Malawi day after ?

Had to find another hotel, Cross Roads only had rooms for 1 night, went to the Sunbird not as expensive but better. got picked up in a 16 seater van and saw lots of Taxi Bikes, Bikes with a seat on the carrier to transport people. Went tot Harriet's project (a house) she had been building it for 2 years. Went to Harriot's house and had traditional Malawi Lunch of Nsima (pronounced sema and is corn flower and water cooked) it was not so good, we also had Chicken, beef, beans and salad. met the whole family including 7 grand children, i made friends with Lonely (15 years old) she had gotten special permission from her boarding school to come and visit us. 21 people piled into the 16 seater mini bus and we went to meet the Minister of Youth and he was talking about scouting and what the youth do, then we follower him to meet the CEO (executive director) of Scouts in Malawi, talked to him and gave him some badges and he gave us some, we then followed him to a scout troop, they had 30 kids ranging from 7 to 20. they did a dance and song and told us about HIV/Aids, 1 of the biggest things. we told them abouts in Australia and we gave them an Australian Scalf and they gave us an Malawi scalf, we also gave them lots of badges and torchie clippies compasses. we joined them in a dance and then everyone talked, i was pulled away by some girls and i gave them a braclet each. they don't have scout halls they where just outside, they do scouts after school because school finished at 1pm. thier uniforms where brown (like the old uniforms). we might go and see them on Saturday. we then went back to Harriets house and gave out all of our stuff, books, clip on Koalas and what ever else we bought. back to the hotelvery sleepy,long day

P S. Uncle John i have not washed my hair for 19 days, I am trying your Africa trick

!!!Katie!!!

Malawi Day ?

We went through the poorest area in Johannesburg, houses made out of scrap and what ever they could find it was also the place where Nelson Mandela grew up. We flew to Lilongwe the capital of Malawi on our way though customs (no x-rays) a man checked 1 of our bags, opened it moved 2 things and said that it was fine. Lady behind us made a big fuss and was saying i don't want mu bag opened with all these me, i want a lady (American). Met Mercy and the family for the first time, Mercy pushed through the crowed to see us. went to the hotel Korea Garden Lodge, not enough beds for 4 of us only rooms for 3 and not 2 double rooms, dad had an e-Mali to say that we had a room for 4 and it was VIP but the man at the counter said that there were none left (not happy). went looking for another hotel, another 1 booked out, went to the Cross Roads Hotel very expensive, 2 rooms $170- each a night (ouch). dad bought Pizza for tea and changed money, Black market because the machine was broken, once with a man at the hotel and once suggested by the security guard at the ATM of a man who could do it. All very sleepy, nice rooms!!

Meals

Hello KT's Mum/Janet/Oliver here,

I've hijacked the Blog

For those that are interested and now how I keep a great diary and have to write down all the meals that are eaten here is my review for you.

Meals in Madagascar:

Breakfast usually consisted of Croissants, Bread with butter and jam, Cake, orange juice and coffee


Lunch usually baguettes with filling

Tea was Zebu (beef), Rice Fish, chicked freshly cooked as it came with us on the boat, and duck the same wat

Beer was Three Horses Grande Fresh

Bye for now

Janet

J'burg, Gold Reef City

Hello everyone
made it to Johannesburg.
today we went to a place called Gold Reef City amusement park, it is like the gold cost but it is built on an old mine. We were chauffeur driven to the park, the driver locked all the doors and locked the windows because there is a lot of car jacking and theft.
we went to a 4D movie, Off to the moon, 4D is where id someone sneezes or there is wind it will happen in the cinema. the movie was about the Apollo 11 and we got squirted with water, burped on, sprayed with flyspray and acted like we were taking off with the seats moving, everyone enjoyed it. we also went on 3 rollercoasters
one did a complete loop da loop and dad and i only went on, it was a lot of fun because you start at about 100 kph do a loop da loop and go up a big hill and then go backwards on the same track. we also did a big rollercoaster where we went at 45 degrees, it was scary but fun, dad and i only. the last rollercoaster we went on mum and Numface did as well, it was called the run away train and i don't think mum liked it.
Dad and i also waited about 45 mins to go on the Tower Of Terror, we had went to the top of an old mine shaft about 30m above ground and 15m underground. it was not like Queensland, you go down face first and it was really scary, we bought a photo of dad and i screaming (not as if i can). we also went on the River rapids, it was like the lazy river but you get wet and go under a waterfall. Mum and Numface went to watch a bird show while dad and i waited in line for the Tower of terror.
we went to Wimpy burger for lunch.
Off to Malawi Tomorrow
Miss you all
Katie!!

