I have been back in the UK 5 1/2 weeks now and time is passing so quickly i barely have time to think. I have returned to work although only part time, but to be honest this is enough with the course in London and trying to finish my dissertation too. The hardest thing about being back has been the lack of money, (not had a full months pay yet), but on the whole i am happy to be back. The most shocking aspect for me since returning is that i actually feel quite settled, a feeling i haven't had for years.
I have been asked many times which country has been my favourite, in truth i have loved it all, the world is a beautiful place and my journey has made me many friends which i will have for a long time, i am sure. However, Zambia and Zimbabwe were amazing, the people are wonderful and the beauty of each county is breathtaking. Those red dusty roads that run in between very green bushes you see while you are sat in the back of a uht, i will never forget. The love of seeing animals such as zebras, vervet monkeys, hippos, lions, cheetahs, crocs in their natural habitat is a favourite and sure enough gives you a different perspective of the local zoo, there is no comparison!
Although Africa is very much mix for example on one hand you have the little villages with the mud houses and then another a five star resort, high rised business buildings and bars with brown leather seating, it is the simple way of living which i admire the most. The Zambians who live in the villages compared to people in the UK have nothing, they don't have the latest fashion designs, they don't have a five bedroomed detached house, their access to health care is poor but what they do have are close family and communty ties and above all are happy. Here in the UK i feel that materialism takes presidence above our happiness.
Australia was another of my favourites for its vastness and its diversity. Sydney felt like home and i am sure will go their again. New Zealand has scenary that will take your breath away and i love looking at the pictures i have taken there.
Before i left for travelling i sold my house and gave up my job but i have no regrets and as i have been told many a time whilst i was on my travels, i have just done something that people only dream of doing, i have every reason to feel proud.
Most of all i am glad i had the opportunity to go, its given me a different outlook and also some wonderful memories which brings a big smile to my face.
Andreaxxx
Friday 5 October 2007
Thursday 30 August 2007
Miami was good!!
Hello
had a great time in Miami, lots of sun and resting to be had! I met up with some girls from England on my last few days so i had quite a sociable time. There are a lot of Latin Americans in Miami got i had plenty of opportunity to practice my Spanish although on a few occasions i announced that "i am sick" (yo soy enferma) instead of " i am a nurse" (yo soy enfermera), initially i could not understand why people were looking at me so horrified, then i realised what i was saying.
Anyway after two weeks of sun, a new haircut, my nails and feet pampered and a small shopping expedition i decided it was time to come home.
I came back to the UK on 28th August, tired and not fresh. Just chilling at the moment, catching up with friends and family.
I think that one last blog entry is in order so keep watching this space as they say every story has a beginning, a middle and an end!
See you soon xxx
had a great time in Miami, lots of sun and resting to be had! I met up with some girls from England on my last few days so i had quite a sociable time. There are a lot of Latin Americans in Miami got i had plenty of opportunity to practice my Spanish although on a few occasions i announced that "i am sick" (yo soy enferma) instead of " i am a nurse" (yo soy enfermera), initially i could not understand why people were looking at me so horrified, then i realised what i was saying.
Anyway after two weeks of sun, a new haircut, my nails and feet pampered and a small shopping expedition i decided it was time to come home.
I came back to the UK on 28th August, tired and not fresh. Just chilling at the moment, catching up with friends and family.
I think that one last blog entry is in order so keep watching this space as they say every story has a beginning, a middle and an end!
See you soon xxx
Sunday 12 August 2007
Party Week
hello all!
Three weeks to go now, can you believe how time flies, its scary. I decided not to go to the animal project in the end, my heart wasn´t in it and i decided to take a full refund and go to Miami for three weeks instead. I fly out tomorrow (Monday 13th August).
I have been in Quito an extra week now and i have been staying with isobel still, my host family. I have had quite a nice time this week, now that a few of us had finished Spanish school we decided to relax, eat, chat and visit a few tourist places, i revisited a few Museums and there is this really good photography exhibition in the Cultural museum depicting the lives of people in South America which i really liked.
I have also been out quite alot with my school friends (most nights) so i have been having a lot of fun. This weekend i went to a town called Otavalo which hosts a big art and craft market which i managed to find a few things to buy. I stayed overnight and in the evening we met up with jack and sandra who we knew from Spanish school, they have now started a South American tour. We ended up in this tiny room (a bar) with plastic tables and chairs and sang really badly on the Karaoke for a few hours, locals kept coming in but then walking back out again ( i guess the singing was really bad).
Today (Sunday 12th August) i am just having a relaxing day catching up on emails and packing my bag for the next section of my trip, i am really looking forward to realaxing on the beach or by the pool as so far this is the one thing i have done very little of. I will probably not write in the blog for a few weeks unless i have something very interesting to say, i reckon i will write here again once i get to Madrid.
Love
Andreaxx
Three weeks to go now, can you believe how time flies, its scary. I decided not to go to the animal project in the end, my heart wasn´t in it and i decided to take a full refund and go to Miami for three weeks instead. I fly out tomorrow (Monday 13th August).
I have been in Quito an extra week now and i have been staying with isobel still, my host family. I have had quite a nice time this week, now that a few of us had finished Spanish school we decided to relax, eat, chat and visit a few tourist places, i revisited a few Museums and there is this really good photography exhibition in the Cultural museum depicting the lives of people in South America which i really liked.
I have also been out quite alot with my school friends (most nights) so i have been having a lot of fun. This weekend i went to a town called Otavalo which hosts a big art and craft market which i managed to find a few things to buy. I stayed overnight and in the evening we met up with jack and sandra who we knew from Spanish school, they have now started a South American tour. We ended up in this tiny room (a bar) with plastic tables and chairs and sang really badly on the Karaoke for a few hours, locals kept coming in but then walking back out again ( i guess the singing was really bad).
Today (Sunday 12th August) i am just having a relaxing day catching up on emails and packing my bag for the next section of my trip, i am really looking forward to realaxing on the beach or by the pool as so far this is the one thing i have done very little of. I will probably not write in the blog for a few weeks unless i have something very interesting to say, i reckon i will write here again once i get to Madrid.
Love
Andreaxx
Monday 30 July 2007
All Change!!
hi , hope all is well.
My Mum commented on the fact that my blog entries were getting shorter and shorter. There is a reason for this i haven´t had my journal when i have been writing it and i have forgotten the things i have done. My travel journal is so big and full now that it requires a suitcase of its own.
Anyway i am about to liven things up. My Galapagos project has been cancelled due to Government restrictions on the National Park and having volunteers working with the tortoises. So as a result i am going to an animal sactuary just near the Amazon Jungle for 12 days. I know you will think i am mad, but i am fairly happy with this as i have had a really bad feeling about the Galapagos since June, and since i have been in Ecuador i have not heard one good word about the project. Somethings are not meant to be!
After the animal project i will then return to Quito for four days before flying to my beach holiday in Miami for 11 days, which i am really looking forward to.
See you all soon
Andreaxx
My Mum commented on the fact that my blog entries were getting shorter and shorter. There is a reason for this i haven´t had my journal when i have been writing it and i have forgotten the things i have done. My travel journal is so big and full now that it requires a suitcase of its own.
Anyway i am about to liven things up. My Galapagos project has been cancelled due to Government restrictions on the National Park and having volunteers working with the tortoises. So as a result i am going to an animal sactuary just near the Amazon Jungle for 12 days. I know you will think i am mad, but i am fairly happy with this as i have had a really bad feeling about the Galapagos since June, and since i have been in Ecuador i have not heard one good word about the project. Somethings are not meant to be!
After the animal project i will then return to Quito for four days before flying to my beach holiday in Miami for 11 days, which i am really looking forward to.
See you all soon
Andreaxx
Wednesday 25 July 2007
Still here
hi everyone hope you are all well. On the countdown to coming home now, roughly about 51/2 weeks now. Have already been making preparations for my return.
Over the past week or so i have been doing quite a bit of sight seeing and concentrating on me Spanish. 99% of the time i have absolutely no idea what to say and then i will get in a taxi or go into a shop and will start speaking Spanish. I can roll my Rs really well...
Today Wednesday 25th ( i think), we had a trip to a wildlife sactury, where they save animals who have been badly treated. Its quit a good place and tourists are not meant to go but it was good to see.
As my travelling bones have got a bit tired since arriving in Ecuador i have treated my self to a nice beach holiday which i am really looking forward too. One last extravagance before i return back to the rat race!!
Andreaxx
Over the past week or so i have been doing quite a bit of sight seeing and concentrating on me Spanish. 99% of the time i have absolutely no idea what to say and then i will get in a taxi or go into a shop and will start speaking Spanish. I can roll my Rs really well...
Today Wednesday 25th ( i think), we had a trip to a wildlife sactury, where they save animals who have been badly treated. Its quit a good place and tourists are not meant to go but it was good to see.
As my travelling bones have got a bit tired since arriving in Ecuador i have treated my self to a nice beach holiday which i am really looking forward too. One last extravagance before i return back to the rat race!!
Andreaxx
Monday 16 July 2007
Feeling Normal
My first week in Ecuador has been a little hectic, from being in nice quietplaces such as the Australian outback and nice little town in New Zealand, i am now submerged in a hectic major city like Quito. Not only have i had to get used to traffic again, there has also been the high altitude and the jet lag to deal with.
In the morning i have four hours of one to one tuition of Spanish and in the afternoon its free time. Last week i killed my self sight seeing in the afternoon and now i am taking a more relaxed approach of doing very little in the afternoon.
At the weekend a few of us went to Banos to visit the thermal pools, i wasn´t well though and had to stay in bed, better now, think i was doing too much.
This week its more of the same, although at the weekend i am planning a hike up Mount Cotopaxi!!
Buenas Dias, Hasta Pronto!!
In the morning i have four hours of one to one tuition of Spanish and in the afternoon its free time. Last week i killed my self sight seeing in the afternoon and now i am taking a more relaxed approach of doing very little in the afternoon.
At the weekend a few of us went to Banos to visit the thermal pools, i wasn´t well though and had to stay in bed, better now, think i was doing too much.
This week its more of the same, although at the weekend i am planning a hike up Mount Cotopaxi!!
Buenas Dias, Hasta Pronto!!
Monday 9 July 2007
End of a chapter, start of another one!
hi, hope all is well. My last days in New Zealand were good, went to a Maori culture evening which was a good night andd the following day we went to a Maori culture centre, saw a few geothermic mud pools. My favourite activity was the 150ft night abseil into the glo worm caves, really cool but terrifying and adrenaline busting, after the abseil we then had to climb 150ft back up so i could do it all again.
I also did a trip to Cape Regina the most northernly point of New Zealand and also a cruise of the bay of islands.
Now i am currently in Ecuador, i spent one night in Chile although i spent it sleeping as i was very jet lagged. Ecuador so far is pretty good, bit breathless from the high altitude but this will settle down in a few days, which is good as i am planning to climb a few mountains. Had my first spanish lesson which was pretty intense but hopefully i will pick it up quite soon.
Take care
Andreax
I also did a trip to Cape Regina the most northernly point of New Zealand and also a cruise of the bay of islands.
Now i am currently in Ecuador, i spent one night in Chile although i spent it sleeping as i was very jet lagged. Ecuador so far is pretty good, bit breathless from the high altitude but this will settle down in a few days, which is good as i am planning to climb a few mountains. Had my first spanish lesson which was pretty intense but hopefully i will pick it up quite soon.
Take care
Andreax
Thursday 28 June 2007
A Year Older (IT IS STILL FREEZING)
A piece of advice, New Zealand is very beautiful but DO NOT go in Winter, i am not joking when i say it is freezing. There have not been many days when the temperature has been above zero.
As i mentioned in my last entry i was in Queenstown and planned to do some horse trekking in the afternoon. I really enjoyed the horse riding and we rode in an area called Glenorchy, alot of scenes from Lord of the Rings were filmed here, its all very beautiful (v.cold) . After the horse riding Fay, Hannah, Anna and myself could no longer feel our feet so we went to the pub for a drink before being picked up and taken back to our hostel. That night was fairly quiet as we had to be up early for the trip to Milford Sound the following day.
19th June (my birthday, yippee made it to 32) as mentioned we were up early, about 5.45am to make our way to Milford sound. My group and the tour guide had decorated the living area in balloons and streamers for my birthday, i got a card and some pressies which was really nice-a good start to the day! The drive to Milford was four and a half hours long, the scenary was fantastic, lots of snow (unusual for a June birthday) but very cold. After the coach journey we then had a boat journey of two hours before the long haul back to Queenstown. Everyone was shattered but i had a really nice birthday tea, and Sue (tour guide) made me a birthday cake with a big 32 in green shrek M and Ms, which was kind.
The following day (Wedensday 20th June) a few of the group went skiing while some of us went for a walk around the shops in Queenstown centre. It is great booking activities but then you miss out on getting a feel for a place. Had a very nice day anyway and in the evening off out to the pub, which turned out to be a very drunken evening indeed-but very funny!!!
Thursday 21st June in the morning we made our way to Arrowtown, a quaint little village with nice shops and just to the side are the remains of a Chinese settlement. There is lot of history in this town but again, very cold. We had a lovely gourmet pie to eat and had a few hot chocolates and by the time we went outside it seemed a little warmer. Then the snow came and it didn't stop snowing for quite some time, so much so that we stayed in Queenstown for 7 days, missing out on Mount Cook, which was such a shame but i do not think we would have seen anything anyway. By the time we left Queenstown (Sunday 24th) moral was a little low, but we were just glad to get out and carry on our trip. We had a one night stop in Christchurch and then made our way to Nelson. Before Nelson we were to stop at Kaikoura to go whale watching, unfortunately due to the bad weather it was cancelled, so instead we went wine and liquer testing-mmmm!That evening we stayed at a lovely hostel called the Accents of Trafalgar, really homely. We were here for two nights. The following day we spent in Able Tasman National Park, first sailing and then we did a 15km hike. (good scenary). Shattered that night we had an early night and then the following day we made our way to Wellington in the North Island of New Zealand. Wellington has a really good feel to it, lovely botanical gardens and an interesting museum. I like it because i was asked to prove i was over 18 in one of the bars, this also happened in Queenstown ( i like it there too). Today i am in an area called Ohakune where i am meant to be doing a 7-8 hour hike on the Tongariro crossing, however due to bad weather it has been cancelled and i am full of a cold anyway so probably for the best. Only five days left of this tour now, even though New Zealand is very beautiful i must say my enthusiasm is waning a little, plus i just can't get warm-craving tropical weather!! Will be in touch soon.
