An invitation to experience Ghana, palm-lined beaches, forts, castles, or the lesser-known attraction of the interior.Ghana is most alluring, colourful nation in West Africa. The hospitality of the Ghanaian people and their vibrant culture are the hallmarks of this former British colony where English is widely spoken.
Visitors may discover palm-lined beaches and 500-year-old European castles on the coast, or the lesser-known attractions of the interior: the animal-rich savannah of Mole National Park, the sacred monkeys of Boabeng, the mud-and-stick mosques at Larabanga and Wa and the spectacular jungle-bound waterfalls of the eastern highlands.
I know that you have often considered a trip to the Black Continent and wishing to explore lesser known parts of Africa, wrote Barbara from Ghana. But you probably changed your mind as travel agencies do not offer appropriate programms or perhaps you feared a visit into the unknown. But now your wish can come true, to experience Ghana, beautiful, wild and so very different.
Ghana comes to you with homely comfort at Barbaras`s Highlife Village resort.
Ghana is a country far enough, wrote Barbara further. But when you decide to visit, call me or send me an email. I will collect you at the airport and take you back at the end of your stay. But if you wish to come here on your own, take a tro-tro from Kaneshie Station in Accra to Kokrobite. I thought I will give myself a foretaste, wrote to Barbara and invited her for an interview.
Q: What is the best way to reach your village?
Barbara: Our resort, the Barbara`s Highlife Village Resort, lies some 30 km west of Accra, Ghana`s capital, close to the sandy beach. It is desiged and built in the same manner as traditional Ghanaian villages – round houses forming circle and the community and social life taking place in the centre. This is where people are making cooking, gathering or just have good time.
In our Village houses are round as well and have a straw roof, the rest of the building is out of red mud, common for northern Ghana. The second style are houses that are common for western Ghana. We are making every effort to use local materials.
There is a bar, a restaurant, an open air theatre for dances and musicians. Our village resort offers constant new experiences and possibilities for enjoyment to our guests and travelers, in the field of culture, foods, meeting people. At Barbara`s village one can meet travelers from all over the world, exchange experiences, read a good book, listen to exquisite African music. In addition, we also offer different workshops, such as drumming lessons, dances, sculpturing, making of jewellry, and textile weaving.
As far as facilities for accommodation is concerned, we offer: acommodation in two round mud houses, five houses on sticks, and in a dormitor with 4 double rooms.
Q: What does "Highlife" stands for?
Barbara: "Highlife" stands for music, which I like very much. It is a legendary Ghanaian genre, a mixture of jazz and traditional African music. There is also a message involved, I wanted everybody to know, that in our village resort, we shall enjoy plenty of "highlife" – good music. The locals added my name to the resort in begun to refer to it as "Barbara`s Village" in this is how we today known.
Q: What kind of experience awaits traveler at your Highlife Villages Resort?
Barbara: Besides workshops, we organize a number of trips to different parts of Ghana, where one can experience the traditional Ghanaian way of life and culture. We singled out some really interesting traditional villages.Travelers, who wish to travel individually, our professional staff assist them with good advice and in most cases - we do the travel plans together.
Q: A word about the fishing village of Langma...?
Barbara: Langma is traditional fishing village. The local fishermen use traditional fishing boats for fishing, which are nicely painted. They are catching the fish with long nets, placing them far out into the sea and are pulling them slowly to the coast. The whole village gathers here and everbody tries to give a helping hand. If luck is on their side, the net is full of fish, lobsters, etc. Women and children immediatelly distribute the catch into the baskets. Fishing is main occupation of Langma villagers. Good portion of the catch is meant for food, part is either sold fresh or smoked.
Q: You say call me or mail me when you decide to come. Who are your guests and travelers….?
Barbara: From all over the world, many from my native Slovenia. Most of them wanted to have a first hand experience of Africa, but simply did not find courrage to do so. Once they know of my resort and that they are well looked after, the decision to come to visit is easier. There is some truth in the fact that it is rather different to travel in Ghana as, for example, in organized safaris in Kenya. We base our relationship on contacts with Ghananians.
Q: What is the culinary experience like, may be a "Highlife" special... ?
Barbara: We offer the whole range of foods, local and continental European. Our special are developed from different local fruits and fruit juices, jams from fruits, in addition, we grow eco-vegetables and fruits as well.
Our resort`s kitchen has a range of fish readily available and also other sea fruits. We also offer local Ghananian foods, such as Fufu, banku, ground nut soap along with different soucees. We are well known for "omlets" as desert dish.
Q: You say "loads of music", musical evening... ?
Barbara: Live entertainment! We invite variety of reaggie groups to perform at our village and of course – "highlife".
We don`t have a fixed calendar of events – yet. But there is a great live performance for the occassion of the New year. Our aim is to have regular musical events.
