Traveling in Africa .
Part 2
From : Phidam Enterprises Ltd[SMTP:phidam@swiftuganda.com ] Sent : Monday , November 17 , 1997 12:24 AM To : i@uswnvg.uswnvg.com Subject : ill-gotten in Uganda ( me , not the country )
Good Monday morning to all ! ! !
I hope all is well with my many desk dwelling friends back home . This morning I awaken up in the Das Kapital of Uganda , Kampala . I spend the night on the front lawn of the local YMCA . They let you fix up your tent and use the facilities for a whole $ 1.50 . However , the YMCA is used as a gambol priming during the twenty-four hours so my tent had to be down by 8:00 a.m. to make room for the kids to wager . The YMCA then takes my stuff and stores it for me behind locked doors .
I spend my first four nights in Uganda eight kilometer outside of the town of Jinja . Jinja is on Lake Victoria and is the chief source of water that feed the Nile River . Wait to you hear about this place . The town itself is a dump , but the campsite was awful . The campsite is on the Bujugali Falls . It ’s a series of class 5 rapids . I do n’t cognize why they call them fall . Anyways , I set up on the river and did nothing but read books for those four 24-hour interval . They had a position were I could purchase food and drinks . really the only food they had was samosa and chip . It ’s a democratic shoes for the overland trucks to visit so I had plenty of company . Everyone comes to do the rafting . They wanted $ 65 from me to take up one of their kayak . By the forth 24-hour interval they occur up to me and take for $ 20 so I went for it . I about swim . The strong suit of the water was incredible . The fluid mechanics of the pee just would n’t let me back up whenever I rolled . In other words I really sucked bountiful clip . But at least I gave it a effort .
The campsite was as immature as any rain timberland . It should be because it rain down the whole time . I would arouse up in the morning and run out my tent out . One dark I was sitting on the deck over appear the river and find all of the gull flying overhead . At a second coup d’oeil I noticed that they were cricket bat the sizing of crow . There were 1000 ’s of them . They must be good and fat , because the light poles around the campground double in diameter each night from the tremendous numbers of insect landing on them . With the bats in the air I do n’t blame the worm one mo . And lecture about insects . I do n’t know what they give on but they are immense . I ’m still trying to reckon out how they get into my tent . Nothing worse then stir up up to something crawling on your face .
Anyways , I hooked up with one of the overland motortruck and they drop off me here . In two mean solar day I will steer for the Ssese island . I saw a throwaway that advertised a new campsite . They say it ’s right on the beach . If I call up aright I register about these islands in the Eboli Good Book , what ever it was called .
This system that I ’m using does not appropriate me to determine my incoming eastward - mail . I will continue walk around and adjudicate and find one .
For those of you that will be mail out those , “ look at our new baby ” Christmas cards I ’d appreciate one . I just trust none of the new borns look like their dads . Please send to :
COWPIE , John Poste Restante GPO Addis Ababa , Ethiopia Africa
Well that ’s about it for now . I reek so I recall I ’d better go and travel to one of those things were the water falls on top of you . Judi once told me the name after she depend it up in the dictionary .
Talk to you before long , John
From : Phidam Enterprises Ltd[SMTP:phidam@swiftuganda.com ] Sent : Tuesday , November 18 , 1997 5:22 AM To : i@uswnvg.uswnvg.com Subject : Lot of shit run down in Cairo
Howdy ! ! ! ! 11/18/97
So I crawled out of my tent this sunrise and thought I ’d go check out a few sights before question into Ithiel Town . First of course I had to remove my collapsible shelter . I went and check out the tombs of the last three kings . Not much to look at . However , there are women that must survive at the tombs for one - month period of time . This path the king has a womanhood with him even though he ’s deadened . The women just sorta hang up out , looking at their watches hold back for their one month to go by . Pretty boring time . The good affair about a king ’s life is that at one clock time one of them had 84 married woman . On second cerebration I do n’t have intercourse if that is a positive or a minus .
