Kumasi – Exploring a whole new world
USING YOUR HEAD
Bob was thrilled to find that people still use their heads to carry their burdens in this part of Africa. He remembers seeing a sewing machine atop a woman’s head as a child. Inspired by a woman carrying a load of used plastic and paint cans, he and Jeremy decided to give it a try with empty water bottles on the way to purchase drinking water.
FIRES
Fires are a common sight and we immediately recognized the aroma of burning plastic that is the hallmark of the developing world. Not all fires are household trash. Fire is used for cooking, to clear land and make charcoal. We have not yet figured out what the fire in the picture on the is about. It burns daily behind in the vicinity of Logs and Lumber Limited, a large lumber yard to the east of our neighborhood.
OUR STREET
This is the view looking north on Dr. J. G. Wood Lane from right outside our house. A little further up the road, Camille spotted a beautiful blue bird on the wire and snapped a picture for identification. Bob identified it as a Woodland kingfisher, and saw one the next day in another part of town. We hear their call throughout the day (it sounds like a whistling Fourth of July firework) and often see them perched on a large tree on the adjacent property.
KITCHEN VIEW
When standing at the kitchen sink, we look down upon the remains of a home which once was similar to ours. Here’s how the ruins look from the street, looking back up at the kitchen window on the top left of our green concrete house.
NEIGHBORS
This is the home of at least five of our immediate neighbors on the south side of our house. We call this the Shanty Ruins. Their meals often smell more appetizing than whatever we’re working on. Our neighbors speak French and Twi but we still manage to communicate. They planted bananas and have laying hens.
OUT AND ABOUT
Three random photos – the statue in front of the cultural center, a typical corn patched wedged into an available area and an interesting parking job, or bad place to get a flat.
FIRST OUTING
Camille jumped into a cab with Louis, Lauren and Jeremy to take in an Italian Circus while Bob stayed home and got his first taste of down time in more than a month.
TICKET BOOTH AND BIG TOP
We were impressed by the elaborate ticket booth and velvet draped entrance to the Circus tent.
VIRTUAL REALITY
Just like anywhere else, the audience pulled out their cell phones to capture the unusual sights of aerial artists, tiger tamers, clowns, acrobats, jugglers and snake charmers.
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Latest * Troutsfarm * Last Days in Moncure * Flying to Ethiopia * A Couple of Days in Accra * Our First Week in Kumasi * Our New Home
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