Crawling like a cockroach leaving babies in my bed. 

Sunday, September 17, 2017 Edit This

THE DUSTING


Your fingerprints

everywhere 

outside, inside 


I try to rinse 

your residue 

But it still stays 


Every inch 

of skin I'd burn 

and even then 


Those dirty prints 

your memory 

would still remain



were you only imaginary...? 

Tuesday, September 05, 2017 Edit This

Life has many great oddities, but one of the greatest and oddest is the way in which the role of another person in ones life can take as many twists and turns as that of any character in Game of Thrones. 

It's strange how someone who you never thought you'd think of again suddenly appears in some new form, as someone great, more important, more significant... 

...and funnier still how the person you thought you could rely on being there every day forevermore, is reduced to some inconsequential memory.

Thursday, August 17, 2017 Edit This

It's been a while.

493 days to be exact.

But today I miss you. 

I really need to hear the words you would have said right now. This is something you would have understood perfectly. 

Cause you know it's over, before it began 

Friday, August 04, 2017 Edit This

This is bittersweet. 

Here comes the sweet. 

Did you know your sister texted me twice a few days apart to ask if I'd made it home yet? She had no reason to check but she did. She even sent a fucking kiss emoji. 

Charles, who drove around my friends (NOT EVEN ME) messaged to ask how things were and how the new job was. He has ZERO obligation to me. He barely knew me. He also sent kiss emojis. 

Your wee bestie, he messaged out the blue asking if I've settled in. I didn't even make the effort to see him while I was there. But he did that and then held conversation with me. 

Your housemate/boarder messaged me out the blue and to my surprise it wasn't a question about visiting the UK or about a medical ailment, nope, her "1q" for me was just whether my two years are up and when I'm coming back.

You couldn't be bothered initiating conversation with me. Hell, you couldn't even be bothered completing conversation with me. 

You used to say "I don't do distance".

I always thought the emphasis went on distance, that that was the problem. 

I can now see that the actual problem is the first part of that sentence. YOU don't, YOU can't, YOU won't do it, not even for that special thing we had. 

I had to learn how to fight for myself. 

Wednesday, July 26, 2017 Edit This

Today I had my very first day of work as a doctor. Technically it was all just inductions and no patients but nonetheless. At one point during the day, while we were meant to be doing online modules, I found myself in conversation with Ben. (Side note: I can't really believe I haven't written about him at all. I can't believe Cape Town hasn't made it into any of my posts when it seems to make it into all of my conversations...) 


Now I don't know what he took from our conversation (I can't help but feel so much is lost in our different slang and semantics, even more so over text)... but to me it was a discussion of our differences - our different lives that come down to different backgrounds and experiences combined with different temperaments and attitudes. I said that having spent so much time around his life and in his day to day life, I felt like I understood or knew about what it means to be him. I also said that I didn't think he could say the same for me, that he doesn't know as much about my life or how I got to where I'm at. 


So that's what this is. 


This is how I made it here. I say this with no sense of pride whatsoever. Many people have been doctors before me, many have got here with greater and more numerous achievements to their name. Many have had much more significant trials and tribulations. And many others, who have ended up in completely different places, have overcome far larger hurdles. When I say it took a lot to get here, it's just fact, not pride. It took a lot of different events. 


My parents, like many other working class Desis who made their own way in a foreign country, were driven by the need to educate us three. They saved and what they spend on us is largely towards our education. They've always instilled the goal of being successful, independent women in us. I'm grateful.


In school holidays from when I was about six, my mom would push me to do extra work. 3 pages of math workbook and 2 pages of English every day. We used to get vocabulary lists at school and from each word we had to make a sentence. My mom insisted on long, complicated sentences. She'd make me write a draft, before rewriting them perfectly into my notebook. When I'd score 90+% in school tests, my parents would ask what stopped me from getting 100%. When I came top in the class with a score less than 100%, they'd tell me not to compare to others, that I could still do better. When I scored well but someone scored better, they'd ask why I wasn't the best in the class, how could I study more like that other kid. 


