Left Gqaina this morning with one of the teachers husbands and got to Gobabis. From there we got a taxi, just as crazy as last time (110mph with no seatbelts, crazy driving), to Windhoek for N$100. I am now at the cardboard box hostel with Jamie and Fran who we unexpextedly met. Walking the streets of Windhoek, and we bumped into Rob, our overseas rep.. It's a small world!
So we set off for a bank to change money. After waiting for an hour to get served, the cashier says he cannot change our money because he needs our flight details to prove we are leaving the country! All we want is 100US$ for Zimbabwe Visa we told him, we're hitching there! He didn't understand. Luckily the guy behind us in the queue had some US$ and he said he'd take us back to his house to get some if we waited for him. We decided to wait and go with him and see where he'd take us. His car was the latest Ford Ranger with ALL the latest gadgets, computer parking, massive speakers, huge exhausts, raised suspension, 10000" tyres etc. etc. pretty cool! He took us to his house, we exhanged our Namibian $ for US$ at a rate of 9.00 which was great and without commission! Feels odd having 4 different currencies in my wallet, Namibian $, Rand, US$ and pounds.
Anyway, we're getting a combi from Katatura tomorrow up to Rundu at 7am so I need to get some rest
Night
Friday, 19 April 2013
Thursday, 18 April 2013
On the road again...
I found a tent.
This whole time we've been here, there's been a little 2 man tent hiding inside a dark space in my cupboard. I found the tent a week ago, with much frustration - we could have used it during the christmas holidays to save on costs etc. But, better late then never! It's great news, because we can sleep at hostels in the camping area now (instead of a dorm) or even in the bush or in the middle of a field or village. Cheap cheap cheap.
We set off tomorrow and are heading for Windhoek. From there, we'll get a combi up to Rundu maybe in the Caprivi area. Spend a few days exploring this region, visit Katima. After then we are headed for Victoria Falls, where we might meet up with other volunteers. Then explore Zimbabwe all over, visiting Harare. After that we are headed back through Botswana, stopping off at the Okovango Delta for a bit of canoeing and then arriving safely back at Gqaina for the 21st May.
Just like the last holidays, we have not booked any accomodation, transport or activities. Not even for tomorrow. I can't wait.
I may not be in contact with anyone for a while so.. hopefully I'll be alright hitching around, and I hope everyone back home is all well!
Bye for now! = ]
This whole time we've been here, there's been a little 2 man tent hiding inside a dark space in my cupboard. I found the tent a week ago, with much frustration - we could have used it during the christmas holidays to save on costs etc. But, better late then never! It's great news, because we can sleep at hostels in the camping area now (instead of a dorm) or even in the bush or in the middle of a field or village. Cheap cheap cheap.
We set off tomorrow and are heading for Windhoek. From there, we'll get a combi up to Rundu maybe in the Caprivi area. Spend a few days exploring this region, visit Katima. After then we are headed for Victoria Falls, where we might meet up with other volunteers. Then explore Zimbabwe all over, visiting Harare. After that we are headed back through Botswana, stopping off at the Okovango Delta for a bit of canoeing and then arriving safely back at Gqaina for the 21st May.
Just like the last holidays, we have not booked any accomodation, transport or activities. Not even for tomorrow. I can't wait.
I may not be in contact with anyone for a while so.. hopefully I'll be alright hitching around, and I hope everyone back home is all well!
Bye for now! = ]
Wednesday, 3 April 2013
An egg-cellent Easter!
A crackin' joke right there.
So, John Fraser came to visit us last week from Project Trust. He pulled up in his Corolla rent-a-car last tuesday (8 days ago). Once here, he unpacked, bringing steaks, sausages, beer and chocolate; we knew we were in for a nice couple of days. We chatted about Namibia and England and news and all the other things I've missed out on. He told us he had to leave earlier than planned. We only had his company until the next day at 1pm. We Braai'd that night and had a great night just talking.
The next day me and Jamie went to school, John still asleep. After the morning briefing, I went to wake up John, the snoring log. He said he'll be up for 1st break and then come around, look at some lessons, have a talk with us etc. I went out to my first lesson - painting the bins with the learners (it was environment week, and i'd chosen to repaint the bins to encourage not littering). John tagged along unexpectedly and was very pleased the way I handled the lesson. He said he had seen other volunteers do it, and it had not gone well! I was very relieved! He came again later in the day to another bin painting session and was just as pleased. We had a chat about things - everything was fine, principal happy lalalalalala. All good. We said our goodbyes, and just as quickly as he had arrived, he left. Leaving us with creme eggs all the way from england :))))))))
On thursday we went to Van Zyl's farm for Easter (the principal). I had a VERY nice time, watching TV, exploring the farm, eating LOTS of nice food and braai-ing. I ate my creme egg in my room so I would'nt have to share it on Easter Sunday and was very pleased. We also went hunting with Mrs. Van Zyl's son (henkie), who is also 19. He showed us the gun and on my first shot, I obliterated the stone he had put on the ground to shoot. He was impressed.
