tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86985046928846738762024-03-19T09:29:56.341+00:00Senegal 2007-2009bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698504692884673876.post-36682104246267252122009-08-02T15:38:00.009+00:002009-08-04T00:24:34.037+00:00A sampling of the cultural sites of Thatta<div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;" >The Shah Jahan Mosque in Thatta</span> <span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:180%;" >(built by the same Mughal emperor who built the Taj Mahal early in 17th century)</span><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnW0nDrAcMI/AAAAAAAAAys/VtVuTfYGzLk/s1600-h/SJM1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnW0nDrAcMI/AAAAAAAAAys/VtVuTfYGzLk/s400/SJM1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365393114175402178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnW0nRxDN2I/AAAAAAAAAy0/AFm6EXV8T6M/s1600-h/Shah+Jehan+Mosque.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnW0nRxDN2I/AAAAAAAAAy0/AFm6EXV8T6M/s400/Shah+Jehan+Mosque.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365393117958846306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnWzuHjRM0I/AAAAAAAAAyc/Jk9N_gSwXs0/s1600-h/SJM2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnWzuHjRM0I/AAAAAAAAAyc/Jk9N_gSwXs0/s400/SJM2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365392135964144450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnWzt_uNHXI/AAAAAAAAAyU/HpF7CuKAvXo/s1600-h/SJM4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnWzt_uNHXI/AAAAAAAAAyU/HpF7CuKAvXo/s400/SJM4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365392133862530418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnWztnnsBQI/AAAAAAAAAyM/zYhMjD0GHDM/s1600-h/SJM5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnWztnnsBQI/AAAAAAAAAyM/zYhMjD0GHDM/s400/SJM5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365392127392744706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnW3jSLOsfI/AAAAAAAAAzU/_qIsr99v7uA/s1600-h/SJM3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnW3jSLOsfI/AAAAAAAAAzU/_qIsr99v7uA/s400/SJM3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365396347884057074" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;" >The Makli Cemetery in Makli (possibly the largest in the world)</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnW0noaB7MI/AAAAAAAAAy8/tOHIbiLkvy4/s1600-h/MM2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnW0noaB7MI/AAAAAAAAAy8/tOHIbiLkvy4/s400/MM2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365393124036308162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnW0nHt_HVI/AAAAAAAAAyk/keAb3_wwoTg/s1600-h/MM4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnW0nHt_HVI/AAAAAAAAAyk/keAb3_wwoTg/s400/MM4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365393115261640018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnWzttB0TDI/AAAAAAAAAyE/f4LaObxHM-0/s1600-h/Makli+Mausoleum1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnWzttB0TDI/AAAAAAAAAyE/f4LaObxHM-0/s400/Makli+Mausoleum1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365392128844516402" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnW4QYxY3NI/AAAAAAAAAzc/1OSqxRijKAs/s1600-h/MM3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnW4QYxY3NI/AAAAAAAAAzc/1OSqxRijKAs/s400/MM3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365397122748832978" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnWztYhvwPI/AAAAAAAAAx8/RdQeotVk0z8/s1600-h/Cobra+snake+charmer.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SnWztYhvwPI/AAAAAAAAAx8/RdQeotVk0z8/s400/Cobra+snake+charmer.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365392123341291762" border="0" /></a>bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698504692884673876.post-22692850475060736772009-07-19T10:35:00.010+00:002009-09-07T06:28:49.481+00:00July news from Thatta, Sindh in southern Pakistan<span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;" ><br />Bernard went to Thatta<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"></span> District of Sindh region in southern Pakistan in early July for a few weeks to implement a project baseline survey for the US branch of the French NGO<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"></span> <a href="http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/where-we-work/pakistan">Action Against Hunger</a>. The project is very interesting as it is about doing action-research to assist coastal communities address the unrelenting issue of increasing soil and drinking water salinity, a pressing issue worldwide due mainly to poor irrigation practices, reduced fresh water volumes in natural water courses and now more droughts and rising sea levels.<br /><br />Islamabad is a new (1960) modern, green and spacious city, with women in public, right next to the very contrasting old British garrison town of Rawalpindi. There are green hills overlooking the city and it feels a great place for shopping after Dakar. I was able to get a pair of prescription glasses made in one day with good frames for about $25!<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thatta"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Thatta</span></a> is the just the opposite: crowded, no women in public, and dirty with only basic shopping (cannot even buy a fly-swatter or a table!). It only rains 250mm here, like in the Sahel, but we have just started the rainy season with violent thunderstorms. There are a couple of interesting <a href="http://www.world-heritage-tour.org/asia/south-asia/pakistan/thatta/map.html">cultural sites</a> locally which I have not yet been able to visit due to little time and a case of the Thatta trots. Safe drinking water has to be trucked in from Karachi in 20l bottles.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SmL3x7Axc_I/AAAAAAAAAxM/7pZDoGS8QEA/s1600-h/Thrifty+zoological+all-terrain+vehicle.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SmL3x7Axc_I/AAAAAAAAAxM/7pZDoGS8QEA/s400/Thrifty+zoological+all-terrain+vehicle.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360118943550895090" border="0" /></a>Environmentally friendly all-terrain vehicle.<br /></span></div><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SmL3x71hwGI/AAAAAAAAAxE/aZUqRVKZAp0/s1600-h/What%27s+left+of+the+mighty+Indus+River+after+the+lowest+dam.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SmL3x71hwGI/AAAAAAAAAxE/aZUqRVKZAp0/s400/What%27s+left+of+the+mighty+Indus+River+after+the+lowest+dam.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360118943772164194" border="0" /></a>What's left of the the mighty Indus River below the last dam.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SmL3xopnIzI/AAAAAAAAAw8/0de9MewVIa8/s1600-h/Urban+camel+cart.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SmL3xopnIzI/AAAAAAAAAw8/0de9MewVIa8/s400/Urban+camel+cart.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360118938621911858" border="0" /></a>Urban camel cart.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SmL3xQrqvkI/AAAAAAAAAw0/jQ-bHQHgA8I/s1600-h/monster+fodder+truck.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SmL3xQrqvkI/AAAAAAAAAw0/jQ-bHQHgA8I/s400/monster+fodder+truck.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360118932188085826" border="0" /></a>Monster trucks for fodder. Tricky on windy days!<br /><br /></span></div><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;" >First impressions of <a href="http://foreverindus.org/picifap/categories.php?cat_id=7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Sindh</span></a>, South Pakistan. The good: rural men are very hospitable and friendly and one could spend the whole day drinking tea with them and at their expense, no matter how much protesting. They are genuinely touched that foreigners would go visit them. The Indus delta area is interesting with greenery in the desert, irrigated and rain-fed agriculture, livestock (incl. camels!), fishing, a bit of wildlife left (yet to be seen but to be investigated), waterways and boats (even sailing dhows - to be attempted for sure) and clean air (unlike the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">neighouring</span> metropolis of Karachi). Half the people live in the creeks, only accessible by boat. Personal security is no problem here, the main dangers are the usual suspects: food, traffic, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">mozzies</span> and perhaps tea-overdosing. There is a nice selection of fruits in the market (peaches, plums, mangoes, dates, apricots, grapes, apples).<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SmL4MUkIyAI/AAAAAAAAAx0/tusGeDTmGBo/s1600-h/Soil+salinisation.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SmL4MUkIyAI/AAAAAAAAAx0/tusGeDTmGBo/s400/Soil+salinisation.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360119397086709762" border="0" /></a>A small example of soil <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">salinisation</span> and no easy solutions.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SmL4Ma7OKpI/AAAAAAAAAxs/jUlMbkyAyyk/s1600-h/Old+fisherman,+his+son+and+his+boat.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SmL4Ma7OKpI/AAAAAAAAAxs/jUlMbkyAyyk/s400/Old+fisherman,+his+son+and+his+boat.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360119398794144402" border="0" /></a></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;" >Precociously old but very hospitable fisherman, his boat and his son.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGp6zN9t9ZS9rBEEEcHZkmAz3uLIX01-PfmyVewEpzTtjUxUblE0EBgGvlDAwkALWJ6eu6ggcS04xyBnQERGT_bpavaXANAcHML9P_zaIVjQ7UdwAw0K512jlfhBMKLzcXg9i2vZF5jWU/s1600-h/Sea+fishing+boats.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGp6zN9t9ZS9rBEEEcHZkmAz3uLIX01-PfmyVewEpzTtjUxUblE0EBgGvlDAwkALWJ6eu6ggcS04xyBnQERGT_bpavaXANAcHML9P_zaIVjQ7UdwAw0K512jlfhBMKLzcXg9i2vZF5jWU/s400/Sea+fishing+boats.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360119393100107106" border="0" /></a>Sea fishing boats in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Keti</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Bunder</span>.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SmL4MLaiN9I/AAAAAAAAAxc/IhQ_ZNxPPLM/s1600-h/Woman%27s+group.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SmL4MLaiN9I/AAAAAAAAAxc/IhQ_ZNxPPLM/s400/Woman%27s+group.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360119394630514642" border="0" /></a>A rare glimpse of rural women during a training.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SmL3xPGNWXI/AAAAAAAAAws/IjTUNT23P9A/s1600-h/Life+on+the+creeks.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SmL3xPGNWXI/AAAAAAAAAws/IjTUNT23P9A/s400/Life+on+the+creeks.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360118931762534770" border="0" /></a>Life on the creeks of coastal <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Sindh</span>.</span><br /></div><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;" ><br />The not-so-good: it is hot and humid (35-40C) but at least there is a good breeze and sometimes we have air conditioning; public life without women is a very sad state of affairs as it makes the men even more lazy, complacent and proud; our mustached cook is nearly lethal. The big trick will be to get some of those nice and fresh vegetables (cabbage, green beans) from the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Thatta</span> market into our stomachs without being poisoned by drenching in oil with heavy spices and chili.<br /><br />First impressions of the assignment (3 weeks in): it is still early days for the project and even basic infrastructure and staffing is not resolved. We live (out of our suitcases), work, eat (badly) and sleep in the office (with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">internet</span>, at least) and we have frequent and irregular power and water shortages. When it rains, the office floods and most things/services work intermittently with guaranteed break-down when you need it most. One cannot walk to a decent market (5km away in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Thatta</span>). One cannot get decent maps in Pakistan due to the general military situation, so we have to start with doing our own mapping so we feel less "blind". It takes 2.5 hours to reach the project area and it may be inaccessible when it rains but we are hoping to have a sub-office and proper living quarters in a couple of weeks, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Insh</span> Allah. So it will be a challenge to get the baseline survey done in the time allotted with the intermingling and chaotically compounding institutional, climatic, health, cultural and religious constraints (Ramadan starts on August 21st). But the senior staff are all great and can keep laughing even when it goes all wrong and the expats vent their frustrations (me first, I am the senior), which occurs occasionally.<br /><br />The local brand of pink toilet paper is called "double horse", and somehow, only "double camel" might describe it better.<br /><br /></span>bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698504692884673876.post-3848049628219067722009-06-10T17:32:00.015+00:002009-06-10T19:34:56.367+00:00Spring 09 update - nothing much except for moving flats<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SjAIIRBgCfI/AAAAAAAAAn0/RVl6WLYfbog/s1600-h/Bernard+with+the+African+ladies2+%28Large%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SjAIIRBgCfI/AAAAAAAAAn0/RVl6WLYfbog/s400/Bernard+with+the+African+ladies2+%28Large%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345781695790451186" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" >Bernard hopelessly trying to keep up with the dress code. This was a farewell luncheon for two members of the advisory committee of a Senegalese NGO dedicated to the education of rural girls. Gina, Tiphaine and I are now also assisting <a href="http://10000girls.org/">10000girls</a>. On the left is Viola Vaughn, a very dedicated, dynamic and funny Director "I don't know how it's going to work but it just does" and Rose, also a new committee member.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Si_vA4VT7_I/AAAAAAAAAnE/rr0aoiYA9gA/s1600-h/Bernard+windsurfing+at+last.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Si_vA4VT7_I/AAAAAAAAAnE/rr0aoiYA9gA/s400/Bernard+windsurfing+at+last.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345754081112879090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">After a 25 year gap, Bernard is re-learning to<br />windsurf, but it sure isn't as easy as it used to!</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Si_vAhUJBoI/AAAAAAAAAm8/liKrDSI1jjE/s1600-h/IMGP2568+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Si_vAhUJBoI/AAAAAAAAAm8/liKrDSI1jjE/s400/IMGP2568+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345754074933954178" border="0" /></a>Sunset looking over the Atlantic where wave trains meet and water just spouts up.