TravelStream™ news feed for member martinc123 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/martinc123 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:49:09 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1158079560/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1158079560/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1158079560/tpod.html Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:49:09 -0400 Travelling the East side of the African continent using a South to North variation (Madagascar-Jo'Berg to Cairo). Answering the "inner call" to go and experience the trip of a lifetime...

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Somewhere in Kruger National Park, South Africa

GPS Coordinates:S 24°55'22.5"E 031°39'34.7"Temperature: 31.6°CHumidity: 20.5 %Pressure: 98.8 kPaAltitude: 242 m"Ninjani"! Tout le monde,Je suis finalement de retour...On my return to South Africa (SA) from Madagascar I stayed a few days at a friend's place in Pretoria (Tshwane). I visited a bit and had time to organize myself and recharge my batteries. Thank you very much to the B.... Family for their outstanding hospitality and help.While in Pretoria, I fell in love with African art at a special market (Cheap$$) and bought maybe a little more than I should... NAHHH! You only live once!Security in SA is a little surreal with almost every house in the neighborhood surrounded by brick walls, steel gates, barb / razorwire, and even electrical fencing...! It just looks like a prison! I guess it's the price to pay for safety and security. Crime is probably the result of very high unemployment rates and extreme poverty in certain areas.I learned the "Secret!" African handshake which always happily surprised the black people I used it on. They then treated me as a much nicer tourist. It is a sign of respect and I will share it with you if you promise not to tell...!? OK! Everyone swear on your Momma's grave... I'm waiting... OK! Good. You start by shaking hands normally, then you transfer to an arm wrestling grip, then you revert back to a handshake then to a thumb wrestling grip. While in this position, the opposing thumbs do a snapping finger motion and then you release hands. It basically wishes the parties Health, Happiness, and Prosperity. I learned that this gesture would probably be universally accepted in most of Africa.It was then time for me to go and continue this crazy adventure. I rented a Nissan X-Trail 4X4 SUV for 2 weeks just to ensure that my viewing area was large, above the grasses, and that I can go easily explore on the dirt roads. Yeah! I know there is a slight gas (aka petrol) consumption issue with this but... (Gas prices are similar in Canada). Learning to drive on the right side for the first time is a little weird since my brain is wired to drive on the left. So, everything is reversed (driving / passing). I had a small headache and swerved like a drunken madmen a few times before I got the hang of it after a few hours driving. Didn't help that the vehicle was slightly misaligned to the left and had no cruise control (Let me tell you we greatly underestimate this gadget when doing long trips!). Roads are in very good shape compared to Canada (no winter...!), directions are well indicated, and they are filled with white-colored vehicles (Mercedes and BMW's are very popular). I also found out that police rarely stops people for speeding because with limits of 120 km/h you can imagine that everyone does it! Some more crazy than others. Drivers are however very courteous, driving on the emergency lane to let you go by if you are faster. In response you have to flash your hazzards a few times and the driver you just passed will flash his lights as an aknowledgement.  SOO...! I made it in one piece to Pilanesburg National Park where I saw my first real live GAME! (See some of the pics) I stayed in a Real McCoy safari tent just like Livingstone did. While there I did a morning and evening / night game drives. I saw numerous animals, too many to name all, and many on several occasions, ex: giraffes, zebras, rhinos, colorful birds, etc...). There are seemingly thousands of Impala's, they are everywhere! No wonder they are called the "McDonald's" of Africa; for the food they provide to the predators and mainly because of the big black M arch on their behind...! Just like the Golden Arch invitation we see while driving on our highways...! One cool thing is that Impala eyes glow like firefly's at night when exposed to light, so imagine encoutering a herd!Pilanesburg is an instinct volcano that surrounds Sun City. I then went on to stay in Sun City for a night. It is an expensive resort style (Casino, golf courses, activities, etc...) place marketed as a Las Vegas / Disneyworld equivalent. Well, it is nice but it AIN'T NO LAS VEGAS! Nothing special if you ask me (overpriced!).  I then drove a long way (btw they are 3 radio channels and they suck! Make's for a very long quiet ride!) to spend 4 days in Kruger National Park, re-knowned to be one of the best parks in Africa. Again, I saw a lot of game and many that I hadn't seen in Pilanesburg ex: Elephant, Lion, Hippos, Crocs, etc.... (See pics). By the way, when I say I saw them and took really good pictures, I mean from roughly 20-30 feet, often even closer than that and at the peril of my life! Driving around Kruger was amazing and surprising, noting the difference in geography, from the dry desert-like savanah's to the bushy forest and hills, to the burned out landscape with dead leafless trees. You'd be suprised where you'd find animals. Looking around is hard work since after awhile any rock / tree / bush seem to look like an animal. That's a good way to go crazy FAST!I also saw a shitload of different antelop species. Speaking of shitload, imagine the presence of hundreds of thousand of animals...! then the roads become littered by **IT! Thank God it's biodegradable...I ended up sleeping in different places along the way but suprisingly (by pure luck!) found myself in an exclusive Safari lodge (Rhino Post Lodge www.rws.co.za) where I was very well received in the middle of the bush for 2 days. Being catered to by executive chefs and being woken by animals in the dry riverbed in front of my fully open and windowed chalet was very COOL! Just imagine taking a bath in one of those big old style tub under the moonlight and observing animals outside... PRICELESS! Game drives were also included being led by our guide named, surprisingly enough, "AFRICA"!I finally saw the reputed BIG 5 (Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Leopard)... Then, on my way to see numerous other sightings which were as extraordinary as the last / next one. Of mention, one big Ground Hornbill (size of a turkey) advanced to my car as I said HI! and as a gesture of defiance attacked my vehicle and attempted to peck and puncture my tire... it was hilarious!Sorry for being so long winded... so many experiences that will unfortunately not make it to this travelogue but engraved in my memory forever!Now I'm off out of Kruger to St-Lucia / Durban on the East coast (Indian Ocean) of South Africa.Later!Martin
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1157146080/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1157146080/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1157146080/tpod.html Mon, 03 Sep 2007 00:16:21 -0400 Travelling the East side of the African continent using a South to North variation (Madagascar-Jo'Berg to Cairo). Answering the "inner call" to go and experience the trip of a lifetime...

