la ti doe: Photos from Cameroon West Africa -- The city of Douala & the village of Dschang

My cousin Patricia on tiptoes

This was an amazing trip. I have around 1000 pictures in all -- so here are just a handful of snapshops that showcase an abbreviated story. I think the pictures of Cameroon -- the scenery, the faces of family and friends, the food, the wildlife...the pictures of it all -- are the most valuable thing I brought back to the states with me. Because they do a lot of the remembering for me. And will always be here in digital space for me to look back on. I'll also be (trying) to keep a memory blog of my trip here on this blog I created. It's more just for me, than it is something I'll be actively sharing. But all who are curious are welcome to read it. There's a lot more pictures and memories where these come from...

The view from the upper level of my Uncle Blaise's home -- that felt like a sanctuary

Pastries at a nearby shop/pâtisserie where we stopped for a midnight snack one night after a long day on the open road

The largest single avocado I've ever seen -- hanging from a tree in my Uncle's yard, growing next to a papaya tree

My cousins' pet cat--sneaking a few bites from Jeff the dog's bowl of rice and leftovers

The window view from the car -- along the drive to a relative's

A shop along where we stopped to visit a family friend while travelling to the village

Dinner on the road -- no Starbucks, no Burger Kings...but grilled fish and plantains are way better than either

The stairway descending from the red clay road to my uncle's house in the village

A maternal relative of my cousin and her baby standing in the cooking area

A family friend's driveway in the village

My cousin, distant cousin, eldest direct aunt, and cousin's maternal grandmother & great aunt sitting along the porch of the house where my father was born -- in the village

Dinner--that would be killed, butchered and cooked later

The view from the porch at one of the village houses--directly overlooking my grandmother's village house

The butcher's shop at the market in town

The back seat of our taxi -- which carried the driver, my aunt, myself, and 2 huge bags heavy with the weight of several pounds of frozen whole fish, vegetables, spices, and steaks of butchered beef. My first time riding one of those...I held on tight.

The marketplace

My cousin's relative cooking outdoors

A shrine for Mami (my grandmother) with cassava and an assortment of other offerings

Two little goats

My dad (center) and two of his brothers holding on to the casket of Mami at the ceremony at the morgue

Myself--on local school grounds

My uncle Blaise planning one of the ceremonies to take place there, at the local school

My cousin, Niquaise, and I at one of the ceremonies at the school. A few people said we resemble each other.

A family friend/distant relative leading the ceremonial dancing the day of the burial at the village -- "Dance! Mami est mort" she would say. Dance, Mami is dead.

My grandmother's grave (right) -- burried next to my grandfather's tomb. (Traditionally, after 10 years, the descendants dig up the skull. The tomb on the left holds both the head of my grandfather and the head of his father.)

Breakfast at the village

Posing with (from left) Alex, Ariane, me, Maurice, and Mireille (my cousins) and my nephew, Patrick, kneeling below.

My cousin Maurice posing -- of all my cousins, he looks the most like my dad.

Dish washing

Rat meat

A tailor's shop in Douala

"One doesn't piss here."

Mutzig -- one of Cameroon's favorite beers -- mixed with Grenadine soda.

A road leading to my Aunt Francoise's house

My Aunt Francoise's driveway

My dad and I at my Aunt's house

The mall

Hanging out at my Aunt Antoinette's laundromat

Tired at work--at the market nearby my Aunt Antoinette's house

A mommy and baby shopping at the market

The tailor who sewed me a fitted and custom dress -- after I drew her a picture of what I wanted and she took my measurements. This dress was $8 and was beautiful.