A weekend of adventures and reflections.

YO!
This weekend has been my last in Bamako. Its strange to think that my experience has gone so fast and whilst at times it has been one of the hardest things I have done. I have had an amazing time, discovered lots both about myself and Mali, got considerably better at French and had some good (and sad) times along the way. I think the ICS scheme whilst needing some changes has offered me a brilliant opportunity to learn new things and I think everyone should get the chance to do it!

In order to celebrate the last weekend we have embraced our adventurous side here in Bamako and I have loved it. Yesterday we decided to go find the hill we had fictionally declared "Simbas Peak" unfortunately I was  under the illusion this name was real so googled it in preparation to be told it didnt exist! We got into a taxi and told him to take us to the bottom of a hill in Taliko. Taliko has a lot of hills but the taxi took us to one. It was fun , but the heat (and 3 months of bad food) made it tricky. On the way we saw women working the land and saw the village below. The view was lovely and it was good to be out and about.  The route down was a bit sketchy and i did some of it sitting down. It was nonetheless lovely to have some renewed energy from a bit of exercise and a snapshot into rural life. The children were so friendly and kept mobbing us in the street whilst everybody we saw said inice (hello) or i ni sogoma (good morning). I think that's one thing i will find sad about being home. Here everyone is so friendly and greets you whoever you are. Whilst I wont miss the constant shout of "Tubabu" white person which has started to get irritating, nor the taxis which follow you along the road beeping their horn cos they think as a Westerner you don't have legs, I will miss the friendliness and totally non judgmental attitude of people.

Sunday saw an adventure on the Niger. We found a hotel which provided canoe trips on the Niger. This was a brilliant way to spend the last Sunday . We picked up the canoes and a guide and after a bumpy trip to the start point we set off. The Niger is fairly fast, and whilst I had hoped the current would be fast it was bloody hard work fighting with both the current and the wind. The views were beautiful, and I really like the culture that comes with living alongside the river. Women washing clothes, kids swimming ad me fishing. It was so calm in comparison to central Bamako and we canoed past villages and through lots of beautiful rock formations (even if this was a bit like slalom and resulted in hitting the rocks a lot- ouch). I even saw a heron and lots of river birds. This wouldn't normally catch my eye but Bamako's wildlife extends to rats and salamanders so was nice to see.  We were told there were lots of rapids and unfortunately there was just one- this was nevertheless fun! I did however get very damp and spent the rest of the day drying off, as well as swallowing and splashing myself with water. Here's hoping it was a clean-ish bit of river.... I am now definitely aching but it was a brilliant day in the sunshine (with the exception of my awful tan lines...)

For our last week we have lots of work planned. We have to hand over al the work we have done. In hindsight whilst we have made a significant start on the artisan catalogue  and have helped market the artist network we have worked with I am sad not to have done more.   I wasn't expecting miracles but i was hoping for some improvement. I hope AJA run with what we have done and it doesn't go to waste. The rest of the week will be filled with admin and of course some fun! Watch this space. Soon you will be seeing this slightly more tanned Tubabu back in the UK!!

Things I will miss about Africa:

• The sunshine
• Friendly people
• Nice biscuits
• Finding everything novel
• The music
• Beautiful colors
• Smells, sights and sounds
• Yassa sauce (an onion based sauce for rice)
• Mango juice
• The excitement of little kids seeing a tubabu
• People's creativity
• Being resourceful
• Working everyday with inspiring people and beautiful thing.
• The anything goes attitude
• Being relaxed
• People not being judgemental

So many more for another day...

Things I will not miss about Mali...

• Mali time...definite test of patience
• chips,chips and more chips and in fact anything fried
• sleeping in my princess mosquito net
• MOSQUITO'S
• the salamander invasion in my room
• Taxis stopping all the time
• Not having the independence I am used to when out and about.
• Worrying that everything i eat will make me ill.

Sorry for this somewhat lackluster blog. I'm tired and my arms are so aching from the canoe I need a rest!

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