MacLean Family Blog: Trip to Teriya Bugu

Two weekends ago we went to Teriya Bugu, a little getaway place on the Bani river. I was going to call it a resort, but since it is so far from an American resort, the word seems kind of silly to use. But regardless, it is the nicest place in Mali. And interestingly, it's a "green" place. They use solar panels to heat the water and run pumps for irrigation, they make their own biogas, etc...WAY ahead of their time here in Mali but they'd fit in really well with the US. They grow all their food (even the rabbits and ducks they raise are on the menu, and yes, we ate one of those ducks (or two) before we left). Anyway, we went with our friends Jessica and Saskia. Jess goes home next week for a year so we wanted to be able to hang out with her before she left. Though the two hr drive there and the family sleeping all in one room is tiring, it is so nice to get away from Koutiala now and again.

Kenan with Jess

Silas with Saskia

I can't remember if I was blogging when we went to Teriya Bugu before. Well, they have these paddle boats that you can take out. The very first time we ever went there we were with my parents. We took the boats across the river to this island. It was a lot of fun. So we set out to do it again. Our trip the time before was hampered due to the rudder on the boat not working. We got stuck in the middle of the river and we not able to get back. Thankfully, a nice Malian guy on his perogue towed us back to land.

The boys were really scared by the whole event and didn't want to ride the boats again. So this time, we decided that we would try the paddle boats again, hoping to help the boys like it again and to actually make it across the river. Well, it didn't happen. We decided to go along the land toward another island, where there is a village. We were going along and I noticed a lot of people were just looking at us. I felt slightly unnerved, wondering what it was that we were doing wrong- we were heading into a place where there were crocodiles or something? Yes, my mind wanders and Brett is often tired of my many (ridiculous) fears so I decided to keep my mouth shut. I even noticed there were tons of polls around in the water, I assumed they were for catching fish, but then quickly forgot about them. Wish I hadn't. Before we knew it, we were stuck, I mean stuck in fishing net. Saskia jumped out and tried to untangle us. It was no use.

We had to call out to these guys from the village and ask them to help us. They thought they could just pull as well and unhook us from the net, but no, it took a big knife. But finally we got free. And we went straight back to the shore. No more paddle boat rides for awhile.

Kenan trying to drink his beloved water despite the humungous floaties while we wait on the paddle boat.

Wearing Dad's hat as we wait in the hot sun.

I don't know why I love them doing this in the pool, but I think it is just so cute.

We love to get to swim here when we can because before last Sunday, there wasn't a pool in Koutiala (besides the 4 ft deep and maybe 8 ft in diameter pool). But now we (not at our house, but in Koutiala) have a POOL!! They just finished it and it is great! Pictures of that will come sometime...