Blogs from Mozambique, Africa - page 33

Nothing too exciting to report yet... I had two meetings today, then came back and did some work at the hotel. Actually I feel crummy, and I'll tell you why. Native Mozambicans can't afford to eat in restaurants or things like that, so I feel like a big heel eating in restaurants. Today, ate in a room full of expats for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, served by the people whose country that we're in. I can't explain really how that feels... But it makes me feel really bad. Especially because we are all here from development organizations. You name it, and they are here - Gates, USAID, UNFPA, UNAIDS, the World Food Programme, CDC, etc., plus all the aid organizations from other countries... But, I can see the Mozambique Channel from my hotel room window, it ... read more

There is something magical about Africa and her people, and after a week back in the mighty continent the people of Mozambique have rekindled the magic. It comes from the easy laughter of the locals who are always joking and laughing whatever the occasion; whether they are riding on the minibus, browsing at the markets, or walking along the beach. Mozambique is a portugese speaking country in Southern Africa, which is a little more than a decade out of civil war, and heading into a brighter future with the encouragement and support of South Africa just across the border. I flew from Sydney to Johannesburg, the lovely reader, and then took a connecting SAA flight to Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. Maputo is known as the only latin capital in Africa, complete with salsa clubs for ... read more

So, my friends. nothing goes immediatley here. this morning I took the plane, together with antony. the plane is a bit like a bus. it has many stops. so I went into the air in Maputo, and we landed again in Beira. Then 20 minutes later we took off again and the next stop was quelimane, my stop. Anthony flew one stop further to Nacala. I had no idea what was going to happen once I went of the plane. I heard some vague rumours in maputo that someone was going to pick me up. So I go out of the airport, that looks more like a trainstation with an identity crisis. and I wait ... and I wait .... and after 40 minutes Victor came to pick me up. He drove an old pickup and ... read more

Hello my friends, So on wednesdaymorning i took the bus from Johannesburg to maputo, the capital of Mozambique. it was supposed to be an 8 hour trip. I had fixed seat reservations. When I gave my ticket before getting on the bus, the guy said. Well sir, that is downstairs in the middle (it was a dubbledeck bus), let me change that for you. I got the place upstairs all the way in front. I had a window in front of me. I had no idea how to feel about this. anyway, seeing the landscape change was quite spectacular. From mountains and rocks to streched fields. Passing suggarriet (don't know if it is the right term), bananaplantations, pickups filled with apples, ... Then we came at the border. Getting over it consists of two parts. Going ... read more

I left S. Africa via Swaziland about a week ago. And then I beelined up to Tofo in Mozambique. why? The Diving of course. So far the diving has been great. Well the diving is actually so/so but the snorkeling has been amazing. After our first time we surfaced to find about 20-30 whale sharks around our boat. For the next hour or so we snorkelled with, around, chased and were followed by whale sharks. This was totally special and insane. This is just a special, special event. I can't really explain it. Other than the dive master on our trip was excited and actually the first in the water with the sharks. He was maybe more or as excited as we were. Whale sharks move pretty slowly as they feed. So you can almost swim ... read more