Well
Matt and I have been told time and time again that if we come to South Africa then skip Joburg and go straight to Cape Town because Joburg is horrible and Capetown is wonderful. While I can't speak for Cape Town , never having been there, I can say that those people have obviously never met Jenny and Les Fox. The kindest people on the planet!! They are the couple we told you that we met at Elephant sands and offered us accommodation in Joburg for the duration of our stay and offered to take us to the airport come time.
Normally I would feel too "Gleng-jai" or.. shy/guilty/considerate to call up a stranger to pick me up and have me stay with them for free, but their offer was so kind and honest and whole-hearted that we actually did feel entirely comfortable to call them. We were about 20 minutes away and called them, and they came and met us where we were getting dropped off! They even beat us there to wait. <3
It was a sad departure with the rest of our group, who we've inevitably grown quite close with. sharing tents, and being together 24/7 for week after week kindof forces you into close friendships- in a positive way of course. I will never forget our groupmates and I Really hope we all meet up again someday. They are always welcome to stay with me, and they have made it clear that we are welcome to stay with them in their home countries! Yay! Ruth (one of the lovely ladies from England) and I are going to do a candy exchange , where I ship her all the Canadian treats and candies and she ships me all the English ones! YIPPIE! that will be fun mail to recieve! hahahaha
Okay so anyways, we hugged everyone, kisses on the cheek, double, triple, quadruple checked the trucks and tents for our belongings and hopped in a vehicle with our new South African friends. They took us to the most amazing museum, Apartheid museum and we learned an absurd amount about South African history. There is an incredible focus on racial division here, quite interesting. There is a melting pot of races living here in South Africa, but it is not amalgamated like Canada, they remain divided by race. They have a long ways to go.
Johannesburg is potentially the scariest place I have ever been, with the possible exception of Jakarta, Indonesia (where reffa and I camped out scared in our hotel for days only leaving for the zoo and airport. hahaha). There is so much murder, theft, car hi-jacking (insane amounts of it, they never ever idle their car until they are in their electric gate fenced in driveways. Luckily, Matt and I are staying in a gorgeous house , with gorgeous people and they are even allowing their driver Bradly to take us anywhere and everywhere we want to go. We are truly spoiled. Therefore, our experience here in Joburg is actually quite positive!!
We might even go to an amusement park, if the rain stays away for longer than an hour. we have just rapidly entered rainy season. it had hardly been rainy at all and now it is rainy all the time, and COLD. it's only 18 degrees today and I am FREEZING. I'm not sure how I will handle Canada again..... yikes! although bragging to our international friends about skiing and snow has made me long for the slopes.
Only 4 short days away from flying home. I may blog once more before then, but may not ! it depends if we do any interesting things and whether or not I can reach internet .
I love you all..
thinking about Magz like crazy.. OMG is there a baby yet!?!?!!? somebody email me, PLEASE!
xoxoxoxoxoxox
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Botswana
Botswana was AWESOME !!
We only spent two nights there , but there is much to be said about the country.
So we actually left Vic falls a day early since most of us are budgeting and didn't want to do extreme life-threatening sports (bungi, rafting, ziplining, skydiving, etc etc) every single day- so we were basically hanging around doing nothing for a few days and our leaders decided to let us leave a bit early so we could get the most of our time!! we now get to see (at no extra cost) a wicked beautiful campsite with all kind of bells and whistles on the third largest crator in the world! woop woop!
So we didn't actually do much special in Botswana, we sortof just drove through it... but we saw loads. the first campsite was a bit boring but it did have a bar and a pool so that's easy to work around. We were laying by the pool in the fluffy grass marveling at the gorgeous 42.8 degree weather (omg !) when all of a sudden this dark cloud loomed over the crocodile infested river... it began to look a gloomy sight, so we all jumped to our feet and did rain-preparation just in case the rain hit our tents! we put up all truck windows, zipped everything up, put the additional canopy over top of the tent, put stuff in the centre of the tent, etc!!!! we did it super speedy and we also had to move all our laundry that was drying in the sun... it got darker and darker... we got more and more sure that the dark cloud was going to be a very large random storm and within 10 minutes (no joke) it was POURING like I haven't seen it pour before (except in monsoon season in Thailand..) but this rain collected so quickly that it actually looked like a flash flood!!! it was knee deep and running fast toward the river from all directions. Trees were breaking and falling on (other people's) tents. Some of our tents fell over, things were soaking wet, you could hardly see, there were logs floating down the newly formed river. The thunder clapped so loudly that it made every person jump, the lightening surely hit nearby-- it was a CRAZY storm!!! even more dramatic, I'd say, than the sand-dollar Sheet Harbour storm !! We were obsessing about all this random storm, looking at the now-knee-deep place where we had been tanning only 10 minutes before and we were shivering as well- it wasn't until we were physically shivering that we had a closer look and realized that it was HAILING. can you say crazy weather?!?!?!
It lasted under and hour and the sun came back out to play and we redistributed our wet laundry and reopened all the windows. our tents were muddy and sleeping bags wet... ugh what a bother- but what an INTERESTING quick storm!!!! Afterwards there were many new bugs, I guess there are loads underground during droughts and as soon as it begins to rain they all come out so that night we were swatting horribly!!
Everywhere you drive through in Botswana there are these weird "stops" (almost like a boarder... but not?) and you have to get out of the vehicle and disinfect your shoes (with this weird brown water that really just looks dirty? lol) and then they check your vehicle for meat and fruit and then you carry on. it's SO WEIRD. but it's basically to keep from spreading anything that you may have stepped on, ie. animal droppings etc. I guess it makes sense but it's kinda weird!
Night 2 of Botswana may be my most memorable of my entire trip here to Africa. We stayed at a hidden-away place where other tours don't go (I Feel blessed to have been on this tour with Riaan and Juliana- they know their way around so well and are such responsible , intelligent people). It was called Elephant sands, and it's run by a man who truly just loves elephants. He has already made his wealth and lived his life elsewhere and has chosen this area to come purely so he can be near elephants. sometimes he goes out into the bush with just a mat and pillow and sleeps beside families of elephants just to be near them. He's a very cool guy. He spends loads and loads of money each month filling up this small natural pond of water so that the elephants will come. We saw 50+ elephants come to the hole at different times-- it was AMAZING. we were maybe 30 meters away from them and they came to bathe and drink the water right in front of us- WILD ELEPHANTS !!!! aw it was magical. so so amazing. they walk right past our tents and into the water hole. they also like to drink from the pool (hahahaha) but while we were there, unfortunately, the pool was out of order because about two weeks ago there was an elephant fiasco!!!! a baby elephant fell into the pool and couldn't get out. He drowned there and the elephants were horrified and mourned the death by stomping all trees and buildings around them (this is how elephants often respect the deaths of their own kind, by destroying an area around) they were very stressed and upset elephants and the entire camp ground was destroyed. I took loads of photos of the damage. the owner said there haven't been incidents like that in years and years but it just so happened that it happened two weeks ago so we were there to see the remains. so sad :( but so interesting! and the elephants still came to the same water hole.
They also spotted a leopard twice this week on the camp grounds! SO COOL !!!!!!!!! so we were a little weary going to sleep that we might be trampled or attacked during the night by wild animals- but that is the excitement of sleeping in the bush, isn't it?
Now we have just entered South Africa- HELLO CIVILIZATION!!!! I am actually sitting in a MALL!! there are loads of developments, the roads are smooth, the boarder was CIVILIZED! It's good to be back. a good way to ease ourselves back into "city-life" hahahahaha.
OH also in Botswana, Matt and I met this great couple who live in Johannesburg, and they wholeheartedly asked us to stay with them while we are in Joburg- -YAYYYYY we have accommodation!!! Not only does this save Matt and I 150+ dollars, we also met great people, have a drive everywhere we need to go, and will have an inside source telling us the way around! woooooooooooo!!! now THAT'S lucky!!!!!
Still loving Africa. I can't wait to come back here again someday and explore it on my own terms . Missing home though, of course!
love love love always
We only spent two nights there , but there is much to be said about the country.
So we actually left Vic falls a day early since most of us are budgeting and didn't want to do extreme life-threatening sports (bungi, rafting, ziplining, skydiving, etc etc) every single day- so we were basically hanging around doing nothing for a few days and our leaders decided to let us leave a bit early so we could get the most of our time!! we now get to see (at no extra cost) a wicked beautiful campsite with all kind of bells and whistles on the third largest crator in the world! woop woop!
So we didn't actually do much special in Botswana, we sortof just drove through it... but we saw loads. the first campsite was a bit boring but it did have a bar and a pool so that's easy to work around. We were laying by the pool in the fluffy grass marveling at the gorgeous 42.8 degree weather (omg !) when all of a sudden this dark cloud loomed over the crocodile infested river... it began to look a gloomy sight, so we all jumped to our feet and did rain-preparation just in case the rain hit our tents! we put up all truck windows, zipped everything up, put the additional canopy over top of the tent, put stuff in the centre of the tent, etc!!!! we did it super speedy and we also had to move all our laundry that was drying in the sun... it got darker and darker... we got more and more sure that the dark cloud was going to be a very large random storm and within 10 minutes (no joke) it was POURING like I haven't seen it pour before (except in monsoon season in Thailand..) but this rain collected so quickly that it actually looked like a flash flood!!! it was knee deep and running fast toward the river from all directions. Trees were breaking and falling on (other people's) tents. Some of our tents fell over, things were soaking wet, you could hardly see, there were logs floating down the newly formed river. The thunder clapped so loudly that it made every person jump, the lightening surely hit nearby-- it was a CRAZY storm!!! even more dramatic, I'd say, than the sand-dollar Sheet Harbour storm !! We were obsessing about all this random storm, looking at the now-knee-deep place where we had been tanning only 10 minutes before and we were shivering as well- it wasn't until we were physically shivering that we had a closer look and realized that it was HAILING. can you say crazy weather?!?!?!
It lasted under and hour and the sun came back out to play and we redistributed our wet laundry and reopened all the windows. our tents were muddy and sleeping bags wet... ugh what a bother- but what an INTERESTING quick storm!!!! Afterwards there were many new bugs, I guess there are loads underground during droughts and as soon as it begins to rain they all come out so that night we were swatting horribly!!
Everywhere you drive through in Botswana there are these weird "stops" (almost like a boarder... but not?) and you have to get out of the vehicle and disinfect your shoes (with this weird brown water that really just looks dirty? lol) and then they check your vehicle for meat and fruit and then you carry on. it's SO WEIRD. but it's basically to keep from spreading anything that you may have stepped on, ie. animal droppings etc. I guess it makes sense but it's kinda weird!
Night 2 of Botswana may be my most memorable of my entire trip here to Africa. We stayed at a hidden-away place where other tours don't go (I Feel blessed to have been on this tour with Riaan and Juliana- they know their way around so well and are such responsible , intelligent people). It was called Elephant sands, and it's run by a man who truly just loves elephants. He has already made his wealth and lived his life elsewhere and has chosen this area to come purely so he can be near elephants. sometimes he goes out into the bush with just a mat and pillow and sleeps beside families of elephants just to be near them. He's a very cool guy. He spends loads and loads of money each month filling up this small natural pond of water so that the elephants will come. We saw 50+ elephants come to the hole at different times-- it was AMAZING. we were maybe 30 meters away from them and they came to bathe and drink the water right in front of us- WILD ELEPHANTS !!!! aw it was magical. so so amazing. they walk right past our tents and into the water hole. they also like to drink from the pool (hahahaha) but while we were there, unfortunately, the pool was out of order because about two weeks ago there was an elephant fiasco!!!! a baby elephant fell into the pool and couldn't get out. He drowned there and the elephants were horrified and mourned the death by stomping all trees and buildings around them (this is how elephants often respect the deaths of their own kind, by destroying an area around) they were very stressed and upset elephants and the entire camp ground was destroyed. I took loads of photos of the damage. the owner said there haven't been incidents like that in years and years but it just so happened that it happened two weeks ago so we were there to see the remains. so sad :( but so interesting! and the elephants still came to the same water hole.
They also spotted a leopard twice this week on the camp grounds! SO COOL !!!!!!!!! so we were a little weary going to sleep that we might be trampled or attacked during the night by wild animals- but that is the excitement of sleeping in the bush, isn't it?
Now we have just entered South Africa- HELLO CIVILIZATION!!!! I am actually sitting in a MALL!! there are loads of developments, the roads are smooth, the boarder was CIVILIZED! It's good to be back. a good way to ease ourselves back into "city-life" hahahahaha.
OH also in Botswana, Matt and I met this great couple who live in Johannesburg, and they wholeheartedly asked us to stay with them while we are in Joburg- -YAYYYYY we have accommodation!!! Not only does this save Matt and I 150+ dollars, we also met great people, have a drive everywhere we need to go, and will have an inside source telling us the way around! woooooooooooo!!! now THAT'S lucky!!!!!
Still loving Africa. I can't wait to come back here again someday and explore it on my own terms . Missing home though, of course!
love love love always
Monday, November 8, 2010
Zambia / Zimbabwe
Well HELLO friends!
first thing's first.
Happy Belated Charlie bean
Happy Birthday yesterday Matty - great / epic b-day.
We DID celebrate Halloween in Malawi (they don't, and most of the people in our group don't... but Matt and I certainly did! ) we surprised the group by coming out in costumes! --- Matty in his Spidey costume (facebook photos to follow asap...) and me in a much more modest (but still entertaining) pirate costume!! HILARIOUS. It was extra fun !
We desperately try to get a party going every single day, but our group just doesn't have the UMPH that the two of us seem to have ahahahaha. that's okay we are still having a blast. Sooo it's hard for me to remember where I left off with you, I suppose I should have backtracked my blog a bit before starting but I didn't so sorry if I repeat myself!! Malawi was so so cool, I know I just wrote about it. We swam to that gorgeous island I told you about every single day -- such great exercise and so fun. It was 850 meters each way... so that's a good workout! (good thing too, because there's nowhere to run there).
I bought a few souvenirs in Malawi- there's lots of cool little wooden trinkets!! The coolest thing is that you can trade- if you have an old shirt, or pair of shoes, or products, or sunglasses or ANYTHING really they want it, and they will trade you the things from their shop for your western things. It's so wicked! I traded my sunglasses, a pair of shorts that are too big, a t-shirt ... they tried really really hard to get my flashlight (which I now call a head torch because everyone in our group is from England or Aussie and that's what they call it..) .
