African city /life style of the building

This is just my own life style as an expat spouse in Brzzaville. I am sitting in front of my computer on the 4th floor of the liaison office bldg. in downtown Brazzaville. Feeling greatful for my new life style that the universe has given me for the next 3 years. This four stories building came equipped with basement consisted of huge commercial size fully equipped kitchen with two huge fridges , oversize freezer in a separate store room an office for the chef with computer. Plus a huge laundry room with washer and dryer. The first and second floor are formal office with reception area and big conference room that I will have a chance to see it in use for the frist time this month. There is a suite on 2nd floor office call Malonga suite by the locals. Named after the officer who alsways passed by Brazzaville and use this suite which consisted of sitting room, bed room and a full bath.The third floor ,which I call 4th floor, is where I live. There are two big bedrooms ,two huge full baths and a toilette room down the corridor for guest. This floor has a salon rouge , the louise 14 chairs set salon that most local managers like to bring their guests to see. To show off how wealthy this company is to have a louise salon in the pent house. No matter who the guests are ,the local manager has to receive them in this salon. And there is another small salon plus a formal dinning room that I use for my office. The dinning table is big enough for me to spread all my work and put my laptop. I also do my light body meditation at this tabel and put all my sacred objects in here. I feel safer here the most. This building has two security guards by the gate and at the front door. A full time cook and full time gardener as well as a full time cleaning person. There are two officers a female secretary who take care of everything and the travel assistant whose main job is to go pick up guests at the VIP room in the air port.The travel assistant has a 4 wheel drive car for his job which, off course, he also use for sending his children to school as well as picking up guests. The rest of the stuffs mainly just sit there all day with nothing to do. They are all stand by for guests to show up and tell them what to do. But guests only show up once or twice a month and they mostly are too much in a hurry to take care of their paid employees' free time to direct them what to do. So these poor guys are left on their own to invent something to do to past time. They need to provide their time to this buildging. For example eversince I came here the gardener clean our cars at least 3 times a day. He seem to be so happy to have something to do. He has a secateur that has been dull and broken long time ago. I make a note to give him a new one when my shipment arrive. But again we will be somewhere else. The cook is so profesional and has been trained for 3 years with a professional catering company. Each day he just open the two empty fridges and put filtered water in them plus pour water in ice tray to make ice. There are two sets of knifes and dishwasher and three full set of china and silverware for all of them to use and break. There has never been any soiree or anything that require full fledge kitchen. If this guy were in Poitne Noire, he could have easily become cook for one of the director and do all the soiree for him as well as cook for his family. But like anything else in Africa. The people want a guidance and direction. This guy know everything in the kitchen . When I arrive with all my stuff ,he even memorised all the dates on my frozen packages and remind me each day which meat package is going to be out dated and I need to use them. He is a gourmet cook but without much tool and ingredients. The first thing I ned to buy for him was a whisker to make cocktail sauce and off course after that he need butter, eggs, milk, salt and the list goes on. Because there is hardly anything in his huge air conditioned kitchen,his domaine. Every one like to go into the kitchen now the we are here. They like to take a look at what we put into the fridge and what they can take home. Most thing they like are dried stuff like salt , sugar, chocolate powder, detergent powder, storage plastic bags and all the empty jars.

The cleaning guy for example even take the seed of avocado to plant behind the building but the plant is off course not for the building when it big enough he put it in plastic bag to take away to plant at his house. He also take care of all the cleaning product and use the washer and dryer that he put on permanantly at 80 degree. He wash everything in the machine carpet, rag, rugs, with clothing and towels. All of them at 80 degree and hardly any soap because most detergent after perchased will disappear the next day. Luckily I have the expereince before so I lock my detergent and only use the machine on week end when they are all gone. I am hardly here for a month but the guy change soaps 2 times. I hardly use any soap he put in each bathroom. Even they are all new. He said the soap need change every month even if it is not used. And I don't know where they are all gone to. As far as I know this buiding has been so good to me and also to them. It give me shelter and at least there is one room on one floor that I started to feel at home and can work peacefully. I would like to do something for the building but am I allowed to do it. To plant some nice fruit tree in the back and in the front. My husband tell me not to do anything. This is not our place and we never know what people will talk. I can only pray to all the devas around this building please protect it from further abuse and harm. But actually there are this 5 locals guardians who run the building in their way and on their terms anyway.

The promising roof and structure

Finally we decided to meet with Lilianne and Antoine to get going with the house. The address is Ave. Felix Eboue next to railroad track and the Guenin shop. Across teh street is the ecole de Chemin fer. It located right in the city and within the walking distance of my husband's SCLOG office.The quartier of the city is called Mpila. For now it look like a structure and a roof. The whole of windows are empty. They got all the windows ,doors and tiles imported from France but teh meterials are still stucked in Pointe Noire. There are no plane and train area to transport the stuff. This cause the delay in building. My husband forecast that the house might be finished end of February but the owner told us that they are shooting for Jan.15. Anyway, what matters to me is not only the actual house but the process of finding the house in this city. Finding an honest landlord who speak the same language meaning we can count on them from the basic dealing like showing up on time for an appointment is not easy here. Not to mention all the details of repairs and maintenance and many other aspect of running a house. Getting a reliable, dependable and honourable landlord is important for us as it is important for them to get a solid tenant. In this city where so much is up to Inshala - when God permit- there is not much one can control or count on. We have done the first step and that should relieve my husband a little about everything on his to do list. Finding the white landlord who show up at the appointment without asking us to pay for his taxi fare is considered already our luck and a big acheivement. The rest will have to play by ear. I have confidence in these guys not only because we can count on them but also I did talked and see the house he serviced before. The one of the South African Embassy for example. They use decent materials and response to tenant request with a team of competant workers , electricial and plumber. The Congolese will just give us approximate. Approximate time they will arrive, approximate time they will give that fix and this fixed some approximate last easily 6 months to a year.

My husband estimate that the house on Ave. Felix Eboue will be finished end February 2008. I forecast January 2008. No matter what date, in feng shui term, energy has moved , decision has been made and it is just a matter of time.

Entering the Sanctuary

We are in November, the month before last of this year. I am sitting in front of my faithful laptop reflecting on what have been accomplished so far the previous month. Actually ,it is not the time and place really to do this now. I did the volume 3 section 10 light body mediataion and while in the space of santuary of Piyah I saw Fernando signed into the instant mssage. For the first tiem I have inclination to include him into this space so I chat with him for a while. It felt so right and we were still in the space of sanctuary. Whether it be sanctuaries of the meditation or the chimpanzee sanctuary. It was quite amazing. I remain in the space for awhile. Active and restless as the state I describe myself these days, I can only find peace and real relaxation in a group like the yoga group on Thursday evening chez Veronique. Things happen in the right place at the right time. The place to be is being in space of sanctuary the whole time not easy to do. Finding a house here for example ,I never realise what finding a house mean here. For me intranslate into find the honourable, reliable and serious landlord or lawyer. Who will stand behind their words and deliver. That's my friend Oi, is more important than getting the physical buildingby like in a catalog. SO much fake and pretentious and inefficiency in this city that if you are unlucky enough to fall into the hand of a local shark, they will really eat you alive. Your electricity, water. plumbing, internet and security will be put on test not to mention your nerves

Administration /The african way

This is my personal experience and hearing from others at diner table in Central Africa. I met a chinese office lady who told me that her office hours is Monday till Saturday from 8 am to 6 pm 6 dayand a half days a week. Yes she also work on SUnday morning. She said this is African hours. The five days of the week she work on her own job the Saturday whole day and the half day on Sunday morning is reserve for reviewing teh work of the locals ( Congolese) and correct the mistakes. This is smart of them. I remember Daniel and his wife from Socofran they went on holidays to Nairobi /Kenya with Hewabora air lines got their tickets and even book their seats on business class but never check. The day they showed up at their seats on the plane check in and suitcases check under the plane ready to go,they found out that their seats have been occupied by someone else. SO they ask to check their boarding pass and everything and they saw that these people got the right seats. How about Daniel and his wife they also got the same seats in the same plane but with different destination. The Hewabora ticket lady put them on teh same plane but to Brussels not Nairobi. And that's the lesson of not have the habit of checking twice. So I think teh Chinese are smart to set aside one day and a half each week to do just that. I don't know about other companies but the checking is better be done by expat. That's why so much expats is needed here. Simply to check thing like destination on plane tickets is just one of many example. Everything need to be check if anything at all will go forward.

