I have realised from working at both the primary and high schools that there is not a chance in hell of me ever becoming a teacher. Fair enough the teaching level here in Africa is going to be a lot more hard work than in England, but still, fair play to all the teachers out there...you got it tough! I may have found my side job though...tutoring. One on one with a student is defiantly the way to go, no shouting, no writing on the board, no registration. EASY! By the end of this week I had taken the same two girls, tutoring maths everyday for the week. Not only could I see the improvement in their maths, I could see the improvement in their behaviour and the way they acted towards me. They were genuinely grateful for the help I had given them, and that made me feel rather spiffing. At the start of the week, neither Nambela or Ndema could do basic addition, and I'd like to think that now they can recite their timestables and get along well enough in class to understand things a lot better.
My primary school (ages 11-14) netball team are well on their way to becoming stars. They improved so much and I'm so proud of them all, I've got some fab photos of the team which I'll put up once I'm home.
Homework club was always my favourite part of the day...I was good friends with most of the older kids who mainly came to hang out with the volunteers. I was helping a girl Nikki with hers maths aswell and then she brought along her three younger sisters and I ended up staying much longer most days to talk to them all! They wrote me lovely letters when I left yesterday and it was very emotional! My rucksack is now suprisingly empty, I gave Nikki most of my clothes (the ones that were wearable!) as she was quite quiet compared to some of the other kids so I get the feeling she was never really noticed by the volunteers before. The same kids tend to be given stuff everytime a new volunteer arrives. The loud ones who get in your face and make you laugh. Nikki genuinely wanted to learn and that makes her 100% better and more special in my eyes.
Flying home this afternoon...getting picked up at 2.30 from town by Kevin who is taking me to the airport. Really sad to be leaving. Cape Town is most definatly one of the most beautiful and exciting places I have visited, and I can not wait to come back here in the future. Looking forward to getting home at the same time. Feels like I have been away forever...
Love you all
I've missed you
Katie
xxxxxxx
p.s. My rucksack is not that empty...I've just been shopping again...
xxxx
Saturday 5 September 2009
Wednesday 2 September 2009
Last post continued...
I thought Manchester was a pretty decent night out, but Cape Town ruled. I wasn't expecting nice bars and a proper scene, I think my vision of a massive room filled with black people having dance-offs may have been a bit too ambitious. Although I did have a dance off with a massive black guy! And won! and then got cheered by the majority of the room who had circled us to watch! and then got grabbed by a girl who then told me I was her new dance partner! Woopwoop I've cracked Cape Town. Shake it and you've made it.
Sunday was the day the African Trails truck arrived into Cape Town, so I was really excited to hopefully see everyone from tour again! I wandered up to the lodge where they were staying and luckily enough they had only just pulled in and were unpacking all their stuff! Was so great to see everyone...even if it was only very briefly for some. (I'm so sorry I didn't make it back to have drinks with everyone...I was called back to Hout Bay!)
Ended up going on the boat trip to Robben Island with the Canadians Kate and Seana, the Welshies Jenna and Taz the Kiwis Donald and Kathyrn and the token Brits Andrew and Ian. It was such a gorgeous day, blazing sun and not a cloud in the sky. The tour was really interesting, but a bit too "toury". It would have been nicer to be able to wander around the island and the prison a bit more freely. But I learnt a lot and glad I went, was so great to spend time with everyone else aswell.
Sunday night the Canadians and I went for dinner on the waterfront. A bit out of place in our scruffy clothes we didn't care as the food was gorgeous! Defo put on the pounds I lost on tour!
Back to work at the high school this week...good fun!
Looking forward to coming home...
Love you all miss you!
Katie
xxxxxxx
Sunday was the day the African Trails truck arrived into Cape Town, so I was really excited to hopefully see everyone from tour again! I wandered up to the lodge where they were staying and luckily enough they had only just pulled in and were unpacking all their stuff! Was so great to see everyone...even if it was only very briefly for some. (I'm so sorry I didn't make it back to have drinks with everyone...I was called back to Hout Bay!)
Ended up going on the boat trip to Robben Island with the Canadians Kate and Seana, the Welshies Jenna and Taz the Kiwis Donald and Kathyrn and the token Brits Andrew and Ian. It was such a gorgeous day, blazing sun and not a cloud in the sky. The tour was really interesting, but a bit too "toury". It would have been nicer to be able to wander around the island and the prison a bit more freely. But I learnt a lot and glad I went, was so great to spend time with everyone else aswell.
Sunday night the Canadians and I went for dinner on the waterfront. A bit out of place in our scruffy clothes we didn't care as the food was gorgeous! Defo put on the pounds I lost on tour!
Back to work at the high school this week...good fun!
Looking forward to coming home...
Love you all miss you!
Katie
xxxxxxx
Monday 31 August 2009
Raving and Robben Island
Not simultaneously...
Thursday night meal was a huge sucess with a gorgeous meal. Was sad to leave half the group on friday, it's been good to have a large group of us to help at the schools.
Friday day I moved up to the high school where my wonderful maths knowledge was put to the test :P My task for the next week (aswell as teaching netball after school and during p.e. lessons is to tutor the grade 9 kids who struggle the most with their maths. My first student, a 16year old called Nmbela showed me her book and she had just been learning about compound interest. easy peasy I thought. I asked her if she understood and she said no...i then discovered that not only did she not understand interest or anything else she had "learnt" that year, she could hardly recite her 2x table. For the lot of the kids in this school, the teachers don't care what the bad children can do, they only focus on the clever ones and this is already frustrating me no end. I am going to take the same children everyday for an hour each and hopefully start to hammer the basics through. By friday they'll all be reciting Pi into double figures...
Friday night and saturday night we spent in a hostel in Cape Town. Friday we completed centurian. 1 shot of cider every minute for 100 mintues. I have never been so sick in my entire life. Saturday we spent a very hungover day wandering around the waterfront and then preparing to go out into Cape Town in the evening.
To be continued....!!! (homework club is calling!)
Miss you all love you
Katie
xxxxxxx
Thursday night meal was a huge sucess with a gorgeous meal. Was sad to leave half the group on friday, it's been good to have a large group of us to help at the schools.
Friday day I moved up to the high school where my wonderful maths knowledge was put to the test :P My task for the next week (aswell as teaching netball after school and during p.e. lessons is to tutor the grade 9 kids who struggle the most with their maths. My first student, a 16year old called Nmbela showed me her book and she had just been learning about compound interest. easy peasy I thought. I asked her if she understood and she said no...i then discovered that not only did she not understand interest or anything else she had "learnt" that year, she could hardly recite her 2x table. For the lot of the kids in this school, the teachers don't care what the bad children can do, they only focus on the clever ones and this is already frustrating me no end. I am going to take the same children everyday for an hour each and hopefully start to hammer the basics through. By friday they'll all be reciting Pi into double figures...
Friday night and saturday night we spent in a hostel in Cape Town. Friday we completed centurian. 1 shot of cider every minute for 100 mintues. I have never been so sick in my entire life. Saturday we spent a very hungover day wandering around the waterfront and then preparing to go out into Cape Town in the evening.
To be continued....!!! (homework club is calling!)
Miss you all love you
Katie
xxxxxxx
Thursday 27 August 2009
Hout Bay Township.
For those sitting at home, it must be pretty hard to comprehend the state that some of these 14,000 (probably more) people live in. An area of probably less than a square mile in crappy steel roofed shacks that I wouldn't want my guinea pigs living in. The strange thing that I am still struggling to understand is why they don't want to leave. The majority of houses have televisions and stereos, so it isn't as if they have no money whatsoever. A girl Nikki, who I have been helping with her maths told me...It's because black people in the township do not know how to budget. White people save their money, so that's what I am going to do as well. It baffles me how a 12 year old can grasp this concept, yet not the adults who also live in the community.
Work at the primary school has been frustrating. Compared to the high school, the Orangjekloof primary is run pretty well, more than enough teachers and good teaching equipment. I have been helping in a grade 6 class, where my main task is to help the students who have difficulty in understanding English. Afrikaans and Kausa is also taught, and a lot of the children listen along in lessons and copying things off the board without a foggy what's actually being said.
