Gabon.... It really is a garden of Eden!

It seems that for every negative in this country there is a positive! These flowers grow naturally in the Gabon forests. They then pick what they can and sell them in the car parks..... 

#our driver stopped on the side of the road to buy a "porkipig" (Gabonese porcupine) for his wife's birthday! I'm sure JB wished I was so easy to please! #aforeigneringabon #picoftheday #strangefoods

what my first "slot" of four months in Gabon has taught me......

#   I have been very alone and isolated, but most definitely felt I had "company" always..

#   Every morning when I open my eyes, the choice is mine to either look inward (oh no, another lonely day) or to look outward (oh wow, its beautiful out there!).....

#   I am a person that likes to "run to do things" when I have issues to deal with.  I had nowhere to run and none to run to, so dealt with a bit of "internal stuff" This is ongoing.....

#   Am not a patient person.  But having to operate totally in a foreign language, to not understand and not be understood, often had me in frustrated tears.... But have learnt to just throw my hands in the air and burst out laughing, this breaks down a lot of barriers.....

#   To be flexible ( I am a "detail" person, no good here!) Yes tomorrow is another day in Africa, but usually plans are made, decision decided all in another language, so just go with the flow.... everything little thing will be alright!  I  do not need to know everything!

#   Differences does not mean "dodgy".......

#   He is always waiting to talk...... I just need to listen......

#   In the quietness, I was made strong.......

The view from our back door....

May we all become like "little children" again.......

always expectant, eager to not "miss a thing"......
to always keep our eyes open for new experiences and new adventures.....
always filled with excitement for each new day that we are blessed to open our eyes to.....

5000 head of cattle on 100 000 hectares and needing to build up to 20 000 head in the next few years.....

Yes Jean-Bernard has a huge task on his hands, but he loves cattle...  Here are a few Zebu bulls....

life in a fishing village on the banks of the Nyanga River, Gabon.......

pounding cassava leaves with garlic for dinner.....

repairing nets.....

My daily "needs"

Could be taken care of just outside the Ranch gate! 

Our multinational, exploratory trip.... Myumba to Nyanga river crossing on the way to Gamba

Having a "refreshment" at a local fisherman's "village" on the Nyanga river...

Gabon's forest elephants....

We decided we needed to go and find some Forest Elephants, which we did, but much more besides...Stunning, extraordinary beauty and a "secret' coastline we didn't even know existed. I will post pics of the beach on another post.....

This little green lake is meant to be haunted, you won't find a local for miles near it....

New Years weekend, Myumba, Gabon

We decided to spend the long weekend with a bunch of new friends, and what a mixed bunch.... Madagascan, French, English, Cubans and of course, a Mauritian/Zimbo  and a Zimbo...
I have lots of pics to share but let me start with a gorgeous one from the unspoilt beaches of Myumba....