Just the thought of not knowing where you will sleep tonight or any other night, may at first sound frightening. For sure sometimes it is. For us it´s one of the best thing about traveling they way we do. I would say that in general it always turns out better than we could ever expect. When looking back on all the fantastic places we´ve pitched our tent in and all the amazing people who invited us, I know for sure that our imagination is not broad enough to plan this journey better. We could have spent a lifetime trying to plan a perfect route and do our best to plan for accommodation without getting close to the past years experiences. To just go and see where we will end up, with an open mind and heart is the way to do it. The world is full of beautiful places and lovely generous people. The stories we carry with us is very far from those the global media offers. While the media tend to focus on the bad news and try to compete with each other to find the most horrible stories from Africa, we are slowly cruising in the african bush and are embracing the beauty of it all.
We would have to put some real energy into finding a place where we don´t feel welcome in this part of the world. So we keep doing what we do best, just go with the flow and enjoy life as much as possible. It seems like there is always a door open and behind every oped door there is a huge energy boost waiting. Like the last few days when we have cycled from the Banjul area in Gambia to the Guinea Bissau border. We feel like the smiling coast really have reached out to us in ways hard to imagine. To truly understand the full meaning of the word HOSPITALITY, you need to set out on an adventure like this and meet people like the ones we’ve met the past days. Like when it started to rain a few days ago and we found shelter under a huge mango tree, the other seeking shelter under the same tree invited us to their house when the rain intensified. We ended us spending the night and was served meals to die for before going to bed.
To get a bit emotional and at the same time give meaning to the word hospitality I will also tell you the story of one of our shortest days in the saddle. We planned to cycle about 70km that day and after 30km we stopped to buy some water. The small shop didn’t have any water but we decided to get some rest under a tree close to it. Under the tree we found some friendly men who offered us attaya (local strong tea). We started a conversation and soon realized we were not to keen on leaving this place for a while. We were greeted by the other family members and the tea just kept coming. To describe the atmosphere I would use words like friendly, welcoming, warm and easy going. They asked us to stay and have lunch with them. We would be stupid not to accept an invitation like that and with no hesitation we decided to stay the night. I offered to shop ingredients for lunch. An offer that was calmly and quickly rejected. Lamin, the oldest son reached for my hand and held it for a while and looked me straight in the eyes in the most kind and friendly way possible, before he said the beautiful words “you are welcome”. I have heard the worlds many times before but this time it was like I heard them for the first time. Later on he told me that his father, who past away not to long ago, a respected man who have traveled a lot used to tell his family to always welcome and help strangers, that he taught them that because they too will be strangers sometimes in their life. A very important thing to teach your kids if you ask me.
The day after we was sad to leave, but our visa expired that day. Like so many times before we set out on the road with new energy and more great memories.
Hej. I write in swedish… hope you don´t mind. Jag har följt er resa med stor glädje. Fick nys om Er resa genom att jag följt Fredrika Eks resa runt jorden. Jag har själv rest omfattande runt jorden med cykel. Vet hur mycket det betyder att träffa snälla människor. Och de finns ju överallt. Ser fram emot fler spännande berättelser. Jo, jag så er också i SVT genom Kalle Zackari. God tur…Olof.
Tack! Vad roligt att du hittade oss genom Fredrika, det var jätteskoj att få spendera några dagar med en annan svensk cyklist!
Ja visst är cykla ett fantastiskt sätt att ta sig fram på!Ibland känns det som att alla jordens snällastre människor bor just utefter vår rutt. Fast det är nog så att det finns hur mycket underbara människor överallt egentligen!
Great story to share! Thank you
Buon viaggio!!!
Thank you Cinzia! =)
It really is. Everyone we meet is amazing!
So true! We are amazed by this people and their kindness. Wish everyone would treat everyone like this!
Wow. It’s unbelievable how hospitable strangers can be. I am happy you had such a great experience. There is no better way to get to know a culture than to spend time or eat with the locals. Traveling through Africa is the next on my bucket list and your post makes me look forward to it even more. Thank you.
Absolutly! Glad to hear. I’m sure you will have a great time when you go.
This was a beautiful journal entry! The way you are travelling is really the best to get this type of experiences. It’s been a pleasure to read, I can only imagine the feelings you had while experiencing such hospitality.
And sorry that my post made you crave for fika. But isn’t it the same feeling you got with that family, after all? 😉
True! It’s the same feeling!❤️
I think you have noted some very interesting points, thanks for the post.
Wow, what an incredible adventure! I am always so touched by the kindness and hospitality of strangers when I travel. It helps to remind me that in spite of all the evil in the world, people are inherently good creatures.
Yes, it feels so good for you to meet all this friendly people and share with others how amazing people in this world really are!
Hallå! Det är så otroligt härligt att ta del av era upplevelser…ni förstärker verkligen det goda i livet…. så skönt att höra att det finns så mycket gott i världen… för precis som ni säger så fokuserar ju media bara på eländet… Ni är som en härlig frisk fläkt av positivitet… Må bäst o fortsätt lycka till med eran resa Jag håller koll på er… Hälsningar från Flogsta o jobbet… Kram på er
Tack, vad skoj att du tycker vi är en frisk fläkt! =)
Vi vill verkligen dela den bild vi ser som skiljer sig så mycket från media. Skönt att det går fram!
Hoppas ni har det bra där hemma. Vi har hört att det regnar mycket men det gör det hos oss idag också =)
Härligt att höra om alla underbara människor ni träffar.
Ja, helt fantastiskt!
I totally feel your way of traveling, therefore the story about the man holding your hands and saying that you’re welcome gave me goosebumps! Travel in faraway lands and with unconvetional methods is a great way to witness how powerful can be human connection. Definitely following your blog and socials. keep it up!
Thank you!
Wow, really cool! and some beautiful pictures. Can I ask you: what are the biggest challenge that you’ve faced?
I, myself, have traveled a bit in Namibia and South Africa and did not always feel completely safe. I still loved it though 🙂
We have always felt safe when it comes to people we meet on the road. What we fear the most is the trafic since we are on our bicycles. Our biggest challenge was to find healthcare when I got sick in Mauritania. In the end we had to fly to Las Palmas.
Also cycling and planning for the cycling in Sahara desert.
Your journey is really cool! Africa is absolutely on my bucket list. It is amazing they are so kind to strangers. For us city-dwellers, it is just difficult to remember that kindness from strangers like this can exist.
Yes, we think it’s so important that we share this story as a reminder of all the kindness in the world.
It was so heartwarming to read, this is what makes travelling so special and inspiring !
Makes precious memories 🙂
It is for sure!
This is such a beautiful and heart touching experience. I love your first photo with the child – says so much about so many things. You must pitch this to some magazines.
Thank you! We were playing “build sand pyramids on the tyre and spinn”, or at least I think that’s what we were doing:)
I bet this kind of places really do touch your heart. So glad you got to interact with the locals at such deep level. The photos turned out wonderful, very well done dear.
Thank you, it’s amazing to get to know the locals like this.
I love reading about the lesser covered African nations. I previously spent time in Rwanda on my own and then went to Ghana when I worked for Semester at Sea, and I would so love to have the means to see more of “real” Africa.
I hope you will get another opportunity to visit.
What a lovely experience you are having, with so much meaning. You do such a beautiful job at sharing the experience, your photos and writing are excellent. It’s so refreshing to read stories like this!
Always lovely to hear how hospitable and welcoming people are. Seems like you had an amazing trip!
Underbart! Fortsätt med det “keep doing what you are doing and go with the flow and enjoy life”.