-Mohammed-
Is there anything better than waking up to the sound of
the crashing waves 10m from your front door? I was definitely looking forward to day of NOTHING. No matter what the half day trip entailed, I
was O-U-T. I slept so well last night
and the power stayed on all night, which in turn kept the fan on and
contributed to my awesome sleep.
Breakfast was arranged for 8.30am, and we had a choice of fried,
scrambled or omelet (the first time all trip) and would you believe it only
took 20 minutes to get all the food on the table. It was short of miraculous, especially for
Africa! After breakfast the guys then
got ready for their journey up the river in a boat and then a hike around one
of the trails with the hope of returning around 12 noon. I was DEFINITELY out and as they prepared, I
fetched my laptop and notebook, walked the 10 paces on the beach, moved one of
the tables and a chair into some shade and proceeded to blog until 10.40am when
the power went flat on my computer and I could type no more. I went the 10 paces back to my room to drop
off my laptop and collect my book, and the power was on (surprising) so I
plugged in my laptop to get some more juice and then went back outside and then
made the most of the sun and her beautiful rays. I am not a ‘parade around in your togs’ kind
of gal, but I had bought my strapless beach dress that I had bought in Easter
Island last year, so I was able to get rid of some of my t-shirt marks, which I
had been careful to roll up my sleeves on truck days, so I didn’t look too much
of a goose with unruly tan lines. I am
sure that the fisherman that I was sharing the beach with were a little
disappointed, as they sat in the shade of the same massive tree and repaired
their fishing nets, all day. They were also repairing them yesterday as well,
but I guess that is their days, fish, fix nets, fish and fix nets. I didn’t see them go out in the boats, but
they had probably gone and come back by the time I sat on the beach at 9.30am
this morning.
River # 2, located in the Peninsula region of Western
Sierra Leone, is one of the most beautiful places on earth -- white sandy
beaches, bright red hibiscus, blue water, golden sunsets, jumping fish and a
backdrop of rolling green hills. Order shrimp or fresh lobster from the beach
and eat it while you watch the sunset. Go fishing for barracuda with our experienced
guides, try some of our local food, buy beautiful cloth from our local tailors
and buy fresh coconuts or mangoes from your front porch. Once you get here,
you'll never want to leave. The beach is
really perfect, rock free with gentle waves. The slope of the beach is gradual
and there's a lagoon with flocks of nesting white birds (picathartes) for those
who prefer to swim with more shelter or have young children. There are flushing toilets, a guarded
car-park, public showers and beach security.
The River # 2 Resort is community-run (by the Number 2 Development
Association). The proceeds from your stay support the local village. Your
choice to stay with us is a choice to support our community's health, welfare
and future. What great sentiments, as I
sit in the sun, knowing I am doing my bit.
It’s a win win for everyone!
The sun was hot and you could feel it burning my skin,
but I was lucky that I had a base tan now, well on my arms and I knew that my
legs (which were white) were going to be in stark contrast of with my upper
body, but then people don’t see my legs that often so I was never worried about
that. I also knew that I would have a
burnt chest, as with my legs, this doesn’t see the sun much, but I was willing
to put up with a little pain for the tan gain.
I know people preach about the harmful effects of the sun blah, blah,
blah, blah, blah, blah-but I figured that we will eventually die anyway, I get
my skin checked every 2 years at a sun specialist and I am willing to take that
risk. I am lucky I have my dad’s skin
and tan as my mum was pale as the moonlight and would only have to be in the
sun for 5 minutes before she turned a shade of pink. I had one guy try and come over while I was
typing, but as power is of the essence, there was no time for chit chat and
thankfully he picked up on that vibe and left me be. Once I started to read my book, I got another
visitor, which happened to be the chairman of the co-operative of Number 2
River Beach, so thought best that I don’t blow him off completely and we had an
‘interesting’ chat, with him more talking than I, and let’s just say that some
plans were made for the ‘future’ that were a little scary and I find it quite
humorous when these African men think that single white females living in
Africa are all looking for a husband when you don’t even know them from a bar
of soap. At first I used to find it all
endearing, I am now wise to the ‘con’, well maybe that is a little harsh, but I
am wise to the tactics of the African man having been burned more than once, I
take these chance meetings and talks of the ‘future’ now with a grain of
salt. It is a shame, as I could see that
Number 2 River could be a place I would have come back to and now after this,
without looking like I am encouraging something-this will now not be
possible.
