What reminds us of Central Africa (Gabon to DRC)

·         Incredible luscious, green jungle

·         Bamboo (didn’t know there was so much bamboo in Africa!)

·         Palms

·         Banana plants

·         F*&!ing annoying invisible biting insects and a beetle plague

·         Power failures

·         Ridiculously, painfully slow internet

·         Airtel signs (phone company)

·         Contrast of muddy, dirt roads to pristine, freshly-tarred highway

·         Wigs

·         Prostitutes

·         The expat life

·         French language

·         Wooden sculptures

·         Patisseries and boulangeries (fresh bread & tarte au fraises - yum!)

·         Smoke-filled bars with loads of character

·         The worst hangover Josh has ever had

·         Primus beer (although Ngok’ is way better)

·         Rise in prices (particularly Gabon)

·         Waving kids, crying out ‘Ballon, ballon’ wanting us to give them soccer balls

·         Poverty and requests for ‘argent, argent!’

·         A few beggars

·         The equator

·         Sweating in the unrelenting heat and humidity

·         Thunder and lightning shows and downpours

·         Washing lines everywhere as well as drying clothes on trees or on the grass

·         Locals washing their clothes and themselves in rivers

·         Bottle showers (using a 1.5 litre bottle only) whilst bush camping

·         Always feeling filthy even after a shower

·         Inquisitive locals

·         Pygmies

·         Crazy drivers and as a result many truck wrecks on the side of the road

·         Burnt out shells of cars/minivans/trucks/containers

·         Armed guards

·         Road blocks

·         African perceptions of distance – what is far vs what is not far (e.g. far could be 500 metres away and require a taxi, not far could be a brisk 1 hour walk)

·         Tintin au Congo

·         Dust on trees by the roadside

·         Loud raised voices with animated hand gestures which looks like arguing but the next minute it turns out they are joking, laughing and shaking hands

·         SAP SAP (transferring credit from one person to another)

·         Weaver birds’ nests

·         Egrets

·         Unfinished houses and huts

·         Corrugated iron roof houses often with satellites

·         Gas fires and nodding donkeys

·         Locals cooking on small fires out the front of their houses

·         Job offers! (in Libreville and Congo)