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jambo
3300 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Jun 2008 : 12:26:54
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hi peeps, i am back in the UK, Gambia was good for me this trip, as you know i have not been for a year, because i felt things were not right for me their and needed time away, I was bit homesick for my adopted families, so i raided the bank and visited them. as you see from my previous postings i was happy with certain things.
So let me give yu an update.
some body has talked about the tourism situation in Gambia good and bad.
Good, it is always good when visitors go to gambia and spend money, it keeps people in jobs, end of story, right across the board, from airline staff, airprt staff, coach drives, prters, hotel staff wil benefit from visitors. I managed to assit one ex student to get a job,   , helped two families with small business soap making, it was 350 dls, to oil and caustic soda .
Bad side, too many hotels and not enough visitors, i booked my flight
very last minute, on 9th june to fly out 13th june, there were 53 empty seats on my flight ask yourself why, they could have dropped the price and got passengers.
Rate of exchange, in my hotel Kombo beach, there was not place to eat except in the hotel, as it was off season the restaurant in the vacincy were closed, you could walk tothe highway during the day and g to alibaba and oanother restaurant, Local is near Elton station, but at night too dark to walk you have to get a taxi to senegambia, extra costs so people stayed in hotel, hgh prices, Kombo is 4 star hotel with 2-3 standards. 135 dls for a beef burger, at the rate of exchange = £3.50. Senegambia meal average £10-15 per head, yu do the maths. there were not that many meal for less than 350 dls, people go to Gambia expecting a cheap holiday, but for some this took up a lot the budget.
That is the food issue,
less dls means less spent on trips?, most people booked there trips with gam exp rep, they did not leave the hotel to mee the tourists guides. so that money goes to UK after local deductions.
Bumsters, I know gambia and was horrified at the amount of bumsters allowed in the otel, never mind on the street, since when was it okay for them to come into the hotel. before in any hotel you could have a visitor but you signed in for them and they stayed with you, Not at Kombo Beach, which in one night looked liked Kombo Brothel.
Some off us remember the Tafbel and the goings on in that hotel. I spoke to someone who knew the tourist police and they reported it to them, response shrug of shoulders. this is not a nice view of Gambia and word will spread. At least in Senegambia they will speak but stay away if you say NO. not so in this area they follow yu closely. the attitude is if they have it they should GIVE IT TO ME , too much bribery and corruption.
Hotel, had no telephone the whole week, what nonsense is that.
country two days there was a fuel shrtgage leading to one day whenthe bush taxis could not buy diesel, so children did not go to school and people could not get to work. I went on my trip to Albreda and people paid the senegalege to take two 5litres yello containers to the border and buy diesel, such stupidity. this will have a knock on effect further down the line.
People, if you are sending remittance, please re examine them. School fees will go up in septembe I have inside information on that score. I was asked to help a child stay in school i refused because I only pay school fees and books, for the family it will const 4000 dls t send her to school, does she need to go to that school now, let her go to government school, LOOK A THE FAMILIES NEEDS AND WANTS, i will happily asisst will a need, rice/food, BUT THE WANTS are at discretation, too many are not looking ahead and wanting stupid things like mobiles latest model only, films, wide screeen tv all show items, something has to give. If you are a bottomless money well good luck, but i think a few will re-strucuture their money spend.
the contry has three mobile phone companies, africell, gamcel and comium for such a small country that is good. but there area lot of African banks and Arab banks opening, a lot of "other countries" investing in the financial sector and the pres has advised people go back to the land and not to rely on tourism. "think on that one".
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jun 2008 : 12:50:24
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| JAMBO,I feel that you didn't enjoy your holiday so much as you have in the past,all that you write is not new but it does show the problems of the ordinary Gambian, also the way of Gambian thinking as you say "too many are not looking ahead and wanting stupid things like mobiles latest model only," A gambian lives for today only,there is very little concept of saving,why?,because normally there is NOTHING left to save.More Banks,It maybe the milk cow for Gambia is changing from tourism to "financial products " I don't understand what they are either. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 23 Jun 2008 14:29:14 |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jun 2008 : 16:57:53
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| hi toubaba1020, i did enjoy it, but did not treat at as holiday, this was a fact finding and closure trip. so monday to thursday was a lot of running around, the fuel situation did not help, because we tried three garages before we got fuel. I loved seeing the families in Albreda and nuimi it is so nice to go there, so relaxed and chilled, but the kombos is getting desparate. As you say many things have been siad before, but ask yourself this why has nothing beeen done. eh komb |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jun 2008 : 17:00:10
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Welcome back jamba kiting. We missed your short spicy threads, many as they may be but short with less or no opinions at all.
Ablaze haa! I am glad to see you back.
Regards,
Dalton. |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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sab
United Kingdom
912 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jun 2008 : 19:56:16
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Sorry I missed the 'vimto' Jambo...hope u managed to see at least one Scorpion game. But oh the burning fire in the sky was just too much for me. I was real pleased to see clouds at Gatwick.
Maybe Vimto next time?
sab.
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The world would be a poorer place if it was peopled by children whose parents risked nothing in the cause of social justice, for fear of personal loss. (Joe Slovo - African revolutionary) |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jun 2008 : 22:31:21
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If you want a hotel without hassle I recommend staying at Kotu at Palm Beach.
