Home Sweet Home

Well after 2 days of air travel, > 20 hours flying time, one missed flight (not my fault, honest!), I arrived back in Halifax late on March 26. Jocelyn and I had a good but quick visit there, trying to recover from jet lag while indulging in all of our favourite foods we missed (Dad didn't seem too impressed by the sushi!).

Our time was short, and we were packed up and headed off early thursday morning. My plans to take our time driving accross and visit with everyone were not realized, and we drove the 44 hours to Winnipeg straight through. Jocelyn left me there to continue on my own the next day, and I found myself checking in to the beautiful scenery above for another fire season. The picture is some friends and I out flying a kite and taking advantage of the southern Alberta winds (note, when Marty and I launched in stronger winds the next day, I came to realize the mistake I had made as I was dragged across the field... Note to self, a 3 meter kite in 50 km/h winds = trouble)

I'll still update this site periodically, and post any good pics I get. Now I'm looking forward to exploring this park and trying to avoid bears and cougars!

Take care!

Only a few days left

Okay, so I just typed a lengthy entry, and it all just disappeared. Maybe that's the computer's way of telling me it was too long. I'll try again, we'll see if it works this time.

So we went on safari! 9 days total, 4 days driving 5 days trekking. The driving was awesome, saw tons of animals, had hyenas come into our camp at Serengeti and try to get into the food shack, had our truck rear wheel pass us while driving down a bumpy road (which led to an unplanned night camping in the serengeti!). Very cool time, the animals were amazing.

The treking was great too, walked with a local quide and spent one night camped in a local village. Visited their mud huts or 'bandas', identified the mysterious odour as cow dung, the innovative construction material!

The mountain in the picture is Ol Doinyo Lengai, or 'the mountain of the God', the only active carbonite volcano in the world (yes, that's straight out of the guidebook!). We climbed up that beast, and what a climb it was. Started at 22:00 (so no sleep), because we wanted to reach the summit by sun-rise (otherwise it would get uncomfortable hot). The top was clouded but cool, volcanic ash, cracks spewing sulfur gas, dried lava. Tough climb but worth it.

We've spent the past few days in northern Zanzibar, hanging out on the beach, swimming, snorkeling. The picture below is Jocelyn and I geared up for our second dive yesterday, just before we rolled over backwards into the water. Great visibility, warm water, lots of fish around the reef, fun times.

I'm almost out of time, so I'll post this quick, hope it works this time. Back to Canada within a week, talk to you soon!

Can't see writing, pics first...

a

uhk.

Pole Pole

So this was our first glimps of the mountain, flying from Ghana to Tanzania.  We landed at Kilimanjaro International Airport on the 18th.  A cool little airport, in between two towns.  For anyone whose impressions of Africa were based upon the Lion King, this area delivers.  Although I havn't seen the wildlife (yet), we were well removed from the city feeling.

Pole Pole (slowly slowly) is the climbers mantra for Kilimanjaro, and for life in Tanzania (or Africa) in general.  Swahili is a very different language to Twi, so I'm having to learn that.  We stayed in a place before climbing with a great view of the mountain (www.kilicam.com).

The climb took 7 days, summiting on the 6th.  I'm glad Canadian winters prepare us for the cold, as we were above the treeline after day two.  Our high camp was 15 000 ft., and we left at midnight for our summit.  A storm hit that night, and there was lightning below us all around.  The winds were incredible, they sucked the air from your lungs and pushed you around, freezing you to the core.  At 19,000 ft. I'm told the oxygen level is 1/2 that of sea level, and although I havn't confirmed that yet it is damn hard to exert yourself.  We kept passing groups turning around, but our guide pushed on, and we reached the true summit around 07:30.

We climbed together with Jocelyn's uncle Ken from Winnipeg, but unfortunately the summit picture with all 3 of us is on his film camera (my batteries died), so I'll post it once I get a copy.

Now we're back in Moshi, resting for a few days before carrying on.  We've changed our minds about heading to Kenya for a bunch of reasons, and have decided to explore this area more.  We plan on doing a safari, and then we might be able to do some more volunteering around the town here with the porters from the mountain.

