Ten things i like about you!

There are 10 things I really like about Sierra Leone. Insanely interesting, but possibly more than 40 lines. You have been warned!

1. The Poda-podas – This is public transport at its most eccentric! Between the red and blue strobe lighting, amazing surround sound music system, rear view mirror substituted for an LCD screen playing music videos, and apprentice hanging out of the side door shouting undecipherable destinations, you’re not guaranteed a safe ride home, but you’ll sure have fun getting there!
2. The beaches – Sierra Leone is just started to get noticed as a great location for tourism and rightly so. The beaches are amazing. When the weather is great and there’s fuel in your tank (personal car or chartered taxi), Laka, Lumley, no 2, etc… beaches are the best places to be.
3. The currency – My, do I feel like a millionaire! With 6,000 Leones to a pound, every payday (well, stipend day) feels like a lottery payout. The only downside is that it goes as quickly as it comes since Freetown is a rather expensive place to live.
4. The Thunder and Lightening – This hasn’t happened for a while, but when the storms begin, you find yourself somewhat terrified, yet transfixed by the angry streaks and flashing moments in the sky followed by a rumbling so prolonged and deep, you feel someone has actually been offended.
5. The Cotton Tree - At the historical heart of Sierra Leone and at  virtually the centre of everything accessible in Freetown, the cotton tree reminds me that if a tree can withstand over 200 years of weather like it has, its people can do so much more.  
6. The Mountains – The hills which can be seen from anywhere in Freetown are absolutely amazing! That’s why its called Sierra Leone!
7. The Palm Trees – Despite the felling of our beloved garden palm tree in the storm last month, I absolutely love them. In so many shapes and sizes, they beautify the landscape, especially on the journey up-country!
8. The other Species – Its amazing how many dogs share this city with humans, who appear so used to their presence, they seem not to notice them anymore. There are dogs virtually everywhere. I counted 25 on Wilkinson road, and that was just one side of it! Okay, well I'm not entirely sure this category should be on the list, but I love one of the dogs we have in our compound called Bingo. Just look at him!
9.  Names of Places – Of all the countries I’ve been, I have never so much enjoyed calling the names of places there. From Siaka Steven Street, to Cockle Bay, to Tonkolili, to Magburaka, to Tacugama, to Lightfoot Boston, you are never short of cool, sweet sounding places to describe!
10. The Youyi Building – Another great phrase everyone loves to say, the white, tall modern looking building houses the Ministry of Health and Sanitation – as well as other ministries; the Chinese built structure project what a more modern Freetown might look like.

Till Again…. Bankexx

 the mountains…