False alarm
Sorry to any and all who cleared their dairy in anticipation, no phone here. Limited choice of places to stay I'm afraid-the bus to Malawi is at 6.30 am so I really didn't want to risk any guest house that didn't have a view of the bus station, I know what'm like for mornings. Once I'm awake it's not so bad, it's the bit before that's the problem. The place I'll be camping in Malawi does have a phone and the number is even listed in the guide book. I'll be there tomorrow evening and will arrange it with them so that I can take over the office/desk for an hour. Alsoi I'll confirm the number and try and get my head around Malawian country codes and silly technicalities like that. So it's all systems go for Friday night. Hoorah.
So I'm in Mbeya now and have just returned from a little treck up to the train station tp find out times for when I come back. The train takes 22 hours but it runs through the game park and you can usually see at least some of the animals without having to pay the $30 entry fee. And the train is cheaper than the bus, even for 2nd class where you get a bunk. So 'tis all jolly. See how organised I am Mum...
Speaking of free game viewiong, the road from Dar to Iringa also cuts across the park (everything cuts acroass the parks, that's the beauty of being in a country of which 38% is protected). I saw one giraffe-though it could have just been a tree-got thoughroly over excited and thopught that was my lot. Then saw ELEPHANTS. Only 4 so not the biggest herd ever, but still more than you've seen this week. Probably. Then saw two more giraffes and thought nature was rather spoiling me, then saw five more with a little tiny baby one. So that wwas a good journey.
Off to Malawi in the morning to give my passport a work out. It's not done anything since arriving in Zanzibar so it's getting rather lazy. It still thinks it's in Zanzibar lazing on a beach so may be chocked to be rudely awoken at silly o'clock in the morning only to find it is not on a beach but is in fact being taken camping. Not far from the beach but I guess lake malawi doean't quie compare to the Indian Ocean. Malawi has one game park that is only $5 a day instead of $30 like the ones in Kenya and Tanzania. And it has everything they've got so I don't know why it's so cheap. But I'm not about to point it out to them. And they'll let me camp out with the elephants, assuming the elephants don't mind. So 'tis infact all rather good.
Hope you all liked yourletter, those that got them anyway. I do like surprising you all.
Oh by the way, internet access is apparently hideously expensive in Malawi so don't expect half as many updates as usual. Post is expensiver (sp?) too so don't be watching it too closely (AJ this means you). I'll try my best though. As ever
posted by Wendy @ 2:33 AM
27 Comments:
you saw elephants? and giraffes? darn it wendoline I'm jealous! the only wildlife I've seen this week were those (including me) who chose to sing karaoke last night... I have read back my post and - you're right liz - my spelling was atrocious; on the other hand, I was surprisingly headache-less this morning, so all is good! as to my birthday, fair darth mordor, I'm not so sure yet; I get back from travelling round Italy the day before so may be out on my birthday night, but will definitely be out later in the week as well (don't forget we also have Stacey's birthday to contend with...) I am looking forward to seeing you and, whilst I know it's illegal and all, I would be stunned if you could somehow smuggle a giraffe onto the plane for me...? I know they're quite tall and everything but if you made it wear a cape and a hood I'm sure nobody would notice...
Hi Benders I'm taking your nana and grandads letter down to them tonight cos if it's written in as tiny writing as mine was then the old folks will have not a chance of reading it, not to worry I have my magnifying glass and will decipher for them.
Glad you've seen elephants and giraffes sounds like you're having a good time still, keep up the good work i.e. skiving.
See you soon honey.
I saw THIRTY NINE ELEPHANTS this week because I watched Hannibal on the television and he took them over the Alps. Well I watched some of it anyway.
But of course they werent real, three were film of real one and the other 36 were digitally remastered from them.
If you are smuggling giraffes, Lynne would like one too, she is very keen on giraffes. helen prefers ducks, which are much easier to accomodate.
Glad all is going well
Tom - glad you didnt have the headache you deserved - what did you sing in karaoke. Have you ever been to a real Japanese Karaoke night, with real Japanese people and real Japanese games as well, it is hilarious. They have a different sense of humour - they take karaoke very very seriously indeed and practice beforehand - and of course the words go down the side of the screen in Japanese. But they play really weird games - these two guys were sat with builders hard hats on in the middle of the floor, and they kept hitting each other on the head with wooden sticks. One would hit the other, then the other would hit him back, for about 20 minutes, and all the Japanese people were falling about laughing, and the Brits looked puzzled. The people were lovely tho, and the food was good, and they gave fabulous gifts to all the children
Liz
Oh wow! Giraffes and Elephants - the best wildlife I've seen all week was next door's cat!
I sang "Always look on the bright side of life" (hmm... do you remember singing that one time before, Wendoline...?) which seemed to be well-received, even though I forgot the words in spite of the fact it's quite repetitive and all of the words are up there in front of you... Never been to Japanese karaoke though, but it sounds like a lot of fun... I'm thinking a good idea for Wendoline's welcome home party perhaps?
yes but big snag - no-one likely to be at the welcome home party actually speaks Japanese = and do any of us actually know any people from Japan. We were invited to this party because Neil worked for a Japanese company at the time.