We ended up sleeping in Malawi for 3 nights before moving on and we even set up a makeshift movie screen using a white sheet up against the truck! it was really cool. we watched "out of Africa" and "blood diamond" ! <3 good movies. (both I've seen before but didn't mind watching again! )
After that we were on our way to Victoria Falls!!!!!! (in Zambia) (where I'm writing you from now) We had to sleep elsewhere two nights just on the way so that we weren't driving TOO much, so we leave the campsite around 6am and drive until sometime in the early afternoon and then we just have fun doing whatever (playing volleyball, swimming, tanning, reading, computing, conversing, drinking etc.) until supper time, we eat late around 7 or 8 and then most people GO TO BED because we have to get up at like 5 again the next day. hahahahaha It's actually to the point that the entire group is up and rockin at sunrise (which is around 5am). So that's been great. Actually, the English girls (Hannah, Sophie and Ruth) and Matt and I the 5 of us get up even earlier and go for a run each morning out on the road too!! (trying desperately to stay in shape but it's not working because our camp leaders are the BEST COOKS IN THE WORLD OMG and feed us GINORMOUS portions of AMAZING food covered in all the things you WANT to eat all the time but refrain from doing so normally). I thought for sure "oh Jessica, you're going to Africa you will definitely lose weight!!" ... WRONG ... DOH!!! hahahaha
So anyways.
Now I am writing you from Vic. Falls / Livingstone. This place is EPIC. It's incredible and you can literally do ANYTHING here. Matt went Bungie jumping (he actually did) yesterday. This is the second largest bungie in the world (don't quote me on that but I Think that's what someone said). It was amazing. he did it in his Spiderman costume. HAHAHA. Today I went white water rafting ... I thought my life was over a few times throughout the trip, but I'm alive and well (and tired and sore).... that was today. (i'll tell you more about that in a minute)
We are sleeping here for 4 nights (we have already slept here one night) in our tents. I thought that I would be tired of sleeping on the ground in my tent after weeks and weeks, but I just love it more and more each day. The more I am outside, the better it turns out! I can't get enough. I love feeling the cool outside air coming in the screens and actually being able to see the stars every night as I go to sleep . Listening to crickets, hearing the palm trees , and the weird and wonderful frogs all around us, smelling the grass.... all of these things I am love love loving every night when I fall asleep. I sleep so soundly too from my huge days and early mornings, fresh air, sweating, exercise and excitement!
Also, light rainy season has just begun, so it randomly storms for about 30 minutes all the time .. (like maybe once, twice or thrice a day)... we just had one too. I love the smell of the rain, it smells just the same as Thailand during rainy season. you can see giant black heavy clouds coming your way, and you can smell it, and it's huge heavy drops that actually SPLASH off of your skin when they land on you.
Yesterday on our way back from Matt's bungie jump, we pulled over. you'll never guess why ?
Because there was a huge heard of elephants right beside us. We got out of the car (but not to close for fear of charging), and took loads of pictures. I nearly burst into tears for sheer excitement of seeing such amazing creatures so close in the wild.
Umm so yeah, the white water rafting- it was CRAZY ... scariest/funnest/craziest thing I've ever done to date!!!! I got pulled under the water (after being violently thrown from the raft several times) and couldn't find my way to the surface (it was chaos, it was not only me experiencing this, it was about 20 people LOL!!!!) and then the boat like, runs over your face and you really think you may never find oxygen again. It was amazing. I was going to do the full day, but after 10 intense rapids, I decided to stop.
One of the rapids we had to walk around because it was a level 6- it was named "commercial suicide" meaning that the company cannot legally allow us to raft on that particular rapid due to the fact that the chances you won't make it are scary high. WOAH..... I took a picture/video of that one to show you.
Don't worry, I think that's enough extreme sports for me.
Tomorrow we are planning to go into town and just shop around and get some Indian food (YAY I am actually a silly amount of excited to eat curry.... mmmmmmm especially if it's coconut curry.. oh god.. mm) and then maybe catch a film at the theatre? I adore going to see movies in new countries.
OH btw, I also got to spend a little while in Zimbabwe --- just for Matt's bungie off the bridge. I have pictures of the bridge from all angles and lots of scenic photos. can't wait to show you!
anyways, internet is slowing and thunder is rolling in over the river (where, by the way, there are about 18 elephants crossing as I type... amazing...) So I better depart from the computer for fear it will shut down and I will lose all I've typed.
Sorry if it was scattered, just trying to get as many thoughts out, as quickly as possible. !!!
xoxoxoxoxox lots of love, miss you all take care !
first thing's first.
Happy Belated Charlie bean
Happy Birthday yesterday Matty - great / epic b-day.
We DID celebrate Halloween in Malawi (they don't, and most of the people in our group don't... but Matt and I certainly did! ) we surprised the group by coming out in costumes! --- Matty in his Spidey costume (facebook photos to follow asap...) and me in a much more modest (but still entertaining) pirate costume!! HILARIOUS. It was extra fun !
We desperately try to get a party going every single day, but our group just doesn't have the UMPH that the two of us seem to have ahahahaha. that's okay we are still having a blast. Sooo it's hard for me to remember where I left off with you, I suppose I should have backtracked my blog a bit before starting but I didn't so sorry if I repeat myself!! Malawi was so so cool, I know I just wrote about it. We swam to that gorgeous island I told you about every single day -- such great exercise and so fun. It was 850 meters each way... so that's a good workout! (good thing too, because there's nowhere to run there).
I bought a few souvenirs in Malawi- there's lots of cool little wooden trinkets!! The coolest thing is that you can trade- if you have an old shirt, or pair of shoes, or products, or sunglasses or ANYTHING really they want it, and they will trade you the things from their shop for your western things. It's so wicked! I traded my sunglasses, a pair of shorts that are too big, a t-shirt ... they tried really really hard to get my flashlight (which I now call a head torch because everyone in our group is from England or Aussie and that's what they call it..) .
We ended up sleeping in Malawi for 3 nights before moving on and we even set up a makeshift movie screen using a white sheet up against the truck! it was really cool. we watched "out of Africa" and "blood diamond" ! <3 good movies. (both I've seen before but didn't mind watching again! )
After that we were on our way to Victoria Falls!!!!!! (in Zambia) (where I'm writing you from now) We had to sleep elsewhere two nights just on the way so that we weren't driving TOO much, so we leave the campsite around 6am and drive until sometime in the early afternoon and then we just have fun doing whatever (playing volleyball, swimming, tanning, reading, computing, conversing, drinking etc.) until supper time, we eat late around 7 or 8 and then most people GO TO BED because we have to get up at like 5 again the next day. hahahahaha It's actually to the point that the entire group is up and rockin at sunrise (which is around 5am). So that's been great. Actually, the English girls (Hannah, Sophie and Ruth) and Matt and I the 5 of us get up even earlier and go for a run each morning out on the road too!! (trying desperately to stay in shape but it's not working because our camp leaders are the BEST COOKS IN THE WORLD OMG and feed us GINORMOUS portions of AMAZING food covered in all the things you WANT to eat all the time but refrain from doing so normally). I thought for sure "oh Jessica, you're going to Africa you will definitely lose weight!!" ... WRONG ... DOH!!! hahahaha
So anyways.
Now I am writing you from Vic. Falls / Livingstone. This place is EPIC. It's incredible and you can literally do ANYTHING here. Matt went Bungie jumping (he actually did) yesterday. This is the second largest bungie in the world (don't quote me on that but I Think that's what someone said). It was amazing. he did it in his Spiderman costume. HAHAHA. Today I went white water rafting ... I thought my life was over a few times throughout the trip, but I'm alive and well (and tired and sore).... that was today. (i'll tell you more about that in a minute)
We are sleeping here for 4 nights (we have already slept here one night) in our tents. I thought that I would be tired of sleeping on the ground in my tent after weeks and weeks, but I just love it more and more each day. The more I am outside, the better it turns out! I can't get enough. I love feeling the cool outside air coming in the screens and actually being able to see the stars every night as I go to sleep . Listening to crickets, hearing the palm trees , and the weird and wonderful frogs all around us, smelling the grass.... all of these things I am love love loving every night when I fall asleep. I sleep so soundly too from my huge days and early mornings, fresh air, sweating, exercise and excitement!
Also, light rainy season has just begun, so it randomly storms for about 30 minutes all the time .. (like maybe once, twice or thrice a day)... we just had one too. I love the smell of the rain, it smells just the same as Thailand during rainy season. you can see giant black heavy clouds coming your way, and you can smell it, and it's huge heavy drops that actually SPLASH off of your skin when they land on you.
Yesterday on our way back from Matt's bungie jump, we pulled over. you'll never guess why ?
Because there was a huge heard of elephants right beside us. We got out of the car (but not to close for fear of charging), and took loads of pictures. I nearly burst into tears for sheer excitement of seeing such amazing creatures so close in the wild.
Umm so yeah, the white water rafting- it was CRAZY ... scariest/funnest/craziest thing I've ever done to date!!!! I got pulled under the water (after being violently thrown from the raft several times) and couldn't find my way to the surface (it was chaos, it was not only me experiencing this, it was about 20 people LOL!!!!) and then the boat like, runs over your face and you really think you may never find oxygen again. It was amazing. I was going to do the full day, but after 10 intense rapids, I decided to stop.
One of the rapids we had to walk around because it was a level 6- it was named "commercial suicide" meaning that the company cannot legally allow us to raft on that particular rapid due to the fact that the chances you won't make it are scary high. WOAH..... I took a picture/video of that one to show you.
Don't worry, I think that's enough extreme sports for me.
Tomorrow we are planning to go into town and just shop around and get some Indian food (YAY I am actually a silly amount of excited to eat curry.... mmmmmmm especially if it's coconut curry.. oh god.. mm) and then maybe catch a film at the theatre? I adore going to see movies in new countries.
OH btw, I also got to spend a little while in Zimbabwe --- just for Matt's bungie off the bridge. I have pictures of the bridge from all angles and lots of scenic photos. can't wait to show you!
anyways, internet is slowing and thunder is rolling in over the river (where, by the way, there are about 18 elephants crossing as I type... amazing...) So I better depart from the computer for fear it will shut down and I will lose all I've typed.
Sorry if it was scattered, just trying to get as many thoughts out, as quickly as possible. !!!
xoxoxoxoxox lots of love, miss you all take care !
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Malawi
Oh.. my god.
We are now in Malawi, 3rd country of Africa so far. I am so sad to see Tanzania go, but I will definitely go back there someday. Met so many amazing people, and the beach was OH GOD amazing.
Now we have come to Malawi lake- which is amazing. It looks like ocean, so much sand and waves and so nice and refreshing but it is fresh water! I am excited to snorkel here and compare it to salt water. !! I hope it's just as colorful and amazing. I'm sure it will be.
I ran along the beach today, but it was much less enjoyable than it was in Zanzibar because of lots of things... the sand wasn't nearly as soft, filled with rocks, the shore was uneven and not hard so it was squishy under my feet making it nearly impossible to spring back up into each new step hahahaha and then to top it off, every african person I passed either yelled to me, followed me, ran alongside me, blocked my way, tried to sell me something, or hit on me. (or some combination of these) .
The sunset was very cool, not over the water, but it fell very quickly behind a mountain, the colors in the sky were so nice.
Last night we were star gazing, it was the most amount of stars and the clearest night we have seen so far. So great. I managed to find a few constellations, but the sky looks much different from the southern hemisphere.
We make friends easily, the Africans are so kind and friendly. It's really great.
I am speaking in quite a bit of fluff, but this is such a blast. I hardly have any complaints, save the weird temperatures. Do you remember me having trouble deciding how to pack for climate? NO WONDER! At night it can be as low as 0 (especially last night when we were so high in the mountains), and other nights I sweat my way through the night and can hardly sleep. Then some days I wear pants long sleeves and a scarf , and other days I wear a little dress with my bikini and sweat. Last night was 0, this morning was maybe like 15 maybe (cold though with the wind in the truck) and then all afternoon it reached 36-39 degrees!!!! it varies soo much it's impossible to gage!! hahaha!!
Okay everyone around me is complaining that internet is quitting, and the town we are going to tomorrow for the next 3 days has reported having no power for a couple of weeks now... so I h ave a feeling that there won't be power while we are there either hahahahaha. so retro eh? Anyways, that means 1. I won't be able to check my email, and 2. I will be living off of 5$ because that's all I have right now and no power means no money from ATM!!! hahahaha!!! Oh god. "This is Africa" is what we say about everything !
ooohhhh my. I miss you all very much
Ref- I wish so much you and X were travelling with me, and I hope all is well with Seb ... I think about you and him lots and lots
>Mum and Dad- I know OCtober is an exciting month what with the birthdays and anniversary - I hope you had such a blast and aren't too stressed with work!! relax, slow down , i LOVE YOU
Mag- thinking about you constantly!!! I hope you are well and I Am thinking about little love lump , my new little niece to be. <3
Charlie- Hope you're getting lots of work! I'm always wishing you were here to see all the cool animals with me
Erin- I'm glad work is going so well, I want more deets! Can't wait to spend time with you when I Get home
Jerr- I hope you are keeping the jams going, I can't wait to join in when I Get back
Holly- I heard Dynamite at the bar and wished you were jammin with me, the others were dancing a BIT but YOU are my dancing partner downtown lolz!!!
Tabi- I miss you so much <3 <3 I think about you every day, all day
Grammie and Grampie - I hope you are ready, because when I Get home I'm gonna sit you down and explain every photo (BEFORE they go on facebook muahahahaha) ... heheh i love you guys!
Lilly- Wish I had your snuggles
Antho- Wish you were seeing these crazy things with me (And the chocolate men are GORGEOUSSSS you'd love them)
Anita- you must be one of my most loyal readers- thanks so much!
Matty- thanks for having such a great trip with me, it's so fun and I'm glad I came with you
Mullo + friends - these parts of Africa are amazing, but all I keep hearing about is Uganda- I can't f*#$ing wait to come back here with you guys
All - thank you oh so much for supporting my trip here, it's amazing. I think about all of you and wish that you were seeing everything I see. I want to share share share.
xoxoxox
Happy, full, delighted, excited, overwhelmed, loving life, Jess
We are now in Malawi, 3rd country of Africa so far. I am so sad to see Tanzania go, but I will definitely go back there someday. Met so many amazing people, and the beach was OH GOD amazing.
Now we have come to Malawi lake- which is amazing. It looks like ocean, so much sand and waves and so nice and refreshing but it is fresh water! I am excited to snorkel here and compare it to salt water. !! I hope it's just as colorful and amazing. I'm sure it will be.
