Greetings and salutations
Sorry for the lack of blogging during Finland - I was having too much fun for the computer :P Basically, I had one of the best weeks of my life in Finland, a beautiful country spending heaps of time with an awesome friend - good times, good times. Hiking in the forest was really good fun, I got to learn some Finnish sign language which was very very good fun, I went horse riding on Finnish horses in the forest *chorus of Heavenly angels descend and start singing while Annie looks dramatically off into the distance remember the ride* and scene.
But in all seriousness, it was such an amazing week - sauna in Finland, as well as milk, is very big, and I braved the 75-80 degree wood rooms and actually found that for the cold weather outside, sitting in the sauna was very very nice. When I left Finland a week later, it didn't feel like a week, it had gone much too quickly for my liking - next time i shall have to come in the winter as I would imagine that it would look quite different than what I saw.
So, the jetsetter I am, I hoped on more planes and made my way over to England, or as my British friends say, the 'motherland' - landed in London and got myself through all ok - I need a UK passport though, the immigration line for all other nations was ridiculously long. Then you get up to the desk and realise that it is an exceptionally small world when talking with your immigration officer, you reveal you are going to university in Townsville and lo and behold, he knows Townsville. Very small world. So once I was through Immigration, finally, I could grab my bags, and quite literally it was the quickest baggage retrieval I have ever had, as just as I walked through the door it went past me, so I grabbed it and was off to customs. Now I went into the hallway that said things to declare, and as I walked through, thinking surely England would be like Australia in terms of customs and quarantine - the customs was closed. what the?......
This nice lady popped out of a door and was just like
.....oh, do you have things to declare??
....wood, seeds, food, knives
...do you have any meat?
...no
...do you have any animals?
...no
any jewellry or gifts worth over 390 pounds?
....no
...off you go then
....
So off I went, now understanding that Australia is in a league of its own in terms of customs and quarantine. I must admit though, when I get back to Australia, I am going to be so desperate to get out of the airport to see my family, I think I may just have to make a run for it as the process is sooooooooooo long
Anyway, got myself to the underground, got a ticket on the tube which for being underground has a surprisingly large amount of above ground sections - then i jumped off at Earl's Court, walked to my hostel and voila, hey presto, I had a bed and a locker and practically collapsed on my bed - I was exhausted.
I went out in search of food, did a little exploring and then crashed for the night. The next day, I walked towards Tottenham Court Station from Earl's Court, passing through Hyde Park, walking past the hard rock cafe, the ritz hotel, west end theatres, ending up at the British Museum where I got to see - guess - the Rosetta Stone! woot, it was sooo cool!! I as in full geek mode then. :D
after I finished at the museum I went and met my friend James who showed me all over the rest of London, taking me to Buckingham Palace, to see the guards, to Big Ben, the Westminster Abbey, Parliament House, the Thames - it was a very busy day. I then went into the Tower of London and saw the tower bridge before returning to my hostel, packing and then crashing - a girl needs her sleep.
Next morning, I checked out of the hostel, realising that the next time I check out of this hostel it will be to go home. Now there is a weird thought. Home. Home has meant so many different things these past few months. Home has been camp in Tanzania for a very long time. Home has been where my friends have been. And soon, home will once again be home, with my family.
:)
I got to Waterloo Station and sat waiting for my train to Weymouth and finally it was time to head off and begin the England hop. I was met at the station in Weymouth, after my 3 hour train ride by my cousin Dave and he showed me around Weymouth and took me to their house, where I met other relatives - I was then treated to my first English pub meal and then went and met Dave's brother. Yesterday, I went to Corfe Castle, to Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, and was driven all over and shown the beautiful county that is Dorset. I really love it here, the landscape is divine and it is very much what I had imagined England to be - and it is COLD! eep!
Today I wandered around the town of Weymouth and just took it all in, seeing the streets and wandering along the beach - I went to Nothe Fort and Brewers Quay and just had a very good morning before retreating back to the house as I was losing sensation to my ears and nose. Shortly I will be heading back out again to track down some old books stores :) life is very good. Heading to Exeter tomorrow and then on Sunday i head to Bath, after which I will keep you all informed of my adventures. 3 weeks and 2 days to go.
