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GHANA ... Through Images and
Verse * October 8, 2007
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| This
book that combines coffee table photography with thought-provoking poetry
now graces our elephant coffee table. It is the brainchild of David Cleaves,
founder of the www.travelagenda.org
website where you can order the book. |
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| Alternatively
you can buy the book through Amazon at www.amazon.co.uk
or at Stanfords, the travel book shop in Covent Garden, central London. |
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| The
88 pages are a full colour photographic study of the cultures and peoples
of Ghana, with accompanying text and poetry. |
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"Travel Agenda" Creator Visits
Four Villages Inn * October 8, 2007
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| David
Cleaves, founder of TRAVELagenda, an interactive website (www.travelagenda.org)
promoting both tourism and investment in Ghana, recently spent two nights
at FVI rediscovering Kumasi. Over the past two years, David has visited
Ghana six times exploring nine of Ghana's ten regions extensively. His
personal recommendations for first time visitors are Cape Coast for its
coastal beauty and slave trade history, and the Ashanti region for its
traditional crafts. |
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Judging
by what David wrote in our guest book, it looks like FVI is his recommendation
for accommodation while in Kumasi, the heart of Ashanti and the centre
of Ghana's traditional crafts industry: "Excellent hospitality and wonderful
feeling of a homestead." |
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Ashanti African Tours - Ghana
Specialists * October 6, 2007
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Looking
for expertise offered by a tour company? Then we would like to recommend
the excellent services offered by Ashanti African Tours, a responsible
travel company that specialises in highly acclaimed birdwatching tours,
as well as eco, cultural, wildlife safari and West African history tours.
Ashanti African Tours hopes to contribute to Ghana’s welfare by ensuring
that tourism does not subvert or create the development of false economies.
They want tourism to be sustainable so future travellers can enjoy the
same wonderful experience. You can explore their web site at www.ashantiafricantours.com
or contact them for more information at info@ashantiafricantours.com |
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Gourmet Dining at Four Villages
Inn * October 5, 2007
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"Delicious
Home-cooked Meals on Request": GH Cedis 20.00 ~ That's the review in the
new Bradt guide to Ghana on your hostess Charity's four course creations
that you can enjoy in the privacy of our "homey" dining room.
| Your
meal starts with a choice of a creamy tomato or zucchini soup followed
by a crisp fresh and yes - safe - salad with a homemade vinaigrette. The
main course (Ghanaian or continental) involves one choice of chicken, beef,
pork or fish. A rich dessert or tropical fruit caps off your meal ... and
if you are vegetarian, why not request Charity's veggie stir-fry or the
mouth-watering vegetarian lasagna? A splendid red or white French wine
Le
Palombier is available at GH cedis 12.00/bottle. |
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What's On Ghana: Essential Ghana
& UK Events *
October
4, 2007
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What’s
On Ghana™ is a quarterly lifestyle and listings magazine for young professional
UK Ghanaians, featuring the very best of what’s happening in and around
Ghana and the UK. Packed with reviews, previews, features and interviews
"What’s On Ghana"™ is essential reading; with comprehensive event listings
on theatre, dance, eating out, clubbing, music, sport, culture, arts and
business, you’ll be spoiled for choice and better informed to make the
most of your time. Billing itself as "Your Passport to the Republic", this
U.K. produced magazine can now be accessed by logging on to the internet
at whatsonghana.blogspot.com
for the latest entertainment news and events - or you can visit their website
at www.whatsonghana.com |
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4th Edition Bradt Guide ~ Four Villages
Inn Again! * October 3, 2007
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Once
again, Four Villages Inn gets a wonderful write-up in Philip Brigg's Ghana
"bible".