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Si_vAT067TI/AAAAAAAAAm0/4s1e1xx-fSk/s1600-h/IMGP2405+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Si_vAT067TI/AAAAAAAAAm0/4s1e1xx-fSk/s400/IMGP2405+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345754071313345842" border="0" /></a> View from our new flat overlooking the new monument to the "African Renaissance". The latest presidential folly, to be one inch taller than the statue of Liberty. So there!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Si_vAb7yUrI/AAAAAAAAAms/R2OKR0EVHeM/s1600-h/IMGP2404+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Si_vAb7yUrI/AAAAAAAAAms/R2OKR0EVHeM/s400/IMGP2404+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345754073489625778" border="0" /></a>Our new patio complete with hammac and Bernard's mini-office on the left.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Si_vAKAGnUI/AAAAAAAAAmk/8XctwSy9PUg/s1600-h/IMGP2403+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Si_vAKAGnUI/AAAAAAAAAmk/8XctwSy9PUg/s400/IMGP2403+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345754068675894594" border="0" /></a>Our airy, light and spacious living room. The mouse on the floor belongs to the kitties, but they have not learned to put away their toys - yet and forever.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Otherwise, it has been business as usual: Gina managing the Club Atlantique with its share of minor and major crises and Bernard looking for the next job, sending many applications and filling in with a bit of fun, wind and waves permitting.</span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698504692884673876.post-60827475334910737242009-05-18T14:25:00.009+00:002009-06-10T18:14:02.354+00:00A few professional photos of what we experience but cannot capture<div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">For more beautiful photos of Senegal and other places, <a href="http://www.hellio-vaningen.fr/_fr/galeries/index.asp?Rub=1053&LeTheme=1031">click here</a>.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/ShF0DVrQQeI/AAAAAAAAAmY/oSOJsP0VQP8/s1600-h/56501.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/ShF0DVrQQeI/AAAAAAAAAmY/oSOJsP0VQP8/s400/56501.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337174634117743074" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Casamance rice fields<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/ShF0DVrQQeI/AAAAAAAAAmY/oSOJsP0VQP8/s1600-h/56501.jpg"><br /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/ShF0DRoG6LI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/toVQ1qr1iQk/s1600-h/56457.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/ShF0DRoG6LI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/toVQ1qr1iQk/s400/56457.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337174633030805682" border="0" /></a>Island of St Louis at the mouth of the Senegal river, former capital of French West Africa and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/ShF0DDqKsAI/AAAAAAAAAmI/zQRsom-Cs6g/s1600-h/56298.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/ShF0DDqKsAI/AAAAAAAAAmI/zQRsom-Cs6g/s400/56298.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337174629281345538" border="0" /></a>Island of Gorée, just off Dakar<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/ShF0DDq0emI/AAAAAAAAAmA/SkqH70YtX8Q/s1600-h/56296.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/ShF0DDq0emI/AAAAAAAAAmA/SkqH70YtX8Q/s400/56296.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337174629284084322" border="0" /></a>Island of La Madeleine, our favourite wildlife reserve, just off Dakar with birds and fish<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliGO3nwg6qzDWK1ffwgk1qTt560Fe0bA-H0R1VRMowUBiSaidLdbQf7TRenAKR31R1WrXpEXn5qLtugctZYCCacstao_lsfOQ561dDiZ01Woa_9Lo9s7I-rZcgIQIvUmHZzQ1l_C-NnUN/s1600-h/55588.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliGO3nwg6qzDWK1ffwgk1qTt560Fe0bA-H0R1VRMowUBiSaidLdbQf7TRenAKR31R1WrXpEXn5qLtugctZYCCacstao_lsfOQ561dDiZ01Woa_9Lo9s7I-rZcgIQIvUmHZzQ1l_C-NnUN/s400/55588.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337174626140635730" border="0" /></a>Sahelian landscape in Northern Senegal<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/ShFxOfVPBRI/AAAAAAAAAlw/M8hnRW8xxQA/s1600-h/56668.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/ShFxOfVPBRI/AAAAAAAAAlw/M8hnRW8xxQA/s400/56668.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337171527153419538" border="0" /></a>Trees in Casamance.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/ShFxOehJUhI/AAAAAAAAAlo/uy-vhYH2n8w/s1600-h/56634.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/ShFxOehJUhI/AAAAAAAAAlo/uy-vhYH2n8w/s400/56634.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337171526934942226" border="0" /></a>In Senegal, nearly everyone goes fishing...<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/ShFxOMecDyI/AAAAAAAAAlg/a0ng7ZwJXF4/s1600-h/56339.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/ShFxOMecDyI/AAAAAAAAAlg/a0ng7ZwJXF4/s400/56339.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337171522091749154" border="0" /></a>Rice fields in Casamance.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/ShFxOBG4GaI/AAAAAAAAAlY/MbpgAJlcJCQ/s1600-h/Saloum+Mangrove.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/ShFxOBG4GaI/AAAAAAAAAlY/MbpgAJlcJCQ/s400/Saloum+Mangrove.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337171519040133538" border="0" /></a>Mangrove in the Sine Saloum delta<br /></span></div><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/ShFxN2t-1JI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/-rRI8g_5mKU/s1600-h/saloum1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/ShFxN2t-1JI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/-rRI8g_5mKU/s400/saloum1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337171516251362450" border="0" /></a>Casamance islands<br /></span></div><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span>bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698504692884673876.post-46820658063761179332009-05-11T08:50:00.003+00:002009-05-11T12:25:19.383+00:00Naive art paintings of Senegal<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDUhGFDkHAw4v2MM7pVZB2homL7bLiOE7IVKmWsJsnwXI2FYc30n2xAXuQH0T2e4KK5pL34yWp1wFfBQlrjme5OopQQepr8FJVOy7qyW_I515w2DKq1vdp1wuRh7WZ_Nh01J5P6rZscrz/s1600-h/Musa+et+Biscotte+en+sous-verre.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDUhGFDkHAw4v2MM7pVZB2homL7bLiOE7IVKmWsJsnwXI2FYc30n2xAXuQH0T2e4KK5pL34yWp1wFfBQlrjme5OopQQepr8FJVOy7qyW_I515w2DKq1vdp1wuRh7WZ_Nh01J5P6rZscrz/s400/Musa+et+Biscotte+en+sous-verre.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334540028404020498" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Tiphaine's first 2 cats (Moussa & Biscotte) immortalised in a "sous verre"</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SgfnZjx2iLI/AAAAAAAAAlA/XLouULO4jEw/s1600-h/martin+casamance+painting1+%28Large%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SgfnZjx2iLI/AAAAAAAAAlA/XLouULO4jEw/s400/martin+casamance+painting1+%28Large%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334486709930723506" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">A beach scene in Casamance with pelicans</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SgfnZRHpydI/AAAAAAAAAk4/53nRzwS5WVs/s1600-h/martin+casamance+painting2+%28Large%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 231px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SgfnZRHpydI/AAAAAAAAAk4/53nRzwS5WVs/s400/martin+casamance+painting2+%28Large%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334486704921889234" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">A Casamance village scene</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SgfnZQKYSrI/AAAAAAAAAkw/-QOFXMyfnes/s1600-h/baobab+painting+%28Large%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 248px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SgfnZQKYSrI/AAAAAAAAAkw/-QOFXMyfnes/s400/baobab+painting+%28Large%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334486704664890034" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">A field of baobabs. And yes, parts of Senegal do look like that!</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SgfnZBTtalI/AAAAAAAAAko/gpVJG401uWI/s1600-h/Casamance+beach+painting+%28Large%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SgfnZBTtalI/AAAAAAAAAko/gpVJG401uWI/s400/Casamance+beach+painting+%28Large%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334486700677491282" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"> Casamance beach<br /></span></div>bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698504692884673876.post-81271231580107118022009-04-07T11:59:00.011+00:002009-04-07T13:48:27.867+00:00News from April 2009<span style="font-family:verdana;">2009 has had an interesting start. Throughout January we had visitors from the UK, which was very nice, also giving us an excuse to do some fun things together. Unfortunately, Gina was pretty much locked into her new job with learning the ropes and supervising many activities, preparing for the Peace Corps regional softball tournament, etc.. We and about 100 others enjoyed seeing the Obama investiture on the big screen.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">During the past two months, Gina has been negotiating her job and its challenges, the future move to another apartment and the (tedious) application process for a 5-year residency permit for Senegal. She has agreed to serve on the monthly advisory board for a local organization called 10,000 Girls - <a href="http://www.10000girls.org/">http://www.10000girls.org/.</a></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Bernard had a World Bank micro-finance translation but was able to work around the guests' schedule to enjoy a very nice 10-day trip to lush, green and friendly Casamance and the biggest Senegalese national park, Niokolo-Koba. While no match for the Serengeti or Kruger, we saw many birds, some rare such as a fishing owl, and many delightful ones such as kingfishers and bee-eaters and a few mammals such as warthogs (very common), a few kinds of antelopes (also common), crocodiles and hippos (from a distance only!), one leopard (in a large enclosure supposedly offered by Brigitte Bardot), many baboons and also a few interesting flowers. </span> <div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtCMWPHRzI/AAAAAAAAAhg/sDgt5Hc7OTI/s1600-h/stork.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtCMWPHRzI/AAAAAAAAAhg/sDgt5Hc7OTI/s400/stork.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321920164563207986" border="0" /></a>European stork wintering (smartly) in warmer climes.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtCMXgyzFI/AAAAAAAAAhY/eHOb9C9wRPY/s1600-h/GreyHeron.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtCMXgyzFI/AAAAAAAAAhY/eHOb9C9wRPY/s400/GreyHeron.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321920164905798738" border="0" /></a>Giant grey heron<br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtCMAuYZwI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/Cxx-NOdgkZY/s1600-h/kingfisher.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtCMAuYZwI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/Cxx-NOdgkZY/s400/kingfisher.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321920158788773634" border="0" /></a>One of the many kingfishers we saw, some irridescent, some just black and white , but all very skillful fish catchers.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtCL9iFzrI/AAAAAAAAAhA/5qTW9-XCO0c/s1600-h/Hornbill.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 327px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtCL9iFzrI/AAAAAAAAAhA/5qTW9-XCO0c/s400/Hornbill.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321920157931916978" border="0" /></a>A hornbill<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtGcf1iZTI/AAAAAAAAAiA/tdjphahjNCQ/s1600-h/IMGP1531+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtGcf1iZTI/AAAAAAAAAiA/tdjphahjNCQ/s400/IMGP1531+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321924840064705842" border="0" /></a>Typical Casamance beach village scene<br /><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtGcSsRraI/AAAAAAAAAhw/86a7R4zOB6Y/s1600-h/IMGP1448+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtGcSsRraI/AAAAAAAAAhw/86a7R4zOB6Y/s400/IMGP1448+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321924836536200610" border="0" /></a>Boat transport is a way of life in Casamance<br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtGcOQD7SI/AAAAAAAAAho/eWN0M9GxoYA/s1600-h/IMGP1432+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtGcOQD7SI/AAAAAAAAAho/eWN0M9GxoYA/s400/IMGP1432+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321924835344117026" border="0" /></a>Ziguinchor, capital of Casamance seen from the ferry.<br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtHxaZQklI/AAAAAAAAAiw/2LToVCtKhh4/s1600-h/IMGP1627+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtHxaZQklI/AAAAAAAAAiw/2LToVCtKhh4/s400/IMGP1627+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321926298892800594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Gambia river with hippos and crocodiles...</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtHxVzWmLI/AAAAAAAAAig/YhTvmlYgRco/s1600-h/IMGP1576+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtHxVzWmLI/AAAAAAAAAig/YhTvmlYgRco/s400/IMGP1576+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321926297660070066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Laid back but messy beach tourists....<br /><br /></span> </div> <span style="font-family:verdana;">To see “real” African animals in the wild such as elephants, lions, etc., we would have had to go much deeper into the park with an expensive 4X4 vehicle. But we traveled economy class in “bush taxis” - 15-25 year old Peugeot 505 estates with 3 rows of seats, and one even started smoking under the driver's feet! (a quickly disconnected wire under the dashboard fixed that – who needs brake lights in the bush?).</span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtK1ABEm0I/AAAAAAAAAi4/IcLnQxqnhWw/s1600-h/IMGP1573+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtK1ABEm0I/AAAAAAAAAi4/IcLnQxqnhWw/s400/IMGP1573+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321929659066391362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Tropical flower power<br /><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtHwnLvuxI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/4NzXIAyrslU/s1600-h/IMGP1641+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtHwnLvuxI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/4NzXIAyrslU/s400/IMGP1641+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321926285145914130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Basic park accomodation: a bed and a mosquito net, plus cheeky monkeys who come in your hut to steal your bananas!