Kwaheri!
Annie
Friday, September 24, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
jambo sana Finland!!
I am still very much adventuring around the world - It has been quite a while now since I have written my blog - oops. my bad.
Anyway, I find myself back again at a computer, compelled to tell you all about the amazing travels that I am currently undertaking.
Paris was an amazing adventure, exploring the city, seeing the flea markets, visiting the museums and the monuments, and seeing places that I have only ever read about or seen in films - I loved every minute - it was great to be able to see Chili again after so long of not seeing her and exploring Paris was such good fun - being in the Louvre was amazing, being so close to so many incredible pieces of art and history - I loved it!! I saw the Chateau of Versailles, I have been to the Chateau de Vincennes, I have seen sculptures and paintings of the old masters, walked among some of the most beautiful buildings and scenery - all in all, I am an exceptionally lucky person :) I got to wander around Paris at night with Chili and Philippe which was incredibly fun!!
For a change of scenery, I went to Strasbourg for 3 days, to see another part of France, so took the train for 2 hours and found myself in the provence of Alsace, its capital being Strasbourg. It was simply stunning, exactly what you would imagine a medieval town to look like and I had such a good time there. It was so much fun to go somewhere completely new all on my own, find my own way to my hostel, get myself around - epic fun!! Met a very nice girl who I am now still in contact with, aas she and I shared a room at the hostel - you meet very nice people :) The second day I was there I visited the town of Selestat which is south of Strasbourg and went to the Chateau fort du Haut-Kroenigsbourg which is HUGE and right on the top of a mountain and epically cool!! I went o Montagne des Singes and got to feed monkeys and have them touch my hand and walk among them - heaps of fun!!!! After my time in Strasbourg finished, I returned to Paris, spending my last day in Paris climbing Notre Dame and exploring the city one last time. I flew out Monday morning.
I now find myself out of Europe and into Scadinavia, in Finland with a very good friend for a week. It is very cool, what I have seen so far, and nice to be in a place where there are still sights to see, but is much more laid back as when in Paris, you feel obliged to do EVERYTHING and it is very tiring - but awesome!
It took 3 flights for me to get here from Paris, and I havce decided that Scandinavian Airlines must be superstitious as none of the planes had a row 13 - the things you observe during travel :P my friend picked me up at the airport where it was raining and grey, but I love seeing rain again, and even though it is cold, it is not unbearable - though I can imagine in the winter it must be quite different - I will come back here one year in the winter, it would be awesome. I spent today just having a bit of a chill day, relaxing and recooperating, then went with my friend to a tower overlooking toi town and the surrounds - it was sooo much fun and so incredible to see the view, the lakes and the forests are so beautiful here. I love it already, and I am looking forward toi seeing more of the sights when I go hiking tomorrow afternoon with my friend :) it is going to be great!!!
I will keep you all informed, take care!
Peace
Annie
P.S just over one month till I touch back down on Australian soil :)
Anyway, I find myself back again at a computer, compelled to tell you all about the amazing travels that I am currently undertaking.
Paris was an amazing adventure, exploring the city, seeing the flea markets, visiting the museums and the monuments, and seeing places that I have only ever read about or seen in films - I loved every minute - it was great to be able to see Chili again after so long of not seeing her and exploring Paris was such good fun - being in the Louvre was amazing, being so close to so many incredible pieces of art and history - I loved it!! I saw the Chateau of Versailles, I have been to the Chateau de Vincennes, I have seen sculptures and paintings of the old masters, walked among some of the most beautiful buildings and scenery - all in all, I am an exceptionally lucky person :) I got to wander around Paris at night with Chili and Philippe which was incredibly fun!!
