Touched Down Accra

D,

I reply your email here so that it will serve as a good knowledge and beneficial to those who may never have the chance, or who are planning a trip to African countries like Ghana, Angola, Nigeria, etc...

So here I am, touched down Accra on 18-September at 12:40pm local time, again; except this time I am all by myself!

Well, the old nightmare came back to remind and haunt me, again... Yes, I almost forgot last trip, well on arrival, I presented my Visa (as in visa, not the credit card) to the immigration officer (she a dark lady) and my smile invited her emotionless stone cold face. I was granted 60 days' stay, like last trip.

After claiming my luggage I headed towards the "nothing to declare" exit. The big fat lady immigration officer asked me what were inside my luggages (I had one over-weighted big size bag, one small overnight traveller bag, one box of my LLB study pack for check-in luggage which costed me RM1,700 over-wright charge at KLIA plus my back-pack with my lap-top - so much for one lone traveller, no wonder she asked) and demanded me to open the poor LLB box. After seeing my hand-written notes, she let me go. Then there was another male officer at the other exit asked me what was inside my bags again, he was not satisfied with the answer "clothes" and asked me to open any of my unpacked luggage and so I opened my overnight traveller. Well, I packed all my stuff like Alicafe and Belacan (for Mat) and my Chinese Tea in the bag. Luckily, he only wanted to show me who he was and let me go likely. The on my way at the ramp down towards exit to the departure lounge, another two green shirt guys asked me for my passport. I was younger and handsome in my photo and they were not convinced the old man standing in front of them was the one in the passport. But still they let me go after making me sweat a little. Then while I was happily approaching the door trying to locate Mat, another green shirt guy asked for my luggage check-in tag and tallied them.... Finally, I was on this lovely land of the country that I am going to try something out for the next three years!

It's true, with due respect, this is what you anticipate on you arrival in Accra Kotoka International Airport. I remember I told Teresa and Ah Hai immediately that it's not worth their money to come here and visit this old pitifully me, the facts speak for themselves.

As with Nigeria, though I have never been there, a lot had been heard... cheat, con, black money, so on and so forth. Your comment on Nigeria as follows:

• My cousin was transferred to Lagos, Nigeria for 2 years and now in Miri again under Shell. He told us his experience living in such a poor n corruption country. it's true that they need pocket money when you pass by the immigration. Even they just stopped you in the middle of the road. Police every where too. The five star hotels seems better at budget hotel in KK.

And I would like to re-produce what Paul has written about Angola:

• Things are the same (as in Accra) in Luanda but worse. Houses are with security guard and standby generator. Costs in the region of at least USD10k per month for a good area. Also 6 months to a year in advance. Our contrractor just bought a Toyota Land Cruiser 5 door costs USD67k. Toyota Pickup is around USD40k. You would need a full time driver. No credits cards used here. All cash transactions. I have never used the banks here. Food stuff all imported. Locally produced maybe casava or some mangoes. Language generally is Portugese. I do not get involved in the local scene. Work and back to to residence. one day a week off, maybe to the beach or tennis. that's all. (Paul: email dated 14-September)
• Luanda is definitely a hardship location. Angolans use USD too at 80 local Kwanzas to a dollar.Luanda is one of the most expensive cities in the world for expats. A simple hamburger plus a soft drink is USD15. Yes there are chinese restaurants and they are very> expensive. Not easy to book hotels (Paul's email dated 17-September).
• Immigration and baggage can take a bit of time. U need a yellow fever vaccination certificate and of cos a visa (Paul's email dated 17-September).
• U need local agent because of language so let them do everything for you as much as possible including hotel transfers because if there is any problems at immigration or customs, they may be able to help (Paul's email dated 17-September).

I will be flying to Angola from Accra next month. Can you imagine that I have to take South African Airways (national carrier of South Africa) from Accra to Johannesburg en route Luanda, there is no direct flight!

Lovely African countries, right?