Gambia: Day Thirteen

Tuesday 19^th February

Safari day!!

Reaaally early start (again). Out by van for 7, so breakfast (oat biscuits and chocolate bar; healthy as ever) eaten on van. Everyone very tired so quiet journey to start with.

Got to ferry port. Left van behind and went on as foot passengers, which made things much quicker! Ferry trip uneventful; everyone still quiet. Will and I listened to my iPod and I updated the diary.

More Boats

 

 After the ferry, we hired jeeps, which was quite cool. Wish we could travel like that all the time! We went on in our boat groups as well, qui est superbe.

My orange juice leaked all over my bag again, which annoyed me and I was in a mood for a while; not particularly about that, just about being near the end of our trip and having to go back and everything like that. Thankfully, my bag was quick to dry and I soon cheered up.

The Jeep trip was great! Bouncing over rough terrain, sun in the sky, wind rushing through your hair- what's not to love!?

Jeeps!! (And One Big Camera)

Stopped at Senegal/Gambia border- passport time! (Though they didn't actually check our pictures or even count the number in the Jeeps, which was a bit weird). Whilst we were stopped, we were 'hassled' by the street-sellers and beggars, which was hard. We're not allowed to buy anything, but they're very persistent. You just want to give them everything.

The beggars are worse; little children who ask for innocuous things such as pens and biscuits. There seems no harm in giving them things like that, but we're still not allowed, as it teaches them that begging works, which is negative long-term. We all know that, but it doesn't make it any easier.

Off again to the safari place. We stayed in the same groups, same Jeeps. Over the course of the safari we saw giraffes, zebras, warthogs and two types of antelope.

We saw the warthogs and antelope first, causing Miss W and I to entertain our group with a variety of Lion King songs, which no-one else seemed to be particularly enthused about.

Amazingly Graceful For Their Size

Warthogs!

 When I Was A Young Warthog...

Next we saw the giraffes. Saw them from a distance at first, then managed to get closer and closer. They were so so lovely!! (I got laughed at for a small comment involving the size of their necks, however).

 Such Long Necks

They Posed For Us

Then- zebras! I thought they looked like they were made from foam, but no-one else agreed. Again, an amazing experience.

Look!

Cue Debate On Black With White Stripes Or White With Black Stripes

Unfortunately, no rhinos or hyenas :( According to the tour guides, they'd escaped earlier that morning. What a coincidence!? On the upside, we saw loads and loads of butterflies which would fly up when someone walked past, then settle back down again. Everyone also exclaimed over the toilets; we really are appreciating the smaller things.

Flutterbies

Back in the Jeep. I so so want to travel like this permanently. Impractical in Bristol though, I guess. Oh well, looks like I'll have to live in Africa!

Stopped at the border again. This time we met a beggar who looked around Roo's age, which I found quite hard. Also a nut-seller who doesn't go to school because the little she makes is required for her family. This is all so hard.

Back on the ferry; very busy. We saw cattle being transported, at which point I gave up red meat. Mr B was also propositioned by a French woman- we think he learnt a lesson in trying out his French!

The Cattle :(

Then in van back to hotel. We had time to change etc., then people got in the pool. Unfortunately, norethisterone still hasn't kicked in (piss-take!!) so I sat on side with Anju.

Monkeys At The Hotel

One by one people left, so it was just me, Anju and Miss W (who was asleep/listening to music). Anju and I played the Top 5 game; we've really taken to this! Ended up with 'Top 5 Worst Memories', which only I did. We had a very deep conversation.

Anju, Eleanor, Miss W, Mr B, Mr M and I went down to the beach, which was really nice. We ran along the sea, it was so good!

Changed and went out for dinner. Shop stop- I bought a Mandinka/Wolof dictionary, which was promptly nicked by- well, everyone. Wish I'd found this at the beginning of the holiday!! We think it was probably written by a man- it has phrases such as 'you have long legs' and 'you are very beautiful'.
Dinner was great. Sat with Anju, Daisy, Eleanor, Miss W, Mr B and Mr M. So funny! Daisy was cold, and ended up being 'dressed' in napkins by Mr B and Mr M. I also used my dictionary to great effect; various people have now said things under pretence of saying something else.

Daisy, Eleanor, Anju and I ended up discussing/gossiping about various people, which Mr M, Mr B and Miss W were half interested and half 'disgusted/bored' by. Daisy and I confused the others by our ability to talk using limited words; however, this failed at one point where Miss W worked out what I'd just mouthed at Daisy (pertaining to Becki's interests in Physics). That was pretty amusing.

Walked back to hotel along the beach, which was incredibly beautiful. The moon and stars are so bright here! I've said it so many times, but it's beautiful here: breath-takingly, movingly beautiful.

Finally, to bed.