For a change of scenery, I went to Strasbourg for 3 days, to see another part of France, so took the train for 2 hours and found myself in the provence of Alsace, its capital being Strasbourg. It was simply stunning, exactly what you would imagine a medieval town to look like and I had such a good time there. It was so much fun to go somewhere completely new all on my own, find my own way to my hostel, get myself around - epic fun!! Met a very nice girl who I am now still in contact with, aas she and I shared a room at the hostel - you meet very nice people :) The second day I was there I visited the town of Selestat which is south of Strasbourg and went to the Chateau fort du Haut-Kroenigsbourg which is HUGE and right on the top of a mountain and epically cool!! I went o Montagne des Singes and got to feed monkeys and have them touch my hand and walk among them - heaps of fun!!!! After my time in Strasbourg finished, I returned to Paris, spending my last day in Paris climbing Notre Dame and exploring the city one last time. I flew out Monday morning.
I now find myself out of Europe and into Scadinavia, in Finland with a very good friend for a week. It is very cool, what I have seen so far, and nice to be in a place where there are still sights to see, but is much more laid back as when in Paris, you feel obliged to do EVERYTHING and it is very tiring - but awesome!
It took 3 flights for me to get here from Paris, and I havce decided that Scandinavian Airlines must be superstitious as none of the planes had a row 13 - the things you observe during travel :P my friend picked me up at the airport where it was raining and grey, but I love seeing rain again, and even though it is cold, it is not unbearable - though I can imagine in the winter it must be quite different - I will come back here one year in the winter, it would be awesome. I spent today just having a bit of a chill day, relaxing and recooperating, then went with my friend to a tower overlooking toi town and the surrounds - it was sooo much fun and so incredible to see the view, the lakes and the forests are so beautiful here. I love it already, and I am looking forward toi seeing more of the sights when I go hiking tomorrow afternoon with my friend :) it is going to be great!!!
I will keep you all informed, take care!
Peace
Annie
P.S just over one month till I touch back down on Australian soil :)
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Kwaheri Tanzania, Bonjour France!
Yikes. So, I know, it has been yonks since I last updated my blog but honest, I have been quite the busy bee.
Our time in Zanzibar was absolutely amazing and the bus journey down, all 8 hours of it, wasn't too bad - we were in quite a comfortable bus. We arrived in Dar es Salaam where we stayed he night and then caught the ferry across to Zanzibar at lunch the next day. We arrived in Stone Town and even from the sea it was a beautiful place, I loved the look of it. We were picked up and taken across the island to the town of Paje where we stayed at the guest house of the Arabian Nights hotel - we are also the last group to go through to Zanzibar as from now on the Camp will no longer send volunteers there, but to Tanga - yay for us, I loved Zanzibar!!
I snorkeled with dolphins on the Thursday after arriving which was ridiculously awesome - I was so close to them and I could hear them clicking and singing to one another which was a truly amazing experience to have and I wished I could have made it last longer, it was such a beautiful moment - you put our head under the water and all sound is suddenly erased, no more voices or anything, just silence - and then you are swimming above the dolphins, they swimming right past you, dancing and singing and out of the silence you can hear the distinct clicking, hear their voices. And it is mesmerizing. And as hard as you swim, they soon are beyond your reach and you watch them vanish into the water. But their voices can still be heard, if you listen really carefully
As much as I wish I could have made it last for hours, I also wish that I wasn't spending so much time being sea sick - I really need to develop my sea legs or I am going to be a terrible marine biologist :P the funniest thing was me being sick over the side, lifting my head and saying 'so totally worth it' before throwing my head back over the side of the boat. It was so worth it though. Every second.
We also got to explore Stone Town both on our own and with a guide, visiting the House of Wonders, The Palace Museum, the Old Fort and going to the night markets to try out the local catches and cooked food which was amazing and really nice. The colours and vibrancy of the market glowing in the dark is amaing as well, such an awesome atmosphere.
All too soon came the time for us to say goodbye - and let me tell you after spending 3 months living with them nd always having them around, goodbyes are a horrible thing. I hate goodbyes to be frank, worst thing ever invented. But I was always reminded hat saying goodbye to someone means saying hello to someone else.
