some five meters behind us. I cried of laughter even louder than the noise the door get-a-way created, while watching the driver mounting the door back on. I think my reaction was due to the fact that that was really what I somehow expected from visiting Africa - sorry folks!
Me resting in a hammock in our hotel in Fajara just outside Banjul after a long tiring day on the road. When we entered The Gambia we abandoned our bus in favor of a smaller bush taxi from the Gambian border to the ferry going to Banjul. We seated an old but quite nice looking Ford Transit. Midway to the ferry a loud bang roared the bus and my eyes followed the side-door to my right flying out of the car landing some five meters behind us. I cried of laughter even louder than the noise the door get-a-way created, while watching the driver mounting the door back on. I think my reaction was due to the fact that that was really what I somehow expected from visiting Africa - sorry folks!

The next day we strolled down the road to the British Embassy and more important the Medical Research Council of the UK, where Morten knew some of the researchers there. The fact is that MRC has a small field site in Caio in the north-western part of Guinau-Bissau which is collaboration with the project in which Morten is participating.
The next day we strolled down the road to the British Embassy and more important the Medical Research Council of the UK, where Morten knew some of the researchers there. The fact is that MRC has a small field site in Caio in the north-western part of Guinau-Bissau which is collaborating with the project in which Morten is participating.

A view of our hotel, "Laybato", located in Fajara just 5 seconds walk from the beach, nice palm trees and nice chilly colas:-) The only downside we could find was the strong presence of the sex industry The Gambia unfortunately is well known for - especially middle age women buying sex from young boys. So guys if your wife wants to go to The Gambia with her female friends - then you already know the rest!
A view of our hotel, "Laybato", located in Fajara just 5 seconds walk from the beach, nice palm trees and nice chilly colas:-) The only downside we could find was the strong presence of the sex industry The Gambia unfortunately is well known for - especially middle age women buying sex from young boys. So guys if your wife wants to go to The Gambia with her female friends - then you already know the rest!

A few kilometers from our hotel a famous tourist attraction named "The Crocodile Pool" could be found. As it can be seen from the name it is a small pool which a huge amount of crocodiles, actually we heard different figures, but the highest we heard was 400 crocodiles;-) As one can see from the picture they were very peaceful - we touched and took snapshots of them from short distance.
A few kilometers from our hotel a famous tourist attraction named "The Crocodile Pool" could be found. As it can be seen from the name it is a small pool which a huge amount of crocodiles, actually we heard different figures, but the highest we heard was 400 crocodiles;-) As one can see from the picture they were very peaceful - we touched and took snapshots of them from short distance.

This sign could be found by the road to the hotel. We did not know whether it should be considered a joke, but at least it can be called humor.
This sign could be found by the road to the hotel. We did not know whether it should be considered a joke, but at least it can be called humor.

Hugh... after 60 kilometers of marching..?! No the truth is that we took a taxi very early in the morning to the border between The Gambia and Senegal. On the picture I do not really know which country I was in since borders in West Africa tend to be very chaotic - one actually has to have a great wish of getting the right stamps, because it seems like one could just walk ones way through the border, without drawing any attention.
Hugh... after 60 kilometers of marching..?! No the truth is that we took a taxi very early in the morning to the border between The Gambia and Senegal. On the picture I do not really know which country I was in since borders in West Africa tend to be very chaotic - one actually has to have a great wish of getting the right stamps, because it seems like one could just walk ones way through the border, without drawing any attention.


Yeah, what can be better than operating a Caterpillar motor grader in Senegal? Whatever the answer is - it was fact that the roads were quite good in Senegal and apparently got new asphalt once in a while. The roads continued to be of an okay quality while driving to the capital in Guinea-Bissau, but this could not be said about all roads within Bissau!

A village we stopped by at after leaving Senegal because our driver wanted to buy coal or rather peat from the locals. I think our car got more than 150 kg's extra weight on after this stop. So don't say that French cars only are made for farmers who want to bring some eggs to the local market!
A village we stopped by at after leaving Senegal because our driver wanted to buy coal or rather peat from the locals. I think our car got more than 150 kg's extra weight on after this stop. So don't say that French cars only are made for farmers who want to bring some eggs to the local market!

 

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