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Antananarivo, Madagascar

GPS Coordinates:S 21°27'28.9"E 047°04'30.8"Temperature: 36.5°CHumidity: 24.7 %Pressure: 89.2 kPaAltitude: 1115 mNB: By the way, most of these figures in past entries are taken at night after we arrive at the hotels. This one is obviously during the day. Drive back through Fiaranantsoa: This town was established by a Danish missionary and to this date remains very religious. At 5:15 AM, I was woken up by a muslim call to prayer then 15 min. after the church bells and then the roosters and dogs... The malagasy people get up at the crack of dawn, not particularly my lifestyle let's say...!Final leg back to Antananarivo:   Saw the men equivalent of the colorful women attire. Ricky B my travelling buddy decided to show up again. By this time me and my driver are starting to see things (i.e. giraffes and lions in the plains and unusual rock formations (see pic)); of course the fact that Didi was taking medication for a cold didn't help!By the way if ever you are interested in visiting Madagascar in a little easier fashion than the unreliable taxi-brousse, you can directly call / e-mail Didi my driver / facilitator a few weeks in advance with what you want to see and he'll arrange all of it for you! Here is his coordinates (he speaks french and OK english):e-mail: andry505@yahoo.fr ; home #: (011 261) 20 24 570 67 ; cell#: (011 261) 33 14 650 77 .The tall "zinzin" (Here's to you Didi!) vaza says veloma one last time!Arriving in Tana I rest for a flight to the African mainland (Jo'Berg) the next day. A friend is picking me up and driving to Pretoria (now officially called Tshwane) where I am going to stay with his family for a day or two (I am very lucky to have such hospitable hosts) and organize the continuation of this amazing journey!Next step: Driving around and exploring South Africa...!Stay tuned...Martin
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1156789260/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1156789260/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1156789260/tpod.html Mon, 03 Sep 2007 00:06:04 -0400 Travelling the East side of the African continent using a South to North variation (Madagascar-Jo'Berg to Cairo). Answering the "inner call" to go and experience the trip of a lifetime...

