old tiger's Blog

So..a good breakfast again..very well served in buffet style..
we set off walking towards Sandaga market..
Dakar got a paralell running street pattern..nice spacious boulevards..
Sandaga..well..I had been there before in mid 70's..to tell you all..
I did not feel at ease..it's a very African oriented market..
Kermel..is the market for the *toubabs*=foreign residing folks..
Sandaga..well..was a very old building structure..dating from the 30's
once inside..you SMELL Africa..we saw tiger teeth,monkey testicles,
powders to increase this or that,grigris,talismen,snake skins,spices,
herbs,teeth,claws,tails from all sort of animals..also other things..
cd roms,fake watches,gadgets,electronical calculators..the whole shit..
we got approached by touts..watch out..I tell you..they use tricks..
to distract your attention..beware of your valuables..
my wife..was seen as an African woman..uhuh...
they asked her where she was from??if we said India..
then everybody got charmed..even in Senegal Hindi movies are in..
we took a bus towards the IFAN museum..it was not that far...
but we wanted to experience a bus ride...well..nice scents and smells..
nice looking Senegalese woman spreading their parfum..nice booboos..
intricate African hairdo's..dreads...Africans can really make hair patterns..
reaching IFAN museum...was closed for noon break..damn hot weather..
the warden told us to wait..but..he invited us to share food with his
little family..Muslim customs of course..we entered a courtyard..
some young teenage girls..probably his daughters?running around.
preparing food...it was ti? boudienne=national dish of Senegal..
we had to remove our shoes..food was served in a wok like thing..
and ALL of us eating with our hands..out of the same wok..
NEVER eat with left hand..and don't start eating..before the old fellow
starts eating..it's a sign of respect..traditions,you know..
eating there..gave us a feeling of being accepted..they felt so proud..
I knew French well of course..but I knew some Wolof language as well.
just say *nanga def*=how are you??*mangi fi rekk*=I'm O.K..
some Muslim greetings are very appreciated as well..
I knew some *surah*s by heart..they loved it..
bit later..after greeting the family and thanking them for the food..
we visited the museum..it's mainly masks..more etnological..
after that..we took some transport to Soumb?dioune..
nice ride on la Corniche=road bordering the ocean..cool breeze...
Soumb?dioune..was a bummer..crowded..lots of touts..
more then 200 shoplike stalls..and each one had a good price..
for an African mask,clothes,gadgets..it's too touristical..
we bought something..but I don't remember what..and me myself.
I can't bargain over a price..I never was interested in souvenirs etc..
next to Soumb?dioune is a fish market in the afternoon..
very colourful..but we felt left out as tourists..it's very African..
and hold your noses closed as well..it smells a bit..uhuh...
we went back to the hotel..took food..next day..Gor?e slave island..
Tiger

So..little afternoon stroll..we went to a supermaket..
and were followed by some troublesome *bana bana*
these folks sell everything on the street..from ballpens..
to I did not know what??they will follow you around like shit..
I told him we did not need ballpens,postcards,fake watches etc..
we were half an hour in that supermarket..when we came out..
same bana bana was still there...be very firm with these fellows..
tell them to bugger off in Wolof=baima suma djama..
we reached the Kermel market..my wife bought herself a booboo..
typical African long dress..like a maxi...nice colours..
Kermel market was hectic..we liked the fruits,vegetables and spices..
but the meat market was bit less hygienic then at home..
lots of flies...and one should hold noses closed..
after that..it was time to go back to Teranga hotel..
very friendly staff..lots of toubabs=tourists..ahah..
the evening meal..we took it in the restaurant..
served in style...and to tell you peeps..
I did not know very well about etiquette,table manners etc..
we took a ti?bou dienne=fish dish with vegetables,potatoes,peppers..
next day we planned to visit Sandaga market..and the Ifan museum.
later on Soumb?dioune..which was a tourist souvenir market..
Tiger

