More singing! Played soccer yesterday --- how is it that even bare-footed these guys are better than me. Speaking of guys from the village turn out for building the school I thought this village was all women, but come the soccer game low and behold! Men! And why did we play with such small nets that it was impossible to score. They must love 0 - 0 games! Work was over at 10:15 am again. Man if no one wants to work I’m not going to complain! Two French girls joined our group. Perhaps this will inspire me to give a crap about singing and sh*t, but I doubt it. Have to sing a song The Togolese guys here are very nice (like Cyriaque and and Fabien) but they all like dancing. Singing another song Well ... read more

The work camp has finally commenced. Not what I was expecting, but I shall reserve final judgment. First the group is made up almost entirely of Togolese guys, with one German girl, Larissa, who has a nice demeanour. Five more Europeans are supposed to show up soon, we’ll see. All the cute French girls are in the other “chantier” in town, including Debora (the hot French girl who showed up on the 19th in Lome). I spent the weekend hanging out with that group (one guy Alex from Paris is the only other western guy) but they are all into culture stuff. This brings me to my biggest problem here --- I didn’t sign up to sing and dance! Give me a shovel and otherwise let me read Joyce and listen to BBC World in peace. ... read more

Have been relaxing in Lome, getting visas and such. Today an ordeal at the Benin consulate. F**king idiot old man! Don’t want me to come to your sh**ty country to spend cash? TIA! From hell’s heart I stab at thee! (Just finished Moby Dick). Anyway I’ll have to erase some pages as I’m one page short, but I’m sure in a worst case scenario I can bribe the Togolese border guards to cover an old stamp. Still need a Ghana visa as well! Been eating well, but spending too much cash! I have gotten a hold of ASTOVOT Organisation I am doing a 3 week volunteer stint with but I still need to arrange transport to Balanka. Not too much to see here (I refuse to go to the fetish market!) but that’s cool --- relaxing. ... read more

Well I didn’t get to stay long in Burkina Faso, but getting a visa for Togo was too difficult without going to Lome and I don’t want to jeopardize my volunteer stint. (Why every time the bus starts a giant argument starts too?) Anyway, I got wicked ill in Bobo 3 days ago. I was in bed from 3 pm until morning. Took the bus to Ouaga where I met Anil again. We’re staying in a dorm. Had pizza but still felt ill so bed at 9 pm. Too bad ’cause Anil really wanted to go out. The next day (14th), among other things attempted to get a tailor to make us a Burkina Faso flag, with mixed results. Anil got the “good one” as I lost the coin toss. Met a Canadian girl from Winnipeg. ... read more

Well I finally got out of Mali --- described as the “Jewel of West Africa” --- but I don’t agree. It is a very wearing place to visit as an independent backpacker. Perhaps it would be better with money, a good guide and a 4 x 4. There is too little economic activity other than ripping off tourists. Also there are few ex-pats so almost all white people are tourists. Actually glad to leave, which was a hassle. Tuesday I bought a ticket for a ride to the highway at 11:30. We finally left Djenne at 3:30. I was told to be at the highway (Carafoure) at 5-6ish. Then I find out that the “bus” to Bobo only arrives at the Carafoure at 9ish every night. Why tell me to be there 3-4 hours early!? TIA! ... read more