A Wandering Sole

Montage Monday: Bullet Holes aka Welcome to the Park

// February 28th, 2011 // 4 Comments » // DR Congo, Photo of the Week

I actually posted this in a previous Montage Monday about the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, the great thing about this being my blog is that I make my own rules. So, I’m posting it again :)

Story Behind the Sign:

I originally made plans to go to Congo without telling anyone. I didn’t want to be talked out of it (since I knew of everyone’s disapproval), nor did I want anyone to worry while I was there. But, I made a hasty decision to drop my family and close friends an email the day before I left just in case. I got through the border quite easily the following morning (with the exception of this big mean woman yelling at my guide and passing over my passport to help locals instead). But my relaxed and safe feeling I had in Rwanda quickly became a wide-eyed fixation on the scenery as we passed the UN trucks and camps on the way to the park. When we made it to Virunga National Park, where I would be starting the trek up Nyiragongo Volcano, I was first greeted by the sign pictured. Nothing says ‘Welcome to a spectacular national park’ like a sign covered in bullet holes. The park was previously known as Albert National Park, and as you can see, the sign has taken a bit of a beating from rebels in the area over the years. This very sign has to be, hands down, the souvenir I wanted most on my trip and couldn’t have. And, I probably would have tempted to steal it if I didn’t fear sitting in a Congo prison after the horror stories I heard the previous week. I’m thrilled though that they left it up, even after the park changed names, so that I could see it. If you enjoy offbeat adventures as much as I do (or at least photos of them), check out the original post featuring this photo.

By the way, these are not the type of photos you should show friends and family if you’re trying to convince them that it’s okay to travel in war-torn countries. Best to stick with the pretty places and smiling faces type of photos. Just a suggestion.

Nothing Says Cheesy Like The Diamond Bali

// February 24th, 2011 // 7 Comments » // Bali

When I last left off, we were wrapping things up in Sanur and were ready to board a ferry to Nusa Lembongen. But, I can’t leave Bali behind without interrupting these travel tales to share with you an architectural gem I stumbled on while I was in Sanur. (more…)

Bali Road Trip Day 8-9: Men in Uniform, Not Always a Good Thing

// February 23rd, 2011 // 8 Comments » // Bali

With the windows down, a breeze blowing, and the sun shining, we waved goodbye to Amed. The weather was as blissful as it sounds, and with the exception of our still broken windshield wiper, it was near perfect. We made a quick stop in Amed so I could look at decorations from a Hindu ceremony. (more…)

Bali Road Trip Day 5-7: Beach Bumming in Amed

// February 22nd, 2011 // 14 Comments » // Bali

Snorkeling in Salang

After reaching Amed on day 4 and settling into the village of Lipah on the east coast of Bali, we were ready for another day at the beach! The previous afternoon the beach was lined with boats, however when we woke up, the beach was practically bare. The boats soon returned to the bay from their early morning fishing trips, and it didn’t take us long to throw on our swimsuits and head down to the beach. (more…)

Montage Monday: Post-Election Violence (Kenya)

// February 21st, 2011 // No Comments » // Kenya, Photo of the Week

On my 24 hour bus ride from Kenya to Rwanda, we had the initial pleasure of driving through the Rift Valley, one of the most scenic areas in Kenya and a place I would love to explore further some day. I was sitting next to a photojournalist from a Nairobi newspaper when we drove through the town of Molo. I wasn’t expecting to come across any tents, yet there they were in open fields. And then I saw buildings that were half burned and missing roofs. “Those people are victims of the post-election violence,” he told me. I was confused, because that was back in 2008, more than two years earlier. And people are still living in tents? But, it’s true. Elected President Kibaki was accused of ‘electoral manipulation,’ and it turned from peaceful protests into a tribal divide.  I assume that many of the people living in these tents were innocent victims. Yet, two and a half years later, they were still living in tents.

Bali Road Trip Day 2-4: Black Sands & Shipwreck #1

// February 18th, 2011 // 5 Comments » // Bali

Our first day snorkeling in Pemuteran was fantastic! The following day, after a humid run, we went down to Pemuteran’s black sand beach. Our guesthouse was actually a 5 minute walk from the beach, but we took advantage of the low-season and used beach chairs at a resort right on the beach. (more…)