TravelStream™ news feed for member natclavel on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/natclavel en-us Copyright ©2010 TravelPod.com Tue, 28 Jun 2005 10:22:26 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/africa_2005/1119391380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/africa_2005/1119391380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/africa_2005/1119391380/tpod.html Tue, 28 Jun 2005 10:22:26 -0400 Two silly med students, two really heavy bags, all of Africa, and everykind of prophylaxis known to man !

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Lilongwe, Malawi

Lake Malawi!!!
We were told that this part of Africa laies along the fault lines and as the continent is sorta "splitting" apart...these lake regions are starting to appear-- hence Lake Malawi!

Malawi, so far, could be the most scenic and beautiful of all the countries we've seen. It reminds me of Costa Rica...with the lush mountains everywhere...The people here are quite "rich" the country isn't as corrupt as Zimbabwe and the crops grow extremely well ( in tanzania too ) We were told that the soil is so fertile and the rainfall so great here that, if one was to bury a steak into the ground, a cow would grow :) Hahah - Africans have such a funny sense of humour - I'm usually half peeing my pants on a 24 hr a day basis :)

Today, is the start of our "nice beach " part of the tour :) We got to upgrade from a tent to a BEACH CHALET!!! for 10 USD (for two nights) Lauren and I practically kissed the man behind the counter. Now, the view is fantastic...if you ingnore the militia, in full fatigues, sproting nice shiny, loaded, automatic rifles !! hahahah - Unreal! Even funnier was that these guys would sit down and chat with you at night when we were chilling on our veranda! Imagine that...whatching the moon//sunset/stars and chatting about constellations with my fellow gunman - hehehe...TOO WEIRD!

we went in to the village today...saw the hospital and the local school. At the hospital , it was well baby scheck up day - So I stayed to help out with that. There were atleast 600 women waiting patiently in line ( all with little babies) for theirimmunizations and measurements. And only one jr doctor to do it all.
The school had 9 teachers for 1200 student ( 120 of them orphans that lived at the school) - that's 120 screaming hyper kids per teacher-- and we complain about 35:1. Puts things in perpsective. I must say - woeking at the hospital while hearin 50 cent and christina aguilera (Dirty) playing at the nearby shop across the street was definately a surreal experience....but then - That's been everyday so far...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/africa_2005/1119928020/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/africa_2005/1119928020/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/africa_2005/1119928020/tpod.html Tue, 28 Jun 2005 10:09:41 -0400 Two silly med students, two really heavy bags, all of Africa, and everykind of prophylaxis known to man !

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Zanzibar, Tanzania

I'm finally in Zanzibar!!!!
This is definately quite the highlight of the trip...And I could easily stay here forever!

Zanzibar is a tiny island off the coast of Tanzania. It's a tropical Muslim Island - I know, sounds funny...it's definately wuite the culture shock but it's absolutely amazing. Africa, to date has been pretty darn cold - we've been wearing pants and long sleeve T-shirts the whole time and, at night, It's been cold enough for me to do the draw strings up on my mummy bag! But here....there's amazing white sand, clear blue water as far as the eye can see, and it's absolutely balmy!!!! 35'C, sunny with daily tropical dpwnpours that last about an hour. Then ...there's these perfect , gorgeous amazing rainbows that streatch across the horizon while fishermen's boats (dows) rcruise across the sea. It's absolutely picture perfect - I honestly can't beleive it. It's too bad that our cameras aren't doing the scenery justice either. They won't let me upload my pictures here :( I guess you guys will have to wait a little longer:) Maybe until Egypt.


We've been in a half drunken state since we've gotten to Tanzania & Zambia. The beer is super cheap (it's Carsberg!!??), easily accessible, and way less scary than the water. The "new" bottles of water come with the seals already broken and filled with tap? lake? river? wahtever water:) I have, until now (thank goodness) been spared from any tummy bugs....but the same can't be said for everyone else on the trip. Purell has quickly become my best friend in the whole wide world:)

we're pretty much in this little hippie town on the North Beach. Backpackers and sarongs and beer---lotsa beer:) There are couches and beds and hammocks along the beach...little living room sets where people play Bao ( cool African board game ) and cards. All the bars have swing sets...you honestly sit on a swing and "swing" around while you drink your drink!!! Hahahahah! This sure beats roughing it in our crappy little tents with no showers and shivering all night long! AND no cooking or dishes!!! We're truely being pampered! It's actual vacation!

This island is Muslum....when I leave the beach, we have to cover our knees and shoulders to walk through the village, (Where they sell the water..Pringles! mars Bars! Twix Bars! and these amazing chocolate chip cookies!!! I swear...when we saw the trashy food in this store- I went absolutely nutts and bought everything I saw:) It's been a while since my last candy/chocolate/sugar. I would've paid 20 USD for those cookies! And I ate them in one sitting ( with a beer of course!) Hahaha! I know! absolutely disgusting! But then again...I've done and eaten lots of "disgusting" things since we've been here. I must consume a good half pound of dirt in one day.

