CAMEROON

<CENTER> <H1>CAMEROON 1995</H1> <HR SIZE=4> <P> <BODY> <H2>Travel Log and Photographs by Scott L. Moats</H2> </CENTER> <P> <H3> <BLOCKQUOTE><BLOCKQUOTE><BLOCKQUOTE><BLOCKQUOTE><I> <BR> <P> "The most promising words ever written on the maps of human knowledge are 'terra incognito' - unknown territory." </I> </H3> <BASEFONT SIZE=3> <B> <DD> - Daniel J. Boorstin (The Discovers). </B> </BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE> <BR> <BASEFONT SIZE=4><BLOCKQUOTE> <P> <P> <DD>The world is an immense and beautiful place which must be seen and experienced first-hand to be truly appreciated. Unfortunately, cultural and language differences have become barriers to such exploration. Yet, with a bit of bravery and a touch of persistence, the world and its people will reveal beauties beyond your wildest dreams. I encourage you to become an Indiana Jones of the twenty-first century and begin an exploration of your own; no doubt you will experience the thrill of discovery which has driven the greatest explorers of all time.<BR> <DD>My travels have given me an understanding and appreciation for the world and its people which could never have been obtained from a textbook. I share the following journal exerpts and photographs in hopes that my experiences will provide an impetus for your own journeys.<BR> <DD>Bon voyage and best wishes for a journey filled with excitement, insight, joy and personal expansion. <BR> <P> <CENTER> ---- </CENTER> <P> <P> <P> <STRONG> </BLOCKQUOTE> Saturday, July 1st</STRONG><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <DD>My journey begins.<BR> <DD>The travel group consists of an internist and previous missionary, Dennis Palmer, his son, Ben Palmer, an internal medicine resident, Tim Elliot, a pediatric resident, Cami Wheeler, and four medical students, Laurie Ohnesorge, Lori Summers, Shynda Miles and myself.<BR> <DD>Dragging our luggage and ten boxes filled with oxygen extractors, we arrived at the Kansas City International airport a little behind schedule. The plane was over sold and, as a result, several of our group were forced to wait while the airline solicited passengers for seats. Half of our group almost didn't make it out of Kansas City! Two of the oxygen extractors didn't make it; we saw them sitting by the terminal as the plane taxied down the runway.<BR> <P> <STRONG> </BLOCKQUOTE> Monday, July 3rd </STRONG> <BLOCKQUOTE> <DD>We approached the Douala International Airport during the dark hours of a morning storm. The descent was rough and the passengers were silent during the landing. However, there was an almost thunderous applause when we were finally on the ground.<BR> <P> <CENTER> <IMG SRC="airport1.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> <STRONG> Douala International Airport </STRONG> </CENTER> <P> <DD>We exited the plane down a series of steps and walked, in the rain, across a short portion on the docking area before entering the airport. The airport itself was a dull, stark, concrete building lit by an occasional fluorescent bulb. We walked up several flights of stairs, down a long corridor and around several corners. People were bustling about everywhere and everyone was talking, but no one was speaking English.<BR> <DD>A few people were noticeable agitated when Charles, our Cameroon contact, collected our passports and took us to the front of the rather long Passport Control Line. Yet, without incident, our passports were approved and stamped for entry. The Baggage Claim area was a large square room surrounded by windows made of leuvered glass. Many of the windows were open and the sound of pouring rain filtered in from the darkness outside. There were about two hundred people in the room. Some of them were dressed professionally, while others wore mismatched and worn clothes. We were able to gather all but two pieces of our luggage. Tim and Shynda's check-in luggage had been lost. <DD>At one point, a Customs Officer approached us and asked why we hadn't opened our luggage and spread our belongings out on the table for inspection. Charles stalled. Finally, the Customs Officer opened one of our boxes, took a cursory look inside and then told us to go on through. Outside, we wasted no time in loading our luggage into the mission van and leaving the airport.<BR> <DD>Thirty minutes later we had reached the Baptist Mission Rest House in Douala.<BR> <P> <CENTER> <IMG SRC="douala1.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> <STRONG> Baptist Mission Rest House in Douala </STRONG> </CENTER> <P> We snacked on French bread with butter and papaya jam before traveling on.<BR> <DD>Our second stop was at a small market composed of three sided wooden shacks. The first shack contained a traditional medicine man. He was selling a variety of different powders; one of which contained what looked and smelled like large chunks of sulfur. This, the man explained, was used in the treatment of a skin disease.<BR> <P> <CENTER> <IMG SRC="Medman.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> <STRONG> Traditional Medicine Man<BR> </STRONG> <BASEFONT SIZE=2> (photo courtesy of Tim Elliot) <BASEFONT SIZE=4> </CENTER> <P> <DD>The next shack contained a butcher. An ox head lay on the ground in front of the shop and an ox tail was hanging from the top of a nearby wall.<BR> <P> <CENTER> <IMG SRC="meat1.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> <STRONG> Butcher Shop </STRONG> </CENTER> <P> <DD>As we walked along, we purchased plantains, French bread and roasted meat. The meat, or soya, having been seasoned and cooked over an open fire, was quite good. However, the pleasure of the meal was somewhat diminished as I was sure that the meat I was eating belonged to the animal whose head was laying on the ground just up the road.