I was time watching by this point as it was nearly 1pm
and without seeming rude, the arrival of the group back would have been perfect
timing and luckily they weren’t far off the mark getting back around 1.15pm and
saving an awkward situation and I really hate being the ‘bad’ person, even
though I am not the one to get myself into a certain situation. Not matter what I hate saying no to people
and I hate being rude to people as well, it is just not in my nature,
especially when they are just trying to be nice, but as I toughen up in Africa
(which I know I have to do) and I have a lot more to learn, I was just thankful
that the group arrived and it did save me that awkward moment as the
conversation was really starting to kick onto another level that was getting
more than awkward I must say.
We all met for a late lunch, a plate of chips, and as we
were sitting there the clouds blew over, and the heavens opened up and it just
started to pour rain. Where did they
come from? Well that literally put a dampener
on any afternoon plans of sitting on the beach, which probably a blessing in
disguise for my skin was starting to turn ‘pink/tan’, and with the lurking
chairman, it was all a sign to retreat back to my room and read my book until
the power went off at 2.45pm and then I had an afternoon nap as the rain still
came down, because I could, because I was on holidays and because this was my
recharge day. I slept like a baby till
5pm and not wanting to miss another beach sunset I got up and joined Ellie and
Rich on the beach and just took in our surroundings. It really is a beautiful part of the world
here and it really is hard to remember that we are in Sierra Leone. Ian and Suzanne arrived back from a walk down
to Tokeh Beach and they spotted a new 5 star resort down there called The
Place, which will be interesting to Google and see what kind of rates they
charge for staying there. So we all
chilled in the dying light of the day and watched another beautiful sunset end
a PERFECT day for me, a well NEEDED day as I really was running on empty. 7 weeks overlanding in difficult countries is
challenging, I am not denying that and with 3 more to go, I am looking forward
to experiencing new countries, I have to say meeting new people in 3 days and
enjoying the time with my new friends for the remainder of the time.
I was hoping to get back to the stall that were selling
stuff in the afternoon, but with the sun catching and the afternoon sleep I
didn’t quite make it. I need to buy a
mask from Sierra Leone and there was a guy that had a table full of beaded and
nut jewelry that I was not in the mood to go through yesterday, but would like
to have a flip through, so I will do that in the morning before we leave as I
am not sure if I will get a chance in Freetown, as we are not staying in the
city proper, but in a suburb of the city, where apparently all the expats live
and is supposed to be quite nice. Once
we leave Freetown on Saturday with the newbies, we are only in Sierra Leone for
another 2 nights and then we say goodbye to this wonderful, amazing
country. Dinner was at 7.30pm and this
time was picked as Rich and Sam had found a little local pub that was
televising the Arsenal v Dartmouth football match and this time was going to
co-inside with half time. Rich is a mad
keen Arsenal supporter and has been since a kid, so when I travel back to
London in March, if Rich can get me a ticket I will be going to see Man U and
Arsenal play at the end of March. I am
not a football fan, but I have never been to a live game, and I think it would
be an amazing experience, even if I am not an avid football supporter. Like dinner last night and breakfast this
morning, dinner arrived on time and as delicious as ever, with me having, yep
chicken and chips again. Will I ever get
sick of chicken, or tuna for that fact?
I don’t think so. Rich went back
to watch the last half of the game and we all sat around and chatted till
9.30pm when Rich returned with the sad news that Arsenal had lost and on that
note we all called it a night and with a break in the rain made it back to our
bungalows before a bigger storm, with thunder and lightning this time came
across and I was thankful that we weren’t in tents as the storm sounded like it
was in for the night.
So I enjoyed my rest day and I am now raring to go for
the final 3 weeks of the trip. It will
be nice to throw off the ‘pioneering’ hats that we have had for the last 3
weeks, and get stuck into an organized proper itinerary again, where we don’t
have to worry about the cost of accommodation each night and wondering what we
will be doing the next day. It can get
quite stressful, especially if there are a few people that wanted to try
something else, but luckily we are an AMAZING group of 5 and we will lose that
when we add in 7 more people to the mix and I just hope that they are all going
to be as easy going and open minded as us.
I was joking the other day, as they are only doing 3 weeks they are not
true overlander’s, but I think I am being a little harsh on people I haven’t
net yet.
Goodnight from paradise, even if it is still raining outside
as I turned off my light and closed my eyes.
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