Excuse my french ...

Je lis régulièrement les news sur le site du monde (lemonde.fr) et suis toujours assez surpris ou amusé par les commentaires laissés à la suite d'un article. Mais pour illustrer mes propos, j'ai cherché à faire un court récapitulatif des solutions proposées à différents problèmes:

- Chômage: Interdire le licenciement et foutre une balle dans la tête des patrons méchants.

- Pédophiles: Leur couper les couilles, si possible avant le procès ou même la fin de l'instruction, c'est plus drôle.

- Patrons: Les faire bosser à l'usine, qu'ils sachent ce que c'est le vrai boulot.

- Surpêche: Rien. C'est des conneries de scientifiques qui n'ont jamais pêché.

- Crise boursière: Rien. C'est bien fait pour leur gueule à ces sales riches d'actionnaires.

- Madoff: Ruiner toute sa famille sur 3 générations et obliger sa femme à faire le trottoir, qu'elle sache ce que c'est la vrai vie (ou encore pire, qu'elle aille bosser à l'usine!).

- Problème autre: C'est de la faute à ce nain de Sarkozy.

Cela me rappelle parfois la caricature du français moyen par l'auteur de bd Manu Larcenet. Bref, tout cela est très drôle et une bonne alternative au site viedemerde.fr pour entraîner mes zygomatiques. Je me poile donc bien, en mangeant mon saucisson, mon camembert et en buvant mon rouge à la bouteille (OH... le vilain cliché). Et surtout, je me dis que finalement, tout cela n'est pas très différent des extrémistes musulmans. Ils coupent la main des voleurs, lapident pour adultère et font exploser ces chiens d'infidèles. Finalement, peut-être qu'ils ne

sont pas si barbares que cela et sont, au contraire, bien plus courageux que nous en appliquant leurs idées à la con, eux.

Mais ouais mon gars, chacun sa merde!!

Blue Light [Silent Alarm] by Bloc Party

Waiting for my bed ...

19H43. Back in my office, I left my room this morning at 7H30. I spent the day in the field, in villages in Northern Darfur.

I've been trying, in the last assignments, to focus a little bit more on portraits as I often have the feeling that they are too basic, not original enough. I'm working on it. Unfortunately, the conditions often don't allow me to change the position of the subject and the background is so bright that it reduces dramatically the possibilities. But if you have any recommendation... feel free.

Meanwhile, enjoy life and your weekend!

Dancing Behind My Eyelids [Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy] by Múm

(NDA. Peut-être une de mes lignes de coke préférée pour me redonner la pêche)

En desordre ...

Outside temperature: 43˚C. The sun is so bright that I can't see anything without sun glasses. I'm forcing myself to drink as much as I can. My weekend started yesterday evening and finished this afternoon. I'm still tired. Tomorrow will be a tough day. I'm buying some music on iTunes. It takes ages. Yesterday, I had a very pleasant evening and nice discussions. I'm dreaming of nice musics, sushis with sake, friends and swimming. I hate mosquitoes. I'm tired.

John Thomas On the Inside Is Nothing but Foam [Fahrenheit Fair Enough] by Telefon Tel Aviv

Jeg er sveitsisk, og veldig glad i foto og reiser!

Tip 2145: Don't stay on your rooftop during a sand stormPaths in Soft Focus - Savath + Savalas, Savath + Savalas [Solid Steel Presents: It Came from the Sea [Us Import]] by Bonobo

P.S: Not, it was not taken in Sudan ...

Sans titre ...

I'm missing a beer and a nice talk about photography. To improve some skills, to exchange others, to speak about what has been in my mind in the last months.

I need some rest too.

The Plug (Live) [Live Sessions EP] by Bonobo

En attendant l'automne ...

Bad and long day today. I don't want to go home. I just want to process my pictures and listen to some music.

Tu Vuo'Fa L'Americano [The Talented Mr. Ripley Soundtrack] by The Guy Barker International Quintet, Matt Damon, Vincent Fiorello, Jude Law

Fuc*)%g kangaroo party, 1st anniversary

Right as Rain (Live at Hotel Cafe) [19 (Bonus Tracks)] by Adele

A table ...

How could I describe life here without looking like an arrogant self-sufficient guy ("Yeah baby, I risk my life every day to save small children in Darfur. Do you want a drink?") or how can I do it without using the same stupid cliche again and again ("Yeah... you know... with the money you spend for your makeup, you could feed a family for one year in Darfur"). I don't know...

The truth just is that almost everything here is different and that sometimes, reality meets the cliche. The weather, the notion of family, religion or entertainment, the notion of dynamism, being pro-active, etc... all those things are different. 

