Goliaf Air? - Bout?

Just received a picture from a friend confirming the transformation of the former Goliaf Air airplane to “AFRICA WEST cargo”. The transformation occurred in the International Airport of Sao Tome visible to everyone.
If trusting documents found on the internet (please find links in a previous post) it would connect this airplane with possible arms dealing in Darfur and with the arms dealer Victor Bout.

Victor Bout was arrested in March 6, a few weeks after this blog exposed the location of this airplane.

Goliaf Air turned AFRICA WEST

A visit to the National Airport in Sao Tome revelead that the exact same plane An12, shifted his company name from Goliaf Air, with the track record including some of the reports posted in this blog, to a brand new company name AFRICA WEST.

Goliaf Air

When in a previous post I was interested in the make of this plane I decided to investigate on the Goliaf Air company, here is what I found and the links:
Sudan delivery of arms by company with links to Sao Tome (time magazine) (The Sunday Times has seen western intelligence reports that link Dallex’s São Tomé operating partner Goliaf Air with the notorious arms dealer Victor Anatoliyevich Bout. If the report is accurate, it casts an even more sinister light on the shipments.) http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article1687275.ece
EU/UNDP/SEESAC report suggesting links between Goliaf Air and the British company delivering arms in Sudan and indicating the high Risk of An 12 being used by arms dealers.
http://www.cmf.ch/transfert/_sCrime/contribution/adrian_wilkinson_part2.pdf
… Goliaf Air, is part of a wider clandestine arms delivery network (page 6)
http://www.seesac.org/reports/EXTRACT%20Techniques.pdf

Snorkeling finding

Sea Urchin tests, are one of the many beauties you may find when snorkeling in Sao Tome. The fivefold radial bands indicate the kinship with the starfish and all other echinoderms.

Dock landing ship

An amphibious dock landing ship the “USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43)” is docked in the cost of Sao Tome since January 21. Even if it is more popular these days to say nasty things about the US military strategy, I have to say that these visits are really well taken in the country. They usually give some musical concerts (the ship’s band) and organize visits to the ship. I wonder about the results of this strategy if they had used it in the Middle East; for now it’s working alright here.
It seems that this ship was involved in mystery in the beginning of the year, when 2 of its sailors were found dead in a luxury hotel room in Accra. “Amazingly” not a lot of information is available on the web.

Sand Volcano

In the Rolas Island (ilheu das Rolas) you will find a curious geological formation called by locals – The Sand Volcano. It is actually a hole in the ground that expels sand to the air with a loud uuuuuuuuuuuuuh sound.
I am guessing it is a lava tube that ends inside the sea, the waves could then create a sort of vacuum effect that would cause the expelling of the sand … but again I am just guessing with a still European mind set and it could be much more fantastic than that!!!

Antonov An-12

Didn’t saw one of these since the civil war in Angola, where they carried people like sheep’s. The AN-12 is a military aircraft, produced mainly in the 60’s this 4 engine turboprop is the scariest bird in the sky, well this is the impression I got from to frequent crashes in Angola. I will try to have more info on this Goliaf Air company, it is registered in Sao Tome.

Eco lodge – Jale Beach

A couple of nights at the Eco lodge at the Jale Beach (Praia Jale - Sao Tome and Principe) will give you the feeling of paradise and the opportunity to participate in a wonderful community development project . With a little luck you will be able to see the giant turtle, a species in extinction all over the world. Information and reservations through (+)239/222792

50th post

To commemorate the 50th published post at “Stealing from a hermit crab (allorange.blogspot)”; a re-post of the story that originated this blog’s name.

stealing from a hermit crab
Just the other day, I stopped by the beach to have a sandwich for lunch, and as I was leaning to pick up a nice shell, it started running from me … I was amused finding that both me and this hermit crab had similar tastes on shells.

Relax

A wonderful way to spend Sunday, may jut be finding a good spot under the shade of a tree.

Sao Tome in TIME

An article, with the title: "An Easy Island Pace", was published by TIME Magazine. Even if a little superficial it still gives some good tips to short term visitors to Sao Tome and Principe. Take a look at: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1701674,00.html

Stealing from paradise

The same ones assigned to protect the richest asset in the country, the beaches, are destructing it probably on behalf of some high military officer. This scene took place in front of several people in a sunny Sunday morning, in one of the most visited beaches in Sao Tome, Praia das Conchas.
It is possible to see the damage inflicted to the beach by this possible continued action: 1. Appearance of rocks replacing the sandy beach; 2. Difference between original level of the sand (grass level) with the level where the military are digging.

To the beach

Every January 1st ALL beaches in Sao Tome and Principe get crowded. I would venture a guess saying that way over 50% of the population of the country goes to the beach on that day.
Other that knowing that everyone else is there, the reason behind it is that it is believed that diving in the waters of the ocean, or even a river, on that day, will wash away all the sins from the previous year.