After school I have taken it upon myself to coach the netball teams. A lot of the girls are so keen but their P.e. teacher recently left the school so they have no one to teach them. Mostly under 13, some are really good but just a bit rusty round the edges! Even after four days coaching them for an hour after school I can already see an improvement! We were supposed to have a match today but the organisation of teachers is pretty dyre so it didn't happen :(
After school is Kevin's main project. Homework Club. A community centre in the centre of the township is the base for children who want to learn more or practice after class. There are some who are really keen and beg for you to give them sums to do...it can get a bit tedious, but I'm bonding well with some of the kids. 15 year old Shazza is quite possibly the nicest politest 15 year old i've ever met! She has no self confidence at all though and thinks she's rubbish at everything. I've been helping her with her reading (Harry Potter!) and with her school assignments. She is particularly keen on history and loves telling me about Nelson Mandela and black freedom. In return I'm helping her with a project on Hitler!
Homework club starts in half an hour so I best be off! 6 of the 11 volunteers currently here are leaving tomorrow so we are going out for a meal to say bye! Italian I think...yummmm. Food has been a particular problem as my host mother is not the most generous of people. The rest of the family are wonderful though, two older sisters and a younger brother. Them and their father are hilarious but Gertrude has proven to be the topic of many arguments. I have had to buy my lunch most days which is quite frustrating as I have already paid for three meals a day...
Miss you all, love you
Home in a week!
xxxxxxx
Work at the primary school has been frustrating. Compared to the high school, the Orangjekloof primary is run pretty well, more than enough teachers and good teaching equipment. I have been helping in a grade 6 class, where my main task is to help the students who have difficulty in understanding English. Afrikaans and Kausa is also taught, and a lot of the children listen along in lessons and copying things off the board without a foggy what's actually being said.
After school I have taken it upon myself to coach the netball teams. A lot of the girls are so keen but their P.e. teacher recently left the school so they have no one to teach them. Mostly under 13, some are really good but just a bit rusty round the edges! Even after four days coaching them for an hour after school I can already see an improvement! We were supposed to have a match today but the organisation of teachers is pretty dyre so it didn't happen :(
After school is Kevin's main project. Homework Club. A community centre in the centre of the township is the base for children who want to learn more or practice after class. There are some who are really keen and beg for you to give them sums to do...it can get a bit tedious, but I'm bonding well with some of the kids. 15 year old Shazza is quite possibly the nicest politest 15 year old i've ever met! She has no self confidence at all though and thinks she's rubbish at everything. I've been helping her with her reading (Harry Potter!) and with her school assignments. She is particularly keen on history and loves telling me about Nelson Mandela and black freedom. In return I'm helping her with a project on Hitler!
Homework club starts in half an hour so I best be off! 6 of the 11 volunteers currently here are leaving tomorrow so we are going out for a meal to say bye! Italian I think...yummmm. Food has been a particular problem as my host mother is not the most generous of people. The rest of the family are wonderful though, two older sisters and a younger brother. Them and their father are hilarious but Gertrude has proven to be the topic of many arguments. I have had to buy my lunch most days which is quite frustrating as I have already paid for three meals a day...
Miss you all, love you
Home in a week!
xxxxxxx
Sunday 23 August 2009
V & A Waterfront and Simonstown...
Loving the internet here in Cape Town, its ridiculously fast!! Better than at home even.
Shopping was lovely yesterday =) Walked the 45 minute walk down to the waterfront from the house up in the hills of Cape town (the Gardens region). The Waterfront is just beautiful with the huge marina and docking yards. Old boats from around the world come here to be rejuventated and re-painted so the yard was full of old ships. The shopping centre is gorgeoussssssssss. Mainly designer branded shops but some individual ones too. Bought some jeans and a handbag...sorry Natwest :P Wandered around and took a gander inside the Nelson Mandela gateway, may take a trip to Robben Island next weekend. Very tired from all day shopping so walked home again, collapsed on the sofa and fell asleep! haha.
Today I couldn't really decide what to do, Kevin is due to pick me up at 5pm to take me to my family's house in Hout Bay. Thought I'd wander down to the train station in Cape Town with my Lonely Planet and decide from there. Simonstown was the next train so I hopped on. The 80 minute journey cost me 23 rand. That's about 1.80!! Simonstown is a lovely little seaside town on the east coast, where the water is a lot warmer from the Indian Ocean. The train although stopping at every station on the way making it very slow was lovely as it followed the coast for the majority of the way. Once in Simonstown I meandered around and then trekked the 30minute upward struggle to Boulders Beach, where a massive colony of African penguins reside. ahhhh they're so gorgeous! A lot smaller than I thought they would be! You can get really close to them as the boardwalks built purposefully allow you to see their nests. I got a gorgeous photo of a penguin watching its eggs! Running out of room on my memory card (mum sorry but I lost that memory card you gave me when I left! eee!) Going to try and get all photos burnt to disc...
Start at the school early tomorrow morning. Exciting!!
Love you all, miss youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
Kates
xxxxxx
Shopping was lovely yesterday =) Walked the 45 minute walk down to the waterfront from the house up in the hills of Cape town (the Gardens region). The Waterfront is just beautiful with the huge marina and docking yards. Old boats from around the world come here to be rejuventated and re-painted so the yard was full of old ships. The shopping centre is gorgeoussssssssss. Mainly designer branded shops but some individual ones too. Bought some jeans and a handbag...sorry Natwest :P Wandered around and took a gander inside the Nelson Mandela gateway, may take a trip to Robben Island next weekend. Very tired from all day shopping so walked home again, collapsed on the sofa and fell asleep! haha.
Today I couldn't really decide what to do, Kevin is due to pick me up at 5pm to take me to my family's house in Hout Bay. Thought I'd wander down to the train station in Cape Town with my Lonely Planet and decide from there. Simonstown was the next train so I hopped on. The 80 minute journey cost me 23 rand. That's about 1.80!! Simonstown is a lovely little seaside town on the east coast, where the water is a lot warmer from the Indian Ocean. The train although stopping at every station on the way making it very slow was lovely as it followed the coast for the majority of the way. Once in Simonstown I meandered around and then trekked the 30minute upward struggle to Boulders Beach, where a massive colony of African penguins reside. ahhhh they're so gorgeous! A lot smaller than I thought they would be! You can get really close to them as the boardwalks built purposefully allow you to see their nests. I got a gorgeous photo of a penguin watching its eggs! Running out of room on my memory card (mum sorry but I lost that memory card you gave me when I left! eee!) Going to try and get all photos burnt to disc...
Start at the school early tomorrow morning. Exciting!!
Love you all, miss youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
Kates
xxxxxx
Saturday 22 August 2009
On ma larry...
well not really...
So Fred's flew home on thursday (Oi mrs...have you got home okay?!!) and as she checked in I got picked up for my two week long project in Hout Bay, about 10/20km from the centre of Cape Town. The project itself is run by a couple Karen and Kevin. The latter of who i found out is originally from Countersthorpe, and went to school in Wigston! how freaky! For the last two nights and tongiht im staying in a house next door to Karen and Kevin with a couple of other volunteers who are actually in Cape Town projects. Sunday I move to Hout Bay to live with the other Hout Bay volunteers.
Kevin picked me up and another guy who flew in that morning. (Alex is about to start a postgrad at Manchester university in International Business...Again, HOW freaky?!!!) We drove around to the Bay and visited the township. Although the project is already doing the world of good, teaching in the two local schools, orgainsing a homework club afterschool and netball/soccer sessions, it does seem rather unorganised. Kevin is the sole taxi driver and runs around here there and everywhere picking people up. Everyone in the township knows him and for the day was with him he must have picked up over a hundred kids from everywhere and dropping them off somewhere else or giving them a bit of change to go to the shop. All the children dote on him. The township itself is not the nicest. Set on a hill underneath Table mountain I dread to think how many people live inside each of the tiny dirty metal sheets, all squished into the tinyest spaces. I spent the afternoon with some of the other volunteers who have already been here for a week or so teaching in the homework club and playing games in p.e. lessons. Hectic and rather stressful I was absolutly knackered when Kevin came to pick us up. (which is never ever going to be on time...!)
I now have a couple of days to chill and to do some more sightseeing before I start work properly on monday. Going out into Cape Town with the others tonight hopefully. But now...SHOPPING TIME!!