Andreax
As i mentioned in my last entry i was in Queenstown and planned to do some horse trekking in the afternoon. I really enjoyed the horse riding and we rode in an area called Glenorchy, alot of scenes from Lord of the Rings were filmed here, its all very beautiful (v.cold) . After the horse riding Fay, Hannah, Anna and myself could no longer feel our feet so we went to the pub for a drink before being picked up and taken back to our hostel. That night was fairly quiet as we had to be up early for the trip to Milford Sound the following day.
19th June (my birthday, yippee made it to 32) as mentioned we were up early, about 5.45am to make our way to Milford sound. My group and the tour guide had decorated the living area in balloons and streamers for my birthday, i got a card and some pressies which was really nice-a good start to the day! The drive to Milford was four and a half hours long, the scenary was fantastic, lots of snow (unusual for a June birthday) but very cold. After the coach journey we then had a boat journey of two hours before the long haul back to Queenstown. Everyone was shattered but i had a really nice birthday tea, and Sue (tour guide) made me a birthday cake with a big 32 in green shrek M and Ms, which was kind.
The following day (Wedensday 20th June) a few of the group went skiing while some of us went for a walk around the shops in Queenstown centre. It is great booking activities but then you miss out on getting a feel for a place. Had a very nice day anyway and in the evening off out to the pub, which turned out to be a very drunken evening indeed-but very funny!!!
Thursday 21st June in the morning we made our way to Arrowtown, a quaint little village with nice shops and just to the side are the remains of a Chinese settlement. There is lot of history in this town but again, very cold. We had a lovely gourmet pie to eat and had a few hot chocolates and by the time we went outside it seemed a little warmer. Then the snow came and it didn't stop snowing for quite some time, so much so that we stayed in Queenstown for 7 days, missing out on Mount Cook, which was such a shame but i do not think we would have seen anything anyway. By the time we left Queenstown (Sunday 24th) moral was a little low, but we were just glad to get out and carry on our trip. We had a one night stop in Christchurch and then made our way to Nelson. Before Nelson we were to stop at Kaikoura to go whale watching, unfortunately due to the bad weather it was cancelled, so instead we went wine and liquer testing-mmmm!That evening we stayed at a lovely hostel called the Accents of Trafalgar, really homely. We were here for two nights. The following day we spent in Able Tasman National Park, first sailing and then we did a 15km hike. (good scenary). Shattered that night we had an early night and then the following day we made our way to Wellington in the North Island of New Zealand. Wellington has a really good feel to it, lovely botanical gardens and an interesting museum. I like it because i was asked to prove i was over 18 in one of the bars, this also happened in Queenstown ( i like it there too). Today i am in an area called Ohakune where i am meant to be doing a 7-8 hour hike on the Tongariro crossing, however due to bad weather it has been cancelled and i am full of a cold anyway so probably for the best. Only five days left of this tour now, even though New Zealand is very beautiful i must say my enthusiasm is waning a little, plus i just can't get warm-craving tropical weather!! Will be in touch soon.
Andreax
Sunday 17 June 2007
Thermals, hats, gloves and layers
hello, so now i am in New Zealand, it is FREEZING!!!! I have had to invest in some thermal under wear but what a beautiful place i have come to. the scenary is so amazing its almost like being in a dream world. I am currently on a three week tour and with a group of 7 others including the guide. Most of the group are from the UK, apart from a Tara who is from Australia. We left Christchurch on the South Island on the 14th June and made our way to Punakaiki, a coastal town and stayed in a really nice hostel (although i am already craving for sleeping outdoors), its far too cold to camp! Here we did some really nice walks and lots of picture taking. On the 15th June we set off for Franz Joseph Glacier, we arrived after dark so had our evening meal and the we went for a walk down a track to look at the Glo worms. Shattered from all the walking i went to bed after this as i was booked on a three quarter day hike up Franz joseph Glacier on the 16th. Its so cold and all the pubs and hostels have twinkling lights you feel like it should be Christmas.
Saturday 16th June was my hike up the glacier, what a fantastic experience, walking through ice tunnels and crevaces and suprisngly i wasn't cold at all, but with the combination of walking and thermals it was fine. In the evening we were all shattered, we managed a few Vodkas but ended up in bed early. Early get up the following day as we had a 7 hour drive to Christchurch. On the way we stopped off at lake Matherson, Wanaika, a beautiful little town and Lake Hawea which has to be the most amazing thing i have ever seen. The water was so still had looked like it hadn't moved in a long time, totally breath taking. Anyway, i am currently in Queenstown for five nights, going horse riding this afternoon and tomorrow (my birthday) i spend the day at Milford Sound.
keep in touch
Lots of love
Andreaxxx
Saturday 16th June was my hike up the glacier, what a fantastic experience, walking through ice tunnels and crevaces and suprisngly i wasn't cold at all, but with the combination of walking and thermals it was fine. In the evening we were all shattered, we managed a few Vodkas but ended up in bed early. Early get up the following day as we had a 7 hour drive to Christchurch. On the way we stopped off at lake Matherson, Wanaika, a beautiful little town and Lake Hawea which has to be the most amazing thing i have ever seen. The water was so still had looked like it hadn't moved in a long time, totally breath taking. Anyway, i am currently in Queenstown for five nights, going horse riding this afternoon and tomorrow (my birthday) i spend the day at Milford Sound.
keep in touch
Lots of love
Andreaxxx
Goodbye to my fellow trekkers
hello how are you all? I am really sorry for the lack of blog entries but i am not sure where time has gone over the past few weeks, i am even in a different country since i last wrote. Anyway, i am going to do two separate entries today, one for my last few weeks in Australia and a second for my first few days in New Zealand.
Well back to Australia, i think i am up to Mission beach, if i have repeated, sorry!! After the Great Barrier reef we moved to Mission beach a little sea side town, a fantastic beach to walk up and down. In the afternoon i watched some of my friends sky dive and i must admit i was quite tempted but felt i did it in a better place over Victoria falls. Most of it was spent chilling out and walking along the beach at sunset, at night (full moon) and sunrise. On the 31st May most people went White water rafting while myself, Janne and Chris went to Dunk Island which is off Mission Beach and did a 13km walk up a mountain, it roughly took about 5 hours. Then in the afternoon we had lunch and sunbathed before taking the ferry back to Mission beach to our camp site. In the evening we had our evening meal, had another walk along the beach then had an early night as we had to be up early the following day for our drive to Airlie beach.
The drive from Mission beach to Airlie beach took roughly about 5-6 hours and we stayed at the Whitsundays camp ground. it had been raining and i was a bit disapointed that we had to cover our mosquito tent, but i suppose it is better than getting wet. The following day we were all booked on a Ragamuffin sailing tour across the Whitsundays so we had to be up early. They took us out to Pearl bay the most northern island of the Whitsundays. The cruise over was a bit of a mix of rain and hot sunshine, we were given yellow macs to wear. The rain didn't dampen the fun though and the crew got us involved in raising the sails etc. Once at Pearl bay they took us over to the island and we did some snorkelling, i took a few pictures with my underwater camera which i am quite pleased with. After about an hour we got back on the boat, had some lunch and the returned to shore. The ride back was fast and exhilarating, i was sat at the front end of the boat with a few others hanging on for life while getting soaked by the waves, it was hilarious. We even through in a few sea songs for example, we are sailing, row row row your boat, very funny! In the evening we went out to eat but everyone was shattered so we had an early night.
Another early get up the following day (Monday 4th June) as we had a 8 hour drive to Baralaba to the Myella farm stay. To be honest i didn't do too much here, i just chilled with some of the others did horse riding or motorbiking but i just fancied an easy day. The following day (5th June) we had another long drive to Redcliffe, we weren't doing much here apart from camping overnight before our ferry journey to Moreton Island. The weather in Redcliffe was terrible and we ended up sleeping on a sheltered veranda because we would have got soaked just putting up our tents. I was more than happy with this as it meant i could sleep in the open air as opposed to in the tent.
Wednesday 6th June, another early get up, this time to catch the ferry to Moreton Island, the cruise over was rough and the weather was again terrible but i did manage to spot some dolphins which was good to sea. the whole two days we were in Moreton in rained heavily and was freezing. We were staying in two beach homes which was quite cosy. Despite the weather we got a lot of sight seeing in had had such a laugh. Myself and Sarah spent the first evening cooking cakes for Jannes birthday for the next day. Thursday we had another tour around the island and then had jannes birthday party later on, where Janne made us all outfits out of plastic bin liners with decorations on them.
Friday 8th June we had another early get up and drove to Byron bay, set up camp and had an evening meal then went to bed. Woke up the next morning it was freezing, i though i had hypothermia and so did everyone else who slept outside, so we went shopping for warm clothes. I am determined to keep sleeping outside. Anyway the warm clothes worked and i had a good sleep, outside despite the cold weather. The day we left Byron bay the weather was really nice, and we had a walk along the beach, saw a hump back whale, they are moving north for the warmer weather at the moment.
We left Byron Bay about midday and set off for Port macquarie, again it was just a camping stop and the following day, we cleaned our camping equipment and did a stock check of everything for the end of the Australian tour. To be honest the mood was quite sombre after this, everyone on the tour has been so nice and we have just worked together so well it has been brilliant. The 11th June we moved to barrington tops about 4-5 hours from Sydney, absolutely amazing scenary. We stayed in a converted barn, open living area with two wood burning fires, lots of candles, absolutely perfect for the last night.
Tuesday the 12th June, was the last day, we made our way back to the travel lodge in Sydney. In the evening we all met up again, had a meal together and a good chat. A few of us stayed up all night as my flight was at 8am and had to be at the airport for 5am. Saying good bye to everyone was so sad. Even now i feel abit lost, for the past 42 days i have been living in very close proximity to 14 others and even when you are in the shower you know that one of the group is in the shower next to you. I have had a few emails and text messages saying that others feel the same too. The aussie trekkers were a really great bunch of people!!
Well back to Australia, i think i am up to Mission beach, if i have repeated, sorry!! After the Great Barrier reef we moved to Mission beach a little sea side town, a fantastic beach to walk up and down. In the afternoon i watched some of my friends sky dive and i must admit i was quite tempted but felt i did it in a better place over Victoria falls. Most of it was spent chilling out and walking along the beach at sunset, at night (full moon) and sunrise. On the 31st May most people went White water rafting while myself, Janne and Chris went to Dunk Island which is off Mission Beach and did a 13km walk up a mountain, it roughly took about 5 hours. Then in the afternoon we had lunch and sunbathed before taking the ferry back to Mission beach to our camp site. In the evening we had our evening meal, had another walk along the beach then had an early night as we had to be up early the following day for our drive to Airlie beach.
The drive from Mission beach to Airlie beach took roughly about 5-6 hours and we stayed at the Whitsundays camp ground. it had been raining and i was a bit disapointed that we had to cover our mosquito tent, but i suppose it is better than getting wet. The following day we were all booked on a Ragamuffin sailing tour across the Whitsundays so we had to be up early. They took us out to Pearl bay the most northern island of the Whitsundays. The cruise over was a bit of a mix of rain and hot sunshine, we were given yellow macs to wear. The rain didn't dampen the fun though and the crew got us involved in raising the sails etc. Once at Pearl bay they took us over to the island and we did some snorkelling, i took a few pictures with my underwater camera which i am quite pleased with. After about an hour we got back on the boat, had some lunch and the returned to shore. The ride back was fast and exhilarating, i was sat at the front end of the boat with a few others hanging on for life while getting soaked by the waves, it was hilarious. We even through in a few sea songs for example, we are sailing, row row row your boat, very funny! In the evening we went out to eat but everyone was shattered so we had an early night.
Another early get up the following day (Monday 4th June) as we had a 8 hour drive to Baralaba to the Myella farm stay. To be honest i didn't do too much here, i just chilled with some of the others did horse riding or motorbiking but i just fancied an easy day. The following day (5th June) we had another long drive to Redcliffe, we weren't doing much here apart from camping overnight before our ferry journey to Moreton Island. The weather in Redcliffe was terrible and we ended up sleeping on a sheltered veranda because we would have got soaked just putting up our tents. I was more than happy with this as it meant i could sleep in the open air as opposed to in the tent.
Wednesday 6th June, another early get up, this time to catch the ferry to Moreton Island, the cruise over was rough and the weather was again terrible but i did manage to spot some dolphins which was good to sea. the whole two days we were in Moreton in rained heavily and was freezing. We were staying in two beach homes which was quite cosy. Despite the weather we got a lot of sight seeing in had had such a laugh. Myself and Sarah spent the first evening cooking cakes for Jannes birthday for the next day. Thursday we had another tour around the island and then had jannes birthday party later on, where Janne made us all outfits out of plastic bin liners with decorations on them.
Friday 8th June we had another early get up and drove to Byron bay, set up camp and had an evening meal then went to bed. Woke up the next morning it was freezing, i though i had hypothermia and so did everyone else who slept outside, so we went shopping for warm clothes. I am determined to keep sleeping outside. Anyway the warm clothes worked and i had a good sleep, outside despite the cold weather. The day we left Byron bay the weather was really nice, and we had a walk along the beach, saw a hump back whale, they are moving north for the warmer weather at the moment.
We left Byron Bay about midday and set off for Port macquarie, again it was just a camping stop and the following day, we cleaned our camping equipment and did a stock check of everything for the end of the Australian tour. To be honest the mood was quite sombre after this, everyone on the tour has been so nice and we have just worked together so well it has been brilliant. The 11th June we moved to barrington tops about 4-5 hours from Sydney, absolutely amazing scenary. We stayed in a converted barn, open living area with two wood burning fires, lots of candles, absolutely perfect for the last night.
Tuesday the 12th June, was the last day, we made our way back to the travel lodge in Sydney. In the evening we all met up again, had a meal together and a good chat. A few of us stayed up all night as my flight was at 8am and had to be at the airport for 5am. Saying good bye to everyone was so sad. Even now i feel abit lost, for the past 42 days i have been living in very close proximity to 14 others and even when you are in the shower you know that one of the group is in the shower next to you. I have had a few emails and text messages saying that others feel the same too. The aussie trekkers were a really great bunch of people!!
Saturday 2 June 2007
Still Going Strong!
Well we arrived at Kakadu National Park on Tuesday 22nd May but prior to this we stopped at a educational centre called "Window on the Wetlands Visitor Centre" which was all about the wildlife,plants within kakadu National park.
