3 July, Day 20: So, what was that all about??

Woke up feeling much better, still a little weird stomach but on the up and up. Not sure what the heck was up with me yesterday. We’ve organised a massage therapist to come to the hotel. In the morning we repack all our gear and get everything ready for checkout. At 12:45 we have a 45 min massage each and both feel much better by high noon. Chill by the pool a bit before we head out. We arrive at the Roika compound at around 15:00 but the others are nowhere to be seen. Turns out they’ve stayed an extra night. No problem, we setup tent and make some dinner (tuna melts, with avo and tons of cheese). Quick and dirty.

Luca arrives home at around 21:20 and we offer him a Savannah (yes, we really like Savannahs. And turns out, so does he). We chat for a long time about how he got his start, about the economy and the tourism industry etc etc. Most of which I won’t divulge, since it was giving in good faith as “friends”. We organise that we can go see his mines tomorrow. He can’t show us himself but he will organise his driver to take us. All arranged for tomorrow morning, 09:00. We bid Luca good night.

Spend the rest of the evening updating my journal and chatting. Looking forward to a real gritty mining experience!

Highlights: I feel fine. More than fine. Annelie too :)

[G & A], out

Haraka haraka hakuna baraka = do things quickly, no good come of it.

2 July, Day 19: The "M" word

Nothing too exciting to report. Woke up, made coffee again, setup for brunch, made eggs, fried banana, baconi and toast on the coals. Had more coffee, stole some cookies from a conference that was hosted in the building next door (tee hee hee).

Cleanup, back to room, manage a few pictures, burn them off the DVD, make backups, write a few journal entries. Lay by the pool till sun obscured by clouds, head to room, afternoon nap. Feel pretty crap, fever, crap taste in my mouth, stomach running. Decide to go to hospital at 18:00. Go through the motions, Annelie gets tested also. Much slower getting results today, but I DONT have Malaria, even though everything points to the contrary. Do have some form of infection, which explains the fever. Doc gives us re-hydration sachets (salty taste, disgusting). I buy passion fruit mix-a-drink, which takes the edge off.

Lay in bed, pop 2 aspirin, fever coming down, order room service. Can’t eat any of it. Watch 2 movies on laptop, Bucket List and Marley and Me. Bawl my eyes out (hey, leave me alone, I’m sick!). During movies, appetite returns and I polish off the chow. Pass out by 02:00 ish, have freaky dreams about space. Bacon may have been involved.

Highlights: I DONT HAVE MALARIA

Bummer: Still feel shit.

[G & A], out

won’t you bring back all those colours to my dreams

1 July, Day 18: Just chilling

Sleep in, as planned. Wake up, fire up the little gas stove for coffee. We’re basically camping in our room, very redneck. Even have a washing line up! Have some rusks with the finely brewed Kilimanjaro Espresso I bought a few days ago. Lekker.

Plans for the day is to stroll through town, take some pics and take Annelie to a physio (number we got from Darrel). Finish up and have a shower and head out. We park close to the centre of town and just take a walk. Not long before we have hawkers and local interest, but we handle these guys better now. Annelie goes into every shop and looks at necklaces and bracelets while I hang around and take pictures and chat soccer 2010 with our escorts (who insists we come see their shops. It’s not far, Hakuna Matata.)

Anecdote: mention that you’re from Cape Town. That way you get a bit closer to local prices for things, and not the tourist price. Also, knowing something about soccer helps.

Annelie eventually buys 3 bracelets and 3 necklaces at a steal.

In the afternoon I drop her off at physio and settle in at a nice little cafe nearby, where I update my journal, have a coffee. Annelie gets back an hour later and we have more Savannahs! Decide to head back to the lodge and laze by the pool. We’re also having dinner in the restaurant tonight. More Savannahs.

Dinner was all Swahili dishes, a beef stew with rice and a rich fish dish (diced cubes in a savoury sauce, almost a curry) with chips. Also had beef Carpaccio and a avo salad as a started. Lots of food again! All washed down with a delicious Culemborg Chardonnay. 32 000 TZs, an absolute bargain.

Well fed, and lazy, we meander back to the room. I’m out like a light when my head hits the pillow.

Highlights: Quality Swahili dishes

[G & A], out

Asante = Thanks