Q: What is a drumming experience like?
Barbara: The performance of drummers and dancers are frequent. Many times, the drumemrs come by - and perform by themselves. It is fascinating how much energy is expressed. Quiete few guest like to experience drumming for themselves, Of course under professional guidance.
Drumming and dancing workshops are also most visited.
Q: You are likely to spend morning wandering along the sandy beach next to your resort – the beach experience, sports... ?
Barbara: Kilometers and kilometers of empy sandy beach covered with coconut palms offer a very uplifting experience. As we are along the Atlantic ocean, the sea can be windy - a pleasaent natural massage. One can do also "body surfing". Football is played on the beach but also trekking is very pleasant.
Q; You started your resort by sending a letter to friends. Do you still remember the content of that letter and what is said. What responses you received?
Barbara: I do, here it is: "Invitation. It is with pleasure to inform that my African village resort has become finally reality and every guest and traveler is welcome. I offer good food, drinks, nice rooms with wc and shower. I can offer accommodation in "dormitor" to all young and young at heart.
The resort`s name is "Barbara Highlife Village", situated in the village Langma, next to the sea and sandy beach (Accra – Barrea – Kokro bite – Langma). I assure you that every guest will be well looked after. I still believe that the best promotion is mouth to mouth and I therefore request to forward this notice to all your friends and and open for me – the "mail of coincidence". Thank you and best regards".
The invitation was send only to my best friends. The news spread like fire and soon after I begun receiving numerous calls, interview requests and also – first visitores.
It wasn`t meant to be a promotional action at all then.
Q: Slovenia – where you come from - and Ghana seems worlds apart. Why Ghana, what is your story, how do you remember Ghana then and now?
Barbara: You are right in saying that Slovenia and Ghana are worlds apart. My native Slovenia is beautiful, I like Slovenia and I am proud of it. However, It was that world apart, that otherness, this different world that cast magic spell on me. Of course, also the climate, I love the hot weather and am fascinated by the sea. Above all, but the people of Ghana with their openess, joy and friendliness and - their way of life.
Originatelly, I came to Ghana according to the wish of my daughter Spela. She took Ghana as sample country for her final theses at university. Because English is spoken here and English is also the official language of Ghana. She explored and compared the language education in Slovenia and Ghana in her theses. After completition, she wanted to visit Ghana again and friends she made during her studies.
At first, I experienced cultural shock upon arrival. During first few weeks, I only wanted to catch the first plane and fly back home. After my daughter and I toured the country, I begun to get to know Ghana and the people. But as soon as we reached the coast, my impression improved vastly.
Thereafter my son made a New years gift to me and bought a piece of land in Ghana. I returned to Ghana on my own and started to build my village resort.
I have been here for the sixth consequetive year. Ghana too is changing. At times, I feel nostalgic for the good old days. It is clear that development will bring more changes, unfortunatelly not always for the better.
Q: Ghana as tourist destinations, a must see places...?
Barbara: I recommend visits of traditional villages, traditional crafts, which are disappearing, old forts and in particular the villages as Nzuelzo, Tafi Atome, where locals live in harmony with monkeys. Further Yendi in the north of the country, Larabango, which has the oldest mosque, and numerous smaller villages in all regions of Ghana. .
Also national parks, water falls... Ghana is interesting, eventhough it does not have the pyramides or hosts great safaris.
Q: Final thoughts, invitations.... ?
Barbara: Ghana has become my second home. I love it. So do most of people, who follow my invitation of discovery. I will not say come "see Ghana and die"
But "come, experience Ghana and learn to live differently, more peaceful, more fullfilled.
Come and see and experience for your self!
Thank you Barbara.
MORE ABOUT GHANA
Ghana, is a west African country, bounded on the north by Burkina Faso, on the east by Togo, on the south by the Atlantic Ocean,and on the west by Côte d'Ivoire. Formerly a British colony known as the Gold Coast, was led to independence by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah on the 6th of March, 1957.
The country is named after the ancient empire of Ghana, from which the ancestors of the inhabitants of the present country are thought to have migrated.
Accra, the capital, has a population of 1.7 million. Kumasi is the capital of the Ashanti region. Sekondi has an artificial harbor and was the first mode!n port built in Ghana. Other major cities include Tema, Tamale, and Cape Coast.
Accra is an important commercial, manufacturing, and communications center. It is the site of an international airport and a focus of the country's railroad system, including a link to nearby Tema,which since 1962 has served as the city's deepwater port.
A sprawling city, Accra presents a varied appearance, with buildings of modern, colonial, and traditional African architecture. Industries include vehicle and appliance assembly, petroleum refining, and the manufacture of foodstuffs, textiles, metal and wood products, plastics, and pharmaceuticals.
Image: Barbara at Barbara`s Highlife Village Resort Ghana By Irena Knehtl
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