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Ranohira, Madagascar

GPS Coordinates:S 22°33'50.7"E 045°24'28.7"Temperature: 19.5°CHumidity: 51.1 %Pressure: 92.3 kPaAltitude: 832 m Drive to Ranohira:I have to make these entries shorter cause I won't have time to complete my trip and it will cost millions of dollars (Ariary's that is... 10000 Ar = 4 Euros = 6 CAN$) in Internet cafe fees...! The drive to Ranohira showed a definite transition from the sub-tropical jungles to the semi-desert, arid plains of the Isalo Massif (Somewhat similar to the African plains I've been told!).  While driving at around 110 km/h around a sharp bend we encoutered a herd of zebu (their beef) coming towards us. I didn't know they also had a "running of the bulls" in Madagascar! I guess that's what the John Deere (wink to those who knows the significance of this...) type signs with a zebu painted on are for...!By the way, they are no real speed limits in Madagascar, not that my driver would mind because the speedometer in the car was not functionning anyways...GEEZE! Stopped at Ambalavoa for zebu / cattle market and a crafty / artsy paper manufacturing place making the paper substitute (In second world war shortages...) called "Antemoro paper". It is made from fibers of a special tree bark and decorated with fresh flowers of various colors picked on the spot.Isalo National Park: Day of trekking (~10 km, 5 hours) in the arid plains of Isalo canyon. The trail is somewhat easier this time because it is dry and most of the time more leveled, it is however probably 35 degrees C in the sun.  Saw oasis type pools in the bottom of the canyon where I actually swimmed in one (i.e. Piscine Naturelle). Saw unique flora and fauna, and rock formations. Once again we find ancient resting places of the Bara people nestled in small mountain alcoves in the middle of freakin' nowhere...?! Misaotra ("Misaoutch" = Thank you!)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1156703400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1156703400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1156703400/tpod.html Sun, 02 Sep 2007 23:27:30 -0400 Travelling the East side of the African continent using a South to North variation (Madagascar-Jo'Berg to Cairo). Answering the "inner call" to go and experience the trip of a lifetime...

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Ranomafana, Madagascar

GPS Coordinates:S 21°15'04.9"E 047°26'28.8"Temperature: 20.1°CHumidity: 72.3 %Pressure: 93.8 kPaAltitude: 706 mSalama! (Hello!)Second stop: Ranomafana which means Rano=eau Mafana=chaude or hot water! Again the scenic drive down to Ranomafana was very nice. I didn't think that Madagascar was this mountainous / hilly. This is due to the the tectonic forces that started to compress and push upwards the sediments present, after the island which is now Madagascar left the main African continent many eons ago. The rock faces seem like clouds where you can almost see them changing into recognizable shapes depending how you look at them.We stopped in Ambositra. By the way, in Malagasy o=ou; tr=tch; and the a at the end is silent. We toured a shop specialized in working rare and valuable woods present in Madagascar. Didi explained how they make the traditional Malagasy bricks used in all constructions. It turns from a pale yellow / grey to a bright red / orange, much like the surrounding earth, after being "cooked". They use the mud from the rice fields to create the bricks. By the way, there is no electricity, so all heating and cooking is done with wood or charcoals produced from said wood. Followed the change of scenery and the Namorona river to Ranomafana which is the closest thing to a tropical rainforest I have ever been. There is just something magical about going into such a place with some Metallica blasting in the car (Did I mention that Didi likes music...!). We arrive in time for a night walk into Ranomafana National park with my guide "Rhodin" to look for nocturnal lemurs. We found a few animals. My hotel is situated in the middle of the jungle with a flowing river within earshot, AMAZING! Did I mention that the stars are not the same in the Southern hemisphere... first time I notice, really weird not recognizing any constellations (i.e. no Big Dipper!) The next day we start an exhausting 7 hours walking trek (15-20 km) through the park and more. Rhodin (40 years old) is very experienced (17 years) and used to this (not me!) so deciding that I am well prepared and in fairly good shape we took the longest and hardest trail where not many a tourist tread. The trail (What's the definition of a trail anyway?) was so hidden haphazardly and sometimes very narrow (2 foot ledge on the edge of a sheer drop Thank you!) that I sometimes asked myself if my guide was actually lost and not wanting to tell me! Let me tell you that going up several hundred meters on a naturally slippery staircase made of rocks and roots for several minutes and then down the other side in a similar fashion for hours on end in very humid conditions is TOUGH! I sweated a lot but made it in one piece, but I was a little bit sore and tired the next day. All this effort to see lemurs deep in their jungle habitat was worth it. In total, I saw 7 out of the 12 species in this park, COOL! Look at the selected pictures to see a little bit of what I experienced firsthand!Veloma! (Vel"oo"ma = Goodbye!)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1156518000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1156518000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1156518000/tpod.html Sun, 02 Sep 2007 22:48:07 -0400 Travelling the East side of the African continent using a South to North variation (Madagascar-Jo'Berg to Cairo). Answering the "inner call" to go and experience the trip of a lifetime...

