A TALE OF TWO CULTURES: 

The Central African Republic and Morocco 

April 15, 2016 

 

There's a huge clearing in the dense rainforest of the Central African Republic... meager blades of grass dot the trampled earth, flattened by herds of elephants, buffalo and the rare, elusive bongo antelope (among others.) From behind the towering trees on the periphery of this particular bai, more and more elephants, buffalo and bongos rush out into the open field. I could hear them thrashing in the undergrowth as they worked their way towards the life-giving water and minerals buried deep in the iron grey earth. 

The animal family groups come and go throughout the day (and probably through the night,) as the elephants dig the access holes and the rest of the animals benefit from their hard work. They dig for their much needed salt, minerals and water while providing quite a show for the onlooker...an incredible introduction to the riches of the Central African Republic in the heart of equatorial Africa.
Our home away from home was a camp on the Sangha River where fishermen are busy from morning 'til night and goods are transported on a daily basis in hollowed out tree trunks.

  

The BaAka pygmies were the people with whom we spent most of our time. Natural trackers who live in villages in the area, they're warm, welcoming and curious, as they don't get many tourists venturing into such a remote location.  Their main forest activity is hunting for consumption as well as for trade. They employ several methods of hunting... some solitary...primarily for the men and the group net hunt involving men, women and children.

It's a curious thing to observe...they set their nets around a large area then shout and thrash at the undergrowth to force the animals out toward the nets. They hunt small antelope and porcupine in this way...always commencing the hunt with songs about their upcoming adventure.
Here are some glimpses into their village life... 

A beauty salon

A movie theater

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention my first meeting EVER with a very rare creature. Have you heard of a tree PANGOLIN? They're solitary, very shy, nocturnal animals...Africa's little ball of armor. This is a photo made by the owners of SANGHA LODGE, (our home away from home in the Congo,) of the pangolin they rescued and reintroduced into the rainforest. She's very sweet, independent and absolutely adorable!!! It'll be interesting to watch her progress, as not a great deal is known of these tree pangolins.

One of the most exciting days in the rainforest was spent trekking to see the Lowland Gorillas. Walking through dense jungle with temperatures well into the 90's and humidity almost as high, we climbed over fallen trees and impenetrable foliage for hours to find these beautiful animals. For me, this was very difficult, but well worth the effort. Of the following photos,  some are mine and some were made by my friend, Jayne Turner. These guys were difficult to photograph...the forest was dark and these amazing primates were very active!! 

I confess that in the gorilla photos that weren't up to my high standard in their original form, I played with them a bit to make them more appealing!! :) They were extraordinary to observe at such close range!!!

The last part of our journey to exciting, colorful Morocco is the second culture we experienced. Check back for the rest of the journey...

Thanks for stopping by.
Big Hugs,
abbyj

 

ARTFUL READERS CLUB

CIRCLING THE SUN by Paula McLain 

March 14, 2016 

 

I knew nothing about Beryl Markham before reading CIRCLING THE SUN by Paula McLain. She was a fascinating woman who had a very unconventional upbringing in early 20th century colonial Kenya. She was the white daughter of a horse ranch owner who, through McLain's depiction, felt very real and multidimensional.  I could envision her life and struggles...rebelling against the norms, fighting to go on after her mother's departure from her early life, her relationship with her father, her working through becoming  a child bride, her relationships with people who helped as well as hurt her, her strong attachment to Kenya, her ability to move on no matter how far she fell, her fierce independence, sense of humor and her strong sense of self. McLain did a great job describing the reality of a world where independence for women...the option to pursue one's dreams... was close to non-existent... and the penalties that had to be endured if that was the chosen path to walk. Beryl Markham was a horse trainer at a time when it was a career suitable only for men and was successful at being the first woman to fly solo from England to New York as well as to cross the Atlantic, east-to-west, solo, non-stop at a time when only men were pilots.  

Paula McLain is a beautiful, poetic writer... a skill that helps us as readers develop a realistic awareness and love for Markham's Kenya. CIRCLING THE SUN is a magical book about a very strong woman... there's romance, mystery, heartache and so much joy for life. It's definitely one I'd recommend. If you read McLain's THE PARIS WIFE and enjoyed it, you'll LOVE this novel.

 

Hope to see you for my next posting...thanks for stopping by.

Big Hugs,

abbyj

ARTFUL READERS CLUB 

"ORPHAN#8" 

by Kim van Alkemade 

March 3, 2016 

 

 

My book review for this month is of “ORPHAN #8,” a debut novel of historical fiction by English professor, Kim van Alkemade. It’s set in the forgotten world of New York City’s Jewish orphanages of the 1920’s as well as the more modern times of the 1950’s. The main character, Rachel Rabinowitz, is a work of fiction, but her story is based on very real people, places and events. The story shifts between Rachel as a child in
the 1920’s and as an adult in the 1950’s... distinct
story lines that alternate as the story progresses.

Kim van Alkemade has written a stirring, beautifully detailed novel about the atrocities perpetrated on innocent children by those tasked with their care...in the name of research; the anguish and uncertainty of self-identity, belonging and acceptance of life’s harsh terms without succumbing to the bitterness; the Depression; WWII; sexual identity; love and revenge...all in 416
pages! 

Shocking, sensitive and heartwarming, this was a very impressive debut novel...I look forward to more from this author. 

 

Until my next posting,

Big Hugs,

abbyj

 

ARTFUL READERS CLUB

"A PARIS APARTMENT" 

by Michelle Gable 

February 16, 2016 

Debut novelist, Michelle Gable has written a story based on the past, touching the present and even affecting the future. Inspired by true events, A PARIS APARTMENT explores the lives of two extraordinary women... one, a present day Southeby’s auction house furniture expert and the other, a courtesan from Paris’ Belle Epoch Era. April Vogt, a New Yorker,  is sent to  Paris by Southeby’s to assess the contents of an apartment that’s been sealed for 70 years and ready its contents for auction. She finds extraordinary treasures in addition to the diaries of apartment owner, Marthe de Florian, whose friends, lovers and family included artist Giovanni Boldini (who painted Marthe’s portrait, uncovered here for the first time,) Marcel Proust and Victor Hugo among several others. The diaries make the apartment’s contents, even more valuable and the book even more enticing and mysterious. The reader lives April’s life through her own narrative and Marthe de Florian’s life through her scandalous and heartbreaking journal entries. She led an amazingly colorful life ...truly a rags to riches story!
This is a great read for anyone who enjoys being swept away to Paris in the 1890s as well as to the City of Lights of today...
 
Thanks for stopping by... please join me for my next blog posting.
Big Hugs,
abbyj