Helicopters! 3/17

Yay! My team scored a trip up to Nimba on the UN chopper. It was a big Russian one, like those in Afghanistan, but just with a row of seats along the outside facing in, not near as comfy, or as amenable to sightseeing. Nevertheless, I managed to stare out the window for most of the ride. Despite it being the peak of the season for clearing land, I felt like the rainforest was quite healthy. It was sad watching acres go up in smoke, but a relief to see the jungle moving in to seize abandoned plots and covert it back to the natural state of the land. The only places this didn’t seem a possibility were the massive plantations scattered across the country-side raising palm, rubber, and coca. The view was a stark contrast to the barrenness of Afghanistan. The lush green hid many secrets beneath. The occasional hut was visible from time to time. The impact of NGOs and missionaries was evident through intermittent clusters of shiny new tin sheeting on roofs. The arrival and departure of the helicopter was quite an exciting event for the community. It was rewarding to be on the flight with a few different groups of Bangladeshi soldiers heading out to post. Upon landing we struck out interviewing what seemed like 15 “officials”. All directors in some form or fashion of their government agency at the border with Luoguatuo. We spoke with some of the guards, police, the UN post, the men hauling truckloads of goods across the feeble bridge that won’t hold cars, some guards on the Ivory Coast side, women in the market, children, and a few passers-by. Monrovia was hot, but I could tolerate the short bursts I was exposed to. Here, the index over 110 that was difficult to escape was wilting.