So then I made my mode back into townsfolk and took a look at the local English newspaper . “ 69 tourists kill in Egypt ” . That ’s some heading count . I could only imagine my mom find out about that . For those that do n’t have sex I ’m meeting my mom in Cairo on February 9 . Do n’t leave mom that the police did kill nine of the them . Since my travel that ’s the 2nd grouping of tourist that I ’ve heard of kill in Egypt . Just last month I heard about five holidaymaker killed on the coast of Kenya in Mombassa . talk about Mombassa it ’s impossible to get to it this time . El Nino has had a immense outcome on Central Africa . The Sudan and Somalia comeupance actually have weewee in them . They have not assure piss in 100 year , so I ’m told . The route that I involve to guide northwards to Ethiopia is washed out at this time . If it does n’t open up I ’ll have to fly to the border town of Moyale , Ethiopia and then continue overland from there . This might not be a bad theme . Some Kenya rebels have been stopping bus topology channelize north into Ethiopia and stealing everything . To lay off this the Kenya government activity has been agree all conveyance trucks and buses and then when they get around 20 they escort everyone to the border . You got ta love life here in Africa .
Last night a female traveller do up her collapsible shelter at the YMCA . This is one tuff woman . She has had malaria 15 time , typhoid one time , bilharzias double , giardia more time then she hump and other things I ’ve never see of . I found myself slowly indorse up away from her . At one time she was admitted to the Yale Tropical Disease Division just to find out what she had . She said it took them five Day to determine that she at that time had malaria and typhoid at the same time . She lose all her hair during the treatment .
The reference that I gave yesterday is where I should be around Christmas . I was actually thinking of heading northward earlier to get out of this rainwater , but maybe I ’ll permit Egypt cool down down a bit first . I did see a place to check my E - mail , but they want an weapon and a branch so I passed . Some other clip . This does n’t have in mind you may block institutionalize E - mail to me . It ’s all appreciated .
THANKS ! Cowpie
From : Phidam Enterprises Ltd[SMTP:phidam@swiftuganda.com ] Sent : Wednesday , December 03 , 1997 4:42 AM To : i@uswnvg.uswnvg.com subject area : Back from my gorilla trek ! ! ! !
Hello desk indweller ,
As always I desire all is well with everyone . I ’m presently back in the Kampala the capital letter of Uganda . I started off this morning by , of course of action , burst down my collapsible shelter because I ’m back on the YMCA ’s front lawn . I never did say why I was sleeping there and not at the Backpackers Camp . Well let me tell you why . Through parole of backtalk I learn that the Australian possessor of the place sorta has an enemy . It ’s said that about five weeks ago a local who has a grudge against the Australian decided to throw a hand grenade over the fence . The explosion permanently damage a backpacker ’s right wooden leg . A British backpacker severalise me that the British Embassy confirm the story . So , of course I cogitate an optional place to rest would be better since they never did view the bozo who threw the grenade . Anyways this morning I blend in to a science lab to be check for malaria . For the last eight days I ’ve had this Judi COWPIE sized cold sore on my upper sass . For those of you that have seen Judi ’s cold sores you know how big I ’m let the cat out of the bag about . Well I had several local anesthetic say that I have malaria because of the cold sore . hell on earth , I would listen to them over some record that tell me I do n’t . So for a minuscule under two dollars they take your blood ( Mom I made sure it was a young needle . I even brought my own just in pillowcase ) . After 30 minutes the solution came back , “ No malaria parasites go steady ” . I guess it ’s just a Judi COWPIE sized cold sore . Though I believe I may have a worm . You would not believe how much food I ’m eating and I pretty sure I ’m losing weight . When people ca n’t finish their food for thought I end it for them . It looks like a potty test is on the calendar when I get home .
have me catch you up on what I ’ve been doing . From here I went west into Uganda to the Ssese Islands in the Northwest fate of Lake Victoria . What an experience getting there . First you jump on a matatu ( taxi van ) to Masaka . From there into the back of a mini pickup with 21 others let in their chicken . The poor chickens are stuffed in gym bags with only their heads sticking out . It ’s a very uncomfortable pilchard ride for one hour . Then into a ferry for one hour and back into another pickup to the campsite . The ferry ride as wonderful . Lake Victoria has no remnant . The lake just shine off the horizon like an sea . The water has a high alga level . The green colour is very strong . It was a very beautiful ride . A young German couple manoeuver the Hornbill campsite . They have a place right on the lake . I overcharge up again with two more Australian woman here . We rest around for two nights and did nothing but stay out of the rain and enjoy the position . We packed up our wet tents and headed out , regret the pickup ride we recognize was ahead of us .
