Kii suma raka la

Kii suma raka la - this is my brother. I have been saying that a lot over the past two weeks as my brother Paul and his friend Rich have come to visit. They arrived on Thursday 2 January and I was very excited to meet them at the airport. They were shattered after an overnight drive for an early morning flight, so we just took a walk along the beach and chilled at Safari Garden, where they are staying, for the first evening.

The next day we chilled by the pool, played cards, hung out with Nicola, Helen, and a few other VSOs over the course of the day, and then went to Manjai for pork afra in the evening. James didn't have any of his own pork so we had roasted bush pig... which was very nice! The boys seemed to enjoy the experience of a proper 'local bar' and were happy not to be in the touristy bars of Senegambia.

Then on Saturday we braved Serrakunda market, which turned out to be blissfully quiet, to buy material and supplies for our boat trip the next day. The guys got some great material from a lovely guy (who suggested we take this photo!) and we headed back hassle free to Bakau to visit the tailor. 

After getting Rich and Paul measured up for kaftans we went for a drink at Bakau guest house to watch the fish come in, and then bought fresh prawns and more supplies for the boat trip. 

The guys came round to mine and we ate half a kilo of prawns in spicy tomato sauce with rice, and then marinaded another kilo of prawns for the boat trip. I also fried up some chicken and chilled / froze lots of beer and water for the day ahead, before flopping into bed exhausted but happy. 

Prawns marinading in ginger, chili, lime,
garlic and salt 

Supplies for the day ahead!