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Antsirabe, Madagascar

GPS Coordinates:S 19°50'16.8"E 047°02'28.3"Temperature: 18.0 °CHumidity: 64.8 %Pressure: 85.3 kPaAltitude: 1538 mFirst stop: ANTSIRABE Started the drive down to Anstirabe @ 10 AM with my driver / facilitator nicknamed "Didi". Believe me you do not want to know his full name because it has more letters than Arnold the Terminator governor from California...!Stopped in AMBATOLAMPY for food and observe resourcefullness at its finest; they recycle old aluminum from almost anywhere (i.e. car parts, structures), melt it down and turn it into pots and pans but mostly into tourist sculptures / souvenirs.Along the way we observed a cultural / family event called the "Retournement des Morts" which pays hommage to the buried dead by wrapping the bones of the deceased every few years with fresh linens and is usually followed by a big party which usually means the whole village is invited for food and DRINKS...! OKAY...??!! The scenic ride was amazing (i.e. Rice patties everywhere between the cliffs and hills). Malagasy people are generally poor so they walk / bike to get around. This is not North America folks... almost no obese people here! I have found that even if they are poor they are very polite and work extremely hard any way they can to get ahead in life. That means cultivating the land (by hand thank you! no farm equipment here), producing a traditional red brick for construction, herding Zebu's (our beef equivalent), or selling food and other wares to passing taxi-brousses, etc... Once in Antsirabe, we went to Joseph's shop where his crew works semi-precious / precious stones found in Madagascar; of course I was welcomed has any good "VAZA" (foreigner / tourist in Malagasy) to his place and automatically became his best friend...! Admittedly, a tour of his little shop was very interesting.Me and Didi then did a walking tour of Antsirabe where he showed me some of the particularities of this small town. It's the pousse-pousse capital of Madagascar maybe the whole world. Seriously, this was the capital of Madagascar when it was a French colony, so century-old french estates in various stages of disrepair are visible from large tree-lined avenues. There was the train station where all goods came in and out. The Hotel des Thermes is a big building which was used in the past to house visiting VIP's and dignitaries; it is now a hotel. The term "Therme" is french and relates to the volcanic past / geology of Madagascar. There are still numerous natural geothermic baths around the country.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1156384680/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1156384680/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1156384680/tpod.html Sun, 02 Sep 2007 22:35:29 -0400 Travelling the East side of the African continent using a South to North variation (Madagascar-Jo'Berg to Cairo). Answering the "inner call" to go and experience the trip of a lifetime...

