Blog

We all as a group needed a change of scenary and decided to take the weekend and regroup in Sally, I hadn’t been in a long time so I was looking forward to tranquility and laziness, and I got kinda both because we ended up doing a lot of fun things.

We did some quad in the village with for backgroud the sacred baobaps, it was very dusty so we looked clowns afterwards.

If you are visiting Dakar I def’ suggest taking a weekend to visit that part of Senegal almost 2 hours from Dakar, there are a lot hotels ect, the beach, and activities to do…

I liked the feel of the town, def’ somewhere I can see myself living 🙂

Yaye

How to hit 3 artists in one evening,follow me and u’ll know

I’ve had the chance to see Njaaya last year with Farafina Musso and to me her swagger made her shine among the group, it seems like she was holding back to let the other shine…after her solo at the CCF I can def say that she was…this pretty lean senegalese bout de chou de femme she’s little but dont let that fool you she has a voice to her, things to say she’s all woman..I loved her entrance, I loved that Sigil dressed her in this beautiful black mermaidish dress and that she was at the guitar, such a courageous artist in a Senegal where most female artists do the standard “mbalakh” listening to her I heard acoustic, I heard jazz I even heard shades of country, she talked “social living” she talked “love” she talked life she talked abt maids conditions in senegalese homes…What a breath of fresh air…I wish her continued success, she reminds of a young India Arie, a young Angelique, a young Lauryn, and I love it .. any artist who’s free enough to be themselves has my respect, diadeuf Njaaya:)

Timshell Band , I just heard their name via the press but never listened to their conscious reggae sound, their messages are of praise to the Lord, of social awakening, they had a lot of their fans present who were singing back to them and def enjoying the show… Bon of course there were the smoking, and a bit of joyous crazy celebration from the parts of some fans which kinda …ok I’ll admit was a turnoff because I just wanted to listen to the music I dont mind the showing love part but when it’s a bit unrully it just aint my type..but I liked their music and will give it another tr via cd or tape lol

Kaysha Kaysha, my man Im a big Kaysha fan so I had to go see him, plus I’ve never seen him live…He’s quite a charmer and had so many female fans there, he sang some of my fav’ and introduced us to others some I liked some I didnt overall it was good to see him live…

So that’s it 3 African artists in one night:)

Yaye

How are you all? Sorry I’ve kinda disapeared..had problems with my camera..the Baba Mal experience went down this evening at the CCF..

Why did I go see him? Because he’s a legendary artist..I’ve seen him live in Central Park years agoooo..and so I wanted to rediscover him..

As usual my foreigners were in the CCF lol …locals are never really interested in what the CCF has to offer..unfortunately..

Mr Maal started on time actually , looking dapper in his white boubou and his gorgeous face and his little dreads..i loved seeing these old school cats with their tradional african guitars, their raw voices …reminding us of our heritage and history..reminding us that no matter what tribe we are from we need to “live” it and be about it…

Gradually the Baba Maal crew brought fire, the dancers came on stage, the drummers came through..yes the second part was fiyaa..

His young dancers were on fiya and gave us all they got, couple of people of Peul descant went on stage proudly to pay their respect to Mr Maal…it was def a fun show….He’s a very generous artist, who doesnt get anoyed with people taking countless pics of him..*me included..

I enjoyed myself greatly, would def’ encourage you to go see him if you get the chance…

In terms of NBA history, this game was special

Yaye

It’s that time of the month and I can barely sit on my chair While for one of the very first times of my life I decided to keep company to Morpheus Lady in Red and her 20 thousands pirates and their knives decided it was time to pay me a visit The visit I dont mind but the stumping in my organs I dont know!!! Havent given birth yet but d….tonight it feels like it….

“It’s hard to be a woman”replied mum on her praying rug wearing her beautiful veil and looking at me with the look of tenderness that only mum can give

The gift of life I thought as I was being attacked inside of my most private vessel….

Am I only the one?

Alhamoudillah and Thanks to Allah for sometimes making us feel every organ in our body..

Alhamoudilah for the pain sometimes to remind us that this body is ours and mainly His

Alhamoudilah for our mothers and for your my friends, young current and future mothers..

For dealing with 20 thousands pirates and their knives..

and I heard even more sometimes

At the edge of my seat..7 minutes after midnight

do you think they’ll calm down now?

20 thousands pirates and their knives!!!

I’ll let u know tomorrow for now I have to negociate…..

Yaye

*Pic courtesy of Ranger Peete

Le Toukouleur is by far one of my fav’ restaurants in Dkar, the girls: Sini and Mietou decided to get together and do an old school nite…back in middle and  high school we hanged out so much over bday bday parties and techno music..lol..u know u did too..:)

Mm today we are 3 different women: a married mama of one, a devout Muslim and professional and a young artsy young woman…

When we got into the restaurant in our different gears : one in jeans and heels, the other one in a beautiful sari if i may say and the other in tradional gear..we caught attention of the staff who probably thought what an eclectic trio we made…

Around cotelettes , risotto aubergines and mashed potatoes.oh and suculent pain perdu au miel..these 3 young women caught up with each other..