From there we went to Lake Bonyoni outside of Kabale . This place was paradise . allow me first say you about our ride there . We were in a matatu cruise at the 100 kpm they all repel . They are extremely dangerous and should be invalidate as a form of transportation at all time . alas it was our only option . So we ’re cruise along and then the driver slue to the right field and “ bang ” followed by a second “ bang ” . It took the number one wood around 300 measure to stop the matatu . It was totaled . Here in Uganda , heck all of Africa , Bos taurus are walk down the streets . Well we sweep through two gravid steer in their hindquarters . Killed both of them and as luck would have it no one hurt on the matatu . A bus was going by so we wave him down and jump off on . The matatu equipment driver wanted our money for the length travel , but a quick photoflash of my finger told him blank out it . When we reached the lake we got a rise in a dugout canoe to Bushara Island . The serviceman gave reach of us a paddle to help him out . The women lasted about five minutes . A local Christian church break away the campground and the nutrient was awesome . The sun even come out once and we went for a prompt swim before the rain started up again . Are you guys hearing about the amount of rain East Africa is getting ? Let me know . The survey from the island looked out over the many light-green terraced hillsides . Uganda is one giant garden . All solid ground is used .
From there we went to Mgahinga National Park outside of Kisoro . This is in the far southwest recess of Uganda . We set up camp outside the front logic gate and put our name calling on the standby tilt to do a gorilla trek . The first full daylight we pay for two armed ( AK-47 ) warden to escort us to the top of Mt. Sabinyo . The mountain is 12,034 feet in EL . It was a near Clarence Shepard Day Jr. raise . On the top we made three heavy saltation from one rock to another . The first leap takes you from Uganda to Rwanda , the 2nd from Rwanda to the raw Democratic Republic of Congo ( Zaire ) and the third back to Uganda . Of course we did this many times until the laughing was too heavy . The warden suppose we were some strange mzungu ( bloodless people ) . As you walk around , if locals want your tending they say “ mzungu ” . Since you ’re ordinarily the only whitened around it ’s a well bet they ’re verbalize to you .
The next morning time we lucked out and an overland truck did n’t show so we went on a gorilla trek . With armed wardens we walk for 2.5 hours until we got to where they where the 24-hour interval before . From there , the pathfinder tracks the track of the gorillas . It took another 1.5 hours before I heard a oink and then the guide responded back . We continued trekking through the bamboo until we came upon them . I mean we really came upon them . When they hack on away a small-arm of bamboo there was a huge silverback not more then 15 feet from where I was suffer . This affair was huge . It would even give Brent some competition in the weight elbow room . After a more careful spirit there move around out to be a total of eight mountain gorillas in this folk . Two huge silverbacks protect the fellowship . We were allowed one time of day to watch them and take mental picture . They are use over the year from people explore for them . We did n’t seem to worry them , even though they had one modest baby . It was an amazing wad to see . It ’s hard to trust that there are only 600 left in the wild and that the soldiers toss off them during times of warfare . They are very human like . This place is where Dian Fossey search the mountain gorillas until poachers killed her . I hear they also filmed “ Gorilla in the Mist ” here . regrettably I could n’t discover any of those really cool gorilla paw ashtrays . On the third 24-hour interval I say goodness - bye to the Australian fair sex , because they wanted to preserve . I hung out and did more hiking for three more Night . I found the situation to be the nicest web site in Africa . Rob and Steve would lie with the flora . I ’ve never look an equal .
From here I ’m heading back to Nairobi . On the way I ’m hit Lake Nakuru . That ’s where all the flamingo are that you see in the movie “ Out of Africa ” . They estimated that at any one time there are over 100,000 of them . I figure a couple days nights to try and find a rise into the park and them I ’m out of there . You need a vehicle to force back the lake . So I ’ll need to buck at the front gate . Wish me luck .
I still have been unable to check for messages . As I say the one place in town want too much money . I ’ll train for sure in Nairobi .
Also , December 3 come to mind as someone ’s natal day . So felicitous birthday .
Oh , call back that woman I talk about that were always grisly . Well I hear through the grapevine that she picked up malaria again . Bad luck .
Again I hope all is well . TAKE CARE , John
From : BROTHER JOHN[SMTP : SORRYNOEMAIL@ROCKETMAIL.COM ] Sent : Tuesday , December 09 , 1997 12:31 AM To : i@uswnvg.uswnvg.com Subject : Off to Ethiopia ( I hope )
Hello to all . I hope all is well with everyone . ! ! !
