Of a Been-to's Diatribe

He went on and on about his travels, and all he said, it came across that he had only London and Dubai – thanks to their airline routing through here –. I was sitting sipping some tea here at Paloma waiting for a friend when I overheard the young man go on and on at the next table. My mind had wandered on how beautiful Ghana is, remembering some of my various trips around the country, beaming, when I suddenly caught onto the young man’s voice. His audience seemed fascinated, obvious they had never traveled out of Ghana. And, of course, he was exaggerating, going on about everywhere in Dubai is air-conditioned, even outside on the pavements! I’ve been to Dubai. I walked around. Indeed, most indoor places, during the summer which is sometimes over 45 degrees Celsius, all shopping centres which are indoors – are air-conditioned, and when the door is opened the cool air streams out and sometimes cools the area around the pavements.
While eavesdropping, I wondered if the chap would brag in the same fervor should he have to talk about places in Ghana he had visited. Not! I imagined, as many people have expressed in conversations when we talked about travelling around the country. The various attractions and towns I have visited, mingling with the locals, trying out their food, participating in their dances have all given me a better sense of the people and tribes that make up our country Ghana!
Tonight, at the Banquet Hall, various tourism organizations will be honoured at the national awards event. It will be interesting to know who, or which one wins what! They are the heroes who are doing things to help out communities by taking people, visitors, to vacation there in an effort to contribute to development. Kudos at all of them! And to the Ghana Tourist Board also, who, together with other agencies, are gradually consolidating and packaging our tourism.
I remember my first vacation in the Northern and Upper Regions, back in 1999. I don’t remember much of my trip there in 1979, the year I first toured every regional capital. I was flabbergasted to see the landscape change as we drove from Kintampo – where that fabulous cascading steps waterfall is - onwards, with the forest vegetation gradually diminishing into savanna. The architecture in Tamale and along the route to Bolgatanga, their exquisite mud huts, distinctly different from those of the communities in the south. The number of bicycles on the roads – some even being driven by ladies in full ‘Moslem’ regalia with another sitting behind – all of these was such an eye opener. I tried Pito for the first time then. I tasted a well seasoned Zafi soup with Tuo as I will never forget, and ate endlessly grilled guinea-fowl till my jaws ached!
I remember my journeys through Bekwei from Kumasi after having visited Bonwire and lounged by the Lake at Bosomtwi. I’ve done a mine tour at Ashanti in Obuasi, and drove around the township, which has become quite as derelict as Tarkwa – considering that they are both gold mining towns which should show something of their wealth! I’ve journeyed down southwards by public transportation from Sehwi Weiso - where a broken bridge made us walk for over an hour to the next town to catch a bus all the way down to Elubo! I’ve watched sunsets at Axim, and jet skied in the ocean at Busua, even done the canoe ride to Nzulezu. I’ve spent a reverential hour at the ‘Bamboo Cathedral’ inside the Ankasa Forest Reserve in the Western Region. I have met so many people and got such insights into the way they live.
Eastwards, I particularly remember my escapades at Wli waterfalls, seeing it for the first time, and incredulously screaming ‘O my God!’ I’ve climbed up Mount Gami wearing a walkman, listening to Pavarotti! It was celestial! I done a leisurely cruise on the Volta and gone under the Adomi Bridge!
And excited feelings I have had here, were the very same I had while vacationing in faraway lands as St John and St Thomas in the Virgin Islands, in Havana, Cuba, in New York, and around the American East Coast. In London, Coventry, Brighton... in England; in Bochum, Frankfurt, Heidelberg... in Germany, in Denmark in Scandinavia, in Dubai and all the other places around the world that I have visited! Travel is great, and I wish you would do some within our great country too, spend some money among the communities and generate some wealth for those less fortunate than we are!
Tonight, again, short man Julius Agwu leads a pack of stand-ups – including the Lapkecious 350kg Bose - in what has become another standing ‘calendar event’ - the thrilling comic series ‘Nite of 1006 Laughs & Music’! The event comes at such an opportune time, and is aptly tagged as a stress buster. Join in the laughter!