The Democratic Republic of Congo - where this story start..

I do travel a lot and by lot I mean I fill up passports regularly and then have to find some cunning way to get a new one in the end. You might want to know why I say 'cunning' ways, but if you not regularly go back to your country of nationality, well, you have to find alternative means.
It is on of those complicated not logical situations.

Nothing seems to go normal usually.


In the continent of Africa I count 9 countries where I have not yet been over the past 25 years.

Except for not speaking or understanding any of their tribal languages, the locals see the white man, they think that they have broken the bank, won the lottery and Christmas came early.
Some come up with ingenious efforts to get your dollars from you into their possession: cops for instance will summon some fine for something ridiculous - $40 for not allowing them to look into your bags. You pull out an Interpol ID and then the next moment turn the tables, things can go either way.
In general Africa is peaceful - occasionally you find yourself in the middle of some rebel attack and then you have to bunker in for a few weeks from time to time, on other occasions you got the information before and then hear about what happening as you land in some other destination.

You will get the picture once in that position. We are not traveling to Mexico or even Colombia here for this matter, it is Africa.

This particular story start after my six months in South America and ending up in South Africa during December 2013 as part of a mistake, a stupid error of circumstance.

First time in three years in South Africa so yes, middle of summer, Christmas so no one actually does anything and everyone you know on holiday of course. So, I bunked in at a little palace outside of Pretoria (think their capital), and endured the entire festive season from the balcony. Christmas, New Years and my birthday. Was quite lucky that my friends had the place open so it kind of worked out quite well.

In South Africa, if you do not have a car, you are screwed. Bottom line.

As for myself, renting a car was out of the options due to the fact that I have South African nationality, and can not proof to the authorities where I live, how I live and except for an almost full passport, who I am exactly.
Apparently it is custom to carry the most recent electricity bill with you sent to your house to let everyone know, this is actually where you live.

 

January came and around the middle of January I received a call from an old friend. "Do you mind running a small project for us please? Going to be an easy one and only 2 months max mate so really, you are the first one on the top of the list"

Now this sounds maybe dodgy already but I know Webb for several years, he is almost family. We set a day and then met with the client, some big ass Telecoms Company.

At this point I was almost ready to throw up: number one I dislike telecoms projects and secondly the Congo. I guess in hindsight it was the 2 month maximum that pulled me in, and of course the good fees. Yes, a contracted prostitute. Going against my will but anyway, I know my stuff and the region so what the hell?

"Yeah, right".

So, the 26th of January I arrived in Kinshasa and was setup in the Company apartments. Not too shabby apartments as I remember the Congo from before, the roads were upgraded in the city by the Chinese and then yes, the apartment was not empty: I stayed with another South African and his Cuban wife and their 5 year old son. He was directly contracted to the client but some backhand arrangement that the Company and him in person share the costs of the place.

The results of such mixture is just inevitable if you been doing this long enough.

So, there you go. The foundation is set for the start of this adventure and all to follow afterwards.