This weekend, CIEE took us on my favorite trip yet. We ventured to the Volta Region of Ghana, to the towns of Hohoe, Ho, and Wli, which are about four hours to the northeast of Accra, and very close to the border of Togo. We left early Saturday morning and arrived at Wli Falls around noontime. The ride was incredible. I like the rural areas of Ghana so much more than the urban sprawl of Accra. We drove through villages, and places that looked like stereotypical Africa. There were huge trees on the grassland, edged by mountains. I saw the Volta River, and the Akosombo Dam. I loooved it. When we got off the bus, we had to trek through the jungle a bit. It made me miss the trees of New Jersey, although they are not so similar, just being surrounded by forest I should say, is what I miss. I saw a pineapple plant for the first time. The forest was teeming with life. Butterflies, fungus, millipedes, flowers, papaya, cocoa, bananas, pineapple, coconut, oil palm, moths, and more were abundant. We walked through the forest for a while, and had to cross over a small creek on a bridge that was only a plank (that was not nailed down) wide, and Effie, knowing about my fear of unstable things, had to sing songs about me crossing so it would distract me, just as she did on the canopy walk! Thanks for that support, Effie. We finally reached the falls, and I think I have found my favorite place on Earth. The photographs I have taken of it can capture only a minute fraction of how beautiful it truly is. The falls consisted of a huge rock face that went up over a hundred feet, and the falls flowed down into a large pool of water. There was greenery all over the rocks surrounding the falls, and this greenery was dotted with flowers. All over the wall, there was something that looked like small rocks jutting out from the sides of the rock face, but these things were bats! At one point they began to fly around above the falls. Amazing. We all went swimming here, and I think it may have been one of the best times in my life. I swam up to the falls, was pummeled by the falling water, and went behind the sheet of water. I looked up the mossy wall behind and saw a waterfall from below. I'll never forget it. It was one of those I can't believe I'm in Ghana right now moments. A zen moment for sure.

After Wli Falls, then headed over to the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary. The sanctuary is in a village near Ho. The villagers at one time practiced animism, so the monkeys are considered sacred, and are protected by the villagers. A guide took us into the jungle and talked about the history of the village. It was about 4 or 5 p.m., so we had to walk for a while to see the monkeys because they make their appearance in the morning or the evening, not so much in the afternoon. Finally, we spotted some mona monkeys. The guide gave us some bananas so we could feed them. My heart melted. I had never seen anything like this. One monkey seemed to not like my friend Anne too much, because once one monkey threw the banana peel at her once it had finished the banana. !

The trip to the Volta Region was my favorite trip thus far. I loved the rural area, and I loved being able to relax. There was just enough planned for us to do, and plenty of down time. The hotel had air-conditioning and even better, no gospel music! Actually, I don't dig AC too much, a fan suffices. The scenery to and from Hohoe and Ho astounding. I hope you get to see it someday. It's one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Today, I returned to Legon, and enjoyed resting some more. I think I need to eat more protein because my suspected protein is finally hitting me. I am often tired, no matter how much I sleep, and I am weak. I guess I'll have to resort to my hemp powder despite its unpleasant, to say the least, taste. Anyway, I hope your weekend was as fantastic as the one I had! Be well.

PEACE.