Well , I'm off to enjoy the sunset...I'm toldthat these are the best we'll see in Africa. And so far, they are!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/africa_2005/1119131820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/africa_2005/1119131820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/africa_2005/1119131820/tpod.html Sat, 18 Jun 2005 05:58:16 -0400 Two silly med students, two really heavy bags, all of Africa, and everykind of prophylaxis known to man !

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Lusaka, Zambia

Hello!!!

We're in Lusaka, Zambia. Perhaprs the largest city I've seen so far since Jo'Berg!
I've never seen anything like it...half modern...half rickety. Vendors on the street selling anything you can think of right in front of commercial storefronts like Woolworths. Hahah

We've just come back from the Canoe Portage from HELL!!! All the way down the Zambezi River ( that divides Zimbabwei from Zambia) It was 2 days of headwinds, Hippos, Elephants, and 65 km of unspoiled river banks. Villagers would be washing their clothes in the River while their children were jumping up and down shouting "What's your name? How are Yooooouu?" And doing handstands too. We slept in the wild...falling asleep to the sounds of elephants, lions, and hippos - hippos make funny laughing sounds- Like an evil Cackle.

I don't have much Zambian money left - I'm "wasting it on Internet" ;)

I've got this evil hacking cough today - I think becuase of the diesel exhaust EVERYWHERE!!!

I'll talk to you soon -- Hope everyone's well!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/africa_2005/1118612880/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/africa_2005/1118612880/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/africa_2005/1118612880/tpod.html Mon, 13 Jun 2005 09:13:19 -0400 Two silly med students, two really heavy bags, all of Africa, and everykind of prophylaxis known to man !

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Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

We made it!
We're in Victoria Falls -- Just spent all day rafting on the class 5 rapids :) I swallowed half the darn river and almost drowned a couple times :)The Internet here is pretty slow and awful - and we're on a crazy tight schedule...BOOZE CRUISE Tonight!
I'll be good I promise :) Hehehehe. We're on a tour with 3 australians, one german, and the two of us. Our guide is a crazy dude but he's awsome...he cooks really well...and he's taking good care of Lauren and I. We'll have high speed internet in Malawi -- In about 5-7 days...depending on whether the truck breaks down or not!!
We're having an amazing time - Zimbabwe is absolutely beautiful! I dodn't want to leave...we cross the border into Zambia tomorrow - apparently an awful 7 hr drive!

The flight in was horrendous (25hrs) but we survived and it's been great ever since!

Hope everyone is doing well...I miss you guys alot.

Brendan - I hope you're doing well
Mom & Dad - Miss you...Buks (the guide) is taking very care of us - we're the youngest on the tour...he's like our dad :)
Natasha - I'm teaching people some ballet!All the little kiddie get a kick out of it!

Talk to you in 5 days! We're absolutely fine and loving everysingle minute of it!!!!

Nat
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/costa_rica_2005/1110893400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/costa_rica_2005/1110893400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/costa_rica_2005/1110893400/tpod.html Mon, 11 Apr 2005 17:33:35 -0400 Costa Rica : From San Jose to the Pacific Coast (Montezuma) in 1 week

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Tambor, Costa Rica

SO...today's our last day in Costa Rica. I'm missing it already. We woke up early to take a picture of the sunrise. Of course, we've waited until the last possible day to see it :) Procrastination and laziness at it's best!

I've enclosed a bunch of pictures from our time at the resort- Enjoy.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/costa_rica_2005/1110720600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/costa_rica_2005/1110720600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/costa_rica_2005/1110720600/tpod.html Fri, 01 Apr 2005 19:13:11 -0500 Costa Rica : From San Jose to the Pacific Coast (Montezuma) in 1 week

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Montezuma, Costa Rica

I don't know what got into us today...Brendan and I were up early to check out the monkeys and the rainforest creatures that we'd heard all about from the other visitors.
We saw the moneys and the maintenance workers, a couple skinny racoons, and Paul (1/2 of the couple that Brendan had sat with on the plane here). Basically, Paul convinced us to join him, his wife, and a couple other fellow Candians on the city bus to Montezuma - a little hippie town full of backpackers and 2 magnificant waterfalls (apparently).

So, we hurriedly ate breakfast, slapped on some sun screen, exchanged our US cash for some Colons (for the bus), and sat outside the hotel. The bus was scheduled to come at 8:30 but we were warned that it traveled on a very very lose schedule. A rickety school bus came roaring down the street - we had to wave it down so that it would stop for us.

