Sunday, December 23, 2007

the Rest of Zimbabwe

The trip down to Bullawayo was long and very cold. Got an upgrade to a double room at a quant private resident. Very nice but the weather was attrocious - just like a winter day in CHCH when it is blowing south west and raining. Next morning left for Motobos Natioanl park for a full day game drive looking for White and Black Rhino. We were there all day and returned back to our lodge about 5pm, Extremely cold but a fantastic day - we got really close to about 5 white rhino including a baby one. We did it all on foot.
Next day we left for Antelope PArk near Gweru. Weather still drizzly but a bit warmer. it is a game park where you are meant to be able to get up close to animals. Had the opportunity to take cubs - 2 of them of about 12 mths old for a walk in the park. The male attacked one of the girls in our group but it was not me or don so all good. Some blood was passed and puncture wounds along with scrathes. Fucking scary actually so it was no surprise that it was only Don and I keen to do it all again at 6.30am the next morning.. and no, I did not make Don go!!
The next morning cub walk was amazing. It was just me and don along with 2 guides walking 3 cubs of 17 mths old - really big and really cool. We continuted to do alot of other activities with lions that day. Cub viewing where we got more pictures with cubs of about 7 mths old that were tired and look dead in the photos, then onto cub feeding wehere the cubs were thrown meat into their cages and then we entered the cage to watch (safety not a big concern here compared to NZ and we had to sign indemnity forms before we did anything). WE then went to see the lions being fed which we got some awesome phtos and video and finally in the afternoon we did a carriage ride. Thought it woudl just be a leisurely stroll thru the park and it was but along with that we got really close to zebras and giraffes - absolutely amazing and our best day yet. The rhino tracking that I started this post with was our 2nd best day.
Spent last night 20 km from the Mozambique border and travelled all day today from 6am to 6.30pm to get thru all the borders wheich took hours, across Mozambique and into MAlawi. Weather still very unsettled but warmer. One of the guys saw a snake just next to the tents tonight, a bit scary since it is meant to be deadly.
don and I are both really good (still together) and well. Having a ball together!!
We are thinking of everyone back home knowing that it is 10pm here so it is the morning of Xmas eve back home. Not much Xmas spirit going on here as the countries are really poor. We are thinking of all of you and wishing everyone a Merry Xmas.
Thanks again for the replies to the blog - waiting on Sue G to get taught how to reply.
Michelle, let me know what perfume the two of you want thru both your comment and email me at my school address.
taken over 1000 photos and 2 hours of video so some long nights of reviewing wwith family and friends.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Zimbabwe - Vic Falls part 2

Last post seem to have worked.
Michelle - sense of humour - what sense of humour!!
Karen - no photos as never got that far in the lessons!!
Although we have not seen much wildlife in the national parks we did see on 5 separate occasions on the drive between Maun and Chobe National PArk, elephants. Took photos of most of them - they are so much bigger and darker than the ones I have seen in Thailand, and angrier!!. Saw one come to the side of the road ahead of us, look both ways then run across the road AMAZING.
Back in Zimbabwe at Vic Falls we decided to walk to the Falls this morning. Took about 20mins to get there and were not hassled too much. Although the falls were apparently low levels, they were absolutely amazing, spent about 2 hours in the park where the falls are.
On the way back we tried a cafe for lunch, they did have a menu but had very little that they could cook. Ended up much to Don's delight, with a toasted sandwich and a beer each - they had run out of water!!
Went to a small supermarket that had for sale some very small bottles of water, 6 rather stale looking bread rolls, some carrots and cocoa. Found another supermarket to buy water in 2 litre containers ($1.8 million Zim), they also had a lot of shampoo for sale and fly spray but little else. A bag to carry my water cost $100 000 Zim - did not get one as can't get my head around parting with this type of money even though it is only about 10c NZ.
Back to our little room tonight, with the bed bugs and rats in the roof. Been raining heavily over the last 2 days and now have a rsident frog that likes sitting on our door step when we have the outside light on (although random power cuts make routine difficult). So far the rats have not invaded the room although there is a sizable hole in the bamboo ceiling. Killed my first cock roach tonight in our bathroom.
Toilet paper is at a real premium and managed to make good use of a luxury hotel down by the falls today. Amazing hotel with two restaurants, numerous bars, shops and a very large casino. We were there at about 1pm today and besides the staff who were desperate to serve us, there was NO ONE in the shopping, restaurant and casino area.
Don and I not at each others throats (so much) now and have got ourselves a bit of a routine going. WE are having a blast together and we keep reminding each other how hard we have worked to get here.
Although raining a lot, I am in shorts and t shirt most of the time, quite humid.
Don had a good birthday on the 13th, the driver organised some Warthog for tea, balloons a bottle of Nederburg - all very cool. Also took a plane flight over the Okavango Delta (7 seater) which was great. Saw a huge herd of Elephants - an amazing sight from the air.
- Not for Don's parents - First night in Zimbabwe was spent on another sunset cruise on the Zambezi river on the Zambia side so had to cross Zimbabwe and Zmbian border there and back. All good accept that the grog on the cruise was included in the price, and the grog was local spirits. It tasted OK but I said to Don and hour into the cruise, that he needn't worry (like he was), that I will stop drinking and get him home, off the boat, look after him for an hour at the bar before our transfer picked us up, get him back across the border, look after all the passports, get him to the tent, get the sleeping bags and mats out of the truck, undress him and put him to bed. Don did not worry, continued drinking and I got him home. Pleased and very surprised he did not wake up with a dozy headache. He did wake up at 2am banging against the tent walls and rumaging thru the day packs. I asked him what the problem was. He did not know wehre he was, how he got there or where the cameras and passports were. Told him to chill, I had everything. To this day he can not remember anything from 6.30pm on the boat until 2am. For that matter there were a number of other people in our group that had the same loss of memory experience.
Tomorrow we leave for Bullawayo. Our driver said that the last time he took a Kumuka group thru there, the city had no water - interesting!!
Thanks to those replying to my blog, it is evidence to me that info is getting thru. Hope all who know us are well, we are.