Hope all is well with everyone, I'll keep updating...

Leaving Ghana

Well our time in Ghana is almost done, and we're back in the capital making some last minute departure arrangements before heading on the next part of our trip. We fly to Ethiopia on Saturday, and then to Tanzania on Sunday.

We won't get much time to rest though, as Sunday night we get a trip orientation and Monday we start our Kilimanjaro trek. In total we'll spend 7 days on the mountain, we're heading up the Umbwe route. I'm looking forward to some cooler temperatures, though I'll see if I'm saying that once we reach 19 000 feet!

The picture was taken last night at a local spot or club, a live band played everything from Bob Marley to Louis Armstrong. Once again I realized that white men can't dance, but a good time was had none-the-less.

Our last week in Swedru was uneventful, but enjoyable as well. Accra is much busier, and it's tiring just getting around in this heat!

Other than that not much I can think to mention, and I probably won't update until after the climb. Hope all is well, I'll be in touch!

Beach Getaway

So the time in Ghana is coming to a close, and we're lining up our next adventures. We decided to take friday off to head north, had a big plan to go north to Kumasi. Left thursday afternoon, 4 hour bus to Takoradi, showed up at the train station for the overnight train and no lights were on. Someone said "the train runs everyday...but not today. Come back tomorrow". The next day we went, no train, no bus, had to change our plans. (Incidentally, apparently we're not the first to fall for the train the guidebook talks about, and it hasn't been running for over a year!)

Oh well, we were on the coast, took advantage of it. Went to a beach guesthouse, and relaxed all weekend. Swam in the ocean, no one else around, good times. A nice getaway.

Works been slow, so I've been jumping around between other projects. Started doing some stuff with a local orphanage, got swarmed by kids when I visited. Went yesterday to two schools to teach HIV / AIDs awareness, got some interesting questions. It got hotter this week, didn't think that was possible, and am having a hard time adjusting!

I'm almost out of time, I'll write more later. tata!

Air conditioning....it's great but I'm frozen!

well I found a computer spot just out of town that has a fast(er) internet connection, so I thought I'd try to upload some photos well I can. This one is Accra, and a line of tro-tros next to market vendors.

This one is from my first day arriving in Swedru, when we went to a small village outside of town to watch a ceremony that I didn't understand at all! Once I pulled out the camera, kids started gathering, and I had a hoard around me in no time!

"You're camera is beautiful, give it to me". That was the second thing the kids sitting beside me said to me, following a pause after "where are you from?" I'm getting used to that around here.

Went to Cape Coast this weekend, lots of history but a busy city. Cape Coast Castle was one of several forts housing slaves before they were shipped overseas. We joined a tour through the fort, hard to imagine..

Highlights, hmm... saw a crocodile! Beside a restaurant, thought about wrestling it but when I saw how fast another one jumped I changed my mind. Walking back to our guesthouse around 7:00 pm a man came up and said "sir, please, get inside, it's night" It was more friendly advice then a warning, but made me think, especially since we were in a group! Taking some traditional drumming lessons, that's fun.

I'll try to post some more pictures later, as it's slowing down now...

Swedru!

slow computer, not much time left so I'll be quick!

Jocelyn finally arrived on tuesday night, and we spent the next few days in Accra with her doing her orientation. We left on Saturday to Swedru, a smaller town (100 - 200 000) west of Accra.

Staying with a family outside of town, several brothers / sisters around, all older (19 +)

Water shortages are no longer an issue, as there's no running water in the house. A tap near the school gives water to bath, and a hole nearby for, well, everything else. It's quite a neat place, lizards running all over the place.

There's a school next door, sat in on a class today, and got up and talked about Canada. Kids in North America are spoiled, I'll say that for sure.

Slow computer, blurring screen, I'll put pics up when I find a better one. Hope all is well, I'll be in touch!

Start work tomorrow....

O'Brunei!

O'Brunei!

the Ghanain equivalent of 'farang' or 'gringo', meaning white person, sometimes it is all you hear when people are shouting at you. It's not derogatory, more the announcement of a fact.