Eventually I knew how to work myself, to push myself to achieve. Or at least they grew to think so, and towards the end of my school life though they encouraged me to study certainly, I was in control of how much I did. And I was driven to achieve. So much so that when I didn't get into the university I'd wanted to, I spent my last year of school and my first year of university holed up in my room in the dark, developing no interests, feeling purposeless and without direction. Suddenly my parents weren't pushing me to focus on education, they were pulling me back, trying to get me to focus on a bigger picture. 


So many of our talks today touched on the stress we will experience as doctors. And many also discussed the personality type that so many of us who have finished medical school have found ourselves burdened with. Perfectionists who feel an overwhelming sense of guilt for small mistakes, who feel an unnecessarily heavy burden of responsibility, who permanently feel an intellectual inferiority complex. 


These talks remind us to look after ourselves, to be mindful, to feed our spirits, to be kind and forgiving to ourselves and to learn to let go and not focus on our shortcomings. We are humans too. It's hard and I'm trying and my spirit is hungry. 

I miss the way you make me feel

Saturday, June 10, 2017 Edit This

Life is so serendipitous sometimes. 

There is this guy (there's always some guy, isn't there) that I've followed on Instagram for some years now. He used to post a mixture of Dundee photos and epic travel photos and eventually we became each other's instacrushes because we had the same vibes going. Eventually, we struck up conversation in the direct messaging feature and we actually talked properly about where we were from, where we wanted to go, languages etc. At some point the conversation died out. The other day I posted the first photo of myself (-ish, you can't see my eyes) in ages and he sent me a message saying it had been ages and asking how I was. We eventually moved to chatting on whatsapp, he's also graduating in a couple of weeks and he's off to China on a full scholarship (!!!). I think we are meeting up tomorrow and I'm oh-so-excited to meet this interesting yet unknown person. 

Later that afternoon, I was on the bus and there was an Asian girl opposite me drinking bubble tea. Couldn't restrain myself and asked her if she'd got that in Dundee. She said she had and I asked her if it was any good, which she affirmed. We then launched into a discussion of wonderful Asian things like bubble tea and sushi and the lack in Dundee. She asked where I was from and I returned the question. She said she was from the Philippines and had grown up there and previously in Fife and then moved back to Scotland again to Dundee with her family. She asked what I studied and told me she wanted to go to vet school, but didn't have the high school qualifications so it was proving a long process. We talked about Palawan and how I want to go, and she said how she'd been with her ang moh boyfriend recently and he'd gotten totally burned. It was just a very pleasant conversation with a pleasant TCK stranger and it was cool. 

I think it's crazy how life takes certain people from you (I don't mean in death, merely in absence), even people you thought you'd get to keep forever. And then gives you lots of new possibilities with the other hand. I need to accept what I cannot change and choose which feelings to ride the waves of.

Kiss me on the mouth and set me free... 

Wednesday, June 07, 2017 Edit This
To the man who fears a little blood, you may have washboard abs and be able to scale rocks 10 times my height or more... but you are weaker than I. I am not weak for bleeding but rather you are weak for looking upon a life source with fear. 

This Time for Africa!: VIII. Lusaka

Wednesday, March 15, 2017 Edit This

Arrived in Lusaka with no real clue where I was meant to be going. Asked the guy beside me on the bus who asked the bus conductor who rang his friend Benjamin a taxi driver. Benjamin delivered me to my destination with minimal chat about my relationship status, which is always what you want from a taxi driver.
 

Arrived at the hostel and met a Chinese couple who'd been backpacking FOR SEVEN MONTHS with the intention of another 11. They took me to the mall with them and on the way back we got so damn soaked in the downpour I may as well not have worn anything. 

On our return who did I encounter at the hostel but the Spanish man (who'd been at my last lodge) biking his way from Dar es Salaam to Windhoek/Cape Town. He is fit. But also looks mildly dangerous. Which probably only makes him more fit. 

I had the best shower since leaving the parents. Warm. Clean. Amazing. I almost cried. That place was spotless, the cleaning lady would clean the white tiles and then not 15 minutes later be cleaning again. It was something amazing.