Miss you all, love you
Kates
xxxxx
P.S (whoever is my friend on facebook, loads of pics have been put up from the people on the tour who are already home! pretty funny! Mic, could you show mum...I know shes gagging to be nosey!! haha love you)
xxxxxxx
So Fred's flew home on thursday (Oi mrs...have you got home okay?!!) and as she checked in I got picked up for my two week long project in Hout Bay, about 10/20km from the centre of Cape Town. The project itself is run by a couple Karen and Kevin. The latter of who i found out is originally from Countersthorpe, and went to school in Wigston! how freaky! For the last two nights and tongiht im staying in a house next door to Karen and Kevin with a couple of other volunteers who are actually in Cape Town projects. Sunday I move to Hout Bay to live with the other Hout Bay volunteers.
Kevin picked me up and another guy who flew in that morning. (Alex is about to start a postgrad at Manchester university in International Business...Again, HOW freaky?!!!) We drove around to the Bay and visited the township. Although the project is already doing the world of good, teaching in the two local schools, orgainsing a homework club afterschool and netball/soccer sessions, it does seem rather unorganised. Kevin is the sole taxi driver and runs around here there and everywhere picking people up. Everyone in the township knows him and for the day was with him he must have picked up over a hundred kids from everywhere and dropping them off somewhere else or giving them a bit of change to go to the shop. All the children dote on him. The township itself is not the nicest. Set on a hill underneath Table mountain I dread to think how many people live inside each of the tiny dirty metal sheets, all squished into the tinyest spaces. I spent the afternoon with some of the other volunteers who have already been here for a week or so teaching in the homework club and playing games in p.e. lessons. Hectic and rather stressful I was absolutly knackered when Kevin came to pick us up. (which is never ever going to be on time...!)
I now have a couple of days to chill and to do some more sightseeing before I start work properly on monday. Going out into Cape Town with the others tonight hopefully. But now...SHOPPING TIME!!
Miss you all, love you
Kates
xxxxx
P.S (whoever is my friend on facebook, loads of pics have been put up from the people on the tour who are already home! pretty funny! Mic, could you show mum...I know shes gagging to be nosey!! haha love you)
xxxxxxx
Wednesday 19 August 2009
bye bye guysss
well i no i have only written like 2 blogs but they are by far the best...so im sure you will all miss my imput!
even though this trip has been the most amazing thing i am so excited to go home. i have missed oliver like nobodies business and i cannot wait to see everyone. i just got a wall post from kimaynes saying 2 days and i cant actually believe that it has come around this quickly. im so excitedddddddddd!!!!!! i guess ill see most people on sat so wooooooo!!
now for the mushy part, so sad to be leaving kate hope you have an amazing time doing this project thingy magigy! but i no it wont be as good without me...ha!!! these days in capetown have been some of the best and so glad we have done it together!! i love you long time!!!
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa see everyone sooon
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
even though this trip has been the most amazing thing i am so excited to go home. i have missed oliver like nobodies business and i cannot wait to see everyone. i just got a wall post from kimaynes saying 2 days and i cant actually believe that it has come around this quickly. im so excitedddddddddd!!!!!! i guess ill see most people on sat so wooooooo!!
now for the mushy part, so sad to be leaving kate hope you have an amazing time doing this project thingy magigy! but i no it wont be as good without me...ha!!! these days in capetown have been some of the best and so glad we have done it together!! i love you long time!!!
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa see everyone sooon
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cape Town.
I think both Freds and I now have a new found love for train travel. Think of a box, then a smaller box, then an even smaller box, then half it. That's how small our "first class" apartment was on the 26 hour journey from Jo'burg to Cape Town. AMT (Africa Maybe time) was inevitable though as the train was three hours late getting into Cape Town. We found it very hard to stay awake during the journey, but then very hard to stay asleep at night. The beds were not the most comfortable. Neither the warmest, we donned our sleeping bags for the majority of the journey. Food was good though and resonably cheap.
Arrived in Cape Town around 3 o'clock, gutted to arrive to rain. Our first since a slight drizzle at Chitimba, Malawi over 3 weeks ago. With our heavy bags in tow (we both have bought a ridiculous amount of wood carvings...) we sought out trying to find Ashanti Lodge, our home for two nights. Much to Freds annoyance we walked in the rain, but my excellent navigation skills found the way and we arrived around half and hour later. Freddie is now yelling at me saying "WHATEVER!!" Darling...its true. :P The Lodge is lovely. The most amazing showers with actual real tiles on the floor and a glass casing!!! WOW!!! That evening along with two other girls sharing our dorm room we set off for the famous Long Street (according to the LP guide) in search of a decent restaurant. We stumbled upon a little mexican with interesting character and your own personal sombraros. Wonderful. Stuffed us right up good and proper. The other two headed off back to the hostel but Freds and I decided to sample the local nightlife. Well...we went to a bar called Zula where an acoustic music night was going on. Two guys Matt and Max were brilliant, and entertained us for a few hours. Dads...(Katie's) They did a brilliant cover of Mark Knoflers Romeo and Juilet...made me think of you!!
Today...woke up to gorgeous sunshine, even though the forecast was dyre, the gods are with us! Headed straight for Table mountain to make the hard trek up the side. Via cable car! Gorgeous views despite our toes getting frostbite. Note...dont wear open toed sandles next time! Then caught the sightseeing bus across the city to Sandy Bay, the posh area of town where all the rich cool kids hang out. Suited us then! Had lunch in a upmarket restaurant then paddled in the sea and watched the waves crash around whilst still sitting directly underneath Table Mountain. I can see why this idilic place is the setting for many photo shoots and film documentries. Utter beauty. We then got on back on our bus and headed to the V&A Waterfront. Wandered around the shops and through the craft market. I think I now want to live in Cape Town, it's just so gorgeous!! Even through the cold (probably around 15degrees) it was all just marvelous. Back on the bus, we headed back up to Long Street for a tad more shopping and to get food for dinner tonight. We're staying in, cooking for ourselves in the hostel kitchen and slobbing out infront of the tv for hostel movie night. niceeeee.
Tomorrow is more shopping (there is a brilliant line of vintage shops near our hostel, very excited!!) and visiting some of the gallerys and museums. Fred flys home tomorrow (boooo) so we are getting a taxi from the hostel to the airport around 2.30pm. As she checks in, I get picked up from the airport and taken to my project around 20km away in Hout Bay.
It's been fantastic having Freds with me. This would no way even have been close to as much fun without her.
Let the adventure continue!!!
Love you all
miss youuuuuuuu
love Freddie and Kates
xxxxxxxx
Arrived in Cape Town around 3 o'clock, gutted to arrive to rain. Our first since a slight drizzle at Chitimba, Malawi over 3 weeks ago. With our heavy bags in tow (we both have bought a ridiculous amount of wood carvings...) we sought out trying to find Ashanti Lodge, our home for two nights. Much to Freds annoyance we walked in the rain, but my excellent navigation skills found the way and we arrived around half and hour later. Freddie is now yelling at me saying "WHATEVER!!" Darling...its true. :P The Lodge is lovely. The most amazing showers with actual real tiles on the floor and a glass casing!!! WOW!!! That evening along with two other girls sharing our dorm room we set off for the famous Long Street (according to the LP guide) in search of a decent restaurant. We stumbled upon a little mexican with interesting character and your own personal sombraros. Wonderful. Stuffed us right up good and proper. The other two headed off back to the hostel but Freds and I decided to sample the local nightlife. Well...we went to a bar called Zula where an acoustic music night was going on. Two guys Matt and Max were brilliant, and entertained us for a few hours. Dads...(Katie's) They did a brilliant cover of Mark Knoflers Romeo and Juilet...made me think of you!!
Today...woke up to gorgeous sunshine, even though the forecast was dyre, the gods are with us! Headed straight for Table mountain to make the hard trek up the side. Via cable car! Gorgeous views despite our toes getting frostbite. Note...dont wear open toed sandles next time! Then caught the sightseeing bus across the city to Sandy Bay, the posh area of town where all the rich cool kids hang out. Suited us then! Had lunch in a upmarket restaurant then paddled in the sea and watched the waves crash around whilst still sitting directly underneath Table Mountain. I can see why this idilic place is the setting for many photo shoots and film documentries. Utter beauty. We then got on back on our bus and headed to the V&A Waterfront. Wandered around the shops and through the craft market. I think I now want to live in Cape Town, it's just so gorgeous!! Even through the cold (probably around 15degrees) it was all just marvelous. Back on the bus, we headed back up to Long Street for a tad more shopping and to get food for dinner tonight. We're staying in, cooking for ourselves in the hostel kitchen and slobbing out infront of the tv for hostel movie night. niceeeee.
