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FACES OF MALI...THE WOMEN
Early start...leaving Djenne...pass the Mud Mosque...gleaming like fresh caramel in the early light...Hey the square in front is clear...no sign of Monday's market. "Can we stop please so I take one last photo of the Mosque?" "No time...sorry...we have to line up for the ferry to cross the river...no time...we must get there early." Zig-zagging through the dog-leg streets...leaving this mud town island of my dreams...
"Wish we could have stopped at the Mosque...I'll never get another chance" I thought, twisting my lips in regret.
But...shortly after...I was laughing
"I'm glad we didn't stop to photograph the Mosque...otherwise we would have missed our fun at the ferry"....! Over a narrow bridge...parting the surge of people and animals heading to town...the town is behind us... smiling with memories...past the mud villas enjoying prime views...through the gap to access the ferry...start down the sand...mmm...we should have set off earlier...pull into the end of a long line of 4WDs...its going to be a fair wait...time for a wander.
It's a clear, still day...a line of vehicles in a clean arc to the waters edge...a snake of glistening dominoes sunning themselves...vendors milling about the tourists...
"This is Dogon"...
"Yes...it's very nice...No thanks I have two already"...
"But you do not have...this one." Ah there's the Belgian Four...with their cameras with fat lenses...
"Weren't those Hunter musicians good last night?...ah this is so beautiful"...activity, but so peaceful & still...until...
"There's a fight on" reports Mike...
"A new Landcruiser just raced past the whole line and tried to push in to get onto the ferry...but some of the drivers went ballistic...it didn't get on but it's down the front." "Oh...I think I'll wander down and have a gander...could be a good photo opportunity." Get to to head of the line...about a metre from the water...the ferry is on the other side...look along the line of vehicles snaking up the sand...ah...here's our culprit... jammed up next to the front vehicle at 30 degrees to its left...a new Landcruiser...clearly not in the line...a driver... and next to him...probably the guide...and two middle aged women in the back.
Into vehicles...engines starting up...leaving one lone figure in a gold Socceroo shirt next to the water...I'd better get out of the way...the ferry's here...oh...I've accidentally stepped in front of the new Landcruiser...he's reversing and trying to go around me...I have to make
sure I'm not impeding the line driving on...oh...I accidentally stepped in front of the new Landcruiser again...as those getting on cheering me & jeering them as they embark.
The new Landcruiser missed that ferry too!
The guide then tried to do what guides do best...get them through this unexpected obstacle.
"You pushed in did you? Is that fair?" I asked.
"We were here first" "No...you a cheat" says another.
"Why did you push in?" I ask the two women in the back.
"Everyone has lined up...everyone will get on...you shouldn't push in." "We were here first and anyway we can do whatever we like" one smirked back at me.
"Really?" I thought....
"What country are you from?" "Canada." "What? Canada...surely not!...Canadians are not known as cheats...my son lives in Canada...you shame my son"...pause...
"You...shame...my...son!!!!" The look on their faces...confused...perplexed...
"we're dealing with a madman" their eyes flashed!
"You shame my son" I repeat...blown away by my left field curve ball.
Mike then came up and joined in
"You are a disgrace"...then more heatedly
"You are a disgrace"... followed by another who also gave them a serve.
I was starting to enjoy this!
The ferry had returned & vehicles started to file on.
The driver & guide of the new Landcruiser changed tack
"They are so sorry...they did not mean to offend you....please sir...they are sorry." "No they're not...they are not sorry...they shame my son!" To my right I see our 4WD...assess the situation...we might get on...maybe...mustn't let on..."Shh" to Mike...that glint in his eye.
The culprits were getting desperate...
"They are sorry...please get out of the way"...the 4WD before us trying to get on...the ferry starting to drift...it's on...bummer its crooked...if it can straighten up we'll be last on.
It has straighted up...oh no...the water's too deep...man wades in testing the depth...up to his knees...he's going for it...you're kidding...he's going to make it ...our vehicle is on...time to make a move!
Quite a crowd had gathered...enjoying the show...Den, Ros, Tanya & Sam join us...six of us on the river edge...with our vehicle on the ferry...edging away...time for the final curtain!
I reckon the ones most surprised by what happened next were the four culprits.
Sandles off...pull our leggings up to our crutches...raise my hat "Au Revoir" to
the new Landcruiser...then to the crowd...and six of us waded into the river...and just made it!
"OK guys...Aussie, Aussie" so we yelled
"Aussie, Aussie, Aussie" and the river bank echoed back
"Oi, Oi, Oi!" ...so we did it again...returning the waves of the crowd.
"We'll take over for you" four call out as they move to position in front of the new Landcruiser.
I can still see that new Landcruiser...on the riverbank...with hands out of the rear windows...giving one fingered salutes!
And we just took it all in...what a hoot!
We stopped to photograph a mud mosque at the first village we came to...a new Landcruiser pulls up...a hand reaches towards me.
"Here is my business card. Contact me when you get home...we filmed the lot!" Thank you Yvan I will...its the Belgian Four!
HANG ON A MINUTE...what's happening here?...this is supposed to be a blog about the Women of Mali...WHERE ARE THE WOMEN?
Oh...Sorry...Didn't I tell you?...
...
"They were too busy working!!!!" Loved the country, loved the culture, loved the people...Bambara, Felani, Dogon, Bozo, Bobo, Songhai & Tuareg...loved their faces...the Women...stunners all.
Let the photos do the
talking...you be the judge.
Relax & Enjoy,
Dancing Dave (who came to Mali and danced to Timbuktu..!)
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EdVallance
Edward Adrian-Vallance
Awesome pics from a country I've long wanted to visit, thanks