The evening was spent antisocially/socially making the most of the wifi, with George a once fluffy mosquito eating dog sitting beside me.

I had to ask the Chinese lady to use her hairdryer so I could dry my clothes enough to pack them. 

The following morning I very rushedly crammed an omelette into my face and was conveyed to the airport by Benjamin. He had advised me that I didn't need to leave quite so early. He had been right in his assessment. I loitered for far too long with my fat as fuck backpack.

Stools: I don't think I pooped in Lusaka. A shame cos the loos were actually SO NICE. 



This Time for Africa!: VII. Katete

Wednesday, March 15, 2017 Edit This

We arrived to Katete at around 9:30am to be led from the hospital entrance to the doctors mess, where we were given coffee and told someone would find out about accommodation for the other three. Each time we were greeted by someone new, I introduced myself and added "I'm not staying". However perhaps this sounded like part of my name, as when eventually someone came to escort the others to their new home, he seemed to expect that Maryam, Rachael and I were all going to be sharing. When I said I wasn't staying (yet again), he asked whether Sean would mind sharing the house with the girls and vice versa, noting that Sean and the girls would have separate rooms. They were expecting to be in roundhouses from what the previous sets of students had said and were surprised when their house was actually rectangular. The house was very basic and the running water didn't seem to work, there weren't any pillows or mosquito nets and Sean didn't have anywhere to store his clothes. We eventually went to have lunch (I was able to have some too) and one of the doctors (who was to be there for THREE YEARS?!?) was able to give the others a low down on how things worked.

I then went to my lodgings. I was given a bed in a double room (though there was nobody else there) with an en suite bathroom. At first glance it looked nice though I later discovered a large daddy long legs hanging right above the toilet, and I haven't worked up the courage to sit on the loo yet. The shower doesn't appear to work so I bathed from the sink with a jug *sigh*. I was informed by the lady at the reception that I could meet "The Director" but on arrival at her house I was greeted by an entire pack of dogs, her sleeping cat and it's vomit in the hallway and she instead directed me to have dinner with her when we would speak. At my later dinner with her and 2 Belgian girls about to undertake a midwifery placement at St Francis. Felt sorry for one of the Belgian girls because she had similar feeling to me about spiders and dogs but was probably much more she'll shocked. I got the impression from the director that she was highly opinionated. I think in younger years I might have found her very interesting but I just found her to be an eccentric with some good ideas but who despite seeming help the community (and probably actually helping to some extent) was a business woman and a bit of a racist. Was not enthused and went to bed after a piss in the shower and a cold wash from the sink with a jug at 830 pm. 

I awoke at around 6am to thunderous pouring rain and lay in bed for another couple of hours hoping it would relent a little before I went outside. No such luck. Eventually was getting bored so had another piss and wash in the shower and went to the veranda area for breakfast. The rain ceased a little and I ventured to town. Just as the previous day, the whole of the 40 minute walk to town, kids would come running out their houses shouting "Mzungu (foreigner), HOW ARE YOU" at the top of their lungs. Initially it's quite entertaining but eventually slightly less so. The funniest part is that the "how are you" is less a question but more a statement. 

I'm writing this right now and I have to say I'm pretty damn bored in this place and looking forward to leaving. The next few days are pretty much in transit and I feel very much that they are a waste of days given that I'd rather be spending more time in Livingstone and less in Katete/Lusaka. Let's see what the rest of today brings. I'm looking forward to Marz getting done at the hospital. 

So just before I got dragged into a management meeting Marz was calling my name from a path leading into the lodge! Phew. Went to town with her again (ooft that's 4x 40 minute walks to and from town) and sorted SIM cards etc and bitched a little. Marz came back to mine and got rid of the horrible spider above my lip so now I can take a shit in peace. Spent most of the day with her and even attended their dinner (though I didn't pinch any food). The other doctors seemed to very much look forward to getting back to the UK, and were joking about the food etc. There was a really cute young one but Marz disagreed with me on this. Came back, had another omelette for dinner, showered and went to bed.

