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SORRY!!! i know..its been ages!! am now in Australia..its brilliant and easy to access the internet..but also expensive! im staying with my fab reles (Gill and Wayne) at the mo..its really good to be around relatives in a house!! have also caught up with Sarah and Simon, Mats here too and met various other reles..Super!! 8) they say hello to all the Britts! anyway..back to 15-02-2011 the balloon ride over the Serengeti was this morning..at $500 USD thought that was a little to extravagant so stuck with the early morning game drive! worried that i may have missed out..but really didnt!! especially with everything we saw.. i wouldnt have changed the day at all if i could do it ten times over!! (except maybe have more spare batteries as mine ran out!!) we saw more Hippos ... read more

back to the 8th feb!! (had a little more sleep!! phew! ferry ride back to Dar Es Salaam as a foot passenger this time...fun!! try not to get run over!! then a hang about waiting for the ferry to Zanzibar...Hendrick sweet talked them so we got the classy seats..reclining, and actually slept some of the journey (think it took 2 hours ish!!!) off the other end onto a mini bus, bags on another one...in stonetown..they like you to keep your shoulders, cleavage and knees covered out of respect to the arabic community. very chatty local guide and our new guide taking us to nairobi-Joseph..strong accent and quietly spoken..not an easy combination, but always smiling!! wandered about town and found a lovely terrace restaurant for lunch..delicious! the water looks beautiful;, but advised not to swim here as ... read more

ok..so on day 28 of my 40 day tour...and am going to try for a 2nd entry!! i left you on day 4 (o dear!! this may take a while!!) so..left the canyon and headed for the Namib desert! lots of sunshine! its been really wonderful! the scenery has been sandy, dusty, dry! i got to sleep on top of our truck one night..aroung 12 of us up there..involved a bit of clambouring and being hoiked up by the guys!! but well worth it! sleeping under the stars (but without the scorpians and snakes) really is an amazing experience!! about 4 shooting stars that i saw, and so many stars..i cant even describe!! hiked up dune 45 (famous dune) to watch the sunrise! wow is sand hard to walk up!! AND GREAT PLACE FOR A DODGY ... read more

wow...how lucky i am to have such brilliant family and friends!! i have recieved the best gifts..from an inflatable pillow, to a kindle, from a puddle duck to tape recordings! its so reassuring to know ill be taking a little bit of everyone with me..and i know im going to look like a loon when i start laughing or crying to myself when i find something that reminds me of someone!! 8) thankyou just doesnt go anywhere near what i want to say..just know that you are all such special people and mean the world to me..if i could shrink you all and take you in my pocket i would be!! xcx... read more