December 30 – Heading Toward Yaoundé
Good day. December 30th. It was time to make my way toward Yaoundé. I didn’t want to do the drive in one day since I’m not a fast driver, and I’d rather not take the chance of driving in the dark.
The Road and the Reality of the Drive
The road is not a freeway by any means. Sometimes you can drive with two cars next to each other, but most of the time you can’t. That means overtaking vehicles is often necessary, and with a lot of freight traffic on the road, you have to be very, very careful all the time. But what else is new out here.
Stopping in Boumnyebel
The ride was good until I got a bit over halfway, with about 100 kilometers still to go. That’s when I reached a town called Boumnyebel, which is a major stop for buses passing through. There’s a lot of hustle and movement, with buses constantly coming and going.
I knew there were a few hotel options there, even though they were about as basic as they come.
A Basic but Acceptable Stay
I ended up at a complex called Le Relais, a three- or four-story building offering a very low-priced room at 10,000 CFA, which is less than $20 a night. The conditions matched the price. There wasn’t much water in the room most of the time, but it was okay and served its purpose.
Food, Music, and Evening Energy
I walked around town to find some food. There was a lot of barbecuing going on—mostly chicken, but also some beef, and occasionally animals caught in the forest. It made for a very enjoyable visit.
Anywhere alcohol is served usually comes with very loud music, which isn’t always my favorite. Still, I found a place to buy some chicken, later added some pork, and eventually settled into a spot where I could enjoy a beer with the food.
A Night That Never Really Sleeps
It was very pleasant but also very intense. Traffic blasted through town all night long and never really seemed to stop. Despite that, I enjoyed my visit.
There was a friendly English-speaking person who helped me with the hotel, which made things easier. Overall, it felt like a solid Cameroon experience right in the heart of things.
Wrapping Up the Day
Anyway, thanks for being along. We’ll catch you tomorrow.
