Follow on form the "I hate not being independent" post

Day 6, Tue 6/7 - We had another late start & left camp about 8.30am & it took us about a hour to get to the Zimbabwe border.  I was so buzzed, New Zealanders didn't have to pay the $35us that the aussies have to pay or if you're from the UK it's $55us.  I was very, very, very happy!!!  We arrived at Savanna Lodge about 11ish I think.  No tents for 4 days!    We had a presentation of all the activities available for tourists, they all ranged form between $85us - $100us, it's just too much & nothing really appealed so I gave it a  miss.  After lunch we (Lilly, Tom, Claire, Alex & I) went for a walk into town.  Alex wanted to get her hair braided but they didn't have blond extensions so Claire  got hers done (which looks so good, I'm jealous, I really wish I could get mine done!).  Lilly, Tom & I went to the bank & I freaked out.  I took out $400,000 zim dollars ($70ish us) & I got this huge wad of money.  They gave it to me in $10,000 notes.  After I stashed the wad of money in the leg pocket of my shorts I was tad paranoid but it was cool, I didn't get robbed :o)    After  the bank we went to the internet then to the markets.  Most of the stuff that they sell are bowls & carvings that are a) quite big or b) too heavy.  Nothing really jumped out at me so I only brought a carved necklace pendant thing for about $200,000zim dollars ? ($5ish au - way too much). Lil & Tom brought this wooden hippo which was crafted beautifully out of wood & a bowl.  After the craft market we came back & got changed & had a few drinks (which are incredibly cheap here).  Tosca arranged for us to be picked up by Mercure hotel to go to their restaurant for dinner.  They had these really cool African dancers that then sang while we  were eating.  It was a garden buffet which was really nice & the  food was really good. I tried wart hog  steak which was absolutely wonderful, I even went back for seconds & I also tried the kudu which was nice too.  We came back to the hostel & proceeded to drink more, I think everyone else bailed about midnight but Tosca & I  managed to keep going till about 2am.  The first decent night I've had since I've been in Africa :o)  Considering most other nights we've been heading for bed about 8pm...   My pen ran out so I didn't write anymore this day.

 
New Post - Friday 9th July

It turns out we're staying an extra night in Vic Falls.  So at present I'm sitting/lying in the garden listening to my CD's on the loudest volume with the sun shining down on me & are loving it.  I think I'm the most relaxed that I've been in ages.  Thought I should at least try to keep up to date when I don't really have anything else to do :o) 

day 7, Wed 7/7 - Was planning on having a sleep in but got woken up by sweeping outside our room at 6.45am, not a happy camper!  Everyone else had to get up anyway to do their activities & I had to get up to cancel mine.  I really needed the day to my self, being around other people, constantly, for 6 days was taking its toll.  Plus it was $100us for the activity - at least 5 nights accommodation!  Yep, I've turned into a tight ass backpacker :)  Well, not true, if there was something that I really wanted to do I would have done it  but white water rafting has never really appealed, I've already bungie jumped & been in a couple of helicopters, I was tempted by the elephant walk but that was $85us for 2 hours...  So I ended up spending $60us on a one hour massage & a one hour facial - money well spent!!  I so love my massages & my skin was shocking (way to much icecream in Argentina).   After my afternoon of being pampered we had a few drinks at the hostel bar (they were out of juice (guava & vodka is wonderful!) so Claire & I had shots of vodka...  A group of us, Tosca, Karen, Claire, Tom, Lilly & I went to the Spur restaurant where I paid $5,000 zim for a T-bone steak (just over $10au).  It was only the 5 of us cause the Cape Town part of our tour was on a booze cruise.  We were supposed to meet up with all of them at the casino  but only 4 of them turned up so we had one drink at a really expensive bar, $12,000zim ($2.50us) then moved on to the explorer bar.  Drinks were a bit cheaper at $8,500 but still not as cheap as at the hotel $5,500zim ($1us).  We had a really good night but I tell ya what, my legs are killing me today - way too much dancing.

