Shopping in Cameroon

Today I went shopping.

Shopping in Cameroon is an experience for sure and it is never easy- specially if it involves driving in traffic like this.

Today, I traveled an hour from Mbingo to the "big town" of Bamenda. There are a  few fun stores there that have things you can't get at most local markets- like cheese puffs, shampoo, and corn starch. (Don't tell Charlie and Josh, but I even got an ice cream cone!)

Cameroon shopping is quite diverse! When I was in Yaoundé, I went to my favorite store called Orka. It is like a mini Ikea. It is 3 stories tall, has air conditioning, the kitchen aisles are arranged by colors, and the prices are very reasonable.

This is Orka:

This is the market I usually shop at while in Mbingo.

And a little store that I frequent. (Sorry for the blurry picture. I was trying to be incognito):

Here is the floor of the shop I buy most of our daily groceries. I don't even want to think about what creatures live under that floor (and perhaps also frequent the shop).

This is where I buy vegetables.

This is where you can buy fish (I say you, because I do not buy this fish here, but you certainly can!) Cameroonian "fast food."

When we first arrived in Africa, I was overwhelmed at how to get the supplies we needed and wanted. It has taken me some time, but now I totally feel like I can navigate the markets and "big city" shops like a pro!