last few days in Bamako

It has been a wonderful experience being in Bamako, like the saying go seek and you will find, ask and it will be given. So far I have been quite lucky in a lot of ways considering i can speak a little if any French and none of the local language Bambara. however I am pleased with what I am able to do by my self, in the last couple of weeks I have been venturing out by myself going to centre of town catching taxis with my little knowledge. This has made it possible to conquer more frontiers, sometime I just make people laugh and they let their guard down I am sure sometimes they say who is this crazy English speaking man,even with my little French I still have conversation with people and make them smile and laugh so I must be doing something right
I have taken a liking into one young girl who sells bannana I think its because she works so hard for avery little, it all started oneday when I asked to take her a picture and she said yes. I looked into her eyes and realised she was hungry or thirsty even thou she is selling banana she was hungry i assumed so I got her some drink and gave her some change for food since then, any time she sees me she comes to say hello, not because she anticipates something but out of curtsey and gratitude,she symbolises the shear tenacity and the survival nature of the African child,if i could ifford to adopt anyone i will the bannana girl
From the local shop man to the street vendorsi have made friends with them all and i think i will miss them all, I am sure a lot of people would wonder where this crazy man is when I leave and they dont see me any more

The TransRail

The Railways in Mali has always been a centre of attraction or attention if I should say so, for a lot of different reasons, like they say in business every publicity is good
I really could not visit Mali without paying the station a visit I made enquiries about travelling on the train to Senegal however there was not much of information till I was led to the only man who spoke English in a nearby bar, he really briefed me and was very helpful than the staff at the station
The journey from Mali to Senegal on an express train will take 3 days and I mean three days on an express train, few people seem to discourage me to go by car or a couch, but I have heard so much about this train and I am willing to stick it out before the whole service becomes extinct one day. I also would like to compare some aspect about the service and the resources at disposal enjoy thes few pics

centre of Bamako

The day has been very hot today so has the last few days, I am sure people would think what do you expect Africa to be like but when its about 40 degrees C its hot
The centre of Bamako is always heathen with activities cars, people, mopeds, bicycles and donkeys.
Pedestrians have probably no rights from what I gather because no one slows don for you to cross on pedestrian crossing sometimes you even get beeped by mopeds on walkways
Its amazing experience but not for the faint hearted

i am getting to the harder and most exciting bit of my travells so my friend has brought his four by four home and i am checking it out ,i will keep you informed

Back in time

Walking on the streets of Bamako brings one to back in time I think it is part of the appeal of the place so if you are looking for five star hotels and everything then it’s not the place for you
Life functions around bare necessities, the throw away culture is not here I have not seen a scrap yard yet, I mist kingly thought I have found one there were all old Peugeots parked in rows about 30 year old 505 and 404s,i asked is this where they come to die? But was told cars don’t die in Mali and there are lot of profs
The other thing that will drive animal rights activist up the wall is the donkey carts, oh its such a sight all the donkeys I have seen pulling these carts are so depressing looking and are really sad sometime I feel like getting them some apples but any expression of fondness and pity is met with curiosity of what planet I am from, I hope they don’t work all their entire life it will not be very fare
Other stuff to watch out for is police men with whistles they use it like football ref to stop cars even when the lights are green, the police it seems work round the clock here for a lot of reasons
I recently had a brush with them
I was very lucky on Saturday night whilst walking from the net café to where I live and was stopped by the police.
A truck pulled along side me and three police officers jumped out with guns and batons surrounding me, I was really freaked out,
The senior officer in the front seat shouted peppier, so I spoke the bit of French that I know. I speak a little French I said, They must have thought I was a spy with my miners touch on my fore head, he goes identity so I gathered they wanted some document I thank God just that evening I put my passport on the side pocket of my laptop bag so I gave one of the officers my passport he checked and handed it back to me and was asked to go I was so relieved, I have been told that if I didn’t have an id they would have taken me to the police station till someone brought my passport or a bit of money could do the trick