Turning of the bones ceremony

we went to a turning of the bones ceremony, it is only celebrated by the traditional people and cristians, no other religions celebrate.
when a person dies they are wrapped in cloth and put in a family tomb, there are many generations in one tomb and some bodys could be more than 50 years old.
every 7 years they get the bodys out and put more cloth on them (like a mummy), this ceremony goes for 7 days and only on the 2nd day they get the bodys out (we were luckey to be there on the 2nd day). They find it a happy time not sad like a funeral at home, people were happy, dancing and drinking beer. There was 5 bodys on the ground and the tomb was dated about 50 years ago. They are big and normaly behind trees and bushes so they are not seen form the road. They do the turning of the bones to keep in touch with the ancestors and elders of the family. They organise the ceremonys 1 year in advance and everyone must do or bring something. It is called an exhumation.
I think that it is wrond and all the people were scarie and kept grabbing my arm to come and meet someong (i think). There were about 100 people at the ceremony and most were related in some way. They kill Zebus (cows) and how ever many skulls and horns a person has will tell you how important or rich they were.
Dad thought that it was great to see but i really did not want to see dead people wrapped up in cloth!!!

Day 12 Today

It was a bad day with the wordt wheather for whet we had planed. our program said that we would be going accross to a little island and swimming ans snorkling in the bay, suposto be a relaxing day

NOT

we got on a little speed boat when it was raining accross to the island (like planned except fot the rain that the man said will stopp soon). went to a small village and looked around but ended up under a small verandah at a small stall. took a 30min walk to the bay where we would be swimming if it was not buckrting down with rain. water was pooling on the track but it was not that bad. made it to the bay and it started to rain really heavy, thats when ou normally stay at home. were told that we were going on another 45min walk (still pouring with rain), dad got annoyed becaude no one should be out in this wheathera and there was no point coming because we could not swim anyway. we walked back the same way we had come and the water was turning into streams, i was very cold and wet. we made it back to the village and had to waight about 30mons for the car tot come so we could go back to the boat (still pouring). finally got to the boat but had to waight while the care went 15mins each way back to the village yo collect the boat driver and chef. we all stood in a small hut, it was windy and cold and i was dreanched and very cold. flnally we could go back on the boat, it was very windy and dad said that we might all catch colds. i tried to think about something warm so i did not feel the freezing rain. we made it back very cold and wet. straight back to the hotel and hot showers!!
That was better
dad was not happy because we should have not gone out in the fist place
it is now 6:35pm or 1:35 adelaide time. we are going for dinner soon
very tired and i think that it was the worst day of our trip
I miss everyone at home!!

Katie

P.S. I may not be able to get on the internet for a while because we fly back to Johannasburha and are going to gold reef city amusement park anf then on to Malawi.

Day 9

The best thing was having a shower after the long river trip.
we went to Avenue da Boabab and saw lots of Boababs (trees) some were over 1000 years old. We did a 2hour walk through a triditional forest with a guide that was explaining wha each plant is used for in traditional medacine. We went to Morondova on the coast with no electricaty so we were by candle light. We slept in a bunglo at the beach.

