So, everyone, it is now time to say goodbye. I am now in Canada safe and sound. I look back at my 3 months in Mozambique as some of the best months of my life. There I made great friends which I will think about wherever I go. Everyone comes into your life for a reason, you just have to figure out what that reason is.
If anyone needs some tips on staying alive in Mozambique or some pointers on where to or not to stay in Johannesberg and Cape Town feel free to contact me.
Take care and God bless.
sale.matthew@gmail.com
+1 416 453 1010
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
Johannesberg – Day 1
Against stern advice from my father, I decided to stop over in Johannesberg for a day (or maybe even two) before embarking for Cape Town. As I said in my previous blog, I arrived via Intercape at around 4:30 pm. The train station called “Park station” is near the CBD (central business district). I was cautioned strongly before going to Johannesberg that I shouldn’t walk…anywhere. So I planted myself firmly inside the train station and waited for my friend. The wonderful thing about travelling in South Africa is that they speak English. So instead of struggling with hand gestures and broken Portuguese, I was able to quickly purchase a Vodacom start-up card for 10 Rand (about $1.25 CAD). My foolish Canadian, non unlocked phone wouldn’t connect to Vodacom. So plan B, try a pay phone. Bingo! My friend picked me up shortly thereafter and I was able to get my Vodacom card activated by putting it in an already activated South African phone.
First stop, Brown Sugar’s Backpackers Hostel to get setup and drop off my stuff. The rooms ranged from 8 person dormitory style hostel, the cheapest option, to a one person “suite”, the nicest and most expensive option. I chose luxury living…surprise surprise. The room had a double-bed, a futon, and a bathroom. What it lacked was towels, tv, phone, furniture, and free toiletries. You know the shampoo that leaves your hair dry, the conditioner that smells like scented cooking oil, and hand crème that lasts about 2 hours before your hands are dry all over again. So needless to say I am not a big fan of cheap hotel freebies that others love to hoard.
Since I was staying in the “suite” by myself I only had to pay the single person rate of 190 Rand (about $24 CAD) so it all worked out perfectly. Next stop was the mall to walk around and see what’s what. I had my first meal at Perri where I feasted on some fresh fish and what not all for a very reasonable. Then to the airport for some highway robbery at the currency converter. They took a 2% commission, plus an admin fee of 30 Rand plus this and plus that.
First stop, Brown Sugar’s Backpackers Hostel to get setup and drop off my stuff. The rooms ranged from 8 person dormitory style hostel, the cheapest option, to a one person “suite”, the nicest and most expensive option. I chose luxury living…surprise surprise. The room had a double-bed, a futon, and a bathroom. What it lacked was towels, tv, phone, furniture, and free toiletries. You know the shampoo that leaves your hair dry, the conditioner that smells like scented cooking oil, and hand crème that lasts about 2 hours before your hands are dry all over again. So needless to say I am not a big fan of cheap hotel freebies that others love to hoard.
Since I was staying in the “suite” by myself I only had to pay the single person rate of 190 Rand (about $24 CAD) so it all worked out perfectly. Next stop was the mall to walk around and see what’s what. I had my first meal at Perri where I feasted on some fresh fish and what not all for a very reasonable. Then to the airport for some highway robbery at the currency converter. They took a 2% commission, plus an admin fee of 30 Rand plus this and plus that.
Bye-Bye Maputo
Saturday night was my last night in Maputo. It was a little anti-climactic to be quite honest. Kevin, Gabe, and I went out after work for some grub. By 8pm we were back home and exhausted. One by one we retreated to a couch or a bed and “rested our eyes” for a bit. I finished packing up my stuff for the long bus ride tomorrow. By 12am everyone was fast asleep so I let sleeping dogs sleep and I too went to bed to enjoy my last hours in Maputo asleep, how exciting (sigh).
I set my first alarm for 5:57am, and my second alarm for 6:27am which would have given me just enough time to shower, grab my things and take a taxi to the bus pick-up location about 10 minutes away.