I ran along the beach today, but it was much less enjoyable than it was in Zanzibar because of lots of things... the sand wasn't nearly as soft, filled with rocks, the shore was uneven and not hard so it was squishy under my feet making it nearly impossible to spring back up into each new step hahahaha and then to top it off, every african person I passed either yelled to me, followed me, ran alongside me, blocked my way, tried to sell me something, or hit on me. (or some combination of these) .
The sunset was very cool, not over the water, but it fell very quickly behind a mountain, the colors in the sky were so nice.
Last night we were star gazing, it was the most amount of stars and the clearest night we have seen so far. So great. I managed to find a few constellations, but the sky looks much different from the southern hemisphere.
We make friends easily, the Africans are so kind and friendly. It's really great.
I am speaking in quite a bit of fluff, but this is such a blast. I hardly have any complaints, save the weird temperatures. Do you remember me having trouble deciding how to pack for climate? NO WONDER! At night it can be as low as 0 (especially last night when we were so high in the mountains), and other nights I sweat my way through the night and can hardly sleep. Then some days I wear pants long sleeves and a scarf , and other days I wear a little dress with my bikini and sweat. Last night was 0, this morning was maybe like 15 maybe (cold though with the wind in the truck) and then all afternoon it reached 36-39 degrees!!!! it varies soo much it's impossible to gage!! hahaha!!
Okay everyone around me is complaining that internet is quitting, and the town we are going to tomorrow for the next 3 days has reported having no power for a couple of weeks now... so I h ave a feeling that there won't be power while we are there either hahahahaha. so retro eh? Anyways, that means 1. I won't be able to check my email, and 2. I will be living off of 5$ because that's all I have right now and no power means no money from ATM!!! hahahaha!!! Oh god. "This is Africa" is what we say about everything !
ooohhhh my. I miss you all very much
Ref- I wish so much you and X were travelling with me, and I hope all is well with Seb ... I think about you and him lots and lots
>Mum and Dad- I know OCtober is an exciting month what with the birthdays and anniversary - I hope you had such a blast and aren't too stressed with work!! relax, slow down , i LOVE YOU
Mag- thinking about you constantly!!! I hope you are well and I Am thinking about little love lump , my new little niece to be. <3
Charlie- Hope you're getting lots of work! I'm always wishing you were here to see all the cool animals with me
Erin- I'm glad work is going so well, I want more deets! Can't wait to spend time with you when I Get home
Jerr- I hope you are keeping the jams going, I can't wait to join in when I Get back
Holly- I heard Dynamite at the bar and wished you were jammin with me, the others were dancing a BIT but YOU are my dancing partner downtown lolz!!!
Tabi- I miss you so much <3 <3 I think about you every day, all day
Grammie and Grampie - I hope you are ready, because when I Get home I'm gonna sit you down and explain every photo (BEFORE they go on facebook muahahahaha) ... heheh i love you guys!
Lilly- Wish I had your snuggles
Antho- Wish you were seeing these crazy things with me (And the chocolate men are GORGEOUSSSS you'd love them)
Anita- you must be one of my most loyal readers- thanks so much!
Matty- thanks for having such a great trip with me, it's so fun and I'm glad I came with you
Mullo + friends - these parts of Africa are amazing, but all I keep hearing about is Uganda- I can't f*#$ing wait to come back here with you guys
All - thank you oh so much for supporting my trip here, it's amazing. I think about all of you and wish that you were seeing everything I see. I want to share share share.
xoxoxox
Happy, full, delighted, excited, overwhelmed, loving life, Jess
Thursday, October 28, 2010
ZANZIBAR
Hi all!
Thanks for following, it's so nice to have listeners.
Zanzibar is incredible. it's so amazing here. white beaches, terquoise waters. I never ever tire of them. The people here are the most chill people I've ever met in my life, we've just been like sitting and listening to reggae music and contemplating life and tanning and playing beach volleyball, and snorkelling and going on boat rides and seadoos alllll day long every day for 3 days. I do NOT want to leave here. I suppose this is the downfall of going on a tour, you are stuck to a schedule and can't branch out on your own. wah. If it were up to me, I'd probably spend at least 6 more days here.
I love it so much.
I will definitely come back here. It's so easy to belong and meet hundreds of wicked people !!!
I miss home , of course, but am having the time of my life. Africa is so enchanting.
<3
xo
Jess
Thanks for following, it's so nice to have listeners.
Zanzibar is incredible. it's so amazing here. white beaches, terquoise waters. I never ever tire of them. The people here are the most chill people I've ever met in my life, we've just been like sitting and listening to reggae music and contemplating life and tanning and playing beach volleyball, and snorkelling and going on boat rides and seadoos alllll day long every day for 3 days. I do NOT want to leave here. I suppose this is the downfall of going on a tour, you are stuck to a schedule and can't branch out on your own. wah. If it were up to me, I'd probably spend at least 6 more days here.
I love it so much.
I will definitely come back here. It's so easy to belong and meet hundreds of wicked people !!!
I miss home , of course, but am having the time of my life. Africa is so enchanting.
<3
xo
Jess
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Zanzibar
We just arrived in Zanzibar. You should have heard the collective delighted sigh that flowed over and through the group when we came up over the hill and could finally see glimpses of the deep salty Indian Ocean!!! Ah ! sooo nice to be near water. as soon as we landed matt and I raced into the water and stayed there for ages and ages just soaking up beach time. We want more more more beach time. That was in Dar es Salaam (sp?) ... now we are in Zanzibar- one of the most famous little beachy islands that everyone comes to. it's very cool! the buildings are all retro looking and the people are very kind.
Everyone Everyone waves at you when you walk by!
The shopping is good too, but not cheap! this is NOT like thailand! yikes!
Anyways , I know this is short and sweet but there are beaches to walk on, People to chat with, clubs to explore!!!!
xoxoxox
Jess
Everyone Everyone waves at you when you walk by!
The shopping is good too, but not cheap! this is NOT like thailand! yikes!
Anyways , I know this is short and sweet but there are beaches to walk on, People to chat with, clubs to explore!!!!
xoxoxox
Jess
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Serengetti / Crator!
Okay where to start! I actually had to make a list in my journal of things to remember to say because the past few days have been so eventful and wonderful. So we have been doing loads and loads of driving , which is trying at times but the scenery is great and we stop along the way and see interesting local markets, supermarkets, cafes, etc. So it's all part of the experience!
The roads are SO bad around here, it takes FOREVER just to drive a short distance because of the quality of the roads. It's frustrating because what would take an hour to drive in Canada (good roads) would take all day here. So it's slow going, but we can tough it out. luckily most of our group are able to read while driving, so I've almost finished a couple of books. I read The Book of Flying, an enchanting story which brings my mind back to home <3 and now I am reading Eating Animals- so fascinating.
We stayed one night in a Snake Park- which is a place which collects snakes if they find them (poisonous and non) and keeps them locked away. There are a lot around here !!! I learned all kinds about poison snakes vs. constrictors- very interesting!!! I also got to see 3 crocs being fed raw meat ! SO COOL I took a video and will post it when I get home on Facebook!
Asanti Sawna= thank you very much
Mambo (instead of Jambo) = hello
pua= cool, good, no problem
We got to spend a night in the Serengeti park -- Amazing!!!Serengeti means : Endless plain in Swahili, if you are interested. It's just like you might see on Oasis or BBC. So cool. The most amazing part is the animals, they don't care at all about the safari trucks, and so they are so close! We were actually slightly disappointed in the park, because at the Maasai Mara we were spoiled with close animals of all sorts, and the Serengeti was a lot bigger and therefore it was not as common to see as many animals. But when we DID see animals , they were in enormous numbers. We saw hundreds... no thousands of wild Zebra just roaming around. Buffalo galore, and like a billion gazelle, other types of deer, hippos , crocs OMG just every kind of animal you can think of is there in HUGE numbers. The highlight of the Serengeti for Matt and I (and I think the rest of the group too) was a few things. 1. this incredible rainbow that occurred over the vast field, it was deep in color and so solid and even had a reflective twin. It was so very cool. 2. a wild heard of female elephants (apparently male elephants go off on their own and the females/babies stick together! that was an interesting fact that I didnt know! ) and finally........ 3, we saw 6 lions (female) and they were just hanging out beside the road! We stared at them for maybe half an hour before we realized they were planning a hunt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we followed them and watched them and they spread out around the fields (on either side of the road, the trucks were right in the middle of the action!!! ) and they surrounded this small group of zebras and they were like stalking them , as the cats do so silently and crouched down it was SO COOL.
Our driver was trying to get us to leave and go have lunch but we were all like NO WAY!!! SKIP FOOD! WE ARE WATCHING THIS HUNT!!!!!! so we did. But the zebras went too far out of reach and the lions gave up and came together for a "better luck next time" snuggle. It was quite interesting. The safari driver was even excited (this is how you know you've seen something cool!!) hahahaha
So then after the big eventful day of bumpy driving through African wildlife we set up camp on the edge of "The Crator" ... creative name. So literally this place is a volcano which never erupted and the inside of it collapsed and now it is jam-packed with animals who can't get out of it because of the steep outer walls (which we dangerously had to drive on...)
It was cool at night, and hot in the day (every day is like this) it's amazing. perfect perfect climate for living. I want .
After a lovely night's sleep (minus my horrible raspy cough) we got up at 6am (like we do every day) and went inside the crator to explore! Inside we saw some animals, but mostly the exciting part was the scenery. I can't wait to show you my photos of the crator. it's wicked wicked wicked. We did get to see about 10 hyenas working together to get a huge dead hippo out of the water . that was kinda cool!
It rains every afternoon around 3 or 4 and only for about 30 minutes, I guess this is "short-rain" season. It smells SO great. I love the rain. and it's such a temperature relief at that time of day.
I have so much more to say, so many more simple details that i want you to know but everyone is waiting for their turn on this sole slow-internet computer.
I la-la-love you all! Wish you could see everything as I go along. Thanks for supporting my trip here, it's incredible.
And, I couldn't ask for a better travel buddy, Matt and I are getting along famously.
xoxoxoxo
Jess
The roads are SO bad around here, it takes FOREVER just to drive a short distance because of the quality of the roads. It's frustrating because what would take an hour to drive in Canada (good roads) would take all day here. So it's slow going, but we can tough it out. luckily most of our group are able to read while driving, so I've almost finished a couple of books. I read The Book of Flying, an enchanting story which brings my mind back to home <3 and now I am reading Eating Animals- so fascinating.
We stayed one night in a Snake Park- which is a place which collects snakes if they find them (poisonous and non) and keeps them locked away. There are a lot around here !!! I learned all kinds about poison snakes vs. constrictors- very interesting!!! I also got to see 3 crocs being fed raw meat ! SO COOL I took a video and will post it when I get home on Facebook!
Asanti Sawna= thank you very much
Mambo (instead of Jambo) = hello
pua= cool, good, no problem
We got to spend a night in the Serengeti park -- Amazing!!!Serengeti means : Endless plain in Swahili, if you are interested. It's just like you might see on Oasis or BBC. So cool. The most amazing part is the animals, they don't care at all about the safari trucks, and so they are so close! We were actually slightly disappointed in the park, because at the Maasai Mara we were spoiled with close animals of all sorts, and the Serengeti was a lot bigger and therefore it was not as common to see as many animals. But when we DID see animals , they were in enormous numbers. We saw hundreds... no thousands of wild Zebra just roaming around. Buffalo galore, and like a billion gazelle, other types of deer, hippos , crocs OMG just every kind of animal you can think of is there in HUGE numbers. The highlight of the Serengeti for Matt and I (and I think the rest of the group too) was a few things. 1. this incredible rainbow that occurred over the vast field, it was deep in color and so solid and even had a reflective twin. It was so very cool. 2. a wild heard of female elephants (apparently male elephants go off on their own and the females/babies stick together! that was an interesting fact that I didnt know! ) and finally........ 3, we saw 6 lions (female) and they were just hanging out beside the road! We stared at them for maybe half an hour before we realized they were planning a hunt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we followed them and watched them and they spread out around the fields (on either side of the road, the trucks were right in the middle of the action!!! ) and they surrounded this small group of zebras and they were like stalking them , as the cats do so silently and crouched down it was SO COOL.
Our driver was trying to get us to leave and go have lunch but we were all like NO WAY!!! SKIP FOOD! WE ARE WATCHING THIS HUNT!!!!!! so we did. But the zebras went too far out of reach and the lions gave up and came together for a "better luck next time" snuggle. It was quite interesting. The safari driver was even excited (this is how you know you've seen something cool!!) hahahaha
So then after the big eventful day of bumpy driving through African wildlife we set up camp on the edge of "The Crator" ... creative name. So literally this place is a volcano which never erupted and the inside of it collapsed and now it is jam-packed with animals who can't get out of it because of the steep outer walls (which we dangerously had to drive on...)
It was cool at night, and hot in the day (every day is like this) it's amazing. perfect perfect climate for living. I want .
After a lovely night's sleep (minus my horrible raspy cough) we got up at 6am (like we do every day) and went inside the crator to explore! Inside we saw some animals, but mostly the exciting part was the scenery. I can't wait to show you my photos of the crator. it's wicked wicked wicked. We did get to see about 10 hyenas working together to get a huge dead hippo out of the water . that was kinda cool!
It rains every afternoon around 3 or 4 and only for about 30 minutes, I guess this is "short-rain" season. It smells SO great. I love the rain. and it's such a temperature relief at that time of day.
I have so much more to say, so many more simple details that i want you to know but everyone is waiting for their turn on this sole slow-internet computer.
I la-la-love you all! Wish you could see everything as I go along. Thanks for supporting my trip here, it's incredible.
And, I couldn't ask for a better travel buddy, Matt and I are getting along famously.
xoxoxoxo
Jess
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
TANZANIA
Just got to Tanzania!!!
the visa was easy. So far we haven't seen anything it's just been a hot bumpy dirty dusty drive with a short internet break!
I forgot to tell you
Jambo Jambo = Hello
Hakuna Matata = no worries
santi = thank you
in swahili! eee! fun!
Everyone waves and is so kind and easy going. It's so great. <3 <3
the visa was easy. So far we haven't seen anything it's just been a hot bumpy dirty dusty drive with a short internet break!
I forgot to tell you
Jambo Jambo = Hello
Hakuna Matata = no worries
santi = thank you
in swahili! eee! fun!
