http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Kelsie/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Kelsie en-us Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:07:01 +0000 Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:07:01 +0000 One thing I have learned during my time here in Africa is to plan on things not going according to the plan. My week long trip to Lesotho was a confirmation of this. With Erik a Swedish guy I have known since February Mary another CA girl who goes to school in Monterey and her friend Josh who flew out for the week we rented a car and drove the first day to Lady Grey South Africa a few hou http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Eastern-Cape/Port-Elizabeth/blog-449957.html The last few weeks have gone by too fast for me to keep track of. My fourth term break starts tomorrow ends on 5 October starting four more weeks of the term followed by three weeks of final exams. My last final is 24 November so I am trying to change my flight to make it home in time for Thanksgiving even though I really don't even like turkey that much...For the break I am planning a week lo http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Eastern-Cape/Port-Elizabeth/blog-438806.html BBC News Africa had a photo essay about the minibus taxis that a lot of people use in South Africa. I thought it would be interesting to share with everyone because even I learned some things from the captions. Riding the minibuses is definitely a subculture in itself. At first it was somewhat intimidating but now it is just part of my daily routine. httpnews.bbc.co.uk2hiafrica8225509.st http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Eastern-Cape/Port-Elizabeth/blog-432787.html Just finishing up my second week of school. This semester I am taking Xhosa 113 and 114 Sociology of Development Contemporary Labor Studies Women in Africa Crime and Society and Philosophical Critique of Culture Power. I figured I should update and post pictures before I get too busy with studies. I arrived back in Port Elizabeth on the 13th of July. After Warner Beach we stayed at Umzumbe a http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Eastern-Cape/Port-Elizabeth/blog-423814.html I am spending 4th of July in Warner Beach outside of Durban. The weather isn't so nice right now but it is only about 9 am so I might borrow one of the backpacker's free surfboards later in the afternoon. I tried looking for fireworks but I don't think they sell them so freely here. At least not legally.Our first day at St. Lucia I woke up at 645 am to go kayaking in the river. Angelique and I sh http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/KwaZulu-Natal/Durban/blog-415014.html So I had to end my last entry in a hurry because my internet time was running out. We just arrived back in South Africa in St. Lucia which is located in an estuary. Not sure exactly what that means. But apparently there are hippos that sleep in the river behind our backpacker.After walking to our car from the internet cafe we discovered our car had a flat tire. About 10 men and boys came to help http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/KwaZulu-Natal/Saint-Lucia/blog-414122.html I am currently sitting in an internet cafe in Maputo Mozambique. So sorry if there aren't too many details.I don't really know what day of the week it is but I will try to recap what I have done the past week or so.We left Durban early in the morning and drove through the Kingdom of Swaziland. It has beautiful countryside and we could see the different boks running along the main highway. The b http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Mozambique/Southern/Maputo/blog-413298.html I just checked into our backpacker in Durban called Happy Hippo. It is very clean and secure a definite rarity compared to my other experiences at hostels.We drove about 1000 km from PE to Durban in about 9 and a half hours. It was a very beautiful drive that took us pass many animal reserves through mountains and grassy plains. We had to slow down or stop every once in a while for cows goats http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/KwaZulu-Natal/Durban/blog-411608.html I just took my first malaria pill in preparation for my three week road trip up the East coast of South Africa through Swaziland and into Mozambique. At first I was... discretely planning a trip to Egypt. We changed our minds at literally the last minute the 21st and will be leaving tomorrow the 23rd. I realized that we came to South Africa to experience this country and should make the most http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Eastern-Cape/blog-411047.html I am about halfway through finals I had four this past week and have three next week. I figured I could take a study break and update everyone. I didn't expect my mom to send the link to everyone...but thanks for reading Since my escapades in Cape Town I have confined myself to Port Elizabeth to focus on my studiesbecause I spent all my money. So unfortunately I don't really have any excitin http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Eastern-Cape/Port-Elizabeth/blog-398007.html Molo familySorry about the delay for this travel blog My internet was just recently connected in my building I have learned to never take wireless internet for granted again. Today is the national elections and we were advised to stay indoors in case of any rioting. It will be hard to catch everyone up on what I have been doing for the past 3 months wow have I really been here for that long http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Eastern-Cape/Port-Elizabeth/blog-393001.html