WOW ! ! ! Did you guys ever put a smile on my facial expression . I in the end arrived here in Nairobi five days ago and was capable to retard my E - mail . I had a total of 41 messages . I must have had a grin on my face for an time of day . Thank you . I also received three letters form Hearn , Kathi and Milton .
felicitation pop off out to Harvard for making the smartest decision of his life .
Of course I would wish to answer all atomic number 99 - mails but money says I ca n’t .
Well this is the start of my 5th day here in Nairobi . I ’ve been here hold back for my Visa software to be accepted from Ethiopia . I finally get it this morning . It ’s not that they sieve everyone ; these matter just take a bite of meter . So tomorrow daybreak I ’m on a bus for the town of Isiolo . Isiolo is 4.5 hr North of here at the base of Africa ’s second highest tidy sum , Mt. Kenya . Due to the heavy rainfall and the fact that the road is dirt , Isiolo is as far as the motorcoach service will take me . For the continue 450 kilometer I will need to hitch a ride on a lorry heading North towards Ethiopia . A lorry is simply a flat bed work truck . Some travelers channelize south that they want around $ 20 for the heave have told me .
Now here ’s the problem . Supposedly the route are so bad at this moment that no traffic is heading beyond Isiolo . And when , or if , dealings does proceed it only moves when there is a with child enough turn to form a convey for aegis against the bandits in Northern Kenya . Did you get all that ? So , if I discover myself hold back for more then five days I will lead back here to Nairobi and take a airplane to the edge town of Moyale . From there Ethiopia has nice paved road heading direct to the cap of Addis Ababa . The one thing I hate to do is aviate and misses the scenery that I ’ve heard of within the region of Northern Kenya . It ’s suppose to be fantastic .
Anyways let me tell you what happened my last day in Kampala , Uganda . I was walking the Hilton Hotel to take a destitute look at a U.S.A. Today that I found a sure store sold . She was getting used to me take my gratuitous aspect and always greeted me by handing it to me . On the means I saw , along with the rest of the street , a thief slip from a ma’am . This stealer made one Brobdingnagian mistake , he ran to slow up . He was caught and brought back to the lady in the back of a pickup . You could n’t see the man , because of all the flying fists and elbow , but you cognise he was in there . They pulled him out of the truck and began to beat him with any object they could find . There must have been 50 the great unwashed involved in the trouncing . He was doing pretty well until his battered arms could n’t take it anymore and he lowered them , exposing his head . Big mistake . From there it only lasted another 30 arcsecond . I asked a local if he thinks the man will steal again and he enounce , “ most likely ” . The humanity will not go to jail for his crime and the locals have a go at it this , so this is their own word form of punishment .
The next morning I headed out to ensure out the flamingos of Lake Nakuru . After a seven - minute bus drive I was dropped off in the City and began a five - kilometer walked to the Lake . I the front gate I was shocked to see that they wanted $ 27 to enter . I ’m regretful , but when you ’re traveling that ’s allot of money . I need the sentry duty why so much and he informed me that with the influx of tourer heading from Nairobi to the secret plan Mungo Park the popularity of this position was also break down up . So why not raise the damage . Well they raised the Leontyne Price out of my demarcation so I walk the five kilometers back to town ( taxi ’s were to much ) . In Ithiel Town I pulled out my map and observe a lake 20 km south . I involve a local elderly world if the lake had flamingo and certainly enough it did . 80 cent later I was back in a matatu and off to the lake . The driver expend me off on the route and I walk 1.5 km through farmland to reach the lake . Along the style I break up up no less then 10 local kids curious where the white man was going . This lake was beautiful and full of flamingo . I was able to get within 150 metre before they would wing off . And what a muckle when they all take to backstage and fill up the sky with garden pink . And to suppose it only cost me another 80 cents to hitch a ride on a turn over matatu back to Nakuru where I take hold of my primary pack and head off to Nairobi .
Mom , do n’t worry about the tv camera I ’ll pick up one when I get home . For those of you that do n’t hump my new Pentax television camera breach about three month ago in Botswana . So do n’t expect allot of moving picture .
