Lubango, Angola

In the south of the country is the town of Cubango. It is surrounded by hills and on the top of one of the hills is a statue of Jesus Christ. It is as well known locally as Christ the Redeemer in Rio although it is slightly smaller. Unfortunately there was low cloud so we saw very little of it or the view over the city.

 But the cloud blew away and we took a scenic route into the mountains to see the other main tourist attraction. En route were a couple of waterfalls.

 But at the top there was cloud at the viewpoint so we camped nearby and hoped that the clouds would blow away overnight.

 And we were in luck and we saw the Fende do Tundavala on a cold but clear morning. It is a deep cleft in the cliffs overlooking the valley and there is a more than one kilometre drop from the top of the plateau to the valley floor below.
                                               
 A rather nervous picture of me looking over the edge. If you fall off the edge there is more than eight seconds before you reach the bottom.

 Another tense moment posing for the camera.

 The lookout and the valley and the clouds a long way below us.

 Then it was a drive out of the mountains and across the plains to the border. It had rained a lot and some of the plains were flooded.

 Along the side of the road were relics of the three decade long independence war, invasions and civil wars that sweet Angola.

And then it was a crossing into Namibia.

There was such a contrast. The buildings were finished as the architect intended, The roads were smooth and no pot holes, the buildings finished, no missing windows, broken doors or reinforing rods sticking out of the to of the building. The cars were modern. clean, good paint work, waxed and shiny. No dents or bits missing. The people were used to seeing whitis and smiled as they passed but didn’t stare. Childen ignored us and there were no beggars. There was power and internet. There were road signs, road names, lamp posts. There were functioning and busy malls. Everything worked as intended and there were no slums and road side shacks and group of women selling a few vegetables at the side of the road. How strange that I had got used to all that without realising it.