Day 8, Thur 8/7 - I had a pretty lazy morning & just mucked around.  Claire, Tom & Lilly came back from their helicopter flight & Tom, Lilly & I went for a walk to the supermarket where I managed to feed myself for lunch & dinner for next to nothing.  Then we came back to say bye to the lot going to Capetown which was a bit sad.  We then set off for Vic Falls, one of the 7 natural wonders of the world - does anyone know what all 7 are?   We've got Vic Falls, Angel falls, the great barrier reef, Uluru(?), The grand canyon, but are a bit stuck with the rest.
Vic Falls were pretty cool, quite different to Igazu.  I expected them to be prettier but they're not really.  I think the thing that sets them apart is just the amount of water that rushes through & the  depth.  It is amazing.  Over 93m that the water drops.  You get completely soaked from the spray & can't even see the bottom.  
I was quite tired  after the falls so pretty much  just ate (my supermarket bargains) then headed to bed.

Day 9, Fri 9/7 - that's today :o)  I'm up to date.  Like I  said before, I'm lying in the garden being very antisocial & listening to music.  Today we mucked around & didn't do much.  After going thorough my pack to see what I could get rid of we went into town.  I've now got 6 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of shorts & about 12 tops...  ummm, to much !  So I'm going to get rid of a few tops, problem is I like all of my pants... Anyway, we checked the internet then went to the bank, I didn't have quite enough zim so gave Tom & Lilly $4us for $20,000 zim. 
We managed to find somewhere to down load our  memory cards for $7.50us which wasn't too bad  then we went to the supermarket to buy essentials, like vodka :) oh, & some food.  Think it's the cheapest bottle of vodka I've brought yet.  $12,600zim ($2au approx).  At the check out though, Claire fainted which was a bit scary.  She was first at the check out, then me, then Tom & Lil.  Lilly looked at Claire & was like are you ok?  She didn't look too great so I opened her fanta & gave it to her but she couldn't get it to her mouth so I helped, then she fainted.  I grabbed her & so did Tom so she didn't fall.  She wasn't out for long.  We then pumped food & drink in to her & now she's having a lie down.  She hasn't been drinking enough but she's ok now .

Well the sun's gone away so I'm going to go put some more clothes on & figure out what we're doing tonight.     Savanna Lodge, Vic Falls - Friday 9th July 2004 4.20pm

 
New Post - Wednesday 14th July

Everyone's getting sick & I'm scared stiff that I'll be next... We picked up the other half of our group a few days ago & half of them had what we thought was food poisoning - well that was until half of our original group started dropping like flys, yesterday.   It's quite bad too cause it's not exactly easy going on the truck so we had Karen throwing up in to the rubbish bin at the front & we couldn't stop because we were going through an unsafe area.   John & Claire  weren't feeling great & they were both going all of last night - both ends - poor things.  I've lasted 3.5 months with out getting sick all through South America so I'll be pissed off if I get a bug now .  We have 2 days off the truck  here at Kande Beach (which is beautiful BTW) so hopefully that'll give everyone  enough time to get over whatever it is without infecting me.  Really, I am such a caring person - I just don't want to get sick!  Claire & I share a tent & I've been looking after her just praying he doesn't pass it on to me.  At the moment I'm lying on the beach & its not even 10am, it's gonna be a scorcher.  The lake here is beautiful.  I love lakes though so I'm a bit biased, nothing beats Lake Taupo at home though (NZ). 

Ok, catch up time again:

Rest of day 9, Fri 9/7 -  We had a buffet dinner provided at the hostel & once again I proceeded to eat too much (I think I'm putting on weight...). Then no one really felt like going out so we had what started out as a few drinks at  the hostel bar  in order to get rid of out last zim dollars.  Then Tom brought out their bottle of Gin & Vodka.  By the end of the night I'd had a few Fin & coke's , which usually I think is one of the most disgusting things in the world.   Problem is Vodka & Guava juice is so easy to drink.  I felt so bad the next day & the thought of any more alcohol didn't do anything for me but the booze cruise was that night...  more on that later...

Day 10, Sat 10 /7 - We left Vic Falls about 10.30am, I managed to drag myself out of bed & pack but really did feel like crap.  It didn't take us that long to get to the Zambia border & then I think I proceeded to sleep most of the way to Livingston where we stopped about 12ish.  I brought a really cool painting for $10us.  This sounds bad & I shouldn't laugh about it but it is funny so I'll share.  Before I had a look at the little market where I brought the painting, most of us needed to use the loo.  When we finally found one it was the public block that you'd usually find in a park or what ever.  Anyway, the first ones to go in were Tom & Lisa (Lisa is Karen's friend who joined us at Vic Falls).  All we heard was gagging  -what sounded like someone throwing up.  We thought it must have been Tom cause it was so loud, but out  comes Lisa still reaching.  We thought the loos must have been really bad (even when they are good here they are still not so nice).  I really needed to go so thought I'd brave it &, well,  they were fine, well not clean but not the worst I've been in either.  We're awful  - Claire & I  couldn't help having a laugh.   Its funny what you get used to  in a scary kinda way.   To be continued....

