Visiting the nomads

While we were out in the bush today, we encountered a nomad family slightly south of Tanout town.

They were watering their animals, and I did not hesitate to bring out my camera.

I must say, I have always had very much respect for the nomads' beloved creatures and previously always kept a safe distance to their impressive horns. But this time, I had a mission, and as I approached them, they chose to approach me, and all of sudden, we had bonded...

Never thought I would fall in love with a calf, but I must admit, this guy really charmed me!!

Ishtar

Resemblance...

Here is a picture of what the current Internet connection resembles the most right now... I've been trying and trying to upload pictures but the net is a stubborn Taurin Kai that refuses to do as I ask...

If it's of any consolidation, I'm busy as a bee heading out in the bush and watching the beautiful rainy season dry up...

Am hoping for better (Internet) luck tomorrow!

Ishtar

A memorable ride

I must say I was lucky, because it's not every day that a visitor of Eden comes along and happens to have a few years of riding experience in the luggage. We were happy to find some time on Sunday afternoon to head out into the bush.

He got to ride Sahara - Nettus horse, our delightful little "Taurin kai" (lit translates The thicked-headed but what it really means is the stubborn one) who is always a safe card before of her unwillingness to try anything new...

Both horses were keen and ready to go. Here's Arwen wondering why I am taking so long checking the gear, but since I no longer have the possibility to ride them out every day, I need to check that everything is in order so that nothing will break once we're in the bush.

Few things scare these two girls, so riding out of the city is not a problem!

Nettus followed us for 10 minutes, but then the horses got restless so we picked up some speed and galloped all the way to Mandara.

It was a great outing and our visitor said later that it was one of the coolest experiences he had had! It was a good thing we didn't get to do it until the last day of his visit, or he would have demanded to be taken out every day and we might not have gotten all the work done!

Ishtar

Our first visit to the market

Today, Nettus and I took one of the Norwegian visitors to the market to look for tissue.

This was actually our first visit to one of my favorite places in Niger. We would have gone sooner had it not been for all the work and the time spent fixing up our new home!

We went through store after store, and although your eye gets tired after scanning through such seas of colors, he did in the end find some very nice bazain.

For the passionate: the Nigerien horse gear.

Ishtar

Mechouï with friends

Tonight, my father (who's been around for about ten days with two visitors from Norway) invited us all over to a Mechouï - which is what we in Niger call a whole lamb grilled with vegetables and couscous.

Here I am posing with the chef!

Nettus tried this exclusive delicacy for the first time and was not disappointed!

Once we are done (a few hours later!) the second feast begins. This has always been the highlight of the evening for my mother and I. Tonight, the three guard dogs assembled before the guests and surprised us all with the well behaved manners! Well, Kinza the Polish Alsacian (bought in Nigeria) did bite my hand but it was unintentional. She's just not always concentrated on what she does (except when guarding).

This picture depicts Bagheera walking away with half the spine...

...but there was enough for all of them, and we were all very satisfied!

Ishtar

Going where there is no Internet

For the past eleven days, I have been out on the road on a daily basis (except for one morning and one afternoon). Together with my Eden colleague, we've been going from village to village interviewing a lot of people and documenting their lives.

Despite the heat and the unpleasant little insects that the rainy season has to offer (there is a newcomer in Niger this year: a little worm that parachutes down from the tree tops and leaves you with huge burn marks, even if it "only" ends up on your clothes), I have had so much fun and my level of inspiration is currently at its height.

For those of you who do not know what life is like for people in Niger, let me present you the drinking water for as long as this seasonal lake will last.

We met some people on their way south and the kids offered me the warmest of smiles.

We took some time to stop by a dead goat and explain how the system works. Animals in Niger need to be slaughtered in a correct manner, or people won't touch the meat (this poor goat probably met death falling off the rooftop of a minibus on its way to the marketplace).

On our way to meet an Eden farmer who lives far into the bush. The place was so peaceful with no other Westerners at sight. I really fell in love with it and didn't want to go back (especially not after having met our farmer and his family who were so kind and generous).

The roof top is a great ladder when you want to film the landscape.

