Banana Islands, Christmas 2012

Banana Islands lie southwest of the Freetown Peninsula in Sierra Leone. The two main islands, Dublin Island and Ricketts Island, are linked by a causeway (a stone walkway built by the slaves). Dublin Island is known for its beaches while Ricketts Island is best known for its forests. Mes0Meheux is the uninhabited third island of the Banana Islands. THis is where we spend our Christmas 2014. 

We stayed at the Banana Island Guest House http://www.bananaislandguesthouse-biya.org it was amazing! It is a small "resort" style place with 5 octagon shaped houses that are split into different private rooms for guests. We stayed in a room which had 2 queen size beds with mosquito nets, a single cushioned seat and a sofa with a coffee table. We had our own private spacious bathroom and both of our windows opened to an ocean front view. The guesthouse is owned and operated by the locals that live on the Banana Island (some even born there). All proceeds are given back within the community to help with the primary school as well as any other things the small village needs (there are only about 900 people that live on both the islands). 

We had to drive from our house at Bottom Mango around the internal road of the peninsula.  We passed through Regent, went through Waterloo and crossed around through Tumbo and passed Mama Beach (another great resort so I have heard).  We took the turn headed towards Kent passed Burah Beach (great surfing spot) and finally landed at a single pole "security station".  The whole driving time took about an hour and a half. This time will probably be cut in half once all the roads are completely paved.  A guy in a yellow shirt met us and guided us to where our driver should park the car so we were able to unpack our bags. As a family, yes Colossus included, we cautiously walked over the broken glass and headed to the water.  There was another couple, British, at the shore waiting for us to arrive so we could take a upscale traditional boat. I say it was upscale-traditional because it was carved out tree but it had a canopy and an engine!  The drive across the water was extremely relaxing for me, cautiously hitting the waves and rolling over the tops of them and gently rocking back and forth when the boat came to a stop while waiting for the locals to pull up fishing nets to check their catch. This for me was the beginning of paradise. For Mo, on the other hand, the boat ride consisted of 25 minutes of not talking but gritting his teeth in case the sensation of motion-sickness became too much to bare.  Luckily though, thanks to Dramine and the anti-motion-sickness pressure point wrist bands it never came to that point. 

We passed several local fisherman boats, their nets looked heavy with the fresh fish they were bringing on board. We gave a friendly wave and continued on. Arriving to the guesthouse was beautiful! The beach seemed clean, there were smiling faces waiting us and we could see a scatter of tables and chairs where we could eat! I was excited to get out! One worker helped to carry Jackson to the shore while another took Colossus' dog crate; I refused to allow them to hold him.  Once on shore they graciously showed us to our room. When we walked in it was a sense of “This is Africa” but not in a bad way, just as this is what a resort looks like in a 3^rd world country.

After settling in for a few minutes we decided that it would be nice to sit at one of the tables to rest and take in the relaxing view. We were immediately greeted by smiling faces asking us what we would like to eat for lunch. Looking at the menu it took me only a brief second before saying “Lobster!” Mo ordered lobster too! 

Almost immediately one of the men working there wadded into the water and opened up a cage. He walked up the beach towards us and waited for our approval of the size of the lobster before heading up towards the kitchen.  While waiting for food, Mo and I sat and enjoyed listening to the waves crashing on the sand. Jackson on the other hand, was playing in the sand only to turn around and complain that his hands were sandy. LOL. Oh kids!