We tried
Today was to be our day trip to Roumsiki, however, as it turns out, it was not to be. I left out a little earlier than Akilah to see if I could find Jean Jacques. I had no success. There was a tourist office across the street, so I strolled over to see about information. Ironically, no one was there (though the door was wide open), so I had to turn around.
I decided to wait for Akilah in the courtyard area of the hotel. While doing so, I saw Stacy and another PCV named Sarah (she’s stationed in Tomoko). It’s amazing the number of PCVs I’m meeting here. Once Akilah was finally dressed, we walked over to the tourist agency I’d gone to earlier. This time someone was there; we met Jean Botok. He gave us the run down on prices for a Roumsiki trip.
Maybe it’s just the cost of a car that’s throwing everything off. He charges 20000 CFAs for the car, petrol is estimated at 15000 CFAs, and the cost of a guide in Roumsiki, 1500 CFAs. I’m beginning to think its not meant for us to make it to Roumsiki. All the costs we’ve heard have been too exorbitant. We ended by telling him if he were able to find some other’s who would share the cost of the trip, we would be more than happy to go.
Now we headed towards one of the main streets I passed earlier. We were searching for music, and got very lucky, too. As we found the store we wanted to go in, we bumped into Jean Jacques. Naturally, he followed us and spoke of how he’s giving us a good price to do the tour.
He continues speaking with Akilah as I have Hdjock play some music for me. I eventually begin negotiating for two tapes, JB M’piana and the new Koffi Olomide. But first I needed to get rid of Jean Jacques (who is now becoming like a fly).
To save Akilah, I take a scrap sheet of paper and write down 15000 CFAs for the car, and 5000 for the guide. I hand the slip to Jean Jacques and he views the paper as in serious thought. He finally tells us he’ll be right back, that he needs to make a plane reservation.
Now with the fly gone we begin talking with Hdjock about lowering the price for the tapes. He’s coming down a little from his original price of 3500 CFAs, but only to 3200 CFAs. I wanted 2500 CFAs, but after he told us the price he pays for them (about 1450 CFAs each), he gives in to Akilah’s price of 3000 CFAs.
We continue our leisurely stroll, and try to tune out Jean Jacques. He may be enterprising, but right now he’s becoming a pest. To finally get rid of him, I finally have to tell him we’re “fine.” Since he didn’t want to meet us at the hotel later, he had to be sent away. I don’t think he took too kindly to that.
We had lunch in the area. We just happened upon a restaurant sign, and decided to eat there. The place was almost like someone’s house, but with a place to eat. When we left there we stopped past a salon for pricing on braids; that’s how she had it when I first arrived.
As we left the salon, we ran into Jean Jacques once again. This time he said he reflected on what we said. He was willing to charge 15000 CFAs for the car as long as we woul pay 10000 CFAs for the gas and give him two beers.
I’m not sure who he’s used to dealing with, but does he think we’re imbeciles? How’s he gonna just switch numbers around and think we’re gonna go for it? I shooed Jean Jacques for one last time and we countinued our stroll back to the hotel. We did stop at one other tourist agency along the way; but they wanted about 40000 CFAs for the trip. No thank you.
We couldn’t find Jean Botok at his office, so we took a walk in the area near the riverbed. As we walked we noticed a sign for a Presbyterian church. So in an effort to find the Lutheran church in the area, Akilah wanted to walk to the Presbyterian church. As we approached the building we noticed a service going on inside, and choir rehearsal outside.
Akilah asked questions about the Lutheran church (which they said is on the other side of town) and about purchasing a tape from them. The young women in the group (there were five people) giggled and said the president was the one who knew. So we all looked at him with smiles as he played the guitar. No luck on the tape yet because the cost is a little expensive.
We walked a little ways from there, and took a moto to Restaurant de l’Artisanat for a small supper. We still had two or more hours before we needed to meet Stacy. While sitting there, I saw another white helmet on a moto. I thought it was Sara, but we found out about a half an hour later it was Lisa (she’s posted in Koza). We had a nice long conversation with her.
We realized it was getting late, so we all headed out for motos. We needed to rush back to meet Stacy at the Porto Mayo. I’m really liking these motos, and think I need to do this a little more before leaving Cameroon. When we arrived back at the hotel, we checked to see if anyone would be going to Roumsiki tomorrow; no luck. Maybe if we stood outside of town and held ip “Roumsiki, or bust” signs we’d have better luck.
About ten minutes after going to the room, I went back out to get a new mat for our electric mosquito coil. The one we put in last night was done. As soon as I began walking to the front, the first thing I noticed was a white helmet; Stacy was in the courtyard area waiting for us.
I exchanged the mat, and walked with her back to the room. We all spoke for about thirty-minutes or so. She’d just come from her colleagues house, so she’d been stuffed with a meal already. Once she left Akilah and I went to the restaurant and had dinner. The menu was pretty good, and even contains a “menu du jour” that gives two appetizer, two entree and two dessert options to choose from.
The Porte Mayo is a very nice hotel to stay for a few nights. If you head to the Extreme North province, stop by for a stay or a meal; the ice cream isn’t half bad either. But be sure not to rush over to the Mizao, I wouldn’t recommend it, especially if you’re interested in staying within your budget.