Tundavala in National Geographic

NatGeo has a site called "Your Shot" where photographers can submit their incredible photos, for a variety of reasons, and if selected, get put on the site and I think get put into a contest in the future.  Tundavala made the shot and the image is included here below by photographer David Ligeiro.  I could do that :)

Click on the link below to see the Tundavala shot in more detail and more "your Shot" photos 

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/photo-contest/2010/entries/gallery/places-week-3/#/4496

Tundavala

Tundavala is a volcanic fissure (technically a chasm--had to look that up) in the south of the province I live in, Húila.  It is AMAZING.  2225 meters to the bottom, which is sea level I believe, at the village of Bibala.  One of my students teaches there!

It was 230pm when I left my house and thought about putting the trip off because it looked like it was going to rain something serious.  I am so glad we did end up going.  Apparently, our rain comes from the Cristo mountain, not Tundavala, so the weather is never the same in the two places.

Driving in we saw what looked like a small canyon on the right and lots of fog moving in really fast

Once we got to the place we couldn't see anything, but since the fog was moving so fast I assured Albertina (my student and friend) that we would be in the clear soon.

The sun tried to peak through.  These rocks in the background totally dissapeared at one point, the fog was so thick.

Albertina sulking and taking a walk.  She was walking towards the background of the photo...

Towards this.  This is where the clouds parted before our eyes and... 

WOW!  

What a view!

This little village you see in the distance is Bibala, the place where my student teachers English.

Me, standing in fear, but happiness as well.

I just love the color saturation in this, the road home.

Beautiful Birthday Trip

On the Road again

I went up to Luanda for a little work and Thanksgiving dinner last week.  These were my favorite photos from the road between Lubango and Benguela.

Thanksgiving work

Sofrimento

My students waiting in line for their final oral examination (given 3 weeks before the official date and with a week or so notice)    sad face.  They told me I could post these and had to name the series "suffering. "

Breathing space for today.

View of Serra da Leba between Lubango and Namibe provinces

Namibe Pics

I was in Namibe city over night and took advantage of the morning before I left to walk around and take pics of the cute little port city.  I still need to do research, but I think Namibe was  a large slave port, sending slaves to places like Brazil and Sao Tomé.  It really resembles Inhambane in its architecture though Namibe is much larger than tiny Ibane.

Big rock

Olive trees!  This area in the dessert used to be the only producer of olive oil in Angola.  Supoosedly they still produce some.

Goodies that I never eat cause they are not truly sweet or have meat in them

A cute abandoned van near the railroad

The railroad

close up of paint on a building

A house with a railroad fence

if the Portuguese did something right it was the decorations on the houses.  Some are really nice

Boats in Namibe harbor

Mozambique's Eduardo Mondlane Avenue in Namibe

Lazy dog on a Sunday

Namibe

Délcio in the Spotlight in Namibe

There's just me...one is the magic number

I don't know how scientifically accurate his study was, but out outgoing Dean (the new guy was instated last Friday) made a short presentation about ISCED's history since he has been there (9 years).  He also gave some stats on certain aspects of the school and faculty.  This one shows the different nationalities of the faculty members over the years--from the top, Angolan, Armenian, Bulgarian,Brazilian, Cabo Verdean, Congolese, Cuban, then me...the only American ever, according to their records, Portuguese, and Vietnamese.  Pretty neat stuff.  Hope I represent for my American peeps.  :) 

ELT Cultural Night

The Wedding Photographer

I'm just gonna post these pics now, but will write some captions and stories about the experience when I have time this weekend.  For the meantime...enjoy!

Official

That Angola "Filled Renewal" is me.

Crazy Clouds

While taking the bus to Namibe today at 7am, I saw the most beautiful clouds at the bottom of the Serra da Leba road. They looked like snow and covered everything but the mountains that peaked out.