tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49745405252050397752024-02-19T06:58:39.267-08:00The Cairo Crusade4 Bikes and 2 Cars, from Ladybrand to Cairo and onto the Black Forest...
The Team consists of:
Roger and Jo-Anne (KTM 990) Going all the way.
Rudi and Adri (GS 800) Going to Cairo.
Doug and Jenny (KTM 990) Doug going all the way, Jen to Nairobi.
Charl (KTM 950) Going all the way.
Ian and Cheryl (Toyota Fortuner) Going all the way.
Mike (Mitsubishi 2800) Going all the way.The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-52866224024821656872011-08-03T00:45:00.000-07:002011-08-03T00:45:38.041-07:00Home - 31 July 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_x69xto="174">We landed at Oliver Tambo Airport Thursday 28 July and spent some quality time with our kids in Pretoria.. We were very surprised when we were rewarded with trophies and a bottle of champaign by our daugter for finishing our trip. Rudi was awarded as 'Admiral Bak' and myself 'Lady of the backseat'. It is amazing that it took us 54riding days to get to Cairo and only 8hrs flying time back...</div><br />
The rest of the group are still enjoying time out and are galavanting somewhere in Italy and they will let you know when they are back.<br />
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<div class="separator" closure_uid_x69xto="156" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzCNnqmR5FCJZHbkxJ76hTidzeeYwsszAbQun4tEDZlvtt_U_8kH6iVLq_B5-6_-eqIZXJlonHrJBnjksu-WrJxbBk8bkVmwB4m6VBAR-PrGIK1FO-XSZtH66XudADkfqKN0y72J6SqQ/s1600/airport.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzCNnqmR5FCJZHbkxJ76hTidzeeYwsszAbQun4tEDZlvtt_U_8kH6iVLq_B5-6_-eqIZXJlonHrJBnjksu-WrJxbBk8bkVmwB4m6VBAR-PrGIK1FO-XSZtH66XudADkfqKN0y72J6SqQ/s320/airport.JPG" t$="true" width="239" /></a></div><div closure_uid_x69xto="173">Thanks for all your best wishes, support and warm welcome back to Ladybrand. We will get pictures sorted and will show those who want to see them...</div></div>The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-23087182818307500632011-07-27T04:06:00.000-07:002011-07-27T09:29:42.092-07:00Burghada to Cairo - Ian<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">21 JULY 2011</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hurghada</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span closure_uid_lrhl7s="108" style="font-family: Calibri;">Doug, Charl, Rudi, Adri, Cheryl & I had booked for a day of snorkelling on the coral reefs in the Red Sea. Mike decided to do his own thing whereas Roger & Jo-Anne decided that they did not want to spend another day at Magawish but rather continue going north up the Red Sea coast.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We bordered a well set up boat from the jetty on the beach in front of the hotel. The diving company Colona Divers are Swedish owned & run a very good operation. The cost was about R280 per person which included 8 hours on the boat & snorkelling equipment plus an additional R38 for lunch on the boat. Although I am not a diver, to me this was very cheap for what turned out to be the most amazing experience. After about an hour out to sea the boat stopped at a small submerged coral island. We anchored next to another diving boat & very soon there were 7 boats anchored together (4 facing one way and the other 3 in the opposite direction). There were only about 15 of us on our boat of which only a few were divers, the rest of us were to snorkel. We had 2 instructors who showed us where to snorkel and to be of assistance if needed. The sea was warm, very clear with no current and stunning corals and fish. It was a whole new experience for me. For the others who are experienced at snorkelling, they said that the coral reef and the fish were the best they had <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ever experienced. After more than an hour in the water we boarded the boat & had an enjoyable Egyptian lunch. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then continued swimming until we moved to another coral reef.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although we did not think that it was possible, the second reef was even more spectacular than the first. It was just like swimming in a fish tank full of the most beautiful corals and fish. Reluctantly we had to board once again as the boat had to return to shore. This brought to an end to what was the best day of our trip through Africa. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cheryl who cannot swim put on a life jacket, and with the help of Adri and myself, we coaxed her to put on goggles so that she could experience <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>this beautiful underwater world. Cheryl was amazed at what was under the water and couldn’t stop thanking us for having given her such an amazing experience.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although the resort Magawish was very commercial, the time spent there was made very worthwhile by our wonderful experience of the coral reefs. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">22 July 2011</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9HWXovrrYf-TZkGRhLLA_p1-OLu1TyqfP0WOQQlhCqZLyj2_JMuwWx3GaY3C5JjbFVEOUAaH3VGIY4-2dZ5_MvK_2YYqPoekWzkHXOnERuAxpg3QUhCz2gZJi4sl6SsDXkrq4pONFDsg/s1600/piramids1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9HWXovrrYf-TZkGRhLLA_p1-OLu1TyqfP0WOQQlhCqZLyj2_JMuwWx3GaY3C5JjbFVEOUAaH3VGIY4-2dZ5_MvK_2YYqPoekWzkHXOnERuAxpg3QUhCz2gZJi4sl6SsDXkrq4pONFDsg/s320/piramids1.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFHxO4OgMkopXMAtsI-TFfvVXesHAvXt32dW9G7fFFwyBMdfhJWEvep3dmYy8uPWLgBGBdDMOGUUiO-Vl-d2ucderzu3CmL9jL1HKz4D7HEQEjwvNtFdk14e1p-DDbCS3PiJNJO4BzU0/s1600/piramids2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFHxO4OgMkopXMAtsI-TFfvVXesHAvXt32dW9G7fFFwyBMdfhJWEvep3dmYy8uPWLgBGBdDMOGUUiO-Vl-d2ucderzu3CmL9jL1HKz4D7HEQEjwvNtFdk14e1p-DDbCS3PiJNJO4BzU0/s320/piramids2.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div closure_uid_sq85tf="156">The Gisa Piramids and Sphinx</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFFLFgTKdwIn4t9rj1uyI4C1lCjHBKUygyRr1ctrcGGo5tuzek6y6oWCXD4SZVNFeIKG3paxuTLHZd1_FI_I7xzvbRjCORBq0F1IAF4HMhsC2_zwjGQ0fji8Tb2nyUyP44C0gkcMJ9Vk/s1600/piramids3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFFLFgTKdwIn4t9rj1uyI4C1lCjHBKUygyRr1ctrcGGo5tuzek6y6oWCXD4SZVNFeIKG3paxuTLHZd1_FI_I7xzvbRjCORBq0F1IAF4HMhsC2_zwjGQ0fji8Tb2nyUyP44C0gkcMJ9Vk/s320/piramids3.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOfJJfF9hp8Dgfj9Wvz8Y6JQKqrDxzkGsEogYh1uyE7m-T3XcfYZcyFUo73gv1ru_JLl2uoynDtUIc5iS045sZGBxkIRgBSXNy63oycwrmqt45KXGM4IUXJUIZhyphenhyphenhObOJbiFAjw7kB_c/s1600/piramids7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOfJJfF9hp8Dgfj9Wvz8Y6JQKqrDxzkGsEogYh1uyE7m-T3XcfYZcyFUo73gv1ru_JLl2uoynDtUIc5iS045sZGBxkIRgBSXNy63oycwrmqt45KXGM4IUXJUIZhyphenhyphenhObOJbiFAjw7kB_c/s320/piramids7.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div closure_uid_sq85tf="155">Transport between the Piramids</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLbbHb_80GRfoLoEBb2GbBTVnOG6n7DiNZNUT9eeywukkM9T_mISxbQQvmFmjvwOj3lEzkoJ5ziYijs5pckJ6SgR6eM5P_5tlvq6y2nrArRxQPZnvMcbzAJrflJgMlq262L5jngdI3Jc/s1600/piramids8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLbbHb_80GRfoLoEBb2GbBTVnOG6n7DiNZNUT9eeywukkM9T_mISxbQQvmFmjvwOj3lEzkoJ5ziYijs5pckJ6SgR6eM5P_5tlvq6y2nrArRxQPZnvMcbzAJrflJgMlq262L5jngdI3Jc/s320/piramids8.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fbb5kZ2oT6Z-nwRw0ne2-OW2KnEodpLkzCdVDlx2NJKV_PNvAdtfv4JA3EKPj1jfAPc_KbMcgFSTCG-QbUHz40agg2-B-c1CdttpG-L1BqoyAx_7CmgICGEoMIGz70W4lWLl07238W8/s1600/piramids9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fbb5kZ2oT6Z-nwRw0ne2-OW2KnEodpLkzCdVDlx2NJKV_PNvAdtfv4JA3EKPj1jfAPc_KbMcgFSTCG-QbUHz40agg2-B-c1CdttpG-L1BqoyAx_7CmgICGEoMIGz70W4lWLl07238W8/s320/piramids9.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div closure_uid_sq85tf="124">Warehouses where we left vehicles for shipping</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Porto Sonka</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div closure_uid_lrhl7s="112"><span lang="EN-GB"><span closure_uid_lrhl7s="110" style="font-family: Calibri;">The next day we left Hurghada & drove north up the Red Sea coast. We planned to drive about 220kms so that we could spend one more night on the Red Sea before heading inland to Cairo & the end of our African trip. Rudi & Adri went ahead and by lunch time had found a fish restaurant in a small harbour at Porto Sokno. Cheryl<span closure_uid_lrhl7s="111" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and I were only too happy to join them as the drive from Hurghada was boring - either driving past many apartments & hotels or driving through flat uninteresting desert. I think that the drive was the most boring of the entire trip, so to stop off for a lunch of beer, wine and fish was the best. The harbour was an oasis amongst rows of completed & partially completed buildings which all looked the same and blocked out the view of the sea. Many buildings are half completed as construction has been halted because of the political uncertainty in Egypt.</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The lunch turned out to be the best we have had on the trip, especially the fish dish of bouillabaisses which is served in a pot over an open flame and contains a variety of fish and shell fish. Rudi said that it was the best meal he had ever had. As a result he insisted on having a photo taken of himself with the chef and the kitchen staff!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a huge apartment block across the road from the restaurant and as we were all in a very relaxed mood after our meal, beer and wine, we decided that we would book into this huge hotel. Unfortunately we discovered that although there were 90 rooms in the hotel, the other 2,000 rooms were privately owned apartments. Due to the fact that it was a long week-end in Egypt the Red Sea resorts were full of people from Cairo, all the hotel rooms were taken by Egyptians. When we asked about other hotels in the area we were told that they would also be full. Despondently we left, not looking forward to a long hot search for other accommodation. Rudi then came up with a brain wave he told the management of this resort that in South Africa, where apartments adjoined hotels, they were often let out when the hotel was full. To our relief the manager said that he could arrange an apartment for us which is a well furnished 3 bedroom apartment.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The complex is huge, with 14 swimming pools, numerous restaurants and shops. The whole complex is entirely owned by Moslem Egyptians. T was that the bars and restaurants only served soft drinks! Needless to say, we crossed the road for a swim in the Red Sea and returned to the same fish restaurant. Yes you guessed correctly, Rudi once again had bouillabaisses! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23 July 2011</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cairo</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We set off after breakfast on the last travelling day of our East London / Ladybrand Africa trip to Cairo. It felt both good and sad that this was the final stretch. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We soon turned inland on a new toll road which took us through the desert to Cairo. I was concerned about the traffic in Cairo, especially towing a trailer, how we would find the President Hotel on Zamaleck Island, which is an island formed by the Nile river splitting in two. The hotel had been found by Roger and Jo-Anne who had arrived in Cairo the day before. Our GPS could not pick up the hotel but did pick up the island. As the GPS kept telling us to turn left or right onto a road which was under the bridge over which we were travelling, we crossed over the Nile many times! Fortunately as it was a Saturday & in the middle of a long week-end due to Egypt’s Independence Day or first revolution of 1952, so there was not too much traffic. We eventually arrived safely at the hotel and the end of our destination.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That evening we all caught 2 taxis to the Holiday Inn to meet the East London car guys for the last time as they were due to fly to Italy the following day. We had our fist experience of the extremely heavy traffic in Cairo which resulted in a short trip taking well over an hour! Nevertheless it was a good experience and enabled us to see Cairo at night. Due to the heat of the day, the city comes alive at night – there were people and cars everywhere.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We eventually arrived at the Holiday Inn and had our last meal with the East London car guys. The company was good, but the food and price of drinks was not so good. We eventually said our good-byes and arrived back at our hotel after mid night.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">24 July</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cairo</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After a leisurely day at the hotel & on Zamaleck Island, which is lovely part of Cairo, with tree lined narrow streets which are surrounded by small shops & restaurants. That evening we met with Waguih Guindy, who Adri had arranged to assist us with the shipping of the cars, trailer & bikes back to East London. After our bad experience in Wadi Halfa & Aswan, we expected the worst. The East London car guys had also told us that it had taken them 3 days to complete their paper work & drive their cars onto a ship to take the cars from Alexandria to Venice - 31 forms per car! Waguig was however professional & said that he would deal with all the paper work. All we had to do was have a letter authorising him to act on our behalf. This letter & a verification of the driver’s passport had to be done at the South African Embassy (in my case at the British Embassy). We would then drive the cars & bikes to his warehouse where they would load them onto a container. We were all very relieved to hear how simple the process would be.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the meeting we had supper at a very nice Italian restaurant next to the hotel.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">25 July</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cairo</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The day was spent with the guys going to the Embassies while the girls repacked the trailer for the last time. As in Nairobi it was once again proved that it is better to travel through Africa on a South African passport. The guys had their paperwork done in no time at the South African Embassy and did not have to pay. The British Embassy was however different. After waiting for nearly two hours for the consular section to open, I had to pay the equivalent of R550 for them to sign the one letter, which was already typed in Arabic,and to verify the copy of my passport. While the first letter was being signed by a British official, an announcement came across the intercom to say that some senior British official would like to meet immediately with some of the staff- this included the person I was dealing with! She gave me the one letter & said that as she had to attend this meeting I would have to come back the next day for the copy of my passport. When I said that as the consular section is only open to the public for a few hours each day surely there should be no meetings at these times. I was curtly told that there are notices stating that they can take 24 hours to complete requests like mine. That was that!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We then all met back at the hotel and drove the cars and bikes out to the warehouse where the container would be. After some time of re-organising the cars and trailer to insure that they would fit into the containers we said farewell to the cars, trailer and bikes. It was a relief to leave them there, but at the same time with some anxiety about what could happen to them over the next few weeks - especially as none of them are insured! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That evening the biker team met for the last time at a very nice pub on Zamaleck Island. We were in a very festive mood & enjoyed telling many stories related to the trip. We also toasted ourselves as we believe that it has been a great achievement to reach Cairo in “one piece”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">26 July</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cairo</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Roger, Jo-Anne, Rudi, Adri, Cheryl & I all got up early & took a taxi to the pyramids & sphinx at Giza. Each couple went on a horse & cart which took us around the pyramids. It was certainly worth seeing them.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Doug flew out to Rhodes via Athens, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jo-Anne & Roger flew out to Palermo via Rome. Tomorrow Cheryl & I fly out to Palermo to meet up with Roger & Jo-Anne and Rudi & Adri fly back to Johannesburg. Charl & Mike are still undecided but will probably also fly back to South Africa within the next few days.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span closure_uid_c5s4ak="110" style="font-family: Calibri;">This is therefore the official end to our amazing trip. We have enjoyed Egypt & Cairo, but the general view is that our two favourite countries are Ethiopia & Tanzania, but having said that, we all have good memories of all the other countries. The trip has been both challenging & fun, but we all feel that we have now had enough & it is time to go home. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once we are back in South Africa we will all give a brief summary of the high lights of our trip. </span></span></div></div>The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-16621439574097413822011-07-26T03:49:00.000-07:002011-08-03T00:35:11.907-07:00Red Sea onto Cairo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Red Sea onto Cairo</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our trip is nearing the end. Our goal is only 417km’s away. We spent the last 2 days snorkelling in the Red Sea at a resort called Magawish. The resort was filled with East Europeans who could speak very little, if any English, the service was not that great and we had to walk miles to our cottages in 40degrees Celsius.