An African Christmas

Christmas day began for me with sore bones having spent a few uncomfortable hours cramped up in a tent on hard earth on top of a mountain in Belo.

We arose early before first light to watch the sunrise. It didn't disappoint and we spent a good hour snapping silhouettes against the orange skyline. My favourite is today's blip entitled Sometimes it's just too early to get up.

Breakfast consisted of pre-cooked pancakes and a mug of tea heated on the fire. Even though the pancakes were cold, the bananas and melted marshmallows made them taste delicious. After breakfast we packed up and hiked back down the mountain to our house.

Christmas in Belo, Cameroon is very un-Christmassy. There are no Christmas trees, fairy lights or tinsel decorations. There are no mince pies, Christmas cakes or Christmas puddings. And there are no carol singers, late night shoppers or Santa Clauses. In fact, were it not for the fact that people wear their 'Sunday best', Christmas day could be any other day in sub-saharan Africa. It is a stark reminder of how much we indulge ourselves at Christmas time in the West.