....and then....and then.....and then.....

So I'm killing the last bit of time here in Kigali before I fly out. As much as I'm looking forward to coming home and having sorely missed many people, I've been reflecting on many of the experiences I've had while away. I'm quite happy, especially happy that I've had the good luck, health and support from friends to undertake such a HUGE trip.

It'll be months from now before all the magnitude of this trip completely sets in, I'm sure I'll remember different things and feelings after recounting the trip and looking at pictures. I feel like a little kid sharing all these details though: My typing cannot possibly keep up with what I want to say and I could go on and on in run on sentences.

But I'll say these things:

1. Rwanda is the most beautiful country I've been in, second to Canada.
2. I'll always appreciate, alot more, the things I DO have.
3. No matter what happens to me, health wise, I will always be able to say "I DID KILI"
4. I've enjoyed the African food, Irio, Ugali, Nyama Choma, Chapati and Kili Beer (Primus a close 2nd).
5. The big catch from Zanzibar, and having been in all 5 oceans.
6. Having the guts to dream for, save for, and have the courage to complete this 5 weeks trip. I'm better for it.

George

Dan Leger sighting in Ruhengeri?

sigh

Have you ever felt like your heart and mind have been in two different places at once? The last couple days I've been achingly home sick, but since I cannot fly back early I've really been able to dedicate most of my mind to my trip. Valerie Leger, you hold my heart in your hands. Be gentle :)

Often I've visited Val's parents and thought, hmmmm, "Is Dan the missing Link?" Have we as humans evolved from Ape's (some more than others) and was Dan the first upright walking primate? Somehow I doubt it, he only walks upright sometimes. Quite certain I saw Dan scratching himself after he fell out of a tree. Hmmm?

I cannot begin to describe how it felt to walk up the Virunga Mountains, bordering the Congo and Uganda (in Rwanda) and describe what my hour with the Gorillas was like. Neither can I really capture how I feel about the 4 hour hike to Diann Fossey's research site, and grave that she shares with dozens of Apes. Notably Digit, her favourite and Titus (Digit's son) who died only two months ago! Tonight we've arrived in Lake Kivu, and saw the sunset over the Congo. Hard to put into words, so I'll do it another day.

I'm coming home on Wednesday, and no I won't be going anywhere else....anytime soon.

Val,

Kigali and Nyungwe Forest

Kigali is by far the cleanest, best developed and hardest working civilian city I've SEEN here in Africa....Of course I have a bias and I knew Rwanda was always going to be my favourite but it's gorgeous. The whole city and country are rolling hills, green and lush, clean (ban on plastic bags-- how's that for innovative!).

I arrived on Saturday and didn't do much other than miss Val, and blog and check my hockey pool. Sat by the pool for a bit, is all. Met my group on Sunday morning, it's apparently an "Adult" tour with hotel stays and restaurant meals. I figured the price was a little or lot higher than the other tours. It's really more like a Seniors tour, my tour mates are 70 and 49 respectively. Luckily I can request my food not be mashed or pureed, and I can refuse to be turned during the night to avoid bed sores!

Sunday was the Kigali Genocide Memorial and this morning we stopped into a Genocide site near Butare. The country in it's recovery, has greatly put alot of resources into preserving the memories and brandishing the past. I don't think I care to really comment much on what I seen, it's not for the faint of heart and I'll leave it your imaginations to figure out. If you want to ask me when I get home, then so be it.

Monday we drove to the Nyungwe forest bordering Burundi and the Congo. It's a very hilly, gorgeous drive along all sorts of towns. Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa and every square foot of it looks like it's farmed or Jungle. People everywhere.

Got up at 0400h on Tuesday for a Chimpanzee trek, and that was very good. We found a clan of 30 chimps and I couldn't get a single good shot (not allowed to use flash) but got several cool video's and we got as close to 15 feet from one. Their quite large, and quite chattery. I'm really really excited about the Gorilla trek on Friday (supposedly the come quite close to you) but we have to stay 5-7meters away. Then I have a Diane Fossey grave site trek and tour, then on Sunday a lazy day at Lake Kivu.

