Kavasseur Site Closes in January 2019

[Kojo Douglas]

Oh, I guess I didn’t know there were ever bombings. I know that Eyadema was a monster. His son is also a monster.

I can’t remember that hotel, but it was a bit taller than most buildings around it. We used to stay at Le Gallion, which was owned by a Swiss guy and about two blocks from the beach. My fondest memories are of the grilled guinea fowl on the beach. My wife and I would sit there and eat like three guinea fowls a night and just drink beer until we felt tired. We tried all the great restaurants - La Poisson Rouge, Al Donald, 50/50(?). Saw some great music, and always enjoyed Le Marche Fetiche (juju market). It was fun riding around on the moto taxis.

 

[kastom_lif]

Oh cool! What were you doing in Togo?

I used to go to Lome with my wife to enjoy the beach, the food, and the juju market.

However, the last time I went to Togo was in 2009 (or 2010?). I took my wife and son with me. On the way back into Ghana, the Togolese immigration folks took my son from me because he didn't have any documents. It literally created an international incident. I tried to coolly get my family through the issue, but the Togolese weren't having any of it. Finally, the Ghanaian immigration folks came rushing over the border with weapons out and everything. My wife has an uncle who works in Ghanaian Immigration and she had called him. My son was only about 6 months old. The Ghana Immigration guys threw a sheet over my son and ran with him over the border. The Togolese immigration guys were trying to make sure the baby really belonged to us. It was a nightmare. I'm sure by now it would be fine to go back. I've been up north to Kpalime and surrounds. It is a beautiful, but desperately poor and corrupt country.

Oh my goodness! I'm so glad your son was safe in the end. I mean, you can tell the Togolese border guys were just playing it safe, but, wow that could have gone poorly.

I have never been to Africa, but I found out only in the last year that I have a West African ancestor. He may have even been from Ghana. Or at least I like to think so, because I like their jollof best

 

[Intrepidus_dux]

Gorgeous photos @Kojo Douglas. I simply cannot imagine what I would do during such a border fiasco.

 

[Kojo Douglas]

Yeah, at the time I thought they were being unreasonable. But then I thought about the fact that I was traveling with a fair-skinned child that didn't have documents.

 

[kastom_lif]

So glad you made it out of the.... Danger Zone.

 

[ApéroNoble]

I know there has been some passionate wrangling on both sides regarding kava, but I just wanted to say thanks to Kavasseur for helping to bring about kava forums and thereby help many people find and understand kava. Take care!

 

[Krunkie McKrunkface]

Yeah, at the time I thought they were being unreasonable. But then I thought about the fact that I was traveling with a fair-skinned child that didn't have documents.

Togo has long had a history of being very very sensitive about any concerns with adoptions of local kids or kids who are born to a local woman and a yevu, mainly to make sure the kid is ok, or to get some bribes. Standard bribe for any border crossing when I was there was 200 CFA.

 

[Krunkie McKrunkface]

Oh, I guess I didn’t know there were ever bombings. I know that Eyadema was a monster. His son is also a monster.

I can’t remember that hotel, but it was a bit taller than most buildings around it. We used to stay at Le Gallion, which was owned by a Swiss guy and about two blocks from the beach. My fondest memories are of the grilled guinea fowl on the beach. My wife and I would sit there and eat like three guinea fowls a night and just drink beer until we felt tired. We tried all the great restaurants - La Poisson Rouge, Al Donald, 50/50(?). Saw some great music, and always enjoyed Le Marche Fetiche (juju market). It was fun riding around on the moto taxis.

yeah, there's some things one misses a lot, especially the food. Bush meat, goat, gombo, gbekui, colicos, ablolo, alolo ku canami. So many really good dishes. I liked that anything could happen, because everything was negotiable. And there was this guy who made the best sandals ever.

 

[Kojo Douglas]

West African food is the absolute best. You need to have a hard stomach though.

 

[jim lahey]

You are the first kava reviewer I found on YouTube and the only person I ever really listened to about kava. I loved watching your videos at work eagerly awaiting that first shell when work was over. I loved that you didn't care at all what people said about tudei and now i love that everyone gets along peacefully. And thanks to you and all the people on this forum, I can now rest easy knowing that I'm not damaging my liver, that this is a plant tool that is actually effective non addictive and as safe as the Cannabis I use everyday. Kava and cannabis are two plants given to us by the GODS. That idk what i would do without. Oh yeah, id be in physical pain, anxious and generally unsatisfied with life. Thank god for kava and thank god for you Kavasseur. I hope your videos always stay up on YouTube and I hope we can find some way to document all your written reviews. They are precious and kava word porn. Maybe they could be kept on a website that you do not have to pay for?

 

[Kojo Douglas]

Thanks @jim lahey ! Your words mean an awful lot. It was a very important chapter of my life to run the Kavasseur website. I don’t regret becoming controversial, because I believe it ultimately improved the community. I thank those who debated me as much as those who agreed with me. It is wonderful to see the present state of peace in our community, which is about as Kava as Kava can be. I have been pondering an ebook of collected writings (from the past) and reflections to tie it all together. Stay tuned

 

[jim lahey]

Thanks @jim lahey ! Your words mean an awful lot. It was a very important chapter of my life to run the Kavasseur website. I don’t regret becoming controversial, because I believe it ultimately improved the community. I thank those who debated me as much as those who agreed with me. It is wonderful to see the present state of peace in our community, which is about as Kava as Kava can be. I have been pondering an ebook of collected writings (from the past) and reflections to tie it all together. Stay tuned

^^^^^
The only book I'll ever buy

 

[jim lahey]

Thanks @jim lahey ! Your words mean an awful lot. It was a very important chapter of my life to run the Kavasseur website. I don’t regret becoming controversial, because I believe it ultimately improved the community. I thank those who debated me as much as those who agreed with me. It is wonderful to see the present state of peace in our community, which is about as Kava as Kava can be. I have been pondering an ebook of collected writings (from the past) and reflections to tie it all together. Stay tuned

You know if you come back in 20 years you'll be like Obi One to us

 

[pythagoras51213]

10,00 bulas to you, sir. I sensed a disturbance in the force. Now I see why. Blessing to you.