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aliensowhat
United Kingdom
3 Posts |
 Posted - 02 Nov 2008 : 01:06:30
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we go over to gambia in december, until christmas, i was wondering what its like christmas day in gambia. we are really looking forward to it, been in march and december and enjoyed the stay.
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dylanGER
Germany
35 Posts |
Posted - 02 Nov 2008 : 01:32:34
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Welcome to the Bantaba forum first. I myself am also a new member here.
I have been in The Gambia last year the whole December, so I enjoyed
christmas there. About 90% of the Gambians are muslims.
I stayed at a small ecco lodge in Batakunko (near Sanyang), owned
by a German lady.
WE had a nice meal (goat), no christmas songs, but someone playing
the Balafon.
Muslims and Christians live in peace together. Christians celebrate
the Muslim Tobaski and Muslims also Christmas, somehow.
I didnt get any "christmas feeling" - no snow and no christmas
trees. But it was nice. HAVE A GOOD TIME, hope U tell about ur experience. |
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look -
Some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fullfill the book - BOB MARLEY |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 02 Nov 2008 : 09:28:45
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I havent been at Christmas, but have been for New Year.
New Year was lovely as it combined with Tobaski. I spent the day in Pirang with my guide and his family and then went back to the hotel (badala) where there was a great band and fireworks.
It was great to have a new year that wasnt dominated by people feeling the need to get drunk!
Of course at the hotel there were a few loud english people that got drunk and aggressive.   The Gambian staff did their best to calm them down.
Next year I am hoping to spend xmas and new year in Gambia, it will be two years since my last visit by then. Already looking forward to it. |
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Hiz Princess
United Kingdom
464 Posts |
Posted - 02 Nov 2008 : 21:57:04
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quote:
Originally posted by aliensowhat
we go over to gambia in december, until christmas, i was wondering what its like christmas day in gambia. we are really looking forward to it, been in march and december and enjoyed the stay.
Hi welcome to the forum
Christmas day is normally a quiet affair, quite a few eateries open etc
Christmas eve is something else.
You don't say where your staying if your in a hotel most hotels have a Christmas Gala dinner on Christmas eve. The strip is very lively Christmas eve. |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 03 Nov 2008 : 10:26:18
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| christmas in Gambia, what a dream, but i would love to spend New Year there, to wake up to sunshine, happy people, peace and tranquility. I would try and spend it with one of the villagers up river, to dream |
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admin
130 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2008 : 21:42:27
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Reply author: aliensowhat
Replied on: 19 Nov 2008 00:24:03
Message:
we are going over 11th december , it should have been a great christmas going seeing my wifes brother and sister in law, but we had sad news 2 weeks ago my brother in law had died, so we are going to remember the good times we enjoyed in gambia. we will visit his grave and lay flowers on christmas day and have a drink with him in jaccaranda at westfield and remember the happy times.
Reply author: gambiabev
Replied on: 19 Nov 2008 08:05:02
Message:
Sorry to hear your bad news.
I wanted to visit the grave of my guides father to pay my respects the last time I had visited Pirang. He was always very welcoming and said I was part of the family.
I was told by my guide that the village elders declined my request. The reason given was I was a non muslim women.
Of course I quietly respected this cultural difference. I know women dont attend the burial.
Can anyone tell me a bit more about this? Is it because I was a women or because I was non muslim. Cemeteries in Uk are public places and people are free to visit during opening hours.
Reply author: kiwi
Replied on: 19 Nov 2008 09:33:22
Message:
What sad news for you. Anyway, it is going to be a Christmas you will always remember.
It seems that death is always present in the Gambia. During my two weeks of stay earlier this year I learnt to know of three. Not that I knew them personally but my friends did.
My fruit lady was late one morning as she just had buried a villager. My room cleaner needed a day off to travel away to bury his best friends sister. Another morning there were no cheerful greetings from the fruit ladies. A body had been found in the waters of Fajara. He was only nineteen and they all knew him. |
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