Easter Break Pt. 2: The Monastery

Overlook of the monastery outside Techimon

After the Sacred Grove everyone decided to go back to Kumasi. I wasn't really feeling like I wanted to go yet, so I decided to stay at the Kristo Buase Benedictine monastery outside of Techimon. I jumped out of the taxi and walked to the place. It was really nice. There were mango trees and cashews everywhere so it smelt amazing. 

The place was built in the 80s in around the giant rock formations. It is really a sight. The place is very calm and quite. They have an area that they use for services that is inside the rocks. They open it up to other churches to have masses there as well. 

The "rock" church

The brothers were pretty nice. They pray at least 5 times a day with mass. I joined them for evening services on Easter Sunday and their mass service on Easter Monday. I also was lead around the property by one of the brothers who showed me the massive amount of property they own. The grow a lot of their own vegetables and crops. They also make alcohol from these same products....

Walking with da brothers

All in all it was a nice experience. Climbed some rocks, fell down a lot of rocks, got lost around same rocks and ventured through a thorn bush trying to get out only to find a gate with barbed wire, then proceded to use the thorns to climb over the wire and gate, and then try to silently creep around the hermitage, only to be spotted by the kithcen staff in his underware staring at me...

And then having a brother try to kiss me and instead lick the side of my face...then apologize and say being a brother is hard and talking a lot about sex....It was fun! I'd stay again, with someone coming with probably. But it really was calm and beautiful. Also, the cook brother made me vegetarian pizza and gave me beer and wine each meal...so nice...so nice.

My room yoooo

You know, just sitting, thinking. 

Easter Break Pt. 1: The Sacred Grove

Over the Easter break I went to the Sacred Grove, a large hiking/eco tourist area outside of Techimon. I went with Kaia, Rachel, Geoff, and Georgie. Kaia and I ventured into the Kumasi market to find a tro heading in that direction and waited patiently for Geoff and Rachel to join us. After that, it was another 2 hours until we arrived. Georgie was there drinking at a spot when we arrived.

We found the guide, and we walked about 10 minutes on an open dirt road to the entrance of the grove. The grove used to be (and is still used) as a sacred ground for the people of the region. The kind of the area used to live in the grove and his guard would watch him. It was also the location for marriages, and any other official duties the king would serve. Now, it is used as mostly a tourist spot, but some ceremonies still happen there.

The rock star pose 

The entrance into the rock grove area. 

The grove is pretty magnificent. When you first enter, there is just a massive amount of trees and growth around you. But after clearing the woods, all you see are huge rocks EVERYWHERE. So needless to say there was a lot of rock climbing going on.

Along the rocks are open lands that remind me of the savanna .

The lion king rock as it is affectionately called. 

Probably the most amusing part was when we came across the "marriage rocks." This is a rock that is mostly smooth, but then has almost 5 equal stair like parts. A long time ago, only a few men could et married each year. They would race to the top, and the first one up would be able to claim whatever bride he wanted. Geoff, Georgie, and I attempted the race. Geoff was doing well, but I wanted to change stairs half way in and tried to shimmy to Geoff's. Unfortunate, I did not get a footing and slide down maybe 8 feet of rock....hurt my arm a bit, but eventually I got back up and climbed to the top. Really nice view, even though I was bleeding...

The marriage rocks

A butterfly reserve in Kumasi

The outside portion of the guest house at the reserve. 

On the weekend of March 28^th I needed some real time away from Antoa and just people in general. I love my roommates and the village, but sometimes you just need to get away and explore. So I decided I would go hiking in Bobiri Butterfly Reserve in Kubease. The reserve is located in Kubease, a village about 13km from Ejisu, with the reserve being a little more than a 5k walk on a dirt path to the actual reserve.

I was planning on going alone, but at the last minute asked Pat if he wanted to go. Excitingly, he said yes and we met in Ejisu to begin our travels. After saying the name wrong multiple times and losing each other in our attempts to meet at the tro tro station, we got on one and were out. We were dropped of in Kubease and followed the signs to the reserve. IT WAS SO HOT THOUGH. Blaring sun with no clouds in the sky around 11am is not fun times. However, we eventually ended up on a dirt road path that was covered by trees. It was nice at that point walking down the road, talking, and blarring the Beastie Boys as we walked.

After a grueling walk, we finally saw the reserve. It is a small three building place with a family living in the back area to maintain the property. We walked up and were told we would have a guide named Edward take us around when we were ready. They brought us to the guest house and we downed a large bottle of water each and rested up before we went hiking. The guest house was very nice. The whole set up reminded me of the cabins at Camp Marydale that I would sit in when I was a little Girl Scout in Louisiana.

Edward with Patrick going over the trees in the area. 

The hike was nice though. Edward has been working at the reserve for 15 years and is very knowledgeable. We went on the three sister hike that was about 3km through the woods where he pointed out all the different types of trees and identified their uses. The trees are all massive. Huge trunks. A lot of the purposes were for medicine use. Typically you cut the bark off and you would boil it with water to drink it as tea.

THESE TREES ARE MASSIVE

The thoughtful selfie

To prevent animals from eating it, the trees grows little spikes so it can SURVIVE

One tree was really interesting. It was almost like a vine because it doesn't grow vertically. It starts in the ground, then curves around, and will curve around trees and the top will go back in the ground. It is supposedly a tree that has a bark that will cure insanity because it is a spiritual tree. However, you are only allowed to collect the bark in the early morning or late afternoon when your shadow will not fall on it. Also, there is some ritual involving an egg...but I wasn't really sure.

All in all nice place. Sadly butterfly season isn't until June/July when the mangoes start growing so I will need to head back another time. But definitely a nice retreat from Kumasi.  

A Pineapple Farm in Antoa

So a few weekends ago my friend Ester asked me to come to the farm with her. I wasn't sure what that meant or what I was supposed to do, but I woke up at 7am as requested. Apparently that was too late for her and she went ahead, but her sister and her neighborhood friend took me to the farm.

The farm, which is a pineapple farm, is located probably 3km behind Primary School Mensa in Antoa. You go up a few hills, under a canopy of vines and palm trees, and through acres of growing pineapples to her family plot. It is super small. Her uncle has a plot near by, but their plot is most likely less than one acre. Ester was already their weeding the pineapples and taking care of the land. Her and her mother sell pineapples in the neighboring towns since there are no farms around there.

I was only there for an hour and a half, but the land out there is gorgeous. I took a lot of pictures with the girls as we hiked back to the main road and to Antoa. It is definitely what Ghanians call “the bush.” In any case though, the bush is magnificent.

Sports Day in Antoa!

Kids and parents on the field at Antoa JHS

From March 25^th to 27^th Antoa JHS, the school I taught at, had a sports day. Essentially it is like a field day, but in Ghana's case all the neighboring schools go to one school's field and they have a tournament style event in soccer, hand ball, and volleyball. I decided I would walk by on Friday to check it out and see whats up. It was huge. There were over 15 schools there just on Friday that were only JHS schools. The other days they opened it up to the primary schools. I can only imagine how crazy those days were...

Tio, looking over the proceedings 

Update on pictures

Whats up people! So you know, if you already didn't know, the internet sucks in Ghana. Hardcore style...So that means I will have updates, but no pictures. I will probably add the pictures to the posts later, but thought I would just tell you through an update.