Haitian border

[GuRu]

Hi all !
In January I'll be travelling around in DR, mostly the area close to the haitian border. My friend and I want to make a photobook/documentary about the Haitian immigration into the DR.
Can anybody help me out with addresses or places where we can make the best pictures and stories ?
I heard there was something in the papers about a future deportation of haitians ?? Does somebody know about this ??

Tnx in advance,

GuRu

[GuRu]

All of you can give information about car rentals and sad resorts, but none of you know sth about the haitian border ?? Que pasa ?

[Chris]

Originally Posted by GuRu

All of you can give information about car rentals and sad resorts, but none of you know sth about the haitian border ?? Que pasa ?

I think perhaps the issue is that we know nothing about you. Would you give names and directions (addresses???) to someone that you don't know to go and do something that is only vaguely defined? I think not. "The best pictures and stories....."? The best pictures and stories about what? Tell us a whole lot more about what you are planning, where you want to go and why, and you'll be surprised at the depth of knowledge on this board.

[GuRu]

Okay Chris, you got point.
I know about the dept of knowledge, that's why I'm here.
My apologies for my impatience.

My friend is studying photography and for his final thesis he wanted me to join him so I could write for him.
He just got back from a trip to Vietnam, together with some other young photographers he was invited there by World Press Photo, so he's good

For this trip, I convinced him to join me to DR. Out of a lot of different possible subjects we chose 'the migration of haitian people into DR' and more in particular the life in the bateyes.
I have been travelling around (alone) in DR several times, but the border region is the only region I've never visited before. So I was wondering where to go.
Of course we want to go to Dajabon, but maybe somebody knows other important or interesting places where we can get into bateyes or talk to people who work for human rights organizations that operate there...

And how about Operation Cowboy ? What exactly is going on ? Is it too dangerous to go there as two gringos with a lot of photo and camera equipment ?? I have to say that my friend doesn't speak a word of Spanish, I only speak a little, but enough to survive my previous trips through the north, south east and centre of the country ;o)

Tnx in advance,

GuRu aka Jean de Gand (Belgium)

[Porfio_Rubirosa]

A good friend was the driver for the Haitian Consul to the DR during the Aristide regime. The Consul now works and lives in Santo Domingo, the driver in Barahona. If you like, I can put you in touch with one or both of them.

[Yan-Yan]

Prepare yourself for what you are going to see... You will be going to the poorest area of an already very poor country.

I hope it's not the first time for you to see people living in very inhumane conditions... If you haven't, I urge you to do your research so you don't get the shock of your life...

Now, assuming that you know what you're getting yourself into, get in contact with that guy that porfirio_rubirosa is suggesting, it would be wise to get into that adventure with people that might know the area and speak the language.

I don't know how much time you've got, but these are the areas I know and I recommend:

Start from the south... Visit Barahona, mi personal favorite area of the country... Visit Paraíso, Enriquillo and Bahía de las Aguilas (and see what all that fuss is about - breathtaking!).

Start the bother from Pedernales up to Jimaní, this is where the adventure begins and you'll notice the drastic change in scenery... From dry and deserted Pedernales to the greenery of the mountains of "Cordillera del Sur" and back down do the desert. Once you reach Jimaní Visit the Lago Enrriquillo, it's absolutely worth it!...

The road (the last time I checked, like 10 years ago) was terrible...

I don't know if they've fixed the road from Jimaní to Comendador, but back then we had to go back to Neiba and from there to San Juan de la Maguana and from there to Pedro Santana, to take "Carretera International" that goes along the border until the town of Restauración. If you want to skip Barahona, you can start running the border from that point, but you'd be missing half the fun, though.

The views on this road are spectacular! But it will easily take you 4 hours to do 100 km! This is where you'll see the stark difference between the two countries.

Finish in Dajabón and reach the north coast by Monte Cristi and if you can, go along the north coast to the east.

If you want to do this right, take at least a week, you can find very basic, but clean accommodations in the towns of Pedernales, Jimaní, Pedro Santana and Dajabón.

You'll find numerous rivers to swim in and places to stop and eat, grab a bear or hear amazing stories from locals... If you don't know where you are going, do not venture into Haiti, stick to the Dominican side of the border.

