http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/packman/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from packman en-us Tue, 14 Oct 2008 04:41:16 BST Tue, 14 Oct 2008 04:41:16 BST WOAH Seriously what a week this has been. It has absolutely flown by and I have had an absolutely AMAZING time. Honestly I canrsquot say it more than now that I LOVE MY LIFE. I was sitting on the beach the other day and had a brief few minutes by myself and started a flashbook of pictures in my head of all the places Irsquove been and what Irsquove seen and put on one of my stupid lit http://www.travelblog.org//Middle-East/Israel/Tel-Aviv-District/Tel-Aviv/blog-244723.html JUMPING AROUND THE WORLD 160 days 15 countries 28 commuter flights 2 prop planes in the delta 100 hours on planes 3 oceans crossed 1 helicopter ride at least 10 new friends overland overnight trains a sleeper bus 4WDs a stick shift rental car on the wrong side of the road 4 seasons from fall to spring to summer to winter in that order from 1per night bungalow to a nice treat http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Manhattan/blog-244715.html Well I have completed my volunteer program with African Impact Cape Town. I now have one week to explore this most picturesque city on my own and I couldnrsquot be happier. Sunday morning I packed up my crap and headed to Simonrsquos Town with Ashley Charlotte and Becky for brunch and to walk around. I really liked the marina and all of the boatshellipso pretty to photograph especially http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-242615.html Sunday I tried to brave it by going out to the beach in Saint James with Charlotte and Ashley. It proved to be a bit aggressive for me but I just couldnrsquot imagine staying home another day on the weekend. And it was essentially a cloudless day. We took the train two stops to Saint James and I certainly enjoyed myself for the brief amount of time I was there. Took some photographs of the http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-240389.html Safe arrival in Cape Town SOOO excited to be herehellipeven more so now that I am here. It is just stunning as are the views from the househellipitrsquos a 360 of mountains and oceans and homes up on the hillsideshellipjust lovely. So while I was worried about my connection in Joburg being a little tight I had more than enough time even more so when my flight was delayed over an hour http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-238710.html My last week at African Impact in Saint Lucia was lovely. We got five new volunteershellipa few of which are also on the photography project. There was one day we were driving into Khula Village and I was looking at the homes and the roads and while they are somewhat primitive it does not appear to be ldquothird worldrdquo however I will note that this is what I envisioned St. Lucia to b http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/KwaZulu-Natal/Saint-Lucia/blog-235904.html Sunday morning started with saying goodbye to Leslie. She was so cute and so sad to leave. Irsquoll definitely miss her around the house. Later in the morning Annabel Gabi and I went for a two and a half hour horse ride in the bush and on the beach. It was a ton of fun especially the beach with the breeze and the water and the sand and the CLOUDS. Irsquom sure my bum will be feeling it http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/KwaZulu-Natal/Saint-Lucia/blog-233142.html Sunday was a day of resthellipI slept in and walked to town to chill out and use the internet and had lunch with Gabi and Biancahelliptwo of the other volunteershellipAussie and Dutch. We had a great time and as it turns out it really isnrsquot all that inexpensive herehellipI think my lunch was like USD17. Came home to read my book and passed out for a few hourshellipnot sure why I http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/KwaZulu-Natal/Saint-Lucia/blog-231498.html I have arrived in St. Lucia and at the African Impact house. Itrsquos a gated property as are most of the properties in South Africa for safety precautions. And itrsquos rather nice despite hearing about the mosquitoes and cockroaches. We have a cook and a pool and a Jacuzzi and a common room with satellite TV and a DVD playerhellippretty set up here. Oh and it pretty much looks like Fr http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/KwaZulu-Natal/Saint-Lucia/blog-231497.html I left Zimbabwe Saturday morning with a gorgeous sun shining down for the first time in a few dayshellipyes I was sad to be leaving. I was heading to Zambia to catch my flight from Livingstone back to Johannesburg South Africa and then another one to Durban. As it turned out I had a few issues this day and Irsquoll keep them brief cuz at the end of the day shit happens and cest la vie. Th http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/KwaZulu-Natal/Durban/blog-231496.html