Code Pink Journals CodePINK Journals

Work 4 Peace,Hold All Life Sacred,Eliminate Violence! I am on my mobile version of the door-to-door, going town-to-town holding readings/gatherings/discussions of my book "But What Can I Do?" This is my often neglected blog mostly about my travels since 9/11 as I engage in dialogue and actions. It is steaming with my opinions, insights, analyses toward that end of holding all life sacred, dismantling the empire and eliminating violence while creating the society we want ALL to thrive in

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Breasts like mine!

I'm so delighted! One of the BEST things about Senegal thus far - and there are many - is that many, many womyn have breasts like mine!

And no one stares at my breasts, my body!

The other thing is that the womyn in Senegal are so incredibly beautiful! Their molten dark chocolate skin shimmers as they stride without the assistance of Hollywood or 5th avenue, and contrasts strikingly with their brilliantly colored and designed Kente cloth that flows majestically and magically around their bodies, shoulders, head.

Pink Lake

Today we head out of Dakar and into the country, battling 2 lanes of heavy traffic (still madly driven by Bouba, still without the use of any signals...).

We are going three places: 1) a plot of land in the country that Bah owns and wants to convert into a bed and breakfast; 2) the Pink Lake - a mineral & salt lake that is supposed to have healing qualities; and 3) the organic farm that Bah's brother-in-law farms, growing Mangoes, tomatoes, many other fruits and vegetables; cows & milk, chickens, donkeys, horses - you name it, we are to witness it!

Even though it is hot and one of the Jeep windows doesn't open, we are still cool enough (at least I am in the front seat) - and cooler in the country then in Dakar.

We pass areas there are obviously where a blanket of various pieces of plastic litters the ground. Bah, who works for the Senegalese government, tells us plastic was introduced to Senegal about 5 years ago - previous to that, you did not see these dumps that are full of plastic.

You didn't see dumps period for two major reasons: 1) people re-use EVERYTHING here, as they do in all non-capitalist countries; and 2) goats eat the garbage that is not useable.

But goats don't eat plastic, at least not intentionally I'm sure. There are no land-fills here, altho the land stretches out seemingly 'unused' by humans for miles.

Jasi does really good traveling for so many hours, in and out of the jeep. He hates the Pink Lake but Tessie loves it and spends quite a bit of time floating around & collecting water for later.

We load up with mangoes from the brother-in-law's wonderful huge farm, after a huge tour which exposes us to many crops, horse-drawn carts, cows & flies and ends back at the clump of buildings which include a hotel-like building that is empty but has several rooms for over-night guests.

Bah's brother-in-law is not there but he calls and invites us to spend the night. We risk hurting his feelings & don't stay this time, but assure him we will return & stay.

We return to Dakar in time to break the Ramadan fast (not us but our friends), eat dinner, and relax on the flat roofs under a brilliant & cool starry night.