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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 katiemac604
March 12th 2009

"I can't speak toubab" Africa » Gambia » District of Banjul » Banjul

On saturday at 2 Njareh picked me up and took me to Banjul. The city itself was nothing spectacular, but we went into the market. IT WAS HEAVEN. fabric store after fabric store after fabric store of beautiful african fabrics. i bought a ton of fabrics for under $100 and am probably going to get them made either tomorrow or saturday. on sunday i woke up to the sound of women laughing and talking in Wolof. they were outside making donuts for the Gamo. i went out and helped them. they had a huge pot of vegetable oil over a fire [View Full Entry]

By katiemac604
March 5th 2009

"Aunty Kate! Aunty Kate!" Africa » Gambia » District of Banjul » Banjul

That's my name! and it's been so worn out. so let me explain some things because it would be easier to reference people after they've been explained. the respectful way to address an authority figure is by calling them Aunty if they're an unmarried woman, Mrs. if they're married, and Mr. if they're a man. Aunty Bin is my homestay mother and founder of the ABC learning center. two of her sisters are Aunty Fatou and Aunty Ngoneh. Aunty Fatou lives with us and makes food for school lunches. Aunty Ngoneh is the head of ABC 1 (nursery school through grade [View Full Entry]

By katiemac604
March 3rd 2009

My African Boyfriend Africa » Gambia » District of Banjul » Banjul

so remember how last entry i talked about how Njareh was going to take me out on saturday night? well she showed up at my house at 9:45 in a dress and heels and told me we were going dancing. first we went to a little restaurant so i could get some food (pizza) and we talked about life and such. she told me that we were meeting the boys after. the boys were her 27-year-old fiancee (she's 25) Adama and her 23-year-old brother Cheron. we met up with adama and got a taxi to Senegambia. tourist town!! there were so [View Full Entry]

By katiemac604
February 28th 2009

Have you ever been the only white person in a crowded stadium? Africa » Gambia » District of Banjul » Banjul

Slamalikum! That's Wolof for hello. i'm learning wolof because the official language here is english, but everyone speaks wolof anyway. so california. a good three weeks. two trees fell down across the road, we did a sweat lodge, hung out, ate food, and did inner journey stuff. we had a lot of fun. marin, corinne, and zoe turned our cabin into a fort and we slept underneath it the whole time. at the end of the three weeks it was time to go to africa. at 2 am on wednesday morning, Sam drove Liz and I to the sonoma airport where [View Full Entry]

By jillsbrain
February 11th 2009

Woe is me, woe is W Africa Africa » Gambia » District of Banjul

precious little girl

In Jill v. West Africa I admit defeat. I'm feeling so emotionally fragile, I may lose it at any time. Everything is in such disrepair that trying to accomplish anything in a given day is a frustrating nightmare. Without reliable infrastructure (internet, electricity, running water, telephone service) I have become frazzled and undone. On top of that, this particular area where I am staying (Bakau, Gambia) is infected by a social virus: foreign women coming mostly from W. Europe looking for men, which has created a sex trade. I cannot walk anywhere without being accosted (verbally, please don't [View Full Entry]

The general concept is to cover the hair, one I only partially grasped

By Uwargida
January 1st 2009

Africa Moment # 15 Africa » Gambia » District of Banjul

Africa Moment # 15
But isn't a pint, just a pint?

Hanging outside a restaurant in Banjul.. [View Full Entry]

By Uwargida
July 5th 2008

Kachikaly Croc Pool Africa » Gambia » District of Banjul

Kachikaly Crocodile Pool
Amazing that the crocs here are so docile - but not all of them! The guides tell you which ones have the temperament for petting.

A few snap shots from our visit to the Kachikaly Crocodile Pool in The Gambia. The locals believe that the pool has mystical powers and women who are not able to conceive come and collect the water from the pool and bathe with it. The crocodiles represent the power of fertility - you know I stayed far away from that water!! There are a bunch of kids running around The Gambia who are named after the pool - their births, no doubt attributed to the mothers' visit to the site. [View Full Entry]

By Uwargida
July 3rd 2008

Camel Safari and Tanji Fishing Village Africa » Gambia » District of Banjul

Camel Ride
Setting up

Here are a few shots to accompany the year end blog. These are from the Camel Safari and Tanji Fishing Village outside of Banjul. We went with my brother and family in July 2008. [View Full Entry]