Gambia photos

2007-11-08T08:40:00.000-08:00

Philip, Harry and Malick enjoying a relaxing time in Gambia.

LAST DAY

2007-11-06T01:34:00.000-08:00

Me supporting Northern Ireland on my bike outside exchange bureau.

Sewer photo for Albert Boyle taken just outside Croc Pool

Click on photos to enlarge them

I loved my time in Gambia & may return in December or April to see polar bears ;-0

FINAL BLOGG

2007-11-05T02:29:00.000-08:00

Monday 5th November - 10.30am

This should be my final blogg.

I am on my way to the beach now and stopped at an internet cafe with air conditioning wow.

I fly out of Gambia on Wednesday around 2.30pm and arrive in London Gatwick about 9pm. Get flight back to Belfast on Thursday morning.

The trip has been some experience for me. I am slimmer now and fitter with 40 minutes bike rides each day, no junk food at all ( including no chocolate for 2 weeks ). Diane says I look younger. :-)

I am wearing my Northern Ireland soccer jersey to-day. Last time I wore it everyone wanted it.

I am reading my hotmail and comments left for me on this blogg. Thanks for the keeping an eye on me. I will check my e-mail and blogg to-morrow Tuesday.

Signing out now from Kotu in the Gambia.

Harry

2007-11-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

Saturday 3rd November

Crocodil Dundee and then an Amazing Fishing Scene

Yes that is a real crocodile and that is really me too stroking the wild animal.
The crocodile park was beside the open sewer. Strange as this is a big tourist attraction.

The Fishing scene on the remote coastline was amazing. It had a biblical feel to it. I was please with the photography. The whole community was there men , women and children.

All photographs are copy write !!

2007-11-02T15:58:00.000-07:00

Friday 2nd November

SCHOOL AND MONKEYS

To-day we went on a trip to the Monkeys Park and a visit to a school.

We went to a nursery school and had a great time with the children who sang for us and played game of Ring a Ring of Rosy.

There was an open sewer running down the street and the smell was overpowering. See photo.

The trip to the Monkey Park was very exciting. The monkeys came running to us when we appeared and jumped on our backs and took nuts from our hands.

Photos to follow to-morrow.Cannot get them to load to-night.

2007-11-01T10:46:00.000-07:00

Thursday 31st October

To-day we drove through a market. There are hundreds of small shops and thousands of people milling around. Gambians like to be on the streets and chat to you for ages. Probably because they have little to do all day. They drink there version of green tea which I don’t have a taste for.

At the beach again this afternoon as it was really warm and there was a nice breeze. I bought a glass of freshly squashed orange, lime and banana drink from one of the many juice sellers on the beach. The 2 guys in the photos I like best as they are not too pushy in their high pressure charm sales technique.

I hope to get to a school to-morrow to see the classroom environment.

Edwin this place must be a bit like Romania. They have tiny house shops on every street corner.

2007-10-31T09:53:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 31st October

A CUP (BUCKET) OF WATER

To-day we provided fresh water to some neighbours who knocked at our door asking for our water. These people have no fresh drinking water and all there children came with canisters and I was able to take the following photos.

The other photo shows a security guard on the beach. The purpose is to prevent unwanted attentions from the beach sellers. The beach sellers sell anything from fruit, juice, nuts, papers, fake DVD’s and massages.

It was a good day at the beach and all is going well.

A DAY AT THE MARKETS

2007-10-30T13:31:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 30th October

A DAY AT THE MARKETS

Went to the market in Senegambia this morning. Not a place for the faint heated. Must have been like the Morocco market you were in Carol. Very busy streets with intimidating locals making you feel vulnerable. Did a bartering deal for cooking pots for one of our team. Clinced the deal with an agreed handshake and all but the guy said later his boss couldn’t accept our price. Well nice to know I bate them at their own game.

The other photos are of the Kotu beach craft market selling wooden craft items. Word gets round the small craft market like wildfire that you are looking for something and then on you are pestered to view everybodies wares. I have learned to be rude and point blanketly say No. If you say ‘ not to-day ‘ or ‘later’ they will remember you and come looking for you on the beach the next day. Even maybe tomorrow means come find me on the beach the next day.

Last night had a meal out again at an Amsterdam Dolphin Restaurant. It was funny as you were eating outside, as it is a little cooler, and then a hand appears through the hedge offering you merchandise. I bought a Gambian soccer top for under £3

The weather is the same everyday here hot and sunny. I am used to it now. I have not been ill or even had a Rennie to take. No chocolate for me all week and getting 2 bike rides a day to and from the beach in 32 degrees heat. I drink plenty of water and drink fruit cocktails all the time.