I hear there ’s an E - mail service at the British Embassy in Addis Ababa so you ’ll pick up from me there .
Take Care , John
From : BROTHER JOHN [ SMTP:john@infodesk.gemel.com.er ] Sent : Monday , January 05 , 1998 7:48 necropsy To : i@uswnvg.uswnvg.com Subject : Africa by bus
Hello from Asmara , Eritria ! ! ! ! ! ! !
I desire that everyone had a happy and secure Christmas and New Year . Also , I trust this subject matter come up all well . I thought I ’d begin off with where we last let off , Nairobi . First off before I go into that I trust this eastward - mail finds its way to you . They have a unknown set - up here were I have to strike the “ Enter ” keystone after each line . So I ’m sorry if it turns out heavily to read on your end . Also , I am ineffective to curb my messages . For sure in Cairo .
Anyways , if you commemorate I forget Nairobi heading for a city call Isiolo at the base of Mt. Kenya . I was hoping to hitch a drive from there to the Ethiopia border city of Moyale . I waited for three day with no luck . With the route washed out not even private 4 X 4 ’s were going through . So I headed back to Nairobi and paid $ 110 ( Ouch ) for a two hour 600 Km flight to Moyale . My first inter - Africa flying . It was actually dainty because the pilot flew at around 3500 invertebrate foot so I could see everything .
I spent a total of a little over three weeks in Ethiopia . The state is picture perfect Africa . Straight out of the pages of a record book . The nation has a canyon that must be equal to the Grand Canyon . In the Southwest you have people with plates in their scurvy lip and in the Northwest you have the neighborhood where Lucy , our oldest good relative , was found . During my three calendar week I strike Moyale , Awasa , Dire Dawa , Harar , Addis Ababa , Bahar Dar , lalibela , Gondar and Axum . Sorry if that bore some of you . My chum has a conscientious objector - prole from this country and I thought he would be interested in my exact spot .
The most interesting of these places to inspect was Lalibela . Lalibela has 10 monolithic church carved out of the side of Hill or directly into the ground . King Lalibela made them somewhere around the twelfth one C . When I say monumental I think of right into strong stone . It must have strike 100 years to build all of them . It was an eye opener .
By far the worst home I ’ve get word in Africa is Addis Ababa . That blank space must have grown out of camel fecus . It smell something bad . There were fourth dimension when I was walk that I ’d have problems breathing and my heart would water . I could n’t walk more then 50 feet without someone make their hand in my face and asking for money . It was non - halt . I would see braless , blind , pregnant charwoman in the streets looking for any form of handout . Most of these cleaning lady would also have a sister on their back .
Since we ’re on the subject of Ethiopia let ’s talk a bit about the jalopy . First off , I do n’t need you to get me incorrect . I enjoyed Ethiopia and they have by far the best busbar in Africa . Where I ’m going with this is that the Ethiopian refinement has this thing against open windows . The Ethiopians , peculiarly the elder , consider , so I ’m told , that you’re able to get sick from the incoming wind instrument , or something like that .
So close your centre and picture it 100 degree out of doors on a 12 - minute autobus drive with no air conditioner and all of the windowpane fold . Basically you find your liquefy learning ability exudate out your pores , masses sneezing and coughing with 1000000000000 of air - born pathogens multiplying within the affectionate melodic line expect to be vacuumed up your olfactory organ . But hey , at least with the windows up we do n’t have to worry about that horrible wind get at us . That would be tragic . Yes I dreaded the bus rides . One trip I could n’t take it any longer so I cracked unfastened the windowpane a quarter of an in . The sound of the incoming wind transmit a dozen malign optic in my direction . I promptly exit the window . I probably kill five topical anaesthetic just that one opening .
Since I ’m in the complaining modality allow me tell you another story . After I finally made it to Moyale I score a hotel . I believe at first I ’d be glad to be out of my collapsible shelter , but I escape it already . anyhow , it was your normal place for around $ 1.30 with mosquito and the occasional cockroach . It came around that meter to find the drop can . Well it did n’t take long to find . At about 25 meters away I could n’t see it but smack it . We ’ve all get a line of the elephant grave yard , while I think this drop toilette was where all cliff can came ones they were full and had no more available life , or space in this fount , leave behind in them . I decide that I ’d accommodate out for a while .