Everyone waves and is so kind and easy going. It's so great. <3 <3
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Kenya
WOW So Kenya is AWESOME.
Where to start? So our Bush House and Camp was cool, but nothing compared to what we have been doing the past couple of days. !! We met all of our group for real, and hung out with them a lot. there are 13 of us right now, (more to leave and join as the journey progresses) and we all get along great! It's a fairly quiet/tame group made up of mostly couples. But they are all really cool, close to our age, and have lots and lots of travel stories (I have about a hundred new places I simply MUST go to.,..)
We all packed up our bags to start our 31 day camping trip overland Africa, to a total of 6 countries. Our first destination : Maasai Mara game camp. We camped about 20 minutes from there (only about one kilometer but it takes FOREVER to get there because of the bumpy roads!). We got on the truck for the first time and were told "4 hours" so we settled in for a boring sandy drive, but not even an hour later stopped at a view point - OF THE GREAT RIFT VALLEY!!!!! omg!!! it was so wicked! I have loads of pictures, can't wait to show you. So each day for the past 3 days we have left our (luxurious wicked fun) campsite and headed towards the Maasai Mara ! It's this huge open area where wild animals dwell and vehicles can drive along the road (restricted to certain non-intrusive areas) and try to see animals. It's very hit and miss. Sometimes you see many, and someitmes you see no animals. We were OH SO LUCKY!!! We saw Gazelles, hyenas, buffalo, giraffes, elephants, foxes, wildebeasts, lions, lionesses, and even a CHEETAH (which apparently is rare!!!)
Oh my gosh it's just crazy how many animals catch your eye out of the blue, and the most amazing thing is that they are not confined to a zoo. the safari just feels so honest and true because it's all natural animals in their habitats. AMAZINNGGG I'm addicted to Africa. I love it here. I want more and more and more. But honestly, I am already satisfied with the money I paid for what I've seen so far.
When people drive on the roads here, they are all over the place because the roads are so rediculously bad. I swear the ground beside the road is flatter than the paved part. (they drive on the left hand side of the road, if you were wondering!)
The food is delicious. It's very.... irish?? like, potatos in stew every day with carrots and rolls. It's good, but they don't give us PEPPERRRR i'm going crazy without my pepper. hehehehe
Matt and I are getting along famously, I will travel with him anytime! so easy going . We are a good travel team. Last night outside our tent were 5 hungry hyenas!! COOL!!! we had a locked tent. we actually have to lock the zippers because the monkeys are so forward that they'll open the zippers an dmess up/take all your things!! HAHAHA!! they are cute. There are these mini monkeys called bush babies! ADORABLE!! look them up!!!!!!!!!!!!
I want to give a million more details but I have to get back to camping. Internet access seems like it will be limited so I will do my best to blog it up when I do have a chance!!
x's and o's to everyyyonnneeeeee!!!!
Miss my specials !
happy happy happy for Seb!!!!! =D =D
Love love love love love THIS CONTINENT.
Where to start? So our Bush House and Camp was cool, but nothing compared to what we have been doing the past couple of days. !! We met all of our group for real, and hung out with them a lot. there are 13 of us right now, (more to leave and join as the journey progresses) and we all get along great! It's a fairly quiet/tame group made up of mostly couples. But they are all really cool, close to our age, and have lots and lots of travel stories (I have about a hundred new places I simply MUST go to.,..)
We all packed up our bags to start our 31 day camping trip overland Africa, to a total of 6 countries. Our first destination : Maasai Mara game camp. We camped about 20 minutes from there (only about one kilometer but it takes FOREVER to get there because of the bumpy roads!). We got on the truck for the first time and were told "4 hours" so we settled in for a boring sandy drive, but not even an hour later stopped at a view point - OF THE GREAT RIFT VALLEY!!!!! omg!!! it was so wicked! I have loads of pictures, can't wait to show you. So each day for the past 3 days we have left our (luxurious wicked fun) campsite and headed towards the Maasai Mara ! It's this huge open area where wild animals dwell and vehicles can drive along the road (restricted to certain non-intrusive areas) and try to see animals. It's very hit and miss. Sometimes you see many, and someitmes you see no animals. We were OH SO LUCKY!!! We saw Gazelles, hyenas, buffalo, giraffes, elephants, foxes, wildebeasts, lions, lionesses, and even a CHEETAH (which apparently is rare!!!)
Oh my gosh it's just crazy how many animals catch your eye out of the blue, and the most amazing thing is that they are not confined to a zoo. the safari just feels so honest and true because it's all natural animals in their habitats. AMAZINNGGG I'm addicted to Africa. I love it here. I want more and more and more. But honestly, I am already satisfied with the money I paid for what I've seen so far.
When people drive on the roads here, they are all over the place because the roads are so rediculously bad. I swear the ground beside the road is flatter than the paved part. (they drive on the left hand side of the road, if you were wondering!)
The food is delicious. It's very.... irish?? like, potatos in stew every day with carrots and rolls. It's good, but they don't give us PEPPERRRR i'm going crazy without my pepper. hehehehe
Matt and I are getting along famously, I will travel with him anytime! so easy going . We are a good travel team. Last night outside our tent were 5 hungry hyenas!! COOL!!! we had a locked tent. we actually have to lock the zippers because the monkeys are so forward that they'll open the zippers an dmess up/take all your things!! HAHAHA!! they are cute. There are these mini monkeys called bush babies! ADORABLE!! look them up!!!!!!!!!!!!
I want to give a million more details but I have to get back to camping. Internet access seems like it will be limited so I will do my best to blog it up when I do have a chance!!
x's and o's to everyyyonnneeeeee!!!!
Miss my specials !
happy happy happy for Seb!!!!! =D =D
Love love love love love THIS CONTINENT.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Africa, day 1 & 2
Hi family and friends!
Our flights were sooo long. (but not as long as asia!!) I usually watch a billion movies back to back, but I didn't this time I slept most of the time(other than when they fed me icky airplane food).
GUESS WHAT? When flying out of Switzerland, we could see the tips of the Swiss alps protruding from the clouds below us- I took photos from the plane! it was SO cool. Matt and I were just staring at them amazed. So large and beautiful . !!!
So we are now in Nairobi at a place called "Bush house and Camp". we thought it was close to the city where we need to meet people tomorrow, but actually it turns out it's like 35 km away!!1 hahaha DOH! but we are out in the woods almost, and that is entirely different and great. It's quiet and the air is so clear. The roads are dirt and the people are friendly. In order to save on cabs we actually took the public bus into the city today which was an adventure. crowded and busy and bumpy to say the least.
We walked around town all day, eating random things and getting money organized and then at 6pm we met up with our tour group. they seem like a cool group. There are gonig to be about 18 people +/- . We only met about 11 so far, we will meet up with/lose others as the trip goes on. We are on the longest possible route!!!
Tomorrow we have to be somewhere by 6am (no early morning workout/run!) and then we will start our camping trip for real. SO EXCITING!
It looks like we are going to be dropping like, $500 more than we expected.. but hey, we're in africa. We just HAVE to do these things!!!!
Anyways. We are safe and sound and giddy as can be.
Missing lots of special people <3
xoxoxox Jess
Our flights were sooo long. (but not as long as asia!!) I usually watch a billion movies back to back, but I didn't this time I slept most of the time(other than when they fed me icky airplane food).
GUESS WHAT? When flying out of Switzerland, we could see the tips of the Swiss alps protruding from the clouds below us- I took photos from the plane! it was SO cool. Matt and I were just staring at them amazed. So large and beautiful . !!!
So we are now in Nairobi at a place called "Bush house and Camp". we thought it was close to the city where we need to meet people tomorrow, but actually it turns out it's like 35 km away!!1 hahaha DOH! but we are out in the woods almost, and that is entirely different and great. It's quiet and the air is so clear. The roads are dirt and the people are friendly. In order to save on cabs we actually took the public bus into the city today which was an adventure. crowded and busy and bumpy to say the least.
We walked around town all day, eating random things and getting money organized and then at 6pm we met up with our tour group. they seem like a cool group. There are gonig to be about 18 people +/- . We only met about 11 so far, we will meet up with/lose others as the trip goes on. We are on the longest possible route!!!
Tomorrow we have to be somewhere by 6am (no early morning workout/run!) and then we will start our camping trip for real. SO EXCITING!
It looks like we are going to be dropping like, $500 more than we expected.. but hey, we're in africa. We just HAVE to do these things!!!!
Anyways. We are safe and sound and giddy as can be.
Missing lots of special people <3
xoxoxox Jess
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
September 2010
Hi friends and family.
This summer has been... out of this world amazing. I met so many new people, kept in great contact with everyone, saw a few incredible people marry other incredible people, worked in new places, accepted new challenges. I walked everywhere and anywhere and went on adventures all over the city, and the countryside for that matter. Played ball in full force and basically just lived up my life the best I know how. The weather was perfection, with it's on/off heat. Hardly any rain and the week of the heat wave (which was much needed!!). But, as you know, it has all come to a halting cold autumn onset.. autumn is gorgeous but we went from swimsuits and tanning to coats and boots in a matter of mere days. *sighh*
So Africa plans have come together a little more solidly since my last post, I'm going with my bud Matt and we signed up for a 32 day tour starting in Nairobi (nicknamed by my book as Nairobbery... ) and ending in Johannesburg. We will do tons and tons of cool things in between and I will be photo documenting it all the time! I have no idea what internet access will be like, or if we will be even spending time at cafes. I'm hoping to be so busy and caught up in the culture, food, scenery , animals, adventures and friends that I cannot even post, but I will try try try to give you a little something to reach me by at least a few times ;)
I will come back to Canada November 22nd. You will hardly know I Was gone!
xox, love always
Jess
"I think that ghosts like
The cooler weather
When leaves turn colour
They get together
And walk along ways
These old back roads
Where no one lives and
And no one goes" -HW
This summer has been... out of this world amazing. I met so many new people, kept in great contact with everyone, saw a few incredible people marry other incredible people, worked in new places, accepted new challenges. I walked everywhere and anywhere and went on adventures all over the city, and the countryside for that matter. Played ball in full force and basically just lived up my life the best I know how. The weather was perfection, with it's on/off heat. Hardly any rain and the week of the heat wave (which was much needed!!). But, as you know, it has all come to a halting cold autumn onset.. autumn is gorgeous but we went from swimsuits and tanning to coats and boots in a matter of mere days. *sighh*
So Africa plans have come together a little more solidly since my last post, I'm going with my bud Matt and we signed up for a 32 day tour starting in Nairobi (nicknamed by my book as Nairobbery... ) and ending in Johannesburg. We will do tons and tons of cool things in between and I will be photo documenting it all the time! I have no idea what internet access will be like, or if we will be even spending time at cafes. I'm hoping to be so busy and caught up in the culture, food, scenery , animals, adventures and friends that I cannot even post, but I will try try try to give you a little something to reach me by at least a few times ;)
I will come back to Canada November 22nd. You will hardly know I Was gone!
xox, love always
Jess
"I think that ghosts like
The cooler weather
When leaves turn colour
They get together
And walk along ways
These old back roads
Where no one lives and
And no one goes" -HW
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Halifax
Hey
It just occurred to me that I don't really post about my experiences in Canada which I love very much.
I am not back living in Halifax, and Reffa is still in Surat! (I'm a tad jealous!!) But Halifax is so amazing. I have reunited with the lovely charming city. There is always something to do, always a friendly face around and always new people to meet. Always sports to play, always somewhere pretty to walk and always friends to have a coffee with.
I just went to my first ball game in a long time and it was really fun to play (but omg, I have to warm up my arm...)
I also just spent a lovely weekend at the cottage, the best place on the planet!!!
I have been chipping away at making jewelry, and working lots at my old job.
My next travel plans consist of going to AFRICA with a friend of mine. YAY. Obviously I will post once there are more solid plans in place, but the roughest form of plans right now is "Africa, one monthish, October 2010"
WOOOOOO
xooxox
Loving life
It just occurred to me that I don't really post about my experiences in Canada which I love very much.
I am not back living in Halifax, and Reffa is still in Surat! (I'm a tad jealous!!) But Halifax is so amazing. I have reunited with the lovely charming city. There is always something to do, always a friendly face around and always new people to meet. Always sports to play, always somewhere pretty to walk and always friends to have a coffee with.
I just went to my first ball game in a long time and it was really fun to play (but omg, I have to warm up my arm...)
I also just spent a lovely weekend at the cottage, the best place on the planet!!!
I have been chipping away at making jewelry, and working lots at my old job.
My next travel plans consist of going to AFRICA with a friend of mine. YAY. Obviously I will post once there are more solid plans in place, but the roughest form of plans right now is "Africa, one monthish, October 2010"
WOOOOOO
xooxox
Loving life
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Surat
It's sunny and bright and happy and delicious. Now I know why I lived here for so long =)
I'm having lots of fun with Reffa and X. Yesterday was X's birthday, so we had a little party and sang karaoke and ate lots of food, of course.
I am just sipping my ice cold water and relaxing in my new gypsy pants while I wait for X and Reffa (who are both working today, hahahahaha)
I'm having lots of fun with Reffa and X. Yesterday was X's birthday, so we had a little party and sang karaoke and ate lots of food, of course.
I am just sipping my ice cold water and relaxing in my new gypsy pants while I wait for X and Reffa (who are both working today, hahahahaha)
Monday, May 31, 2010
Amristar
HI.
So, sorry I took so long to get on here and write to you but it was hard to come by computers, let alone working internet where I was, and plus I spent a lot of my time traveling on trains and buses and planes and so I was very much away from the online world.
I loved Jaipur so much. There are lots of great forts, and the food as usual was delicious. Mmm. I was sad, but ready to leave. It's also the place where it was the HOTTEST I have ever been. I had wanted to go farther west initially, but it gets even hotter as you go deeper west into the desert. Sooooo I will save that for next time! I got a train for about $20 Up to Amristar and it was seriously the worst train ever. Well the train itself wasn't that bad, hahaha, but the surrounding conditions were horrible.
