Sorry for delay but yes I'm still alive

I arrived late Friday Night Ghana time. I also arrived without my baggage but more on that later. So the hostel I went to was really out of the way in the Pacoima of Accra.

I haven't taken pictures yet as I was stuck with my jeans and shoes for 30 hours in the brutal African heat but I'm currently typing this post on a highspeed internet terminal with a webcam but no mic although I'll get one tomorrow.

So my vacation pretty much started this morning.

The people of Ghana are quite possibly the friendliest people on earth without a doubt. Very cool and they also all make me feel really, really, tall as they are all about 5 feet 5 tall. (This keyboard doesn't have quotes)

Yesterday was possible one of the scariest experiences of my life while this morning was great.

Shall I start with the bad or the good, hmmmm, the bad of course!

17 of us on my flight didn't get our luggage so they told us when we arrived that we'd all get our baggage (That was left in Frankfurt) on the the tomorrow's flight. Anyway we all arrived early and waited 5 hours till we got it.

We had to wait at the baggage claim which has a customs section as well. To make a long story a little shorter they started telling us that as soon as they are done "video documenting" the contents of our bag they will bring them down for customs inspection. We were all a bit shocked but we all of course wanted our bags.

There was me, a Ghanaian guy who sat next to me all the way who also lives in LA, two teenage German kids, a very shady looking Russian guy in his late 40's with a ponytail and a cheap gold necklace and acouple other German speaking Ghanian immigrants. We are all waiting.

What happens next?????????? The customs guy brings two identical yellow suitcases with combination locks and places them on the table. He starts to ask "whose bags are these? Nobody says a word though the Russian guy looks extremely nervous and we all look at him. Then they pretend to have information on the combination but I was pretty sure that these types of old suit cases aren't allowed and if it was that suspicous then of course he'd smash it open. Yet he puts them aside for now.

Then about an hour later the customs guy tells us we have to sign that our bags and all contents in them are ours before they can be inspected. Considering we hadn't seen these bags in 36 hours, everyone starts to really sweat it at this point as we all think that they may have really put something in our bags especially after that twin yellow bag trick they pulled.

The poor German kids were so scared they said to hell with it and actually LEFT THEIR BAGS and didn't want to take a chance. While I was nervous to death I called their bluff even though I was scared to death and gotmy back as did everyone else.

It was a scam to get people to abandon their bags so then they can just take them home which is exactly what those germans kids had to do. I made it out of their with my bag and that was that.

This morning I walked down what has to be the most Jesus Freak street on earth.

Within 300 meters I first received Jehovah Witness pamphlets, less then 30 meters after that I see a Mormon church coupled with a couple of Ghanian mormons in yes you guessed it, white shirt, pants, and a 10 speed bike.

Then about 30 meters away I get surrounded by a group of Ghanians with ISRAEL flags all telling me it is my duty under god to support Israel!!!!

5% of all taxicabs have an Israeli flag on their rear view mirror, and every major intersection has a guy selling Ghanian, American, and you guessed it Israeli flags.

About 45 seconds after that I hear the craziest sounds coming from a church service and I sort of sneak in to have a look and I see that they are all Pentecostals and speaking in Tongue!!!

Every cab has a Jesus name, or something from the bible as do manys stores.
-Psalm 27 tire shop
-Super Jesus taxi service
-Jesus loves you (but he loves me more) bumper stickers
-Jesus plumbing
- Mr. Jesus liquor store
-Israel Towing

Tomorrow I'm gonna walk down to the market and videotape me eating everything they got!!!!!!!!

4 days to go

Hi everyone. Welcome to my Africa blog

My next entry in this blog will be from Africa, in Ghana, on Nov. 28th or 29th. I will try to keep this journal up-to-date while I'm away at least once a week and I will make daily posts when I'm in areas with internet access.

I'll be posting videos, photos and all the interesting, embarassing, and strange stories that will probably accompany them.

I promise not to hold back anything (almost anything). Everyone is welcome to leave comments.

In case some of you have never heard of places like Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Burkina Faso and are wondering where the hell in Africa Ghana is, just know you aren't the only ones!

Here is a map and some links on Ghana. So if you're a bit curious as to where the hell I'm going and what sort of place it is..... Then read up!

Remember this is WEST Africa, our president's (or soon to be) daddy is from Kenya (The other side of Africa).

A little hint to remembering the difference between East and West Africa:

Think East Africa when you think of the following:

safaris, zebras, lions, hippos, Obama's dad, the movie "Blackhawk down", skinny Ethiopians

For West Africa remember the following:

"Blood Diamond", the Slave trade (Ghana is where most were shipped from), ANNOYING emails from fake princes and Oil Ministers offering you $50,000,000 if you'll only send them a $100 money order first, child soldiers