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only plus was that the resort was close to one of the most awesome coral garden reefs anyone could ever wish to see. Thanks to Charl and Doug we all booked onto a yacht to take us diving the day after we arrived. What an awesome experience that was! It was well worth every penny we spent. It was a pity that Roger and Jo-Anne did not join us , they decided that one night at Magawish Resort was enough and moved on towards Cairo and spent some time on their own. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rudi and I have been snorkelling in the Seychelles’, Maldives, Comores, Mauritius and Mozambique but nothing could surpass what we have experienced in the Red Sea. The visibility was approximately30m with crystal clear aquamarine blue waters that made it possible to see all the way down. You did not need bottles; we saw Moray Eel, Blue Spotted Sting Rays, Parrots, Dorado’s, Queen fish and all the aquarium fish you could wish for. It was like swimming in an overfull fish tank. The variety of fish just never stopped. The coral gardens just never ended. Pink, red, blue, yellow green, white, black, you name it and it was all there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These dives were certainly the highlight of our trip. Cheryl became very brave and had a swim and a peep into the Red Sea. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span closure_uid_w6p33z="90" style="font-family: Calibri;">After 2 nights at Magawish Resort we moved on along the coast. What a surprise we had with the development on the coast between Burghada and Cairo. It is one mega compartment development after the next. Almost worse than in Dubai! Rudi and I found a little seafood restaurant at Porto Sokhono Yacht Club and we stopped, had a beer and met up with Cheryl and Ian, We decided to have lunch, Ian<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>mentioned earlier that he wanted some fresh fish and what better place than at the Yacht Club. Rudi subsequently proclaimed that he had ‘the best meal of his life’, a freshly made bouillabaisse soup! While eating we decided that we are not going any further and booked into a huge complex across the road from the yacht club. It was only another 150km to Cairo and we were not in a rush, we went for our last swim in the Red Sea at the compartments private beach and went back for another meal at Rudi’s favourite spot. The resort we stayed in was mainly for Egyptians and it was quite an experience to see how they do things in private time. The ‘Villa’ we booked in was just vacated by Egyptians and we were all in awe seeing the filth that they left behind. Tins, take away papers, cigarette buds, all were just thrown on the apartments floors. When we asked the manager about it he commented ‘ sorry this is how the Egyptians do it’. When we booked out we left the place in pristine condition. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The complex had 14 swimming pools and was filled with kids and women swimming in their full clothing outfits, longs sleeves, dresses, head gear, the works, while the men where happily getting cool in costumes. This is a culture that we probably will never understand. What were also quite shocking are the eating habits and overweight people. They definitely are not following a healthy lifestyle. men, women and children alike.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We left for Cairo at about 10am on Saturday morning and were getting more and more excited as the kilo’s clicked by. The highway started to get busier and all along the road you saw statues, pots and walk ways. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We eventually entered Cairo at 12h00, expecting the traffic to be bad but were pleasantly surprised by how little traffic there was on a Saturday afternoon. There were, however, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>one apartment block after another, not such a pretty sight because they are very derelict and neglected. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">JoAnne and Roger already secured us a place at the President Hotel on the Zamalec Island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all are grateful for God’s grace, that He has looked after us and brought us safely to our final destination. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now it is time<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to get the vehicles and bikes to the shipping company and then we all go our different directions, Ian, Cheryl, Roger, Jo and Doug are off to Italy, Rudi and I are flying back to a very cold SA according to Weather24 and Charl and Mike are still deciding what to do.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_jxxye5="101" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFN3T6dHyid0-yY7a3FIif4SKd40kRGvPkX9rUTKEhk7g5c8HcNjWp-IidA0n1JgPcy67j3LT7g_sA0V8ST6K052MGY69bpBGqa6OKgG1xeJTt1i_E9-NNeu2K8BwfavGrdTFQLrS1AOo/s1600/adriredsea1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFN3T6dHyid0-yY7a3FIif4SKd40kRGvPkX9rUTKEhk7g5c8HcNjWp-IidA0n1JgPcy67j3LT7g_sA0V8ST6K052MGY69bpBGqa6OKgG1xeJTt1i_E9-NNeu2K8BwfavGrdTFQLrS1AOo/s320/adriredsea1.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div closure_uid_jxxye5="102">The view into the Red Sea from the Magawish Resort</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZEFxs4mKFIXIfNMmvi5dej2dJz9t9TXVmNxX1iQuAKdMFKjMRxO8-5ob-c9yELWk9pBnJS1zLjOLCak_IkKqnTDJC4sfx7x_JZURBY16_4nDYH_56WUrV9h2HXk2-gki_6jRu9qXv3g/s1600/adriredsea2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZEFxs4mKFIXIfNMmvi5dej2dJz9t9TXVmNxX1iQuAKdMFKjMRxO8-5ob-c9yELWk9pBnJS1zLjOLCak_IkKqnTDJC4sfx7x_JZURBY16_4nDYH_56WUrV9h2HXk2-gki_6jRu9qXv3g/s320/adriredsea2.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div closure_uid_jxxye5="103">Diving from the yachts</div><div closure_uid_jxxye5="103"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AutC6VOhX63Ip0VVIUZJ-pN46Huag76CPvNh7luCJORxZsWBjUOxCDUQWY3fAoknS7ARNNPisZECy1ZCw55P_oB5glPyaQoRLOWjtM60qQh78zAz76LyLF9WGFuvIlXML6FZAQZgYqI/s1600/adriredsea3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AutC6VOhX63Ip0VVIUZJ-pN46Huag76CPvNh7luCJORxZsWBjUOxCDUQWY3fAoknS7ARNNPisZECy1ZCw55P_oB5glPyaQoRLOWjtM60qQh78zAz76LyLF9WGFuvIlXML6FZAQZgYqI/s320/adriredsea3.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXCOoy6KVTnKm1MWUU8tI8De0KQkGK4GxQgA4EIRtobKaX6Y_1dwv7ZXoEquoSA0R9QEISHpVYroqnl8mXffobnVMV-MeNTXKl44K_DHLfGGTWP-xhHHD87-CO48F31megZ_Tk6Tfa40/s1600/adriredsea5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXCOoy6KVTnKm1MWUU8tI8De0KQkGK4GxQgA4EIRtobKaX6Y_1dwv7ZXoEquoSA0R9QEISHpVYroqnl8mXffobnVMV-MeNTXKl44K_DHLfGGTWP-xhHHD87-CO48F31megZ_Tk6Tfa40/s320/adriredsea5.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div closure_uid_jxxye5="104">Our rooms in the 'desert'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdgnBBVlhDeNHszLbs9ykhYZqEvnAumjO0IPaC_VpsFkr_8xpfl1y28wQmNtbTeLqb2sDChZb3_c5iYha2tagfLg1wgtKeGk7jzVx_nTMTjXTMynv-hvrVGWS-F-Ss9gUvyI1WRbXyvg/s1600/adriredsea6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdgnBBVlhDeNHszLbs9ykhYZqEvnAumjO0IPaC_VpsFkr_8xpfl1y28wQmNtbTeLqb2sDChZb3_c5iYha2tagfLg1wgtKeGk7jzVx_nTMTjXTMynv-hvrVGWS-F-Ss9gUvyI1WRbXyvg/s320/adriredsea6.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div closure_uid_jxxye5="105">200 clicks to go!!!!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToto1mCZQPm_LDHyLANO2GdZcnk_6rhoiELK9vhAiqFvLCfRO5Ro2RhMkrPTGKErKe8xe4p3kJW0FQ6Q8duCBKzvDAL2VUvmLkCpkocuxaoXpMug5X76QBr1j2vHzvot7_SJcwKq88Mc/s1600/adriredsea7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToto1mCZQPm_LDHyLANO2GdZcnk_6rhoiELK9vhAiqFvLCfRO5Ro2RhMkrPTGKErKe8xe4p3kJW0FQ6Q8duCBKzvDAL2VUvmLkCpkocuxaoXpMug5X76QBr1j2vHzvot7_SJcwKq88Mc/s320/adriredsea7.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div closure_uid_jxxye5="106">Desert on the left and Red Sea on the right... awesome ride</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5kPGjLti0y_GEPykeQ8Lyv_rq_E3_X4mOuBXRSHUP21BDZHx_Od_hNS_rhPiaW0BaaOW3pzjnsJkGR7D6_NlWaRHhpw84_Bs72jdHRuhEtzPHCs1PvK29r_9zJNdrKzkTTCXuQswgjAM/s1600/adriredsea8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5kPGjLti0y_GEPykeQ8Lyv_rq_E3_X4mOuBXRSHUP21BDZHx_Od_hNS_rhPiaW0BaaOW3pzjnsJkGR7D6_NlWaRHhpw84_Bs72jdHRuhEtzPHCs1PvK29r_9zJNdrKzkTTCXuQswgjAM/s320/adriredsea8.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div>Rudi's best meal he ever had?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNN0CGJ7C6YYXnZpE_6_EwXDbmUvElM4x8j2BqF7hLLxcpUGpaRVR4H2NGtl6vU46dcN2PaAO_YPV9n_mQrUWkhxSYJIzgpZVFIny67LIxeSq7hXHXrg9YEJ-3az5WA0dOBpE7MO6P0p8/s1600/adriredsea10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNN0CGJ7C6YYXnZpE_6_EwXDbmUvElM4x8j2BqF7hLLxcpUGpaRVR4H2NGtl6vU46dcN2PaAO_YPV9n_mQrUWkhxSYJIzgpZVFIny67LIxeSq7hXHXrg9YEJ-3az5WA0dOBpE7MO6P0p8/s320/adriredsea10.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div closure_uid_jxxye5="128">Chef and staff at Porto Sokhono Yacht Clun</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVPyI8UnZLabu5jH5KCXQDg3qhNAsBab1jCNOu3qGq9acMVJ768VmyYywoog_ROv8HFZLYP7pBYV3HRTcM42dNdBl2H0f8CyWcWW47Y5T3e-HKDyIVE25HtNAZwF_kCepkx1kLHYLeRc/s1600/adriredsea11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVPyI8UnZLabu5jH5KCXQDg3qhNAsBab1jCNOu3qGq9acMVJ768VmyYywoog_ROv8HFZLYP7pBYV3HRTcM42dNdBl2H0f8CyWcWW47Y5T3e-HKDyIVE25HtNAZwF_kCepkx1kLHYLeRc/s320/adriredsea11.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYYqEcz3lkAR6p74_LTTw7h-77KrbZSDqzy0-7pZ8sC_U03C_TNwscuZa0Hl3QZ_OCzciCZ18OtNVhsVYYOf9zw2SCgjLt8mwScC8ska0W3FgKF760TZqbUUtLWA-q3bci_5pnsL_iGE/s1600/adriredsea12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYYqEcz3lkAR6p74_LTTw7h-77KrbZSDqzy0-7pZ8sC_U03C_TNwscuZa0Hl3QZ_OCzciCZ18OtNVhsVYYOf9zw2SCgjLt8mwScC8ska0W3FgKF760TZqbUUtLWA-q3bci_5pnsL_iGE/s320/adriredsea12.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Porto Sokhono Resort</div></div>The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-85221061938169194192011-07-21T12:46:00.000-07:002011-07-21T22:47:26.238-07:0019 - 20 July - Luxor onto Hurghada on the Red Sea<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-znvMD_DqV-QNU6ykQQxdcfy9NXbRevASTPWHroOySPj5EIdY5S1h95DwnkMeNrnxlTm0snvbw9wJPPqLzwo_AnbSzhfSl7bw_OtAd3ZLTPhHrWvvoXaex0aKq_wM7XM9tIRPvEQCkDg/s1600/DSC06352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-znvMD_DqV-QNU6ykQQxdcfy9NXbRevASTPWHroOySPj5EIdY5S1h95DwnkMeNrnxlTm0snvbw9wJPPqLzwo_AnbSzhfSl7bw_OtAd3ZLTPhHrWvvoXaex0aKq_wM7XM9tIRPvEQCkDg/s320/DSC06352.JPG" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div closure_uid_ii4lpz="149"> Ferry ride over to Valley of the Kings</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQea-QTi62yt8-xtzo3kemp3os-ieAMEkbRSZxcpG-vlCY2y93D7jTttKvhxgbFsGvLUx9QWR7WypXECzRknlSV7NDR-zBaU0O185Vur-rcQQLs4Lu9DZ6dnNGv7Ig3DE6meuhCbFnG-k/s1600/DSC06377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQea-QTi62yt8-xtzo3kemp3os-ieAMEkbRSZxcpG-vlCY2y93D7jTttKvhxgbFsGvLUx9QWR7WypXECzRknlSV7NDR-zBaU0O185Vur-rcQQLs4Lu9DZ6dnNGv7Ig3DE6meuhCbFnG-k/s320/DSC06377.JPG" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div closure_uid_ii4lpz="150"> Never ending negotiations</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNt9Oa2WghCQby0Ac_IQu0BNGhaM7K4n1rbxnhl39f_HFwSuga_QaQcFiSk4W3lnlpLurcS_apXrWKuir82Mnczq-8Qkbh4fy2MvbmXaboBgREEoWXHyezu8TELsmSahCUw0qko3fs9iE/s1600/DSC06408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNt9Oa2WghCQby0Ac_IQu0BNGhaM7K4n1rbxnhl39f_HFwSuga_QaQcFiSk4W3lnlpLurcS_apXrWKuir82Mnczq-8Qkbh4fy2MvbmXaboBgREEoWXHyezu8TELsmSahCUw0qko3fs9iE/s320/DSC06408.JPG" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div closure_uid_ii4lpz="151"> Horse and Cart in Luxor</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipokfxn7eWPJUTiLFEIIrludqbVyqc_CHeczMNF-aeSkWytYlH8u_v9ymcRa3bWp3sdmOXw3y1RD66A1UEfufhGkE2u-qLfpOz9RJvke8G9b8bMVW6pM_71NkXSDn6uy-ioBA3v11DrXM/s1600/DSC06422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipokfxn7eWPJUTiLFEIIrludqbVyqc_CHeczMNF-aeSkWytYlH8u_v9ymcRa3bWp3sdmOXw3y1RD66A1UEfufhGkE2u-qLfpOz9RJvke8G9b8bMVW6pM_71NkXSDn6uy-ioBA3v11DrXM/s320/DSC06422.JPG" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div closure_uid_ii4lpz="152"> Entrance to the Temple of \Luxor</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The road from \luxor to the Red Sea</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4C44-nT-f35YbZ-8PTwfpp3xQfXx4naEp2dcfX2nSFiiJGPvAaEOg-G0T69y5xbVht4L-gBD3C5cnIpAJW_jrK14KnQT8dO7ZKCSzeP61J4AsiB6PqZmfN9b52kiDUYaQi8gHUnI2ZqA/s1600/DSC06472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4C44-nT-f35YbZ-8PTwfpp3xQfXx4naEp2dcfX2nSFiiJGPvAaEOg-G0T69y5xbVht4L-gBD3C5cnIpAJW_jrK14KnQT8dO7ZKCSzeP61J4AsiB6PqZmfN9b52kiDUYaQi8gHUnI2ZqA/s320/DSC06472.JPG" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div closure_uid_ii4lpz="154"> When you run out of firelighters use local Egyptian Gin</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKoqd9v0QHbIUDL0Y2T5zFrOLEsxdgljfOHcggFDNBfViZLPw64Nz4wo-SCVHf5dX7oLHhMDtCcnQR6R-7R0GqSDz77VufFlCczNMg0rTARee0DwBJUMTGnVEnl6L_2z3rFAcf8Z1ZoU/s1600/DSC06476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKoqd9v0QHbIUDL0Y2T5zFrOLEsxdgljfOHcggFDNBfViZLPw64Nz4wo-SCVHf5dX7oLHhMDtCcnQR6R-7R0GqSDz77VufFlCczNMg0rTARee0DwBJUMTGnVEnl6L_2z3rFAcf8Z1ZoU/s320/DSC06476.JPG" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Megawish Resort </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div closure_uid_ii4lpz="155"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">19 July 2011</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luxor</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As there are many historical sites to see in Luxor & as our hotel (the Ibertol Hotel) which overlooks the Nile is very luxurious, we all decided that we needed to spend an extra day in Luxor. I think that we are becoming a bit soft & that our camping days for this trip are over! Certainly at the prices we are paying for our accommodation it does not make sense to camp. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After a very good breakfast on the patio we all decided to take a ferry across the Nile to the west bank where we hired a taxi to take us to the Valley of the Kings. This is where many of the kings had tombs built into a valley of high limestone cliffs. The drive &then walk to the tombs was through very harsh & arid mountains. Although there are many tombs, we decided to see only three. Although they have been partially defaced over the years they were still very impressive considering that they have been there since thousands of years BC - quite mind boggling.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After that our guide / driver took us to a factory which makes many of the curios out of stone etc. Needless to say we all ended up buying & although probably over paid, it was still an enjoyable experience. After that we visited the temple of Deir El- Bahari which is the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Although impressive, with views back over the green Nile valley, It was disappointing as we could not enter the inner temple.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We then went via the Colossi of Memnon before catching the ferry back to the hotel & having a well deserved swim & drink at the hotel swimming pool, which is in a barge which is on the Nile in front of the hotel. Doug, Charl & Mike then toured the Karnak Temple north of Luxor whereas the rest of us visited the Luxor Temple. Both were very impressive & ended a busy tourist day for all of us. What makes things tiring is that from the moment you step outside the hotel you are hassled by Egyptians trying to sell you something - it really gets to you big time, & can make a pleasant experience become unpleasant.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We also have given the English credit for their terms of “gypo guts” & “how to gypo work” as we have experienced these while being in Egypt! Luxor however is a beautiful city with tree lined streets along the Nile & beautifully decorated horse & carriages for transport. We have really enjoyed our stay here. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After an enjoyable meal at the hotel we all retired early. Unfortunately we have just discovered that 2 gas bottles have been stolen off the trailer which was parked across the road from the hotel. Tomorrow we drive about 260 kms to our destination of Hurghada on the Red Sea. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">20 July 2011</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hurghada on the Red Sea</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We all agreed that as the trip to Hurgada was only about 260kms on tar that we would leave Luxor at our own time. Rudi & Adri left first but had to turn back to Luxor a few times as the trailer’s shock absorber that Rudi had secured to his BMW kept coming loose. With a little help from wire Rudi secured it & they were on their way. They were followed by Mike, Charl & Doug, but they also did not get too far as Doug had a puncture due to a nail in the tyre. Roger & Jo left next with Cheryl & I bringing up the rear after enjoying a leisurely breakfast. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The drive was interesting with many contrasts. The first 65 kms was on a road in between the Nile & a canal. Although busy, the road was attractive as it was lined with beautiful & vibrant bougainvilleas. We then turned east & drove straight through the Eastern desert to the Red Sea. The desert started off being sandy, but soon descended through very rocky mountains, eventually returning to sand at the Red Sea. