THE Visit to Bayanga!>
Recently there have been some very interesting experiences out here, some that have been just hard going and arduous, others that have been much more pleasurable. All however interesting none the less.
I recently had to go to Bayanga, the local town (1 1/2 hours drive away by 4x4). I had to go as i had been requested to meet the project members and the local authorities, and introduce myself/ourselves (as other researchers and volunteers were also requested). The first interesting part was the travel from Bai Hokou camp to Bayanga. It began with a drive in a Toyata Pickup 4x4 trip with 9 people plus luggage through narrow muddy tracks for many ours coming across tree falls after recent storms, blocking the road and low hanging branches. Many of these low lying branches taken at speed, meaning hiding and dodging them was almost a risky but exciting game to play. On many occassions i lost, and got a branch in the face or in one case a spiky thorny branch across the ear! This was made all the more fun by listening to rock music while thorughout the journey. The car was extremely full and people brimming from the sides!
We arrived in Bayanga at sunset, with no rooms or anything as our arrival was completely unexpected! This meant there was no food or drink to be found. Bayanga is not a place to go wandering after dark, as drunkeness and crime are a common feature at night.....actually drunkeness is a common feature during the day too.
So with this in mind we set out for food into the town at night with no idea of where we were going or how to get back! The place was still really busy and very interesting as to me the lively and friendly atmosphere was largely absent at this time. After buying very little food but some we gave up and headed back, with manioc flower to make Guso (local dough like food) and sweet bananas for dinner. Another 'interesting' experience! The next day brought around a vist to the market in the light, and wholly better experience, but still not what i would call pleasurable. It involved being stared at constantly, and asked for money regularly. however i persisted and looked around, not really requiring much, i mainly window shopped to know what can be bought in the future. The answer is not alot!!!
I will keep my opinions of Bayanga limited here, as my opinions could change.....but they certainly cant get much worse. I just dont enjoy spending time there, and relaxing on my 'veranda' outside my room at Bai Hokou is much more relaxing.> > The next day we were to be introduced to the people! Who these people are i still dont know, mainly because all the introductions and talking was done in French, a language i cant only mildly not understand to heavily understate! Either way these were highly repetitive and clearly the joy and pleasure shown was clearly fake and just words rather than genuine care! But isnt that just what most of these things are like. Either way we went round numerous people and saw numerous faces. now this is done, i may not need to go to bayanga now for a while! (i hope at least).> > The return journey on thursday was certainly what could be described as interesting! Once again the car was loaded up, but even more this time, and also with an extra couple of people. So if i thought the Outward journey was uncomfortable and an experience, i had another thought coming. The journey consisted of half sitting on raffia leaves for roofing, while half not in the car at all and mostly almost always felling as if i were falling out of the car! It was really amusing and i loved both journeys, far more than the time spent in the town! If i do it again i will try to ensure on getting images of us in the car. One person was taking pictures, which i shall try and get copies of.> >
After waiting in the dark as stuff fell off the car for a few hours in the middle of the forest with dangerous elephants near by, we returned to the camp!> > The following day was ok, but nothing too exciting.Saturday however, was a wicked day! A day that involved lots of different things and things i havent seen. It was only any other day habituating the gorillas. But all the contacts up to now have been non visual and i havent seen anything. Today i saw 2 gorillas while they barked aggressively at us, which get the adrenaline going for sure. I also saw a forest buffalo really up close, which was cool, collected faecal samples of elephant and hog for one of the researchers, and also saw a tiny inch long mouse in the middle of the forest. I watched the bayaka find make and prepare a plant to make twine for jewellery out of, and saw a monkey very well in the forest. I shall try and find out the species, but there are truly hundreds. Today was a really good day, with a nice contact with the gorillas, and decent time spent in the forest with the bayaka and the animals within the forest.> > So lets hope many days from now on continue to be this good, as time flew today, despite having lots of waiting around for the Gorilla contact. (can only make contact every few hours otherwise you scare the gorillas too much)> > Anyway all that is all for now.> > Regards
Dean
Monday, 30 November 2009
Saturday, 21 November 2009
Hi all
i still have no real access to the internet, only access to email, but not even my own email, hence my mum is updating the blog for all your pleasure. I have now been out here,almost 2 weeks, only a possible 50 odd to go! Its all going ok out here and i am still alive and not dying. However, my feet are in pieces with bites and stings and cuts and grazes. I will give a quick rundown of the project etc....
