The next morning we checked the temperature outside... It was 41.2 degrees! As it was -2 degrees when we left Heathrow it’s no wonder this was a bit of a culture shock! We will take some time to acclimatise as the heat can be unbearable.
Mariam took us shopping. The supermarket, named Shoprite, was really very similar to the supermarkets at home, as was the mall where it was located. We bought groceries for the villa and Mariam planned several meals for us. For those who are wondering why VSO provides such luxury don’t be deceived! At the moment we are here under our own steam, and will be joining VSO early next week for our in-country training. That’s when the making do with the conditions will start! Finally, on the way back to the villa we stopped at a stall for fresh fruit and vegetables. The cape coast pineapples and paw paw proved to be delicious.
Next was the task of purchasing new mobiles and internet dongles so that we can access the internet via our laptops wherever we are in Ghana. This took some time, and was followed by lunch with two teachers from one of Michelle’s partner schools, named Alfred and Grace. We will be visiting their school on Friday.
Tuesday dawned equally warm and sunny! Darlington said it would take 2 hours to reach Kakum National Park. This proved to be Ghanaian time and the journey actually took 4 hours! Kakum National Park is renowned for its ‘walkway canopy’ and we walked around it in the treetops of the rainforest forty feet up. Michelle and Janet found this a little frightening and were quick to make their way round, whereas I have the experience of River Dart high ropes which made it a piece of cake! I even found time for some ‘extreme ocarina’ which will disgust Miss Pedrick! Sadly we saw no animals in the forest as they were having their afternoon sleeps, but we did see plenty of lizards...
We ate then at a pool where the crocs swim and at the time we were there the crocs were out sunning themselves. Another opportunity for some extreme ocarina!
When we left the park Darlington took us to a small fishing town called Elmina. The boats made an amazing picture as they left the harbour with all their colours and flags, and the air was filled with excitement as the boats made their way out to the ocean for a night of fishing. The castle in Elmina was worth a visit. It was built as place to ‘store’ slaves before they were transported to other countries, and the atmosphere was very sobering. 12 million slaves were trafficked through this and other castles during the period by the Portuguese, Dutch and British, and 8 million died.
We arrived back at the villa late, and prepared to leave the next day with Dr Isaac Okubu for the Cocoa Research Institute in Tafo. This is in the Eastern region of Ghana. On the road was some interesting traffic... including cows!
We spent some time getting here – no travel in Ghana is quick, especially if you’re travelling through Accra – and then met the Deputy Executive Director of the Institute. This was our first experience of the customs in meeting somebody very important in Ghana and we had a feeling we may have done it wrong! Ghanaian people are very quietly spoken and when we first walked into the room the director said nothing, so we filled the silence. Then we sat down and Isaac began to speak a long introduction about us. Then the director spoke. I think then we were meant to speak.... so we did! He wished us a happy stay before we left and we were shown to our accommodation – a large B&B – and given a late lunch. This time we tried fried plantain which was delicious with chicken and a curry sauce.
In the evening we met Isaac’s wife, Gertrude, who is the proprietor of the local private school. We will be visiting her school in the morning, as well as touring the Cocoa Research Institute.
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