Blog 8 Banana Island

All work and no play makes Mark a dull boy, so we (The Collective volunteers, Ben, Greg, Jemma, Josh and myself) all went off for a short break away from Makeni. Our destination, the beautiful Banana Island.

We set off on our travels by getting a 3-hour taxi ride to Waterloo, where we then changed vehicles and headed towards Kent (few other places over here named after British locations e.g. York and Aberdeen) only to be stopped at a police block due to our driver not holding a legal driving licence, in fact he looked about 14 years old. But we soon got to the coast ready for our next voyage.

The boat ride over was fantastic, the sea was calm and the view was spectacular (look out for photo’s on my Facebook page). Upon arrival we were escorted through the small village on the island up to our guesthouse. It was incredible, our own private beach, a pool table, balcony and even a proper shower in our rooms!

We wasted no time in exploring the island further with our new friend Liam from Canada joining us. Only a 10-minute walk away from our accommodation was another beach with fewer rocks making it easier to swim in. Brilliant.

It was very chilled out on Banana Island, just what I needed and the food was unbelievably good, the pasta with tomato and garlic sauce was the nicest meal I have had in a while, plus the fish caught fresh that day was delicious.

Getting to know our new ‘fwend’ Liam (who was travelling all around Africa on his own) over a few drinks was good craic. I was adventurous enough to buy a small packet of whiskey and sip away. (Hoping that the chunder dragon would not repeat its antics!)

Next morning for me was just about lazing around, so after breakfast I only moved between my hammock and the beach to read my book and enjoy the sunshine, whilst Ben and Josh were off trekking through the jungle.

A delayed departure meant things were a bit rushed as we got to Kent, but a film crew who were delighted to see us greeted us at the port. The director explained that they were making a movie about slave traders in Africa and that he needed white people to play the parts. So lights, camera, action.

Basically as a group of slaves went past we had to push them along into the boat and pay some money, OK fairly simple stuff, though one slave did turn to me and ask if I was a professional. Ha. (If anyone wants to look it up in the future the film was called ‘Good Mother Africa’)

Now was the tricky part, how to get back to Makeni? We tried haggling with two taxi drivers to start our return journey and the one we chose took forever to go and get his car. He wanted to drive us to Makeni, but with a fuel shortage over here that proved difficult, so he dropped us off as Waterloo where we squeezed into a ‘poda poda’ (a small van that acts as a taxi for a LOT of people).

I was lucky, I took the front seat so it was padded and the window was down allowing me to get some decent videos of the trip. The others however were all packed in alongside about 20 other people who all had luggage as well.

It was a nice ride, taking in the scenery, listening to some local tapes. Then disaster as the engine failed and we were in the middle of nowhere, in the dark with a few wound up locals.

We didn’t hang around, as a white person you sort of get preferential treatment in Sierra Leone and this was used to our advantage when a car pulled up and said all five of us could hitch a lift. (This was made possible by the three men who were originally in the car, getting out and sitting on the roof, thanks lads.)

Makeni, seven hours later we were back and just in good time, we walked through New London before the heavens opened and the place was lit up with flashes of lightning. What a great trip.