The bus back left much to be desired in that it wasn't as nice as the bus there - but that I did not mind. I just didn't like people trying to scam us and stroking my head and the fact our driver drove like he was driving through a school zone the whole time which was quite different to the drivers we have experienced during our stay in Tanzania. In the end, it was al fine and we got back home to camp, admittedly very late at night, but to a warm welcome from Eliphas. The next day - even more goodbyes. It was like a symphony of goodbyes, horrible, really horrible.
Evenually, it was my turn to leave, and I went to my Fran and Rosa's house where I stayed until Monday morning - these friends I had met the last time I was in Tanzania and it was so amazing to caqtch up and to be able to spend some time with them I loved it. Got to see a private Zimbabwean sculpture exhibition, got to spend some quality time just chilling and got to catch up with my friends properly for the first time in 2 ears - was so wonderful to see them in the flesh again.
Sunday afternoon I went back to Tuleeni one last time. It was a sweet visit, as I left the kids sag to me and Mama Furaja gave me warm hugs and kisses. I will miss the children always, they were all so sweet. It was also a trip of revelations. Our group knew that there was one girl at the orphanage that was HIV positive and had AIDS. What i found out was that it was one of my best friends fro the orphanage, whom I had been talking to the whole time. I couldn't believe it, I felt like someone had kicked me in the stomach. It was really hard to take...
Monday morning, 3 am - more goodbyes, as I hopped in my taxi which took me to the airport. I was the first and only one there for a while, as the airport was on Tanzania ime and was therefore shut. But soon enough, more Mzungus were arriving and at 4:30 the airport was open - and I finally got the answer to my ticket mystery -
See, on the Saturday morning, Rosa's mum took me to the Precision Air office in Moshi just to confirm my place on the monday morning flight as it was a flight that was replacing my original one which was cancelled. Got to the office - oh look, no Annie on the passenger list - would you like to buy a new ticket ma'am??
After running around, calling people, getting my awesome mother to call agencies back home, it was finally confirmed that I was on the flight - hooray. It was very stressful though, 2 days from flying out and I had people telling me that I wasn't actually on the flight. Anyway, long story short, at the airport, the guy checking me in said the same thing, that he didn't have me on the list. But before I could either faint, throw a grade four hissy fit, tell him to look again, bol through to the plane or simply freak out, he said wait wait, you are confirmed on this flight - your ticket just hasn't been activated yet.
...........
ooooooooooh. gotcha.
So after a little scanning, hey presto I was on the list, and through immigration waiting in the departure lounge a 5:30 in the morning. I met some very nice people who were also on my flight to paris and whom I met up with again in Nairobi airport, where we got some food, looked around and then sat chatting waiting for our flight.
The flight from Tanznia, I must say, was very quick, and before I really knew it, I had left Tanzania - my home for 3 months and so much more - like a part of me being left behind, waiting to be picked up again when I go back someday. I was just so tired, though, being aake since 9 the previous morning, as i didn't want to go to sleep and miss my cab - it all passed in such a blur, like I was having an outer body experience. Before I really knew what was happening, I was in Paris, had my passport stamped, waited ages for my bag and then was out meeting my friend Chili. I also loved the fact there were no quarantine or customs to go through, like back home - made it so much quicker.
Tanzania was such a good experience, and while I had no delusions of saving the world when I left home, part of me wishes I could save the world or do something really ubstantial and useful to a huge number of people, to really make a difference. What we did was minimal, but hopefully it has helped some people back in Tanzania. It certainly helped me.
Paris is now where I am and it is absolutely amazing, like nothing I have seen so far, I really like it. I explored La Defence today and am heading into the city centre of Paris tomorrow - even as I write this, I am looking across to the Eiffel tower - a truly magnificent view and I am sill waiting to wake up back in my bed in our tent surronded by everyone in Moshi. I am getting quite a bit of reverse culture shock as well - being on tar roads all the time, paved streets, traffic lights, traffic jams, street lights, trains, shopping centres - it is all so amazing and so different to what I have been living with for 3 months. Very different.
