２０１１年２月２４日（木）

Thursday 24th February, 2011

 Went to the ferry landing as first thing in the morning. In order to cross to Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo) from Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo), there is the Congo over the border. I take a ferry to go over there. There are 2 types of ferries which one is free for locals and another is paid high-speed ferry which is called canoe. I got an advice from the guy from Japanese embassy that I should avoid to use the free ferry, so I decided to try to take a canoe. I went to the ferry landing to ask that my motorbike can come with me or not. When we came to the port, many people who are attracting customers for each canoes talked to us. While we were walking toward to the port, barkers were getting increase to talk to us! I heard later that there are about 50 canoe companies, so they are desperate effort to steal customers from each other! At last Touts argue owing to us and it escalates and they started to blow fight right in front of us! They are too aggressive!! (LOL) Police men and people around there came there and handled the situation... After that, I went to downtown to go around the embassies, then there are police men and soldiers with machine guns from place to place. I can see many cars which were put "UN" marks too. It's United Nations. Also there are many people who are lame or have no leg. I think I see more than in Angola. I heard that  Many people fell victim under the influence of the riot and a civil war which continued till 2002 in DRC Congo.  Must the history out of which victims come to the distance to peace follow? 
 

２０１１年２月２５日（金）
朝８：００にムトンボさんと朝食に出かけた。
大使館通りにはちょっと雰囲気がいいレストランが並んでいる。
そして９：００開始のカメルーン大使館へ。
担当者へのチップを少々多めに支払ったことで当初数日かかると言われたビザが３０分で発給＠＠！(笑)　
ムトンボさん、アフリカ人もビックリ(笑)
 

Friday, 25th February, 2011

I went to have breakfast with Mutombo at 8:00 in the morning. There are good atmosphere restaurants on the street of the embassies. And we went to Cameroon embassy at 9:00. My visa was issued in 30 mins even we were said it takes few days because I paid little more tip! LOL Mutombo is also surprised. LOL

【USD１４０（即日）／写真二枚／パスポートコピー／カルネコピー】

[USD140 (Immediately) / 2 pictures / A copy of my passport / A copy of Carnet]
 

次に向かうのはヤマハのディーラー。
オートバイのことをいろいろ整理して考えてみるとクラッチ以外にもいろいろ整備、修理があるのでクラッチの部品が日本から届くのを待つまで動かないよりも、出来ることは済ませようということで行ってみた。
すると二日前に行った時はヤマハ車でなくてもOKと言っていたのに今日はインド人らしきここの責任者と面談すると一転、ヤマハ車以外はダメ・・と。
がっくりしているとここの整備受付の人がヤマハの仕事もしているが個人で整備工場を持っている人がいるので紹介してあげる、と言って連絡してくれた（感謝！）その人が後でホテルの駐車場まで来てくれることになった。
その待ち合わせまでの時間を利用してマリ大使館へ。
このマリだけはかなり離れた大変なところにあり、ここ大使館？！と思うような感じで他国と比べ経済力の差などを感じさせられる。マリのビザはかなり簡単にその場で発給してくれた。
【USD１５０（即日）写真１／パスポートコピー】
 

I went to the Yamaha dealer for next. There are many parts that I need to maintenance and repair other than the crutch, so I thought that it is better than just waiting to receive the parts from Japan that I work out something that I can do while I'm waiting. Then they said they can work for my motorbike even it's not from Yamaha but when I met an Indian guy who is in charge of there today, he said they cannot accept it because of not Yamaha one... When I was disappointed, one reception person knows a person  who works at Yamaha and also have own maintenance shop so he can introduce him for me, and he contacted to him! *appreciated!* I got an appointment that the person will come to my hotel later. I went to the Mari embassy using the time to the waiting. Only Mari embassy is located at the considerably distant place, it is the atmosphere which is not an embassy and the difference of economic strength, etc. are impressed compared with other foreign countries. The visa of Mali was issued on that spot quite simply.  [USD 150 (immediately) 1 Photo / A copy of passport]
 

満車の乗り合いタクシーに乗っている最中、街中でポリスストップが。
乗客で一杯のタクシーの前に警官が立ちはだかり、わざわざ車を止めさせて何を言うのかと思ったら「お金頂戴」だって（爆）運転手も慣れたもので「稼いできたら戻ってきてあげるよ」といなす。
乗客、警官、笑いの中でストップ解除で再スタートする。しかしまあ、すんごい街です(笑)
 

While we were riding a packed shared-taxi, the taxi got a police stop. A policeman stands with his legs wide apart in front of our packed taxi, and I was wondering what does he make a car whether parked specially and is said, the policeman just said "Give me money." LOL The driver got used to like this situation, so he just said "when I earn money and come back, I will." Passengers and the police were laughing together and released our taxi. Well, this town is AMAZING LOL
 

