Category Archives: 04 Congo
On Suffering and Smiling
Since we arrived in central Africa, there has been an increase in the frequency of the appeal ‘On souffre’: ‘We’re suffering’. This is usually underscored with the unsaid ‘Give us something; assuage your colonial guilt’. I’m not about to argue … Continue reading
Raincheck
I thought this blog was going to be about getting on the road to Gabon, but the universe had other ideas. It’s been one of those two-steps-forward-one-step-back-patience-is-its-own-reward-just-breathe-just-be weeks. I’ve never felt comfortable using the expression ‘I’ll take a raincheck’; Americans … Continue reading
Air conditioning
What a luxury is fresh air. We arrived at the beach, clambered out of the truck and took our dust-logged noses down to the sea to drink it in. This coast is called the Côte Sauvage for good reason: ‘sauvage’ … Continue reading
Gentillesse
Gentillesse is my favourite French word. As far as I understand, it means more than mere ‘kindness’. Gentil embraces the scope of the far blander English ‘nice’, while encompassing a range of more chivalric qualities from ‘good’ and ‘courteous’ to … Continue reading
On the Razzle in Brazza
Last week, after I finished doing my round of the embassies to double check all our visa application details, I ended up at the SA Embassy. I just popped in to find out the right email address, but was treated … Continue reading
At L’Haven Hippocampe
On 1st Sept the rather uptight Immigration official at Ndangandanga, the last village in the DRC, jumped in the truck, took us up to the border, lifted a rusty steel boom and waved us through. He told the bloke with … Continue reading
Africa Clockwise 