MVH

After leaving Knysna we headed to Wilderness. This was our last beach stop before heading to Cape Town and the last chance for sun as overcast weather was forecast for Cape Town. The Beach was again amazing - stunning white sand with massive waves but the strong current made swimming dangerous, plus there were plenty of blue bottles so I was hesitant as vivid memories of being stung as a child are permanently etched in my memory. But we only live once and Trish and I went for a swim on Thursday morning before we left for Cape Town and we have both survived, unscathed, to tell the tale. The drive to Cape Town brought us closer to the cloudy weather. It was a bit of a shock to go from hot sunny days to overcast ... read more

After doing a bit of research I decided that I wanted to see the Falls from both the Zim and Zam side so I could get both perspectives. I really glad I did because they are sooooo different. I decided on Zam first because there has been alot of rain since I got here. Funny that? It happens alot to me : ) The extra rain has meant a larger volume of water flowing making for a very impressive sight. Viewing from the Zam side meant walking through the Zim and Zam border controls and across the Vic Falls Bridge, a journey that takes about 30 mins. There are heaps of taxis if you're feeling lazy. Whilst seeing the Falls I meet my first friend, Jody, who is an AIDS counsellor volunteer from Canada. It was ... read more

Day 1 - We headed off from our hotel in Moshi early and arrived at the Marangu gate, which happens to be higher than Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia. After all signing in we set off into the rain forrest towards the Mandara huts (2700m) where would spend our first night. The rain forrest was beautiful and we got to see some monkeys in the evening when we arrived - very cool. We went on a short walk to the crater of a smaller volcano which is supposed to help with acclimitisation. I just liked the view : ) Day 2 - After an interesting nights sleep - the monkeys tend to be rather vocal at night - we were fed and started on the way to Horombo (3720m). The change in the vegetation was amazing. The ... read more

A short flight from London landed me in Zurich airport where I was due to get a connecting flight to Nairobi. Now with true Swiss efficiency I was unable to board the plane when I arrived at the gate because they had found "something" on the x-ray they took of my bag. Now I was baffled. I'd flown through airports in Australia, America and England but it was only now I was having any trouble. It turned out to be a packed of sparklers. You know the kind that you light on birthdays and other celebrations. So after a little talk about what is allowed to be carried, I was allowed to board the plane. Nairobi airport was interesting. So different to any other airport that I've been to. The passport control man ask me how ... read more

Happy New Year!!! Side-trip destination: Edinburgh, Scotland Just because it's close and just because I could, I got a flight to Edinburgh to spend New Years Eve. I figured why not! Unfortunately due to terrible weather (40 mile/hour winds causing rain to fall horizontally) the Hogmanay celebrations including fireworks were cancelled. But I didn't mind because Alex had organised to go to his friend John's place, so we hung out there. Amazingly the wind died down for the hour around midnight allowing fireworks to be set off, though only for a few minutes - nothing like the display we saw had happened in Sydney. So with bubbles, strawberries, fireworks and good company, 2007 has begun. Meanwhile back in London, camera shopping is on the agenda. Now this is where it's really difficult not to convert back ... read more