Day 5,6,7,8

Lots of local kids followed us down to the river and dad gave a girl half a packet of tomato sauce chips. climbed into the Pirogues, dug out canoes and we are leaning on our bags with a rafia mat underneath. we have 3 boats, 2 for sitting in and 1 for all our stuff including 3 live chichens.
along the river we saw
Bats, Chameleons, crocadile, lemurs in the distance, lots of different types of trees and birds.
each night we were camping on sandbanks in tents.
it was alot of fun because you do nothing all day, very relaxing

day 4 Tuesday 15/7

we visited a stone shop and saw how they cut and polish stones, the man gave us lots of gifts hoping that we would buy something. We went into the van and were driving to Miandravazo and on the way dad made me do maths
1 lane bridge + Big truck=Stop (pretty good if you ask me)
Dad gave out a balloon, book and texta to a girl on the dside of the road.
we saw a load of people walking down the road they were going to a Turning of the Boans ceremony (more on that later). we saw about 20 people shoved into a car, most in the boot because no one uses seatbelts!! we drove to the hotel, a double bed each.

Day 3 monday 14/7

we met our driver and all piled into a van, long trip ahead of us. we were driving to Antsirabe and we went past lots of little villages, all with something different to sell. there is lots of rice plantations because it is the dry season and it is great weather for growing rice. it got very boaring on the road, everytime we stopped i saw boys checking me out, i think and compared to them i am tall for my age. dad and Numface were buying lots of little trucks and cars. we went to the hotel and put all our stuff down, they has pet tortoises (cool i want one). the hotel was very fancy and nice
we all went to sleep pretty quick

Day 2

we were flying from Johannasburg to Madagascar (great another plane flight). we joined a very long line of people to get our pâssports stamped
TAB (thats africa baby)
we had a 3 hour flight to Antananarivo the capital of madagascar
that what i thought the whole og Africa would look like
dirt roads
small huts
dusty
poor people and beggers and sellers everywhere
met our gides and went to the hotel
beds were not comfortable
tired and went to bed

Day 1

I an going to start from the very start of our trip so there will be lots of posts
sorry about the spelling the keyboard in different and is French but with english letters

Day 1
Numface woke me up at just past 5am, he then turned the light on and his excuse was that i did not get up. We walked onto the plane it was about 7am. we went looking for our seats 21 A,B,C on your left.
take off is one og the best parts and we flew straight into a cloud.we then watched a movie, 21 i stopped watching it about half way through (not very good). all the way numface was looking out the window and yelling that he had seen land (we were only going to Perth), we then landed, another best part. we sat at gate 1 and were on SAA (South African Airways) flight 281, Numface was very impatent to get on. we slept for about halk the flight and watched 3/4 movies, Spiderwick, step up 2the streets and ice-age. we were going to be landing 5pm local time ormidnight Adelaide time.
we went to the hotel and had awalk around
they had an indoor rolarcoaster so dad and i went on it.
we were all very tired and went to bed
Night

Madagascar day 10!

Hello everyone
arrived today in Fort Dauphin after spending last night in Berenty.
We have seen lots of lemurs and got really close to them. The 80km trip to Berenty took 4 hours and was very bumpy. The road was made in 1958 and has not been fixed since so in some places there is no asphalt left and pot holes 2m wide.
we flew here from Morondava (in business class!!) after a 4 day dug out canoe trip
I will fill you in later on that because it is now 9:20pm and we have been getting up at around 6am most mornings!!!!!
Talk soon Katie
P.S. enjoy school!!!

Here

Hello everyone
I made it. we had a very long flight and am still getting used to local time. we stayed 1 night in South Africa nd then flew last night to Madagascar.I am fine and about to have tea in Antsirabe.
Bye for now,
Katie

No long now only a number of hours!!

Hello everyone,
I am about to leave for nanas house and where we will be staying the night and getting up at 5am to go to the airport because our flight leaves at 7:05am. I am so excited and from Adelaide airport to Pearth where we will be getting on an international flight to Johannasburg South Africa. The flight from pearth to Johannasburg is about 11 hours but there will be TV's on the back of the seats. I am so excited and don't know what will happen when we get there. I have saved $150 to spend. All the bags are almost packed and mum and dad are a little strassed. I think I have everything.
I hope everyone will enjoy my journey
I leave tomorrow morning and will be traveling all day
I can't believe this trip is finally here mum and dad have been talking about since I was about 8.
Can't wait
Katie :)

7 days before we go to Africa

I have 7 days before my family and I are going to Africa. We have started packing and getting last minute things. I am getting so excited especially because i don't have to go back to school for 5 weeks.