Dogon Trails - Day 4: Youga Na to TiogouNov 4, 2005
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Porters Leaving Youga Na
Villages are Hidden
Porters Again
| Travel notes: Group I: The trekkers set off at 5:30 to climb escarpment through a gulch, walk 1/2 across escarpment then back down, across the plain, and 1/2 way back up escarpment arriving at our final campsite at 2pm. They decide to buy "insurance" at 1000 cfa each to have a donkey cart meet them to assist them in the 1 1/2 in crossing the plain by bringing more water and carrying their packs and any hiker who positively could not finish. One and a half hours across the plain in the sand is like hiking through the crater in cinders. I am a wimp in this heat! Group II: The wimps: Jeff and me and Peter and Sonja (who Skye recommended NOT join Group I - they were pissed!) set off across the plains with the porters at 7am getting to the campsite at about 10am - total killer. The campsite however is lovely with some trees, camping right on the sandstone. I have a lovely time resting, wandering around, watching the porters prepare and cook the sheep (mooshui) we all chipped in to roast as a thank you to the porters and as our last dinner. Nice basin bath on rock (not in mud). I seem to be feeling better. After dinner, which is very tough, the children from the village come to sing and dance, quite risqué. First the girls welcome us with a wish for long life and health. Philosophy: It is difficult to get good things, but sometimes they happen. The boys pantomime the hunt. There are dances for all phases of life: birth, death, marriage. The funeral dance is performed so the souls will go to join the ancestors. Women dance for women. Sharing with Clarissa tonight - lovely starlit night with a tiny moon with Venus in the crescent. |
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