Morruz

Safari 2009 leg 2 almost over

March 12, 2009 in Africa 2009 by Moi | 4 comments

Well folks, its 7 in the morning in Arusha, Tanzania, I’m up and have had tea. Both Kenya and Tanzania are 10 hrs off home. Tomorrow we go to Nairobi and then off on leg 3 of thisw excursion.

Christopher, we did not actually see the cheetah do the killing but I have pictures of her and her 2 cuubs eating, they were abouty 15m from the truck. nWe’ve had lions rub against our vehicles. The other morning, 5:45, walking to the toilet an elephant walked out the other side of the building no more than 15m from me.

Hey, that early and the dark tree area starts moving and has tusks you think you are still sleeping. Due to light I didn’t get an exceptioinal photo but do have one. For this portion I experienced so much that I just cant remember it all to tell you.

By going thru photos it’ll all come back though. My apoplogies ahead of time, I have lots of photos.

Again, this is a camping trip. I would recommend it for anyone who leans that way. If you’d rather just do the Serengeti/ngorongoro there are quite the flyt in lodges there. Quite the variety of landscapes. People are friendly, here in Tanznia they speak a bit less english and that is accented. Kids wave at the truck all the time. Sellers here are back to the aggressive type like Egypt.
Hot showers last night!!!!
I guess that’s it as I just can’t remember all I want to say, this has been a 2 week experience that I’ll never forget. luv, moi

Safariing away

March 6, 2009 in Africa 2009 by Moi | 2 comments

Well, I am down in the SW corner of Kenya, Kericho. This is a camping safari, we set up our own tents nightly but do have a camp cook. We went from Nairobi up to Naguru then back to Lake Nakuru national park then to the Masai Mara national reserve. I’ve seen all types of antelope and gazelles, lions, wildbeasts, cheetahs (including on a kill), giraffes, elephants rhinos, etc. It is quite interesting and I’m having fun.
What a basic trip, cold showers, bathrooms that barely fit our description, good food, travel in a large safari truck, what a different country.
Tomorrow we go into Tanzania for the last week of this trip with our first night on the shore of lake victoria.
Having a good time with our group, mostly auzzies. Did a tea plantation tour today.
Hopefully find a better connection soon or else may not post until the 15.

Nairobi

February 28, 2009 in Africa 2009 by Moi | 1 comment

Well, I am here. First thing I noticed on the ground is that they drive on the wrong side of the road, not bad when you are in a taxi but I’m still not used to which way to watch for cars while crossing the street. By the way, I am now a professional j-walker.
Nairobi itself is quite a nice city, lots of green. The biggest thing I’ve noticed is that there is minimal garbage downtown, one of the cleanest cities I’ve visited. It is really helped by the fact that there is a major fine if you smoke on the sidewalk, they have designated areas only for my evil habit. Even so, they don’t litter like most places I’ve visited. But, note, I’ve only seen downtown.
Tonight I get together with my next group and we leave tomorrow. Boy is the sun wicked hot here in the afternoon. Supposedly, right when we get back is the start of the rainy season. Interesting how the working women hit on you.

End of leg one

February 26, 2009 in Africa 2009 by Moi | 2 comments

OK, I did Alexandria. Different historical place as it is alot more greco-roman in flavour. It really is a large resort town for Cairo. Population of 4-6,000,000 but about triple that in summer. I did go to El Alamein museum and cemetery. It’s not a tour I would overly recommend but it was important to me. You don’t really see the battle site as I was told there are still lots of land mines, about two a day still hurting people. My guide is studying for his Phd in Egyptology. I was asked at least twice to sponsor someone to come to Canada.
On my last morning I had about 4 hours to kill so walked to the citadel, about 1.5 hrs each way around the bay. people were shocked. When I went to get my shirt I had a taxi all afternoon and he took me to a great hole in the wall restaurant, not cheap but good sea food. Later I actually found a cheap bar for beer 10 minutes from the hotel.
I have to keep saying it, people are very friendly just watch out for the friendly who wants you to come to his store for his card.
This is my last day in Egypt, I fly out tonight for an overnight to Kenya.
The weather has been nice, some hot days but mostly 15 to 25. I’ve actually seen clouds.
Boy am I saving up a ton of punch buggies.
I’d really like to see Christopher drive here, at first he would love it, horns to pass, to clear the way, just to make noise, to signal it’s OK to come in my part lane. You would really get irate at the people who drift across lanes though. In grid lock, there is lots, its a miracle there aren’t more accidents.
Hope you’re all well, luv, moi

So much to say and…

February 23, 2009 in Africa 2009 by Moi | 2 comments

just no way to say it all. Trains planes and automobiles and boats and livestock, what a way to travel. By the way, lights while driving here are optional, headlights and signal lights. Crossing streets is an art. Lanes are optional.
I am in Alexandria for those who care. This is a very arabic area but there is enough english around for me to survive. I’m actually quite pleased with my arabic and get complemented on it. If there is a media report of Hogan in Egypt it wasn’t me.
I don’t know if you heard but there was a bomb in Cairo last night not too far from where we were having supper but I never saw anything, security went up a notch though.
I’m liking the buying of supper while the seafood is still moving, they give you too much food.
Great view of the mediteranean out of my hotel window right across the street.
Take care all, moi

Quiet time in Dahab

February 21, 2009 in Africa 2009 by Moi | 3 comments

So, yesterday was a waste day in Dahab, a resort town on the gulf of Aqaba.