Tomorrow is more shopping (there is a brilliant line of vintage shops near our hostel, very excited!!) and visiting some of the gallerys and museums. Fred flys home tomorrow (boooo) so we are getting a taxi from the hostel to the airport around 2.30pm. As she checks in, I get picked up from the airport and taken to my project around 20km away in Hout Bay.
It's been fantastic having Freds with me. This would no way even have been close to as much fun without her.
Let the adventure continue!!!
Love you all
miss youuuuuuuu
love Freddie and Kates
xxxxxxxx
Sunday 16 August 2009
Maun - Jo'burg
Hi everyone, I have 8 minutes left on my timer so it's going to be quick! (it's Katie btw!)
I ended up staying in Maun, Botswana for five nights when the rest of the African Trails group headed off into the Delta. Had a good lot of time to catch up on stuff and just chill! (the tan has progressed quite a lot...it was boiling!) I chose to endure an hour flight over the Delta with the Candians, Sam and Liam who had also stayed behind. I hate flying. I hate it even more now! A tiny five seater plane...my worst nightmare! The Delta though was beautiful, from the 500 feet in the air you could see for miles...just bare wilderness. The curvature of the earth you could see even. Lovely, but I could have done with going up for 5 minutes then coming straight back down.
The African Trails truck left us behind in Maun with the 7 others leaving for Jo'burg...was very emotional as had become quite close to a lot of the group! I'm sure there are going to be many a trip round the country and across to Oz and Canada hopefully!!
Freds and I flew out of Maun this morning with Air Botwana to make the hour and a half flight to Jo'burg. Yet again showing my fear of flying. We are now in the Backpackers Ritz in Jo'burg, buzzing with people and ready to get drunk tonight to say goodbye to the rest of the group here with us before we make the 26 hour train journey to Cape Town early tomorrow morning!
Wish us luck!!
love you all
miss you all so much...
Freddie and Katie
xxxxxxxx
I ended up staying in Maun, Botswana for five nights when the rest of the African Trails group headed off into the Delta. Had a good lot of time to catch up on stuff and just chill! (the tan has progressed quite a lot...it was boiling!) I chose to endure an hour flight over the Delta with the Candians, Sam and Liam who had also stayed behind. I hate flying. I hate it even more now! A tiny five seater plane...my worst nightmare! The Delta though was beautiful, from the 500 feet in the air you could see for miles...just bare wilderness. The curvature of the earth you could see even. Lovely, but I could have done with going up for 5 minutes then coming straight back down.
The African Trails truck left us behind in Maun with the 7 others leaving for Jo'burg...was very emotional as had become quite close to a lot of the group! I'm sure there are going to be many a trip round the country and across to Oz and Canada hopefully!!
Freds and I flew out of Maun this morning with Air Botwana to make the hour and a half flight to Jo'burg. Yet again showing my fear of flying. We are now in the Backpackers Ritz in Jo'burg, buzzing with people and ready to get drunk tonight to say goodbye to the rest of the group here with us before we make the 26 hour train journey to Cape Town early tomorrow morning!
Wish us luck!!
love you all
miss you all so much...
Freddie and Katie
xxxxxxxx
Livingstone, Zambia - Thebe campsite, Botswana
freddie here again, wooooooo!
the next day was spent still in Livingstone. we didnt have amything planned till the evening so we did things like washing in the morning, how exciting? however i had brought some washing powder and for africa our clothes were amazing and actually smelt nice we wondered into town to look at the markets. i traded a pair of shorts and an elastic band for a souvenier. the sellers wanted the strangest things! Katie and i were having heart palpatations by the end of it because ever stall hastles you and tells you their life story. I manages to give one guy some stall layout advice for which he seemed very grateful. After that we went back to the campsite, swam in the coldest and dirtiest pool you can imagine and got ready for the sunset booze cruize. the boys dressed up as girls ( i now own a stretched dress) and i dressed up as a boy, well i wore one of their afican tops as a dress! on the other hand katie and canadian katie dressed up as what can only be describrd as a chav! it was a all matching tracksuit, meant for a little child!FIT! but it was absolutely hilarious when we arrived. Too say the form of transport, that was taking us down the river, was a raft was a slight overstatement! it was like planks of wood attached to steel barrels with another layer on top. So all the drinks on this trip were included. can you imagine the state we were in? i cant either because i dont really remember much. we met these people who were on world challenge and they had met up with dixie!!!! and knew richard simpson! ha! we stumbled off the raft and there was a bonfire which we got to dance around and bang some drums. i would like to add that i was amazing! then we had a dance in the bar and this local girl was grinding on me, lovely experience. i would love to tell you what kate was doing at this point but i dont have much recollection of her throughout the night. then it was time to go home and me and kates were in bed by 10.30!
the next morning it was some bright sparks idea to go white water rafting. everyone felt a little worse for wear! first we had to climb down a gorge. we were told flip flops were fine but it was like climbing down the side of a bloody mountain.
our raft group consisted of kate and rob, andrew, canadian kate and shana, katie and i. we told our guide that we wanted to be an extreme group but when one of our team couldnt grasp paddling forward and backward, i think he made it as easy as possible. (that wasnt me by the way!) The first rapid was the best but after that it was quite tame. we all agreed ot would have been better to be way more hardcore but nevertheless we loved it! we were aloud to jump out of some of the rapids. katie got stuck in a whirlpool and i shot down so fast that i had to get in someone elses raft for a few minutes. when we got to the end we had an amazing lunch and the driveback consisted of chanting and drinking. that night everyone was in bed by 9 O'clock.
the next day was our drive to botswana. my bum was in agony, which was odd when everyone elses arms and legs ached! so sitting on a bumpy truck was not my fav activity for the day. it was our shortest journey yet. when we arrived at the campsite we watched the rafting DVD. one girl, ellie, had fallen out of the raft and when she was pulled back in her bottoms had come down. she was praying that this wasnt on the DVD. not only was it on there, but it was on the highlights at the end in slow motion 5 times!
the next day was a very long journey 8-6.
missing you all loads. but its not long till you will see my tanned face again
lots of love
freddie and katie
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the next day was spent still in Livingstone. we didnt have amything planned till the evening so we did things like washing in the morning, how exciting? however i had brought some washing powder and for africa our clothes were amazing and actually smelt nice we wondered into town to look at the markets. i traded a pair of shorts and an elastic band for a souvenier. the sellers wanted the strangest things! Katie and i were having heart palpatations by the end of it because ever stall hastles you and tells you their life story. I manages to give one guy some stall layout advice for which he seemed very grateful. After that we went back to the campsite, swam in the coldest and dirtiest pool you can imagine and got ready for the sunset booze cruize. the boys dressed up as girls ( i now own a stretched dress) and i dressed up as a boy, well i wore one of their afican tops as a dress! on the other hand katie and canadian katie dressed up as what can only be describrd as a chav! it was a all matching tracksuit, meant for a little child!FIT! but it was absolutely hilarious when we arrived. Too say the form of transport, that was taking us down the river, was a raft was a slight overstatement! it was like planks of wood attached to steel barrels with another layer on top. So all the drinks on this trip were included. can you imagine the state we were in? i cant either because i dont really remember much. we met these people who were on world challenge and they had met up with dixie!!!! and knew richard simpson! ha! we stumbled off the raft and there was a bonfire which we got to dance around and bang some drums. i would like to add that i was amazing! then we had a dance in the bar and this local girl was grinding on me, lovely experience. i would love to tell you what kate was doing at this point but i dont have much recollection of her throughout the night. then it was time to go home and me and kates were in bed by 10.30!
the next morning it was some bright sparks idea to go white water rafting. everyone felt a little worse for wear! first we had to climb down a gorge. we were told flip flops were fine but it was like climbing down the side of a bloody mountain.
our raft group consisted of kate and rob, andrew, canadian kate and shana, katie and i. we told our guide that we wanted to be an extreme group but when one of our team couldnt grasp paddling forward and backward, i think he made it as easy as possible. (that wasnt me by the way!) The first rapid was the best but after that it was quite tame. we all agreed ot would have been better to be way more hardcore but nevertheless we loved it! we were aloud to jump out of some of the rapids. katie got stuck in a whirlpool and i shot down so fast that i had to get in someone elses raft for a few minutes. when we got to the end we had an amazing lunch and the driveback consisted of chanting and drinking. that night everyone was in bed by 9 O'clock.
the next day was our drive to botswana. my bum was in agony, which was odd when everyone elses arms and legs ached! so sitting on a bumpy truck was not my fav activity for the day. it was our shortest journey yet. when we arrived at the campsite we watched the rafting DVD. one girl, ellie, had fallen out of the raft and when she was pulled back in her bottoms had come down. she was praying that this wasnt on the DVD. not only was it on there, but it was on the highlights at the end in slow motion 5 times!
the next day was a very long journey 8-6.
missing you all loads. but its not long till you will see my tanned face again
lots of love
freddie and katie
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Tuesday 11 August 2009
Quickie....
