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Published: January 11th 2007
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New Years Eve
I took a picture of my foot, on the sand, at midnight on new years eve, to fully appreciate where I was :o) Wow it's been a long time since my posting, but the most important news of all - my trip plans are finalized!
I'm flying from PE to Jo'burg (Johanesburg) tomorrow, then off to Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday the day before my 14 day tour starts! We're headed over to the Masai Mara, which is universally known as that place where the great masses of herd migration take place (i'm sure you've probably seen something to that effect on TV and in movies - ie. a million wildebeest running up and down big valleys). After that, we head into Uganda and over to Bwindi National Park were we get to hang out with Mountain Gorrillas for a day (if we find them that is!). After that tour ends in Nairobi, i'll be spending 5 days just hanging out (read: doing my laundry) and then my second tour starts on the 31st, for six days, and i'm headed into Tanzania, past Mount Kilimanjaro, into Serenghetti National Park! Returning back to Nairobi i then fly back to Capetown for a week, and then home by the 15th of February :o)
There have been some issues with my visa extension (long long story...)
New Years Eve @ our hostel
My new favourite hostel in PE has not one, but TWO cats! Is anybody surprised that I love staying there?! so i'm a little frustrated/upset right now because nothing has been resolved. Basically, i'm going to end up in the country illegally for 2 days because the process for getting an extension is stupid. So, if you hear a story on the news about a Canadian girl in South Africa who goes postal on the Department of Home Affairs as they tried to charge her for LEAVING the country... well.... send your well-wishes to the local prison :-/ Here's hoping that i can get things resolved before it gets to that point... *sigh*
Anyway... Happy New Year to everybody!!! It's 2007, we made it! We had a delicious braii (bbq) and then spent midnight on the beachfront watching fireworks, and then off to a local bar for some dancing and drinking - good times!
My days at Kwantu have come to an end... i'm not sure if i'm really that sad! It was a great experience, but I think 7 weeks was long enough, i'm ready to move on. I have all the pictures and stories I could hope for, and I definitely learned a lot, even if the things I learned weren't always about wildlife :o)
The new years gang
Two of the Capetown girls came up to PE and spent New Years with us We had a couple friends from the Capetown group come out last week to stay with us and volunteer, again its a long story, but their volunteer project in Capetown was just not working out so SASTS agreed that they could finish up their volunteer time at Kwantu. It was great to have them there, i wish they had come earlier because the 4 of us made a great team - lots of laughing! We spent out last night at Kwantu sleeping in our backyard under the stars and having a good old fashioned sleepover (we talked about boys!!) and then got up at 4 am with our superviser Simon to go into the reserve and see the sunrise and some of the more obscure wildlife. It was a good ending!
Now we're in PE and Shona and I have to prepare to part ways - i'm sad! Spending 24/7 together often took its toll on us, but for the most part we have had good times together and I'll miss having her companionship. I've done more laughing in the last 2 months than I have in a long time, so Shona if you read this - Thank You!!
Our last night at Kwantu
Sleeping in the yard! Shona's in the front, Tam (from Australia) is hiding at the back, and Marie-Michelle from Laval, Quebec, is under Shona I'm both super excited and a little nervous about striking out on my own. I often crave this kind of independence, but in a place like Africa it comes at the cost of having to be extra cautious. Oh, speaking of safety, that reminds me of my cellphone... i think I put the wrong number in my last post, i'm sorry! If anybody wants to text or call me you should type 011 27 78 535 1108 and there should be no problems getting in touch with me even while i'm in East Africa! Yay!
Okay, I should wrap up this session, and dwell on this visa issue some more... i'm seriously frustrated right now..... not to mention freaking out because i dont want to get in trouble with the authorities here for not having everything in perfect order.... guh! If anybody out there has an insider friend at the Department of Home Affairs South Africa - let me know! :o)
My next post should be from Kenya! Eeeeeeeeee! I'm fairly certain facilities in East Africa will be as it is here, but in the event that technology is poor, I appoligize and will definitely get pictures
5am sunrise on the reserve
Out in our landrover with Simon at sunrise and stories up once i get back to South Africa.
I miss you all! Janine
PS Hey Son, this is for you.....
HEY EVERYBODY - GUESS WHAT!?!?!!! SONIA SHARMA IS ENGAGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yaaaaayyy!!!!
I know i said it like 100 times to you on the phone, but i am so so soo happy for you and Greg, I cant wait to hug you and congradulate you properly!!! :oD
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brock
non-member comment
happy new year
hi janine its brock :nice pics and i hope you had a happy new year! keep on posting,we look forward to it. P.S. abbi from mexico was msn'ing us. He is now in the childrens centre. he didn't go to new york for new years but he's hoping to go soon