TechZati

December 29, 1996

A couple of days after leaving Gonarezhou, Terrance and Howard (the two nice South African blokes Lisa and I met) left us at a junction of Bulawayo and the border of South Africa.  Booted out of the car you might say (not really) to go on with our separate adventures.

I tried my luck at hitching, but to no avail.  But, Lisa’s first try and the car stapped.  A mini-taxi, but suffice to say it’s easier to catch rides with a woman. Gonarezhou was lovely.  It was a short detour on my way to Botswana.

Well Terrence is on his way to Bulawayo and I”m considering not going to Botswana.  Reasons: extremely expensive.  I mean I’ll be paying $100 per day or more U.S.  I really should go, but people have been saying that around March or April is really the time to go.  It’s the rainy season now and all.  Now I’m thinking about going back to Malawi.

Lisa is a great gal.  Fun to travel with and funnier than hell.  We’ve spent over 10 days together almost 24 hours a day.Everything is going pretty mellow.  I’m really enjoying myself.  Talking to Lisa today, she was telling me that when I get back to the States, I’m going to look at all my friends and be just like “These people are SO Boring!”  It will be interesting to see what happens with that.

We were laughing last night about the fact that we tend to jump into random people’s cars and end up in very strange places. Gonarezhou, Harleys.  We ran into some fellas last night who were white Zimbabweans.  (Racist as hell). They were trying to talk us into going up to Victoria Falls for New Years.  “All whites only.”  “No bush casts like that” – pointing at a beggar boy. What a bastard. Anyway, jumping into on of these cars we ended up at a club – the “White Zim hangout.”  It’s the very place we wanted to avoid.  Yuk.

December 25, 1996 – Christmas Day

Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe. Meaning “the place of the elephants” in the southeast corner of Zim. I saw my 1st African elephant.

It all started back in Mozambique.  After leaving Xai Xai, I went to Inhambane.  This is a fantastic little town up north.  Walking around, I was greeted in regular Portuguese style with kids coming up to me – so I thought – to beg for money.  As it happened this kid wanted me to stay at his house, a little reed hut.  I thought – my luck is too good to be true…but then I got kicked out when his father came home.

No worries.  I ended up getting a ride to one of the “praia’s” beaches.  I first went to Tofu.  Beautiful-but not a whole lot to do. I met some South Africans on holiday and ended up getting organized to go diving in Praia do Barra the next day.  These guys were SCUBA fiends…and laywers.  We got sorted with this guy who was just starting a dive company.  Diving in the ocean is a thousand times different than in a saltwater lake.  Fantastic!  The fish were amazing.  I stayed behind at the dive shop for about 2 days.  (I’ll you what, snobby South Africans on holiday  SUCK!).   Here I am thinking I’m in remote Mozambique and around me are hundreds of SA’s on vacation – ah well.

Taking a dhow across to Maxixe, I got sorted on a bus to Vilanculos.  Excellent also, but I got tired of the beach life.  I took another dhow from there to Margenque Islands (sp?), part of the Bazaruto Archipelago.

I met a German traveler. Actually I met him in Inhambane.  Anyway we traveled up to Beira together (a hellish 12 hour bus ride!). We spent the night there. A couple of random thoughts -  you get to the point where you can suss out a city in a few hours.  It’s really strange all the Mozambique girls thought hot stuff.  People pointed out to me, girls flirted obviously and the general attitude towards me was quite different from the way they reacted to other guys.  Definitely a different feeling.

I was supposed to catch the 12:00 bus to Mutare, but working on Mozambique time, I didn’t get on a bus til 4:00 in the morning. Sleeping in a bus station is becoming second nature.

I got a ride to Mutare and found my way to the hostel.  Getting there, I tried to figure out how to get to the Okavango Delta.  Marcus – German traveler – talked me into going.  So I decided I wanted to get there for New Year’s (1996-1997).  We ended up parting ways, I ended up meeting this Aussie gal Lisa and we somehow ended up going to Chimanimani National park.  She had just gotten out of Mozambique also.  Sick of her friends, we ended up hitching partway to the park and catching a bus the rest.

