Friday 22nd February

I woke up around 6.30am as people in the room were getting up. I had a much better nights sleep with not really being bothered by my bites and I wasn't overly hot compared to previous nights. Just before I got to sleep I could hear more cheers from the football, I had a feeling Liverpool had pulled off a unlikely win (although it turned out they didn't)! I dozed for another hour before deciding to get up. When I woke up, I could see some blue sky scattered with clouds that had a reddy orange hint from the reflected sun, it was only a small glimpse I could see, but it was a perfect view to see first thing in the morning! My chest was a bit more painful this morning just lying down, which wasn't a great start!
I got dresses and went to have some breakfast, cereal and toast (more slightly warmed bread). As the electricity was still on I was able to watch the news. I had a nice leisurely breakfast, although I had things planned I was in no rush, which was a nice feeling. After breakfast and clearing my things away, I went to go done washing. It wasn't a proper wash of the clothes but I wanted to get enough clothes clean/fresh for getting to Johannesburg and potentially Australia. After my clothes were washed I decided to head to the museum, which was literally a 2 minute walk from the hostel.
It costs 25kwata to visit and I asked the gentleman at the desk to help explain the old notes to me and establish their worth, luckily they were 5kwata (minus 2 which are worth nothing), so I used them all up. I started around the museum. It was very quite to start with although the number of people soon picked up. The first section went through the ages of man and how they developed, showing artefacts such as skulls and stone/metal tools. Although the information was general they linked it back to the development in Zambia. It was interesting but seemed very standard pre-history. There was then a section of what a traditional village would be like today, a model village, 'Our Village' and had this next to a town with a few annotations about the effects had on the village, with people moving away. I got the impression they were rather anti the town and the effects it had. Next to the village there was a nature gallery with had information and stuffed animals. This section went through the natural world, showing different animals, what they eat and how they live. There were a lot of stuffed animals in glass boxes. There was also information on water, air, soil, population and the problems that are faced and what is currently being done to help. The first 2 sections felt very school like. I saw an exit sign and was worried that would be the end of the whole museum and I hadn't see anything about David Livingstone, wish ideally I want see and learn more about.
But as I walked walked through the last part of those sections which went through stages if life and traditional; birth, marriage, deaths, the exit door lead into a new section. This section had information of David Livingstone and also the political changes from the old trade routes until 2001.
The Livingstone room was very interesting an account if with life and his travels. The only confusing part was when they used the original names for countries it would get confusing and the few maps they had didn't really help clear things up. But they had copies of his books and there were also copies if letters he sent, the writing was scruffy and hard to read but I was amazed to see letters that old and still being preserved. They room progressed through his three expeditions and who he traveled with and where he went until his death and pilgrim back to the UK. This was the most interesting room. The last room (and by this point I was hot and becoming tired) was about the development of the country from trade routes and independents. Again, this room was interesting but there was a lot of writing to get through and with old countries and long names some of it made no sense. But I stuck with reading it all and made me way to 2001. It was long but interesting to hear how the government went from a multi-party government to a single party and then back to multi. It would be interesting to have it running up to 2012 and to understand more of how poverty effects the country, but I assume a museum will focus on a countries good parts.
I left the museum around 12.30pm, so I had spent a good few hours there. I got back to my room and had a 30min nap, as I felt lethargic, I've hardly done anything the past few days but worryingly feel drained and able to nap easily. I wasn't overly hungry so had a lunch of peanuts, an apple and a slice of bread.
I got changed and went to sit and read by the pool before making the regular pilgrim to the Italian and their wifi. I read until around 3.30pm, when the sun was out it was very hot, even just lying there, but when the sun hid behind clouds and the breeze picked up it was more than comfortable. A couple of times the wind picked up considerably, once it dislodged a piece of fruit in the tree just to my right and it fell to the ground and took me (and the beatle on the fruit) by surprise.
As I gathered up my things to go to Olgas, it had become quite cloudy and there was the lightest of drops of rain. I grab my jacket, although I don't know why as it wouldn't be cold rain and headed down town. I was becoming very used to my walk to the restaurant and felt comfortable walking through town now, although I could still feel people stares as I walked by, 'the white tourist'. I was become harsh on the street sellers and not engaging on them on any level, and just saying no when they spoke to me.
I arrived at Olgas and the waiter who I paid they day before served me, I ordered my tea and he asked how my day had been. I sat down and started to read my emails. I still amazed how many I would get each day; 4 or 5 junk, 3 about Australia flights, 2 or 3 from family or friends and then there always seemed one covering the trip (today it was about the new airport opening in Quinto). I got through them all and then started to look at flights myself for Australia. Now Ayres Rock was out of the equation, it was a simple choice of fly to Carnis or Melbourne! Searching for flights is a mission on a good day but searching on an iPhone seemed near enough impossible. I had an email from mum saying could we Skype today as dad was there. He wasn't there the last time mum and I spoke and if I spoke to mum with Granny Jack, he would again miss out. I had a lovey 44min chat with them. Telling them of new things, my plans for the next few days and hearing their news. It was difficult to hear them at times due to he background noise my end, so I had to keep the phone to my ear which was a shame as I didn't get to see them much!
After the chat, I ordered a carrot muffin again, I told myself on the way there not to have one, but the cake got the better of me and once again I tucked into a warm carrot muffin again whilst trying to make progress with the flights. As my phone was dying I decided to head back, remembering to pay this time on my exit.
I got back to the hostel to find it a very busy hub. It seemed those workers who were staying here were having a Good Friday night, it looked like they had dressed up, having drinks and have dinner. When I got back, I went on the computer and started downloading my photos. The GoPro hadn't been as successful as I had hoped snorkelling as the few with fishes in we're hard to make out. But there were some amusing photos of me and people. I also took them off my camera and saved them into folders for each day. I was going to do the original memory card too but someone wanted to use the Internet so I have up with doing the second card and let him use the computer. I sprayed myself to deter the little bugs and went to make dinner. I wanted to use my veg as I was scared it would ruin. So I cut them all up and warmed them up with my tomato paste. The plan was to have scrambled egg and bread with some vegetable mix (the rest I would save for tomorrow). One of the hostel workers was trying to tidy the kitchen slightly and she become very interested in the cooking of the scrambled egg, commenting when I added milk and watching as I whisked it cooking in the microwave.
I meet the 2 Swedish girls in the kitchen and they said they had had a productive day and managed to send there work off. They asked me my plans for the weekend and I mentioned I thought about going back to the falls. They said they were going tomorrow and I could join them, which was ideal as then I could have people to share the taxi home with (as that was deterring me initially). I then sat and ate my dinner, which wasn't too bad and followed by my nectarine and some cereal, and replied to some emails and wrote my diary.
The bar seemed very full and loud to previous nights with people seeming to be saying up later as its the weekend. Knowing that some where teachers would explain a few small things, how some girls always seemed to leave early in the mornings and why some of the guys returned in the afternoon in shirts. Again I was quite content with sitting by myself. I found the opportunity to download the last of my photos too, so now at least if I send my gifts home I could send my photos back too!! I was gutted I could not find the video of on top of Kilimanjaro! Once I had finished the photos, I headed to bed. I read a little initially but then drifted off. I knew I should make more of an effort to mix with people and that I would need to do this is Australia and New Zealand, but at present I was content by spending some quite time.