19 April 2008
Going away drinks at Clancy’s was a great affair, a few champagnes with those I love. My heart sad knowing that it may be a while before we will be together again. I lost everyone towards the end of the night, I dislike goodbyes anyway, so I was happy with the outcome.
20 April 2008
Packing your life into a back pack is an overwhelming feeling, looking across at it made me feel vulnerable, yet also released from all that conformity and society brings, it almost feels like I have shed my skin. My life and all of my valuable possessions (well almost all) in a back pack weighing just over 20kgs….Wow!
I mimicked myself ‘Selling EVERYTHING you own is the best idea you have ever had!’ scoffed and moved on….
21 April 2008
To the airport with those who care most for me. A sad event even though I was completely busting at the seams to start my new adventure and see my brother that I have missed now for so long.
Going through customs my toothpaste was taken from me, apparently you are not allowed to take more than 100grams of the stuff on the plane. What the?? Mental note to one’s self, buy toothpaste.
The 12 hour flight was uneventful and surprisingly enjoyable. I managed to keep myself occupied for the most part of it. Did you know that everyone gets a monitor now and that there are interactive games and you can watch the movies whenever you choose? Well you can and I was very impressed.
George whom I had the pleasure of sitting next to for the entire journey is an interesting ultra sound dude, born and raised in Namibia, currently residing in Bunbury. I am unsure if George had the same pleasurable flight, as I found myself picking his brain about all that he knew about this amazing continent I will call home for the next few months.
My flight attendant was a cute African that called me madamoselle? Heheh I liked that a lot….he spoiled me with wine, cheese and extra blankets, amazing what a friendly smile can do ;-)
Found myself in Jo’burg before I knew it, took ages to get through customs, was tired and grumpy so I sat on the floor in the line for the majority of the wait. Goodbye to trying to act professional, I no longer have to !! YAY!!!!
Finally through to baggage, saw my back pack straight away, yippee, but where were my matt and sleeping bag? After quite awhile I was one of the only persons left from my flight standing there, I realised something must be up. There was only 2 bags left and neither of them were mine. Shoot!! I found a young chap and asked him if he knew if there were any more bags to arrive, he chirpily said he would check and took off. How helpful I thought. As I was waiting, I noticed in the far corner of the airport, mountains of luggage, literally thrown on top of one another, what the?? Airport security?? As I was viewing this the words I heard over the loud speaker in Perth rang through my ears ‘Please remain with your baggage at all times – any items left unattended will be removed’ Obviously this is not the case for Jo’burg…mmmm interesting. I waited for more than 30 minutes for the friendly guy to return, whilst waiting I thought I may just wonder over to the unclaimed baggage thrown in the corner and see if somehow my belongings had ended up there. Nah, not my lucky day I suppose, I decided after seeing two different flights collect their bags that I had waited long enough for the guy that obviously was not returning and headed for information. Information referred me to South African Airlines desk, there was a cue almost the size of immigration…..URGH….I waited and waited, cursed and cursed, finally my turn. YAY!!
Me: ‘Hi I’ve lost my luggage’
Her: ‘May I see your ticket please’
Me: ‘Sure’
Her: ‘M’am your luggage has gone straight through to Maun’
Me: ‘Umm no it didn’t, I have one of them and I am missing the other’
Her: ‘Oh! That’s weird, well one went straight through, the other you have’
Me: ’Ummm okay so you can guarantee that my other bag will be at Maun when I arrive there?”
Her: “yes Ma’am absolutely’
I have my doubts, but I will remain optimistic and have faith in her ability to check on this matter without even looking at her computer. Time will tell.
Made it out of customs without a hitch nothing to declare, go straight through the green door thank you very much.
Out the door and bam, I was surrounded by Africans with signs, Mr Smith, Go Tour, Mrs whatchamacallit. No sign for me boo hoo. I must say it was the first time in my life where I was the minority in relation to the colour of my skin. How bizarre.
