Visiting Rwanda was a really interesting experience apart from the gorilla and monkey trek. For me it was really interesting to see how the people of this country live every day. Driving through the mountainous countryside most all of the mountain sides have been cultivated to farmland right up to the top which not is an easy feat knowing it is mostly done by hand. Most of the agriculture was for subsistence though they do export coffee. The first couple of people we passed carrying heavy loads was quite an eye opener but it soon became a very frequent sight.
Potatoes going to market
Even the young start early with this little fellow carrying some firewood on his back. As Rwanda is very hilly this daily chore must be very strenuous..
The hillsides were all terraced and were used to their full potential. It made us wonder where the wild animals had been displaced to as there was very little natural growth left. Conservation has taken place in the Vocanoes National Park where the gorillas live but did not seem to extend farther. It was interesting observing the population as there seems to be a higher ratio of younger people and definitely a lot of babies all being carried on their mothers back.
For the dozens of babies we saw we did not see single baby stroller of any description which certainly is different from home. It was not unusual to see the infants on the backs of their young siblings so responsibility starts early.
Brother looking after brother.
Busy roadside markets are held regularly for the locals to sell and exchange thier produce and wares.
Our last stop in Rwanda was at the Genocide Memorial in Kigali. This was definitely one of life's very sobering experiences. In 1994 over a period of 100 days over one million Rwandans were brutally murdered, often by their friends and neighbors because they were born Tutsie. The genicides in Rwanda was between the two native tribes, the Hutu and Tutsie who had existed side by side for centuries until outsiders started interference. Whole families were killed and thousands were left orphaned at the end of these most horrific times. Best friends and even family members had turned on each other. One message I heard from survivors messages was the inability to trust and it is no wonder. How this nation has picked up and gone on with the grace and happiness that they portray is a testament to the human spirit beyond anything I can even begin to imagine.
The eternal flame that burns at the site where 250,000 victims are buried.
As we boarded our plane for South Africa once again we felt so lucky that we had the chance to visit and experience the incredible times we had in Rwanda but we are so very thankful that we call Canada home.
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