<br /><br /></span> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtGchSWdyI/AAAAAAAAAiI/0GB3k08YQUg/s1600-h/IMGP1540+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtGchSWdyI/AAAAAAAAAiI/0GB3k08YQUg/s400/IMGP1540+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321924840453994274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Beautiful sunset through a baobab<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtHxRy5PhI/AAAAAAAAAio/p-FGAwSyL-M/s1600-h/IMGP1619+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtHxRy5PhI/AAAAAAAAAio/p-FGAwSyL-M/s400/IMGP1619+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321926296584404498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Pirogues galore, even painted to the national Senegalese colors<br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtGcR4jbgI/AAAAAAAAAh4/3twZs8q8UlE/s1600-h/IMGP1504+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtGcR4jbgI/AAAAAAAAAh4/3twZs8q8UlE/s400/IMGP1504+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321924836319260162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Typical Casamance waterfront scene<br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Bernard just returned from 5 intense weeks upcountry in Liberia on an emergency mission for Catholic Relief Services (the NGO with whom he had two longer consultancies in 2008) to assist with a national response to a world news outbreak of “devastating” caterpillars.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Bong county, Liberia, has an equatorial climate, the remnants of a lush forest interspersed with rubber and palm plantations and many returnees from the 15 year civil war that finished in 2004. There is still a general uneasiness, basic services/low capacity and a heavy UN presence (Bangladeshi military and civil engineering). I worked with a pleasant team of 10 short-term recruited people to mainly investigate any report of new caterpillar outbreaks in a wide area, monitor any pesticide spraying performed by the Ministry of Agriculture (low capacity and equipment – more dangerous than the caterpillar!), provide support to the local government agricultural agency managing the response and provide community education to reduce fear and increase mitigation measures' effectiveness.<br /><br />Overall it was intense but all went well, especially since the rains started unexpectedly early and stopped the outbreak in the most environmental way! However, we did get to see moths and “baby” caterpillars and 2 minor outbreaks of 2 other varieties of caterpillars (good thing that I raised silkworms when in primary school – very useful training – who could have guessed!). The team covered about 15,000km on the back of motorcycles and on foot and I occasionally went along – dusty and hot but pretty nice when when in a forest of rolling hills. The major lasting impact of the outbreak was the contamination of many communities' single source of drinking water and unfortunately that was the part of the national response that was completely bungled (and outside our responsibility).</span> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtPOcB5xmI/AAAAAAAAAkA/JQOnWfKx2Oo/s1600-h/Gbarnga+main+street.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtPOcB5xmI/AAAAAAAAAkA/JQOnWfKx2Oo/s400/Gbarnga+main+street.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321934494129309282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Main street, Gbarnga. Dusty and with USAID signs<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtPOVklMTI/AAAAAAAAAjw/T6DkjnTgY2Q/s1600-h/CERP+Scout+ready+for+travel+with+spare+fuel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtPOVklMTI/AAAAAAAAAjw/T6DkjnTgY2Q/s400/CERP+Scout+ready+for+travel+with+spare+fuel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321934492395712818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">One of the 10 project scouts ready to find some caterpillars and with spare fuel<br /><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtPOCaQJ9I/AAAAAAAAAjo/JCfK6P-bBv8/s1600-h/Village+sprayer+training-sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtPOCaQJ9I/AAAAAAAAAjo/JCfK6P-bBv8/s400/Village+sprayer+training-sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321934487252117458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Pesticide spraying training in villages</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtPOBZCXeI/AAAAAAAAAjg/_CjgNhUiUjc/s1600-h/IMGP2224+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtPOBZCXeI/AAAAAAAAAjg/_CjgNhUiUjc/s400/IMGP2224+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321934486978584034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Morning planning around a map</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtV1u_K5TI/AAAAAAAAAkY/GHOvsXAWpFM/s1600-h/IMGP2178+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtV1u_K5TI/AAAAAAAAAkY/GHOvsXAWpFM/s400/IMGP2178+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321941766302786866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Typical village with large trees and graves<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtV1oobD4I/AAAAAAAAAkQ/ptjYHzGPPgg/s1600-h/IMGP2177+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtV1oobD4I/AAAAAAAAAkQ/ptjYHzGPPgg/s400/IMGP2177+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321941764596764546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Large trees are never far away and occasionally good caterpillar fodder</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtV1e62mkI/AAAAAAAAAkI/c3l0Ss8jO3A/s1600-h/IMGP2174+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtV1e62mkI/AAAAAAAAAkI/c3l0Ss8jO3A/s400/IMGP2174+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321941761989712450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Northern Liberian village view</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;">The parts I enjoyed most: riding a dirt motorcycle in the bush/forest; splashing in possibly the only “tourist attraction” of inland Liberia: a nice waterfall in the forest; doing an emergency project that was not too emergency/dangerous with nice people; meeting a few interesting development tourists—oops, I mean international professionals, like me-- staying a short while for evaluations, trainings, project studies, etc.; taking cooling showers; beautiful lizards (but too quick and shy to photograph); a bit of email now and then when all the stars/satellites were in alignment; swinging in a hammock between 2 palm trees when it was too hot to stay in my room – uh, monk's cell.<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtK1Q_11uI/AAAAAAAAAjA/u1Rfn6J38Ng/s1600-h/IMGP1955+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtK1Q_11uI/AAAAAAAAAjA/u1Rfn6J38Ng/s400/IMGP1955+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321929663624632034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">A lovely and refreshing waterfall<br /><br /></span> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtPOSh9AeI/AAAAAAAAAj4/SYFwztoAAEA/s1600-h/Typical+roadside+vegetation.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtPOSh9AeI/AAAAAAAAAj4/SYFwztoAAEA/s400/Typical+roadside+vegetation.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321934491579384290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Equatorial forest as seen from the road</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtV1gZ6zKI/AAAAAAAAAkg/Pz-D2xGG-pA/s1600-h/rubber+plantation.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SdtV1gZ6zKI/AAAAAAAAAkg/Pz-D2xGG-pA/s400/rubber+plantation.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321941762388446370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Rubber plantation</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span> </div> <span style="font-family:verdana;">The parts I enjoyed least: logistical challenges and lack of resources in Liberia; very hot and humid much of the time, with limited electricity; the usual apathy of government agencies and staff and a high level of corruption (similar to Cambodia); working 6-7 days/week and being away from home for a long time; no pastis.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">The things I found “interesting”: Liberia has so much US influence, such as hundreds of Christian sects; doughnuts for sale on street corners; US currency and electric plugs (but 220v thankfully); Liblish – a real patois of former US slave “english” - sometimes hard to understand and needing translation into French from some colleagues who had spent years in refugee camps in French speaking Guinea or Côte D'Ivoire; even more expensive than Dakar for much lower “quality” - probably exacerbated by the UN factor.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">But I would do it again, now that I know what to expect, and I would prepare and organise things differently. The local food was very samey (rice with sweet potato greens, greasy and pimented) but I fortunately stayed at the local Catholic Pastoral Centre which could also cater to Western palates with a bit of insistent coaching. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Bernard's sister, Tiphaine, our across-the-street neighbor with now 5 cats was also starting her career as a regional development consultant and spent a few weeks in very hot inland Bamako in Mali to design pilot micro-finance products for artists. Never a dull moment for all of us and it certainly beats 9-5 office jobs!</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Now is going to be busy with moving, finding the next job for Bernard but also enjoying what Dakar has to offer: culture (music especially) and the ocean (sailing, snorkeling, scuba, kayaking, waterfront restaurants, beach and birds).</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />We wish you all a pleasant and happy spring (in the northern hemisphere and the opposite in the upside-down hemisphere).</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Bernard, Gina and the ZZs</span>bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698504692884673876.post-64060837253862672352008-12-24T20:03:00.007+00:002008-12-24T21:22:26.583+00:00Choice views of the Cap Vert Peninsula and Dakar<div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKmQ43fGvI/AAAAAAAAAbU/WFHlwqM6cRU/s1600-h/Madeleines+Islands+from+Soumbedioune.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKmQ43fGvI/AAAAAAAAAbU/WFHlwqM6cRU/s400/Madeleines+Islands+from+Soumbedioune.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283468121932241650" border="0" /></a>Iles Madeleine from Soumbedioune beach<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKmQTTHinI/AAAAAAAAAbM/elWCZ7JIh2c/s1600-h/Around+Soumbedioune.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKmQTTHinI/AAAAAAAAAbM/elWCZ7JIh2c/s400/Around+Soumbedioune.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283468111847590514" border="0" /></a>View from Soumbedioune beach.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKmP5P8D7I/AAAAAAAAAbE/KBC_CS_nu7E/s1600-h/View+toward+Almadies+from+Mamelles+lighthouse.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKmP5P8D7I/AAAAAAAAAbE/KBC_CS_nu7E/s400/View+toward+Almadies+from+Mamelles+lighthouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283468104854933426" border="0" /></a>View of Almadies, the westernmost point of Africa from the Mamelles lighthouse<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKmPMr3X6I/AAAAAAAAAa8/B0FN3SnhS9E/s1600-h/Our+neighborhood+from+the+lighthouse.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKmPMr3X6I/AAAAAAAAAa8/B0FN3SnhS9E/s400/Our+neighborhood+from+the+lighthouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283468092892471202" border="0" /></a>Our neighborhood seen from the Mamelles Lighthouse<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKmOnnh5dI/AAAAAAAAAa0/sPHs_WFcuI8/s1600-h/Ren%C3%A9e+and+Gina+in+front+of+Mamelles+lighthouse.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKmOnnh5dI/AAAAAAAAAa0/sPHs_WFcuI8/s400/Ren%C3%A9e+and+Gina+in+front+of+Mamelles+lighthouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283468082942174674" border="0" /></a>Renée and Gina in front of the Mamelles Lighthouse<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKhKAryLHI/AAAAAAAAAas/-eh_I4wgGZ4/s1600-h/Divinity+mosque.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKhKAryLHI/AAAAAAAAAas/-eh_I4wgGZ4/s400/Divinity+mosque.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283462506213420146" border="0" /></a>The Divinity Mosque of Ouakam next to the Ouakam fishermen village.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKhJ80AjhI/AAAAAAAAAak/dNfxiIz38Es/s1600-h/View+from+Ngor+island.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKhJ80AjhI/AAAAAAAAAak/dNfxiIz38Es/s400/View+from+Ngor+island.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283462505174175250" border="0" /></a>View from Ngor Island.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKhJl7F4-I/AAAAAAAAAac/HIMyKwlb6w8/s1600-h/Friday+2pm+prayer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKhJl7F4-I/AAAAAAAAAac/HIMyKwlb6w8/s400/Friday+2pm+prayer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283462499029869538" border="0" /></a>Friday 2PM prayer time in downtown Dakar.<br />All traffic stops.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKhJHDKJ4I/AAAAAAAAAaU/Em9o0_NN8Xk/s1600-h/Cathedral+stained+glass.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKhJHDKJ4I/AAAAAAAAAaU/Em9o0_NN8Xk/s400/Cathedral+stained+glass.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283462490742204290" border="0" /></a>One of the many beautiful stainglass of the Dakar Cathedral.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKhItwXWeI/AAAAAAAAAaM/-Pftn4bGXHs/s1600-h/Dakar+Cathedral.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKhItwXWeI/AAAAAAAAAaM/-Pftn4bGXHs/s400/Dakar+Cathedral.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283462483952490978" border="0" /></a>The Dakar Cathedral - a blend of 3 architectural styles of the Faiths of the Book.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKfo4IeUpI/AAAAAAAAAaE/6PRRiCNG-Bc/s1600-h/CCF.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKfo4IeUpI/AAAAAAAAAaE/6PRRiCNG-Bc/s400/CCF.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283460837470524050" border="0" /></a>Our favourite town centre hang-outs, the French Cultural Centre - nice restaurant, a bit of peace and greenery and great cultural events.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKfogHB1GI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/CizBZWQ7mXM/s1600-h/Dakar+train+station.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKfogHB1GI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/CizBZWQ7mXM/s400/Dakar+train+station.