Pictures From Djibouti, Africa

“Here are a couple of the better pictures from the humanitarian mission in Djibouti, Africa. I hope you enjoy.


Lac Asal




This guy brought his mother three miles to receive medical attention


Djiboutian Backpacking/ Djiboutian SUV


Say hello to my little friend.....

That is all I feel like doing for now. I will return to the states this next winter. I plan to NOBO Thru-hike the AT starting in March. Drop me a line if you are interested or know that you will be on the trail near that time.
last edited: 3/20/05 6:58:54 AM”

“The Caption under the boy and eagle was on the wrong photo.

And I posted the thumbnail of the cheeta.

I guess you'll just have to beat me....”

“Cool Stuff!”

“very neat. i love the eagle”

“Excelent pictures they really make me miss Africa. What are you doing down there TJ?”

“I got recalled to active duty. I kinda had a choice of where to go, Iraq, or Djibouti. I must say, this is the coolest thing that I have ever heard of the military doing. It is more like a peace corps mission. We dig wells and build schools. We work at the orphanages, and so MEDCAPS and VETCAPS. those are medical and veterinary missions around the area. We do a lot for the people around here, and it is the best thing I have done while in the Marine Corps. The people of the "Horn of Africa" like us being here.

Besides that, My contract will be done by the wintertime. I have learned a lot in my time in the Marines, but I am ready to move on to other things..... Like the AT and a lot of traveling. I want to see the world. I have been trapped in the Marines and in a Corporate job at Smiths Aerospace, and in school. I think it's my time. Anyone who cares to join me, holla....”

“Cool pics. A few questions about them:

Where's the body of water in the first pictue located?

Why was the kid carrying the eagle (it actually looks more like a 'bonecrusher' hawk).

In general about Djibouti: Is it still in the throws of war/political upheval like a lot of the neighboring countries?”

“Very cool TJ. Africa is my favorite place in the world, it is beautiful, the people are great, and it is good weather. Have fun there. I wish I was there too!”

“Beautiful pics, TJ.

Doug”

“Lowest Point
the lowest is Lake 'Asal (153 m/502 ft below sea level) in Djibouti”

“Well, that answers the first question....

As for the boy with the eagle, I don't know how he caught it, but he was trying to sell it. I assume that he found it injured.

Djibouti is a country of extreme poverty and has a government that is very corrupt. Everyday, the gov. Plane brings "Khat," A drug that supresses hunger and releives the effects of the heat. To me that is pretty bad actions for a government to take. The police of the area are really good and want to help their people, but many have lost their jobs and still work for free. The people of Djibouti love us being here. there are some who speak many languages, so it is fairly easy to communicate (after you learn the dialect. it is arabic, french, and somali influenced.)

The area is trashed. There is junk and trash everywhere. The towns smell like all kinds of things. walking through town the other night, I smelled camel crap (and probably worse), rotten garbage, Cooking food (game hens cooked on a 50 gal drum), Opium (I love the smell of it), Khat, and the smell of burning trash is always present.

Yes, It is still war torn. The country itself is only 28 years old. I feel that the french make the most money here (it was a french teritory untill 1977). Hopefully, as we continue to help the people here and their economy grow, this place will clean up and become a place more desired to visit. The cost and it's water is unbeleivable. Crystal clear water with very rich reefs and fishing.

I think that the world will start to see a lot more of this kind of warfare. it is what the world needs. Djibouti is an experiment. We are a Combined Joint Task Force. This does not just mean The US forces, it also includes many other nations in our ranks: France, Djibouti, Korea, Kenya, Romainia, Canada, Germany, and several others that come and take part.

I hope that it works.

The French do wear some gay daisy dukes with their cammies...... Jk. I am just jealous, cause it is SO FREAKING HOT HERE!!!”

“yo TJ - you know a guy name of broken? As I recall broken is/was in Djibouti as of Jan. with the Marines.”

“Here are some more pictures. I took these on a "Beach Trip Hike." It is a really neat place. The reef is just 150 yard from the beach. The diving is awesome, fish, corals and an old ship.

I call it "MY Private beach," but it is mostly used by the french:



A grave site from on top of the mountain:



THE CREW (only ones who wanted to hike in the heat):



Most of the plants here look like this...



The Biggest "Hopper" I have ever seen, he was almost 5" long:



Me acting a fool at the cantina:



Now that I have photoshop, I will post more in time....

~BW”

“I guess Djibouti is such a crap hole that no one want to even look at it. Trust me, these are about the "prettiest" pictures you can take here. Everything else is junk and trash everywhere.

