« Life as a backpacker!! | Main | More adventuring »
November 30, 2005
Flexability equals more fun in Africa
So after leaving Maputo, which we left at 5 in the morning on Thanksgiving, we spent 15 hours on a bus up to Vilanculo. It was horrible, but we met a really nice french couple. Romial finished up at graduate degree at Grahamstown, South Africa in International Studies, and Katrine, I think was his sister. So getting to Vilanculo at 9:30 we went to the same backpackers, called the Zombie Cucumber, which is a hallucinagenic drug in Haiti, weird. Well there is a drug there and is nicknamed the zombie cucumber. We are still having a hard time with the Mozabiqan Meticals $1 equals roughly 25,000 meticals. So some of the most amazing coral reefs are around on islands not too far from Vilanculo. So we looked into taking a trip to one of the islands or some and scuba-ing around and seeing amazing salt water fish. By the way, the water is so clear and tourqouise, and the sands are amazingly white, and clean. So we took a break because this company gave is prices in Rand, another in US dollars and the third in Meticals. They also had differnt overnight trips and lunch was or was not included. So we took a break and had our thanksgiving feast of...you guessed it baracuda!!! It was really delicious. We met back up with the French couple and decided on the same boat trip, an over night trip that included lunch, dinner, and lunch the second day. The guy, Junior was a horrible business man, who didn't tell us the full options the first time we saw him. He also wasn't enthused about having our 'business.' He whispered alot about having us camp on the island but it had to be a secret and it was at a guy he knews beach. IT seemed real shady and sketchy, but we ultimately decided he was the best 'option.' This is also the same place that when the french people went to see him, his dog jumped up at bite them both. Pleasure doing business with you. So anyways, we left Saturday morning, and took a single motor dhow boat there, with three Mozamiqan guys, with one who barely spoke english. He didn't understand when you were asking him a question. He would just smile and nod. It turns out there is a PC volunteer there and he teaches english in the school. Most likely the same people that learn enough english to harass the tourists to the area. So we make it to the island of Bazaruto and walk around the beach, absolutley breath-taking. Water clear as clear can be, and sand as white as paper. Meredith found a sand dollar on the beach but sadly it broke is transit back to the main land. So the guys called us after an hour for lunch, mmm crab, it was amazing. We next went to the next island of Margarque and snorkeled, so amazing. By this time I could tell i was getting a bad burn, even though, yes mom, I did put on loads of sunscreen. Good thing I packed the Aloe lotion. That night, more baracuda for dinner. We camped on the sands near a fire, the island was rather cold compared to Vilanculo which was hotter than anything, but the hostel had a fan, and a mosquito net. We woke up for the sunrise, Sunday morning, absolutely amazing. I was in pain though. I was burned literally head to toe. I wore a hat all day, but the sun reflected off the sand and water and burned my nose forehead and upper cheecks where no facial hair was, plus my ears were burned. My legs burned and the tops of my feet, weird. So on sunday we had calamari for lunch. All I can say is octopus is interesting!!! so say the least. So we returned by sailing back to Vilanculo, all of us being burned pretty bad. We stayed Monday as a recuperation day and planned to leave Tuesday for Tofo Beach, mmm more beaches and more options to get terribly burned. At the last minute I decided it would be a shame to come up here and just turn around and go back to Swaziland and South Africa. At the last minute we decided to contiue up to our next destination, Zimbabwe which is where I am typing this from. It is such a better country overall than Mozambique. It was a British colony, so they speak english here. People are friendlier, and they are NOT pushy in the markets demanding you just look at their crafts. Well we are still in Mutare, the Border and third largest city in the country. Ultimate goal is to get up to Victoria Falls, one of the seven wonders of the world. So, after waking up at three am to finish packing and to get to the bus, to find the right bus, we took an 8 hour ride up to Inchope, through 3 separate rainstorms. We got off there in another rain storm and saw two goats strapped to a minibus and found our mini bus to Chomoio, and finally made to the border and into english speaking countries again. So we stayed at a guesthouse B&B last night owned by an Irish couple, strange. Well, Rhogue is getting antsy, and we are looking into what comes next. I'll update later. Ok bye, love you all.
Posted by colin at November 30, 2005 02:05 PM