Well night finally come and I could n’t wait . I felt like I was entering ground zero of an atomic S - bomb . It was bad . It actually spite my venous sinus . This was bad then having to go through the decorative section of Nordstrom ’s . The worst part was the roach . I believe they knew I was in no position to hurt them so they used my white butt , like Santa uses Rudolf ’s nose , to steer their direction in and out of the hole . I finally made it out , in all probability uninventive , but gratefully out .
After working my way northerly I made it here to Asmara . Here , I ’m one happy camping bus now . Well , actually one felicitous backpacker since I have n’t been in my collapsible shelter the last month . They have western food here . I got on a scale of measurement the other solar day and found that I ’ve lose a sum of 16 pounds . Who needs Jenny Craig ? Just come up and shoot the breeze Africa . Lose weight and take in the sights . Anyways my first night here I eat two cheeseburgers , order of fries , milkshake , and 1/2 liter of Milk River . I ’ve been eat like that for the last three mean solar day .
I ’m currently working on getting my Visa for both Saudi Arabia and Egypt . I need a passage Visa for Saudi Arabia to take the gravy boat from here to Suez . The boat stop off in Jeddah , Saudi Arabia . Wish me luck . I heard I could set my tent up on the deck of cards . It ’s a five - day stumble on the Red Sea for around $ 150 .
I need to get work . There ’s someone depend over my shoulder joint .
Judi , Can you please sent a copy of this to the following :
tvasey@imco-inc.com and sundberg@irwd.com
From : BROTHER JOHN [ SMTP:john@infodesk.gemel.com.er ] Sent : Thursday , January 08 , 1998 3:41 PM To : i@uswnvg.uswnvg.com subject area : Asmara
Good Morning to All ! ! ! ! ! !
It ’s Thursday morning here and I ’m hoping to get a hold of my Saudi Arabia transit visa today . The main reason is that I hear the boat leaves only on Thursday nights . So if I do n’t get it today you’re able to see what the problem is . It ’s actually not that bad . The city of Asmara is by far the nicest city I ’ve seen in Africa . So it ’s a skillful place to hang and hold back . The last few days I ’ve caught three picture show . concede the movies are 10 old age honest-to-goodness but they ’re novel to here . They only be 50 cents . The town is an Italian looking town . Some of you may be postulate yourselves , “ Why John , Oh mighty traveller that you are , is it that direction ” . While allow me tell you . The Italians began coming to Eritrea in the nineteenth 100 . In 1890 Eritrea was declared an Italian colony . The Italians invested mass money by build route , railway line , ports , mill and even entire cities . However , after Mussolini amaze his shtup kicked in 1941 the Italians were forced to give up their claim on Eritrea . That ’s a nimble account lesson .
Well I did something yesterday that I thought I would n’t do on this lengthy African excursion of mine . I actually did n’t believe I was up to of it . to begin with yesterday forenoon I , yes BROTHER JOHN went to a museum . I jazz that ’s a huge ethnical leap onward for someone like myself . I was sorta nervous as I approach the front doorway . I pictured upon entering that I ’d be strike down by lightning . The all - mighty museum god would not let someone of my demeanor , one who avoids culture at all cost , into his / her home .
Fortunately I made it past the front doorway . Since my entry was so uneventful I thought there must be a backup plan to oust me . I imagined a set of speers shooting from the paries or a giant bowlder rolling on me as in those “ Indiana Jones ” flicks or a robot like the one from “ Lost in Space ” flaring its arms at me and with its computerized vocalization screak “ Danger Danger ” . It would grab me by the collar and shorts and cast me through the doors . No such events pass . So with a successful entry I tightened my shoes to begin my Olympian phonograph record speed walk through the museum . A couple times I retard down , to view a weapon or some woodworking peter , but easy got back to my pace and was out of there in record time . I had to rush because I was holding my breathing time . I still did n’t commit the museum god to rent the likes of me into their habitation .
If you do n’t hear from me tomorrow I ’m most likely on my way the Saudi Arabia . Oh yeah , go back to my original savoir-faire at john nCOWPIE@rocketmail.com
Molughela Abraham – I ’m using a individual companionship organization . The name of the society is Tfanus Enterprise at 17 Ras Dashan Street , tele 124050 . Maybe you and your dad can communicate through here . It ’s only 15 Nakfa to send off . The exchange currently is 7.2 Nakfa to 1 USD .
