Sunday 20 January 2013

Photo diary: Accra.

For the first time in 7 years, I returned to Ghana's capital, Accra, to spend time with relatives over the festive period. Admittedly, I was initially thrown by the 36 degree heat, the mosquitoes and the weird nausea that comes straight after taking anti-malarial tablets, but my brief stay provided me with many hearty laughs and a new perspective on the rapidly developing nation. It was great not to feel the physical distance that separates me from the rest of my relatives 99% of the time, and it was inspiring to see the changes that are taking place everyday.

I found myself so busy at points that I often forgot to document everything I experienced properly... but the way I see it, it only meant that I was completely immersed in everything. Sometimes I feel a camera can be a barrier between actively participating and being an observer.

Quick portrait of my auntie Frances. 
My cousin, Sena, in Osu. Osu is home to lots of restaurants, shops & tourists.
I saw a lot of 'Remove Now' signs painted onto buildings.
Engagement party before the big wedding the day after. Lots of acclimatising.
I went to a wedding, and it was beautiful!
Grounds of the beautiful Movenpick Hotel
Hair salon in Awudome
Final walk around North Kaneshie. I love the colours here.
A parting view of Accra from the air. Looks beautiful, doesn't it?


4 comments:

  1. Such gorgeous pictures. I agree that sometimes, especially now blogging and social networking are so prolific, people never really immerse themselves in their lives, they're waiting for their dinner to take a photo for instagram, or hoping to partake in something fun to post it to Twitter... it's a beautiful thing to document life, as long as you don't forget to stop and smell the coffee and not just post pictures of it on tumblr!

    xxx

    wethingin.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. That's my point exactly! I think photo-taking is all well and good, as long as we take the time to appreciate everything going on around us too. xx

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  2. great pictures with all that alive colours!

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    1. Thank you Marina! I do miss the colour of Ghana, it's definitely a little more grey back in the UK.

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