Africa Zone
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I rang a silent bell
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Greetings from West Africa! I'm in Senegal. First impression - it's HOT! The heat hit me as soon as I got off the plane, high humidity and it's the rainy season but that does not mean it rains a lot, its mostly sunny. Weird.
The people are super friendly and many dress in traditional clothes. Just saw a girl carrying a large bunch of bananas on her head with a baby tied on her back in a sheet. The taxi drivers in Dakar tie cow tails to their taxies for good luck.
I'll try to post pictures in the coming days as electricity and wifi allow.
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _________
RAD thx !
RAD thx !
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lucky Day
Say hi to Boko.
Say hi to Boko.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: treat island
Thanks, I really like the
Thanks, I really like the pictures you post when you're traveling.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Thumbkinetic
Nice! Safe travels.
Nice! Safe travels.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: jazfish
Fuggin 'a' cool thread, have
Fuggin 'a' cool thread, have a blast.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 2 Room Shack
cool man, super interested. i
cool man, super interested. i worked with a great cat from senegal.
nicest people like ever. he said "taranga"? where basically they welcome and host ANY stranger/visitor in their homes.
ps. take a pic of the coast/waves if you have the chance.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
My trusty old berks finally
My trusty old berks finally started disintegrating today, the sole was separating. I thought they would last for this trip. Luckily this Rasta was a talented shoe cobbler who was able to repair it in 10 minutes for 2,000 CFA, about $4. You can't get service like that back home!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
Turtle, we went to a surf
Turtle, we went to a surf spot today, I'll have pictures of waves and coastline later...bad wifi here.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sound and Vision
wow, thanks for sharing.
wow, thanks for sharing.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 2 Room Shack
cool man!
cool man!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: .............
Very cool...keep em comin...
Very cool...keep em comin...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cb
Awesome. Have a great time!
Awesome.
Have a great time!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
We did some sightseeing
We did some sightseeing around Dakar today and stopped for lunch at Sharky's which is a cool beach restaurant serving mostly European food and sushi. I wouldn't trust sushi in this hot climate and let's just say that things everywhere around here are less than sanitary. We got pizzas and chicken yassa, delicious and low risk.
http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Yassa-Poulet-Grilled-Chicken-Caram...
It's a surf spot so we watched them while we ate, someone had a drone flying around probably getting nice surf action videos.
A little kid came by with a cage full of little finches. He wanted money and I assumed he was selling the birds but he wasn't. It turns out you pay him to set the birds free. They looked so sad I couldn't resist and gave him the 100 CFA for a bird, less than 20 cents. The kid reached in grabbed a bird and handed it to me so I could set it free. Awwww so cute :-)
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
Turtle, this is Yoff beach on
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
That's pretty wild. West
That's pretty wild. West Africa is not a big US tourist hot spot and it seems like most Americans who go there go for NGO work. How did you pick Senegal? Are you camping, staying at hotels, Air B&B?
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lucky Day
Enjoying the photos.
Enjoying the photos.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
Ken - son and I are staying
Ken - son and I are staying for the moment at a small hotel on Goree Island. You are right it's not a US tourist destination except for some African Americans who come to trace their "roots", long history of the slave trade here. I wouldn't recommend coming here to anyone not prepared for very rough conditions. We're taking malaria pills and got yellow fever vaccinations before we left. Zika, typhoid, aids, malaria, hepatitis etc. and innumerable intestinal diseases are prevalent. Most Europeans that come stay in posh hotels (club med) and we don't see them out and about. The cockroaches we saw last night were a good two inches long. Westerners can't drink the water or eat most of the local restaurant food, forget about street food. Bananas, mangos, and oranges are ok. Well cooked fish and rice, served hot, is ok. There are no McDonald's lol. Great mix of cultures, very Muslim but the "good ones" :-) super kind people. No tensions or political unrest here.
Why are we here? Senegal was French until their independence in 1960, French is the official language and I speak it. I also have a network of family friends who gave us good local connections and advice. So we have that going for us. My son just graduated and for a trip before college he picked Senegal, RAD!!! By comparison my daughter wanted to go to London.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 2 Room Shack
awesome man! thanks! and
awesome man! thanks! and enjoy your trip!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: GravyTrain
Far out.
Far out.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
Searching for the sound
Searching for the sound
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
These guys were just
These guys were just practicing and sounded like a cross between Youssou N'Dour and Bob Marley.
I followed my ears to their practice space and just let it sink in.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
They let you chill at their
They let you chill at their practice session? That's far out, but I hear Senegal is known for its rich musical tradition.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Spikenyc
Great shot of the guy playing
Great shot of the guy playing the home-made xylophone!
Nice outfit.
thanks for sharing.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
Yes, very chill. Tiny island
Yes, very chill. Phamily mentality, very welcoming and friendly to everyone...if the door is open come on in...and they knew I was digging it. The guitar player was also the singer. He sang in Wolof which to my ears sounds perfect for the type of music they were jamming.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: .............
Freebird!!
Freebird!!
