Updated
May 22, 2001
Feedback - Michele Stevens
Michele visited Gambia earlier in the year and stayed
in the exclusive Kololi timeshare apartments.
She wanted to be out and about but they wanted her to spend money in the
complex
Feedback
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I made it back to California OK.
The plane was over 6 hours late leaving Banjul. The good thing was that I was so tired I fell asleep before it took off.
I woke up a couple of times for a little while but went back to sleep and didn't wake up until after the plane landed in England.
It was almost 9:30 am by the time I got through customs, so I didn't get to the Bed and Breakfast for any sleep.
The next plane left on time and I went to sleep right away again. I slept half of that flight.
We got into Detroit a little early. The custom's official didn't believe that I went to Gambia for Holidays. He said it's not a holiday destination and was upset that I wasn't with anybody else.
So I got sent to another official so they could check me out. That person was nice though and he eventually let me pass. I thought they were going to look through my luggage but they decided not to.
The plane from Detroit to San Francisco was very full but left on time too.
I also slept over half of that flight. My legs were hurting a little from sitting so long.
I got to San Francisco and had to wait an hour for the bus to Napa.
The traffic was slow due to road construction so it took 2 hours to get to Napa.
I slept the whole way though. So I got home at 1am on Thursday which was 8am Thursday morning Gambian time.
I have never slept
so much on a plane before in my life.
Michele emailed me on her return, it was a mamouth journey home to USA you can read about it in the side bar. The rest is below
I had a great time in Gambia and Foday is an excellent host. He sure is a character.
There were a few glitches with the "gambian reservations" as I'm sure Foday told you.
My digital camera was quite a hit there. Everyone has requested prints. I have many pictures that I can email to you once I get caught up here.
Thank you for all of your help. If you ever make it to California or Hawaii, I expect you and your family to come and visit. You are welcome to stay with me and my kids. We have plenty of room in our house.
If I hear that you were in America and didn't come by to see us, I will have Foday give you one of his serious blows.
Thanks again,
Michele
I sent to ask Michele about the glitches and her journey - she replied
Hello
again,
I wasn't really exhausted from the trip to Gambia. I just didn't get much
sleep the night before I left and then the plane didn't leave from Banjul
until 2 am in the morning, so I missed my sleep the next night too. I
actually prefer to sleep on the plane but usually can't, so maybe I'll
try this technique next time.
The reservation problem was that there didn't seem to be any reservations. I know that you made them. However, when I arrived at Bird Safari Camp, Stephen insisted there was no reservation and looked at me like I was making up a story. I had asked Foday to call to let them know I would be there. He did try but the phone and email was out so he called the camp next door. Needless to say there was no one at the ferry either. The taxi driver charged me the toubab price of course. Stephen said he did talk to you in Banjul, but you didn't make any reservation for me.
He also seemed to be upset because I didn't have a GTS guide and I came with my local friend. After I showed him my Membership card he said OK. I don't know what the big deal was since there was no other people staying there and there was plenty of room. It was very hot that weekend and the fan in the room blew a fuse. Since there wasn't anyone else there, I didn't do the boat trip since I would have had to pay the total charter fee. So I only stayed one night. The bus trip was an experience too. I learned the difference between the express and super express bus. I had a small battery-operated fan which was quite an attraction.
When we went to the bus station to go to BSC, Foday introduced me to a worker from Paradise Inn and reminded him that I was coming there on Sunday and to make sure everything was set. Upon my return to Manjai, I thought it might be a good idea to call Paradise Inn to make sure it was open. There was no answer. I went out anyway, and when I arrived, the same person I met before said they were closed. I'm not sure why he couldn't have mentioned that when we saw him 2 days before. I could have waited a couple of hours for the manager, but didn't bother. I had emailed them before you made the reservation and they said they were going to close on May 15. Maybe it was the same thing that happened at Holiday Beach. It's pretty typical and didn't spoil my vacation.
I think my old 35mm camera was stolen out of my luggage at Banjul on the way back. I might have left it at Manjai but I remember packing it. It was about 15 years old so I didn't think anyone would be interested in it. I didn't even use it but my friends took a roll of film I said I would have developed for them.
Although it was hot some days, it was still much cooler than when I was there during the rainy season. I wasn't too impressed with Safari Bird Camp. I am sure it would be nicer if it wasn't so hot and you traveled by river to get there. The birds were definitely there though.
Paradise Inn looked like it would be nice and Tanji interesting.
I think the best hook to get tourists from USA is the local people. There are much closer destinations with the same or better amenities. It's the local culture and friendly people that make me want to return.
If the electricity was on at night so the fan would work and the water bottles would stay frozen, I would be even happier.
The electric has been intermittant this season, about 12 hours a day, but often the wrong 12, next month it could be the other way around - The only answer is a generator or solar - but that's not very Gambian.
Overall Michele really enjoyed her stay - she's a real adventurer not like the guys I have met from the Peace Corp, really nice people, but they do like having their western comforts just like 'back home'
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