Beautiful walk to the "Big Tree"
The Big Tree
Snails at the market
The mountain bike trail got sketchy at times
This village was on the mountain bike trail
Aburi Botanical Gardens
Boti Falls
Views from the hike
Akan Falls
From the top of Akan Falls
It's been raining a lot in Akwatia
On Thursday, I went to Oda to pick up the package, which had my iPod (which I forgot to bring) and a shuffle, along with two textbooks (Chemistry and Physiology) and a book on the Korean War. It was perfect- exactly what I asked for. I spent nine hours each the last three days doing Chemistry: I had some trouble with quantum numbers, but it turned out to be straightforward once I stopped being stupid.
But last weekend was a little more exciting than figuring out the azimuthal quantum numbers of differentiating electrons. While I was in Oda with Philine, we went to see the largest tree in West Africa. It was creatively named "Big Tree." It was about a thirty minute drive from Oda, so we thought 'why not?' The tree was certainly a big tree. It was over 400 years old and the trip was well worth it, not just for the tree, but for the beautiful walk through the rain forest.
On Friday, I left Akwatia at 5 A.M. to arrive in Accra at 8 A.M. to try setting up an account for donations to the orphanage. It turns out that I can't - well, I can, but there is a fee attached, so I figured that it is best to informally do it at least while I'm still in Ghana. Afterwards, I walked around Accra for three hours taking in the market and some memorials, and took a tro tro to Aburi. I had a plan to mountain bike the slopes of Aburi, but I started having second thoughts about it as sheet after sheet of rain poured down during the hour and a half tro tro ride. But being a testosterone charged 18 year old, I decided to do it anyway.
The mountain biking was crazy awesome, crazy scary, crazy painful, and crazy wet. About ten minutes in to the ride, the guide told me that the paths haven't been used in two months. The paths certainly showed their lack of use. In some places the vegetation completely reclaimed the trail, necessitating biking over and through six feet tall grass (and unfortunately, sometimes thorns). And because of the rain, some parts of the trail literally turned in to streams. At one point, the stream became waist deep, so we had to wade through that particular stretch. The guide, Ben, lost a shoe during this particular crossing, so I gave him a good tip (relatively for Ghana).
But last weekend was a little more exciting than figuring out the azimuthal quantum numbers of differentiating electrons. While I was in Oda with Philine, we went to see the largest tree in West Africa. It was creatively named "Big Tree." It was about a thirty minute drive from Oda, so we thought 'why not?' The tree was certainly a big tree. It was over 400 years old and the trip was well worth it, not just for the tree, but for the beautiful walk through the rain forest.
On Friday, I left Akwatia at 5 A.M. to arrive in Accra at 8 A.M. to try setting up an account for donations to the orphanage. It turns out that I can't - well, I can, but there is a fee attached, so I figured that it is best to informally do it at least while I'm still in Ghana. Afterwards, I walked around Accra for three hours taking in the market and some memorials, and took a tro tro to Aburi. I had a plan to mountain bike the slopes of Aburi, but I started having second thoughts about it as sheet after sheet of rain poured down during the hour and a half tro tro ride. But being a testosterone charged 18 year old, I decided to do it anyway.
The mountain biking was crazy awesome, crazy scary, crazy painful, and crazy wet. About ten minutes in to the ride, the guide told me that the paths haven't been used in two months. The paths certainly showed their lack of use. In some places the vegetation completely reclaimed the trail, necessitating biking over and through six feet tall grass (and unfortunately, sometimes thorns). And because of the rain, some parts of the trail literally turned in to streams. At one point, the stream became waist deep, so we had to wade through that particular stretch. The guide, Ben, lost a shoe during this particular crossing, so I gave him a good tip (relatively for Ghana).
Physically, the 1300 feet climb through the rocky ground and the dense vegetation was demanding, but the mental effort of not falling off and tumbling down the slopes was even more taxing. But maybe because of the challenge of it, it was a fun and a rewarding experience.
I stayed overnight in Koforidua, a town an hour away from Aburi. Having only eaten a coconut that day, I ventured out in to town looking for food, but it turned out that most chop stalls were closed. But I found a place to buy some eggs and ended up chatting with the locals for a better part of an hour before I retreated back to my room. The room had a toilet that flushed and running water! It seems odd that such simple conveniences now feel like luxuries.
I met up with six Germans on Saturday morning for a trip to Boti Falls. We chartered a taxi to go to the Falls. The only problem was that it was a regular taxi designed for four passengers, but there were seven of us. Two people sat in the front seat, and four people sat in the back with one person sitting on the people in the back.
The Falls were very impressive. We ended up taking a beautiful three hour hike with the guide to another waterfall, Akan Falls, which were equally impressive. I can't really complain about my travel group, but in many ways, traveling alone is a lot more fun. The spontaneity and the freedom that traveling solo allow are awesome. You don't have to worry about the other person, and since I don't mind having a rock bottom budget, it is cheaper to travel alone.
Meanwhile, in the village, it's been continuing to rain. A lot. The road leading to the house is now flooded in knee deep water.
No comments:
Post a Comment