Togo Hotel Camping
Togo Hotel Camping
Kpalime, Togo West Africa
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
I forgot about electrical problems, Kpalime, Togo has a small problem with the electricity going off, yet nothing close to Nepal or Lome, Togo. I am reconsidering the possibility that in Lome, the Auberge MyDiana maybe had a different type of electrical problem, I think the house was on a residential power set up and required a commercial account. Not, that the city should give preferential treatment to business accounts, but I think the Galion Hotel had less problem, they had about the same amount of electrical problems as Kpalime, but nothing close to the MyDiana Auberge, but no way to check, I would have to go over and say, hey do you have electricity every time one hotel went off, go visit the other.
Because the owner would not pay the residential set up, the city shuts them off more or allowed worst service.
Camping - When I camp, I do not have electricity always.
When I camp, I go the woods, and I accept that I do not have electricity and I deal with it. There is a lot of camping available in West Africa, the guidebooks are continually pointing where a person can camp, I am not sure, this may be because of about 90 percent of travelers through Africa seem to be in cars or SUV - four wheel drives.
When I camp, I plan on not having electricity, and then am happy when I do. This is what I am thinking about hotel camping. I do plan on having electricity in a hotel, it would be better to plan on not, and being happy because I do.
I do not try to camp, I only camp because I have no choice, and I do camp or live outside under the stars sometimes. I would think in reality I am better prepared to camp, then the person who plan to camp. There is an idea that a true backpacker is ready to camp, is living in a self contained backpack, ready to live anywhere. Cooking, sleeping, rain, mosquitoes and is ready for bear.
Togo Hotel Camping
Labels: Accommodations, Africa Overland, Camping, Electricity, Togo
3 Comments:
Andy,
I've wrestled with the whole camping idea. In parts of the world it makes no sense as the hotels are so cheap. In expensive locations it makes sense but I have difficulty convincing myself to lug the extra weight around.
What's your take on the hennessey hammock? It's very light (less than 2 lbs.) yet could be part of a camping solution that I might can justify carrying.
Link:
Hennessy Hammock Ultralight Backpacking Version
Eric
I am familiar with this, and actually purchased the Thai versions to try to copy in Nepal.
2 pounds is about one kilo.
I an carry 20 Kilos easy and check onto a plane. 15 Kilos will go on an LCC Low Cost Carrier.
2 pounds is 5 percent of the load, not what I want to give to something I only use one time per year.
But
I have a hammock tent.
I have a hammock I use as blanket, sheet, hammock, and towel on occasions.
I have a mosquito net, that has been adapted, I pull a string and the bottom comes together, it has sleaves in the ends for the hammock ropes. I use as a mosquito net in rooms, and for a blanket sometimes when very cold.
I have a very heavy poncho, I use for a tent, a poncho, a blanket, and a backpack cover.
I have ropes for the hammock that I use to tie up things, a clothesline and rope, Plus for the hammock.
The Hennessy Hammock to me has one use and not very flexible, too much and does not do the many use idea.
I carry the pieces separate, I have a hammock tent, and can use together or pieces.
I do NOT recommend a swiss knife, I buy all the pieces of a knife though.
I do not want to have all my toys combined for one use, I want multiple use gear items.
Camping really is not an option, I only camp when the room is too hot. I did this in Rurrenbaque, Bolivia, the room was rediculous.
Camping is dangerous in the developing world, I can tell you about 20 stories of people getting robbed.
The idea of the post was to say, pretend you are camping, and you will be prepared to sleep in rooms.
Thanks Andy,
Multi-use items for a traveler makes sense for sure. I appreciate your thinking here. As a minimalist I'm more inclined to shed things than acquire them. You easily talked me out the 2 pound single use item.
Eric
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