Don't get me wrong, I am adoring travel, it is so amazing and so much fun. But Tanzania has become such a big part of my life. Just leaving it, in the dead of night, was so weird. And it was so quiet. Like watching a movie in silence, everything happening with no sound and in some kind of stupor.
I am also suffering from a bit of homesickness. Again, don't think 'you crayz idio you are seeing the world what is there to miss?' with everyone before leaving talking about going back home and seeing their family and friends and then coming into a family situation here in Paris, and after being away 3 months - well, you do start to miss home - simple fact.
Tomorrow and beyond are looking amazing - I have a beautiful, colourful and simply stunning city to explore, I am with a great friend and her family, I feel amazed at what I have done and seen so far and I have so many more adventures ahead of me, abroad and back home. To be honest, I have no idea exactly where I am going to be visiting between now and the time I come home - but that is even more fun! I have so much more exploring to do and I am really looking forward to it. The Tanzanian adventure is now over but still a powerful and strong memory - my next adventure one has begun.
I'll keep you posted.
Annie
Our time in Zanzibar was absolutely amazing and the bus journey down, all 8 hours of it, wasn't too bad - we were in quite a comfortable bus. We arrived in Dar es Salaam where we stayed he night and then caught the ferry across to Zanzibar at lunch the next day. We arrived in Stone Town and even from the sea it was a beautiful place, I loved the look of it. We were picked up and taken across the island to the town of Paje where we stayed at the guest house of the Arabian Nights hotel - we are also the last group to go through to Zanzibar as from now on the Camp will no longer send volunteers there, but to Tanga - yay for us, I loved Zanzibar!!
I snorkeled with dolphins on the Thursday after arriving which was ridiculously awesome - I was so close to them and I could hear them clicking and singing to one another which was a truly amazing experience to have and I wished I could have made it last longer, it was such a beautiful moment - you put our head under the water and all sound is suddenly erased, no more voices or anything, just silence - and then you are swimming above the dolphins, they swimming right past you, dancing and singing and out of the silence you can hear the distinct clicking, hear their voices. And it is mesmerizing. And as hard as you swim, they soon are beyond your reach and you watch them vanish into the water. But their voices can still be heard, if you listen really carefully
As much as I wish I could have made it last for hours, I also wish that I wasn't spending so much time being sea sick - I really need to develop my sea legs or I am going to be a terrible marine biologist :P the funniest thing was me being sick over the side, lifting my head and saying 'so totally worth it' before throwing my head back over the side of the boat. It was so worth it though. Every second.
We also got to explore Stone Town both on our own and with a guide, visiting the House of Wonders, The Palace Museum, the Old Fort and going to the night markets to try out the local catches and cooked food which was amazing and really nice. The colours and vibrancy of the market glowing in the dark is amaing as well, such an awesome atmosphere.
All too soon came the time for us to say goodbye - and let me tell you after spending 3 months living with them nd always having them around, goodbyes are a horrible thing. I hate goodbyes to be frank, worst thing ever invented. But I was always reminded hat saying goodbye to someone means saying hello to someone else.
The bus back left much to be desired in that it wasn't as nice as the bus there - but that I did not mind. I just didn't like people trying to scam us and stroking my head and the fact our driver drove like he was driving through a school zone the whole time which was quite different to the drivers we have experienced during our stay in Tanzania. In the end, it was al fine and we got back home to camp, admittedly very late at night, but to a warm welcome from Eliphas. The next day - even more goodbyes. It was like a symphony of goodbyes, horrible, really horrible.
Evenually, it was my turn to leave, and I went to my Fran and Rosa's house where I stayed until Monday morning - these friends I had met the last time I was in Tanzania and it was so amazing to caqtch up and to be able to spend some time with them I loved it. Got to see a private Zimbabwean sculpture exhibition, got to spend some quality time just chilling and got to catch up with my friends properly for the first time in 2 ears - was so wonderful to see them in the flesh again.
