LuBarnham's Guestbook

Mell - seriously, it got to the point where i just wanted to bash my head against the wall each time i heard her voice - even in the most remote corners of Gabon, there she was, singing away, driving us mad! Cheers for looking at my blogs, so glad glad you enjoyed them.

Thanks Brian, for your well wishes and for reading my blogs. You're right that there's not mention of islands or marine life in these Africa blogs; although our route clung to the coast at times, some of the most stunning beaches - such as ones in Benin and Togo - were also the most dangerous ones. Ghana has a stunning coast but a sad historic connection to the slave trade is tied to it. As for islands, i can only think of three on the whole trip! Two of which were inland, on rivers. We ended our journey in Sharm Al Sheikh, Egypt, and though the town was crazily touristy, it was worth it for the sealife - bright yellow and blue rays, clownfish, coloured coral - i wonder if you have been there? So beautiful. I will make sure to include it in my Egypt blog! Thanks again and best wishes, Lu

thank you Beyaz, and i really hope you enjoy your travels next year. will keep an eye out for your blogs on this site :)

Hi Brian, thanks for your comments and it's a pleasure to answer your questions. the Alphabet idea is something my husband and i came up with in 2004 when planning a trip to Asia. We wanted to add a bit of challenge to backpacking in a fascinating area that is already so well-travelled. So indeed, there is also an 'Asian Alphabet.' (i didn't blog it however, i wrote a manuscript. It's unpublished. I'm a bookseller by day, writer by night :) ) I've always wanted to be a travel writer, so when you say the 'African Alphabet' idea sounds commercial/marketable, that is good for me because i am actually going to be approaching agents with book proposals. However, as far as blogging my trips on this site goes, i've never been competitive with/had any intention to 'out do' other bloggers. In fact, i draw a lot of inspiration from the bloggers and from all the people who leave me messages, as you have done today. It's been a place to share my writing, enjoy that of others and a way of letting folks back home know i'm still alive! You mentioned not being too keen on a travelogue based soley on the spelling of a place, i can totaly understand that. there where moments on the road when i felt the same! But the pursuit actually wrote our route for us and took us to places we would never have heard of, let alone seen, so i feel very lucky. Thanks so much for taking the time to read my blogs, and also for sharing your thoughts. Best wishes, Lu

'anonymous', thanks. I can totally understand why you flew over that area back in 2004/5; the civil war in Congo would have only just (officially) ended and even these days there are areas you just can't go to because of rebels. Cheers for your kind comments. Lu

hi liliram, it's so nice you enjoyed my blog. This part of the journey - the Congos and Angola - made for pretty intense travel, it's nice to be able to share it. i do not recommend the stock cube sandwich under any circumstances! too many cans of pilchards, too! Best wishes, Lu

thanks Peter, and Laini, thanks for your kind comments. It's true, it's hard to know what to expect when heading into Central Africa, i was quite nervous about it. Wow, we would have loved to have gone from to South to the north like you did. Next time! Best wishes, Lu.

thanks sue, and thanks for all your support :)

thank you, and its kind of you to read it. this one ended up much longer than i planned! best wishes.