Blogs from Africa - page 2738

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Africa » Morocco » Tadla-Azilal » Ouzoud Falls June 10th 2007

I have been hearing about the wonders of Ozoud for almost two years now, and finally got to see the splendor for myself. Photos really don’t do it justice. People have been showing me their photos for a while now and I was only vaguely impressed. The majesty of Ozoud must be appreciated in person because only then do you feel so completely dwarfed by the huge falls. I’ll admit, I haven’t seen Niagara, but after driving for a couple hours across the foothills of the Atlas, the Ozoud canyon opens up without warning in a wide, desolate plateau. We escaped the oppressive flat-land heat of Kelaa in the morning and drove along back roads through the towns of Freita, Ouarji, El Sahrij, Majden and Tanante (none of which appear on my map of Morocco) before ... read more
Undeveloped
I swear I didn't use a zoom
Maryam, Salma and me

Africa » Kenya » Nyanza Province » Kisumu June 10th 2007

Throughout our trip, from start to finish, the one thing that gave our group its strength was prayer. “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." - Matthew 18:20. We came together as a team and reached out to Kenya in His name. The five day visit to Kisumu was by far my most powerful experience. God not only worked through us, but worked on us. That is the beautiful thing about a mission trip. It strengthens your faith and touches your heart just as much as it does those you encounter. The city of Kisumu (200 miles northwest of Nairobi) is the third largest in Kenya and rests along the shores of Lake Victoria, the second largest freshwater lake in the world (after Lake Superior in North America). ... read more
The children of rural Kisumu
The village gathers to meet us
Children sit and wait for our introductions

Africa » Kenya » Rift Valley Province » Lake Naivasha June 10th 2007

Oh boy! Would you look at the time? Well I sure as hell haven’t, and I threw out my watch a long time ago (well actually just put it away till I have to bring it out again so that I don’t miss another flight….) A long time has passed and I am still here in Kenya! Living the sweet life, I must add, as it is not ever day I get to walk with giraffe and wildebeest, impala zebra and waterbuck, but it is every day here! I left the densely populated Kisii highlands and, as beautiful as they were, sighed a breath of relief as I boarded my last matatu (minibus filled to the rim with big mammas, kids and chickens) to head back towards the Rift Valley and the splendor of farm life ... read more
RECOVERED
Forementioned dancing!
Chetnas Bug!

Africa » Burkina Faso June 10th 2007

CREEPY CRAWLIES One problem with living in a house made of mud is that bugs live in mud. When I moved into my house the walls had been newly finished with a smooth layer of mud/cement mixture. The bricks underneath are made from a dried mixture of mud, cow dung, and clay or termite mound. So my walls were smooth to begin with, but it wasn’t long before bugs started to burrowing out of them, leaving small holes with piles of dirt on the floor below. Ants don’t seem to have much trouble tunneling into my house. Neither do mice. All of my food has to be well-packaged and stored in a metal box. I manage to protect my food, but the mice like to get into my garbage can and spread shredded paper all ... read more


Electronic ticketing is supposed to make the check-in process that much easier. Inevitably, Gene and I would learn otherwise. After being advised by our travel agent that postponing our flight from Egypt to Morocco by two days would incur no additional change fees, we decided to extend our stay in Egypt so that we could take the opportunity to explore Luxor. We were less than surprised, however, when the desk agent informed us at the time of check-in that we would have to pay an additional 500 Egyptian Pounds per person to change our tickets. “I don’t understand,” Gene countered. “We were told by our travel agent that there wouldn’t be a change fee.” A puzzled silence ensued. After several minutes of ticking away at her keyboard, the ticket agent confirmed, “I’m sorry, Sir. You can ... read more
At the Riad
Up to the Second Floor
Up to the Third Floor Bathroom

Africa » Egypt » Upper Egypt » Luxor June 10th 2007

Luxor Before sunrise, we boarded a small aircraft, carrying no more than 20 passengers, for Luxor. As the sky showed sunrise colors, the solemn call to prayer was intoned by a deep male voice over the speaker. The slanting sunlight revealed a barren but beautiful red landscape. Our hotel was on the shore of the Nile with a road separating it from the river’s edge. There were small sailboats (feluccas) on the water. We checked in and immediately arranged for the trip to the Temple of Karnak. On the way, we passed palm trees and fields cultivated by oxen-drawn plows and irrigated by a seesaw-like contraption that lifted water from the river into the ditches. These, we were told, have been in use for millenniums. Most of the vehicles on the dirt road were drawn by ... read more

Africa » Ghana » Western » Swedru June 10th 2007

Life in the village as the Ghanians say is 'sweeeeeeeeeeet'. My family is really great. My mum Mary is the funniest woman. She can't speak english very well but she laughs all the time with this deep shrill laugh. She finds us hilarious and is always saying 'my daughters i am your ghana mummy. I will cry when you leave. The 5 kids are all great too. They are so helpful and good most of the time. School starts at 8.00 and goes until 1.30pm. I am often escorted so school by a squealing mob consisting of the majority of the villages children. There are occasionally fights over who will carry my stuff and who will hold my hand. After school we arrive home to cooked lunch. Mary loves us to eat and gets very upset ... read more

Africa » Uganda » Central Region » Kampala June 10th 2007

I am leaving for Uganda on Tuesday. This entry is pretty much just to test. But, yeah in the future hopefully this will be full of my travel details. for anyone who is interested (which might be like 2 people. ) But, I think if you subscribe to the blog it emails you every time I update. But, you can email me the entire time I am going to be away. I will not have a phone or anything but, I will do my best to check email! Have a great summer!... read more

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg June 10th 2007

Hey everyone!! Not much internet access here, so this will be short and sweet - the pics will speak for themselves. Left Hali June 3rd after writing our last final and moving apartments. Missed a flight to Qatar. Spend a day in London because of it. Got to Johannesburg June 5th with my travel buddies, Chris Nash and Erin Palmer. Went on safari to Kruger National Park. It was freezing (we slept in treehouses), but beautiful - saw lots of animals, ate delicious meals, hung out with the South Africans, good times. June 9th we had an intense day in Jo'burg - google apartheid if you want to understand why we visited these places. First went to top of Africa (tallest building in continent - apparently). Then went to Soweto (South Western Townships), largest township in ... read more




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