Dario in Africa
Alcune immagini del mio viaggio in Mali nel Gennaio 2006.
Qui sono sul bordo della grande Falesia di Bandjagara, al tramonto. Mi accingo ad entrare nel Paese dei Dogon.
Nel video invece la risalita della Falesia, 300 metri di roccia ripida. Ad un certo punto incontrammo anche una scolaresca, che ogni giorno scalava la falesia - in pantofole! - per andare a scuola e la scendeva a sera per tornare a casa. Quando ho pensato alle storie che facevo io per andare a scuola, mi si è stretto il cuore...
Qui sono sul bordo della grande Falesia di Bandjagara, al tramonto. Mi accingo ad entrare nel Paese dei Dogon.
Nel video invece la risalita della Falesia, 300 metri di roccia ripida. Ad un certo punto incontrammo anche una scolaresca, che ogni giorno scalava la falesia - in pantofole! - per andare a scuola e la scendeva a sera per tornare a casa. Quando ho pensato alle storie che facevo io per andare a scuola, mi si è stretto il cuore...
Tips and tricks for an African trip.
Mali is a poor country, but not at all miserable. It has a very interesting history, and different ethnicities. People is smiling and friendly, with an air of great dignity (but don't make any pictures, they want be tipped). Sure, you need to do all vaccines and anti-malaria, and avoid drinking non bottled water if it is offered to you. Bring Imodium and mosquito repellent (but mosquitos in Rome are much bigger, to tell the truth). Always have an ID with you, police is frequently checking tourists.
If you don't speak any french, that maybe an handicap. I recommend you buy the Rough Guide, it contains some phrasebook in Bambara, the main local language, and valuable infos. See also www.tourisme.gov.ml
Of course do not expect to find anything similar to Europe. A bit of adaptation is needed. It seem tiring at the beginning, noisy, dirty, chaotic, but once you enter the spirit, it's unforgettable.
December-January is the best time of the year for a visit there. Climate will be mild, the best in the year, absolutely bearable. In the north, nearer to Sahara, bring an hat (sun is strong even for an Italian) and do not forget to hydratate: drink a lot of water. You may buy a Touareg scarve, to make a tourban. It's good against the sandy wind from the desert.
Bamako is modern and chaotic, while Timbouktou is a legendary ancient place (never been there, unfortunately).
The capital has a superb nightlife. When in Bamako, go dancing in Niarela district, the Bla bla bar, Byblos, etc... There are astoundingly beautiful lean girls, elegantly dressed in red, with a superior sense of rithm, as any african. I flatter myself thinking I'm a good dancer, but no comparison with an african: when I have done a movement, they've done four. I spent this New Years Eve dancing with an enchanting black 'gazelle'. Good Lord!
Unfortunately, those beautiful girls all have their genitals mutilated: as they grown up, they have to have their clitoris cut away … Barbaric!
Food is very good: they eat the fish "Capitaine" from Niger river, in brochette, and you should also try the Planteen, a sort of banana, fried with eggs. Delicious. They have also funny little onions, very delicate: onions fileds give a touch of green in the midst of a panorama which is quite brown. To eat out in Bamako, I recommend the restaurant San Toro.
What to buy?
Music, first of all (ever heard of Salif Keita?), then bogolans (see www.promali.org/ndomo) - very good to cover your bed or the walls in your flat - and any sort of wooden statuettes (ebony), masks, necklaces, earrings. Go to Marché Artisanal in Bamako. Timbouktou is in the Touareg area and you will find beautiful swords, like mine, plus leather boxes.
I suggest you to bring an empty folding bag to bring things you will buy back home.
Do not expect to offer some money and go away: you HAVE to bargain. As you have not much time, do not just waste it to buy a single thing. Take a lot, then offer a ridiculous price. The seller will look offended and will ask for a huge amount of money. Say many times "A songo ka guele" ("it's too much") ad go on negotiating until you reach the price you wanted.
I tell you, it's an excellent negotiation training. And it's really great fun.
Of course in Bamako prices are higher, but on the Malian standard. What you don't keep, you can sell back home for a price 300% higher, or make gifts.
Oh: should you be arriving via Paris, you will have a stop over in Casablanca, Morocco. Don't miss the Rick's Cafe, a reproduction from the film (http://www.rickscafe.ma/ ).
In short, I foresee an unforgettable experience. It's just like landing on another world. Enjoy it!
If you don't speak any french, that maybe an handicap. I recommend you buy the Rough Guide, it contains some phrasebook in Bambara, the main local language, and valuable infos. See also www.tourisme.gov.ml
Of course do not expect to find anything similar to Europe. A bit of adaptation is needed. It seem tiring at the beginning, noisy, dirty, chaotic, but once you enter the spirit, it's unforgettable.
December-January is the best time of the year for a visit there. Climate will be mild, the best in the year, absolutely bearable. In the north, nearer to Sahara, bring an hat (sun is strong even for an Italian) and do not forget to hydratate: drink a lot of water. You may buy a Touareg scarve, to make a tourban. It's good against the sandy wind from the desert.
Bamako is modern and chaotic, while Timbouktou is a legendary ancient place (never been there, unfortunately).
The capital has a superb nightlife. When in Bamako, go dancing in Niarela district, the Bla bla bar, Byblos, etc... There are astoundingly beautiful lean girls, elegantly dressed in red, with a superior sense of rithm, as any african. I flatter myself thinking I'm a good dancer, but no comparison with an african: when I have done a movement, they've done four. I spent this New Years Eve dancing with an enchanting black 'gazelle'. Good Lord!
Unfortunately, those beautiful girls all have their genitals mutilated: as they grown up, they have to have their clitoris cut away … Barbaric!
Food is very good: they eat the fish "Capitaine" from Niger river, in brochette, and you should also try the Planteen, a sort of banana, fried with eggs. Delicious. They have also funny little onions, very delicate: onions fileds give a touch of green in the midst of a panorama which is quite brown. To eat out in Bamako, I recommend the restaurant San Toro.
What to buy?
Music, first of all (ever heard of Salif Keita?), then bogolans (see www.promali.org/ndomo) - very good to cover your bed or the walls in your flat - and any sort of wooden statuettes (ebony), masks, necklaces, earrings. Go to Marché Artisanal in Bamako. Timbouktou is in the Touareg area and you will find beautiful swords, like mine, plus leather boxes.
I suggest you to bring an empty folding bag to bring things you will buy back home.
Do not expect to offer some money and go away: you HAVE to bargain. As you have not much time, do not just waste it to buy a single thing. Take a lot, then offer a ridiculous price. The seller will look offended and will ask for a huge amount of money. Say many times "A songo ka guele" ("it's too much") ad go on negotiating until you reach the price you wanted.
I tell you, it's an excellent negotiation training. And it's really great fun.
Of course in Bamako prices are higher, but on the Malian standard. What you don't keep, you can sell back home for a price 300% higher, or make gifts.
Oh: should you be arriving via Paris, you will have a stop over in Casablanca, Morocco. Don't miss the Rick's Cafe, a reproduction from the film (http://www.rickscafe.ma/ ).
In short, I foresee an unforgettable experience. It's just like landing on another world. Enjoy it!
| PER SAPERNE DI PIU' | |
 | Scheda Paese Ocse |
| Schede Paese: World factbook Cia |
Commenti
Posta un commento