Zimbabwe

Victoira Falls.

For some of us this was an end point to the journey. Others a new group.

Victoria Falls is a really well built city for tourists. Infact that is what is relies on.

I will digress later.

D.R.C.( Demoratic Republic of the Congo)

This will be one of the most interesting part of my journey. My day started at 5.30am wake up. A quick breakfast we had to make our lunch for the day as well. Our truck ride to the border was not long. Still dark.The crossing seemed to take a while. Waiting for ournpick up also seem to take a while.We boarded a alterain truck to take us to the park. On many occasions we were followed by young children up the hill. They were trying to grab on to the back of the truck. THe guards at eh vback of the truck had to show their guns inorder to send the keds away. THese children would make death signs to us and pretend to shoot us.

Our truck was to heavy to make it up the hill. We all got out and walked up 4 km. Local people followed us.
Arriving to Varunga National park. Now being close to 11am. Some of us ate our sandwiches. There were two groups of 6.

Our group seemed to take forwever to trek up the mistly mountain.

Gorillas in the mist. Literally that ius how it felt. Two hours or more later our group finally caught up to th e family of Gorillas. It was 7pm by the time we were back at the park office. I was getting tirsty, tired and hungary. Our drive back most of us fell asleep. Going through the border seem to take an extra long time.

Arriving back at camp was 10.45pm. Had a quick very late dinner and fell sleep.My next day was spent resing and to tired for me to do the day trip to Kilgali. I would be alone and would be to much. Laundry was done and alot of sleeping.

Uganda

On my travels I have not kept up with my blog. In doing so I have gooten ahead of myself and totally forgot a few weeks. Unfortunatle the downside is that it is not fresh in my mind. The memories arn't either. Uganda is actually a well governed country. The roads are surprizingly well surfaced. When I was volunteering in Kenya I was away frm any sort of news in fact i didn't knwo who won the world cup til a few days later when I was back in Nairobi. Nairobi this time I could feel I could walk around by my self.

I was talking to another travelier at the Nairobi youth hostel. I tld him of my soon to be overland trip east. He shouted "Your going to Kampala". Have you heard the news". I said what news I have been in rural Kenya. There was a bombing there a day or so ago. HMmm.

I checked out the news and it turnd out into be something to do with the Somalia conflict.

Kampala would be safer after something has happened. After the ctiy would be surrounded by high security there wouldn't been any attacks.

Crossing the border was a bit of a slow process. Our first night was in a town called Jinja, a few miles from Kampala. This is where we shall return to on our way back to Nairobi.

Our Camp site was suberb. Upon arriving I decided to do my laundry. Well, Not such a good Idea. Just as I put my clothes up to dry it downpoured. I forgot to close my tent door. My new never slept in Sleeping bag got soaked. My clothes were far from being dry.

None the less. A really good campsite. Located beside the Nile R. We past through Kampala. Crowded. A long drive before our next site. A big coke bottle statue centers a roundabout in the center of town. Must be to do with the World Cup. A big mosque stands on a hill. Skyscrapers sit in the city valley. Kirsoro is where we Camp. This is close to the the borders of Rwanda and the D.R.C. A slight confusion to those who plan to do the day trip to Kilgali. Using a Canadian Passport I could have gone for free. No Visa fee. Our tour leader gave me s stamp to the wrong group. Instead of my going to Rwanda on the next day I was going to the Congo.

Zambia

Zambia
Capital: Lusaka
Currency: Zambian Qwatre

Most of what I saw of this country was the road to Livingston. Pretty sad. I did manage to get a cold here. Sleeping at the camp site in Lusaka was incredible cold. I woke up with a sore throat. The city mall was being updated and was being expanded. Lusaka is I would say a safe city, but has not much to offer.
Livingston is just on the Zambezi River. Much warmer than Lusaka. Our campsite was wonderful apart from the crazy monkeys that would occasionally attack you. Visiting the Falls from the Zambia side is nice, but more enjoyable from the Zimbabwe side. We could see rainbows popping up from the water. I couldn't find the pot of gold.

Malawi

Malawi
Capital: Blanentiye
Currency: Malawian Quatre

Malawi is a very small country. Most of the country is surrounding Lake Malawi. Swimming in it one can get swept up in the strong currents. I almost lost my swimming trunks. There is alot of poverty here. What one might recognise is of Madonna sponsoring a child here in the last few years. Here I spent my birthday hiking up a mountain. The views where phenomenal. From the top I could see Tanzania, Mozambique and ther rest of Malawi.

We spent time for lunch in Lalongwe. The city can seem very up to date.