Apprehensively I quickly raced through the crowds and spotted a foreign exchange, YES that is exactly what I need, swapped over a 100 American and ended up with 700 RAND.
As I was signing for the exchange a young, well dressed man appeared at my side, with a name badge OOPA ‘Do you need a taxi?’ how did you know I thought to myself, smart boy!’Well actually I do’ I said with a smile. He went on to ask where I was headed and gave me a price of 150 RAND, I thought that sounded reasonable with a very quick math conversion going on in the back of my mind. He proceeded to grab my bags and led the way. What a nice chap. It did not dawn on me until we were in the public parking bay and he was opening up his rakity, clackity Holden commodore boot that this guy was a driver, certainly not a taxi as I had first thought. Mmmm shall I risk it? He had a name badge and he seemed nice, so what the heck.
In the travels from the airport it was dark, it looked like I could have been back at Tullamarine airport in Melbourne. It looks identical. 10 mins later I was at my destination and was handing over twice of what a taxi was worth but at least the journey was pleasant and great conversation was had. I was actually just pleased to have made it and not have become a kidnap victim or at the police station explaining why I was mugged and how naïve I am. (again)
I stayed in a place called The airport Hotel Bosktana When I arrived I thought there must be some sort of a mistake. I had ordered this hotel on line, I wanted to be safe and have a great nights sleep so I found a hotel that was reasonably priced without really looking into it. (mum and dad made me actually)..I was expecting a cheapish 3 star hotel as I paid a mere $100 for the experience. As I walked through the grand doors I was in disbelief at the beautiful décor and high ceilings. Surely I am in the wrong hotel. At reception we discovered that indeed yes I had reservation and dinner and breakfast were included in my stay. Are you for real? Upon entering my hotel room I was again shocked as a mini spa and 2 double fluffy beds awaited me. A perfect example of how far Oz dollars will stretch in this fine country.
Threw my things in my room, showered, and attempted to open my luggage, I tried the combination that I know I had set on the crappy locks. I tried and tried and tried to no avail. I had to break the locks open and lucky for me that was reasonably easy to do, with a pen. hehhehe. Great security there Karen, well done.
After dinner I thought I would try my phone I had bought specifically for my journey, turned in on, no network, played around for quite awhile, no network, okay no issue, I will just call optus in the morning.
7:30 pm local time and I had crashed without cleaning my teeth in the massive, comfortable bed that I felt so blessed to have.
22 April 2008
I wake, mmm looks very dark outside, I might just wonder down to reception and ask what time breaky starts, I am famished. Reception informed me it was 4am and another 2 hours at least before breakfast was served….
Went back to the room and did what any other self indulgent person would do and had a spa for an hour or so, was nice, I used all of the shampoo, soaps and lotions conscious that this may be the very last time I will feel squeaky clean for what may be a long while…. I enjoyed it immensely.
6am breaky, cheese, scrambled eggs, gerkins, muesli and yogurt. I even stole an apple for my journey. Shoot still no toothpaste.
6:30 phoned Optus, I am told that Optus do not have an affiliation network with Africa, so I cannot use that phone here. ARGH OPTUS you suck. So sorry all, that I could not text and let you know I made it. I will attempt to contact you via email and remember face book is a good way of communicating.
7:30 and a free shuttle bus back to the airport (I could have appreciated that the night before if I had read the fine print on the web site – bugger) As we left the hotel I had a window seat and was taking it all in. Everything was in English, I mean everything. Signs, stores, road signs. Am I back in Melbourne? Even the local radio station were speaking English!
It wasn’t until I sighted a ute with 6 people in the back, motor cyclists wearing no helmets and cars full to the brim, and I mean full to the brim, I am talking 8 in a normal sedan that I convinced myself okay so maybe I am in a different continent.
I noticed a billboard sprayed with a competition to win 1.5 million Rands if you purchase something. Are you serious, do they realize that just around the corner they have young children dying from starvation. I am sorry but can somebody please explain this to me??? I am confused??
Back at the airport, new locks purchased which I forgot to put on my back pack before I checked in…and another 2 hours till boarding time.
