I just came back from my 2 weeks' trip to DRC for work. I hold a 1 year work visa. I entered through Point Noire (Congo) to Kipholo (DRC) by a charter plane.
Kipholo is a small village, now turning into another oil town. The airstrip is made up of mud and airport is just a hut(yes!! ). You need to carry the yellow fever card as all other western African countries.
The place is safe as far as you do not piss the locals off. You have chilled beer (Primus) available there. Good Vodacom phone network. The local currency, USD and Congo's currency is acceptable at the market.
It's usually quite after 6pm and nothing much to do expect drinking beer. There is an unbelievable population of kids(<5yrs) in the village.
My Next stop was Kinshasa, I was travelling for the second time. Taxis in Kinshasa are usually reliable, you pay 1000francs and it's your for next one hour.
I went to eat 'Taj Tandoori' - the Indian restaurant at Frescom Building top floor. Highly recommend the place and their 'kulfi'.
Landed to Grand Casino from there, drank chilled free beer and played blackjack- good place to spend evening.
I stayed in 'Africa Dream' motel which was another pleasant surprise, small motel has a clean swimming pool. room are clean and they have a high speed wi-fi. The restaurant is good, they have a menu in both French and English which is a relief.
I went to see the wild life park on Sunday, also own by the owner of Africa Dreams. Open place by the side of river Congo, they have bbq arrangement for the lunch with a surprisingly equip bar.
Not much to be expected from the place but I do not have any serious problem with my tour.
International calls can be made at the same rate as local calls with Vodacom sim card.
Cheers !
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
DRC
I met a:
Brazilian- Japanese girl who works for PwC and currently working in Japanese embassy at Angola, came to the airport to see someone off. Added her on FB. She wants to do some crazy party. She thinks Angola is a better place to work than Japan.
A guy from DRC who has a business for electronic items in Angola, imports them from Singapore, going to meet his family in DRC. Asked him about clothe export-import business, took the contact card.
A guy from Japan who is a Structure Engineer, speaks very less English, going to meet his parents in DRC, asked him to write mine and fiancée name in Japanese. I wrote his name in Hindi. He made a beautiful sketch in the flight.
A couple from Belgium, they are traveling with their truck across Africa, boated it twice through ocean and river. Waiting on their visa to Angola and fixing the truck in the motel. They sleep in the truck and take a bath in the swimming pool. Full of life. Their website: http://users.telenet.be/domobiel/
A guy from Brazil, International Relations student, wants to learn French and working with the motel meanwhile. He is trying to make motel a better place for residents and has some difficulty with English. He had taken a French speaking course in Port Noir, now on an internship in DRC. Exchanged mail ids because he thinks networking is really important.
A guy from DRC who owns the motel, schooling undergrad in US, Hotel Management course in Canada and taking care of family business in DRC, talked about un cut diamond and US stock market, told him the Iraq- Halliburton controversy.
Brazilian- Japanese girl who works for PwC and currently working in Japanese embassy at Angola, came to the airport to see someone off. Added her on FB. She wants to do some crazy party. She thinks Angola is a better place to work than Japan.
A guy from DRC who has a business for electronic items in Angola, imports them from Singapore, going to meet his family in DRC. Asked him about clothe export-import business, took the contact card.
A guy from Japan who is a Structure Engineer, speaks very less English, going to meet his parents in DRC, asked him to write mine and fiancée name in Japanese. I wrote his name in Hindi. He made a beautiful sketch in the flight.
A couple from Belgium, they are traveling with their truck across Africa, boated it twice through ocean and river. Waiting on their visa to Angola and fixing the truck in the motel. They sleep in the truck and take a bath in the swimming pool. Full of life. Their website: http://users.telenet.be/domobiel/
A guy from Brazil, International Relations student, wants to learn French and working with the motel meanwhile. He is trying to make motel a better place for residents and has some difficulty with English. He had taken a French speaking course in Port Noir, now on an internship in DRC. Exchanged mail ids because he thinks networking is really important.
A guy from DRC who owns the motel, schooling undergrad in US, Hotel Management course in Canada and taking care of family business in DRC, talked about un cut diamond and US stock market, told him the Iraq- Halliburton controversy.
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