We arrived at the campsite about 5pm and set up camp, as you are aware a few of us have ditched our tents and have been sleeping outside, which has been really good fun but we are legs and feet are now covered in Mosquito bites and we look like we all have the pox. The thing is we just don't want to sleep in the tents so myself and Sarah bought a little mosquito tent between us and we sleep in this and are still able to look at the stars. A few others have them too, its great and you still get that outside feeling too. So happy all round!! This day was quite along driving day so we had a dip in the pool and then a few of us went to watch the sunset over an Aboriginal site called Ubbir and consists of Rock Art which has been there for a thousand of years. The sunset over the wetlands was amazing and as usual i have taken alot of photos. This has definately been one of my favourite sunsets in Australia so far.
Sleeping in the Mosquito tent was fantastic, i feel so relaxed in the morning and you wake up naturally as well. This morning (Wednesday 23rd) we set off for Bowali Visitor centre within the National park which again displays the habitants of the park and also touches upon aboriginal life, really interesting stuff. We then headed for a short walk to the Nourlangie Rock Art site to look at some more Aboriginal art before moving on to Gunwarrdehwarrde look out point which gives an amazing view, the green bush against the blue hot sky is fantastic, i just love it all. We had lunch at Anbangbang billibong, which is situated at the base of Nourlangie Rock and is crowded with waterlillies and birds, there are croccodiles in their too-the worlds largest reptile. in the afternoon we went to the Aboriginal Culture centre which is again extremely interesting. I reallly like all the aboriginal art, i like the colours and much prefer it to the African art.
In the evening we moved to a new camp site, this tilme more of a bush camp, had a short walk, an evening meal and then early bed as we had to be up really early for the Yellow river cruise to see the big Croccodiles-Yeah!!!
In total saw alot of wildlife on the cruise and three of the biggest crocs i have ever seen -amazing!! had a close up look as well with my binoculars, sends shivers down your spine. After the cruise we set off travelling again to Daly Waters where we had some drinks, food and set up camp for the night.
the following day (Thursday 24th) was a big travelling day through the middle of nowhere. We stopped about 5pm and camp in the middle of no where with no toilets and guess what this was my best ever camping night. It was just brilliant to watch the stars and wake up in the ling grass, just so beautiful. Apparently in the night, cows came to join us but i was totally unaware, i find it really funny that at home i can hear a pin drop about ten miles away but when sleeping in the wild i fail to hear cows munching grass next to my head.
The next night we moved to Conclurry, just to camp really then the following day we moved to Mount Suprise where there is a guy called Russell that does a snake show. The snakes were fab and i was more than happy to have them drapped around my neck, they actually feel reallly good and not slimey at all-got some great pictures, i had one drapped around me for about an hour.
Monday 28th May, we were heading for the state of Queensland to the city Cairns, we stopped off at a place called Windy Hill Wind farm which lloked very much like somewhere in Europe and a beautiful waterfall callled Millaa Millaa. Cairns was great, spent Monday having a llok around and in the evening the weather was bad so we went to the cinema to watch Pirates of the Carribean 3. The next morning we spent the day on the Great Barrier Reef, i attempted scuba diving but i couldn't do it but i am determined to have some lessons back home and come back and go diving in the reef, (before i am 35), a little personal goal there!! I also learnt that i have a place at London School of Tropical medicine in September, so for those of you who had bets on that i wasn't coming home, you have been proved wrong.
Anyway i have just run out of time i have to go and meet the others for food and i still haven't told you about Mission beach and Airlie beach yet, will have to fill you in next time. keep safe,
Lots of Love
Andreaxxxx
We arrived at the campsite about 5pm and set up camp, as you are aware a few of us have ditched our tents and have been sleeping outside, which has been really good fun but we are legs and feet are now covered in Mosquito bites and we look like we all have the pox. The thing is we just don't want to sleep in the tents so myself and Sarah bought a little mosquito tent between us and we sleep in this and are still able to look at the stars. A few others have them too, its great and you still get that outside feeling too. So happy all round!! This day was quite along driving day so we had a dip in the pool and then a few of us went to watch the sunset over an Aboriginal site called Ubbir and consists of Rock Art which has been there for a thousand of years. The sunset over the wetlands was amazing and as usual i have taken alot of photos. This has definately been one of my favourite sunsets in Australia so far.
Sleeping in the Mosquito tent was fantastic, i feel so relaxed in the morning and you wake up naturally as well. This morning (Wednesday 23rd) we set off for Bowali Visitor centre within the National park which again displays the habitants of the park and also touches upon aboriginal life, really interesting stuff. We then headed for a short walk to the Nourlangie Rock Art site to look at some more Aboriginal art before moving on to Gunwarrdehwarrde look out point which gives an amazing view, the green bush against the blue hot sky is fantastic, i just love it all. We had lunch at Anbangbang billibong, which is situated at the base of Nourlangie Rock and is crowded with waterlillies and birds, there are croccodiles in their too-the worlds largest reptile. in the afternoon we went to the Aboriginal Culture centre which is again extremely interesting. I reallly like all the aboriginal art, i like the colours and much prefer it to the African art.
In the evening we moved to a new camp site, this tilme more of a bush camp, had a short walk, an evening meal and then early bed as we had to be up really early for the Yellow river cruise to see the big Croccodiles-Yeah!!!
In total saw alot of wildlife on the cruise and three of the biggest crocs i have ever seen -amazing!! had a close up look as well with my binoculars, sends shivers down your spine. After the cruise we set off travelling again to Daly Waters where we had some drinks, food and set up camp for the night.
the following day (Thursday 24th) was a big travelling day through the middle of nowhere. We stopped about 5pm and camp in the middle of no where with no toilets and guess what this was my best ever camping night. It was just brilliant to watch the stars and wake up in the ling grass, just so beautiful. Apparently in the night, cows came to join us but i was totally unaware, i find it really funny that at home i can hear a pin drop about ten miles away but when sleeping in the wild i fail to hear cows munching grass next to my head.
The next night we moved to Conclurry, just to camp really then the following day we moved to Mount Suprise where there is a guy called Russell that does a snake show. The snakes were fab and i was more than happy to have them drapped around my neck, they actually feel reallly good and not slimey at all-got some great pictures, i had one drapped around me for about an hour.
Monday 28th May, we were heading for the state of Queensland to the city Cairns, we stopped off at a place called Windy Hill Wind farm which lloked very much like somewhere in Europe and a beautiful waterfall callled Millaa Millaa. Cairns was great, spent Monday having a llok around and in the evening the weather was bad so we went to the cinema to watch Pirates of the Carribean 3. The next morning we spent the day on the Great Barrier Reef, i attempted scuba diving but i couldn't do it but i am determined to have some lessons back home and come back and go diving in the reef, (before i am 35), a little personal goal there!! I also learnt that i have a place at London School of Tropical medicine in September, so for those of you who had bets on that i wasn't coming home, you have been proved wrong.
Anyway i have just run out of time i have to go and meet the others for food and i still haven't told you about Mission beach and Airlie beach yet, will have to fill you in next time. keep safe,
Lots of Love
Andreaxxxx
Sunday 20 May 2007
hello , still trekking Aussie!
hello
sorry i have not written for a while and my last entry was very short, but to be honest i had written the last entry three times but it would not publish for some reason, so out of frustration i did one very short. However, this one will be a biggie so get your self a cuppa!!
Well would you believe that i have been in Australia for five weeks and i am half way through my Aussie trek, just three weeks to go ( i don't want to leave) and i am already planning when i can come back and see some more.
The trek started on Wednesday 2nd May but i had met up with three of my fellow trekkers the day before, Sarah, Steph (who used to be a police woman in Moston) and Caroline. We did a jet boat cruise across Sydney harbour then hit a few pubs, a jolly good start to the trek. The following day we left sydney and headed towards Canberra for the day, had a tour of the city, Parliament house (a very impressive structure) and the War Memorial where we watched the changing of the guards.
Thursday 3rd may we then left the Australian Capital Territory and headed for the stae of Victoria to Lakes Entrance, the weather was not too good but we had a brilliant walk along Ninety Mile beach which was deserted (apparently this happens alot in Australia as there is so much coast), absolutely fantastic viewing. The following day we left for Melbourne, arriving around midday, in time for lunch. Unfortunately i had an appointment with the dentist and had to have my tooth removed so i did not get to see much. The following day though we went on the Neighbours tour, this was brilliant and laughed most of the day. We met two of the characters the guy that plays Dr Karl Kennedy and Dylan. I have never been so star struck in my life. This was the day that my camera was stolen, literally under neath my nose, i was a bit upset as it had all my Sydney photos and Lakes entrance photos, so maddening. It did not spoil my day too much, in the evening we went to a theme restaurant called Witches and Britches, laughed a lot here too. After Melborne we headed towards Port Campbell, had our first night camping on the tour, it was good, quite enjoy sleeping in the tent although it was a bit cold. We also passed the Great Ocean Road, amazing scenary. Just a shame i did not have a camera but i can get pictures of the others. Prior to arriving at the hostel we had a wonder around the site of the 12 apostles, just watching the sea splash agaist the rocks is mesmorising, i could have stayed there all day. The next morning we got up a 5am (there are quite alot of early get ups on this trip) and watched sunrise over the Bay of Islands. That day we camped at a place called Robe and then from there we moved to Adelaide. In Adelaide i bought a new camera exactly like the one which had been stolen so i was really pleased about that and the insurance can be sorted when i get home so i don't have to worry now until i get home.
Wednesday 9th May, we camped at Mount Remarkable. i swear i sleep better in a tent than i do in a house. The Mountain area is gorgeous and i saw some Wallabies, Kangaroos and quite alot of ants on my shoes. Next day we moved into the outback area to Coober Pedy. the opal capital of the world. What an interesting place, with its dug out hotels, houses and Catholic churches. It is so hot though and water is scarce, it is 5 $ for a bottle of water. here we slept in a dug out motel, for me it was far too hot and i would have liked to be back in the tent.
Friday 11th may Uluru (Ayres Rock) we arrived, amazing scenary but guess what i wasn't impressed with the rock, although it has a great history, insted i preferred the walk in between the Olgas at Kata Juta and the walk we did at Kings Canyon on Monday 14th May. After the walk at Kings Canyon we headed for Alice Springs, here we did not do much but let our heir down and got a bit drunk, we did not bother going to bed as we were picked up at 5am the following morning for a balloon ride across Alice springs and had a champagne breakfast before arriving back to camp to collapse and sleep. Lots of laughter though. We then headed to the Devils Marbles where we were subject to storms, although i slept right through it in the tent
After Alice springs we we headed for Manyallaluk an aboriginal town, it was here that i finally plucked up the courage to ditch the tent and sleep outside under neath the stars, AMAZING experience, very peaceful and now i am addicted and have so far managed three nights although i am in a hostel for two nights. At Manyallaluk we had a walk around the lands, practiced painting, making fire and basket weaving, oh and throwing spears.
We then moved to Katherine Gorge where we did a boat cruise and a few walks, great scenary lots of good swimming holes and thermal pools. At the moment we are in Darwin, but i am just using it as a catch up and a rest, we move on alot and have early get ups its good to just relax, go on the internet and do your washing. We move on tomorrow to Kakadu national Park where we spend two nights. Not sure when my next internet stop is but will fill you in soon.
Love
Andreaxx
sorry i have not written for a while and my last entry was very short, but to be honest i had written the last entry three times but it would not publish for some reason, so out of frustration i did one very short. However, this one will be a biggie so get your self a cuppa!!
Well would you believe that i have been in Australia for five weeks and i am half way through my Aussie trek, just three weeks to go ( i don't want to leave) and i am already planning when i can come back and see some more.
The trek started on Wednesday 2nd May but i had met up with three of my fellow trekkers the day before, Sarah, Steph (who used to be a police woman in Moston) and Caroline. We did a jet boat cruise across Sydney harbour then hit a few pubs, a jolly good start to the trek. The following day we left sydney and headed towards Canberra for the day, had a tour of the city, Parliament house (a very impressive structure) and the War Memorial where we watched the changing of the guards.
Thursday 3rd may we then left the Australian Capital Territory and headed for the stae of Victoria to Lakes Entrance, the weather was not too good but we had a brilliant walk along Ninety Mile beach which was deserted (apparently this happens alot in Australia as there is so much coast), absolutely fantastic viewing. The following day we left for Melbourne, arriving around midday, in time for lunch. Unfortunately i had an appointment with the dentist and had to have my tooth removed so i did not get to see much. The following day though we went on the Neighbours tour, this was brilliant and laughed most of the day. We met two of the characters the guy that plays Dr Karl Kennedy and Dylan. I have never been so star struck in my life. This was the day that my camera was stolen, literally under neath my nose, i was a bit upset as it had all my Sydney photos and Lakes entrance photos, so maddening. It did not spoil my day too much, in the evening we went to a theme restaurant called Witches and Britches, laughed a lot here too. After Melborne we headed towards Port Campbell, had our first night camping on the tour, it was good, quite enjoy sleeping in the tent although it was a bit cold. We also passed the Great Ocean Road, amazing scenary. Just a shame i did not have a camera but i can get pictures of the others. Prior to arriving at the hostel we had a wonder around the site of the 12 apostles, just watching the sea splash agaist the rocks is mesmorising, i could have stayed there all day. The next morning we got up a 5am (there are quite alot of early get ups on this trip) and watched sunrise over the Bay of Islands. That day we camped at a place called Robe and then from there we moved to Adelaide. In Adelaide i bought a new camera exactly like the one which had been stolen so i was really pleased about that and the insurance can be sorted when i get home so i don't have to worry now until i get home.
Wednesday 9th May, we camped at Mount Remarkable. i swear i sleep better in a tent than i do in a house. The Mountain area is gorgeous and i saw some Wallabies, Kangaroos and quite alot of ants on my shoes. Next day we moved into the outback area to Coober Pedy. the opal capital of the world. What an interesting place, with its dug out hotels, houses and Catholic churches. It is so hot though and water is scarce, it is 5 $ for a bottle of water. here we slept in a dug out motel, for me it was far too hot and i would have liked to be back in the tent.
Friday 11th may Uluru (Ayres Rock) we arrived, amazing scenary but guess what i wasn't impressed with the rock, although it has a great history, insted i preferred the walk in between the Olgas at Kata Juta and the walk we did at Kings Canyon on Monday 14th May. After the walk at Kings Canyon we headed for Alice Springs, here we did not do much but let our heir down and got a bit drunk, we did not bother going to bed as we were picked up at 5am the following morning for a balloon ride across Alice springs and had a champagne breakfast before arriving back to camp to collapse and sleep. Lots of laughter though. We then headed to the Devils Marbles where we were subject to storms, although i slept right through it in the tent
After Alice springs we we headed for Manyallaluk an aboriginal town, it was here that i finally plucked up the courage to ditch the tent and sleep outside under neath the stars, AMAZING experience, very peaceful and now i am addicted and have so far managed three nights although i am in a hostel for two nights. At Manyallaluk we had a walk around the lands, practiced painting, making fire and basket weaving, oh and throwing spears.
