Phil and I first international destination as a duo was none other than Gambia, with a side trip to Senegal. I had suggested this unique destination in the hopes that Phil would understand my love for off-the-beaten-path travel. I had to ease him into it, after all! It was during this trip that Phil got a glimpse of a different side of me.
One day, we decided to rent quad bikes and explore the beach area where we were staying. As we approached a football game being played on the beach, Phil suggested we take a detour up a dune to avoid the players. I, on the other hand, had different plans. With a mischievous grin, I shouted “excuse me” as I zoomed through the football pitch, dodging the players. Phil, being the gentleman that he is, attempted the polite route up the dune – only to have the quad bike come to a halt. I couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the sight. Oh, the adventures we would have together!
We were given the brilliant idea to bring pencils and sweets for the kids in Gambia, so we decided to hire a local driver to take us on a sightseeing adventure where we could also hand out the goodies. After some intense bargaining, we settled on a driver, jumped into the jeep, and off we went. It was an amazing trip, and as we rolled into a new area, the children came running out to see what we were up to. It was time to share the treats, but let’s be real, there’s only so much you can fit in a suitcase.
Just as we were about to head back to the Jeep, a young boy approached us, hoping for some sweets and pencils. Sadly, we were all out, and he responded by kicking me! It was definitely unexpected, but my buddy Phil found it absolutely hilarious.
Our vacation was going smoothly until we decided to take a trip to Senegal. We patiently waited for the tour bus to pick us up and take us to the ferry terminal. However, when we arrived, the ferry was sailing off into the distance without us. Our guide offered us a choice: wait two hours for the next ferry or hop on what looked like a glorified rowboat. Of course, we all chose the rowboat – who has time to wait around?
Our poor guide, who turned out to be a nervous sailor, went pale as we piled into the tiny boat. As we bobbed along, the driver frantically bailed out water, and we tried to keep our cool. When we finally arrived in Senegal, we were just a few meters from the beach, with no pier in sight. I wasn’t exactly dressed for a beach landing, but hey, at least we made it in one piece!
A group of friendly locals eagerly waded towards our boat, hoisting us onto their shoulders and carrying us to shore. My carrier was a short fellow, causing me to awkwardly hold my feet up to avoid them dragging in the water. I couldn’t help but burst into laughter when I saw Phil being carried by a towering giant of a man, making me crane my neck just to catch a glimpse of him. It was a memory we would fondly dine on for years to come.
If this was just the beginning of my adventures with Phil, then I couldn’t wait to see what future trips had in store for us.
Elle Je` Travel 