Getting my feet wet in BZV

O.K. what are the observations of this administrative city I got so far. This city is full of protocol and ceremony. Every one has status and ranking and detailed code of conduct. The local men for example will not go to fresh market and pick up thing and walk behind the women. Take for example my chauffeur. He is a young guy from teh military who is very active and helpful. He will follow me through the golf course and tennis club and help pick up the ball but will never get out of the car when I do shopping for vegetables in the market. This guy get out of the car each time I go to places really exclusive or not for locals. Expats clubs, embassies , sport clubs or shops that are mostly for expats. He like to go into tax free shop , super market and want to know how foreigners live , shop ect.... Also he want me to know that he knows a lot colonel, lieutenant and and generals and know where tehy live. eventhough I couldn't care less. The streets of BZV and how to navigate in them when the president close all major streets for his 'Cortege de voitures' is quite impressive. Each time the president want to use the street of BZV to go some where ,for example going to teh airport or hostipal or anywhere in town, there are at least 30-35 cars and motocycles before in teh middle and behind teh president car. The procession started with a police motorcycle with a blue siren announcing the procession of cars orf the 'chef d'etat'is approaching. then follow the 4 more police motorcycles after that will be the car of teh minister of protocol , the guy to announce to president what to do , he apparently keep the schedule of the president then a car full of military with machine gun these must be the body guard then car of the president with the flag in front and four motorcycles coming along around the car for maximum protection. Then come another military truck then the follow up protocal cars followed by an ambulance with nurses and doctors. According to my chauffeur the nurses and doctors who stand by in the ambulance each time the President go anywhere are both african and white personel but for his private jet ,the pilote and hotesses in the jet are all white people. I have yet to see an african pilot. Then for the president procession after the ambulance there are a few more cars and motorcycles and conclude by yet another truck full of military. WHen I see it the first time it look so impressive. All of these stuff replaced the leopard head dress and throne made of precious stones and leopard skulls arm rest. This are teh modern version of the 'Cheif of the tribe' decoration. And it keep everybody feel secured and happy and proud also perhaps. Why not as long as the show serve the purpose let's keep it up and continue with it.
The same thing happen on the level of company also. my chauffeur for example will not lift a box of water from the trunk of the car. He will take the golf bag of course but not teh box of water. He will call the guard or the gardener for this job. In the office of chinese companies certain employees , mainly the locals ,there are specials phone that they can only receive calls but never can make a call themselve. Even the office of Air France down town. After I ask them to reserve ticket and call to confirm they ask me to call them because they can not use the companie's phone to call me back. Not only they can not use companies phones to call any one even their own cell phone has to be shut off during office hour also. I am not use to this because I see all around me in the company where my husband work the locals come to the companies to make their personal phone calls anytimes they like. Apparently one of the local manager who has been sacked already has allow locals employees to use the companies phone line for private calls even during office hours. Once this is granted it is hard to take it back and many other abuses follows because the companies resources , especially from the white expats, are like rivers or oceans. It is endless and limitless they can use not only for themselves but also for their relatives over seas and everywhere and it will never end. Most of my huband's local co workers are bechelors but they have 10-20 children in there guadianship because they can benifit from the free medicals and school fees provided by the company. I wonder how the french and Chinese do about these kind of things. But for the phone I know for sure that locals are not authorise to make a call. Not during office hours not any time using te office phone because there will be all kind of family member need help for this and that. And if they can do that they will never have time to work.
Same as the chauffeur , I feel like changing to a professional chauffeur because this guy always answer the phones call while driving.

Golf of BZV

Today is the 2nd day I go to walk the BZV golf course with Maurice the pro. It was so hot not like last Friday we went after rain so it was a lot cooler. But I manage to satisfy Maurice with many nice swing that he approved of. If it remain this way I will wake up earlier and go before 8 am in order to finish a little bit before 10 am before the sun get too straight over the head. This golf course has almost no level area and the green are very irregular. One need to get two caddies if I want to know where to aim because there is no flag planted at the hole. One caddy will be for the golf bag and the other one hold the flag to put into each hole as we go. They can not leave the flag permanantly in each hole because the flag got stolen. The fag has no number on it so it is up to us to know which whole we are right now. This is quite a labour intensive golf course arrangment that I know so far.

On the way back we stopped at the pottery workshop in the OMS compound. The artist potter came from France from Alsac region . He brought the kiln with him. He use all the local l'Argile. I will soon forget a lot of english word. Honestly , I don't know what is de l'argile in english. The word that came to mind right now is Kaolin which is finer quality than we can find here in Congo. Anyway, they don't have any Ragu and I am not too interested in what they have.
From my visit to Anias Legall yesterday ,I got a long list of phone numbers of people to call. Today I started with the pedicure name Blanche. I called her and she want to come today after lunch. I have to go tell the guard that I am expecting someone today. The guard asked me You are expecting a white or a black person Madame. It was hilarious that I have to explain to them that I am expecting a black lady name Blanche (white)and that she wears a red shirt and a black skirt.

After some confusion Blanche finally showed up at the corner of the street. She is relatively clean and like to do this kind of work like Rosette the pedicure I use in Pointe Noire. She told me that before the civil war she worked in salon very elaborated with Baleneo, Salle de gymnastic , Sauna, sea weed wrap and many other services . Sound like an institutes with complete soins de beaute. Very cleaned and very well run. Too bad I did not get experience that salon. It must be something so 'in style' like in Paris but better because they can train more people and congolese are very gifted in doing this kind of care. They have massage, Sauna, Whirlpool and everything. But the civil war has destroyed it all. Not only these thing but the schools and many other city's structures. The war lasted for 6months and enough to destroyed and scared away most expats who loose their faith doing anything in Africa for a long term. How can they invest in anything long term here if all around them only look just in term of today. But the chinese is everywhere now and they are capable and will change the face of Africa. If there is any progress to be made in this continent it will be with the new generartion of metis may be half black half chinese. Their home is here and they want to make it work with asian set of value and vision mixed with the old french sophistication and philosophy.

B B Q chez Rita on Sunday

We ahve BBQ with Rita family today. It rain the whole night so there are a lot of flies and this little insects we are not used to from Pointe Noire. It is not mosquitoes but it suck blood and leave infected itchy skin for a long time like mosquitoes. Franklin is lucky he wore sock and tennis shoes so he did not get any bits I got million of them all over my feet. I need to get two kinds of pommade. The first one is to prevent the insect to bite again and the second one to calm the skin so it will not itch to death. We have a good time and did not come home too late. i got to practice the whole sequence of yoga today which is good. Tomorrow will do the same.
On Monday , I request the cleaning guy about my sock .So apparently it has disappeared.I need to eb more careful. The light bulb brigade did not come today. To change ligt bulb here is quite a protocol and ceremony. They first need to come to check which are the bulb grille ( their way of saying the bulb eed to be taken out) when they find which light bulbs are grille. then proceed to unscrew the bad bulb. This is done under teh supervision of one superviser and one guard who has to accompany them everywhere in the building in case they take some thing from the house.
Then they take the bad bulb in a plastic bag and go back to the company to exchange for a good bulb to be replaced. They need to present the bad bulb to get the good one.The company can not send them the approximate amount of bulbs because they will sell it or take them home for themselves. That explain the reason why the guy who never clean up after himself clean up teh broken bulb and take the pieces with him. Because he need to proof at teh company thet he really did broken one bulb.

Dinner chez the Bel Air

Yesterdays was Saturday the 27 of Oct. I met so many new people. First we need to leave the building to let the guy come to spray insecticide outside and inside. We plan to go with 3,000,000 CFA to pay for the plane tickets at Ethiopian airline who refuse to accept check or credit cards. In Ethiopian airline office a chinese girl Zhou Xiao jye call me, "Aunty what company do you for here in Congo". After I talk to her with my helpless rusty chinese her colleague showed up from behind the office counter and we continue to talk in french which was easier for me but I don't want to forget my chinese so I ask their phone number and promise to call them when they have a break. They said they work 6 and a half days a week and only have half day holiday which is Sunday afternoon. And they have to work one whole year to get one month holidays to go back to China. Wonder if anyone else I know have such schedule. The 6 and a half days work week was mainly doing their own work and they have to spend one an d a half day to work on week end mainly to correct the work of teh congolese. They found that to be more effective than teaching the locals to do thing correctly which they find helpless and too much time consuming. I think this is scheduel for unmarried people. Don't know what is the schedule of the married people who have family.

Then we went to look for houses again with Jean Claude the courtier of Myriam who ask for taxi money again. But now he got lucky because Franklin paid for his taxi .So ,off course before he leave he started to ask for transport money to go back home. Now Franklin should know better not to pay from the start but I took the wallet away and tell him to walk home. In the end he left. I was thinking of the caddy at the golf course in Poinet Noire , how they like to get a ride in the car to go home or get a free ride from Diosso back to Pointe Noire. We have places enough in the car for them to come with us but after we said yes all the other guys jump in also and it won't take long bebore the car get overloaded with people hanging from every part of the car to get a free ride. As long as they can arrive safely there will be no trouble but if something happen to any of them we will be deep trouble. That's why we are told especially for a rented car that they will not insure the passenger we take in the car. That mean we should not take people with us more than we can be responsible to take them safely to the destination.

This is another reminder that I need to get the chauffeur's driving license copy at the Europcar rental next week. AFter we got our ethiopian airline ticket we went to the market to get flower for Sylvie for diner to night. It was great to see big big bouquets of rose de porcelain. So difficuly to find in Pointe Noire because they don't like sea breeze. Rose de porcelaine grow well here near the river.

The guy sold us 3 bouquets for 3000 and he also charge for emballage. Typical of the local they never say before how much thing is going to cost. They expect that we will always pay for whatever price they ask. White people are like elephant ,teh local reason that they need to tear them apart inpieces.

I plan to have the chauffeur take a look at wicker shelve on the way to the market. Will take a look at that on Monday.

Evening we went to diner. we have french onion soup and racqulette. Wonder if this is correct spelling. We heat cheese in in the center piece heater like fondue swiss or chinese fondue and we just put the melted cheese on saucesages and other thing in the plates like broccoli, potatoes, ham ectera. Swiss seem to have many system to do this. Like the meat we got at Pi Sumalee hotel also look a little bit like that. We have a long conversation about life in Africa. All the guests are grand voyageurs who have been to many countries in Afrcia. They particularly like Namibia and South Africa. To see the whale in the tip of cape of good hope looking towards india ocean one need to go there before December so sometimes between October to December. This are the most animal lover group I met so far. They really enjoy talking about about their encounter with animals in their natural habitat and how entertaining it was to see them in nature and how different it was to see them in the zoo, in captive. We are fortunate to be in Africa and still can have this kind of encounter. Animals once roamed the continant of Europe and Asia also but today we only see less and less of them in scattered reserves or in the zoos. Africa is the only continent left in the world where we can really see them as our equals. Not absolutely equals because we have a car and drive fast but peopel in Africa are so knowledgable about leaving the animal alone in nature that we feel like we are one with nature rather than some one looking some creatures from the safety of the other side of the fence. Still there is one animal that man still cannot capture and put on display in teh zoo. That is whale.

The detective book of McCall Smith make me want to go to Botswana and South Africa again. the first time we went with the kids we did not really see it as intimately. So this is one place we will certainly go back and I will definitely go to Kinshasa and Namibia before we leave this continent.