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We then drove about 50 kms next to the Red Sea through this sandy desert on a new double road. It became immediately evident that we were in tourist country as we passed many holiday developments. We eventually arrived at our resort, Magawish Swiss Inn Resort, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which had been recommended by the other East London car guys who had stayed there a few days earlier. Doug negotiated that we pay 45Euros per person for lunch, dinner, bed & breakfast. As a result we decided to stay longer than one night. We soon however realised that this resort is geared for the masses. Although far from full there are many East Europeans staying at the resort. After lunch in a huge dining room we were given our room keys, but not given help to find our rooms or help with our luggage. It was very hot & as the resort is so big with chalets scattered over a large area, tempers ran high! Once we had eventually found our rooms we spent the rest of the afternoon around the pool & trying to consume our monies worth in drinks. This actually proved quite difficult as we discovered that the free drinks had to be drinks from Egypt. The beer is good but they pour it into very small glasses, the wine is also good, but usually with no ice. The spirits are undrinkable! Although the gin bottle looks like Gordons gin & the wisky looks like Johnnie Walker Red Lable, they taste completely different: the gin is Gordoons Special Cairo gin & the whisky John Azores Red Label!! Now we know how they manage to stop South Africans from drinking too much. After dinner none of us could drink any more local drinks, so we all went to bed early! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div></div>The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-63780802481988927002011-07-21T12:42:00.000-07:002011-07-21T12:49:20.961-07:0018 - 19 July Aswan and Luxor<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">18 -19 July 2011</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aswan on to Luxor</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have been spending some time in Aswan in anticipation of our vehicles arriving. No news on Friday <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or Saturday, eventually on Sunday morning the guys were contacted and fetched to go to the harbour to retrieve their vehicles and do the carne’s, licence plates, insurance and road tax. The 8 guys, our 6 and Jo and Andrew from Europe who we met on the Wadi Halfa ferry, had to squeeze into 2 taxis of whom 1 broke on the way to Aswan harbour which is approximately 20km from Aswan town. Almost all cars in Aswan are either Peogeot’s 404, 405’s or Fiats. No wonder carne’s cost so much, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>entering from the North it is 800percent of vehicle value unlike from the South which is only 200percent. The guys arrived at the harbour only to realise that the captain and staff of the ferry disappeared without off loading the vehicles. Apparently the captain was upset because he never received the extra US100 that Ali, the Sudanese runner was given. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To top this all offloading ramps were missing and the 8 guys had to make a ‘Boere, Belgium and British’ plan to move the vehicles off the boat. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After hours of battling in the hot Egyptian sun they eventually got all 4 bikes and 4 vehicles from the barge, apparently the barge was empty except for our vehicles so why ‘extra’s’ for assurance of loading were charged only Ali will know. To top all this, the Egyptian police informed our team that they only work from 10am – 2pm and they must come back Monday to do paper work. This meant another night in Aswan, a day that could have been spent either in Luxor or on the Red Sea.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While the guys were sweating out organizing the vehicles the girls went shopping or rather bargaining in the Aswan market. Although we loved Aswan, Hanan and her team at Philea Hotel, the harassment by the Egyptian men started to get to us. They blatantly made comments and passes at us while their own wife’s were at home with barely enough space to peep or breath through their head gear. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We spent the rest of the day packing and met up with the younger crowd from London and Belgium for a couple of beers and some wine at our hotel reminiscing about the day, the guys about the day’s adventure of making plans to get vehicles off the barge and girls about being ripped off and some of the Egyptian men that are real perverts. We had a nice meal at Si Haad restaurant on the Nile and went to bed.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Monday morning we all waited for Kimal to contact us. The men were fetched, once again with Peogot 504’s and at about 11am we finally received our stamped carne’s, Egyptian number plates and importation documentation. All vehicles arrived back at the hotel around 2pm with their Egyptian number plates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We packed and left for Luxor.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luxor is about 210km further north and we started our journey along the Nile and beautiful bougainvillea plants along the road. Egyptian drivers are not the most well behaved and a few finger signs were thrown at them along the road. Along the210km of road there were many villages, mainly men sitting doing nothing, but then this is not unusual in Egypt. One thing is clear, I now know where the expressions ‘ gippo guts’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and to ‘gippo something’ comes from. Gippo guts from the Egyptian water and to gippo something is to do something perhaps unethical and in the shortest way possible. The British have not been wrong....</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 309.75pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We arrived in Luxor after 7pm, booked in at an amazing 4star hotel, Iberotel, arranged by our hostess in Aswan and all excited and ready for the Valley of the Kings, the Luxor Temple and many more sights <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on Tuesday. Apparently Luxor is the ‘biggest ‘open air’ museum in Egypt. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoqkTXeafV_MWW4fhDrydIL60PSKmXk3fnV8p4rA2qLXKhIWIliRATtWXGqob0_uznbmC7ytLgPfBxluCnjIB6Djs_6IUMBk74UgWimniW7mRLnYph7Mb6G0y8xtVlYRs_2dRUcUisZo/s1600/adriaswan+rest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoqkTXeafV_MWW4fhDrydIL60PSKmXk3fnV8p4rA2qLXKhIWIliRATtWXGqob0_uznbmC7ytLgPfBxluCnjIB6Djs_6IUMBk74UgWimniW7mRLnYph7Mb6G0y8xtVlYRs_2dRUcUisZo/s320/adriaswan+rest.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQj5cGjoWg_p0ua-2d62dRyiajPYc1s-q5OcrTXpicB7FZGQctpiVEgUKuX6QmzbFbejeF9twrFkr8wlhJYSkfk4QOtfbR0m4yK7B9DH5g8HL4_9fqbF8ZKyqXIYJuBovoEug2R-tMMY/s1600/adriaswanchruch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQj5cGjoWg_p0ua-2d62dRyiajPYc1s-q5OcrTXpicB7FZGQctpiVEgUKuX6QmzbFbejeF9twrFkr8wlhJYSkfk4QOtfbR0m4yK7B9DH5g8HL4_9fqbF8ZKyqXIYJuBovoEug2R-tMMY/s320/adriaswanchruch.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7i6BqC68gJb6pFs4ca7AYglXOy-aa-d_Hie5r5Rovxl0fbh90GFY2pZng6sVbitxb0PE2WMX8YabBOQIZLoGr42vP5H1gTj9xcSOZXWYSRKzxvKExmpYVtdTvoHRqrd0g4JYUJMiyXk/s1600/adriaswangirs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7i6BqC68gJb6pFs4ca7AYglXOy-aa-d_Hie5r5Rovxl0fbh90GFY2pZng6sVbitxb0PE2WMX8YabBOQIZLoGr42vP5H1gTj9xcSOZXWYSRKzxvKExmpYVtdTvoHRqrd0g4JYUJMiyXk/s320/adriaswangirs.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div closure_uid_9tr9jv="105">Hanan and girls to Philea Hotel</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjrpnuleOiL4En44YgFoGpjcKptnLaWcg5l6wxEjLi1k3qBgQfcgbWOn5s4SKkGFgvU773vm2ZZh1s0U0gGESY-f-dNdedJFFznnbhT2VWIHizuIb6xzlXyxRIb3CqW-LtsHTtsqRnWw/s1600/adriaswanlux.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjrpnuleOiL4En44YgFoGpjcKptnLaWcg5l6wxEjLi1k3qBgQfcgbWOn5s4SKkGFgvU773vm2ZZh1s0U0gGESY-f-dNdedJFFznnbhT2VWIHizuIb6xzlXyxRIb3CqW-LtsHTtsqRnWw/s320/adriaswanlux.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div closure_uid_9tr9jv="106"><div closure_uid_a2o3as="114">Road to Luxor next to the Nile</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCexCvmyRPD5G36A7pvnzLOQYLI7jNbv-9WYqYXceHkFkD5EiHVauhlqG5-BMdYesKA7KSNksIRIpDoPOa_3DqHEDcfETHLBWCokeRN-wXdWzVQVirgoLGQ6tqnAJ2hzfvJjNtJbOk6w/s1600/adriaswannumber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCexCvmyRPD5G36A7pvnzLOQYLI7jNbv-9WYqYXceHkFkD5EiHVauhlqG5-BMdYesKA7KSNksIRIpDoPOa_3DqHEDcfETHLBWCokeRN-wXdWzVQVirgoLGQ6tqnAJ2hzfvJjNtJbOk6w/s320/adriaswannumber.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div closure_uid_9tr9jv="107">Finally our Egyptian number plates.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tzKClyoQDDfvRzjs7tjHNWGAqdOZeIl0nmErm0m4O263rA2TZ5hkr7lTdf57Q8cuWGkHXi5-YLHSuS75fvh-a00-e_Ih6jB0ZdKrbLEts-JjowhyphenhyphenB06tFELfIJMfoginxQoM4BsLxjE/s1600/adriaswanview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tzKClyoQDDfvRzjs7tjHNWGAqdOZeIl0nmErm0m4O263rA2TZ5hkr7lTdf57Q8cuWGkHXi5-YLHSuS75fvh-a00-e_Ih6jB0ZdKrbLEts-JjowhyphenhyphenB06tFELfIJMfoginxQoM4BsLxjE/s320/adriaswanview.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8_9TUHdvnHH0tutVFxoKwwnfETNgAyg7UeGy7685bRWRRYtpdX2OgGT8pKdl88qUfX2gXyNn0gSsIfj7oVjIMwWDI55nXmQuzfqU3wB0qxGxBRIIFcMrLt6TIe_jIghB9jgLjJyj5Gc/s1600/adriaswanburcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8_9TUHdvnHH0tutVFxoKwwnfETNgAyg7UeGy7685bRWRRYtpdX2OgGT8pKdl88qUfX2gXyNn0gSsIfj7oVjIMwWDI55nXmQuzfqU3wB0qxGxBRIIFcMrLt6TIe_jIghB9jgLjJyj5Gc/s320/adriaswanburcher.jpg" t$="true" width="320px" /></a></div></div>The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-58319947877085395222011-07-18T00:39:00.000-07:002011-07-18T00:39:52.353-07:00Aswan<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Enjoying Hotel Philae.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hotel is on the Nile River, all the luxury boats are just standing as apparently tourism only starts in October.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roger’s foot is very sore so Hassan, the hotel owner/manager has taken him to the local hospital for xrays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has a fissure fracture below his big toe and doc gave a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>prescription for medicine and because of Hanan’s influence no bill had to be paid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hanan has been so kind and helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her service is great!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everyone else went to the market, most shops were closed as it was Friday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ladies had quite an awful experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jo-Anne was invited into a shop by a young man who was selling clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He showed a Muslin outfit and started putting it on, while facing you from the front the headpiece was fitted tying it at the back of your head he then does a groin push, whips the top over your clothes and tries to fasten that at the back whilst making his moves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jo-Anne pulled everything off and ran out of the shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cheryl and Adri had a similar experience with<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the same guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is better to shop in groups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other girls we met have also been sexually harassed.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the evening we all went on a sail boat around the Nile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some beautiful buildings, of which a mosque that was lit up and looked as if it was made of see through shiny rock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were served Nubian food, fish and lamb with a lovely tomato sauce and rice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also serve Sesame oil on the side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very enjoyable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No news from the runner Kamiel if barge has arrived or in fact left with the vehicles.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next morning Karmiel let us know that the barge had arrived and that the guys were to meet him at 12.30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roger went to the barber to have his 6 week old beard removed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The barber also had a twisted nylon string between his hands and mouth like a “woer-woer” and removed hairs from his ears, nose, side of temples, above the eyebrows, this all brought tears to his eyes but he looks a new man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All that for R35.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rudi, Adri, Ian and Cheryl went to Hotel Isis for a swim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>R50 to get in, get a towel and a free drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their fridges don’t work so no ice nor cold drinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ice is not big in Aswan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others visited the amazing Nubian Museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unesco and partners did an amazing job saving all the historical works from the waters of the Aswan dam.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Karmiel sent a message to meet at 14h30 and then another one not to meet as the barge had not been off loaded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were to meet next day at 8h45.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We went out to the Seafood Restaurant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amazing. Can recommend the Dorade, Tapilata, eel and calamari.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doug, Charl and Michael have enjoyed their KFC meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are excited to get going to Luxor.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPh0RSLiSBm8OP86SgjSRmt2NL02RalXG_yvQnvzpu49lKIxuh6OUj_y73uBWu8ATsALyQ4nW3W4wDKoTwtDAbyx1aK4r0nB1Koem7-suKPNJj3QuS8pPFg5_pASD-7IBh8MQsID_1ljM/s1600/Jo-+aswan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPh0RSLiSBm8OP86SgjSRmt2NL02RalXG_yvQnvzpu49lKIxuh6OUj_y73uBWu8ATsALyQ4nW3W4wDKoTwtDAbyx1aK4r0nB1Koem7-suKPNJj3QuS8pPFg5_pASD-7IBh8MQsID_1ljM/s320/Jo-+aswan1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> A Nubian Feast prepared for us!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJsfS2OyFEy6oLgHkMiayaOV6CC54WRV9-mogbPllhJ3LZp1LegHZPvOtkmy3D4gzyjjCLqOE-ddlEWYvAYDFEHqaqSuYnoDXxUIdgtrr5GTo9hh_jfFBEvGlKZ9SOXmYkk1gaY_lOsM/s1600/Jo-aswan2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJsfS2OyFEy6oLgHkMiayaOV6CC54WRV9-mogbPllhJ3LZp1LegHZPvOtkmy3D4gzyjjCLqOE-ddlEWYvAYDFEHqaqSuYnoDXxUIdgtrr5GTo9hh_jfFBEvGlKZ9SOXmYkk1gaY_lOsM/s320/Jo-aswan2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Rock temples on the side of the Nile<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDePu1HiQPL2Ol5gWpUUl6cHvb6HJiLbVcjlDui65rhFKhWG6bjYymHO64qTrm_tDeqND28VMzEm7kMkfX1p6i3PfRXkyueD2GWuf2gh1sfdrozeGG0X9NAVIByfUoKesbeaYRvty3SCk/s1600/Jo-aswan3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDePu1HiQPL2Ol5gWpUUl6cHvb6HJiLbVcjlDui65rhFKhWG6bjYymHO64qTrm_tDeqND28VMzEm7kMkfX1p6i3PfRXkyueD2GWuf2gh1sfdrozeGG0X9NAVIByfUoKesbeaYRvty3SCk/s320/Jo-aswan3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> A Friendly welcome on the sailboat - SA Flag and Bob Marley awaiting us<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4sLhcecnDNssV4ZULg_AMSPfZO_6fywFYNPrKRq2nOQZ56dIRLzwtiAqF2oIrmxoT2AmBYv5gHEdXgMOjCl_0CNoCZDO5nKM6bj1uvSk2qwmg15-6WN2kj2CK_mcJQOjgZvHdw6WMp4/s1600/Jo-aswan4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4sLhcecnDNssV4ZULg_AMSPfZO_6fywFYNPrKRq2nOQZ56dIRLzwtiAqF2oIrmxoT2AmBYv5gHEdXgMOjCl_0CNoCZDO5nKM6bj1uvSk2qwmg15-6WN2kj2CK_mcJQOjgZvHdw6WMp4/s320/Jo-aswan4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Taxi ride into AswanThe Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-50711037918709049882011-07-16T21:58:00.000-07:002011-07-17T09:45:32.996-07:00Wadi Halfa to Aswan<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">13 July 2011</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Boarding Ferry from Wadi Halfa on Lake Nubia in Sudan which becomes Lake Nasser in Egypt</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our day started with us waiting at our “hotel with no name” for our fixer, Allie, to tell us the procedure for all the East London car guys & ourselves to board the ferry to Aswan in Egypt. In true African style it was a case of “hurry up & wait”. We were all a bit concerned as we knew that if we could not board the ferry that day, we would have to remain in Wadi Halfa for a week before the next ferry left for Aswan. This was not an option as Wadi Halfa must be “the arse hole of the world”! It used to be a pleasant town on the banks of the Nile, but when Egypt built the new dam at Aswan the old town was flooded & a new town developed away from the Nile - surrounded by desert. There is nothing endearing about Wadi Halfa - you cannot even buy toilet paper!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Allie eventually arrived & he assured us that we were booked on the ferry & that the bikes & support vehicles would be on a separate barge which would leave the following morning. We were relieved to hear this & paid Allie the following: accommodation in Wadi Halfa -$35 per room; for the barge to take the cars & bikes to Aswan - $330 per car, $300 for the trailer & $70 per bike; for second class on the ferry - $52 per person. Although a lot of money we were relieved that we would be leaving that afternoon & even if the cars & bikes only arrived on Saturday, it would be better waiting in Aswan rather than Wadi Halfa. Allie said he would come & collect us when it was time to drive to the ferry. When he did come back it was to tell us that we needed to pay an extra $100 for the “captain” to make a plan to fit the bikes in the hold of the barge! They knew & we knew that we had no alternative but to pay more, so we agreed. When I asked Allie if we should pay the extra $100 to the captain, he said we must pay him as he had already paid the captain!! They saw us coming - especially when we discovered other bikers only paid $30 per bike & about $40 for the ferry. