Update 09!
Happy 09! I hope everyone had a great holiday season. I have been back in Ouagadougou for a few weeks now… slowly getting back to the flow of things in West Africa. December was a busy month, as I trekked through Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania. I recommend all three countries for travel, as all are quite developed for the travel industry and all offer a good to great selection of brown food. On the other hand, if you want a rougher, dustier, ocean-less vacation, come to Burkina Faso (and visit me)!
My highlights:
1. I met the President of Tanzania at the Serena in Ngorongoro Crater. We slept together… in the same hotel. It was good times. His entourage was huge, thus making the identification of the man slightly more complicated. However, we took advantage of the presidential portrait in the lobby to identify him among his men.
Fortunately, we had the chance to have a meaningful conversation with Mr. President upon our arrival at the hotel. This was following an 8 hour bus from Mombasa to Arusha and a three hour trek with the Safari chauffeur to the Crater. Thus, we were in top form when we were notified by hotel staff that the president was entering and we should avoid sudden movements.
Mr. President: "Hi, how are you?"
Us (Caroline, Sarah, Nikhil and I) in semi-unison: "Good, Thanks. How are you?"
Mr. President: "Fine, Thanks."
Later we exchanged policy ideas.
2. I learned how to support the leading political parties in Ghana through dance. This happened on the first leg of our vacation while we visiting Ghana during the elections (first round of voting). It's quite simple actually.
For NPP, the slogan was moving forward. Thus, hold your arms out in front of you. Keeping your elbow locked, tilt you arms at a 45 degree angle. Now, move you hands back and forth in the upward direction and continue to repeat this back and forth movement.
For NDC, the slogan was change (sound familiar?). Place both hands in front of your chest, with one hand above the other. Now, rotate your hands in a circular motion. This movement represents change.
Both dance moves can work with just about any beat, as was confirmed during a night out in Kumasi where a NDC and NPP supporters showcased their moves.
(NDC won the elections during the run off that followed the initial ballot).
3. I enjoyed the many Ghanaian phrases.
"I am fine like Fanta" = pick up line
"Ballets not Bullets" = poster promoting peace throughout the elections
"Drive home safety to a big HUG"
On the coast, I found that 90% of store names had a biblical reference. My favourite: the "No Jesus, No Life" sign that adorned a store that sold snacks.
4. I discovered many differences between Ghana and Burkina…. For example…
- In Ghana, phone cards are sold in booths and not on sticks. Thus you need to physically go to the phone card supplier while in Burkina the suppliers come to you.
- While driving in Burkina, fruit, meat, phone cards, gum and tissue vendors will approach your vehicle. In Ghana, the selection of vendors is much vaster. I took advantage of this selection by purchasing strawberry yogurt during my cab rides, while others (such as one of my cab drivers) chose to purchase glue….and preceded to sniff it for the remainder of our journey…
5. I definitely couldn't leave Nairobi without being hit with tear gas. The sound of tear being fired echoes that of a pistol, it also burns the eyes and throat. I experienced this joy twice during my 5 day stay with Jami and Zu in Nairobi.
6. I went snorkelling in the Indian Ocean, while lacking the ability to swim.
7. Zanzibar. Stone Town. Sandbank.
8. I ate some amazing brown food. It was great meeting up with Rich in Kumasi, where we dined at a delicious Indian restaurant after taking a tour of his home for the last few months. The best brown food on the trip was definitely Haadi in Nariobi!
9. Everyone loves Obama unconditionally everywhere in Africa.
10. I enjoyed the abundance of Smirnoff Ice in Kenya.
11. I ate at a Subway in Dar Salaam. Local specialty = paneer tikka!! This is something Brampton Subways should definitely consider.
12. I rode public transport in Kenya, complete with gangsta rap and strove lights.
muah.
Narinder
