Etosha National Park

Highlight of last weekend (another 4 day weekend) was seeing 2 lions (possibly Nala and Simba) mate. Other things I saw include Rafiki's tree, Pumbaa, Wilderbeasts and Antelopes (wait till you see these pics, you'll agree).

Wish I could say more, but busy planning for this coming weekend. Going for a weeklong road trip with Vince through Botswana and Zambia (possibly Zimbabwe if they take our bribe for the VISA). Gonna be a lot of driving!

The long weekend that just wasn't long enough

Just sitting on the bumpy non-air conditioned bus, sweating and reflecting on a long overdue weekend of great seafood, perfect weather and relaxation. After facing what I now realize to be culture shock and working into an ugly "bari angula" (take 2 pills in the morning) routine, I feel a renewed sense of energy for people in the clinic as well as our research. In the past month, I have had the opportunity to see people with both my eyes for the first time, but its very difficult to express all that goes on in ones mind other than to give a scene-by scene description, which never really does it justice.

After busing through 4 1/2 hours of arid land, the bus drove through the entrance of Swakop where gigantic pineapple shaped trees shot up from either side of the ground out of seemingly nowhere. This trail led us into Swakopmund. After moments of stepping in, I already had to remind myself that I was in Africa. The town was mostly filled with Afrikaaner whites if not tourists and the shops were both swanky and expensive (although I realize one usually leads to the other). Houses did not even have electric fences... which is something new to see.
"How many places in subsaharn Africa can you feel safe walking down a street in pitch black?"

This was the West coast of Namibia so my seafood craving was finally met by a poitke of mussels and fress raw oysters. Richard helped us organize a beach house (120 N$ which is 17$CDN for 3 nights). We had both a firepit and a semi-private beach in our backyard. As you hear the waves roll into the rocks and sand, pulling in pieces of mussle shells and dead jellyfish, you could feel all the stress roll back out. Walking along the beach, a few runners and dogs (that were actually NOT anorexic as compared to in Katutura where I work) would pass by with a smile.

This place is known for their enormous sand dunes and on no. 7, I sandboarded as the sun set. It is slower than snowboarding, but with the same equipment. Amanda, you'll be proud that I actually did a jump (no grabs though). I had previously said that Swakop is where the sand dunes meets the ocean... well, I didn't get a real taste of this until going quad biking (ATVing) through the Namib desert. 120ccs of exhileration. I had moments where I felt control of my surrondings... something I've been lacking from work.

Fish and Chips and burgers and marshmallows and smores by a campfire was Sunday night as we chatted about our favourite restaurants in Toronto. But whether it was the sunset over the ocean, the full moon you can see even before it gets dark, the billion more stars in the sky, or the 6:30 sunrise that seemed make-believe, I came to a realization. It isn't always about changing the world here, but sometimes, just leaving your footprints in the sand.

Some photos of this weekend are uploaded.

In Swakop

Gosh, this place is amazing. We haven't travelled for almost a month now (other than in Windhoek) so I've been looking forward to this. Swakop is at the west coast of Namibia, where the ocean meets the sand dunes.

We're staying at a house by the ocean (for 6$ cdn a night) and our backyard is the beach... I guess that makes it a beach house. The city here is nothing like Windhoek. First of all, the houses don't have electric fences (not to say that it isn't a dangerous place of course). The houses are pretty much mansions here. You can tell that the well off ones are here. I had to remind myself I was in Africa again.

Tomorrow we're heading to the dunes for sandboarding in the morning. Then, on Sunday, we're going quadbiking in the dunes. I can't wait. I bought a disposible camera so the sand doesn't get in my camera. I'll have loads more pictures to put up when my supervisor brings my laptop... then I'll go somewhere with wireless internet. :P

In the next month, we'll be doing some more travelling as well. Possibly Victoria Falls (Zambia), Okavango Delta (Botswana) and Etosha National park (Namibia). That should take up a good couple weekends.

SHOUTOUT: Happy (pre)Birthday Amanda! Love/Miss you.

Posted pictures... finally

Look up my picasa album for some SA photos... more to come (really this time)

http://picasaweb.google.com/jono.chiu/SACapeTown#