The post office
by Alpha_Ghana
There are no postmen in Mali, there are no addresses. If you want to receive mail, you need to have a PO BOX in a post office.
Addresses are all lie BP and a number or BP E- and a number. BP is for Boîte Postale or Postal Box and the "E" is for "étage" when you box is on the first floor of the post office.
Post is very slow, it takes more than one month from Bamako to Europe. They open all envelopes to foreign countries, more particularly Europe and USA to check if they cannot steal something. All my correspondants in Europe complain that the mail has been open. Last time, I sent some chocolates for the birth of my son, and envelopes had been open, chocolates stolen. Just the card was there but very dirty.
Muslim traditions
by Alpha_Ghana
Reading the Coran is wonderful, it gives you mainly a message of peace. When I see that a lot of people use Coran to justify their crime (like Christians were using the Bible some centuries ago), I am happy to see that in Mali, there is no jihad and terrorisme based on Coran.
People here are religious. They respect the Muslim traditions and they also respect other traditions. There is no war because you are white or Christian.
I can just say: "Take Mali as an example".
Neolithic caves
by sociolingo
Bamako is surrounded by hills on all sides. Its quite spectacular. These hills have been inhabited since the dawn of time and there are still caves to be found which bear witness to this inhabitation. The caves at Point G have rock paintings. From there you will have a great view of the city.
If you travel towards Kita out of Bamako centre you will find signs to the Zoo, the Museum and the Caves at 'Point G'. Follow a single track dirt road to the caves. Expect to pay a small sum, about 250 cfa to the guardian for him to 'look after' your car. This is not a rip off .. it's normal practice in Mali. Regard it as a parking fee.
The Museum
by sociolingo
The National Museum of Mali is well worth a visit. It is housed in a traditional mud brick building and has a wide range of archeological and ethnographic objects including masks, weapons, tapestries and funeral objects. The Museum struggles to pay the bills for keeping the artifacts in good order and to pay the electricity bill, so any visitors are most welcome and you can know that you are really contributing to preserve Mali's past. It is considered to be one of West Africa's best ethnographic museums.
Hot City
by sebblit7
"Fixer translator interpretor in Bamako"
Timothy Poudiougo works at the US embassy but we managed to hire him as local guide translator fixer interpreter for a few days
Call him on cell: +223 661 3154
Email: timdewol@yahoo.com
Great in English and French and very together.
BTW was 38C on average when I was here, but not humid, dry hot, kinda better than wet hot methinks
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Mali 1 - 0 Guinea
Stade Modibo Keita
drinks
My diary notes about the Museum Bamako