No hotel is totally without hassle. But at Palm Beach the people going in and out of the hotel are very closely regulated.
Also from the hotel you are straight onto the beach with no long walks..... when you have enough of the people on the beach you can go back to the pool and this is a totally protected environment.
If you want to go places you can get taxis from straight outside the hotel.
To me Senegambia is not Gambia. Its ok for an odd meal or an odd night out clubbing...at joker etc.... but it isnot what a Gambia travel trip is about.
Anyone fed up of Senegambia strip I would recommend getting a flight and staying at Kotu, or Footsteps at Gunjur or elsewhere down the coast. There are lots of guest houses springing up..... especially around Brufut and Ghana town. |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jun 2008 : 11:45:08
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hi bev, i am governed by money, this was a good package, i did not choose this hotel it was what was on offer, but i have normally chosen to stay at african village/ cape point before at least it was gambian owned and i am near baku, more traditional gambia. On my next visit i will look into the lodges.
This just did not seem like a 4 star hotel, but it served its purpose, provided a good base and i could get to places easily. for the first time visitor, it was a mixed reaction to least in Senegambia they could walk up the road from hotel to senegambia market and have a drink/stroll etc.
also there is no-one there from my old "expats" they have left one by one, i could meet with them for a vimto or go to their compound and chill/ be invited to some event, at least 6 friends have left both american and british, so that "Hiya long time no see" factor is closed.
My old friend Jayzek has passed one year, i lit a candle for her and remembered her spirit.
I will go back  
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Dr Thomas
Gambia
95 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jun 2008 : 13:38:35
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Last week I stayed for 3 nights at Sarges in Senegambia.
My son came to visit from UK. He got a cheap deal from Gambia Experience.
This hotel is now owned by Ardy Sarge and his Family (gambians)
There have been big changes from Tafbel days. All the rooms have been or in the process of upgrading.No visitors are allowed in the rooms.
All visitors have to be signed in between 10.00am 10.00pm.
Must have lost a lot of bussiness from the tafbel days.(know what I mean)
They are a good muslim family who want a well run hotel. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jun 2008 : 19:46:38
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| Oh thats interesting. I might give it a try. |
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jun 2008 : 01:47:31
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quote:
Originally posted by toubab1020
JAMBO,I feel that you didn't enjoy your holiday so much as you have in the past,all that you write is not new but it does show the problems of the ordinary Gambian, also the way of Gambian thinking as you say "too many are not looking ahead and wanting stupid things like mobiles latest model only," A gambian lives for today only,there is very little concept of saving,why?,because normally there is NOTHING left to save.More Banks,It maybe the milk cow for Gambia is changing from tourism to "financial products " I don't understand what they are either.
This from the D.O.
http://observer.gm/africa/article/2008/6/25/15-banks-eye-gambia
Am I right?,read the snippet:
President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, has disclosed that 15 more commercial banks have applied for operational licence with the Central Bank of The Gambia, to participate in the country’s fast growing financial sector.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jun 2008 : 19:47:42
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dr thomas, it would really help if you could book some of the hotels directly, and not have to bother with a complete package, I will look into it a bit more. i went with GE for convenience, would definately rather stay in gambia owned hotel, at least some of the money would stay in country. some of the hotels do not make it easy for you to book direct with , try it and see what you come up with, some website are not good. But next visit I will probably try to get direct tel no/email. LOOK AT THAT I AM PLANNING NEXT VISIT |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jun 2008 : 19:59:24
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If you have a guide they can book room for you and then you can pay on arrival. Ive done that at Palm beach. But sometimes a package is cheaper as they beat the hotel down on room price.   |
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Dr Thomas
Gambia
95 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jun 2008 : 21:58:38
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Hi
If you want to book directly go to
WWW.sargeshotel.gm
Tom |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jun 2008 : 12:32:27
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| just checked the web site, don't like it, but the rates are not cheap, unless my maths are bad it works out £35.00 per night |
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Hiz Princess
United Kingdom
464 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2008 : 12:10:23
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I have recently stayed at the Kombo Beach and also note the increase in 'Bumpsters/Local guests' I raised my concerns with GE as that was who I was travelling with and im assured these are legitimate guests.
For 500D a night you can invite a friend to stay over and have breakfast in the morning.
Another point is locals especially the ex pats are encouraged to use the pool area I think they charge 40d for a days hire of the sun beds/pool area so theres no knowing who's who and if they buy a meal or drink they're free to stay in the hotel till late.
Whether this practice continues during high season I've no idea but talking to other travellers it is not only the Kombo beach this happened in. |
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ricgrey
United Kingdom
12 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2008 : 13:00:12
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Hi All, I'm back on the Forums, after a few Years, used to be Eeyah..
I can't understand, why People that want an "African Experience", go to the Hotels.
When you can Rent a Place in a Gambian Compound, for a Year, at the Cost of a 2 Weeks stay in Hotel..
The Local Shops, etc., gain from this and Money spent goes to Gambians.
You don't have the Hassle from the Bumsters.
You pay Gambian prices,
Breakfast from 6 Dalasi
Meals around 50 to 175 Dalasi.
Julbrew from 15.6 to 25 Dalasi.
Just go and look at The REAL Gambia,,,!!!
Rich... |
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