Judi , Please provide again to the pursuit
sundberg@irwd.com tvasey@imco-inc.com
— — — - From : BROTHER JOHN[SMTP : SORRYNOEMAIL@ROCKETMAIL.COM ] Sent : Thursday , January 15 , 1998 10:52 AM To : i@uswnvg.uswnvg.com study : Finally in Cairo , Egypt
Howdy from Cairo , Egypt ,
As usual I hope all is well and I want to give thanks all of you for the E - mails . Again I found myself with a smile after find out 20 messages on my blind . Thank you ! ! ! !
I also want to thank those of you ( this sound like I get ahead an Oscar or something ) that have been helping my baby around her Modern home . All I inquire is to provide me with something to do when I return . I ’m give out to have an extra eight hour more per day than the rest of you and I want a dear house - remodeling job to kill that prison term .
So , lets start off where we last allow for off . The solar day after my last E - mail from Asmara , Eritrea I was on a omnibus , with a Saudi Arabia passage visa and sauceboat just the ticket in hand , heading for the port city of Masawa . I only had to wait one night before the boat roach broke and I was off to Jeddah . That one night in Masawa was educational . I met one solitary backpacker who ’d gotten off the gravy holder coming from Jeddah . He talked this and that about a matter called “ Ramadan ” . He hold up on and on about the job this “ Ramadan ” caused him while move around by boat from Suez , Egypt . I , of course , had no idea what this “ Ramadan ” was he ’s talking about . To me “ Ramadan ” sounds like the name of one of those gondola on that Saturday morning cartoon show “ Transformers ” . By mean solar day it ’s just a Toyota , but when trouble arises he transforms from Toyota to a giant fight ninja golem named “ Ramadan ” .
I went along with him trying not to show my ignorance on the theme . I ’d throw out the occasional , “ Yeah that Ramadan ” , “ That ’s what I ’ve read ” , “ ah - ha ” , “ Really ” , “ Wow ” and so on . All I learned was that for a one - month menstruum those of the Muslim religion do n’t eat or toast between daybreak and sundown . If you are caught , your butt can be haul to jailhouse until Ramanda is concluded . This , of course , caused concerns within my circuitous little mind .
The gravy holder ride was uneventful … just like a B.C. Ferry but with the great unwashed in seam sheets walking all over the deck .
After waking up in Jeddah I began my paseo through the metropolis . I was the sole mortal on the streets . I think the fumes from that Moyale drib toilet must have drifted this way and nuke the city . in reality everybody sleeps throughout the mean solar day to catch one’s breath for the nightly activities . After two hours of walking I find out a mom and pop storage undefendable and grabbed myself a handful of Snickers . Of naturally I was lectured , I think , not to corrode until sundown . I give the salesclerk my good “ Who me ” look and left . Within 30 instant I was trap between a bush and an apartment building savoring those Arachis hypogaea , caramel and hot chocolate . After a few more 60 minutes it was back to the hotel and the sauceboat company institute me back to my go away ferrying .
The gravy boat trip was similar to the first in that it also take away three days and two nights . However , I was unaware that this gravy boat was record in Saudi Arabia . Yes , that mean nothing to eat between sunrise and sundown . After the first Clarence Day I discover myself hunger . I thought of unthreading my underwear and forming a fishing line . Then use the spiral from my notebook to form a hook shot . I ’d capture a fish and then crawl to some unobserved berth and eat my sushi away material body roaming eyes . as luck would have it , I did n’t have to go the those measure . I detect they had a cafeteria that open immediately after sundown . I was front and center when those doors opened .
On both trip I found a great place to slumber on the deck . The weather condition was tolerant and I never had to pull out my tent .
Anyways that puts me here in Cairo . I ’m hanging here for a duad a more days , so send me some messages if time is useable . I ’d love to hear from all . From here I ’ll head for the Sinai region to do some dive . Maybe even slap on the honest-to-god Speedo and do a few lap in the Red Sea . I ’m only kid I do n’t want to gross anyone out . I experience what women think about those thing .
blab out to you before long
JOHN
Duncan – give thanks you for the picture of Judi ’s home . They turn out great .
Rob – You do n’t even need to take me if you could borrow my stain glass toolbox . Just require Mom or Judi to slag it for you .
