More of Ghana

Well, another chance to show some more of the things we did in Ghana :)

Philip's sister Ami, is studying Nursing at a college in Koforidua (about a 3 hour bus ride from home,Accra).  Philip's cousin Imo, and myself were wanting to go up there and see where she spends her time ;)  So, Philip took us on a little day trip to visit Ami.  It was very fun.  

There are plenty markets along the way, selling all kinds of beautiful fresh fruit and veggies.

 

Also along the way, a bit of a repair yard for the vehicles :)

Wherever you go, it seems you can't get away from traffic.  Here at the roundabout nearing Koforidua.

Here is where Ami is studying.  It's known to be a very good school. 

Ami and one of her roommates

Esther, Imo and Ami (cousins re-uniting)

Ami had her birthday the day before we arrived, so we went out for a fancy lunch to celebrate.  It was quite an event.  Imo got his food first, and then 30 mins later some of us got our food.  We ordered chinese style food, so it came as a sauce and rice separately.  Well, one of us got sauce and had to wait for the rice, one had rice and no sauce, it was quite entertaining hahaha.  There was no such thing as good service.  By the time we had waited 40 mins, we all had our food, and Imo was done eating his :)
But as the saying goes...... TIA (This is Africa)  :)

 After our meal, we then went outside the restaurant and hung out by the pool for a little fresh air and entertainment.  The children were dancing about and making us have a good laugh..  Fun times had together :)

Esther, Ami, Philip, Myself, Imo.

My beautiful sis Ami ;)

On our way back to Ami's school, there were a few little boys playing "football" in the park.  They saw me and started calling "Obruni" which means white lady.  So I was saying hi, and then I started playing with them.  Pretty soon we were all playing with them and having a good ole time ;)  They were shocked that the Obruni would play ball with the boys :)

Me n my girls :)  Esther and Ami

On our way somewhere in a taxi..

This was a week of birthdays.  First Auntie Betty on the 22nd, then Ami on the 24th, and then Matey on the 26th.  It's hard to celebrate every couple days, so we had a party on Matey's birthday and celebrated for everyone.  We got KFC (the only american chain restaurant in Ghana) and had a lovely birthday meal.

Fif and his mom posing at the end :)

Uncle Tetteh has been faithfully feeding the birds ever since I've known him.  Here are a few of his precious "children" as he says :)  Whether it be rice or bread or crumbs, they are always kept fed :)

        

February 28th marks the Hero's Day in Ghana. This year’s commemoration of the 64th anniversary of the 28th February Christiansburg Crossroads shooting incident has been marked at the Freedom Monument at Osu in Accra. The crossroads shooting incident is celebrated every year to honour the defenceless ex-servicemen who in 1948 were killed by the colonial police while they were marching peacefully to the Osu castle to present a petition to the then governor. The three were Sergeant Adjetey, Cpl. Attipoe and Pte. Odartey Lamptey.

 There were riots and they remember 3 soldiers this day for their bravery in fighting for the rights of their country.  This was a little celebration they had in the park that night, and so we went to watch.  There were a lot of traditional dances and songs, but also a few "celebrity" appearances :)

      

Quite the dance moves and singing

     

This was a part of the "re-enactment" that was done to show what all they suffered through.

    

 

    

The first Celebrity appearance was made by Mr.... Bukom Banku.  He is a light heavy weight boxer who had just won a boxing title earlier in the week for Ghana.  He is somewhat a comedian as well :) The croud sure enjoyed his appearance.

   

Then there was another guest, and he is a known rapper in the Ghanian community.  I do not know his name, but he also stole the show for the locals :)

   

I can only laugh at the store names here in Ghana.  Usually they all have some religious conotation,(Thy will be done hair salon, or By God's Grace autobody)  but this one really did "make me laugh."

Philip and I were looking at the "top 10" things to do while in Ghana, and going to this beach was one of them.  Labadi Beach.  However, I will probably not go back.  It was way too crowded and it wasn't as private or nice as the one we go to "Bojo."  But, we did still enjoy our time by the ocean, taking in the sun and sand.

When Philip saw this, he "had" to drive. It was really neat actually to drive this thing along the waters edge of the ocean.  We had about a 15 minute ride for about 8 dollars haha. It was worth it though, we enjoyed it.

Driving through Accra one day, Philip pointed out the "slums" of Accra.  It's really sad, but these tiny little shacks are there by the hundreds and I feel so sad for those living there.  I haven't seen poverty much before this, but it definitely is there in places.

Imo and Ami.  We had lunch in "Frankies," the american style

restaurant where we enjoyed our afternoon one day.



Philip and Me, (after his team scored a goal, so the smiles were big) ;)

I have one last post to do once I finish sizing the rest of the pictures.  I will try in the next few days to finish off the trip.  It's hard to imagine that a week ago today, I left Accra, and left Philip!  It's not easy, but time does go by, so we hope it keeps going by until we see each other again.

All for now,
Lonely Leah