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283460831022011490" border="0" /></a>The Dakar train station - looks much better than the train systems runs (hardly at all).<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKfoJCwbHI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/EUi8qcRJ5bM/s1600-h/Christian+music+with+traditional+instruments+.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKfoJCwbHI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/EUi8qcRJ5bM/s400/Christian+music+with+traditional+instruments+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283460824830078066" border="0" /></a>A concert of Christian music on traditional West African instruments inside the Dakar Cathedral.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKfn3aoysI/AAAAAAAAAZs/VIbPot3cGpA/s1600-h/Yoff+fishboat+arrival.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKfn3aoysI/AAAAAAAAAZs/VIbPot3cGpA/s400/Yoff+fishboat+arrival.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283460820098403010" border="0" /></a>The return of the fishermen at Yoff fishing village (hold your nose and watch where you step).<br /></span></div><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKV5MFDu5I/AAAAAAAAAZc/vBx3OgvbH7g/s1600-h/Phare+de+Mamelle+under+flamboyant.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKV5MFDu5I/AAAAAAAAAZc/vBx3OgvbH7g/s400/Phare+de+Mamelle+under+flamboyant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283450122586536850" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;">This is taken from just down the road<br /></span></div>bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698504692884673876.post-86282958497482337862008-12-24T19:59:00.000+00:002008-12-24T20:03:20.486+00:00Flora and Fauna of Senegal<div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKVDoxtqLI/AAAAAAAAAZU/8O_4Z8eacj8/s1600-h/Flametree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 348px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKVDoxtqLI/AAAAAAAAAZU/8O_4Z8eacj8/s400/Flametree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283449202577090738" border="0" /></a>Flame tree<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKVDKwpCTI/AAAAAAAAAZM/B0fxO4WtFWk/s1600-h/Senegal+lizard2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 177px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKVDKwpCTI/AAAAAAAAAZM/B0fxO4WtFWk/s400/Senegal+lizard2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283449194519529778" border="0" /></a>Local lizard<br /><br /></span></div>bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698504692884673876.post-74193893156486528302008-12-23T17:54:00.008+00:002008-12-24T19:50:02.554+00:00End of year 2008<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">We love tropical Christmas....quiet, warm and sunny. And we love the local Santa at the grocery store: a tall African man in a red Santa outfit.<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVEnaJ4dkvI/AAAAAAAAAXs/UTIL-JlkYeg/s1600-h/a+seriously+cold+African+Santa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 385px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVEnaJ4dkvI/AAAAAAAAAXs/UTIL-JlkYeg/s400/a+seriously+cold+African+Santa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283047168165122802" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">This end of year finds us well and with a good likelihood of staying in Dakar for a while longer. Update of the last couple of months:</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Gina just started a permanent half time job as the manager of the Club Atlantique with 8 Senegalese staff. It's a sports and activity family club where we have been using the 25m pool. There are also tennis and handball courts, a great children's playground, a Lebanese snack restaurant, a club house with a bar, books, TV, games, DVD lending library, etc.. All in all it's about supervising the running of a small business as an NGO. Patrons are largely expat families of many countries. Until February she is also doing her 2 nights/week of English EFL teaching.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Bernard finished his second Catholic Relief Services contract and is waiting to hear back from a few local/regional job applications. Thanks to his sister Tiphaine (our neighbour across the street who is also applying for jobs to keep her in Dakar) he is now doing a 25 day technical micro-finance Fr/En translation for the World Bank (oh, can the French be wordy about nothing! My CRS Anglophone colleagues liked my translated French best as I can write reasonable French but at least in an English get-to-the-point manner).</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Tiphaine and Bernard took a scuba diving course and after all the hard work (lugging heavy gear and preparing for all unpleasant contingencies) we finally got to blow our own bubbles "inside the aquarium", among the underwater rocks of a marine reserve. So many fish and other critters with wonderful shapes, colors and behaviours. Fortunately, fish are mostly curious creatures, so it's great to just hover over rocks and look at the live show in 3D. (Sorry no underwater photos, my camera does not go that deep).<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVEnaX87_sI/AAAAAAAAAX0/_R1dd127evI/s1600-h/Tiph+flipping+out.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVEnaX87_sI/AAAAAAAAAX0/_R1dd127evI/s400/Tiph+flipping+out.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283047171941990082" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">It is also the season for migratory birds and it's great to see them around. Bird watching is fun, part of it is the just the environment (quiet and reasonably natural) and the feel of discovery.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Our other sister Françoise came out to see us from Virginia for a week, which allowed her to decompress and enjoy the tropics and allowed us to do some touristy fun stuff (usually to do with beach, islands, swimming and good food).</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVE79k3yyfI/AAAAAAAAAYM/zU2JaRgn1U0/s1600-h/GF%26T+at+Somone+chez+Bob.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVE79k3yyfI/AAAAAAAAAYM/zU2JaRgn1U0/s400/GF%26T+at+Somone+chez+Bob.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283069766938053106" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVE79M_9XmI/AAAAAAAAAYE/RQ3-iYNXj_U/s1600-h/G%26T+with+Obama+Tshirt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVE79M_9XmI/AAAAAAAAAYE/RQ3-iYNXj_U/s400/G%26T+with+Obama+Tshirt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283069760529849954" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Bernard also went with some guys on a moto excursion, up the coast on the beach at low tide (oh, so smooth and quiet) and back on mostly dusty and bumpy but occasionally swampy or sandy tracks.<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKKX0ZA2DI/AAAAAAAAAY8/pvRj7v3yF3M/s1600-h/motoriding+on+the+beach.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKKX0ZA2DI/AAAAAAAAAY8/pvRj7v3yF3M/s400/motoriding+on+the+beach.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283437454664194098" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKKXnSAh-I/AAAAAAAAAY0/oAdVPlUZZI8/s1600-h/Bernard+dirt+biking.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKKXnSAh-I/AAAAAAAAAY0/oAdVPlUZZI8/s400/Bernard+dirt+biking.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283437451145152482" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><br />That's all for now and we wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year, full of health and happiness.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Bernard, Gina and the ZZs.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKKv2NUpsI/AAAAAAAAAZE/aQgjIKBiaso/s1600-h/Season%27s+greetings+from+the+ZZs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 208px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SVKKv2NUpsI/AAAAAAAAAZE/aQgjIKBiaso/s400/Season%27s+greetings+from+the+ZZs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283437867468891842" border="0" /></a></span>bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698504692884673876.post-24448507683158136342008-11-02T16:04:00.016+00:002008-12-24T19:52:18.498+00:00Trip to Casamance<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">I spent 10 days in <a href="http://www.au-senegal.com/La-Casamance.html">Casamance</a>, Southern Senegal for work, researching about rice production, and it was difficult to be in work mode rather than holiday mode. Firstly I got there on an overnight very modern ferry (of course I also spent a couple of hours with the engine technicians and on the bridge with the captain and pilot). Secondly I stayed in a wonderful waterfront <a href="http://www.hotel-kadiandoumagne.com/english/gallery/?gallery=casamance">hotel</a>.<br /><br />The place is tropical, green, full of beautiful birds and scenery, with many ecological and ethnic microcosms and very friendly people. I am ready to work and live there, it's clearly the best place in Senegal. Paradoxically, although it has the best agricultural potential of the country with abundant rain and water resources, it is also one of the poorest and very food insecure. Too long of an explanation for a blog, but it is full of potential.<br /><br />So here are a few photos to try to convey the feel of the place:</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqU52XtslI/AAAAAAAAAXk/KOIxROS3rlQ/s1600-h/Zig+hotel+view.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqU52XtslI/AAAAAAAAAXk/KOIxROS3rlQ/s400/Zig+hotel+view.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267686435731649106" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">View from my hotel room. How can one think of work?</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SQ3VrEmemII/AAAAAAAAATE/KeqpiEgbdA0/s1600-h/French+Cultural+Centre.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SQ3VrEmemII/AAAAAAAAATE/KeqpiEgbdA0/s400/French+Cultural+Centre.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264098475412199554" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">The French Cultural Centre, based on the local architecture and styles which included round compounds so that the circular roof would funnel water to the centre for a water source for people and animals.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqSCxME7uI/AAAAAAAAAWE/85Fk33SrV6Y/s1600-h/Casamance+rice+valley.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 197px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqSCxME7uI/AAAAAAAAAWE/85Fk33SrV6Y/s400/Casamance+rice+valley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267683290424602338" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Typical inland scenery with rice fields interspersed with clumps of trees.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqTGb-E1QI/AAAAAAAAAXM/R51TAE2SmnQ/s1600-h/Sunset+over+Zig+boats.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqTGb-E1QI/AAAAAAAAAXM/R51TAE2SmnQ/s400/Sunset+over+Zig+boats.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267684452959835394" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Sunset over Ziguinch<span style="font-family:verdana;">or boats</span> (pirogues)</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqU5vgvy6I/AAAAAAAAAXc/2pYQE2YvCtM/s1600-h/Termite+and+millet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqU5vgvy6I/AAAAAAAAAXc/2pYQE2YvCtM/s400/Termite+and+millet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267686433890487202" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Termite mound next to a crop of millet, very commonly grown in "upland" areas and which is a prime source of staple food, after rice.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqRQRGIaSI/AAAAAAAAAV8/e8tkspaZ3qY/s1600-h/Casamance+fishing+village.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 158px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqRQRGIaSI/AAAAAAAAAV8/e8tkspaZ3qY/s400/Casamance+fishing+village.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267682422816270626" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Typical view of the banks of the Casamance river from the ferry.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkh6bMjll9ipRNOCX-NGujbN6_t4Vf29cKZZvGk6-s4l43x03zNHODNVQc7Jq1loOaEJ_-e9P-wCyK3M_CaYoRJ4KyfZxzBeFsHT9MOEAOMjxikR4uGZuP5WeMy9JiqFHzZA-W8qPchK57/s1600-h/Casamance+bolong.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkh6bMjll9ipRNOCX-NGujbN6_t4Vf29cKZZvGk6-s4l43x03zNHODNVQc7Jq1loOaEJ_-e9P-wCyK3M_CaYoRJ4KyfZxzBeFsHT9MOEAOMjxikR4uGZuP5WeMy9JiqFHzZA-W8qPchK57/s400/Casamance+bolong.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267682421388981346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqRP76NOOI/AAAAAAAAAVs/3W9stILUrLM/s1600-h/Casamance+bolong2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqRP76NOOI/AAAAAAAAAVs/3W9stILUrLM/s400/Casamance+bolong2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267682417129109730" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">There are many waterways called "bolongs", some are lined with mangroves and also with salt-resistant varieties of rice.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqTGDu_gYI/AAAAAAAAAXE/oYcj42ArurI/s1600-h/sunset+in+Zig.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqTGDu_gYI/AAAAAAAAAXE/oYcj42ArurI/s400/sunset+in+Zig.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267684446454120834" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Atmospheric sunset</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqRPeU02qI/AAAAAAAAAVk/KcqhI_3J9co/s1600-h/Cape+Skiring.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqRPeU02qI/AAAAAAAAAVk/KcqhI_3J9co/s400/Cape+Skiring.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267682409187695266" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Casamance premier beach resort place, called Cape Skiring, very mellow though.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqRPK6iDCI/AAAAAAAAAVc/asXRRq3XulY/s1600-h/best+of+transport.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqRPK6iDCI/AAAAAAAAAVc/asXRRq3XulY/s400/best+of+transport.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267682403977137186" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">A bus owner everyones love: "I love my mother. The customer is king", if only it were true!<br />- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -<br />And now for the bird life I could photograph with my quick and easy camera</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqU5OkCQQI/AAAAAAAAAXU/akpEd6b1kls/s1600-h/swallow+on+pier.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 370px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqU5OkCQQI/AAAAAAAAAXU/akpEd6b1kls/s400/swallow+on+pier.