http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Darren-and-Charmaine/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Darren and Charmaine en-us Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:40:35 +0000 Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:40:35 +0000 We left Days Inn at 8am ready for our long guided journey to Anuradhapura via a Hindu temple the cave temples of Dambulla and the rock fortress of Sigiriya. The intricately decorated Hindu temple was first its tower adorned in Hindu deities was a sight to behold. After a couple of hours we reached Dambulla and after paying our entry our guide left us to climb to the top of the hill and to the t http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Sri-Lanka/North-Central-Province/Anuradhapura/blog-43457.html Stay tuned 'coz there's more to come like14th November to 16th Penguins Cape Point good hope amberley in muizenberg Dion.16th to 18th Hermanus whales dassies18th 21st Swellendham hiking Daniella Cape Aughulas bontebok bbq in rain.21st to 23rd Oudtshorn klein karoo karoo soul cango caves cango wildlife ranch23rd to 24th Knysna bloukrans gorge bungie24th to 25th PE and http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-43456.html We arrived at the Days Inn greeted by our host Dan. A Sri Lankan who lives and works in Fort Worth Texas but has his home and small businesses in and around Kandy. A warmer welcome we couldnrsquot have wished for. The accommodation was perched high above the city on a hill clad in rainforest filled with monkeys and lots of bugs.Christmas Day Woohoo We got up and had our breakfast th http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Sri-Lanka/Central-Province/Kandy/blog-43455.html We were taken first thing in the morning to the Tropic Inn proper. After a hearty breakfast of toast and Ceylon tea well yoursquove got to we were shown our room. The room was lovely with Aircon cable TV and wireless internet it was great especially for the price. Our first day and we were jet lagged so just a stroll down the beach and up to the main road sufficed. We found a big shop bo http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Sri-Lanka/Western-Province/Colombo/blog-43454.html Arived here late had a bite to eat in an Italian and stayed in Simonstown backpackers. Well what a hole nuff said on that Glad we only stayed one night. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-43451.html We arrived after a long and tiring flight at around 430pm and were promptly picked up by one of the workers from the hotel the Tropic Inn. Along with another guest Dave we screeched beeped swerved and veered our way the 50 or so kilometres from the airport to our accommodation. Whatrsquos this Wersquore going to be staying in another hotel down the road Does this remind anyone of our f http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Sri-Lanka/Western-Province/Colombo/blog-43449.html We made our way through South Africa to a town called Springbok where we stopped for lunch and some supplies. After a much welcomed KFC we made our way to the supermarket to buy some water. En route we witnessed a guy being bashed on the head by another guy with a rock as a Creole band played on in the background. We were later informed that it was payday and itrsquos really common for everyone http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-40429.html Today we crossed the border into South Africa. Charmaine was told to expect problems because she wished to switch back to travelling on her British passport from her Irish one. After crossing the NamibiaSouth Africa border with relative ease we arrived at a lovely campsite in time for the midday sun where we lay in the shade most of the day. Canoeing on the Orange River was an option that nobody http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-40426.html Cape Town was cool so much to do. We went on the most awesome tour of the surrounding wine areas on a wine tour and tasting session with Cape Wine Tours and a guy called Rob. We are now officially snobs as we have taken and passed Robs five minute lesson on wine snobbery. We took a tour bus around the city and after being told that there wasnrsquot much to do in the city by those at our Backpac http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-40431.html We arrived in Cape Town today. A beautiful city where Table Mountain sets the backdrop. Today was the end of our overland truck trip with Acacia. 43 days in total and many sights seen. But it also marks the beginning of our adventures to come when we both set off together to see and experience the world without the aide of tour guides and a great big truck to help us get from place to place.We ch http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-40430.html The campsite today welcomed us with a swimming pool. Darren spent most of today splashing around and pretending to be a dolphin while Charmaine caught up on some more admin mostly washing clothes. At 4 pm we all set off to watch the sunset over the magnificent Fish River Canyon second largest canyon in the world to the Grand Canyon. The canyon forms the border between Namibia and South Africa.Th http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Namibia/blog-40425.html Another early morning 0400hrs to be precise But the early rise was justified as we were to climb Dune 45 on the Sossusvlei and watch the sunrise. The morning was cool and crisp. At first glance the dune didnrsquot really look that high. But as we began our ascent we soon realised that it was going to be a tough climb as. Every footstep we took we felt ourselves sinking into the soft sand. It w http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Namibia/blog-40424.html Recovered from our mysterious illness probably from drinking Lake Malawi water when snorkelling we set off for our horse riding trip. The ride around the village was ok ut the guide didnrsquot really pay much attention to peoples riding skills or even if people have ridden before. The ride was made all worthwhile though when we took our horses for a swim. It was a strange experience sitting http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/Lake-Malawi/Kandi-Beach/blog-25603.html Our last stop in Malawi and it is a beautiful one. Selima campsite is in the grounds of the lovely Meridian hotel. Lunch of bacon cheeseburgers was had on the veranda they were awesome After lunch and a bit of a rest we retired to the lake for a game of impromptu water volleyball sort of even Charmaine joined in Darren stayed in the lake with Mark watching the Kingfishers dive into the lake http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/blog-25604.html After another long day in the truck and laborious border crossing we arrived at the first transit campsite enroute to Livingstone. This site was covered in lovely grass making a change from the usual dustbowls we stay in.The only notable moment of our stay here was the whole group playing with the totally crazy resident Jack Russell. This dog would fly headlong at anything he fancied chewing lik http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/blog-25605.html We stopped enroute to Livingstone a nice campsite with a pool good bar and a family of lovely fox terriers a nice change from the psychotic Jack Russell of the last place. After a couple of drinks at the bar we headed back to our tent followed closely by the mummy fox terrier. As soon as we had opened our tent she was in and getting comfortable on our sleeping bags she ended up sleeping on Ch http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Malawi/blog-25606.html Livingstone is hot and I mean HOT Every day we were there it got hotter. It was easily in the mid forties. The heat made it hard to do anything between 11am and 2pm except put your feet in the bar swimming pool and sup ice cold Fantas.On the first night at the Waterfront campsite we took our sunsetbooze cruise down the Zambezi great food free drinks just gotta make sure you donrsquot all i http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Livingstone/blog-25607.html Across the border into Botswana and a short drive further on we arrived at the town of Maun we were given a couple of hours to grap lunch and stock up on water and then onto the Thebe River Safari campsite. The campsite was on the banks of the Chobe River surrounded by electric fencing in order to ward of inquisitive hippos. We set up our tents and had a lovely BBQ before hitting the sack ready http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Botswana/North-West/Chobe-National-Park/blog-25608.html After another long journey we arrived at Sitatunga Campsite and crocodile farm a nice combination eh This place was owned and run by Graham a Kiwi. I think that the majority of the population of New Zealand can in fact be found in Africa. This campsite was great we upgraded to a little cabin the bar was cool good music nice pool just a great party atmosphere. We had a brilliant dinner that http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Botswana/blog-25609.html Up early and ready for our night out in the Okavango Delta. We load up the truck and jump on itrsquos a bit of a squeeze but no one seems to care as we are all quite excited. We arrive after about an hour at the mokoro dugout canoe landing area. Our stuff is loaded on we are introduced to Baps our mokoro poler we squeeze into the little boat and quietly slip into the Delta.Baps pushes us http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Botswana/blog-25610.html