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Published: March 1st 2011
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A 5 hour bus trip later I landed myself in Lusaka. Upon arrival I was once again bombarded with guys wanting to know where I was going or if I wanted a taxi - the problem is that every person asks thinking that somehow my answer will be different. I got my bag and just started walking as confidently as I could as if I knew where I was going (I didn't). Turns out I did go the right way, and only took the wrong turn once before ending up at the backpackers. It has a completely different vibe arriving at a backpackers alone. I'm sure I will get used to it but the initial arrival I was quite shy.
I went on a walk by myself. I asked where then main shops are - there were two shopping complexes - Manda Hill and The Arcades. I found Manda Hill and wanted to go to Shoprite there - it was so weird, inside all the shops were the same as South Africa - Woolworths, Truworths, Identity, Game and Foschini - I felt like I was back at home. I didn't end up buying anything, but it was a strange luxury
1km from top of Cairo Rd in Lusaka
Main Westernised shopping centre behind me on the left in Africa. Lusaka is actually very similar to a smaller town in South Africa. It has the same mix of first world (modern shopping centres and buildings) and third world (traditional Africa markets and streets). It was a nice change.
On the way back I put my headphones on and sang (out loud) to the songs. It felt good to just walk around and sing, and take it all in. I am sure I looked rather odd but I didn't care. I definitely find it a lot less stressful to walk around a new town once you kind of vaguely know where you are going.
Back at the hostel I spoke to 2 American girls for awhile and then I met some South Africans who were recently graduated pilots looking for work in Zambia. I stayed at the bar for awhile and then headed to bed for a broken night's rest...
You do crazy things when you are travelling - like waking up at 1:30am to get up and watch an American football game - the Superbowl - where you barely know the rules and don't know the teams but I figured it was worth it. I
Bottom of Cairo Road in Lusaka
Main African-style shopping centre behind me only ended up watching the first quarter, but I became more familiar with the rules and can say I watched a bit of it. It wasn't half bad - wish we could've seen some of the legendary adverts though - but they weren't shown on DSTV. No idea who won, guess I'll find out later (Greenbay Packers).
I have been bitten by so many Mosquitoes I will be so surprised if I last these 3 months without getting Malaria. It's definitely in God's hands.
The next day I spent at the backpackers and then spent about 4 hours walking around Lusaka again. Not much to see but it was good to be out and about. I really could (and do) spend hours just walking around new places.
The next day I headed to Chipata and met two British girls who were planning on staying at the same hostel as me. So we travelled together. Chipata was non-eventful, the hostel wasn't great. We walked to the post office and the shops. I shared my room with a few geckos, a big lizard and a 5 legged-spider. Tomorrow we head to Malawi - Stoked!!
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