We got on the bus and sat behind these two backpackers - two 25-ish gals that have been traveling Central America since December 2004. We chatted about their adventures while traveling from town to town...picking up families and kids and farmers. Again, everyone with either a bag of chips or popcorn in tow :)

After precariously negotiating this sandy cliff we glimpsed the Pacific Ocean. Gorgeous! And sooooo blue! The bus came to a stop in the core of Montezuma - a street lined with corner stores, little restaurants, and backpacker inns. Not as many native Spanish folk here.. there were many Amercan and British travellers turned buisness person. FInally- we were able to understand people! Most spoke English.

We bought some water and head out for "the waterfall". I don't know how we knew which way to go ..I guess we followed the tanned tourists up the only hilly dirt path we could see :) We set out along the dirt path...it brought us along the coast , in front of some awesome looking hostels and inns. Eventually we turned into the forest...following a little creek up hill. Lots of boulders and vines and hopping from rock to rock. Brendan and I brilliantly thought to bring our running shoes (we'd been warned) however, it never dawned on us to put them on. So, there we were climbing around in flip flops...I'm amazed, looking back, that we didn't lose any toes or break any limbs.

We finally made it to the waterfall! We were in a group so it took a while. Brendan and Paul were busy poking any reptile, fish, reptile, bird they could find with sticks:) We kept passing climbers that were asking us , " Are you guys going to go to the second one?" And we got all excited - we though there was only one. SO then we were like, "Hell yeah! Where the heck is it?" We got what we thought were clear instructions and started climbing....and climbing....and climbing. It was more like bush whacking our way up these crazy trails - grasping for vines so that we wouldn't fall head first into deep ravines - completely rediculous. We ended up at the top of the hill - I say hill becuase it was obvoiusly not a mountain but it was 1 hour worth of steady vertical climbing! We didn't ever find the second waterfall - apparently we went all around it and over it...we found the source of the water and ended up in the canopee. We saw the canope tour/ rappeling platforms but...no waterfall :(

We were cranky and felt like idiots the whole way down! Heheh- by then, it was noon, really humid, and we didn't have any water left. So....there was nothing to do but strip off our t-shirts and swim in the first waterfall. It was so refreshing and freezing cold! By far the best swim ever. We got back into town and ate at one of the restaurants - drinks and tons of food for 5$ US - a way better deal than back home! We shopped around. I bought the most amazing coconut seed jewlery: rings and earrings. And Brendan bought cigarettes for the boys back home - 1$ US / pack! Smoking's cheaper than eating or drinking down here - go figure :)

We grabbed the last bus ride back to the hotel and got charged an extra $0.25 US for the ride back because we were clearly tourists :) When you can't speak Spanish and are lost half the time, I guess you can't fight for your rights as a tourist ;) Go with the flow...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/costa_rica_2005/1110640500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/costa_rica_2005/1110640500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/costa_rica_2005/1110640500/tpod.html Mon, 28 Mar 2005 11:58:12 -0500 Costa Rica : From San Jose to the Pacific Coast (Montezuma) in 1 week

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Tambor, Costa Rica

We just found out that we're staying 2 minutes away from the location where they shot Temptation Island! - Go Figure!

We're staying on an 8 mile beach. To the East there's Los Delfines - a posh country club-like establishment with a 9-hole golf course and these gigantic villas (superbly manicured lawns and palm trees). It's a little odd...I feel like I'm in the Hollywood hills or something.

To the West it's the little fishing village of Tambor. I have no idea what it's population is - maybe 500? There's a school and a real estate agent - hehe. Most of its inhabitants seem to be involved in tourism, farming, or fisheries. Visiting here was cheap and easy...just had to strategically leave for town when the tide was low. Otherwise, a fast flowing "river" appears out of nowhere and you have to tke a taxi back from town.

The sun here is insane! We were literaly burned to a crisp the first day we spent on the beach. And yes, we had loads on unblock on. We're pretty much purple and cripsy right now..but then, so is everyone else we meet along the way. Today...we're wearing shirts, shorts and hats eventhough it's easily 36'C outside. Atleast in Costa Rica, it's ALWAYS windy near the coast. Otherwise, I think we'd be forced to hide out from the sun.

We wandered around aimlessly, snapping pictures of every cool tree, crab, rock, boat, storefront, and flower we saw :) Crazy Canadians - Hahah - see for yourself. Everyone was friendly and greeted us in Spanish - to which all we could muster was "Hola". But, our Spanish vocabulary has expanded....I can now confidently order coffee (and all it's fixings of course) as well as other essential beverages ;)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/costa_rica_2005/1110315600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/costa_rica_2005/1110315600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/costa_rica_2005/1110315600/tpod.html Mon, 28 Mar 2005 11:17:27 -0500 Costa Rica : From San Jose to the Pacific Coast (Montezuma) in 1 week

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Puntarenas, Costa Rica

We missed the ferry! Grrrr.....