Good job w the finch...great stories and pics...thanks for sharing your trip w us
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Strangha
Great thread. Thanks for
Great thread. Thanks for sharing C>R. I look forward to more of your story.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: The Sound of Steam and Caffeine
Great photos! Thanks for
Great photos! Thanks for sharing your trip!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _________
AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!! C>R
AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!! C>R Thanks !!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
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This is perhaps the largest baobab tree in Senegal. Hard to see in this picture but the lion of Africa is painted on the tree. The guy is Houssou N'diaye, he was our guide driving us around for the day. He is Muslim and native born in Senegal. He spoke no English but we managed in French. It turns out he has 10 kids and two wives, which my son thought was pretty crazy. Really a nice guy and good story teller. At one point he pulled over, pulled his prayer rug out of the trunk of his car, washed his face hands and feet with a bottle of water, and proceeded to do one of his daily prayers. Then we went on our way. Yeah, we're not in Kansas anymore.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Bluelight
Wow. These picture really
Wow. These picture really transcend the African experience.
Is the guy on the left fingering Stairway to Heaven on his fret board. or what?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
They sure go for the colorful
They sure go for the colorful outfits in Senegal. Keep the photos coming. Good stuff that you don't see everyday.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
thanx...be safe and enjoy
thanx...be safe and enjoy
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
Shredded green papaya and
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
Fresh catch of the day for sale on the sidewalk.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sun so hot, clouds so low
Looks like porgeys
Looks like porgeys
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The best mangos ever!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Willie McD
Cool stuff! That thing with
Cool stuff! That thing with the birds,they are trained to fly back to the cage still good stuff!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
"... thing with the birds
"... thing with the birds,they are trained to fly back to the cage..."
It's really a brilliant racket. These Senegalian Kids have learned from the Federal Reserve and adapted a better system.
'Pay us a bit to set the little Finches free, Mr. Tourist. Then they will come back and we will free them again.'
Just like FRN's which you work for, but pay taxes every time they go through a transaction. Another ultimate Scam machine.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
Didn't look like the birds
Didn't look like the birds were a scam but I guess it could be. That bird didn't hang around when I let it go, it took off.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MarkD
Great thread! Thanks!
Great thread! Thanks!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Druba
Love the pics and stories,
Love the pics and stories, thanks for posting! If you make it down to South Africa, my nephew lives there, helps protect all the big animals (Rhinos / Elephants, etc)...
https://www.viewbug.com/member/adambaugh?m=my_profile
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
Hey Noodler, great what your
Hey Noodler, great what your nephew is doing! We won't be in South Africa this trip.
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The Muslim community does not drink but for everyone else the local beer is Gazelle, made mostly from corn.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sun so hot, clouds so low
they do the bird thing in
They do the bird thing in Thailand too. Actually, the birds are captured. It has been noted as a form of animal cruelty and tourist are discouraged from supporting the practice.....
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: .............
So, the birds are in on the
So, the birds are in on the scam? I wonder if they get a cut...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Druba
Too bad you can't make it
Too bad you can't make it south, but still, what a great trip! I was in Kenya / Tanzania in 1975... brother worked for Jane Goodsall, and some Zaire nationalist kidnapped half the group and held them for a ransom (my bro escaped into the jungle). Needless to say, many stories!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sideshow Bob
Nice pix & glad you're having
Nice pix & glad you're having a nice adventure. Had to look on the map to see where Senegal is, at the westernmost tip of Africa just below the Sahara. Next to Mali which is full of "trouble".
A friend spent several years in Ghana as a power plant engineer helping them build several large gas turbine power plants - not for the people (electricity is sparse & periodic thruout the country) but for the gold & other mineral mines. Ghana already has one of the largest hydro electric dams/plants in Africa but again it all goes to mining. Senegal looks a lot like Ghana when comparing his pix to yours, coastal, w/lots of fishing, villages, Ghana much more mixed as far as culture/religion, but the people are welcoming/friendly/kind as well.
I've read about "The Gambia" which is the smallest country in Africa, completely contained w/in Senegal (except for the ocean), it's along the river of the same name, very very poor, they don't even have a bridge across the river. My buddy in Ghana visited Togo, the smaller neighbor of Ghana, conditions deteriorated rapidly a few 10's of miles in, he turned around & exited stage left.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sun so hot, clouds so low
here ya go:
Great Photos. This thread needs a soundtrack.....
Here ya go:
Rico Rodriguez
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdJJnby8znc&list=PLPs-T7p9QBRV9ynWAdW4XO...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Druba
How about Senegal's own
How about Senegal's own Youssou N'Dour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOdim5d61a4
or some Touré Kunda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae3y99jsJuk
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sless is Best
Hi!
Hi!
glad to see you two having a great time
love the colorful clothes and all the pics, thanks!
i couldn't believe you texted me back so quickly!
grab me some bracelets, please:)
be safe and can't wait to hear all your tales...
wow, you were just visiting us here a few weeks ago and now in Sengal
you rock!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
Today we're heading about
Today we're heading about 60km down the coast from Dakar and spending a night in a beach hut. They say it's primitive but worth while, again trusting local knowledge to guide us. I guess that's the adventure!
