Accra

I left Kumasi after a few days (as mentioned). I went to a few museums about the Asante culture. The most interesting was probably the Kings Palace. Some of the culture was very different to other Ghanaian culture. For example if the Kings feet touch the ground at any time, he will be considered de-throned, therefore he has a stool at his feet at all times.

After Kumasi I took a mini bus to the Cape Coast. I really enjoy this place!. They have a National Park close by called Karkum. It is famous for having a canopy walk. Basically it's a few kilometers of bridges above the forest apparently40ms above . They are not your normal bridges though, instead it looks like those bridges in the Jungle in American movies (two ropes tied to planks of wood). I then went on a nature walk around the forest (I thought I needed some exercise). I spent another few days talking to people.

I got back to Accra on the 10th. A number of American students were staying at the hostel which was great, as I went out a few nights and had dinner with them. I also went to a proper Premier league game (The national not the English version).

The last few days I visited the National Museum and some famous suburban areas. Tomorrow is my last day in Ghana, I then spend a night in Joburg before I fly back home, arriving on the 16th! Thus I will speak soon.

Kumasi (Ghana)

I spent a few more nights in Accra. I think I mentioned this before but the backpackers is in a remote almost outer suburbs part of Accra, meaning their is no modern building, restaurants or supermarkets near by. This is great if you want to save money, as all you can eat is the street food, which I like. Plantain (which is like a bananna) is very sweet and you get it with every meal. They also eat alot of cassava. Another insteresting aspect of Ghanaian life is they are very religious. Nearly every store has a religious name, for example: 'Jesus is our savior internet cafe' or 'God is great hair dressers' or 'Please forgive me Jesus fast food' anyway you get the point.

Yesterday I spent most of my day on a bus traveling from Accra to Kumasi. Kumasi is near the center of Ghana and it is famous for being the home of many Ashanti people. The Ashanti people had a large and powerful empire in West Africa before colonialism (for more info refer to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashanti) I expect to stay here for 3 days. Anyway I am off to see the Museum

Ghana part 2

I am back in Accra at the moment! Spend New Years on the beach with a group of Americans and a German guy. The German guy got his wallet and phone stolen just before mid night, he wasnt very smart, the guy didnt even have insurance, he then went to the Police and got more stuff stolen (his shoes) although im pretty sure he lost his shoes and just wont admit it. You need to be prepared to come to Africa and he wasnt, there is certain things you need to do, and you wont have a problem. Number one: Never carry large amount of money. If your drinking dont carry any valuables . These simple rules will save alot of hassel. The Americans I was traveling with are now scared they will also get robbed and are being extremely paranoid, thus I left them today as I couldnt handle how they were traveling.

Also I got all my luggage back on the 30th (all in one piece so that awesome)
Anyway I am off to go watch the football.
Happy New Year

Ghana

I think its about time that I updated this blog. Lots has happened since the 23rd, for example Im in Ghana at the moment. But I think its best if I start from Christmas eve.

Myself this other Australian I met at Q bar, and a Tanzanian friend (who I met in South Africa :)) took the ferry to Zanzibar, unusually for me I didn't get sea sick. We met these two Danish girls who didn't really know where they were going, so they stuck with us, and stayed at the same hostel, which is basically hidden in stone town. Interestingly enough quite a large amount of the locals remembered me from when I was there earlier in the year. We spent most of the day walking around, and then relaxing at a beach side restaurant,before moving onto a beach side bar. One of the Danish girls had been feeling sick for a while so we took her to the hospital, which didnt have any doctors as they were at prayer, we tried a further two clinics, but they were both closed.