Getting to Heaven’s Lodge, we organized a couple of days camping in the park.  So it was the most exercise I’ve had since I got to Africa.  Lisa is a hilarious travel companion.  We basically hiked a hell of a lot in 2 days and covered the park.  Although trails are clearly marked, we still got lost a couple of times.  Side note-also, the map in the Lonely Planet guide is NOT to scale!.  The banana route is MUCH longer than it looks..and there are deadly green mambas on the trail.

Getting back to Heaven Lodge were both sort of – not sort of – but extremely stuffed (dead tired).  We sat down, had few Boulies (Bollinger beers) and met these other 2 blokes from Durban.  And thus the story.  Inviting us to come along, we piled into the care and here we are in Zimbabwe.

December 10, 1996

All the stories about people asking you to stay the night with them has finally happened to me.  Originally, I was going to go to Praia do Biline.  After buying the tickets – these 3rd world bus lines are hell – I got on the bus. Jumping off (after making the driver stop twice), I grabbed my kit.  Here I was in the middle of a town where nobody spoke English.  Well crap – it’s what I always wanted.  Taking the first road into town, village, country, farm community – whatever it was – it started raining.  Right in front of me was a store with a veranda.  I stepped under it and tried to figure out where the hell I was.  This was NOT Bilene like I was led to believe.

It was strange, people stared at me and they didn’t even look away when I looked back at them.  Sign language is definitely helpful.  I got directions (I thought) to a hotel. Silly me…so, walking up the road I saw a couple of South Africans who were headed up to Xai Xai…so here I am – sort of.

After driving into Xai Xai I still had to find my way to the Praia (beach).  We found the road and I started walking.  It was about 10 KM’s. Hitching is harder in Mozambique due to the fact there are fewer cars. After walking for a time – no luck hitching – I walked past a man waiting on the side of the road.  He asked (in Portuguese) where I was going.  Fortunately, I could comprehend (sort of) and I told him the beach.  He spoke a little English.  He invited me to stay – and that’s how I got to stay with a local.

Broken windows and no electricity

I’m watching my first real Moz sunset and it is fabulous!

Almost forgot, yesterday in Maputo – cruising around – I had a much more fulfilling time than in most of South Africa. We went to the bazaar and had dinner. It was great.  It was the “real” Africa.  I think the most difficult part of travelling so far is when you get to a place – what do you do?  It’s sort of the concept that the journey is the most important part of life, not the gal at the end.

What I figured was that traveling is NOT about seeing animals, it’s really about getting culture.  The only way to do that is to step out of that funny thing we call “security” and go crazy!  Thus far, I’ve really gained a sense of that.  I mean beaches are beautiful, but after 1000 or so the start to look the same.  I have to look back into my line of thought where I’m here to “see” all there is to see and do all I can do – not going there and doing nothing.

December 8, 1996

I’m coming upon Christmas and I’ve left Jo’Burg. Rob gave me a few tips on the things he’s learned through traveling.

One -where there’s people there’s, food.
Two – expose yourself to experiences – I guess that’s the zen way to say – Go With It.

Well, I have, and I’ve ended up camping on a beach in Mozambique. I jumped on the train from Jo’Burg to Maputo. At the border of South Africa, we all had to jump out and check out. Then get back on the train. The, riding along to the border of Moz, we had to get out and check-in. These borders are so funny, there’s nothing to them. I was riding third class, which was an adventure in itself. I got funny looks from all the people wondering why a “rich foreigner” was riding with the common people. What surprised me the most was the fact that the women with babies would whip them out and feed…Ok, no problem….Culture – Aye!

I met these three South African guys. They were trying to get to an island called Inhaca off the coast of Maputo. We got out of the train station and decided to get to the beach and camp out for the night.

