Virtual Africa: Cameroon

Cameroon is a small west-central country in Africa. 

 

French in origin.

The official languages here are French and English.

It is considered Africa in Miniature as it has coastline and beaches, rain forests, deserts, jungles, mountains and savannas.

https://youtu.be/gnj39YQNrkA 

 

The name Cameroon derives from "River of Shrimp"

It has been under French, British, Portuguese, Arabic, and German rule at one time or another...but since 1960 has been Independent.

The country covers a little more than 183,000 square miles.

Both breast-ironing (or flattening/binding) and genital mutilation (removal of the clitoris in females) is practiced here.

A quarter of the population lives on around 2.00 a day.

Like many African countries, there is a great disparity of wealth...resulting in vast wealth alongside great poverty.

Both monogamy and polygamy are practiced here, and families tend to be large and extended.

Cameroon has a rich diversity of religions with no one being dominant.

The country is best known for Makossa and Bikutsi musical styles.

Example of Makossa

https://youtu.be/_nsqUMb0og0

 Example of Bukutsi

https://youtu.be/5oM5DzZtMQ0

 And it is here we end our brief adventure in Cameroon.

 

Next up: Nigeria

Until then...

 

 

Labor Day Weekend...The Arsonist...Summer's End and The Cat Whisperer

 

 

This week I invited a known arsonist into my home.

Let me explain.

During the 80's I knew a fire marshal, Gregg, who lived nearby.

He always admonished I should NEVER buy a Mr. Coffee...and if I EVER did...I should never, ever leave it plugged in after using it.

Gregg: We have so many house fires that are started by these we use the term "Mr Coffee Fires".

I'm going all Broken Arrow for a moment here..I'm not sure what is more disturbing...that it happens at all...or that it happens so frequently we have a TERM for it!

Anyway, I never forgot his advice.

Replacing my broken Keurig, I found a 12 cup (unfortunately) Mr. Coffee...inexpensive and in my accent color...

So...yeah it will never be pre-set when I am using it, and it will always blink 12:00 & be unplugged after using,.but on the plus side...I won't burn down the building...and it is so wonderful to have the SMELL of brewing coffee in the morning, again.

Something I really missed with Keurig and pods.

It is Labor Day Weekend and I am spending 3 days relaxing...getting things ready to change over to Fall Decor...eating up the last of the Summer bounty and trying a few new recipes.

Clearing the Summer plants and trimming back the Morning Glories, who have taken over in the last couple weeks.

One moment they are tidy and on their trellis...the next they have stretched five feet away to start climbing the arbor.

This will not do.

And how do they even know it is over there, to begin with????

Enjoying the last of the garden tomatoes...shared by my neighbor, Sandy...and going to make the rest into marinara to jar.

Took venison steaks out to thaw and roast with corn-on-the-cob...and the new recipe I found for onion fritters.

And bought a caramel apple with nuts from afters...and to usher in Fall.

Even the weather seems to know...going from 90+ degree days to 70's and falling into the 50's and 60's at night.

Almost like flipping a switch.

So nice!

Although..they may have taken this Pumpkin Spice thing a bit too far, already.

Just sayin'.

My guy has earned a new nickname after the bait shop got a new young cat/kitten recently.

Meet Willow.

I've taken to calling him The Cat Whisperer!

Of course, Gadget now smells ANOTHER cat on him.

"Do you want to talk about it...or should I just pack your bags???"

                                                                                                         Gadget'

Lost one of my grand-puppies this week.

Benny, who has been fighting health problems for some time, has died.

Chris and Neville

Tina and Benny

Everyone is going to miss him.

Chris has been making modifications to the Strat...including splatter-painting

 

 

and working up some Eddie Van Halen riffs that sound really good.

Checked out an old (but new to me) Anthony Hopkins movie on Friday.

Very well done thriller with a nice twist ending.

If you enjoy Hopkins acting...you'll love it!

This week's book is Stephen King's latest offering

Which I have divided into thirds for the holiday weekend...so I am not quite finished...but it is good...really good.

Will review it when I'm done...but definitely sucks you in from the first chapter.

Have a Great Labor Day Weekend!

