Pina coladas and...

Several of us were sitting around the office last night when all of a sudden we heard what sounded like someone opening up a bag of cats on our hot tin roof. We all looked at eachother and barreled outside. Sure enough, we were getting rained on.

To fill you in, Djibouti gets about a 5 inches of rain per year and this ain't the rainy season. In fact, the country has been in a drought for some time.

Without hesitation, Omar and I ran out to stand in the downpour. The rain only lasted a few minutes, but was enough to make puddles and mud all over camp. The smell of dirt permiated the air.

I'm glad I won't be here when the real rainy season comes. I mean rain more than once in a year, who would want to deal with that?

Gettin' caught in the rain,

Marty

MEDCAP

Here's the link to my Medical Civic Action Program story...

http://www.hoa.centcom.mil/news.asp?storyid=20060729-001

I'm glad I got to be a small part of the project. It will definitely be one of those stories to tell my grandchildren about. "When I was a young whippersnapper and most countries in Africa were still part of the third world..."

The pen is mightier,

Marty

My boss is a rockstar!

I just found out that my boss was in a band in his youth. Okay, he's not so much a star, but he did have a go at it. He actually even recorded a few tracks. I listened to a few of them today and they weren't bad. I'm not a music critic, so I won't bore you with comparisons to other bands and influences, etc. I can say, sure he made them in the late 80's and early 90's, but they sound pretty much like the alternative you hear today.

Have I mentioned we have karaoke night on camp? Now I just have to figure out how I'm going to get him on stage. I'll let you know how that works out.


(That's my boss in the middle. The stage he will be performing on is in the background)

rockin' out in DJ,

Marty


P.S. This post is not to be construed as "brown-nosing."


~Coming soon... a link to my MEDCAP story~

More as promised

There are also people in Kenya...really!


The look from this young lady was priceless.


This was on the island of Lamu


School boys waiting outside the clinic at Bargoni


Those shoes definitely give the kid room to grow


This boy was just standing around outside a store we stopped at in Lamu


Doc L during the medical visit


These kids were at one of the clinics. Several people had their arms full of much-needed medicine


If you don't have a donkey...


He was a good boy with the doctor so he got a peppermint candy

I didn't meet a single person who was unfriendly. Of course many of the women didn't want their picture taken and made it clear. The kids always wanted to see the pictures after I took them. That's not so different than kids at home though.

Food for thought when you're a tourist: Would you want random strangers snapping pictures of you when you're just going about your business?

I have a few other pics I'll share later on a slow news day. That could be tomorrow!

Back suffering in the DJ heat,

Marty

Jambo!

I'm finally back. Sorry 'bout that. I could tell you more about my visit to Kenya, but I don't want to bore you with details. Instead, I'm going to inundate you with flora and fauna photos. Enjoy!


Less camels, more baboons in the road!


This is Mr. Crab's overgrown brother. I wonder if he ever gets to Moucha Island


Yep! More baboons


I didn't see the little bird in the tree until later. Lucky shot!


Maybe this would be a two-point buck


These were outside a rundown clinic. I guess I didn't really capture the juxtaposition


I don't know why I started birdwatching all of a sudden


Lots of these in coastal Kenya. Probably more reliable than cars


Here's some of that juxtaposition I missed before


If demons possessed starfish...


Huge millipede. They were all over the place.

I think I've hit my limit with pictures on this post. I'll be sure to post some more maybe tomorrow.

Tuannane badai,
(see you later in Swahili)

Marty

Out of Office

I know many of you have been anxiously awaiting my next post, so I'm sorry I've left you in suspense. I've been away from camp for the past several days and will continue to be away for another week or so. I'm currently working public affairs stuff in Kenya with a military medical team doing medical stuff.

This is one of the more fascinating aspects of my job. We're going to several small villages in obscure locations and they're treating hundreds of people that otherwise wouldn't be able to get medical treatment. Some of the people have traveled many kilometers for care. Many are too poor, too ill, or would have to travel much further to purchase the medicines that we often take for granted and pick up at Wal-mart such as pain relievers, cough syrup, and vitamins. Some are coming, seemingly, only to restock their medicine chests for ailments that they suffer at other times. But there have been some astounding cases so far with people afflicted with open wounds caused by parasites or injuries not healing properly because of infection. Others are treated for malaria or worms. There have been a couple of patients who've been previously diagnosed with cancer, etc but they're not getting the proper treatment (again because of limiting factors). It's unfortunate that the team can't treat all of the illnesses they see. However, I've spoken to several locals and overall people have been grateful that the medical team came.

