Christmas Day with an (African) twist
December 20, 2008
Collection of wood-carved items for sale in Senegambia Craft Market
Winter sun these days tends to
rank higher and higher on a tourist's wishlist, and the option of
spending Christmas Day on a beach in the Gambia almost seemed like the
greatest christmas present that was never intended for unwrapping. The
long-established Senegambia Beach hotel, which lent its name to the
Senegambia entertainment strip leading off from the hotel, is one of
the country's prime properties, and its beachfront location suggests
why its popularity in the context of the entire country will always
have the stamp of permanence. This was the most authentically African
country visited to date, and sufficient evidence to suggest that the
country, in land mass terms 'a finger in the mouth of Senegal',
literally thrives off its income generated from tourism.
Two Gambian musicians greet visitors at an outdoor museum
Excursions are
adequate, at least for a week-long visit, and the jeep safari tour,
coupled with yet more quad biking (yay!), and day trip options to
nearby Serrekunda market, and the capital city, Banjul, complimented
the enjoyment factor generated by simply lazing around the poolside, or
lounging around on the pleasant stretch of beach. Although poverty
still abounds in the Gambia, you can be assured of a warm-spirited
welcome, and I always tend to find that, as with any other unfamiliar
destination, a small amount of cultural sensitivity goes quite a long
way. In terms of local food culture, I highly rated the chicken and
beef domoda and yassa dishes, which were relatively simply put
together, but did not compromise on the overall taste factor, and since
a substantial portion of the country's revenue is generated by the
fishing industry, freshly-caught fish is commonplace. A miniature
version of a Gambian drum now occupies a prominent place in a
collection of similar-sized souvenirs from previously-visited nations,
and is intended as a symbolic reminder of the overall sense of Gambian
spirit. Considering the range of emotions generated during the trip, my
overall assessment of the Gambian experience is that it is living proof
that a visit to a third-world country most definitely does not always
equate to a third-rate holiday.
Collection of wood-carved items
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Two Gambian musicians greet visi
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Christmas Day at Serrekunda mark
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Pure monkey business caught on f
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Delightful stretch of Kololi bea
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