Professonalism I

As far as writing is concern ,I consider myself an amateur. Eventhough I like to write and continue to attend so many workshops and journal everyday, I still do not trust myself enough with any piece I write. I always feel safer if my daughter , who is a native english speaker,go over the english grammar and spelling mistakes ecetera before I let any one read my piece. But now ,I am more daring and I trust myself more. I did not wait for my daughter to edit my piece before sharing it with peopel on the blog. I just type whatever come to mind and publish my thought right away. I share my thoughts, ideas and opinion not the a perfect piece of literature.

May be because I only trust the professionals. There are so much conditions to be a professional. One is expected to perform thing right the first time. Because the pro get paid for their work. And they are usually trustworthy. Take for example DHL or Federal express. They are pro in the art and business of documents delivery. Especially from Africa ,where we are now. If our documents are handle by DHL we never worry that it will not reach the destination and we also happy to pay the price. They deliver professional service . That is what they do for a living.They have specific standard and system that we can trust and predict the result. Some pro even take a step further. The MI group group or AGS the international professional movers , also provide insurance . This is further guarantee. It rid the client of all the worry and uncertainty. There are so much peripheral service they provide like follow up on your package or shipment 24 hours a day on line. We know exactly what happen to our stuff and where and why.

Professional can usually charge high price. We pay for their professionalism, their standard that we trust.

Amazingly this same rule also applied in Africa. In Congo here we have a professional cook and a professional chauffeur. Professionalism is especially so true here. Our professional cook does marvel with his sauce concoction that I dare say hi s sauces from cocktail sauce,spaghetti sauce ,plum sauce to even chocolate sauce for dessert are better than all the sauces in restaurants in town that I have been so far. He is so professional and interested in cooking that he devour all the recipes cook books that I brought with me during his break. As a professional he only cook but he will not serve or wait table so when we have guests we need to do the serving ourselves or orchestrate the serving for him. He like to wear his chef uniform and over see things in the kitchen and he love to clean up. That was our first cook. He hired him because the maid that we thought could cook some simple meal for us broke all our china.

Our second cook graduated from the cooking school in BZV and has been trained in a professional catering company in a real professional kitchen for at least 3 years before we hire him.This cook is a bright young fellow who can portion the food into beautiful artistic arrangement of individual plate. We don't know what he does in the kitchen but he really can serve with style. His plate is always well presented and very pelasing to the eyes. Even when he serve us fresh fruit like water melon. He will carefully section the fruit and take out all the visible seeds,cut the red flesh from the green part and serve. Having the two cooks make us realise that there are many specialties among cooks from local cooking school specialised in kitchen and restaurant management. Off course there a more to running and managing of kitchen and dining room than cooking and serving. How about buying ingredients, shopping for produces and utensils, washing and ironing the table cloths and over see the cleanliness of the table , China, silver ware,napkin ecetera.
In this regards ,we experience the high degree of professionalism here in Africa like we never expereince anywhere else. In the U.S.A. and in Europe this life style had become obsolete, the thing of the past. Life in upper hemisphere of the world has become too rush to be worrying about the crease on the table cloth or the burnt at the corner of the souffle dish. But here in the African continent one country , Ethiopian, just celebrate the year 2000.There is still time to savour things that has been long lost and evaporated from our high acheivements society of the digital world.

Diplomatic protocol in Brazzaville

For american style person like myself it is quite something to contact people here in Brazzaville. Off course you ahve the cell phone number and you can call any one you want on the list once you get the list of a handful of expats wifes in the city. But after that when you need to go see them it is quite a big deal. You need to present yourself in front of the gate with high wall. Then you have say who you are and what business you have with the person in side then they will give a call as security measure this is a good practice but the mssge did not get through to the person you want to see it sometimes stop right in front door of the person's office. Today I went to see some one in South African embassy. After giving the guard in front door the name and id card and got the visitor batch we went inside and sit in the waiting room. We wait for a long time ,the congolese guy in front always say Mr Linda is busy with some one. Finally I decide to call him on the cell phone and when he pick up the phone he had no idea thatw e were waiting in there for sometimes already. Anyway we got to talk with him and we are set to go see the house tomorrow. The big step we got today is that we get to see the house of Lilliane and found a very good agent. I think this kind of house will be great to get but we only in 2nd position. The first one is some one from European union. I don't want to deal with the first real estate agent we got from teh street. taht was the worst. He always show us the opposite of what we want and now taht I know what is available and who can I deal with I am very happy to deal with Antoine.

Salon V I P in Brazzaville airport

I was in salon VIP the first time in the Brazzaville airport more than 4 years ago when we first move to Congo. It was very dim room some of the airconditioners work at half capacity and it smell very african. Coming from outside one is the easy target of mosquitoes. A fresh new smell not uet blend in with the rancid of old worn out leather sofas and dusty carpet in the VIP room. The most scary of all is the bathroom. There is no water and the toilet never work. The door never close properly but one need to go one need to go. I just close my eyes and my nose and bring a lot of tissue paper. This is Africa, Even the locals say that. Do not expect much what you want ? thi is Africa.
But that was 4 years ago. Now in in Pointe Noire, The CHinese has just finished the new airport with new salon VIP with new leather sofas that are still clean because they are all new and we can see their original colour.All the air conditioners work to their full capacity and believe it or not the bathrooms are still clean and the toilet works as well as the bathroom door. For how long? Don't ask me. We did not get to use the new Pointe Noire VIP room very often because there are so much formality to get in to use it. First you havet write a letter to the authority and get teh permit which you need to pay. I don't know how many people the company need to pay in order to get a stamped paper permit to the VIP for the pacific date at the specific time. Meaning if teh plane has any delay or there is any change in teh flight , the whole process need to be done again from writing the letter and payment to all the officers concerned. Toward the end of my stay , I change my flight schedule very often so I did not get to use the VIP room that much. But this time I am impress that they even have the carousel for suitcases and the trolley .
I walked down follow the group of ministers to the door of VIP room. The officer at the VIP door bow downhe greet all the bigs shots who walk in through the VIP door and as he see me so low that his head almost touch the groud. Welcome Welcome, misters the Minister and african miisters after ministers walk through teh door then he saw me walking down the corridor following all the big shots ministers. He point at the direction of the stairs and say for you is that way. I walked down at the direction he point and yes I saw the protocole of the company wait for me there. I wonder how the VIP room has become after one year of use. WIll I still recognise teh colour of the leather sofas. Are there really any maintenance at all here. I also wonder about their garbage collection. I ahve never seen one either.

Typical Sunday in Brazzaville

I woke up at the time that I don't want to know. Luckily water came back so I could wash my face , brush teeth and use the toilet. I have 2nd thought about that house in Mpyla but will go look at the house of Anais today or will see with Lillian. The plane tickets of my husband and myself are now secured. He only need to do the one of teh two girls back to Bangkok this year end. I am glad that my husband will join me end of the year to vacation in Thailand. ANd I really will ahve to book Krabee for them asap.And we still also need to go to Korat and see Pi Kosol, Pi Amorn and many others. Well how about Janelle and John are they already there in Singapore and I did not hear back from Arunaa either. One can only do so much in a day and I feel like practicing yoga this morning. If I don't do it now it will never get picked up again. I will also go to yoga class chez Veronique Goblet on Thursday. The girl near the airport is so simple and I saw her house already. WHat are the new house I can look. In Mpyla that area could work for me. Or where else could I see. O.K. there is this guy Maitre De Villers . He did get anything back yet. So who else do I look again. It is like in Thailand when there are so much Farang came to Korat. my father also built 4-5 houses for Farang. It was not to their standard but it was the best they can find there in Korat. I remember the farang taht I saw. Even a black family,now I am in teh same situation. But believe it or not I am the farang in search for a rented house.I will not do much for this any more.This is only for 3 years and now we already spend 4 months in the Chevron apartment. Will the owner finished teh house or not the broker doesn't know and I feel that we might be ready to negotiate with the people now. But before that I want to talk with
the owner today if possible.

Saturday in Brazzaville searching for a house

Well this is my first Saturday in Brazzaville that I feel really here. Everything had been packed move from Pointe Noire to Barzzaville. And today we did go to purchase our palne tickets direct flight to Bangkok. From Brazzaville to Adis ababa and direct to Bangkok. It will be and adventure and I am surprise to see that the ticketing clerk were quite efficient. i even feel like working some where in the computer or ticketing or something in this city. They ahve quite a lot of thing to offer. I am not too sure if I should do that as I am always absent. but if I can help why not. I am not sure if I will do some benevole or something but I am sure I can do something for sure. There are more to do here than in Pointe Noire or I can go practice golf again. So we got our tickets and confirm but we can not pay by credit card so we can only pay cash on Monday when teh bank will be open. Teh african chauffeur I have is rather unreasonable and I am not too keen about keeping him. It was not common

The City Life style

I have been wanting to live in a city like San Francisco. Moving from the suburb of Danville /San Ramon area to the city life. But again the universe send me to Brazzaville. Like when I ask to be by the beach , the universe sent me to the petroleum town of Pointe Noire. There must be the reason why I am here and I want to cross teh river to Kinshasa asap to visit the old compound where I use to be. I already ahve my golf bag. That also I want to do. Going to play golf. May be I will find a good teacher here what I can have in Pointe Noire. We will see. But first I need to find a house. My husband has found a chauffeur for me. Not very professional like Armel, the one trained by Willy in Pointe Noire but nevertheless. Ramane is really a jack of all trade. He use to be and still is military person with certain political inclination. He use to work with the president company doing the security for his trading office in town. I think he has problem of payment and has been providing service without getting pay so he quit.Then he do the garage to repair cars and again it is very difficult to get paid for service you gave in Africa. So he prefer to work with expats and render his service through an agency. That's why he end up as our chaufferur right now. HE seem to know every street and every car in Brazzaville. We will see what's next. I also met this guy Jean Claude who ask that I pay his taxi for him to come to meet me at the Meridienne hotel. That is strange and Ramane my chauffeur also agree on that too. Fulvia, I think got the service of Destin the contractor guy to drive her here and there and Ramane use to be the fill in for Destin when he is on holidays. I am quite surprise when he asked me to sit next to him instead of staying behind like most of the time. Anyway, I don't mind and I can see Armel also not wanting lift suitcases. I can see how pretentious thsi cadres are. And that's African. I think the mentality of this habit in Thailand has die down already. Anyway, I think I found the house that I like and it is very city style and I can't believe that I will like a house that has no yard and no swimming pool. I think my children will not like it for sure. No place for sun bathing but they can do that somewhere else. Like the Meridienne or Olympic or go to Kenya or what. My two girls will probably come for a little bit but I don't think my son will ever come to Africa again. He is fading from from our routine life. We just meet together 3 times briefly over the holidays season. And even that, I feel the energy of that is fading too. Meaning I will have my life back more and more. Children they are all going their own ways. Only the two us left together. So the house must reflect that kind of life style and not have to think about the children bedrooms permanantly all the time. Anything that is not this Chevron apartment will be o.k. with me. WOnder if I still have Dian ( PA Deang) myspace page. I like to look again. She has her life the way she like now and she went traveling to many part of the world looking for her companion. I like the Burmese restautant I went with Pa Deang and Dini before we came here. Africa , Africa, I am sure I will be finished with it soon. Today I learn about the good president of Congo Marien Guabi. They have his monument up, they name a university and square and road after him.He must be a good president and he was assasinate in his own house like Gabila in Zaire. These AFrican countries still have a long way to go toward leaders as states man. So far we know only Nelson Mandela.