Sorry there are no pics posted yet, but stay tuned for some in future postings.

Have camera. Will travel,

Marty

Trailer Trash

Hey Ya'll,

I'm movin' up these days. I started out in a tent and had to walk outside and down yonder to go to the outhouse and the shower. Now I gots me a trailer home complete with indoor plumbin'. I also have a perty deck that I can sit on an watch folks walkin' round.



I still need to do some spring cleanin', but it's a sight better than that darn dirty tent. They call it a CLU (Container Living Unit). Some smarty done went and stacked a bunch of trailers on top of eachother. I'm still working on puttin' in a indoor staircase so as I can have myself a right nice two-story home. Shoot, I may even extend my tour so as I can enjoy my new digs (just kidding Ness).


(I moved Aiden's art gallery over too. More room fer displayin' them perty pictures he keeps sendin' to Daddy)


(This here's where I take my weekly, high-pressure warshin' whether I need it or not!)

Livin' the high life in DJ,

Marty

Lac Assal

I recently had the opportunity to drive down to Lac (lake) Assal. Lac Assal is located 492 feet below sea level. It's the fourth lowest place in the world. It's also consistently one of the hottest places on Earth. The area is surrounded by dormant volcanoes and black lava fields. And the salt-crusted earth surrounding the lake looks like a hail storm passed through. The water is crystal clear and very salty.

The drive out was mostly uneventful. We did have to avoid the typical obstacles of goats and camels walking in the middle of the road. It was an uphill drive as we approached the lake. Towards the top of our ascent we pulled out onto a scenic overlook of Ghoubbel El Kharab which is another body of water connected to the Gulf of Tadjoura (see Mucho Moucha).

At the overlook there was a blind man that came out of nowhere to meet us and sell his wares carved out of pummice. We then continued on down to the lake. It was like driving down into a mining quarry. We passed by a broken tractor on the side of the road that may have once been used to cut the path through the rough terrain. We came around a curve and could finally see what we came for.

We continued down to the end of the road where some vendors had built up two lanes of tables to sell their merchandise.

After a lunch of MREs (meals-ready-to eat), we ventured out among the vendors and down to the lake. The comodities consisted mostly of geodes, crystals, and bags of sea salt mined from the lake. The vendors were more than eager to negotiate and would even trade for water or food. We mostly dealt in money, but when we gave them water or food, they would retrieve a random item from the table and give it to us "free." I managed to come away with a couple of geodes and a gazelle skull crusted in a thick layer of salt. I don't know if I'll be able to bring that home.

(Aaron went down to the lake and stepped into the shallow water. He didn't get far before realizing the bottom was covered in sharp crystal formations. Fortunately, he wore his sandles in and made it out safely)

(Before we headed back, we stopped at a lava flow that we saw from the road)


(We passed by some small pyramids in the middle of nowhere and stopped to get a closer look. Still not sure what the monument was about)

On the trip back, everyone was pretty worn out. The lack of radio reception gave way to a long bout of karaoke. Everyone sang except Omar. Party Pooper! His excuse was that he had to concentrate on driving.

I came, Assal, I went back to camp,

Marty

First Ladies of Football

So I was planning to go to a movie last night, but I was sidetracked by a live event at the cantina. Those who know me know I don't follow football too much. But I didn't go for me, really. I went in order to rub it in the face of the biggest Redskins fan I know, Steve. Take that Steve!



But I did get something for Steve:



It really was a good show. It certainly was a morale booster for a lot of people. Yes, people. Women were there enjoying the show too.



Between each performance one of the cheerleaders stayed up on stage and told a little about herself. I didn't realize how educated those professional cheerleaders are. A couple of them were finishing their master's programs, one was a kindergarten teacher. And they were all, of course, big fans of the military.

They stayed at the cantina for a couple of hours after their show talking to the troops, signing their autographs, and taking pictures with anyone who wanted one. I found all of them to be very friendly young ladies.



New Washington Redskins Fan,

Marty