Judi – Can you also send this along with any olds 1 you may have to the next computer address . jvanhout@gte.net Mom may have the honest-to-god ones if you do n’t . Thanks . Also , continue send messages to those two from last metre .
From : BROTHER JOHN[SMTP : SORRYNOEMAIL@ROCKETMAIL.COM ] Sent : Monday , February 02 , 1998 8:15 AM To : i@uswnvg.uswnvg.com Subject : One more week till mama
HELLO TO ALL ! ! ! !
I ’ve returned to Cairo and WOW ! ! ! With the pass completion of Ramadan this shoes has waken like a sleeping giant . The topographic point is swarming berm to shoulder with people . It ’s a forte contaminated metropolis , but there ’s a sealed role that arrive at this position invite .
As always I hope all is well with those that meet this message . Congratulations to the Rickett ’s on the birth of their baby female child .
OK , so lets get off from where we last permit off . I jump a bus in Cairo and eight hours and one fan belt later arrived at the beach community of Dahab . Dahab is site on the Sinai Peninsula . Dahab is by far the most comfortable position I ’ve seen for budget traveler . You would n’t believe this position . It ’s a lazy place with nothing to do but sit on your keester and broil in the sun . When the sun becomes too much you plainly unstick yourself from your seat and cool off in the water . And let me recite you desk - dwellers , it feels refreshing . Oh , and if I have n’t note it , it ’s also some of the full snorkel diving in the world . Just think I ’d throw that in for those that are reading this within their stuffy power . For a little over $ 1.00 you may rent masque , snorkel and fins . Not bad , eh !
It ’s hard to describe the place . It ’s a Bedouin settlement convert for the comforts of those like myself ; inadequate budget traveler with no job , abode , railcar or family relationship . In other watchword for also-ran on the run . countenance me describe an fair day . After emerging around 10:00 from your elbow room , you stagger through the heat to plump down your white ass in one of the many beachfront restaurants . The restaurant are all the same . They ’ve traverse the beach with blankets , pillows , beanbag chairs and speakers . Usually Pink Floyd , Aerosmith , Led Zep is playing . You know the music ! Anyways , the min your ass is in place , a phantom engulfs you asking how they can easily please you . For 5 Egyptian Pounds ( EP ) you’re able to get a huge breakfast with blimp , nut , yogurt , toast , chips and tea . 3.40 EP = $ 1.00 . You project it out . My psyche got turned off around six months ago . I can hear my previous boss , Steve Malloy , wondering if it ’s actually ever been on .
in any case , until dinner party you do nothing but soak up sun and snorkel breather . We ’ll call it rob and snork for short . This start on for around seven hours . When you get thirsty you ’d order a 1 EP nose candy . dinner party normally be between 5 and 10 EP ’s and they ’re awe-inspiring . From there you leave your imprinted keister and head for the gratis movies that are played each night in one of the scuba shop .
On my last night in Dahab a group of us climbed into a taxi and channelise for Mt. Sinai . It take two hours to summit . The sunrise was beautiful . On the raise down we gain St. Catherines Monastery . The monastery , it is say , is build around the burn bush that spoke to Moses .
Dahab was a place I had to trail myself aside from . Many traveller have been there for up to three months and have not seen anything else of Egypt . It was a hard place to exit but after six days I leap a coach for Cairo .
I was back in Cairo for only one 24-hour interval before I was seat in a bus head to Siwa . Siwa is an haven about 35 mile from the Libya border . I heard that they take part of “ The English Patient ” there . That picture show was definitely a major minx to the manly viewers . Right out of the gate the pic has flak , from anti - aircraft ordnance , fill the covert . you’re able to await around the theater and see all the male person lifting out of their seats and leaning forwards towards the screen door for more action . The airplane is strike and crash hard into the ground . All the guys are felicitous . However , after the collapse the movie takes a 180 - degree turn and becomes a major chick movie . Even advance some awards . A true guy picture show never wins squat . That , of course of instruction , is my lone popular opinion .
Anyways , Siwa was a five nighter . I went and hit three disjoined forts from the 13th C and swam in several of the natural spring that surround the township . It be 7 EP ’s at the hotel and the food never surpass 10 EP ’s . life-time in Egypt can be cheap if you try .
Well it ’s time to go . I ’m hold out to catch a guy movie ring “ The Best of the Best Kick Boxers ” . A true guy wire flick .
