Holly Beck-menmano-20.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
This is Mano, the young kid that I ended up giving my surfboard.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-menmano.jpg
Holly Beck-africaplane-2.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
Here is the chartered plane that we used to fly all over West Africa.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-africaplane.jpg
Holly Beck-picture-8-3.jpg
© Ryan Young
Landing in Gabon
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-picture-8.jpg
Holly Beck-picture-9-4.jpg
© Ryan Young
Watching the plane takeoff on a sand field in Gabon.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-picture-9.jpg
Holly Beck-elephant-5.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
While in Gabon, we took a river cruise to check out the animals roaming wild in the national park. We were lucky to come across this elephant enjoying his lunch along the river.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-elephant.jpg
Holly Beck-babygorilla-6.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
This adorable little guy was orphaned by poachers. He now lives on an island run by a protection agency and during the day is allowed to roam the forest with his young companion.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-babygorilla.jpg
Holly Beck-babygorillanme-7.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
Our island host warned me that there is only one female scientist on the island and since the orphans really miss their mother, they are attacted to females. She told me they would rush right at me and tug on me, asking to be held. I got really excited at the sound of that, but she warned that since they are very susceptible to human illnesses it is better if we don't touch them. The urge to pick this little guy up and give him a cuddle was very hard to resist.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-babygorillanme.jpg
Holly Beck-saotome-8.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
Arriving in Sao Tome.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-saotome.jpg
Holly Beck-market-9.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
An open air vegetable market in the capital city of Sao Tome.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-market.jpg
Holly Beck-hatview-10.jpg
© Sean Aaron
Sao Tome was a former Portuguese slave center. We spent a couple nights in an old plantation house that had been renovated and turned into a guest house. It was situated on a hill overlooking a lush valley and
calm bay.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-hatview.jpg
Holly Beck-menkids-11.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
I came across this group of kids who really wanted their photo taken.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-menkids.jpg
Holly Beck-lineup-12.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
This is one of the empty pointbreaks we surfed on Sao Tome.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-lineup.jpg
Holly Beck-kidmob-13.jpg
© Katie Silski
After surfing, I was mobbed by the kids who were not at all used to seeing a white girl in a bikini riding waves.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-kidmob.jpg
Holly Beck-contemplating-14.jpg
© Katie Silski
I'm admiring the view out to sea from Sao Tome, just appreciating the beatutiful place.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-contemplating.jpg
Holly Beck-differentsticks-15.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
These are two of the types of surf craft that the locals on Sao Tome used (along with Sam George's shortboard in the middle. The raft on the left is paddled from a sitting position with a long piece of bamboo cut lengthwise. The piece of wood on the right is a surfboard cut from the side of a retired fishing canoe.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-differentsticks.jpg
Holly Beck-portoallegre-16.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
This is one of the kids knee-paddling a wooden raft.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-portoallegre.jpg
Holly Beck-localstick-17.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
Just before paddling out at Porto Allegre for our first session, Sam spotted this wooden object leaning up against a hut and got very excited.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-localstick.jpg
Holly Beck-picture-86-18.jpg
© Ryan Young
Sam and I, heading out for our first surf session at Porto Allegre.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-picture-86.jpg
Holly Beck-localsurfer-19.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
This is Bernadine, the first surfer I traded boards with. The guy just exudes "cool".
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-localsurfer.jpg
Holly Beck-mano-21.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
My buddy Mano, future Sao Tome surfing champ.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-mano.jpg
Holly Beck-localcrew-22.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
The kids of Porto Allegre were very eager to have their photo taken!
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-localcrew.jpg
Holly Beck-youngmother-23.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
This young mother insisted I take a photo of her baby.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-youngmother.jpg
Holly Beck-mewoodboardpose-24.jpg
© Ryan Young
I'm very excited to try to ride this wooden surfboard.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-mewoodboardpose.jpg
Holly Beck-manochecksoutline-25.jpg
© Sean Aaron
Mano, checking out the board I have just given him.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-manochecksoutline.jpg
Holly Beck-manofins-26.jpg
© Sean Aaron
I'm showing Mano how to put fins in the board.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-manofins.jpg
Holly Beck-manofish.jpg
© Sean Aaron
This is the fish Mano gave me in return.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-manofish.jpg_2
Holly Beck-paddlingwoodenboard-24.jpg
© Ryan Young
Paddling on a wooden board.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-paddlingwoodenboard.jpg
Holly Beck-pigsurfing-28.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
A curious pig searches the shore as Holly hits the waves.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-pigsurfing.jpg
Holly Beck-ridingwoodenboard-30.jpg
© Ryan Young
Holly surfing in Africa.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-ridingwoodenboard.jpg
Holly Beck-shapingabellyboard-32.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
A local shaping a bellyboard.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-shapingabellyboard.jpg
Holly Beck-meandmano2-19.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
Holly and Mano.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-meandmano2.jpg
Holly Beck-silverback-33.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
Silverback gorilla.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-silverback.jpg
Holly Beck-standup-34.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
A young boy pushes himself through the surf.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-standup.jpg
Holly Beck-sticksanddude-35.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
A local surfer stands with some sticks.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-sticksanddude.jpg
Holly Beck-kidsbellyboard-9.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
Local bellyboarders.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-kidsbellyboard.jpg
Holly Beck-brussels-1.jpg
© Courtesy of Holly Beck
We had a two day layover in Brussels, Belgium on our way to Africa, so we got to cruise around and check out the city sights.
http://www.lat34.com/surf/holly_beck_s_african/holly_beck-brussels.jpg_2