Local politics Brazzaville

Actually this is not the country politics but the office one. I am glad to finish teh packing and now back in Brazzaville 4th floor office again. I can feel the tension that has been building upver the years with Willy and the locals. Each time there is a change of expats they start to ask to do this and that. But they are not capable to to organise anything so in the end it was Willy who has to organise all that. This year they want to do do much and there are a lot more expats and expats houses to atke care. I wonder if Willy will be able to do all. I remember how we have to work with the locals here. They really need details instruction and guidance. Actually they need supervision every step of teh work. WOnder what will happen if everything is leave to them to organised. Actually tehy have to fall back to the white people again. Like RDC they still need super power for support before they can do anything. RC Congo right now want to get China involved. They want support from China that's why right now this year, I am going to go to Thailand with Ethiopian airline. A lotof Congolese Chinese people travel this route and avoid Europe all together. I am very keen on having the house in Brazzaville soon. I went to see Myriam yesterday and after seeing her ,it look very promising that I will get a house for sure but I have to keep looking. I have enough connection to do all these. Also I need to get pedicure and MAssage and many other peripherals service. I don't want to go to salon. There are less expats here than somewhere else. Lilianne De la Court has an old house on river bank. I think it is more romantic and less violent than teh sea or teh ocean. We did enjoy the ocean for 4 years. Now the people I have diner with last night want to go to Malonda. They don't like to go away for Christmas. It was a good idea because they can do so much in Pointe Noire and relax. Now that there are 4000 expats at least in Pointe Noire , there are more activities than before during Christmas time. I am glad we decided to go to Thailand. And in March go to Belgium to take care of teh registration. I think it is important to do that and I still don't see the bill for Isabelle's schooling yet.Did Franklin organise everything for the plane ticket yet. I will ahve to do mine myself. i prefer. Now everything is stuck. I want to buy rice today. WHat kind of rice do I want to buy. Do I need to explain everything to the cook. Can he do thing the way I want. He is polite but eh doesn't know much what to do. Wil he definitely follow my instruction. I wonder what kind of thing he is going to make. What elase do we do next. May be I have to go down and let them know what to do. There is no way to call or anything. And they don't want to come up and bother me. I think. My intention today is to find the correct house. I am not going to stay in that unfinished one that Sylvie show me.

arranging the move

I am sitting in teh 4th floor dining room waiting for the car to pick me up to go to Maya Maya airport on my way to go back to Pointe NOire to pack. It was funny the first time I arrived in Pointe Noire, It was so sad and I thought it wouldn't work but I really enjoyed my stay and for now I think it is better than here in Brazzaville,the city. But I havw yet to discover Brazzaville. Not sure if my children will think teh same way. If we find the house and all and move in get thing organised, we might still be o.k. I am impressed with teh french lawyer yesterday and I feel good about getting a house form him. He must ahve a o.k. house. i am sicka nd tired of the agence immobilier.They really do not understand what I need and I decided not to work with them any more. tehy can talk all day long or listen to teh amount of maney and calculate in their head what tehy are going to receive but other than that they don't realise what we need. Luckily here in Africa , landlorad and tenant and tenant can specify I only want white people and a long contract. I am glad to say that I onlt want to work with white agent who will understand my need. I am not even sure fi I should even talk with Farnklin about that. In California ,you talk like this your licence will eb at risk right away. they want real estate people to be colour blind. This will never work here. teh way people live here are so difference and what is acceptable to one might not be the case with other. Anyway, I prefer my hosue in Poinet Noire so far but who knows I might find something more interesting here too. I will ahve to move first and start my exploration.

Last night I read teh BBC report saying Brazzaville is the worst city in world to live in and I really agree with them . But they also say that Pointe Noire is one of teh at risk place to live also. That ,I don't agree. But that was old assesssment. I am not sure about right now.

In Brazzaville

Today is Oct.4 and I am already on the 4th floor of Chevron office apartment in Brazzaville.I arrived since yesterday Oct 3 but was too tired to do anything. Actually today ,I suggested to my daughter to go practice yoga and I should also do that. There are so much thing to do and so much to put in order. But first we need to find the house. This is not going to be easy. We are renting from the Chevron office right now and I have to walk up and down stairs everyday. Better than nothing but tomorrow we are going to take a look at the 3 bed rooms apartment. may be it will be better for me. I change my life style a lot eversince I come to Africa. I will see Fulvia soon and may be will also see the people who do yoga also. MAy be I will do it for an hour right now. It's great to back with my husband again and I keep in touch with daughter.We are not too intersted in bringing too many thing to Africa. I feel like retiring soon. Kids are bigs now and they have their own way more and more. Now I want to take acre of myself and my husband. Actually how about finishing teh 3 track of the light body's volume. I am not too jetlag but will email to Sylvie and ask about yoga first. I need to get into teh swing of thing.

In CDG Novotel

Finally I am back in this Novotel CDG again. Finished the writing workshop in Scotland's Lendrick lodge and got so inspired to do fire. I even suggested to have firewalk as a part of the workshop next year and Steven is ready to organise it as optional. My experience in Sterling was not that great, There are no parking and in Edinburg airport, I can not check my suitcases through to Brazzaville so I have all the two big suitcases with me here in the room to night.Wonder if I will be fit enough to go to Paris tomorow or not. Too tired and not intersted in doing any more shopping or sight seeing. If I can see some freinds I would make teh trip especially but Liza is already gone back to U.K. may be I will just spend teh day rearranging teh suitcases and find out about how to check teh big suitcases in or get a taxi to take me to the terminal. With these two big suitcases, I have a very hard time coming to teh hotel with the tube. Also , I need to call teh bank for Isabelle account wonder if she got any news from HSB yet. She did not reply about the mail. And I want to set up the on line group for the Scot writing workshop

Mcdonald in Northampton

Today is the last day of my stay in Northampton. We try to open student account for Izzy but still nto succeed yet. We finally have to go with HSBC and do it on line. We will see what transpire when I go home. I decided to to try Mcdonald new shop on the church square. teh decoration look nice but food still the same. What wa sunusual was there is this girls sitting near teh entrance playing with french fries. She dip a french frie in ketchup and throw ita t people and laugh first I did not notice what happening. I got two pieces of french fries landed on my lap. It was so rude and poor taste of teh girl but what can one do. I shoudl not ahve gone in to Mcdonald in teh first place. It is fool of weird kind of people.may be that's the lesson not to be too curious from teh out side appereance . All was still the same. People who eat there are poor taste people including me. Don't know why I waste so much of my time with that stupid girl who has nothing better to do but play with her food. I though bad table manner is teh trade mark of AMerican suburban kids but thsi is UK. Well not a very good area. Only this kind of area that we can see somethig like this. We are not going stay long. i am glad I am out of here tomorrow.

volume 2 lightbody obstacle

It is Monday morning 24 Sept. I woke up alone in room 310 IBIS hotle Northamton and feel like doing the last chapter of meditation which I did not get last night. I gone through a chunk of info and I heard teh fire alarm. It was faint and came from out side so i did not pay attention. I thought it was from the music of the Cd but then it persits and i the end the alarm ring very loud in my room so I have stop teh CD before it finished an dconclude. I still did not receive the complete info and have to rush down stair to find out that it was ta fault alarm. SO I went ahead and have breakfast. I need to report this to my teacher. What do I do next. i have never get reply form teh Hua Hin Asara resort about the retreat reservation. Today I need to call my daughter again.I receive the valuable information from the aldy from thia grocery store yesterday. I don't want to get in my own way about teh choice of my daughter. I need to get out of my way and other people's way. Just focus on the two last meditation and I will be going into the 3 volume. Hopefully that will be in Scotland or Africa. I always have the idea of contacting soem people in teh morning when I wake up.We will see what transpire today. MAy be I should call my daughter first.

One AM on 23 Sept. in Northampton U.K.

