On Valentines day Me, George, Jon and 2 other volunteers decided to take a romantic break for 5 on a boat trip on Lake Volta, the largest man made lake in the world created by forming a dam where two rivers converge around 50 years ago. It was another early start so had to be up and ready to leave around 6am, not really an issue as everyone gets up between 5-6 everyday so we have got used to it!
We got picked up by Lampard, our driver again, who was dressed for the occassion in his red and black shirt, jeans, big rimmed sunglasses and a huge watch, he even put love heart stickers on the front of his Tro-Tro, pimped!!! Looking good for the day we set off and picked up the other volunteers from Dodowa, about 45 mins away and set off for the lake. We arrived around 9.30 and were boarded straight onto the boat with prime seats right next to the extremely smokey bbq at the back of the boat! Only 1 thing to do as we waited to set off, get the beers in!
We set sail and were soon a long way out in the lake and couldn't see land on any side of us which gives some indication on the size of the lake.
We decided to head to the front of the boat and commandered the small pool from the kids, Jon's idea the bully! We had some nice food and a few more drinks before arriving at a small island, as we got closer hundreds of men, women and children who live on the island came running to the boat. We weren't informed of the stop off and as soon as we got off the boat we realised it was a stop over to enable the islanders to ask us for anything and ewvertything we had. They grabbed our hands and were walked across the island and back again while being harassed by everybody, there were a few groups performing traditional dances and singing and were really good however the whole time on the island was a bit overwhelming and we all felt a little pressured into giving money to the children. Even back on the boat the kids were climbng around the outside of the boat grabbing at us and begging for money. Sounds like we are being harsh but I would have happily given more money if they went about it the right way, i.e telling us we would be stopping at the island for a start! We can understand why they stop, to inject money into poor communities but we just felt a little cheated into it!
Anyway, enough of the rant. Back on the boat we decided to put it behind us and had a few more drinks before hitting the dance floor and chucking some shapes to the live band.
They all seemed pretty impressed with our dancing (!) so we carried on for a good hour or two before arriving back at the port. Quality boat trip but we were all a little tiddly by time we got off and decided to head to Osu (the Ghanain Oxford Street apparently) and hit the bars. On the way back it started to cloud over and started to rain. For the first time in 2 weeks it rained and I think it more than made up for it, I have never seen rain like it in my life. Within 5 minutes every road and street was flooded and it carried on right through the evening up until around midnight. The next morning though it was as sunny adn hot as normal adn all of the water had instantly disappeared. That night in Osu we had a few drinks in Container bar, went to Page Bar where a guy called Lancelot(!!!??!) was telling us stories about his 5 girlfriends, just found it strange how he was sat on his own, in a bar, on valentines day if he was so popular with the ladies!
We found an Irish bar which upon entering felt like we had been transported back to O'Neils or something in England. Pool tables, table football, darts, the lot and a predominantly white clientele which felt weird as we are pretty much the only westerners in the whole of the area we live in! We decided it was getting late so did the typical English thing......few beers, a bit peckish? Lets get a takeaway and head home, nice. Although Jon ws eating like he hadn't had any food for his whole stay in Ghana and got his juices all over my shirt it was a very good day.
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