First of all the computer system has been down, third world country and all... So I have done so much and experienced so much I am not sure where I should start. I went up the mountain and it was a bit scary, they say some people even pass out due to the altitude change, I almost passed out due to the heights. Those of you who have been to Brazil, just as crazy curzy as the paraglide sight but twice as long to get there. Its beautiful from the top. There are women whose job it is to collect and carry firewood down the mountain twice a day. The wood is strapped to their backs and they walk hunched over. The pile is about 3 feet high and 3 feet wide if not bigger. I am going to take a picture and the next time someone complains about their job rotation at work I will show them that picture. They have a shop at the bottom of the mountain that when the women get too old to do that, they make scarves. I bought a bunch as they are extremely cheap.
Life here is so hard, their are beggers everywhere and pit pockets and kids shining shoes, it breaks my heart everyday.
We have 2 guards and every night this week I have fed them. I take them leftovers or buy them a hot meal. Its rainy season here and its cold, they stay awake all night just to watch the gate. I have met some extemely interesting people and have visited a number of orphanages. You are not allowed to take pictures at the orphanage though. It is so hard to see these children, so full of potential, who just love life and so desperately want someone to love them. I am on a time limit here as the computer system keeps stopping. Tomorrow I am off to see hippos and monkeys.... hopefully talk to you guys soon!!!!!1
Friday 22 July 2011
Saturday 16 July 2011
I'm trying to upload pics but the computer is too slow :(
Sorry guys I am trying.... its $3.00 an hour and its almost taking me an hour to do the blog....lol
The days are flying by...
I have been extemely busy the past few days... and I havent been able to get on the internet..go figure. I also didnt realize that I didnt need a converter to charge my laptop ( Thanks Icaro, I can always count on you )
Anyways, on thursday I was told that I HAD to go to the portuguese bridge, that it was beautiful and we had to see it. Hannah and I get up at 7am and eat our oats ( like runny l made with milk ) then off we go with another family for a 2.5hr drive to see this bridge. Did I mention that it is POURING rain? So we get to the bridge and its sooooo foggy as we are at extremely high altitude. Its slowed down now, just drizzling not pouring and we get out and I follow the driver down the hill. I'm watching my feet as it is really slippery and we are walking on a pathway down a mountain side made from flat slippery rocks. I happen to glace over to my right and almost had a heartattack..... there is nothing but a cliff beside me maybe 2 feet away and it just drops.. at least 500 feet into nothingness. Well thats what it looked like. We proceed further down until we meet up with the same number of guides as there are people... funny how that worked out. I can see the bridge at this time and it is beautiful. It is made of rocks and has a waterfall. I think to myself, "that wasnt so bad" but oh no we are not done yet. My young guide named Salimon grabs my hand and leads me down a scary slippery, no where to go but down path. Hannah and I are both TERRIFIED of heights. Nevertheless we make it down, snap some photos and return to the top safe and sound. We both tip our guides well as "they didn't let us die" as Hannah says.
Anyways, on thursday I was told that I HAD to go to the portuguese bridge, that it was beautiful and we had to see it. Hannah and I get up at 7am and eat our oats ( like runny l made with milk ) then off we go with another family for a 2.5hr drive to see this bridge. Did I mention that it is POURING rain? So we get to the bridge and its sooooo foggy as we are at extremely high altitude. Its slowed down now, just drizzling not pouring and we get out and I follow the driver down the hill. I'm watching my feet as it is really slippery and we are walking on a pathway down a mountain side made from flat slippery rocks. I happen to glace over to my right and almost had a heartattack..... there is nothing but a cliff beside me maybe 2 feet away and it just drops.. at least 500 feet into nothingness. Well thats what it looked like. We proceed further down until we meet up with the same number of guides as there are people... funny how that worked out. I can see the bridge at this time and it is beautiful. It is made of rocks and has a waterfall. I think to myself, "that wasnt so bad" but oh no we are not done yet. My young guide named Salimon grabs my hand and leads me down a scary slippery, no where to go but down path. Hannah and I are both TERRIFIED of heights. Nevertheless we make it down, snap some photos and return to the top safe and sound. We both tip our guides well as "they didn't let us die" as Hannah says.