First of all, I just want to say that during the day it was 45-50 degrees, and during the evenings it MIGHT drop (if you're lucky) to high 30s and low 40s. My train was no air-conditioned so it was very very hot. I was told that my stop would be around 10am. That still being the morning, I Thought, wouldn't be TOO hot to be on the train. It is the hottest between 11-4 or so. So I got to talking to this family next to me and they said we should arrive around 11! Now, I was already looking at 8-10, so a 14 hour train ride, and it just became 15 hours. I kindof sighed, but there isn't anything to do about it so I just went with it. I don't know if you know what Indian trains look like, but there are 3 wooden benches that are on top of one another (not enough room to sit, just lay down on) and technically you are supposed to each have your own but there are so many people that they pack on the trains that sometimes you even have to share that. It was hot and stuffy and crowded and stinky. The toilet, is just a hole in the train floor where you can see the track beneath you, and off goes your pee (or otherwise...) ! I cannot even tell you how sweaty it was, all of everyone's clothes were drenched, and on top of that there was a lengthy windstorm and sand was flying in through the windows onto us. IT was like 1000 sand people on one dirty slow moving train.
In the morning I was asking around about who was stopping where and what time etc. because I tend to try to find people getting off at the same stop as me so that I know where I am and stuff- otherwise I could so easily miss my stop or get off at the wrong place etc. So I Was asking around and I asked this family where they were getting off. They said their stop was around noon, and so mine should be only 2 hours after that.....
TWO OCLOCK. So my train ride just became an 18 hour one. YUCK and midday at that.
So I moped for a bit and then just bought as many cold drinks as I Could and drank them, and never had to pee once because of how much I was sweating. My bum was sore. I was very tired from not sleeping (it's really hard to sleep when there are like 15 Indian people staring at you ). I was anxious to get to my hotel room which I had prebooked. It actually wasn't until 4:30 pm that we arrived at my stop. OMG. almost 22 hours. Oh it was so horrible. The entire time I was swearing I would never take a train again.
finally, FINALLY. I arrived in Amristar and got a cheap tuktuk to my hotel and my room was dirty and filled with cockroaches. wahhhhhhhh. I won't give any more details about that room, but I slept there for 2 nights..... ew.
The grreat thing about Amristar is all the amazing temples. There is the golden temple and lots and lots of other very diverse temples that are so gorgeous. I really enjoyed my day out. I also went to this very strange "border show" at the Indian/Pakistani border. The immigration offers did this like one hour interpretive stomping dance with their uniforms and guns and stuff, and there was a huge crowd and they were all shouting. IT was very dramatic and interesting but I didn't really understand the meaning behind it. Hahaha! I asked an Indian guy near me in between his shouting and he said he didn't understand why either. We were all just going with the flow I guess.
On the way home from the border show I asked my tuktuk driver to stop at the bakery, because there is an Indian sweet that I am OBSESSEDDDDDD with. It is white in colour (or dark orange. I don't understand why these two colours taste the same), and looks like a piece of fudge or something but the texture is that of a very rich pound cake mixed with melt-in-your-mouth fudge. It was INCREDIBLE. So I bought some to bring to X and Reffa for us to eat. Mmmm. I think they are gone now. I am keeping the address so that I can order some maybe in the future. I Don't know how I will live without this treat now.
After my decent day/horrible nights in Amristar I went to the airport for my much anticipated flights!! Off to Thailand!
It took me a full 24 hours to get here, but I am here in Surat Thani with Reffa and X :):):):) I am sooooooooo happy to be back visiting for a little bit!!! YAYYYYYYY. Eating so many great things, and the temperature here is hot, like around 30-35 but nothing compared to india!! OMG. Can't wait to go to Koh Samui! BEACH BEACH BEACH! and I AINT WEARING NO SARI. it's bikini time.
Love you guys ! Miss you!
xoxox
So, sorry I took so long to get on here and write to you but it was hard to come by computers, let alone working internet where I was, and plus I spent a lot of my time traveling on trains and buses and planes and so I was very much away from the online world.
I loved Jaipur so much. There are lots of great forts, and the food as usual was delicious. Mmm. I was sad, but ready to leave. It's also the place where it was the HOTTEST I have ever been. I had wanted to go farther west initially, but it gets even hotter as you go deeper west into the desert. Sooooo I will save that for next time! I got a train for about $20 Up to Amristar and it was seriously the worst train ever. Well the train itself wasn't that bad, hahaha, but the surrounding conditions were horrible.
First of all, I just want to say that during the day it was 45-50 degrees, and during the evenings it MIGHT drop (if you're lucky) to high 30s and low 40s. My train was no air-conditioned so it was very very hot. I was told that my stop would be around 10am. That still being the morning, I Thought, wouldn't be TOO hot to be on the train. It is the hottest between 11-4 or so. So I got to talking to this family next to me and they said we should arrive around 11! Now, I was already looking at 8-10, so a 14 hour train ride, and it just became 15 hours. I kindof sighed, but there isn't anything to do about it so I just went with it. I don't know if you know what Indian trains look like, but there are 3 wooden benches that are on top of one another (not enough room to sit, just lay down on) and technically you are supposed to each have your own but there are so many people that they pack on the trains that sometimes you even have to share that. It was hot and stuffy and crowded and stinky. The toilet, is just a hole in the train floor where you can see the track beneath you, and off goes your pee (or otherwise...) ! I cannot even tell you how sweaty it was, all of everyone's clothes were drenched, and on top of that there was a lengthy windstorm and sand was flying in through the windows onto us. IT was like 1000 sand people on one dirty slow moving train.
In the morning I was asking around about who was stopping where and what time etc. because I tend to try to find people getting off at the same stop as me so that I know where I am and stuff- otherwise I could so easily miss my stop or get off at the wrong place etc. So I Was asking around and I asked this family where they were getting off. They said their stop was around noon, and so mine should be only 2 hours after that.....
TWO OCLOCK. So my train ride just became an 18 hour one. YUCK and midday at that.
So I moped for a bit and then just bought as many cold drinks as I Could and drank them, and never had to pee once because of how much I was sweating. My bum was sore. I was very tired from not sleeping (it's really hard to sleep when there are like 15 Indian people staring at you ). I was anxious to get to my hotel room which I had prebooked. It actually wasn't until 4:30 pm that we arrived at my stop. OMG. almost 22 hours. Oh it was so horrible. The entire time I was swearing I would never take a train again.
finally, FINALLY. I arrived in Amristar and got a cheap tuktuk to my hotel and my room was dirty and filled with cockroaches. wahhhhhhhh. I won't give any more details about that room, but I slept there for 2 nights..... ew.
The grreat thing about Amristar is all the amazing temples. There is the golden temple and lots and lots of other very diverse temples that are so gorgeous. I really enjoyed my day out. I also went to this very strange "border show" at the Indian/Pakistani border. The immigration offers did this like one hour interpretive stomping dance with their uniforms and guns and stuff, and there was a huge crowd and they were all shouting. IT was very dramatic and interesting but I didn't really understand the meaning behind it. Hahaha! I asked an Indian guy near me in between his shouting and he said he didn't understand why either. We were all just going with the flow I guess.
On the way home from the border show I asked my tuktuk driver to stop at the bakery, because there is an Indian sweet that I am OBSESSEDDDDDD with. It is white in colour (or dark orange. I don't understand why these two colours taste the same), and looks like a piece of fudge or something but the texture is that of a very rich pound cake mixed with melt-in-your-mouth fudge. It was INCREDIBLE. So I bought some to bring to X and Reffa for us to eat. Mmmm. I think they are gone now. I am keeping the address so that I can order some maybe in the future. I Don't know how I will live without this treat now.
After my decent day/horrible nights in Amristar I went to the airport for my much anticipated flights!! Off to Thailand!
It took me a full 24 hours to get here, but I am here in Surat Thani with Reffa and X :):):):) I am sooooooooo happy to be back visiting for a little bit!!! YAYYYYYYY. Eating so many great things, and the temperature here is hot, like around 30-35 but nothing compared to india!! OMG. Can't wait to go to Koh Samui! BEACH BEACH BEACH! and I AINT WEARING NO SARI. it's bikini time.
Love you guys ! Miss you!
xoxox
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Amristar
I have a love hate relationship with the province I am in now, Amristar.
The internet doesn't work well- I can't get on hotmail. UGH I am flying to Thailand today (will arrive to Surat about 24 hours from now , give or take. )
took like a year to write this/post it - I will give you many more details when I arrive somewhere with real computers/internet!!
xoxoxoxoxox
The internet doesn't work well- I can't get on hotmail. UGH I am flying to Thailand today (will arrive to Surat about 24 hours from now , give or take. )
took like a year to write this/post it - I will give you many more details when I arrive somewhere with real computers/internet!!
xoxoxoxoxox
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
so hot
It's so hot.
I'm sweating. omg it's so hot.
I'm catching a train tomorrow, it's a 16 hour train up to Amristar. they only had non-airconditioned available-- that SUCKSSSSSS. wow. I will be so excited to get to my air conditioned hotel (which I already booked to make sure I got A/c).
I used to prefer no a/c anyways, but now it's all I ever want. I can manage anything between 20-35 but over that is TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT. Thailand will be better, it's monsoony and rainy there now.
=D
xoxox
I'm sweating. omg it's so hot.
I'm catching a train tomorrow, it's a 16 hour train up to Amristar. they only had non-airconditioned available-- that SUCKSSSSSS. wow. I will be so excited to get to my air conditioned hotel (which I already booked to make sure I got A/c).
I used to prefer no a/c anyways, but now it's all I ever want. I can manage anything between 20-35 but over that is TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT. Thailand will be better, it's monsoony and rainy there now.
=D
xoxox
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Jaipur 2- DESERT
Sooooooo some of my friends informed me that desert is the sandy one, and dessert is the delicious one. MY BAD!!! HAHAHAHAHA I sware, normally I am a great speller, but this one, and "health" have always been my problem words. huh.
Anyways. Jaipur is quickly becoming my very favourite place in India (besides Goa, to which nothing can compare I think...),. It is nicknamed the pink city because there is an entire part of town where everything is pink!!!! the palaces, the temples, the buildlings, homes and stores. all painted this sandy pinkish colour, with just tan colored sand in the background. it's so so lovely here, and I can't stop staring at the elephants, camels, donkeys and random cattle all over the place!!!!!
I saw one giant glorious ancient building today. It was so incredible- it was so large and full of mazes I got lost a hundred times over. I was just wishing wishing wishing I had someone to play hide and seek with inside this enormous building. I took tons of photos- don't worry! Everything here kindof matches in its pinkish beige sandy dusty colors. It's really cool and the people are so kind. I am staying at the best hotel ever called Karni Niwas. If you ever come to Jaipur, please stay in this hotel - it's so lovely and they have been taking amazing care of me. They went to a lot of trouble to book me my ticket on the train on Thursday (I will be going to Amristar up north) -- even though it was sold out they managed to get me a seat :) So kind. and they cook for me and give me everything I want. They are wonderful! I even asked if there was somewhere I could go to buy a book and he said "I have a collection of many that people have left behind, take what you like."
AWWWW . so sweet. I have one more city tour to do either tomorrow or thursday during the day (my train is an overnight sleeping train) so i have two full days left in Jaipur. One day will be reading on my cute little porch and napping sporadically just to catch up on energy and the other will be another tour.
I haven't ridden a camel, because it's so hot that if I am in that much contact with an animal I might faint. I think I'll pass, just seeing them, taking picture sand hanging out with camels is enough for me!!!!!!
ps. it's 45 degrees today- and I was informed that the temperature yesterday was out-of-the-ordinary hot and today is back to normal (normal still exceeds my "hot-withstanding" abilities...) .
miss yaz. xoxoxox Thanks for reading.
Jess
Anyways. Jaipur is quickly becoming my very favourite place in India (besides Goa, to which nothing can compare I think...),. It is nicknamed the pink city because there is an entire part of town where everything is pink!!!! the palaces, the temples, the buildlings, homes and stores. all painted this sandy pinkish colour, with just tan colored sand in the background. it's so so lovely here, and I can't stop staring at the elephants, camels, donkeys and random cattle all over the place!!!!!
I saw one giant glorious ancient building today. It was so incredible- it was so large and full of mazes I got lost a hundred times over. I was just wishing wishing wishing I had someone to play hide and seek with inside this enormous building. I took tons of photos- don't worry! Everything here kindof matches in its pinkish beige sandy dusty colors. It's really cool and the people are so kind. I am staying at the best hotel ever called Karni Niwas. If you ever come to Jaipur, please stay in this hotel - it's so lovely and they have been taking amazing care of me. They went to a lot of trouble to book me my ticket on the train on Thursday (I will be going to Amristar up north) -- even though it was sold out they managed to get me a seat :) So kind. and they cook for me and give me everything I want. They are wonderful! I even asked if there was somewhere I could go to buy a book and he said "I have a collection of many that people have left behind, take what you like."
AWWWW . so sweet. I have one more city tour to do either tomorrow or thursday during the day (my train is an overnight sleeping train) so i have two full days left in Jaipur. One day will be reading on my cute little porch and napping sporadically just to catch up on energy and the other will be another tour.
I haven't ridden a camel, because it's so hot that if I am in that much contact with an animal I might faint. I think I'll pass, just seeing them, taking picture sand hanging out with camels is enough for me!!!!!!
ps. it's 45 degrees today- and I was informed that the temperature yesterday was out-of-the-ordinary hot and today is back to normal (normal still exceeds my "hot-withstanding" abilities...) .
miss yaz. xoxoxox Thanks for reading.
Jess
Monday, May 24, 2010
Jaipur
I am now in Jaipur- my first dessert.
It's really cool!! Or, actually, it's REALLY HOT. It was about 50 degrees today. FIFTY DEGREES CELCUIS. and I was on a bus. I tried to read my book, but it was too hot to hold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Isn't that rediculous????? It is so difficult to "be" when it's so hot. I normally choose non air conditioned everything, but ever since this extreme heat (anything over like 43) I neeeed it, if only for a second to give me a break. even overnight doesn't offer cool breezes ever = there is NO relief from the heat. wow.
Mostly I enjoy the heat, but sometimes it makes me feel sick. Thank god for cold water stands!! I can't wait to show you my pictures of this brown sandy city. It's so wicked!!!
It's really cool!! Or, actually, it's REALLY HOT. It was about 50 degrees today. FIFTY DEGREES CELCUIS. and I was on a bus. I tried to read my book, but it was too hot to hold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Isn't that rediculous????? It is so difficult to "be" when it's so hot. I normally choose non air conditioned everything, but ever since this extreme heat (anything over like 43) I neeeed it, if only for a second to give me a break. even overnight doesn't offer cool breezes ever = there is NO relief from the heat. wow.
Mostly I enjoy the heat, but sometimes it makes me feel sick. Thank god for cold water stands!! I can't wait to show you my pictures of this brown sandy city. It's so wicked!!!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Go go gadget socks!!