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This is the local garbage truck...and it runs on garbage, wild. The garbage man wears mask and gloves to help against disease.
One man gathers what another man spills...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
Fishing boats around sunset.
Fishing boats around sunset.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
Woman selling cashews.
Woman selling cashews.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
Babakar showed us his small
Babakar showed us his small farm where he grows enough to feed 20 families in his village. It's totally organic, permaculture.
This was a barren field 7 years ago.
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
Damn Cool Photos !!
Damn Cool Photos !!
Thank you for sharing
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Bluelight
The last "frame left" shot is
The last "frame left" shot is amazing.
The ladies dress so fabulous.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
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This is Leo, he is my ESA from Ndayane. He likes to eat fish and peanuts.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
More pictures of people, they
More pictures of people, they really dress beautifully. Everyone is gracious, very friendly to strangers, awesome people.
If you look closely you can see the ones with pointy head dress in the back. Every different tribe and ethnic group has a certain dress.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: treat island
Thank you for the visual
Thank you for the visual feast, C>R, with the right amount of commentary for me. Just exactly perfect.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sless is Best
Loving the pics!
Loving the pics!
seems like all is going smoothly for you two
amazing trip!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
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These women with the pointy hats are descendants of the Signare.
They are not considered black because of their lighter skin and mixed history. They are their own social class.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signare
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
Hi Ro, so far so good!
Hi Ro, so far so good! Barely managing not to get sunburned to a crisp or die of heatstroke :-)
Trying to drink 3 liters of water a day which sweats right out. Getting a bit tired of fish, rice, and mangos.
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Lunch, which is the same as dinner except I tried the onions with it today.
Anyone who figures out how to sell ice cream here would make a fortune.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sound and Vision
how much does a meal cost?
how much does a meal cost?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
That meal was 3,500 or about
That meal was 3,500 or about $6 but that was the "tourist price". On the mainland a couple of days ago we got a similar plate for about $2. Fruits are by far the cheapest and that's what locals eat, they can't afford fish or meat every day. I bought two mangos and four bananas for around $3.50 and that was enough for a meal for the both of us.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _________
Still Amazing !!!
Still Amazing !!!
Is It Me or Is Everything REAL In Africa ? So Awesome !
The Women are Gorgeous !!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
This part of Africa is as
This part of Africa is as REAL, intense, and straight up human at the most basic level...if that makes sense.
You can get anything you want at this market as long as it's mangos or watermelon :-)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _________
This part of Africa is as
This part of Africa is as REAL, intense, and straight up human at the most basic level...if that makes sense. <<<<<
that what i wanted to Hear !!! thx C>R !!!!!!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
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Nice acoustic show last night on the beach. Yes, that is a six string bass...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: .............
So wait, the SNL Coneheads
So wait, the SNL Coneheads were lying when the said they were from France???
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
... Pop quiz, what is this?
Pop quiz, what is this?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: troubador
Wow! Incredible photos and
Wow! Incredible photos and just incredible journey for you and your partner. Thank you so much for sharing all of this. :)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
>>>Pop quiz, what is this?
>>>Pop quiz, what is this?
They look too nicely bound just to be firewood kindling. Are the sticks for incense or dye?
Good stuff and keep it coming. How long are you there for?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Localcountyline
Hey China! Looks like a great
Hey China! Looks like a great trip. Excellent photos.
Sorry I missed you when you were here. Was up on the North Sonoma coast.
Have a great rest of your journey.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
Ken, thanks for playing, you
Ken, thanks for playing, you are correct it's not kindling. Families cook mostly with charcoal on little stoves, restaurants have larger kitchens with regular ovens and gas stoves like we are used to.
Those sticks are the equivalent of our toothbrushes. They chew the end of the stick to soften it a bit and then brush their teeth with it. The white sticks are regular toothbrushes and the other woods each have certain properties. Some are medicinal for gum disease, some are naturally flavored, some are harder or softer etc. I saw lots of people going about their business while rubbing their teeth with these sticks and had no idea what they were doing until I asked someone that was selling them.
https://youtu.be/iCLtNWiOnV8
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
Hi Local, sorry I missed you,
Hi Local, sorry I missed you, catch you next time!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
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We're coming home tomorrow. It's been an amazing trip.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _________
http://www.worldsurfleague
http://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/261216/tournotes-go-bru
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
Sounds like you avoided
Sounds like you avoided getting sick?
No Tsetse flies or black mamba attacks?
Have a safe flight back.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
We made it home, good to be
We made it home, good to be back! Still have to take malaria pills for seven days but all is well. The experience will last a lifetime, it opened our eyes in many ways.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”
― Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad/Roughing It
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: treat island
Thanks so much for the
Thanks so much for the Senegal tour, C > R, and thanks for posting Mark Twain's thoughts.
Seeing and hearing about parts of your trip made me very happy.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: troubador
Great quote! And, thanks
Great quote! And, thanks again for sharing your fabulous trip with all of us.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
http://www.dailymail.co.uk
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4700098/Eight-killed-stampede-Se...
Wow, we drove right by that stadium!