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Antananarivo, Madagascar

GPS Coordinates:S 18°54'42.2"E 047°31'18.2"Temperature: 15.5 °CHumidity: 64.9 %Pressure: 88.1 kPaAltitude: 1293 mHi! All,I kinda admit that I am becoming a little bit addicted to this travel blogging business!After a few misfortunes things fell into place at the last minute. I hope Murphy won't show up again anytime soon...I upgraded all my entries with some "GEEKY!" content, such as GPS coordinates, temperature, etc... Just for FUN! I also added some of my best pictures... I took a walking tour of Antananarivo ("TANA" for the locals). It is nothing out of the ordinary but some aspects are interesting. Expectedly, it is poor and dirty but there is a distinctive line between the rich and poor in certain areas. The smells and the pollution coming from old generation Diesel engines (aka Lots of black smoke!) that seem to be in every car / truck, is very pervasive. I arranged a 7-day tour of rural Madagascar with a specialized company. It will surely not save me some money but will save me some time and hassles! (e.g. no unreliable and slow taxi-brousse to take and all hotel bookings pre-made). I will be travelling the next few days (see following entries...) with a driver / guide and car on my personally decided itinerary.First stop: ANTSIRABESee you soon!MartinPS: Updating my log and responding to emails is hard here in "Tana" because they use a French keyboard that's configured a little different than the normal QWERTY! (See pics)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1156168800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1156168800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1156168800/tpod.html Sun, 02 Sep 2007 22:31:56 -0400 Travelling the East side of the African continent using a South to North variation (Madagascar-Jo'Berg to Cairo). Answering the "inner call" to go and experience the trip of a lifetime...

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Johannesburg, South Africa

GPS Coordinates:S 26°07'53.3"E 028°13'58.8"Temperature: 18.6 °CHumidity: 52.8 %Pressure: 836.0 kPaAltitude: 1587 mHello! I arrived safe in Johannesburg but not really sound and quite tired. I have to admit that all the way first / business class flying was a nice bonus and helped alleviate my still present butterflies. My bag is apparently somewhere in Europe (between London and Frankfurt!) at this point. It is unfortunate but I cannot do more / anything about it for now. Hopefully I will get it tomorrow and it won't affect my trip planification (Leave for Madagascar on the 23rd Aug.!) too much.8PM on 2006/08/22: Luggage still not here yet. Chances are I am going to pick it up at the airport at 9AM and then check my luggage again for my flight to Madagascar @ 10:30AM, how ironic...! Should I trust SA Airways??? In the meantime, life as planned. I did a tour of Johannesburg / Soweto / Gold Reef City (Entertainment complex / Old mine) today. For the smart guy who said the comment: Underwear can be worn in four different ways... inside / out and back / front... shove it OK!?To answer one question: Please check back (my travelogue) at a later time for pictures that will be added to some entries, after I get my bag that is...!Another feature that should be added in the near future to all entries is GPS coordinates, temperature, humidity, altitude, etc... Just to make it a little more GEEKY!C YA!Martin;-)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1156109400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1156109400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1156109400/tpod.html Sun, 02 Sep 2007 22:15:45 -0400 Travelling the East side of the African continent using a South to North variation (Madagascar-Jo'Berg to Cairo). Answering the "inner call" to go and experience the trip of a lifetime...

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Frankfurt, Germany

GPS Coordinates:N 50°05'51.6"E 008°36'47.8"Temperature: 21.6 °CHumidity: 53.2 %Pressure: 101.5 kPaAltitude: -18 mHello! Again, Not much to say here just that I made my flight from London and am waiting to catch my second red-eye flight in two days to go to Johannesburg, South Africa. I've been up roughly 26 hours at this point and feel a little tired to say the least.At this point, adding a pin on the map is like saying "Been there, done that, bought the T-Shirt!"PS: They smoke a LOT! in this place... Not used to it anymore since Ottawa public places are now all smoke-free areas by law.C YA!Martin;-)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1154152500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1154152500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1154152500/tpod.html Sun, 02 Sep 2007 22:13:48 -0400 Travelling the East side of the African continent using a South to North variation (Madagascar-Jo'Berg to Cairo). Answering the "inner call" to go and experience the trip of a lifetime...

