I'm in Africa (part 1)

WARNING: Haven't been able to run spell check... We all know that I'm a shocking speller plus I've been typing really fast... (7/7/04 - just did a quick proof read & my spelling was shocking!)

I'm having withdrawals form the internet!!!! It's been over a week since I've been able to find a connection. Don't know why but I thought that Africa would have similar facilities to that of South America but they don't... I got all your emails but its just taken me 40min to look at a few of them (it would usually take me 5 or 10min, internet is really slow here). So hopefully I'll get to respond at some stage soon. On Zanzibar island they are supposed to have good internet... think I get there in a week or so...?

So far I'm enjoying myself. Can see the benefits of doing a tour but I think I got kinda used to been on my own but still, I don't think that I would travel in Africa by myself.

Ok, what have I been up to... have been writing in my journal so have about 10min & will type up as much as I can :o)

Sat 3/07 - Hazy View, South Africa.
Day 3 of Safari - Its 6.30am & I've been up for a hour & a half. I'm sitting in Frankie (our truck) & we're leaving the campsite in order to move on to our next destination. Man, I'm about to see my second sun rise in as many days. How cool is that! Ok, quick catch up.

Tue 29/06 - I got to the airport really easily but had to wait about 15-20min at the bus stop in 30oC heat with my boots & pack on so needless to say it was just a little hot. The flight was pretty uneventful, well that is apart form the small child, make that medium sized child, who insisted on jumping up & down & making loud noises for most of the flight. Once again, my ear plugs were a life saver. I managed to get about 4 or 5 hours sleep which was great! I think the flight took about 13 hours & was one of the most uncomfortable I've ever taken. My butt hurt at the end of the trip, not a good thing - go TAP Air Portugal...

Wed 30/06 - I arrived at the airport about 8am expecting my transfer to the hostel to be there, but it wasn't. In order to make a call I had to take some money out of the ATM (at least this time I had a idea of the currency & didn't only take out $1au :p). The Rand is about R4.3is to $1au. After calling the hostel I had to wait a couple of hours to be picked up & met another girl, Niki, on my tour up till Vic Falls (where I am at the moment). We mad it to the hostel about 11.30am I think. I didn't get to see any of Jo'burg city (not very safe I've been told) the hostel was located in the northern suburbs. I went for a walk to the local mall & found a camping shop which had a self inflating sleeping mat (thank god!). It cost R499 (just over $110au I think). I also went to a supermarket to stock up on a few things & it was so cool that everything was in English! First time in just over 3 months that I've been to a supermarket where I can understand what all the ingredients were & not just look out for Trigo (wheat in Spanish). They even had cool things that I could eat :o) After that went back to the hostel & just about fell asleep then decided to go back to the mall & copy one of my memory cards on to CD.

Times just about up. Have to go will continue form here when I get the chance.

Love you all!!! xoxoxox

Tuesday 6th July 2004, Vic Falls, Zimbabwe, Africa