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LIVING AND ADVENTURE FUN IN GHANA
GETTING ABOUT IN ACCRA:
The tro-tro is the local form of transport. They are
basically small mini-buses. The difference with the Tro-Tro, however, is that they are
extremely cheap and the passengers smile a lot! They also seem to have
loads to talk about with anyone and everyone. The origins of the name Tro-Tro is that Ga language word "tro," which
means three pence (pence being the penny coins used during Ghana's
colonial days). In the colonial days, the mass transit vehicle charged
passengers three pence per trip, and thus were referred to as "tro-tros,"
and the name have struck ever since.
RECREATION:
After a busy week
at your school or your work placement, you could jump on a tro-tro and take
a trip to Kokrobite beach (about a 30-minute journey out of the city centre)
where you can sit back and relax with a cold drink and leave the hustle
and bustle behind.
The best
introduction to any city is a good browse in one of its main hawking
grounds. Right at the heart of central Accra, the Makola Market
brims with glass bead and batik sellers. Makola is one of the Continent's
most colourful marketplaces and also one of the most interesting and
picturesque. You can't help but admire the business acumen of the Ghanaian
women traders. Kaneshie Market on the western side of the city is
the one to hit for mouth-watering foods and spices. James Town, on a short
peninsula southwest of the centre, is a handsome neighbourhood that's also
worth a wander.
The Handicraft Market
mustn't be missed before you return home. The market is location in the
Centre for National Arts and Culture, popularly known as Arts Centre, next
to the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, off the High Street in Accra. It is the
biggest market for handicraft products in the country.
All kinds of handicrafts
imaginable may be found in this market, ranging from wood carvings,
traditional musical instruments, cane and raffia products, leather ware,
gold, silver and bronze jewellery, beads, clay products, antiques, to
paintings, and many more. Many items are made in Ghana, but some are
brought in from Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo,
Senegal and Nigeria.
If you can, try visiting the
University of Ghana, in Legon (14 Kilometres north of Accra). It's a
showpiece of Japanese architecture in a tropical setting.
Thinking of doing a Placement but can’t decide if you
want to give yourself extra time for travel?
Charlotte Otter tells about
some of her adventures around Ghana after her placement:
“Just chilling by the beach - lovely - my
tan is coming along nicely now!! We went to Cape Coast and stayed in this
hotel (sorry botel ... it was a floating hotel) which is surrounded by
crocodiles (that was soooooo cool). And then the next day we went to the
nearby rainforest (Kakum National Park) to go on this canopy walkway (oh
my God!!! the views .... the height ..... the wobbliness of the bridge -
which was basically ladders supported by ropes with planks on the top to
walk on, really, really really high off the ground. It was amazing!)
Then we stayed the night in the rainforest.
Supposed it was ok. We thought we were going to bed really late, because
it had been dark for ages (goes dark about 6-ish) but it was actually only
9.30.
Then the next morning we went for a guided
tour around the forest. We were promised monkeys and lions and tigers
(well, the first one, anyway) and all we saw were trees - about which we
learnt their medicinal properties (fun fun fun) and loads of ants.
Everybody managed to walk in their path - but seeing as I was at the back
of the group I didn't, so I’m fine (hahaha - smug laugh) but yeah....this
guard he kept stopping and looking round and then pointing to something in
the bushes ... and it was blatantly obvious that there was nothing to be
seen, but still, it was good fun!!
Am staying now in this town called
Kakaratie (well, that's how you say it anyway!). It's nice. Going to the beach tomorrow (to chill out)
and then onto this stilt village on Friday. Fun, fun, fun! .
Feeling a bit sick - eaten too much, too
quickly. I had this whole Chinese meal which was HUGE for £1.50 [US$2.50]
or thereabouts, including drinks .... bargains or what???? But yes, that’s
my update on news”
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