<BR> <DD>After a four hour drive, we arrived at the Mission Rest House in Bamenda.<BR> <P> <CENTER> <IMG SRC="Bamenda1.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> <STRONG> Baptist Mission Rest House in Bamenda </STRONG> </CENTER> <BR> <P> My room had a short luggage stand, sink, mirror, desk, lamp, closet and bed. I tried the bed first. It was wonderfully comfortable. Its characteristics being enhanced, perhaps, by the fact that I had not slept in a bed for two nights.<BR> <DD>The rooms were in groups of three which opened into a central area containing a shower and toilet. Unfortunately, there was no water. Even though the rainy season had began; the underground aquifer had yet to raise above its dry season level. Thus, water was obtained from barrels filled by the rain as it ran from the gutters.<BR> <DD>The girls received buckets of warm water for sponge baths. I, on the other hand, put on swimming trunks, stood in the rain, and used a bucket to dump rain water over my head. The water was cold and invigorating. Oh, it felt so good to be clean!<BR> <DD>The next day, we hired a taxi to transport us to Banso Baptist Hospital (B.B.H.).<BR> <P> <CENTER> <IMG SRC="Bamenda14.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> <STRONG> Taxi </STRONG> </CENTER> <P> We began by setting all our luggage on the ground and surveying the situation. There was more luggage and people than would normally fit. Likewise, after we had managed to squeeze everything in, another person showed up with yet, more luggage. In Cameroon, there is always room for one more. By the time we departed, there were ten people in the taxi; a tight fit to say the least. The driver played loud, fast beat music. Many people waved to us as we drove out of Bamenda.<BR> <DD>The paved road turned to dirt and clay. Some spots were smooth; others consisted of huge bumps alternating with pot-holes. <P> <CENTER> <IMG SRC="Road3a.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> <STRONG> The Road to Banso Baptist Hospital </STRONG> </CENTER> <P> The scenery along the way was magnificent. The beauty of the hills, valleys and clouds was almost unbelievable.<BR> <P> <CENTER> <IMG SRC="Land13a.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> <STRONG> Cameroon <P> <IMG SRC="Land2a.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> Cameroon <P> <IMG SRC="Land4a.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> Cameroon <P> <IMG SRC="Land9a.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> Cameroon <P> <IMG SRC="Land6a.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> Cameroon <P> <IMG SRC="Land1.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> Cameroon<BR> </STRONG> <BASEFONT SIZE=2> (photo courtesy of Dennis Palmer) <BASEFONT SIZE=4> </CENTER> <BR> <P> <DD>And then we blew a tire. But not to despair; for everyone climbed out and the driver exchanged the flat tire with the spare and we were on our way again.<BR> <P> <CENTER> <IMG SRC="flat.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> <STRONG> A Flat Tire </STRONG> </CENTER> <P> <DD>After being bumped around inside the crowded bus for five hours, we arrived at the hospital.<BR> <P> <CENTER> <IMG SRC="BBH1a.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> <STRONG> Banso Baptist Hospital </STRONG> </CENTER> <P> <CENTER> <IMG SRC="BBH3a.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> <STRONG> Banso Baptist Hospital </STRONG> </CENTER> <P> <DD>Upon arrival we were greeted and immediately given a tour of the facility.<BR> <P> <CENTER> <IMG SRC="BBH4.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> <STRONG> Patient Screener<BR> </STRONG> <BASEFONT SIZE=2> (photo courtesy of Dennis Palmer) <BASEFONT SIZE=4> </CENTER> <P> <CENTER> <IMG SRC="BBH5.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> <STRONG> Wound Care<BR> <BASEFONT SIZE=2> </STRONG> (photo courtesy of Dennis Palmer) <BASEFONT SIZE=4> </CENTER> <P> <CENTER> <IMG SRC="BBH12.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> <STRONG> Circumcision<BR> </STRONG> <BASEFONT SIZE=2> (photo courtesy of Dennis Palmer) <BASEFONT SIZE=4> </CENTER> <P> <CENTER> <IMG SRC="BBH5a.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> <STRONG> In Patient Ward </STRONG> </CENTER> <P> <CENTER> <IMG SRC="BBH8.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> <STRONG> Surgical Ward<BR> </STRONG> <BASEFONT SIZE=2> (photo courtesy of Dennis Palmer) <BASEFONT SIZE=4> </CENTER> <P> <CENTER> <IMG SRC="BBH11.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> <STRONG> Surgical Theater<BR> </STRONG> <BASEFONT SIZE=2> (photo courtesy of Dennis Palmer) <BASEFONT SIZE=4> </CENTER> <P> <CENTER> <IMG SRC="BBH12a.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> <STRONG> Laboratory </STRONG> </CENTER> <P> <CENTER> <IMG SRC="BBH13a.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> <STRONG> Laundry </STRONG> </CENTER> <P> The tour, frequently interrupted by long episodes of hand-shaking, was quite an eye-opener. Afterwards, the girls were left to settle into house #7 while the guys went with Dennis Palmer to visit old friends. Thus, we arrived at house #10 long after dark. There was no electricity. However, after a short search, we located the breaker box and, with some experimentation, were able to turn on the lights.<BR> <P> <CENTER> <IMG SRC="House10.gif"> </IMG SRC> <BR> <STRONG> House #10 </STRONG> </CENTER> <P> <DD>The next surprise came when we discovered that the hot water heater was broken! <P> </BODY> <LI>Click here for <A HREF="SCOTTCAM2.HTML">PART II </HTML>