Heading up to Volta region, I made sure I had the video camera ready this time as we passed through the Shia Hills, in case a chance to capture the baboons presented itself. And it did, so Ive a few seconds on video now, hooray!
We arrived at 8am to purchase our tickets, there is no online bookings out here :), then had a wander around a small market before boarding the ship for our 3 hour each way cruise on the lake. Volta is a big lake! An African band played heir tunes all the way up and back, and murdered a set of western songs, but that was all part of the fun :)
3 hours later we arrive at an island where there are dancers and drummers performing on our arrival. Quite obviously designed for tourists, it was still fun. I don't know what it is about me that attracts the kids, but everyone else got off and started walking around the island hassle free. I had 2 kids immediately grab either hand to guide me, and at one stage, another 3 or 4! Why me? Like the kids at the Orphanage they were fascinated with my hairy arms, I told them it's cold where I come from, not like Ghana, so it keeps me warm :)
They were also fascinated with the white patches on my skin. Probably because in some parts Albino's are considered to have magic powers - which could be concerning as historically, some tribes chopped up Albinos to make medicine :). Not here though :)
There really wasn't anything on the island, so after walking around it for 30 minutes, we boarded the ship to head back. As soon as we did, the kids jumped in canoes to go back to their own villages, no one actually lives on this island :). No one went for a swim in the lake, apparently there are all sorts of disease the locals are immune to that we would suffer from. Including nasties that cause all kinds of tumours/growths. We started the 3 hour journey back. Very peaceful and relaxing, passing by lots more islands dotted over the lake:
Dinner was spent at a local restaurant in Volta called Afrikiko. It's a holiday resort on a river, more alfresco dining, very pretty. There is an awful lot of chicken on menus in Ghana, it is clearly a favorite food next to fish, and occasionally goat and beef. The grilled chicken has a pepper spice to it, and is usually served with a black pepper dip called Shito To add a bit of variety, instead of chicken and rice, I tried a more traditional meal of chicken and Banku. Banku is made from maize, and is a white flour looking pillow. It has a sour flavor, and is dipped in either a tomato salsa type dip, or the Shito. It has the texture of soft play dough, and you break a piece off, dip and eat to consume it. Good to try once, but not a dish I'm going to miss back home.
Check out the "Weekend 2 pics" blog entry for pictures over the weekend.
- Keep on Rockin'. Dwight.
Location:Volta Region
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