I'm really kinda struggling to keep my thoughts here, don't get me wrong Rwanda is a MASSIVE highlight for me and I'm loving all the sites (Amohorro stadium, Hotel des milles collines, the Genocide sites, the UN buildings) but I'm really missing Val like crazy. So I've one foot staying here and enjoying the twilight of my tour, but one foot sorely missing home and eager to start the rest of the great EXCITEMENT that is coming in my life.

Where does one begin?

I've arrived freshly from Zanzibar in the big city of Dar Es Salaam, it's 1630h and a hot humid 35 degrees. The ferry ride from Zanzibar was rough, it's open water in a speed ferry and I was perhaps a little green, so I was reluctant to sit up, walk around and chat with the group.

Two weeks ago, when I was more than stir crazy, alone and having seen all I had set out to see in Nairobi and over using the internet perhaps a little bit.................I set out with my Acacia tour group. We all met at 1800h on Saturday October 10, and everyone except for myself (22/25) were Aussies travelling south from England (working) and heading home. 2 people from the UK and myself. We had a meet and greet, and dispersed. As I sat down to eat dinner for the last night at the Hotel Boulevard I was invited over to a table and had a lovely time with an Aussie couple, having just arrived in Kenya. It was great, I was started to feel starved for company after 4 days in Nairobi alone or with the driver....Who I'd paid a King's ransom, but was kept safe.

Either way day one started out seeing and loading the big Acacia bus, and then heading out to the town of Narok which is the gateway to the Masai Mara game reserve in Western Kenya via the picturesque Great Rift Valley. Chatted up the other members of the group and they became my game viewing partners for the next three days. Got to the camp site on the edge of the Mara reserve, and settled in. Chatted to fellow group members and at 1500h headed out for the 1st game drive. Saw tonnes of baboons, zebra on the road already....Once in the game park though, it was all Cape Buffalo, Elephants, Giraffe, a feeding Cheetah in the distance and in the weeds, and many many Lions. It was GRAND! Open spaces, Acacia trees, grasses.....Many Thomson Gazelle, Eland, Vultures. Our guide seemed to have his own agenda, obviously us MZUNGU like our big gamers. So it was sleeping lions in the middle of the road, sleeping lions under trees and fornicating lions. That was all I'd seen them do! Except of course, on our way out of the park at dusk we saw a Lion slinking it's way toward some Zebra...Shoulders slunched, belly low to the ground she (the hunters) got close. The tension was palpable. The Zebra group totally unawares, and the sun was setting. We waited. Looked around for other animals but still waited. Then BAM!!! She pounces up took 2-3 quick steps, got up on her hind legs and clawed down the back of the |Zebra as the zebra pushed foward (Screamin!) and ran into the crowd leaving the lion breathless, watching as supper ran away...All this two hours into my 1st game drive. It was surreal....I'll never forget the sound it made, clawing the zebra's back.

Day two was awesome: Leopard running toward and climbing up a tree, Rhinoceros, many Giraffe and Elephants and all the previously mentioned animals as well. We drove toward the Serengeti, which borders the Mara to the south to visit the Mara river and saw tonnes of HUGE crocs and hippos, we were escorted by two armed soldiers. It was cool. Hotter than stink and monkeys were trying to poach or lunches as we sat for sandwiches near the water. That afternoon we had another game drive and headed back for the night only at 6pm. The next morning was yet another game drive and then we drove back to camp outside Nairobi before heading south to Arusha Tanzania back down that nasty horrible highway I discussed a while back. Outside Arusha we stayed at the Meserani snake park, and saw tonnes of caged constrictors and poisonous buggers. There was a Dart board and real slick, character filled bar run by South Africans Mar and BJ. The guys I'd climbed with had mentioned they were going to the place and didn't Mar ask me where I was from and I said Canada of course and she comp'd me a free beer and knew my name as George. Those guys were something else. The next day we headed into the Serengeti and on game drive saw an eating cheetah (gazelle) a meter away from the game truck!!! The serengeti was so barren, dry and dusty: it was so HOT. Thankfully for the wind, lots of clothes turned brown with dust, teary eyes and messy tents. We camped right out in the park, mindful to zip up and keep boots in the tents...Hyenas go crazy for rubber. Oh before I forget, the last game drive we saw two lions eating a buffalo and a group of hyenas circling and stealing the carcass. Our crazy truck driver had a hyena ring tone he'd use to torment animals and this one hyena was going NUTSO! It charged at him, and I thought for sure it would lunge but he frantically rolled up his window.

