Sometimes you find yourself in...: Danye N' digbe

Top weekend of 2010... happened in a small town called Danye N' digbe, approx 3-4hrs (depends on transportation) from Lome. A group of us headed up to do some paragliding, it was so beautiful! Definitely one of the most beautiful places I've seen in Africa.

Here's Silke, Ruth, and David, we're waiting at the bus station for our transportation.

Our transportation...few creaks, funny noises, many bumps, and a few checks under the hood (I mean the drivers seat, where the motor's located), we made it.

Our hostel we stayed at was in the middle of the countryside. The quietness and sounds of nature were so nice, I'm definitely a country girl at heart! No electricity or running water...just like camping, loved it, and for only $2 USD a night per room.

A local family ran the hostel. This is one of their little babies sleeping peacefully on the porch...till a few seconds after the picture was taken. Then he awoke screaming...too many 'yovos' around, he was freaked out by us. The family laughed.

Our outhouse :)

Silke checking out the outhouse...hot & smelly with flies & bees.

Walking into town for supper

Termite mound

A French gentleman set up a parasailing buisness in Togo, wanting to teach the Togolese people. His cook made supper for us, traditional African food - rice & chicken with sauce.

Christina having a morning 'shower'. The hosts got water from the well, heated it over the fire, and placed it in a steel pail for us. The little plastic bowl is used for a scoop to pour the water over us.

Breakfast at the hostel.

Saturday morning we went up the mountain where we hung out all day. It was beautiful! We could see Ghana (village furtherest to the right). We waited on and off all day for proper winds to be able to jump. It was neat to hang out on the mountain, chilling and hanging out with the African kids.

Two paragliding instructors from France were out for a few weeks in Togo and we were priveledged to be able to jump tandum with them. Below is a picture of the lady instructor preparing to jump off the mountain. They would spread out their shoot on the mountain side, wait for proper winds, take a few steps till the shoot was open and ready, then run off the mountain. She then radio'd back to tell us how the winds were...then I got to jump :)

Below should be a clip of me jumping. Hopefully it worked (I can't check it here on the ship).

It was approx 5000 meters in height. It was sooooo beautiful! I loved it!! It brought back memories of Jane (my cousin) & I skydiving (just a few years ago...right Jane?) and how we were speechless, cause it's so great! We were aiming to land in the soccer field in the village.

Getting closer...

The instructor was telling me how when they first jumped, everyone in the village was in awe as they've never seen anything like this before. Now every time she jumps, she sees the children running to the soccer field waiting for her to land.

Here's the kids running out to us after we landed, there must've been around 50. They were screaming and cheering, it was awesome!

The instructor and myself, with some of the kids (and the chute in the backround). The instructor told them my name and they all shouted it...so funny. While we were waiting for our ride, we kicked the soccer ball around with the kids - so fun!

Another one of the jumpers landing.

Silke preparing to jump.

Ruth ready to go.

Hanging out with the kids on the mountain...eating mangos.

They love getting their picture taken :)

Fan Milk...one of the nicest things in Africa. They're all over, which is great! Cold treats - juice, yogurt, icecream.

I wanted to buy a few pineapples before heading home on Sunday, so while we were waiting for our taxi I bought some. Sometimes the French language barrier can be so interesting. I handed her 700 CFA (which is like $1.50 USD) and somehow wound up with 8 pineapples.