Rural areas

Here are some photos of the rural part of Sierra Leone.  The most interesting things I cannot photograph.  I find the people and the markets and their houses the most colorful and fascinating.  However, I am sensitive to their dignity.  I would not like it if a stranger got out of a car in my cul-de-sac and started taking photos of my house and my children in the yard.  Then again, my children don't play outside.....  Anyway, I only try and take wide shots or nature shots.  If I have people in my photos, I always ask for permission.  First my hotel:

Entrance to Hotel

My room from the outside

My lizard friend.  Note German Shepherd for scale.  Actually he is about a foot long.

Boys playing soccer in schoolyard

Cassava root cost 2 cents a piece from this girl

Crops are planted in mounds, not rows.  The heavy rains won't wash them away.  

 

This is the type of hand pump common in West Africa.  Living Water Intl maintains pumps like this.

Village Mosque.  Pronounced 'mox', like 'ask' is pronounced 'axe'.  Not kidding.

Pulling a net in from the sea

Inspecting the catch

Baby Octopus

Jellyfish is a common in the catch, too

Posing for a photo

Clothes drying on fishing boat

You know those cheap t-shirts you gave to Goodwill?  They end up in Africa.  I don't know how many elementary school shirts I've seen such as "Bluebonnet Elementary Field Day 2006!".   I've seen "Bear Crossing - Canada" and "Jewish Heritage Day" with a huge blue Star of David on the chest.  The best was a 10 yr old kid wearing "I'm Here! I'm Queer!  Let's Dance!"