We then moved to Katherine Gorge where we did a boat cruise and a few walks, great scenary lots of good swimming holes and thermal pools. At the moment we are in Darwin, but i am just using it as a catch up and a rest, we move on alot and have early get ups its good to just relax, go on the internet and do your washing. We move on tomorrow to Kakadu national Park where we spend two nights. Not sure when my next internet stop is but will fill you in soon.
Love
Andreaxx
Tuesday 8 May 2007
Out and about in Australia
hello everyone, just a quickie today. I have been doing the lets trek now for a week and its brilliant, i am with 14 others and everyone is so nice and seem to have bonded quite well. So far i have been to Canberra, Lakes entrance, Melbourne, Port Campbell and Adelaide so far.
In Melbourne i had to have a tooth taken out at the dentist and i had my camera stolen, but still having a great time. I am off into the outback for a few weeks so maybe off line for a while, so see you all soon
Take care
Andreaxxx
In Melbourne i had to have a tooth taken out at the dentist and i had my camera stolen, but still having a great time. I am off into the outback for a few weeks so maybe off line for a while, so see you all soon
Take care
Andreaxxx
Saturday 28 April 2007
Perfect
Hello
i can not believe it is only a week since i last wrote in the Blog, feels like ages ago. I have done so much though in the past week so thats probably why.
As you know i arrived in Manly last Sunday with plans to do a lot of walking, unfortunately this did not happenas the weather has not been to goo, lots of rain and wind, but i still had a great time. The beach on Manly is really nice and i preferred it to Bondi to be honest, i haven't got any pictures of it but this was because of the weather. The B and B i stayed in was really nice, it is run by the same owner as the Chelsea where i stayed my first two nights, was a bit cold though and the extra blankets had to come out.
On Tuesday 24th the weather was even worse, so i stayed in, read my book and then went to manly cinema to watch a film, the last king of Scotland, it was good just a bit too gory for me though.
On Wednesday 25th it was time to move on again, this time back to the centre of Sydney, i had three nights booked in a hostel and one night was free as i had entered Australia on a work travel visa. I only lasted one night, i did not like it at all, too crowded for me and no personal space. i booked myself into one of the hotels i was booked into for two extra nights-much better. Wednesday was also Anzac day here, a public holiday in Australia, although the weather was terrible i went to watch the parades. In the evening was my opera house night, i went to see Ying Tong-a walk with the goons, i really enjoyed the experience, the acting was brilliant and it was very funny. I went back to the hostel on the train and i overheard some English girls talking and they were saying that there is nothing to do in Sydney apart from go on the internet, they must be mad, i have been here almost two weeks and i haven't been bored once, even on the quiet days, there is loads to do and most of it doesn't cost as there are lots of walks, free exhibitions.
Thursday 26th April, i took another ferry ride to Watsons Bay across the Harbour, its a little fishing bay and and is very pretty, there are a few walks to do with some fantastic views and the weather was great. the views from Sydney National Park were breath taking and i took pictures until the battery depleted on my camera. I had some fish and chips here which were really enjoyable until some really nasty seagull came up from behind and stole my fish-what a cheek!!!
Friday 27th April i took another ferry ride, this time to Darling harbour, i could have walked but i quite like going on the ferry so i can take pictures of the bridge and the opera house. Once there the weather really turned again so i went into the Australian wildlife centre, very educational although the big bugs and the snakes made my skin crawl-i wonder how many i will come across in the outback.
Saturday 28th April was quite a quiet day i just had a walk to one of the markets in on "The Rocks" area, had a look at some shops then had a swim in the hotel pool.
Today (Sunday 29th), the weather is fantastic so i am going to go down to the Botanical gardens and read my book, take a few pictures. On Tuesday 2nd May i start my overland tour which i am really looking forward to, i have heard from a few of the girls who are on the tour and we are arranginging to meet up before the tour starts.
Si i have been in Sydney for almost two weeks and and i love it, it has such a nice feel about it, in fact i would say that it was PERFECT!!!!
Love
Andrea
i can not believe it is only a week since i last wrote in the Blog, feels like ages ago. I have done so much though in the past week so thats probably why.
As you know i arrived in Manly last Sunday with plans to do a lot of walking, unfortunately this did not happenas the weather has not been to goo, lots of rain and wind, but i still had a great time. The beach on Manly is really nice and i preferred it to Bondi to be honest, i haven't got any pictures of it but this was because of the weather. The B and B i stayed in was really nice, it is run by the same owner as the Chelsea where i stayed my first two nights, was a bit cold though and the extra blankets had to come out.
On Tuesday 24th the weather was even worse, so i stayed in, read my book and then went to manly cinema to watch a film, the last king of Scotland, it was good just a bit too gory for me though.
On Wednesday 25th it was time to move on again, this time back to the centre of Sydney, i had three nights booked in a hostel and one night was free as i had entered Australia on a work travel visa. I only lasted one night, i did not like it at all, too crowded for me and no personal space. i booked myself into one of the hotels i was booked into for two extra nights-much better. Wednesday was also Anzac day here, a public holiday in Australia, although the weather was terrible i went to watch the parades. In the evening was my opera house night, i went to see Ying Tong-a walk with the goons, i really enjoyed the experience, the acting was brilliant and it was very funny. I went back to the hostel on the train and i overheard some English girls talking and they were saying that there is nothing to do in Sydney apart from go on the internet, they must be mad, i have been here almost two weeks and i haven't been bored once, even on the quiet days, there is loads to do and most of it doesn't cost as there are lots of walks, free exhibitions.
Thursday 26th April, i took another ferry ride to Watsons Bay across the Harbour, its a little fishing bay and and is very pretty, there are a few walks to do with some fantastic views and the weather was great. the views from Sydney National Park were breath taking and i took pictures until the battery depleted on my camera. I had some fish and chips here which were really enjoyable until some really nasty seagull came up from behind and stole my fish-what a cheek!!!
Friday 27th April i took another ferry ride, this time to Darling harbour, i could have walked but i quite like going on the ferry so i can take pictures of the bridge and the opera house. Once there the weather really turned again so i went into the Australian wildlife centre, very educational although the big bugs and the snakes made my skin crawl-i wonder how many i will come across in the outback.
Saturday 28th April was quite a quiet day i just had a walk to one of the markets in on "The Rocks" area, had a look at some shops then had a swim in the hotel pool.
Today (Sunday 29th), the weather is fantastic so i am going to go down to the Botanical gardens and read my book, take a few pictures. On Tuesday 2nd May i start my overland tour which i am really looking forward to, i have heard from a few of the girls who are on the tour and we are arranginging to meet up before the tour starts.
Si i have been in Sydney for almost two weeks and and i love it, it has such a nice feel about it, in fact i would say that it was PERFECT!!!!
Love
Andrea
Saturday 21 April 2007
Loving Sydney
Hi, glad you like the pictures, i have had some really nice comments about them. So, as you know i moved to Australia on Tuesday and it took all of about 2 hours to fall in love with the place. Its great just walking around there is so much to see and do.
On Wednesday 18th April i had a tour around the opera house which was great, we went inside a few of the theatres, concert halls and Sydneys Symphony Orchestra was practicising, just a fantastic sound. This inspired me to book a ticket to see a play in the theatre hall on the 25th. Its called A walk with the Goons and its based on Spike Milligans radio show, The Goons. The ticket was not a bad price and who wouldn't go to see something at the opera house given the opportunity. In the afternoon i spent some time in the Royal Botanical Gardens again, i love it here, there is plenty of people around, you can have your lunch, read or just look across the harbour, see the bridge and the opera house. Afterwards i walked to The Rocks area, had a nosey around the shops then went to the Museum of Contemporary Arts (its there and its free), interesting, but not for me, did not really get what the artist was trying to portray, but thats me, i haven't got an artists mind!!
On Thursday 19th i checked out of my B and B in the Darlinghurst area and got a bus to Coogee Beach and spent three nights there in a hostel. The hostel was clean and there were some really nice people to talk to. On the Friday i had a break from sight seeing i think the adrenaline had finally stopped and i felt worn out so i just had a lazy day, plus the weather was cool anyway. Saturday 21st, the weather was fantastic and i decided to do the 5KM walk from Coogee Beach to Bondi, it took around 1 hour and 20 minutes. its a great walk and you pass Gordaons Bay, Clovelly Beach, Bronte Beach, Tamarama Beach and the Bondi. The scenary is fantastic, and i have been snap happy with the camera. Those pictures i uploaded by the way are just a sample i have at least 1500 to show you once i get home and i am not yet half way through my trip.
Sunday 22nd i checked out of my hostel, catched a bus to circular quay, near the opera house and then took a ferry to Manley. I arrived at my B and B and then came for a walk, have a look around and write this blog entry. Not sure what i plan to do over the next few days, there is a 9km walk to do here so i might do that, plus a bit of beach too.
Keep safe
Andreaxx
On Wednesday 18th April i had a tour around the opera house which was great, we went inside a few of the theatres, concert halls and Sydneys Symphony Orchestra was practicising, just a fantastic sound. This inspired me to book a ticket to see a play in the theatre hall on the 25th. Its called A walk with the Goons and its based on Spike Milligans radio show, The Goons. The ticket was not a bad price and who wouldn't go to see something at the opera house given the opportunity. In the afternoon i spent some time in the Royal Botanical Gardens again, i love it here, there is plenty of people around, you can have your lunch, read or just look across the harbour, see the bridge and the opera house. Afterwards i walked to The Rocks area, had a nosey around the shops then went to the Museum of Contemporary Arts (its there and its free), interesting, but not for me, did not really get what the artist was trying to portray, but thats me, i haven't got an artists mind!!
On Thursday 19th i checked out of my B and B in the Darlinghurst area and got a bus to Coogee Beach and spent three nights there in a hostel. The hostel was clean and there were some really nice people to talk to. On the Friday i had a break from sight seeing i think the adrenaline had finally stopped and i felt worn out so i just had a lazy day, plus the weather was cool anyway. Saturday 21st, the weather was fantastic and i decided to do the 5KM walk from Coogee Beach to Bondi, it took around 1 hour and 20 minutes. its a great walk and you pass Gordaons Bay, Clovelly Beach, Bronte Beach, Tamarama Beach and the Bondi. The scenary is fantastic, and i have been snap happy with the camera. Those pictures i uploaded by the way are just a sample i have at least 1500 to show you once i get home and i am not yet half way through my trip.
Sunday 22nd i checked out of my hostel, catched a bus to circular quay, near the opera house and then took a ferry to Manley. I arrived at my B and B and then came for a walk, have a look around and write this blog entry. Not sure what i plan to do over the next few days, there is a 9km walk to do here so i might do that, plus a bit of beach too.
Keep safe
Andreaxx
Monday 16 April 2007
Having a good time
I was not really going to say much about my week in Koh Samet apart from that i really enjoyed it, it has a lovely beach and even though the weather was a bit hit and miss i still had a good time. Trying to lose the stig (of the dump look) i had a vitamin hair treatment, a facial, a thai massage and a manicure and pedicure, so felt great.
Towards the end of the week the Thai New Year celebrations began to take place, the Thai's run on a different calender to us and its currently the year 2552. The start of this celebration begins with the water festival, where everyone goes around throwing water at everybody and flour. It was all quite calm until i returned to Bangkok on Saturday and the locals were going around in trucks throwing buckets over everybody-what a laugh! I was quite dry until i went to me my friend in the Khaosan Rd area and i had that much flour and water over me i looked like something that had been made with pilbury's dough. Had such a good laugh though, although i am suprised they let me back into the hotel looking the way i did-think they are used to it.
Anyway i am now in Sydney and have been here about five hours, i have had a walk to Sydney opera house, which i have a tour of tomorrow, harbour bridge and the royal botanic gardens and i love Sydney already! I am currently in the area of Darlinghurst and then i move to Coogee Beach for three days on Wednesday, after this i plan to go to Manley Beach for three days and then return to the city centre before i commence my six week overland tour.
Keep well
Andreaxx
Towards the end of the week the Thai New Year celebrations began to take place, the Thai's run on a different calender to us and its currently the year 2552. The start of this celebration begins with the water festival, where everyone goes around throwing water at everybody and flour. It was all quite calm until i returned to Bangkok on Saturday and the locals were going around in trucks throwing buckets over everybody-what a laugh! I was quite dry until i went to me my friend in the Khaosan Rd area and i had that much flour and water over me i looked like something that had been made with pilbury's dough. Had such a good laugh though, although i am suprised they let me back into the hotel looking the way i did-think they are used to it.
Anyway i am now in Sydney and have been here about five hours, i have had a walk to Sydney opera house, which i have a tour of tomorrow, harbour bridge and the royal botanic gardens and i love Sydney already! I am currently in the area of Darlinghurst and then i move to Coogee Beach for three days on Wednesday, after this i plan to go to Manley Beach for three days and then return to the city centre before i commence my six week overland tour.
Keep well
Andreaxx
Saturday 7 April 2007
Dirty and smelling
hello
How are you all? i have just done my week of trekking and camping, just thought i would tell you all about it! I normally write my diary and then write this but i haven't done that yet so i am telling you from memory.
We set off on Monday to Phutoei National Park it took about 4 hours to get there. We stopped off on the way at Tesco Supermarket (i have tried to avoid it) to buy som goodies for the trip. The Tescos here are huge and this one had a KFC. Shamefully myself and Sandra could not resist after our three weeks solid of Thai food, but it tasted sooo good! We arived at the National Park in time to put our tents up and have our evening meal, have a wash and get into bed! I am quite suprised how much i enjoyed the camping and also how much i am turning into an outdoor person too.
Tuesday we made our way into the National Park to begin our trek, three hours lond and it is normally done over two days but we did the full three hours in one go. There are meant to be alot of Wildlife in the park including tigers, but i did not see anything, partly because i was always watching where i was putting my feet and if i was not watching my feet i was watching for things i could walk into with my head. On the trek we came to three waterfalls which we had to climb, one of them about 8-metres without using any equipment, just my hands and feet. Quite a scary thought but such a good feeling once at the top. The jungle is very dry at the moment and there are alot of bush fires, we kept having to change direction because of this and at one point we had to walk through it. After this we then walked into the path of some angry looking Buffalos and had to change direction again-all good for the adrenaline rush.