Included a photo from my mobile of large lizard at the beach climbing a tree.

WELL PROJECT

2007-10-29T13:51:00.000-07:00

Monday 29th October

WELL PROJECT - KANIFING MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

To-day we had the privilege of meeting the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council.

The reception by the Deputy Mayor Councillor Sanyang at his officethis morning was excellent. (Please see photograph of the UK delegation and Gambian council officials.) We explained that we were representatives of a government registered charity in the United Kingdom called ‘The Friends of the Gambia’

We were graciously received and the Deputy Mayor promised to speak to the Mayor, who was not available when we called, and arrange for them to visit the proposed site for a well for the local people in Kotu from funds raised by the charity in the UK.

I explained that I was a government official in education in the UK and we may possibly have other projects following this well project.

Within hours we had a call from the Mayors office and the Mayor and his deputy visited the proposed site for the well in Kotu in an area in need of fresh water. They agreed a site which was suitable and the council are to have a meeting to-morrow after which we hope to receive confirmation that the proposed site will be given to the charity.

We couldn’t have expected the speedy and impressive response to our proposals.

We salute the officials and thank them so much for facilitating our requests.

2007-10-28T13:52:00.000-07:00

Saturday/Sunday 28th October

Did not go to the internet café last night so its two days news in one blogg. The internet is dial up and takes ages to upload photos etc.

The photo of the children with pots on their heads is for them to collect waste food on the gravel outside were we live and feed them to the pigs. I am staying in a secure compound (house) with locked steel doors and grills on all the windows. The other photo should be of a girl near the house this morning.

We went out last night Saturday night and had a beautiful meal in a restaurant. Only tourists in the restaurant. I had a lovely steak for £4

To-day I took a flat tyre on my way to the beach and had to carry the bike back in the mid day sun to our house.

It’s hard to describe the poverty here but amazingly no one complains. Its amazing everyone sits outside there homes. Guess its too hot inside.

2007-10-26T11:55:00.000-07:00

Friday 26th October

Last night the Muslims were chanting till 2am really loudly as to-day is there holy day. All Muslims must attend prayer.

The photo of the children with pots on their heads is for them to collect waste food on the gravel outside were we live and feed them to the pigs. I am staying in a secure compound (house) with locked steel doors and grills on all the windows.

Weather hotter to-day 34 degrees but surprisingly for someone who hates too much heat I am coping great. I keep in the shade a good bit.

Hope people are reading this blog. Please leave comment for me if you are. It takes ages to do it but I think its worthwhile.

2007-10-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

Thursday 25th October

We went out for a meal last night to a Chinese restaurant. A little different from home but.

I went to the beach to-day on my bike. It’s just a 10 minute cycle. The beaches are beautiful, water warm and beach sellers very friendly. Everyone talks to you on the side of the road. Must take a photo of it. People have nothing to do but sit around watching and chatting outside their homes. Lots of wee house shops too selling everything.

2007-10-24T09:41:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 24th October

Arrived to-day to 32 degrees heat. Just like walking into an oven.

Along the dusty road there were loads of shacks selling anything and everything from fruit, electrical goods to animals. There is a photo of me picking a water melon along the side of the road. Had to jump into the car again as you are surrounded by locals.

Got good guides for my trips Malick and his mate ( forgot his name ) in the photo at my house.

My house is great with air conditioning in my bedroom but still 20 degrees.

Harry in the Gambia

2007-10-01T11:32:00.000-07:00

From Wednesday 24th October 2007 information, videos and photographs will appear here of Harry Eakin's trip to the Gambia. A daily blogg will appear each evening by 8pm

Location: West Africa – The smallest country on mainland Africa

Capital: Banjul

Poverty: The Gambia suffers from widespread poverty. Life expectancy at birth is 55 years, but that figure has improved markedly in the last two decades. Unemployment is high in urban areas and in rural areas the fragile agricultural sector is highly dependent on the weather. The country ranks 155 out of 177 in the UNDP's human development index.

Land Area: 11,295 Sq.km (4361 Sq. Miles)

Population: 1.5 million

Climate: Pleasant sub-tropical climate with two distinct seasons

Timezone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

Currency: Dalasi (GMD) Pronounced (DA-LA-SI)

Religion: Islam about 85 % of the population

Official Language: English