From Tumani Tenda to Serekunda - Dec 10, 2005

Start: Tumani Tenda

End: Serekunda

Weather: Overcast & Cool

It was still dark when I awoke and the sun was yet to rise when I left after packing. Not wanting to stop to chat I silently slipped past the nightwatchman in the dining shelter and retraced my steps along the path through the village to the 'worst road in Africa'.

Despite rising before dawn it already seemed unlikely that I would be able to get to the YMCA in Serekunda by the agreed time and the wait for a minibus ruled it out completely.

The now familiar journey to Brikama and then Serekunda was uneventful and cost D15 (~Oz$0.75) and D10 (~Oz$0.50) as expected, but unexpectedly there was no charge for my baggage on either leg. I wanted to take a taxi from Serekunda to the YMCA, but there were no share taxis around and I considered the price quoted for a private taxi to be too high, so I walked. It was much further than I expected.

I arrived at the YMCA in the late morning way after 9am as recommended. The person I was told to meet understandably wasn't there, but fortunately the weekend custodian was found for me and he was able to give me a room.

I spent the rest of the day relaxing and preparing to upload journal entries & photos onto my travel blog. I found an internet café within walking distance with a reasonable upload speed for D25 (~Oz$1.25) per hour. It was near a barber, so I had my beard trimmed, also for D25. Supermarkets were also within walking distance, so I indulged in luxuries like chocolate & wine.

With ample supplies and the luxury of electricity (& a fan) and running water, subject to frequent & lengthy absences of both services, I continued preparations for updating my travel blog until late in the night.