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Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

GPS Coordinates:N 45°26'31.5"W 075°39'23.0"Temperature: 26.9 °CHumidity: 67.6 %Pressure: 100.2 kPaAltitude: 87 mHello! Everyone,My departure date is fast approaching and I'm taking advantage of this boring Friday night (Now Saturday morning!) to setup my travelogue which will become my life link between me and you all for the three months I'll be gone experiencing the trip of a lifetime.Many of you asked me why Africa? Well... why not...? I've had the "calling" since I was a young boy and I honestly don't really know why. These last few years, when I spoke to people that had travelled to Africa, they all unanimously said that it was an extraordinary experience and that it somehow changed their lives! Then they showed me their pictures... WOW! That just confirmed it, then it just became a question... when would I leave...? Now that I have the time, money, and opportunity...well...!Life is made of dreams, hope, a dash of luck, all mixed-in with destiny. I admittedly had trying times in the last few years and I'm hoping to find a little more of myself in Africa and maybe bring back a little bit of luck to help me find the only thing that's been really missing in my life... a person to complete me and that I (reciprocally) would love sharing life's pleasures with!Feel free to distribute my Internet travelogue address to anyone who you think might enjoy my adventures in Africa. I will try to update my travelogue as often as I can and attach a few cool pictures. I even invite you to send a few comments or reply e-mails and I will do my best to answer them all. However, if you decide to do this, please keep it short and simple.Thank you and see you soon on my travelogue!Take good care of yourselves whoever you are...!God Speed to ME! Martin;-)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1163976420/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1163976420/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/martinc123/africa_-_2006/1163976420/tpod.html Sun, 11 Feb 2007 13:15:16 -0500 Travelling the East side of the African continent using a South to North variation (Madagascar-Jo'Berg to Cairo). Answering the "inner call" to go and experience the trip of a lifetime...

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Frankfurt, Germany

On my last night in Cairo something happened that inevitably had to happen (Murphy's Law...?). Up until now I had been pretty lucky in not being sick for the whole of my trip in Africa. Lucky because I didn't have to stop my progression anywhere and lose some valuable sightseeing time. Well... I ate or drank something that last night that made me really sick, so sick that I got a little bit scared. I've never been sick like that in my whole life, it was definitely the worse sick moment I had ever experienced. I went to bed feeling a little awkward. A few minutes later I got up to go "purge my stomach contents" (not to be too gross!). Hopefully that would correct the problem and I would be able to sleep so I could catch my plane the next morning in a fresh condition... NOT!!! From here on end it got worse...a lot worse... I was going to the bathroom every 25 minutes for the next 6 hours, even evacuating from the "other end". After the second trip to the bathroom I was getting very weak and dehydrated. I forced myself to drink but everything was going back out. After the fourth time, I was so weak that I was very dizzy and it was very difficult for me to even get out of bed and go "crash" in the bathroom (I was walking like a drunk or drugged?). It's at this point that I started realizing the possible gravity of my situation. What to do if I fainted, alone in an isolated Cairo hotel room, far from friends and family, different language, does 911 even exist here? Several "Gravol" pills later, even though the first ones came back out, I was able to sleep a little bit.I am normally a tough lad physically and generally don't complain about these things, too much anyway...! I woke up feeling like I had been hit by bus... a BIG bus! (maybe a train?!!) and with a giant hangover headache. I was still very weak and tired. It took all my energies to pack my bags to go back home. Imagine, I had to pack for 5 min. and rest for 10 min. and I had difficulty lifting my 20 some kilogram bag once I was done, what a "girlie man!".I finally and painfully got to the Cairo airport (however pharmaceuticals did help somewhat...!) and left a journey of a lifetime and Africa behind. Sooner or later every great thing must come to an end! I flew to Frankfurt without too many problems considering. I stayed overnight in Frankfurt and got a relatively better night of sleep than the night before.I had planned to be in first class coming back to Ottawa so this alleviated my burden a bit but unfortunately I couldn't take full advantage of everything "First Class" privileges has to offer (food & drinks, etc...). Just thinking about the "Saumon fume avec capres" entree and the selection of delectable wines would have made me sick. Imagine being stuck in an aeroplane for 9 hours in this predicament... Nevertheless, I made it safely home and by that time I was starting to be hungry (good sign?) and the first thing I did was to jump in my car and go to the nearest "Subway"...! Priorities man...! Shows how pathetic some parts of my life are... ;-)Next and Final Chapter: Back home...; what does it all mean in the grand cosmic scheme of things? Take CareMartin
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