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