Sheraton Gambia Hotel Resort & Spa Serekunda

... sat on this beautiful deck and watched the sunset... it was one of the most beautiful sunsets i had seen in my life. Alittle writing in the journal, a tear shed and then a quick boarding of the airplane.... and i was off. My time in africa felt like it was 5minutes... but it touched me deeper then anyother experience and trip of my life. I still think about it and talk about it with people around me nearly every minute.

... dancing, wrestling, etc. Jori surprised me with an amazing booking at this eco lodge(Boboi Beach Lodge, 7776736) that is 100% solar, recycles everything, organic natural veggie food, Right on the beach! Very excited, we'll also meet up with jori's friends here... Pat(From St MArys) and Allison(from PA). Sunday night we ight stay there again if the festival is good. We'll decide when were down there. We might stay in Gunjul(alittle north), and then head home on monday ...

... see these things, and I can only imagine how bare the well-paved roads of America will seem without them. One night I had one of those dreams that just leaves you with an irrational gloom all morning; I dreamt that I was home again, but when I greeted everyone with a warm "salaam aleikum," they only looked at me strangely and coldly. It was just a little bit heartbreaking to think about. This place has, in the short time I've been here, left a mark on me,. And come December 16th, I ...

... a time and demand is low. Its not possible to change money or use a cash machine there. On the ferry crossing I got talking to a teacher and caretaker of the Methodist school, who asked me to drop by the school the next day. He directed me to the campment on the northern most bank of the river which is a peaceful, pretty but empty place. There's no electricity and lighting is supplied by oil lamps and candles. Monkeys run ...

... a highly significant question about the current government that you want so desperately to answer with great conviction and passion, and you have to swallow all that emotion and dodge the question for fear of intimidation or imprisonment without a trial. You can only hope that student will not remain part of the large group of Gambians who are deluded by the government propaganda from a controlled press. Yet even if he does discover the answer on his own or from another source, he ...

... here, and though you will see women at universities and in higher-level jobs, traditional expectations apply) but during this holy time especially, it is very important that everyone work together and help others. This might mean cooking, or walking to the biddik (small shops on every block that sell basic canned goods, and other necessities) for fresh bread. You will leave the heat of the room you probably share with a couple other of your brothers and sisters, weave ...

... it is a feeling to relish in. Plus the scenery itself would be worth the trip: towering palms, overwhelming green, surprisingly vibrant flowers, surpassed only by the birds chirping everywhere along the road. And then, for an extra touch if this could ever get boring, the blue expanse of the ocean peaks out from behind the trees. Sometimes it feels so perfect I feel like someone is putting on a show for me. And the Abouko art village is not a bad place ...

... experience is something you're quite accustomed to, sorry for the rambling, but I am young and much is new to me, so let me have my passion and enthusiasm ?. Moving on from that rant to something a bit more lighthearted... Omar's Kitchen. It would be impossible not to love this place, or Omar himself for that matter. The "restaurant" is made up completely of 2 plastic tables on the dirt by the side of the road where guests sit while Omar, and only Omar, runs back and forth cooking in the ...

... work off-screen just because he can and likes to make other people happy and is one of the most compassionate and kind people I've ever met. I think it's safe to say I've developed a bit of a crush on him! The Gambia is a poor country and I felt very humbled for although poverty is rife, living conditions are poor and medical resources are scare, the Gambian people are the most hopeful, helpful, happy, optimistic, positive, friendly, genuine and kind people I ...

... on once you are there" Me> "doesn't it show up on the computer?" Teller [soothing tone] > "oh no, we don't use computers, but that's ok because neither do they" Me> "so how exactly do you record the passenger/flight details?" Teller> "I write them on this piece of paper" Me> "and where does that then live?" Teller> "In this drawer, look" [opening of drawer to demonstrate that this indeed is where many forlorn and tatty scraps of paper reside] Me [speaking ...