Egypt-Thanks!

Well, I am in Egypt. I know I will ever like another place more. As much, certainly. Never more though. I am going to end the blog here uinfortunately. I had plenty of time to deal with slow computers in Ghana. I am running at a rapid pace here however and have too many good photos to ever post. Have to show everyone back home, maybe I will complete the blog there.
Love everyone, thanks for all your help!

Hippos

This was my first stop on the trip up north. We went on our hike at 5:00 am to see the hippos on the black volta river. This trip was the first time we saw savanna like areas. The south is more filled with jungles. The sunrise over the mountain was very nice. We walked through a village with a man fixing a fishing net. Fishing is the main source of income for the people living on the volta. The children all across Ghana love having there picture taken. The whole village came out to join in this picture in front of the hut. We hiked one hour to the volta were they told us the only way to see the hippos was to take a 5 dollar canoe ride. If I had known about it ahead of time I still would have gone. The fact that they drag us out there THEN tell us really irritated me. The hippos were kinda elusive. All you ever saw were the top of their heads. I got a pretty good view but not really any good pictures.

Badzome falls II

These falls were much smaller than the others but in a little "cave" with a very deep pool. Walking up feels like a walk through a deep jungle. I took a little swim and stood under the falls for a while. Again I wanted to stay longer than the others, but I compromised. On the walk back we were walking through plots in the middle of a mountain jungle. In the last picture there is palm, banana, plantain, coco, coffee, and coca! Can you find it all?
P.S. turn your head

Badzome falls

Badzome falls are the highlight of my trip to Ghana, so far. The view walking up tothem took my breath away. They are set really deep into an enclave. They are "secret" falls, there not in any guide books and there are no signs to them. I only know about them from another traveler who was taken there by a cab driver. I have not felt so peaceful as at these falls. The hike was hard and hot, the cool water of the falls never felt so good. There was a vine were I could swing into the deep pool at the base of the falls. I felt like a kid I had to do it so many times. Everyone was ready to go well before I was. There was a deep set cave behind the falls which is not able to be clearly seen from these photographs. The two guys that took us there were very nice and down to earth. Everyone in Ghana is nice to Obruni (whitemen), but I got the feeling these were some good people. When looking out from the falls you see African jungle as you might imagine it, with wild vines hanging over the sides and lush vegetation. Looking up while swimming in the pool the jungle crowds out the sky except for a small hole. The beach was small pebbles just the right size to walk barefoot on. Little fish nibble at your toes in the water. The whole experience was first rate.

Hike down the Mt

The middle of the village has a tree were everyone meets and talks. There are flat stones placed to make seats. We were there at sunset and caught a beautiful view. On our walk down the mountain we met a hunter. He had killed an antelope using a metal wire snare. I know some people may not feel to good about him using a snare, but I certainly feel worse about human hunger. The third picture is "coming down the mountain ". We only hiked to save money on the cab fare and it turned out to be one of the nicest parts of the whole trip, though this was one of the best weekends of my life. The mountain turned into lush jungle further on down. The last picture shows us coming up another hill on our way to yet another fall. These falls are as good as any I have ever seen in my life.

Amedzofe Falls

After Mount Gemi we headed back to our hotel. The first picture is of the walk down the mountain. Amedzofe village is visible in the background of the first photo. The second photo is from our porch viewing the mountain. The hotel room was 4 dollars. It was built under one of the leaders that made immense spending on remote government buildings. This is a completely unused government rest house, though cheap and beautiful. We hiked down to the falls after a short rest at our hotel. The ropes were absolutely necessary, the path is much more treacherous than it appears. The falls are spectacular. They have 3 separate pools and falls, one towering and two cascading. Purple flowers cover the rocks near the falls. If you turn around from the falls you are looking out over a vast jungle valley.

Mt Gemi

We left our 4 dollar a night mountain top hotel for the hike up mount Gemi at 4:45. The hotel was quite cheap even by Ghana standards. There is not much I can say about the mountain that the pictures won't say better. The iron cross was erected by German missionaries in the 1930s. We just so happened to be there on a Sunday when many people come there to pray. At times they were singing which was quite inspiring. At other times they were screaming in tongues which was....I'll just say not inspiring. The Amedzofe falls next, which are absolutely beautiful.

Lower Wlii Falls

The lower falls are just as nice as the upper falls. The first picture is of the bottom of the upper falls and top of the lower falls. They were seen from our long hike back from the upper falls. They said the hike was one hour but it is certainly two hours for the most experienced hiker. The next picture is of the lower falls. The small round things hanging from the cliff are bats. They swarmed through the enclave just like the kids. A school field was there the some day as me which definitely took from the majestic atmosphere of the falls. They are in the third picture with me in front of the falls. Interestingly, none of them could swim. They were only wading. The fourth picture is of Ho Hoe (pronounced hoe hoe-ee). The early morning light provided for a stunning picture. The last picture is of Vame, a small mountain town on our way to Amedzofe. Amedzofe is a beautiful village and will be in the next blog.

Wlii Falls

Wlii Falls (pronounced vlee) are amazing. We first walked along this picturesque river running through the valley. Little bridges crisscross the river as you walk about a mile to the base of the mountain. We then made a quite difficult and treacherous climb up the mountain. They say it takes "an hour" but all agree it is more like two for even those in the best of shape. There were many amazing views, I have only shown one of them. You can see were the jungle creeps along the valley beside the river. The fall itself was very large and beautiful. I have many photos of the whole falls but there are many other falls I have been to and have yet to post. The way the sun was blotted out by the cliffs made for some amazing photos.

These are just the upper falls. Lower next and just as nice.

Medical outreach/ Orphanage birthday

The first pictures are of an African youth soccer (football here) match. We go with antiseptic and plasters and bandage wounds. Not from the match necessarily but old wounds. It may sound trivial but at any given time there will be 20 kids with minor injuries that become badly infected. The infection is usually dealt with by their immune system. The poor hygiene causes the infection and the inadequate nutrition exasperates the problem. In one picture I am dancing with a child. They love to see me dancing badly. The later photos are of a party at an orphanage for one of the kids. The party was thrown by some other volunteers. The young baby is very cute, but is learning quickly when he cries a volunteer picks him up.

Abrui Falls/ Garbage dump

The hike to the falls had some beautiful views. We walked through a lush jungle to get there. The grasshopper was gigantic! This fall was at the top of a mountain in a very remote area. I honestly have no idea how it got so filled with trash. The small village at the top must throw every piece of trash into the river. It is a shame but there are no litter laws here. The locals always tell me to throw my trash on the ground no matter where I am. You never see trash cans. A funny side note, there are no drinking and driving laws in Ghana. Yet there are signs everywhere telling you not to drive tired!