A friend of mine wrote to me the other day that it was too hot and that she needed to jump in a swimming pool. It was 27°C. It is the temperature I usually have during the day in my office, with the A/C and that I sometimes find "too cold". Outside, it is now between 40 and 45°C. When my room burnt, some friends from Europe wrote me "I'm sorry for you. The insurance has to pay!!!". Here, it's "I'm sorry. It was God will. Inch'allah the insurance will pay". I love eating sushis, tapas, chinese food, good old french cuisine (e.g. some andouillette), swiss one too (e.g. my dear roestis with sausage). People here have about 2-3 different plates... that's all. The notion of culinary curiosity doesn't seem to exist here. Or in a different way.

After my first breaks/vacations, I sometimes felt guilty. Guilty to spend so much money in a restaurant, in a nice hotel, in a new camera (and not to put any money aside), when my life here is so simple and when so many person here have nothing. It took me time to realize it was normal. I know I can spend months in the middle of nowhere, with almost nothing, under harsh condition. I'm everyday more influenced by what I life, see and experience here. But a part of my roots remain the same. And, if one day, after a long time in the field, I stop missing all those things then... maybe it'll be time to return home, wherever it is.

The Awakening of a Woman (Burnout) [Man With a Movie Camera] by The Cinematic Orchestra.

Just a dance with you ...

Yumeji's Theme (Extended Version) [In the Mood for Love (Soundtrack)] by Umebayashi Shigeru

Back from the field ...

All My Colours [3] by Nouvelle Vague & Ian Mc Culloch

Adios Ayer [Café del Mar - Volume 6] by Jose Padilla

In my arms ...

Back to Black [iTunes Festival: London] by Amy Winehouse 

Retour a l'essentiel

I'm gonna make a break. I don't think I wrote anything interesting lately. And I'm not gonna write about what really happens here (because it has never been the purpose of my blog and because I still don't see any reason for it) and I'm not gonna start writing about what I really think or experience here (because my mind is mine and all the rest is just a game).

And because I'm bored of writing provocation, dull, obvious or kitschy things and to speak about series as if it was the most important element in my life in Darfur, I think I'm gonna focus on what really matters: pictures, and a guy having my name.

En attendant Tokyo ...

After 9 months in Darfur, it is maybe the right moment to start a small comparison:

In Darfur, you use a donkey to carry water between the water tank and your house.

In Switzerland, you take a bath and pee in potable water.

In Switzerland, with 100 dollars, you have a pizza and a few drinks with friends.

In Darfur, with 100 dollars, you can take care of your family for one month.

In Darfur, the owner of 10 cows is a very rich man.

In Switzerland, the owner of 10 cows is a looser, farmer.

In Switzerland, if there is an electricity cut, you ask to your wife if she has been informed about it in advance and call the owner of the apartment.

In Darfur, if there is an electricity cut, you keep drinking your tea.

In Darfur, if your guest is invited at 14H, he arrives between 15H and 16H and says "How are you my friend?".

In Switzerland, if a train is 4 minutes late, the driver apologizes for the inconvenience.

In Switzerland, if you get a warm beer, you complain and never come back in the same pub.

In Darfur, if you get a warm beer, you thank Jesus and come back the next day, praying for the same miracle to happen (ok... maybe just me)

In Darfur, if you don't have a family, you parents, brothers, uncles and cousins are dead.

In Switzerland, if you don't have a family, you are unmarried with no children.

In Switzerland, when it is 25°C, you take off your shirt and jump into a lake.

In Darfur, when it is 25°C, you wear a pullover or a coat.

In Darfur, if somebody rapes your wife, kills your father and beats your children, you pray God for better days to come.

In Switzerland, if somebody rapes your wife, kills your father and beats your children, you call the police, put him in jail and make the news for one year, if not five.

A life with my own words (4)

Une bonne journée: Se réveiller sous une tente, se voir barbu et mal coiffé, se brosser les dents dehors, en regardant un lézard faire des pompes (nda: je le jure, Monsieur le Juge! J’avais rien sniffé!), écouter de la musique en admirant le ciel, partir en patrouille et discuter avec 4 traducteurs locaux sur les différences entre leur pays et le sien, arriver au milieu d’un village en pleine reconstruction, avoir un pic d’adrénaline, pire qu’un shoot d’héroïne pure dans les gencives, en prenant des photos sous 40°C pendant plus 2h au milieu de personnes souriantes, sauter dans un hélicoptère et réaliser que cela fait 9 mois que l’on est là, voir le paysage défiler en musique, découvrir ses photos et se maudire parce que l'on est pas content du résultat, lire ses 68 emails en retard, s'arrêter, y penser, et se dire "J'adore les longues phrases".

52 pulsations/minute

I just came back from a patrol in two small villages, in the middle of nowhere, and I’m sitting in my tent, in a military observers-policemen camp. Everything here is a little bit surreal. I’m the only white guy in the camp, the only civilian too and I carry two cameras with me while taking pictures here is usually totally forbidden. The camp is surrounded by IDPs, the sky, as well as the view, are amazing, the IDPs, especially the children, are beautiful and now, with my headphones, I’m feeling on another planet or, even better, on travel.