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267686425045909762" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Some kind of swallow on a hotel pier</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqTFzdCd7I/AAAAAAAAAW8/fMuMNdW1r_I/s1600-h/storks+on+tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 192px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqTFzdCd7I/AAAAAAAAAW8/fMuMNdW1r_I/s400/storks+on+tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267684442083850162" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqTFoVg8WI/AAAAAAAAAW0/QSlXX4xz2zw/s1600-h/storks+on+tree2sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 204px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqTFoVg8WI/AAAAAAAAAW0/QSlXX4xz2zw/s400/storks+on+tree2sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267684439099502946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqTFYTewLI/AAAAAAAAAWs/vdHCGRwKHrI/s1600-h/Stork+on+nest.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 324px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqTFYTewLI/AAAAAAAAAWs/vdHCGRwKHrI/s400/Stork+on+nest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267684434796003506" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqSDm6q6OI/AAAAAAAAAWk/wSBxmmSMDFM/s1600-h/Stork+on+nest2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 390px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqSDm6q6OI/AAAAAAAAAWk/wSBxmmSMDFM/s400/Stork+on+nest2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267683304847108322" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Storks nesting right in the middle of Ziguinchor</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqSDcbMXFI/AAAAAAAAAWc/9b7SwrEGnHU/s1600-h/seabird2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqSDcbMXFI/AAAAAAAAAWc/9b7SwrEGnHU/s400/seabird2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267683302030728274" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">All sorts of seabirds, including pelicans (not this one though)</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqSC6j0NFI/AAAAAAAAAWM/OH3zlv_ysXs/s1600-h/Kingfisher.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SRqSC6j0NFI/AAAAAAAAAWM/OH3zlv_ysXs/s400/Kingfisher.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267683292940088402" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Also many kingfishers, but they are shy.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SQ3YTlbHfcI/AAAAAAAAATM/miKKG0I7s28/s1600-h/Grue+cooronnee.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SQ3YTlbHfcI/AAAAAAAAATM/miKKG0I7s28/s400/Grue+cooronnee.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264101370440940994" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">A hotel "pet", a crowned crane.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div>bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698504692884673876.post-52780441484651763822008-10-05T19:23:00.011+00:002008-12-24T19:53:34.410+00:00October 08 news from dakar<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">October Newsletter from Bernard and Gina from Dakar<br /><br /></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Since July we've had an intense rainy season but it seems to be ending now, overall good for crops and livestock but bad for unprepared urban infrastructure with recurrent flooding and damage. Temperatures and humidity are up to the 30s and 80s and power and water cuts are frequent and long. We have now installed an “electricity robot” at home: a charger/inverter wired to a large car battery (basically like a large UPS for computers) so that we can enjoy the use of fans and laptops/internet/music for about 8 hours, regarlless of the SENELEC tantrums, and with whom we've had a clandestine hook up as their corrupt employees claim not to have electric meters to install (“but pay me something to not disconnect you”). For water we just fill up umpteen 10 liter water jugs stored in a spare room.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkoudFZpjI/AAAAAAAAAS0/2DEXbGQ44lw/s1600-h/redbird2closeup2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkoudFZpjI/AAAAAAAAAS0/2DEXbGQ44lw/s400/redbird2closeup2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253775218850768434" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Bernard's first job with CRS finished at the end of July with the successful completion of the 3 year project to assist communities in Northern Senegal and Southern Mauritania hard hit by the locust plague of 2004 and to prepare the most vulnerable communities in Senegal against an outbreak of Avian Flu (there have been no cases in SN though there are large populations of migratory birds and neighboring countries have had outbreaks). </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><br /><br />He was immediately recruited for a further 3 month consultancy by the CRS West Africa Regional Office as an itinerant rural development technical advisor to assist CRS country offices in francophone West Africa with developping new USAID funded projects to mitigate against the food price crisis. So far this has entailed assisting the offices in Senegal, Mali and Gambia (not francophone but logistically simple as it is surrounded by Senegal) to help poor farmers to improve their production of rainfed rice. The US Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance just requested more urgent proposals to assist those in most acute need in the 5 francophone west african sahelian countries (from Mauritania to Niger), thus another 12 day trip to Mopti, Mali, to research and pre-write a project to assist about 10,000 peri-urban squatters to re-locate and get access to more cropping land and develop more economic activities.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkVfpt8UyI/AAAAAAAAARU/9jUwKDyVUfI/s1600-h/donkeys+on+their+morning+jog1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkVfpt8UyI/AAAAAAAAARU/9jUwKDyVUfI/s400/donkeys+on+their+morning+jog1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253754073823073058" border="0" /></a>Bernard's next job as a donkey trainer, it has to easier than cat herding...<br /></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><br />I have to say that, using generalities, Africa is poor because of its men but rich thanks to its women. Meetings with the women is always a serious but healthy laugh.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Thus far, it's been more steep learning but with very competent and humorous colleagues. Scenery everywhere has been lush green with lots of millet growing, interspersed with groundnut (peanut), cowpea, maize and rice in swampy areas and herds of fat animals foraging. Bamako is surprisingly green and steamy, feeling more like Southeast Asia than the capital of Sahelian Mali, especially with the wide and overflowing Niger river (and its hippos).<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkievwZ_kI/AAAAAAAAAR8/qUp0yYof2m8/s1600-h/please+buy+my+peanuts.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkievwZ_kI/AAAAAAAAAR8/qUp0yYof2m8/s400/please+buy+my+peanuts.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253768351915310658" border="0" /></a>Please, please, buy my peanuts, they are the best!<br /></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><br />Some work and travel impressions:<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Farafenni, “upcountry” in the Gambia: very poor and not tourist friendly, no newspapers, AM/FM radio stations or Internet connection, only one guest house with mozzies and bedbugs and no idea what a “vegetable” is, plenty of grisstly meat bits but hard to find even bananas! </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Visited the megalithic burial site of Wassu, dating from about AD 800, one of a few in this area.<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOklflMZ3FI/AAAAAAAAASk/iPxXd1EBOuY/s1600-h/Wassu+stones.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOklflMZ3FI/AAAAAAAAASk/iPxXd1EBOuY/s400/Wassu+stones.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253771664794704978" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><br />The place is also full of wild birds, some very noisy!<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkifO9FvgI/AAAAAAAAASU/0iz8FEJYGCk/s1600-h/leggy+birds+in+a+tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkifO9FvgI/AAAAAAAAASU/0iz8FEJYGCk/s400/leggy+birds+in+a+tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253768360290008578" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><br />Work involved distributing 50kg bags of urea fertiliser to 1,600 poor rice farmer women, sometimes in pouring rain.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">No men helped the women (sometimes older) to transport and lift the heavy bags. But they remained in good spirit and were appreciative of the gift to boost their own small rice production. Interestingly, rice cropping areas have severly decreased due to predation of hippos and warthogs (rice seedlings must taste like croissants to them).<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkifTEXJMI/AAAAAAAAASc/b59xnz9BqWw/s1600-h/fertiliser+distribution.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkifTEXJMI/AAAAAAAAASc/b59xnz9BqWw/s400/fertiliser+distribution.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253768361394250946" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Also the whole of rice production is only women's work, from plowing, seeding, weeding, harvesting, storing, milling and cooking (no animal, no machine and no cash investment of any sort – seed, fertiliser, ploughing, treshing, etc.)!</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">No wonder the yields are so low and harvesting can take a whole month. The main constraint is that the whole process is based on women managing their labour load (already substantial) and not on maximizing land or resource productivity, unlike most of Asia.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Casamance: I could have got there by Paris city bus: the “Paris-Barbes to Senegal-Casamance”. Hard to imagine how that bus got there!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkVf3YgCnI/AAAAAAAAARc/uYGgJcRImdE/s1600-h/the+barbes-zinguinchor+city+bus1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkVf3YgCnI/AAAAAAAAARc/uYGgJcRImdE/s400/the+barbes-zinguinchor+city+bus1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253754077491235442" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"> Also steamy, green and lush with many water “features” but of the muddy kind.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkie26UBUI/AAAAAAAAASE/jYVF-uDDu7w/s1600-h/casamance+landscape.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkie26UBUI/AAAAAAAAASE/jYVF-uDDu7w/s400/casamance+landscape.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253768353835910466" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkifIeOSqI/AAAAAAAAASM/l-nMZDo6GjI/s1600-h/crowned+grebe+as+hotel+pet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkifIeOSqI/AAAAAAAAASM/l-nMZDo6GjI/s400/crowned+grebe+as+hotel+pet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253768358549932706" border="0" /></a> Local bird as a guest-house "pet"<br /><br />Check out this nice site for some of the Gambian (and Casamance) wildlife: h<a href="http://ksossehgallery.blogspot.com/">ttp://ksossehgallery.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Mopti in Mali: nice place in the rainy season and no tourists. It's on 3 large connected islands with the large river Niger dotted with small inhabited islands on one side and rice fields on the other.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkVgla_ZGI/AAAAAAAAARs/CimDoelKfrg/s1600-h/Mopti+mosque.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkVgla_ZGI/AAAAAAAAARs/CimDoelKfrg/s400/Mopti+mosque.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253754089849709666" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The Mopti mosque</span><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">The harbor is very busy with many crowded contraptions and is surrounded by thriving market stalls and boatbuilders (they hand make each nail!).<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkVgPEqv4I/AAAAAAAAARk/awJhG3oFQYM/s1600-h/Boeing+747+moptia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkVgPEqv4I/AAAAAAAAARk/awJhG3oFQYM/s400/Boeing+747+moptia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253754083850502018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkVhI7d-VI/AAAAAAAAAR0/DVCUSnR0dTQ/s1600-h/handmaking+nails.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkVhI7d-VI/AAAAAAAAAR0/DVCUSnR0dTQ/s400/handmaking+nails.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253754099381172562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkouNNmdSI/AAAAAAAAASs/6_WwyexpgJ8/s1600-h/boatbuilding.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkouNNmdSI/AAAAAAAAASs/6_WwyexpgJ8/s400/boatbuilding.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253775214590194978" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">You could reach Timbuktu, downriver, in 3 days by boat. I had a scurrying posse of colourful lizards around my feet at breakfast each morning, waiting to be fed corn flakes.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkouVAd5gI/AAAAAAAAAS8/ChtDRltfOzE/s1600-h/Breakfast+lizards.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SOkouVAd5gI/AAAAAAAAAS8/ChtDRltfOzE/s400/Breakfast+lizards.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253775216682591746" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">On the entertainment side, we have done a bit of sailing and continue swimming. Culturally, the rainy season is quiet as the expats go on holidays, it's hot and it's risky to hold any outdoor event but it's picking up again, we just saw some Senegal folk dancing, with a great drum band and an amazing African mask dancer on 6 foot giraffe skin decorated stilts – stunning. The kids shrieked and we almost did too.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Gina is about to start her next term of evening English classes for professionals and we now have a few potential end-of-year visitors.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><br /><br />The downside of living next to the unofficial “airport wildlife reserve” is that after each rain, despite our best efforts, we are invaded by all sorts of bugs and our window screens are artistically covered with “one use only” insect wings.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Best wishes to all for your autumn season while we head for dry and cooler weather.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">G&B&ZZs</span>bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698504692884673876.post-73888978097565356352008-06-28T19:45:00.003+00:002008-12-24T19:57:49.444+00:00Sailing in Ngor bay<span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SGaV6YZr0fI/AAAAAAAAAQs/Vgqci8KEGDY/s1600-h/dsc06360.