Hi everyone! Freddie has written an excellent (or so she tells me) blog that we were going to upload today but she has forgotten to bring her journal which she wrote it in with her into town, so no blog until after she gets back from the Delta i'm afraid!!
Just to tell everyone that we're both still having an amazing time. We're in Botswana now, about an hour or so away from the Okavango Delta in a town called Maun. Botswana isn't the most inspiring country, as our guidebook tells us Maun is the most tourist-friendly town in the whole of the country...I was bored 10 minutes after arriving!!
Freddie is off on a two night wilderness stay in the Delta early tomorrow morning, I've decided not to go and chill in our campsite for a few days with the Canadians Katie and Seana, and Jenna one of the new arrivals we picked up in Livingstone. We're going on a hour long flight over the Delta on thursday which is supposed to be the best way to see the river and animals, so I'm very excited about that!
Hope you are all keeping well and can manage to hold in your excitement for Freddie's next installment...
Love you lots and lots
Freddie and Katie
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Just to tell everyone that we're both still having an amazing time. We're in Botswana now, about an hour or so away from the Okavango Delta in a town called Maun. Botswana isn't the most inspiring country, as our guidebook tells us Maun is the most tourist-friendly town in the whole of the country...I was bored 10 minutes after arriving!!
Freddie is off on a two night wilderness stay in the Delta early tomorrow morning, I've decided not to go and chill in our campsite for a few days with the Canadians Katie and Seana, and Jenna one of the new arrivals we picked up in Livingstone. We're going on a hour long flight over the Delta on thursday which is supposed to be the best way to see the river and animals, so I'm very excited about that!
Hope you are all keeping well and can manage to hold in your excitement for Freddie's next installment...
Love you lots and lots
Freddie and Katie
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Thursday 6 August 2009
In Transit and now Zambia!
Katie's back. Wow, internet in Livingstone, zambia is not the greatest so I'm hoping that this manages to make it through to you all!
When we left Llongwe, we also left Ellie. Second year medical student at Notts uni...we're already missing you lovely! Emotional goodbye as the truck set off to enter Zambia and leave Malawi behind. Our main destination is where I'm writing this from in Livingstone but we had a few transit stops along the way... our first was a couple of nights in Croc Valley campsite in South Luagana national park. My favourite campsite that we've been in. Slap bang in the middle of the park our main companions in the site were hippos, elephants and crocs. Based with a gorgeous view on the river we could see crocs and hippos lazing around on the banks and occasionaly moving in the mud. hippos are rather boring creatures I've come to realise! Elephants and giraffes grazed on the other side and seemed oblivious to our presence. The majority of the group went off for either a morning or night game drive but Freds and I decided to stay back to save money...as it turns out the drives proved dissapointing compared to the Serengeti.
Our next night was a bush camp! No campsite, just off roading in the middle of nowhere! The middle of nowhere though turned out to be in the middle of somewhere for the Zambians as a group of youngsters seemed to turn up as soon as we got our tents out and sit round the fire with us all evening. Freds and I volunteered to be on truck watch and ditched our tent for the comfort of the truck roof! very exciting to sleep with the moon in view. Rather chilly so was very grateful for my sleeping bag. (which has a distinctive odour about it now...)
We had another night at some campsite two nights ago but all I can remember of it now is some very cute dogs that Seana named Beans and Toast, and Fish and Chips. A lot of conversations nowadays are about food. hmmmm food.
So last night we stayed our first of four nights at the Grotto Camp in Livingstone. About 20 mins drive from Victoria Falls. Camp is really nice, very busy as there were three other trucks staying there last night. (also lovely to be woken up at 6.30 by them packing up) We arrived and were shown a video of all the adreliline and animal things we can do over our stay here. Bungys, gorge swings, helicopter rides, rafting...exciting!!!!!!!
I booked in for a bungy jump which I've just done! Actually the most terrifying thing in the world. Looking over the drop and thinking i'm just about to plumet 110m down there I thought my pants weren't going to make it! Luckily they did and it was amazing!!! I bought a video and the photos i'll try to put up shortly! The bung was off a bridge just next to Vic Falls, so me and Seana (who was also jumping) and the rest of the gang who had come along to support us walked over to the Falls.
BEAUTIFUL. We got pretty soaked but they are just about the most fantastic natural things I've ever seen. It's a gorgeous day today as well which is just as well, we dried off pretty quickly in the sun. (tan is peeling...booooo)
Tomorrow we are off on a complusory booze cruise set by our driver Karl in the afternoon so we're gonna spend the morning exploring Livingstone which seems quaint with some lovely little markets and shops. I might trade in all my clothes for new ones =) Saturday is white water rafting day which i am SO SO excited about! The Zambezi river is acclaimed to be the best place in the world to raft down...woop!
Hope everyone is having fun at home/abroad whereever you may be! And that the weather is as nice as here!
Love you all, miss you tons and tons
Freddie and Kates
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When we left Llongwe, we also left Ellie. Second year medical student at Notts uni...we're already missing you lovely! Emotional goodbye as the truck set off to enter Zambia and leave Malawi behind. Our main destination is where I'm writing this from in Livingstone but we had a few transit stops along the way... our first was a couple of nights in Croc Valley campsite in South Luagana national park. My favourite campsite that we've been in. Slap bang in the middle of the park our main companions in the site were hippos, elephants and crocs. Based with a gorgeous view on the river we could see crocs and hippos lazing around on the banks and occasionaly moving in the mud. hippos are rather boring creatures I've come to realise! Elephants and giraffes grazed on the other side and seemed oblivious to our presence. The majority of the group went off for either a morning or night game drive but Freds and I decided to stay back to save money...as it turns out the drives proved dissapointing compared to the Serengeti.
Our next night was a bush camp! No campsite, just off roading in the middle of nowhere! The middle of nowhere though turned out to be in the middle of somewhere for the Zambians as a group of youngsters seemed to turn up as soon as we got our tents out and sit round the fire with us all evening. Freds and I volunteered to be on truck watch and ditched our tent for the comfort of the truck roof! very exciting to sleep with the moon in view. Rather chilly so was very grateful for my sleeping bag. (which has a distinctive odour about it now...)
We had another night at some campsite two nights ago but all I can remember of it now is some very cute dogs that Seana named Beans and Toast, and Fish and Chips. A lot of conversations nowadays are about food. hmmmm food.
So last night we stayed our first of four nights at the Grotto Camp in Livingstone. About 20 mins drive from Victoria Falls. Camp is really nice, very busy as there were three other trucks staying there last night. (also lovely to be woken up at 6.30 by them packing up) We arrived and were shown a video of all the adreliline and animal things we can do over our stay here. Bungys, gorge swings, helicopter rides, rafting...exciting!!!!!!!
I booked in for a bungy jump which I've just done! Actually the most terrifying thing in the world. Looking over the drop and thinking i'm just about to plumet 110m down there I thought my pants weren't going to make it! Luckily they did and it was amazing!!! I bought a video and the photos i'll try to put up shortly! The bung was off a bridge just next to Vic Falls, so me and Seana (who was also jumping) and the rest of the gang who had come along to support us walked over to the Falls.
BEAUTIFUL. We got pretty soaked but they are just about the most fantastic natural things I've ever seen. It's a gorgeous day today as well which is just as well, we dried off pretty quickly in the sun. (tan is peeling...booooo)
Tomorrow we are off on a complusory booze cruise set by our driver Karl in the afternoon so we're gonna spend the morning exploring Livingstone which seems quaint with some lovely little markets and shops. I might trade in all my clothes for new ones =) Saturday is white water rafting day which i am SO SO excited about! The Zambezi river is acclaimed to be the best place in the world to raft down...woop!