Last evening/night, I got my first real sand storm. A huge cloud of sand, like a wave, coming in my direction. While everybody was trying to protect his stuff and hiding under his tent, I went outside, with my camera, waiting for the wave to come. And it came, hiding the daylight, like a fog carrying tons of sand. My cornea looked like a windshield after 4000 km on a highway during summer and I experimented nasal and buccal peeling (my nose and teeth are clean now and my tongue skin very soft) but it was great.

The wind kept blowing all the night and I woke up this morning with a layer of sand everywhere in my “room”. But it doesn’t matter, I felt asleep in a bed smelling curry (thanks my Pakistani friends) and watching the series “How I met your mother”. I have never been a big fan of Friends and I don’t like stupid comedies/series with pre-recorded laughs (as if I needed help to know when something is supposed to be funny). But I really enjoy watching “How I met your mother”. It is funny, more serious than it looks, with quite good observations about life (or mostly its sentimental aspect). Ok, maybe it’s a little bit masochist to watch a series with people spending their time drinking in a pub, flirting or being in love, when you live in a region where the words ‘beer’ and ‘gorgeous’ don’t exist, but anyway…. I enjoy and recommend it.

To live in a camp reminds me some travels. The showers look and smell like the toilets, the kitchen smells almost like the showers, the word soap still hasn’t been translated and I have to use my right hand only to eat (…). But I had my first real fruit in 2 weeks so… it’s Christmas. Moreover, I took quite a lot of pictures today (although I’m still struggling with the very harsh light and I’m still not satisfied with the quality of my pictures but that’s another story).

And, to finish, the geek minute: If you are frequently stuck in an airport, airplane or helicopter, buy an iPod touch and put some films on it. It is… legendary!!

Visions darfouriennes ...

They had already lost almost everything, fleeing a bombing or fights. They lost again everything after a fire, due to an accident while they were cooking, burnt what was their new house in an IDP camp.

Men are talking, under the shadow of a tree. Children are playing under the sun and posing for me. Women are reconstructing a new house, laughing and talking, while I'm taking pictures. The outside temperature is about 45°C, it is 4PM, the light is amazingly harsh and there is a small sand storm coming. I'm gonna fly tomorrow for 3 days in the middle of nowhere, to document the work of peacekeepers. I'm smiling.

La vie, comme une boite de chocolat ...

It was planned since friday evening. I was sick today, between 16H and 19H30, local time. The historical victory of Federer won't change the situation in Darfur or Sudan. But here, in my office, I'm suddenly missing my country and would love to be in a pub, with  friends, celebrating. 

Meanwhile, new IDPs are arriving while other are dying. Yes, life is sometimes kitschy.

Les dangers du viagra

Today, a new game for you. You have to find the 7 differences between the two pictures below (pay attention, it is very tricky!)

The first one to give me the correct answer receives all my gratitude and a beer.

Mets moi le feu baby ...

According to a friend, what I write is kitschy. Ok... let's try something new and let me give you a tip: If you have a crappy room, with very poor electrical installation, always keep a closed bag,  under your bed, with your clean clothes. Like this, when you come back and find your room completely burnt and full of water (thanks the firemen), you can always take your half burnt flooded bag, open it and find, if you are lucky, one t-shirt and a few underwear still usable. For the rest, just take a big plastic bag and throw away everything. That's all. Very simple. You're welcome.

In your neck ...

Après avoir traversé le désert en 4x4 aussi vite que Bipbip le coyotte et passé une journée, comme un bon employé de banque suisse, à compter mes sous, assister à des meetings et remplir de la paperasse, me voici de retour à ma question existencielle: "Nouille et thon en boîte ou soupe de nouilles"? N'ayant pas encore pris mon inspiration sur une ligne de coke et ayant l'esprit rempli de pensées coquines, apparaissant comme des images subliminales à la Fight Club, le choix s'annonce difficile.
Mais, tout en me remettant gentiment de la lecture de mon livre sur les enfants soldats (Tu veux la référence? T'avais qu'à suivre mon blog, non mais!), je remarque soudainement que ma définition de l'Afrique a changé. Ce qui était avant un grand continent noir et inconnu, est désormais un ensemble de pays, avec des gens, que je commence à reconnaître. J'ai soudain envie de prendre mon sac à dos et de voir le reste, ce que je ne connais pas. Découvrir ces paysages, ces cultures que je cotoie sans vraiment les rencontrer. Prendre des photos et chercher à comprendre. Traverser l'océan et aller faire enfin connaissance avec cette Amérique du Sud, qui flirte avec moi depuis peu, traverser un autre ocean et aller, comme un enfant, voir les lumières de Tokyo et vérifier quelques théories que j'élabore depuis plusieurs années maintenant. Jouir de la vie. Et l'embrasser tendrement dans le cou ...