I've still got heaps to catch up on, it'll probably have to wait for a few weeks now, more than likely to the end of this tour... 

Sorry I haven't posted photos!  I'm not allowed to put my CD in the PC's here :o(

Stonetown, Zanzibar - Tanzania, Friday 23rd July 2004, 11.10am                

I have Braids!!!!

This is very exciting news. 

I don't have time to post cause I have to make it to happy hour :o)  $3us cocktails.

It took 4 hours for 3 women to braid my hair on the beach & it only cost me $35us.  They had to use 4 packets of the hair extensions but it looks mad & my hari (or fake hair)  comes half way down my back, it just feels heavy.  The colour match looks pretty good too.

Have to go :o(

North Beach, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Wednesday 21th July 2004, 5.10pm 

I HATE not been independent!

I have approximatly 30 minutes left on the internet before someone is going to yell at me that we have to go.  Ok that's not true (today anyway), its not that bad but still I hate not been able to do what I want when I want!
 
Currently I'm in Zanzibar Island, 2hours ferry ride from Dar Es Salem (Tanzania),  its great cause we've all split up & its not this huge group of 22 tourists so it feels a little more real agian.  Only problem is that it's not safe, as a female, to walk the streets alone.  I didn't realise that Eastern Africa is predomiantly muslum.  Tosca said that there was a report of a female tourist been raped here, basically they look at western women as tramps (for want of a better word) because we bare so much flesh etc.  At present its pretty dam hot & I'm wearing a long sleave top & 3/4 length pants but its all good.  In a hour or so I'm catching a taxi up to the north of the island where I plan to do much lying in the sun & have my hair braided with blond extensions, I can't tell you how dam excited I am.  I've come so close to cutting my hair off but have settled thus far for whearing my bandana constantly.  Braids will be a nice change & will be so easy to look after!
 
Anyway I have a bout 14 A5 pages of writing that I need to catch up on but don't think I'll have a hope in hell of getting anywhere near finished.  Before I get started sorry for not responding to all my emails.  I HATE not been able to check my email every couple of days then I get this huge back log & don't get to respond.  SORRY!!!
 
Thursday 8th July 2004, Victoria Falls Zimbabwe
This whoule not been able to go online every few days to catch up sucks...  I spose if I was by myself I could make the effort to find PC's but I'm here for the experiance not to just write about it I spose :o)
To start with I was really worried about the whole side effects of the anti malaria tablets I'm taking but really, I've had no problems.  If anything, instead of getting sun burnt I'm tanning heaps faster which is cool!!!  I'm still been careful though.  (Edit 20/7: my nose is red & I look like a raindeer now! Tosca said it happens to most people on Doxy no matter how much sunscreen they put on.).
 
Day 4, Sun 4/7: We pretty much just spent all day in the truck & did a border crossing in to botswanna.  Really, it was a pretty uneventful day, except for one of the toilet stops.  I've never felt the same vibe before or that fact felt in such a minority.  We stayed in a place called Nata Lodge which was pretty flas, of course we were in the camping section so didn't get 'all' the comforts but the toilets & showers were really nice.  There were also bush babies in the trees.  They are these tiny things with huge eyes.  Very cute.  It was another early night.
 
Day 5, Mon 5/7: We got to sleep in !!!! didn't have to get up till about 7am.  But of course I had to wake up before that, trust me not to get to enjoy a sleep in.  It didn't actually take us that long to get to Kasani, we got there about 11.30am then proceeded to wait at the bank for 2 hours in order to change some money to $US.  I honestly can't beleive how long it took them!  A little frustrationg  to say the least.  After that we went to the camp site & had lunch then set up our tents before going on a game cruise.  We stayed at chobe safari lodge.  The game cruise was awsome!!!  I had such a fantastic time.  We got such a good view of  a huge herd of elephants, which had a tiny, tiny, tiny baby, & heaps of hippos then there were crocks, monkies & a whole host of other things to.  I really ejoyed it!  Oh, also forgot to mention that there were actually monkies at our campsite too.  It was pretty cool!
 