Hope everyone is having fun at home/abroad whereever you may be! And that the weather is as nice as here!
Love you all, miss you tons and tons
Freddie and Kates
xxxxxxxxx
Thursday 30 July 2009
freddies first and probably only blog...
hi guys just like to let you know that i have been sitting beside katie when she is writing these blogs but usually im not allowed to touch the keyboard!
also im sorry about the spelling mistakes and lack of grammar and punctuation!!!!
after the first night in Chitimba we decided to go on a huge trek up mount livingstonia and it actually turned out to be 35km not just 32...and it seemed a hell of a lot longer with the steep incline! we walked to the base of the mountain and i was quite positive at that moment. literally after the first ten minutes i thought i wasnt gonna be able to do it!! ha! but then it got a little bit easier and made it up in 3 1/2 hours. pretty good going really? dad i hope you are proud of me!
the view on the way up were absolutely amazing and you could see to the other side of the lake. on the way we got so hungry we were fantasizing about what food we were gonna have the moment we got back to england....ollie on the drive home i am so having a McDonalds! so when we got to the top you can imagine how heartbroken everone was...not only that there was no fast food restaurant but there was no where to eat at all, everything was closed!!!. we ended up waiting 2 1/2 hours for this local guy to cook us some rice and tomatoes. the experience was amazing thou and he had obviously got out his best gold, plastic plates. bless him. we paid him like 30p each and headed back down the mountain! it felt so amazing but as soon as we stopped my legs basically siezed up so we went for a swim/shower and crashed!
ooo forgot to say that on the way up we saw the most gorgous water falls ever....we were planning to swim in it but it turned out to be far cooler than we anticipated and wimped out.
the next day my knees were in agony but kates pranced about as usual. we then drove to kande beach stopping off at this wood market on the way... the things were beautiful! (mum would u like anything cus they have mahogany salad bowls/servers, boxes, games etc and i dont wanna buy you something you will. Also will you please answer my emails i have sent like 5)
kande beach is exactly the same as the one in chitimba but theres just a bit more going on. yesterday me and katie....or katie and i spent the morning in a sleeping bag in a hammock...it was freezing but so nice! i felt like i was a baby in the womb again!! in the afternoon we hired a pedalow with the Canadian girls , kate and shaana that are on our tour (my favs), and went to these rocks that were about 400m away. katie pulled put out the orienteering skills and led us to these 6 foot high rocks that we decided to jump off. Loved it!
today i did an introductory dive course.... only went for a little bit but i have the bug for it now. katie on the other hand, for some strange reason...
(just to let you know there was a power cut at this moment and i am now in a totally different part of malawi finishing it off)
.... decided to go on a horse back ride in a forest and down the beach!! when she came back it was like the set of a old western movie! katie can even pose on the back of a horse!!! she was holding the reigns with one hand looking veryy relaxed....it made me laugh thou.
we celebrated our last night in kande beach and today we drove down to lilongwe.
Hope everyone is ok
lots and lots of love
missing you all
FREDS and kates
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also im sorry about the spelling mistakes and lack of grammar and punctuation!!!!
after the first night in Chitimba we decided to go on a huge trek up mount livingstonia and it actually turned out to be 35km not just 32...and it seemed a hell of a lot longer with the steep incline! we walked to the base of the mountain and i was quite positive at that moment. literally after the first ten minutes i thought i wasnt gonna be able to do it!! ha! but then it got a little bit easier and made it up in 3 1/2 hours. pretty good going really? dad i hope you are proud of me!
the view on the way up were absolutely amazing and you could see to the other side of the lake. on the way we got so hungry we were fantasizing about what food we were gonna have the moment we got back to england....ollie on the drive home i am so having a McDonalds! so when we got to the top you can imagine how heartbroken everone was...not only that there was no fast food restaurant but there was no where to eat at all, everything was closed!!!. we ended up waiting 2 1/2 hours for this local guy to cook us some rice and tomatoes. the experience was amazing thou and he had obviously got out his best gold, plastic plates. bless him. we paid him like 30p each and headed back down the mountain! it felt so amazing but as soon as we stopped my legs basically siezed up so we went for a swim/shower and crashed!
ooo forgot to say that on the way up we saw the most gorgous water falls ever....we were planning to swim in it but it turned out to be far cooler than we anticipated and wimped out.
the next day my knees were in agony but kates pranced about as usual. we then drove to kande beach stopping off at this wood market on the way... the things were beautiful! (mum would u like anything cus they have mahogany salad bowls/servers, boxes, games etc and i dont wanna buy you something you will. Also will you please answer my emails i have sent like 5)
kande beach is exactly the same as the one in chitimba but theres just a bit more going on. yesterday me and katie....or katie and i spent the morning in a sleeping bag in a hammock...it was freezing but so nice! i felt like i was a baby in the womb again!! in the afternoon we hired a pedalow with the Canadian girls , kate and shaana that are on our tour (my favs), and went to these rocks that were about 400m away. katie pulled put out the orienteering skills and led us to these 6 foot high rocks that we decided to jump off. Loved it!
today i did an introductory dive course.... only went for a little bit but i have the bug for it now. katie on the other hand, for some strange reason...
(just to let you know there was a power cut at this moment and i am now in a totally different part of malawi finishing it off)
.... decided to go on a horse back ride in a forest and down the beach!! when she came back it was like the set of a old western movie! katie can even pose on the back of a horse!!! she was holding the reigns with one hand looking veryy relaxed....it made me laugh thou.
we celebrated our last night in kande beach and today we drove down to lilongwe.
Hope everyone is ok
lots and lots of love
missing you all
FREDS and kates
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Sunday 26 July 2009
Rest of Zanzibar and Tanzania
Katie writing here...Internet been bit tricky to find over the past few days so only just got a chance to post! Gonna be quick as its a dollar per 10minutes...now in Malawi and things are tending to be a tad more expensive over here!
Our next day on Zanzibar was spent doing pretty much absolutely nothing...sunbathing and getting washed away by the sea. A few of our group were spending their final nights with us so we had a lovely night saying goodbye to them.
The next day we travelled back to Dar via ferry again...crappy wavey sea which caused a few sea sick casualties.
The past two days have been spent travelling down through Tanzania and today we entered our fourth country...Malawi. First thoughts are that its a lot greener than anywhere else. Malawi is the poorest country in Africa, but so far the most gorgeous. We are staying at a hostel/campsite right in the mountains and on the shores of Lake Malawi. Freds, Ellie, Alex, Dan and I partook in a bit of wavediving and swimming in the lake. Although it feels a lot more like an ocean. Its massive. No salt, just pure fresh water. Beautiful. We watched the sun go down whilst diving in and out of waves. Cold at first but worth it a million times more. We could swim in that lake forever it was so refreshing. As the showers in the campsite come straight from the lake, it was also our shower!
Freds and I are going on a 9/10 hour hike tomorrow up Mount Livingstonia. 16km there and 16km back. Excited to finally be able to use our walking boots. Staying in our campsite again tomorrow then its off to Kande Beach for some party time. Woop woop! Apparently...(mothers close your ears) the speciality of the beach resort are special brownies...again, woop woop!!
Miss you all
Love you lots and lots
Freddie and Kates
xxxxxx
p.s Freddie is gonna write next time. get excited!!!!
Our next day on Zanzibar was spent doing pretty much absolutely nothing...sunbathing and getting washed away by the sea. A few of our group were spending their final nights with us so we had a lovely night saying goodbye to them.
The next day we travelled back to Dar via ferry again...crappy wavey sea which caused a few sea sick casualties.
The past two days have been spent travelling down through Tanzania and today we entered our fourth country...Malawi. First thoughts are that its a lot greener than anywhere else. Malawi is the poorest country in Africa, but so far the most gorgeous. We are staying at a hostel/campsite right in the mountains and on the shores of Lake Malawi. Freds, Ellie, Alex, Dan and I partook in a bit of wavediving and swimming in the lake. Although it feels a lot more like an ocean. Its massive. No salt, just pure fresh water. Beautiful. We watched the sun go down whilst diving in and out of waves. Cold at first but worth it a million times more. We could swim in that lake forever it was so refreshing. As the showers in the campsite come straight from the lake, it was also our shower!