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SGaV6YZr0fI/AAAAAAAAAQs/Vgqci8KEGDY/s400/dsc06360.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217022048570429938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Getting ready to go on a Hobie 15</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SGaV6uQRjPI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/Spk-x2t7Xgs/s1600-h/p6280155.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SGaV6uQRjPI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/Spk-x2t7Xgs/s400/p6280155.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217022054436539634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Gina enjoying some fresh air and jib handling</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SGaV6qJIdiI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/gkGBkLPW7Rs/s1600-h/p6280156.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SGaV6qJIdiI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/gkGBkLPW7Rs/s400/p6280156.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217022053332842018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Toward Ngor beach and village</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SGaV7ImhkPI/AAAAAAAAARE/d__5PFtdvsc/s1600-h/p6280163.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SGaV7ImhkPI/AAAAAAAAARE/d__5PFtdvsc/s400/p6280163.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217022061509185778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Tiphaine concentrating on keeping left from right...</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SGaV7ezBpSI/AAAAAAAAARM/7h6u_wxU4zI/s1600-h/p6280164.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SGaV7ezBpSI/AAAAAAAAARM/7h6u_wxU4zI/s400/p6280164.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217022067467199778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">How soothing...</span>bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698504692884673876.post-45444207985037026802008-06-17T18:25:00.003+00:002008-06-17T18:38:36.695+00:00B&G June newsletter from Dakar<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">B&G June newsletter from Dakar, (click on links for more information and look elsewhere on the blog for the photos)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dear friends and family,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hurray! We just had our first rains of the last 8 months. The temperature and humidity are slowly rising (30C) and we are starting to sweat. Not helping is that we are now experiencing long daily power and water cuts, sometimes at the same time. So, at least, we're enjoying more reading.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bernard's job is finally slowing down after the furious first 2 months when the project was 3 months behind schedule and finishing at the end of June. Now, all the planned activities have been completed and it's just a matter of finalising all the financial and narrative reports, but with some foot-dragging partners. One of the small perks of the job is that I can take some management and leadership e-courses at Cornell University. Here, Friday 2PM is the weekly public prayer time, the downtown traffic comes to a stop with crowds kneeling on the streets facing East on their mats to the call of the muezzins. At work, it means that Friday is a very colourful fashion show (I feel so casually under-dressed!) but one can be excused from work at 13:30.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Gina really enjoys her new part-time job, teaching English 2 hours twice a week to fifteen professionals and university students.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Recently we “discovered” one of Dakar's best kept secrets, the world's smallest national marine park. It seems to come straight out of a Jules Verne novel. Les </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://miloujc.uniterre.com/47817/Le+parc+des+%EEles+de+la+Madeleine.html">Iles de la Madeleine</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> are a small island with adjacent rocks with stunning landscapes of black basalt formations dotted with white guano, cliffs, rocks, gravel coves, dwarf baobabs, and many birds including the elusive and beautiful phaeton.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We have enjoyed a few concerts, classical piano and African music, the best being Habib Koité. We spent a fabulous day during the </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.galenfrysinger.com/senegal_goree_island.htm">Gorée</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> View on Courtyards, an art festival where many beautiful buidlings and gardens on the island were open to the public. We occasionally go kayaking with friends between Dakar and Gorée. Gina signed us up at the club Atlantique conveniently located on our shopping and work commute route and where we can go swimming several times a week and also enjoy a vegetarian falafel on the week ends.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Best wishes,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bernard and Gina and the ZZs.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFgC9YrNZvI/AAAAAAAAAQI/LLE62WQAFM0/s1600-h/in+the+basket.jpg"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFgC9YrNZvI/AAAAAAAAAQI/LLE62WQAFM0/s400/in+the+basket.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212919822300309234" border="0" /></a>bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698504692884673876.post-65977589789271358552008-06-15T20:00:00.003+00:002008-06-15T20:26:32.122+00:00Best cats - ours and others<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV4DBDjKBI/AAAAAAAAAP4/P5t13s12ow8/s1600-h/imgp3405.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV4DBDjKBI/AAAAAAAAAP4/P5t13s12ow8/s400/imgp3405.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212204136969480210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:130%;" >Hip beach bum kitty, waiting for fish bits from a broken beach locker on Gorée</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV4DX4YDvI/AAAAAAAAAQA/j1WbY9Og0fg/s1600-h/imgp3002.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV4DX4YDvI/AAAAAAAAAQA/j1WbY9Og0fg/s400/imgp3002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212204143096631026" border="0" /></a><br /><br />C<span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:130%;" >ool drumming kitty, waiting for a tip on Gorée</span>bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698504692884673876.post-87515582359108920652008-06-15T19:14:00.006+00:002008-06-15T20:25:05.197+00:00Iles de la Madeleine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVtgVscvkI/AAAAAAAAANo/eyWVxnv-UsI/s1600-h/Red-tailed_Tropicbird_in_flight.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVtgVscvkI/AAAAAAAAANo/eyWVxnv-UsI/s400/Red-tailed_Tropicbird_in_flight.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212192546098036290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Phaeton, rarely seen near land.<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVsnIo2pBI/AAAAAAAAANI/iAgB65yjiq8/s1600-h/p6010020.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVsnIo2pBI/AAAAAAAAANI/iAgB65yjiq8/s400/p6010020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212191563340751890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Dwarf Baobab, half buried in sand.</span><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVsnPO-KCI/AAAAAAAAANQ/lLG5yfz2wu8/s1600-h/p6010021.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVsnPO-KCI/AAAAAAAAANQ/lLG5yfz2wu8/s400/p6010021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212191565111240738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Greater cormorants on basaltic rocks</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVsnXk7RjI/AAAAAAAAANY/qmZO-6mhryI/s1600-h/dsc06247.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVsnXk7RjI/AAAAAAAAANY/qmZO-6mhryI/s400/dsc06247.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212191567350810162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVsniZLKdI/AAAAAAAAANg/rgzEwCpxDSo/s1600-h/p6010027.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVsniZLKdI/AAAAAAAAANg/rgzEwCpxDSo/s400/p6010027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212191570254309842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVsQCsSxTI/AAAAAAAAAMg/kBGNNJjBcr0/s1600-h/p6010014.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVsQCsSxTI/AAAAAAAAAMg/kBGNNJjBcr0/s400/p6010014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212191166607574322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVsQWiBarI/AAAAAAAAAMo/q1QCyl-db8Q/s1600-h/p6010015.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVsQWiBarI/AAAAAAAAAMo/q1QCyl-db8Q/s400/p6010015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212191171933203122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVsQqiDA_I/AAAAAAAAAMw/MmDk6lL9qRw/s1600-h/p6010016.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVsQqiDA_I/AAAAAAAAAMw/MmDk6lL9qRw/s400/p6010016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212191177302017010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVsQ2XaZQI/AAAAAAAAAM4/IOtwGmzCp3Y/s1600-h/p6010018.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVsQ2XaZQI/AAAAAAAAAM4/IOtwGmzCp3Y/s400/p6010018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212191180478637314" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:130%;" ><br />Jules Verne's Nautilus stopped here in the 1860s</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVsRcllPeI/AAAAAAAAANA/wyXX-GyRN2k/s1600-h/p6010019.jpg"><br /></a>bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698504692884673876.post-8897516183046624412008-06-15T18:52:00.010+00:002009-06-10T18:19:02.094+00:00Gorée View on Courtyards (Vue sur Cours)<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Si_2o-VkQgI/AAAAAAAAAns/g-cyADDd608/s1600-h/IMGP2483+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Si_2o-VkQgI/AAAAAAAAAns/g-cyADDd608/s400/IMGP2483+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345762466500723202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Si_2o1OMi6I/AAAAAAAAAnk/ZbUDUMl2v4E/s1600-h/IMGP2488+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Si_2o1OMi6I/AAAAAAAAAnk/ZbUDUMl2v4E/s400/IMGP2488+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345762464053889954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Si_2ohPU0iI/AAAAAAAAAnc/HbGyQIz_vaY/s1600-h/IMGP2499+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Si_2ohPU0iI/AAAAAAAAAnc/HbGyQIz_vaY/s400/IMGP2499+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345762458689917474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Si_2oIEUuHI/AAAAAAAAAnU/dCHf7YQVftA/s1600-h/IMGP2501+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Si_2oIEUuHI/AAAAAAAAAnU/dCHf7YQVftA/s400/IMGP2501+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345762451932887154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Si_2oP_8cDI/AAAAAAAAAnM/enpaKtKUgMQ/s1600-h/IMGP2511+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Si_2oP_8cDI/AAAAAAAAAnM/enpaKtKUgMQ/s400/IMGP2511+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345762454062002226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV3PdapxeI/AAAAAAAAAPw/QcAQqjRwL0Q/s1600-h/imgp3424.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV3PdapxeI/AAAAAAAAAPw/QcAQqjRwL0Q/s400/imgp3424.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212203251229378018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV25Vh5BJI/AAAAAAAAAPA/Fwivz7qT7hk/s1600-h/imgp3024.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV25Vh5BJI/AAAAAAAAAPA/Fwivz7qT7hk/s400/imgp3024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212202871155131538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV25qUpt6I/AAAAAAAAAPI/wYplpQBQN1w/s1600-h/imgp3026.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV25qUpt6I/AAAAAAAAAPI/wYplpQBQN1w/s400/imgp3026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212202876736747426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV255UtX_I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/acZeTqlhKo0/s1600-h/imgp3029.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV255UtX_I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/acZeTqlhKo0/s400/imgp3029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212202880763518962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV26hNy9sI/AAAAAAAAAPY/JGxoVhgjmjY/s1600-h/imgp3031.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV26hNy9sI/AAAAAAAAAPY/JGxoVhgjmjY/s400/imgp3031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212202891471943362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV27K5FmbI/AAAAAAAAAPg/a99vrGob5zc/s1600-h/imgp3034.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV27K5FmbI/AAAAAAAAAPg/a99vrGob5zc/s400/imgp3034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212202902659373490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV2Y3VOMUI/AAAAAAAAAOY/cQBrKZ9ESXg/s1600-h/imgp3003.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV2Y3VOMUI/AAAAAAAAAOY/cQBrKZ9ESXg/s400/imgp3003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212202313293115714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV2ZNiE_AI/AAAAAAAAAOg/JsPHOEFM3Vg/s1600-h/imgp3011.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV2ZNiE_AI/AAAAAAAAAOg/JsPHOEFM3Vg/s400/imgp3011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212202319252618242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Clash of cultures: 1) the WWII gunsight, 2) the modern sail-like symbolic concrete monument (with no explanation of what it means) and 3) local textile artists displaying their wares among various gun emplacements.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV2ZdQdkEI/AAAAAAAAAOo/OmoADdxsYys/s1600-h/imgp3017.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV2ZdQdkEI/AAAAAAAAAOo/OmoADdxsYys/s400/imgp3017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212202323473698882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV2aGCZVQI/AAAAAAAAAOw/sbn7EPAH1uY/s1600-h/imgp3020.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV2aGCZVQI/AAAAAAAAAOw/sbn7EPAH1uY/s400/imgp3020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212202334420555010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV2aSDV3YI/AAAAAAAAAO4/eYGY_6QWkII/s1600-h/imgp3023.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV2aSDV3YI/AAAAAAAAAO4/eYGY_6QWkII/s400/imgp3023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212202337645747586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The (in)famous House of Slaves, now a museum.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV1z95ktBI/AAAAAAAAANw/ODbml-6Ovg0/s1600-h/imgp2984.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV1z95ktBI/AAAAAAAAANw/ODbml-6Ovg0/s400/imgp2984.