| "Four
Villages Inn: Unless you actively favour the impersonality that characterizes
most other hotels in this range, the award winning Four Villages Inn is
undoubtedly the most alluring and individualistic upmarket option in Kumasi,
and it has received the highest praise from the many readers of previous
editions who have stayed there. Situated on the Old Bekwai Rd., 2.8 km
past Ahodwo Circle, the lodge is owned and managed by a helpful Ghanaian-Canadian
couple and is furnished with books & photographs that give the feel
of a family home. Accommodation consists of four spacious self-contained
double rooms with AC, minibar, DVD, as well as a homey lounge and dining
room, and a shady patio overlooking the compact green gardens. Facilities |
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include on-site internet access, a great
selection of free DVDs, golf club hire, complimentary tea & coffee,
free airport and STC bus pick-up by prior arrangement, and delicious home-cooked
meals by request. The rates of US$65/75/90 sgl/dbl/trpl include a substantial
breakfast." |
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Tour to the Adanwomase Kente Cloth Village
* September 28, 2007
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As a
unique eco-tourism empowerment for a rural community, the village of Adanwomase,
just a few miles from Kumasi, has developed a tour about kente cloth. As
the mainstay craft of this village, the tour takes you on an educational
journey from the purchase and winding of the yarn to the weaving and final
assembly of the strips. |
Guest participation is encouraged. Gaining
a familiarity with this unique craft provides a wonderful opportunity to
interact with locals before you make a purchase of kente cloth. Four Villages
Inn is proud to be associated with this community and can facilitate a
visit for you. |
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Four Villages Inn Featured in German Guidebook*
September
23, 2007
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| Again
FOUR VILLAGES INN has received top billing. It is mentioned first in the
category of 3 star hotels (nine in total) here in Kumasi. This time it
is the recently published guide in German, simply titled GHANA by PMV -
written by a Ghanaian expatriot living in Germany: Mr. Jojo Cobbinah. The
first travel guide to do this was the Bradt Guide to Ghana in English published
in 2004. Jojo Cobbinah works as freelance author, journalist, and translator
in Marburg, Germany. He holds a BA in Education from Cape Coast University,
Ghana. He has also written travel guides to Senegal, and the Gambia, as
well as a book on West African cooking. His articles are regularly published
in the African Courier, an international magazine covering issues from
African countries and their Diasporas. |
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Semper Fidelis - "Always Faithful" - "A
Good Call" * September 19, 2007
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| "A good
call" - those were the words of Matt Seipt's three U.S. Marine corps buddies
in the parking lot getting ready to leave Four Villages Inn. Matt had stayed
at Four Villages Inn before and, as is the case for the large majority
of our guests, was back. |
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| But
Matt not only brought his colleagues, he also brought a suitcase full of
clothes, sandals, running shoes and books that he and his family had collected
for his return to Ghana. |
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On his first
visit, Matt had read in our Four Villages Inn literature (available in
each room) about the “Save Our Lives Children's Home” that Four Villages
Inn helps support. |
| So it's
a good call all around: for the marines, for Four Villages Inn and of course,
for the children of the home! The U. S. Marine Corps' motto is "Always
Faithful" ... and so they are. |
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Grandparents Again - A New Addition * September
12, 2007
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| Since
early August, your host Charity has been in Montreal, Canada, with daughter
Christianna who was expecting her second child. Well, it's a girl, Amelia
Yaa, born on September 6th. Yaa is the name given to girls born on Thurday.
AIKOO! |
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"Pearls of Praise" in Our Guestbook * September
11, 2007
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| Here
are some comments about FOUR VILLAGES INN written in our guestbook: |
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| "I've been told that it is difficult
to get 'the best' of things in Ghana, but coming here has proved that wrong.
This palce is a breath of fresh air!" R.L., volunteer |
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| "a lovely opportunity to take
time out on my travels" L.W., visiting diplomat |
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| "delightful company & comfortable
stay-my first choice in Ghana" E.L., tourist |
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| "thank you for the beautiful
space and sound advice" P.T., tourist |
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| "wonderful place, amazing hospitality
- will be recommending to all we meet - if only the other hoteliers in
Ghana could stay here to see how it is done." S.M., long term resident
in Ghana |
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Kumasi: More Than Just a Day Trip! * September
10, 2007
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| In a
past Village News item (January 14, 2006) entitled "Cape Coast More than
Just a Day Trip", we referred to tour operators zipping tourists to Cape
Coast/Elmina and back to Accra all in one day! Well, apparently this is
also the case with Kumasi - that's a minimum of five hours driving each
way which really doesn't leave too much time to discover the vibrant city
of Kumasi with its throbbing market, charming cultural centre, fascinating
Asantehene's palace and surrounding craft villages ... not to mention natural
splendors such as the crator Lake Bosumtwi and bird and butterfly sanctuaries.
