Hotel Independence Segou

... the bus leaked, did I forget to mention that? Not just a little bit at the windows ( but that too), I mean there were holes cut in the roof.<br><br>And THEN because it took so long to get through the first stages of border formalities (alright, that one's MY fault being the only person on the bus to be in need of a visa...) that we were then too late to go through the bag search bit, and thus had to wait in the car park til 6 am ...

... some pictures to share what we saw. The exprience today is just one of many that has changed me forever. We have it so easy back home. I look differently at the financial crisis and all that is happenig to the world economy. I know that it is tough for some people losing their jobs and not having any options but even that is dratically different than the basic daily suevuval that I have witnessed here in Mali. I know that I can not save the whole world by myself but I have ...

... system. Ryan finished the first pass at the inventory system and now is focused on the pharmacy program. I need to help him document requirements for the Birth, Death, and Operations journals as well. He will have to integrate those portions after returning to the states. The good news is that this new application will be Web based and will be much easier for him to manage remotely. Tonight we were invited to Daniel Deallo's house for a traditional Malian ...

... 130 degrees. I have included a great picture right after their work. Anko and Ewien contiue to take great care of us. They have fed us many nights. I have't really told you much about Anko, who we are here to help. He is a farm boy from the Netherlands and is really a mad scientist with everything from Computers to Solar Power to Engines to Electric Power. His talents are definately in demand here. He share with us his plans ...

... a difference. The dirt is red clay and it is everywhere. I think I have at least 1/2 lb of the stuff in my lungs. With all of that being said, this is a great experience. Although I don't speak French or Bambara, I have interacted with many of the Malians. They are all very kind and seem to be happy that we are here helping out. It has also been very fun getting to meet so many new people while here. The technical support person at the ...

... at times! They w**e so welcoming and really kind to us, including getting us buckets of hot wat** for our show**s and feeding us. But the culture h**e is to be with you all the time, I think they probably think its rude if they are not.....wh**e as I would pref** to be able to get dressed in my room in private!! But it was only 3 days, so it was cool and we got stuck into a few be**s for the first time in ages.....we need to dry out again now!

... des charettes tirées par des ânes, surchargées. Elles n'avancent pas. - des ânes seuls : les plus cons. Ils sont au milieu de la route et n'en bougent pas, quoi qu'il arrive, - des moutons : c'est guère mieux que les ânes mais en cas d'accident, c'est meilleurs, - des zébus : ils savent qu'ils ont la priorite et ils en profitent, - des chêvres : malines, elles évitent toujours les voitures et filent devant, - des chiens : culottés, ils peuvent être agressifs et ...

... people sleeping on cots in the room. Oth** people walked through the room and went into and out of a door that I realized was the bathroom. I realized I was back in "The Flat", the group house-like apartment in Cairo Imaginative Travell** kept for its tour lead**s who w**e between tours in Cairo that was my closest thing to a residence I had the year I was th**e. The place was as crowded and unpleasant in my dream ...

... little official corruption, no bribes to be paid, and no encount**s with police or oth** figures of authority on the make. This contrasts with countries like *****ia wh**e demands for payment for fabricated infractions can be extortionate or places like Egypt (and to a less** degree Morocco) wh**e small side payments called Baksheesh are a constant fact of life in dealing with authorities. We found one such ...

... We reached Segou as dusk and made our way to the quaint Hotel Djoliba owned and operated by a German man. Hotel Djoliba became our safe haven in Segou and it was a wonderful place at that. The following day we pushed east for Sevare, arrived and spent the night at our Dogon guide, Hassimi's house. Our "trek" through Dogon country was not as I envisioned it. Sure we walked through the villages and hiked a few hours on the second and third days but Hassimi was lazy and he had his own ...