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This left a sour taste in our mouths & unfortunately only added to the disappointment about Sudan. As the area we travelled through is mainly desert, it is very dry, hot & windy, but worse still is very dirty & covered with litter. Our good memories of Sudan are our fantastic bush camps, the fruit juices & rest facilities on the side of the road through the desert.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Allie eventually took us to the ferry it was early afternoon & extremely hot (over 45 degrees). It took us about 3 hours to complete all paper work & fight our way onto the ferry. There is no politeness, everyone, including baggage & cargo handlers just push you out of the way. By the time we were on board we were exhausted, hot & sweaty, but relieved to be on board. Our “accommodation” was on the top deck, which had no shade cover - so we continued to cook. We also had to fight for a spot on the deck as the ferry was full of Sudanese. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We eventually left at about 6.00pm, drank our smuggled liquor sachets (which are terrible), some had the supper made on board, but the rest of us had bully beef etc which Adri had brought on board - you do not want to spend any extra time perched above a filthy long drop! At sunset all the Muslim men came to the top deck where they prayed for some time, which was quite an experience.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During the evening when crossing the Egyptian border, an Egyptian boat pulled alongside & officials bordered to check our passports - another scrum ensued. Soon after that we crossed the Tropic of Cancer & we suddenly realised just how far we had driven up Africa. That night we all tried to sleep on the deck while trying to fight off Sudanese who seemed to always be encroaching on your space.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">14 July 2011</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aswan</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lake Nasser (or the Aswan High Dam) is a lovely piece of water to cruise on as it is clean & the desert & rocks are visible on both sides. Although long it is not very wide. What was very noticeable was the lack of inhabitants on the land & virtually no fishing. We eventually docked at Aswan harbour at about 12.00pm & once again had to fight our way off the ferry & through customs before boarding a bus provided by our fixer, Kamile. The heat was unbearable. As we had heard that Aswan was a tourist friendly & attractive city, we were taken aback when we had to drive for about 20kms through harsh desert before reaching the main city which is on the Nile. The contrast between Wadi Halfa & Aswan is like night & day. Aswan is beautiful with tree lined streets along the Nile with numerous Nile cruising boats moored on the side. Even the people are more friendly, can speak English & to our relief the ATM’s work (we were not able to use one ATM in Sudan - not even in Khartum!).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We booked into the Philae Hotel which overlooks the Nile. We are only paying $40 per room for a very clean room with a shower / bath (with 24 hour running water) & a clean toilet which you can sit on! What luxury. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we were all filthy & exhausted we all showered & slept. Later on we had a late lunch at a very nice restaurant on the Nile, before meeting the East London car guys who had managed to collect their cars - the barge for their cars had left 2 days earlier. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aswan is suffering economically due to the lack of tourists which is a direct result of the political turmoil in Egypt. Although this is their tourist season, there are very few tourists around, the hotels are empty & the big Nile cruising boats are moored & going nowhere. It is tough for the people of Aswan, but all are pleased about the political change that has taken place & are looking forward to more democratic reform. They know that tourism will suffer in the short term but are confident that within the next few years will improve. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the one hand this is good for us as we are able to negotiate good deals, but we have to be more alert as the locals will “rip you off to make a quick buck” before you know what has happened! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3v8g4pyHcWyu-7S-t4IHObiJeVjtp60c1XewHCAuvGyS17elcnLzY-UBkaT5cI_VmCVNVR_MpvPsRaQx3b1EUwNi2g-clb2YW1SXzKFk46Bf1OyrcW3khBZta1azwyWwemWInk8kCqk/s1600/No1.+Loading+vehicles+Sudanese+style.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3v8g4pyHcWyu-7S-t4IHObiJeVjtp60c1XewHCAuvGyS17elcnLzY-UBkaT5cI_VmCVNVR_MpvPsRaQx3b1EUwNi2g-clb2YW1SXzKFk46Bf1OyrcW3khBZta1azwyWwemWInk8kCqk/s320/No1.+Loading+vehicles+Sudanese+style.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Habour activities in Wadi Halfa.......<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnM7oGzvp2XE0sU_jJmpT2xUlEjT6kUH96IT2f6ULC5NxtlWpwznzZq-h-UdEirFEKHu_-o8KoaLJwYUjwZlY4M8eTQF75BvlpTJt_PQfVvb9Ee5e-EJjiERxEMCFY_3ucI8_jvz3Bl_s/s1600/No+3..More+and+more+people+joined+2nd+class.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnM7oGzvp2XE0sU_jJmpT2xUlEjT6kUH96IT2f6ULC5NxtlWpwznzZq-h-UdEirFEKHu_-o8KoaLJwYUjwZlY4M8eTQF75BvlpTJt_PQfVvb9Ee5e-EJjiERxEMCFY_3ucI8_jvz3Bl_s/s320/No+3..More+and+more+people+joined+2nd+class.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Trying to find a place for the night!!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiDl14UqG-0M1PO36V30cMiY5PX1jqSAHNLFzqJEDq0AJSF3SBn3GsGw4FgoP_9tHp_GPSPYfAt6i3a58efTgaSM3ETmktiMJwBSbeUFoAKmc7ZngwOLJMEO9_iwzBtXnvLt-wNvrnQ0/s1600/No+4..Prayer+hour+on+the+ferry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiDl14UqG-0M1PO36V30cMiY5PX1jqSAHNLFzqJEDq0AJSF3SBn3GsGw4FgoP_9tHp_GPSPYfAt6i3a58efTgaSM3ETmktiMJwBSbeUFoAKmc7ZngwOLJMEO9_iwzBtXnvLt-wNvrnQ0/s320/No+4..Prayer+hour+on+the+ferry.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Evening and morning prayers.... over, under and between.....we are lying somewhere... spot a Ladybrander?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3J_q-Mpz1k-mbAokLwZB27SqGykaLWM5eTKTdXIGgZlklG11bByd9JvY7FdMpYA_q2KwHxtBE0MvMRIBYhTUxISynhyphenhyphenF2GRWHLVmxmq3f0mqj5DepoOfjBEJmuMCi4SkvqGDICOLh7g/s1600/No+5..Our+sleeping+accommodation.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3J_q-Mpz1k-mbAokLwZB27SqGykaLWM5eTKTdXIGgZlklG11bByd9JvY7FdMpYA_q2KwHxtBE0MvMRIBYhTUxISynhyphenhyphenF2GRWHLVmxmq3f0mqj5DepoOfjBEJmuMCi4SkvqGDICOLh7g/s320/No+5..Our+sleeping+accommodation.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We felt quite underdressed without our 'white' night gowns?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yvWdPiCowxtC5XWlhJ3dq8hlyiCyYdCc071HPdXWjhvcprkTH-IanBx-6o-0PRKz1kK1vsh4B6N4RySq6TW9jKRy4RfUD5xXBC2ohqcaO1n_AU0lGs9rK4gQUPBcQGODk0QPWxHzayk/s1600/No+7.After+a+rough+night+on+sleeping+on+the+deck.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yvWdPiCowxtC5XWlhJ3dq8hlyiCyYdCc071HPdXWjhvcprkTH-IanBx-6o-0PRKz1kK1vsh4B6N4RySq6TW9jKRy4RfUD5xXBC2ohqcaO1n_AU0lGs9rK4gQUPBcQGODk0QPWxHzayk/s320/No+7.After+a+rough+night+on+sleeping+on+the+deck.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FouPD5HPEazDcRb-Doa_rFsOtWL5xz9wh87Hl31S0C6pZm84zhkxPSowen5DbY7CNBuL0ztU6iqwi8dCkryS0XSA9YSS9ejAna33H8QHuixGm7fSfKVM7-4MzwVVWoZpa0cV0PDITsU/s1600/No+8.The+draw+bridge+and+baggage+handlers+at+Aswan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FouPD5HPEazDcRb-Doa_rFsOtWL5xz9wh87Hl31S0C6pZm84zhkxPSowen5DbY7CNBuL0ztU6iqwi8dCkryS0XSA9YSS9ejAna33H8QHuixGm7fSfKVM7-4MzwVVWoZpa0cV0PDITsU/s320/No+8.The+draw+bridge+and+baggage+handlers+at+Aswan.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Arrival in Aswan, Egypt you only do this once in you life.....<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8tuqYZpW07-VDBLIHHxAGarrNvN4P-U2583orcUMqfp2HdAHmnbbYwwOvRuhFIeCUoag8fK_bItEjZlJvc0Igz02TeLZZiY50l7lDBetf-zHZLvH-VwL7G8hyzR7rtL_NbYA7NuOWlg/s1600/No+9.The+beautiful+view+from+our+hotel+room.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8tuqYZpW07-VDBLIHHxAGarrNvN4P-U2583orcUMqfp2HdAHmnbbYwwOvRuhFIeCUoag8fK_bItEjZlJvc0Igz02TeLZZiY50l7lDBetf-zHZLvH-VwL7G8hyzR7rtL_NbYA7NuOWlg/s320/No+9.The+beautiful+view+from+our+hotel+room.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What a welcome surprise...a view from our rooms...</div>The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-38647972813256177582011-07-16T03:36:00.000-07:002011-07-18T00:42:13.656-07:00Desert Camp to Wadi Halfa<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmykAYVBuxWSmRczzZBj5ObtDKQHvOesUHtOR46s55jyStXBFXOSjKyQa5yr1SIeCC7TIRyNjc2Rbf_ugCnFVreGiUJOxJeBP-UaHhV8BHc_bvjYgSbNIZEm7juBH1NUSrR4Vj4DZo-H4/s1600/Jo-desertloi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmykAYVBuxWSmRczzZBj5ObtDKQHvOesUHtOR46s55jyStXBFXOSjKyQa5yr1SIeCC7TIRyNjc2Rbf_ugCnFVreGiUJOxJeBP-UaHhV8BHc_bvjYgSbNIZEm7juBH1NUSrR4Vj4DZo-H4/s320/Jo-desertloi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Camp Louis next to the Nile<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FLROGVzQnB_-eTXL-8dJZoAooUcDNueXlCj1Oa3v2q_o96rleZrHb2aKKjphJpMt6APSSWOPdD03NTcRMwAUcHEx6jdTXVf57nDOgJRYSvFLuhzvP4dCvgjAObXb-ZMlRNzJo_zAHvM/s1600/jo-desertrest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FLROGVzQnB_-eTXL-8dJZoAooUcDNueXlCj1Oa3v2q_o96rleZrHb2aKKjphJpMt6APSSWOPdD03NTcRMwAUcHEx6jdTXVf57nDOgJRYSvFLuhzvP4dCvgjAObXb-ZMlRNzJo_zAHvM/s320/jo-desertrest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Resting at a roadside water hole and rest camp</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Desert Camp to Wadi Halfa</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSg3pEhI1c-PRA_1F2QJlp6uewlSATXvKVlm1fyjMxSAYdxVPE713PrL-EthGr0Z03levM_LaiaU0AVAY0dUk0j3wzgNU0DiBPWtW3vXT56iIDYNtIoPW4naK7lHUDf8fYqnsNnffpRk/s1600/adrideser1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSg3pEhI1c-PRA_1F2QJlp6uewlSATXvKVlm1fyjMxSAYdxVPE713PrL-EthGr0Z03levM_LaiaU0AVAY0dUk0j3wzgNU0DiBPWtW3vXT56iIDYNtIoPW4naK7lHUDf8fYqnsNnffpRk/s320/adrideser1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Water holes along the Sudan highway<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKHj5ctji2WIM32q59pCnR_O6xn0R3ViCdhvvOL1Ho7Oyy0rPTR3oXJY7G9Tmnhon2JHg6Ym_Z1nV8HOQ79fcG4AfCHjzcppf-zsl145yaxZagdApOctyyEwwNwV4CCiUfuBR93jUpKY/s1600/adridesert2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKHj5ctji2WIM32q59pCnR_O6xn0R3ViCdhvvOL1Ho7Oyy0rPTR3oXJY7G9Tmnhon2JHg6Ym_Z1nV8HOQ79fcG4AfCHjzcppf-zsl145yaxZagdApOctyyEwwNwV4CCiUfuBR93jUpKY/s320/adridesert2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>893km of deselation and heatwaves<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Ah2gs-ZV7mft8N_3JeWc2-d1ZOFYfyustM44oSnjgj39FSVIC6Y1FgSe4RBrVt3Va4X3uMD_yqFo8I_tp1QBlTfvxEHi8_ZWX_iQW3jldXN7Z0W1j0t2O8myeaLXufQSTNFx2w8oE_k/s1600/adridesertresr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Ah2gs-ZV7mft8N_3JeWc2-d1ZOFYfyustM44oSnjgj39FSVIC6Y1FgSe4RBrVt3Va4X3uMD_yqFo8I_tp1QBlTfvxEHi8_ZWX_iQW3jldXN7Z0W1j0t2O8myeaLXufQSTNFx2w8oE_k/s320/adridesertresr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Another water hole with beds to rest<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKqhegk8naGk_lzuDWvEbEO-ZCibVzBGoXsFJoLTTfChCMDHMrzV9Ff7iA4GhOeCCu815QunoiyMADK6IXfW9fm6FXlFsSae3JfmchYaH_HBxPg_qY316NJfgo96lnAiO_AR-FGM0j4w/s1600/adriniledes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKqhegk8naGk_lzuDWvEbEO-ZCibVzBGoXsFJoLTTfChCMDHMrzV9Ff7iA4GhOeCCu815QunoiyMADK6IXfW9fm6FXlFsSae3JfmchYaH_HBxPg_qY316NJfgo96lnAiO_AR-FGM0j4w/s320/adriniledes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Typical desert town<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyEEr6TgSFsQ3Y7saiVHiTG6gXyNpXdNnRi4NB0X3UEp3LKH5K3zGkylCO6mAc2UIA6E6bNGYbdTW_0ACEDwELlK_c1o1hFP87z4hbt5ybAtmMKZErsDtpIeSz-Chvn3XsKSJ-ymjWhA/s1600/adrisudbike2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyEEr6TgSFsQ3Y7saiVHiTG6gXyNpXdNnRi4NB0X3UEp3LKH5K3zGkylCO6mAc2UIA6E6bNGYbdTW_0ACEDwELlK_c1o1hFP87z4hbt5ybAtmMKZErsDtpIeSz-Chvn3XsKSJ-ymjWhA/s320/adrisudbike2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> BMW cum Gabriel conversion - Rudi fitted our trailer shock to help him get through Africa<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs08mfKPEyYYJG_6fOl_AcngNK-ixV6DPaKfNNFZcn0YlMZsAX16hZeviGUWVaScf6rUU7fuwC58NPWBbpfQFVXOsDxcQO-oGAhoz0ml1kP8YdOYgL5EfxqNBjhWeaZAoxmsDUwh3UbP0/s1600/adrisu1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs08mfKPEyYYJG_6fOl_AcngNK-ixV6DPaKfNNFZcn0YlMZsAX16hZeviGUWVaScf6rUU7fuwC58NPWBbpfQFVXOsDxcQO-oGAhoz0ml1kP8YdOYgL5EfxqNBjhWeaZAoxmsDUwh3UbP0/s320/adrisu1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After an unbelievable night under the Sudanese Desert skies with the moon busy vexing and stars as bright as city lights, we got up at 4am to start our 2<sup>nd</sup> last leg to Wadi Halfa. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An earlier start would give us time to ‘siesta’ somewhere along the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We still had +/- 550km to go and are trying to cut it into 2 days since we have to be in Wadi Halfa on Tuesday morning if we wanted our vehicles on the ferry/barge to Aswan, Egypt on Wednesday. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So far Sudan has been rather disappointing. All along the roads were discarded plastic bags, bottles and waste. Positively, we co-incidentally, were in Khartoum while history was in the making. South Sudan became independent from North Sudan. Our East London car group we heard later, stayed at the same hotel than our very own Mr Thabo Mbeki who was a main mediator in the North and South independence negotiations. Mr Mbeki was informed that fellow SA’s were in the hotel and agreed to meet with the guys. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks Mr Mbkeki for acknowledging your fellow countrymen in Sudan. You can read more about this on the website http://www.elao2011.co.za.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both bikers and vehicles have been taking strain with temperatures ranging between 45 – 47degrees Celsius. I don’t know whether it was a blessing in disguise or not, but Rudi’s bike blew the shock absorber seal only 45km into Sudan and I had been delegated into the back-up vehicle. On our arrival in Khartoum he made a plan and fixed the trailer spare shock to the bike. Now he is riding a BMW cum Gabriel and I was promised that I could get back on the bike in Egypt. Nobody wants to get stuck in the desolate Sudan desert or in Wadi Halfa?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We travelled rather slowly from our desert camp up north and agreed that we would leave as little as possible kilo’s for the last leg. All along the road there are water stops with beds standing ready for anyone that would like to take a break from the heat. These water stops was well used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The vehicles met up with the bikes at just such a stop and we all decided to go to a place on the Nile for a rest and a swim. We spent the next 3hrs bathing in the river, praying that the crocodiles have fed already, rinsed our washing that merrily have been shaking in our washing drum on the roof rack while driving. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a refreshing rest we headed off for another 100km and started looking for a place to camp the night. The GPS showed up ‘Camp Louis’ . We found a place that could have been Camp Louis in the old day’s. It was a very dirty place with plastic bags in and around every tree. We cleaned up enough for us to strike camp next to the river. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end it was quite nice except for millions of bugs flying around that made it almost impossible to open your mouth.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cheryl<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and Ian cooked a nice meal, Rudi was sick, probably sunstroke and all had an early evening after having had another swim in the Nile.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yet another beautiful night under the Sudan skies. We left round 8am with only 168km to Wadi Halfa. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all pushed through and met up with the East Londen guys around 11am They have organized a guy called Ali to sort out our Carnets, tickets for the ferry for both vehicles and passengers. After handing over paperwork to the runner the waiting game began. The<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Guest House’ where we stayed at has no name so we just called it “The Yellow House’ the bathrooms and kitchen ware disgustingly dirty. