Pygmie Village

There is a clearing and Maurice is like, "This looks just like my village, what the...?" We went past the clinic, to a mud/wood building, just like all the other villages we passed to a group of a dozen or so people. Now, they weren't all that short, were dressed just like everyone else we see and they are jsut waiting for us to take out our cameras. Our guide presents them to us like they are some amazing wonder--Pete said,"Don't show your disappointment, this could get ugly." We didn't even want to take pictures but the guide kept mimmicking it. So Anna and I took ours out of our pack and low and behold, all the "Pygmies" lined up, with spears, and smiled for the camera. They then showed Pete and Maurice where to stand for the best shot. Anna and I were next and they even made her hold a spear. They then mimed that we owed them money. Pete handed over the coins and they all started yelling that it wasn't enough. We showed them our empty pockets and got out of there as quickly as possible. It was bizarre.
The pirogue ride back was much quicker and there was no one yelling at us when we got back. As soon as we got to the ocean I scrubbed my feet off and headed in the direction of a little jewelry stand to cheer myself up!