Photographer's Note
In late February 1982 I spent about a week in northern Mali. It was one of the poorest and least developed parts of the world I have ever been to, surpassed only one year later by what is now South Sudan. But because people were generally nice and friendly I didn't feel so bad after all. Just hungry, thirsty and dirty.
After Timbuktu and Diré I spent a day (actually an afternoon, a full day, and a morning) in the remote town of Goundam, hoping to be able to catch a flight out of the region. There were no restaurants or cafés, so the only food I had were the leftovers from the hostel caretaker's meals, basically rice and cooked vegetables. I quenched my thirst with carefully boiled water from the nearest river.
In my diary I described central Goundam as quite pretty, consisting of mud houses surrounding a market place in an old fortress on a low hill next to a white mosque.
This is what you see in today's main photo. I have earlier posted another photo from the same street:
https://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Africa/Mali/North/Tombouctou/Goundam/photo1402087.htm
WS #1 will show you the fortress, in WS #2 you can see how I was finally "saved" from northern Mali.
PaulVDV, ikeharel, Fis2, jean113, pierrefonds, Royaldevon, jhm, PiotrF, GyurMaster, mcmtanyel, adramad, tyro, COSTANTINO marcou esta nota como útil
Critiques | Translate
PaulVDV
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6785 W: 24 N: 16026]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}
(62810) 2020-07-09 0:44
Hello Gert,
I would also hesitate to take the first picture in the WS as the main upload.
Both photos show very interesting architecture and look a bit 'Moroccan' according to my limited experiences.
I suppose the big white building that rises above the town is a mosque.
I'm glad the leftovers of the hostel caretaker kept you alive anyway. Fortunately, it was not someone who always ate his plate completely emty :)
Best regards, Paul
Silvio1953
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 19748 W: 130 N: 41842]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif){kind=small}
(220775) 2020-07-09 0:47
Ciao gert, great view of fantastic place, lovely composition with a lot of people, excellent clarity, wonderful colors and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio
ikeharel
(112565) 2020-07-09 0:54
Hello Gert, thanks for your supporting critique upon my latest post.
This remote area pictures from long ago, show a vibrant place despite its remoteness.
The WS with the plane deserve a post in JetPhotos webside (pending a screening by the staff to be within rules and registered as a member), there is not even one picture of this plane on the gallery of JP 4 millions photos.
Have a nice new day,
Ike
Fis2
(169903) 2020-07-09 1:18
Witaj Gert my neighbour today!
Another excellent scene from daily life.
A very interesting place, I like buildings.
The street makes impression.
Good framing and colours.
Well done.
Nice day.
Krzysztof
SteveH
(8220) 2020-07-09 2:27
Hi Gert, great images from what sounds like a great adventure. Uncomfortable at the time, but worth it. Cheers, steve
jean113
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2309 W: 0 N: 7216]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
(27667) 2020-07-09 3:13
Hello Gert, three interesting shots from your brief stay in Goundam.
Lack of cafes and restaurants, you must have been hungry and ready for the flight to continue your trip.
This is a brilliant scene, everyday life in 1982.
Looking carefully I see people in the shadows, unsure exactly what they are doing. One man in Western dress, all the other characters in robes typical of the area.
The buildings are fascinating, and with the mosque and fortress in the background.
I was interested in W/S 1 where we see a bundle of firewood, as there aren’t obviously a lot of trees around, firewood must be a valuable commodity.
Very interesting notes.
Kind regards, Jean.
pierrefonds
(113716) 2020-07-09 4:36
Hi Gert,
The presence of the persons is animating the scene. The poit of view is showing the details of the houses. The light is bringing out the colours. Have a nice day.
Pierre
pajaran
(115071) 2020-07-09 4:41
Greeting.
Beautiful views and traditional architecture.
Good work with photos in the workshop, nicely shown, well captured moments. Beautiful photos and memories.
I wish you all the best.
Paja.
Royaldevon
(85678) 2020-07-09 5:23
Hello Gert,
I can understand your indecision about the photographs. This does show, the wide, dusty street, edged by the mud brick houses and figures dressed some modern and some traditional, but I would have plumped for the other photograph. I like the close-up details of the figures and the fortress. I just couldn't help smiling at the guy wearing a woollen bobble hat, in what seemed like hot weather!
The donkeys are the valuable source of carrying. One seems to be patiently waiting, whilst the other looks laden with sticks.
I just wondered which expression you used to persuade the pilot you needed to go NOW!
These photographs are good scans.
I can imagine that it's like a surprising trip down memory lane when you delve into your archives and come across slides that reveal scenes long forgotten!
Have a good day,
Bev :-)
jhm
(211734) 2020-07-09 9:42
Hello Gert,
I remain look with big eyes to your pictures out of 1982.
A village no cars, no bicyles only people stroll in a street of sand and houses of clay
You chose a nice angle.
Perfect colours and sharpness.
Very well done, TFS.