I would love to stand up and do karaoke, but would have to be very very drunkled, since I sing very badly, and since I dont drink I wont be getting drunkled and wont be standing up to do karaoke.
Great Heights could do a sort of Karoake Praise event, that would be good, - and most of the songs are on disc already. This idea is growing on me
Liz
Liz
Hallo yes I got my letter and very thrilled too to hear from you. Sorry it was me at the * moment. And ok I will be good and won't watch the post as closely although I do like surprises!
As with everyone else I am sooooooooo jealous of the wildlife spotting. The most exciting thing to happen to me was a baby slug sliding down the kitchen window. I have taken its picture and captured it for posterity! And numerous snails have been transferred from my precious plants to the top of the privet hedge. You will like this one Wendy Woo because there could be birds nesting in the privet hedge and I am supplying fast food for them in the form of the snails.
Got to go and eat now. boring cheese and beetroot bap. Now there is a yorkshire word.
Thinking of you. Lots and lots of love
x x x x x x x
AJ - I can supply some wildlife in the form of ants. There is one particular aunt and family you are very very welcome to. I will arrange shipment immediately. This is not the one who is/was marrying Rupert Bear, this is a different one.
Cheese and beetroot baps are lovely, although I usually spill the beetroot on whatever white garment I happen to be wearing. I am never sufficiently organised to only have beetroot on days I am wearing beetroot coloured clothing.
Yes, I am bored, and tired, and have to go and cut out a frock.
My dad was born in Doncaster.
Wendy hope you are doing okay, and enjoying Malawi. These buses, I am guessing they arent nice air conditioned ones with toilets like you get over here. I seems strange getting a bus to Malawi, the only place I ever get a bus to is Stockport, and that isnt often. I once went to London on the bus, that was awful, would never do that again.
Liz
Wendoleena
YOU HAVE TO BRING ME BACK AN ELEPHANT
Thank you
Ellie
Ellie
she can only do that if she flying home on a Jumbo jet
Liz
oh dear, aren't we a bunch of comedians on here!
we certainly are Seymour. We use humour to help us cope with the absurdities of our daily lives. God likes humour, and has a great sense of humour. Actually, elephants kind of prove that.
Actually, the stuff He is throwing at me today also proves that. He loves me, He is doing this for a reason which He has yet to share with me, but which will become obvious over time.
Elllie - apparently you can GROW elephants in your garden. My friend, who lives in Kentucky - the granny of Johnna and Draven who are featured in the June mag which isnt out yet - wrote me and said her garden is going well, and her elephants ears are just starting to come through, and they should be grown by the time Pam, another friend, gets there on 3rd of June. SO not only can you GROW elephants, they only seem to take a few weeks, which is better than a Mrs Elephant can manage because she takes 18 months to grow one.
http://www.emilycompost.com/elephant_ear.htm
So this will solve the problem if Wendy isnt coming back on a Jumbo Jet.
elephants smell
Seymour, with a nose that size YOU would smell.
Personally they would not be my choice of pet. But if Ellie wants a pet Ellie then I am only trying to facilitate this.
Liz
get a beanie baby elephant. think what you'd save on peanuts. granted, your garden wouldn't be so well fertilised, a small sacrifice i think.
the aunt of mine who is marrying Rupert Bear is apparently suffering morning sickness, perhaps she will have a baby elephant. I think she is joking. If I advertised my relatives on e-bay I wonder if someone would buy them. As for fertislising the garden - does Ellie have a garden? A Bonsai elephant would be fun perhaps, but it only works with plants and reptiles
Wendy, where are you, we were all supposed to call you last night. I shouted loud, but you didnt answer me.
Liz
You can get bonzai animals, have you never seen those cats? it's weird and cruel.
banana
squidge
onion bahji
hotdog
ploopypop
I cannot believe that a bunch of monsters from Finland won the Eurovision Song Contest. Oh, what you're missing, Wendoline!
they were terrible. the Ukraine singer was HOT !
I didnt watch it, but Daz the UK guy lives down the road from me and went to Avondale. The onlyt song I heard was the Irish one, and it was beautiful but of course I am 48 and so may have rather different tastes to you people.
Seymour, I havent seen the cats, but have just realised what your name is when said aloud! But any comment I have is inappropriate on Wendys blog
Liz
hehe
i can't believe it! It's taken me a while to comment this time but i am here. So a massive HELLO to everyone especailly you wendy since this is your blog. i hope your well and am lookinf forward to the next part of the story of wendys trips in africa!
prayers x x x
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ust a point Mr S. Butts - the Bonzai cat thing is a hoax, and an obvious one at that. If you look up on www.snopes.com it will tell you the reasons why.
And Wendy, my dear, I can't wait to have you back, but have you any idea where Eric might be? I needed him this morning for the bullying sketch that we wrote(The one that goes: "You've got pink hair" "yeah, well you're a boy" "baldy" "girls can't wear blue" etc), which dad wanted to use at centrepoint, but couldn't find it, and Kathryn, Sarah and Ro don't have any idea either.
We did the sketch, but I had to safteypin a folded pink t-shirt to Thug's head...
and here was me thinking I understood this blog
Liz
ah, yes Eric was in my dad's living room last time I saw him. We had to hide him because my brother liked beaing him up. erm...sorry
Post a Comment
<< Home