We all agreed to say that it was a beautiful evening:)

Yaye

The town: Saint Louis the former first capitol of Senegal

The feel: Nostalgic, disciplined in my opinion, mystic and mysterious

The Reason: Had to discover la belle Saint Louis

Best Memory: Walking in the litte streets feeling like a Linguere , enjoying the cool breathe and the quietness of the city

I stayed: Hotel du Palais in the downtown area..the cool thing abt the downtown area is that for one it’s mighty close to the Pont Faidherbe..2 the police station is close to the hotels, and 3 most hotels are around each other.. I enjoyed my stay at the hotel, the staff was welcoming, only thing was the water it took a while for it get warm…I suggest having breakfast there at the salon de the..i almost felt like i was having brunch in NY..

The Restaurants: For a good st louisian tieboudiene I recomend La Linguere…good food at a decent price..and to quench your thirst what about a good glass of bouille juice (a local drink)

For a trendy and more modern atmosphere I recomend La Layalina a marocan restaurant and fast food..good food..cool red atmosphere

To dance the night away: The Iguane cafe had an international feel to it, americans, mauritanians, senegalese and other nationalities can be found there dancing to the latest coupe decalle, reggae songs..there’s no cover just get a drink…

Overall Marieme and I enjoyed our time in St Louis, we took the time to really visit it by caleche which was a delectable moment..u the clic-clac of a horse on the pavements, colors around you, colonial feel, curious and ironic stares from Saint Louisiens, cool breathe, u and yourself what more could u ask…

Fruits and more fruits: If you are big on mandarines and oranges take the time to purchase some from the mandarine and orange ladies on ur way in and out of st louis a bag for 500 F CFA…For the sapotis lovers, Saint Louis is your canvas…the market is full of delicious fish and sea food…

I leave thinking that the influence of the colons is still alive ther, my friend Marieme who stayed there for a while explained that it’s usually a very lively town, 2 me theres still the shadow of discipline and submission to fate in that town, theres a certain sense of desinvolture that make Saint Louis simply beautiful..

I’ll be back…..

Yaye

Fun fun..And to think that I almost didn’t even wanna do it…the quads were scaring me..but man I loved it ..I loved it…

If you guys are in town and want to do something fun..please go to the Lac Rose..first to see this heritage….2 to experience motor ‘quading’…fun fun..I cant say it enough…

I really enjoyed my time with my friends..we laughed..talked religion, mysticism ect…great afternoon:)

PS: Motor quad price was set for 25000 FCFA/person a little on the expensive side but worth it …

Simply …it was memorable..:)

Yaye

To my Dear Marietou,

Have you ever had a ‘real value’ you know like a true friend ..like someone that you know if you dont see in our case for 9 years things would be the same…same old same..well Mietou and I share that bond…

She’s my girl girl..have faith in her and know that she’ll be in my corner..always..

Sweetheart to the bone, real and honest and most of all caring and supportive..ma copine je te fais bcp de compliments…

I was blessed to be able to spend time w/her while she’s visiting our hometown with her beautiful son Abdou who had so much fun with all his girlfriends ..the waitresses…he was busy getting into the kitchen playing around…

Mietou had a quiche while I had a crepe as usual lol..and for desert a choco tart for missy and an apple tart for me ..and we got spoiled with 2 delicious macarons…

I loved the service ..one of the best in town…they were so nice …a few months ago while i was eating there, i forgot my umbrella….

Today one of the waitresses recognized me and handed me my umbrella i couldn’t believe that they kept it so long and were honest to give it back..such a lesson of patiente here for me…diarama koi:)

To Mietou ne change jamais sister friend..tu es une femme incroyable et je suis chanceuse de t’avoir dans ma vie..love you girl:)

PS: This song is for you madame:)

Yaye

Kids have so much fun at this park….seing them laugh , be ‘bad’ and happy just put a smile on ur face…

My friend Marieme invited along  her nieces Awa & Sini to Magic Land…Gotta say that this Lebanese owned park is actually great..the space is big..kids have room to jump around and make friends ect…

They have car -games,mini rollercoasters..and even the minis..I just dont do.. I had a bad experience with rollercoasters yearssss and yearss ago and while on it , I promised to God that if I made it ..I wouldnt go on them anymore..lol

So they popcorn and we had choco crepes, the ticket prices are set for 2500FCA …def’ a good place to take kids on play dates…

Yaye

So this was nice..Fatou, Miss Clodia and pretty Vanessa 4 very
different African women with 4 different personalities but a common
interest in all women things got together at Alkimia..if u’ve been on
the blog u’ve heard me talk abt it…

Anywhoo since we didn’t
think of making reservations we had to sit Japanese style ..on the
floor..yep me and my skirt..lol anywhoo…over shrimps and saumon and
veal for some of us we chatted abt guess what..m..e..n lol

Oh
boyyy was there a lot to share…lol we all agreed to say that a
woman’s life is hard…..btw kids, jobs , trips, hubbies ect…finding
the right balance…it’s simply not easy..

But you know what
breaking the routine meeting around dinner like this…stolen yet
planned little things like that..are absolutely worth it…

Being
in the company of positive women it’s just encouraging …it just shows
that there are other women out there who share some of our general
ideals in life..it enriches you with their different experiences and
outlooks in life…

Yeah in 2009 I’ll do more of those women sharing things..:)

Yaye