So..I got a letter from the Senegalese embassy Brussels..
in it was a return ticket Brussels-Dakar with Sabena airlines..
and a letter to be presented to Senegal tourism in Dakar..
giving me the voucher for 10 days free stay in a hotel of my choice..
the hotel we picked was Teranga Sofitel..more then 250 rooms..
fact was that I was worried that I would have to pay the 10 nights
hotel for my wife..and a luxury hotel in West Africa..was not cheap..
I booked a Sabena ticket for my wife..and one day..we flew..
Brussels-Dakar..my wife was not very keen on Africa..she was afraid
of it,I believe..I re-assured her it would be O.K...the flight went fine..
reaching Yoff airport when it's dark..is no pleasure really..it's hot..
lots of touts..taxi,Sir..change money,Sir..what's your name,Sir..
well..I had been in Senegal mid 70's..I knew what to expect..
and how to deal with it..I had to change some French francs into CFA..
and we did not take a taxi..but a bus..funny ride it was..
but it was safe at least..beware in Dakar..just watch out..
for beggars,pickpocketers etc..they are very persistent...
we reached the hotel..and booked in for 10 nights..
showed my letter..they said..teranga..which means welcome in Wolof..
the room was very large..big bed...bathroom,shower,toilet..
we were on the 9th floor..little balcony..overlooking the ocean..
we were tired...and slept well..next morning..breakfeast..
served in buffet style..I was NOT used to this..
lots of choice..different breads,meat,cheese,drinks,fruits..
my wife was crazy about papaya..so..good breakfast..
we went to the Dakar tourism office..I was bit worried..
one very friendly fellow..welcomed us..I showed him my letter..
he smiled and said..how come you know so much about my country??
participating in a quiz on television..I told him..I visited Dakar before..
he was Wolof tribe related..to my surprise..and I bet to my wife's surprise..
he gave us a signed paper back for the hotel..
allowing even for my wife..10 days hotel half pension..
bwahah...I couldn't believe my eyes..after this..we went back to the
hotel..presented the necessary papers for our free stay..
and we went for a short stroll into Dakar center...
I'll tell in a later posting..about our adventures in Dakar..
and we were planning to visit Gambia..by taxi brousse..
Tiger

So..one fine day..I went to Brussels..to do a selection for Senegal..
the selection were no easy questions..but...I managed quite well..
in fact..I was selected..and had to play against a bank director..
I got about 35 days inbetween selection and actual recording.
never had been on television before..that day..I was nervous..
brr..all these lights and camera's focused on our faces..
first there was make up done...then bit of training..
about how this program was set up..bit confusing..
we sat on a table..facing each other..
we had some jetons..which represented money..
and according to the question..we could set in the money we wanted...
my opponent=Marcel..was a nice fellow..
he was as nervous as I was..ahah..
so we played...and the questions were quite difficult..
as a matter of fact..both of us did NOT play to well..
we finished the game by a score of 18000/16000 B.fr..
I mean Belgian francs won..could have been better..
but guess what??at the end of the program..
the quizmaster announced..gentlemen..I got a surprise.
came this fellow in a booboo=long Senegale dress..
representing the Senegale embassy and tourism section..
he said..I got 2 envelopes here..with in it..
a free ticket by plane to Dakar..and a 10 day stay in a 3 star hotel..
which we could choose ourselves...I couldn't believe my eyes..
that both of us..got this..I lost this game..anyway..
so..finally..me and Marcel were happy enough..
I went to Dakar and Banjul in oktober 1986...with my wife..
I'll tell you peeps about my adventures..
Marcel went in december..he sent me a postcard..

Tiger

Paris in 1 day..forget about it..so my uncle payed us this trip..
bus from Antwerp(Belgium)shortest way via Mons-Maubeuge-Soissons..
in these days..bus daytrips were quite popular..getting into Paris...
you feel the hectic life..the traffic on the p?riph?rique(ringroad)
the classical sights were done..Eiffel tower...Champ's Elysees..
Notre Dame..Montmartre..Arc de Triomphe..it was a guided tour..
with a Belgian guide explaining the sights..not bad really..
in between they stop for food as well..so this day...it flew away..
in my eyes it's rubbish to do this..I wouldn't spend my money on it..
Paris needs 1 or 2 weeks or even more..to explore..
I was in Paris for few weeks early 70's..I know what Paris is about..
I'll find a link..about this huge city..it's really huge..
http://www.paris.org/