the Xmas II
Remaining images from Saru, Northern Region, Ghana. Land of mud, homemade booze, and plenty xylophone.
Saru during the dry season, just after the corn has been harvested.
Crops are stored on the roof and in round granaries that open onto the roof. This small garden currently has a few tobacco plants growing.
The compound is set up so there is always shade somewhere. This resting platform is sometimes the place. It is very very comfortable and the logs and soft and smooth from wear.
Gillian and I slept in the modern cinder block house.
We took a walk down to the shore of the Black Volta, where women were washing clothes and a ferryman brough people across. On the other side is Burkina Faso, and Burkinabe people doing similar things.
Termiterrium. These are everywhere and can easily be ten feet tall.
This is a fruiting Chorisia tree, familiar to those in Southern California. In Ghana there are two types, one that grows low and has edible fruit, and one that grows tall and has fruit with soft cotton inside. I had never tried the fruit and it is great! Also beehives here, people use the honey, yes.
We visited the home of Ben, on the left here, a local teacher and warm intelligent man. These old timers enjoyed shots of Apateshie (local gin made from sugar) with us. The man with the white beard says he is 120.
Apateshie all around! Two shots and I was far gone. The man behind me in the red cap is GBC, our gracious host. His nephew Isaac sitting next to me also took very good care of us. Everyone in this photo and basically everyone in Saru is related. I’m told its very hard to find a wife.
Then we had to race home for turkey slaughtering. The balloon is actually the turkey’s stomach, a popular toy with small kids here.