Came out for breakfast a little later the next day, not cos I woke up late but just cos I lay in bed for a bit trying to sort phones etc etc. Got another omelette. Had a chat to the Ecuadorean couple volunteering here for 2 weeks. They told me about the Lusaka bus and about Livingstone and I filled them in on Cape Maclear. They're called.... Belen and Eduardo (of course! takes me back to YSP times.) 

The last day was spent with MarzBarz expressing our irritation at the two manky stinky horrible dogs that kept interrupting dinner because one of them had figured out how to open the door to the mess. The other is called danger... because he bites. And probably doesn't have a rabies vaccination. Ugh. 

Sorted a bus for the morning and was told to just wait at the roadside at 5am. This all sounded very dubious to me so I checked with a good 4/5 people. 

Said bye to MarzBarz which was pretty sad. She's quite like family to me these days and tbh I was worried about her being in Katete ten weeks. She's far more tolerant and resilient than men but I certainly would not manage. Also said bye to Sean and Rachael. Sean gave me a hug which I was semi-shocked at especially given that he never hugged Andrew when he left us and they'd spent more time together, also tbh Sean never struck me as a warm huggy human. He said it had been nice travelling with me the past week. Maybe he was feeling sentimental. 

When I was ready to pack up and head to bed at around 830pm I discovered two spiders in my sink. One was tiny and the other was big enough that I felt it would have an unpleasant bite. With much determination I used a toilet brush and the sink to essentially bludgeon and then drown them. Yes, I am a cruel spider killer. However, after all of this, just as I was ready to step into the shower area I spotted a much larger one in the corner. Definitely not bludgeonable. I hoped it might stay put while I showered but did a test run by splashing some of the water in the bucket I use to shower into the area. It did NOT stay put. Instead it scampered up the wall to an even more undesirable location. Stared at it for a while and deliberated going to be super dirty. 

Eventually after some tears, hyperventilation and calling out to the lord I made up my mind and headed to the reception area. Here I managed to drag one of the night managers aside by asking to buy an airtime top up and then once I'd done this, mentioned as casually as I could that there was a large spider in my shower. He (Tobias) kindly came along, picked up a stick along the way and then came in and battered this spider. He then announced it was small and they come in much larger sizes. Yay. 

The following morning I met Tobias at the reception at 4:45 to head to the roadside (literally, no pavement just the side of the Great Eastern Road where cars come speeding at 180km/hr minimum). The coach was due to arrive at 5. It did not. So Tobias and I made chat for an hour and a half. He asked me when the rainy season was where I lived. He was horrified when I said it rained most days all year round. He smiled then and said that a positive was that we could grow crops all year round. I had to break it to him that crops could get too cold, as could city dwellers (and that large chunks of the country were cities rather than farmland.) After this chat he asked if he could take my photo. I wasn't especially enthused by this idea but I didn't want to say no and then be left at the roadside, so he snapped two photos of me standing with my arms crossed wearing my 45l backpack and holding a supermarket bag of chocolate (acquired in Lilongwe, there is no supermarket in Katete.) 

Eventually at 6:20 the bus arrived and I shook hands with Tobias and Abel who had come to join the wait, and as I was doing this the conducted had the nerve to tell me to hurry up. Um hello, I'd been waiting an hour and a half. 10 seconds wasn't going to make all that much difference. 

Anyway I was ushered to a seat at the front (thank goodness, ventilation) which some man had to vacate. I'm unclear as to whether it was my reserved seat that he'd stolen or whether he was shafted for the sake of the Mazungu. The bus had a TV screen and plays some real belters on it- 'My heart will go on' and 'I will always love you' and even some Dido. Thankfully there was aircon, though my seatmate was quite stuck to me regardless. Grim. Part way through the journey, the bus made a rest stop and most of the passengers got out and returned with hard boiled eggs, whole mangos and chicken legs in plastic bags. I felt a bit queasy at this point. 

