I think it was 2006. The guy I saw was wondering between the passengers holding a bundle of racks in one hand and a stick in the other. He was on his own, very old, thin, and bent over. When I asked my Gambian friend, I was told that he was a blind hafiz.
This is great! I recall riding that ferry many times, but one thing that sticks with me most was a guy selling small jars of mentholatum. He would sing that word, using the Big Ben clock's hour call. Men Tho Lat Um, Men Tho Lat Um. Men Tho Lat Um, Men Tho Lat Um. It is such a familiar tune, and I cannot hear it without thinking about Mentholatum, almost 50 years later. Here's the chime: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqslA_CKub8
I remember the ferry vividly, I travelled on it after arriving in the Gambia on the Plymouth Dakar rally.
It was my first experience of meeting a blind beggar who recited the Quran from memory.
When was this? I am curious if it is the same guy: https://nomadicmind.org/2024/why-i-never-give-to-beggars/
I think it was 2006. The guy I saw was wondering between the passengers holding a bundle of racks in one hand and a stick in the other. He was on his own, very old, thin, and bent over. When I asked my Gambian friend, I was told that he was a blind hafiz.
This is great! I recall riding that ferry many times, but one thing that sticks with me most was a guy selling small jars of mentholatum. He would sing that word, using the Big Ben clock's hour call. Men Tho Lat Um, Men Tho Lat Um. Men Tho Lat Um, Men Tho Lat Um. It is such a familiar tune, and I cannot hear it without thinking about Mentholatum, almost 50 years later. Here's the chime: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqslA_CKub8
I travelled on that ferry as well. Very fascinating.