Sunday, 11 July 2010

Kigali, Rwanda - JUN 10 - part 4

We were treated to a demonstration of traditional Rwandan dancing.



Kigali, Rwanda - JUN 10 - part 3

One of the mass graves surrounding the memorial.
A member of our security escort as we traveled through the country.
In this valley, more than 40,000 people were killed in 4 days.

Kigali, Rwanda - JUN 10 - part 2

Typical Rwandan village.

The local villagers are digging a 100+ mile long trench for a fiber optic cable run. They're digging it by hand, using picks and shovels!
Each village gets a stretch of road along which they have to dig their portion of the trench. The entire village participates, men, women, and children.

Kigali, Rwanda - JUN 10

Rwanda is a very agriculturally productive nation.
It's called the land of a thousand hills and they're not kidding!
All the green was almost overwhelming after Djibouti.

Flight to Moulhole, northern Djibouti - MAY 10 - part 3

There are bones littering the ground around the perimeter of the base. Camel bones, maybe?
Final turn into the approach to the outpost at Moulhoule.
Djibouti is desolate but there is a stark beauty about it.

Flight to Moulhole, northern Djibouti - MAY 10 - part 2

Mountain range in northern Djibouti.
As you go north, there is a little (very little) greenery in an otherwise desolate country.
An oasis along the northern border.
Sitting on the ramp of the CH-53 at 1200 feet!

Flight to Moulhole, northern Djibouti - MAY 10

Headed out over the Gulf of Tadjourah.
The runway at Amboule International (next to the base).
Steely-eyed warrior.
Pre-flight.

Manda Bay, Kenya - MAR 10 - part 10

Loading the luggage onto the plane.
Not exactly what I'd call a modern taxiway.
Yes, it's really the check-in counter.
The "departure lounge" at the airport. Not surprisingly, there's just the one.

Manda Bay, Kenya - MAR 10 - part 9

The departure terminal.
The "airport" at Lamu.
They still use poles to move their boats.
The transit up the river to Lamu.

Manda Bay, Kenya - MAR 10 - part 8

Headed back to the base.
Kenyan sunset.
The land rovers have the "safari" top - makes watching the hippos and other wildlife much easier.

Manda Bay, Kenya - MAR 10 - part 7

A heron.
There is a family of hippos that live in a pond about 10 km from the base.

Manda Bay, Kenya - MAR 10 - part 6

A view of the hippo pond from the water tower.
As noted, Kenya is very lush and green.

Probably not meant to be climbed but we did anyway.

Manda Bay, Kenya - MAR 10 - part 5

A troop of baboons live on the base. They pretty much get free reign.