Travel Journal

Damongo - Larabanga - November 3 - 9 - Malaria bug got to me

Weekend in Damongo so I get at least one 'no noise' night. Left Larabanga in the afternoon in the back of a pick-up truck for a bumpy and dusty ride to Damongo. Walked to the market to get some supplies before joining Ward in his luxurious house (for Ghana standards) for a nice dinner and quiet evening. Sleep-in on Sunday and a nice 'sit down at a table' breakfast before spending the rest of the day in the internet cafe to keep you all updated and to upload some more pictures. Time consuming here.
Monday a regular school day but the rest of the week, most of my time was spent in 'the little room' . Started out with a night of fever and continued with my stomach going on strike and my intestins doing overtime. Kept saying this was just a little stomach virus that would go away by itself. Diet of rice and ORS didn't help much and four days later, totally empty, dizzy and with no strenght left I did call Ward. Result: trip on the back of a motorbike to Damongo hospital where on arrival I get off the bike on the wrong side and get a nice burn on my leg when I hit the exhaust pipe . Got the malaria test done with of course a positive result. And Ward telling me: 'I told you so" . Back to L. with some new pills and more ORS where I listened to some more people say: "I told you so". Yeah, I know. And I got to eat more rice . I can also have bread or crackers or carrots but carrots are not to be found in L., crackers are outdated by a few months/years and the last time I bought some bread here it had the consistency of a building brick. I do prefer rice.

• Uiteindelijk by jessica (Tuesday 13 November 2007)

  Hier is mijn eerste antwoord sinds ge in ghana zit
  ge hebt zelf fotos vvan mij erop staan, ik vind de fotos echt leuk
  alleen die van mij( na een nacht gewerkt te hebbe, wa wilde eigelijk)
  Ik hoop echt da ge snel geneest van de malaria
  ik ga je nu laten want moe dringend nog huiswerk maken.
  zal een deze dagen nog wel een berichtje sture
  en wie weet bellen we nog is een keer
  as ons mama weeral ni thuis is
  veel XXX en groetjes
  Jessica [ Reply to jessica]
  • Inderdaad by Karin (Friday 16 November 2007)

    maar toch blij met je berichtje hoor. En belletje was ook leuk. Malaria ondertussen beter hoor. Gelukkig. Nu aan het rondreizen dus hopelijk wat meer tijd om te updaten. Dikke knuffel, Karin [ Reply to Karin]
• vraagje by Bart (Wednesday 14 November 2007)

  He Karin hoe gaat het nu helpen de pillen. Heb een vraagje wat is ORS en waarom moet je meer rijst eten is dat goed voor de maag of zo.
  In ieder geval vele Belgium Greets from the familie. [ Reply to Bart]
  • ORS by Karin (Friday 16 November 2007)

    Hoi Bart, De pillen hebben geholpen. Voel me stukken beter. ORS (oral rehydration solution) is een mix van zout, suiker en water die er voor moet zorgen dat je niet helemaal uitdroogt wat wel eens het geval is als je langer dan een paar dagen diarree hebt. Rijst helpt dan ook.
    Groetjes terug aan iedereen. Karin [ Reply to Karin]
• a former colleague by michele (Wednesday 14 November 2007)

  Well,
  I hope the malaria bout is lessening. Well news on my side- 2 Montreal trips in space of 6 days- one great one my father was in top shape- 96 years old enjoying his daily stroll and glass of wine then the not so great one- 2 funerals.......
  life in brussels is the usuall grim, dark and rainy November................with everyone having their moral down...heard theory falling leaves brings depression
  next week I will be off to the bay of Naples....the scenery is very beautiful
  promise not to be so long without writing [ Reply to michele]
  • What do you mean ????? by Karin (Friday 16 November 2007)

    Former????? I'll be back in a few months. Sorry to hear about the funerals and the dark and rainy weather. I will not say anything about the sun and hot hot hot weather hear then . Sometimes too hot though. At this point I would welcome a bit of rain. Hope you had fun during your week off. Take care. KK [ Reply to Karin]
• ciao by Sylvain (Friday 16 November 2007)

  hey, there good 2 hear U last week! Hope malaria will be over soon, so u can enjoy more time with elephants & giraffes, I suggest u stay away from men! feels like winter up in good old Belgium, minus one degree dawn today, but sunny! just had a big nice flu, but nothing compared to malaria, I'm sure OK, then , just wanted 2 says quick hello, as I promised U I would....2 months ago take care, BIz - Have fun , hasta la vista ! [ Reply to Sylvain]
  • Ansoema by Karin (Friday 16 November 2007)

    Yes, it was fun talking to you. Enjoyed it too. Malaria better now but got so many mosquito bites a few days ago !!!!! Sure hope I won't get it again. Even though it is a long time ago, I still remember the last time I had the flu. Not fun, not fun so glad to hear you're better again. Enjoy work. xxx KK [ Reply to Karin]