Zanzibar

Zanzibar

The island off the coast of Tanzania. There are a few other islands. Pemba is one of them. The island has a rich history.
Once owned by the Sultan of Oman where spices grow naturally. A rest house is located north of Stone Town where he rested with much of what a man loves. It architecture is amazing. White buildings nestled in small alleys. Music fills the ears. A travelers paradise. If you head to the north you get Serene beaches with warm water. Visiting Turtle Island is a must. Turtles grow really big here. One can get the chance to feed them. A turtle I fed was 180 years old. What an appetite he had.
Spices galore. Fresh Lemon grass, Cinnamon bark, Vanilla bean and coffee beans. There is alot more I just can't remember them all. Our drive to the spice farm was in a small minivan bus. At one piont we had to get out to push start the van. Great experiance.

Tanzania

Tanzania
Capitol: Dodoma
Currency: Tanzanian Shilling

Tanzania is home to the Serengeti and the Norongoro Crater. The crater has the biggest salt plane and home to plenty of animals.
If you visit at the right time you can see the annual migration that cross the river into the Masai Mara in Kenya. The Masai culture is small compared to the world, but big in eastern Africa. Boy's at the age of 14 are circumcised, if one flinches it is lethal to his well being in society. They must then hunt down a lion and kill it. Many young boy's don't survive this ritual.
Off the coast of Tanzania lies and island, Zanzibar.
Zanzibar wants it own govenment but has challenges with Tanzania. Upon arrival you even get a passsport stamp. Separate flag, but the currency remains the same.

Kenya

Kenya
Capital: Nairobi
Currency: Kenyan Shilling

Nairobi has a bad nickname Nairoberry. It is overused. You Can walk the streets of Nairobi, just don't walk late at night.
Kisumu is located on lake Victoria. Has a Muslim population. Can always be count on a free wake up call.
The country is filled with many hosbidable people. I can't say that enough.
I shall definately visit again.

Volunteering

I have had a heart warming experiance that I shall never forget.
I vounteered from the 7th to the 16th.

My bus i took went to a town in westwern Kenya called Kisumu. Located next to Lake Victoria. I had to change busses. My next bus took me to Bondo an hour or so drive from Kisumu. It is more of a village. I weas greated by Martin who immediatly took my bag and rose oit to his head. We are to take yet another bus, but this timne a local one. 50 people cramd into a small pick up.

Fun times.

I stayed in a hamlet called Wagusu.

I shall keep on posting as soon as I can when I can get a good internet connection.

Nairobi

Nairobi is a city that is built in the forest. THe Airport is small. Unfortunatley there aere plans to expand, but nothing looks like it will happen any time soon. It is lilke walking back into the sixites and seventies.
My flight up to Kenya on Kenya Airways was surprizingly good. Upon checking in I didn't haver to pay for extra weight on my luggage. There were two flights that day and I was early enought I could have taken the first flight. I didn't take off until 1pm.

It was dark in Nairobi by the time I arrived. My hostel gave me a pick up. Thank you. Crickets seem to like this place. Water was occaisionally turned off due to gov. restrictions.

I stayed in Nairobi for two nights.

Volunteering was my plan as I had extra time in Kenya. I was given as connact at the hostel who hooked my up for volunteering for twen days.
My departure was for 6 am.

Bus to Johannesburg

As my days in Cape Town srink. I am to get ready for my cross country bus trip. 18 hours. I leave Cape Town at 5.30 pm 3rd july and arrive in Jo'burg at 1.30 pm on the 4th the next day.
Luckily my backpakers is only a few blocks from the Bus Station. Rush hour is just getting to it's peak. I appreciate the crowd of commuters as I walk down the hill with my ever so heavy luggage bags.

Upon getting to the bus I had to buy another ticket. My visa I payed with is an older card.
The journey on the bus was a non-enent. It took a few stops at the occasional gas station where I bought a beverage and chips.
Several movies were played onboard the bus. Each movie had the volume turned up. I found it a little disturbing. I didn't arrive in J'burg until 4pm. A 23 hour bus ride.

We eventually made it to Johannesburg. the Station is in a slighty risky area.

My night in Johannesburg was spent at a freinds home near Rosebank. I got a ride to the airport on the 5th july for my flight up to Kenya. Ivery much appreciated the ride. I was driven past Nelson Mandela's present home.

Cape Town

It has been a while since my last post. Unfortunatley I am not in Cape Town right now. Internet connections in Africa are not fast. I here in Rawanda they are putting in fibre optics under the ground anhd is the cleanest so far.

Cape Town is a magnificient city. The skyline is surounded by Table mountain and surounded by bueatiful blue water. I have been staying at a fourstar backpackers called the backpackers on Long Street. I payed 180 rand per night. Sweet deal.