Stools: runny, so I'm glad Marz got rid of that first spider so I could take a shit in peace (Bristol 6)














This Time for Africa!: VI. Leaving Malawi

Wednesday, March 15, 2017 Edit This

We left Cape Maclear early on the Saturday morning and Sean and Andrew split the drive back between them. It rained heavily for the most part. The majority of the drive passed very quickly but the traffic into Lilongwe was quite bad and it took forever to get through. We decided to go to the supermarket first of all. Got there and were as usual harassed by people trying to sell us things. The names they'd given themselves were creative and varied- we encountered Innocence, Respect and Captain Jack Sparrow. We also picked up our Schisto meds- all of us needed 5 tablets bar Marz who needed 3. We then went off on foot to buy bus tickets. It was raining and muddy and the backs of my legs were completely splattered. It was pretty gross. After all that, we were told when we got there that actually there was no bus to Zambia from Malawi on a Sunday and the next one would be on the Monday.

This came as a bit of a shock. I had no rush to leave Lilongwe (although also no desire to stay in Lilongwe) however Sean, Maryam and Rachael were due to start their electives at St Francis Hospital in Zambia on the Monday...  We drove back to the camp to consider our options. The man at the hostel bar said he had a friend who could drive us to the border where we could probably get a minibus. A series of negotiations were carried out by Marz and she managed to get us a lift with the friend to the Malawian border and a lift with the friend's friend to Katete from the Zambian border for a price of 90000 Kwacha (this equates to 22.50 each). For a 4-6 hour drive this seemed pretty reasonable, especially given coach tickets aren't all that much cheaper. 

Next point of call was to drop Andrew of at Nkhoma Hospital, where is going to be for the next 10 weeks. Rachael drove us there and we said goodbye to him at a very lush looking guesthouse (in terms of greenery rather than facilities.) I think Maryam and I were feeling more sentimental about the goodbye than either Andrew (who was going to be on his own - although in new company of several pretty looking European girls) of Sean (who had been travelling with Andrew for a couple of weeks). 

Anyway we were all in bed and asleep by just after half 9 for a 5am wake up. Our ride arrived at 6am and I was doubtful that we would manage to fit 3 rucksacks, a holdall and my farads backpack into the boot. Somehow they were all crammed in. He headed off towards the border stopping every 5 minutes or so at a checkpoint where they would ask for his license/to look in our trunk/where we were going/his car permit details and at one point, they even did a horn check (!) in the hopes of finding something to fine our driver for. It was a bit ridiculous. I spent most of the journey asleep or lamenting the fact that I hadn't had a chance to buy my usual keychain, fridge magnet and snow globe in the way of souvenirs. 

Eventually we made it to the border (I think it was around 8am, perhaps earlier) and got our exits stamped. Then our second car and driver were acquired for us and we went to the other side of the border to buy our visas etc. At this point we were being harassed by people asking us to use our remaining Malawian Kwacha to buy Zambian Kwacha. We refused /'d went to buy our visas. When we emerged our driver was standing with these crooks looking pretty clueless. They said we should change our Malawian Kwacha to Zambian in order to pay the driver (we had agreed to pay in Malawian.) We refused. They tried to tell us it was not right etc etc. The driver continued to look clueless. Maryam then piped up that we could pay the driver in Malawian Kwacha and he could then change them to Zambian with these guys at whatever price they agreed on. Neither driver nor crooks seemed thrilled at this idea and eventually that was that. >

We finally made it into the car, and our driver for this leg was really quite comical. He looked and had the attitude of a 15 year old boy. He drove at around 180km/hr obnoxiously parping his horn for any reason he could grasp at. He wore far too many bracelets and necklaces. He spent ages fiddling with his radio and then also would shout at top volume into his mobile phone. Any time this happened the car would swerve into the middle of the road and Sean later admitted he'd been at the edge of his street ready to grab the wheel. His tank was largely running on empty and at one point he stopped at the side of the road and seemed to get topped up with vegetable oil. Eventually we did make it to Katete though, though neither we nor anyone in Katete seemed to anticipate our arrival.

