Journey to Molè NP

The next morning we left early to sort out finances (we weren't able to change travellers cheques as only Barclays (a joy to see them in Ghana), so B took some money out on his card). The changeover from CFA was quite strange, especially as 10,000 old Cedis - the currency everyone still quotes prices in - is now only 1 new Cedi. Hmmmmmm.

We got to the bus station, this involves a paragraph to itself. The place was pretty tiny, and over half the people inside were touts or hawkers. This caused enough chaos, but was made worse by the amount of buses and taxis trying to manoeuvre around the waiting stands. Horns beeping, people shouting, no room to move about at all. Disorganisation is an understatement. Do you also remember the toilets from the other day? These were equal with those. I don't want to write anything descriptive but I'll just say the smell was a sharp ammonia. Stung the nostrils. Only able to go for a quick number one. Urgh.

The service from the staff at Metro Mass (big bus company, orange buses) was also awful. "There is your ticket, are you going to take it?!" We asked what time the bus will come - "When it comes" was the response. This was a bit of an introduction to Ghanaian service as well. Few more fan milks and general street food were consumed as we waited for the bus in any space we could find. The bus eventually arrived and people started to get up to put baggage in the hold. In Ghana you have to pay extra for bags that aren't inside the coach, and this led to pushing, arguing and a whole lot of people bringing a ridiculous amount of luggage inside the coach - underneath seats and blocking aisles. Outside the bus wasn't much better, as we battled for space between two coaches, being pushed about by other passengers and street sellers.

After we made it on board in the early afternoon, and readjusted to the oven inside, the bus flew down the asphaslt road before turning off towards Molè National Park down an uneven, potholed dirt track. Retaining the same speed as before, there were moments when we were airbourne out of our seats! Must've been doing over 50 mph. Scary stuff. Luckily, after dusk fell (an absolutely gorgeous African sunset, that I just couldn't get on camera as we were still flying)
the coach slowed down and passed through a few small villages on the outskirts of the park, before arriving about 7.30pm.

There was only the dorm left, as all the rooms had been booked already, and more bad news as we learnt that all the rooms, including the dorm, were booked the following night because of a Jehovahs Witness convention. Yes, you read that right.... Ate a meal of fried chicken and chips, as it was the only thing left and sat down to watch the Man Utd vs Wolfsburg game. Owen got a hat-trick; must be on for a 2010 call up. Hit the hay after that, as had organised to go for a walking safari early the next morning - a good time to see wildlife in the park.