Still in Accra, a city full of noise. Taxi drivers communicate by blowing their horns to clear people out of their way. Pictured are 'tro-tros', pretty much any kind of vehicle that you can cram a lot of people into, a great (and cheap) way to get around. Most are old vans with various seating configurations, driven by a fearless driver racing through traffic as the 'mate' hangs out the window / door announcing the next stop.

Plans changed, I will now be hanging out for another week. Lots of markets to explore, always an interesting and great way to converse with locals and practice my 'twi'. "Wo ho te sen?" (How are you) "Me ho ye, na hon te swe" (I'm fine, how are you). I only know a bit more, enough for a basic repetitive conversation, but people get so excited.

Hope everyone is well, I'll keep in touch. Oh, and I have a favor to ask of everyone. Next time you're taking a shower, brushing your teeth or simply doing the dishes, think about how fortunate we are to be able to turn on the tap and have a clean, reliable source or water. I say this because we are now on day 3 of no water, and even the city well close by is dry now. This morning someone from the house had to take a taxi to the next district to fill a green garbage bin and several 5 gallon containers, paying both for the cab ride and for the water (A luxury most people in this town cannot afford). Conserving that water is a priority (last night I washed myself with a faceclothe, a bar of soap, and about two cups of water), as we still have several weeks before the dry season is over....

Food for though, but I know I'll think long and hard next time I can drink out of a tap....

Internet is too slow, I'll upload pics later.

Made it to Ghana

Halifax-New York-Germany-Dubai-Accra, that was my flight route to get here. After several days in airports and on planes, a day spent around Dubai (not a fan, too expensive and you have to pay for everything, including the beach! And the islands they're building for homes and hotels; it's a very rich city), I got into Accra friday afternoon.

The country is great, albeit very different living conditions. Accra is 2 million people, the capital of Ghana, and there are 'lights-off' once every 5 days (2 since I've been here), random water shortages (we ran out of water today in the tank, so we're rationning it now for bathing, toilets, etc.) and open sewars along the streets that drain into, you guessed it, the Atlantic! The food is unique, lots of rice dishes, some interesting doughy stuff you swallow without chewing (hard not to gag I find!), and the other day supper included a bowl of fish heads, tails, and bodys. Lots of chicken, and with the amount on the streets you know it's fresh (though I watched a hen and her chicks walking / eating in the sewar drain this morning!).

The people are great so far, and I've met some cool locals. I'm here for another few days before heading of to my work placement in a town not far from here, although the town doesn't show up on most maps so....

I'll post pictures when I get a chance, and a fast computer with a good internet connection and a reliable power supply...

Continuing on...

What can I say, it's a new year. The Christmas holidays are over, and it's time to move along. Tomorrow (Jan. 2nd) I fly overseas, stopping along the way in New York, Germany, United Arab Emirates, and then onto Ghana.

I'll be in Ghana for about 6 weeks before heading to Tanzania (though I still havn't booked that ticket yet). In Ghana I'll be volunteering with a conservation organization, they tell me I'll be planting trees and teaching computer skills. I'm looking forward to living with a host family there, and getting to experience the culture first-hand.

Once I get to Tanzania I'm meeting up with Jocelyn (that photo was taken on the ferry between Halifax and Dartmouth), where we're going to spend the rest of the trip touring around and climbing in both Tanzania and Kenya. The return trip is up in the air due to uncertain start up dates for the next fire season

I'll be updating this site whenever I can, so keep checking back. Happy New Year to everyone!

Trans-Canada

Well we made it from Calgary to Nova Scotia, with surprisingly good weather for this time of year (even through Wawa!). We did the drive in short, long burts followed by a few days in both Winnipeg and Ottawa, and then into Halifax.

I'm curious what people consider the worst part of the drive, as I know many of you have done it. For me, the two worst cities to drive through are Calgary and Montreal. Calgary (on the trans-Canada) because even though the route is straight-forward, it's no longer a highway and you crawl along 16th Ave. Montreal because the road is still a highway, but the route is not straight-forward (or well marked) and you have to make some key turn-offs / mergers.

