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faderabraham
203 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Oct 2008 : 12:30:04
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i see this myselfe i even met them in gambia and they even phone me but am wiser now .
anyone thinking of buying please consult a good lawyer
PS IT WAS A NIGHTMARE BUILDING MY COMPOUND
BUT THANK GOD ITS FINISH WITH CORRECT DEEDS. |
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faderabraham
203 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2008 : 12:56:14
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MODERN TIMES
am jumping forward now to just after my wife passed away and i went a little crazy and zoomed of to gambia with a lady from uk we stayed in a lodge it all seemed ok very nice indeed nothing wrong with the lodge,
we enjoyed sunshine atmosphere good meals and days out but we made a mistake of asking the security guy for a taxi so he called somone with a car and we got in asking him to tak us to senegambia,
i was busy chatting to my girlfriend in the back not paying attention to what direction we was going in until i realized he took a turning i didn know where it was but i did know it wasent the proper way to senegambia i confronted him and told him to turn round and go back but he continued on then tried to turn down a dirt road of the main highway, i realized we was miles out from senegambia we was on the airport highway. he didnt stop. my girl was getting worried really and seriously worried so i grabbed him round his kneck and told him to turn round and do the right thing he understood with my arm round his throat and his hearing and understanding of english improved dramatically,
he finaly did a u turn and headed back towards the turntable at brusubi i never let go of his neck until we was getting out at the senegambia strip,
god knows what they had planned for us in the bush needless to say he didnt get paid and i reckon he would have a sore kneck for a while,
told the lodge owner and the police but all we ever got was another security guard same company.
but never ever got involved with them again
NEXT TIME ROBBED WHILE SLEEPING |
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faderabraham
203 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2008 : 20:43:27
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ROBBERY WHILE SLEEPING
it was a while after that last event and i was thinking maybe going to gambia wasent going to be a good thing for my new girl and myselfe,
but i had taken on commitment that i promised my late wife to fulfill even has i sat by her hospital bed watching her pass away remembering all the good times we had in life and travel the places the people and how we spent so many happy hours in gambia and the gambian friends REAL FRIENDS... who helped my late wife when the multiple sclerosis was affecting her terribley. the terrible pain she suffered and physical control of her once athletic body.
i remembered our dreams of helping the ones who helped and accepted us into there life THE TRUE GAMBIANS... and our dream of building our own compound .
so i decided to continue and remember the hunger some of the people endure so as to be desperate to steal.
on one of our recent visits we was in lodgings again and prepairing documentation solicitors and building etc most of the time and on our last day we went out for a meal as before and returned early prepairing for to leave the next day hand baggage packed and gifts ready to give to gambian frienda on departure. we went to bed and at around 1 am i hear noise got up and had a coffe but nothing really different so i went back to bed and sleep i awoke at around 6am went to kitchen where is me ciggys where is me camera wonder who moved the stereo who put the walkman in the window bottom i opened the curtains ...hey who moved the window.....no window and no security grill...panick looking round the apartment bags gone stereo gone everything they could possibly carry.
BUT HOW WAS THIS POSSIBLE
the uncle sam security on duty all night robbers with bolt cutters so confident they can sit outside waiting behind our room drinking vimto while we went to sleep. looking at all the evidence at later realising the security is a waste of space and the owner of the lodge not securing the fencing they was well informed and well prepaired it really did upset me at the time more than i have ever told anyone cos i always given to these people but to put it bluntly **** HAPPENS.... now i tell nobody anything of importance and be very wary of all even more so of my own caucasian you reading this but i could be one of many it happened to but i am trying to warn other future victims... |
Edited by - faderabraham on 03 Oct 2008 21:59:18 |
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faderabraham
203 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2008 : 21:47:36
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CONCLUSION
well as you well seasoned travellers all know it happens anywhere in the world, not just in gambia in fact I FEEL SAFER IN GAMBIA, than i would in the middle of a town city or some suburbs in the SO-CALLED , develope countries,
so thats why i keep going and thats why i built my home there its changing i know but so is everywhere else thats life but what i have wrote is true to the best of my old memory it may be of interest to some one thinking of coming to gambia or building or buying a compound. all i can say is GO FOR IT...I DONT REGRET ONE BIT OF MY EXPERIENCES... and am still learning ...
THE END |
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faderabraham
203 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2008 : 22:36:50
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I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE EXPERIENCES  FROM OTHER MEMBERS PLEASE... |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 04 Oct 2008 : 12:45:06
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FADER, you have brightened up my day, your tales bring back lots of things, not just for me but for my friends.
I had a friend who fell ill and had to go to the clinic near senegambia, IT was my first visit theire, it was DR dalasis, pay for this, twice, three times, it was emotional.
Going to church and taking mass gambian style, very long, but nice, very uplifting, sponsoring first child at schol and visiting the school and meeting the class, going up river
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 04 Oct 2008 : 13:30:35
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 now for the downside, arrivng at BANJULAIRPORT and being mugged by the customs office, when they want something they d not let go, they charged me £10 for my mobile phne, i saind no we had a stand off for one hour, what a joke
finding out that the child i sponsored did not attend school and the family wanted money from, they said i could not take her and her brother for vimtos  , result one child who has lost a sponsor, one school who lost income.
Being ripped off by a tourist guide I had befriended I wanted to help, i paid for his wife's education she was going to be a hotel recepitonist, he used the money to pay for his younger brother schooling
Buying rice for people who were "starving" yeah right.
mISERABLE STAFF WHO COMPLAINED BECAUSE THEY DID NOT GET A TIP
bumsters in my face, BUT I GOT RUDE RIGHT BACK
THE CHANGE IN GAMBIA, IT WAS A SLEEPLY SECRET, BUT NOW 9 WELL NOT SURE IN THE CREDIT CRUNCH) IT IS OVER DEVELOPED MOR EAND MORE 4 AND 5 START HOTELS ARE OPEING UP, but they do not interact with the locals.
bad roads, after all these years, the road to ROOTS is rubbish
no electricity, no water, schools not as good as they can be or SHOULD BE,
low wages, stupid attitudes, IE IF YOU HELP ME, I WILL HELP YOU, what rot.
