Ngala Lodge Fajara

... means regurgitating information just given by the teacher and it requires an absolute minimum of actual thought. If an assignment is actually given, very few of the 40 to 50 students who may or may not have their books and supplies actually understand as the teacher calls off the right answer during the 30 minute class. More than anything, these students seem to learn copying, and this "skill" seems to pervade everything they do. In art class, when told to use their ...

... we all stepped back from the hut a little shocked by the way all the different colors and designs had come together to occupy their own little corner of Tungbun. Etu showed his approval with a radiant laugh and clap of the hands as he circiled the hut, promising to name it after us. It was amazing to be able to give something back to him and the village for all the enjoyment we'd had there. It was amazing to be able to leave our own little mark on the village. It was amazing just to ...

... There is police, army, customs, immigration all with varying levels of presence on both sides of the border. They were professionally presented and asked for nothing. Continued over the better roads in Senegal to Diouloulou, the first large village I reached. Cycled past a respectable youngster and asked if he could take me to the campment. Dropped my bags there and we headed off to for a tour of the backstreets. He ...

... and end up snatching my paperwork out of his hands. Trembling with fear realising the stupidity of such behaviour, I decide in for a penny, in for a pound and loudly demand my bribe back. There's a tense moment where the pair of us are both waiting to see if he is going to have me beaten and shot, but then a wave of resignation appears to override him and to my palpable relief and surprise, he shrugs his shoulders and hands over the cash. I never did get my report...

... s no telling in West Africa. And there is especially no telling in a hospital here. Bryan was in pain, feverish and a little out of it during his stay, but he was fortunately well enough to still be able to laugh about the experiences with the health care. I'm a little afraid what would have happened if he wasn't. Here's a quick description of medical care in The Gambia, in one of the better clinics. We faced the typical several hour wait in a crowded, hot waiting room, the typical ...

... for students, many have entered the workforce and come back to education. They also have a much more definite, often lofty goals for what they will do with their education. Much more is riding on their education, and in a country with only one university, where almost half the students do not pass the exam at the end of secondary school that allows them entrance into higher education, if you are one of the people going to college, you take it seriously, or at least talk ...

... coaches which parade their convey of idiots through villages and then at a pre-arranged signal, throw out pens and sweets so everyone can get a nice photo of kids scrabbling around in the dirt. Hearing the speech they are presented with on the way from the airport though, my hostility towards tourists softened slightly. Who can blame them for their behaviour when their welcome briefing informs them that people would be pathetically grateful for being ...

... ooh, a spoon" and "ratpoison - wherever did you find it?" echoed around the room in exclamations of genuine delight. Best of all, I achieved my objective of hitting the beach on xmas day. It wasn't Christmas in the traditional sense of being surrounded by family and getting to really spoil yourselves and each other, but it was a day I won't forget in a hurry.

... of our sweat-drenched situation, Mr Umar called us whilst we were waiting and instructed us to give Mr Kebbe money for petrol. When we discussed the matter of money again with Mr Kebbe, it became clear that none of the money we'd given Mr Umar had been given to Mr Kebbe. Relieved to say goodbye to the hapless Mr Kebbe and knowing that a showdown with Mr Umar is on the Horizon, we can't believe our luck when we find Fajara Beach 'resort ...