A typical picture of Ishtar in action...
This was our last stop and a perfect shot to remember, but posing in front of the camera after hours of hours on the road in full heat (and some humidity, although it wasn't close to raining...) and wearing the same jeans for the fifth day made me feel very [...]. Let me just say that the shower afterwards was great!!

Ishtar

Weekend habit!

Haven't had the time to ride out as often as we would have liked, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable!

Ishtar

Getting somewhere with the house

With all our siestas and free evenings being spent fixing up the house, it is great when you finally feel that you are getting somewhere! This weekend, we took out everything from the store and sorted it out. Ali and his sons helped us with the ordeal, which is now 75% finished. It took half the day (a Sunday, on top of that!) but it was worth it!


Ishtar

Famine food

With the rich of the world constantly chasing tastes, I wonder how came the tasty poor man's food has been labeled "famine food". Why is it that what we do not know is always discarded as non-edible?


For those who wonder, the photo depicts Ishtar eating Nigerien famine food (and loving it!) while at lunch at her brother's place.

Ishtar

Wasp attack

Yesterday afternoon, Nettus and I were figuring out how we wanted our trees to grow in the garden, when I reached out for the wrong branch. A wasp came out of nowhere and attacked me, stinging me at least twice (although it felt like five...).

Thinking it was a bee (we have a bee nest in the old acacia outside our gate) and having never been stung by a bee before, I called my sister in law just to make sure I was not having an allergic reaction. But as I was speaking to her, the pain spread creatively throughout my body, my breathing got heavier and all I could think of was by great longing to fall asleep. I started to cry when Nettus and Renate told me that I had to keep awake until the doctor came!

The adventure - which one must call if it one wants to see it from the positive side - ended up with me getting the most painful shot of antidote I have ever received (Nettus has firmly stated that by the size of the needle used, she intends to avoid all wasps stings in the future, and if she ever gets stung, she will deny it ever happened) but it was worth it, because within minutes, my heart started beating normally again and I suddenly got an overdose of energy. Which I made up for this morning, sleeping until eleven o'clock... Mmmmm.... :-)

Isthar

Second journey to the field station

Today I was back at the field station - although this time without Nettus, who has so much work at the office right now!


I'm really starting to love the field station - never used to be my favorite before, but now that I'm learning from our researcher, I find it really interesting and fun! Not to mention beautiful and peaceful.


Already looking forward to next Tuesday - although I'll be back before, since we're heading up for an "extra visit" on Saturday.

Cheers!
Ishtar

Our first riding expedition (this season!)

At first, Nettus was slightly skeptical and not all that keen to be dragged up on the very same horse that only a year ago left the race track and sent Nettus flying through the air...




It turned out however that the combination of wonderful scenery, good company (that would be moi, yes!) and a change of character in Sahara (such an obedient darling, she was!) was such a success that both Nettus and I can hardly wait until next weekend arrives! Let's just hope the scenery stays green that long (seeing it hasn't rained more than once since our arrival...).

Cheers everyone!
We're off to move some furniture over at "the ark"!

Ishtar

Ishtar & Nettus' ark

Pictures from the house!






Between fulltime work and fixing up the house & settling in there has been very little time to blog, and it hasn't helped that the Internet connection right now is really bad. But here are some pictures of the house. With only one resident animal right now (the dog) we can't really call it an ark, but the idea is to move over the horses as soon as we've settled in. Right now they're staying where they were last year, being ridden out by Ali and feeding huge amounts of freshly green grass. Yesterday, I rode out for the first time since arriving and this afternoon, Anette and I have plans on going out for a little excursion. We could surely need it will all the working we've been doing lately! Will (hopefully) fill you in on the details soon enough!

Ishtar

This season's first journey to the field station

After just one day at the Eden office in Zinder, Nettus and I joined forces with the rest of the team and headed up for a full day in the sun at the field station!

Although it's green and the grass hasn't dried yet, one still had to watch one's step for cram-cram!

Now after a full day, I must admit that I am really tired and very much ready to go home and get some rest!

Cheers!!
Ishtar

The journey from Kano to Zinder

West Africa is so green right now!! I just can't stop enjoying the view!

Neither can this cow!

The kids are having a grand time!

Nettus in front of a village somewhere between Kano and Zinder

Greetings!
Ishtar