Tuesday evening we set up camp at an orchid farm and it actually rained. Spent the evening playing cards and draughts, then had an early night. The next morning we trekked to some local caves, i managed to get over my claustrophobia and went inside, really good with some amazing stalagnites and stalatites (think that is how you spell it, i wish i had wrote my journal first so i could clarify this). It was so dark and i thought that they would not photograph well but they did, got some brilliant pictures. We went into three caves altogether. After lunch we moved on to another national park and camped on a raft close by to a lake, lovely view and i slept like a log. However actually getting there was a filthy business, another four hours in the truck on dusty roads we were covered from head to toe in dust and it was in my hair, ( i am starting to look more and more like stig of the dump each day). Worst of all there weren't any washing facilities, but the guide took us to a local village and they let us use there communal bathroom (a pipe and a bowl, very functional though).
Thursday morning we set of for a homestay, again down the dusty roads, so more filth and in the same clothes as yesterday as i didn't see the point of putting clean ones on, so now smelling bad as well. The homestay was great although i did not sleep very well that night, think i was missing the openess and airyness of the tent. Just did a lot of chilling here and then set off the nest day for a hotel.
I am currently back at the eco house in Singburi but move on to Koh Samet on Monday for a bit of time on the beach.
How are you all? i have just done my week of trekking and camping, just thought i would tell you all about it! I normally write my diary and then write this but i haven't done that yet so i am telling you from memory.
We set off on Monday to Phutoei National Park it took about 4 hours to get there. We stopped off on the way at Tesco Supermarket (i have tried to avoid it) to buy som goodies for the trip. The Tescos here are huge and this one had a KFC. Shamefully myself and Sandra could not resist after our three weeks solid of Thai food, but it tasted sooo good! We arived at the National Park in time to put our tents up and have our evening meal, have a wash and get into bed! I am quite suprised how much i enjoyed the camping and also how much i am turning into an outdoor person too.
Tuesday we made our way into the National Park to begin our trek, three hours lond and it is normally done over two days but we did the full three hours in one go. There are meant to be alot of Wildlife in the park including tigers, but i did not see anything, partly because i was always watching where i was putting my feet and if i was not watching my feet i was watching for things i could walk into with my head. On the trek we came to three waterfalls which we had to climb, one of them about 8-metres without using any equipment, just my hands and feet. Quite a scary thought but such a good feeling once at the top. The jungle is very dry at the moment and there are alot of bush fires, we kept having to change direction because of this and at one point we had to walk through it. After this we then walked into the path of some angry looking Buffalos and had to change direction again-all good for the adrenaline rush.
Tuesday evening we set up camp at an orchid farm and it actually rained. Spent the evening playing cards and draughts, then had an early night. The next morning we trekked to some local caves, i managed to get over my claustrophobia and went inside, really good with some amazing stalagnites and stalatites (think that is how you spell it, i wish i had wrote my journal first so i could clarify this). It was so dark and i thought that they would not photograph well but they did, got some brilliant pictures. We went into three caves altogether. After lunch we moved on to another national park and camped on a raft close by to a lake, lovely view and i slept like a log. However actually getting there was a filthy business, another four hours in the truck on dusty roads we were covered from head to toe in dust and it was in my hair, ( i am starting to look more and more like stig of the dump each day). Worst of all there weren't any washing facilities, but the guide took us to a local village and they let us use there communal bathroom (a pipe and a bowl, very functional though).
Thursday morning we set of for a homestay, again down the dusty roads, so more filth and in the same clothes as yesterday as i didn't see the point of putting clean ones on, so now smelling bad as well. The homestay was great although i did not sleep very well that night, think i was missing the openess and airyness of the tent. Just did a lot of chilling here and then set off the nest day for a hotel.
I am currently back at the eco house in Singburi but move on to Koh Samet on Monday for a bit of time on the beach.
Sunday 1 April 2007
I will pass on becoming a Buddhist
hello, here again to tell you about my week in Thailand. I am currently still based in the provence of Singburi but travel around by the day and return to the eco house at night. On Monday 24th we visited the city of Ayutthaya, this is a UNESCO world heritage city and used to be the capital of Thailand before it was sacked and the title went to Bangkok. First we saw a young gentleman having his initiation ceremony to become a monk-a very colourful affair! After we then visited the elephant village, but to be honest my heart wasn't in it! After seeing a herd of elephants in Zambezi National Park just roaming around, as opposed to them being used for work purposes there is just no contest.
Tuesday 27th March
i had to get up at 5.30 am to give alms to the local monks, a Thai tradition where the people of the village provide the local monks with food for their daily meal. This consists of rice and fruit. It was actually quite interesting to see. I then went back to bed for a few hours and then watched a film on Buddhism. It appears to be all about taking the middle road and doing things in moderation, but this is just common sense to me. In the afternoon we visited the temple where we are staying tomorrow night.
Wednesdayday 28th March
very hot day today, got up usual time and then made our way to the temple. Once at the temple we had to get changed into all white, i had a long white skirt on and a white long sleeved top, T shirts are not allowed. We had a look around the temple and then were invited by the monks to chant and meditate with them. Interesting experience although i did discover that i have the concentration span of a gnat and only lasted about 3 minutes before my mind started to wonder. However the monks were really good and they lasted about 25 minutes. The meditation included chanting, walking and sitting. The walking one just involves walking slowly and concentrating on the movement. However to me this just just makeswalking difficult , have a go and concentrate on your every move and you feel like you are going to fall over, not to mention sweat alot!
After the chanting/meditation we had some free time so we went up to our room to prepare it for the evening. Quite a nice room, very hot though, we had four fans going at the same time and it was still boiling, i am sure it had something to do with the stone floors absorbing heat. I just used my sleeping bag for padding as it was far too hot to get inside. In the evening we did a bit more meditation, but i was still no better.
Next morning (Thursday 29th march) a very early start. We joined the monks in collecting alms from the local village. A few more volunteers joined us all dressed in white, felt a bit like i had joined some religious sect but all the same interesting to see. I had to put on the same clothes from yesterday and i kept thinking what on earth is that smell-and of course, yes, it was my good self!
After breakfast we planted trees with the monks, Sandra thought that they should leave me there as she said i looked quite at home in my white garments (not that they were white anymore, not only were they sweat coloured but they were also now covered in soil) planting trees. Later on we thanked the monks and gave them pressies. What an interesting experience, although i do not think i will turn to Buddhism myself they even have a website, if anyone is interested i will give you the link!
Friday 30th March
I had about 20 showers post the temple experience, if i felt this dirty after one night of sleeping on the floor and wering the same clothes for 48 hours what am i going to be like after trekking in the same clothes for four days! Today we checked in to a nice resort where you can have spa treatments. The place had a lovely infinity pool. Did not really do much here about from relaxed, swam and took sanctury in the air conditioned room! I even slept with a blanket on the air con cooled it down so much.
Saturday 31st march
After a lazy lie in, we went off to a local pottery store where they hand paint everything they make, it is brilliant, i would have liked to buy something but i am so worried about things like that smashing in my rucksack. Later onwe went to the zoo, they had some reallly big cats, tigers, lions, panthers. Quite good but just not the same as seeing them in the wild!
Today (Sunday 1st April) has been another lazy day, been at the local swimming pool eating ice cream. Tomorrow we begin a four day trek so i will let you know how i get on or how bad i smell at the end of it! Ugh
I have also decided to go to Australia a bit earlier than planned, so now leave on the 16th April, quite excited about going to Auz!
Take care xxx
Tuesday 27th March
i had to get up at 5.30 am to give alms to the local monks, a Thai tradition where the people of the village provide the local monks with food for their daily meal. This consists of rice and fruit. It was actually quite interesting to see. I then went back to bed for a few hours and then watched a film on Buddhism. It appears to be all about taking the middle road and doing things in moderation, but this is just common sense to me. In the afternoon we visited the temple where we are staying tomorrow night.
Wednesdayday 28th March
very hot day today, got up usual time and then made our way to the temple. Once at the temple we had to get changed into all white, i had a long white skirt on and a white long sleeved top, T shirts are not allowed. We had a look around the temple and then were invited by the monks to chant and meditate with them. Interesting experience although i did discover that i have the concentration span of a gnat and only lasted about 3 minutes before my mind started to wonder. However the monks were really good and they lasted about 25 minutes. The meditation included chanting, walking and sitting. The walking one just involves walking slowly and concentrating on the movement. However to me this just just makeswalking difficult , have a go and concentrate on your every move and you feel like you are going to fall over, not to mention sweat alot!
After the chanting/meditation we had some free time so we went up to our room to prepare it for the evening. Quite a nice room, very hot though, we had four fans going at the same time and it was still boiling, i am sure it had something to do with the stone floors absorbing heat. I just used my sleeping bag for padding as it was far too hot to get inside. In the evening we did a bit more meditation, but i was still no better.
Next morning (Thursday 29th march) a very early start. We joined the monks in collecting alms from the local village. A few more volunteers joined us all dressed in white, felt a bit like i had joined some religious sect but all the same interesting to see. I had to put on the same clothes from yesterday and i kept thinking what on earth is that smell-and of course, yes, it was my good self!
After breakfast we planted trees with the monks, Sandra thought that they should leave me there as she said i looked quite at home in my white garments (not that they were white anymore, not only were they sweat coloured but they were also now covered in soil) planting trees. Later on we thanked the monks and gave them pressies. What an interesting experience, although i do not think i will turn to Buddhism myself they even have a website, if anyone is interested i will give you the link!
Friday 30th March
I had about 20 showers post the temple experience, if i felt this dirty after one night of sleeping on the floor and wering the same clothes for 48 hours what am i going to be like after trekking in the same clothes for four days! Today we checked in to a nice resort where you can have spa treatments. The place had a lovely infinity pool. Did not really do much here about from relaxed, swam and took sanctury in the air conditioned room! I even slept with a blanket on the air con cooled it down so much.
Saturday 31st march
After a lazy lie in, we went off to a local pottery store where they hand paint everything they make, it is brilliant, i would have liked to buy something but i am so worried about things like that smashing in my rucksack. Later onwe went to the zoo, they had some reallly big cats, tigers, lions, panthers. Quite good but just not the same as seeing them in the wild!
Today (Sunday 1st April) has been another lazy day, been at the local swimming pool eating ice cream. Tomorrow we begin a four day trek so i will let you know how i get on or how bad i smell at the end of it! Ugh
I have also decided to go to Australia a bit earlier than planned, so now leave on the 16th April, quite excited about going to Auz!
Take care xxx
Sunday 25 March 2007
Culturally sound
hello, how are tricks?
I moved over to Sing buri which is north of Bangkok on Monday 18th March to an eco house where i will be based for the next few weeks. It is on the banks of the Noi (little) river. It is in pretty grounds and my accomodation is really nice. The showers are cold which is great because with the constant humidity i need it. I do not feel it is as hot here as Zim and Zambia but the humidity makes it uncomfortable, 37 degrees on Friday!!.
On Tuesday the 19th we had a tour around the Singburi town and after lunch we learnt some Thai words. In the evening we were asked to join a Thai English group whom get together once a month and aim to practicwe their English. At the same time Karaoke is happening tooand listening to some of the Thais singing in English is quite funny if you are English but the Thais (especially the older ones) take it very serious indeed. When your guide is singing Glen medeiros nothing is gonna change my love for you, there isn't much you can do but to laugh hysterically.
Wedenesday the 19th march, Sandra and myself and the guides had a walk around the local village, if there is one thing i do not like about Thai is the number of dogs there are and they bark at you, will make a note to avoid, do not want rabies!!! in the evening we went out with some of the other volunteers here who are working at the local orphange. karaoke again, this evening, lots of fun and laughter and some of the younger guides joined in too and had a ball. I even had a go and apparently i am quite good, however i think this was in comparison with the Thais and not how good i actually am.
Thursday and Friday was spent visiting alot of temples and museums, the museum was brilliant although i am a bit bored with temples already although i am impressed with the architecture and the detail on the buildings. On Friday we also went to an AIDS temple, it is a bit like a local hospice but it has a lot of educational stuff in there too. Rather strangely at the front was a building with past residence bodies on show. Each person in there had donated there bodies to the cause and wanted others to learn from how there bodies had changed as a result of HIV. And... even stranger was ornaments in the grounds that had been made by an artist from bone resin of past residence. Very strange place but interesting all the same, however i can see how people might feel uncomfortable by it but the residence are not on show and consent is always given if necessary.
Saturday 24th march, we went on a tour of some local farms and sampled some fruits. One was a rose apple garden surrounded by irrigation channels. We went on a little boat up and down the channels and sampled the fruit.
For those of you who wanted me to brush up on my cooking skills i have a recipe for Soy Pad Thai noodles and Papaya salad, i had a go at making it and it was quite nice. Next week i am actually going to stay at a temple, so i will be back next week to tell you all about that.
Love Andreax
I moved over to Sing buri which is north of Bangkok on Monday 18th March to an eco house where i will be based for the next few weeks. It is on the banks of the Noi (little) river. It is in pretty grounds and my accomodation is really nice. The showers are cold which is great because with the constant humidity i need it. I do not feel it is as hot here as Zim and Zambia but the humidity makes it uncomfortable, 37 degrees on Friday!!.
On Tuesday the 19th we had a tour around the Singburi town and after lunch we learnt some Thai words. In the evening we were asked to join a Thai English group whom get together once a month and aim to practicwe their English. At the same time Karaoke is happening tooand listening to some of the Thais singing in English is quite funny if you are English but the Thais (especially the older ones) take it very serious indeed. When your guide is singing Glen medeiros nothing is gonna change my love for you, there isn't much you can do but to laugh hysterically.
Wedenesday the 19th march, Sandra and myself and the guides had a walk around the local village, if there is one thing i do not like about Thai is the number of dogs there are and they bark at you, will make a note to avoid, do not want rabies!!! in the evening we went out with some of the other volunteers here who are working at the local orphange. karaoke again, this evening, lots of fun and laughter and some of the younger guides joined in too and had a ball. I even had a go and apparently i am quite good, however i think this was in comparison with the Thais and not how good i actually am.
Thursday and Friday was spent visiting alot of temples and museums, the museum was brilliant although i am a bit bored with temples already although i am impressed with the architecture and the detail on the buildings. On Friday we also went to an AIDS temple, it is a bit like a local hospice but it has a lot of educational stuff in there too. Rather strangely at the front was a building with past residence bodies on show. Each person in there had donated there bodies to the cause and wanted others to learn from how there bodies had changed as a result of HIV. And... even stranger was ornaments in the grounds that had been made by an artist from bone resin of past residence. Very strange place but interesting all the same, however i can see how people might feel uncomfortable by it but the residence are not on show and consent is always given if necessary.
