This trip was with the new JMC provider, Flying Colours who I think have combined with Caledonian. It was advertised in the Sunday papers at £129, but when I phoned the price had gone up and including insurance ended up at £179 for 7 nights - Flight Only.

The plane had no in flight entertainment but provided a complimentary drink in compensation - Incidentally if there had been entertainment you needed an earphone adapter which had to be purchased and earphones £2.50 so if you fly JMC take earphones with you.

The service apart from that was excellent - best food I have had on any to the Gambia flight, but as cramped as any of the charter deals.

The trip was a resounding success after a false start with accommodation. I was initially with an English lady who lives out there with a Gambian - beautiful house and I could thoroughly recommend it, apart from the house rules that prohibited any locals in the rooms - which is fair enough. Not appropriate for my needs though, partly because it is so NOT Gambian and the whole purpose of the visit was research with Foday.

In the end I used a camp bed I had taken and used Foday's room and paid him rather than the white lady.

Foday and I spent every day visiting the places that Foday had researched so I could take photos for the web site. We are really pleased to announce that the GTS discounts really do make GTS membership an option that will save members money.

The only problem now is to get members, it is rather like preparing for a party and waiting for the first guests.

Lamin and Foday are taking lots of people out on trips and visits BUT not as GTS members. They have to chat to people to make the initial contact and then overcome the ever present problem of convincing people that they really are reliable, bona fida individuals. From the tourists point of view they can't be sure it's OK till they take the initial plunge.

The final big move forward for GTS, is finding a brilliant plot of land almost 2 acres, a few hundred yards walk from the sea, in the most perfect location. We are now waiting for the local village papers to be signed before we take possession and start to build.

We also purchased a 125cc Motor Bike, mainly for Foday to use while carrying out research, but also for hire on a daily basis 9.30am - 5.30pm see the transport pages for details. (link when built)

This was always going to be a venture that would take time and we hope that our membership will grow over the next couple of years and word of mouth will help with this so please pass on our details. The GTS centre will be fully operational by December 2002.