I naturally woke out of sleep and rolled over to take a look at my cellphone to read the time, 7am. Shooooot. I was late. I was supposed to be at the bus station at 7am so that I could register, get my bags checked and packed so that the bus could leave promptly at 7:30am. Needless to say my last minutes in Maputo were frantic. I dashed around our flat trying to remember everything I had to pickup.
Well, I’ll tell you that I made it to the bus station at 7:30am just in time to be registered and hurried onto the InterCape bus to depart for Johannesberg at 7:35am. Perfect.
It’s a good thing I was so exhausted from a week long going away celebration because the bus ride was quite long. The bus arrived in Johannesberg at 4:30pm – 9 hours later – and I’m pretty sure I slept for all but 1 of those hours. So it was an uneventful journey as far as I was concerned. Although I hear the bathrooms were atrocious after hour 4 and the border crossing took over an hour.
I arrived in Johannesberg with just enough credit on my phone to send one last SMS to my roommate to notify him I arrived safely. Bye-bye Maputo, hello Johannesberg.
I set my first alarm for 5:57am, and my second alarm for 6:27am which would have given me just enough time to shower, grab my things and take a taxi to the bus pick-up location about 10 minutes away.
I naturally woke out of sleep and rolled over to take a look at my cellphone to read the time, 7am. Shooooot. I was late. I was supposed to be at the bus station at 7am so that I could register, get my bags checked and packed so that the bus could leave promptly at 7:30am. Needless to say my last minutes in Maputo were frantic. I dashed around our flat trying to remember everything I had to pickup.
Well, I’ll tell you that I made it to the bus station at 7:30am just in time to be registered and hurried onto the InterCape bus to depart for Johannesberg at 7:35am. Perfect.
It’s a good thing I was so exhausted from a week long going away celebration because the bus ride was quite long. The bus arrived in Johannesberg at 4:30pm – 9 hours later – and I’m pretty sure I slept for all but 1 of those hours. So it was an uneventful journey as far as I was concerned. Although I hear the bathrooms were atrocious after hour 4 and the border crossing took over an hour.
I arrived in Johannesberg with just enough credit on my phone to send one last SMS to my roommate to notify him I arrived safely. Bye-bye Maputo, hello Johannesberg.
Friday, 3 October 2008
Inhaca Island - Part 2
I didn't go to Inhaca island again, I just didn't mention a few minor details from my trip last weekend to the island just off the coast of Maputo. On Saturday night I had my camera stolen from me. My precious, innocent, beautiful, baby of a camera was taken from me. I wasn't sure that it was stolen from at the time, but in hindsight I can say with almost certainty that it was taken from my belt when I went into a shady looking bar to buy some water.
Yeah you are probably thinking, "Serves him right. Who goes into a bar and buys water." But it was the only place that sold bottled water after dark. And when you are on an island, beggars can't be choosers. But I should have known better, from the scanty lighting and solemn glares I knew as soon as I entered the joint that the vibe wasn't in my favour. [FYI..."vibe" means ambiance or atmosphere]
I put out a bounty on my camera and the person who "found" it. Within hours of me sending the message on Monday I got a phone call saying the camera had been located. Unfortunately, the guy who took it isn't cooperating so as of now I haven't recovered it. But I still have another week before I set sail for Canada so keep your fingers crossed.
Yeah you are probably thinking, "Serves him right. Who goes into a bar and buys water." But it was the only place that sold bottled water after dark. And when you are on an island, beggars can't be choosers. But I should have known better, from the scanty lighting and solemn glares I knew as soon as I entered the joint that the vibe wasn't in my favour. [FYI..."vibe" means ambiance or atmosphere]
I put out a bounty on my camera and the person who "found" it. Within hours of me sending the message on Monday I got a phone call saying the camera had been located. Unfortunately, the guy who took it isn't cooperating so as of now I haven't recovered it. But I still have another week before I set sail for Canada so keep your fingers crossed.
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