i took this picture about 4 weeks ago, but decided to put it now,
because of an event that happened... i always kinda liked this picture,
but never knew quite how to present it... i feel that the blocked face
is a bit disturbing, but relevant to the story that follows...

this man owns, and runs a small shop, in the village of harafalotsane
(mullomong lodge), in the eastern highlands of lesotho... i also take
people for a walk to the bottom of a hill to buy beer from this mans shop...
last time i went here, it was closed, and i was told that he was ill... later
i found out that he was robbed and shot and at the moment is in the
capital of lesotho, maseru, getting medical treatment... maseru is a 7 hour
drive from where his shop is, so it must be seriuos... he was shot, plus
rumour is that 3000maluti (or rand) was stolen...

a few weeks before this incident, a village area 45 km's away from here
was also attacked by gun men... they tried to rob one shop and failed,
and then stole a vehicle and drove to another shop, where a woman was
killed, and 250maluti (or rand) was stolen... this is small amount, 250rand
(jus over 25 dollars or euro's)...

in lesotho, crime is totally unacceptable and not as common as in south africa...
especially in the mountains... it is hard to imagine these kinds of things
happening, up in these peacefull places i visit everyday... lesotho is one of
the safest countries in the world, for sure... but someone has learnt some
tricks and found some easy targets...

i wish this man a speedy recovery...