Christmas day was more of a relaxing affair. Many of the restaurants were playing awful Christmas carols, we asked one to change the music!. I was feeling quite sick (from food) so I went to the pharmacy, they gave me a few different things, but I only recognized one, and that seemed to help. We had lunch at this amazing Indian restaurant, probably the best Indian food I have eaten in Africa! We actually went back there for dinner it was soo good. The thing about stone town is that the beaches are packed, its not actually tourists who really pack them, more of the locals, who play soccer and perform acrobatics on the beach. Thus on boxing day we went to the northern most point of Zanzibar which is about an hour and a half drive. The beachers up north are much more touristy, and the beaches are better for swimming with a large number of hotels overlooking the shore. Funnily enough even in these parts sea urchins hid in the water. Myself and my friends were quite weary of them, from our previous enjoyable experience, unfortunately many of the tourists were not looking out for them, and when lying on the sand you would often hear the screams of some swimmer, who would come out of the water holding a foot. This one angry South African had two barbs in his ankle, and he was complaining like a baby (I had at least 5 in my foot still). Again we spent most of the day relaxing on the beach! and for once in my life (although this might be the second time) I got burnt, my back neck and shoulders were red!

I got back to Dar on the 27th and my friend Hank took me out to dinner, as a going away present. I also had a few drinks with my cricket friends. My plane to Ghana left at a terrible time 3.15am! Alas I didnt get much sleep. Ethiopian airlines was ok, nothing special, well until I got to Ghana and I realized my bags were not there. At this stage they are expected to arrive tomorrow (hopefully) Im getting quite sick of wearing the same clothes and my music and phone are about to run out of batteries.

Ok! Lately I have been catching up with a few friends. Yesterday for example I had lunch with my old Swahili teacher, he was very impressed I still remembered quite alot of Swahili. On Sunday we played cricket. It was a 50 over match and my team was bowled out for just under 100 I didnt do well at all, but neither did anyone else. We basically though we would loose quite badly as our opposition was the number one team. Surprisingly we had them at 7 for 80, with a real chance of winning, but alas we couldnt get anymore wickets.

I have spoken to a few lecturers in economics at the University of Dares salaam, I would like to meet some of them and discuss their research, its actually quite interesting some of them have degrees from really good universities.

Yesterday I went to the beach and was just walking through the shallows when I stood on some sea urchins, now these things are painful, they have large spikes that puncture your skin. Im luckily I only stood on them with one foot, I counted about 10 puncture woods in my heel, so I think it might be difficult to walk today.

Tomorrow I would go to Zanzibar for Christmas, it will be packed with tourists but I think it will be better then staying in Dar.

Tanzania has been great! I went to a place called bagamoyo a few days back with a friend. Bagamoyo is the main port where they traded slaves and it used to be the old capital city, its kind of dump and very underdeveloped. My friend and I had chips mayai which is basically an egg omlette with chips inside, healthy! I played cricket yesterday, but we lost! Anyway Ill write a bigger blog tomorrow, as I need to go into town now

Tanzania

I arrived in Tanzania last night! surprisingly the flight was great! and no problems this time catching my flight! Its probably best that I update on what I have been up too in South Africa.

I spent most of the past week in Pretoria, just relaxing really! the people that work there are awesome, they have many good stories to tell. One of the guys that was staying at the backpackers in Pretoria was an exiled freedom fighter during the 1960s, he has been jailed four times, he lives in Canada and has been for the past 25 years. The guy reminds me of Tabo Mbeki although he seems a lot smarter (Mbeki couldnt resolve a conflict between two dogs!) , he told stories about how the ANC used child soldiers from South Africa to attack the ruling party.

On Sunday I decided to do something more interesting rather then just sitting around the backpackers. Myself and a French guy took a bus into town. We wanted to see inside the parliament buildings, but the ANC were running some discussion. Some of the ANC members invited us into the building, we thought it would be a good experience so we sat down and listened to some ANC people give a speech about how they need to place running water in this township, otherwise the township wont vote for them. After about 15 minutes, some of the ANC members decided we shouldnt be listening to the discussion and they kicked us out!. Some ANC guy come out afterwards and apologized,he told us we should tell everyone back at home how open and transparent the ANC is. We then ventured to the Paul Kruger Museum, I personally didnt know much about the Anglo Boer war, but the museum really informed me about the conflict, I guess most people generally focus on the apartheid history of South Africa.