Tire Flowers to Banjul
Antwoorden
Categoriearchief: My Gambia
Suns and Smileys
I watched something inspiring last week about living off the grid. Disturbing, because of the state of the economy in the US, and not just there. Inspiring, because there are alternative ways. The documentary by Alexander Oey was broadcasted by the Buddhist Broadcast Foundation on Dutch tv last week, in Holland now to be watched on “uitzending gemist” called “Off the Grid” http://www.uitzendinggemist.nl/afleveringen/1262992
Raining season proof
It’s the raining season in the Gambia. A couple of heavy tropical rains have hit the country since June. It’s still hot, though. Nothing like summer in Holland. Since the tourist season is over, a lot of people who work in the tourist areas head back home to plant and grow crops, like peanuts and cassava. Within a couple of weeks, the Gambia turns into a beautiful, lush, green country.
It’s my favourite season. If you are here, right now, I’d advise to take some trips inside the country. You’ll see, smell and maybe even taste, the Gambia in it’s best suit.
My best news this week: the roof is raining season-proof!
Open Air Service Station
Service stations are often just outside,
in the shade, under a tree.
Like this one. That’s where we found most of our tires. While we collected them ,we were creating a lot of extra car repair space at the same time! And you see: even numberplates are painted on cars. No problem.
View from the top
Hope to post something new soon.
In the meantime: I bet these ones are not aware of anything like these petty people problems: they just sit there and overlook everything calmly. Like I wish I could right now….I’m not a bird watcher, but I believe this bird is a southern masked weaver. The other spectator, I believe, is a Gambian version of a squirrel.
Powered by
Since there’s nothing here yet, apart from water from the well, I am going to need solar power for electricity or
“light” as they call power here. The workers who are digging and cementing the well and installing the pump, were far ahead of me. Their little solar panel (on the left) charges their phones while they are working. Btw: I am actually in this picture myself. Also powered by the sun!
Return to Sender
Progress of the building: I hear the stacking of the tire walls has started! Pictures will follow soon….
In the meantime I got so bored that I actually voluntarily did my paper work and found something neat between it:
“Return to Sender” is a brand, sold by the HEMA in the Netherlands. It was founded by Katja Schuurman and promotes fair trade and produces sustainable products. Exactly my kind of thing. Today I sent in the leaflet that was attached to this little notebook that I got on my birthday. “Return to Sender” asks their costumers what they do with their products, in order to complete the good story that RtS has started.I hope they will tell our story on their website!
This notebook travels back and forth with me to the Gambia and contains sketches and calculations of the tire house building project.Here a picture of a first sketch I made of the inside of the building.