Best regards,
John.
jmdias
(114402) 2020-07-09 10:27
gert
the main post give us a better idea of the city while the WS is more beautiful. we can feel how dry is the region and the special daily mood too. this is one of those countries few people will visit, and even worst nowadays.
take care
jorge
Miguel82
(47110) 2020-07-09 12:29
Gert, two photos immerse us in the atmosphere of that town located in the Sahara desert outskirts. The local architecture in mud and straw, the clothes give to that region its own particularities. Some trees resist to the burning sun and succeed in growing here, they provide shadow to the inhabitants. I like the small Air Mali aircraft. Fine colors, good sharpness, regards.
PiotrF
(54246) 2020-07-09 12:33
Hello Gert
Another interesting picture from Mali, nice daily life scene from this place.
I like great perspective, informative notes and good composition .
Fine presentation
Regards
Piotr
Tue
(91700) 2020-07-09 13:41
Hej Gert,
Et godt billede med den brede gade med de lave, brune huse og nogle træer. Den hvide moské kan også godt lige ses bag træet. Der er en fin og rolig atmosfære i gaden, hvor kun få mennesker (og jeg tror også nogle dyr) var ude.
Lars
GyurMaster
(24696) 2020-07-09 13:49
Dear Gert,
This time I have to question your choice: while the main upload really gives an overall view of the place, WS1 is a much better nothing special. Anyhow, I enjoyed your notes, about your adventures. Accidentally you were allowed on the plane...while I don't even sit in the car until I have every single accommodation and means of transport arranged.
You didn't mention it, but I guess all the frames were taken on the good ol' Kodachrome.
Best Wishes,
Gy.
lousat
(138703) 2020-07-09 15:05
Hi Gert,another great report from this remote village of Mali,maybe more things are disappeears now like the old airplane of WS,2 lovely postcards showing the daily life in this amazing scenery,well done! Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano
mcmtanyel
(67819) 2020-07-09 22:25
Hello Gert,
I love those mud buildings. 👍🏻👍🏻 Wow, you had a rough time there.
Regards,
MT
jemaflor
(146412) 2020-07-09 23:24
Hi Gert,
Interesting photo with this traditional style of architecture, good perspective with the road and pleasant sunlight well captured, tfs.
papagolf21
(152607) 2020-07-09 23:47
Bonjour, cher Gert,
La machine à remonter le temps est bien agréable;
je serais curieux de connaître si les édifices construits sont toujours présents !
Amitiés.
Philippe
kasianowak
(17672) 2020-07-12 10:33
As I often remark about your posts - both photos deserve a place on TE as main uploads! I love the fact you added a WS of the airplane and a note on how you travelled. Fabulous reportage.
emka
(157292) 2020-07-18 4:14
Hello Girt,
Just hungry, thirsty and dirty - but young. So not so bad. Fantastic view of this very wide road with almost no traffic. Nice view of these groups of people with their jobs. Intersting big tree on the right side and a white building behind the mud houses - probably a mosque. The gate in gate in Workshop would be an excellent main upload as well.
Havea nice wewekend
MAlgo
adramad
(72622) 2020-07-22 12:04
Hi Gert.
Sensational composition, with this wide view of the street and its adobe buildings, I think I have never seen this type of inhabited buildings anywhere, a lifestyle very different from any other.
Magnificent also the photos of the WS.
Very nice colors, which together with the good sharpness and optimal lighting, give great image quality to the image.
Well done. I like very much
You have a good day.
Very best regards
Luis.
tyro
(30513) 2020-07-23 10:14
Hello Gert,
I take a few days' leave from TE and discover that you have uploaded another dozen or so photos (including workshops!), so I have some catching up to do.
Another three fine photographs, very well taken, very well scanned and processed and very well presented too - and accompanied by your usual fascinating notes.
I can imagine that you must have been quite hungry even after your rather meagre meal of left-overs and I can also imagine that a wander around this place did not have a huge amount of interesting things to see and examine other than, of course, that always fascinating pastime of people-watching.
Your previously uploaded (in 2013) photo was obviously taken nearer to the mosque but I do like this wider view in which the people do not actually look that terribly poor - and one fellow on he left appears to be wearing quite western clothing. But there doesn't seem to be a lot of activity going on.
I like your workshop #1 which I presume is of part of the old fort and which also benefits from some fine images of people quite close up. And your aeroplane for which you were fortunate enough to be chosen as a passenger.
Excellent!
Kind Regards,
John.
COSTANTINO
(115673) 2021-09-18 23:50
Hello dear Gert
What could I say for this photo????
just looking at this photo and
thinking for this different
way of living...
thanks a lot
regards
Costantino
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Gert Holmertz (holmertz)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 12437 W: 572 N: 23877]](//i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(102104) - Genre: Lugares
- Medium: Cor
- Date Taken: 1982-02-00
- Versão da Foto: Versão Original, Workshop
- Date Submitted: 2020-07-09 0:32
Discussions
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by holmertz, last updated 2020-07-09 05:30
