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snuggels
960 Posts |
 Posted - 20 Apr 2010 : 15:58:52
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As I chill out sitting on the beach in Gambia I reflect on my 6 month multi country trip and all the interesting places Ive been and the wonderful people from all walks of life I have met on the way.
To get away from the UK during the cold winter months I started travelling every winter in Ernest when I took early retirement 9 years ago the first 2 years i purchased a world ticket one year going round the world west then the next year going east.
During this time have taken various cruises to the Caribbean Madeira the river Nile Egypt and also the Mediterranean stopping at all the major tourist places around the med
Although I have travelled quite a bit before when my children where Young doing the usual holiday trips from the UK to Spain Malta Greece Turkey also North Africa Morocco Tunisia Mauritania
and one year with my son did a grand tour of Europe in a vintage double deck hearse converted into a camper needless to say we were never stopped at any border crossing lol.
So now as my trip comes to a close at the end of the month what of Gambia . Its good to see the has been some major commercial development in the tourist area of Sene Gambia with shops bars banks and restaurants. The Village complex with 15 units includes a supermarket shops bars and restaurants also the Sea View Plaza with night club and several bars and restaurants.
However all the times I visited these arrears there were no tourist in the bars or restaurants the places were empty. There are 2 additional night clubs The Divas and also the old Sportsman's (English Bar) has been rebuilt with a night club up stairs. As I understand it the 3 night clubs don't open mid week as not enough people go to them and at week ends its mainly Gambian who go there.Also the strip is noticeably quite and iits not because its the end of the season Im told its been the same all year
So while all of this on the face of it the construction is good if Gambia does not invest in making Gambia a more interesting place to visit Gambia will fall into terminal decline as an international tourist destination and people will go else where. As I have stated before many countries I have been to are investing in there tourist industry being a big money earner and employer of its people
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2010 : 21:51:32
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How old were you when you took early retirement? What job was it from? Are you glad you did it or do you regret it and miss working?
I work 4 days a week and enjoy my mid week day off to recharge my batteries. I would rather have the free time than the money.
I am 50 and the way things are going will probably have to work till 70!!!! |
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snuggels
960 Posts |
Posted - 23 Apr 2010 : 12:25:34
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Hi Bev First let me say Im not a civil servant on a gold plated pension which allows me to do what I have been doing for the last several years. Im just a normal working guy who worked for 45 years saving a little each year to do what im doing.
Over the years my work was in the Electronics and Ministry Defence hardware and finaly in the transport industrie. Railways. my job was project planning.
I retired at 60. My thinking at the time was I could work umtill im 65 but what then. The chances were 2 years later I would be dead
So I decided to give up work and travel the world on my saving and when that ran out I would have my memories.
So would I do it again hell yes the places Ive been the people who I have met have all added to and enriched my life.
I think the song by the great singer Sachimo somes it all up for me in his chart topping song some years ago What Wonderful World |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 23 Apr 2010 : 16:06:27
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SNUGGLES I am sure you have heard the old English saying:
"You are a long time dead" well done keep going for travels and ENJOY yourself,Gambia is a great place to slow down and chill out as a tourist but I really have concerns for the lifestyle of the vast majority of the Gambian people,it is not really like paradise for most of them. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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snuggels
960 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2010 : 14:18:59
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| For thoes of you who are to young to remember Sachimo was a black singer his full name being Louise Armstong he had various hit songs in the 60s and 70s one of the most famouse being "What a Wonderful World" which for me sums up life He was also a very accomplished trumpet player. |
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2010 : 17:03:21
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SaTchmo, minor detail. I'm old enough to remember  .
Interesting lifestyle, Snuggels - i sincerely hope you will keep on having enough energy, good health and a good pension to go on travelling the way you do. Wish i were in your position! |
When an old African dies, it is as if a whole library has burnt down.
Amadou Hampate Ba (Mali) |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
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molly75
United Kingdom
86 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2010 : 16:04:43
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Snuggels i admire your attitude and great outlook on life. I think you have done a great thing retiring at 60 and living life to the full. I was in Gambia the same time as you and i agree the place was empty. I hope you enjoyed your travels. I love inspiring people like you who grasp every opportunity that comes their way. Life is too short to worry about what others think, you need to get out there and live, learn and love.
I'm a nurse and just last month i met one lady who was a patient of mine, who was a complete inspiration. She was 89 years old and was fit as a fiddle, she definatley made the most of life. She still drove and used to travel from lincolnshire to Kent every month to see her son. And she just went off travelling abroad whenever she felt like it, amazing!! She had some great stories to tell. The biggest regret of most patients young or old who are ill or dying is that they never travelled and saw the places they had dreamed of. At least you have now done this and as you say it has enriched your life. You could ahve spent your money on a new car, tv, clothes and other material things, but what happiness does that give???? Memories don't break down or fade, they are the best thing money can buy. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2010 : 23:48:19
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| Molly I agree with your last posting 100%!!! |
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