Hello again everyone!Sorry it's been so long between updates again, no time I tell you!Ok, so I was up to Zanzibar.The afternoon after I updated I went down to the curio stalls and bought 4 paintings, a scarf and a bikini, very happy with my purchases.After that I went swimming in the ocean, such nice water, beautiful and blue and quite warm.That evening we had dinner at the restaurant at the resort, however they forgot my order (I ended up waiting over 2 hours for my food AND it was burnt)! I didn't think it was fair for me to pay the whole amount so I had a bit of an argument with the manager but in the end got my meal for free (I was willing to pay some of the amount but he wanted all or nothing).Oh well, I still had an awesome time in Zanzibar.

Friday we left mid-morning and lost 2 of our group, Marie and Carly, as they were only with us for 2 weeks.That morning after breakfast I slammed my foot into this big post (accidentally of course) and cut the top of my second last toe off.It was bleeding everywhere, not nice, and so painful, it's only just about healed now!I had lunch in this cute little restaurant in Stone Town before we had to leave to catch the ferry back to Dar es Salaam.I was quite sick on the ferry, the water was really really rough.I went out the front of the boat to get some air and ended up falling asleep out there.Some other people in the group were also out there and they saw a whale and flying fish, shame I missed it!That night we were in Mikadi Beach again, which was nice.

Saturday was a super long day driving.It was decided we would drive for 12 hours to give us an extra night in Malawi, as usually they break the day into 2.That night we stayed in a place called Farmhouse where we had this nice traditional dinner in a restaurant made of the mud and sticks.The dinner was spinach soup, ugali, potatoes and meatballs.We all went to bed fairly early because even though we were driving all day it can be quite tiring.

Sunday was another long day driving as we were on our way into Malawi.Along the way we stopped off at these markets to buy women's clothes for the boys (we had a cross-dressing party at Chitimba Beach, more later).We crossed the border mid-afternoon and got to our campsite quite late at about 6.30pm.Again we all went to bed pretty early as we were so tired again.

Malawi

The following day we stayed in Chitimba Beach as some of us opted to do a day tour into Livingstonia.We drove up this massive hill, oh, I haven't described Lake Malawi to you yet?it is MASSIVE!!! It really looks like an ocean, and there are white beaches surrounding it and everything.The lake takes up 1/5 of the country of Malawi (not that big a country to begin with) and it's huge but with really beautiful blue water.Ok, we drove up this massive hill to get to the town of Livingstonia where we looked at the church, museum, stone house (where David Livingstone stayed for a while) and some other buildings and things.We had this rice stir-fry dish for lunch that was really very tasty.That afternoon I went shopping at this curio market just outside the gates of the camp and oh my gosh, I spent so much money out there, some really beautiful stuff.I bought a carved chair and table (so nice, I'm very excited about bringing them home) as well as some bracelets and other wooden things (no idea how I'm getting all this stuff home but oh well).That night was the cross-dressing party and it was soooo funny!I dressed up Greg in this small little skirt and a scarf for a top, all the boys were very excited about wearing make-up, which is a little weird but it was fun.We all headed to the bar and after a round of drinks, or three, we had a modeling competition with the girls as judges.It was so much fun and the boys got so into it which was fantastic.In the end Greg, Tamir and Shyam were the finalists but Tamir (aka Tiffany) took out the title in the end, to much applause (I have so many photos its hilarious!).It was a really big night (by the way I drink wine and beer now) so we all got to bed pretty late.

Tuesday we left Chitimba (really early!! Everyone was feeling sick) to head to Kande Beach (also in Malawi) where we stayed for the next 3 nights.On the way we stopped off to buy costumes for the 'Pimps and Ho's' party we were having in Zambia (last night actually, more later).We drew names out of a hat and then had to buy a costume for that person.I got Alan and Tamir had me.That afternoon we relaxed on the beach, played some volleyball and really didn't do much at all, it was really nice to just relax.That evening we had dinner in the village at the chief's house which was nice, we ate on straw mats on the floor and had rice, casserole and vegetables.Afterwards the children danced for us.It's a little scary but the way the kids dance is very sexual, there is a lot of grinding and hip thrusting, it was a little uncomfortable when we were dancing with them because it just felt wrong.They were cute kids though.We went early to bed, again, but that was fine with me, I was exhausted.