Hey! I am presently in Agra, the city where the famous "earth's teardrop" structure the grand, the gorgeous and magical TAJ MAHAL. I took a bajillion pictures, which I will post once I get to Thailand (don't ask when that is because I am not sure yet!!).
So , I left off in Goa. I flew from Goa to Delhi, on a very relaxing enjoyable two hour flight. I was a little nervous to arrive in Delhi just where the city is so large and overwhelming. To be honest I would not have gone there if it weren't for Meenu and her family being there- but they were there so I felt safe enough to go! I called her from the airport once I got there (it costed $.50!!!! .... which I was outraged about until I just typed it in Canadian money lol.. nevermind that's not that much.) She answered (which was a huge relief..) I was so worried that I would have the wrong number written down or something!
I got a prepaid taxi to the address she gave me, and the taxi drivers spoke ZERO english! Eeee! I was scared right up until the moment I found Meenu. The taxi driver got lost and didn't know where her address was, and tried to get me to get out of his vehicle in the middle of, I have no idea where, and I just sat in the backseat with my arms folded and I was like "nope. I'm not going anywhere until I SEE Meenu." ghahahahahaha. No way. Delhi is TOO scary to mess around with. So I made this guy (after many silly hand gestures) get out his cell phone and call the number I had and speak with her aunt/uncle (who obviously know the language yay!) and so EVENTUALLY they had to come and meet my taxi guy and pick me up which was a HUGE relief!!!!
We then went to her aunt's BEAUTIFUL FLAT!!! omg it was stunning. what a NICE break from bad hotels/hostels to stay in such a lovely clean place as there. It was shiny and pretty and they treated me so kind and gave me homemade food and anything I could ask for. AND the water was FILTERED. We could drink tap water- I can't tell you how much that excites me.
We stayed up until 3am like little girls giggling and catching up and exchanging India stories, and then other stories and drifted off to sleep in the cool air conditioned room . We woke up at 8am to her aunt standing over us going "wake up." hahahahaha so we woke up and showered and then did NOTHING all day . it was amazing, what a nice break! We didn't even break a sweat. Then in the evening, (and after lots of delicious food and more chatting ) we went to see the new release "Kites" in theatres. It was a really great movie! I think it comes out back home like next week or something- go see it, it's awesome!
That just about brings us to today, I took a private air conditioned car (way more elaborate than I usually go for, I usually go for the non=a/c bus) but I've been in the habit of treating myself to whatever I want lately (oops! heheh) just to make me feel safe and secure (a good reason, I think). So that was a fairly nice ride, except OOOOOOOOOOOOOO I was SO mad!!! We stopped off for lunch at this place- and my driver went into one restaurant and sent ME into another one (like what, we can't eat together?) and the one he sent me to was a huge fancy expensive one = like $10 for a MEAL that's REDICULOUS. like$2 for a TEA . omg you have got to be kidding me. I was so mad that I didn't consume one thing and I stormed out. It frustrates me really badly when I'm treated like a "rich tourist" instead of just like a person. Like he made me go into the expensive restaurant to eat, and they were trying to sell me all kinds of stuff. ugh.
Anyways.
Then I arrived in Agra and found myself a decent middle-range hotel for about $10 a night (with cable so I can watch Desperate Housewives tonight before sleep, and Top Model!) and then I walked to the TAJ MAHAL!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. IT was so hot today guys, seriously, it was 48 degrees. My shirt was SOAKED when I was done there. I was really lucky though, Meenu suggested I bring socks (she didn't end up coming with me because her flight to canada is tonight). Anyways, I brought socks with me and THANK GOD i did. everyone else didn't have any (and you can't wear your shoes inside the temple of course) and they were like running around and hopping and only walking in shady spots of the taj and i alone got to walk all over! :D :D My favourite time of the day was when these 3 indian men were hitting on me and like trying to take my photo (it amazes me that people want to take MY photo at the taj mahal = one of the seven wonders of the world... LOL) anyways, all I had to do was walk out onto a sunny part of the temple and they couldn't come with me because it was too hot on their feeet HAHAHAHAHA that's when I whispered to myself "go go gadget socks!!!" LOL hahahahahahahaa
Anyways. I'm sweating away here at the computer lab as I type and remember and occasionally laugh and grin to myself. Wish you all were online now so I could chat with you!!!
Tomrorow I'm catching a bus to the dessert area of India, Rajastan and more specifically, Jaipur. I'm excited- this is where I will ride a camel, and maybe another elephant.
yay.
Talk to you soon,
xoxoxox
Jess
So , I left off in Goa. I flew from Goa to Delhi, on a very relaxing enjoyable two hour flight. I was a little nervous to arrive in Delhi just where the city is so large and overwhelming. To be honest I would not have gone there if it weren't for Meenu and her family being there- but they were there so I felt safe enough to go! I called her from the airport once I got there (it costed $.50!!!! .... which I was outraged about until I just typed it in Canadian money lol.. nevermind that's not that much.) She answered (which was a huge relief..) I was so worried that I would have the wrong number written down or something!
I got a prepaid taxi to the address she gave me, and the taxi drivers spoke ZERO english! Eeee! I was scared right up until the moment I found Meenu. The taxi driver got lost and didn't know where her address was, and tried to get me to get out of his vehicle in the middle of, I have no idea where, and I just sat in the backseat with my arms folded and I was like "nope. I'm not going anywhere until I SEE Meenu." ghahahahahaha. No way. Delhi is TOO scary to mess around with. So I made this guy (after many silly hand gestures) get out his cell phone and call the number I had and speak with her aunt/uncle (who obviously know the language yay!) and so EVENTUALLY they had to come and meet my taxi guy and pick me up which was a HUGE relief!!!!
We then went to her aunt's BEAUTIFUL FLAT!!! omg it was stunning. what a NICE break from bad hotels/hostels to stay in such a lovely clean place as there. It was shiny and pretty and they treated me so kind and gave me homemade food and anything I could ask for. AND the water was FILTERED. We could drink tap water- I can't tell you how much that excites me.
We stayed up until 3am like little girls giggling and catching up and exchanging India stories, and then other stories and drifted off to sleep in the cool air conditioned room . We woke up at 8am to her aunt standing over us going "wake up." hahahahaha so we woke up and showered and then did NOTHING all day . it was amazing, what a nice break! We didn't even break a sweat. Then in the evening, (and after lots of delicious food and more chatting ) we went to see the new release "Kites" in theatres. It was a really great movie! I think it comes out back home like next week or something- go see it, it's awesome!
That just about brings us to today, I took a private air conditioned car (way more elaborate than I usually go for, I usually go for the non=a/c bus) but I've been in the habit of treating myself to whatever I want lately (oops! heheh) just to make me feel safe and secure (a good reason, I think). So that was a fairly nice ride, except OOOOOOOOOOOOOO I was SO mad!!! We stopped off for lunch at this place- and my driver went into one restaurant and sent ME into another one (like what, we can't eat together?) and the one he sent me to was a huge fancy expensive one = like $10 for a MEAL that's REDICULOUS. like$2 for a TEA . omg you have got to be kidding me. I was so mad that I didn't consume one thing and I stormed out. It frustrates me really badly when I'm treated like a "rich tourist" instead of just like a person. Like he made me go into the expensive restaurant to eat, and they were trying to sell me all kinds of stuff. ugh.
Anyways.
Then I arrived in Agra and found myself a decent middle-range hotel for about $10 a night (with cable so I can watch Desperate Housewives tonight before sleep, and Top Model!) and then I walked to the TAJ MAHAL!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. IT was so hot today guys, seriously, it was 48 degrees. My shirt was SOAKED when I was done there. I was really lucky though, Meenu suggested I bring socks (she didn't end up coming with me because her flight to canada is tonight). Anyways, I brought socks with me and THANK GOD i did. everyone else didn't have any (and you can't wear your shoes inside the temple of course) and they were like running around and hopping and only walking in shady spots of the taj and i alone got to walk all over! :D :D My favourite time of the day was when these 3 indian men were hitting on me and like trying to take my photo (it amazes me that people want to take MY photo at the taj mahal = one of the seven wonders of the world... LOL) anyways, all I had to do was walk out onto a sunny part of the temple and they couldn't come with me because it was too hot on their feeet HAHAHAHAHA that's when I whispered to myself "go go gadget socks!!!" LOL hahahahahahahaa
Anyways. I'm sweating away here at the computer lab as I type and remember and occasionally laugh and grin to myself. Wish you all were online now so I could chat with you!!!
Tomrorow I'm catching a bus to the dessert area of India, Rajastan and more specifically, Jaipur. I'm excited- this is where I will ride a camel, and maybe another elephant.
yay.
Talk to you soon,
xoxoxox
Jess
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Goa Goa Gone!
Sorry- I just love the name Goa and it's so much fun to play with. But today I am leaving =( =( =( I never want to leave this place!! wahhh!!! I am flying to Delhi, which is the exact opposite of here. Here is a peaceful, relaxed, serene, beachy, countryside, beach hut, pub kindof place, Delhi is a CRAZY crowded, busy, businessy, kindof place. My book says that the taxi drivers will come up to you and say "no you can't go to that hotel, it burnt down, you have to go to this one" just to make commission on the place you'll stay. sounds confusing and horrible- UGH. wahhhh. I am soooo glad I'm meeting Meenu- I will have some sort of direction to start off with- but she will leave me to my own devices in just a couple days! (when I Will LEAVE delhi!! lol) I am looking forward to seeing it too- but I must say, my stay in Goa has far exceeded any expectations I had for this trip, i SHOULD have finished off here!! I will definitely come back here someday. I am even taking the card of the place I Stayed so I Can stay there again. It was perfection.
So , in Delhi I get to meet Meenu!!! YAYYY. Tomorrow we will go to the famous Taj Mahal together, and that, I am VERY excited about. I have been reading about it in my Lonely PLanet book, and I didn't quite realize how amazing the Taj is going to be and I Am mnore excited than ever.
Sorry about any little spelling things , this keyboard is giving me a run for my money- it's impossible to type on- it took me like 20 minute to type this and normally it might take 5. hahaha
miss yaz- all is good! I might not be on for a few hectic days so don't panic!! xoxoxoxox
So , in Delhi I get to meet Meenu!!! YAYYY. Tomorrow we will go to the famous Taj Mahal together, and that, I am VERY excited about. I have been reading about it in my Lonely PLanet book, and I didn't quite realize how amazing the Taj is going to be and I Am mnore excited than ever.
Sorry about any little spelling things , this keyboard is giving me a run for my money- it's impossible to type on- it took me like 20 minute to type this and normally it might take 5. hahaha
miss yaz- all is good! I might not be on for a few hectic days so don't panic!! xoxoxoxox
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
goa goa goa goa goa
ILOVE IT HEREEEEE
Ohmygosh. today was JUST as great as yesterday. Isware if i didn't have plans in Delhi in a few days i would scrap the rest of my trip and stay RIGHT here.
Today Itook a tour with about 20 other people. I got picked up at 8:30am (which is not early at all when you are still waking up at 5:30 am HAHAHA), and off we went to lots of beaches, old buildings, temples, statues, boat rides, more beaches, eating and markets!! It was so much fun and I met some cool friends- two guys from IRan and like 3209420924 Indian guys and a few women- but the women are so shy they wont talk to me very long!!!
Some funny things I saw today:
-an infant with a plastic bag over its head tight (to protect from rain...)
signs:
-stay in the lane, it's more sane
-don't be a hell mate, wear a helmet
-speed thrills, but kills
just to name a few-LOL so funny but great also, it's good to know something is b eing done about the wreckless driving!
ps. Ihad a photo shoot on the beach today --- there was a line up of people wanting to take my photo!! hahaha!!! ohhh myyyyyy. I liiike it.
=) *Im going on another tour tomorrow (it costs $4 per day and you see WHOLE areas).
love you all!!! xoxoxoxoxox
Ohmygosh. today was JUST as great as yesterday. Isware if i didn't have plans in Delhi in a few days i would scrap the rest of my trip and stay RIGHT here.
Today Itook a tour with about 20 other people. I got picked up at 8:30am (which is not early at all when you are still waking up at 5:30 am HAHAHA), and off we went to lots of beaches, old buildings, temples, statues, boat rides, more beaches, eating and markets!! It was so much fun and I met some cool friends- two guys from IRan and like 3209420924 Indian guys and a few women- but the women are so shy they wont talk to me very long!!!
Some funny things I saw today:
-an infant with a plastic bag over its head tight (to protect from rain...)
signs:
-stay in the lane, it's more sane
-don't be a hell mate, wear a helmet
-speed thrills, but kills
just to name a few-LOL so funny but great also, it's good to know something is b eing done about the wreckless driving!
ps. Ihad a photo shoot on the beach today --- there was a line up of people wanting to take my photo!! hahaha!!! ohhh myyyyyy. I liiike it.
=) *Im going on another tour tomorrow (it costs $4 per day and you see WHOLE areas).
love you all!!! xoxoxoxoxox
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Gotta go to Goa
This MIGHT be the best day OF my life. OMG. Okay Iwill try to describe it without being tooooo fluffy and lovey dovey, but IFEEL lovey and fluffy so that's probably how it will come across.
So I wasn't able to catch a plane to Goa- and was forced to search for other methods. Iwas hoping to avoid the train because Iheard you get all your things stolen from the train so I* looked into the last option , BUS. *I am ALLL to familiar with how buses work around this side of the planet- I have taken a bajillion so all I did was ask the front desk and they set it up for me (I Think I paid $.40 commission for them to do all the work for me).EASY. So Iwas a little nervous because this bus leaves Bangalore at 9pm and goes for 13 hours across unfamiliar terrain... YIKES! *I avoided telling you this until I was safe and sound LOL but let me tell you family and friends, Ihave NEVER felt safer or more comfortable than Idid on this bus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I slept amazingly, (AND saved a nights' accomodation) and there were babies and children and women on thebus too- not just men (yay!).
