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Gambia Travel Blogs

Background: The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned political activity, but a 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook another round of presidential and legislative elections in late 2001 and early 2002. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH, the leader of the coup, has been elected president in all subsequent elections.

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By Bjorndahl
July 17th 2009

DA Gambia Africa » Gambia » Western Division » Serrekunda

My Only Picture of The Gambia
Out a car window, not very exciting

Ok, so Travelblog just attempted to auto-save my really long update, but then the browser crashed, and there was no saving. Lame. So I won't be rewritting all i just wrote. Left Dakar at 6am, avoided most of the traffic jams, but not all. Car broke down in Kaolak, and so I got to see a bit of an untouristy Senegalize city. It was ok. Still children everywhere asking for money. Crossed the border with no problems (though it is the first time anyone has checked inside my bag). Got to Banjul and found out that the Guinea consulate has moved. [View Full Entry]

By eddy15
June 22nd 2009

Chillin' in Da Gambia Africa » Gambia » District of Banjul » Banjul

Chill day. So many hustlers saying “remember me?”. Saw some crocs and bought some more books! Also saw a pack of gay dogs fucking each other. Off to Dakar tomorrow. Also, man am I bad a ping-pong! Oh yes, at a museum I saw an exhibit that presented both sides of the story of female genital mutilation! Fuck, moral relativism! That shit is wrong! [View Full Entry]

By eddy15
June 21st 2009

Extortion and Marriage Proposals at the Gambian Border Africa » Gambia » District of Banjul » Banjul

Well a rather long day of travel from Cap Skiring to The Gambia. Early rise thanks to Simon (5:30) and on the bus at 6:30. I hope he didn’t expect any cash? At the Gambian border I got pulled in to the border guards office for my “address”. It soon became clear that I wasn’t going to be allowed to go anytime soon. However, I wasn’t in a rush. Neither of us were willing to bring up the idea of a bribe (for different reasons). We casually chatted about sports, Canada and the weather. All the while the border guard was [View Full Entry]

By katiemac604
May 12th 2009

Remember my last entry? I did the same thing with Grade 5 today. So i have 9 more letters to share with you guys. Same edits, same deal as last time. Here goes: Topic: Explain the customs and traditions of The Gambia to someone who has never been to The Gambia. The costoms (costumes) in The Gambia are nice, like the traditional dresses. Some of the traditional dresses are made out of different things and the traditional dresses are used by some of the ethnic groups in The Gambia. When you are from another country, you can choose the kind of [View Full Entry]

By Emma and David
May 11th 2009

Back at School Africa » Gambia

So now we are back at school, back to being a teacher again... This week was quite stressful, I will give you a brief summary; Monday: I go to school at 8am, only to find about 50 students and 0 teachers. By 9am this number has gone up to 60 students and 2 teachers. By 11am this number remains at 60 out of 400 students and 3 out of 10 teachers. I then decide that the 60 students who have turned up should at least be given food for their first day, since they were all half starving after a 1month [View Full Entry]

By katiemac604
May 6th 2009

Sixth Graders Talk About The Gambia Africa » Gambia » District of Banjul » Banjul

i've hand-written 10 pages of my 12-page paper, so i feel comfortable using this time to add this entry. (kate's not procrastinating? what?) i started a new project. which reminds me...how's everyone coming with those SCHOOL SUPPLIES? i taught grade 6 yesterday afternoon...4 boys and one girl. i showed them my passport and taught them the star-spangled banner. then we did verbal for all of 15 minutes. then i gave them each a piece of paper and a topic to write about. this will give you an understanding of how they speak and write here, and why sometimes i feel a [View Full Entry]

By katiemac604
May 5th 2009

Too much to do, and no time to do it. Africa » Gambia » District of Banjul » Banjul

Let me give you an overview of my last two weeks here: Due on May 13: A 12-page ethnology project 5 2-page essays Due when i get back to Maacama 3-page self-evaluation Internet Cafe hours: 10-6 Sunday-Thursday 10-4 Friday 11-3 Saturday My Schedule: Today (Tuesday 5/5)-School from 8:30-6:30 Wednesday 5/6-School from 8:30-7 Thursday 5/7-School from 8:30-2 (and then probably about three hours at the internet) Friday 5/8-School from 8:30-2 and then going gift-shopping in Banjul Saturday 5/9-nature reserve Sunday 5/10-internet/beach Monday 5/11-school from 8:30-7 Tuesday [View Full Entry]

By katiemac604
April 28th 2009

A Gambian Wedding Africa » Gambia » North Bank » Farafenni

so i typed this whole thing yesterday and it was super long (you'll see by the end). and then when i tried to publish it the internet died. and the entry didn't save. yay my life. so here we go again. Friday afternoon i went on a quest for the Omega church that christian had told me about. i got lost a few times, and finally found some kids who were really excited to show me where it was. they held my hand and ran through the glass-strewn streets barefoot to show me the church. it was closed, but i took [View Full Entry]

By LuBarnham
April 26th 2009

Don't Go Hippo Spotting Without Your Spectacles Africa » Gambia

Heepo

Fifty kilometres; it was an inoffensive distance to travel between the villages of Bintang and Tendaba. On the map, it was a mere wiggle, a jubilant jump eastwards then westwards, passing a handful of small villages. In my head, I had us relaxing beside the Gambia River by lunchtime, eating chicken and chips with our feet propped on garden chairs. We had been camping, badly, for two days and nights now, and were orange with road dust, ready for some R&R. Here’s how the fifty kms treated us: Phase one - A lift from Bintang village to Sibanor village, where we [View Full Entry]

By katiemac604
April 24th 2009

HEAT Africa » Gambia » District of Banjul » Banjul

as the rainy season approaches it is SO HOT here. i used to have to wear a fleece at night. now i sleep on top of my covers. i forgot to put this in my last entry-on tuesday when mr gaye was talking about pollution, he talked about the dumping ground. for those of you who aren't in the gambia (i guess that's everyone), the dumping ground is literally a giant field full of trash. it's the gambia's version of a landfill. and they burn the trash to get rid of it. this is right next to abc 1. mr gaye [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Africa » Gambia