OH...almost forgot...have my booster now and now have 3 PFIZER shots...with only minimal discomfort from the third! Nothing more than a sore arm. 

Feeling protected.

C

Virtual Africa: Rwanda

 Rwanda and its capital city Kigali rose phoenix-like from the ashes of genocide.

Kigali, Rwanda

https://youtu.be/5SEp1WyesRE 

In 1994, the Hutu's killed around a million Tutsi in Rwanda during the ethnic cleansing...today the population reflects this...only some of the younger survived.  

  https://youtu.be/mISJNAZvqRw

A good film to give you a better grasp of the enormity of this is Hotel Rwanda.

Today Rwanda is a growing economically prosperous country comprised of Hutu...Tutsi and Twa (pygmy)

 

It is a very small country. Only a little over 10,000 square miles and high altitude. It lies between the Congo River and the Nile.

It has a temperate climate which is between 60 degrees and 85 degrees year around.

(...today it is sunny and 80 degrees...)

Rwanda's population of lions were decimated during the genocide of 1994...but three game parks are attempting to reintroduce them at this time.

Game Park

https://youtu.be/--XapoJhfw0 

Coffee and tea are the main export crops, now.

Most Rwandans are Catholic and the primary language here is Kinyarwanda.

Sports plays a large part in this rebuilt country...cricket, cycling, football and soccer, basketball and most recently the Paraolympics and Olympic Games. 

10 Days in Rwanda

https://youtu.be/I1tIJex1fXE

Next we will visit Cameroon.

 

 

 

Virtual Africa: Somalia

 

Honestly, NOT a tourist destination.

When I think of Somalia...the first image that comes to mind is the movie image of Tom Hanks and the Somalian pirate in Captain Phillips...

"I am de Captain, now."

This isn't far from the truth.

Somalia remains one of the most dangerous countries in Africa. Most of this is because of its ongoing upheaval...chaos and multiple civil wars. 

Surprisingly, it remains one of Africa's most ethnically homogeneous countries. 85% of everyone here is ethnic Somali. The languages here are Somali and Arabic.

Most of the people are Muslim and the majority of them are Sunni.

Homosexuality here is illegal...no same-sex marriages...and punished by death.

The country has been engaged in one form of war or another since 1969.

All you really need to know about this is that often the factions bomb their own country and people.

Like I stressed

NOT A TOURIST DESTINATION

despite having the longest coastline of any country in Africa (2,071 miles).

Fishing is a mainstay here.

So is piracy.

They preferred to be called badaadinta badah, or saviours of the sea...as opposed to burcad badeed...which loosely translated is "ocean robber". 

They are made up of fishermen and disgruntled militia.

The REAL pirates of the Carribean.

The constant upheaval and warring has led to crushing poverty for most of its 15 million people.

It is very warm here year around from 85 degrees to 104 degrees. 

(currently 89 and rainy)

One of the sites they tout for tourism are the Laas Geel Caves.

 Known for their vast and varied prehistoric rock art.

 

Tour

https://youtu.be/sYtX--9Ooc4

Note to reach the caves you must hire an armed guide.

The US Government advises against going to these caves or this country.

Along with Africa's big five mammals...we are now treated to the sight of dromedary camels.

Beware...that glass of milk for your morning Wheaties might taste a bit differently here. 

 

It is probably camel milk.

Camel breeding and herding here is a big business. They provide transportation...meat and milk.

This concludes our short (but much safer) tour of Somalia.

Next up: Rwanda

 

 

 

 

'

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virtual Africa: Kenya

 

Kenya covers over 580,000 square miles...it's capital city Nairobi.

Nairobi

https://youtu.be/86UKVM0kgOM

Kenya is named after Mount Kenya.

Which is STILL dotted with glaciers!

View from the Summit

Climbing Mount Kenya

https://youtu.be/AFeFqzrqwoI

Although Kenya is populated with many ethnic groups...the two official languages are English and Swahili.

Most of Kenyans are Christian...mainly Protestant and Catholic.

Among the agriculture, that is second in revenue only to tourism. is coffee and cashews.

The cashews grow outside pods known as nut apples.

 Life Cycle of the cashew nuts.

The single nut below each nut apple is then shelled and harvested. They can be sold/eaten raw or salted and roasted. The latter is what we are most familiar with...

