Paradise in Ghana

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." --Mark Twain

It seems in the world there are two types of people: those who are confronted with adversity and choose to face it head-on not backing down from the challenge, and those who punk out. 45 days ago I wanted to go home. I thought about quitting this program every single day. But I didn’t. And as lame as it is to put in words, I am proud of myself. I stuck it out even when I was terribly uncomfortable, unsure, and scared. For the rest of my life I will have that. I will always know that I didn’t quit, and I have now come out on the other side feeling much more at ease and happy. That is really something. So, needless to say, my plans for this holiday break shifted, and ended up taking a turn for the better. I journeyed from Accra, where I was waiting for my visitor, to Takarodi. From there, I met two fellow teaching volunteers, Tiffany and Sonia, at Beyin Beach Resort in the Western Region.

My journey to Beyin was in a trotro where I was the only female sitting smack dab in the middle of fourteen Ghanaian men. Darkness descended along the way, but luckily a guide from the resort gathered me and my bag at the station. The journey to the resort was longer than anticipated, bumpy as expected, and darker than I was comfortable with.Though I was mildly terrified, I also felt exhilarated. I found myself smirking with each bump feeling this wave of excitement wash over me as I thought about the fact that my life currently consisted of exploring African beach resorts. Not a bad gig if I do say so myself. Upon arrival, we grabbed a bite to eat at Café Puerto, a tucked away restaurant near the resort owned and operated by a kind Spanish man. The ambience of this place was very inviting while the food and drinks were delicious. This guy has the right idea, and I would go back there in a second.

Beyin Beach Resort was a quaint hideway full of raffia-roofed bungalows and chalets. This area focuses on turtle conservation, so along the beach in the very early hours of the morning, large sea turtles wash up along the shore to nest and lay their eggs. We missed the viewing at Beyin, but had plans to seek out this sight at the next stop. morning we grabbed a quick breakfast where I had toast with this absolutely delectable jam consisting of bananas, lime, and salt. Yum. Then it was on to Ankasa Park! This is a wildlife preserve in the Western Region of Ghana, but it was much more remote than I think any of us realized. Three trotros and about ninety minutes later we arrived. A guide led us on a two-hour hike through the rain forest, where we panted, sweated, and fought off ants and ticks. It was a great workout, and it’s always fun to explore a new terrain, but I would have been just as satisfied with a one-hour trek. That evening we returned to Café Puerto for a hearty meal to replenish our worn down bodies, then we were off to the next resort, Axim Beach Resort. Turns out, this place is paradise! Truly! A blissful beach side resort comparable to anything you would find in the Caribbean. It’s unfortunate that so many people have such a negative view of Africa, because there are so many beautiful places to see. The coast of Ghana really is spectacular and full of postcard worthy scenes.

Some day I will surely return to this Axim Beach Resort, whether with a “boo” or a friend or on my own. Lighted walkways guided the way to ocean front individual chalets and hotel-style rooms in a large building block, which is where we were staying. Upon arrival, our beds were adorned with fresh flowers and sheets folded into the shapes of hearts. The number on each building was formed by tiny seashells and inside of the restaurants, shapes of Africa and Ghana appeared on the walls created by stones and shells. The attention given to detail at this place is impressive. Rather than a napkin under my pina colada, there was a large, fresh green leaf.Outside, the ocean waves could be heard crashing against the shore and reggae music washed through the air. My first evening at Axim ended on the beach chillin’ with Tiffany chatting and basking in the glory of the fact that we are essentially being paid to be on vacation for nine months. We discussed a lot of our frustrations about our program, and the overwhelming sadness we feel about the education system here in Ghana. But we surely have not let these thoughts drag us down! Today we chilled on the beach and enjoyed some cool treats and good eats. Tonight will include a late night visit to the beach to hopefully see those turtles washing up on shore. I love my family and miss those people like crazy, but I can’t say I’m all that disappointed about spending my Christmas at such a beautiful African resort. I’ll take it. ☺
So my itinerary for the next few weeks is this: here at Axim Beach Resort through Christmas, then to Cape Coast on Monday, and on to Winneba for New Years. From Winneba, I will head back to Accra for a little shopping and finally back to Bechem some time after the New Year. As a result of the change in plans, I am enjoying more exploring and getting the opportunity to see some new places. Everything works out just as it should in this crazy world we live in.

Merry Christmas people!

P.S. I don’t have my camera cord with me, so pics will have to wait a few weeks.