Cowbright: Off the Beaten Track in Banjul

We were supposed to visit a school but being Sunday, there was no school going on so we walked across the way to a family compound where our guide showed us the water well where the families who live there get water for drinking, cooking, laundry, etc. We also saw the inside of a small kitchen that is shared by multiple families, as well as their bathroom facilities.

woman working in community "kitchen"

3 rocks + fire = cooking

community bathroom

community well

shy girls

wary of strangers

After leaving there, we were driven another 30 or so minutes to Sanyang Beach Resort where we had lunch (chicken, rice, bread, cucumber/tomato and watermelon wedges for dessert) in an open air pavilion of sorts. Our chairs were sitting in sand so they sunk down under our weight when we sat in them. Our food actually tasted quite good; however we had been advised not to eat the vegetables that weren't cooked.

Afterwards we had an hour and a half or so to walk around or relax on the beach before our hour and 15 minute drive back. We were encouraged by resort workers to come back there on vacation with the promise that they would pick us up at the airport. The young man who waited our table gave me his phone number in case we wanted to return on vacation. I thanked him for his gracious offer (but I feel quite sure I won't be going back).

Ronnie with waiter Ebrima

resort dressing room

The beach itself really was pretty, but here's something you don't see every day. The boys were asking for money to feed the cow (it lives on the beach). Unlike all the other cows we've seen here, it looks extremely well fed.

The other cows we've seen are walking down the street or tied up next to a house or building among trash and sand (no grass). I even saw one cow on the side of the road eating paper! Some are so thin you wonder how they are still alive.

a well fed beach cow

Sanyang Beach - Gambia

one of many fishing boats

Riding in an open air truck, I of course snapped many more photos on our return trip to the port. After having sat directly behind a smelly exhaust pipe, and been whipped to pieces by the wind, I was oh-so happy to return to a nice clean ship, shower, wash my hair and sleep on clean sheets in a comfortable bed!

Overall, it was an interesting day. But just keeping it real, seeing so much poverty and filth is quite the downer. I won't soon forget the sights I've seen and quite frankly, I'm not looking forward to seeing a whole lot more of the same. Never doubt how blessed we are to live in the USA!