Welcome to Bamenda David Shih!
on The Road Less Travelled (Cameroon), 12/Apr/2011 10:07, 34 days ago
Last week I was a very lucky person as my dad came to visit me in Bamenda. I planned a very busy itinerary to ensure that everyone I am close to here in Bamenda got a chance to meet my dad.David Shih in Traditional Clothing from the North West RegionWe started our time together with a bus ride from Yaoundé to Bamenda which lasted about 7 hours. Luckily the bus left on time and it wasn’t too hot. We managed to sleep and read for the most of the trip.Monday– IDFOn Monday I took my dad to IDF to meet my colleagues. They had prepared a very nice welcome ceremony with a presentation about IDF and a chance for my dad to ask questions. It was very informative and IDF was very happy when my dad presented them with a digital camera and a book about village health care. In return IDF presented my dad with a traditional outfit and an IDF T-shirt. We then went on a tour of Bamenda with the IDF Coordinator to see the local economic development projects that IDF has been working on.David meeting the IDF Coordinator Madame OussematouOut for dinner with the IDF StaffTuesday– BafutOn Tuesday we went to Bafut to visit the Fon’s Palace. The Fon is a traditional ruler and the Fon of Bafut is a first class fon because he rules over a large number of people. He also has something like 58 wives, some of whom were inherited from his father, the previous Fon. They had a very interesting museum at the Palace which showed important artifacts used in traditional ceremonies and by previous Fons.At the Bafut PalaceWednesday– Ndawara Tea PlantationOn Wednesday, we visited the Ndawara Tea Plantation which was a very interesting experience. We were able to see the process from picking the leaves to the processing of the leaves to their packaging. We also saw a lot of the animals that are kept on the plantation as well, including horses, cattle, ostriches and many birds. There were also pythons which were huge and had been trapped by local men on the plantation.At the Ndawara Tea PlantationThursday– Ayaba Tennis Club, Abangoh OrphanageOn Thursday, my dad came to watch me play tennis with my instructor Paul. After Tennis I took my dad to the Good Shepherd orphanage in Abangoh to visit the children and the Sister who participated in the Christmas project. My dad had brought school supplies for the children and they were very happy. The Orphanage recently build a large bread oven and has started baking bread as an income generating activity.Children at the orphanage greeting DavidSister Jane and myselfThe Good Shepherd Orphanage EntrancePaul (tennis coach) and myselfOn Friday we headed back to Yaoundé where my dad was to catch his flight on Saturday. We spent the day with Greg and Caroline and ate lots of good food. My dad was happy he had the chance to try Chinese food in Cameroon. Overall it was a great visit and I am really happy that my dad had the chance to meet my friends and colleagues.He was able to see some of the impacts I have been able to have over my time here.