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Published: December 19th 2007
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Day 2
Looking from the bar toward Namibia I have been back in Tucson for a little more than two weeks now. I had a nomadic November where I joined a Nomad Adventure Tour group through southern Africa. This included 20 days of driving from Cape Town, leaving South Africa toward Namibia, Botswana, and ending at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The overland truck we were in had room for 22 people plus two white South African guides. These two young guys, Nico and Skippy, ran the show and escorted us through the fun adventures we were going to have for the next few weeks. Who is “us” you ask? I was the only American. And the largest representations within the group were people from Scandinavian countries: Sweden, Norway, and Finland; also had a couple Germans, Italians, Australians, and Canadians.
This was a true vacation even though we were essentially camping the entire time in both private and government campgrounds. On a few occasions we were doing real “bush camping” where the truck had to be completely self sufficient with all of our food, water, and cooking supplies. Malaria medications where always in the back of our minds. But like I said, this was not always the case. Probably
Day 3
Parked on the side of the canyon, we ate dinner. the biggest draw to the countries of Africa is the tourist industry. Thus, you can determine that most places choose to take care of their investments by providing swimming pools and full bars. More often than not, we could always have a cold beer waiting for us at the end of a long days drive through the desert.
Day 2—Nov 12, 2007
Government campground on the South African side of the Orange River. The other side, which looks like something takes taken out of Death Valley, is Namibia. Hot, outdoor showers and cold beers. People stayed up late into the night because The Africa Travel Company, another tour group which was mirroring our route, was also there partying. They had more women on their truck than we did. Something that became a common theme during the tour was swimming across rivers to other countries. That afternoon we all got into our swimmers and illegally crossed into Namibia. Nothing was waiting for us over there besides a few cow pies but it was still a lot of fun.
Day 3
Camped on the edge of Fish River canyon, Namibia, about half the size of the
Day 5
Sunrise on Dune 45 Grand Canyon in Arizona. Gorged ourselves on spaghetti and red sauce as we watched the stars of the Southern Hemisphere rise. We were basically in the middle of nowhere.
Day 5
Waking up at 4 in the morning, we all hurried into the Sossusvlei Dunes located inside the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Approached Dune 45 from the north side and made a mad dash to the top before the sun came up. This “dune” is about 300 meters high and it made me think about how little exercise I had been getting while sitting inside a truck for so many days. When you take one step forward, the sand slides off and you fall back two steps. Watched the sun rise over the desert.
Day 7
Spending the night in Swakopmund, Namibia, this small German town is located where the Namib Desert falls into the ocean. Some people went skydiving. I went quad biking. This was one of the highlights of the tour because in a pack of 13, we would chase after a guide over the dunes in the desert. The previous day, we cross the Tropic of Capricorn.
Day 10/11
Day 12/13
Sunset from Angolan side of Kavango River Insides Etosha National Park at government campsites behind large fences we spent two nights at two different places. If I am not mistaken, this is the largest game reserve in Namibia. Lots of pictures of animals in their native environment including watering holes at night.
Day 12/13
Up in a town called Rundu, we are in a very African place, but this is the second time I was able to find internet on this trip. With fewer tourists up here at the border of Namibia and Angola, we took a “booze cruise” across the Kavango River. Couldn’t swim across this one because of the crocodiles but still had a blast on the Angolan side as we watched a marvelous sunset.
Day 20—Nov 30th, 2007
After leaving behind Namibia and Botswana (up to 4 crossings in one day), we finally entered Zimbabwe. This is a complex situation in this part of the world but basically the only source of income for the entire country of Zim is the tourist industry at Vic Falls. Inflation is ramped, and people are starving in the streets. The only way to describe Vic Falls is a tourist trap without
Day 20
Vic Falls, Zim the tourists. Yet still found the time to White Water Raft down the Zambezi. Almost died as I fell out of the boat twice into the raging class 5 rapids but it was definitely the highlight of the tour.
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Moving further back in time to the beginning of November before I left for my tour, I think of my last two weeks in Cape Town. Although many complications arose from getting the necessary visas to people simply doing their jobs (maybe), I had grown accustom to the CCS house in Cape Town. It had become home like so many other places before it. My last week in the program was probably the best week of my life so far. I had to say goodbye to the kids and members at both of my placements. I had to say goodbye to my fellow volunteers. But I had a sense of belonging; friends and other people who cared for me. The week was only highlighted with my last day officially within CCS being my 21st birthday. Like I said before, I don’t drink, but the night was full of steaks, drinks for all, and women. Simply amazing…
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I am home. But I normally consider home to be where you make it. Being a modern-day nomad I have been forced to adapt to new surrounds throughout my life. Being dragged across the world I have learned to appreciate my new surroundings and to do my best to make the most of life. This has been the undercurrent of these past four months. The biggest thing that I have learned about myself, the one noble truth which people should probably follow, is to be happy with who you are.
Tucson, Arizona is a small, redneck type place, and I realize this now. It hit me the second I got off the plane from Germany. I know vast expanses of Sonoran desert which now capitulate to the developers of the nation. I remember long walks through the cholla cactus and pallo verde groves with my dogs, exploring back alleys on our bikes with friends, and creating trouble like any youth would who has too much time on their hands. Endless summers on the U of A campus and as I stop to fuel up on Gatorade and water, I think of my upbringing which gives me the strength to endure challenging times.
I now have a strong sense of self identity. I just want to thank those of you who have guided me along the way.
Thanks,
Noah P Barker
“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”
Forest E. Witcraft
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Used by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech
Maryanne Williamson
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Jon
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under African skies
Seeing your pictures reminded me of how those African skies get under your skin. No matter where I travel in the world, Africa will always be first in my heart. Bravo, Noah. Well done.