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a cleaning lady around but I don’t think she has ever heard off cleaning materials, she just hung around turning dirt around from one corner to the next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sat outside after the sun had set and Roger and Jo-Anne did some rather tough fillets on the braai and the guys all drank some sachets from our bar. Wadi Hafa was just another dry desert town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shops had very little, the restaurants very dirty and men sitting around everywhere doing absolutely nothing and no women and children to be seen anywhere. </span></span></div>The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-60101758928782994752011-07-13T03:36:00.000-07:002011-07-18T00:33:57.934-07:00Khartum and Desert Camp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJB9i1qJS9hhA6W0Eq8sgGbhOTsiq3c2SQVZfK7RGe4Ays63ZRHZ6fc02wrC150me7TBM790WBd2UulzAZXW7HzbC-D8ffa9d_hXNm_wTLvqekDkdGFU8_cMIVDHPQKhBXQOmPDHkSFkk/s1600/jokart4ch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJB9i1qJS9hhA6W0Eq8sgGbhOTsiq3c2SQVZfK7RGe4Ays63ZRHZ6fc02wrC150me7TBM790WBd2UulzAZXW7HzbC-D8ffa9d_hXNm_wTLvqekDkdGFU8_cMIVDHPQKhBXQOmPDHkSFkk/s320/jokart4ch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A Catholic Church opposite our campsite in Khartoum<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczr_QfM-lOZh-rHdzS3_IrblbyQg_5BaNJDP-e8BaZz34x70qRup8b6WHLzULqW_UtSO7liZDSgXprkbxuWAUbbXXoa2RUHOBakcFRGo7EceoaC1mkZDnBcR-vkIgfUNLmJCd0MFH-0U/s1600/jokart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczr_QfM-lOZh-rHdzS3_IrblbyQg_5BaNJDP-e8BaZz34x70qRup8b6WHLzULqW_UtSO7liZDSgXprkbxuWAUbbXXoa2RUHOBakcFRGo7EceoaC1mkZDnBcR-vkIgfUNLmJCd0MFH-0U/s320/jokart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Desert desolation<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMhkkwhQy-E3Y1eE67-q-VrlzVQlGv1-urgaN5UU5tbMjcniJqJb-XoWVSLWZP0mSIDgpblkoJCyXkp-nWqC0KnCQzl3j1E6MJz4DtJuurTTkVEyjFNlvKT_M8rjjl8YmWFthqZ_9vx4/s320/jokarthote.jpg" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CH9LDYtpZh1pAguxFl-8euqB8Oh7QQye0tXK4aG9dtTP6EIvdbj2Cgk-IHgrGev0YqDCK9rNwaiocWRSt7gLZF3WmLsqQWtfwxCErrjfHR541bkb1vDqlng-tuA2nDz819r79Z7Vs6U/s1600/jokartcity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CH9LDYtpZh1pAguxFl-8euqB8Oh7QQye0tXK4aG9dtTP6EIvdbj2Cgk-IHgrGev0YqDCK9rNwaiocWRSt7gLZF3WmLsqQWtfwxCErrjfHR541bkb1vDqlng-tuA2nDz819r79Z7Vs6U/s320/jokartcity.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFscMWXcLN8XfBfoljsJyuBEwOlDfNHVOsOVhTaWTyNx0zUL76UTKSXOkuIiADhnJJmkvQTae16nQ9A6xEpNKDIl056SGYhaTeP1aS9zyYD0Rnh-wr2d_8aP3oY_K5RPyyYu-4CDe1ak/s1600/jokartcam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFscMWXcLN8XfBfoljsJyuBEwOlDfNHVOsOVhTaWTyNx0zUL76UTKSXOkuIiADhnJJmkvQTae16nQ9A6xEpNKDIl056SGYhaTeP1aS9zyYD0Rnh-wr2d_8aP3oY_K5RPyyYu-4CDe1ak/s320/jokartcam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhwUR9YXwrHxxC-26gK3hBfCtwUcv__aZ_AL4rwNmj2PyyyTvX8yIB4GGPAtYacFZNbmR1P0uyMw_nTd4IXSW-1ne_0QZLiSq7HIlG4W8AmC79MHFfeyXPZKp8xNAkF6tTFqcmDwoeoE/s1600/jonile4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhwUR9YXwrHxxC-26gK3hBfCtwUcv__aZ_AL4rwNmj2PyyyTvX8yIB4GGPAtYacFZNbmR1P0uyMw_nTd4IXSW-1ne_0QZLiSq7HIlG4W8AmC79MHFfeyXPZKp8xNAkF6tTFqcmDwoeoE/s1600/jonile4.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-55445561852198659032011-07-13T02:57:00.000-07:002011-07-13T02:57:27.214-07:00Lalibela to Axum<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Lalibela to Aksum<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></h2><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 304.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><h2 style="margin: 10pt 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Jerusalem Guesthouse in Lalibela was extremely good and can certainly be recommended. Rooms were big, clean and first prize in Africa certainly are clean toilets and showers. We were all very apprehensive about staying in another hotel after our two previous night’s disasters. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Camping definitely preferred but because of Ethiopia’s dense population it was impossible to find camping spaces. Lalibela is a must seen on a visit to Ethiopia. The religion cultivated from the Lalibela, Axum and Gondor area are very fascinating, interesting and very, very alive. Our visit has brought so many unanswered questions to reality.</span></span></h2><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We left round 9am on route to Makele. The day’s driving included <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a 165km dirt road with a further <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>150km stretch of tar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we left the beautiful, high lying, world heritage site of Lalibela, with it’s cobble stone streets and rich history of religion and power battles between families we started our decline with an awesome view of a beautiful mountain range, and from then it was range after range and valley after valley for the next 165Km. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spectacular views all the way. Population a lot less than along our previous routes. The people of this region live under<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>harsh <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>conditions yet many a hill have been cultivated. It must take those who work the fields, still very primitively, most of the day to climb either up or down the mountains <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>depending on where their villages are situated.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roger and Jo unfortunately had a fall round one of the thousands of ends. The bikes back tyre slipped on loose stones and they bought a piece of Ethiopia. Fortunately they got off lightly and were helped by a very kind local guy half Jo-Anne’s size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Roger it was his second fall on the trip and he is a bit ‘ eina’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All the bikers regrouped at Korem and waited another hour for back-up vehicles before deciding to head on to Makela because of the smell of rain in the air. Not even 20km’s on our way we had to stop for raincoats. The next 130km’s were wet; trying with endless mountain passes that never ended. The KTM’s were searching for fuel since there was no fuel on route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doug and Charl eventually bought some fuel for a ridiculous price on the black market and Roger proudly did 91Km on his reserve tank. The KTM basically stalled without fuel right in front of the first fuelling station on entering Makele. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We booked into the Atse Yohannes Hotel, once again a bit of a disaster. No water in the whole hotel. We waited for the back-up vehicles. The day definitely had it’s problems since Ian’s roof rack broke loose and he and Mike had to make a temporary plan to reach destination.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We all had supper, nothing exciting, had a drink on the veranda and headed for bed. Rudi and myself had water in our room by then but no working toilet. The others had working toilets but no water in the showers. What a disappointment after Lalibela.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next morning Rudi and Roger went off to try and find out about the possibility to enter Eritrea. Although we managed to get visas before we left South Africa the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea have been closed and nobody not even the United Nations could give them ay useful information. Eritrea plan s had to be ditched. What a disappointment that was!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 157.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The guys then had to do maintenance on the roof rack and we only managed to leave Makele for Axum after 1pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only good memory of Makele was awesome chilli burgers that were ordered as take away.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We left town only after 1pm. As we climbed the hills out off Makele we started smelling rain. The vegetation now changed completely, from lush green hills before Makele to dry, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>desert like terrain. The styles of the houses changed from grass and brick huts to stone<span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span>built houses with flat roofs that have gravel and grass on the roofs. Goats were even grazing on top.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not even 10Km out of town the rain started pouring down, thunder and lightning enhanced by the rocks and mountains around us. We pulled off and stood at a roadside shop for most of an hour waiting for the rain and thunder to subside. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A huge surprise was awaiting us around the next corner after we left. The Chinese, as in most African countries, are busy rebuilding roads. Our first mountain pass after the rain storm was a very steep, wet and slippery one with a huge truck being stuck right in the middle of the road. Here I and JO-Anne had to hang on for dear life slipping and sliding upwards past trucks, bulldozers and Ethiopian’s shouting at Rudi for passing the obstacles on the right and not left as per Ethiopian road rules. The next couple of kilometres were rather tough on both the cars and bikes since the climbing and descending of passes just got more intense as we proceeded. Together with the intensifying of the passes the beauty also intensified. It was absolutely beautiful nature scenes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYeABle9PIpjqrm2Hc1sQJNEkPw4m8KC69an6KGYc7yrH8TMwKKikHzU4r95b6M6L0RBaWUbb38rUvclTQ7mOtRbHtDrylIKGbpjULFOny3Iv0eUUYkERfxjxqNKA3FxjWXHw2F-r0ME/s1600/axum15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYeABle9PIpjqrm2Hc1sQJNEkPw4m8KC69an6KGYc7yrH8TMwKKikHzU4r95b6M6L0RBaWUbb38rUvclTQ7mOtRbHtDrylIKGbpjULFOny3Iv0eUUYkERfxjxqNKA3FxjWXHw2F-r0ME/s320/axum15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijv3QucNZU5MSqLJlaBgcUZ_BBsTKCqkOYTc7-zJenL0DS7xOlOTmOLxOGInmoQzcqKoCPmyAKoVJpenPUjWabYegx6A_oAHQWzQWkcKcgVv6qzptrhXrRXRgru1OZx6z0nRZgLrL6u7k/s1600/axum4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijv3QucNZU5MSqLJlaBgcUZ_BBsTKCqkOYTc7-zJenL0DS7xOlOTmOLxOGInmoQzcqKoCPmyAKoVJpenPUjWabYegx6A_oAHQWzQWkcKcgVv6qzptrhXrRXRgru1OZx6z0nRZgLrL6u7k/s320/axum4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhT1cUyJpSZ4JJqWZ8RRrctDWGpKakFP7AiqN7Hu4F4zd3a4wtPeXU1CPfGdj1pr8fTkn1eorC_YX1qYMvBlbUT6gKmBjxh52ZBr8SYUWVoF8sQN49VoPpkz7L2Ri4IzGkk7r3KegVkI/s1600/axum6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhT1cUyJpSZ4JJqWZ8RRrctDWGpKakFP7AiqN7Hu4F4zd3a4wtPeXU1CPfGdj1pr8fTkn1eorC_YX1qYMvBlbUT6gKmBjxh52ZBr8SYUWVoF8sQN49VoPpkz7L2Ri4IzGkk7r3KegVkI/s320/axum6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxl4ovK25Y4rbYpGcgOEwLqYnBmUMAM6o2bZQR-SW5hEJNZ-pCcicbw6yo4jPmGeeX54WAzP3NGxZD9KK378WOqbkJY2E7S7MUHj46DV8KuRo6Ub4dbD7TcflieK3zJr0IQS6UerR8OUs/s1600/axum13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxl4ovK25Y4rbYpGcgOEwLqYnBmUMAM6o2bZQR-SW5hEJNZ-pCcicbw6yo4jPmGeeX54WAzP3NGxZD9KK378WOqbkJY2E7S7MUHj46DV8KuRo6Ub4dbD7TcflieK3zJr0IQS6UerR8OUs/s320/axum13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We stopped along the way to buy freshly picked prickly pears which was fantastic and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>headed on to our final destination. Somehow on this trip, even our shortest hops ended in being whole day excursions. We only arrived in Axum after 6pm and booked in at the ‘Consular Hotel’ which was very clean, great staff and mediocre food? We had a relatively early evening in anticipation of our trip the next day to Gondor, approximately 347km away on tedious roads. Another long day full of normal Africa surprises ahead of us.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ethiopia is just an awesomely beautiful country. Unfortunately there is almost no place along any stretch of road through the whole country where there are no people to be found and the poverty is overwhelming sad. </span></div>The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-85477223149289309482011-07-12T23:23:00.000-07:002011-07-18T01:00:03.484-07:00Axum crossing into Sudan<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7 July 2011 – Axum and crossing into Sudan</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today we are to travel from Aksum to Gonder via the Siemien Mountains which we knew would be one of the most spectacular drives done so far, but I do not think that any of us expected it to be as spectacular as it was. Although we knew that most of the drive would be on dirt & over numerous passes, as the distance was only about 230kms, we all had breakfast & set off at a reasonable time. We had paid $50.00 per room which included breakfast, but when we were leaving the waitress &<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the manager asked for payment for breakfast as they said that the rate did not include breakfast! As both Adri & Jo-anne had confirmed a number of times with the manager the night before that the rate included breakfast we refused to pay. This incident unfortunately spoiled what otherwise had been a very pleasant stay with very nice staff - once again it proved how communication in English can difficult in the north of Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We struggled to find our way out of town as there were road works and the way out was blocked with no alternative shown. Cheryl & I eventually followed a “tuc tuc” (small scooter taxi) out of town. Although the road was dirt, it was good and straight for the first 50 kms, but thereafter changed dramatically. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We descended down a steep pass with many hair pin bends, which was made more difficult due to the road construction by the Chinese. The road works themselves were spectacular as the new road was literally carved out of the side of the mountain and built up over ravines. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We often had to wait for construction vehicles working in the road and at times avoid rolling rocks! At one point we had a lengthy wait due to a heavy duty truck getting stuck. The cars eventually managed to squeeze past. The bikes also found the going difficult due to sections being covered in thick mud.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After many hours of slow driving the cars managed to find a secluded spot on the road to have coffee and “lunch”. What was special about the stop was that we had the most magnificent view of the Siemien Mountains. I do not know how to describe the mountains other than to say that they are amongst the most spectacular mountains that I have ever seen! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The bikes at this stage were well ahead of the cars, but Mike, Cheryl & I continued expecting that the passes had now ended - little did we know what lay ahead!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This last pass started at the bottom of a huge mountain, which we all thought that the road would</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>go around - but it went straight over the top. Apart from hair pin ends, the road became very narrow in places with sheer drops on the side. At times we felt a bit uneasy, especially pulling the trailer. It was also nerve racking for the bikers and many times we thought that Adri & Jo-anne would be waiting for us to pick them up. How they managed to stay on the back of the bikes I do not know! The pass was built by the Italians and is truely an engineering & road construction feat. I just hope that they leave the pass as it is and do not allow the Chinese to tar this section. We just kept on climbing with no visible way up the mountain. There is no pass in South Africa or Lesotho that can match this one.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When we eventually reached the top we still had some 30 kms to travel to Gonder over some bad dirt due once again to road construction. Cheryl & I eventually arrived in Gonder after dark.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Rudi & Adri had found a very nice place to stay called The Fazil Lodge. The rooms were clean and they had a “lapa” where they served their own roasted coffee which is grown on the property. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Unfortunately both Charl & Adri were not feeling well and as they thought they may have contracted malaria, Adri tested both of them. Fortunately the tests proved negative.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: -36pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The owner of the lodge, Ephraim, showed us a very festive restuarant that evening, which was suspended over a road. The music, contemporary & local and the food was very good. After that the owner took Cheryl, Roger, Jo-anne, Doug b & I to a small “shebeen” where live Ethiopian music was being played by a small band, using drums & a home made “violin / harp” made from horse’s hair. We had a great evening, eventually getting home at around 1.00am! It was one of the few evenings where we had experienced true local culture. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8 July </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today the plan was to drive from Gonder to Gedaref, which is in Sudan, and meant a border crossing. The East London crew decided to leave early, but the Ladybrand crew decided to take a short tour to some castles, an old Orthodox church & Queen Sheba’s bath. The main reason for seeing the castles is that Roger’s dad was based for a while in Gonder during the second world war, when the Italians were using one of the castles as their HQ. It was quite something for Roger to be where his dad had been many years before. The trip was well worth it and left us with the feeling that Gonder was one of the best towns which we had visited in Ethiopia.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The road to the border was good tar and decended to the plains of Sudan. Unfortunately Charl came off his bike when a goat ran in front of him. Apart from scratches to his bike and grazes & a sprained ankle to himself, he was lucky not to be more badly hurt.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we arrived at the border we found that the East London crew were still there as they had arrived at the Ethiopian border just as they were knocking off for lunch! We then all went through together, but it took us over 5 hours due to inefficiencies & delays on the Sudanese side. When we eventually left the border post we knew that it was too late to drive to Gedaref. As a result about 10 kms from the border the bikers found a disused quarry away from the road. They also cleared with some Sudanese army guys that it would be okey for us to camp in the quarry.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We were hidden from the road and set up camp in the quarry next to some water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was our first bush camp and we all agreed that it was fantastic to be on our own in the open. A great evening was had by all! </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pOvqUI7Dx39yMfDH3_WtjeshsGBHtyg1V6mgRR6K_Zc0a-R5XIyHsTgN3ge3kq0OO7Zsz9dbrmHzwj5QDP82KGIW-DzwzAQ_E3tSblfZ6elEW4xH7HT2SffDBQiFLzKlJWxpZHEB_2s/s1600/1+Ian+did+a+sterling+job+getting+us+up+the+mountain+pass.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pOvqUI7Dx39yMfDH3_WtjeshsGBHtyg1V6mgRR6K_Zc0a-R5XIyHsTgN3ge3kq0OO7Zsz9dbrmHzwj5QDP82KGIW-DzwzAQ_E3tSblfZ6elEW4xH7HT2SffDBQiFLzKlJWxpZHEB_2s/s320/1+Ian+did+a+sterling+job+getting+us+up+the+mountain+pass.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Ian doing a sterling job at manouvering the car and very heavy trailer around the trecherous bends<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDl3mSbGWk_hexdWzZ3wLlflsaNVFEG-ECCcb5rtTismlTz7onTVnbdL6xChv-EFh9yfnEDfSfv6YAs9iNa1zclGJSGhoI7wBEdca4OmvK-n4alVuUyXp0PzN-z-UbEujswVgkSrviEdg/s1600/2.+Magnificient+views+but+very+high+drops.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDl3mSbGWk_hexdWzZ3wLlflsaNVFEG-ECCcb5rtTismlTz7onTVnbdL6xChv-EFh9yfnEDfSfv6YAs9iNa1zclGJSGhoI7wBEdca4OmvK-n4alVuUyXp0PzN-z-UbEujswVgkSrviEdg/s320/2.+Magnificient+views+but+very+high+drops.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>One of the many sheer drops <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNFb_LALuAjcIf1HSnM9_hcqfp7hwoOaxBPZ5c6y9tcMbCLSHfC6xEMBXxktwJ9MjzHvuPlTGKy6f3Nc9UFIPT5Z3IcAv_Hj8rdUnEMXtS3HIGsHuaVkJCSwLm5hjuchb998My9XBIw4/s1600/4.+The+view+just+gets+better+and+better.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNFb_LALuAjcIf1HSnM9_hcqfp7hwoOaxBPZ5c6y9tcMbCLSHfC6xEMBXxktwJ9MjzHvuPlTGKy6f3Nc9UFIPT5Z3IcAv_Hj8rdUnEMXtS3HIGsHuaVkJCSwLm5hjuchb998My9XBIw4/s320/4.+The+view+just+gets+better+and+better.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The outstanding views<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADPhbwzyWfwNg5KtuuBeVoFQQsj7RpJrlFvNS3d43QgKJ4B_vUjnErR7t2Ees_jhYi9hhRBIdSc4LS5y87deCs1I1BVj7GLBv-VWgvqUYNjKtuLSJAoG3DX0CUGyxMhyphenhyphen2CHvg4motHeM/s1600/5.Taste+of+Ethiopian+music.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADPhbwzyWfwNg5KtuuBeVoFQQsj7RpJrlFvNS3d43QgKJ4B_vUjnErR7t2Ees_jhYi9hhRBIdSc4LS5y87deCs1I1BVj7GLBv-VWgvqUYNjKtuLSJAoG3DX0CUGyxMhyphenhyphen2CHvg4motHeM/s320/5.Taste+of+Ethiopian+music.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Our Ethiopian evening<br />
