At the Botanical Gardens, we got to stand inside a killer ficus tree. It is known as the "strangling ficus tree" because it grows up attached to another tree, and over the course of many years, this particular ficus completely enveloped the host tree and killed it. The other tree eventually decomposed leaving behind a hollow trunk.
Other trees continue to enthrall me - the height and the way the root systems have adapted in order to be able to support the great height are fascinating.
We were also shown a tiny fern that "cringes" when it is touched, it takes about five minutes for it to recover (see video at the bottom of this entry). When we were shown this, which I thought was really neat, I began to feel guilty about having walked on so many of them prior to this knowledge (I know, I know - ridiculous as I did not actually harm the fern).
Additionally on Saturday, Samuel, our host and guide who is also a teacher at Achimota, had to pay respects to an aunt who had lost a son. We stopped by his mother's house first and she outfitted us in traditional Ghanaian funeral garb. Just as in the U.S., black is a traditional color to wear to funerals, however, red and white are also employed. When the person who has passed away is 70 years or older, black and white are combined because you are celebrating a long life as well as mourning their passing. If the person who died is young, red is worn with the black.
On Sunday, we ventured out to Prampram and Ningo which are traditional fishing villages. We were able to see some of the boats being pulled in as we were there early enough in the day (fishing is done overnight, which is common in many parts of the world). At several beach locations, we waded in the African Atlantic Ocean (a first for me), and were bombarded with attention from local children one place we stopped. They gave us seashells, did back flips, and wanted their photo taken, again and again.
We also got to meet a chief of one region of the country. We were received, offered refreshments, and allowed to ask questions - he has three wives and sixteen children and spends much of his time helping the people in his region, including mediating problems that arise.
2 comments:
I totally get it babe! I am "miss molly" here and everyone stares all the time. there are more white people here than there, but it is still strange that everytime i walk out of my apt everyone stares at me as if i'm going to do something--not good or bad, but something different or special because of my skin color. I haven't gotten used to it yet. I hate being called Miss Molly, like i'm some british child who needs looking after during the time of the raj.
wow, i loved reading your entries and the pictures are beautiful!!
the whole 'staring at me because of im different'thing is probably something aloott of us here at stuart are used to.
=]
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