Saturday 24th march, we went on a tour of some local farms and sampled some fruits. One was a rose apple garden surrounded by irrigation channels. We went on a little boat up and down the channels and sampled the fruit.
For those of you who wanted me to brush up on my cooking skills i have a recipe for Soy Pad Thai noodles and Papaya salad, i had a go at making it and it was quite nice. Next week i am actually going to stay at a temple, so i will be back next week to tell you all about that.
Love Andreax
Friday 16 March 2007
I have made it to Thailand !!!!
hello
what are you all up to?
Had a very good last night in Zambia, went for cocktails at the Royal Livingstone hotel, watched the sun set and got some great pictures of my friends too. Geoff, one of the volunteers (quite abit older) is a keen bird watcher and astronomer. He pointed out a really bright star (which i thought was possibly the Northern star (i know a bit dim) but instead of being a star it is actually Venus, the planet. I tried to take pictures but it never turned out right.
I am currently in the hotel in Thailand where i will be staying for the next three nights before moving somewhere more rural to do more culturally things. The trip over was a long one and i am so tired i can hardly see, it is only 1445. I left Zambia on Wednesday 14th March at 1030, crossed over to Zimbabwe for my flight which was delayed for two hours. Had one night stay over in Johannesburg at a guest house called the Emerald hotel (very good, they look after you, have nice rooms, is good value for money and its really secure). Unfortunately despite it being really nice i did not sleep well, which did not give me a very good start for my 12 hour flight to Hong Kong. Now the time difference between Johannesburg and Hong Kong is 6 hours, but after about two and a half hours on the flight and after food the hostesses shut the shutters on the plane windows so everyone would sleep. I did not sleep because my brain was telling me it was only 1630, so i stayed awake the whole twelve hours and for the next four for my flight from Hong Kong to Bangkok. So very tired, the computer i am using has English alphabet on the keys but also the Thai alphabet, it is making my eyes not focus very well.
If this blog entry doesn't make sense i am really sorry.
Take care
Andreaxx
what are you all up to?
Had a very good last night in Zambia, went for cocktails at the Royal Livingstone hotel, watched the sun set and got some great pictures of my friends too. Geoff, one of the volunteers (quite abit older) is a keen bird watcher and astronomer. He pointed out a really bright star (which i thought was possibly the Northern star (i know a bit dim) but instead of being a star it is actually Venus, the planet. I tried to take pictures but it never turned out right.
I am currently in the hotel in Thailand where i will be staying for the next three nights before moving somewhere more rural to do more culturally things. The trip over was a long one and i am so tired i can hardly see, it is only 1445. I left Zambia on Wednesday 14th March at 1030, crossed over to Zimbabwe for my flight which was delayed for two hours. Had one night stay over in Johannesburg at a guest house called the Emerald hotel (very good, they look after you, have nice rooms, is good value for money and its really secure). Unfortunately despite it being really nice i did not sleep well, which did not give me a very good start for my 12 hour flight to Hong Kong. Now the time difference between Johannesburg and Hong Kong is 6 hours, but after about two and a half hours on the flight and after food the hostesses shut the shutters on the plane windows so everyone would sleep. I did not sleep because my brain was telling me it was only 1630, so i stayed awake the whole twelve hours and for the next four for my flight from Hong Kong to Bangkok. So very tired, the computer i am using has English alphabet on the keys but also the Thai alphabet, it is making my eyes not focus very well.
If this blog entry doesn't make sense i am really sorry.
Take care
Andreaxx
Monday 12 March 2007
My last few days in Zambia (Again)
hello
how is everyone? Hope you are all well? Just here to tell you about my last few days in Zambia. On Wednesday i fly from Zimbabwe to Johannesburg, have a one night stop over in one of the airport hotels then fly to Hong Kong and then onto Bangkok. I arrive there on Friday, must take some toiletries on the plane so i can freshen up, although i am getting used to smelling really bad.
Friday 2nd March
My brother turned 25 today, (he's catching up), but apart from that not alot happened on this day. In the morning i worked at Maramba clinic and then in the afternoon, Linda Community school, which is attached to the orphanage had a net ball and football match so i went to support them. Good matches but both teams lost.
Saturday 3rd March
Typical Saturday, did lots of sunbathing, eating etc, in the evening we watched a film called flatliners. Bad film if you ask me, until about the last 20-30minutes.
Sunday 4th March
Just another chilled day, in the evening we watched the Lunar eclipse, so clear here, did any one else see it?
Tuesday 6th March
Good day all round! Spent the morning on Home based care, went to Ngwenya which is about 30 minutes from Maramba clinic, had a lot of laughs with the home based care ladies. I aldo got my preliminary results for my public health modules, i got Environmental health, 74%, Communicable diseases 70% and Disaster Managesment 67%. Very pleased with these results and i decided to celebrate by having 2 ice creams (greedy i know) but in the evening Kristen, one of the girls on the project is an aerobics instructor so we did some exercises. Worked off those ice creams anyway (i hope).
Thursday 8th March
Public holiday here in Zambia, Womens Day. We went to the orphanage with some food and had lunch with the boys and then went back to the orphanage in the afternoon. Friday was just a normal work day but went to watch the boys play football and the girls netball again. The boys won this time but the girls lost and were a bit upset.
Monday 12th March
another public holliday, today was youth day. The volunteers walked on the march in support.
Lots of schools in their uniforms with banners, felt quite proud to be with them actually.
Anyway, this will be my last entry until i reach Thailand, so keep in touch, keep safe
Lots of love
Andreaxx
how is everyone? Hope you are all well? Just here to tell you about my last few days in Zambia. On Wednesday i fly from Zimbabwe to Johannesburg, have a one night stop over in one of the airport hotels then fly to Hong Kong and then onto Bangkok. I arrive there on Friday, must take some toiletries on the plane so i can freshen up, although i am getting used to smelling really bad.
Friday 2nd March
My brother turned 25 today, (he's catching up), but apart from that not alot happened on this day. In the morning i worked at Maramba clinic and then in the afternoon, Linda Community school, which is attached to the orphanage had a net ball and football match so i went to support them. Good matches but both teams lost.
Saturday 3rd March
Typical Saturday, did lots of sunbathing, eating etc, in the evening we watched a film called flatliners. Bad film if you ask me, until about the last 20-30minutes.
Sunday 4th March
Just another chilled day, in the evening we watched the Lunar eclipse, so clear here, did any one else see it?
Tuesday 6th March
Good day all round! Spent the morning on Home based care, went to Ngwenya which is about 30 minutes from Maramba clinic, had a lot of laughs with the home based care ladies. I aldo got my preliminary results for my public health modules, i got Environmental health, 74%, Communicable diseases 70% and Disaster Managesment 67%. Very pleased with these results and i decided to celebrate by having 2 ice creams (greedy i know) but in the evening Kristen, one of the girls on the project is an aerobics instructor so we did some exercises. Worked off those ice creams anyway (i hope).
Thursday 8th March
Public holiday here in Zambia, Womens Day. We went to the orphanage with some food and had lunch with the boys and then went back to the orphanage in the afternoon. Friday was just a normal work day but went to watch the boys play football and the girls netball again. The boys won this time but the girls lost and were a bit upset.
Monday 12th March
another public holliday, today was youth day. The volunteers walked on the march in support.
Lots of schools in their uniforms with banners, felt quite proud to be with them actually.
Anyway, this will be my last entry until i reach Thailand, so keep in touch, keep safe
Lots of love
Andreaxx
Wednesday 28 February 2007
Zimbabwe is a beautiful country!!
hello
how are you all, i can not believe it is almost two week since i last did a blog entry! Well i hope you are all sitting comfortable with a cup of tea because this is going to be a long one! The project in Zimbabwe is really good but i felt i wanted to see more of the country. I was aware that the group from Zambia was going on a trip around Zimbabwe so i decided to go along too and i am glad i did.
Friday 23rd February
I was picked up by the Zambian overland truck around 10am and set off on a 2 hour journey to Dete in a place called Hawange. We stayed at Miombo lodge which had a variety of small thatched lodges, that had two beds in each and outside toilet and shower, i know its not everyones taste but they were really comfortable and the shower was great. On the way the truck broke down and we all had to push it until it started, took us a while as we were laughing so much, however, i did manage to take a back seat at one point and took a picture.
In the evening we had a three course meal and an African dance and drama group called Ingonyama performed for us. They sang a few songs and did animal impressions such as a Giraffe, using two/three of them, (i know this is difficult to explain but hopefully i can show you pictures at some point) it was just brilliant. After the show we went straight to bed as we had to be up and ready for 5.30am to leave for a game drive in Hwange National Park.
Saturday 24th February
Up at 5am and ready for the game drive, what can i say apart from amazing! The vastness of the area is just breath taking. In terms of game we saw a hyena stalking zebras, cheetah (which is apparently quite rare), hippos and crocodiles. In Hwange at 5am it is absolutely freezing, we were all in the truck snuggled up with blankets and a frog decided to join us too. It was sat on top of the blankets.
After breakfast we set off again, this time for a 5 hour drive to a place called Matobo hills, in Matoba. The lodge we stayed at was called Granite Ridge, made up of a number of cottages with thatched roofs and housed 2-3 people. The most notable thing about Matobo is that it is surrounded by rocks, that are different colurs as a result of minerals and lichens, and therefore patterns are formed, there is a rock known as the "Mother and Child" which looks like a mother with a child on her back, it is hard to believe that it is natural and not man made. After lunch we were taken to Matobo National Park to do a Rhino walk. Fantastic place, it is hot and surrounded by rocks and then being close to the Rhinos is just like a scene from a film or an artists impression, it is very surreal but beautiful. We then moved to an area for some more food overlooking the lake. On the way back the guide took us to some caves so we could see drawings from the local bushmen from hundreds/thousands of years ago-got some good pictures of this!
Once back at the lodge, the guide, Brian told us that at the back of the cottages there was a path that led to an area which overlooked the whole Matoba area. The path was sign posted all the way and actually turned out to be a bit of a rock climb instead. This path went up and up, it was actually a bit worrying and hard work. However, once we got to the top it was just breath taking, i have never seen anything so beautiful, everyone was just speechless. It was like being on top of the world. We stayed there until sunset taking group pictures with the camera on timer. It was such an amazing place that we all agreed to get up at 5am next morning to watch sunrise.
Sunday 25th February
Getting up at 5am has never been so easy, knowing that after a 15 minute hike up the rocks will take you to one of the most beautiful sites you will ever see, its like an addiction, you can not wait to see it. Sun rise was special too and then we went back down and had cups of coffee to warm up as it was quite cold up there.
After breakfast we then set off to a place called Gweru, to one of the other National Parks, Antelope park. It is another Lion project like the one in Victoria falls where i have been working. To be honest i preferred Vic falls as Antelope park is more man made, not as much bush and just open land. Managed to fit in another booze cruise (thats three now in 7 weeks). We stayed until Tuesday and the we had a 10 hour drive back to Victoria Falls. I decided that i would go back to Zambia with the group earlier than planned (only 5 days) but Zimbabwe is definately a place that i would like to return to again and again.
Thursday 1st March
So now i am back in Zambia, doing home based care, clinics, orphanage, just generally having a good time. Still yearning to see Matobo hills though, beautiful place!!!
Lots of Love
Andreaxxxx
how are you all, i can not believe it is almost two week since i last did a blog entry! Well i hope you are all sitting comfortable with a cup of tea because this is going to be a long one! The project in Zimbabwe is really good but i felt i wanted to see more of the country. I was aware that the group from Zambia was going on a trip around Zimbabwe so i decided to go along too and i am glad i did.
Friday 23rd February
I was picked up by the Zambian overland truck around 10am and set off on a 2 hour journey to Dete in a place called Hawange. We stayed at Miombo lodge which had a variety of small thatched lodges, that had two beds in each and outside toilet and shower, i know its not everyones taste but they were really comfortable and the shower was great. On the way the truck broke down and we all had to push it until it started, took us a while as we were laughing so much, however, i did manage to take a back seat at one point and took a picture.
In the evening we had a three course meal and an African dance and drama group called Ingonyama performed for us. They sang a few songs and did animal impressions such as a Giraffe, using two/three of them, (i know this is difficult to explain but hopefully i can show you pictures at some point) it was just brilliant. After the show we went straight to bed as we had to be up and ready for 5.30am to leave for a game drive in Hwange National Park.
Saturday 24th February
Up at 5am and ready for the game drive, what can i say apart from amazing! The vastness of the area is just breath taking. In terms of game we saw a hyena stalking zebras, cheetah (which is apparently quite rare), hippos and crocodiles. In Hwange at 5am it is absolutely freezing, we were all in the truck snuggled up with blankets and a frog decided to join us too. It was sat on top of the blankets.
After breakfast we set off again, this time for a 5 hour drive to a place called Matobo hills, in Matoba. The lodge we stayed at was called Granite Ridge, made up of a number of cottages with thatched roofs and housed 2-3 people. The most notable thing about Matobo is that it is surrounded by rocks, that are different colurs as a result of minerals and lichens, and therefore patterns are formed, there is a rock known as the "Mother and Child" which looks like a mother with a child on her back, it is hard to believe that it is natural and not man made. After lunch we were taken to Matobo National Park to do a Rhino walk. Fantastic place, it is hot and surrounded by rocks and then being close to the Rhinos is just like a scene from a film or an artists impression, it is very surreal but beautiful. We then moved to an area for some more food overlooking the lake. On the way back the guide took us to some caves so we could see drawings from the local bushmen from hundreds/thousands of years ago-got some good pictures of this!
Once back at the lodge, the guide, Brian told us that at the back of the cottages there was a path that led to an area which overlooked the whole Matoba area. The path was sign posted all the way and actually turned out to be a bit of a rock climb instead. This path went up and up, it was actually a bit worrying and hard work. However, once we got to the top it was just breath taking, i have never seen anything so beautiful, everyone was just speechless. It was like being on top of the world. We stayed there until sunset taking group pictures with the camera on timer. It was such an amazing place that we all agreed to get up at 5am next morning to watch sunrise.
Sunday 25th February
Getting up at 5am has never been so easy, knowing that after a 15 minute hike up the rocks will take you to one of the most beautiful sites you will ever see, its like an addiction, you can not wait to see it. Sun rise was special too and then we went back down and had cups of coffee to warm up as it was quite cold up there.