However, If you like these, check out Lac Assal here: http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/38220,3.php”

“

”

“Well, lyra will be happy, finally.”

“Why is that?”

“She likes monkeys. But she's probably not opening this thread, so I dunno.”

“i can sense a monkey from a mile away, o ye of little faith!

AWESOME, BW!!! that is insane, i can't imagine seeing real monkeys just hanging out.”

“To tell you truth, These monkey (baboons) are mean as hell. Aggressive little bastards they are.

Lyra.. Too cool for school.”

“Not too cool for school...

They were everywhere near Lac Assal.

But I am telling you, Keep your distance.



HE'S GOT TEETH! I WARNED YOU!”

“Very nice pics
I enjoyed seeing them. Sounds like you are doing good work in Africa. I am glad to hear that kind of work is going on. And you are right, it is the way of the future...I hope!”

“I think that it has to be, or this planet will end up as one big doodoo platter.”

“Don't babboons usually hang in groups? It seems a little odd to see one alone like that.”

“There were a lot more. About eight or nine in all. The close up is cropped out of a larger image. Just looked better for web posting the individuals. I didn't get any good pictures of the whole group because they were hateful monkeys.

~BW”

“Ok.

Sounds like my view of raccoons.”

“because they were hateful monkeys.

~BW”
Blind Willie McTell


You mean like Lyra ; )”

“Well, It like this. I don't know lyra so I can't say.

Say, shes not from :



Is she?”

“i still like the hateful ones!”

“Brings back memories when I was there with the 22d MEU. The French, US, Local folks were all that was there. I've swam at that beach also.”

“That's all that's here now as well, Sir. Check out this link for more info on the new mission here. I beleive that you will see more of this type of unconventional warfare in the future.

http://www.cjtfhoa.centcom.mil/


last edited: 5/21/05 12:09:18 AM”

“Hey, your weather looks just like mine for the weekend.”

“More like Djibouti, Africa”

“Is the a Djibouti New Mexico?

”

“yeah, got that. lame joke.”

“Oh.... Don't ya hate that?”

“

I have been visiting the Djiboutian baby orphanage a lot lately. This picture was taken by one of my Majors. He likes playing with my dog tags.

Cute kids. All of them....

It is really hot here now. Much hotter than earlier. In this picture, I am in the AC.”

“hi Ali!

cute kid!!!”

“He's a fat little rascal.

That's a good thing!”

“cute lil' booger. the baby I mean.”

“I still wonder at how my chubby little boys turned into long and lean young men.”

“did you look at my baby picture? I looked like a fat little chinese. I wonder what happend.

my teenager looked like Mariah Carry when she was younger. [that worries me, because my kid is a boy] LOL

sometimes I wonder...”

“The kids that end up at the orphanage do get healthy quick.

The new ones that just get there are a whole different thing to look at. They are just teeny and boney.

Ali is a fatty. All of the Djiboutian ladies there call him fatty. It's is too funny.”

“I have not seen your baby pictures, Gem.

I was a little blond.

Now it's all grey, bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“Not that yall really missed me, but here are some updates:

I have been out-n-about. Below are some pictures from the orphanage that I often volunteer at here and some pictures of some desert boys that I hang out with.

Enjoy....

Here are some pictures from the orphanage.....

Ali, Jean Paul, Abdi and Simba!



Hibo!


Mange' Ali! (He's the one that pooped on me, some of you already heard the story)


I have gotten really good at the feeding of little ones. I was a real messy guy at first.

Here are some pictures from a driving course that I help teach once a week. I have made friends with some of the young boys out there. We have a good time playing around and they love my sunglasses and hat (Cover, for you Marine types).

Heres the shots:

Mohamed and your's truly
He is my good buddy, I know him and his mother, she is the goat lady in some of the other pictures...



Mohamed Marine...



Simba Marine...



Ahamed Marine...


The whole crowd...



This is another one of me and Mohamed. He loves to drink while I am taking pictures. He thinks it is funny....

”

“Great pics.

I imagine that this has been a life changing experience?”

“You're lookin' good Uncle Willie!!


Nice work if ya can get it.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with my boys when they were little.”

“I'd wondered what happened to you blind :D”

“Day Hiker:

Yes, I would say it is! I work with a lot of people in town, and I have loved it.

MarkO:

Thanks! and I got another Stripe on the 'ol Collar to boot.

Sgt Willie, sounds good, don't it?”

“your a good dude willie :D”