We crossed the border today into Zimbabwe and arrived at our last CC Africa destinationhellipMatetsi Private Game Reserve. Upon arrival we switched to our open 4WD and into the bush one last time to arrive at the Matetsi Water Lodge. Wow This place was spectacular Each lodge was located in the woods with enough privacy and situated along the great Zambezi Riverhellipwith our own sun deck http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Zimbabwe/Victoria-Falls/blog-228819.html We left Savuti around 6AM to make the drive to Serondelahellipalso in Chobe National Park. Along the way we stopped by Morganrsquos home village. And in the little village lives less than 10 people Right now his six year old daughter is staying with his mother. When we arrived I expected her Game pronounced HaMay to run over and say hi to her fatherhellipunfortunately she didnrsqu http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Botswana/North-West/Chobe-National-Park/blog-228818.html Today Morgan I am now calling him Captain woke us up to take us into the bush. We had a 7 hour journey to Savuti in Chobe National Park. He told us the first part of the journey we would be riding along the River Khwaihellipabout 10 minutes in I asked where the river washellipCaptain says to the right and I look. All I see is green vegetationhellipwell then that would be the river. Not http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Botswana/North-West/Chobe-National-Park/blog-228816.html After our mokoro ride we took another light aircraft to Moremi Game Reserve. This ride was about 35 minutes and again wasnrsquot sad when it was over. This area of the Okavango is a national park so there is a curfew at 7PM. We got to camp around 1230 and met Sam our cook for the rest of the trip and John our helper had lunch siesta and afternoon tea before heading out for our evening dr http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Botswana/North-West/blog-228815.html On Wednesday morning I woke up famished and began to charge all of my batterieshelliptwo batteries for each camera my laptop my berry etchellipBruno drove me to the airport around noon only for me to arrive and realize I left my entire envelope of vouchers etc in the room A speedy drive back which was only 5 or 10 minuteshellipMaun is a pretty small town. I met the rest of the group http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Botswana/North-West/Okavango-Delta/blog-228812.html So 30 hours of traveling and I have arrived in Maun Botswana. I left my GH in Bangkok at 1130AM and arrived at the Maun Lodge the next day at 1230PM with a 5 hour time change 7 hour flight from Bangkok to Doha Qatar with a 2 and a half hour layover and an 8 hour flight from Doha to Johannesburg South Africa with a 5 hour layover and an hour and a half flight onto Maun. So now I am only 7 http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/Botswana/North-West/Maun/blog-228811.html Thank you and goodbye Lao Airlineshellip.I can breathe again. I just took my last flight with them and I am happy to say I survived all three I arrived in Bangkok and at my guesthouse by 11AM on Saturday and I was shortly off to take care of the many many errands I had to run. First up laundry Then it was to go to this place I cant remember the name of but far enough away that I was able http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Thailand/Central/Bangkok/blog-224625.html Laos time is similar to what one friend once coined as ldquoJewish Standard Timerdquohellipit means whatever the time stated it doesnrsquot hold. So when we are told the boat departs at 11AM and it doesnrsquot leave til noon that is expected we were waiting for the backpackers to cross the border and make their way to the boats. The slow boat ride from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang takes http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Laos/West/Luang-Prabang/blog-224620.html I flew to Huay Xai way sigh I finally figured out how to pronounce the damn place Thursday morning. I was a bit frustrated that they tell you to be there 2 hours beforehand which would be 620AM for my flight and the damn checkin place doesnrsquot open until 730AM I could have slept another hour and gotten breakfast in townhellipbut such is life in Laos I am learning. I do manage to ge http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Laos/West/Bokeo-Nature-Reserve/blog-224615.html Tuesday was a travel day to Pakse. Cute little town. On the way up I met a South African couple that will be returning from their travels while I am in Cape Town. So that was exciting I will be in touch with them when I arrive. I purchased my tickets to Vientiane and Huay Xai. I hope they all fly and do it safely The sign in the Lao Airlines office shows a bar chart where it spikes in 200 http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Laos/West/Vientiane/blog-224610.html