Kumasi

I know it's already Wednesday but this is the first time I've had to sit down and actually write a good blog post.

Last weekend we went to Kumasi, Ghana's second largest city and the cultural and craft center of the country. I didn't get a lot of photos because one, there weren't many opportunities to take amazing photos and two, I was too busy buying things.


Day 1 

We went to a relatively upscale craft market near our hotel. Although there was still bargaining involved (which I'm happy to say I've vastly improved at) it wasn't as aggressive as the markets we've been to in Accra. In Accra, it isn't uncommon to be pulled by the arm into a vendor's stall or get followed around until you finally agree to visit their shop. The vendors in Kumasi were insistent on us buying something and I could hear the all too familiar "I give you good price" and "free looking" but we were allowed to leave without making a purchase.

I bought a lot of gifts at the market that day and when we returned the next, so I'll have to separate what I bought for myself before I post pictures of my purchases.

We also visited the Manhyia (pronounced Manshia) Palace where two former Ashanti kings lived. Although Ghana has a democratic government with elections like the United States, they still have a ruling king and a system of chiefs and sub-chiefs that hold power in the country and act as local government.

Not my picture

The palace was built in 1925 and served as the king's residence until 1974 when King Opoku Ware II built a new palace close to the old one. Manhyia Palace was converted into a museum in 1995.

Day 2 

Today was a shopping day for sure. None of the pictures in this section are mine either because I didn't want the hassle of taking my camera everywhere while I was trying to shop and I'm paranoid that something was going to happen to it. You'll see why in a minute.

First we stopped at a Kente Village. Kente is a traditional Ashanti fabric that's created by sewing strips of patterned woven cloth together to create larger pieces.

I bought two strips, one for my sister and one for me, and about two yards of single-weave for myself (there are three types of weaves - single, double and triple - and the more intricate, the more expensive). I bargained so hard over those two yards and ended up getting it for 42 cedis ($13.50) which I was pretty happy with considering the guy started at 70 to 80 cedis. 

After the Kente Village, we went to check out a place where they made adinkra stamped fabrics. Adrinka symbols all carry different meanings and I'm planning to upload a post with some of my favorites tomorrow. 

This is the place where I refused to take my camera, not because of shopping, but because of the hassle:

This is Kumasi Central Market, the second largest open-air market in Africa. See how busy those sidewalks are? Every alley between those tin roofs is like that. Our Ghanaian guide, Sonny, took most of us through the markets while the rest shopped for fabrics. The amount of people was overwhelming and so many of them wanted to talk to us, know our names and see how much Twi we could speak, but I have to say it was a really cool experience.

Day 3

Besides the six hour trip home, the only thing we did was go for a boat ride on Lake Bosomtwe, which was a nice change of pace from the busy markets. 

This one is actually mine 

And yes, I went swimming in it.