Blogs from Cameroon, Africa - page 2

It’s my first time in Africa, and now also my first travel blog. I'm carrying out fieldwork for my master thesis in Campo Ma'an region of southern Cameroon, for a period of around three months. We share the work and other experiences with Linda, another student from Wageningen university; a lovely, energetic companion. After actual work, there's maybe some time for travelling before returning to the Netherlands and producing a nice piece of text about the findings we do here, no matter what they eventually turn out to be. Even though I love to message with all the precious people individually during my travels, to write the stories here saves some time for me.. and gives me a chance to reflect on all sorts of things that I encounter here. Sometimes I may produce lengthy writings, ... read more

Cameroon: Our last country of this trip! We didn’t get across into Ekok, Cameroon, until about 5ish as it was already quite late when we arrived at the Nigerian immigration point; the Cameroonian side wasn’t too bad, however the huge mass of black clouds looming over head were very ominous! Then suddenly, the very second we were officially entered into Cameroon, the heavens opened and we were suddenly under the most torrential downpour most us have ever witnessed, sheets of rain, flashes of lightning and booms of thunder were everywhere – it was just magical, especially as we found a ‘hotel’ (we use the term loosely!) just at the end of town, so we could all sleep inside (four to a room) and sit in the bar and enjoy the light show in the sky. The ... read more

We arrived into an extremely humid (from which I fear our hair will never recover) Douala at about 5am, a short drive later and we were at the home of our Cameroonian family. There were a lot of people there to greet us and having not slept all night it was very difficult to get to grips with who everyone was, it still is a bit. After having the tour of the home we were asked what we would like to do, it dawned on us that this was a normal time to be up and about in Douala so we quickly mentioned going to bed before we were roped into some activity or other! People it seems sleep for about 6 hours and this does not sit well with Daniel at all. Later once we ... read more

Typing using a French keyboard so difficult to use... will keep it short. We just traveled 12 hours by van in two separate middle of the night trips to get from Nkambe where the well project was completed to Bamenda and then back to Yaoundé where our flight departs at 2340 hours tonight. Legs 1 & 2 of the 6 leg journey complete. Next up is Brussels, New York, San Francisco, Truckee to Tahoma. I cannot wait to get home. Was an amazing experience, but I am missing John (and Kenya and Webster too) and home where my heart is. That shower at home is going to be the world's greatest. Travel is somewhat arduous with much heat in the cities, bumpy dirt roads, too much dust, crazy drivers and less energy than on the way ... read more

Our road trip was painful but safe. My back went into spasms and my ass had a stroke! The first trip was about 7.5 hours on dusty, pot-hole roads, with 9 people and 14 bins and bags stuffed into an old toyota previa. We each had about 1/2 seat. But we made it to Bamenda safely. Then, the next day was 6.5 hours on an even worse dusty, windy, mountain road. This time we each had our own seat, but it was so dusty, we had to cook inside with the windows closed or risk respiratory failure! Again, we made it safely. The family we are staying with is about the most wonderful group of people I have ever met. They are welcoming, loving, and very kind. We are paying the equivalent of about 20 US ... read more