I shall start with the camp. Accomodation is huts, with idividual rooms, with palm covered roofs. Ther very basic, with mesh windows to stop the worst of the insects, but big gaps in the floor, above the 'windows' and under the door largely makes this effort pointless. but is does stop the largest insects from getting in! But fortunately, there arent as many large spiders and bugs as i thought! But there are a few freaky spiders and fake spiders and freaky cricket like things! also cockroaches are unfortunately everywhere, hence a permanent mosquito net is over the bed and sleeping stuff. Mosquitoes havent been and apparently arent much of a problem in general here, but there are a few, but are unlikely to carry Malaria due to no host population being near.
The toilet is a drop toilet with a hole, and the shower is indeed a very cold waterfall. It is refreshing after a day of being in the forest, but not really very relaxing if you want to spend sometime thinking like im used to doing in the shower!The novelty of a waterfall has indeed run its course and now its in and out as soon as possible. Cooking is on an open wood fire so plenty of time to be a pyromaniac!!! I cooked properly last night for the first time and Daniela the only person currently in camp, seemed very happy with its taste! Food is ok to me, but we apparently do buy what in this country is considered luxury items and hence are expensive. We use the luxury 'sweetcorn' and luxury 'pasta'as our staple foods. It is all tinned by the way and shipped in, hence the large price.
The forest here is much drier than Borneo and much less humid, but it is currently coming into the dry season, so its to be expected. The forest is ok to walk in, but does have some really annoying spikey plants that rip your feet to pieces, if youve chosen to walk in sandals, which is more comfortable in some cases! i think il stick to non cut but hot feet and stick to the boots!
There are three sides to the project here really, the already habituated gorilla group called the Makumba group now used for research and tourist purposes, the Agile Mangabeys which are largely habituated also for the tourism and research, and then the new group which is in the process of being Habituated (the Fini Group, Fini means 'new' in Bayaka(local language of the tracker tribes) apparently). Strangely i find the new group better, it involves alot more walking, and much less gorillas. But basically, you track them using the incredible local trackers, then get close enough, then make 'contact' where you dont even see the gorillas they see you and leg it, usually letting out loud barking roars in the process!! The Makumba group involves basically watching the group and taking down basic bits of information. the fini group is what im out here to do, so probably a good job i prefer it of the two gorilla things. The mangabeys is a kinda side project that the trackers tend to do the data collection and habituation of.
Thats basically the work and the camp etc. The quality of the forest here is exceptional, however, to me (comparing it to Borneo) it seems much less active and less buzzing with life, but considering its the dry season that may be why. hence photography is slow, but im taking the camera out every so often into the forest, usually when im with the Makumba group, as its largely pointless taking it to the Fini Group.
Anyway, hopefully at some time, we may get the net, or i may get access to internet properly and may be able to upload images or something!
The final word shall be that I do hope all are well, working hard, not working too hard, partying hard, not partying too hard, relaxing, not relaxing too much or finding a job. whichever of the list applies to you most and i would be most likely to say, please use, but applying to all, i hope everyone is happy and content and making the utmost of the time they have!
take care all
Go nzoni!(means go well in Sango, i think its a great way to say bye to someone)
Dean
PS if you want to email me, i cant get it at the moment, but if you leave comments on the blog, my mum may send them onto me!
i still have no real access to the internet, only access to email, but not even my own email, hence my mum is updating the blog for all your pleasure. I have now been out here,almost 2 weeks, only a possible 50 odd to go! Its all going ok out here and i am still alive and not dying. However, my feet are in pieces with bites and stings and cuts and grazes. I will give a quick rundown of the project etc....
I shall start with the camp. Accomodation is huts, with idividual rooms, with palm covered roofs. Ther very basic, with mesh windows to stop the worst of the insects, but big gaps in the floor, above the 'windows' and under the door largely makes this effort pointless. but is does stop the largest insects from getting in! But fortunately, there arent as many large spiders and bugs as i thought! But there are a few freaky spiders and fake spiders and freaky cricket like things! also cockroaches are unfortunately everywhere, hence a permanent mosquito net is over the bed and sleeping stuff. Mosquitoes havent been and apparently arent much of a problem in general here, but there are a few, but are unlikely to carry Malaria due to no host population being near.