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212201679401038866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">View of Dakar from Gorée</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV10Sx6goI/AAAAAAAAAN4/50aTBEI88Vs/s1600-h/imgp2974.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV10Sx6goI/AAAAAAAAAN4/50aTBEI88Vs/s400/imgp2974.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212201685006058114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV10StQ6lI/AAAAAAAAAOA/3BsiEJMXnM0/s1600-h/imgp2988.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV10StQ6lI/AAAAAAAAAOA/3BsiEJMXnM0/s400/imgp2988.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212201684986554962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV10uPpV4I/AAAAAAAAAOI/U8MeXV4oGPQ/s1600-h/imgp3000.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV10uPpV4I/AAAAAAAAAOI/U8MeXV4oGPQ/s400/imgp3000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212201692378519426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV11KiMq8I/AAAAAAAAAOQ/fKqZlr94v28/s1600-h/imgp3002.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFV11KiMq8I/AAAAAAAAAOQ/fKqZlr94v28/s400/imgp3002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212201699972524994" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVpw7KsdfI/AAAAAAAAAMY/-b6czJIG7TQ/s1600-h/hpim0358.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVpw7KsdfI/AAAAAAAAAMY/-b6czJIG7TQ/s400/hpim0358.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212188432988403186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVpi2t3XdI/AAAAAAAAALw/QMVCctYL4wk/s1600-h/hpim0320.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVpi2t3XdI/AAAAAAAAALw/QMVCctYL4wk/s400/hpim0320.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212188191275572690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Notice the very straight palm tree on left. It is made of steel and tries to hide the mobile phone antenna.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVpjfHHiAI/AAAAAAAAAL4/25p_WXEnxD4/s1600-h/hpim0334.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVpjfHHiAI/AAAAAAAAAL4/25p_WXEnxD4/s400/hpim0334.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212188202118907906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Art and laundry, Laundry and art or just Laundry Art?</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVpjj3yUlI/AAAAAAAAAMA/0xn0v8eQZQE/s1600-h/hpim0336.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVpjj3yUlI/AAAAAAAAAMA/0xn0v8eQZQE/s400/hpim0336.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212188203396780626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVpkLHQJPI/AAAAAAAAAMI/AYSjcqNUYm0/s1600-h/hpim0341.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVpkLHQJPI/AAAAAAAAAMI/AYSjcqNUYm0/s400/hpim0341.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212188213930632434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">We asked if we could rent a room for a week end, but they said that the house was too small (true), but how inviting!!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVpkO1rKXI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/lu-VIUfrk-8/s1600-h/hpim0356.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVpkO1rKXI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/lu-VIUfrk-8/s400/hpim0356.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212188214930647410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVl6x89qGI/AAAAAAAAALo/OwivXYu9t2M/s1600-h/hpim0368.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SFVl6x89qGI/AAAAAAAAALo/OwivXYu9t2M/s400/hpim0368.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212184204267071586" border="0" /></a></div>bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698504692884673876.post-84157025011849788262008-05-04T17:42:00.014+00:002008-05-04T18:16:47.364+00:00May newsletter from DakarB&G May newsletter from Dakar<br /><br />Life has drastically changed now that Bernard started work in late March with Catholic Relief Service Senegal (an American NGO). His Senegalese predecessor left post suddenly, leading to a quick and desultory interview the following day and starting the next. The office and staff are friendly and located in town centre (12km) and which is easily accessible in 15mn on a just opened and smooth 4 lane seaside corniche. Despite the position being Agricultural Program Manager, the job is not very interesting as it's more admin/finance and mostly about closing down a $2.2million-2.5 yr project with bureaucratic procedures and a few leftover internal issues (overdue reports, partner mis-cooperation and glitchy budgets). But it's only until the end of July and I get to upgrade my French in a professional environment, the downside of which is having to use an AZERTY keyboard and dealing with french grammar and spelling (one can assume that the French don't like short quantitative sentences, as full stops and numbers also require the shift key and that they switched the A and Q keys so as to use the subjunctive for yet more nebulous verbosity?).<br /><br />The project started in late 2005 to help farmers in 3 southern Mauritanian regions and Senegalese farmers in 10 (out of 22 regions) recover from the 2004 locust infestation which greatly affected many sahelian areas and to mitigate against recurrences. USAID then tacked on an Avian Influenza prevention and mitigation component for Senegal in 2007, cobbled from some leftover USAID funds. As usual it's difficult to work with the national government as they keep reshuffling departments, ministries and staff but field cooperation seems much better (staff probably glad to get some real money).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SB33yPNfA9I/AAAAAAAAALA/QPSWygE-cak/s1600-h/Mauritanian+road+hazards.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 368px; height: 159px;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SB33yPNfA9I/AAAAAAAAALA/QPSWygE-cak/s400/Mauritanian+road+hazards.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196581987504030674" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Road hazards: camels and Mercedes</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SB33n_NfA8I/AAAAAAAAAK4/lb4jIDnb41A/s1600-h/Driving+inland+in+Mauritania.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 158px;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SB33n_NfA8I/AAAAAAAAAK4/lb4jIDnb41A/s400/Driving+inland+in+Mauritania.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196581811410371522" border="0" /></a><br />I also spent some time in Mauritania and it is a big and empty and of dunes, camels, flowing garments, all shapes of Mercedes vehicles (why?), regular public prayers and high but dry day heat. The landscape is very photogenic, and so are the people but they don't like cameras much.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SB33UfNfA7I/AAAAAAAAAKw/5KTHVGyOEgE/s1600-h/always+more+dunes.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 160px;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SB33UfNfA7I/AAAAAAAAAKw/5KTHVGyOEgE/s400/always+more+dunes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196581476402922418" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">More sand and more dunes</span><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SB321PNfA6I/AAAAAAAAAKo/M9B5U1OmtX8/s1600-h/Women%27s+group+meeting.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 444px; height: 332px;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SB321PNfA6I/AAAAAAAAAKo/M9B5U1OmtX8/s400/Women%27s+group+meeting.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196580939532010402" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Women's group in Kaedi, Mauritania - mostly herders, short farming season</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SB33_fNfA-I/AAAAAAAAALI/zfxuNLWNFSc/s1600-h/Mauritanian+camels+waiting+for+tourist+visa+into+Senegal.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 412px; height: 308px;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SB33_fNfA-I/AAAAAAAAALI/zfxuNLWNFSc/s400/Mauritanian+camels+waiting+for+tourist+visa+into+Senegal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196582215137297378" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Mauritanian camels waiting for their tourist visas to enter Senegal</span><br /></div><br /><br />Now that we're back on an income, we have found a nice, new, breezy, first floor (upstairs), 3 bedroom flat just across from B's sister so that we can keep sharing the car, washing machine, kitchen stuff, shopping, cats, magazines, etc..<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SB34J_NfA_I/AAAAAAAAALQ/4DQJVVbFtdU/s1600-h/chez+Bernard+et+Gina.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 410px; height: 306px;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SB34J_NfA_I/AAAAAAAAALQ/4DQJVVbFtdU/s400/chez+Bernard+et+Gina.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196582395525923826" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">We live behind the 3 arches and in front of the small planes's runway</span><br /></div><br />We almost feel like newly-weds, camping indoors on plastic furniture till we can find something more affordable and tasteful. Getting utilities unofficially hooked up took “only” 2-3 weeks with much haggling (the electric company has run out of meters). The landlord and family live on the ground floor.<br /><br />He is a respectable older man with a job in the agriculture weather service, is well travelled and knows English, so we get along well. The back of the flat backs right onto the quiet part of the airport with nice views, breezes and an unintended bird reserve. Gina is busy getting our flat organised, learning French with a strict but friendly Senegalese tutor and she just found a part time job teaching English to public health professionals.<br /><br />On the fun side, though there has not been much time for that lately, B has gone sailing in Dakar Bay on a lovely small wooden boat, built by Mennonite friends. On Sunday afternoons we sometimes go to a local beach to swim and to look at the kitesurfers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SB340_NfBAI/AAAAAAAAALY/cyJfXbxQ7hA/s1600-h/horsecart+and+kitesurf.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 409px; height: 367px;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SB340_NfBAI/AAAAAAAAALY/cyJfXbxQ7hA/s400/horsecart+and+kitesurf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196583134260298754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SB35DvNfBBI/AAAAAAAAALg/hXva7ScdBC8/s1600-h/Senegal+public+transport.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 392px; height: 455px;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/SB35DvNfBBI/AAAAAAAAALg/hXva7ScdBC8/s400/Senegal+public+transport.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196583387663369234" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Senegal public transport - getting onions to market</span><br /></div><br />That’s all for now and best wishes to all you northerners for a nice spring! Bises,<br /><br />Bernard and Gina and the ZZs.<br /><br />Blog: http://ginaber.blogspot.com/<br />Skype: bernardcrennbernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698504692884673876.post-56739191976076383402008-03-22T17:07:00.010+00:002008-03-22T18:03:17.264+00:00First sail in DakarOur Mennonite friends invited me to go for a sail. The 4 boats are all home-made in Dakar.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/R-VA2PSdmpI/AAAAAAAAAI4/4vUPs8Q4xQQ/s1600-h/4+sailboats+on+the+road.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/R-VA2PSdmpI/AAAAAAAAAI4/4vUPs8Q4xQQ/s400/4+sailboats+on+the+road.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180618246920706706" border="0" /></a>This is one way of putting 4 sailboats on the road. 3 PDRacers (Puddle Duck Racer) and one Marisol skiff.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/R-U-C_SdmlI/AAAAAAAAAIY/klyj5roSpIg/s1600-h/PD+Racer+launch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/R-U-C_SdmlI/AAAAAAAAAIY/klyj5roSpIg/s400/PD+Racer+launch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180615167429155410" border="0" /></a><br />Launching the PDR. The PDracer weights less than 30kg and is made of hardware store materials.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/R-U_H_SdmnI/AAAAAAAAAIo/HWvi_VHM3i4/s1600-h/PD+Racer+Watermelon+ready+for+boarding.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/R-U_H_SdmnI/AAAAAAAAAIo/HWvi_VHM3i4/s400/PD+Racer+Watermelon+ready+for+boarding.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180616352840129138" border="0" /></a><br />PDRacer ready for boarding with a "reef" in the sail, i.e. the sail is wrapped around the mast a few times before the sprit boom is lashed on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qH-6666ZNnjK9SmUiw_EkpbKNVKBUoPHeQ0T6ATfwkqQVaTizW2vz97hEqRcwwHpSK8WPgnjCo8YqrhIoWc_MPvFh4Pw_lxZWuJAPMF_V1sAn-KwmFNVGGRTbxDwsOyhsEiFECXNat4F/s1600-h/Watermelon+underway.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qH-6666ZNnjK9SmUiw_EkpbKNVKBUoPHeQ0T6ATfwkqQVaTizW2vz97hEqRcwwHpSK8WPgnjCo8YqrhIoWc_MPvFh4Pw_lxZWuJAPMF_V1sAn-KwmFNVGGRTbxDwsOyhsEiFECXNat4F/s400/Watermelon+underway.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180616881121106562" border="0" /></a><br />And they are off! Watermelon made it back to the beach a few minutes later but the rudder was broken (design flaw - not construction).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/R-VJF_SdmxI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/928CE0CUWxE/s1600-h/Marisol+on+beach2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/R-VJF_SdmxI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/928CE0CUWxE/s400/Marisol+on+beach2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180627313596668690" border="0" /></a>The 12foot Marisol ready for a sail.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/R-VA2vSdmqI/AAAAAAAAAJA/Z8QNbyHimdw/s1600-h/Marisol+looking+ahead.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/R-VA2vSdmqI/AAAAAAAAAJA/Z8QNbyHimdw/s400/Marisol+looking+ahead.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180618255510641314" border="0" /></a> This beautiful little boat seats 4 people comfortably, is very stylish and practical with deadeyes and belaying pins and few concessions to modern gear.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/R-VA3fSdmrI/AAAAAAAAAJI/p6QpSHZmpmY/s1600-h/Marisol+returning+home.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/R-VA3fSdmrI/AAAAAAAAAJI/p6QpSHZmpmY/s400/Marisol+returning+home.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180618268395543218" border="0" /></a>It was breezy enough to put in one reef (smaller sail area).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/R-VA4PSdmtI/AAAAAAAAAJY/-o0pB3eU0Fs/s1600-h/Marisol+under+way+in+a+breeze.