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</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-9fMVPq3c7_LpBJWoksgYvxRFR-XvH7njmsvamaAVc3idPxJg7hekcEja6CsY3WRMZGvWKhdZ6-COD-6VaW20VGgydKRZiO2acOnrUbFXFWv7CW6dOSwM34x29lDYFqWI8rvFqJ8O8g/s320/6.The+poverty+is+horrendous.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abject Poverty</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsa-zMhvtKRN0jjg5tknj1Zj4yhwRjvUJJk_wulJB9s4N2d08zj_mxdDSPQtROPX4XNoIUZrwnSfvh9Xp7baLMqEYZA0XtyliI2CKdHCodCtq96t6a_WGiJQo9inc-yt2e4c8QIvWnos/s320/7.Sudan+our+firts+night+in+the+desert.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another night camping in the desert</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-9fMVPq3c7_LpBJWoksgYvxRFR-XvH7njmsvamaAVc3idPxJg7hekcEja6CsY3WRMZGvWKhdZ6-COD-6VaW20VGgydKRZiO2acOnrUbFXFWv7CW6dOSwM34x29lDYFqWI8rvFqJ8O8g/s1600/6.The+poverty+is+horrendous.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">TT</a></div>The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-43307967862162861482011-07-12T22:33:00.000-07:002011-07-18T01:26:23.574-07:00Bahi Dar - Lalibela<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Left Debra Markos to Bahir Dar, approx 350km journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a Sunday, there were many people going to church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most were dressed in white shawls with a green stripe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Men went on their own and gathered on the beautiful green slopes and women went to a different place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Horses were<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>decorated with red flowers around their necks and a red cloth over their backs.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was all farming area. No shortage of beef plus the usual donkeys and goats. We travelled through the Nile Valley where there was very rich red fertile soil and miles of green pastures, absolutely breathtaking.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We stayed at the Ghion Hotel on Lake Tana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a pFlace it must have been but unfortunately very run down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Red and yellow Cannas flowered<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>all over the gardens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very pretty.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All went to the Blue Nile Falls; unfortunately a hydro electric plant has been built, is not in use but has taken at least 80% of the falls away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite disappointing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most impressive was a bridge built by the Portuguese centuries ago.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We went to a huge market to buy fresh veg and Rog and Jo made pasta for supper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Italiano style.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plenty of rain during the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We made packed lunches and headed for Lalibela.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roads were full of people on their way to work carrying bundles, either to sell or to plant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We even saw a corpse being carried on a stretcher!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Travelling was slow as roads were full of people, goats and donkeys, bicycles and dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scenery changed from lush to dry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once in the open, travelling was easier on a tar road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dirt road from Dilbe to Lalibela.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The start of winding mountain passes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Extreme poverty dand children shouting “you, you, you” and asking for stuff,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>shared sweets etc,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arrived at Jerusalem Guest House Lalibela.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An amazing place to stay, clean, lovely hot showers, the best!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-g98ZvhMv6cooDyWMrgm6FXBKY8A-cOrDmWXZoOmG9KxU2HpoA7xX-xseK9cFZq1xrdqky6NRGSc9ZnG0AYiV8tXt9y5BxGxk0EAUpEwfU9tRUXaNFie8l1H4EbkQpDRwg2wVqipxTWc/s1600/jolalchurch1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-g98ZvhMv6cooDyWMrgm6FXBKY8A-cOrDmWXZoOmG9KxU2HpoA7xX-xseK9cFZq1xrdqky6NRGSc9ZnG0AYiV8tXt9y5BxGxk0EAUpEwfU9tRUXaNFie8l1H4EbkQpDRwg2wVqipxTWc/s320/jolalchurch1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sand hewn churches in Lalibela</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5zDazz4PpkeB9LOnKLxo3Q0RXgfQNB4R0KWbQDtx-CGrNU0bqDMVY-Fp4zDp_kcX3-2cQuxLPZX2vMI0tI4dDZx2F0wRb0IRqU-WhBz1hQZekRz8QkgbWaIefVX7XHbPrxblCzVW68s/s1600/Jolalstgeorge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5zDazz4PpkeB9LOnKLxo3Q0RXgfQNB4R0KWbQDtx-CGrNU0bqDMVY-Fp4zDp_kcX3-2cQuxLPZX2vMI0tI4dDZx2F0wRb0IRqU-WhBz1hQZekRz8QkgbWaIefVX7XHbPrxblCzVW68s/s320/Jolalstgeorge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKeH4HbGhXpFSrGae9ucSgkskb7VjYGi6vIi2Z_Vsc1QCTDVRldUfWYDb28M6t49YbiEDsxyTyo7aWBwK0O2dUWamJzpRMZ3Ppox_Dez8mfK9BCKNpvRErJweJaZVxz8OhzP5JrwqQBU/s1600/jolalstgeorge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKeH4HbGhXpFSrGae9ucSgkskb7VjYGi6vIi2Z_Vsc1QCTDVRldUfWYDb28M6t49YbiEDsxyTyo7aWBwK0O2dUWamJzpRMZ3Ppox_Dez8mfK9BCKNpvRErJweJaZVxz8OhzP5JrwqQBU/s320/jolalstgeorge2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We hired a guide and taxi to go and see the most amazing hand chopped huge rock churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Divine intervention in King Lalibela’s life has left a wonderful legacy to all. Definitely something to see!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Photos will give an idea.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back at the guest house, the manager agreed that the ladies could go into the kitchen and learn the art of Ethiopian cooking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A wonderful feast was prepared and enjoyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adri, Cheryl and Jo-Anne were the sergeants for the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They bought some of the local beer and fined all the men! Their comment - "Yuk!"</span></span></div>The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-23224761108839548252011-07-12T06:25:00.000-07:002011-07-18T01:41:41.638-07:00Awassa -Addis 1st July to Debrah Marcos 2nd July<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9tpZFjVSjdX-wFFIfVTql8aQWRcosRtAxnX7ECXcdfOTKgxYNcL4QernW-cMmH6FKxrilQZmk5BcdVNew0mL7mlMXxqXoxP8R6etxBYTkAFTpFhiNnd_4eC7QPUjWeit9BbZcFfsETg/s1600/Hail+storm+on+the+way+to+Debrah+Marcos.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9tpZFjVSjdX-wFFIfVTql8aQWRcosRtAxnX7ECXcdfOTKgxYNcL4QernW-cMmH6FKxrilQZmk5BcdVNew0mL7mlMXxqXoxP8R6etxBYTkAFTpFhiNnd_4eC7QPUjWeit9BbZcFfsETg/s320/Hail+storm+on+the+way+to+Debrah+Marcos.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The very bad hail storm</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScChX8r9uLWzXyOSpj0CA6lvp2rOi_wMLRR4U-Y95poWq4VKw8HT58DO7zcMffxE1Pg2T2YbnHuCJD_bwbg5WJzw3Gq_CrQsnBHG05StI7Y8R0p3NQRsBdizRmD2ME6eZyPKoqUJJnuo/s1600/Hotel+at+Debrah+Marcos.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScChX8r9uLWzXyOSpj0CA6lvp2rOi_wMLRR4U-Y95poWq4VKw8HT58DO7zcMffxE1Pg2T2YbnHuCJD_bwbg5WJzw3Gq_CrQsnBHG05StI7Y8R0p3NQRsBdizRmD2ME6eZyPKoqUJJnuo/s320/Hotel+at+Debrah+Marcos.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our accommodation next to the garage</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxOoIAFF3fD5htnQAVvRP8ZSTOy3s_gnzb0sO5Wa5AtUGgVeYrMTzl3t3qhvdEK3ORDQGOd0kbcIlJUYOMi0QSGqoXyZoTpc7RfPb10Dl1iK7G3KRWRH4kESmpaLAa1l1WOt8dvEjprE/s1600/Leaving+Hawassa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxOoIAFF3fD5htnQAVvRP8ZSTOy3s_gnzb0sO5Wa5AtUGgVeYrMTzl3t3qhvdEK3ORDQGOd0kbcIlJUYOMi0QSGqoXyZoTpc7RfPb10Dl1iK7G3KRWRH4kESmpaLAa1l1WOt8dvEjprE/s320/Leaving+Hawassa.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The road to Addis</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBESIK9g99UVydQ5WqWbzEAXttNEEpR8u4LYhxQqmGj-3Cjak2mFpV9aLz91ZTgkSmrV-NJ32EL2gy08rypGsmz5NxZt6EwoxCFTqyeaf5u5KKHUiF1UYcJYC9EJ1cERz_kPopc25_uLg/s1600/Lunch+at+Hotel+on+way+to+Addis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBESIK9g99UVydQ5WqWbzEAXttNEEpR8u4LYhxQqmGj-3Cjak2mFpV9aLz91ZTgkSmrV-NJ32EL2gy08rypGsmz5NxZt6EwoxCFTqyeaf5u5KKHUiF1UYcJYC9EJ1cERz_kPopc25_uLg/s320/Lunch+at+Hotel+on+way+to+Addis.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch and a welcome break on the way to Addis</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-5nbyvyIO91AgutH4LGvj8qRc9PYDt9XXvpBl5cxROPGKsAYn0Wakac57x-CItmIE70pqnW5WdgmzdCcyC01zg80odN3O1Z4uMpbzGED5ol8D2Ftnkruxk_6vEHJ27XFoeEGmjy7iZw/s1600/Pub+in+Hotel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-5nbyvyIO91AgutH4LGvj8qRc9PYDt9XXvpBl5cxROPGKsAYn0Wakac57x-CItmIE70pqnW5WdgmzdCcyC01zg80odN3O1Z4uMpbzGED5ol8D2Ftnkruxk_6vEHJ27XFoeEGmjy7iZw/s320/Pub+in+Hotel.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Hotel like this is way beyond our pocket</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUb6hxxovAf3NYfIPmaCCcEB8xgXa3Famw25OCFRuMNyhcscK_uZIxBjd0XoZxUvgqkxjTsTFup0CfMHbYQvISVCTqm1UD1e55n0HlZ0MFWs2hK7vUA75cu3vYpBXz8W8LSXz9vyME-0/s1600/Scaffoling+in+Addis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUb6hxxovAf3NYfIPmaCCcEB8xgXa3Famw25OCFRuMNyhcscK_uZIxBjd0XoZxUvgqkxjTsTFup0CfMHbYQvISVCTqm1UD1e55n0HlZ0MFWs2hK7vUA75cu3vYpBXz8W8LSXz9vyME-0/s320/Scaffoling+in+Addis.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scaffoling the Ethiopian way!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5iNMJUpmWIO8i9gPpeiU4EJ98lbD-sNKP3TKrnd0fHXITApJw8YNTuNZQ9QJYwPmuYjXF1iX12-M9lmedLylX-XdiF-iCtFw06FboUQZQHUUCfKgzzbBLhmAZGMyEWUMPTzLiKyCnpo/s1600/The+Fortuner+parked+practically+in+the+restaurant.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5iNMJUpmWIO8i9gPpeiU4EJ98lbD-sNKP3TKrnd0fHXITApJw8YNTuNZQ9QJYwPmuYjXF1iX12-M9lmedLylX-XdiF-iCtFw06FboUQZQHUUCfKgzzbBLhmAZGMyEWUMPTzLiKyCnpo/s320/The+Fortuner+parked+practically+in+the+restaurant.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where in S.A can you park your car so close to a restaurant</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-FEWXcyICB-qCkMb8dC-vxSArh6KRcBy3UHa_pC7PrpMmS4hsRWALj2joyfhJYyCuNoeeL6Sybc-6AhGIcEtaJckBWRpy4C1nFHJaVIXqrxw3SzWmVUtLNLcURNDrWuAObvBDxL9qxo/s1600/The+luxuary+suite+at+Holland+House.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-FEWXcyICB-qCkMb8dC-vxSArh6KRcBy3UHa_pC7PrpMmS4hsRWALj2joyfhJYyCuNoeeL6Sybc-6AhGIcEtaJckBWRpy4C1nFHJaVIXqrxw3SzWmVUtLNLcURNDrWuAObvBDxL9qxo/s320/The+luxuary+suite+at+Holland+House.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our luxuary accommodation at Holland House</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhB-8f6EPorUyybRoymhk8JHf6Mn06WVV87zBf7qP7WXnnSdeEzcBMqZyI6MsnJ2_TJY8JkW_3_vbwZLp8_nEBMZ-bphhS0wZK5MGLvNg1OJ5aN6f9Sg4s8DhruKqaxnWp3mL323avEtQ/s1600/IMG_1698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhB-8f6EPorUyybRoymhk8JHf6Mn06WVV87zBf7qP7WXnnSdeEzcBMqZyI6MsnJ2_TJY8JkW_3_vbwZLp8_nEBMZ-bphhS0wZK5MGLvNg1OJ5aN6f9Sg4s8DhruKqaxnWp3mL323avEtQ/s320/IMG_1698.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And..... the luxury suite</td></tr>
</tbody></table> There was beautiful country side as we left Hawassa, the lands were very cultivated, we also went past a number of lakes. We also passed a sign to a wine farm. We were amazed at the many massive tunnels that we passed in which we saw a copious amount of plants growing. At the T-junction we hit the main road from Djubuti to Addis, which is the main port in Somalia and the only port from which Ethiopia can transport their goods.As a result there were so many trucks on the road and it was a bit of a shock to the system after the quiet and tranquility of the the countryside from which we had just passed through. Ian and I decided that as we had ski8pped breakfast that it would be an ideal opportunity for us to have a break and find something to eat. We found a very upmarket hotel right on the main road. The decor inside the hotel was predominantly gold edged, even the pillars outside were edged in gold. We had a very nice chicken on bread, and crispy chips it was their version of a burger! Ian had a local beer and I had a G&T with lemon and lots of ice, a luxury in this country. Even the ladies was clean with proper toilets and a toilet seat, clean basins, soap and running water.<br />
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After a very welcome break we were ready to face the traffic again. From then on it was constant heavy traffic. when we eventually arrived in Addis the GPS kept on leading us into a lane which Ian as you can imagine, was not prepared to drive into because if the trailer got stuck it would have been a mission to try and get it out again. After driving round about three times again and many phone calls toAdri and each time being led back to the same lane. Through the help of locals we eventually found Holland House.<br />
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We were quite shocked at the look of the place when we arrived. Adri and Jo-Anne came to greet us and said that they had booked us into the luxury suite! Well it did have a sort of double bed but most of all hot water and a flushing loo and we even had a TV in our room, not that we were able to understand anything on the TV but it looked good.<br />
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It was our turn to cook so after a quick drink and a cigarette I started to prepare supper. Yes it was amazing because Ian nearly drove the Fortuner into the restaurant and even though they served food, Wim ( the Hollander who owns Holland House and Ragel his Ethiopian wife, not only allowed us to cook our own food but they also sold us some eggs and bread rolls and even allowed us to use the sink in the restaurant kitchen to wash our dishes. I made a so called cottage pie but as we only had gas to cook on it ended up being more like a mince stew! Well everyone seemed to enjoy the meal nonetheless. We also had what looked like a pumpkin but turned out to be an enormous squash.<br />
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After supper we joined the others in the pub, there were so many interesting people doing the same or more adventurous things than we are doing. We met a very nice dutch couple, who gave us a lot of information and a lot of tips. It was a lovely evening and testimony to the fact that we all went to bed quite late.<br />
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It was a pleasure getting up in the morning to a hot bath. Ian and I had already ordered our breakfast by the time the others arrived. I had two delicious pancakes for breakfast. Roger had organized with someone in Addis to make a new number plate for him for his bike as his other one had broken in half from his last fall. Things don't happen very quickly in Africa. Ian always quotes the saying 'the clocks belong to the western world but time belongs to Africa" how true this is! Rogers number plate was supposed to be ready by eleven at the latest but they actually only started making it that morning. Roger was fuming and said that we had waited around long enough already so he would make his own license plate out of cardboard. It was agreed that Ian and I should go ahead as we drive slower.<br />
