So gutted. I wrote this once already, but due to technical difficulties, lost all the data. It took me two hours. Ahhh..... Ce la ve :()
Burkina Faso Police and Customs were polite and didn't ask for a bribe. But two men outside the frontier post, indicated they were police. And took my passport and my bikes Lassier Passer. Upon asking inside the police station, they turned out to be " working with us ". Not actual Police. Which is code for....' we can't be seen to take a bribe. They are so called fixers. '
Having got my police exit stamp, I went outside and snatched back my Lassier Passer. ( bike import / export doc. ) Simply saying " non " ! ( These ' fixers ' would have demanded money for the ' help '. And given a kick back to the police. )
Over to the Togo side. For the Overlanders out there. A visa at the border is 10,000 cfa. For 7 Day Transit. Extendable in Lome Duan Office . No bribes asked for, I always explain I've come from the UK, ' avec le petite moto '. Which they all love. It breaks the ice and seems to smooth the process. The reply is almost always, "can I have your bike "? In French of course.
I've no idea how to say in French, ' you would have more chance of plating snot '. And that's probably a good thing. :)
Over to Togo Duan.( Customs ). A Lassier Passer I knew to be 5,000 cfa. But was originally charged 6,000 cfa. Until an official asked where I was going and had come from. ( Yes, I did it in French. .....sort of.) The Customs Officer, completing my Lassier Passer, then lowered the price to the proper price of 5,000 cfa. He seemed to be impressed or surprised.
Liking that, I smiled and paid the 5,000 cfa. And gave him a 1,000 cfa ' tip'. No bribes paid, everybody happy. And through both sides in under an hour. Result. :)))
Into Togo......the home of voodoo. !! How exciting is that ??
First question that poped into my head ?? ' where do I get a life sized doll of the clown at Suzuki GB, who dropped my sponsorship ' ? And ' do you do discount on bulk pin purchases ' ? :)))
Togo. After the desert and sub desert, of the Sahl Region. It's plush green, mountainous countryside, was a delight. Interesting and a first for me. Unsure if this is classed as sub tropical or tropical. But I can confirm it's a whole lot more interesting than endless miles of sand.!
The people of Togo seem friendly, intrigued in my visit. When I stop, I am quickly surrounded by interested passer bys. But as soon as there is more than three or four people, I say goodbyes, and get underway. Whilst friendly, I am alone. And security is my number 1 priority. ( I recently lost my knife, from under my tank bag. Which is a big concern for me.) And I promise you, I don't like carrying a knife. But I am not living in lar lar, cum by yar ma lord land.
They love dancing and they love their music. Its fast tempoed, really up beat. And boy, can they dance. We white people, should A) leave basketball alone. And B) step away from the dance floor. :))
Some photos of the lovely and very different Togo countryside. Rivers with water.....been a while. Bush fires. Me finding a fruit drink. So i now know what Mango tastes like.( I've never eaten a fruit. ) Me squinting in the sun. ( not a great look. ) candle on the floor. As electricity is intermittent. These pointed Termite hills. Not a great explanation. And I could very easily be wrong. Someone e mail. And let me know what they are exactly. Im just An Idiot Who Got Bored. On the Slow Way Down.
I have noticed an Expedition website has shared my page. " Thank you. Cheers. ". Good of you.:))
I'm in Lome tomorrow night. And would love to just listen to someone, anyone, speak English.
Liking Togo. Nice, respectful people. Just don't set foot on the dance floor with one of them. They'll make you look stupid.
Will x