Wednesday 13 July 2011
The weather
I almost forgot to mention how cold it is here..... I have jeans a tank top, long sleeve and a jacket on... Its muddy, damp and cold and raining every day. Not sure what I thought when they said its their rainy season... hummmm
not sure how much I can blog
Not sure how often I will get on here.... I just typed out a whole days worth and I am not sure if it is even up there... computer system and phones here suck...lol Its amazing how much we take for granted.
Crazy start to my trip
So I arrived at the airport with plenty of time... I checked my bags, the 3rd bag that I brought along full of stuff to give away to the children cost me $225.... that was insane and the fiasco Icaro and I went through trying to pay for it was ridiculous. Lets just say Air Canada does not have great customer service. Its time for me to go through security and after a mini tearful goodbye lol I walk through the check and as my bag goes though the scanner, I get pulled over to the side..... I left spray on after sun in my carry on. Hello!!!!! I know better than that. The security guard had to take it out to Icaro (thank God Icaro knows me well, he was still watching to make sure I got through the gates ok)
I thought well it can only get better.....nope not a chance. As we were waiting for the plane to arrive my name gets called to the gate. Whoo hoo I thought the plane is over sold and I am going to move to first class... ha ha nope yet again not my luck. I get moved 8 rows up from Brandi and Hannah with whom I am travelling. It worked out for the better though as there was an empty seat between myself and my new friend in which I aquired on the plane. A vet, who is picking up and moving to Dubai. Gave me her email address and told me to come visit sometime.
Onto our next flight Frankfurt to Addis Ababa, we were the 2nd to last seat on the plane and when it came time for dinner..... nothing left but curry lamb... those who know me well, can imagine how well that went over. I am not a picky eater in the least but lamb is something I can NOT stomach.
Did I happen to mention the lady making Icaro and I wait to pay for the 3rd piece of luggage forgot to put my luggage tags on my ticket and when I mentioned it to the same man who moved me seats told me there was nothing he could do but write the numbers down...sooooo I almost didnt get out of Addis Ababa airport with my luggage.
I thought well it can only get better.....nope not a chance. As we were waiting for the plane to arrive my name gets called to the gate. Whoo hoo I thought the plane is over sold and I am going to move to first class... ha ha nope yet again not my luck. I get moved 8 rows up from Brandi and Hannah with whom I am travelling. It worked out for the better though as there was an empty seat between myself and my new friend in which I aquired on the plane. A vet, who is picking up and moving to Dubai. Gave me her email address and told me to come visit sometime.
Onto our next flight Frankfurt to Addis Ababa, we were the 2nd to last seat on the plane and when it came time for dinner..... nothing left but curry lamb... those who know me well, can imagine how well that went over. I am not a picky eater in the least but lamb is something I can NOT stomach.
Did I happen to mention the lady making Icaro and I wait to pay for the 3rd piece of luggage forgot to put my luggage tags on my ticket and when I mentioned it to the same man who moved me seats told me there was nothing he could do but write the numbers down...sooooo I almost didnt get out of Addis Ababa airport with my luggage.
Monday 11 July 2011
Leaving for Eithiopia
Hello All,
So here goes nothing, I am on my way. A few... ok maybe more than a few, never the less, all the last minute details have been taken care of and I am on my way to the airport. Stay tuned as I will try and update as I go along. I just wanted to make sure this worked before I got to involved in writing this.....
Talk to you all very soon!!!
So here goes nothing, I am on my way. A few... ok maybe more than a few, never the less, all the last minute details have been taken care of and I am on my way to the airport. Stay tuned as I will try and update as I go along. I just wanted to make sure this worked before I got to involved in writing this.....
Talk to you all very soon!!!
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