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Ian and I went to the Hilton Hotel to try to draw money as he had tried earlier at another ATM, without much luck. The Hilton is a very upmarket hotel in a very pleasant, almost first world part of Addis, very different to where we were which was a very defunct railway station in a very dodgy area. We were able to draw money. We filled up with fuel and we think that due to the quality of the fuel, the Fortuner struggled.<br />
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The countryside was a a welcome relief after the battle to get out of Addis. Green mountainous, green and lush! People wore the most beautiful blankets in all the different colours and hues that you can imagine. Then we hit a huge hail storm and the temperature plummete4d to 6deg.. I t lasted for what seemed like forever and just when we thought that we would have to drive all the way through the storm, we ascended into the magnificent Blue Nile canyon. the temperature rose to 36deg. the canyon was very dry and rocky with undulating hills. We eventually arrived just before dark at Debrah Marcos. <br />
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the hotel was right on the road which overlooked the petrol station. The rooms were not that great but the bed was quite comfortable, there were also blankets on the bed so we were warm. the food I thought wasn't very good at all. Everyone was was tired so we all went to bed early.The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-51016354760222085672011-07-05T11:42:00.000-07:002011-07-05T11:45:37.307-07:0028th - 29th June Moyale Kenya to Yebello EthiopiaWe left Kenya Wildlife camp round 9am for the Ethiopian border which was only 500m away. Entering Ethiopia was rather slow 9 - 12am, but with no hick-up's. Roger and Doug however first had to find a welding machine to fix the two KTM'S who's frames cracked on the Marsabit road. The rest of the crew had to hang around.<br />
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While waiting we discovered a placed called the Koket Hotel and Restaurant, this place is highly recommended, clean , friendly and we were subsequently introduced to authentic, Ethiopian food which included Tibs firfir, Tibs and Veg, Ngeera (Local pan cakes made from Teff that has fermented for 3days) , Kitfo etc. We all had a wonderful meal, however no utensils came with the food, so we were all trying to eat without any. What a mess that was! Obviously a few local beers have also been consumed. Roger and Doug arrived with fixed frames and joined us for lunch since they could not do the border since it closes between 12h00-14h00. For a short time they were illegal immigrants, not that something like that will faze Roger.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYK6NoTW_Xl4WI0VgauoFUnGGKLLRLOO6gIeMQj6kVNqsZovUdOQQgFcUQw9K7og_awHEv2P4QvehfHWF3aiW-6XA0EItdr0U6VluC21QsEFIePw1c45T_BlPfxk0od4SigfsVIq5M3g/s1600/ethiopia6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYK6NoTW_Xl4WI0VgauoFUnGGKLLRLOO6gIeMQj6kVNqsZovUdOQQgFcUQw9K7og_awHEv2P4QvehfHWF3aiW-6XA0EItdr0U6VluC21QsEFIePw1c45T_BlPfxk0od4SigfsVIq5M3g/s320/ethiopia6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUXb0oYrI6XfeSJcqmr5r9uKrYImr6mzEi_ggkfkuaAYHLXJQoauypAcWILf18slxR1cRK0Wr1nzBfB7nU8YxeMWEdJla7ZiC2zj9qyxJbBAZGvFzhbI9gRxQ7gFhUiwkr7u1lFk4Wd8/s1600/ethiopia8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUXb0oYrI6XfeSJcqmr5r9uKrYImr6mzEi_ggkfkuaAYHLXJQoauypAcWILf18slxR1cRK0Wr1nzBfB7nU8YxeMWEdJla7ZiC2zj9qyxJbBAZGvFzhbI9gRxQ7gFhUiwkr7u1lFk4Wd8/s320/ethiopia8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>From Moyale we were supposed to go to Awassa, but since we had to wait for the bikes to be fixed we decided to stop in Yabello for the night. It was a short hop, 250km and what a wonderful surprise Ethiopia was. To think that the previous day took us 9-11hrs to do 250km just on the other side of the same mountain and the same distance. Ethiopia has wonderful tar roads winding through desert like scenery with birds in abundance, friendly people waving, shouting YOYOYOYO all the time. Although it was a wonderful road to travel on it was never without people on the side. It is one village after another, never ending.The scenery very desert-like with huge red and white anthills that looked like 'carved statues' for kilo's on end. On this stretch of road we saw more vultures than I have seen in my entire life. They are tame, sitting in trees and next to the road, on roof tops or just circling in the air. Roger once again had a flat on this stretch of tar and decided that it had to be his tyre that was defective. Replaced the tyre and the backup vehicle and the last bike arrived at Yabello after 7pm.<br />
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We booked into the hotel, nice clean rooms, tried to have supper but there was a bit off a mishap, so we ate very little and had an early evening.<br />
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The next day we departed for Awassa at about 09am, another short hop on beautiful roads. The countryside changed to more fertile soil and farming was seen everywhere. As we went along the road it dawned on us about the amount of people that are in Ethiopia, the second highest population after Nigeria with 110 million. Poverty clearly to be seen everywhere. Ethiopia's population stands on 82milj people with 50% below the age of 17yrs and to be doubled within the next 10years. <br />
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Arrived in Awassa lunch time, had a wonderful 'late' lunch at Lewi Restaurant, the LebLeb dish highly recommended and booked in at Hawassa Inn for the next two night. Our rest day was dedicated to servicing vehicles and bikes.<br />
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We are planning to leave for Debre Marko's the next day en route to Bahir Dar via the Blue Nile Valley before we head north to Lalibelo. So excited to see the Rock Hewn Churches.....<br />
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We are pleasantly surprised on how cheap Ethiopia is. We get 2.3birr to a rand and stay at hotels for less than R200 per couple per night b/b and eat out for R20 meal... feel like American's in the rest of the world.....The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-57599306548210548492011-07-01T13:13:00.000-07:002011-07-01T13:13:14.426-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sxbyhMuUnhDkT4clq3-Ozbhju8GOg1yksPp148_cPlhqiGAiCveQCZk4uWgxTQrI4cGl05LNzip4Nzg7Bf5s067mcZJHoBNIx_oZYvOZQYk2kj7RRy1GqpGqay2JdQXX2Kn2yGbGmMQ/s1600/marsabit6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sxbyhMuUnhDkT4clq3-Ozbhju8GOg1yksPp148_cPlhqiGAiCveQCZk4uWgxTQrI4cGl05LNzip4Nzg7Bf5s067mcZJHoBNIx_oZYvOZQYk2kj7RRy1GqpGqay2JdQXX2Kn2yGbGmMQ/s320/marsabit6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Marsabit - Henry the Swiss Lapa<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcIa2GYT6CgykTQGxSOhVO9v-1BTq9vPKoIkm5jRKIaHUkfkLVGhZhGL6oeoKADwb7z1xOtcLSguUMQdMM8Fc7oKOQMw5AD3kkghSWX6w1XahqzTo_uEqu9l3F3AbHDKKPUQZBrLaotY/s1600/marsabit9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcIa2GYT6CgykTQGxSOhVO9v-1BTq9vPKoIkm5jRKIaHUkfkLVGhZhGL6oeoKADwb7z1xOtcLSguUMQdMM8Fc7oKOQMw5AD3kkghSWX6w1XahqzTo_uEqu9l3F3AbHDKKPUQZBrLaotY/s320/marsabit9.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> KTM's vs BMW<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOH7a2t6LMQTUlmgX8QuIlWXQY_n0mot3xN80wkNBggdl1iHH8rEVuLenWwV1ii-t1x-eO2XXdKCY75fM_qEALi5fqZggbcR6sGZpsUUKBoOxUhPnioU8us7JcHYQTyykkQZicLg7WhXE/s1600/marsabit11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOH7a2t6LMQTUlmgX8QuIlWXQY_n0mot3xN80wkNBggdl1iHH8rEVuLenWwV1ii-t1x-eO2XXdKCY75fM_qEALi5fqZggbcR6sGZpsUUKBoOxUhPnioU8us7JcHYQTyykkQZicLg7WhXE/s320/marsabit11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Desolation<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzY2H3udM6OSIM5Hy0ql-EAMjwEnR1zvu2knClam3fhxDGjlaU5e8cXqqCUUZDVVH1_vR3czETDWB1yOUYXm8zBPyjDvaQRWVtedvIZ3_E17gBno2GyL0Cphyphenhyphen4JIChqgiRRV3qPcfTHGM/s1600/marsabit12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzY2H3udM6OSIM5Hy0ql-EAMjwEnR1zvu2knClam3fhxDGjlaU5e8cXqqCUUZDVVH1_vR3czETDWB1yOUYXm8zBPyjDvaQRWVtedvIZ3_E17gBno2GyL0Cphyphenhyphen4JIChqgiRRV3qPcfTHGM/s320/marsabit12.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Camel Train Desert<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHj1rRBdSXH26fyGjGjqjcS1j3V3ySOw5ZSc80VfKObLNHGoUXP8TC23MLF4J8tyBCS0Spd6UhyphenhyphenoFVUwXHhf2raqSu6qF8jqZ2HMUME3mF9Z6LPdLAN3ljr1QRMgMMGYqDz2Fg1q7SPeI/s1600/marsabitc13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHj1rRBdSXH26fyGjGjqjcS1j3V3ySOw5ZSc80VfKObLNHGoUXP8TC23MLF4J8tyBCS0Spd6UhyphenhyphenoFVUwXHhf2raqSu6qF8jqZ2HMUME3mF9Z6LPdLAN3ljr1QRMgMMGYqDz2Fg1q7SPeI/s320/marsabitc13.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> The Road of HELLLLLL<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7J_4q1sxdZbv7ZG_ngT_TAo-PZTB4DrdT7RH8F7X5kn3BVnXYVl3aIPL5TLCjsWWHqO6e3swnM-wh6qpr-PiVEXOsK3o9JiKrUba0rAmN-LKaIsbl0p4yc0KImy4TvHzVJvbZN5y3z38/s1600/marsabitc19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7J_4q1sxdZbv7ZG_ngT_TAo-PZTB4DrdT7RH8F7X5kn3BVnXYVl3aIPL5TLCjsWWHqO6e3swnM-wh6qpr-PiVEXOsK3o9JiKrUba0rAmN-LKaIsbl0p4yc0KImy4TvHzVJvbZN5y3z38/s320/marsabitc19.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Puncture no ?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6GkmtTX-cd_lfbyLXHVUFgBVD0NSj4IHm8NUe_MBXFFqtbwXnLkXoWDzwQJYRPMo-i6Zrdrh7ZjhKxxLXsrc_u1NKvl0GiXvBFu-BZTZsSZNBFff2YmI0wAvvW8GQRvJUjHcYd0XTaU/s1600/marsabitc21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6GkmtTX-cd_lfbyLXHVUFgBVD0NSj4IHm8NUe_MBXFFqtbwXnLkXoWDzwQJYRPMo-i6Zrdrh7ZjhKxxLXsrc_u1NKvl0GiXvBFu-BZTZsSZNBFff2YmI0wAvvW8GQRvJUjHcYd0XTaU/s320/marsabitc21.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Puncture no ????The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-21847080211528573432011-07-01T12:17:00.000-07:002011-07-01T12:17:06.611-07:00The road made by the. Devil himselfHad an early start from Isiolo to Marsabit, 140 km of absolute wonderful tar road, brand new, with unbelievable scenery, buck crisscrossing the road all the way, strange looking mushrooms, sprouting up all along the roadside, and spectacular mountains. We knew all along from others that this would come to an abrupt end, and boy did it!!!!! The road after 140 km was somthing to experience, and we lost a tyre on the trailer on this bit, but managed into "Henry the Swiss" camp at Marsabit,, a barren red sandy retreat without a blade of grass in sight, but with a "lappa" shelter, good commeraderie and a lovely potjie for dinner.<br />
A troop of about 40 baboons were in and around the camp from late afternoon providing catapult practice for the team, obviously aware of the possible bounty to be left behind.<br />
The next day to Moyali started, wind pumping and with much anxiety, the pillion riders decided that they had done their "ma se bit" the previous day and to rather ride in the vehicles. The nightmare began when Rudi had the first puncture within the first couple of kilos. The landscape was a wasteland of volcanic rocks everywhere, and not much of a road across it. The team reached a town called Torpi in the desert, without too much incident, had an ice cold beer with Ambrose at a shop in town, when all were accounted for we proceeded on to Moyale. Within 5 kilos Doug's sub frame broke, and we spent 1.5 hrs waiting for the back up vehicles to arrive with the "Blou draad". After another 5 kilos Roger had a puncture, and three punctures later finally completed the 270 km road, a trip involving plenty of lonely hours isolated on this road waiting for the vehicles to arrive, because in the process Roger's sub frame had also snapped, and all the spares, previously on the bike were then in the vehicles. In the meantime, Mike had taken a photo of a camel herd without permission, rocks were thrown at the vehicles and knives pulled out until a fee was paid and a bottle of water given. This all resulted in a struggle to get to Moyale late that evening.<br />
We spent the night at Kenya Wildlife Camp Site exhausted but relieved.The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-65885477208982485012011-07-01T10:22:00.000-07:002011-07-01T10:22:21.154-07:00NAIROBI TO ISIOLO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7R2iirMoW04gsuPwKQVHyVo3k-a4snfxLJOwyEQtCI4KClmF_QXPDhzviUAgRkeh4l-52if-Pxzz0bVaznkOn_cCt7Id7xs9gSu1od5dcXmusNNH3SOaPYJ_GB4AemgGHjG3eDEu18U4/s1600/Bantu+Lodge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7R2iirMoW04gsuPwKQVHyVo3k-a4snfxLJOwyEQtCI4KClmF_QXPDhzviUAgRkeh4l-52if-Pxzz0bVaznkOn_cCt7Id7xs9gSu1od5dcXmusNNH3SOaPYJ_GB4AemgGHjG3eDEu18U4/s1600/Bantu+Lodge.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02DKfwmceGekBWCKIj1wZSdSr6yarDXBTffbGO4JhuWPIazbW8FbWgvta3ZJo96mzEGol76pF6FcQZ8gXbE44t-SOKWNe4OaiJ2f4EhsHJGTxiXdyZoiXj-3cxLecAGf2QzBLRFLD0z0/s1600/Equator.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02DKfwmceGekBWCKIj1wZSdSr6yarDXBTffbGO4JhuWPIazbW8FbWgvta3ZJo96mzEGol76pF6FcQZ8gXbE44t-SOKWNe4OaiJ2f4EhsHJGTxiXdyZoiXj-3cxLecAGf2QzBLRFLD0z0/s1600/Equator.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9V9LKwO0G2FWP7_LbrCnoqoDzWNK6HNgaKB-SXWGuKimDrLSOfNm0Dmt6oSMrn5MZOCVmS4P5667HBjrus1CGn4N8KVW6Tm94iObpP_IaQOJsNNAnEs3xEuwZjX0d9E9GxtU16jwI4h4/s1600/Ian+at+Bantu+Lodge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9V9LKwO0G2FWP7_LbrCnoqoDzWNK6HNgaKB-SXWGuKimDrLSOfNm0Dmt6oSMrn5MZOCVmS4P5667HBjrus1CGn4N8KVW6Tm94iObpP_IaQOJsNNAnEs3xEuwZjX0d9E9GxtU16jwI4h4/s1600/Ian+at+Bantu+Lodge.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISL0PYAre0tHQtx1ferqYeKDNLg0A64TXQnxFwPOzbeLHm5vlibefmtb0x9e8zUCnNoBSCO9xqVBlrabc1f09ciFCQ-DSWI1x95U_GzXm_F1UO9QnW3FcStgrcMQBe2q7hmtcbgN0NKo/s1600/nairobi2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISL0PYAre0tHQtx1ferqYeKDNLg0A64TXQnxFwPOzbeLHm5vlibefmtb0x9e8zUCnNoBSCO9xqVBlrabc1f09ciFCQ-DSWI1x95U_GzXm_F1UO9QnW3FcStgrcMQBe2q7hmtcbgN0NKo/s1600/nairobi2.JPG" /></a></div>We left Jungle Juntion on Saturday 25th June. It was a nightmare driving through Nairobi. It seems that there are no traffic laws and the bravest goes first! Because of the traffic and the major roadworks, it took for ever to get out of Nairobi. Although everyone seems not to obey the traffic rules, all drivers are polite & do not get upset when another driver pushes in - something which we can learn. We were about 40 kilometres out of Nairobi when Rudi phoned to ask us if Mike was with us because Doug's bike had just died.. Mike wasn't with us but they obviously managed to contact him because we passed him going the opposite way back to Nairobi. Apparently a farmer across the road who was in a bakkie was going to get feed, Rudi saw him and asked him if he could help them. He agreed to take Doug back to Jungle Junction where Doug's bike was once again fixed. Charl & Mike went back with Doug but Rudi, Adri, Roger & Jo-Anne continued. We filled up with fuel & Cheryl attempted the toilet but decided that due to the state of the toilet that it was better to hold on for longer. We then turned into the Bantu cultural centre to have something to eat & to try the toilet again. This was a centre for youth to stay at as there was camping & basic accommodation. The purpose is to educate the youth about nature - there were nature trails, all the tree's marked with their names plus medicinal plants & their benefits. Truely a great set up of educational value. We asked if we could eat & were directed onto the expansive back lawn & waited for almost an hour for a cup of coffee & toasted cheese & tomatoe sandwich which arrived without the cheese. Nevertheless a very informative stop. Rudi, Adri, Roger & Joanne stopped for lunch at a trout venue where they ate on platforms in & around trees. We in the meantime had moved onto the equater where we paid $10 to have a guide show us how water drains in an anti clockwise direction & clockwise direction 20 metres south & north of the equater & how it drains straight down on the equater - it was amazing to see how the matches swirled differently within a space of about 40 metres! The country was very lush & hilly but then became very dry & arid. We arrived at Isiola & found our accomodation at Gaddisa rest camp. Our newly made friend's Brian & Leslie from Cape Town & their son Adam from London were waiting for us under a tree within the very dry "camp site". We decided that it would be better for all of us to stay in the basic rooms. This was & will probably be the last time that we arrived at our destination before the biker's so we made the most of enjoying a number of drinks on the veranda of Gaddisa before the Ladybrand bikers arrived - Doug, Charl & Mike only arrived in the dark after 8.00pm, much to our relief. Roger & Jo prepared a pasta for supper & soon after we all went to bed. The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-1657408418363843602011-06-24T01:12:00.000-07:002011-06-24T02:23:19.517-07:00Nairobi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_lFPkGqrdFodJs-i0sTnBmR7ivO6t3FecHxy_1S6-anhc49ZaTnNdCMcjEtU2kOEmA2o0Es7U2X2gxOZjiYj16zCNk5VrwUtYw91w1r5aHrFlj3auqVb0WgIPKA9YpeWTrbVuShy5CQ/s1600/Jungle+Junction+Doug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_lFPkGqrdFodJs-i0sTnBmR7ivO6t3FecHxy_1S6-anhc49ZaTnNdCMcjEtU2kOEmA2o0Es7U2X2gxOZjiYj16zCNk5VrwUtYw91w1r5aHrFlj3auqVb0WgIPKA9YpeWTrbVuShy5CQ/s320/Jungle+Junction+Doug.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Doug doing repair work on his bike<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our camp site at Jungle Junction</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSpdBJQoVVx4vp8AhimmEBCtqRrAxlfgtbTT4j2vuUDLoVZPnwnT-Pas2jSNlSIxBgPFpWxfsZPq7-gSjHXCyekY4ri9rMC2nY3JY57igySEiFxFnO0SSK6faASVtbFX1qMXrGwZ2g_k/s1600/Jungle+Junction+camp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSpdBJQoVVx4vp8AhimmEBCtqRrAxlfgtbTT4j2vuUDLoVZPnwnT-Pas2jSNlSIxBgPFpWxfsZPq7-gSjHXCyekY4ri9rMC2nY3JY57igySEiFxFnO0SSK6faASVtbFX1qMXrGwZ2g_k/s320/Jungle+Junction+camp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Team farewell at Jungle Junction<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0GuklwITtHtQVg8VpWkKMSagv1ELYOReUImuezmY5kYsjKHQB84eyNZEJ98fm6lq2AVUqJq2chue1BaHGPdLWDvgC5ZyY6ABmxiq2bZ5UL8TNVx4IQwnyJgSgGh53AcEcM4jjm5NUeQ/s1600/Jungle+Junction+farewell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0GuklwITtHtQVg8VpWkKMSagv1ELYOReUImuezmY5kYsjKHQB84eyNZEJ98fm6lq2AVUqJq2chue1BaHGPdLWDvgC5ZyY6ABmxiq2bZ5UL8TNVx4IQwnyJgSgGh53AcEcM4jjm5NUeQ/s320/Jungle+Junction+farewell.