Day 6, Tue 6/7:  We had another lat start & left camp about 8.30am...  ok have to finish now or won't get to publish this.  Have been told we'll have internet at north beach so will try & finish writing then so check for the rest of this post in the next few days.
 
Keep in touch, k?!!  Miss you all heaps!
 
Stonetown, Zanzibar Island, Tanzania, Africa, Tuesday 20th July 2004, 2.25pm

I'm in Africa (Part 2)

Tue 29/06 cont'd... I made it back to the hostel just in time for the pre departure meeting. It's really cool to be able to go "ok, you do all the thinking now". It's amazing , you really don't realise the pressure quite so much when you're in the middle of everything but as soon as you relinquish it the weight just flies off your shoulders. I had a really early night, think I was in bed by 8pm. I was so tired. To many late nights in Lisbon & not enough sleep on the plane. Three continents in 5 days.

Day 1 on Safari, Wed 1/07 - After handing over our money & filling in the insurance details we set off about 9am, it was pretty much just a full day of driving. We were heading to wards Kruger National Park & stayed at Gekos Bushpackers just outside of a town called Hazy View. We were about 15kms form the park. We slept our first night in tents, they're a decent size which is good & there are only 2 people to a tent which isn't bad. I slept really well :)

Day 2 on Safari, Thur 2/07 - Up at 5am (that's always fun) in order to leave for Kruger by 6am. We got there as the gates opened & stayed there all day, don't think we left till after 5pm. It was really cool & we saw so many animals. First thing we saw were Giraffes & Zebras then Elephants, it was soo cool & everyone was really excited. We saw so many different things, no lions though :( One of the ladies, Karen, managed to find a tick off list of all the animals at the park at one of the guests shops. SO here's a list of the animals we saw (not in any order) Vervet Monkey, banded mongoose, spotted hyaena, African elephant, white rhino (although it was been eaten by the hyaenas & vaulters at the time & I didn't see it that well), Burchell's zebras, Hippos, Blue wilderbeast, lots of Impala (McDonald's of the bush), Kudu, Vultures plus heaps of other birds & I briefly saw a warthog that no one else saw.
It was a pretty long day & you'd go 30min or longer with out seeing anything but constantly been on the look out. Oh & btw who goes to Africa to go on safari & doesn't take binoculars with them? Ummm, that would be me, good one huh! I didn't really prepare for this trip quite so well but its all good. I have malaria tablets, insect repellent & sunglasses. FANTASTIC! Plus I just steel everyone else's :o)

Day 3, Fri 3/07 - It's only 7.20am so nothing as yet.

Oh & the moon here seems huge! Hope I get to take a photo of it, it's amazing! Oops, didn't even write about the people on the tour. Our tour leader Toska is awesome & I can't believe ho many hours our truck driver ford spends behind the wheel. There are 4 couples & 4 of us girls traveling by ourselves. One of the couples, Jason & Megan are form Oz & Lilly is form Adelaide, everyone else is form the UK. Jason & Megan, Alex & Jason, Lee & Louise, Thomas & Lilly, Niki, Claire, Karen & Me. 12 in total. It's going to take us about a week in total to get to vic falls then most of the group is going to cape town & Tom, Lilly, Karen, Claire & I are going to Nairobi, another 16 more people are joining us at Vic Falls. So far it's a bit different than the tour I did in OZ, we all just seemed to click instantly on that tour & we all keep in touch but this tour seems a little different. Spose it's cause there's so many couples...

Ok, that's as far as I've written today's the 7th so I've still got 4 days to catch up on... but need to get going...

Today everyone's doing activities & I decided that nothing really appealed & that I could really use some time to myself. So I'm spending the day chilling out & loving it. I so got used to doing my own thing in South America & just the last day or so I've felt a bit locked in. In a minute I'm going to go in search of a massage then spend the afternoon lying in the sun in a hammock reading a book :)

Oh & mum, (emails so slow!) When is Karen going to be in Morocco? I'm thinking of changing plan's & cutting out Spain & France & going there at the end of August instead. Have talked to heaps of people & I think its safe enough even if I were to go by myself. Europe is way to expensive & I think it'd be better to travel there once I'm earning the pound. I've just emailed my travel agent to find out if it's do able.

Ok, gotta go, Love & kisses!

Wednesday, 7th July 2004, Vic Falls, Zimbabwe, Africa, 12.08pm

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