The fact that Gambia has a future, but some people at the top and holding things back.
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faderabraham
203 Posts |
Posted - 04 Oct 2008 : 18:15:17
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its really off putting jambo when this happen to you you do your best and its never enough for them the airpoet is a nightmare somtimes its so intimidating they figured us all out they know we tired and weary from travel and some new visitors disorientated they pounce like vultures they tried every time last time i told the guy am sitting on the floor here and not moving until isee some body in authority and they not getting one dalasis.
he soon told me to get up and go straight through |
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Momodou
Denmark
11804 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2008 : 13:01:32
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Faderbraham, thanks for sharing your experiences with us. Some of the things you narrated will definitely be a warning signal for would be victims of fraud.
Similar things do happen to Gambians, things that are unimaginable 20-30 years ago.
A taxi driver drove off with my bag containing a video camera and one digital camera about 6 years ago. After finding the driver the next day and taken him to a police station, he denied having seen any bag in his vehicle when he left me in our compound.
The funny thing is that a police detective who was assigned the case suggested to me that he could take me to a marabout (a holy man) who could help me find my bag with the cameras on condition that I slaughter a ram for the holy man. That was when I realized that it would be a hopeless case to pursue.
I later got a police report for and amount of 60 dalasis and got compensation from my travel insurance when I came back to Denmark but the sad thing is that I lost all the memories I recorded during my trip upcountry due to the fact that the incident happened three days before my departure.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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faderabraham
203 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2008 : 14:07:58
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thankyou momodou,
yes we can replace the stolen items but losing the information on computers or phones and camera memories are ireplacable but as you said i hope it makes people be more aware and stay safer becouse unfortunately its the way it is not only in gambia.and insurance companies dont always pay -up. |
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Hiz Princess
United Kingdom
464 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2008 : 19:09:32
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quote:
Originally posted by jambo
finding out that the child i sponsored did not attend school and the family wanted money from, they said i could not take her and her brother for vimtos, result one child who has lost a sponsor, one school who lost income.
I read about someone who was paying fees directly to the school for a child they sponsored , these fees are 16,220D per year.
On one of their visits, they went to the school to see the child and talk about their progress and the school brought the wrong child out. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2008 : 20:42:18
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If you want to sponsor and dont know what to do Action aid is a very good charity that is present in alot of developing countries.
How I chose my children, or they chose me...... Instinct, bond....whatever.....
I have 5 Gambian children
Lamin Joof in Tendaba
Musa Sangyang in Brufut
Sera in Pirang
Serjo in Tendaba (his brother is the primary school head)
Fatou in Kwinella
The two older boys I took their picture and said if they wrote to me I would write back. They did write.
Serjo was very shy and the other children took his presents when we visited. I saw in him an intelligence ( before I met his brother) and thoughtfulness. He was well cared for.
Fatou is the daughter of sheriff in Kwinella. I am proud to call her a friend so I try to help a little.
Sera is the one that chose me.....she was fascinated by me and was always with me every visit to Pirang. I love her like my own daughter.
My advice is go to a school see the children, trust your instincts, meet the family AND ONLY HELP IF THE CHILD STAYS IN SCHOOL.
It is not about buying the family more goods..... it is about feeding and clothing the children and making sure they get an education.
Serjos family asked was it ok to use the money to buy their son a bicycle. He had worked hard at school and they wanted to buy him a present. I said it is their choice...aslong as he is in school.
I am very sad this year because of my own circumstances I havent been able to help and I havent been able to visit.
Im hoping 2009 will be different. I dont ever forget these 5 children. I have their photos in my study. I remember them every day and want to make a difference.
One day I would love to have a compound and spend my winter in Gambia. I can dream.  |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2008 : 23:28:15
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| i only help gambian girls. Women in gambia economically and socially more disadvantaged than men, so I figured I should be unfair to boys little bid. |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2008 : 01:01:49
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also, in gambia there is a lack of education opportunities for adults. There was a dutch adult education centre but last month, when i was in gambia, it was close. Help ambititous adults, that will help their children too.
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diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2008 : 08:50:32
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Bev i agree and I wish i had followed that advise, but i have learnt a lesson.
"My advice is go to a school see the children, trust your instincts, meet the family AND ONLY HELP IF THE CHILD STAYS IN SCHOOL.
It is not about buying the family more goods..... it is about feeding and clothing the children and making sure they get an education."
When it happened i changed my tact, i only paid for one year, direct to the school, it was meant as a help for the family and child.
Then I paid only school exam fees because at that stage if they do not pay their papers are not released and they cannot move on.
then I started to help the schools and that is how the school libraries came about.
but if that has gone haywire.
I think sometimes the problem is what i want and what they need are different things. When I first went the dls was 50+ to the £1, so £20 went a long way, now who knows, one school the fees were 3,000 for one schoo year, now they 3,000 dls for one term.
All this has to be factored in.
I agree with Turk rgarding womens project, but that will happen down the line, I will on my next trip concentrate on getting the older boys educated in some form of practical training. From the Tree downwards, i figure if they have a skill they can be employed. many peopel have sponsored schools and paid fees and have stories to tell, but if your heart is init you move on, it just take time, It was for this reason i did not go for one year, i just got dis-heartened, so much money and help and so little results.
but this year was very theraputic, I buried a few unhappy ghosts.
I think the Gambia i fel in love with is no longer there" |
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