Africa

Africa

I just love this shot. It wasn’t taken by me, it was taken by the lovely Cliff Seto. A lot of people have asked what it was like in Africa and this shot sums it up so beautifully. We have arrived here at a pygmy village. Many of them haven’t seen white people (or on mass like this anyway). They have been saved by heal africa, who has bought them land because they are constantly harassed by militia and others. Killed, raped, starved etc. They are trying to change centuries old traditions of jungle habitation and killing animals for food with subsistance farming. Heal Africa is teaching them. The huts you see are what they live in (the militia had forced them off this land prior to us getting there and burnt down their huts but they had returned). So let me direct you around the shot. That’s me with my hat turned backwards taking a shot. And yes I have the world’s biggest camera bag because anything of any value has to be on you at all times in Congo. The woman with the visor is my gorgeous big sister who works with Aid groups for a living. Next to her is her husband, Mick who was a volunteer Doctor on the trip. The lady in the blue top & the orange and black backpack with her back to camera is the wonderful Rebecca Zachariah. Another volunteer Doctor/Surgeon. This is her fourth AID trip and she’s going again next year. She has her brilliant pictures on Red Bubble too. The lady in the pink top is Lucy Hobgood-Brown who runs a charity called Hand Up Congo. And the lady to the right of frame is Kath. She’s and ex-teacher who is a superstar on these trips. Shortly after I took the shot I’m composing here I took off my hat because it was hot. The kids freaked and ran for their lives until I coaxed them back. Sometimes I forget how fair I am! Then Rebecca gave them a bit of a fright because the only thing they see less than fair aussies is someone with an asian appearance!! Anyway we were soon all best friends.