BobsAdventure

With an early morning departure, it’s off to Malawi. Being a Monday morning, we pass countless children in their clean pressed school uniform walking to school. It’s worth noting that in the villages, there are virtually no washing machines – that’s all handwashed. My clothes got the same treatment at South Luangwa – not by me obviously. Pretty impressive. At the town schools, it’s predominantly rectangle concrete buildings with clear dirt yards & lovely big trees providing shade. No fencing. I’ve also noticed locals wearing clothing with pictures of, what I assume are, politicians on them – is this a form of political advertising or do they revere their politicians? I forgot to ask the guides. There’s something about the place, driving through the country, seeing life everywhere. There’s lots of activity, people going about their ... read more

The next morning, it was all aboard the Red Elephant, our transport for the next 3 weeks. Accommodating a group maximum of 12 travellers, it’s smaller & faster than previous overland trucks I’ve travelled on. With floor to ceiling windows, it allows us to get a feel for the places as we passed through to our next destination which is Gwambi on the Kafue River - though it does become a hothouse on wheels when not on the move. Travelling from Livingstone to Chirundu on the main transport route between Zambia’s capital Lusaka & Zimbabwe’s capital Harare, we passed lots of B-doubles & longer struggling with the numerous hills. To add, the roads aren’t in great condition & all traffic uses all parts of the road finding the smoothest path. During a refuel stop, also a ... read more

The first leg is Gold Coast to Sydney for an overnight stay at Sydney Park Hotel in Newtown, an inner city suburb with a fabulous feel. To get the trip underway, the Francis St Cocktail Lounge Apprentice tried out the pub hotel’s speciality cocktail, the Pirate Paradise - well mixed, easy drinking. Walking along King St, one of the main drags, I came across a lovely cosy bar, She Loves You, and tested their signature Dark Rum Daiquiri – very easy drinking. With a morning flight departure & a recommendation from the bartender to check out Sydney Park before departing to see how many of the ‘Big 5’ I spot – turtle, eel, fox, pelican & spoonbill –, I reluctantly head for bed. Only to wake up in the night and discover my phone’s frozen in ... read more