As it happened we went to suss out the story for getting there [the island]. We found a ride on a boat for $50,000 Meta cash which = approximately $4 US dollars. The boat was leaving at 4:00 AM and the nearest hostel was 10 KM away. The obvious choice was to sleep on the harbor dock. We set up our stuff and went exploring a bit. You would not believe the trouble we had finding a market. Clearly not speaking Portuguese was a factor. We got back to the patio/fish plant we were staying on and set up for the night. Two of the guys went out and found a ride back. They said the guy they found the ride with said this was the shite part of Maputo. The night passed without mishap. The harbour bar was open and there were loads of drunk fisherman.

We finally jumped on the boat and made it to Inhaca. So, we’ve been sitting on the beach. Fresh coconuts are the best. Now I’m getting the itch to go up north.

December 4, 1996

I met up with Rob Breen from Alaska, in Africa. He’s living in Johannesburg. Traveling takes a lot of time and it’s nice to chill out for a while. But, I am leaving for Maputo [Mozambique] tomorrow. Finally, Mozambique. Jo’Burg is actually quite nice when you know somebody.

Rob Breen, whom I met in Alaska. Visiting him in Johannesburg

I decided to buy a tent and found one for cheap. Now, I’m just trying to sort out the Malawi stuff [visa]. It’s been excellent here. All these guys are quite friendly. They all sort of show up…whenever…and often they all do a big feed. Very familial.

November 23, 1996

Gonna need a new journal soon.  I’ve come to the Drakensburg Mountains.  I’ve sorted some things out in my head and I’m going back to Durban tomorrow to DO something.  Yesterday we went horseback riding through Spionkepe National Reserve.  I saw the real Africa. Acacia trees standing like funny umbrellas and the animals I see in movies.  I’m sitting here in a bungalow type hostel and am starting to feel the African vibe in me.  I’m definitely going on safari, and I don’t think [river] guiding is going to be an option, which I’m actually fine with.

I’ll have been in South Africa a month – far too long I might add. Thanksgiving is coming up, perhaps I’ll try to call home. E.T. eat your heart out.

November, 20, 1996

Cape Town is left far behind and now I’m in Durban.  I’ve traveled most of the Garden Route and my time in South Africa is almost done.  It’s really sort of odd.  I haven’t yet felt I’ve really “lived” Africa.  South Africa has been somewhat of a disappointment to me.  My route has taken me from Cape Town where it rained. I did try to get to the top of Table Mountain – got into the clouds and couldn’t make it.  Went to Oudshoorn and rode an ostrich.

Oudshoorn - Ostrich Jockey

Knysna was beautiful – Natures Valley – like a tropical jungle next to the ocean.  J-Bay.  Ahh Jeffrey’s Bay – legendary surf spot.  Most exciting place thus far.  I actually got up on a surfboard there.

Now Durban. Actually, Durban is all right. I”m going to try to SCUBA and maybe deep sea fish. But I’ve been a complete idiot – leaving stuff all along the Garden Route. Hard lesson. I’m very excited to leave South Africa actually. But traveling hasn’t filled the void , which I’m feeling. Perhaps when I leave this part of the country and see the rest of what I cam to see. I’ve met billions of people and won’t remember any of them.

Little girls braiding my long hair.

November 5, 1996

So I’m on a train to Cape Town, South Africa.  How did I end up here?  Well, as it happens…After Moab I was back in Salt Lake for a shot time, although it seemed like forever.  I spent about 2 weeks in L.A. right after that. (I met up with a couple guys that started a production company. They want me to come along. It seems like they’re going in a good direction, but they are and will always be a very very small shrimp in a vast ocean).

I flew to London and spent one night there.  The next day I tried to see every major tourist attraction in London, and I did a pretty good job of it.  About the only time I stopped was for lunch.  What a great city.  Pretty uneventful time while I was there.