My first night I found a cheap bar and ate a cheap burger while watching a footie game. Most CapeTonians usually spend there friday and saturday nights on Long Streeet. It is the nightlife district.
The Victoia and Alfred waterfround has been redeveloped into a superb shopping place. Hotels, Malls and marina's cover the wharfs. On a clear day one can see Robbin Island.

Robbin Island was where Nelson Mandela was imprissioned for numerious years. My tour was given by a former prision mate.
Today the island has it's own community, including a school, post office and general store. The patrons of the island are a mix of former prision mates and former prision guards. All are neighbours. Amazing.

The stadium in Cape Town is large and is well architectually designed for the surounding habitat. Around the corner is Camps Bay.
Camps Bay is a coummity for big homes. Some have there own lift from the road as the homes are built higher up on the rocky coast. Superb beaches.

I have to say I am very impressed with the city.

Soweto

Soweto is known as the South Western Townships.

First build in 1930's and has since become a population of a third of Johannesburg. Soweto has a massive hospital that is funded by the government of South Africa.

Desmond Tutu and Winnie Mandela currently reside in Soweto.

Hector is a well known name in Soweto. A young boy who was shot to death. The first casualty during the apartied.

Johannesburg

Jo'burg.

I am surprized at the size of this town. It is massive. I am staying in a northern suburb of Dunkield. I have three malls within half hour walk.
This town is the center for the countries industries. South African breweries is the biggest of them all. The brewery owens Miller draft beer in the U.S.
Most castle beer is sold cheap here. 12 rand for a 750 ml bottle (1 USD is 7.5 rand).
The traffic is stupendious.

It has taken me a bit of time of get used to the lifestlye here. There are two stadiums in J'burg that are been used for the world cup. Ellis Park is right in the city of J'burg and Soccer city, which is in Soweto. The downtown core is not a place to roam around. There is plenty of crime.

Soweto is a suburb of Johannesburg.

Doha

Doha is dam Hot. Arriving at 7pm it is 47 degrees. I am sitting at the airport Lounge getting my free meal compliments of Qatar Airways. All is good. The food is very spicey. Doha's airport is very much a hub in the middel east and one would expect to board the plane on a jetway. This airport does not have any yet. Doha is at the moment at the beginning of it's expansion. In 2006 it hosted an expo of somesort. Everything has been build by the Emiri of Qatar who only wants the best of the best. I would have loved to have spent more time in Doha. A six hour layover won't do.

I am to board my plane at 1am in the morning. It is still so very hot that I can see the plane is sweating too.

I am given a complimentary case with eyeshades and socks.

The food on board is exceptionary grand. This is a five star airline and is keeping to there promise to have the best service. Next time one is to travel remember Qatar Airways and you too will enjoy good service. Oh and they don't charge for alcoholic beverages, unlike Air Canada.

Time in London

My London adventures have been splendid except I have picked up a cold of some sort. Traveling on the underground is quite the experience. They know how to crowd the train. I have been pushed into the train. My head has been inches from the door.

Some of the places I have seen are Eltham Palace, V and A museum and the Natural History Museum. The childhood museum and a few other places.

Eltham Palace is more of a house or mansion. Once owned by a prestigious family who were originally from Belgium. They owned a yacht where they traveled to Sri Lanka, Scandinavia, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Their family pet was a Lemur. The house has an Art Neuvo style. The living room looks fairly elegant. I would have taken pictures except they don't allow photo's.

Not having been to the Victoria and Albert Museum I didn't think there was anything new. I was mistaken.

Cambridge

I made a little trip north to the country town of Cambridge. The train fare to Cambridge was pricey, but well worth it.

I met up with an old Primary school friend who is teaching at Corpus Cristy College. He gave me a wonderful tour of the town and campus. One place that stood out was going to Kings College. The Vancouver Bach Youth Choir I had sung in ws where the conductor studied and I believe he also had conducted the choir. My awe of the cathedral was superb. Every story that Bruce Puillen has mentioned had all of a sudden come to life.
Another college was St. James where the story of Chariots of Fire took place.
The city has soo many colleges I didn't didn't know of. I knowledge of the city has been expanded greatly.

My day was well enjoyed. My freind and I had catch-up talk while sitting onn the grass facing the Backs. Most of the students were enjoying a cruise on punts. A punter almost lost his grip and fell into the backs.

So much in Lille.

As I titled this post so much in Lille, my expectation of the city was not grand. I have been proven wrong.

Lille's location in France is north east of Paris and literally miles to the Belgian border.

The town began as early as 1066. (the same year as the battle of Hastings). Lille first major structure was that of a citadel built in the late 1660s. It today is still used by the French military. Lille first belonged to Belgium.

The city's stock exchange dates back to the early 16th century, a birth place of an important citizen of France and during world war two Lille was a location to a major battle (as well as Dunkirk).

