Amsterdam - alt.cruise

With the safari portion on hold, I've been looking at Amsterdam more. I don't think I'll have time for this as you can't book ahead and the spaces fill up quickly but it looks lovely.

The St. Nicolaas Boat Club of Amsterdam is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of historic boats on the Amsterdam canals.

Founded in 1997, the stichting (non-profit club) has given boat rides to thousands of people. This is a unique opportunity to see Amsterdam from the perspective of a historic open-air tuindersvlet. These boats were traditionally used to carry agricultural products to markets. They were also used as general barges to shuttle materials around cities.

time considerations

Note to people considering this trip or something similiar: I've made my schedule too tight. I only have 2 weeks' vacation a year so it had to be so. The thought was that I would be able to confirm everything before I left. I heard back from Amanda today (her previous email had gotten lost, apparently, and as she's been prompt in responding 6 times before, I believe her). She won't perhaps be able to confirm until about 4 days before the safari is supposed to leave. The trouble with that is I'm on my trek then and have to check out of my hotel the morning after I return. Most people seem to book the shorter safaris when they arrive, much I did for my day trips in Cusco. It would have been better to have either 2 days in Arusha before the trek or a day after the trek to cover "emergencies" like this.

So now I'm scrambling. I did some more research and came up with Sunny Safaris which is a larger operation located in Arusha. They have an identical trip so emailed them for a quote and more information. I've also contacted Peter Tours, which I found through the Lonely Planet Forums.

Nothing like adrenalin to get you moving! I also posted a "looking for travel companions" note on TravBuddy.com, Lonely Planet and twitter.

I emailed Amanda back - she responded immediately - and here are my choices:
If we do not find anyone we can definitely organize a private safari just for yourself. This is however much more expensive as there is no one to help split up the costs. You're looking at USD$1900 for the 4 day safari [vs. my initial $590USD if jeep is full]

Let us know if you want to confirm the trip, even if, worst case scenario we do not find others. The other option is we keep looking, if not successful by the time you get to Arusha you can ask around there, then last case scenario we confirm a private safari just for yourself.

I think I'll stall for a few days to see what the other two companies have to say and then make a decision.

anti-malaria pills and Diamox

I have to start my anti-malaria pills (22 pills for $131.11) one week before I leave so picked them up with the Diamox ($12.20 for 10 250mg pills). The pharmacist said I might experience "vivid" dreams as a side effect. Good ones or bad ones?, I asked. A mixture he cautiously replied.

I gulped a bit when paying. Between vaccinations and medications I estimate I have spent about $400 just on reducing my risk of getting ill. It reminded me of how lucky I am, one to have such easy access and to be able to afford these shots and pills and two, to live in a country where the bite of a mosquito is an irritant and nothing more.

how does this thing work?

Last night I picked up my friend Heather's ski pants and 2 litre platypus. Of course as soon as I got home, I wanted to test my new water system so I went to the sink and filled it with water. Some weird gauze stuff floated by inside - oops, that must have been part of the packaging. I shove it into my new knapsack to see if it fits properly in the provided pouch and it does and everything seems beautiful. Then I think I should see how the tube works because I've never used one before. I suck hard on the tube. I bite the tube. I hold the bag as high over my head as possible thinking maybe it's a gravity thing. Then I get my reading glasses and look at the instructions. I lift the valve to open it. Progress but still no water. I'm thinking how hard do I have to suck on this thing and at high altitude too? I'm about to cut a hole in the tube as I can't see where the water is to come out when suddenly I realize I've been sucking on the cap that covers the nozzle. Oi. Water flows freely.

What can I say? I'm hopelessly un-mechanical. And hey it does work now, which is the important thing. I'm going to properly test it this Saturday on a 17k hike.

thoughts - 2 weeks to go

People ask me if I'm excited about this trip. Of course I am. It is the trip of a lifetime. If I had time, I would spend all day reading blogs about the mountain and watch YouTube videos until I could recognize from the scenery which route people were on.

The reality is I have a mountain of work to get through before I leave. And I am extremely stressed because I know however many notes I send, it will be chaos while I'm away. I'm not even sure I have enough time to write all the notes! But there is an end in sight and it's coming up quickly. Once I leave for the airport, I'll not care one bit. I'll probably even have a good chuckle about it.

After two false starts, my friend Cindy's surgery was finally scheduled for Sept. 22 when I will be completely inaccessible - day 4 of the trek. I had a premonition this would happen. If I had a premonition, you ask, why did I not reschedule sooner? I'm asking myself that same question. I feel very badly that I will not be there for her. I'm upset I will not know anything for 4 days.

I'm worried I have underestimated the mountain and not trained enough. I keep reading about marathoners finding it hard. But I also read about it not being about fitness levels but taking it slowly - pole, pole - and hydrating, eating, etc.

I'm stressed because I haven't heard a peep back from the safari people who have been so prompt in responding up until now when I need them to give me a final price and say "okay we're picking you up on Sept 25". I don't want to have to scurry around when I get to Arusha to find another safari weeding through all the street hawkers. I only have one jet-lagged day there and just want to relax. I considered changing my flight and either spending more time in Amsterdam or (gasp) coming back early if they don't come through. In the end, I decided to give them until Friday night and if they don't respond, ask Henry to arrange a private safari. I'm not happy about the extra expense as it will be about 3 times what I expected to pay going with a group but I'll never be in Tanzania again. So I'll just have to suck it up.

But yes, I am excited. lol.