Back to Abidjan, Second Day in Abidjan (10 August 2013)

Today, I had to wake up at 5:30am to finalize everything (packing, checking out which was surprisingly easy and fast) before we leave Conakry. Our driver came a few minutes before the scheduled time. He drove us to the airport on a very quiet road which makes our driving to the airport so short. Of course, it was raining hard. We checked in our stuff and were given hand written boarding pass; no seat number so you can grasp any seat you like; but not business class :). One thing which I do not understand is the connection between the famous Ethiopian airline and Asky airlines. It is my second flight with Asky, and on both flights there was one supervisor from Ethiopian airline (with Ethiopian airline uniform), he just seat at the business class and supervise everything. I decided to talk to him, but at the time of dis-embarkations, he was no where to be found. However, later (in Abidjan) I found the answer. I was told that Ethiopian airline owns more than fifty percent of the entire share of Asky airline. Even the CEO of Asky airline is from Ethiopia.

Asky airline at Conakry airport

We arrived in Abidjan on time and greeted by Prof Obrou, his wife Madam Obrou, and one of his PhD student. Prof Obrou and Madam Obrou drove us to our hotel (Ivotel), we had lunch together at our hotel. After lunch, we went to the potential site of AMBER magnetometer. It is a bit far from our hotel. The site looks great home for AMBER. We identified two possible specific locations for the sensor. The question is when and how we can get the instrument that we sent a month ago out of the custom office? Since we do not have the instrument, there is nothing we can do about today and possibly tomorrow too as every offices are closed on Sunday.

 Around the site location where AMBER mag will be housed!

Prof Obrou drove us to his university, Cocody University. Although the university got damaged significantly during the 2011 riot, the current government put a lot of effort and renovate it nicely. Actually, for me, the campus looks very beautiful, though I had no idea what it looks like before 2011 riot. It could be much more attractive than the current condition. We looked around almost the entire campus, thanks to Prof Obrou who drove us around and gave us detail briefing about each departments. We went to the Botany garden where the Japanese MAGDAS team had a magnetometer, which was vandalized during the riot. We also drove around the city before we bounded into our hotel for the rest of the day. 

 Inside Cocody university compound

 

 Around Abidjan city

Monday (12 August) is a crucial day for the success of our installation, and we (myself and Kathryn) will accompany Prof Obrou to the custom office at the airport to collect the instrument. I was told the crucial paperwork from the custom headquarter is already acquired. Please wish us best of luck, and I hope I'll report good news on Monday!!