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/R-VA4PSdmtI/AAAAAAAAAJY/-o0pB3eU0Fs/s400/Marisol+under+way+in+a+breeze.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180618281280445138" border="0" /></a>Under sail, passing a wreck run agound.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/R-VC_PSdmuI/AAAAAAAAAJg/1Q92dNThnV0/s1600-h/Seabird+perchwWreck.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/R-VC_PSdmuI/AAAAAAAAAJg/1Q92dNThnV0/s400/Seabird+perchwWreck.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180620600562784994" border="0" /></a>This wreck also serves as a good bird perch. But swabbing the decks on the moored boats at tehe local marina must be a pretty dirty job!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFg9CHUAsVBhyphenhyphenlultKHK0mGHOSj_bixp2dL5qpl6Csu2fcaDYMWdQNkaYIzYwctVubQSNaGOSUG1ah3lZBEIaB4HUj0EzW2h-BZ1qN-YbNhR4ioFlmVPfEP9d1RoCOlFSu7Ktkw6cUPUgi/s1600-h/Marisol+rig.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFg9CHUAsVBhyphenhyphenlultKHK0mGHOSj_bixp2dL5qpl6Csu2fcaDYMWdQNkaYIzYwctVubQSNaGOSUG1ah3lZBEIaB4HUj0EzW2h-BZ1qN-YbNhR4ioFlmVPfEP9d1RoCOlFSu7Ktkw6cUPUgi/s400/Marisol+rig.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180622885485386482" border="0" /></a>It has a gunter rig (which stows inside the boat) with 3 reefs. Jonathan's mother even hand-stiched this sail.bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698504692884673876.post-26612137885926540012008-03-18T15:38:00.006+00:002008-03-18T16:13:05.016+00:00March 2008 newsletter from DakarB&G March newsletter from Dakar, (click on links to see photos or hear music)<br /><br />We are all well and we have now been in <a href="http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/google_map_Dakar.htm">Dakar</a> 3 months. It’s a great place to spend the winter with blue skies, temps in the mid 20C and the blue ocean nearby.<br /><br />For the first 2 weeks of January, we did a few <a href="http://www.peterlanger.com/Countries/Africa/Senegal/index.htm">touristy</a> things with Renée, B’s mother. We went to once beautiful but now forlorn St Louis, the first capital of the French colonies of West Africa and to the nearby world famous Djoudj bird sanctuary (thousands of pelicans and many other species). We also went to the Pink Lake (Lac Retba, 10 times saltier than the ocean, previous end-point of the Paris-Dakar rally and occasionally pink from a salt eating algae) and to the Benedictine monastery of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzhgLWvyMmk">Keur Moussa</a> for the Sunday mass with a successful blend of African and Gregorian music (but no dancing or hand clapping).<br /><br />After that fun interlude we have continued to look for employment locally. We knocked on many NGO doors and applied for many internet jobs but have had only limited success so far. Unfortunately the few major national food security projects recently finished and all that’s going now are food relief projects. Furthermore, unlike Cambodia, there are many competent and educated West Africans (interestingly there are very strong academic connections with between Senegal and the US), so the need for expat skills is low. Fortunately B has part time but interesting work assisting World Vision in planning a long term project for rural economic development. This has involved a 4 day field trip in villages, attending a 3 day regional conference on fair trade (all good in theory but a few major issues for developing countries, such as high cost of certification) and meeting with people and agencies for bits of information (information in developing countries is always bitty and has a short shelf-life).<br /><br />In a nutshell, my observations that Senegalese village life is very different from that in Cambodia:<br /><br />Senegal:<br /><br />Huts in clumps in the middle of the sandy soil <br />With luck some public piped water from deep water wells with electric pumps (>300m!)<br />Low round thatched huts in fenced compounds<br />Many sheep, goats and donkeys around (pigs only in Catholic communities), horse carts with tires<br />Baobab and other large trees and large birds<br />Little personal transport (too sandy for thin wheels), no engines<br />Monochrome and bare mosques and not many schools<br />People very shy of a camera<br />Pretty quiet except for the pounding of grain, animals and the 5 daily calls of the muezzin<br />No public eating places<br />No flower bushes<br /><br />Cambodia:<br />Houses all along roads and waterways<br />Pond in front or back of each house, several hand water pumps around villages<br />Rectangular houses on stilts<br />Dogs, pigs, cows and water buffaloes (some with carts with wooden wheels)<br />Small trees and not much wildlife<br />Many bicycles, small motos, small engines (for milling, battery charging, pumping, etc.)<br />Colourful and decorated pagodas, schools<br />People very happy to be photographed<br />Always some noise from pagoda, ceremonies, engines, radios/karaoke, …<br />Always some public eateries with customers<br />Colourful flower bushes around houses<br /><br />But there are also similarities: hordes of curious children and chickens, women working and men talking/sleeping, few young adults around (trying their luck in the cities), stacks of straw for animals and plastic bags littering everywhere (even stuck in tree branches).<br /><br />We have also gone to the very colourful and melodic international Anglophone church service with a monthly organisation rota by country, and each nationality tries to out-do the others. We have also gone to the more formal mass at the beautiful <a href="http://www.pbase.com/bmcmorrow/dakar&page=5">Dakar Cathedral</a>, with a successful mix of western, orthodox, and islamic architectural elements and beautiful stained glass.<br /><br />Driving here is generally much safer and more predictable than in Cambodia, as long as one gives a wide berth to the numerous beaten-up taxis (they only have 2 speeds: 1) when looking for customers looking anywhere but forward: too slow, weaving and stop anywhere, anyhow and 2) with a fare looking only straight ahead: too fast and stop for nothing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/R9_pXl2cATI/AAAAAAAAAHs/OM1aDaOv1Y0/s1600-h/Musa+et+Biscotte+en+sous-verre2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/R9_pXl2cATI/AAAAAAAAAHs/OM1aDaOv1Y0/s320/Musa+et+Biscotte+en+sous-verre2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179114688006062386" border="0" /></a> On the cultural scene we have greatly enjoyed a concert by <a href="http://habibkoite.calabashmusic.com/">Habib Koite & Bamada,</a> one of Mali’s best current groups. And we have also been to a few other concerts and modern dance. One of the nice local art form is called “<a href="http://www.senegal-online.com/anglais/galeries/sous-verre/index.html">sous verre”</a>, a painting done in mirror image directly on a piece of glass. For B’s sister’s Tiphaine birthday we got one made of her cats.<br /><br />For fun (and sometime exercise), B goes regularly to the wonderful olympic swimming pool (shh, one of Dakar’s best kept secrets), we can go to a nearby nice beach with rollers where on windy days there is a bevy of kite surfers. We also went kayaking once and we hope to go again.<br /><br />Dakar just had the grand jamboree of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OCI). It was supposed to happen here in 2006 but was postponed due to construction delays. Well, they barely got the main roads usable the day before the opening and the few huge new hotels are still at skeleton stage. So they had to rent a huge cruise ship and close the harbour for a week so as to have enough secure high class hotel rooms and a large enough conference rooms! Our nearby thoroughfare had been taken over by hundreds of polite but firm and fully decked soldiers and a stream of speedy all-lights-flashing unmarked black vehicle motorcades.<br /><br />As we live by the airport we had a few rare visitors: huge black USAF C5 Galaxies transports when G.W. Bush was about 1000 miles from here (!) and now with the OCI, first a few huge white Russian AN124 transports, rumoured to bring fancy cars, and then a slew of planes ranging from small private jets and prop planes to a variety of old and new private Boeings and Airbuses.<br /><br />A couple of recent interesting reads have been: “the white man’s burden” about understanding the failed efforts of western aid for development (these good books are often written by former World Bank staff who primarily fault the WB, the IMF and other government-to-government programs) and books by Lamin Sanneh, a Gambian Moslem turned Catholic scholar with an enlightening analysis of the social-political-spiritual issues surrounding western and Moslem cultures.<br /><br />For vicarious travels check out <a href="http://www.panoramas.dk/7-wonders/index.html">panoramic view</a>s of famous sites.<br /><br />That’s all for now and best wishes to all your northerners for a nice spring! Bises,<br /><br />Bernard and Gina and the ZZs.bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698504692884673876.post-66105707392269094472007-11-05T18:54:00.005+00:002008-03-20T18:17:38.243+00:003 week november visit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9vHnGT-yI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/655VjR4K2PY/s1600-h/You+guessed+it.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 212px;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9vHnGT-yI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/655VjR4K2PY/s320/You+guessed+it.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129440677143509794" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9upHGT-tI/AAAAAAAAADo/tQiTrmU-FZc/s1600-h/Saloum+shore.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 345px; height: 211px;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9upHGT-tI/AAAAAAAAADo/tQiTrmU-FZc/s320/Saloum+shore.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129440153157499602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9upHGT-uI/AAAAAAAAADw/ec_Tb43A38Q/s1600-h/Tiphaine%27s+flat+is+top+floor.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 323px; height: 240px;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9upHGT-uI/AAAAAAAAADw/ec_Tb43A38Q/s320/Tiphaine%27s+flat+is+top+floor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129440153157499618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9up3GT-vI/AAAAAAAAAD4/NJdk6xkg7s8/s1600-h/tiphaine%27s+quartier.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9up3GT-vI/AAAAAAAAAD4/NJdk6xkg7s8/s320/tiphaine%27s+quartier.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129440166042401522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9up3GT-wI/AAAAAAAAAEA/MiUuXG636aA/s1600-h/Tropical+sunset.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9up3GT-wI/AAAAAAAAAEA/MiUuXG636aA/s320/Tropical+sunset.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129440166042401538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9uqHGT-xI/AAAAAAAAAEI/bOErufo-B2I/s1600-h/Warhog+family.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; 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float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9ow3GT-YI/AAAAAAAAABI/03UnZ_OMuhw/s320/Goree+island2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129433689231718786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9opHGT-XI/AAAAAAAAABA/F96FRnmi7S8/s1600-h/Goree+island1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9opHGT-XI/AAAAAAAAABA/F96FRnmi7S8/s320/Goree+island1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129433556087732594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9oiHGT-WI/AAAAAAAAAA4/Aejmu5frH7o/s1600-h/good+thing+he%27s+nearly+blind...jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9oiHGT-WI/AAAAAAAAAA4/Aejmu5frH7o/s320/good+thing+he%27s+nearly+blind...jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129433435828648290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9oY3GT-VI/AAAAAAAAAAw/9bI-qZaPK2Q/s1600-h/fishwives.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9oY3GT-VI/AAAAAAAAAAw/9bI-qZaPK2Q/s320/fishwives.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129433276914858322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9oQHGT-UI/AAAAAAAAAAo/kP9ZANeri5I/s1600-h/fishboat2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9oQHGT-UI/AAAAAAAAAAo/kP9ZANeri5I/s320/fishboat2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129433126591002946" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9n83GT-TI/AAAAAAAAAAg/BKpw8hCIVf0/s1600-h/around+a+baobab+cemetary.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9n83GT-TI/AAAAAAAAAAg/BKpw8hCIVf0/s320/around+a+baobab+cemetary.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129432795878521138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9nwHGT-SI/AAAAAAAAAAY/-Tk5SKzgYwM/s1600-h/Antelopes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_SaFtXc2pBWs/Ry9nwHGT-SI/AAAAAAAAAAY/-Tk5SKzgYwM/s320/Antelopes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129432576835189026" border="0" /></a><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Tahoma;">During the Toussaint holiday, Tiphaine and I hired a taxi to go for 3 days, 200km away very close to the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Gambia</st1:place></st1:country-region> to visit one of the nicer nature reserves of Sine-Saloum. <span style=""> </span>A delta of mangrove islands with much fish and birds (herons, egrets and pelicans), although the peak season is in Feb-July.<span style=""> </span>So we went by around by pirogue a few times to see birds and a pre-historic tumulus made of shells. The campement (guest house) was basic with electricity only between 6 and 12 PM.<span style=""> </span>On the way back we stopped at an animal park to see more birds (kingfishers) and some warthogs, antelopes, giraffes and rhinos up close.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Tahoma;"><o:p> </o:p>Transport here is always an adventure in itself.<span style=""> </span>I sometimes take the local buses when not in a hurry and off-peak.<span style=""> </span>The weather is very nice, always sunny, highs in the 28-32C and lows in the 24-26C. People are definitely friendly, occasionally a bit too friendly, especially near tourist or transport spots.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Tahoma;"><o:p> </o:p>A few ubiquitous items in decreasing order of interest: birds, baobabs, donkey carts in rural areas, overcrowded jalopies and broken down vehicles, half-finished constructions, touts, strewn rubbish.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Tahoma;"><o:p> </o:p>Tiph’s 3<sup>rd</sup> floor flat is great, airy, light and spacious.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162655440080048453noreply@blogger.com