Back to the serengeti, we saw and drove into the Ngorongoro Crater which was massif! and awesome. Lots of wildebeest (hadn't seen the migration, so we went to it). A hippo, out of the water and lot's of the same previously mentioned but never boring animals. We actually saw two-three leopards more in the serengeti, and lots of cubs (lions, and gazelle) and wart hogs. The serengeti was so barren though, it being dry season. Oldlupai gorge was AWESOME, not sure many people know but for the longest time I always wanted to be an archaeologist and it was there that many and most of the earliest human forms/skeletons have been found! It spoke directly to my inner nerd and I LOVED IT. It was here that the fabled first foot steps were set to fossil in lava ashes, and then covered up and it now preserved and guarded by Masai warriors. It was three days there, and then back to Meserani. I won 2/3 dart games, in a bus wide tournament (never knew I was any good) and then the next morning was a Masai village tour and we were brought there on Camel back. It was so cool. The kids came running out to us, begging to hold our hands and be picked up. They really are so beautiful and they compete like crazy for as much attention as possible from the MZUNGU's.

From there we drove west past a cloud covered Kili, but not to worry I pass over her again tomorrow as I fly to Kigali, Rwanda via Nairobi. We camped and drove west again all the way to Dar Es Salaam on the Tanzania coast. It's a real swell city, very mosaic with many many mosques and a mix of Arab/African influence. We, myself and my tent buddy Chris upgraded to a beach hut and I was eaten alive by Sand flea's.....In case people forget what I look like I've got a slightly sun burned face, dirty clothes and many red bites on my ankles. So is every other Mzungu (white person) on the tour. The next morning, tuesday we headed to Zanzibar the spice island jewel of the indian ocean. THE INDIAN OCEAN, can you believe it?

Spent the day navigating the maze of Stone town, had some great swahili food and headed on a spice tour. Saw turmeric, pepper, vanilla, ginger, coriander, maze, pineapple, jack fruit, custard apples, lemon grass, cocoa fruit, and all sorts of great things. The guide was great, and that totally makes or breaks the trip of course. Custard apples are incredibly good. Then a guy scaled an 80 coconut tree, and cut down some coconuts. Very good. After this we went to the old slave market, very sombre, where the Africans were sold and traded at auction.

So we returned to Stone town, had a drink at Freddie Mercury Bar-----long live Queen! (watched the best sun set I've ever seen) and went to the fish market with some GREAT Aussie friends and then ate some local food at Monsoon Restaurant (sitting on the floor with cushions and ate with our hands). GREAT experiences, before we headed north to Kendwa for the next three nights. On wednesday I parked it on the beach. Thursday I got up at 0445 and arranged a fishing trip with 5 other people on tour, so we rented the boats, guides and got snacks and water for 50$ ea....while the going rate was 100$ on fancier boats. So out to open water we headed, with the option of keeping the biggest fish. By 0820, with the help of two guides I hauled in a 15kg Trevally fish (Massive, biggest fish I've ever seen) and all the guides were going crazy....no mzungu catches fish that big! I had the fishing rod, one guy hand pulled the fish with the line and one guy hauled it in with a hook. In all we caught an 8 kg Tuna and a 5 foot long barracuda. It was the Trevally we kept and had it cooked by BBQ last night, it fed 20 people! and still there was left over. I supplied supper (I can't eat fish, allergic and TZ is not the place to test hospitals) for most of the bus and the locals. What a great experience.