Freds and I are going on a 9/10 hour hike tomorrow up Mount Livingstonia. 16km there and 16km back. Excited to finally be able to use our walking boots. Staying in our campsite again tomorrow then its off to Kande Beach for some party time. Woop woop! Apparently...(mothers close your ears) the speciality of the beach resort are special brownies...again, woop woop!!
Miss you all
Love you lots and lots
Freddie and Kates
xxxxxx
p.s Freddie is gonna write next time. get excited!!!!
Tuesday 21 July 2009
Zanzibar beaches...
Our night in StoneTown was wonderful. Fresh food markets lined the small beach which we overlooked from this posh cocktail bar called Africa Lodge. Was very swish. We sipped Pina Colada from a coconut shell whilst watching the sun go down. Then it was food time! The speciality was fish, so i was determined to try it! White Shark is actually pretty good! Shrimps were vile though. Zanzibarian pizza was also fab. More like crepes but still pretty good!
Arrived in the north beaches of Zanzibar yesterday around 12ish. Half the group had gone on a spice tour of the island, but Freds and I decided against it in favour of our first real chance to catch up with the group on our tans. But as luck would have it, the day was pretty miserable with thick clouds everywhere so we got pretty depressed about having to sit inside all day. No tents here having left the truck back in Dar, so again Freds Ellie and I are sharing a room. Pretty basic, didnt have water or electricity for yesterday which was fun. The whole group is starting to smell pretty gooooood :P
The sun finally appeared around 2/3ish and we got a good few hours tannage time in. The sea is just immaculate. Turquoise blue at the edge, then gorgeous navy where the reef ends. White golden sand. Perfect. Had a rather messy night last night just chilling with the group...quite a popular destination on the tourist route so there were lots of people to chat with. Most people having just climed Kili so there were some fantastic stories to be told.
Today half the group including ourselves set off on a two hour boat trip to a reef where we could snorkel. The sea was pretty choppy and I felt rather ill (the hangover didnt help the situation) Freddie was fine having been quite used to boats and also the fact that she was still very drunk from the night before. The weather was gorgeous and I'm now a very flattering lobster colour. not the tan I was going for. The fish were just magnificent, so many and the coral was itself beautiful. We spent around a hour snorkelling and jumping off the boat when we sailed off to a remote island to have lunch. We had stopped on the way via a fisherman who had lobbed our lunch on board. the best food ive had since ive been here (yes mum - i ate more fish.) The weather then took a turn for the worst and it began to drizzle so we headed back to mainland.
Not sure what the plan is for tomorrow, but tonight i feel may be similar to last night :P
Miss you all
Love you lots and lots
Freddie and Kates
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Arrived in the north beaches of Zanzibar yesterday around 12ish. Half the group had gone on a spice tour of the island, but Freds and I decided against it in favour of our first real chance to catch up with the group on our tans. But as luck would have it, the day was pretty miserable with thick clouds everywhere so we got pretty depressed about having to sit inside all day. No tents here having left the truck back in Dar, so again Freds Ellie and I are sharing a room. Pretty basic, didnt have water or electricity for yesterday which was fun. The whole group is starting to smell pretty gooooood :P
The sun finally appeared around 2/3ish and we got a good few hours tannage time in. The sea is just immaculate. Turquoise blue at the edge, then gorgeous navy where the reef ends. White golden sand. Perfect. Had a rather messy night last night just chilling with the group...quite a popular destination on the tourist route so there were lots of people to chat with. Most people having just climed Kili so there were some fantastic stories to be told.
Today half the group including ourselves set off on a two hour boat trip to a reef where we could snorkel. The sea was pretty choppy and I felt rather ill (the hangover didnt help the situation) Freddie was fine having been quite used to boats and also the fact that she was still very drunk from the night before. The weather was gorgeous and I'm now a very flattering lobster colour. not the tan I was going for. The fish were just magnificent, so many and the coral was itself beautiful. We spent around a hour snorkelling and jumping off the boat when we sailed off to a remote island to have lunch. We had stopped on the way via a fisherman who had lobbed our lunch on board. the best food ive had since ive been here (yes mum - i ate more fish.) The weather then took a turn for the worst and it began to drizzle so we headed back to mainland.
Not sure what the plan is for tomorrow, but tonight i feel may be similar to last night :P
Miss you all
Love you lots and lots
Freddie and Kates
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Sunday 19 July 2009
Travelling...
We have had two days and nights pretty much living on our truck. Which is MASSIVE. But not entirely comfortable for 6/7 hour journeys. Freddie has even managed to squeeze out a wee in the bush when she got too desperate.
We travelled from Arusha to Kwonge (maybe??!) which was half way to Dar, no one really fancied going the whole 13 hour journey in one stop. Pretty average campsite. lovely dribbling cold showers. Then set off yesterday morning to Dar Es Salaam. On first sight a very dirty messy city. Hustle and Bustle everywhere, absolute mayhem on the roads. But when you leave the centre you hit the jungle. Gorgeous scenery overlooking the sea and beaches. Our campsite was heaven. Outdoor showers and a swimming pool. An actual pool. BEAUTIFUL. The campsite had it's own private beach which we jumped straight in off the truck. Mind you...we were warned from the back of the toilet door that "Camp = safe, Outside Camp = Not safe" so no one dared leave the beach for the rest of the evening. We played volleyball (which Katie now has ridiculous bruises all over her wrists - hardcore) and swam in the sea...it felt more like the Carribean paradise than Africa.
We left Dar this morning around 9ish to get a couple of ferries over to Zanzibar. We were soon warned of the dangers of carrying our backpacks when Jenna's shoes were cut off by the laces from her bag. Luckily she realised but everyone was a lot more vigilant after that. Now in Stonetown, Zanzibar which was once probably a lovely little town which gorgeous buildings, but tourists and dirt have made this elegant place seem quite messy. We are now off to a reccomended cocktail bar, overlooking the sea and a night sea-market to sip margeritas and munch on chocolate pizzas (the speciality apparently!) oh the life of a traveller...
Love you all, missing you lots and lots
Freddie and Kates
xxxxxx
We travelled from Arusha to Kwonge (maybe??!) which was half way to Dar, no one really fancied going the whole 13 hour journey in one stop. Pretty average campsite. lovely dribbling cold showers. Then set off yesterday morning to Dar Es Salaam. On first sight a very dirty messy city. Hustle and Bustle everywhere, absolute mayhem on the roads. But when you leave the centre you hit the jungle. Gorgeous scenery overlooking the sea and beaches. Our campsite was heaven. Outdoor showers and a swimming pool. An actual pool. BEAUTIFUL. The campsite had it's own private beach which we jumped straight in off the truck. Mind you...we were warned from the back of the toilet door that "Camp = safe, Outside Camp = Not safe" so no one dared leave the beach for the rest of the evening. We played volleyball (which Katie now has ridiculous bruises all over her wrists - hardcore) and swam in the sea...it felt more like the Carribean paradise than Africa.
We left Dar this morning around 9ish to get a couple of ferries over to Zanzibar. We were soon warned of the dangers of carrying our backpacks when Jenna's shoes were cut off by the laces from her bag. Luckily she realised but everyone was a lot more vigilant after that. Now in Stonetown, Zanzibar which was once probably a lovely little town which gorgeous buildings, but tourists and dirt have made this elegant place seem quite messy. We are now off to a reccomended cocktail bar, overlooking the sea and a night sea-market to sip margeritas and munch on chocolate pizzas (the speciality apparently!) oh the life of a traveller...
Love you all, missing you lots and lots
Freddie and Kates
xxxxxx
Friday 17 July 2009
Serengeti and Ngorogoro Crater
WOW. Is probably the only word to describe how beautiful this place is. From Arusha we drove about 3 hours for what was to be a 3 day safari. Expensive at $400, but worth every single cent.
The view from the rim of the crater was just immense, the sheer drop into what looked like a huge bowl was incredible. In the distance we could see a herd of wilderbeast making there way across the vast landscape. We drove down the steep mountains to enter the crater, but we were going to the Serengeti first. Serengeti in Swaheli (?!) means endless place and boy is that true. The flatest most nothing landscape imaginable. I was thinking how could anything survive in this place when we hit the animals. Elephant, Gazelle, Lion, Buffalo, Leopard, Baboons, Hyena, Cheeter, and so many more! We could get stupidly close to the animals, we ended up stalking a lioness with her 3 newly born cubs - the cutest thing!! The mother had killed a gazelle so they were busy munching on that! We camped in the middle of the Serengeti, with no fence around us, so was a bit dubious as to whether lions liked eating people in tents. We had our dinner cooked for us which was nice as we are cooking for ourselves every night. The next day was in the Serengeti aswell with more Safari, but we camped at the edge of the Ngorogoro at night. Freezing cold. most people were complaining that they didnt sleep for the cold. Oh how I love my Season 4 sleeping bag!!!
