home safe

Well it's been a bit of a crazy week but I am finally home - very tired. Will start updating tomorrow - took lots of notes and pictures.

safe and sound

For those of you who don't have acess to my facebook accont. Just returned from mountain- made it to the top (without Diamox) - hardest thing I have ever done. Great experience. Jim, I thought of you at the top when I was delirious with exhaustion and lack of oxygen! lol. Feet and lips ripped to shreds.

Safari tomorrow. Will update from Amsterdam on Wed.

Arusha 2

I am in an internet shop in downtown Arusha. The speed is a lot faster thank god. After I met with Peter, one of my neighbours came over to chat with me. His group had just returned from the same route with the same company. They were from the UK. The three of them walked me into town. It does take me a bit to "acclimitatize" to a new place. They warned me about the hawkers and indeed they are ferocious. I have one watching the shop for me when I come out, lol. It goes against my nature to be rude but one has to be.

My new friends also advised me about tipping. I am in big doo-doo about the tips. They said they each put in $250USD. They had a slightly smaller group than mine but not by much. I had budgeted and taken $75 as that is what the book suggested. Tips always turn out to be more than what you thought - this happened in Peru too. Apparently the book is way off. So I will have to go get more money from the ATM and they will have to get schillings. Of course I forgot my cheat sheet (have I mentioned how bloody disorganized I am for this trip?) at the hotel so when confronted with do you want to take out 50,000, 100,000, 200,000 or some other amount?, I was not sure. I took out 100,000 and looking it up now on the net, that turns out to be $67 Canadian dollars - oof. So I have to go back.

I'll have a quick look about if I can escape my stalker and then spend the rest of the day resting/packing/sorting at the hotel. I really wanted to buy some Kilimanjaro coffee and a tshirt but it's looking tricky. There is no "tourist section" (as far as I can tell) where you can find things easily. Traffic is crazy (cross at your own risk) and the sidewalks are a mess. I'll try to get some pictures.

I have a briefing at 6 tonight where hopefully I'll get the stuff I rented. Departure is at 7:30 tomorrow morning, likely on the same bus we all came in on from the airport. It's about 5-6 hours of travel to the start of the trek as it's near the Kenyan border around the other side. It's market day Saturday so hopefully I'll see lots as we drive through the villages.

I will try for a brief "hi I'm still alive" post Friday night from the hotel before heading out on the safari Saturday morning. I'm taking notes to jog my memory and will fill this in later at home with pics.

So far, so good. Other than the hawker and the money issues, everything is going well and I am enjoying myself immensely. Forgot to say I saw 2 cats at the airport running about outside. Took that to be a good omen. Didn't expect to see any except for the big ones, of course. lol.

Ok off. Hope I can find my way home!

Arusha

I am in Arusha on the slowest computer I have ever seen. Arrived around 11:30pm last night - toast. Bag came through - met some people in my group - 2 of them were not so lucky. Got some sleep on the plane - scored 3 seats in a row.

Sheila, you were asking how hard it was to meet people travelling as a single person. I picked a couple from The Netherlands this morning at breakfast and just asked them for advice. People tend to be very forthcoming.

The Outpost is basic but okay. (ie. There is a bed and hot water) Everyone was dropped off before me and I had to laugh. The first hotel was gorgeous, far from town, lovely landscaping, guests met with cold drink, you get the picture. Road horrendous. Then was a hotel a step down, another nice looking place but still far from town and the road bad. My hotel is about 15 min from town and the road was smooth.

I'm meeting Peter to pay my safari deposit shortly. I've locked up all my extra money, passport and ticket in the hotel safe which is a cupboard with a huge padlock. Then I'll likely head into town after lunch to change some money and buy some water. I am very thirsty - should have packed a large bottle in Amsterdam. Hopefully I'll be able to find an internet cafe with faster access so I can read my email and go thru the arduous security questions facebook asks when you travel to confirm your identity. It would take days on this computer.

Amsterdam

Only have 26 minutes left on my internet access so typing as fast as I can. Flight booked solid - no sleep - biggest plane I've ever been on (3 seats, 4 seats, 3 seats). Enjoyed the company of two women from Kenya who said I would "be very welcome in Africa." Taking that as a good omen. Good food, free booze, personal screens. Forgot how my legs go crazy on long flights so spent time walking around while most slept.

Flight very fast - 6.5 hours. Landed early so entered the country so could have a smoke outside. :) Had my passport stamped going in and leaving which I thought very funny given it was all in the space of one hour! Glancing into the shops and seeing flowers for sale makes me think I will love this city. Also saw train station where I will go when I pass thru next time - great airport. Found grocery store in mall adjoining airport - bought bananas, a roll and a small pack of cheese. I am lost re the euro as my cheet sheets are in the bottom of my knapsack which is stuffed to the gills so have spent $20 on that!

Feel tired but ok considering it is about 3 am in Toronto. Leaving for Kilimanjaro in 2 hours. Gate changed - lucky I checked, but after missing a flight am now slightly paranoid.

Money belt a pain in the... now carrying three currencies, an interac card and 2 visas. Will be happy to unload some of it into the hotel safe and just deal with one currency.

Will update from Arusha, likely Friday.