So this morning, packed up and took the ferry back to Dar where I received very warm good byes and well wishes from a great set of mates. They are heading south, most to Cape Town or Jo'Burg. My trip takes me west to Rwanda, and I start the final leg of my trip. Can't wait to get home, but I'm not going to waste a second of absorbing as much of Kigali and the Gorrilla's as possible....

Do I miss work? HAHAHAHAHAHAHaha.....

Val, I'll be home in less than two weeks...:)

Three days in Nairobi

I arrived only late on Wednesday, after a long, dry and hot ride from Moshi, TZ. I had a big supper and tried my best to settle into bed. Then it hit. I've been away from home for about a week and a half, and had the highs of meeting such a great group as the S. Afrikaans and I think that distracted from how much I missed Val. Cuz once I got here, it all felt pretty lonely. Thankfully, I have a journal for such times. I did some "tub" laundry, and hung out everything to dry and fell asleep with my iPod on.

I awoke Thursday eager to check out my Nairobi highlights. Had breakfast, showered and got ready to pound the pavement....Ok, I didn't go far, I walked around the corner to the National Museum. There must've been 1000 school kids there, and I swear they weren't nearly as interested in Lions, Elephants, the earliest discovered human remains of 1,000,000 years ago. They were interested in me, it appeared to be a contest who could come up to me and say "hi" and go off giggling to their friends. It was cute. So I spent a couple hours looking at early rock art from all over the continent, checked out the different tribal presentations and actually ate some Street food. For 100Ksh, or 70c US I ate some Irio- Potatoes, mashed with onion, corn and peas....It was an authentic Kenyan food display, only the corn and peas were more like rocks....but hey, it was cheap! After that I came back to the hotel for some Tusker, and then sought out a "private car hire" or Hotel Taxi for a city tour. David from Kisumu drove me around for the next 2 hours in the craziest streets, traffic and pedestrian traffic ever. They have these Matatu's cheap buses where people are literally hanging out the windows weaving in/out of traffic. The city buses looked like mobile refugee camps, so I was thankful for my cozy shotgun seat. We checked out the Nairobi UN bombing site, Kenyatta avenue (parliament) and the railway museum. There I absorbed all I could about the Tsavo Lions, and the railway buildings....Sure the guide wanted to show me what kind of teapots and stuff but I wanted the real mccoy, train 12, British Railway line, Ghost and the Darkness kind of stuff. And it didn't dissapoint. That night I got home, showered went to Carnivore restaurant (with David as Driver) and feasted on all sorts of roasted meats, only I was slightly dissapointed that they stopped serving Antelope and some other game meats, I filled up on Goat and Ostrich :)

Then I got to talk to Val, well I called her for a minute (560 Ksh, or close to 8$) and had her call me back at the hotel. Hearing her voice helped build back up my strength as it's still pretty early to be so lonely, I'm sure (as of today, Saturday) that once I get out on Safari my mind won't wonder so much! Talking to Val put everything back in order.

Friday I went to the David Sheldrick trust, it's an Elephant and Rhino orphanage. Most of the rescues are from Drought area's and/or orphaned by Poachers. The babies were the best,1 mos old and coming up to your waist level. They get coconut oil baths on Fridays and so were pretty slimy but it was awesome to play with them, pet them and get real up close. The 6 mos and 2 year olds were quite large and vocal, it's feeding time and they don't waste precious seconds. They feed 5pints in about 2 mins. There were again about 1000 kids from schools there, and it was cute at one point there was a huge commotion over where the kids were. They were screaming and carrying on, only to have a 50-70lb wild boar run through the crowd. The boars, you could tell get jealous of the attention the elephants receive and the display is literally out in the open in the Nairobi National Park. Saw some baboons, and giraffe on the drive in. After that we had some lunch and I returned to the hotel for a nap. I awoke to a Nairobi rainstorm, very heavy and I enjoyed my African Supper under the covered patio listening to the rain.

Today, I'm organizing my things and heading out for safari tomorrow. We meet the group tonight.....So I just got back from the pool, and will probably sit around, read or watch the movie network in my room.

