Blogs from Lower Casamance, Senegal, Africa - page 2

Monday 3rd November I spend a leisurely day floating around town and relaxing. Sitting on the verandah overlooking the Casamance river with a gently cooling breeze. It is just great. Did I say somewhere I love being on the bike? Speaking of which the bike gets a big treat by way of a power wash and general check and tightening of bolts, it needed it. And some other maintaince. Despite the Trans Gambian Highway the Heath Robinson repair on the headlight is holding up. Another decision today. Mark will head west tomorrow to Cap Skiring and the ocean and more particularly a TV with the U.S. elections. Geoff and I head for Tambacounda and Mali. I have just realised how quickly time is passing and want to spend as much time in Mali as possible. Tuesday ... read more

I was ready to get out of Ziguinchor and see what I would find in the more remote parts of Casamance. I deceided to make my way to the island of Karabane. Distances were mostly short in Casamance so I arrived in Elinkane in less than 2 hours. After a simple lunch by the river I got by first experience of traveling by pirogue. This happens to be a long dugout wooden canoe with a motor that transports locals from different spots thoughout the islands and small viliages off the river. They can fit 30 or people on these boats but you are in close quarters with the luggage and locals. Only the tourist pirogues have a roof to provide shade so I was at the mercy of the sun for the next 45 minutes. I ... read more

Alright, where was I... So, Monday we set out for Oussouye, a village not far from Ziguinchor and a common base for hiking/biking adventures in the region. Finding a means of transportation from Ziguinchor was not very fun. The instant we walked into the Gare Routiere (road station), a mob of aggressive drivers came upon us, shouting prices, pushing each other out of the way, giving contradictory information... needless to say it was hot, overwhelming, and generally unpleasant. Finally we decided to take an air conditioned minibus which we were assured was leaving "leegi leegi" (right away)... apparently "leegi leegi" can also mean two hours later. So, we were left to wait patiently in the stuffy car, windows open with begging children poking at us non-stop and portable store fronts enticing us with an array of ... read more

and from there we hired a pirogue to a town composed of 4 or 5 families, one of which, called djen-dollar (cause they were "rich"), had a hostel. in two days I knew the whole tow, it was as quiet as it gets, the stars where everywhere and the river would show r sink the towns tiny beach... I mean, you have should see it. really though. I will go back there one day and stay for a month cause it was beyond anything I expected to see in casamance. people were very kind, invted me to eat at their houses, or sleep there if I wanted, and I think localsd ended up liking me. I wasnt particularly smiley or nice to them, rather casual as always and I guess they liked that more than an ... read more

then I went to elinkin in a yaganyae, a small truck filled and I mean FILLED with people, pictures are available of the trip where I had to sit in the roof of it while two french guys were hanging in its back. I got hit by a few branches, and one gave me a bruise in the arm that still lasts, but thank god it wasnt in the head. elinkine is a nice town by the coast from where I left with the two french guys and a french girl to karabane... read more