http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Africa , Congo , South , Brazzaville en-us Fri, 24 May 2013 01:46:38 +0000 Fri, 24 May 2013 01:46:38 +0000 We had to stop at Cape Town because a quarter of our ship39s food supply was stolen by pirates We got them off the ship before they could take any of our items for trade but a couple stole our food. So we went to Cape Town to get some food just to make sure we wouldn39t run out. We picked out some very native foods I have never seen before. We bought Biltong Ostrich meat Sosaties bredie http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/blog-746254.html Hoewel de routine over het algemeen hoogtij viert zijn er toch van die gebeurtenissen die het leven interessant maken.Getuige die 2.500 jaar oude Chinese vloek Moge u in interessante tijden levenOm dan maar met de dieptepunten te beginnen dan kunnen we eindigen op een vrolijke noot de laatste twee dagen heb ik last van een zware verkoudheid. Niezen en proesten loopneus en al dies meer zij. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/blog-726416.html We zitten aardig in de routine. De lessen gaan gewoon door en het lijkt erg op als je thuis aan het werk bent.Weinig bijzonders te melden dus.Zaterdag vlieg ik waarschijnlijk in de cockpit mee naar Point Noir. Daar kijk ik wel naar uit. Ook ga ik proberen wat gorilla39s te zien maar dat moet ruim van te voren geregeld worden. Ik hoop dat ik het voor elkaar krijg.De elektriciteit is net weer ee http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/blog-724976.html Ja hoor dit weekend was het zoverIk had erg last van Dehli Belly oftewel de racerij the runs of hoe je het ook noemen wil. Ik heb het hele weekend op het toilet gezeten.Vandaar dat ik niet veel te melden heb.Gelukkig verkopen ze ook Imodium hier.Ik had vrijdag iets gegeten wat ze hier Casacasa noemen. Ik weet nog niet wat het precies is maar dat laat ik nog wel weten. Het was wel lekker. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/blog-724495.html Ik heb erg leuk contact met de flight crew van ECAir de maatschappij die me heeft ingehuurd. Zij logeren ook in het hotel waar ik verblijf. Zij werken voor een Zwitserse maatschappij PrivatAir die het vliegtuig en de crew leasen aan ECAir. Dit is een multinationaal gezelschap wat bestaat Belgen Zwitsers Fransen een Nederlander en natuurlijk Duitsers.Gisteren hebben we met z39n allen bui http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/blog-723603.html Het verkeer hier is een uitdaging...Oversteken is op eigen risico. Stopbord betekent hier gas geven.Overal zie je groenwitte Toyota39s dat zijn de taxi39s. Je kan hier voor 1000 francs de hele stad door laten rijden. Dat is ongeveer 140 Euro.Ik zal proberen hier wat een wat betere video van te maken.Nu heb je alvast een idee. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/blog-723157.html Ik had vandaag mijn eerste afspraak bij mijn werkgever alhier ECAir. Dit staat voor Equatorial Congo Air.900 afgesproken en ik werd 45 minuten later opgehaald.In de tussentijd even een foto van mijn hotel gemaakt. Zie hier ergens...We zijn naar het hoofdkantoor van de maatschappij gegaan en heb daar wat belangrijke mensen ontmoet oa de vice president een belgische meneer die daar al zijn he http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/blog-722364.html 1520Today I went on a last visit round the site. I said goodbye to all the people in the village and to everyone who helped me. Someone even gave little souvenirs 0ne was a Tropical Plant called a Croton and she also gave me a wonderful baked loaf of bread homemade that did not last as long as I had wished for I cant wait to go to Ethiopia Secretly Im quite glad to leave as here its t http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/blog-669430.html 2207 The boat trip was sooooooo exciting I got a great picture of hippos at the waters edge. I wasnt allowed to take full pictures of just the River though because authorities will confiscate any cameras or picturesluckily I didnt have my Camera confiscated but it did mean no pictures. I got away with the Hippos though as they are not part of the river Its a lot better in a b http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/blog-669429.html 1327Hello again I found loads out yesterdayIll tell u later but first Im sooooooo glad I didnt go swimming. According to the Village people not only crocodiles but water snakes tortoises and hippos also are lurking in there somewhere Joined by 200 species of fish I wouldnt want bump into any of those creatures while swimming Anyway back to the amazing facts. Did u know that th http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/blog-669428.html 1903 I went exploring today I had planned to go swimming in the River and I was close to as well. Just as I was about to jump in in swimsuit the patroller told me to beware of the crocodilesobviously that led to me quickly removing my feet from the waters edge and pretending to rush of for a forgotten booked activity After that I went to a local visitor centre where I found out more http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/blog-669427.html 1634The Congo River is the largest river system south of the Sahara its 2700 miles long Also 10 million gallons of water rushes down it every second. It has a big potential for hydroelectricity. The Congo River flows through the 3rd largest rainforest in the world Arent these cool facts I never knew just how important the Congo River was. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/blog-669424.html 1741 I landed at the Brazzaville airport at 7 oclock in the morning. By then I was very tired and went straight to the hotel Hotel de ville Brazzaville on the shore of the Congo River for a quick nap I was quite worried about the flight because the African Airways are not as safe and secure due to the lack of Political Stability and that flight in 1989 when the plane crashed after stoppi http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/blog-669423.html 0425 L Sooooooo tiredI had to get up this early to catch the flight to the Congo. Im going from the Capital of Chad NDjamena to the Capital if Congo Brazzaville which is really near to the Congo River. Ill let you know when I am there what its like http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/blog-669422.html Life without running water involves containers basins and buckets. In general water is transported in 25 litre containers in carts wheelbarrows on heads or in taxis from communal pumps. This single water supply is used for drinking preparing food washing oneself the house children and laundry. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/blog-312410.html There has been no electricity for two days now. Supply from Kinshasa to the whole of Brazzaville has been cut. Its such a frequent occurrence that no one bothers to moan everyday life continues in the darkness. Street vendors remain by the roadside friends congregate at bars yet settle for lukewarm beer and taxis continue to shift the masses from one side of town to another. Complete neighbou http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/blog-312409.html Breakfast in Brazzaville can be a surreal experience. The Exotic Palace seemed quite a formal affair with tablecloths while porcelain and fully togged waiters. Initially I had the impression of stepping into a 1930s tea room yet the contest between France24 broadcast in one corner and Celion Dion at the patisserie counter gave this place the truly African touch. Brazzavilles busin http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/blog-312408.html There is no culture of outsourcing. Every business is selfreliant own electricity supply security guards couriers cleaners. Supermarkets import all their own stock i.e. no wholesalers patisseries bake everything inhouse hotels have their own laundry service. The notion of economies of scale is absent only self reliance ensures survival. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/blog-312407.html On the first of March left Pointe Noire truck got stuck in the sand trying to get out of the camp so sand mats out right away then off again to logging roads scenery is beautiful dense forests a few savannahs logging trucks driving as fast as they could as if always in a hurry it rained in the afternoon and made the roads tricky we got stuck briefly as we try to get up the hill another tru http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/blog-253670.html There he stood. Half a head taller than me with skin of a beautiful mahogany colour that was almost radiant. His dress was immaculate the dust filling the air didnt seem to stick on his newly ironed shirt nor his black trousers. He had a short and sharp haircut that looked as if hed just stepped out of the barbers and his cheek was freshly shaved revealing his strong cheekbones. Pearls http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Congo/South/Brazzaville/blog-101849.html