Hope all are well, it'll be awhile but the next update I'll load a couple photo's. Thank you for all the positive energy and comments!

George

Bruer Leka

I met Dierk after arriving at the hotel, he was awaiting friends that were motorcycling up from South Africa. They arrived only the day before our Machame climb (De Vos, Jacques and Renier). We all were like minded, strong willed and relaxed AND WE ALL SUMMITTED!!!!!!!

I summitted at 06:42 on Monday morning Tanzania time, so around 23:32 on Sunday in Ottawa. I would have summitted much earlier, as I did not experience a single altitude side effect, I was actually in a full walking pace from Stella point (about 5700m above sea level) and left my group, I was sobbing, I had mucus running down my face, it was FREEZING. My water was frozen, the wind was horrible....But then the sun rose.

I felt in my heart and my mind all the desires I left with and all the will I had to summit, so I TOOK OFF. The assistant porter twice tried to restrain me, pulling on my back pack, but I told him to keep pace or get out of my way. I was sobbing, he thought I was ill, I pushed on, he kept up....Then it hit me.

I came all the way up the mountain with these guys, I will summit with them. I waited in the cold about 10-15 minutes, and Renier came along at a slow shuffle. I willed him on, held his walking poles, paced him about 10 meters at a time. He was suffering altitude sickness and the cold (-15 was very cold at that level, even for a Canadian). Then came Jacques, and Dierk.....1/2 hour later, De Vos (who was quite ill).....a bear of a man though. So I chose the fellowship of completing with great new friends over the solitude and personal satisfaction of finishing my quest. Obviously, what I did was far more rewarding. I wouldn't change a thing. The guys have been commenting on how much of a horse I was, and they said I had this ferocity in my eyes. Probably something Wendy, Kassy and Coralee have seen in my "Spin modes" and I know that Valerie has witnessed more than often my stubborn will and determination.

I made it, I did my Atlas pose at the peak and a special photo for Wendy. Yes I did in fact!!!! sit atop Kilimanjaro, and have the picture to prove it!

God bless.

Arrival in Tanzania

It was predictably hard to leave Val on Monday, but we made the best of our evening and morning, after I finished work on Sunday and prior to my departure on Monday. I've been writing in my journal, watched the "Hangover" on the flight to Amsterdam and all my flights, food and rest have been good so far. Had difficulty falling asleep last night, mind was racing so hopefully it won' t be the case tonight.

Slept 1-2 hours on my overnight flight, slept 2-3hours on yesterdays flight here. But managed to enjoy the deserts of Libya, and Sudan two big desert countries and it was sand forever!

I'm going to rest up today, check out the pool. Had a good breakfast, ate my African porridge....some purple type of thing. It was good. I've got everyone's positive energy all bottled up, at which I'll let out little bits at a time until I burst to the summit.

Thank you all for your comments, support and love.

8 and a little more days

This past week and leading up to the trip have been a little roller coaster. WE HAVE OFFICIALLY ENTERED THE TRIPS SHADOW. 4 more days off, and 4 more days at work. Arrived to Spin class this morning 1st in line on the waiting list, and managed to get a bike. Thank you could be in order for Wendy managing to set me up for another ride. The woman beside me at SPIN today promptly thanked me for my presence, she appeared to have her wits about her, and I thanked her in turn for her compliment. She proceeded to describe my energy like "being near a star." I looked around, shrugged my shoulders (maybe a dehydrated delirium?) and just short of reaching out to touch her to see if she was really there (perhaps an apparition). Apparently she does Rikki massage and has a keen sense of people's auras. Cool.