Stools: had been runny, but seemed to resolve somewhat (6 to 5)



This Time for Africa!: V. Cape Maclear

Wednesday, March 15, 2017 Edit This

The day we arrived scoped out what there was to do from the guy that ran the place, the Funky Cichlid. We also spent forever dodging people trying to sell us wooden carved keychains. Sat on the beach for a bit watching kids play volleyball. Eventually decided to stroll up the beach, which was hard work on my ankles tbh. Then went for a fish curry at a restaurant further along the beach (a really good dinner) and ONCE AGAIN managed to forget where our hostel was in the dark. (Turned out this time it was because of a power cut, so our hostel wasn't lit at all). 

We had intended to have a very early morning and a hike. But as we got into bed there was a comical moment when in the dark Andrew I think asked where the hike was or what it was called, and we all realised we had no idea where we were going. It was another really warm night and in fact I slept in my underpants. We all woke up pretty early and went back to sleep I think. Eventually emerged and showered. Rachael and I sat in hammocks for a while. We had a good breakfast and then went kayaking to Thumbi island on the south of Lake Malawi. This was fun and reminded me of outdoor ed. We parked out kayaks on the beach and then swam to the rocks. I was able to take my phone with me, risking it with my waterproof case which proved worth the 400 rand I paid for it. The cichlids were very bright and beautiful, but I still think outdoor ed Red Sea snorkelling was more stunning. One of the snorkels we got given (that initially I had ended up with but snuck a different one when I could) was amazing. Sean had it the majority of the time. He looked a bit ridiculous but it was definitely the most functional snorkel. You could breathe naturally and not inhale lots of water. Kayaked back and then chilled on the beach for a bit. Played cards and got food eventually as well. 

At around sunset we decided to take a walk to otters point but somehow ended up adopting 4 kids (trying to get us to sponsor their football team) and two large mangy dogs (who thought we were taking them for a walk). This all escalated when we got to the rocks and couldn't shake the kids or dogs and also couldn't see a very pleasant view (though Marz and I didn't venture far due to dogs obstructing the path). Things got even worse when one of the dogs ran into the bushes and returned with an almost dead cat in its mouth, delivering it to Sean and Rachael (who both like dogs but had lost their patience with these ones). It was very traumatic and pretty horrible. Somehow managed to shake kids and dogs and get back for a really nice Kampango grilled fish dinner. We then played what Rachael called 20 questions but was actually her asking me really random "this or that" type questions. There were more than 20 and I was the only one answering but it was entertaining. We were all in bed by 21:37 aaaand up before 7 as a result. It was a nice hostel and a nice wee room. 

Started our drive back to Lilongwe at around 10 after much faff trying to figure out how to pay the hostel when none of the card machines were working due to a power cut. I was reluctant to use up my dollars but didn't have quite enough kwacha. Sean had no money at all. It was a bit of a mess, but I was certainly sorry to leave.  

Stools - generally uninspiring (3-4) but loose on the last day (5-6)


















This Time for Africa!: IV. Lilongwe

Wednesday, March 15, 2017 Edit This

Arrived with Maryam and Rachael. It was about a 3 hour flight from Joberg. Flight was a little late and our lift had left. Got a taxi to the hostel which has two massive Rhodesian Ridgebacks. It was a bit of a shithole I felt, although maybe that was just me adjusting to being out with the lap of luxury.    
We went into town to get money out and such and it was about Maghreb time on the way there. By the way back it was pitch black and there were no street lights and no real sidewalk for the roads. In fact the roadside was very jagged and you could easily stumble into potholes etc. We managed to get a bit lost on the way back, forgetting how far up the road our hostel was. Rachael was becoming a bit anxious she later admitted and I was worrying Mom and Bob would be proved right or that I'd end up having to hugely disobey them to hang with this crew. It worked out okay in the end and we arrived to find the boys awaiting us. However we also discovered there was no more dinner, and almost slipped in the mud face first. I wasn't especially enthused. It was also a really hot night and I barely slept. 

Woke the next morning, showered and our rental car arrived (and got upgraded to a four wheel drive). Us five piled into the car with Rachael driving, stopped at the supermarket and were on our way to Cape Maclear. It was a beautiful drive there although it rained. Eventually made it although we took an accidental detour to Monkey Bay as well. 