A lot of flemish influence has been used with the buildings in Lille such as the city hall, cathedral and Stock exchange. The city hall built later than the stock exchange has been built using reinforced concrete to support it's walls.

The cathedral built during the 16th century was never finished untill recently where a side of the building has a modern concrete wall
Lille's old town still has cobble stones on the streets which are apart of the modern day street plan. I can only imagine the frequency of having to change tires constantly.
Charles De Gaulle was born in Lille in 1890. He spent many years in the city growing up and became a military general during the wars. Becoming the president in 1970.

During 1983 a massive expansion to it's city transport system was built. Lille's underground was the first city to be operated without a driver.
The Eurostar station was built in 1994 which led to the beginning of a mass of modern architecture (known as Gare Lille Europe)

Lille, France

Bonjour.
To note when traveling to France. The French usually take a two hour lunch brake. 12-2pm. Many museums are open in the morning and afternoon, but will close at 5pm. Be ready to be kicked out a good ten minutes before hand.

The journey over had a slight interesting twist to it. The National Express bus that I took from Victoria bus station passed through the place where I was staying in London. The thought of seeing the same intersection I passed by three hours earlier was not enjoyed. Unfortunately I could not pick it up from Eltham. Once we arrived at Dover I was fully expecting to board a sailing vessel belonging to P & O Lines of some sort. Wrong. I saw train rails. Oh, that's not what I was expecting. Passed through French customs with a breeze. The exciting part was getting a stamp in my passport. A few minutes later the bus drove down a ramp and arrived at a platform. Stopping beside a silver fieght car sporting a few small windows. The coach made a massive maneuver and slide into a tight hole inside this thing. One might feel a bit claustrophobic, but will only last a few minutes. The bus came to a complete stop. Doors began to move locking in place and lights begin to twirl. An announcement came on. 'You must keep all windows open half way, Do not stand between vehicles, taking pictures are not aloud as it interferes with the fire system'. Most of the journey was spent in a tunnel. The same passage as the Eurostar takes. I am on an auto-train. Quite an experience. Arriving less than an hour later in France we were greeted with rain. The motorway took us through Dunkirk and alot of farmland before reaching Lille.

Street signs are placed on the corner of buildings in small text. If your not used to it you could misread it and end up walking round in circles if your not careful. It's exactly what happened to me.

My first night was spent at a hotel. It was a two star that proved to be more than pleasant. Wonderful staff speaking both English and French. In the morning I enjoyed fresh French bread with nutella. This was priceless for me. During my stay I made sure I got to most of the museums.

I have been bad about writing in my blog. It had taken me a good three days to get over my jet lag.

Saturday I decide to go to France to visit a friend in Lille. Not having a booked a Eurostar ticket before I left Canada gave me no option but to take the Euroline Bus. What an experience. The fare still a bit pricey, but enough to make it worthwhile. 63 Euro RTN. Arriving in Lille at 9.15pm after a 6-7 hour bus ride. I was tired. Turned out the friend I was to met up with was not there. I stayed at a two star hotel near the train station. It was actually pretty decent. Clean I might say.

I shall talk about Lille in My next post.

arrival

Well, I made it. It turns out my flight was at 8.30pm. I arrived in plenty of time. It was not a full flight so I had plenty of room to spread out. For a reference, if anyone is going to fly Air Canada from YVR to LHR (Heathrow) might I suggest trying to catch the later flight. It is generally a half booked flight and therefore more space to move to a different seat.

London is a big city and seems like it has been transported to some other universe. Why, one askes. Everywhere you go when using public transport such as the rail system. There are constant messages about being watched by surveillance 24/7. I am sure I could have been seen on 10 different cameras. All I can say is. SO MUCH SECURITY. It is almost too-much. I felt like I am in some star-trek like city. Everyone walks about their business uniformly ( sort of like you see in a science fiction movie) Maybe?

anyways I am off to bed.

Biadankie

Hello to all
Geiomora

Tonight is the eve of my departure. I have still a few things to do and a few more chores to get done by noon tomorrow. I depart actually according to my flight schedule at 8.30pm, but when I check the schedule at the YVR website my flight doesn't show up. There is a flight at 5.05pm. I will plan to catch that flight.

This is a slightly different blog. No character designs. Mmmm, well maybe the odd one. No fussing about whether my sketches are great. Possible photo's of my endeavours. This is purposely for travel. It will include daily stories(hopefully). Updates on my lively hood and what-not.

My travels will last over a year with some employment included ( hopefully).

During the past few months I have been going through ideas. Asking myself am I doing the right thing? Will I survive? Why? what? how? There have been days of sleepless nights. Alot of Acceptance. Courage. I could go on.

I ask myself many things as I am falling asleep.
Just Don't miss my flight.