Just walked around, drank beer (except for the place that wasn’t open because he wasn’t awake yet).
Our group is hanging out together quite well, we ususally do meals together. The food is not extraordinary but good, here there is a lot of sea food. You order by weight before it is cleaned.
Dahab must be a divers/snorkel center as there is a lot of it here. The coast goes out about 30m shallow, 0.6m, then drops right off and those that have snorkeled say there are lots of fish and coral to be seen.
Today on to Cairo and split off this group to head for Alexandria tomorrow. Take care all.

Cairo and beyond

February 19, 2009 in Africa 2009 by Moi | 3 comments

So, we saw some more older pyramids near Cairo and then on we go. At 9:00 yesterday morning we went through the tunnel at Suez City under the Suez canal and entered Asia. We then drove down the east side of the gulf of Suez about half way heading inland about 15 minutes south of Abu Rudies to Mt. Sinai, staying in a neatish hostel and doing the ascent. 1250m up to 2285m to the top. The old man made it and am pleased with myself, didn’t even slow the others down.

It wasn’t as severe as how someone punishes me but it was a climb for sure. This morning we looked over the monastary there and then drove to Dahab, about half way down the west coast of the gulf of Aqaba and are checked into a neat resort for the next two nights with no tours planned, just wander around, look at things. This is a resort town for wealthy Egyptians. Oh, I’m drying off from a dip in an arm of the Indian Ocean.
An incident that happened, do NOT try to take pictures of the police here!!! We have been quite safe, I have not felt at risk and have been well off the beaten track a few times. There is a large police presence, mostly with an armed police about every block in touristy areas but around banks and we went through about six check points across the Sinai peninsula, bedouin country. This country does try to make it safe for tourists and locals.
Oh, I can see Sudia Arabia across the gulf from our pool. It is sunny and about 30 something although yesterday was cool.
For all off you, this trip set up for me is working very well and is well worth the assistance of Trekescapes/Gecko. It is more packaged than some trips I’ve taken but lots has been included, quite an experience so far.

Leaving Luxor

February 16, 2009 in Africa 2009 by Moi | 4 comments

We are done the deep history part of the tour, having gone to the valley of the kings this morning. I would really stress that to do this tour in summer would be insane both for crowds and temperatures. Had a great donkey ride to the valley, my donkey kept trying to lead the way even if I was hauling back on the reins. There really is some outstanding preserved stuff to be seen here but if one is interested it would be best to take more time and maybe small private tours.
The locals are friendly, just watch out because they want baksheesh for anything or nothing.
We take an overnight train back to Cairo tonight, hopefully this ones bathroom was cleaned in the last year or so.
Extremely lush country and farm land immediate to the nile with absolute desert outside of irrigation.
Just to let you know, so far I have not found a computer that will allow photo downloads, I may already have quite a bunch.

Next step

February 15, 2009 in Africa 2009 by Moi | 3 comments

OK, I am down some back street in Luxor and found an internet. We got on the boat, a quite upper class boat trip but really relaxing. Heat, we have had some quite hot days, nights are cool.
Aswan was a beautiful city, morris think of the Valencia and sister city thrown together. Wow you should experience the aggresive street sellers here, I mean aggressive but you can get through them. Market street in Aswan was a zoo, I must be Hogan by now in fact. By the way, peas soaked in a pepper brine go well with beer. Try Arabic web sites with arabic writing someimte.
Abdul, our leader is fantastic. Other guides have also been good.
OK, temples, some are fantastic but I’m getting a little templed out. The Amon Ra here at Luxor is wow awesome though, best so far with the previous being Ramses II as mentioned.
Nubian village at Aswan was an experience as was wandering back streets here in Luxor. I did do a camel ride, try it sometime, different. Most of these will require better explanations when I get home. By the way, do not ever plan this trip in summer as it is busy now, can you imagine the crowds at busy time. Also, walking a temple at 45???

Feet on the ground, mostly

February 13, 2009 in Africa 2009 by Moi | 2 comments

Quick post as this site is painful slow.
Since I last posted we did an overnight train to Aswan, not recomended for the weak and tired, me but it got us here.
Beer is 15-20 EP and hard to find, they do not drink publicly here. Yesterday went to the temple of Isis at Aswan, neat. Then did a Faluta boat sail around the island in the nile. Beautiful, laying on the deck on matresses having tea and talking with our group, very peaceful and recommended. Today saw the temple of Ramses II, best thing so far. It is out in the Sahara about 3 hours bus from Aswan. We just moved onto our cruise ship for the next 3/4 days of nile cruising so will post later.
Our group is actually 3 of 14. Ours is coming together and visiting is fun. I’m rooming with 59 year old Micky from Australis as is most of our group. Tonight we play football against another group.
Post later, moi

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