SO MUCH TO WRITE- Kumasi and Northern Ghana

I think I will probably run out of time and words by the time I get through all the events from this past weekend, but here goes trying to squeeze as much of it in as possible!

Thursday morning we left for Kumasi, a region north of here. We spent many hours on the bus -too many really. Arrived and stayed at a pretty decent hotel.

Friday we left for Northern Ghana. On the way we stopped by a beautiful, beautiful waterfall and got to swim (sorta)! There was a group of Ghanaian students there, too, and when we went in, they helped push us up under the waterfall so that we could slide down! So much fun! The goofy thing, too, was that they wanted pictures with US as if we were the novelty: "And this picture is me with a white girl" Go figure!

As we rode north, the road got bumpier and bumpier, and the scenery also began to change. We were surrounded by more and more beautiful green hills, and areas where the only thing scraping the sky were the trees reaching stories high. The towns began to change into villages, and we saw less and less tin roofs, and more straight up mud huts with stick fences. At one point, we turned onto a dirt road for a few hours, and the bus was shaking so much, my California friend told me it was what it felt like to be in an earthquake.

We arrived at Mole National Park, and after dinner crammed four to a room and went to sleep.

Saturday we woke up early and went on a walking safari (a hike, essentially). We saw baboons, a couple of other kinds of monkeys, water bucks, kops, warthogs, a rabbit, birds, and ELEPHANTS! The day was overcast, which is was good-not as hot. As we approached the waterhole our guide turned to me and said: "Ah, I am happy today!" "Elephants?" I responded.
"Yes"

There was a group of about ten of them right in the middle of the waterhole, most up to their heads, just chillin. Every once in a while they would use their trunks to bring water up to wet their heads. A couple of other elephants were just walking around, too. I think they're my new favorite animal.

After lunch we went to see the oldest Mosque in Africa. For the sake of time, more on that later.

Sunday we set out early back south to Kumasi. We all cheered after we got onto paved roads! We ate lunch at an art center, which had stores where we could by paintings, and carvings, and the like. We did some shopping there, in an environment akin to a shopping mall.

That night we stayed in the nicest place we've stayed so far: AC, TV, hot showers, big beds!

Monday we once again woke up early and visited the Kumasi Children's Home (an orphanage). I'll try to write more on this later, as it was very touching, especially when making comparisons to peace and love.

After that we went to: a wood carving place, a cloth stamping place, and a kente cloth place. I really wish I had time to write all about them. They were very intersting, but also very intense. As soon as we got of the bus the haggling would begin: "Sister, sister, come to my shop, it's over here" and once inside "I like you, you are my sister, I want to sell this to you, I will give you a good price."

After spending literally all the money left in my wallet, we set back for Accra. As nice as the last place we stayed at was, it was nice to be back in Hostel sweet Hostel.

I could go on and on about each individual experience, and will try to later, but for now friends, I must go. See you in a few weeks!