The city of Douala is like many other larger cities I’ve visited – full of people, abandoned and falling down buildings, crowded streets with mo-peds darting in and out through cars. The streets of Duoala are lined with shops selling everything from produce to t-shirts to cheetah printed lazy-boys punctuated by roaming herds of cows. As we drove out of the city and towards the northwest province the scenery changed. The road was still lined with villages selling goods but as we got closer, the scenery became more and more beautiful. There were hills lined with banana and papaya trees. Some villages had huts made out of plywood, others square with mud bricks and others with round pointed roofs. I loved passing the women wearing the colorful local prints – every kind you could imagine – with adorable Fulani children with their shaved heads strapped to their backs. Of course the poverty was evident but the fatigue was wearing off and I was able to start appreciating the beautiful things about the country along with the rest.
Mbingo looks like a picture straight out of a book. The hospital and houses are set in a valley surrounded by tall hills covered with lush green shrubs and palm trees and waterfalls tumbling down the sides in the distance. It's the rainy season so there's mist and fog rolling over the highest hills and down into the valley.
Most people who work in the hospital live close by so the valley is dotted with all sorts of different houses. Everyone you pass greets and smiles at you, which is very refreshing after a long trip. It’s evident that the people of Cameroon are very kind. I want to take pictures of everything but don't want to be rude so am holding out until I get to know people better. Which is a little ironic because a Cameroonian guy took a picture of Liz, Jane and me today with his cell phone as we walked by! Who's the tourist now? Hopefully I'll have some pictures to post soon so everyone can see how beautiful it is here.
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