Tuesday, February 19, 2013

How we work and play in Nyariga

The winter time things slow down around here except for our farmers.  We are on a dam called Vea and the irrigation is in farm lands just before you get to our junction.  Rice and tomatoes are what are grown – my friend has got her farm up on a pumping system with a generator here in town.  They had to dig down in the hole to get water to pump to the seedlings then the other day I watched them dig it out further so they could get more water.  Hard work but the tomatoes have lasted a whole week in my refrigerator so I am thrilled.  Even in my special bags 3 days is all I get when I buy in the market, guess because of the heat getting to my house.

P1040135Paul and Frances play in the area where the seedlings were grown until they were strong enough to go to the fields.  Every night they watered from the bore whole with buckets.  The small boys watched and now they put water in and make mud.  What a deal.

 

P1040121This is one of the beautiful Baobab Trees I can see right out my door.  When I came out I saw this young man sitting at the top – Can you see him?  He has a LONG stick in his hand with a nail made into a hook.

Now can you see him.  Well he is the neighborhood “delivery boy”.  He is knocking down as many of the fruit as he can.

P1040119He is so high up there I used my telephoto on the highest mark to get his picture while he worked.. Yes like all the kids when he saw the camera he stopped and posed.  I told him no I wanted to see him working.

P1040128Here he is with his “catch” of the day.  Grandma (Peter’s Grandma) is dividing it all up for all the neighbors in our area.

The inside comes apart in chalky like pieces that are little sweet and has a seed in it.

P1040130The ladies will put in water to dissolve the fruit and strain out the seeds.They make a dish call sagebo similar to tizet. Once it is cooked with flour it make a much more firm “Jell-O” and this is how they will scoop their stew up.  They also can make a porridge out of it.  The take the water they dissolved the fruit in and mix it with oats, or tom brown.  I have tried the tom brown, at training and at an IST, and do not like even when I put sugar in it just not for me.   This porridge is sold on the street in plastic bags.  They tear a hole in it like we do water sachets and drink it most of the time with pano (bread).

 

 

P1040137The Grandma, in blue, is Tahiru’s mother and she has gather their

portion of the pods to cook here.

P1040140Of course when you play this hard it does not matter if there is food being collected, someone is washing clothes, or cows are getting a drink you sit down in the curve of the trunk of a Baobab Tree and take your nap.  He slept for at least an hour never noticing any of us.   Notice he has on a down like vest – Cold I don’t think so!!!!

Another afternoon in the “hard working” Peace Corps Volunteers day.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Winter time in Nyariga

Yes, it is winter time.  I think it gets down to 88 at night and almost to 100 in the day.  The last week though it is nice in the morning but the weather seems determined to skip right past the rest of Harmattan and get to dry season where we will melt under 110-120 degrees. You guessed it I am trying to figure out how to head out of the Upper East for a small while next Month.

So to help me forget about the temp I take pictures and want to share with you.

 

P1040177 This wagon is loaded with about 6, 5 gallon plastic cans full of water.  The young girl was sent to fill them up at the bore hole and bring it back.  Since she is older she has enlisted all the kids she can to help her get it back across the main road and up a small incline to her house.  When I bring out the camera there are more kids to volunteer.  Glad I could help!! Brenda in white dress (the one that use to shake she was so scared when she saw me) Peter in blue panties and I am sorry I don’t know the other children’s names.

 

P1040187The women in the village are all changing their hair it seems like weekly.  Even the small children have to sit through it.. Here is Amena all ready to go to work with her new hair extensions.

 

P1040165Here is the before picture while they are struggling to keep her still.  Not easy on a 2 year old to be so beautiful.

 

P1040163Here are my two neighbor children helping their mother put her hair in a pony tail with her extensions.  She is the hairdresser next door and she is working on another lady while the girls do her up.  The girls have gotten pretty good at doing the extension not sure though I would want to sit and have it done.

P1040146Found these children on Sunday using the craft center for a jungle gym.  They were having so much fun until I pulled out the camera and then they just wanted their picture taken. 

 

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Our Days in Victoria Falls

We went to Zambezi Sun Resort where we were able to not only see lots of wildlife because we were in the National Park but we could walk to Victoria Falls.  We had baboons and monkeys to keep us company while we walked to the falls.

P1030669 These “warriors” were there to greet us.

P1030726The baboon walked by us but was more interested what

he could find on the ground to eat.

P1030717We dressed for the “rain” from the falls.  Would have never guessed that the mist would be heavier than anything I have experienced in Ghana.

P1030748Robin enjoying a slight mist from the falls.

P1030804Yes this is vacation – bottle of wine from Cape Coast, sitting by the pool and a Zebra comes by to make sure you remember where you are.

P1030790Mom was so content eating next to our car but her baby was so scared that she finally had to take him to side of road and secure him until we left.  So sweet.

P1030815This chair made from beads sat in our hall way at the hotel.  The hours it must have taken to make and it was so beautiful.

P1030707Seeing another day end on the beautiful country of South Africa.

Safari First Class at Arathusa Safari Lodge

Headed out for Safari.  Yes it is sprinkling but so cool and wonderful no one really cared.  They gave us poncho’s that were lined so no problems.

P1030930

One of the beautiful animals we saw was a rhino.  He is so big and awesome.  The horn he has has caused them

so much trouble.  The Chinese will pay for the horn in powder form that is high than the cost of gold.  If I am not

wrong I believe South Africa only has about 800 left since the poachers can’t be stopped.

 

                                                       P1040054

 

P1030929We had this view from our veranda.  We could sit on our porch and watch the animals come down for a drink.  Such a pleasant way to spend and afternoon.

 

P1030828We even could see the hippos playing in the water.  Nothing like nature coming to you and just ignoring you.

 

P1030857Does anyone remember “The Elephant Walk”  Well here it is in real life!!

 

P1030914Yep even the baby walks wonder if the music is playing in their head?

 

P1040005Just wanted us to remember who was the King of the Jungle.  Our guide made mention that Disney did not get many things right in the Lion King.  Don’t want to ruin the magic so that’s all I will say.

 

P1040049Sort of the way I felt after our wonderful dinners at the Lodge.

I love watching the animals doing their own thing without even paying attention to the vehicles or us.  There were a few times, like when mom was reminding us that she would take care of her babies even if it meant dealing with us, that reminded you that you were in the wild and there is always danger (maybe the reason for the gun on the top of the car) when you are dealing with wild animals.

The lodge, restaurant and the staff were awesome.  This was all planned through Rhino Tours if anyone is heading to South Africa can’t say enough nice things.