2008

It certainly has been far too long since I’ve last made an appearance here, but I’m back in Burundi after a salubrious holiday in Tanzania, and 2008 is in full swing.


There are at least three events that deserve recounting, the first being the trip to Kigoma, Tanzania, during the holidays between Christmas and New Year’s. Travelling overland to Kigoma always turns out to be a wonderful and beautiful adventure, and it somehow always ends up truly being an adventure. Not too long after our departure from the city, the underside of Matt’s Subaru became intimate with one of the many small boulders one finds on the road south of Bujumbura, and the car developed a nasty vibration that became almost deafening at speeds above 30 km/h. Hopping into the repair pit at a decrepit “service station” in the nearest town, and with the assistance of a multi-tool and a large tire iron, we were able to pry away from the rotation of the transmission the metal guard that normally acts as a barrier between the exhaust system below. Et voilà! après cela, tout allait bien. Good as new and back on track. We spent the rest of the journey lapping up the breathtaking expanses of the verdant Tanzanian plains as we cruised along the remote, sanguine dirt road that led us onward to Kigoma. And, as was expected, Jacobsen’s Guest House did not disappoint. As is customary, newcomers were initiated with the Tour des Sautes on the cliffs adjacent to our isolated beach (see Seth in perfect form above. Seriously, he must have been a gymnast or something...)

Piggyback!

One new item on the itinerary this time was, thanks to Matt and Rebecca, a two-hour boat trip north to Gombe National Park, wherein which one is permitted a profound, up-close-and-personal glimpse into the lives of a group of chimpanzees in their natural habitat, the very same apes with whom Jane Goodall spent much of her time. Some more photos can be seen here.

The second event was the recent arrival of the vehicles purchased for Help Channel Burundi during our trip to Dubai in November. After passing through the exasperating formalities of importation, the vehicles have been washed, tuned, and prepped with Help Channel logo decals (thanks to honorary Help Channel member Mr Joseph Ferretti).

Third was my recent move, into the house that I’ll occupy for the remaining duration of my time in Burundi. After two weeks, it already feels like home, and I am very content. It’s in a “gated community” which means it’s secure and calm, and the house staff are talented, honest and conscientious. I share the house with a good friend Duncan, who spends the workweek upcountry, beyond the reach of telephones and electricity, and commutes into town for the weekends. We geek-out about botany and classical music, and he teaches me all sorts of interesting British-isms. I’ve occupied myself reading with a cold beverage in a nice chair on our covered patio, I’ve been doing some extreme gardening, and I’ve even been (gasp!) walking around the neighbourhood. The poverty, overpopulation, insecurity and diesel fumes don’t usually lend to great walking conditions, so it’s a real treat and somewhat of a liberation. PS- spare bedroom available for any visitor on their way through…

So, 2008 is in full swing and I have little doubt that it will be the best yet.