So, add another 3 hours to our journey: 3 hours to wait for the ferry + 1.5 hours on the ferry + 0.5 hours to get to hotel.

Atleast we're in Puntarenas AND we can finally see the Pacific Ocean!!! Technically it's the Golfo de Nicoya but it's water and beach and GORGEOUS! Brendan and I used our time wisely - we explored. Funnily enough, 2 hours was enough to see the entire area :)

Puntarenas is a quaint little beach town - obviously geared towards backpackers and travelers keeen to sit and drink by the beach. Unlike in Montezuma, the buisnesses in this town were run by native Costa Ricans - and our rusty Spanish skills did not allow for very good communication. I think the same could be said for eveyone else on the bus becuase everyone was drinking Coke and eating chips - the easiest thing to buy if you have no idea where to go and no idea how to ask for anything else! Heheh. I was taken aback by the abundance of chips EVERYWHERE - what's with chips in Costa Rica ? Or maybe it's the medical school stuff that's getting to me - I just notice it more. Everyone on the beach was eating chips....a couple watching the sunset by the ferry docks having a picnic (just chips and pink-coloured pop)... little kids eating marshmallows AND chips by the vendor stalls. Still can't get over it :)

The kids from the bus eagerly whipped off all their clothes and rushed into the ocean as fast as the could. Most of the couples ate whatever food they could find at the nearby convinience stores and sat on the stone benches scattered liberaly along the beach. Brendan and I played in the sand and watched a serious game of soccer that was taking place at the beach - a mix of locals and tourists. We should've brought the frisbee.

This was our first chance to stand in Costa Rican sand : so fine, so dark, really really nice!!! But it stays on you - forever! And gets into everything :)

The sunset was amazing - what a treat! Good thing we missed that ferry :) Hehehe
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/costa_rica_2005/1110304800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/costa_rica_2005/1110304800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/natclavel/costa_rica_2005/1110304800/tpod.html Mon, 28 Mar 2005 10:48:50 -0500 Costa Rica : From San Jose to the Pacific Coast (Montezuma) in 1 week

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San Jose, Costa Rica

The flight in was superb - both Brendan and I were too excited to care about what was going on. Unfortunately, we got the departure time wrong (hehe). Needless to say, we got to terminal 3 (a complete nightmare) a little late. Brendan and I were separated on the plane - good thing there were two great girlie movies shown on the plane - Wimbleton and Shall We Dance (poor Brendan). He was seated next to a charming couple. A gentleman who convieniently shared Brendan's love of wacky nature trivia and his wife who was deathly afraid of flying and who grabbed Brendan's leg everytime there was turbulence! Heheh - I enjoyed watching the girlie movies from a very comfy seat near the back of the plane.

The San Jose airport is gorgeous! Really modern and newly constructed. We were rushed through Customs and waited for our luggage next to a girls' soccer team from the USA. The coaches and parent chaperones were fighting while the girls (and our entire plane)watched...at least they were speaking English. Already, Brendan and I were coming to the realization that English is rarely spoken here (Customs and every airport official so far had only spoken a very very quick scary Spanish) - too much for our high school Spanish classes to carry us through.

Having gotten to the airport late, we didn't have the time to get a "last morning Tim Hortons" before we departed :( Needless to say, by this time, we were both cranky and hungry. Brendan didn't really enjoy the mystery egg and salsa "McMuffin" thing we received on the plane :)

We made our way through the airport to the lobby. The lobby was complete chaos : people waving signs and shouting in Spanish, tourists everywhere, cab drivers pulling you here and there. We eventually figured out where to go in order to catch our bus West. We found and American Exchange Student who was studying in Costa Rica for the year. She kindly directed us towards the bus - after warning us that we had a 2 hour bus ride and a 1.5 hour ferry ride to get to where we were staying for the night.

We got on the mini bus with a bunch of cranky Canadians :) We were joined by an 2 elderly couples (both of which were looking a little upset - one couple in particular complained the entire way) There were also 2 families - both having atleast 4 kids (ages 4->15) We were entertained by kids screaming, some arguing over iPODs, some feeling queezy from the crazy driving. We got a "lunch box" with a ham sandwich, orange, banana, cheeze-flavoured chips, and a COKE!!!! That was enough to keep me happy - the COKE satisfied my sugar and caffeine cravings :) And Brendan'll eat anything you give him !

The roads were well paved yet still bumpy as hell and full of hairpin turns. The driver definately drove over the posted speed limits of 60 kph. The scenery was amazing though, so I was enjoying the ride immensely - we were in an air conditioned bus so I couldn't complain about a thing. It's funny, I'd never really thought about what to expect (scenery-wise) from this country. Nothing's flat here! Nothing!!!! It takes forever to get anywhere because you need to go up down and around huge mountains/hills.
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