The very very best part of this amazing bus trip, was that when I* woke up at sunrise , around 5:30/6:00 am (hard to avoid waking up with the sun when you're on the road), Iwoke up to a narrow dirt road surrounded by the most lush gorgeous greenery Ihave ever seen!!! AT least Ithink it's the most lush I've ever seen, but there is so much amazing rain forest green in this warm weather that 'm starting to lose track of which is the BEST. Anyways, when Iwoke up my breath was taken away by the beauty of my surroundings. Really, 'm not exaggerating. The indian people around me must have thought Iwas crazy because i was smiling HUGE and couldn't stop looking around me.
we stopped for a delicious indian breakfast. mmmmmmmm. and then kept going for another 4 hours through the most adorable towns. i wish so much that i could have gotton a picture of these towns but we were flying by them and the picture wouldnt have come out it would have been blurry. but i sware we went through the sweetest little place and it was like tones of mini mansions that each looked like churchs- GORGEOUS mini mansionsss!!!! Shortly after that there would be a section of slums or something (equally interesting) and then there would be little straw hut buildings!! IT was so random and great! I was having so much fun. Inever felt unsafe, not even for one minute (nor did Ilet my guard down, dont worry).
Wehn we got to Goa (that's where I'm writing you from) this cabby ran over and was like "come with me I show you nice hotel" and Was like yeah, sure, thats what they allll say. but Ireally had no plans so after him persuading me a bit i went with him to check out his hotel. he drove for half an hour (!!!!) and i was like, listen buddy i want to stay in the TOWN!!!! and he was like "nevermind, you will like." and was like UGH because I didn't know where i was going and now Iam off my MAP!!! anyways, as Iusually do, i just went with it and watched what was happening around me. he brought me to the HUGEST , most SWEET little hotel ON THE BEACH, the room is HUGE with a fridge my own bathroom, double bed, satellite cable, etc etc etc all the pluses- and it's HALF the price of the place Istayed back in Chennai (you know, the worst night ever place). WOAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. So after i checked in i went wandering around- he brought me to some place that lonely planet doesnt even talk about and its incredible!!!
(Here's the I-can-last-be-seen-info for dad: Casa Bri-Bon at 189/C Guara Vaddo, Calangute, bardez-Goa 4035161 INDIA) .... if you want to see my incredible hotel which costs $10 a night, please visit : www.goldeneyegoa.com ---- THATS RIGHT, I HAVE A STONE BALCONY.
i did my laundry in a basket (thank god i brought my own detergent..) and went to an atm, and ate soooo much delicious food today. My biggest concern is trying not to get sand inbetween the keys of this very laptop because i'm staring out at the sandy beach and the huge waved ocean. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm . it's 40 degrees, but it's breezy.
I am staying here until the 21st. I'm not moving- other than doing a few tours. 'm spending thrreeeee luxurious nights in this place (I wish it were more, but Imust meet Meenu up in Delhi on the 21st to go to the Taj Mahal together- EEEEEE =D) So I *am FLYING up there. My ticket is only $78.
love you guys. Hope my excitement/relaxedness/happiness/delightedness/fullbelly/bronze face is resonating through my writing.... =D
So I wasn't able to catch a plane to Goa- and was forced to search for other methods. Iwas hoping to avoid the train because Iheard you get all your things stolen from the train so I* looked into the last option , BUS. *I am ALLL to familiar with how buses work around this side of the planet- I have taken a bajillion so all I did was ask the front desk and they set it up for me (I Think I paid $.40 commission for them to do all the work for me).EASY. So Iwas a little nervous because this bus leaves Bangalore at 9pm and goes for 13 hours across unfamiliar terrain... YIKES! *I avoided telling you this until I was safe and sound LOL but let me tell you family and friends, Ihave NEVER felt safer or more comfortable than Idid on this bus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I slept amazingly, (AND saved a nights' accomodation) and there were babies and children and women on thebus too- not just men (yay!).
The very very best part of this amazing bus trip, was that when I* woke up at sunrise , around 5:30/6:00 am (hard to avoid waking up with the sun when you're on the road), Iwoke up to a narrow dirt road surrounded by the most lush gorgeous greenery Ihave ever seen!!! AT least Ithink it's the most lush I've ever seen, but there is so much amazing rain forest green in this warm weather that 'm starting to lose track of which is the BEST. Anyways, when Iwoke up my breath was taken away by the beauty of my surroundings. Really, 'm not exaggerating. The indian people around me must have thought Iwas crazy because i was smiling HUGE and couldn't stop looking around me.
we stopped for a delicious indian breakfast. mmmmmmmm. and then kept going for another 4 hours through the most adorable towns. i wish so much that i could have gotton a picture of these towns but we were flying by them and the picture wouldnt have come out it would have been blurry. but i sware we went through the sweetest little place and it was like tones of mini mansions that each looked like churchs- GORGEOUS mini mansionsss!!!! Shortly after that there would be a section of slums or something (equally interesting) and then there would be little straw hut buildings!! IT was so random and great! I was having so much fun. Inever felt unsafe, not even for one minute (nor did Ilet my guard down, dont worry).
Wehn we got to Goa (that's where I'm writing you from) this cabby ran over and was like "come with me I show you nice hotel" and Was like yeah, sure, thats what they allll say. but Ireally had no plans so after him persuading me a bit i went with him to check out his hotel. he drove for half an hour (!!!!) and i was like, listen buddy i want to stay in the TOWN!!!! and he was like "nevermind, you will like." and was like UGH because I didn't know where i was going and now Iam off my MAP!!! anyways, as Iusually do, i just went with it and watched what was happening around me. he brought me to the HUGEST , most SWEET little hotel ON THE BEACH, the room is HUGE with a fridge my own bathroom, double bed, satellite cable, etc etc etc all the pluses- and it's HALF the price of the place Istayed back in Chennai (you know, the worst night ever place). WOAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. So after i checked in i went wandering around- he brought me to some place that lonely planet doesnt even talk about and its incredible!!!
(Here's the I-can-last-be-seen-info for dad: Casa Bri-Bon at 189/C Guara Vaddo, Calangute, bardez-Goa 4035161 INDIA) .... if you want to see my incredible hotel which costs $10 a night, please visit : www.goldeneyegoa.com ---- THATS RIGHT, I HAVE A STONE BALCONY.
i did my laundry in a basket (thank god i brought my own detergent..) and went to an atm, and ate soooo much delicious food today. My biggest concern is trying not to get sand inbetween the keys of this very laptop because i'm staring out at the sandy beach and the huge waved ocean. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm . it's 40 degrees, but it's breezy.
I am staying here until the 21st. I'm not moving- other than doing a few tours. 'm spending thrreeeee luxurious nights in this place (I wish it were more, but Imust meet Meenu up in Delhi on the 21st to go to the Taj Mahal together- EEEEEE =D) So I *am FLYING up there. My ticket is only $78.
love you guys. Hope my excitement/relaxedness/happiness/delightedness/fullbelly/bronze face is resonating through my writing.... =D
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Bangalore EXPLORED
FIRST THINGS FIRST, HAPPY BIRTHDAY REFFA!!!!
Wow I had SUCH a romantic day by myself in this great city!!!
I slept in as long as I could (which is 7am since I am still jetlagged) and enjoyed my free Indian breakfast. mmmmm It was so good I can't wait until the morning for another. Then I slowly got ready (because nothing opens until 9).
I was delighted to find that the weather was tolerable today, unlike the past few days. I hardly broke a sweat until 2pm. So I wandered out of my room after a millennium of getting ready and watching Animal Planet (which is what I do during my down time since it's the best channel ever, and one of the only ones in English...) and I hardly made it 500 steps before I came across an auto-rickshaw driver (that is what they call tuktuks, or cheap taxis). This is what I was hoping would happen since there's no way I am going to rent out my own motorbike in THIS place (the traffic I would argue is crazier than anywhere else I've been, except maybe Vietnam where there aren't even intersections with lights....). So I had in my mind that I would only pay this guy 1000Rp (about $25) for the day , no matter what! and so he showed me his little map thing and listed all the places I Wanted to go (yay!) and then said "okay, 200Rp?" and I said... for everything??? and he said, yes. I'm sure this is still overcharging, but I Was SO excited by this low price that I said OKAY! hahahahaha.
Off we went to the botanical gardens (I hope you like greenery pictures... I took lots..!!) I couldn't stop taking pictures I so desperately wanted to capture the essence of this huge garden complete with lakes and trees and flowers and temples and pathways and vines and kind people (who were taking my photograph all day). I loved it! <3 I'm afraid the pictures just look like trees though. You can be the judge once I put them up on facebook! AFter that I went to a creepy electrical park. It was this abandoned place with old rusty metal electrical things.... it costed $.25 to get in ... but I was really jumpy! I Can't wait to show you pics from it- just because it was sooo creepy and weird!!! hahahahahaha
After that we went to the government castle. It was very pretty! Lots of kids were running up to me and taking my photo and being in photos with me and people were following me with cameras (again.) IT was fun, but gets a little old after a while! Then the final place I went was the castle where the king used to live (30+ years ago) it was about 150 years old and in rough shape for a castle, but it was still beautiful! I was lucky enough to get to peek in on a wedding that was being held on the main floor of the castle. I took a picture of the bride and groom (hope they didn't mind!!) they looked so lovely.
After alllll that we parked at the end of the road- and the guy goes "1500 rp please."
I was like WHAT?! and he was like, yes, 200 Rp per place visited. I Was bursting! I Was like "EVEN if we went to 8 places it would be 1600 NOT 1500!!!!!" LOL and he was like "yes 1600." and I was like "no, we only went to 4 places, and you told me 200 for the whole day" and he was like "okay okay, 1`000" and I Was like NO!! that's not fair! (just testing- I Would have paid it if it were any danger to me but he was just playing me..) . so then I handed him a 500 and he said "NO pay me more" and I said "no that's not fair" and he said "okay okay, 200 more" and I gave him 100 more just to shut him up and I left. He didnt' come after me so I guess that was that. I still spent under what I Was planning- but STILL. ugh. the nerve.
Other than the odd time like that though, India is much better for heckling then Thailand / Vietnam / Cambo / Indonesia so far!!! Most things are the right price !
Then I Was starving because I hadn't eaten anything since 7am and it was 2 pm, so I wandered around until I found a cute coffee hut where I saw people eating food that I Wanted to steal from their plates, so I went there. I must have sat there for an hour and a half on my own, sipping watermelon juice, eating a veggie samosa... or two as it turned out. =D I watched people walk by, smiled, and thought of what to do next. I was hot so I Decided to go inside to my air-conditioning until the late afternoon air cooled off enough for me to venture to the computers, the market and just around.
hmmm. Oh, I found out around 2pm that the temperature that I was "relieved" about , was 37.5 today. CELCIUS. hahahaha I guess there is a heat wave and the weather has been 40-45+++ each day so when it was 30-something I Was like THANK GOD I CAN BREATHE hahahahahaha. Isn't that crazy? Erin told me it was like 5 at home this week. Such a big difference!
One more thing before I go. There were 30 minutes of monsoon rain in the evening here. I love the smell of monsoon rain. I love it's determination. It's heavy and meaningful, not like a wimpy sprinkle, not just muggy air, and not puddle forming rain. It's river-creating, drench-you-till-you're-soaked, make-the-power=go-off, DETERMINED delicious warm obsessive thick heavy MONSOON RAIN. and I like it.
That being said.. I hope I never get caught in it with my backpack!!!
Sooo. I have no idea what I'm doing tomorrow. I think I might head over to Goa (the west coast). I was hoping to catch a cheap flight but so far that seems impossible. I'll let you know!
xox
Jess
Wow I had SUCH a romantic day by myself in this great city!!!
I slept in as long as I could (which is 7am since I am still jetlagged) and enjoyed my free Indian breakfast. mmmmm It was so good I can't wait until the morning for another. Then I slowly got ready (because nothing opens until 9).
I was delighted to find that the weather was tolerable today, unlike the past few days. I hardly broke a sweat until 2pm. So I wandered out of my room after a millennium of getting ready and watching Animal Planet (which is what I do during my down time since it's the best channel ever, and one of the only ones in English...) and I hardly made it 500 steps before I came across an auto-rickshaw driver (that is what they call tuktuks, or cheap taxis). This is what I was hoping would happen since there's no way I am going to rent out my own motorbike in THIS place (the traffic I would argue is crazier than anywhere else I've been, except maybe Vietnam where there aren't even intersections with lights....). So I had in my mind that I would only pay this guy 1000Rp (about $25) for the day , no matter what! and so he showed me his little map thing and listed all the places I Wanted to go (yay!) and then said "okay, 200Rp?" and I said... for everything??? and he said, yes. I'm sure this is still overcharging, but I Was SO excited by this low price that I said OKAY! hahahahaha.
Off we went to the botanical gardens (I hope you like greenery pictures... I took lots..!!) I couldn't stop taking pictures I so desperately wanted to capture the essence of this huge garden complete with lakes and trees and flowers and temples and pathways and vines and kind people (who were taking my photograph all day). I loved it! <3 I'm afraid the pictures just look like trees though. You can be the judge once I put them up on facebook! AFter that I went to a creepy electrical park. It was this abandoned place with old rusty metal electrical things.... it costed $.25 to get in ... but I was really jumpy! I Can't wait to show you pics from it- just because it was sooo creepy and weird!!! hahahahahaha
After that we went to the government castle. It was very pretty! Lots of kids were running up to me and taking my photo and being in photos with me and people were following me with cameras (again.) IT was fun, but gets a little old after a while! Then the final place I went was the castle where the king used to live (30+ years ago) it was about 150 years old and in rough shape for a castle, but it was still beautiful! I was lucky enough to get to peek in on a wedding that was being held on the main floor of the castle. I took a picture of the bride and groom (hope they didn't mind!!) they looked so lovely.
After alllll that we parked at the end of the road- and the guy goes "1500 rp please."
I was like WHAT?! and he was like, yes, 200 Rp per place visited. I Was bursting! I Was like "EVEN if we went to 8 places it would be 1600 NOT 1500!!!!!" LOL and he was like "yes 1600." and I was like "no, we only went to 4 places, and you told me 200 for the whole day" and he was like "okay okay, 1`000" and I Was like NO!! that's not fair! (just testing- I Would have paid it if it were any danger to me but he was just playing me..) . so then I handed him a 500 and he said "NO pay me more" and I said "no that's not fair" and he said "okay okay, 200 more" and I gave him 100 more just to shut him up and I left. He didnt' come after me so I guess that was that. I still spent under what I Was planning- but STILL. ugh. the nerve.
Other than the odd time like that though, India is much better for heckling then Thailand / Vietnam / Cambo / Indonesia so far!!! Most things are the right price !