Zimbabwe - Vic Falls

Hopefully this works and there is not a power cut.
HAd some very long days of travel for the first week - up between 4.30 and 5 am ready to leave on the truck by 5.30pm. Experienced rain and still are experiencing some very stormy weather making it impossible to see most wildlife - however we knew this time of year was dodgy. Found a liquor store in Maun and spent up large - Don relieved. Had our first (of no doubt many) doozy arguments at 5.25am one morning - not the best time but the only time I could vent my frustration. Sat next to each other on the truck for the next 4 hours without talking!! All good later in day when had our first sunset cruise on I think the Zambezi river or it could have been the Chobe river - saw heaps of hippos and they were cool!!
Had a safari drive early the next morning 5.30am, in chobe National Park which is meant to house some 5o ooo elephants - did not see one. In fact only wildlife we saw was a small croc, some big lizards, Impala and 2 Dung bettles.
Have been in Vic falls for the last 3 nights. It is meant o be the Queenstown of Zimbabwe and it is as far as Adrenaline activities go (along with the price), but other than that it is our first taste of what we are expect from Zimbabwe. Small children begging, shops shut or it open, they have nothing to sell, people hassling you to buy there curios (I am sure they are made in China). And all the curios are the same!! They even want to buy the clothes off yourown back. Don thought they wanted mine for a tent they were building that was more than one room!!
HAd a very lazy day at the camp site in vic falls yesterday - upgraded to a very dingy room and think we now have bed bugs which have not doubt nexted in our sleeping bags for the remainder of the journey. Also changed some money yesterday on the blackmarket at a rate of $1us for $1.3 million zimbabwe. Offical rate at banks here is nowhere near this. Changed $15US and got $19.5million Zim. Most notes in $200 000 but still we had a great wod of money. Bear at the local bar here at the camp site is $4m Zim so the money is disappearing. We don't go out at night for firstly the real threat of being robbed (and although there is streetlighting they are not turned on), and secondly we are in a national park and animals do come down the main street at night. Will send this now to see if it works and we are about due for another power cut

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Arrived Joberg!

It's 7.20pm Joberg time. Arrived at hotel at 6.07pm just in time for pretour meeting - could not have timed it better. Both well but VERY tired, sore lgs and a bit light headed. Tour is small starting with 13 people until vic falls then lose 7 and gain 2 I think - end up with 7 in total from Vic falls to the end - all seem to be chicks from Vic falls, driver and tour leader are male and Ozzie.
Drama in Dubai airport that took 1/2 hour to sort and don't think it is. Got charged $13 each for a shower. Not knowing anything about UAE currency we assumed it was in UAE currency. When got cedit card receipt purchase it had US$. Told them I wanted a refund as we did not get told currency was US. Managers of hotel in Dubai got involved. Then they told me they were busy people and that they had more to do than deal with me. My issue was that I refused to sign unless I got a reversal of the charge. They could not do a reversal on tehir systm. Never signed receipt - got a bit stressful and pretty much left thinking credit card may still get charged - oh well.
Dubai airport very busy and people sleep anywhere and I mean anywhere.
Plane flights good. Had to wait 20 hours fora a coffee -each time lady came round with coffee, as soon as she got to us the seatbelt sign came on and she could not serve.
Everything fine.

Friday, December 7, 2007

at Sydney airport

4 hours in - only 29 to go.  Great to see those who arrived at the airport - meant a lot to Don and I.
Managed to get a free cup of water from Gloria Jeans when they needed $10 minimum purchase on credit card and I had no Australian currency.  Dosed up on Elizabeth Arden Mediterranean perfume.  Got some young kids behind us all the way to Dubai with two mum's who keep talking and in a foreign language - Don not impressed.    On the plane, when we had just got our meal, had not had a chance of taking the top off, but did manage to knock my freshly poured (very cold) cup of water all over my shirt, down my trousers, over my socks and into my shoes - great start but no more dramas.  Emirates seem to have more leg room than what we are use to on other airlines.  Got explosive checked here and frisked by a dumpy lady - somewhat disappointing. All good.

Monday, December 3, 2007