Traveling Between Jobs.

While coming back through California I caught up with
Barack and we discussed some financial and other
important political issues.

Istanbul, Turkey.

Shopping in Dubai. These were all made of scrap pieces of

steel, and stood about 1.8m tall.They were really well made

and priced in the thousands. I'm a Predator fan from way back.

Dubai. I didn't get to stay in this famous hotel.

Nelson Mandela Square, Johannesburg, S.A.

On our way back from Mali.

Wendy & I on the Shotover River Jet boat. Queenstown,

good ole NZ.

The Remarkables, above Queenstown.

Singapore. Nice blokes, but they didn't have much to stay.

Singapore. The ice cream was so good compared to what

we got in Mali.

Singapore.Two cute birds.

Singapore. Crickey look at these little beauties

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co,Santa Monica Pier, LA. Lunch was Awesome.

Fourou Church & Meeting People. Mali. Feb 07.

Mother and baby at the church.

The church music team. All their instruments were hand

made and sounded great.

Once I got out my camera the kids mobbed me.

These ladies all shopped at the same place.

Did I look that scary.

Everyone was in their Sunday best. The shelter behind was

where they held the church services.

It was Sunday and these two were heading to Fourou for

the Monday market.

Heading to the markets too. They really appreciated it when

I stopped and took the time to talk with them.

The local timber merchant making a delivery.

This guy had a load of bean like things that have a yellow

powder in them used for spices or flavouring in cooking.

These boys were tending to a small herd of cattle. The young

ones in the front lead me by the hand through the scrub to show

me the herd.

Bathing and washing clothes took place in the same pond

where cattle were drinking.

This was a common sight in these villages. Straw shelters

for animals and people.

This family just stared at me in the ute, but that all changed

to smiles when I stopped and joined them for a photo.

Some villagers making mud bricks.One by one they cast

them in a mould, then leave them in the sun to dry.

I just had to have a go at one of these 3 cylinder Malian

convertibles.

Bananso Village. Mali. Feb. 07.

Heading to Bananso village, the road was no more than a
dusty track through the bush. I was invited to Yacouba's
home.Yacouba worked on my team at the Syama mine site.

My friend Yacouba in front of his home.

Cooking is all done on an open fire. Food and grain stored

in the little shed.

Yacouba's family.

1 of Yacouba's 2 wives and his sons.

Yacouba offered me his 8 year old daughter for my second

wife. Without offending him, I declined and told him 1 wife

was enough for me.

Villagers happy to see us and be in a photo.

Everyone came out of the woodwork to be in the photo.

Dry and dusty, and everything made of mud.

This is not as easy as it looks.

Fourou Village Market Day. Mali. Jan.07.

Every Monday was market day. People came from all

around the district to sell their stuff.

Garlic.

Old timer selling dried fish.

All the ladies wore their best dress on market day.

Plastic beads.

Cooking pots etc.

These kids followed us all around the market.

Little cutey. (left)

Fourou Village by Bike. Mali. Dec. 07.

We hired these bikes from 3 local guys that worked with us
at the Syama site and went and explored the surrounding
countryside and the local village of Fourou.

Waiting for an action shot.

Not quite the worlds fastest Indian.

The main street of Fourou.

Typical village scene.

This guy stopped for a pic too.

Father and son in front of their little store.

These boys were very friendly.

There was always someone interesting along the road.

Women gathering firewood. The men were all sitting in

the shade.

Curious kids on the road into the village.

These kids came to check us out when we stopped.

More curious boys.

Fuel stop. Petrol was sold to us in old whiskey bottles.

Boys watching over their cattle.

The village well.

The villagers made everything out of mud & straw.The

little hut on the left was used for food storage.

We came to this river, where the only way to cross was by

these little boats.This guy even took his scooter across with

him.

Some friendly farmers came over and posed for this one

when I stopped on the side of the road.