The next day, Wednesday, was a lazy day.The weather was beautiful, it was really hot though.We had a full fry-up for breakfast, yummy! And then I pretty well relaxed all day.I called home mid-morning and it was really good to talk to Mum, Dad and Sean (hi Laura!).I stayed in a hammock all day reading Harry Potter, which I've now finished, very good book!That night we had lamb on a spit for dinner which was soooooo good.I was finally getting my appetite back after being sick so it was nice to be able to eat my fill.We then headed over to the bar to play a few drinking games, which got boring after a bit.On my way down the stairs I tripped and fell really hard on my ankle and knee.The bruise on my knee was huge, it's still tender to touch now.By the way it wasn't alcohol that caused my fall it was that the bottom step and the ground were made of the same wood (the upper steps were cement) so I didn't realize there was another step there.Oh well, I'm still alive, hee hee!

Thursday was another beautiful day.I was up early as I was going horse-riding through the forest and the beach.My horse, Annie, was huge, she is a big mare. I was a bit nervous as I had never ridden a horse before but it was really fun.We walked for most of it but we trotted for some and once I got the hang of the bouncing movement it was fine, not so painful.We rode through the forest for about an hour and a half and then rode along the beach.Once we arrived at the campsite the saddles were taken off the horses and we rode bareback on them into the lake.That was very cool, I had a lovely time.After that I spent the middle part of the day relaxing in a hammock again, napping on and off.Some of the group headed over to this island off the shore in the lake (some swam and some took canoes or paddle-boats) but I decided to stay on land and chill out in the hammock.That afternoon we went for a village walk.Everyone was really tired and not in the mood to be harassed by the locals (they follow you, asking all kinds of questions and then trying to sell you stuff, it can get very frustrating) but it was a good tour.We went to our guide's house first, looked at a water pump, went to a hospital, school and orphanage, and had a general look around.There were so many kids around the place they just run up to you and grab your hand so you're always walking with these kids hanging off you.That can also get very tiring, but it's fun.This girl from the school gave me her address so I could send her some pens and books, it's so cute and sad at the same time.Each class has over 100 students with only one teacher.I would love to send the school some books and pens when I get home.I think it's better to do that than to send money.That evening we hung out at the bar again for a few hours and headed to bed.

Zambia

Friday we got up at 5.30am to see the sunrise (a few had done it the day before and said it was beautiful) however, it was a cloudy day so we didn't see anything unfortunately.We left at 7am to head to Zambia which was a long day's drive again.Luckily, they waived the visa fee ($50 if we had had to pay) so we got through easily.That night we stayed at Mama Rula's in Chipata.It was Bevan's 30th birthday so we had a punch party for him.After dinner we played a game of 'I Never' (someone says something they've never done and if you've done it you have to swap seats and drink).It was an interesting game, some good stuff came out of it.Of course many of the questions were very sexual and it was so funny to find out exactly what's going on with the campers.We already knew the leader and Stevie were sleeping together but we found out about the other couple, Carl and Danni, as well.After the punch ran out we headed up to the bar and proceeded to play hiney tag (you have to hit other people's hineys if you're it) for way to long.That night Mark and Shyam couldn't be bothered putting up a tent so they were sleeping under the stars.At the last minute me and some others decided to join them so it was those two, me, Danielle and Chris.It was actually very warm sleeping there, I was in the middle and it as really funny when we were going to sleep we all spooned to the left so we were all snuggly and warm.I slept very well that night, recommend it to anyone. Luckily the air was quite cold so there were no mosquitoes around.

Saturday was yet another long day's drive to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia.There had been another overlanding truck staying at our campsite and that morning a few of our people had locked the other group in their tents, it was funny.We were then worried they were going to prank us that night (they were staying at the same camp as us the following night too) so we spent the morning trying to think of pranks we could retaliate with.Along the way we passed their truck and the boys mooned them out the window (their tour was all girls and one boy).They then made up this ridiculous plan to put chickens in their tent but that never happened (than goodness).Once we arrived in Lusaka we stopped at a shopping mall (very western, loving it) to get money out.Unfortunately I couldn't remember my VISA pin to get a cash advance (the ATMs don't take my normal card) but hopefully I can go into a bank tomorrow and get some money over the counter.That night we hung out at the bar again.I was playing darts and I started really good but got progressively worse as the night went on (I may have been the beer, I don't know).I slept outside again and these little Chihuahuas from the campsite came and slept in some of the boys sleeping bags, really cute.

