socialmedian: Bamako And Back-Alley Mohammed

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Bamako And Back-Alley Mohammed — Bamako, Mali

Source: Travel Pod

Nov 08, 2009

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Bamako, Mali

After a long, sleep-deprived journey to get to West Africa, Bamako hits us like a ton of bricks right in the customs and luggage area. I assume that the scene that played out would be akin to an announcement of the pending end-of-the-world in most places. People running and pushing in all direction, someone in a white lab coat demanding to see our Yellow Fever vaccination but losing interest the minute he sees a yellow piece of paper coming out of my pocket, line-ups forming and dissolving just as quickly, policemen threatening to club some of the people pushing to get in from the reception area…. After a half-hearted attempt to fill out a form that was in French only, the Customs officer didn’t even look at it, stamped the passports with enthusiasm, and welcomed us to Mali with a big smile. Then things really got confusing.

Apparently all Malians who travel abroad are obliged to return with as many big gifts as the airline will permit. Although we were treat ...Read the full article

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