But I'm here now, and I'd say I wasn't going to do it again, but we all know I'd be lieing! Two weeks here, packing and organizing, and then off on the next adventure. More to come...

Merry Christmas all!

What a cold country..

Within 30 hours we went from the Mojave desert to British Columbia, and -40 temperatures. I think it's warmed up to a balmy -10 or so, almost t-shirt weather.

The fall adventure's are over, the climbing was great, saw some great places and met some great people. I'm going to avoid stereo-typing our neighbours to the south, because I'm sure every place has their share of arrogant a$$holes... 'nuff said.

The trip east has started, though I'm not due to arrive for another two weeks our so. Hopefully the weather's good, but then again we are talking about Canada.

I picked up my plane ticket to Ghana the other day, and am getting geared up for that trip. I'm still finalizing some details regarding the trip, but so far 6 weeks in Ghana volunteering and then another 6-8 weeks in Tanzania / Kenya touring and climbing. I leave Halifax in early January, and will be coming back in early April sometime. I'll post more when it's been determined....

City in the desert

What can I say about Vegas...I'm glad we're camped outside of the city. You can still see the glow at night though, and from the top of some of the peaks you can clearly see the city (though it's clouded in haze in this picture).

Jocelyn and I saw Cirque du Soleil on Saturday, I'm still amazed. The performers were incredible, amazing feats from trapeze to strength and balance demonstrations. The stage moved up and down, live music, and a bit of comedy mixed in. I got pulled up on stage and locked in a cage while the clown took my seat to flirt with Jocelyn, and then they spun the cage around to show me! After I got wheeled backstage, and had a brief chance to look around. Quite a show!

We're leaving here in the next few days to drive to Joshua Tree national park in southern California, planning on climbing there for a week or so. Then it's time to head back north, then east. Having a blast though, I'll update as available...

Vegas Baby Vegas!

Bishop to Vegas, a much more manageable drive. Bought a road atlas today, got tired of getting lost on roads that weren't on my map. Ending up on a crappy dirt road in Death Valley added some excitement for the drive.

The simple things are often the greatest. For instance, our new accomodations are a step up from the last. Staying in a campground outside of Vegas, we've got a picnic table (no more cooking / sitting / eating) on the ground, running / potable water (no more filling bottles in gas station bathrooms), and toilets (well, outhouses).

The climbings great, weather's been all right. Lots to see, the 'Strip' is mind blowing, so many lights. Another week and a half here and then we're kicked out of the campground, so after that, we'll see.

Thanks for the comments from everyone so far, I get a laugh whenever I read them. I'll keep updating...

Sweet sweet sunshine!

Now this is living! I took this photo as soon as we got here, without realizing the big ones were in behind. We're camped nearby, with the Sierra Nevadas bordering the valley.

Temperatures have been in the high 20's these days, and not much below zero at night. The climbing's great, (the photo is of the Buttermilk boulders, and the Happys and Sads are down in the valley). Taking a rest day today, more because fingers have no skin left, found a laundromat in town to shower at, and maybe some hot springs nearby. Life is good.

Staying around Bishop for a while, not sure where's next. Either Joshua Tree or straight to Vegas, we'll see...

Down...

Okay, 15 hours of driving from Calgary put us in Smith Rock State Park, Oregon. One day of climbing, followed by a very cold night (1' F, a balmy -17 ' C!!). Everything froze, including us.

As per the title, I love down. Down booties, down jacket, down sleeping bag...but it was not enough. We hurriedly packed, and started driving. Backroads California, Reno and Carson city Nevada, 11 hours later we found ourselves in Bishop.

The adventure continues, I'll post pictures soon...

Another season

Well, the 2006 fire season ended abruptly with a lot of snow in the mountains. Worked Mountain Pine Beetle for a while, finished around Thanksgiving.

Just returned from two weeks climbing in Skaha (Penticton, BC). Regrouping in Calgary, and then chasing the sunny rock south for another month or so.

Long term? (well, long term for me). Back to Nova Scotia for Christmas, flying from Halifax to Africa in January. 6 weeks in Ghana, another 6 or so in Tanzania / Kenya. More on that to follow...