Life is hard in the tropics!!
Hi All, So we have arrived in Tanzania after a non-eventful 9.5 hour flight from London, highlights include the snoring man behind me and Emma waking up the whole flight with her uncontrollable fits of laughter at the the British comedy "Death at a Funeral". I'm blaming Emma really, but to be honest I was also in histerics... A must see movie!!
My brother Paul met us at the door of the plane, quite literally at the door, and took us through customs. Irish people now have to pay for a visa (the last time I came, Irish people got a free one). Nearly everyone nation pays $50, but no, us and the americans pay $100. Least we're not from Pakistan... they pay $200. Suckers!
For the first time in four/five trips overseas, my bag actually arrived. For the first time, I also packed my hand luggage with enough clothes etc that would last me a few days, but alas, they were not required. Horaay - my bag arrived! Normally Emma would be particular in times like this, for the last few years she would always pack her hand-luggage with some clothes and other bits-n-bobs just incase her bag didn't arrive. However, Emma was cocky - "my bag always arrives, why should I bother packing clothes away?" she echoed in dublin airport. Bad move... no bag!
The first few days were very chilled out, we went to the beach, went sailing and snorkling on one of the islands just off the coast from Dar. The snorkling was great, lots of cool tropical fish including a nemo! For 20min I had a small yellow and black stripey fish follow me beside my face, it was amazing. Everytime I stopped, it would stop and then continue on with me. I chuckled to myself underwater. Here is a pic below of the beach....
After the weekend, we decided to go to South Beach, A beach about half an hour south of Dar Es Salaam. We decided to camp (as it was the cheapo option). It was very relaxing, although Emma turned into one big overall infected mossie bite and I was stung by a jelly fish. On the plus side... Emma got a tan (so she thinks) and some of my freckles conjealed together to form the perfect tan. Also, Emma got to experience her first chipsie my eye(spelling is totally wrong but sounds like that in Swahili) which is basically chips in an omelette. a speicality in this part of the world, and also she experienced her first dalla-dalla (hi-ace van, crammed full of people AKA public transport).
Thursday night saw the arrival of a very special guest... no other than our very own Bertie Ahern! We networked ourselves over the previous week and hung out with all the right people and low and behold we were invited to the exclusive Bertie reception at the Irish Ambassadors house. Free booze + free Food = great time had by all!
It was actually a really fun night, we got to meet him and his entourage. Pretty friendly, however I didn't get to talk to hime long enough for me to give him some recommendations on how to save Monaghan Hospital. Maybe next time!
The most exciting part of our trip thus far was upon us... Safari! We left Dar early on Saturday morning and went to Mikumi National Park, around 4 hours south west from Dar. We were privledged enough to be staying in a lodge right in the middle of the park, in beautiful little cottages (or the wee house as Eva liked to call it) overlooking a water hole where the animals would come up to. The great thing about this safari (and unlike my previous one) was that we drove ourselves, so no guides and our own schedule! On our first game drive we got to see an array of animals, the highlight being a pair of honeymooning lions! Over the course of the weekend we got up close and personal with some hippos, crocodiles, giraffe, elepehant, lions, zebra, warthog and impala to name a few. Emma was amazed throughout the weekend and she really enjoyed it. Some pics below to make you jelous...
Thats only the start of the pics, it is a pity it take them so long to upload onto the blog. So sin sin, off to Zanzibar in the morning, hopefully we'll get some pics up of that before we're off to India...
My brother Paul met us at the door of the plane, quite literally at the door, and took us through customs. Irish people now have to pay for a visa (the last time I came, Irish people got a free one). Nearly everyone nation pays $50, but no, us and the americans pay $100. Least we're not from Pakistan... they pay $200. Suckers!
For the first time in four/five trips overseas, my bag actually arrived. For the first time, I also packed my hand luggage with enough clothes etc that would last me a few days, but alas, they were not required. Horaay - my bag arrived! Normally Emma would be particular in times like this, for the last few years she would always pack her hand-luggage with some clothes and other bits-n-bobs just incase her bag didn't arrive. However, Emma was cocky - "my bag always arrives, why should I bother packing clothes away?" she echoed in dublin airport. Bad move... no bag!
The first few days were very chilled out, we went to the beach, went sailing and snorkling on one of the islands just off the coast from Dar. The snorkling was great, lots of cool tropical fish including a nemo! For 20min I had a small yellow and black stripey fish follow me beside my face, it was amazing. Everytime I stopped, it would stop and then continue on with me. I chuckled to myself underwater. Here is a pic below of the beach....
After the weekend, we decided to go to South Beach, A beach about half an hour south of Dar Es Salaam. We decided to camp (as it was the cheapo option). It was very relaxing, although Emma turned into one big overall infected mossie bite and I was stung by a jelly fish. On the plus side... Emma got a tan (so she thinks) and some of my freckles conjealed together to form the perfect tan. Also, Emma got to experience her first chipsie my eye(spelling is totally wrong but sounds like that in Swahili) which is basically chips in an omelette. a speicality in this part of the world, and also she experienced her first dalla-dalla (hi-ace van, crammed full of people AKA public transport).
Thursday night saw the arrival of a very special guest... no other than our very own Bertie Ahern! We networked ourselves over the previous week and hung out with all the right people and low and behold we were invited to the exclusive Bertie reception at the Irish Ambassadors house. Free booze + free Food = great time had by all!
It was actually a really fun night, we got to meet him and his entourage. Pretty friendly, however I didn't get to talk to hime long enough for me to give him some recommendations on how to save Monaghan Hospital. Maybe next time!
The most exciting part of our trip thus far was upon us... Safari! We left Dar early on Saturday morning and went to Mikumi National Park, around 4 hours south west from Dar. We were privledged enough to be staying in a lodge right in the middle of the park, in beautiful little cottages (or the wee house as Eva liked to call it) overlooking a water hole where the animals would come up to. The great thing about this safari (and unlike my previous one) was that we drove ourselves, so no guides and our own schedule! On our first game drive we got to see an array of animals, the highlight being a pair of honeymooning lions! Over the course of the weekend we got up close and personal with some hippos, crocodiles, giraffe, elepehant, lions, zebra, warthog and impala to name a few. Emma was amazed throughout the weekend and she really enjoyed it. Some pics below to make you jelous...
Thats only the start of the pics, it is a pity it take them so long to upload onto the blog. So sin sin, off to Zanzibar in the morning, hopefully we'll get some pics up of that before we're off to India...
posted by Mark Sherlock at
6:57 p.m.
1 Comments:
Driving yourself is the best way when your on safari. When you see an animal its so much better than be lead by the hand around, which only takes away from the experience.
And you met Bertie...that is so random. Did ya high-five him?
Good luck in India
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