WHEN Carina Marong decided to jet off to The Gambia, the last thing she expected was a holiday romance.

Bored with her job in a call centre, she took the week-long break to have some time alone.

But she didn't bargain on meeting hotel worker Abdolie and falling in love.

When she returned home, she thought the relationship would fizzle out, but the couple continued to phone and write to each other.

Within three months Carina was back in The Gambia and a year later the pair were married.

Now their story is to be told in the Rough Guide anthology Women Travel.

Carina, of Bedford Place, Brighton, explains in Love Through Open Eyes how love conquered her fear that a cross-cultural relationship would not work.

She denied it was love at first sight, but admitted it did not take long before she fell for Lie, as she calls him.

Trust

Carina, who is now a proof-reader, said: "I was sitting on the beach when he came over to talk to me. I was a bit wary and tried to ignore him but he made me laugh.

"When I looked at him, he had amazing, lively eyes, and I felt I could trust him.

"After I returned home, I didn't expect to hear from Lie, but then the letters started coming, along with beautiful gifts.

"In fact, we wrote and phoned constantly until I went back a couple of months later.

"It was only the second time we had met, but Lie wanted us to commit to each other and have a traditional engagement ceremony.

"It was a big step, but we already knew each other so well I knew it was the right thing to do."

In 1996, a year and three trips later, they organised a register office wedding in The Gambia, attended by some of Lie's family.

But Carina decided not to tell her own family until later because she feared they would not approve.

However, the simple wedding in Banjul, capital of The Gambia, ran anything but smoothly.

The couple were turned away from the register office twice because of administrative problems and were only married at the last minute on the day she had to fly back to Britain.

Carina, 36, said: "We had time for a very quick party before I had to dash off. I didn't see him again for two or three months."

She met Lie's parents for the first time in a remote Gambian village. After a nail-biting journey on an ancient, overcrowded ferry and a lift on the spare tyre of a rusty jeep, she arrived in the village to be presented with a chicken.

She said: "This live chicken was put in my lap, and everyone crowded round to look at me.

"They were very warm towards me and seemed to approve of our relationship.

"After I had been shown around, the chicken was sacrificed in my honour."

Lie came to Britain in May, 1997 and now works as a catering manager at Gatwick.

Despite her fears, Carina's parents support the marriage, and they adore Aisha, the couple's 11-month-old daughter.

Carina said: "I believe our long-distance relationship brought us closer together because it tested our commitment. I look forward to growing old with him."

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