Stools - uninspiring (Type 3/4)




This Time for Africa!: III. Joburg

Wednesday, March 15, 2017 Edit This

We essentially had one full day here, just dinner the first evening. Our hotel was attached to a mall and it was a bit Dubai-esque. We went to the Apartheid museum on the full day, and it was interesting. Reminded me a little of Anne Frank Huis. I was surprised but Aliya seemed interested as well. Me and her looked through the entire thing quite thoroughly. It was pretty depressing, but certainly interesting. Revived a revolutionary spirit in me. 

On the last day we flew out from Joburg and met Maryam and Rachael and Mom, Bob and sisters flew out at almost the same time to Dubai. 

Stools - maybe slightly constipated (Bristol Type 2)










This Time for Africa!: II. Kruger

Wednesday, March 15, 2017 Edit This

On the whole though a nice experience this was much less exciting than the Kenyan Masai Mara or the Tanzanian Serengeti. Much less in the way of big mammals. Very lush and green and there were a lot of beautiful birds, though I have to say ornithology hadn't been an interest of mine.

Of the big 5 we saw elephants and buffalos. Supposedly lions are very uncommon in the area, and though there were rumours of nearby lions, I think although roars were heard nobody actually saw one. 

Leopards are meant to be common in the area relatively speaking but unfortunately they eluded us. Grateful for the times we saw them in Tanzania. 

Rhinos are also in the area, but although we went looking specifically for them we didn't find any. 

We didn't see any other big cats either- there aren't meant to be Cheetahs at all in the region, and we didn't manage to see servals or caracals or African wildcats. 

Serene and Aliya were even worse with all the wee beasties than me, although neither of our parents seemed to acknowledge this and mom as usual mollycoddled the two of them, especially Serene. It gets frustrating for me. 

We had New Years there, which involved holding hands and dancing around a fire, but not an especially late night since we had to be up at 5. 

Though interesting and very beautiful, I think in terms of safari it was a bit disappointing for us. 

Stools - probably a little constipated, Type 2
























This Time for Africa!: I. Cape Town

Wednesday, March 15, 2017 Edit This

Here from Christmas Day til about 4am on the 30th. (Didn't even realise at the time it was Nanaboo's birthday 😔) 

The day we arrived we went to dinner at the waterfront and we probably should have investigated a bit further because we ended up eating outside surrounded by chicken bones and seagulls. Not very pleasant. 

Day 2 we took a peninsula tour which was very beautiful. Saw most of the peaks from a distance, table mountain, lions head, signal hill, little lions head. Camps Bay, Hout Bay and Boulders beach also. Saw the penguins which I had been very excited about! There was also a lighthouse at Cape Point which was quite nice. Cape of Good Hope was slightly less exciting aside from a sign that said it was the most south western point of Africa. The tour ended at Kirstenbosch which I was somewhat surprised to find I enjoyed!  It was very pretty but I think we spent just the right amount of time there. Was disappointed not to see the colourful beach guys of Muizenberg though. 

The following day we went up table mountain by cable car, it was incredibly warm but the view was very nice. We then went to BoKaap, saw the multicoloured slaves houses and had Malaysian food. Then Mom and Ollie and I went to Greenmarket square as Serene was starting to lose her patience. 

The next day Mom and I visited African Heart and then we all went to Greenmarket square and picked up some souvenirs. 

The last day we went paragliding and it was quite fantastic! I think I want to take lessons. I can't decide if this is something I actually want to do (I do LOVE the floaty soary feeling) or if this is just an attempt to appeal? Ah well. Yes, that whole thing is still stuck in my head which is ridiculous cos it's been longer since than the duration of the whole thing... It was a nice relaxing last day as well. Also walked to the Green Point lighthouse which was much more picturesque than the one at Cape Point and more what I look for in a lighthouse :P 

Stools (Serene suggested I keep updates on this... I think she was kidding but I was not!) -maybe slightly loose - Bristol Stool Type 5




























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