Jumping on the plane from London I flew into Jo’burg.  Barely caught the bus into town and I barely caught the train in time for Cape Town.  It still hasn’t hit me I’m in Africa, but then again, I haven’t seen anything yet.  The decision for Cape Town…well, cam down to the fact that I fugured I didn’t want to spend 1/3 of my time on the river. [Note to readers, my motivating factor was to be a river guide on the Zambezi River in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.]

October 14, 1996.  Summer review

It’s always strange coming back to Salt Lake.  The great thing is I still only feel as if I’m visiting.  Anyway, school’s in session and I’ve seen Collin and Gino – all the “boys.”  I understand with perfect clarity why people feel safe in school and why they can’t deal in “my real world.”

I’m happy and pretty content with how things are going.  It’s hard to ground yourself in something intangible.  For example, I feel like I’m in limbo right now.  Everyone’s in school or has a job and I’m sitting on my ass.  I think I need this lag time though – (rationalization, of course).

Reflecting on my summer thought, I do notice a difference in myself.  Definitely more self-confident, which comes from a huge combination of factors.  One, first-aid.  Actually knowing what to do in a situation is so empowering.  I CAN do something!  Next, CAT guide – as unnerving as it was the fact that I am and I”m far ahead of anyone else makes me feel great.  That I know I’m competent, smart and motivated enough.  As cheesy as it sounds, even if it sounds cliched, that’s how it works. Of course my friends over the summer are amazing.  Everytime I go somewhere new, I’m always amazed, revitalized – pick your own adjective – as to when you really connect with someone.

Though I still believe you attract who you need.  Keeping in touch is another matter.  Although when the bond is broken, it still makes you feel human every once in a while.  Does that make sense?  Every new place I leave, it become a less and less dramatic event.  Waiting around for something to happen drives me BONKERS!

October 2, 1996 – The deal’s done.

So I promised myself I would write in here when I decided on my trip.  Well, it’s come down to this – AFRICA!? – which is odd since for most of this time I’d been planning on Nepal, Indonesia, Aus/New Z.  Well – so it goes. I already bought the ticket and gotten my shots. The deals Done-D. I guess the way it came around was when I was in The Rio (bar) talking with all of the boatmen who had done the Zambezi.  That’s pretty much my motivation for going, I think, which is crazy considering Africa was near the top of my list for places to go in this world.  So now – I’m going.  I’m almost overwhelmed by the fact. I’m leaving for L.A. in a couple of weeks (I’m in Salt Lake now).  Then L.A.>London>Brussels>South Africa.

My last couple of weeks in Moab were pretty enlightening. They asked me to be a Cat guide (Cataract Canyon) which is pretty amazingly unheard of for a 1st year guide.  I’m one of the few.  So I trained for the last couple weeks.  I can say that I motored everything in low water.  Needless to say, I got proficient fast at pulling my motor.  Speaking of which I did great until mile-long.  Even though I did fine through it, it got me amped up – big-time.

Everything was great until Big Drop 2.  I had a perfect run but didn’t throttle down at the  bottom ledge wave.  I heard a huge “ka-thunk” and the motor stopped.  We, well – FLOATED through Big Drop 2 and half with no motor.  Fortunately, Heather had gone down before and was able to push us to the side, just before Big Drop 3.  The entire lower unit was cracked, the prop was beat to crap – fortunately, we had a spare motor.

We camped above Big Drop 3 that night.  The next morning we scouted and WOW, BD 3 was a huge rock ledge with one slot through.  I lined up for it great, but didn’t throttle up enough to compensate for the crrent that hit right as you enter it.  I pulled too early.  I can say I almost wrapped a j-rig on a rock.  Harvey almost had a heart attack (almost).  The rest was no problem.  So after that – I left.  It’s amazing to me how un0shall I say – go up and get ‘em most people are.  I guess that’s way I’m the way I am and why I’ve got such a hard time with b.s. and authority – still.