Meeting the new in-laws!

Trip Start Aug 31, 2005
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Trip End Aug 25, 2006


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Flag of Gambia  ,
Sunday, April 22, 2007

hehe!  So, after a year away, I went back to Africa.  Different this time though, because, without ever being there, I was heading HOME - well, to one of my homes anyway :-)

Barika and I are getting married at the end of the year (yee haa!) and so it was important that I saw his family, and saw his life.  And man, what a fantastic experience it was.

Too little time to write it all down now (I am hoping I'll come back to this), but here are some of the highlights:
- The family - lovely and welcoming.  And there are hundreds!
- A new house - we put the roof on our new house while we were there!
- Beaches - hundreds of kms of beautiful beaches (and the tourists that go with it, boo)
- Late nights and live music
- The reggae! Everywhere
- BEAUTIFUL handmade silver
- Being given a sheep as a present on the last day from the local marabu (witch doctor).  My sheep was slaughted and a feast was eaten!
- St James Island / Jeffure - the home of Roots
- Bribing police to get a certain family member off a police charge
- Trying to bribe border police to be allowed into Senegal without a visa
- Over-loaded buses

Anyway, more details to follow!  For now, just trying to upload my pics!  Enjoy!

Post your own travel photos for friends and family Pictures

A street downtown A street downtown Alieu and Pa Korma before heading to the mosque Alieu and Pa Korma before heading to the mosque Another broken down bus... on the way to Roots Another broken down bus... on the way to Roots At home - mumma Bintu and her friend At home - mumma Bintu and her friend
Aww - the happy couple Aww - the happy couple B and Ebou - our one dinner 'out'! B and Ebou - our one dinner 'out'! B and his brew B and his brew B on St James' Island B on St James' Island
Barika and his uncle and cousin Barika and his uncle and cousin Barika getting an afro! Barika getting an afro! Barika taking a smoko break Barika taking a smoko break Barika's dad, Ousman (hard at work) Barika's dad, Ousman (hard at work)
Beautiful neighbour, always with a snooty nose! Beautiful neighbour, always with a snooty nose! Brikama - the neighbours Brikama - the neighbours Checking the rice for bad bits Checking the rice for bad bits Darling wee girl pretending to wash up Darling wee girl pretending to wash up
Ebou with our builder Ebou with our builder Ebou! Ebou! Ebou- man I love this photo! Ebou- man I love this photo! Evening at the family home Evening at the family home
Everyone leaving the ferry at the other end Everyone leaving the ferry at the other end Feasting on the lamb Feasting on the lamb Hannah and B's last night Hannah and B's last night Hannah and dad Hannah and dad
Hannah and mumma Hannah and mumma Hannah and the friendly croc Hannah and the friendly croc Hannah mets mumma! Hannah mets mumma! hehe, got my hair done again hehe, got my hair done again
Home help - the amazing Haddy Home help - the amazing Haddy How they eat in Gambia - squatting in groups How they eat in Gambia - squatting in groups In no-mans land... trying to get to Senegal In no-mans land... trying to get to Senegal Inside the family compound Inside the family compound
Jewellery shop Jewellery shop Juffure village - the home of Roots Juffure village - the home of Roots Just seconds before a fight... Just seconds before a fight... Kids at a village - taken from bus window Kids at a village - taken from bus window
Little girl from next door Little girl from next door Making attaia - goes on for hours and hours Making attaia - goes on for hours and hours Making tea! Making tea! Malang - at Laman's house where we stayed Malang - at Laman's house where we stayed
My lamb being cut to pieces My lamb being cut to pieces My new younger brother, Paps My new younger brother, Paps My sheep - given to me by the local witch doctor My sheep - given to me by the local witch doctor My silver jeweller - Alieu Faal My silver jeweller - Alieu Faal
On site, foreman B On site, foreman B Our broken down taxi Our broken down taxi Our great mate John Silver Our great mate John Silver Our house Our house
Our neighbours back at home Our neighbours back at home Pa Korma at home Pa Korma at home Paps and his taxi speed off into the sunset Paps and his taxi speed off into the sunset Pounding the herbs and spices Pounding the herbs and spices
Putting the roof on our new house! Putting the roof on our new house! So you think you can play scrabble? ha! So you think you can play scrabble? ha! Some of the jewellery (man did I buy up!) Some of the jewellery (man did I buy up!) Some of the local kids Some of the local kids
St James Island - slave base in West Africa St James Island - slave base in West Africa Stirring the stew Stirring the stew Street outside our house Street outside our house Streets of Brikama Streets of Brikama
Taking the ferry across the river to North bank Taking the ferry across the river to North bank The croc pool The croc pool The family (just before we left) The family (just before we left) The in-laws house - and famous Y junction The in-laws house - and famous Y junction
The kids playing in front of where OUR house is The kids playing in front of where OUR house is The local dairy! The local dairy! The other mumma - Binte at home The other mumma - Binte at home The stew - yum! The stew - yum!
The women preparing the lunch feast The women preparing the lunch feast They dress up in this at circumcision ceremony They dress up in this at circumcision ceremony Very frustrated B and Paps Very frustrated B and Paps Washing the lamb pieces in the kitchen Washing the lamb pieces in the kitchen
What a massive tree! Hannah and Ebou What a massive tree! Hannah and Ebou What everyone does so well... sitting under trees What everyone does so well... sitting under trees What the boys do best... hang out at Y junction What the boys do best... hang out at Y junction What was left of my sheep What was left of my sheep
Yum. Sewerage spilling onto the streets of Bakau Yum. Sewerage spilling onto the streets of Bakau
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Comments

hrh
hrh on Jun 20, 2008 at 09:47AM

right
this is very interesting. i wonder how the folks back home felt about your... er... yes, well. i wish you joy and happiness - although what you did is kinda improbable to me. but love is love, i suppose. all the best.

interesting, very interesting.

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