Mali - January 2006

(Click on the pictures to enlarge them)


 

The Road to Timbuktu

For a long time only "A Dream as Frail as those Ancient Time".  No European visited Timbuktu and returned alive until 1828, and today Timbuktu is still far, far away.

Le Chemin de Sable (et de Poudre)

Arrivant au fleuve Niger, dernier obstacle

La traversée

Arrivant a Timbuktu, la porte de Sahara

La mosquée de Djingareiber, 1325

Timbuktu, centre commerçant des Touaregs

Anciennes portes

 

Living with the Tuareg

The Tuareg in his kingdom

From Timbuktu, heading deep in to the desert.  Ready, set...

...go!

Arriving at the base camp, a new friendship has been established.

The Camp. 

Thorn-bushes as fences for animals, tents to live in.  Easy to set up - easy to pack down and continue once more.  The life of the Nomad.

...fort comme la mort, doux comme la vie, sucré comme l´amour...

( Tuareg tea is not for beginners. )

Le peuple bleu

The Tuareg people, ignoring country borders, are spread across the Sahara.

 

Le Pays Dogon

Les falaises de Bandiagara et les plaines - le Pays Dogon

The Dogon villages are completely isolated, no electricity, water, roads or mobile coverage.  The people are seemingly fully self-sustained. Today the main part of the villagers are Moslems, but some villages still keep the old animism religion which has made the Dogon country famous for its mask-dances and mysticism.

The ancient and abandoned Tellem village in the hillside, and the Dogon village on the plain.

The sand mosque at Kani Kombolé.

Rooftop hotel facilities in Endé, Dogon Country.  One of the more beautiful places I have slept in!

La fête des Moutons

La fête des Moutons en Pays Dogon

La fête des Moutons is the yearly Muselman celebration.  Our guide Hamadoun Barry, himself from the Dogon Country, showed us and explained us all the details.

La prière sur la steppe.

After the prayer, the party is started with le chef du village sacrifying a goat.

Throat-cutting is cruel, but follows the ancient rituals.

And after flaying, it's mutton on the menu for everyone.

Les Dogon

Village girl, dressed for celebration.

Le Griot, a troubadour whose profession has been inherited through the generations.

Village girl, dressed for celebration.

 


Other faces of Mali

The river Niger. The Niger river rises in Guinea, and flows through Mali, Niger and empties into the Atlantic ocean outside Nigeria.  It is a vital artery in Mali, and Mopti in Mali is a main port.

Niger at Mopti

The port of Mopti

Bamako Haute Société. Last night in Bamako, taken to a local concert.  Two thing struck us; there were almost exclusively women among the thousands of spectators, and they were dressed as to a wedding, in their finest hats and clothes.

Haute Société Malienne

Haute Société Francaise

Before it all broke loose.

Throughout most of the journey through Mali we were guided by Hamadoun Barry, "Guide National No 9", very capable!

Karen quickly discovered Malian food.  MMMmmmm, c'est bon! La fameuse Cuisine Malienne quicky gained a new supporter.

Exhausted Erik. Mali was one of the most exiting and surely most exotic countries I have been to, but that also resulted in that I was  most tired when coming back this time! :)


Karen has a great collection of photos from the same and other trips to Mali. Here are her "Aventures malienne!


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