And here too there is a wide selection of first rate hotels and guest houses
- i.e. FOUR VILLAGES INN, as well as a wide variety of restaurants providing
great dining experiences. Kumasi is an exciting tourist |
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destination in its own right and tourists
must be wary of hotel based tour operators in Accra offering unrealistic
day package tours. |
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Glowing Reports from Our Guests in Trip
Advisor * September 9, 2007
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Our DVD Collection Continues to Grow * August
10, 2007
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Philanthropists Return to Four Villages
Inn * July 27, 2007
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| A past
Village News item (February 6, 2006) entitled "Say Hi to Bono for Us",
highlighted the visit of Dick and Susie Kiphart. Well, as they promised,
the Kipharts did return to follow up on their humanitarian projects. This
time Elza and John Garnett accompanied them. Together both couples donated
US$1000.00 to Scott Trade Institute. |
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| Their
five-night stay at FOUR VILLAGES INN included meals and a dinner party
hosting fourteen local dignitaries from the communities supported. Scott
Trade Institute too is most grateful for any support, BIG or small, as
are Charity and Chris for the continued patronage of FOUR VILLAGES INN. |
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Here's what
they wrote in the guestbook:
Kipharts: "This is the best place-we
love being here. Grateful, grateful."
Garnetts: Thank you for your Ghanaian
hospitality and delicious food." |
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Accra, the Most Expensive City in Africa
(says Mercer) * June 19, 2007
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| It's
official, at least according to the Mercer Index issued each year ranking
the world's most expensive cities. Accra ranked 76 in the world, the most
expensive city in Africa. To see where your city placed go to money.cnn.com.
This confirms advice to tourists given previously in The Village News-see
December 18, 2004-to get out of Accra as quickly as possible ... no matter
where you go - east, west, ... or north to Kumasi! |
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Special Edition of Vanity Fair on Africa
with Editor Bono * June 14, 2007
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| You
may have missed this splashy issue of Vanity Fair guest edited by portraying
a most upbeat and bold....picture of Africa! We've had a much-read copy
since its release in mid June, 2007. |
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| Bono
writes: "As you read this—historic—issue of Vanity Fair, the Global Fund
is benefiting, but that's not the main reason we kidnapped this publication's
extraordinary photographers and storytellers. We needed help in describing
the continent of Africa as an opportunity, as an adventure, not a burden.
Our habit—and we have to kick it—is to reduce this mesmerizing, entrepreneurial,
dynamic continent of 53 diverse countries to a hopeless deathbed of war,
disease, and corruption. Binyavanga Wainaina's piece on Kenya is an eye-
and mind-opener. From here, what's needed is a leg up, not a handout." |
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"Targeted
debt cancellation and aid mean 20 million more African kids are in school,
1.3 million Africans are on lifesaving drugs. Amazing. So now I hope you
better understand the "here," i.e., my signing up as guest editor. Lastly,
I've always imagined that if I hadn't been a singer I would have been a
journalist. But, in truth, my bandmates saved me from disappointment, as
I'm no natural editor." |
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Kick Back and Relax at Four villages Inn
* May 28, 2007
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| Who's
that lounging about in the guests' hammock? Why, it's your host Chris browsing
through the wonderful "GHANA: A PORTRAIT" book for the ninety-ninth time.
Hope to see you relaxing at FOUR VILLAGES INN soon; and if that guy Chris
happens to be in the hammock when you want to kick up your heels, well
tell him to move on out! Four Villages Inn: much, much more than
just a place to stay. |
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Play Chess at Four Villages Inn *
May
10, 2007
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| We've
got a wonderful new chess set designed and made by the brass smiths of
Kokofrom, the brass village located just four kilometres past FOUR VILLAGES
INN. |
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| Enjoy
a game, and if you wish, purchase it to take home with you. This is sure
to become a great conversation piece and an interesting addition to your
den. |
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| We also
recommend a visit to the village of brass smiths at Kokofrom, where you
can see the actual process of lost wax casting and find interesting items
such as bronze beads, door knockers and sculptures. |
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