I just finished the whole chocolate bar and 2 cups of tea sitting in the IBIS hotel room in downtown Northampton. Today my daughter ,Isabelle , and I went about town to find stuff for her dorm. She did registered for classes this morning and we just updated herVoda phone account. She re use the old phone she has from 2 years ago when she was in TAsis U.K. How time passed and I still remember Belle Noi when she was born in Thailand. She has been with me a long time. From the day I pragnant and when she was born in Thaialnd her paper was in teh samefile as me. Her dad always came to visit afterwards. the same way with her schooling. We were very closed. Not only in the green card file but later on for teh first communion. We went together to get her dress and get everything organised. tehn about changing to Tsis UK we travelled together to look for schools and finally for university. I was the one who follow the universities application process and was teh one who get upset teh most when we did not know what she will end up doing. Now she is in her dorm room in Northampton. She is here for a reason. This is teh first time in her life that she will be alone in teh room, She will have to learn to be by herself. SHe had grown a lot since she came back from Africa. I won't see her again till Christmas and I need to prepare to let go of my youngest, VAlerie, in two years times also. Thinking of Valerie, By teh time she will be freshman in college, Benjamin will be graduated. May be Franklin will should to retire then. How I miss my little girl. I remember praying to ahve a girl just less than a year when Benjamin were born. SO much happen during this summer . I did teh light body course, I got to go namasakarn the holy relics twice and got to
bring my two girls to be blessed by the relics. Then just before leaving Danville I got to go to attend the fire ceremony at chez Dana. Not to mention the writing workshop that I got to go to many otehr teachers and events that have never able to attend before due to short stay.
This is not finish yet. I already firnished my book and will go to workshop in SCOTLAND in three days afetr this. That promise to be another magical undertake, Thanks teh universe for all these. Especially today, as we were running around getting stuff for the dorm. SO many local people help us. they tell me were to go get stuff Isabelle need in this town that we only know for 2-3 days. I coudl never accomplished so much in one day without their help. Whta a miracles. Teh universe is as it should be and reveal information to at the time I need and exactly what I need. What a generous universe and for this and all that will be revealed to me in good I am so greatful.

Valerie has gone back to Leysin

The house is very quiet now that Valerie has already left for Leysin. We only have Isabelle left with us. It is going to be only me and Izzy next week after Franklin will be gone back to Brazzavilel. I got to go to Clive 's workshop in Scotland this year after sending Izzy to U.K. She really look forward to that and we are also excite about her first year in U.K. college. They are completely different from U.S. college though. The students are completely on there own. Thanks to mrs Duke she got this place secured in college. Hopefully she will like it and grow a lot from the experience there. She want to got o Thailand for a year to study thai and that coudl be arranged if she could get something organised but I can not find anything safe and sound enough for her. If she stay with a family in Thailand which family will she stay with. may be with Bu. Will that be o.k. to arrange or with Pi Aew. I feel better if she will be with Bu and may be I will call Bu about that. That is not too difficult. She cna go to study Thai at Chula everyday and come back with the car. That could be easy to arrange.I don't want her to be with Khun Pim because it is too far. Our house is really too far from teh university. She can definitely go for the 2nd year of college.

The girls and their freinds

Today Valerie went to shopping at Stoneridge Mall with Jasmine, her friend from elementary school. And Isablle went out with Marisa her friend from Charlotwood. They have a lot to catch up and Valerie will not have much time to prepare for her departure. The house felt rather funny with Benjamin gone. I always feel funny walking apst Benjamin's room. Knowing that he will grow more and more and be more and more independent. When he was with us we enjoy him but we respect his ideas and know that he is gettng bigger and bigger and will leave us totally soon. I remember when he was little and I can't wait for him to leave. Those time were really short thinking about it. When all of them are little and always have to run to mom for comfort and decision and security and protection. But I am so proud of him right now. He is fine young man. i am thinking again that he will eb staying in Bay Area or some where in CAlifornia. He prefer to be where he know not wiling to settle down in other country or otehr states.may be he like to be in Switzerland. it is one of the place where he feel the most comfortable.

Back from Humboldt county

We drove back from Humboldt after a weekend there getting Benjamin settled in his new home for his second year in Humboldt. He is now thinking of majoring in Kinesthesia or something along this line. I wonder if he will remain in Humboldt for the rest of college year. This is his sophomore year and he had already moved out to rent a place with 3 others friends out side of campus. He also took the Buick after paying 1000 dollars in fine to the court in Hayward for speed ticket, insurance and failure to appear or pay for one year. Everything is in order now for his insurance with the family for the car and driving and all. We are proud of him with his politeness and sense of sportmanship. I know he will go to do a semester abroard and will also come back to finish his school work next year. He did very well for his long summe job and he seems to enjoy his stay in Leysin this summer. His teacher from LAysin mr Mark Lentz will be teaching in Tobago the capital of the island of Trinidad and Ben might want to join him.I know I miss him now. My first born boy. Before focusing on my two girls who will be preparing for departure to their school and university respectively. I want to grief about the departure of my boy. He is so independant and conderate. Really a fine young man as we parted he thanks his dad for traveling up with the whole family to see him off for the second year in Humboldt. We are not too sure if we will do it the following year. We feel that he know his way around there already. It won't be long before Valerie will be a senior and off to university also. She has two more years in Leysin before moving on. She enjoy teh clarity of our decision to keep her in Leysin and also now we are relieved about Isabelle having a university to go to and get to do what she is interested in doing.I like to arrange the house accordingly. Valerie say she is comfortable everywhere but she feel the least comfortable in Danville. I can see clearly that finally it will only be Benjamin who will still be in California or Bay area. The girls will be in Europe and Thailand more. We have diner at Hurricane Kate in Eureka on Saturday while Ben went out with his fellows sophomores for the Saturday de la rentree. the girls starte dto draw thai alphabets on the table cloth and Valerie really love the food at Hurricane Kate. If I were to amke a will today. The house in Thailand 3/14 Amporn 1 in Pathumthani goes to Isabelle. Actually she has her name in that house already. The Picnic lane will go to Benjamin. And our house here to Valerie.

Not a typical Sunday

I stay home most of the day today only go to the dance studio with my daughter. She want to look for classes and gain more experience in driving. Actually today she should be doing the appointment for driving test. I don't want to be the one who drive her to dance class and have to stay there waiting for her to finish like when they were little. Now she should be able to drive herself tehre betetr still she should be able to pay for her own classes. Like most of her friends do.Anyway, she went with me to writing class just to check it out. It was nice to hear she read soem of her writing. Going to Africa with the school and the past 4 years travellinga dn boarding school really good for her. This time coming home she did not go out as much as before and more careful about calling friends. Off course all the interest and college life will be different . Teh friend who still here is Leila. She will be going for a break to South Africa from October to March 2008 before coming back to go to community college. My husband is also feel more relaxed and catch up with most thing he need to do. I feel a little bit settled into this house finally after 3-4 years of emptying the boxes.

Back in 560 Rolling Hills

I am now in Danville for summer sitting at my rosewood dinning table. So many things have settled now. Benjamin is still in Leysin working with Tim Sloman supervising summer camp. Isabelle is now home from 6 weeks in Africa. Finally she is settled about university. She is going to Northampton U.K. and Valerie is working on her U.S. history credit in NMH prep school in Boston. All of teh trio seems to have their summer well spent this year and we will re unite for a brief catch up mid August before all of the go each their way again till Christmas. I am glad to practice teh light body meditation almost finished teh volume one. SO much has happened in my life. Franklin will have to move now September 1st. We will have to go to Brazzaville by then. I have been watching so many movie from blockbuster and Global DVD in Oakland. I need to watch everything now because when I go back to Africa will not be able to watch any more.I notice so many new habit I adopted from living in Pointe Noire the past 4 years. For example shopping for food. I slow down a lot more than before and choosing everything with care. Also I don't like to get too many things at a time and loose interest to shop at Costco even for our shipment to Africa.I enjoycooking from scratch more and more and don't mind doing that while I am in Danville. may be because I know that this is temporary. Tomorrow I will go to farmer market with Izzy in the morning and will join writing class with Selene for the first time.I was a little bit annoyed by the remark of Eva , participant in Clive's Thursday workshop about reading newspaper but that was a mild comment. It is my personal view that reading newspaper in this country or even watching CNN american version is a waste of time. People are not well informed here at all, But I am not interested to be well informed about where Britney Spear spend vacation or what's going on in the home of Brad Pitt andAngelina Jolie.Realisticly, I ahve no time for that.Luckily my kids' eyes are opened now about this junk people here don't mind to consume on a daily basis.

At the college counselling office in TASIS

I finally obtained an appointe with Mrs Duke who is Isabelle's college counsellor. I almost miss teh appointment while I was in town to buy a few new summer cloth and went into teh chruch to pray for my daughter's college entrance. With Mrs Duke ,we found out about the letter from the U.K. unversities sent to my daughter way back when. She did not act on it and did not show it to her counsellor. Mrs Duke ask for some minimum organisation on her part and we did teh step for her to take. She need to produce the dance tape within this Friday and DHL them out to the colleges. I did call my husband and report teh progress to him. But I also ask for personal appointment with Miss Brokel to report to her what happening with Izzy's application. How I felt that Saint Mary of teh Abondio church ahd help us. Had I not been in Mrs Duke office today thing would get late and the UCAS system will be frozen forever for my daughter. How it was so important that parents meet teachers and counsellor from time to time to hear first hand about teh progress of teh kids and les etate des chose. I also find out about two otehr schools in cacana that were great also.

Sunday 20 May in San Gottardo

Last night I came back so late. It was past mid night when I got on the internet trying find out about Concordia university and I got teh idea of having Izzy do french translationa nd music as teh way to open the door into college. Anyway, we did have a good time. I went to teh schol's library and check out teh book Ladies detective agency. It was so great and I enjoy it so much that I finished it in one day. Today I will bring it back to teh library. Then I stay at school the whole day. I arranged with Edward Hashke about family portrait and went out to wait for Elana and CArolina at the parking. WIth the Gala festivities going on for fund raising for teh school performing arts building that need to go on through the night. We finally left the school at seven thirty to go to Villa d'erst on the lake Como. We all took our passport with us to be wure that we can come back in case we can not pass the Italian border. I did try the cocktain in the villa d'erst called cosmopolitan and we walk around the beautiful hotel and I promise myself that I show it to Franklin and Michel and Roseline before they leave.
We took some pictures and went down to Lagio to see the front gate of George Clooney house, Then we go down the narrow road to the crotini Platino with teh full parking lot. We ahve to park by the street and there is no walkway so we have to walk very carefully down the narrow tiny highway to get to teh grotto rstaurant. It was not that great especially teh food but I like teh fish from lake and the salad. CArolina like champagne and I make a note to myself to chill at least two bottles of California champagne beforehand when tehy coem visit us in Brazzaville.We have a nice meal and nice converstion and Isabelle still worry about her future after the graduation. We didscussed about some liberal arts option taht she can do come September but it still not sound right to all of us. And all of a sudden we discovered that both of us had fogotten Dad's birthday almost two days ago on MAy 17. We feel so embarrassed and immediately call him. Dad want to have his BD dinner in August during summer holidays. He did not feel liek doing anything in Africa far from teh family. And , as usual teh one who never forget family occassion like this is our little Valerie.
I need to work on myself to just let go of control and anything about my daughter. I wonder if I can ever do that. Last night , I still find myself calling Isabelle at 2 am in teh morning.While I was on the computer. It is going to be 11 am now may be I can make a call or go to the school to return the book and rent another one. I'd already finish this two books during the trip may be I can check out one more or read the book written by the wife of the new headmaster. And right now I need to check my laundry that I sent down to wash this morning.