10 mins till boarding time I decide to go through customs, A gentleman chased me through the doors and asked what was in my bag, I was still carrying the duty free bottle of Bundy my brother had requested. ’you can not take this with you ma’am’ Oh dear! Of course I couldn’t, I was attempting to take a bottle of bourbon on a international flight. What an idiot and what a waste, I should’ve drank the whole bloody bottle myself the night before, without a thought I shrugged and walked off without the bottle, the guy then chased me and asked me to sign his book? What on earth for? But I did anyway, after I had signed this book (two pieces of paper stapled together more like it) he then asked if I could also write ‘I give this bottle of bourbourn to Bill as a gift” Shafty bugger, but what the hell better than giving it to the waste bin. I hope he enjoys the hang over!!!!
I ran across to duty free to buy another bottle but of course only local spirits were available, Chris is going to kill me, I should have smuggled the bloody bottle through.
Still another few minutes before boarding time so I thought it best to get myself to the gate, boarding pass said gate 25, I was at gate 1, as I turned the corner a very long passage way was in front of me and gate 2, it took me another few minutes to get to gate 3, so I picked up the pace a bit, minutes later I was puffing and panting at gate 25. The lady at the gate shrugged, said Ms Tamlin? I said yeah that’s me, Ms Tamlin you are late and the bus that takes you to your plane has already departed, Fck, are you kidding? No! sorry ma’am you are late, OMG! For real? “Fortunately for you Ms Tamlin we have another plane leaving in 40 minutes you will be boarding that one.” PHEW!! Lucky me.
The plane however was a tiny craft, very uncomfortable and definately no room for a toilet, and seeing how I was busting before we even ascended and concerned I would miss another flight if I went to the loo, a very uncomfortable flight for me. As we were descending I saw the beautiful Delta (I assumed) and small squares, I am guessing these are houses.
Here I am in Botswana. The diamond capital of the world, the weathiest country in Africa.
Fortunately Chris knowing what I am like, thought that I may have missed my plane and waited the extra hour for me. The look of disgust removed from his face when he saw me struggling with my back pack, complete with matt and sleeping bag. Yay! for South African airlines. Big smiles, big cuddles and a sigh from myself, thank goodness I am here and how blessed I feel to be with my big brother once again. He looks relaxed, tanned and muscular, very very healthy. A very quick run to the toilet….and what a relief that was!!!
I met the rest of the passengers from the overlander and found myself in the little town of Maun, Now this is Africa, we were the only white people there, a sandy town, with a few shops, a large shopping centre, goats everywhere. I saw some tribal women wearing their outfits (herereo, I assume), so colorful, black faces, white teeth and smiles. Small children playing on what Africans call a road. Woman carrying the children on their backs with bright sheets. Amazing.
After taking in the town, and purchasing toothpaste – YAY!!!! we boarded the overlander and headed for our camp. Along the way we saw the locals homes which were literally 4 x 4 metre houses, apparently up to 10 people can live in them, Everything here seems to be sand (not suprising seeing’s how the majority if it is desert and ran down, yet clean and the locals seem happy and friendly.) 10 mins later we arrive at Sitatunga. A security guard opened the gate to beautiful bush land and array of tents with a warmly, homely atmosphere. Chris grabbed my arm, showed me the fully working toilets, with hot showers, fuelled by locals stoking the fire and pointed me in the direction of the bar. After finally cleaning my teeth (three times in a row) and a quick bird wash I headed to the bar to find my dear bro and he ordered 2 x Windhoeks please (pronounced Vindhook) the first taste of this local beer and I was a very happy woman, nothing would have taken the smile from my face. I was in Africa with my brother in front of me. I felt so very blessed. Chris and I chatted, giggled, cuddled and enjoyed each other for the rest of the afternoon, by nightfall the rest of the gang had joined us and a very pissy welcoming affair was had. Even Stix and Jack the barmen were enjoying the occasion. I think I am going to like it here.
