Congo RDC for me is a very beautiful country and fully blessed by God, with their natural sources (diamond, timber, petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, and hydropower). The Congo is the Earth’s second largest river by volume and has the world’s second largest rainforest. The Congo Basin represents 70% of the African continent’s plant cover and makes up a large portion of Africa’s biodiversity with over 600 tree species and 10,000 animal species (Source: The Congo by Rhett A. Butler).

Congo is big, the size of Western Europe or the United States east of the Mississippi River. Four times the size of France. The one difference is that Congo lacks an adequate road infrastructure. Most of its airports are in bad shape.

Many people see Congo as a danger place and many negative points, “The heart of darkness” as Joseph Conrad called Congo, with it brutality and violence. Contrary, in my 5th years I spent in Congo, I still get surprised with the beauty of this land. In fact, I fell in Love with Congo since first time I landed in this country on 30th December 2005. My duty as a Food Inspector brings me around the Congo, and I found each place of Congo has it own beauty and it attracts me to know more about Congo.

My 1st trip was to Kisangani (2005-2008), it’s the 3rd largest city in the DR Congo and the largest of cities that lay the tropical woodlands of the Congo. Kisangani compare to other cities of Congo is so tidy, neat and clean. Kisangani people are so friendly and it made me feel comfortable to walk around at night even to go to local market. I spent 3 years in Kisangani and it was my greatest time in Congo.

Kisangani Main Street

Bamboo Beach – Kisangani

Goma and Bukavu (January 2008), are two beautiful cities in the east side of Congo, with it active volcano that always giving smoke same as Merapi Volcano in Yogyakarta. The weather in Goma and Bukavu is so pleasant, cold and windy. In Goma you will find every side of city are black, because of volcano eruption in 18 January 2002. Goma and Bukavu are separated by Lake Kivu. From Goma, you can go to Bukavu with Uruguayan river cruise or commercial ferry which charge you only 20$. It takes around 3-4 hours to cross Lake Kivu.

Goma seen from Lake Kivu

Bukavu City

Bunia (December 2008), one small city surrounded by hills in the east side of Congo RDC, the capital of Ituri Province. There are 7 persons of Indonesian Eng Coy staff there. In Bunia there is a famous place called “Bogoro” in the top of the hill with very beautiful scenery of Lake Albert from the above where the Nepalese Engineering and Bangladesh Contingent Camp are located. Bunia is self, is a dry and dusty place, it’s hot during the day and cold during the night.

Bogoro – Bunia

Bunia Main Street

Gemena (December 2009-January 2010). Gemena is a town and capital of Sud-Ubangi province, lately become a hot topic in MONUC, as the inter-tribal dispute in Dongo late October 2009, many staff are being temporary deployed there, included me. This place suddenly become so busy because of the “Dongo’s incident”. First when I landed in Gemena, my first opinion about this place is so hot, no proper road, sandy and dusty. When I reached to Gemena MONUC HQ, I found I was the only female in MONUC Gemena. In Gemena, water is so dirty and having a bad smell, outside of MONUC HQ is totally dark at night because no electricity.

Activity in Gemena Airport

With Milobs friends in the Gemena Airport waiting for our flight to Kinshasa

Another problem I face in Gemena was accommodation. It was so difficult to find a good accommodation for stay while I was in Gemena. “Good” mean safe and comfortable for female. So, first night I spent in local hotel which full of noise from the bar which located in front of my room made me awoke whole night, include only 1 dirty bathroom available for the entire hotel, so you can imagine when you want to take a bath you can see line of people waiting for their turn. This condition was enough to made me run away from that hotel in the early morning. As they still could not found for me an accommodation so another 4 nights I slept in the office with a camping bed, at least it was better and more comfortable than that hotel. As no clean water there, so we take a bath and washing face using UN drinking water. Thanks God, in the 5th day, MONUC sent a person in charge of SOM to take responsibility of any issues and administration matter in Gemena. He was the one who found for me a good accommodation in one of the Catholic Church, even it quite far from HQ about 6 km on the way to Gbadolite, but the place was nice and they also provide clean water and good food.

After the entire “bitter” story about Gemena, I found this place unique and beautiful. The people are so friendly and helpful. All staff in MONUC Gemena are a family, we respect and care each other. My duty trip to Gemena was an unforgettable trip for me.

So, now I am waiting for my next trip to another part of Congo…..