Saturday 19 MAy in Agra

This morning I went out to take a walk on teh small hill in front of the hotel. A lot of wild strawberries on teh path and the Lugano lake is very close by. But I don't know the name of the village we can see from the high hill. Actually there are 4 paths around teh hill and I will walk them all because I ahve time now. I saw Charlene and Charlie on teh way and they came over to ahve coffee at teh Pension after the walk. I really liek this area more than Bella Vista because Bella Vista ahs more houses. But teh view is still teh same. Yesterday I wet to San Salvadore on the Feniculaire. ANd this morning I look at the web site for the book Bloomability. I will get this book and the series of Ladies detectiv agency of Alexander McCall Smith.
ay be I can call Isabelle's teacher right now to see if she has a copy of that book. How about having teh book mailed to me here.

In Lugano at San Gottardo

I came to this pension by mistakes. I ask Euay to reserve this for me but to my surprise it is very nice and we decided to have the graduation party here on June 2nd. We went to get the car this morning. I am not too please with teh school but it was not too bad. I think its time I take teh reign about Isabelle's university's application. The teacher feel that what she has so far is the best to go to Richmond. It is not bad but not what she need now. I am glad to discover the Les Airelles and know about the books written by the scottish writer. I will look for it in the internet.
The more I see it I prefer to be in the french part of switzerland. Anyway, soon it will be the graduation and I know that it is going to be nice. I found the book return from Africa in french version at the Geneva airport. I am reading it right now. I will ask Euay about the other book about the flying kite boy. Soon , I will order the meditation class about light body from Orin Daben soon.May be this is a good break for me.

The Monday before the last Monday of April

I need to keep track of how many days this week I practice yoga. I am at the point wher the body came up with millions excusees not to do it. Pararel God I fogot how to spell it. I watch the movie angles in America last night. it was a play . i jot down quite a lot of new words. thsi morning I call my daughter. I feel rather sluggish today. o.K. still need to email a few people. Last night I got mesge from MAnuela and a call from Jessica. O.K. on Saturday ,I did watch teh french movie Fauteuil d'Orchestre . Was a nice movie. The firat time I see ValerieLemercier on screen. This week is really french as we listen to N.Sarkozy speech. We don't know who will be the next french president as they will vote again in two weeks. I will know it before I leave for Leysin. Valerie is more clear than Isabelle about what she want. Does Isabelle need to undergo all teh ceremony to find out what she really want. Actally we can get her to spend one more year to explore her options. She is not really firmon what she wants to do. It is not easy for her to make a choic eright now anyway I hope she get an intern position in Chiang Mai. I think that will be the best bet for her. My husband want her to be in Leysin for one more year. It was quite a big decision. I still await the reply from Mr Sloman. I hope hw knows the SIS people by now.
I am also in suspense about the next location I will be with my husband 's next assignment. I now that we'd finished here. It is just a matter of months before we move from here. I wonder why did I buy so much meat. I won't be able to finish all of it but my husband probably wll.
Well will eep everything on suspense for a while.

After Spring break

O.k. today is Monday the 16 of April. For the last three weeks I was running around like crazy with my two girls Isabelle and Valerie. We went to Point Indienne twice and really have a good time. I still am resening the fact that my husband has never make an effort to learn how to BBQ. Our Weber BBQ is still brand new has never been used. Anyway papa Jean came and make some alteration for me and a new tennis raquet bag for Isabelle and I will ahve one made for her coach at school. Papa Jean also make the white dress for Isabelle graduation. I am glad that this is out of my way and now we just have to look for teh white shoes and ear ring.
The idea came to me to ahve Nichole read my manuscript and she did read ita nd this make me more active again about my book. I really look forward to publish it within this year. And will email to Amanita and Mark today announcing my arrival in Bay Area this June.
Another issue for us is the whereabout of Isabelle next year. It seems like she is not ready for collage but I really need to talk with her more seriously. This summer she will be doing her driving license test and get that out of teh way may be Valerie can also do it.
I am too tired and hungry and reall out of shape. I should not have spent long hours in front of TV and DVD. When will I stop my tendency to go down to lower level frequency. Anyway, I ahve sen Blood diamond, The departed and dream girls already. I saw teh french version. I really like Marie Antoinette and the Dimanche in Kigali. The TOTAL golf competition is finished and Gail came to see Isabelle at home before she leave for Lugano. I am glad she will finish in Lugano and really curious about what she will be doing come Fall 2007.
I wish I could go to Thailand and finish my Yoga teacher training. I hope my husband finish the transfer of swiss francs to Euay within today.

Fist Par on nine hole

O.K. it was exciting. This week is full of soiree s and activities. Monday I have dinner with DAve & Chloe at Twiga. We went there late so we did not see the sunset. I want to help them with looking for new apartment in Pointe Noire. It should not be difficult. A lot of new apartment being built everyday here with a lot of new shops and hotels. The town is growing. Tuesday we ahve this thing with Credit Lyonnais. They changed name into credit congolais. So my husband told me that ,to email Pascal now we have to say Pascal@congolais dot com but Don't believe him. Also libertis phone has changed to MTN and we need to change sim card. How I hate to have the word petrolier or spouse of petrolier stick on my forehead everywhere I go in town. Even teh simple task as to put the memorised list of phone number from teh cell phone into sim card which is a service free of charge. The guy want to charge me 5000 frans for that. Because of me looking too mundele, too petrolire and too american. Well but did not fall for that. Armel the chauffeur said my husband would have paid for it without second thought. Anyway what's next on teh genda this week. Tuesday afternoon ,in spite of the rain, Isabel ,Vicki and me went to golf in teh afternoon. It was so nice not too hot and with gentle breeze from the sea. I got my first par on the 9th whole. Actually it si well worth a champagne. Anyway, I finally got around to return teh golf bag to Bienvenu in teh morning and register for this week Brasco competition. I can do this one before the Total competition next month. Todat , Wednesday ,we have ladies night out as usual but this time we will have it at Vicki's house for the farewell to Arunaa. She is moving to Singapore and for sure ,I know that I will see her again. I plan to bring the Te Te and Halo Halo with coconut ice cream. We only have Thursday free and Friday we have again something for Arunaa which is more formal at the Schumberger house. Them Saturday off course I will have drumming as ussual in the morning and teh exciting golf tournament in teh afternoon. Fro sure I need to go practice tomorow morning at 7 am. I want to call Chloe before she leave to borrow teh video of their wedding with the pygmy to watch. And also to have her contact BErnatuel and many others.I see Manuela on the net now.

I want to do the crazy child write with this computer for a practice. I really love the documentary on Madonna I watch last night. For the first time I feel like recording something from the TV program. Madonna has the right name . I think she is Italian American. Her husband a Scotman may be but she is very an icon. I don’t know how to describe her but now I am interested in going to one of her live concert. It is a genius work and hard work. There are a beautiful poem she wrote about her self that she has the life work as a Madonna the singer. This is her life mission and destiny She has only the song and the scene to awake people. Her work is brilliant her poems are touching and sincere. It come from the core of her being. And that is why it is soo gripping to audience. She withhold nothing. How I feel the pulsating of her soul and clear commucation. I would like to hear that again. It was such a good passionate documentary . I really want to get the DVD of it and give it to my daughter and I want to see it with her. She really learn the singing. I will learn to edit my work and to be with the crazy child. I will progress with the group. With Selene , Clive and all the other. Sharon and Steve. I like to get to know them better. They are sangha. I need the email of Sharon also. The poem of Madonna to her assistant is very touching and she share it with everybody. Secret is meant to be said. Some secret meant to be said. She is really dedicated and devote to her life work and life mission. She go to the core and I feel honoured to access the beauty of what she did offer to the audience. Off course we cannot say that is the best for so much is still can remained junk for some. But I really love it. I am aware that my taste and sensibility as well as my vibration has increase and expanded. I am of higher vibrations. I am off higher vibration and at this frequency , a lot will need to be discard or thrown out of orbit. Can not accommodate mediocrity for example. I am of higher vibration , I am awaked. I am intuned and in touch with a higher vibration and frequency of my being. I see, feel and am aware of another dimension of reality which is lighter, more fun and a lot of space has open up to me. I feel my connection with the 80,000 audiences in the rain like Madonna feel that night in Ireland ( Dublin ) think it must be in the rain in Ireland. She does not with hold anything she give away everything. It is ecstastic what will be the next step for me. I feel the mission and the book going to the core. I vibrate higher than before thing like Ophra or anything I use to like accumulate read and feel that it is interesting has already drop away one by one. There are new model, new arts, new way of being , new awareness and new frequency. This must be higher than what I normally experienced so far. It reach the 80,000 people or the 80 millions. If my book can sales like the one of J K Rowling. I would love that so much. But that is because the work worth it and it is more than life. It help people. It awaken them. Use my writing my soul to awaken people . It must be radical, daring and come from the highest of universe. From the source. As I feel it. It touched me.Iit is passionate. O.K. look at my daughter, how I want her to see this. How it must have been a lot if she need to stumbling on with trial and error. Everybody need to go through that. What does Madonna drink and eat and wear and practice. What is the routine of her everyday life ? I know that it must include so much of yoga , prayers meditation dance practice. So much physical and conceptual. Surrounded by so many creative out of the box ideas of songs ,dances and lyrics. With intense emotional exploration s and experimentation. That must be very interesting. How I wish to be in that kind of world and why not?I saw Al Gore the routine he gone to. In the movie. Movie told us a few thing but thatere is the guy behind the lens of the camera filming that. I can not absorb in that completely knowing the guy who is filming also. The knower and the known. I am very close to grab both of them.

