Learning to Travel and a Birthday Celebration

Learning to Travel

After class on Friday (the 15^th), Melissa, Melinda, and I decided to head into central Accra using a trotro. It was our first time using a trotro without a guide, so it was a fun experience. We had to figure out which trotro to get on that would take us to Tema Station in Accra. We met someone else who was going to the same place so he helped us get a trotro and said we could go with him. Once at the station, we did some planning for the next day (our trip to Boti Falls). We found where the trotro to Koforidua is and at what times in leaves, to make our trip the next day go a little more smoothly. We then walked to Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, a park and gardens that houses the mausoleum where Ghana’s first president was laid to rest. It was a pretty place and there was a small museum there too. After that, we walked to the cultural center, a touristy market that sells a lot of craft things. The shopkeepers there are very pushy so it can be a little overwhelming at times. If you’re good at bargaining though, you can get some good steals. I didn’t buy anything because I didn’t bring enough money, but Melissa got some really good deals. I’m sure I’ll go back there again to do some shopping myself.

Thanks to Melissa for these two pictures:
On Saturday, Melissa, Sarah DN, Sarah G., Deborah, Stephanie, and myself got up fairly early and took a trotro to Tema Station and then another on to Koforidua. It was a couple hour trip, and the ride was pretty bumpy. Once there we ate some really good American food for lunch. A guy at the station actually walked us like 10 minutes to the restaurant. The people here are so nice. After lunch, we walked back to the station in hopes of catching a trotro to the falls. Little did we know that the trotros don’t run on the weekend, so we would have to take taxis. Taxis are a lot more expensive, and since there were six of us, we would have to take two. Deborah and Sarah G. decided to just go back to Accra because they were running low on money and also because it was kind of rainy. The rest of us four got a taxi and went on to the falls which were about a half an hour away. I just want to say right now that our taxi driver, Alleessan, was amazing. He was a pretty young guy, probably about our age, so it was easy talking with him. He stayed at the falls with us so he could give us a ride back. Boti Falls was amazing! The falls were really tall and very powerful. There were two separate falls, which are referred to the man and woman falls, the man being the larger of the two. When the water level is really high, it is just one huge waterfall. We stayed at the waterfall for quite a while and were able to walk around the back of them. We took some pictures and I asked our driver if he wanted to be in a picture with me. He seemed so happy that we asked. He then asked if we wanted to go on a hike since he knew the area really well. He took us on a beautiful hike in a mountainous rainforest. It was more treacherous than any hikes than I’ve been on in the U.S. especially since it was raining really lightly so the rocks were all wet. We went through a cave, had to cross through a stream, and about an hour later ended up at a rock called Umbrella Rock. It is a huge umbrella-shaped rock on top of the mountain. For 1,000 cedis you can climb up a tall bamboo ladder to the top and from there you can see for miles. It was so amazing. I’m not going to lie; it was also a bit scary. After climbing up the thin bamboo ladder, you had to step onto a ledge that was maybe a foot deep. You then had to walk a little ways along the ledge and then climb up onto the top of the rock, and it was a long ways up. Anyway, none of us fell and died so it all turned out well. We then hiked back and drove back to Koforidua. Our taxi driver didn’t ask to be payed any extra than what we had agreed upon at first for the drive there and back, but we did tip him pretty good. I think he had a good time. I even got his address and told him I would send him some pictures as soon as I can get them printed out. From Koforidua, we took a trotro back to Accra and we were all very proud of our successful trip. It was one of the best days of my life. The hike was spectacular. Everything about it was amazing, and I think everyone else felt the same way.

Stephanie’s Birthday

On the 19^th we all went out to celebrate Stephanie’s Birthday (which was actually the 20^th, but we were going to be in Akropong then). We went to a club in Osu called Base and had a really good time. There was a lot of dancing and a lot of fun had that night, and it was great that all 16 of us could spend it together.

Another problem that exists in Ghana is unreliable transportation. On the way to Stephanie’s Birthday Bash, our taxi broke down and we had to get another one. On the way home our taxi overheated and we had to pull over and wait for about 10 minutes. On one of my trips into Accra our trotro also overheated and we had to get out and wait on the side of the road for about 15 minutes. This can be a little annoying if you’re in a hurry, but usually I’m not so I just deal with it.