その後ホテルの駐車場で整備の人と落ち合った。
当初は「オートバイの状態を確認しに来る」というだけだったのでその後、どこか整備工場へ持って行くのかと思ったら駐車場の隅に場所を移し、その場で修理を始めた。
依頼内容はリアタイヤ交換とチェーン交換。
タイヤ交換はさすがにチューブレスなのでホイールを外した後、私がケープタウンから持ってきたタイヤを持って近くのタイヤショップで組み付け作業をして駐車場に戻ってきた。
ただ、バランスをとった形跡がないので高速走行時は注意だ。
チェーン交換はナミビアのウインドフークのBMWのディーラーで購入したチェーンがエンドレスタイプのものだったのでスイングアームを外さないと組み付け不能では？と思っていたが付いていたチェーンをタガネを使って取り外し、新しいチェーンは落ちている大きい石と手持ちの工具を上手に（？）使ってある駒のピンを打ち抜き、そしてバイクのフレームを台座にして（して欲しくなかった（苦笑））そのピンの頭を再度叩き込みカシメていた。
見た目は上手に出来ていた。。
リアホイールを組み付けた後、リアタイヤが回らない。
すると、リアブレーキキャリパーをハンマーで叩き出したり、エンジンをかけ一速に入れ無理矢理リアタイヤを回し始める＠＠。
私がよく見るとホイールベアリングに入れてあるカラーを逆側につけていた。オイオイ！指摘して直してからはちゃんとリアタイヤは回るようになったが。。
結構、スゴイ技術を持っているかと思えば初歩的なところで間違いをする。
ここもコンゴの味か(笑)　続きの作業は部品が届いてからすることに。

 

After all my errands, I met with the person who does maintenance at the parking area of the hotel. He said that "he will come to check the status of my motorbike" at first, so I thought he will bring to his maintenance shop after that, but he just started to repair there. My contents of order were exchanging rear tires and chain. Since the tires are tubeless  after removing wheels, I did attachment work at the nearby tire shop with the tires brought from Cape Town, and I came back to the parking lot. However, since there is no trace of having maintained balance, I must be careful when I drive by high speed operation. About exchange a chain, the chain which I bought at BMW dealer in Windhoek, Namibia is the type of endless,  so I thought that he need to take off swing arm and impose it. But he took it the chain which was installed at mine by a chisel, and he pierced the pin of the piece of the new chain, using well the large stone which has fallen and his tool on hand, and used the frame of the motorbike as the pedestal (I didn't want him to do though *bitter smile*), was driving the head of the pin again and was caulking it. Appearance was made well... After he attaches a rear wheel, a rear tire does not turn. Then, he strikes a rear brake caliper with a hammer, or he starts the engine, puts into first gear, and begins to turn a rear tire forcibly. When I check well, the color currently put into the wheel bearing was given to the reverse side. Wow wow!  After I pointed out and corrected it, it came to turn around a rear tire perfectly though... I think whether they have uncanny skills, a mistake will be made in an elementary place. It is a taste of Congo also here. LOL I will do other works after parts' arrive.　
 

さて、あとはガボンのビザの有効期限までに入国が難しくなってきたので念のため取り直し作業をすることとクラッチの部品が届いてこれを無事修理完了すればキンシャサを出発することが出来る。
日本から送ってもらっている部品はホテルにあるDHLオフィスで聞いてもまだ届いていないという。
そういえば福田モーターの担当メカニックの大津さんがDHLのトラッキングナンバーと専用サイトのアドレスを送ってくれたので確認すると今どこにあるかが判った！スゲー！
 

Well, I need to work on getting visa of Gabon because it's getting difficult to enter the country with my visa which I've gotten already by expired, and once I complete to repair the crutch that I receive from Japan, then I can depart from Kinshasa. I checked DHL which is located in the hotel about it but they said it's not arrived yet. Mr. Otsu who is a mechanic at Fukuda Motor sent me the tracking number before, so I check it then I could find out where it is now! Wow!

http://www.dhl.co.jp/content/jp/ja/express/tracking.shtml?brand=DHL&AWB=7618514212%0D%0A 

このブログを書いている時点ではベルギーを出発している状態。明日届けばいいなあ。

When I am writing this blog, it has left Belgium. Hopefully it will arrive tomorrow. 

キンシャサ駅。この先の港に人が集まる。

Kinshasa Station.

People gather in the harbor down there.

政府にお金を払っていない広告はこのように上塗り（落書き？）されるんだとか。不思議な情勢だ

If the advisement which isn't paid cost to the government,  it will be like that (scribble?). It is the wired situation. 

 

                                                                                                                           
グランドホテルキンシャサ。大分、仲良しのスタッフが出来た。

Grand Hotel Kinshasa. I could be friendly with some staff members. 

 

足に障害を持つ方は、自転車のペダルが手で回せる車両を使って港に向かっていく。そこにいけば少々の仕事にありつけるからだ。長い道のりをこいで行く。

People who have a handicap in a leg go to the harbor using the vehicles which the pedal of a bicycle can turn by hands. 　Because if they go there, they can have small works. They drive long way.

ホテル駐車場の端っこで整備が始まった！ここにもギャラリーが沢山。

The maintenance has been started at marge of the parking lot! There are many audience too.




特殊工具がなくてもあらゆる方法で目的を果たしていく姿に脱帽。
Even if there was no special tool of theirs, I took off my hat to the figure which achieves the purpose by all methods.