I want to give a small feng shui class to people in Switzerland. I love my children . I did already got something. Did I want to give the cake for Isabelle birthdayin February 2007. May be I can have Isabelle do something at Khun Euay’s house. Will it be o.k. with her. I wonder how she is doing now. I want to call her again. I need to handle the set up of Valerie’s new school coomunication system .The power school that I will monitor very closely every week. They really no none sense there. I can’t wait for the internet to work. What to do next. Will we go to the drumming this week or not. I need to call Jennifer and Stephanie. I have so much to show to the drumming teacher. What do we do in our own beach. The place Malonda lodge is very nice and decent enough. We can really organized so much there. I really like the idea of having the writing group there. May be Vicky and Nielcould come too. How I love being back into the creative swing of thing. I like to have them organize the timing so that I know before hand what’s going on.

I want to also go look at the work of Mme Jamart. Go with Jaqueline to visit Grazialla. It will be great to visit Grazialla and how many people of the higher vibration that I will get to know and see. What will be the next thing to do. I need to call my piano teacher. I want to go on more go further with piano. My children did so much progress. I need to catch up with them also. Drumming and piano. I like the way Jean louis practice with the band. It was great. What else to do. I need to create my healing altar. So much need help and so much has going on with grace. I want to contribute and make a difference. Making a difference in someone life. The work of Madonna is large same as the one of JK Rowling. I am vibrating into that magnitude that vibration. That’s why I can see it appreciate it and can make sense out of it. I can get in touch with the greatness of it and the power of the mind the light of the work that shine bright in the world and pulsating in subtlties. This kind of wizardry seen only by the same frequency . Only the same frequency of vabration will recognized and appreciate. Nevermind the lower frequencies wher I use to be. It was alos precious and fun in its own way. We just only have to remain in our own acquired frequency until we ready for still another higher one with excitement and enthusiasm. This is another dimension of truth and realities that present itself and reveal itself to me as I attain higher frequency. This is another breakthrough. In the right place at the right time. And it is meant to be. I am excite to be in this dimension of a new reality. I am fortunate to the lightness, fun and shimmering sincereity, bliss and joy of it. I want to practice more yoga now. I become more into the body.


O.k the crazy child play time is finish by the sound of the timmer. I want to see how longer of the time I can keep going. May be it will be wise to just go and have lunch.
Set the table for this evening. So much still remain to be organized. Do I need to go for driving range today. I really need to practice yoga that’s for sure. Can I just put away all the stuff of this room. So much still can be given away. I will not go again to the Plateau market for the seafood. What will be the next thing to do? What they want to come to do thing for me. I am not too keen on seeing them here all the time. What was they. Is that the personal, the local people or what did I mean by they who come do thing for me. I can go to the Trentenaire for all of that.


15 Sept. 06

Another half an hour of crazy child writing. Last night we have Emerick, Fulvia and jean Paul over for diner. Jean Paul look very tired and hectic. Today is his last day in Pointe Noire. He ahs been here 4 years. He still as funny as before but I want to talk about Emerick he did do well from the loss he experience and we really don’t know what elase to do for him other than cheer him up and invite him to function from time to time. I just learn from Emerick that Choi is leaving also how about Jum and Pierre. We did not hear from them for so long and I want to go see Pi Pan also. How is she lately. She must be with all this Italian. I am elarning Italian right now. She is from Milano so she is a little bit different. Any way the most interesting is that Fulvia ‘s father. He did fishing and he fish Piranha and they also eat Piranha. We were talking about Kumqwati . All of us has been already but not all. I want really to invite Jacqueline and her husband over for diner. I will ask if it is o.k. with Franklin. Jacqueline and who elase. When is she going to Kenya. Do I need to have visa to go visit Grazialla. My interest is now more on the animal than on other thing. I want to also organize all these interesting sight for those people who are coming. What else do I do. What is the next step. I really would like to have Jacqueline and who else over. How about Grazialla. Do I call her ? This is my next instinct. What happen now to all these people. I need to call also Stephanie. Will we have the drumming tomorrow. I want to review what I haven’t done all summer. Yes the frist thing to do is to call Stephanie and go to see if we are going to have drumming tomorrow or not. Alec is also leaving. Who else is coming to replace him here in our house next door. How about Bastian . Is he back yet. Should I call him. Even Cathy did not answer my call. She might be busy and did not open her cell. I have so much to give the children. Orphanage. Should I do it now today. It is always interesting to go to the fresh market but one can only eat so much. I am more moderat now about buying food. What will be the next thing to do. I thing the cook ahs been taking a few stuff from the kitchen . Or have been eating out of the casserole while he cook. That’s inevitable. What will we have next . O.k. without this them thing can not be prepared and I will have to it all myself which is not what I want anyway. We still have this dry cake .I should have given that to Fulvia and kept the mousse or sabayon of Passion fruit. My friend can not grow passion fruit. I need to get another kinds of packaged grain for her from Switzerland. What to do next .I want to call her also from here. Why don’t I call Amanita and Phra maha Prasaert. Iw ant to send little angel to Phra Mike and ask about the thing of tet mah chat. This is my sunbject of interest. Not having to watch TV Madonna life I can also get something interesting to do and see. What will be the next thing I need to perform. Of course the kids really can go stay at Malonda lodge. Will it be full during the holidays season. We did not have too much problem with the relais de Kouilou last time we went. I want to have some other people to take there. They were not what I want. They want to make pottery and balancoir and many thing more interesting . Jean Paul and who else has completely different idea about it . This morning may be I can go to drive golf or even go to the Diosso to walk a little bit. I did not walk for the whole day. May be I rest enough now and ready to walk long distance. I don’t think it will be too hot this afternoon. It would be nice to just go and see how I do. For the driving range here at elast I did a few time hitting the ball. My husband still not relax enough to go more like me. I like going to the beach and walk around . I like going every morning on Tuesday and Friday. Doing golf is quite nice. I like to just talk a walk along the ebach and admire the nature. Coming home, I am exhausted and ready to take a nap or something. So much I can do and can walk and do exercise. When I go next time to Lugano and other , I will be completely tan again that is so good. What will be the next thing. I ave to get out to walk on the beach and may be I should also do that tomorrow morning. Today afternoon and tomorrow morning. In between this time I will read the parents week end for Benjamin. I will call him to see how he is doing. The best time to call is early in the morning. What to do next I like doing this. Talking about what I ddi yesterday. It wa smy son’s 19 years old day. I really love him and he can atleast feel and sense my love for him. Yesterday we talk sabout the display of affection. And the French are mor etouchy feely about it the most. What about the new word we learn at the table yesterday. It was this thing in English called show off meaning in French frimeur. I thing I spell it correct frimeur or frimeuse . do tahy use this term nowdays. What happen again in this little town so much is need to be back in the swing of thing after going away for so long. What will be the next step. I want to go for the golf. At least now I got to almost ready to be in the tournoi. What do I do next. I can also call Jacqueline now. I will do what Sharon say. Keep going for a little while as this start to flow. I like doing this and I have so many progress these days. What else do I do now. I have to see with Selene about going to her workshop. I really want to organize this writing workshop in point Noire and another one in Kenya if can go first to take a look and I can call Grazialla with out problem. What else do I need to call Jacqueline now and also call Mme Jamart. She is a very nice lady at heart and we really like to talk to her and have Fernando and everybody come over at my house for diner one time. Especially Fernando. He is very nice and interesting. What happen next I don’t know but I like knowing them and their unpretentious style. I think this is the way I make progress. O.k. places I wanted to go before I leave here is Kenya, Senegal and Ghana. How about with Ashana and Andrie. O.K. now the next step is to call Jacqueline and talk about that with her. Ask about the phone number of Garzialla and go from there. I want to have Jacqueline and her husband over next week. I should invite them with whom. And who else do I need to see. Choi and Stephanie and Cathya nd Bastian and some other people I will have good time with. Such as Jennifer the dance instructor and piano teacher the dance teacher, the Italian talking people.


9 Sept.06

I wish I were Fernando, or Selene or any of the poets in our group. If I were the poet , how am I going to introduce Gregoire to people. To me he is the symbol of Africa. My African experience.

Gregoir is a chimpanzee who has been saved, by Jane Goddall, from being slaughtered for meat in the market place in Congo. This thing is still going on right now till today. When chimp were caught by the poacher. The mother will be slaughtered for meat. If the baby come attached with the mother, they usually are too to eat. So the poacher is much better off selling them in the market for pet. We often see the carcass of the mother in the market with the baby next to it to be sold as pet.

But chimp is a wild animal. They can be dangerous, like any wild animal when fully grown and confined in a limited space. Or to be exact, when they loose their freedom.
Wild animal are not dangerous when they have the freedom to roam free in the wild , to hunt, to mate, to explore , to develop on their own in nature. But with advancing desert , natural forest keep getting smaller and smaller. The real wilderness is rare to come by. Did I ever experience the real real wildlife in Africa? I think Gregoir could be just the one to testify that there are no more real wildlife left in Africa. Only wildlife reserves, monitored by international agencies. Most of the monitoring personnel are on volunteered basis. They do it because they love it or want to learn about it not for the pay.