Then I Was starving because I hadn't eaten anything since 7am and it was 2 pm, so I wandered around until I found a cute coffee hut where I saw people eating food that I Wanted to steal from their plates, so I went there. I must have sat there for an hour and a half on my own, sipping watermelon juice, eating a veggie samosa... or two as it turned out. =D I watched people walk by, smiled, and thought of what to do next. I was hot so I Decided to go inside to my air-conditioning until the late afternoon air cooled off enough for me to venture to the computers, the market and just around.
hmmm. Oh, I found out around 2pm that the temperature that I was "relieved" about , was 37.5 today. CELCIUS. hahahaha I guess there is a heat wave and the weather has been 40-45+++ each day so when it was 30-something I Was like THANK GOD I CAN BREATHE hahahahahaha. Isn't that crazy? Erin told me it was like 5 at home this week. Such a big difference!
One more thing before I go. There were 30 minutes of monsoon rain in the evening here. I love the smell of monsoon rain. I love it's determination. It's heavy and meaningful, not like a wimpy sprinkle, not just muggy air, and not puddle forming rain. It's river-creating, drench-you-till-you're-soaked, make-the-power=go-off, DETERMINED delicious warm obsessive thick heavy MONSOON RAIN. and I like it.
That being said.. I hope I never get caught in it with my backpack!!!
Sooo. I have no idea what I'm doing tomorrow. I think I might head over to Goa (the west coast). I was hoping to catch a cheap flight but so far that seems impossible. I'll let you know!
xox
Jess
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Bangalore (Bangaluru)
Hello!
Now I am in Bangalore. I feel much safer here, and this city is obviously much richer than Chennai! In Chennai there were so so many people living on the street ad sleeping there, but here in Bangalore there are skyscrapers ad tall business buildings and modern restaurants (There is a subway beside me, YAYYY mmmmmmmm)
One problem... my hotel costs $40!!!!!!!!!! YIKES!!! It's much nicer than the others that I have stayed in though. I am having fun wandering around the city. I wonder what tomorrow holds for me? Maybe a wildlife park? Maybe a tour ? Maybe just city viewing? I'm really not sure!! I love not knowing!
I spoke with Meenu today (yayyy) and we are going to see the Taj Mahal together on the 22nd.. YAYYY so I will definitely be up to Delhi by aroud the 20th or 21st FYI
That's all I have to report to date!
xoxoxox
Jesse
Now I am in Bangalore. I feel much safer here, and this city is obviously much richer than Chennai! In Chennai there were so so many people living on the street ad sleeping there, but here in Bangalore there are skyscrapers ad tall business buildings and modern restaurants (There is a subway beside me, YAYYY mmmmmmmm)
One problem... my hotel costs $40!!!!!!!!!! YIKES!!! It's much nicer than the others that I have stayed in though. I am having fun wandering around the city. I wonder what tomorrow holds for me? Maybe a wildlife park? Maybe a tour ? Maybe just city viewing? I'm really not sure!! I love not knowing!
I spoke with Meenu today (yayyy) and we are going to see the Taj Mahal together on the 22nd.. YAYYY so I will definitely be up to Delhi by aroud the 20th or 21st FYI
That's all I have to report to date!
xoxoxox
Jesse
Friday, May 14, 2010
Chennai blog TWO
Hey again!!!
I have some free time before I go to bed tonight, so I Thought I might write a more detailed blog about my day today .
Following my somewhat scary/confusing/lonely night came a really hot awesome day ! I met so many wonderful Indian people who all wanted to show me their humble town. They are very proud of it, and all insist that it is the safest friendliest place in India. I would be lying to call it beautiful to the eye, but I have found things within it that are beautiful. Both superficially as well as culturally. ( I have also found many things that are extemely unbeautiful such as icky dogs, garbage filled sidewalks, potholed roads, dirty air, no wait, dirty everything!!)
The temples that I went to were, as everything else is in this city, humble and hardly comparable to the huge ruins of temples that I've seen in so many other great places, but to enter a temple and be completely accepted and welcomed is lovely also. There were , of course, beautiful elements to each temple. I took pictures from the outside but photos from the inside are strictly forbidden. I had to take my shoes off (the sun -stricken pavement is SO HOT), and gosh how I wish I were wearing a Sari. Just to fit in a little better!!! But it didn't stop them all from smiling at me, and the kids loved running up to me to practice their english.
When I walked into the first temple of the day, a woman immediately stood up and put a red clay dot on my forehead. I liked it =) It was different and something I've never experienced before. After that she instructed me to take my shoes off, and sent m e on my way. I did take a picture on the outside of this one GORGEOUS rainbow temple, but the photo doesn't do it justice. The photo just looks like another carved out building, but to see the detailing and creative colours at work... wow! I couldn't stop staring at the sculptures.
After that I had sort of a weird, magical moment with a woman. She looked at me just like they all look at me in this town, at first taken aback by my physical differences, then curious, then just a kind smile as they turn away. This one woman though, she kept that curious enchanted look on her face and put her hand o ut to mine. What else could I do but take it? So I was holding this beautiful woman's hand. She was wearing this long silken red and gold Sari and had long silky black hair. She held my hand and took me all the way through the temple without saying a word, or even looking at me really. Just the occasional glace and shy smile. I'm not sure why she did this, but it was interesting and I liked her silent company. Then she smiled at me and let my hand go and waved as I walked back to my tuktuk man. (He waits for me while I do all my touristy things.)
So that's my temple story.
Another interesting thing happened. This evening I went back to that same beach, Mariana's beach which is the second largest in the world. Normally I would steer clear of beaches at night, because in Thailand we are always told that it's dangerous (Ref I almost wrote And-er-I) to go to the beach at night!! But since I had someone driving me I thought it would be okay. WELL. IF you could SEE how many people were all over this beach and it was so lit up!! Each blanket had a light and a picnic and lit up toys and frisbees . IT was so cool to see!!! I can't believe how bright it was. It was so incredibly safe and friendly -- everyone , Imean everyone, hangs out on this beach in the evenings!!!!! IT's awesome!!
So there we go, I hope you enjoyed my blog! Sorry about double-blogging today, but I do try to get out my expereinces so that I Don't forget the little things and so that you can experience it with me- those of you who are interested.
I will tell you now, my first nervous night last night had me considering getting on a plane back to canada, or at least to Bangkok ASAP because I felt lost and lonely and like I was in danger. IT was NOT a nice feeling. Now , after only one lovely Indian day I am so thankful that I stuck it out and stayed. I am really looking forward to what India will bring me next. I am not nervous anymore- The people are too kind , the sights are too interesting , and the food is too delicious to be nervous!!
LOVE YOU XOXOXOXOX
I have some free time before I go to bed tonight, so I Thought I might write a more detailed blog about my day today .
Following my somewhat scary/confusing/lonely night came a really hot awesome day ! I met so many wonderful Indian people who all wanted to show me their humble town. They are very proud of it, and all insist that it is the safest friendliest place in India. I would be lying to call it beautiful to the eye, but I have found things within it that are beautiful. Both superficially as well as culturally. ( I have also found many things that are extemely unbeautiful such as icky dogs, garbage filled sidewalks, potholed roads, dirty air, no wait, dirty everything!!)
The temples that I went to were, as everything else is in this city, humble and hardly comparable to the huge ruins of temples that I've seen in so many other great places, but to enter a temple and be completely accepted and welcomed is lovely also. There were , of course, beautiful elements to each temple. I took pictures from the outside but photos from the inside are strictly forbidden. I had to take my shoes off (the sun -stricken pavement is SO HOT), and gosh how I wish I were wearing a Sari. Just to fit in a little better!!! But it didn't stop them all from smiling at me, and the kids loved running up to me to practice their english.
When I walked into the first temple of the day, a woman immediately stood up and put a red clay dot on my forehead. I liked it =) It was different and something I've never experienced before. After that she instructed me to take my shoes off, and sent m e on my way. I did take a picture on the outside of this one GORGEOUS rainbow temple, but the photo doesn't do it justice. The photo just looks like another carved out building, but to see the detailing and creative colours at work... wow! I couldn't stop staring at the sculptures.
After that I had sort of a weird, magical moment with a woman. She looked at me just like they all look at me in this town, at first taken aback by my physical differences, then curious, then just a kind smile as they turn away. This one woman though, she kept that curious enchanted look on her face and put her hand o ut to mine. What else could I do but take it? So I was holding this beautiful woman's hand. She was wearing this long silken red and gold Sari and had long silky black hair. She held my hand and took me all the way through the temple without saying a word, or even looking at me really. Just the occasional glace and shy smile. I'm not sure why she did this, but it was interesting and I liked her silent company. Then she smiled at me and let my hand go and waved as I walked back to my tuktuk man. (He waits for me while I do all my touristy things.)
So that's my temple story.
Another interesting thing happened. This evening I went back to that same beach, Mariana's beach which is the second largest in the world. Normally I would steer clear of beaches at night, because in Thailand we are always told that it's dangerous (Ref I almost wrote And-er-I) to go to the beach at night!! But since I had someone driving me I thought it would be okay. WELL. IF you could SEE how many people were all over this beach and it was so lit up!! Each blanket had a light and a picnic and lit up toys and frisbees . IT was so cool to see!!! I can't believe how bright it was. It was so incredibly safe and friendly -- everyone , Imean everyone, hangs out on this beach in the evenings!!!!! IT's awesome!!
So there we go, I hope you enjoyed my blog! Sorry about double-blogging today, but I do try to get out my expereinces so that I Don't forget the little things and so that you can experience it with me- those of you who are interested.
I will tell you now, my first nervous night last night had me considering getting on a plane back to canada, or at least to Bangkok ASAP because I felt lost and lonely and like I was in danger. IT was NOT a nice feeling. Now , after only one lovely Indian day I am so thankful that I stuck it out and stayed. I am really looking forward to what India will bring me next. I am not nervous anymore- The people are too kind , the sights are too interesting , and the food is too delicious to be nervous!!
LOVE YOU XOXOXOXOX
Chennai
Hey guys!!
So This is my first chance to get to a computer since landing in Chennai! I landed at a horrible time, midnight and so it took me forever to find a hotel that would take me and I had a bit of a rough/ exciting night. Today was great though, everything turned around when the gorgeous hot sun came up!!
Looking down out of my hostel window at the dirty ground covered in sleeping people was a bit of a turn off, but interesting to say the least. It frightened me a little bit until I actually left the hostel, and then it became comfortable surroundings. The man who took me from hotel to hotel last night, looking for an available room (god bless him) is the one who picked me up this morning and helped me find a BETTER hotel, and then spent the entire day with me (for a pretty penny of course). He showed me all the temples/buildings/schools around Chennai. It's quite a dirty city with not much to it , to be honest. The highlight was seeing the world's second longest beach!
I spent last night, and now I will spend tonight here in Chennai and then tomorrow morning at 8am (I have no idea what time that will be your time), I will catch a bus to Bangalore. This is the businessy/high tech city in the south apparently and will be more touristy than here. I am really looking forward to speaking with other tourists, because as of right now I've been very solo. Only a few random white faces to speak of -- which is fine, but my comfort level would be higher if I were surrounded by other solo travelers!!
Anyways. I am going to go take a nap since it's 3pm and the heat is UNBEARABLE. wow.
I just really wanted to give you update number one.
LOVE YAZ! I'll touch base once I'm in Bangalore .
xoxoxox
So This is my first chance to get to a computer since landing in Chennai! I landed at a horrible time, midnight and so it took me forever to find a hotel that would take me and I had a bit of a rough/ exciting night. Today was great though, everything turned around when the gorgeous hot sun came up!!
Looking down out of my hostel window at the dirty ground covered in sleeping people was a bit of a turn off, but interesting to say the least. It frightened me a little bit until I actually left the hostel, and then it became comfortable surroundings. The man who took me from hotel to hotel last night, looking for an available room (god bless him) is the one who picked me up this morning and helped me find a BETTER hotel, and then spent the entire day with me (for a pretty penny of course). He showed me all the temples/buildings/schools around Chennai. It's quite a dirty city with not much to it , to be honest. The highlight was seeing the world's second longest beach!
I spent last night, and now I will spend tonight here in Chennai and then tomorrow morning at 8am (I have no idea what time that will be your time), I will catch a bus to Bangalore. This is the businessy/high tech city in the south apparently and will be more touristy than here. I am really looking forward to speaking with other tourists, because as of right now I've been very solo. Only a few random white faces to speak of -- which is fine, but my comfort level would be higher if I were surrounded by other solo travelers!!
Anyways. I am going to go take a nap since it's 3pm and the heat is UNBEARABLE. wow.
I just really wanted to give you update number one.
LOVE YAZ! I'll touch base once I'm in Bangalore .
xoxoxox
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
My flight to India
Hi everyone!
I have missed tracking my own travel using this blog, it was a really great way of remembering little things that happen when you don't really have room to carry pens and notepads , and also to make it available to you all !
So today is May 12th, 2010. I have been home almost five months and just itching to get back into the travel scene. I love the people, the experiences, the food, the troubles, the adventure of it all. This decision was a little bit random, but also well thought out on my part. I have a thorough travel book with me (Lonely Planet- DEFINITELY), and plenty of supplies. I should be juuuust fine. I'm not sure how frequent internet cafes will be, but you can be sure I will be checking in as often as possible. Also don't forget the time difference will separate us by around 10 hours, give or take depending on where I am, so if we don't cross paths that's why!
I want any updates on you too. Send me lots of emails (kerr_jesse@hotmail.com for those of you who don't have my email.)
I love you all very very much. My flight is at 3pm today, and I am not even sure what the date willbe when I arrive in India yet. hahahaha.
xoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxox
You take care, and I will take care.
I'll let you know when I land!!
Jess
I have missed tracking my own travel using this blog, it was a really great way of remembering little things that happen when you don't really have room to carry pens and notepads , and also to make it available to you all !
So today is May 12th, 2010. I have been home almost five months and just itching to get back into the travel scene. I love the people, the experiences, the food, the troubles, the adventure of it all. This decision was a little bit random, but also well thought out on my part. I have a thorough travel book with me (Lonely Planet- DEFINITELY), and plenty of supplies. I should be juuuust fine. I'm not sure how frequent internet cafes will be, but you can be sure I will be checking in as often as possible. Also don't forget the time difference will separate us by around 10 hours, give or take depending on where I am, so if we don't cross paths that's why!
I want any updates on you too. Send me lots of emails (kerr_jesse@hotmail.com for those of you who don't have my email.)
I love you all very very much. My flight is at 3pm today, and I am not even sure what the date willbe when I arrive in India yet. hahahaha.
xoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxox
You take care, and I will take care.
I'll let you know when I land!!
Jess
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