fufuka
Madagascar Joined: October 25th 2008
Logged in: February 24th 2011
Logged in: February 24th 2011
Travel Blog Posts
After two full days of travel I made it safe and sound back home! It feels great to be back in the Northwest and I look forward to getting caught up with friends and family. My phone is working again so give me a call:) "There's a kind of luck that's not much more than being in the right place at the right time, a kind of inspiration that's not much more than doing the right thing in the right way, and both really happen to you when you empty your heart of ambition, purpose, and plan; When you give yourself completely to the golden, fate-filled moment" - Gregory Roberts, 'Shantaram' To give yourself up to the moment is one of the most important things I learned in my travels... going with your and not necessarily ... read more
Sailing on the Dhow
After pushing my way out of Dar es Salaam to Lushoto and then to Tanga on a series of hot, slow dalla dallas and buses that seemed to always be on the verge of breaking down -loudly shaking down the road like we were preparing for take off- I opted to stop at the first beachside place that offered camping and call it my home for a couple of days. To save a bit of money I said I sorta had a tent and hoped they wouldn't say anything after I set up my mosquito net under their tent shelter. Everytime I go back to my little gypsy home I expect there to be a note saying that my 'tent' isn't adequate and I need to rent one- but so far so good. When people ... read more
Red Colubus
I changed my ticket once more for a day full of monkeys, dolphins and a large hairy Iranian man... After I went to the port to change my ferry ticket I opted to do one of the classic tours of the island without booking a tour. I jumped on a dalla dalla headed in the right direction and looked forward to the rest of my day. About 20 minutes into the trip with about 15 more people crammed into the back of the dalla dalla, we all heard the engine clunk a few times and then putter out. All of our bums were pretty much glued together in the back so we all sat patiently as the driver got out his tools. Pole Sana (I'm very sorry) he said to me, the only white person ... read more
Another Beautiful Sunset
The beaches on the island all have a different flavor- whether it be a touristy place with many resorts, the local beach with women gathering seaweed and children playing in the surf, or the classic rasta scene with bungalows local bars and a laid back beach. I was not disappointed after stepping off the hot dalla dalla (local transport) , dropping my bag and taking my first swim in the brilliant turquoise water. The pictures will tell more than words can ever muster... ... read more
The Streets of Stone Town
ZANZIBAR.... it's ok, say it again- this time with a little more flare.... at the same time the name rolls off your tongue a certain mystique and wonder is aroused in the imagination. There has always been something alluring about Zanzibar- but no one can articulate it, you just have to be there to absorb the wonders it holds. It is easy to get lost in the narrow streets of Stone Town - Not only because it is like a maze with no order, but also behind every corner and bend is another hidden treasure. A beautiful 18th century door amongst crumbling buildings, shops full of spices and art, Muslim women in traditional scarves huddling together to gossip and laugh, children playing with kites and rolling tires... it is one place I don't mind getting 'lost' ... read more
Mt. Meru and Cinder Cone
The journey really began the night before at a little place called Khan’s BBQ. New Years Eve has become a date to drown out the year before with massive quantities of food, alcohol and merriments and then bring in the new year with howls and good friends- and it is no different in Tanzania. So we chose Khan’s as our first stop to check off our New Years Eve list. Khan’s is an auto sales and repair shop by day and a BBQ place by night. With a large spread of every kind of meat on a stick you would ever want smothered with ‘special’ sauce and roasting on the street- accompanied by bowl after bowl of ‘salad’ (cabbage and carrot soaking in different curry sauces- all pretty much the same consistency but some with ... read more
wildabeast backdrop
I made a blurry eyed early morning decision to join some of my new friends for a classic safari in the Ngorongoro Crater. I initially told myself that I wasn't going to do a safari and I would just see the animals on my own, like a true traveler of the 'roads less traveled'- But sometimes you just have to buckle and go for the 'touristy' route. There is a rhyme and reason why people flock to certain areas of this world, and the beautiful blue-green vistas of the crater along with the amazing wildlife is one of those places. If you can learn how to take everything with a grain of salt, you can handle a few extra zinc nosed, safari shirt tourists every once in awhile. The crater itself is about 20km wide ... read more
From Craig--- Hi All, The mission has gone off with nary a hitch ... until yesterday. All the little potential disasters piled into one hectic day. But we beat the odds ... "escaped" from Sudan with mere seconds to spare. We are now resting and eating well in Nairobi. 48 hours into our homeward bound journey. Half way there. (Actually, Colin and I are homeward bound. Ari leaves this afternoon/Sunday, on a bus to Tanzania for her 3rd month/4th chapter of her African Adventure. We'll see she gets on the bus safely, knowing that she has become a very savvy, veteran traveler who is popular everywhere she goes. Yesterday was a challenge. Our previous day/Friday, we began the first leg of our overland journey traveling only 75 miles from Wangulei to Bor town. It took us ... read more