Chimp, like all being on earth, does not do well in a zoo situation. Does any do well in a cage ? To me,this is the spirit of Africa. Nobody do well in a cage. Why do I like it so much? Am I in a cage right now ? The cage of expression. The cage of the language . The cage of the editor. May be my spirit is not completely free. Eventhough, it look like I can do whatever I want to do and can write whatever I want to write but we need words. What kind of words does the English language has . is it enough to explain, convey or come close to the expressive rhythm of these transforming wilderness of Africa.Will the drum set me free ? I am caged and limited. Will the shaking of my liver in the African dance shake all the words of my African experience and liberate me? I think may be the poet can. They are wizard of words. They can use so little words to describe so many wordless concepts. To really share my experience of Africa to realize what it mean to be free. I need to enlist the help of an organic poet. What it mean to be free from cage. Free to survive in the wild.
But notice this, Gregoir is in a cage sitting there like an old grand pa. Greeting eth reserve visitors with blanked eyes. I cannot communicate with him but I feel safe when I see him in the cage. How about if he come out of the cage / Will I still feel as safe. Grazialla, the reserve manager, went into the cage to greet him. They look like long time old friends. The human and the old sage ape. They hold hands and communicate. It was a wordless exchange. Beauty and the beast. Old grand pa in the cage receiving visit from the rest of the clan. If I can only come this far. As far as I know Gregoir is the oldest chimpanzee ,known to man, in the world. His grand pa aura still shine bright in the Jane Goddall chimpanzee reserve in Tchimpunga national park in the republic of Congo. My general view on zoo, wildlife , pet and freedom had changed after my encounter with Gregoir. Grand pa Gregoir epitomized my African experience. What it means to be free. What it means to be caged.

Sea turtles sighting

We have travelled more than 6 hours on a dusty bumpy road from Pointe Noire to Kumqwati. We have cross the strong current of the Numbi rever on a raft pulled by hand to arrive at the basic reserve called H.E.L.P. in French Habitation ecologique et liberte des primate.It is as wild as one can experienced. The day before we packed everything we need to survive on the bare necessities there. Food and drink enough for our three days in the center. Our own moskitoes nets and pillow and pillow cases and blankets as well as water to brush teeth with and our own toilet paper if we need to use them. There will be roof over our head and the basic bungalow with raised floor so that we are safe from crawling insect on the ground. The bathroom is a basic hut with wood door enough place to stand with a bucket of river water and a little basin made form empty formula can to scoop water from the bucket and shower over ourselves

Massage take care of everything

In spite of a bad headache yesterday, I went to play golf this morning for nine holes. It is always nice to go to Diosso and walk the seaside golf course for one hour or two no matter if you hit the golf ball or not. I still need to change my attitude toward the caddy who always ask for either an advance because his mother or daughter is sick or ask to meet my husband for a job or any other favour they can get.Since there is no other way they can get anything they need to ask us,the mundele expat. What else can they do and who else can they ask. It is irritating but what can we do. We can not get by here without caddy. Thanks to them and their infinite patience that I can play and appreciate golf the way I do right now. I can never get this in the united states where patience , class , expectation and time all cost money. ANyway, the one who got sick this morning is my husband. he stayed in bed all morning but woke up and went to work after lunch time. I also feel funny and lazy but I ahve help. Rosette is coming in teh afternoon for pedicure an dmassage. And now thanks to her massage session for bothe feet and body,I am up and sitting here writing this.Next thing to do is figure out how to spell check and edit it quickly and put in some pictures. I saw so much thing that I should atke pictures Baobub tree , teh guy who climb the palm tree and get regime de palm for palm wine , the mama with little baby tied up at her back. If i ahve to be thankful today it will be for Christ, the caddy, Armel, the chauffeur and Rossette ,the masseuse. What can I do without them in this idyllic ,relaxing setting.

Time to put pictures

It rain this evening not too much and We ahve seem miss Lucky walking around in teh backyard. I have got to my old Dell and start working on it to extract all my files and pictures and clean it all up to be ready to give to teh monk in Pak Chong next time I go there. Iahve been trying to call Ranrong but can not get through to him. I got through to Kluay without problem and Pi Aew.Look like Ying /Aruna has been in Thaialnd lately. Wonder if she 'd made it to Pi Yai 's 80th BD party or not. it wa snice to see the pictures. I ask Pi Aew about teh workshop location enar Korat and Wang Nam Keow came up as teh ideal location. I will follow up tomoro as I 'd already made soem enquiries about accommodationa nd touring service. Now it's time to put teh picture and make it nice.

Lesson three yoga & meditation & delete &space clearing

I am now back in Pointe Noire. Still not completely unpacked but ready for the yoga and meditation routine. O.K. It has been almost 4 days in a row that I did not practice yoga but luckily I did a mini version in Brazzaville once on Wednesday morning before going to Brazzaville zoo. I was so sad to see all the animal lock up in small cages without any care or feeding. Luckily ,I heard from Rebecca and David that they send a keeper from Tchipunga there to take care of Jorly the big grown chimp there. Soon he will be transfered to Tchimpunga. But how about all the other animal. Can they be released. The lions have been eaten by the locals during the civil war 7-8 years ago. The crocodile in the small enclosure look so miserable and pathetic.
Ramane teh chauffeur told me that before the war this zoo was very big and beautiful. very well kept. It must ahve been under the care of Jacqueline at that time. Now we only see the trace of it on a tired dirty picture on teh wall. There a congolese came to ask for the entrance fee of 200 francs. I was too sad to walk around so we went to the ecole de beaux arts. I only saw some paintings. It was not that big but at least it is covered with roof and there is an exhibition hall.
I bought 2 rainbow trout from Score for Welcome to cook. He is very eager to work as there are not too many visitors coming to this office for an extended stay any more. Unlike 3 years ago when this office was very active with three rented cars and three full time chauffeur with 10,000 $ a month expat cook caterer and full service 5 stars hotels management for one of the local director and his clan. Eversince he has been sacked the glamour of the office has been reduced. Now Welcome , who use to be a mere helper or busboy in kitchen is teh one who run the whole five stories building with 5 bedroom suites and a full bar entertainment room. He run up and down stairs each day cleaning, replenishing toilet paper and small bar fridge on the five floor ect... Eventhough there are no guest at all now a day he still very busy from 6 in teh morning till 8 at night to clean the whole place.

I am very good at babbling about something elase when I want to talk about yoga and meditation. I am at lesson three on teh home study course about meditation. There ia these breathing exercise that I really enjoyed. I did that on Friday afternoon. The message lady did not show up so I spend my masage time to get cought up with lesson three about teh power of breathing in meditation. I love the guided music and instruction before really settle down to do teh medition for 25 minutes. Off course it always the same. Mind wonder everywhere. There was no proof of mind wondering when there is no journal entries. I like to read all of these just to assure myself that I ahev dummped so much out already. Eventhough , I'd never get to where I want to go but the knowledge of deleting already so much junk out of my system really reassure me. yes why did I not read and work on my edited chapters that came back almost two months ago. May be by asking this I will do it. WHen will be the right time. And why do I need to spend time in front of all teh junk on TV every night eventhough I realise that it is junk and it is totally a waste of time. O.K. time get serious and call for info about Khao Yai to get my act together for teh plan of having writing playshop in Northern Thailand next year.

In Brazaville March5,07

We are finally in Brazaville with our Picnic refi papers. Franklin agree to come and get it all signed and notarised. Chelsea met us in Meridien hotel not too far from the office. We finished the process in less than an hour but I need to wait in Brazaville for another two nights to get the the ahole set of paper back to DHL to Rhoda. I am glad it will be over soon. I was so dissappointed to learn from Luc Mathut that I can not go to visit Lesio Luna the gorilla sanctuary in Brazaville while I wait for the document. As right now they are moving a big one somewhere and all the personel of the sanctuary will be busy. I will have to find something else to do I wait to get the document back. This is the problem of Africa; We can never plan anything because there is always something else get in the way. I was rather mad that I can not go but what can I do. I asked the guy when can I go to see it. He said to call again in a week or two. I am not too keen to come from Pointe Noire especially just only to go this place. We paid almost 300 dollars for teh plane ticket. But if we need to come for something elase like doing this refi paper and we can combine with this it will be better. Anyway this is just not the right time. I don t know when I will come again. I am not particularly interested enough to come especially for that. I told my husband that I might call to get the lodging and come again next time with Fulvia. Anyway will see when I have the next chance to come. Tomorow I will visit the monument of Braza and take the picture of the rifle in front of the president house. Go to the Zaire embassy and find out the formalities to get Zaire visa so that I can put the Kenya trip together. We had diner at Hippocamp and after we finished our diner the group of the gorilla sanctuary came in to have diner. It was quite a big group and I get to see Luc the guy who I talked to before. I can see how it is going be too complicate for me go there tomorrow with all that they have going tomorow. I told my husband we will see when we have the opportunity to come. May be on the way to Kinshasa and what not? or on the way to Kenya we stop by for one day. I am not too keen to go spend the night. may be go there early in the morning and look at the feeding and come back in the afternoon or evening. According to Fernando, it will be developed to be a good tourist spot but may be it will take sometimes. They need particularly people who has enough interest to make such a plan to come but there certain kind of people for certain kind of place always. It is still a pity that I have time now and in Brazaville but can not do it.I think I should just forget about it and focus on Kenya first. And if we have Kenya plan all spell out then we might be able to put one day in Brazaville for this.I am not gorilla professionals anyway. I just happen to be in the area in Africa where I can see it in natural habitat. I might not have opportunity to see it after I leave Africa which could be very soon. I am ready anyway to see and do something else. This morning I got closer to teh Kenya trip. I went to SDV personally and purchased the Pointe Noire / Brzaville ticket then I ask info about teh Kenya trip the best way would be Pointe Noire / Brazaville then Brazaville / KInshasa and Kinshasa /Nairobi. Roughly the price of plane will be 300 dollars P/N to Brazaville then Brazaville/Kinshasa and Kinshasa to nairobi will be 800 dollars the whole thing will cost 1100 dollars just for plane ticket per person. And the 10 days trip in Kenya will be 8000 dollars person so altogether per persone we will need 10 000 to 11 000 dollars to make this trip. WE must be really motivated. It is not cheap.I wonder how much it will cost if we go first to Europe.