Sunday we left early again to drive to Livingstone, where I am now.We arrived around lunchtime, and we stopped at a shopping centre where I had Subway for lunch, so good!That afternoon we headed to Victoria Falls.The falls are incredible!I just can't describe the enormity of them, they go on so far and the spray from where the falls hit the water drenches you, even though the water is 100m below you.It was really awesome to see.I don't think my photos will be able to do it justice.There was this rainbow over the falls too which just completed the picture.After we arrived at the campsite we had a talk about the activities that are available to do and we could book them.I decided on doing 4 activities which I'll describe shortly. That night we went to dinner at a restaurant called Squires which was just lovely.I initially ordered a T-bone steak but they didn't have any so I got rump.Because they hadn't had what I first wanted they gave me this massive steak and then another steak on top, it was so huge I had to take a photo.I also tried snails (with garlic sauce) for the first time, not that tasty but not the worst thing I'd ever eaten.It was quite an expensive meal but it was good.That night I opted to sleep in a tent as it was far too cold to be sleeping outside.

Yesterday we all got up fairly early as we were going rafting.We were given breakfast, had a safety talk and then headed down to the river.We were only doing a half-day so we were going through nine rapids.My raft had Sara, Elisse, Tamir, Yaniv, Stevie, Gary and me.A couple of the boys didn't want to flip so we were the 'tame' raft.We paddled around for a bit learning how to do it before we went into the first rapid.Our raft flipped over right near these rocks and it was pretty scary.Gary was under water so long hen we got him out we were seriously worried for his health, but he was ok.I was only under water for a few seconds before I popped up and was rescued.We didn't flip on any of the other rapids, not even the worst one on the river, as we were working really well as a team.We became kind of the rescue boat as we kept picking people up after the flipped on the rapids.I bought a CD of the photos from the day, very cool.That afternoon was the Sunset (or Booze) Cruise.We all got dressed up in our Pimps and Ho's costumes (I had a silver shirt, short black and gold skirt and red knee-high stockings) and headed onto the boat.It was so much fun, there was an open bar and dinner and as you can imagine we all drank a lot.After the cruise, about 7pm, we headed back to camp where there as a disco in the auditorium.Following that we headed to the bar where we stayed until closing.It was a really awesome night.We had to make it a good one as 5 of our group finished their tour here today, Tamir, Yaniv, Dave, Danielle and Greg.

Today I went into Zimbabwe to do a walk with lions and elephant ride.We had to say goodbye to the 5 before we left and it was quite sad, they are all a major part of the group.This morning I went on a walk with lions, which meant we literally got to walk with them and touch them and everything, it was so incredible, I loved every minute of it.Afterwards they gave us breakfast and then we headed into the town of Vic Falls for about 5 hours before our elephant ride would start.We had lunch at this cowboy restaurant which was pretty nice.There were 5 of us doing both the lions and elephants, me, Elisse, Jane, Katherine and Bevan.We headed back to the lodge at 2pm and rode the elephants for about an hour.Again it was so cool.My elephant, Penny, is 21 years old and it was so much fun to ride her.It was actually very comfortable, much better than the horse.We also got to feed the elephants once we'd finished the ride which was weird.Their trunks feel so funny and they kind of suck the food out of your hand.I got on the internet when I got back to camp.Not sure what I'm doing for dinner yet but we'll see.Tomorrow I'm going on a MicroLight flight over Victoria Falls which I'm very excited about, it's going to be awesome.I had booked a bungy jump, gorge swing and flying fox but I've backed out so tomorrow afternoon I think I'll head into town and do some shopping.We leave here on Thursday and head into Botswana, very excited.

Ok everyone, hope you enjoyed reading the update, I'll try and write again soon.Love you all, Sarah..

P.S.I got offered an interview at Griffith Medical School!!!!!!! Yay!