We left our modern comfortable but slightly bizarre hotel in Techiman just after 7.30 after our longest lie in yet because we couldn't get breakfast until 7am. On the plus side they had oats so porridge was back on the menu. Today we headed back to Kumasi and an air conditioned hotel rather than, in this very hot climate, going to the very basic guest house in Bobiri forest. We head there tomorrow instead for a walk in the forest.
After stoping to see red chested swallows on the wire we stopped at another forest enroute and had a nice long walk up the forest track looking for blue chested bee eaters - no luck but we did see a bronze naped pigeon, a green turaco, several species of flycatcher and sunbirds. After a couple of hours walking we continued to Kumasi; we arrived at our hotel, the Royal Basin Resort,where we stayed last time we were in Kumasi, at lunchtime. The hotel sounds far grander than it is. We were taken to a pokey little room and as the power was off everywhere was hot and sticky until the generator sparked into life. Our lights didn't work even with the generator on so after William, bless him, got agitated we were moved to room 8 - the same room as last time- it was much bigger and more airy. Lunch was fun John ordered plain omelette and chips after being declined cheese burger - no burgers and mushroom omelette - no mushrooms - yet a plate of chips and rice arrived......?? It just didn't compute, who would order two different starch options for their lunch, so it was quickly sent back and returned with a duly made fresh omelette and but now slightly cool chips - but it sufficed. Dinner selection was not quite so traumatic as John went for easy option - chicken and chips - I asked for the grouper which was not available but they could do the red snapper with plain rice which I agreed to as long as the head was off and they deboned it - all was agreed so we spent the afternoon relaxing - our first afternoon and evening off !!
At dinner our Fawlty Towers experience continued with my rice arriving with John's chicken and to add insult to injury it had tomatoes for decoration, which he is allergic to! It was returned to the kitchen and it re emerged with chips and the rice was transferred to my red snapper plate but returned without tomatoes - I pointed out that I wasn't actually allergic to tomatoes so the tomatoes were replaced and eating commenced....phew! Even though a good attempt had been made to filet my snapper it still had bones in it so I ate the rice instead - which was very tasty for plain rice! We followed our main course with a refreshing fruit salad.....the fruit can always be relied upon!
William joined us over dinner so we could reflect on our sightings for the day. I also helped him with an email to a South African client who wanted him to go and visit and which he desperately wanted to do. However even though the flight was being paid for he didn't think it fair on his family to go - he needs to finish his house. Sadly ebola has caused guiding work to dry up - he is normally working until May and then has the wet season off but we are his last trip for the season!
( today's photo is yesterday's exuberant 2 week old colobus monkey.)