When I was looking for land in the Gambia, I found a plot for sale that was full of cashew trees. I decided to keep on looking, because I wanted to build and didn’t want to cut trees. I did discover some things about cashews: one cashew fruit grows just one cashew in the little kidney-shaped pod underneath, see the picture below. Might explain why they’re much more expensive than many other nuts, for example groundnuts, also a Gambian product. Salted, packed in little bags, they are sold as snacks just about everywhere. What I didn’t know, is that you can eat the fruit too. It’s soft and smells and tastes a little perfumed.  And: the pulp is also being used to make cashew liquor. I didn’t have a taste yet, but I’m planning to…

 

Riddle: what do insects have to do with an iron ? 

There aren’t many dangerous animals in the Gambia: crocodiles (in the river), hyena’s (in the bush), hippo’s, some snakes (also in the bush and most of them not poisonous)  and that’s it. You’re much more likely to suffer from worms, for example, and insects like mosquitoes that spread malaria. And then, there’s the mango fly. A mango fly (picture not mine) plants eggs in sand and even in the seams of your laundry hanging out to dry. This way, little worms can enter your skin, grow there, while eating your flesh, and when they’re fully grown they crawl out. Altogether that’s a really painful experience. I’ve seen pets and people suffer from it.  That’s a reason why Gambians always iron everything, even their jeans. I promise never to make fun of it again… Want to have a horror? Google “mango fly” and you’ll find some really grewsome movie clips. ..