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So... it's been a while since our last update, and even longer since mine.Heh, I was a little too lazy to write anything when Kristine last posted.Also, not that this is a good excuse, but internet access is pretty slow out here and sometimes more expensive than it's worth.
Anyways, I think the last entry I actually contributed to was in JoBurg...
After JoBurg we made our way into Botswana first basing ourselves in Maun.There took a few night expedition into the Okavango Delta where we went on a few safari walks, did some swimming in the Delta (during the day while the crocodiles sit on the banks ;) and took a sunset cruise to see some hippos.Transportation on the Delta is by way of mokoro, which is the name of the homemade canoes used by the locals.The safari walks were great, we ended up seeing quite a bit... those most times, not until our guides pointed things out.It was amazing how far away these guys could spot the animals... ie, baboons climbing trees from about a football field and a half away in the jungle... ie, frog on the reeds from about 10 meters.The animals we saw there include baboons, antilope, giraffe, frogs, a spotted tortoise, zebra, an elefant, a crocodile, zebras,... and I think Kristine probably has the extended list posted in Norwegian :Pplenty of animals.We actually came across some lion footprints and a python carcas as well.
Then, we hopped out of the Delta, left Maun and made our way to Chobe National parkOn the way we came across about 30 elefants (culmulatively)... which were just crossing the road :P Of course this made our 2 hours of elefant tracking in the morning to see a single elefant seem kind of silly, but it was pretty fun to see how the guides would do the tracking.Heh, and then, during the river cruise we did in Chobe the same evening, we saw about another 40 elefants, even more hippos, antilope, baboons and even some water buffalo.
The next stop was Livingston, Zambia, home of Victoria falls... which was... not as touristy as we would have assumed considering the falls are so well known.The town was small and the number of daredevil activities that can be undertaken seems overabundant for a single place... but there are only 2 companies (that we came across anyways) that operate them and a choice of only 1 hostel (a place called jollyboy's), but since we're doing the camping thing we stayed at a campground called Grubby's Grotto.All I can say is... well, best rafting ever!!! Kristine and I did a rafting trip on the Zambezi and wow, I could not believe how much fun we had.The water is warm, the water is high (which meant we were only able to do rapids 10-25) and the guides were incredible. after everyone (all 5 of us) was comfortable from the first few rapids the guides let us jump out of the raft, backflips, side flips.. just about every kind of flip you can think of.We even flipped the raft intentionally (about 7 or 8 times... and one which was not quite so intentional :P) and rode the some of the rapids from outside of the raft.To wind down after the rafting we did a booze cruise on the Zambezi too... great fun ;)
Also in Livingston, we got a chance to walk with some lions... from what they said, the lions are cubs that were rescued from the wild.... so cute... they're like giant kitty cats.We're going to post some pictures too so you can see what I mean... and I know you'll be wondering so I'll explain it now.No, the sticks we were carrying were not to beat or scare the lions if they misbehaved and tried to eat us... they're used as a distraction tool to keep the lions immediate attention away from you... k the lions sees the stick in front of them and just kind of nibbles on it because it seems fun and interesting.Very cool, definitely a must do :)
Right now we're in Malawi... soaking up the sun at the beaches of Lake Malawi, doing some swimming, playing some football (soccer) with the locals doing some fishing, and visiting the M5 carving market. We actually bought a few chairs (heh, I know right...?... and we still have almost 3 months to go :P).We picked a few things up in Livingston too actually... heh, and I think I've become a master barterer with some of deals we've been able to get... the most important thing to remember?Always keep a smile on your face and keep the interactio n light and playful, just have fun playing the game ::)
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Vi brukte 2 dager fra Livingstone til Malawi og Kande beach. Det er utrolig fint her, beste plassen saa langt! Landskapet her er absolutt det peneste! Det er fjell, og mye gronnetraer og planter. Og langs veien er det smaa landsbyer, med hus av leire eller murstein og straa tak.
Kande beach var mer som et beach resort. Det ligger ved Lake Malawi, og det var en veldig fin sand strand. Saa det var deilig aa ha 4 dager hvor vi bare slappet av, bada, og en svommetur ut til en oy... Vi gikk til et lite marked den ene dagen. Utenfor porten er det en landsby vi gikk gjennom. De lokale er veldig hyggelige, smiler og hilser. Barna kom lopende mot oss for aa holde hender og bli svingt litt rundt, og faa praktisert det de kan av engelsk. Tilmarkedet gikk vi sammen med 2-3 lokale fyrer. De viste oss litt rundt, og de fortalte oss om hvordan hverdagen deres var der. Noen dager senere dro vi og en annenvi reiser med dit for aa spille fotball. Paa veien "plukket vi opp" endel barn. En av guttene som haltet rundt med gips tok meg med til ett sted i skyggen vi kunne se de storre guttene spille fotball,. Saa jeg satt der med ca 20 guttunger rundt meg,...
En dag grillet vi gris. Vi kjopte en gris, og leide en av de lokale til aa drepe den, ta ut alle innvoller og grille den. Det tok ca 6-7 timer. Han lagde ogsaa no lokal greie til aa ha ved siden av med tomat saus. Alt var veeldig godt!!! :)
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Lily About those lion cubs, did you try to force them to nuzzle your neck - like you've forced Pan to do so on so many occassions? And this time forcing them with a stick, you say?? Hehe. Great blog Mickey...we're all jealous at work. Oh yeah, Canadian Men's Hockey team beat Norway 8-0. Anyways, continue having fun on your adventure!