We were desperatly hoping to see the Black Rhino on our last day through the Ngorogoro but our truck driver Livingstone (who was BRILLIANT at knowning everything about the animals) said we would be really lucky to see one as there are only around 18 in the crater. We had luck on our side though as the previous day we had been the first group to see a leopard in the Serengeti for 3 months, so we were pretty hopeful to see a Rhino...and we did! Admitadly, it was from about a mile away, but we saw one! and through binoculars he was pretty darn impressive.
We have now driven back to Arusha and spent last night at a camp with HOT showers. The first of our trip. It was wonderful. Freds hair had been getting pretty matted so she was really grateful to be able to wash it. I was upset as I really want her to grow some dreads.
We are now on our way to Dar es Saleem and Zanzibar!! WOOOOOOP!
Loving it loving it loving it,
Miss you all muchos
Freddie and Kates
xxxxxxx
The view from the rim of the crater was just immense, the sheer drop into what looked like a huge bowl was incredible. In the distance we could see a herd of wilderbeast making there way across the vast landscape. We drove down the steep mountains to enter the crater, but we were going to the Serengeti first. Serengeti in Swaheli (?!) means endless place and boy is that true. The flatest most nothing landscape imaginable. I was thinking how could anything survive in this place when we hit the animals. Elephant, Gazelle, Lion, Buffalo, Leopard, Baboons, Hyena, Cheeter, and so many more! We could get stupidly close to the animals, we ended up stalking a lioness with her 3 newly born cubs - the cutest thing!! The mother had killed a gazelle so they were busy munching on that! We camped in the middle of the Serengeti, with no fence around us, so was a bit dubious as to whether lions liked eating people in tents. We had our dinner cooked for us which was nice as we are cooking for ourselves every night. The next day was in the Serengeti aswell with more Safari, but we camped at the edge of the Ngorogoro at night. Freezing cold. most people were complaining that they didnt sleep for the cold. Oh how I love my Season 4 sleeping bag!!!
We were desperatly hoping to see the Black Rhino on our last day through the Ngorogoro but our truck driver Livingstone (who was BRILLIANT at knowning everything about the animals) said we would be really lucky to see one as there are only around 18 in the crater. We had luck on our side though as the previous day we had been the first group to see a leopard in the Serengeti for 3 months, so we were pretty hopeful to see a Rhino...and we did! Admitadly, it was from about a mile away, but we saw one! and through binoculars he was pretty darn impressive.
We have now driven back to Arusha and spent last night at a camp with HOT showers. The first of our trip. It was wonderful. Freds hair had been getting pretty matted so she was really grateful to be able to wash it. I was upset as I really want her to grow some dreads.
We are now on our way to Dar es Saleem and Zanzibar!! WOOOOOOP!
Loving it loving it loving it,
Miss you all muchos
Freddie and Kates
xxxxxxx
Thursday 16 July 2009
Nairobi - Arusha
Hello everyone! This is the first opportunity we have had access to the internet, but hopefully we will have more chances more often!
We arrived in Nairobi very tired, having stopped over for a few hours in Dubai (nicest airport EVER!) with neither of us managing to get much sleep. Visas were all fine but had to wait an absolute age to get our bags, Freds was getting very stressed out thinking they had been lost... Our transfer car was waiting for us in arrivals, a brilliant Kenyan man named Smiley. He was the most eccentric funny man, laughing constantly at anything that we said. Traffic was pretty hectic driving to Karen, our first campsite, about an hours drive away. Smiley decided to take a detour to avoid the highway and we drove along the bumpy sidetracks causing hilarity again from Smiley as he watched Fred and I bouncing around in the back. We drove passed Nairobi National park giving us our first glimpse of wildlilfe, Zebra. nice.
Karen Camp was lovely, we spent two nights there in a dorm with a girl who is now on our tour, Ellie from Norfolk. She's lovely! Another guy was there called Mark who had biycled from London to Kenya, madman. We spent the day with him listening to his stories and swapping tales. The rest of the African Trails group were already camping at Karen when we arrived, didn't really get much chance to chat to them as they were already on the booze...I feel this trip might involve a lot of drinking!! (ahhhh shame... :P)
Early monday morning we set off from Karen in our truck to make the 7/8 hour drive to Arusha. We had two trucks as there was not enough people to take us all in one. We were told there would be the daddy of all trucks waiting for us in Arusha which could hold about 30, which was good as our trip size is about 25!! Most of the people on the tour our mid-20s. All really nice...some spoken to more than others. A couple of Canadian girls who are our age so that's been good. Most people have come in couples and are from England, but there is an Irish couple and a few girls who have come on their own. A VERY annoying 20year old lad aswell who does nothing but moan. Very gay sounding but keeps talking about ex-girlfriends so I think he's a bit confused...
We arrived in Nairobi very tired, having stopped over for a few hours in Dubai (nicest airport EVER!) with neither of us managing to get much sleep. Visas were all fine but had to wait an absolute age to get our bags, Freds was getting very stressed out thinking they had been lost... Our transfer car was waiting for us in arrivals, a brilliant Kenyan man named Smiley. He was the most eccentric funny man, laughing constantly at anything that we said. Traffic was pretty hectic driving to Karen, our first campsite, about an hours drive away. Smiley decided to take a detour to avoid the highway and we drove along the bumpy sidetracks causing hilarity again from Smiley as he watched Fred and I bouncing around in the back. We drove passed Nairobi National park giving us our first glimpse of wildlilfe, Zebra. nice.
Karen Camp was lovely, we spent two nights there in a dorm with a girl who is now on our tour, Ellie from Norfolk. She's lovely! Another guy was there called Mark who had biycled from London to Kenya, madman. We spent the day with him listening to his stories and swapping tales. The rest of the African Trails group were already camping at Karen when we arrived, didn't really get much chance to chat to them as they were already on the booze...I feel this trip might involve a lot of drinking!! (ahhhh shame... :P)
Early monday morning we set off from Karen in our truck to make the 7/8 hour drive to Arusha. We had two trucks as there was not enough people to take us all in one. We were told there would be the daddy of all trucks waiting for us in Arusha which could hold about 30, which was good as our trip size is about 25!! Most of the people on the tour our mid-20s. All really nice...some spoken to more than others. A couple of Canadian girls who are our age so that's been good. Most people have come in couples and are from England, but there is an Irish couple and a few girls who have come on their own. A VERY annoying 20year old lad aswell who does nothing but moan. Very gay sounding but keeps talking about ex-girlfriends so I think he's a bit confused...
We're here!
Okay, so not really sure how long this internet connection will last so just gonna post a quick to begin with to tello everyone that we're having a GREAT time!!! and we're all safe, now in Tanzania
xxx
xxx
Friday 10 July 2009
wow.
Okay so some of you will find it quite odd that Freds has managed to set this thing up and not me...Freddie, organised?! And blogs are notoriously my thing, so even more suprise there. We're hoping to have internet access every 3/4 days so keep checking for updates!
So yerrrr we leave this afternoon! Feeling pretty scared to be honest, only just hit me that two months is rather a long time! (omg two months without facebook...) Excited too but I think it won't really hit me that we're actually going until we get to the airport! Seeing as we actually only decided to go little over a month ago, I think most people are pretty shocked that we are still going to Africa...most of all, Freds and I.
I'm all packed up, my rucksack suprisingly heavy grrrr. So first its off to Nairobi, Kenya!!!! (via Manchester and Dubai...) See you all in September! Will miss everyone ridiciously, love you all lots and lots and lots
Katie
xxxxxx
The day we fly!!!!!!!!!!
i have no idea what this blog is all about but im giving it a go....
we are going to fly to africa todday and its a right ball ache of a journey cus we are flying to dubai before africa with adds a few more hours and we have to get the train to manchester!!!
i think me and katie are shitting ourselves! we have no idea what it is gonna be like and i dont wanna get mugged! but anyways i think i will have a lot more to write when i am actually there, im gonna miss everyone so much and i hope you all have a wonderfuul summer
lots of love
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