Sunday afternoon I went back to Tuleeni one last time. It was a sweet visit, as I left the kids sag to me and Mama Furaja gave me warm hugs and kisses. I will miss the children always, they were all so sweet. It was also a trip of revelations. Our group knew that there was one girl at the orphanage that was HIV positive and had AIDS. What i found out was that it was one of my best friends fro the orphanage, whom I had been talking to the whole time. I couldn't believe it, I felt like someone had kicked me in the stomach. It was really hard to take...
Monday morning, 3 am - more goodbyes, as I hopped in my taxi which took me to the airport. I was the first and only one there for a while, as the airport was on Tanzania ime and was therefore shut. But soon enough, more Mzungus were arriving and at 4:30 the airport was open - and I finally got the answer to my ticket mystery -
See, on the Saturday morning, Rosa's mum took me to the Precision Air office in Moshi just to confirm my place on the monday morning flight as it was a flight that was replacing my original one which was cancelled. Got to the office - oh look, no Annie on the passenger list - would you like to buy a new ticket ma'am??
After running around, calling people, getting my awesome mother to call agencies back home, it was finally confirmed that I was on the flight - hooray. It was very stressful though, 2 days from flying out and I had people telling me that I wasn't actually on the flight. Anyway, long story short, at the airport, the guy checking me in said the same thing, that he didn't have me on the list. But before I could either faint, throw a grade four hissy fit, tell him to look again, bol through to the plane or simply freak out, he said wait wait, you are confirmed on this flight - your ticket just hasn't been activated yet.
...........
ooooooooooh. gotcha.
So after a little scanning, hey presto I was on the list, and through immigration waiting in the departure lounge a 5:30 in the morning. I met some very nice people who were also on my flight to paris and whom I met up with again in Nairobi airport, where we got some food, looked around and then sat chatting waiting for our flight.
The flight from Tanznia, I must say, was very quick, and before I really knew it, I had left Tanzania - my home for 3 months and so much more - like a part of me being left behind, waiting to be picked up again when I go back someday. I was just so tired, though, being aake since 9 the previous morning, as i didn't want to go to sleep and miss my cab - it all passed in such a blur, like I was having an outer body experience. Before I really knew what was happening, I was in Paris, had my passport stamped, waited ages for my bag and then was out meeting my friend Chili. I also loved the fact there were no quarantine or customs to go through, like back home - made it so much quicker.
Tanzania was such a good experience, and while I had no delusions of saving the world when I left home, part of me wishes I could save the world or do something really ubstantial and useful to a huge number of people, to really make a difference. What we did was minimal, but hopefully it has helped some people back in Tanzania. It certainly helped me.
Paris is now where I am and it is absolutely amazing, like nothing I have seen so far, I really like it. I explored La Defence today and am heading into the city centre of Paris tomorrow - even as I write this, I am looking across to the Eiffel tower - a truly magnificent view and I am sill waiting to wake up back in my bed in our tent surronded by everyone in Moshi. I am getting quite a bit of reverse culture shock as well - being on tar roads all the time, paved streets, traffic lights, traffic jams, street lights, trains, shopping centres - it is all so amazing and so different to what I have been living with for 3 months. Very different.
Don't get me wrong, I am adoring travel, it is so amazing and so much fun. But Tanzania has become such a big part of my life. Just leaving it, in the dead of night, was so weird. And it was so quiet. Like watching a movie in silence, everything happening with no sound and in some kind of stupor.
I am also suffering from a bit of homesickness. Again, don't think 'you crayz idio you are seeing the world what is there to miss?' with everyone before leaving talking about going back home and seeing their family and friends and then coming into a family situation here in Paris, and after being away 3 months - well, you do start to miss home - simple fact.
Tomorrow and beyond are looking amazing - I have a beautiful, colourful and simply stunning city to explore, I am with a great friend and her family, I feel amazed at what I have done and seen so far and I have so many more adventures ahead of me, abroad and back home. To be honest, I have no idea exactly where I am going to be visiting between now and the time I come home - but that is even more fun! I have so much more exploring to do and I am really looking forward to it. The Tanzanian adventure is now over but still a powerful and strong memory - my next adventure one has begun.
I'll keep you posted.
Annie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)