IVORY COAST

It was really strange midnight... 
sitting outside alone wiz no place 2sleep (!) 
den one reggae man talked to me. 
he told abt lov n life. 
we walked along beach n meditated seein dawn. 
he invited me 2his simple place n prepared breakfast 4me. 
we climbed d hill n enjoy beautiful scenery of busua bay... 
was it true? CAPTAIN MASCOT... 


the boys stole my canon when I left Busua, 
so no pics to prove it anymore...


stepin on d beach n shakin maracas, 
played wiz gypsies on west coast. 
violin melody n accordion sounds ascended me to paradise. 
melancholic ballad, shallow of clear ocean, infinite serene sky...
put away d shining memory in my mind. 
too bright to print out pics. 
life teach u important tin is invisible. 
be cautious. just tell my stories. 
d sequence of ivory coast n gifts of forest. 
be ready... I go n come...x

Business Trip To HOHOE, Tourist Site in Volta region

I visited in Hohoe, Volta region, to cooperate with my colleague JOCV since Hohoe Municipal Assembly asked for visual data of tourist sites in order to improve public relations. I took the leave from in April 2010, and photographed Likpe Todome, Liati Wote, Monkey Sanctuary, Kente Village, and Wli waterfall. It was certainly enjoyable to visit these tourist sites, rather stimulating to look round colleague’s activity in rural community development as well.

You go up the steps and then reach TOGO over the mountains, the eastern neighbour of Ghana. EWE, the ethnicity and language in Volta region, are much effected those in Togo more than Ghana.

   Ms. Aki is a JOCV in rural community development who has been attached in Tourist Office under Hohoe Municipal Assembly since March 2009. We are same group in JOCV and this time her recipient agency requested me to take photographs of tourist sites in order that Ms. Okoma makes DVD-ROM as a collection of visual data and Assembly uses the data to make calendar for next year.

   We shot pictures of the beautiful landscape in Hohoe, portraits for executive officers in Hohoe Municipal Assembly, and daily scene in local market. We climbed the mountain and the grand caves, visited the secret waterfall and community in Likpe Todome. In Liati Wote, we were satisfied with the view of Mount Afad Jato, the highest mountain in Ghana, and the secluded Tagbo Waterfall. Interaction with Peace Corp. Volunteers there was also fulfilled one. Then Municipal Assembly provided us the official car to visit to Monkey Sanctuary and Kente Village. Finally we reached Likpe again and hiked Wli Waterfall.

   The most impressive experience was to inspect the community development activity which she promotes in Likpe Todome. She facilitated women group to produce the souvenir, which recycled the water sachets of Pure-Water, for visitors especially foreigners. The women group is ordered the products regularly on a small scale by the souvenir shop in Hohoe. Now they improve their skills to make the recycled purses. Her activity as community developer stimulated me a lot. Though we do not have specific tourist site here in Sunyani, I will definitely contribute to connect production of soap in forest fringe community of Sunyani with outside market opportunity for expansion of palm soap business. 

Study Trip to Ghana with 5 Family Members

SHOKOLA's Japanese Family came all the way to Ghana last October. Mother, two young brothers, aunt and cousin!! It was quite tough to manage our schedule considering their requests and Ghanaian sightseeing circumustances. But that was sooooo precious and marvelous moment and I can not appreciate enough that they went out of their way to Africa!!

SHOKOLA's mother presented her study trip in a ceremony and her comment were inserted in our news letter. I also translated her article to introduce her survival adventure in Africa, led by her daughtor!!

After 22 hours of transited flights from Japan, we landed at the airport in Accra with much excitement. My daughter welcomed us with all sunburnt smiles and braiding hair, seemed to enjoy local fashion as well.


She brought perfect and colourful study trip plan for us! It might be a hard work to please us five family members including her two junior brothers, her aunt and cousin. The hotel in Cape Coast which we stayed two nights was aesthetic and satisfied us with the flaming sunset beyond the horizon and beautiful daybreak in the following morning. We could not help feel much grief at slavery history in Cape Coast Castle. After 6 hours of transportation to Sunyani, where my daughter lives and works, we greeted her host family in Chiraa. People were surprised to see sudden appearance of OBRUNI group and welcomed heartily. We will never forget chopping FUFU with BUSHMEAT by hand, which neighbours served up in a hurry.
It does not matter without water and electricity power. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I do not have enough words to describe how wonderful the starry sky expanded above us during the lights-off. The milky ways were flowing, the falling stars were pouring, so you could see the real planetarium there.The next day, we participated in the class of JHS, which my daughter have once a week, and went the recipient agency, Forest Service Division Sunyani District Office, to interview with some officers. My daughter negotiated and quarrelled toughly with a good command of English and Twi. We accepted Ghanaian time that we took for 2 hours to eat since we had ordered at the restaurant!

Half a year passed since her assignment, looking for what she can do now, she endeavours to implement environmental activity involved with stakeholders in the area. I believe that she will find something through living with local people.

I was deeply impressed with lively smiles and shining eyes of other JOCV we met in Ghana during this study-trip, and encouraged by their close relationships like Sisters and Brothers. I also heaved a sigh of relief and appreciated JICA stuff for their good care about our children as if they are family.

My daughter leads me a whole new world which I can not experience me alone. This study-trip was highly survival and touching, which motivate me to cooperate with her activity as much as possible, in the rest of her period, half and a year. Medaase paa!!

What Billy tells

"The minds of Billy Milligan"

It is the documentary non-fiction novel, published more than 10 years ago.

But it teaches us thousands of lessons still now.

The author succeeded in letting readers know not only the cruel truth that child abuse bring to the victims, but also the facts that everyone can have many personalities within. Someone who is damaged his heart creates the other personality within his mind. To avoid the severe pain. Not to hurt anymore, because it's too painful to live.

Each coexisting personalities have remarkable talents. One can speak British English, another has a Slavic accent or Brooklyn. Some of them are children, naughty, and good at painting, but some are so mature that he can control his mind, even adrenalin! And to survive under mad living conditions, some undertake hatred and improve violence and intelligence. Moreover each personality has his own perfect background, homeland and sex.

As some mental doctors stated in the story, his consequences might help science reveal human beings. And my suggestion is that he can be chemistry of science with spiritual phenomenon. His personalities prove that acquired circumstances do not coincide with actual identities completely. How could you explain that Billy knew well some strange land where he had never been to?

He gave us lots of lessons, whether we accept his merciless living history and inconsistent of spirits. It goes without saying that physical social problems should be dealt with adequately, his spirits show that there are certainly some invisible matter that is too complicated for modern science to demonstrate. But now we human beings need to awake to this new and old idea to bring a deadlock to an end.

I believe that these INDIGOs are surely messengers for human beings to get noticed.

He is a true silver lining of our cloudy & uncertain future.

Don't you think so?