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">African furniture store</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYdj69rlCuDx97AJgOY4hsPnWaxpoWeHpsKWfmi30r6a4_EjZLW8aNrnVswhVJz_0xHdovWNiBIsOpvD2vn2GYXQQi0YE1YrUhpw6Rs9gIiXnd66iIftCQpFV4AUNB6k1fF0eXc2XPvk/s1600/African+Furniture+shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYdj69rlCuDx97AJgOY4hsPnWaxpoWeHpsKWfmi30r6a4_EjZLW8aNrnVswhVJz_0xHdovWNiBIsOpvD2vn2GYXQQi0YE1YrUhpw6Rs9gIiXnd66iIftCQpFV4AUNB6k1fF0eXc2XPvk/s320/African+Furniture+shop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>As you can see on arriving in Nairobi we were spoilt for choice of Hotels to stay in<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjGDncCso9IGrMIyC4udQcXg1btmGliRToxe9TaHoqvqmV9xgoCOpPRFl8xg3EulBQsmjAmWBSkP9dTM3uV6USa9fg382Pl0szGQW3zuJvLDqTVkXJ8TQxJIJeG5zaxTco6RG-6PWDLM/s1600/Nairobi+hotels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjGDncCso9IGrMIyC4udQcXg1btmGliRToxe9TaHoqvqmV9xgoCOpPRFl8xg3EulBQsmjAmWBSkP9dTM3uV6USa9fg382Pl0szGQW3zuJvLDqTVkXJ8TQxJIJeG5zaxTco6RG-6PWDLM/s320/Nairobi+hotels.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-17841733984142448722011-06-24T01:09:00.000-07:002011-06-24T02:17:51.355-07:00Speke Bay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmxtLM6qsw9k8-DGR8Gs-DKQozdD4XrWyCwftaI7pes6anMuqYZMos_y12X4Qq3zWX42HM5eKU-CfqJhnM1JdxaS5SQLRe2jm_eXE7CAPBEpiQE67M1chBmotYiUTTWM_6pbtXxeSHGI/s1600/Speke+Bay+Jo+and+Jen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmxtLM6qsw9k8-DGR8Gs-DKQozdD4XrWyCwftaI7pes6anMuqYZMos_y12X4Qq3zWX42HM5eKU-CfqJhnM1JdxaS5SQLRe2jm_eXE7CAPBEpiQE67M1chBmotYiUTTWM_6pbtXxeSHGI/s320/Speke+Bay+Jo+and+Jen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>On the shores of LakeVictoria<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJb7Rcdrqv05VAfRJZjfVUFKr_-M3uwv-Y9OMPuXy-SffPvMypVhRsWucSJkXHnbnIj-8PdlXVb6kzW65HFdaObCfgmyBPavZRDF3CabDK25flrVkSlFsNpi9Mo1pHm2O0p03NdtEseug/s1600/Speke+Bay+Rog+and+Doug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJb7Rcdrqv05VAfRJZjfVUFKr_-M3uwv-Y9OMPuXy-SffPvMypVhRsWucSJkXHnbnIj-8PdlXVb6kzW65HFdaObCfgmyBPavZRDF3CabDK25flrVkSlFsNpi9Mo1pHm2O0p03NdtEseug/s320/Speke+Bay+Rog+and+Doug.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Doug and Rog exhausted after their long day. They decided to go round the park as it would be to expensive and complicated to get the bikes through the park. Leaving at 8am they expected to get to Speke Bay at about 6pm but after a few complications and a much longer distance than planned, 1000km later they arrived bruised, battered and relieved to be there safely at 10pm. Needless to say Jo and I were also very pleased to see them. By the time they got there we had all enjoyed a lovely 3 course dinner so they had to make do with ham rolls and a beer or two.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLC9tggcOcrKyAvl38Qr7lCgspr0-cydQ2SNEe-Ws_FrqjyacvOOL-491zup-dVmHY0604eUZdsivfulxSkfCbOqGjy30iV00IRp7Zf0Tc9z3bnQKFqs2spHhI07jo8JzNFTKLMBhRvZU/s1600/Speke+Bay+supper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLC9tggcOcrKyAvl38Qr7lCgspr0-cydQ2SNEe-Ws_FrqjyacvOOL-491zup-dVmHY0604eUZdsivfulxSkfCbOqGjy30iV00IRp7Zf0Tc9z3bnQKFqs2spHhI07jo8JzNFTKLMBhRvZU/s320/Speke+Bay+supper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-66445697146612070622011-06-24T01:06:00.000-07:002011-06-24T02:10:21.683-07:00Homa Bay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvi1PdqKfe15HdlsiBjT8HKAPTGwvqVhRk1SftFJqWHEjgSA7VpMLYuvMFuUtK5aD8ydUEw2iGpr98AQQ-WADhlFv8Xml6z2orcWDQwzhfyLjZOvVLog9sOSxJCW3feHIQBzdYouIhVAc/s1600/Homa+bay+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvi1PdqKfe15HdlsiBjT8HKAPTGwvqVhRk1SftFJqWHEjgSA7VpMLYuvMFuUtK5aD8ydUEw2iGpr98AQQ-WADhlFv8Xml6z2orcWDQwzhfyLjZOvVLog9sOSxJCW3feHIQBzdYouIhVAc/s1600/Homa+bay+3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a nice short drive from Speke Bay we arrived at this quaint Hotel in Homa Bay where they said we could camp on their lawn. It was like a farmyard with goats, cows, ducks, geese and even camels. They had an Aids awareness conference on and we met some very friendly interesting people.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoW5UZpH8lBmc4XS2edBRs_kmCzJOaiOuu6sub67Wt-O1iHacBrhI0HPfU12D14lFXzYzS9HIzOFzxlV3sp3xoWkOksq-eEUhdZSBA5T0lkWZXfPi1Q8O9CvQGfcyJs2O7YYdsS9FbbRo/s1600/Homa+bay+garage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoW5UZpH8lBmc4XS2edBRs_kmCzJOaiOuu6sub67Wt-O1iHacBrhI0HPfU12D14lFXzYzS9HIzOFzxlV3sp3xoWkOksq-eEUhdZSBA5T0lkWZXfPi1Q8O9CvQGfcyJs2O7YYdsS9FbbRo/s320/Homa+bay+garage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Everywhere we stopped there were LOTS of men fascinated by the bikes and asking all sorts of questions. The people in Kenya generally speak good English and have been very friendly so far<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8PGYiDokIUaWtK9TjWnul9u5YRvx8D4rQKF5QxQPsXCeMywDBr4aRTD_-88FVJOc8NCwChwX0wagZ8occ0z-RwXrmxyWEPmj_1kmaUwkytQY00IDsMBCZmSxSw9npHenXXQ3LoTUp18/s1600/Homa+Bay+Cheryl+and+Ian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8PGYiDokIUaWtK9TjWnul9u5YRvx8D4rQKF5QxQPsXCeMywDBr4aRTD_-88FVJOc8NCwChwX0wagZ8occ0z-RwXrmxyWEPmj_1kmaUwkytQY00IDsMBCZmSxSw9npHenXXQ3LoTUp18/s320/Homa+Bay+Cheryl+and+Ian.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHINNHwB0q76u4jsu13MIwkyEw8qUEI0Rzqw2OdquGVBTS2VMz42daOVL1nPbpAli28epOvhPn2V941ps77SekeIhigbqPEWc4v2y3WPKnvLIS_jyLhCSPnPI9jdBfU24LgM8n6GDDC8/s1600/Homa+Bay+Jo+and+Rog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHINNHwB0q76u4jsu13MIwkyEw8qUEI0Rzqw2OdquGVBTS2VMz42daOVL1nPbpAli28epOvhPn2V941ps77SekeIhigbqPEWc4v2y3WPKnvLIS_jyLhCSPnPI9jdBfU24LgM8n6GDDC8/s320/Homa+Bay+Jo+and+Rog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Setting up camp <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mHgnXD5e31pAVNbAie82coCcX5-h6tF7_N16bYOrLPWg6b6K-GMPga3OP_lKJYSxtWNWLBO8d-wzaP4VdBb7EqZldWu8Ita9zoen6Y2dwgkGjg7Xv8BS_dxwWlv-D8FtA98yr_wVmQs/s1600/Homa+Bay+camel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mHgnXD5e31pAVNbAie82coCcX5-h6tF7_N16bYOrLPWg6b6K-GMPga3OP_lKJYSxtWNWLBO8d-wzaP4VdBb7EqZldWu8Ita9zoen6Y2dwgkGjg7Xv8BS_dxwWlv-D8FtA98yr_wVmQs/s320/Homa+Bay+camel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The guys enjoying a beer with one of our new friends. Supper that evening was served under the trees and some of is had grilled Talapa fish fresh from the lake.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVFrNrddliOtSU25YJuIOhk1xO8z5fobI8CJ8xZTZ90qGc0H5IkkpSKKQQDoB2gs5b68r5v9ZYeB4lNPV5XeNAWfw_wiE5sm8t7jvAKZU2iMK331eB4z32_nLvc2KjTvrnFxPMUEaIWs/s1600/Homa+Bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVFrNrddliOtSU25YJuIOhk1xO8z5fobI8CJ8xZTZ90qGc0H5IkkpSKKQQDoB2gs5b68r5v9ZYeB4lNPV5XeNAWfw_wiE5sm8t7jvAKZU2iMK331eB4z32_nLvc2KjTvrnFxPMUEaIWs/s320/Homa+Bay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-69172656794385341272011-06-24T01:02:00.000-07:002011-06-24T02:00:59.360-07:00Serengetti<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7qNWTdkkKqAipyPdr2VPns6m2d9n0uTWEdc2rQ5uLPI-Si9tbxFDr8kfXh5kFrwO26X_H8LA4izGBA0o_nuRKYQl9aXF3IjWWwT9t_ENey8Ba5mYfzPbyJazlDeTOoSx9tUDwgD0Gkc/s1600/Serengetti+gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7qNWTdkkKqAipyPdr2VPns6m2d9n0uTWEdc2rQ5uLPI-Si9tbxFDr8kfXh5kFrwO26X_H8LA4izGBA0o_nuRKYQl9aXF3IjWWwT9t_ENey8Ba5mYfzPbyJazlDeTOoSx9tUDwgD0Gkc/s320/Serengetti+gate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Top of the hill at the Serengetti entrance, stunning view overlooking the plains<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkzC7QopqqCtaD2TfeYLqSWaM9qG0uZtZnM5KFphQbjh1BbVozoLZbKbgC7HA-AhfuWC5UVcoAdSTpw4HcFw1C7WvjF7wE6hz_Ct8cAEBgzs2wftH-xne1-FPZH34tbOb_QRHIbcQl0o/s1600/Serengetti+Wildebeest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkzC7QopqqCtaD2TfeYLqSWaM9qG0uZtZnM5KFphQbjh1BbVozoLZbKbgC7HA-AhfuWC5UVcoAdSTpw4HcFw1C7WvjF7wE6hz_Ct8cAEBgzs2wftH-xne1-FPZH34tbOb_QRHIbcQl0o/s320/Serengetti+Wildebeest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Wildebeest were gathering for the start of the migration, there were so many, just went on for miles and miles, a welcome sight after driving through the park for hours on the worst roads ever and seeing nothing much at all. It costs a fortune to get into the park and you would think they would spend some of that money upgrading the roads, its as if they want to discourage tourists in their own vehicles.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYjkUeaQ_NDvXCuCSaOof-ImduEFl87d2WBFrgw0q3PIAdl9n1HYw04Ab0FDCvZjnc8yQbPI3_r3izlY_8kMfg3nuSUelz3Mb2yDAN2GBr5GI0c4Cfbnded_DZoNVrdR6jEy12zB7VAA/s1600/Serengetti+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYjkUeaQ_NDvXCuCSaOof-ImduEFl87d2WBFrgw0q3PIAdl9n1HYw04Ab0FDCvZjnc8yQbPI3_r3izlY_8kMfg3nuSUelz3Mb2yDAN2GBr5GI0c4Cfbnded_DZoNVrdR6jEy12zB7VAA/s320/Serengetti+view.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Jo and Jen at the top of the hill<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4Y1hb0KY4rjnurs5H9nN9fL9Iu7D10QV2JcL7VweO8W-Yba4cKw0y3bQOTcBVSr_pcP4fWJilNmgCafbyEWlKNU3uG8md5LxQZSfuFeDQnalCQNvztrwto4XDfCbyIM5ykDVF2rlOpg/s1600/Serengetti+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4Y1hb0KY4rjnurs5H9nN9fL9Iu7D10QV2JcL7VweO8W-Yba4cKw0y3bQOTcBVSr_pcP4fWJilNmgCafbyEWlKNU3uG8md5LxQZSfuFeDQnalCQNvztrwto4XDfCbyIM5ykDVF2rlOpg/s320/Serengetti+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-20425228405038502011-06-20T07:00:00.000-07:002011-06-20T08:30:43.577-07:00Masai 'shoes'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjBT7SmWyusMVhvLE7kvGBo47dQBH4d0yBr3b64lvOjxZtby3Tr5y4WmNDzSD7o3TXnITCXaVHzXIvVa5amLBs5mmf1ITXjprpmh_H91n0DqhdPeuvHWySIZAMwdL96kLNgW4Qz25VP4/s1600/Mesai+feets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjBT7SmWyusMVhvLE7kvGBo47dQBH4d0yBr3b64lvOjxZtby3Tr5y4WmNDzSD7o3TXnITCXaVHzXIvVa5amLBs5mmf1ITXjprpmh_H91n0DqhdPeuvHWySIZAMwdL96kLNgW4Qz25VP4/s320/Mesai+feets.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAP6ch8FCAxN8f7j0fzM0KBlUojrYo1-l5Rsm3sC2HEuyr2Fwrf0UIXpIn9_G9SabpDjL8eWVSfr8RedWMVihE6FZr32CdFtX0t-0Motv1BAuIG-L8f18wjTvOu0YbEpTxbNKeSfzCq0/s1600/mesai+tyres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAP6ch8FCAxN8f7j0fzM0KBlUojrYo1-l5Rsm3sC2HEuyr2Fwrf0UIXpIn9_G9SabpDjL8eWVSfr8RedWMVihE6FZr32CdFtX0t-0Motv1BAuIG-L8f18wjTvOu0YbEpTxbNKeSfzCq0/s320/mesai+tyres.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQh8_bRWhx2pEMg9NJtvR57IhP1cJnQtps4im0ygWD5cpoWHTL722_tiMuORTFeSYcOOSdfqVWn9Ec813vFqkELnb6NPxwtxzUB-glrnFL1_QgIJy9ym6TbKp4H1Ho6zYwzHdyAFAWPCA/s1600/mesyre+tyre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQh8_bRWhx2pEMg9NJtvR57IhP1cJnQtps4im0ygWD5cpoWHTL722_tiMuORTFeSYcOOSdfqVWn9Ec813vFqkELnb6NPxwtxzUB-glrnFL1_QgIJy9ym6TbKp4H1Ho6zYwzHdyAFAWPCA/s320/mesyre+tyre.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Would it be Michelim or Continentals? These shoes are being made out of motorbike tyres. So gaurd your bike tyres and spare tyres well!!The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-46096174696846249572011-06-20T06:52:00.000-07:002011-06-20T21:09:57.738-07:00Day 17The last 2 days we spent at a camping place called Happy Days just outside a little town called Karatu. A very busy place as it is only 17km before the Gorongoza Crater/Serengeti entrance. It was a beautiful place, friendly and efficient staff that looked after us incredably well. The owners, ex South Africans, although we never met the wife, the husband, Andre, was there and to say the least we were all embarrased to say we were white South Africans and especially me, being afrikaans, was embarrased by his bad language, his drinking and disgusting behavour to put the icing on the cake, he was a Bull supporter and when he realized that the bulls were loosing he switched the TV off. When we asked him why he replied, 'because I can'. He actually threw a cake at one of our group members, he got so out of hand. The staff was so embarrassed, they chased him from the premises and banned him while we were there. What an experience. Sadly we cannot recommend the place because of him, . Tanzanian staff however was fantastic and very professional.<br />
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Today we all headed in different directions. The backup vehicle with Ian, Cheryl, Jo-Anne and Jenny are driving trough the Serengeti on route to Lake Victoria. Roger and Doug decided to ride around the Serengeti which is a long, 800km stretch. Rudi and I decided to head back to Moshi to once again try to see Kilimanjaro. As I am writing this post the sky is busy clearing and I can vaguely see the outline of the mountain. So keep fingers cross for a little peep later. Tomorrow we are heading for Kenya and will meet up with the rest 2 days from now in Nairobi. Tanzania is an absolutely beautiful country with even more beautiful friendly people. All we hear all day is, 'Jumbo Rafiki', which means 'hello my friend'. They cannot thank you enough for visiting their country and welcome you extensively. The police stop you all over, not to hassle you but to wish you goodluck on your journey through the country, unlike Malawi which was, in general, a very unfriendly tourist destination. The cops were out to nail you round every corner.<br />
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As you have seen we visited the Ngorongoza Crater yesterday, it is a must and it is one of the seven natural wonders of the world!. It is 21km long and 17km wide and 600m deep. Ecologically totally self sustainable. So put this destination on your 'must see list'!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62OkHu10uiBpVc6cp4ABPjDAPrxmh8Xcx3XbwHbqZ8S4fYS3Kr7_OFqcqK-XQ-0HNqJ2pbUye03V8QtWxGmlY3u9YWaedk8xE-jQ84pxoURlM9ONdZkBZiRuLXHaGdkQe70ugbbf1BKs/s1600/crater+vehicle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62OkHu10uiBpVc6cp4ABPjDAPrxmh8Xcx3XbwHbqZ8S4fYS3Kr7_OFqcqK-XQ-0HNqJ2pbUye03V8QtWxGmlY3u9YWaedk8xE-jQ84pxoURlM9ONdZkBZiRuLXHaGdkQe70ugbbf1BKs/s1600/crater+vehicle.jpg" /></a></div>More crater photo'sThe Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-3248308897828319242011-06-19T09:58:00.000-07:002011-06-19T09:58:03.047-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8-KdaBvWZ0zfDKPuWQKGLaNc75MQzZ9ivUBOCL-3Dt_Xc84wR0pY1jTc5LcQarixOSo6JIt4ERydZntH_nCVqVcaoLB_7xsd0QiMjQqazpPuGHAtCnmIqhc-cehfrMoParDN5bnio9o/s1600/crator+entrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8-KdaBvWZ0zfDKPuWQKGLaNc75MQzZ9ivUBOCL-3Dt_Xc84wR0pY1jTc5LcQarixOSo6JIt4ERydZntH_nCVqVcaoLB_7xsd0QiMjQqazpPuGHAtCnmIqhc-cehfrMoParDN5bnio9o/s320/crator+entrance.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxa5Im3wKuOzudeWslPmQGPSVwxmOVdXt508ctDv61MK0FLqz5bUJv0xvUazaDh9X9GZpTJyTnrzPQoMcni37sFn0YD6b6sYx-MAFLD0ojtuVXt10gYuC0lhyphenhyphenFZhU8xvG0IOERbDIDj7g/s1600/Tusks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxa5Im3wKuOzudeWslPmQGPSVwxmOVdXt508ctDv61MK0FLqz5bUJv0xvUazaDh9X9GZpTJyTnrzPQoMcni37sFn0YD6b6sYx-MAFLD0ojtuVXt10gYuC0lhyphenhyphenFZhU8xvG0IOERbDIDj7g/s320/Tusks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Ngorongoro experience...The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974540525205039775.post-66351814853953221922011-06-18T07:38:00.000-07:002011-06-20T05:48:25.075-07:00Day 15- Moshi to Karatu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsw7nb2hJGGwp_4x64MlRjNSbJEGpL0nm30G8Sb4pLhyphenhyphenuhJ2F_yg7QoT_xWlP3kRAhmywTCXeyHtedlnhu1wGyaUCKPEvgAdBGk2DftZY5NYWTAae31EVik4H0KMJw32quEdiriHKCjQc/s1600/Kilimanjaro+Group+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsw7nb2hJGGwp_4x64MlRjNSbJEGpL0nm30G8Sb4pLhyphenhyphenuhJ2F_yg7QoT_xWlP3kRAhmywTCXeyHtedlnhu1wGyaUCKPEvgAdBGk2DftZY5NYWTAae31EVik4H0KMJw32quEdiriHKCjQc/s320/Kilimanjaro+Group+Photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> As the mountain was under cover we decided to have a team pic in front of the painted one<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2O7WrSraMfDzGsN6ANvTkDeDZq0Gti31IQnsJkm97zVBgIF_Af85_Yj_gRftkXVbhp88F98XmxebJX3nwAJN6c72Qaz-6JBz11Z1YZD12howC2f-2d34ibymZsH5wMnyU8_ThRccRSFM/s1600/Mesai+Women.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2O7WrSraMfDzGsN6ANvTkDeDZq0Gti31IQnsJkm97zVBgIF_Af85_Yj_gRftkXVbhp88F98XmxebJX3nwAJN6c72Qaz-6JBz11Z1YZD12howC2f-2d34ibymZsH5wMnyU8_ThRccRSFM/s320/Mesai+Women.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Masai women<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABLvl4BJBFjI7gsTui34xYZI_OqOEMRsGd0Tn84xFs6Jt_xu7bWwXdhmbag061p8o1QWePBHWvopnCxcfXgSgrdGfl7hsmCb6D6B8rFgplJ9KNGW1-Kw9t_sHqsteGoXreIWIak0wX7c/s1600/Karatu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABLvl4BJBFjI7gsTui34xYZI_OqOEMRsGd0Tn84xFs6Jt_xu7bWwXdhmbag061p8o1QWePBHWvopnCxcfXgSgrdGfl7hsmCb6D6B8rFgplJ9KNGW1-Kw9t_sHqsteGoXreIWIak0wX7c/s320/Karatu.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> View of Lake Manyara<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvj3UrUQ7c9f8wjxboKIlJgRGwAV6ioqbu0MbvvWmLd5-E9z4ePdz1zUTP4XLdTr5OlMfrZGBU0aMi-Yh1TSpDSvs3kH1EntK5CLWhEtUZNaJnZRmIlCW9UDgGi_zP7UQ5L-w57hOzY4/s1600/Lake+Manyara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvj3UrUQ7c9f8wjxboKIlJgRGwAV6ioqbu0MbvvWmLd5-E9z4ePdz1zUTP4XLdTr5OlMfrZGBU0aMi-Yh1TSpDSvs3kH1EntK5CLWhEtUZNaJnZRmIlCW9UDgGi_zP7UQ5L-w57hOzY4/s320/Lake+Manyara.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaryT0iXK8ambDM8f5bjksXq6Nfbh-SYpp8C7EqqEoREaOzRAi2iP5LDEk1C1dLDgAcVfLAnkGegbLvVv6AxTRNRqLlrYbyiL64T3K3sw3b8J8NcxkOe1-C3czkYybzSApkLkrrvx1uM4/s1600/Desert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaryT0iXK8ambDM8f5bjksXq6Nfbh-SYpp8C7EqqEoREaOzRAi2iP5LDEk1C1dLDgAcVfLAnkGegbLvVv6AxTRNRqLlrYbyiL64T3K3sw3b8J8NcxkOe1-C3czkYybzSApkLkrrvx1uM4/s320/Desert.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Doug and Jen on the road to Karatu<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Road side stop<img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRC5LGUTmwt-CMHHQKe4uyNwbNDMouWZeKGso16ylpMOVRZmjBPQy0RM1-R3sfLSpGQWHFwewzmKKC72Nci599HN0sxO17tXHolA1KxTdk_snV7v_mG985PB52iz06RC5ikzWvuiqSmeE/s320/266.JPG" width="320" /></div>The Ladybrand Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06198094394698345302noreply@blogger.com0