Next we went out hunting for meerkats and birds. Unfortunately we all missed, except Jamie who shot a meerkat. The next day we went out again. My first shot again, 60yds away with an old .22 rifle, I hit the smallest bird bang on in the chest. I went over the moon! The next 2 bullets brought down a further 2 birds to their doom. 3/3 Henkie was impressed and bet I couldn't get a 4th bird with the 4th bullet... I tried... and failed :(. All in all though it was very fun! After we gave the birds to the workers who apparantly eat them.
We stayed at the farm until Tuesday morning, which was when we returned to the school. I also got a lot of music from Van Zyl's daughter which, after losing my iPod in South Africa made me happy. One song in particular though... Gagnam Style. Yes it has come to Africa too, I didn't miss out reminds me of one of those travelling memories:
So I was in South Africa, Cape Town to be precise. Hitting long street with a couple of drinks in me, enjoying life. The group of us (volunteers) headed to an Irish pub named 'The Dubliner' which was slightly surreal, situated in Cape Town. Anyway, we entered, surround by tourists and people from all over the globe. There was a Karaoke going on at the moment and it was entertaining to watch. The next song that came on, was this famous Gagnam Style song. One of the tourists, a Japanese, got up onto the stage and started screaming the lyrics to this songs, along with the crowd of other Japanese tourists he was with. It was very entertaining to watch. The slightly overweight, nerdy looking tourist was loving the attention he was getting and we were loving him.
So, John Fraser came to visit us last week from Project Trust. He pulled up in his Corolla rent-a-car last tuesday (8 days ago). Once here, he unpacked, bringing steaks, sausages, beer and chocolate; we knew we were in for a nice couple of days. We chatted about Namibia and England and news and all the other things I've missed out on. He told us he had to leave earlier than planned. We only had his company until the next day at 1pm. We Braai'd that night and had a great night just talking.
The next day me and Jamie went to school, John still asleep. After the morning briefing, I went to wake up John, the snoring log. He said he'll be up for 1st break and then come around, look at some lessons, have a talk with us etc. I went out to my first lesson - painting the bins with the learners (it was environment week, and i'd chosen to repaint the bins to encourage not littering). John tagged along unexpectedly and was very pleased the way I handled the lesson. He said he had seen other volunteers do it, and it had not gone well! I was very relieved! He came again later in the day to another bin painting session and was just as pleased. We had a chat about things - everything was fine, principal happy lalalalalala. All good. We said our goodbyes, and just as quickly as he had arrived, he left. Leaving us with creme eggs all the way from england :))))))))
On thursday we went to Van Zyl's farm for Easter (the principal). I had a VERY nice time, watching TV, exploring the farm, eating LOTS of nice food and braai-ing. I ate my creme egg in my room so I would'nt have to share it on Easter Sunday and was very pleased. We also went hunting with Mrs. Van Zyl's son (henkie), who is also 19. He showed us the gun and on my first shot, I obliterated the stone he had put on the ground to shoot. He was impressed.
Next we went out hunting for meerkats and birds. Unfortunately we all missed, except Jamie who shot a meerkat. The next day we went out again. My first shot again, 60yds away with an old .22 rifle, I hit the smallest bird bang on in the chest. I went over the moon! The next 2 bullets brought down a further 2 birds to their doom. 3/3 Henkie was impressed and bet I couldn't get a 4th bird with the 4th bullet... I tried... and failed :(. All in all though it was very fun! After we gave the birds to the workers who apparantly eat them.
We stayed at the farm until Tuesday morning, which was when we returned to the school. I also got a lot of music from Van Zyl's daughter which, after losing my iPod in South Africa made me happy. One song in particular though... Gagnam Style. Yes it has come to Africa too, I didn't miss out reminds me of one of those travelling memories:
So I was in South Africa, Cape Town to be precise. Hitting long street with a couple of drinks in me, enjoying life. The group of us (volunteers) headed to an Irish pub named 'The Dubliner' which was slightly surreal, situated in Cape Town. Anyway, we entered, surround by tourists and people from all over the globe. There was a Karaoke going on at the moment and it was entertaining to watch. The next song that came on, was this famous Gagnam Style song. One of the tourists, a Japanese, got up onto the stage and started screaming the lyrics to this songs, along with the crowd of other Japanese tourists he was with. It was very entertaining to watch. The slightly overweight, nerdy looking tourist was loving the attention he was getting and we were loving him.
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