The toilet is a drop toilet with a hole, and the shower is indeed a very cold waterfall. It is refreshing after a day of being in the forest, but not really very relaxing if you want to spend sometime thinking like im used to doing in the shower!The novelty of a waterfall has indeed run its course and now its in and out as soon as possible. Cooking is on an open wood fire so plenty of time to be a pyromaniac!!! I cooked properly last night for the first time and Daniela the only person currently in camp, seemed very happy with its taste! Food is ok to me, but we apparently do buy what in this country is considered luxury items and hence are expensive. We use the luxury 'sweetcorn' and luxury 'pasta'as our staple foods. It is all tinned by the way and shipped in, hence the large price.
The forest here is much drier than Borneo and much less humid, but it is currently coming into the dry season, so its to be expected. The forest is ok to walk in, but does have some really annoying spikey plants that rip your feet to pieces, if youve chosen to walk in sandals, which is more comfortable in some cases! i think il stick to non cut but hot feet and stick to the boots!
There are three sides to the project here really, the already habituated gorilla group called the Makumba group now used for research and tourist purposes, the Agile Mangabeys which are largely habituated also for the tourism and research, and then the new group which is in the process of being Habituated (the Fini Group, Fini means 'new' in Bayaka(local language of the tracker tribes) apparently). Strangely i find the new group better, it involves alot more walking, and much less gorillas. But basically, you track them using the incredible local trackers, then get close enough, then make 'contact' where you dont even see the gorillas they see you and leg it, usually letting out loud barking roars in the process!! The Makumba group involves basically watching the group and taking down basic bits of information. the fini group is what im out here to do, so probably a good job i prefer it of the two gorilla things. The mangabeys is a kinda side project that the trackers tend to do the data collection and habituation of.
Thats basically the work and the camp etc. The quality of the forest here is exceptional, however, to me (comparing it to Borneo) it seems much less active and less buzzing with life, but considering its the dry season that may be why. hence photography is slow, but im taking the camera out every so often into the forest, usually when im with the Makumba group, as its largely pointless taking it to the Fini Group.
Anyway, hopefully at some time, we may get the net, or i may get access to internet properly and may be able to upload images or something!
The final word shall be that I do hope all are well, working hard, not working too hard, partying hard, not partying too hard, relaxing, not relaxing too much or finding a job. whichever of the list applies to you most and i would be most likely to say, please use, but applying to all, i hope everyone is happy and content and making the utmost of the time they have!
take care all
Go nzoni!(means go well in Sango, i think its a great way to say bye to someone)
Dean
PS if you want to email me, i cant get it at the moment, but if you leave comments on the blog, my mum may send them onto me!
Saturday, 7 November 2009
In country
The internet is different to expected so updating blog will be difficult and done by family but written by me.
Things here are most definitely different, with the first few days being what can only be described as hell on earth! So much so, I considered flying back on the first available flight. This was all before arriving at the final camp (Bai Hokou). The living conditions here are decent , showering in a waterfall and sleeping on a foam mattress in a wooden hut, all very chilled and fine. All very civilised.
Have been out in the forest 3 times in total, seeing the agile Mangabeys and the gorrillas twice. The gorillas are amazing and I was sat what 5/6 metres away. It is going very well so far but got a decent amount to learn, mainly the mapping side and the local language (sango) the trackers use so that I can communicate when out in the forest. I also don't know the gorillas names/characters yet, but that will come with time.
I shall try to update you as regularly as possible, but no guarantees.
regards all
Dean over and out!
Things here are most definitely different, with the first few days being what can only be described as hell on earth! So much so, I considered flying back on the first available flight. This was all before arriving at the final camp (Bai Hokou). The living conditions here are decent , showering in a waterfall and sleeping on a foam mattress in a wooden hut, all very chilled and fine. All very civilised.
Have been out in the forest 3 times in total, seeing the agile Mangabeys and the gorrillas twice. The gorillas are amazing and I was sat what 5/6 metres away. It is going very well so far but got a decent amount to learn, mainly the mapping side and the local language (sango) the trackers use so that I can communicate when out in the forest. I also don't know the gorillas names/characters yet, but that will come with time.
I shall try to update you as regularly as possible, but no guarantees.
regards all
Dean over and out!
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