Blogs from Africa - page 2690

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i arrived at Johannesburg airport on Sunday 8th July, where i was 'meant' to be greeted with someone holding one of those embarrasing signs saying my name... 'meant' being the operative word! after an hour of waiting, hoping that the driver was just running late, i went to the information counter, who transferred my enquiry to the police, and before i knew it i was being escorted through the airport by 3 police to find me a reliable driver to take me to my hostel. yes, my driver had forgotten me. Excellent start! Prior to leaving home, most of you would know that i booked an 8 day Safari trek through Kruger National Park, where i was in hope of seeing the big cats in the wild. In my very informative brochure, it not only suggests ... read more
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Africa » South Africa » Western Cape » Greyton July 14th 2007

by Mrs Plod We left Montagu this morning, after a delicious breakfast (most beautiful fruit plate!!) and a quick whip through the Montagu Saturday market. We snagged some pancakes (crepes, to you Americans) with cinnamon-sugar for the road. There was a bit of a hustle this morning--we had plans to spend as much of the day as possible with Tessa and the gang and we wanted to be in Cape Town by noon. As it turns out, we got to our meeting spot at about 12:30. Our journey from Montagu to Cape Town took us along the picturesque Route 62--the "fortified wine route of the Western Cape." Calitzdorp (nearer to Oudtshoorn) is famous for its port; Montagu, for its muscadel; and Robertson for its brandy. We were not able to partake of much of the bounty ... read more

Africa » Kenya » Rift Valley Province » Masai Mara NP July 14th 2007

After a few restless nights in an overcrowded dorm room in Nairobi, I was convinced that things would get better before they got worse. Then I learned to sleep like a Maasai. It’s been a sobering introduction into the life of these hardened plains peoples. The fire pit is still smoldering as we tuck ourselves into bed, the air thick and acrid with the smells of roasted cabbage and scorched meat. Our bed - fashioned from a thin foam mattress and a bunch of sticks - creaks and groans each time I shift for comfort. David is sleeping beside me, breathing heavily, making hoarse noises in his throat. On my first night, while our dinner was still settling in my stomach, he stretched, coughed, then promptly dropped his pants and said, “I think we will go ... read more
Family photo
Kids
Clouds

Africa » Tanzania » Zanzibar » Nungwi July 14th 2007

We spent the night at Dar Es Salaam on our last day with the truck, on a campsite at the beach. The weather was very hot and humid and so I upgraded to a banda (beach hut) because I couldn't be bothered to put up my tent! There were two other trucks from the same company there with us (and they stuck with us in Zanzibar as well) so we had a big party on the beach with all of them. The next day we got a ferry from our campsite across to the main ferry port, and then a ferry over to Zanzibar Island - it was a very rough and choppy crossing, and a few people were seasick. When we arrived we travelled straight to our accomodation at Kendra beach near Nungwi, where we ... read more

Africa » Egypt July 14th 2007

If there was a word to describe yesterday, it would be “AWESOME.” We’ve had 4 dives each day and I haven’t missed one! You can pretty much call me a dive master. Around 7 in the morning, about 8 of our crew of 13 slid backwards into the warm Egyptian waters after being delivered to our new reef by our trusty Zodiac driver. My buddy was Maldini (a stylish mate from Egypt with a girlfriend from Italy- he made sure to call he a couple time from his sweet phone). A little about Maldini: He’s the man, plain and simple. He can’t sneak up on anyone, especially after diving, due to the fact that he douses himself in sweet smelling cologne. He’s been diving 70 meters with his girlfriend who is a dive mater (BTW ... read more
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Africa » Malawi » Central » Lilongwe July 14th 2007

Nobody showed for "T.O.T.S." auditions this morning. Bleh. Anyhoo, some random funny occurences. - I have been hearing this guy wailing a repeated phrase over and over while walking through the streets each morning. I thought I was hearing the morning call to prayer for the mosque. I found out recently that what I have actually been hearing is "Tomatoes! Cabbage! Onions!" - "Azungu" is the Chichewa word for "white." We're getting really familiar with it. The little kids apparently get a really big kick out of us. When we walk by some of the younger classes at Hillside, we'll get a whole chorus of "AZUNGU!" or "MZUNGU!" (Mzungu is plural). This morning we were passing a big group of kids and they started up a chant of "A-zun-gu, A-zun-gu" like they were at a political ... read more

Africa » Ghana » Volta July 14th 2007

Hi everyone! It is Saturday, and i have my first day off since i have arrived. It feels nice just to walk around. The wound is healing, thank you for all your advice and concerns. There is no infection and scabs began forming, which is a good sign. The redness is also slowly fading and now bruises are settling in. I am sure that after the beach on Sunday, it will begin to heal even more. I have heard that the beach is gorgeous and the waves are immense! I cant wait! The weather has been very hot here, especially yesterday. I took 5 bucket showers during the day, and even when i was standing still, i was sweating buckets. Hows the weather in MTL?? It is supposed to be rainy season here, but it has ... read more

Africa » Egypt » Lower Egypt » Cairo July 14th 2007

Well I arrived back in Cairo, after a somewhat less comfortable reclined overnight journey, and then decided I would head into the heart of downtown Cairo for a hostel, after a short snooze I headed out to Saqqara, around forty minutes outside the city limits. Saqqara is the huge cemetery of ancient Memphis, and was one of the royal burial grounds for moiré than 3500 years, and consists of eleven lesser known old kingdom pyramids. I spent half the day at Saqqara, other visitors were few and far between, as a result there on the edge of the desert I found a peaceful serenity rarely created at the other ancient sites. The main monument in this area is the step pyramid Which is the earliest form of pyramid; it encases a descending passage from the ... read more
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Africa » Morocco July 14th 2007

So Im in Morrocco and i really dont know how to feel. Im actually really wishing i wasnt here, that i was back in barcelona, or even better home on the couch in australia watching the crows play. but im not and so i feel like i should be making the best of this situation- finding out what it is that others love about this place....why i am i so tense that my neck is stiff and everything aches? why cant i look at the little boy whos trying to sell me tissues and not want to cry, but at the same time pull my bag closer to me so he cant swipe it? why do i not even feel like looking at the beautiful coloured scarves and wall hangings? why, when cherida just sugggested a ... read more
On the bus!!
View from the bus window
Bus Station

Africa » Kenya » Rift Valley Province » Kajiado July 14th 2007

Supa! I can't believe that we've finished working in Saikeri already. I seems impossible how fast the last six weeks have gone. This place has become a part of us and we are so sad to leave. I can't imagine we won't be returning to Saikeri at the moment. It has really become a second home for us. The people here have been so amazing and loving. We have really become a part of their community and the last couple days have been hard. There have been many tears and hugs and photos and kisses. But, we leave knowing that someday we will be back. I can't imagine not coming back to here. Today we've come into Ngong for the last time for a while and spent the day getting some donations gathered for a family ... read more




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