DASH 8
14 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment
in DRC
Flying across the DRC, a distance of 1572 km, in a 28-seater plane.
Today is really the first time the human smells of African public transport have visited my olfactory system since arriving 5 weeks ago (by now its 6 weeks and I realize that I have eaten and drank enough local food that my body exudes lovely smells too)! Mostly our mobility has been in the form of 4×4 s and by way of our cherished chauffeurs who smell of soap.
We’re on our way to Goma the capital of Nord Kivu, a city well known for rebel insurgence and rape. The sad reality is that there were 150 rapes here just in the month of October. IT is also well known for its beauty, its climate, mountains, volcanoes, gorillas and huge Lake Kivu.
Our flight is at least 2.5 hours late but the actual flight seems to be going rather smoothly. I have been very nervous knowing that the security conditions of the planes are not up to international standards (ex Czech and Soviet planes banned in international airports). I have been praying to the Goddess and sleeping.
Looking out the window I am in awe of the massive Equatorial Rain Forest, it has been the only thing in sight for the past two hours! I can understand why they call it the 2nd lung of the world. Green, unending jungle as far as the eye can see (from way up here)! In amongst the trees we can also watch the famous Congo River snake along the country in the most amazing pattern.
Looking now at this massive jungle I feel much less nervous; its beauty is truly complex. Knowing that such a dense beautiful forest has and still does contain some of the darkest realities of the world is amazing and disquieting. Unquestionably it is home to some of the most deadly animals, insects and humans in the world. It has a dark and hideous history of slavery, caravans, rubber extraction, torture and war. It is now home to millions of displaced civilians surviving off of grubs and plants. At the same it hides the thousands of rebels and guerilla soldiers raping and pillaging every farmer and villager they come across. It is unpleasant to say but the Congo River here (near Kindu the flight attendant tells me) is almost the colour Red, perhaps from the long history of blood shed.
How do we clean up these wild waters?
