African travels

Hello all. So, internet has been scarce as we have traveled around, but I think I have enough time now for a quick update. It seems like we embarked about a bajillion years ago because we have done so much and traveled so far... in fact, I really had no idea how far we were going and just how much traveling we were doing, because the amount is pretty insane.

First we bussed it to Tanzania. The 20-hour bus ride was surprisingly bearable. In Arusha, we went on our safaria. The good news is we saw elephants, giraffes, zebras, and other magnificent things. The bad news is that our guide, who was recommended to us by someone else on the trip, was outright crazy. He was significantly drugged up for most of the day, racking up traffic violations and being well...a little too friendly. However, we deftly escaped the situation after seeing our fill of animals.

On to Moshi, Tanzania. We stayed at a backpackers hostel here, and had a guided hike to a waterfall in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Our guide was amazing, and he took us through the village in which he grew up, and brought us to this breath taking waterfall where we climbed and went swimming the the freeeeezing water. In Moshi we got to have REAL coffee, and Zanzibar pizza which is just....amazingness. Tanzanian food far surpases Ugandan food in every way.

Another busride to Dar es Salaam, which is this crazy mix of India, Africa, and Europe. It's very Muslim and has great architecture and just feels...alive. We bought fabric and had more awesome food. I have gotten used to waking up to the Muslim call to prayer aruond 5 am... I kind of like it though. We then took the ferry to Zanzibar, an island that is part of Tanzinia but might as well be its own country, which it used to be. The main town is Stone Town, with crazy and really interesting architecture. We stayed on the coast, in Jambiani, right on the beach. The water was this absolutely crazy color of aquamarine that I would not believe existed in nature unless I saw it. We just chilled on the beach and made friends with a few rastas, one of which had a pet monkey and was rasta CERTIFIED by the rasta institute in Dar...hardcore. The aforementioned rastas hennaed our hair and nails and tought us how to cook a Zanzibar meal, which was really fun. Back in Stone Town we took a Spice Tour, which sounds kind of weird but is a really cool tour where you are taken to see different types of trees and other plants, and see where nutmeg and henna and cinnamon and chocolate and other things come from. Once again, amazing lunch, and also a trip to the ocean and a former slave cave, where Zanzibarians where kept by the sultans that used to rule the island. So we had a great time, and escaped the island before the sketchy people got...too sketchy. Because the island is such a tourist destination, locals have become very adept at getting peoples money and following you around, etc. The ferry right back was in rough seas, so almost everyone was puking (not me, of course), so that was pretty enjoyable.

Then comes the truly epic part of our journey...a 56-hour train ride. It was only supposed to be about 40 hours, but there were a few misshaps, including the need to replace the entire engine. May I mention, that this train is the most reliable train in all of East Africa. No joke. So, what at first seemed like it would be unbearable, what with living for almost 3 days in a roughly 4 by 6 cube hurtling over poorly-constructed train tracks, the train ride was pretty cool, and we met a lot of great people, including a Tanzanian woman who took us under her wing and porbably saved our lives by showing us that we had set up our beds completely wrong, thus putting people on the bottom bunk in danger of being smooshed to death, and we also spent time with a brit makin a BBC documentary about the train. He filmed us for quite a while, so be on the lookout for a hour-long BBC special about us and out travels. Just kidding. Maybe.

After disembarking the train aaaand a few more bus rides (during which we almost froze to death....no one told us it is winter in Zambia!!!) we arrived in Livingstone, Zambia, which borders Zimbabwe and is home to the illustrious and elusive Victoria Falls. We got our first night of sleep in almost a week that was not on moving transportation, and then saw the falls, which is indescribable. Kind of blows Niagra out of the water. Everyone else did the gorge swing, which is one of the only ones in the world and involved jumping off a cliff into a 3-sceond, 50 meter freefall, and then swinging at 2.5 Gs over the river gourge. Despite the fact that its very safe and that everyone else loved it, after getting all harnessed up I just could not make myself lean backwords off of the gourge edge. I think I'll get over it. A much tamer activity, we went on a river cruise in the evening with unlimited...beverage. And we even saw some hippos and crocs along the way. Today we have just been wandering and admiring the developness of Zambia (big streets, shopping malls, steady electricity...)which is so unlike anything we are used to in Uganda...basically, the US is going to be a big shock.

So, we are coming up on the last week, which is great because it means we are almost home, which I am greatly looking forward to, buuut this week is also almost all travel, with a few days to say goodbye to Kampala in the end. So, we're looking at a 6 hour bus ride, another 2 hour bus ride, a repeat of the train ride which will HOPEFULLY not be as delayed again, and then a 24-hour bus ride bringing us into Kampala. Yeah I'm crazy, I know. We should all probably be checked in to the loony bin upon arriving home. But until then, staying has definitely been worthwhile, and I am anticipating coming home even more and am definitely ready for it. I'm also really excited for airplane food and movies on the flight back. Mmm.