After breakfast we then set off to a place called Gweru, to one of the other National Parks, Antelope park. It is another Lion project like the one in Victoria falls where i have been working. To be honest i preferred Vic falls as Antelope park is more man made, not as much bush and just open land. Managed to fit in another booze cruise (thats three now in 7 weeks). We stayed until Tuesday and the we had a 10 hour drive back to Victoria Falls. I decided that i would go back to Zambia with the group earlier than planned (only 5 days) but Zimbabwe is definately a place that i would like to return to again and again.
Thursday 1st March
So now i am back in Zambia, doing home based care, clinics, orphanage, just generally having a good time. Still yearning to see Matobo hills though, beautiful place!!!
Lots of Love
Andreaxxxx
Thursday 15 February 2007
Working in the Bush
Hello, it is me, the "crazy weirdo that jumps out of planes" How are you all? I am good. Really enjoying Zimbabwe. The lion cubs are grat, there are 2 four month old cubs called Nduna and Nandi, 9 month old cubs called Lokotula and Langa and three 14 month old cubs called Amanzi, Nala and Narnia. I must admit despite them being cubs they are actully quite big. Still building up confidence with them though.
The best thing i like about this project though is the amount of time you spend out doors in the bush learning about the trees, plants and the insects. The other day i had forgotten to brush my teeth so one of the guides showed me two trees, the Lead wood tree (also known as the tooth bush tree) and the Diamond leaf tree (aka Colgate tree). Although i did not use the Colgate tree i did clean my teeth with the lead wood tree-amazing it really works, although Eunice and the lion guides were laughing at me because they said i was too girlie. I was horrified when they said i had to spit the bark out(never really spat in public before).
I also like watching all the insects, the other day i was on a client walk (when tourists pay to walk with the lions) and saw a dung beetle in the middle of elephant poo, rolling a ball of it down the path. The reason they do this is push the elephant dung down a hole so it can lay an egg. The larvae then eat there way out of the ball of dung. Fascinating or what!
Tuesday we went on a day trip to Zambia, so i managed to catch up with my mates in Zam, which was good. I have 10 spare days after this project so i am hoping to go back to Zambia to work abit more on that project. Its easy to arrange.
Still good to here your comments
Lots of Love
Andreaxxx
The best thing i like about this project though is the amount of time you spend out doors in the bush learning about the trees, plants and the insects. The other day i had forgotten to brush my teeth so one of the guides showed me two trees, the Lead wood tree (also known as the tooth bush tree) and the Diamond leaf tree (aka Colgate tree). Although i did not use the Colgate tree i did clean my teeth with the lead wood tree-amazing it really works, although Eunice and the lion guides were laughing at me because they said i was too girlie. I was horrified when they said i had to spit the bark out(never really spat in public before).
I also like watching all the insects, the other day i was on a client walk (when tourists pay to walk with the lions) and saw a dung beetle in the middle of elephant poo, rolling a ball of it down the path. The reason they do this is push the elephant dung down a hole so it can lay an egg. The larvae then eat there way out of the ball of dung. Fascinating or what!
Tuesday we went on a day trip to Zambia, so i managed to catch up with my mates in Zam, which was good. I have 10 spare days after this project so i am hoping to go back to Zambia to work abit more on that project. Its easy to arrange.
Still good to here your comments
Lots of Love
Andreaxxx
Saturday 10 February 2007
Zimbabwe
hello
how are you all, hope you are well. I am currently in Zimbabwe and i quite like it, a very different experience from Zambia. The country is very green with lots of bush and wildlife. This project is also quite varied, some days i spend time at Masuwe lodge where the lions are, taking part in walks, cleaning lion enclosures, feeding the lions, spend time in Zambezi National Park, monitoring game or conservation work. We also spend some time with horses, grooming and riding them. The day is quite long and you end up going to bed quite early, but its all enjoyable.
Thursday night we spent a night camping on an island in the middle of the Zambezi River, this was my first ever camping experience. I really enjoyed it, a very surreal experience, watching the hippos from the island is such a wonderful sight.
I am quite suprised i didn't have many comments complaining about my sky dive. I tried to put some pictures on the blog in Zambia but it took about 20 minutes just to upload one picture so i gave up. Will try again soon, but not here.
If i do not email or do blog entries often it is because the communication here is not too good, but i am fine. Love to here from you all soon.
Andreaxx
how are you all, hope you are well. I am currently in Zimbabwe and i quite like it, a very different experience from Zambia. The country is very green with lots of bush and wildlife. This project is also quite varied, some days i spend time at Masuwe lodge where the lions are, taking part in walks, cleaning lion enclosures, feeding the lions, spend time in Zambezi National Park, monitoring game or conservation work. We also spend some time with horses, grooming and riding them. The day is quite long and you end up going to bed quite early, but its all enjoyable.
Thursday night we spent a night camping on an island in the middle of the Zambezi River, this was my first ever camping experience. I really enjoyed it, a very surreal experience, watching the hippos from the island is such a wonderful sight.
I am quite suprised i didn't have many comments complaining about my sky dive. I tried to put some pictures on the blog in Zambia but it took about 20 minutes just to upload one picture so i gave up. Will try again soon, but not here.
If i do not email or do blog entries often it is because the communication here is not too good, but i am fine. Love to here from you all soon.
Andreaxx
Sunday 4 February 2007
Jumping out of a plane!!!
hello
how are you all? It is Sunday 4th February, My last weekend in Zambia, awww!
Yesterday i jumped 8000 feet from an aeroplane over Zambia-what a wonderful feeling-i could quite easi8ly take it up as a hobby (Joke Mum) although i am sure i will do it again. You are taken up in a little aeroplane with no door and you are attached to the instructor, he is called Gary and originally from Southport. It takes about 20 minutes to get to 8000 feet and all the way up i kept thinking, can't do this, can't do this, but then at 8000 feet you can't see anything just cloud, Gary asked me to put my feet out of the plane, this is unbelievably easy but at this point you are dangling out of the plane, head and feet back so you are curled like a banana and then you go. Free fall lasts about 20 seconds and the the parachute opens and you are taken back up. It is such a fantastic feeling, you feel so light and the view is amazing. I have a dvd with it on, definately one of my best personal achievements.
Tomorrow i am going over to the Zimbabwe side of Victoria falls to start the Lion Project although i may arrange to come back here for a few days at some point. Not sure what internet services are like over there but hopefully will still be able to keep you up to date with everything.
Lots of Love
Andreaxxx
how are you all? It is Sunday 4th February, My last weekend in Zambia, awww!
Yesterday i jumped 8000 feet from an aeroplane over Zambia-what a wonderful feeling-i could quite easi8ly take it up as a hobby (Joke Mum) although i am sure i will do it again. You are taken up in a little aeroplane with no door and you are attached to the instructor, he is called Gary and originally from Southport. It takes about 20 minutes to get to 8000 feet and all the way up i kept thinking, can't do this, can't do this, but then at 8000 feet you can't see anything just cloud, Gary asked me to put my feet out of the plane, this is unbelievably easy but at this point you are dangling out of the plane, head and feet back so you are curled like a banana and then you go. Free fall lasts about 20 seconds and the the parachute opens and you are taken back up. It is such a fantastic feeling, you feel so light and the view is amazing. I have a dvd with it on, definately one of my best personal achievements.
Tomorrow i am going over to the Zimbabwe side of Victoria falls to start the Lion Project although i may arrange to come back here for a few days at some point. Not sure what internet services are like over there but hopefully will still be able to keep you up to date with everything.
Lots of Love
Andreaxxx
Wednesday 31 January 2007
My last week in Zambia
Most of the week so far has been working on homebased care in the mornings and the orphanage in the afternoons.
Home based care was with the Maramba team Monday and Tuesday. Both these days were spent in different zones. Monday was in an area called Zekko and Maramba extension. Here i bathed a lady in her home (a very different experience to giving a bed bath) and met a few of the other patients. Tuesday i went into zone B, this consists of Maramba compound and Malota. These areas are very busy and noisy, lots of markets, music and crowded. Malota has a high rate of HIV and TB and this is often a result of the Shabings (illegal beer houses).
Wednesday i spent the morning at Libuyu clinic and with the homebased care team. The clinic was really busy and was a bit confused as there was no clinical medical officer to be seen, just two nurses and there was a really poorly man and a baby that came in. Libuye is quite different to Maramba and Malota, its quite quiet.
The orphanage is good fun, we have been teaching the children how to read. Tuesday i was listening to two girls (Dolly and Chambwa) read. They were actually very good but seemed a bit obsessed with my hair. Anyway once the reading was finished they started to braid my hair, three of them at once, I wouldn't mind but it hurts, they are so heavy handed for 8 year olds. They do it tight as well takes a while to remove it.
The rest of the week is mainly work really, have a few things planned at the weekend, Zambezi sun, Victoria falls, another cruise down the Zambezi river, watching the sunset at the Royal Livingstone and lots of other fun and games. All this prior to my transfer to Zimbabwe on Monday 5th February. I will probably do another blog entry before.
Take care
Love
Andreaxx
Home based care was with the Maramba team Monday and Tuesday. Both these days were spent in different zones. Monday was in an area called Zekko and Maramba extension. Here i bathed a lady in her home (a very different experience to giving a bed bath) and met a few of the other patients. Tuesday i went into zone B, this consists of Maramba compound and Malota. These areas are very busy and noisy, lots of markets, music and crowded. Malota has a high rate of HIV and TB and this is often a result of the Shabings (illegal beer houses).
Wednesday i spent the morning at Libuyu clinic and with the homebased care team. The clinic was really busy and was a bit confused as there was no clinical medical officer to be seen, just two nurses and there was a really poorly man and a baby that came in. Libuye is quite different to Maramba and Malota, its quite quiet.
The orphanage is good fun, we have been teaching the children how to read. Tuesday i was listening to two girls (Dolly and Chambwa) read. They were actually very good but seemed a bit obsessed with my hair. Anyway once the reading was finished they started to braid my hair, three of them at once, I wouldn't mind but it hurts, they are so heavy handed for 8 year olds. They do it tight as well takes a while to remove it.
The rest of the week is mainly work really, have a few things planned at the weekend, Zambezi sun, Victoria falls, another cruise down the Zambezi river, watching the sunset at the Royal Livingstone and lots of other fun and games. All this prior to my transfer to Zimbabwe on Monday 5th February. I will probably do another blog entry before.
Take care
Love
Andreaxx
Saturday 27 January 2007
Home Based Care and a bit of Painting
Hello hope everyone is well!!
I am fine, most of the week i have been working on home based care in the Maramba area, but different zones. The man i was telling you about we managed to get him to hospital but had to pay for the truck, it cost 50,000 kwacha and 10,000 for him to register, this is roughly about 8 pounds, i know its not a lot but to the Zambians here it is a lot of money and the family would never have been able to get him in to hospital. Anyway he is in hospital now and is doing well and as volunteers we are the talk of the town for helping him-or so i have been told. It is quite upsetting really that in the UK getting some one to hospital is only a phone call away but here it needs planning . Thursday i went on homebased care but stayed in the grounds and helped the manager formulate her monthly report for Zambian International. In the afternoons this week i have bee either on the farm or painting one of the schools in Dambwa, an area in Livingstone, good fun but hard work in the heat.
In the evenings it is quite a social event, there is a bar that reminds me of Thornberries and we just go in there and chat with other volunteers. Next week is my fourth week, i cross over to Zimbabwe on the 5th February. I will miss Zambia as i love it, but if the rest of the trip is as good as the first part i will love the rest of it too.
Keep your comments and emails coming, its great to here from everybody.
Love
Andreaxx
I am fine, most of the week i have been working on home based care in the Maramba area, but different zones. The man i was telling you about we managed to get him to hospital but had to pay for the truck, it cost 50,000 kwacha and 10,000 for him to register, this is roughly about 8 pounds, i know its not a lot but to the Zambians here it is a lot of money and the family would never have been able to get him in to hospital. Anyway he is in hospital now and is doing well and as volunteers we are the talk of the town for helping him-or so i have been told. It is quite upsetting really that in the UK getting some one to hospital is only a phone call away but here it needs planning . Thursday i went on homebased care but stayed in the grounds and helped the manager formulate her monthly report for Zambian International. In the afternoons this week i have bee either on the farm or painting one of the schools in Dambwa, an area in Livingstone, good fun but hard work in the heat.
In the evenings it is quite a social event, there is a bar that reminds me of Thornberries and we just go in there and chat with other volunteers. Next week is my fourth week, i cross over to Zimbabwe on the 5th February. I will miss Zambia as i love it, but if the rest of the trip is as good as the first part i will love the rest of it too.
Keep your comments and emails coming, its great to here from everybody.
Love
Andreaxx
Saturday 20 January 2007
Home based care and a bit of farming!
Hello
how is everyone?
Today has been really interesting, i have been working on a project called Home based care, this is where a volunteer goes with local volunteers into the villages to see sick people and give them advice or recommend measures to improve their symptoms. Its fascinating all these little communities which are hidden, it takes a while to reach them and the walk in the heat is quite hard work but its worth it, although some of the alleyways smell of human waste (strong stomach needed). I saw a lady with HIV but here it is called chronically ill as it is extremely taboo and do not like it mentioned, she had malaria but also had TB, but had lapsed with her medication on numerous times, so it was just advising her that once she had finished her tablets for malaria to go back to the clinic for her TB drugs. Then we saw a few more people but i won't go through each one but dealth with various inquiries such as TB related, one man had a stroke. There was also one man who really needed to go to hospital and we were going to take him in a taxi, but when i assessed him he could not walk, bend and was in a lot of pain. So we decided to go back to the clinic to get the stretcher and an ambulance. As there is only one ambulance in Livingstone we were not allowed to use it so i asked one of the local volunteers if we could get a van- you know what he said- " how much are you willing to pay?" Honestly, here there is no such thing as charity, everyone is out to make money. Its so unfair on these people.
In the afternoon, i went to work down on the farm it was so hot, hard work but satisfying, i wouldn't mind being a farmer.
Speak to you all soon
Andreaxxxx
how is everyone?
