Senegal Off The Beaten Path

 
by SirRichard
 
  •   Off The Beaten Path
    by SirRichard
  •   Off The Beaten Path
    by traveldave
  •   Off The Beaten Path
    by Wafro
  • Pile of rott'n peanuts, globalisation in a nutshel
      Pile of rott'n peanuts, globalisation in...
    by irisbe
  • Ingrid,Wilfried,Mamadou Kande and Isabelle
      Ingrid,Wilfried,Mamadou Kande and...
    by irisbe
 
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The everlasting agenda continues

by irisbe

We listen how the local NGO represent explains in Woloff (the local language) why the Belgians came to visit. Each time this is followed by a translation in French. We learn that they want help to start growing new crops instead of peanuts. The Imam talks about “the road, already 100 years they have been asking for a descent street.There are some comments uttered about the functioning of the local NGO.It is like a city council, only without papers, and with an everlasting agenda.It strikes me how peaceful and easy this conference happens. Everyone who feels to say something is allowed to speak and to finish his saying. Each time followed by a translation.No heated discussions or arguments here, although hard truth is not avoided and discussed and discussed

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A conference without papers ...

by irisbe

... but with an everlasting agenda.Around 4 pm we are all seated underneath the central tree.The chiefs are arriving one by one, taking in their place; one of them is the Imam.Even the local governmental representative is present.Wilfried arrives around half past four and is accompanied by the representative of the local NGO.Then the farewell ceremony starts, it is one we will remember for a long time!

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On responsibility and famine

by irisbe

Responsibility. We can read the pain in his eyes that at the same time, this pain keeps him going on, motivates him.He cannot bear the thought that his people will endure famine (Spring 2003).Le faim c'est la limite! Hunger is the very limit!There is too much theory on the radio. First you have to succeed in getting to know the concrete situation of the farmers thouroughly. Only then you can work, together with them on a solution.We have so much need on new agricultural technology, we want to grow new crops, we want to work for our own consumption and not focus on only export.The peanuts are as a symbol.For years it has been the most popular export-product. Due to changes and regulation at level of the world market economy, it has let now to mountains of overstock because there is no candidate buyer. Despite the good harvest and the hard work, they lay piles lay rotting on the fields:...

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Party? No party.

by irisbe

During noon I pass by the hut of the Chief. The musicians have arrived. They will bring some ambiance during the “fare well party” of “les Belges”. There will be some dancing. We will be surprised what they have waiting for us.We take a little rest in our room. The frog is there to witness me writing a goodbye speech, just in case it should be expected from me. I write it in my “home brewed” French.When later on we are having our rice with onion and meat for lunch, Séckou enters.He looks like a bit embarrassed. The family is still mourning for the deceased of two days ago and don’t feel for any party of festivity at all.The program has changed. No party but instead a full meeting of the village chiefs will wave us out.

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The reality shock.

by irisbe

Then we go for a walk into the “hood: fenced places that count each 4 to 5 huts.It is amazing to me how little these people possess: a hut; a bed with a very thin mattress; some nice cloths; foot slippers and a little bit of furniture and things. Women and kids are walking around.Each time, in every hut, you come across an elderly person, sitting on the edge of a bed.Here kids grow up slowly and elderly age slowly, harmonious. It is almost a romantically thought and I am sitting still on the bed across as I feel suddenly tears swelling up. Maybe I have taken in and swallowed too many the past days and now I am facing the unexpected naked moment of the “reality chock”.The worn out faced of the grandfather, the white of the eyes that turned yellowish due to too much fluor, next to him his skinny granddaughter an her baby with red hair.Yesterday I shared my surprise with Wilfried : “there...

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Tuesday 19th November 2002

by irisbe

The present morning ritual looks very similar to the one we had yesterday. The only difference is that Isabelle is getting more used and feeling more comfortable with that hole in the bathroom.There are neither more melons nor mandarins at breakfast.This morning the brother of the Chief will take us along. First we visit the paddy fields or rice fields. The women of the village are harvesting the stems one by one until they hold what looks like a bride’s bouquet in their hands.We notice the little local shop and discover the Nescafe and milk powder that had flavoured our breakfast. We can also see the bakery and the hut where all those nice clots are been manufactured

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Rice with onion, onion with rice

by irisbe

After the interview we spend some time with the kids in the village.Wilfried hands us some water, he takes Seckou and Isabelle separate for a talk.The Flemish agricultural techniques (field water pump; milking) have triggered the attention and imagination of the local farmers very much.It is agreed that when S?ckou visits Belgium soon, he has to visit the farm of Isabelle.Around 7:30 pm the big pan with food arrives again: rice with onions, only the kind of meat differs with that we had previous.We have some conversations again with the village chief and his brothers, first inside, then outside in the moonlight.The final story of that day is told by Wilfried about the painful but beautiful period, only a few months ago, when his father died.It is 10 pm but again I cannot catch any sleep that night. The frog is still around and didn?t change to a prince yet. However to try to break the...

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Of babies and TV's

by irisbe

Dirk takes a picture of me, a heart-melted Ingrid with a little black baby on my arm and teases me I will get some "critics about this picture at home. Suddenly I see men and women all entering a hut a bit further away and I head towards the place to see what is happening.Inside I notice a small television with an unstable monitor, operating on solar energy panels. They are all watching the news, talk about the Miss world elections in Nigeria and the recent boat disaster in their own country and the new rules that will be applied after this incident.

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Villages in Mali border

by johnsakura

On the eastern part of senegal all the way down on the Senegal river bank begining in Matam, you have hundreds of little villages like this one on the picture that will make you think and be sure you are in Africa. These are very poor and lonely villages where people dont have access to basic things in life. I stoped in some of the villages and some children saw a white man for the first time on their lives.

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The Gambia

by johnsakura

If you go to Senegal and reach the Niokolo Koba, why not going to The Gambia. Its quite an experience this country and it will make you enjoy it very much. The Gambia is very very different from Senegal, they speak english here and in Senegal french... architecture and all was influenced by british not by french so expect different different.The gambia is Africa's smallest country and its goes surrounding Gambia river almost 330km.

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Unique Places in Senegal

Top 3 Hotels in Senegal

Domaine de Nianing  Dakar

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33 Hotels in Senegal
 
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Reviews and photos of Senegal attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Senegal sightseeing.

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Off The Beaten Path: Cities in Senegal
  1. Dakar Off The Beaten Path
  2. Ile de Goree Off The Beaten Path
  3. Parc National du Niokolo Koba Off The Beaten Path

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Popular Regions in Senegal

Region de Dakar Off The Beaten Path  Region de Tambacounda Off The Beaten Path  Region de Ziguinchor Off The Beaten Path  Region de Fatick Off The Beaten Path  Region de Thies Off The Beaten Path 

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Questions and Answers

brucelieb profile photo

Q:  how to???? travel agent? Money is an issue..but as my wife and I do not have unlimited time nor strength... direct travel is the... 

angiebabe profile photo

A: hi, can the flight back with Air France that take 20 hours plus include decent stopovers to go sightsee the places you could stop at? 

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