Burkina Faso: Porga - Fada N'Gourma - Ouagadougou
Written by traveladdictLast updated 2005-06-01 01:43:06
June 23, 2004: Porga - Fada N'Gourma Our second entry in Burkina Faso is again a really hot one! We left the three coastal countries Ghana, Togo and Benin, and with that the sea breeze and lush forests.
Welcome back to savanna, sahel and desert! Also a more poor way of life: the struggle to get things growing is permanently present, although we are now in the wet season and everything is much greener than before. The Peul people let their cattle graze on the nice green grass and the fresh leaves of the trees. Everywhere, we see herds of zebus guarded by a boy.
When we stop at a desolate place to have a quiet picnic, out of the blue, we are surrounded by children and cattle.
In Fada N'Gourma, we settle at Auberge Yemmama just besides the market. Plenty of colorful lizards crowd the courtyard and we have our little friend, the gecko watching over us at night. A pity he couldn't keep the cockroach out of Wims' neck. This one we had to catch ourselves.
June 24-28, 2004: Fada N'Gourma Five days in Fada, where we do some computering and get our distraction at the market. Periods of heavy winds cover the city in a layer of dust. But no rain yet! Days are hot and nights don't cool down enough? our energy is fading with the wind.
Sunday's is cattle market just outside the city-centre. A friend takes us on his mobylette. Not only the huge amount of zebus, donkeys, goats and chickens are spectacular, also the gathering of all these Peul families, who enjoy their reunion and chat the time away. It's a real happening with all kind of goods for sale, things to eat and drink. The Peul women sell milk in huge calabashes, which they carry on the head. I'm invited to a "lottery" and now I am the happy winner of a packet of cookies.
We buy some of Fada's renowned honey at the TIN BA boutique on the market. We get to know Yempabou Coulidiati (e-mail: atinba@caramail.com), who's the coordinator of this association for the welfare and development of rural areas. The production of peanut butter, shea butter and peanut oil are their main activities. We follow the work- and time-intensive process, where the peanuts are being peeled, grilled and selected before they are pressed to become peanutbutter.
Jun.29, 2004: Fada N'Gourma - Ouagadougou Through the green savanna with plenty of Shea- trees, baobabs, raisins du desert,? we continue west to Ouagadougou.
This is not our favorite city. Too much trucks, mobylettes and confusing traffic situations. But since we need to be here to get our Mali visa, we have no other choice.
Pictures with this story: www.traveladdict.be