Now, we see why they are so expensive!

You can buy cashews directly from Kenya here...

https://www.jumia.co.ke/kaya-nuts-salted-cashew-nuts-39197554.htm

Cashew Production

https://youtu.be/XmsGYnvcVcQ

And...if you are like me...now I want warm buttery cashews!!!

 

Next time: Somalia  

 

Birthdays...Our August Adventure...and More...

 

"You're going away again...aren't you?"

Emma turned 15 on Thursday!  We are all getting together soon...the whole herd of us...even Chris and Tina.

Just got home from Our August Adventure and Loretta's 80th Birthday...and recovering.

(...if we had longer than 3 days...I'm pretty sure I'd die, honey...)

It was a wonderful adventure.

Good food...good company...a hot tub...shopping...surprises...what more could anyone ask for???

We were able to pick Loretta up for her 80th Birthday!

And were surprised that Cracker Barrel now has wines to accompany meals...so after 80 years, Loretta was finally able to try white wine.

She had never tasted wine in her life and always wanted to...

So...she was able to enjoy Rainbow Trout fillets in lemon pepper butter with green beans, fresh fruit and Chardonnay...and Coca Cola Chocolate layer cake with a candle!

Afterwards we took her on a small shopping spree.

She laughed and had a great time!

We spent a couple of days there...playing in the hot tub...eating Chinese in bed...and just generally goofing off...then our carriage turned back into a pumpkin and it was back to being responsible adults...again.

We stopped by Cracker Barrel for breakfast on the way out of town...and this is the surprise I was talking about.

On Thursday, we had noticed a soft-as-a kitten shawl while we were there, and Loretta and I had taken turns "petting it". So soft and snuggly and pretty. I almost bought it. It wasn't expensive...but I couldn't see where I'd ever wear it...and so I didn't.

Thursday night, I actually realized I had paid off my Mastercard just before we had left for our trip...and convinced myself to charge it on Friday...

By Friday I was proud of myself for "adulting hard"...realizing I really did not NEED the cream colored fuzzy shawl...and gave it one final "pet" as we left.

 Quietly...I had regretted immediately (after leaving) that I hadn't just put the damned thing on my card...

...little did I know...

Before John left here Friday, he brought a big bag in from the car...when I had taken a restroom break at one point he had slipped into the gift shoppe earlier and bought the shawl as a gift (there was more than one)...I was amazed and happy!!!

(...thank you....it is my new woobie...I LOVE it...and you...)

We ended Friday night together catching the end of the Colts 3rd and last pre-season game which we WON!!!

Both the Colts and the Chiefs have emerged from their respective pre-seasons undefeated!!!

It is shaping up to be a great football season...and the excitement and win was the perfect ending for our adventure.

Caught up on the news...the suicide bombing by ISIS-K outside the Kabul airport killing about 170 including 13 of our service members...quickly followed by our targeted drone strike killing 2 of the ISIS planners and wounding a third.

Because Joseph "Fuck Around and Find Out" Biden handled the situation. 

Obviously not SLEEPY...SLOW or SENILE.

We have 4 days left for evacuations...and last count had removed over 120,000.

A minor miracle.

Many nations, including our own, are offering the refugees asylum.

Charlie Watts, drummer for The Rolling Stones, died this week.

And Keith Richards made me tear up with his tribute the next morning on Twitter...which was simply this photograph...

The sunflower seedling are now beginning to stand tall!

And September 1st we will start the Fall Decor.

No book this week...but getting in queue for King's newest tome...Billy Summers.

This Week's Movie

 Face it...

It is a Disney Film...based off a Disneyland ride...starring The Rock...okay???

This is not War and Peace.

It is basically bubble gum for your brain.

Having said that- it is engaging...often funny...has beautiful cinematography...some incredible CGI (and some not-so-incredible)...a predictable but still interesting story-line...and a happy ending.

What more could you want?

The best for me was the banter between "Skippy" and "Pants"

The Skipper played by The Rock and Blount's trouser-wearing heroine.

Well worth a look!

Now to get unpacked and tidy a bit so I can enjoy a Zen Sunday, tomorrow.

More Anon...