[GuRu]

Originally Posted by Porfio_Rubirosa

A good friend was the driver for the Haitian Consul to the DR during the Aristide regime. The Consul now works and lives in Santo Domingo, the driver in Barahona. If you like, I can put you in touch with one or both of them.

Could be very useful, Porfio Rubirosa !! My emailaddress is zjean_at_skynet_dot_be. If you want to contact me so we can make further arrangements ? Muchisimas gracias !!!

[GuRu]

Originally Posted by Yan-Yan

Prepare yourself for what you are going to see... You will be going to the poorest area of an already very poor country.

I hope it's not the first time for you to see people living in very inhumane conditions... If you haven't, I urge you to do your research so you don't get the shock of your life...

I've been in DR twice for one month, travelling around. I've already seen a lot of different places, but the border area is the only one I didn't go. (Wanted to in may, but couldn't because of the floodings)
I know it's the poorest area, and that we might encounter shocking situations, but I feel prepared. Tnx for your advice !

Originally Posted by Yan-Yan

Now, assuming that you know what you're getting yourself into, get in contact with that guy that porfirio_rubirosa is suggesting, it would be wise to get into that adventure with people that might know the area and speak the language.

This is why I'm here... Looking for contacts. I already have a few in Dajabon, people who work for human right organizations.

Originally Posted by Yan-Yan

I don't know how much time you've got, but these are the areas I know and I recommend:

We've got one month. But in that month I also want to spend some time with my friends in Sto Dgo. So let's say three weeks.

Originally Posted by Yan-Yan

Start from the south... Visit Barahona, mi personal favorite area of the country... Visit Paraíso, Enriquillo and Bahía de las Aguilas (and see what all that fuss is about - breathtaking!).

Start the bother from Pedernales up to Jimaní, this is where the adventure begins and you'll notice the drastic change in scenery... From dry and deserted Pedernales to the greenery of the mountains of "Cordillera del Sur" and back down do the desert. Once you reach Jimaní Visit the Lago Enrriquillo, it's absolutely worth it!...

The road (the last time I checked, like 10 years ago) was terrible...

I don't know if they've fixed the road from Jimaní to Comendador, but back then we had to go back to Neiba and from there to San Juan de la Maguana and from there to Pedro Santana, to take "Carretera International" that goes along the border until the town of Restauración. If you want to skip Barahona, you can start running the border from that point, but you'd be missing half the fun, though.

The views on this road are spectacular! But it will easily take you 4 hours to do 100 km! This is where you'll see the stark difference between the two countries.

Finish in Dajabón and reach the north coast by Monte Cristi and if you can, go along the north coast to the east.

If you want to do this right, take at least a week, you can find very basic, but clean accommodations in the towns of Pedernales, Jimaní, Pedro Santana and Dajabón.

All this in one week ? That sounds tempting! I always wanted to see Bahia de las Aguilas en Lago Enriquillo
I think we just might do that trip to end up in Dajabon and stay there for one week or more, that trip might be a good introduction.

Originally Posted by Yan-Yan

You'll find numerous rivers to swim in and places to stop and eat, grab a bear or hear amazing stories from locals... If you don't know where you are going, do not venture into Haiti, stick to the Dominican side of the border.

We're not planning to go into Haiti. We'll have enough information on the dominican side I guess.
And talking about beer: I'm dying for an icecold presidente

Thanx for sharing your experience Yan-Yan !!

[Mirador]

I know it's the poorest area, and that we might encounter shocking situations, but I feel prepared. Tnx

I'm very familiar with the region. I remember once I took my fifteen year old stepson for a first-time tour of the border (the road between Pedro Santana and Restauración), and stopping in San Juan de la Maguana, I had Alan buy several bags of lollipops. I told Alan, who is very blond, that we would stop on the way and he would step out of the SUV and offer the candy to the children. In my mischief, I knew that the children would be affaid of him. True to my expectations, as soon as they saw Alan with the bag of candy, the Haitian children would appear, but they would gesture Alan to throw the candy on the ground and step away. I gave him the rule that no approach no candy. Then I told him to strip to his shorts, and that seemed to dissarm the most daring and audacious of the children. And of course, the other children followed. Even adults approached laughingly for the candy.

Mirador

[Yan-Yan]

Originally Posted by GuRu

Thanx for sharing your experience Yan-Yan !!

My pleasure... Have fun!