Changes in hairstyle and traveling in Senegal [around the world by bike]

It was very hard time in the desert in Mauritania and Senegal.

No water, No food, No money, tired, extremely hot weather, 
a dust storm, dead animals on the road and so on.

I felt I was standing at death’s door. I even had doubts about my traveling.

I didn't understand myself why I chose to live this difficult life.

I kept thinking 'Should I finish my trip here? Is this the end?'

Anyway, I tried not to lose consciousness. Because if I lost it, I might die.
And I used to drink water from taps, sometimes from wells.
I was really not sure if the water was clean enough or not to drink,
but I couldn't afford to buy water every time. 
I was thirsty all the time, I wanted to survive. 
And local poor people were drinking the same water from the tap as I did. 

Without music, it was worse. Unfortunately, somebody stole my iPod in the market in Nouakchott.

I met Abdoul Aziz family in Senegal. His family was very welcoming.

I couldn't speak Wolof or French though.

All his daughters braided my hair for me.

I don't know if I look good with my hair in braids.

But anyway I didn't like my straight and just long hair. It was boring.

Variety is the spice of life.

Abdoul Aziz family

Abdoul Aziz didn't want to make me feel hungry on the road,

He gave me 100 bags of hardtack for surviving

In Senegal, you can easily find many animals everywhere.

Mother(or Father) pig and the baby

Who cares about cars?

A lizard has nice colors

I'm so sorry for his(her) death. But he is so cute.

Senegalese people always have a good sense of humor. 

Especially in paintings.

Football everywhere

I met Dieme in St Louis.

Dieme is a teacher, and very nice man. 

We had some funny conversations about polygamy.

My first question was if there are three men and three women in the world,

if a man occupies three wives, what about the others ?

He said you are right, but there are many women in the world more than three.

And it's not correct to leave many women without marriages. 

My second question was if you have many wives,

it mean you will have many children as well. Isn't it hard to feed all of them ?

He said we have Allah, what's the problem?

I couldn't ask him anything anymore after he told me about his God.

I enjoyed mango with Dieme's cousin's family.

It's not very easy to eat the part of seed.

The port in St Louis was very impressive.

Dirty, smelled very bad, but at the same time, 

I felt very strong and admirable energy from people.

Especially, from children. Children are independent, they know how to work, 

they are always ready to help their parents. 

It was definitely worth to visit. 

A little girl carried her younger sister on her back, while she was sweeping the street.

I'm not sure what she felt, but at least she didn't look unhappy. 
She was just doing her routine job.

A Baobab tree

What happened to this truck ?

With a Baobab tree

KOICA(The Korea International Cooperation Agency) is doing something good for Senegal.

Some friendly and helpful girls from KOICA hosted me in Dakar.

This picture was taken in France. I met Mrs. Laurance there November, 2012.

She asked me if I needed something in Senegal.

I was not sure if I could find brake pads in Senegal, so I said I needed brake pads.

She have sent brake pads for me to Senegal by her friend.

It was her birthday, I was supposed to give her a present. I felt sorry and I really appreciated her.

Happy Birthday again, Laurance and thank you so much for your present to Senegal.

I felt I was not alone.

In Senegal, you can find many children who are begging on the street.

I was bit sad, because I didn't know what could I do for them.

One of my nice Senegalese friend Malick is helping these children.

He is working in Association Empire des enfants to help children.

I heard Barack Obama will visit Senegal and this association.

I hope more people will help these children.

YES, WE CAN!!!

Choose one pair of shoes you like

I'm looking for a boat again to South America from Dakar.

It's again very hard time.

Nothing is sure, it makes me excited and worried.

I don't want to worry about anything, because even if I worry, I can't change anything.

Why should I worry then? But practically, I have many problems always. 

Where to stay? What to eat? What is plan B? 

To be honest, I think I have a very little possibility to find a boat. 

I know I have to hear "NO" thousands of times every day. It make me nervous and frustrated.

But I'm trying anyway as always. What can I do more ?

At the moment, I'm staying in a Korean business man's factory. He is taking care of me. 

He told me gently, but clearly, if you really want to find a boat, do your haircut above all.

I didn't do my haircut since I left South Korea. 

I don't know why, but in South Korea, men are not suppose to have long hair.

Actually it's true I didn't like my hairstyle, not my length of hair. I just wanted to change the hairstyle.

Anyway I decided to listen to his advice. 

                                  before                                                                       after

This is my favorite Korean song for myself and all my friends from around the world.