Today has been really interesting, i have been working on a project called Home based care, this is where a volunteer goes with local volunteers into the villages to see sick people and give them advice or recommend measures to improve their symptoms. Its fascinating all these little communities which are hidden, it takes a while to reach them and the walk in the heat is quite hard work but its worth it, although some of the alleyways smell of human waste (strong stomach needed). I saw a lady with HIV but here it is called chronically ill as it is extremely taboo and do not like it mentioned, she had malaria but also had TB, but had lapsed with her medication on numerous times, so it was just advising her that once she had finished her tablets for malaria to go back to the clinic for her TB drugs. Then we saw a few more people but i won't go through each one but dealth with various inquiries such as TB related, one man had a stroke. There was also one man who really needed to go to hospital and we were going to take him in a taxi, but when i assessed him he could not walk, bend and was in a lot of pain. So we decided to go back to the clinic to get the stretcher and an ambulance. As there is only one ambulance in Livingstone we were not allowed to use it so i asked one of the local volunteers if we could get a van- you know what he said- " how much are you willing to pay?" Honestly, here there is no such thing as charity, everyone is out to make money. Its so unfair on these people.
In the afternoon, i went to work down on the farm it was so hot, hard work but satisfying, i wouldn't mind being a farmer.
Speak to you all soon
Andreaxxxx
Mwauka Bwangi (Good Morning)
Mulibwangi (How are you)?
Can not believe a week has gone by since i wrote in the blog properly. This week has been my first full week of working in the clinics and on the projects although it turned out that i did not work a full week.
Monday and Tuesday i worked at a clinic called Libuyu clinic in the LIbuyu area of livingstone. This is one of the poorest areas of livingstone, here i took temperatures, blood pressures and weight prior to them seeing the Clinical Medical Officer. I can not remember if i told you but in Zambia they have nurses that are given a certificate of Clinical Medicial Officer, it can not be used any where else, this is to encourage nurses to stay in Zambia. A lot of medical staff and nursing staff leave Zambia to work else where , where the pay is better. Unfortunately this leaves Zambia short of medical workers and the need for volunteers. In the afternoon i spent time at the orphanage playng with the children, which is always good fun. I have got used to the children insisting on calling me Anti now.
Wedensday i went to Maramba clinic again, baby weighing, and i even spent time in the Laboratory preparing sputum for smear testing. In the afternoon i went down on the farm preparing a crop for plantation with the others. The peacefulness was really good a change from the orphanage where its a wonder i don't wear ear muffs.
From Wedensday evening onwards i started to feel Sinili Bwino (Not fine). My throat was incredibly sore and found eating quite painful. So i took Thursday off, by Friday morning it was worse and i was sick, so off to the local hospital i went. Had quite a nasty infection in my throat and they offered my injections but i politely declined and thought no matter how painful swallowing is i WILL swallow those pills. So now i have medical records in Zambia and the pills are free, you just have to pay 10,000 kwacha to register (about 1 pound 60). Any way after lots of sleep and a day of antibiotics i am Nili bwino (feeling good).
Can not believe i am about to go into my third week, how quick has that gone! Oh i meant to say the man that drank the Zinc oxide is getting better, still in hospital but recovering.
Keep in touch
Love
Andrea
Can not believe a week has gone by since i wrote in the blog properly. This week has been my first full week of working in the clinics and on the projects although it turned out that i did not work a full week.
Monday and Tuesday i worked at a clinic called Libuyu clinic in the LIbuyu area of livingstone. This is one of the poorest areas of livingstone, here i took temperatures, blood pressures and weight prior to them seeing the Clinical Medical Officer. I can not remember if i told you but in Zambia they have nurses that are given a certificate of Clinical Medicial Officer, it can not be used any where else, this is to encourage nurses to stay in Zambia. A lot of medical staff and nursing staff leave Zambia to work else where , where the pay is better. Unfortunately this leaves Zambia short of medical workers and the need for volunteers. In the afternoon i spent time at the orphanage playng with the children, which is always good fun. I have got used to the children insisting on calling me Anti now.
Wedensday i went to Maramba clinic again, baby weighing, and i even spent time in the Laboratory preparing sputum for smear testing. In the afternoon i went down on the farm preparing a crop for plantation with the others. The peacefulness was really good a change from the orphanage where its a wonder i don't wear ear muffs.
From Wedensday evening onwards i started to feel Sinili Bwino (Not fine). My throat was incredibly sore and found eating quite painful. So i took Thursday off, by Friday morning it was worse and i was sick, so off to the local hospital i went. Had quite a nasty infection in my throat and they offered my injections but i politely declined and thought no matter how painful swallowing is i WILL swallow those pills. So now i have medical records in Zambia and the pills are free, you just have to pay 10,000 kwacha to register (about 1 pound 60). Any way after lots of sleep and a day of antibiotics i am Nili bwino (feeling good).
Can not believe i am about to go into my third week, how quick has that gone! Oh i meant to say the man that drank the Zinc oxide is getting better, still in hospital but recovering.
Keep in touch
Love
Andrea
Monday 15 January 2007
i can't email
hello
just a quick one, we are having trouble using hotmail out here, so i am sorry for the lack of emails. Once i can get back on i will be sending lots xxxx Andrea
just a quick one, we are having trouble using hotmail out here, so i am sorry for the lack of emails. Once i can get back on i will be sending lots xxxx Andrea
Sunday 14 January 2007
It's amazing!!!
hello
i am really sorry i haven't been using this as much as what i thought but i have been a bit busy, just settling in and all the other stuff thats going on, but as promised i am about to fill you in! Monday involved a tour of Livingstone village, it is a typical African village, lots of red coloured roads and lots of green, it really is an amazing view. I am staying at a house with 9 other girls and we are roughly all around the same age and everyone is really friendly. There are also two other houses, one which contains about 10 others, younger though and a new one with a nice pool. No one stays there yet but we can use the pool.
Tuesday- we had our induction, we talked about the clinics and what projects we would like to be involved in. In the morning you either do a morning of teaching, medical or home based care (bit like community nursing but with unpaid locals doing all the work). In the afternoon you get involved in a variety of projects, 1) farming peppers which are used to discourage elephants from destroying the crops but they also sell them to buy medical supplies. 2) orphage where you either play with the children or help building a new sleeping place for the children, or 3) do sports with the children. In the afternoon we went to the orphanage to have a look around and introduce ourselves to the children.
Wednesday- went to maramba clinic, this is one of the largest clinics in LIvingstone town, they have baby weighing clinics, vaccinations, so you help there and then once finished you can go and help in the pharmacy, general clinics, ante natal or in the laboratory. In the afternoon we went to the orphange, i had 3 children braiding my hair, think i might get dreads (joke). In the evening we had some tea and the went to a bar called raphsodys for a cocktail or two (happy hour two for the price of one), very nice.
Thursday- we got up at 5am and went to one of the National parks called Mose-o-Tuny, this was fantastic, i saw zebras, giraffes, Impalas (kind of Gisele) and vervet monkeys, that have blue testicles, oh and a few baboons. In the afternoon we had a language lesson, the local language is Chinyanja. So when i am confident i will try a few words out. After this we had lunch and then went to a local village calledKahundi village which has been in place since 1300s. Our tour guide was the chiefs son. I have some really good pictures of this village so hopefully i will be able to post them on the blog soon. Again it is a typical African village, lots of little huts, we even tasted the beer (just looked like cement to me but it did taste like beer. Ten years ago the Japanese, German, British and US embasseys paid for the village to have water pumps, before this they had to walk 4km to get water. In the evening we went to the new house with the pool and had a barbecue. When got back to our house we looke in to the sky and clearer than clear was orion just above the house, very beautiful, this was the most amazing day.
Friday- probably the toughest day i have had yet, i was working at Maramaba clinic weighing babies when we were asked to assist with a man that had been brought in by a taxi, he had taken an overdose of zinc oxide (rat poison). He was in such a mess, the stuff smelt awful, but there was no Doctor at the clinic so we had to take him to the local hospital in another taxi practically unconscious, it was not nice at all. I don't think he will live but even if he does he will be put in jail and scentenced as suicide is illeagal here. Will find out on MOnday what happens to him.
Saturday-did some somebathing at a local hotel resort called the Zambezi sun (very posh) it has a lovely pool and because it is part of the national park vervet monkeys and sometimes zebras come up to you and say hello while you are sunbathing, it is amazing. In the evening we went on a cruise up the zambezi river, took a great picture of the elephants in the water, i tried to get the hippos to but every time i got the camera out they kept diasppearing, amazing experience though.
Sunday, just emailing then going back to Zambezi sun. As i keep saying it is amazing here, everyone says it, you can't help it but it truly is amazing. Keep in touch and i will email soon.
AndreaX
i am really sorry i haven't been using this as much as what i thought but i have been a bit busy, just settling in and all the other stuff thats going on, but as promised i am about to fill you in! Monday involved a tour of Livingstone village, it is a typical African village, lots of red coloured roads and lots of green, it really is an amazing view. I am staying at a house with 9 other girls and we are roughly all around the same age and everyone is really friendly. There are also two other houses, one which contains about 10 others, younger though and a new one with a nice pool. No one stays there yet but we can use the pool.
Tuesday- we had our induction, we talked about the clinics and what projects we would like to be involved in. In the morning you either do a morning of teaching, medical or home based care (bit like community nursing but with unpaid locals doing all the work). In the afternoon you get involved in a variety of projects, 1) farming peppers which are used to discourage elephants from destroying the crops but they also sell them to buy medical supplies. 2) orphage where you either play with the children or help building a new sleeping place for the children, or 3) do sports with the children. In the afternoon we went to the orphanage to have a look around and introduce ourselves to the children.
Wednesday- went to maramba clinic, this is one of the largest clinics in LIvingstone town, they have baby weighing clinics, vaccinations, so you help there and then once finished you can go and help in the pharmacy, general clinics, ante natal or in the laboratory. In the afternoon we went to the orphange, i had 3 children braiding my hair, think i might get dreads (joke). In the evening we had some tea and the went to a bar called raphsodys for a cocktail or two (happy hour two for the price of one), very nice.
Thursday- we got up at 5am and went to one of the National parks called Mose-o-Tuny, this was fantastic, i saw zebras, giraffes, Impalas (kind of Gisele) and vervet monkeys, that have blue testicles, oh and a few baboons. In the afternoon we had a language lesson, the local language is Chinyanja. So when i am confident i will try a few words out. After this we had lunch and then went to a local village calledKahundi village which has been in place since 1300s. Our tour guide was the chiefs son. I have some really good pictures of this village so hopefully i will be able to post them on the blog soon. Again it is a typical African village, lots of little huts, we even tasted the beer (just looked like cement to me but it did taste like beer. Ten years ago the Japanese, German, British and US embasseys paid for the village to have water pumps, before this they had to walk 4km to get water. In the evening we went to the new house with the pool and had a barbecue. When got back to our house we looke in to the sky and clearer than clear was orion just above the house, very beautiful, this was the most amazing day.
Friday- probably the toughest day i have had yet, i was working at Maramaba clinic weighing babies when we were asked to assist with a man that had been brought in by a taxi, he had taken an overdose of zinc oxide (rat poison). He was in such a mess, the stuff smelt awful, but there was no Doctor at the clinic so we had to take him to the local hospital in another taxi practically unconscious, it was not nice at all. I don't think he will live but even if he does he will be put in jail and scentenced as suicide is illeagal here. Will find out on MOnday what happens to him.
Saturday-did some somebathing at a local hotel resort called the Zambezi sun (very posh) it has a lovely pool and because it is part of the national park vervet monkeys and sometimes zebras come up to you and say hello while you are sunbathing, it is amazing. In the evening we went on a cruise up the zambezi river, took a great picture of the elephants in the water, i tried to get the hippos to but every time i got the camera out they kept diasppearing, amazing experience though.
Sunday, just emailing then going back to Zambezi sun. As i keep saying it is amazing here, everyone says it, you can't help it but it truly is amazing. Keep in touch and i will email soon.
AndreaX
Tuesday 9 January 2007
i am in Zambia
hello, misssing everbody all ready. Finally arrived in Zambia yesterday after three flights, did not feel fresh at all. House is nice where i am staying and have net some nice people all ready. At Johannesburg airport i had a conversation with an Environmental scientist and an embassador from Naimibia.
Livingstone is very hot but i am enjoyng it so far. This week is more of an induction week really, but going to start getting into the projects tomorrow more.
thanks for your email and comments. I had some problems emailing people , so will try again. Sorry if i send duplicate emails to people.
Andrea
Livingstone is very hot but i am enjoyng it so far. This week is more of an induction week really, but going to start getting into the projects tomorrow more.
thanks for your email and comments. I had some problems emailing people , so will try again. Sorry if i send duplicate emails to people.
Andrea
Saturday 6 January 2007
Shattered
hello
just about finished off my packing, did not think for one minute it would take me so long, but basically i had far too much stuff! Going to have a soak in the tub and then chill for tomorrow. I will be up at 7am to get ready, flying from Manchester to Heathrow at 1115. I am meeting my brother at heathrow as my flight to Johannesburg is not until 1750. I will probably arrive in Zambia early afternoon Monday 8th, so quite abit of travelling ahead.
Thanks again to everyone who gave me pressies and cards wishing me luck, you have all given me a real good send off. Speak to you all soon.
Andreaxxx
just about finished off my packing, did not think for one minute it would take me so long, but basically i had far too much stuff! Going to have a soak in the tub and then chill for tomorrow. I will be up at 7am to get ready, flying from Manchester to Heathrow at 1115. I am meeting my brother at heathrow as my flight to Johannesburg is not until 1750. I will probably arrive in Zambia early afternoon Monday 8th, so quite abit of travelling ahead.
Thanks again to everyone who gave me pressies and cards wishing me luck, you have all given me a real good send off. Speak to you all soon.
Andreaxxx
Thursday 4 January 2007
Three Days To Go
I thought i would be writing in this thing everyday, but i just haven't had the time, i have been getting all my jobs done before i go. I managed to get my essays in which was a big relief, no more studying for a while now. I have had a few sleepless nights as the nerves are really starting to kick in, i feel like i am about to present to a group of students, nervous, not really sure I want to do it, but its coming anyway and there is nothing I can do about it apart from get on with it (just nervous though).
I have really tried hard to travel light (not taking a hairdryer) but i still seem to have loads of stuff to put in my ruck sack, hope i can carry it Sorted some accomodation out for my first week in Sydney, booked three nights in a hostel and three nights in a nice hotel, for a treat. Then i have one night alredy booked prior to the 6 week tour in Australia. It is all coming together now quite nicely.
love
Andrea
I have really tried hard to travel light (not taking a hairdryer) but i still seem to have loads of stuff to put in my ruck sack, hope i can carry it Sorted some accomodation out for my first week in Sydney, booked three nights in a hostel and three nights in a nice hotel, for a treat. Then i have one night alredy booked prior to the 6 week tour in Australia. It is all coming together now quite nicely.
love
Andrea
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