Ghana, Ada Foah - magic place :)

Ada Foah, a small town east from Accra, around 100 km from the city. Situated on the bank of Volta river and the ocean. The most magic place is where the river meets the ocean... on full moon nights it's possible to see small turtles going out from the sand and running to the water...

There are a few lodgings at the bank of Volta, but the best places are on the peninsula behind the small village. You can get there walking through the village or by boat from the center of town. There are 3 places, without running water and electricity is provided by the generator only. Huts made from palm leafs are on your disposal, each one has a bed inside and a mosquito net.

Lodgings on the river side are quite luxurious:

 But you can't get there this sunset:

 And you would never experience these toilets:

 Or this wonderful shower! Water is brought straight from the river.

These are the huts, straight on the beach. The peninsula is sth like 300 m wide, river is on one side, ocean on the other, and this amazing place in the middle.

 Unforgetable :)

 You can get there by boat.

 And pass the villages hidden in the jungle.

 At the end of the trip you get the sunset best prize:

On this trip Kuba, Ania and Victor joined me. Here they are, waiting for the turtles to come out:

More photos from this and other Kuba's trips you can find here.

Ada's festival Chief's Parade. (Ghana 2010)

The main part of Asafoatse Festival is the Chief's Parade. Almost every main Ghanaian tribe had its representation on this festival. The chief is carried on a platform, which sometimes is just a simple one with some kind of roof or umbrella on it, but sometimes can have most fantastic shapes of animals, chariots, or whatever is there in its creator mind. Before the platform with a chief on it there's a representation of the chief's court, who carries all the tribal symbols. After them are warriors and musicians, all of them making a lot of noise. Warriors are shooting, musicians are playing on different instruments. After them the rest of the tribes's members are following, singing and dancing, obviously wearing traditional clothing.

Chiefs are sitting or standing on the platforms, greeting the observers, pouring water over them or throwing rice. And of course they are wearing traditional clothing, and carrying the attributes of their power.

Platforms can get most amazing shapes you could ever imagine:

The chiefs are followed by the female brass bands, playing all of the "parade" kinds of music you can imagine, dressed up in traditional clothes as well.

If there's music, there has to be lots of dancing as well!

And in Ghana everybody dances, even mommas with their kids on their backs!

Chiefs have also their armed guards following them. To all the noisesaround you can add some shooting as well. The weapons are kind of antient...

Of course all people on the parade are getting hungry or thirsty, so there are traders selling snacks all over the place.

But food and drinks are not the only things carried by women on their heads. There are also some other things, I guess absolutely necessary for the event:

 Some of these things are pretty much... surprising:

Ghanaians love their festivals and actually they love partying in general. Festivals are the reflection of their traibal past, which they are proud of. To be in Ghana and not see one of them... not acceptable! ;)

Ada - tribal festival (Ghana 2010)

Yes, I know. Was lazy lately. And it doesn't mean nothing has happened...
One of the Saturdays we went to Ada - small town on the bank of Volta river, something like 40 km east from Accra. Asafoatse Odiahia is the "folk" festival, which shows the tribal traditions of Ghana people. But before we got the the festival itself, we saw a bit of Ghana outside the capital city. Some fields, but mostly just a grass with some bushes here and there... and mounds of termites. Few villages... Flat and boring landscape, I must say.

Then we got to Ada and it got much more interesting. We walk along the streets, full of people, and stalls with absolutely everything. Food, clothing, souvenirs... I made over 1 thousand of photos, here's just a small choice, more of them you can find on picassa - link on the right.

Below is one of Ada's yards:

 

A girl :)

Fishermen on Volta river:

A view of Volta river.