After some delay leaving Burkina I was finally able to catch a bus north to Ouahigoya. It was a great ride as I watched the scenery change to the Sahel. When I arrived there I was told there was no point in going to the Malian border because it had just closed and there was no direct bus.
In the morning at 6am I stood at the bus stop waiting for the bush taxi to fill to contine onto a town called Koro in Mali. Eventually the bush taxi was full including 2 US diplomat employees and a group of Peace Corp Volunteers. The journey was supposed to take 2 and a half hours plus border formalities to go 60 km. Five minutes after departing we had our first stop for mechanical malfunctions. The bush taxi ended up stopping a total of 6 times over the course of the next 8 hours for various reasons ranging from flat tires to broken rotors. Every breakdown was in an even more remote place and we ended up dispersing like spilled water for shady spots under large trees in the Sahel. I had heard transportation in this region was tricky but this was bordering on insanity.
When we arrived at the Burkina exit point it was literally a concrete building in the middle of nowhere. After the formalities we headed into Mali. I expected the Malian arrival post quickly. We passed wild donkeys; camels and mud buildings and mini sand twisters before finally arriving to an encampment. There was not much more than a large white semi circle tent and I thought certainly this could not be the border. I gave my passport to the official upon exiting the vehicle and half an hour later was summoned to the tent. One could not stand but rather crouched over two formal officials sitting at a desk. They stamped my passport and I was officially in Mali. Little did I know there were still many breakdowns to follow.
The last breakdown was 6 km from Koro and after waiting over an hour with a little water left we decided to take our chances and walk it. However; the driver refused to give us our packs. At that moment the taxi for the peace corp kids arrived and I caught a ride into town with them.
Indian lady, Indian lady, Indian lady! I see that luck continues to follow you and you wind up with great groups, who take you around after ridiculous bus rides. I'm so happy to hear that you're in Mali. I can't wait to read more posts so that I can live vicariously. Learn some songs for me while you're there. Then you can teach me when I come visit you in Seattle!
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