It's a fantastically wonderful Fall day, and I'm feeling absolutely incredible! My life is totally in order. So I'm treating myself to my #1 favourite song on heavy repeat, Staind-Outside

check it out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y7p06f0EWo



"And you bring me to my knees, again
All this time that I could beg you please, in vain
All the times that I felt insecure, for you
And I leave my burdens at the door

I'm on the outside
I'm looking in
I can see through you
See your true colors
'Cause inside you're ugly
Ugly like me
I can see through you
See to the real you

All this time that I felt like this won't end
It's for you
And I taste what I could never have
Was from you
All those times that I tried
My intentions
Full of pride
And I waste more time than anyone

I'm on the outside
I'm looking in
I can see through you
See your true colors
Cause inside you're ugly
Ugly like me
I can see through you
See to the real you

All the times that I cried
All this wastin
It's all inside
And I feel all this pain
Stuffed it down
It's back again
And I lie here in bed
All alone
I cant mend but I feel
Tomorrow will be okay

I'm on the outside
I'm looking in
I can see through you
See your true colors
Inside you're ugly
Ugly like me
I can see through you
See to the real you"

I'm gonna sit and write the letter I'm bringing up Kilimanjaro....The letter I'll use for motivation (primarily) but secondly, it's a letter I'm burning on Kilimanjaro for cleansing. Forward onto the rest of my life.

George

Habari or Jambo?

Yes, I am choosing to stay in doors on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Ottawa because if I set out I'd spend money.... besides I feel like I need to make a blog contribution. I've finished yet another Stephen King book, I've packed a Fidel Castro autobiography for the trip (may need a 2nd book too, we'll see) and I'm trying to commit to memory more Swahili phrases. My two bags are more or less packed, one large school size bag (carry-on) which will be my day pack and one large (70L) back pack with supports to be carried also around the chest and hips. Yes, I'm that foolish looking young adult walking the streets of Orleans carrying/testing out the 20lbs duffle. The boots I've chosen for the trip I've had through 2 maybe 3 Ottawa winters, and whatever thinsulate remains in them they are of the utmost comfort and "worn in" that one could hope for.....reinforced with a gel insole and my orthotics (to support my 80 year old parts). There remains only a mosquito net that a colleague of mine will lend me, and some other odds & ends to finish the packing. I'm reminded of a phrase my sister Nancy used to say, "sort out what you think you need for your trip and take half of that."

I've set foot in 4/5 World oceans (Atlantic, Arctic, Pacific, Southern....yes the Tasman sea is part of the southern ocean....here in Canada we never learned of a southern ocean, so it's a nod to my Kiwi sisters). I plan on trying to surf, snorkel and/or revel in the Indian Ocean during my three days in Zanzibar. But I may just settle for standing wobbly, or laying in a beach chair from the wrong end of couple (Kilimanjaro, or Tusker whatever the brand) beers. To date I've never been to South America or Asia, but the least I'll have been in ALL 5 Oceans.

Randomly, I cannot WAIT to see Kilimanjaro in the distance and awestruck thinking (I'm gonna summit that this week). Then in Nairobi, I plan to visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant and Rhino orphanage, eat at Carnivore, and then get a local to give me a tour through the shantytown surrounding Nairobi .....atleast 1 million of Nairobi's 3 million inhabitants live in the utmost poverty and conditions (something I have to experience). Then onto the Masai, the open savannah, acacia tree's and gods willing the Big 5 (Elephants, Leopards, Buffalo, Rhinoceros and Lions), I'm taking a Camel riding trek in Tanzania, and I think the biggest things for me- the Gorillas in Rwanda.

People have often asked me why Africa? and apart from thinking selfishly and saying, "well, why not Africa?" I have to say that it's something inherent in my nature that I feel I need to see and be humbled, experience and be surrounded by the culture's and nature of a continent that has held my interest since I cannot remember. Growing up my favourite play-thing, pass time was a globe my parents had. Mindlessly I would spin the globe and close my eyes, and wherever my finger would land was where I'd most like to go (Tell me you've never done this?). Not to say my finger consistently landed on Africa but like my little sisters pull to South America mine is to East Africa. And only in growing up, have I realized that Africa is likely the continent that contains all that is most reverent in my life.....from when I was first aware of the atrocities in Rwanda (and global ambivalence), the need to physically challenge myself (Kilimanjaro) at a time while I know that I am in good health (forget that, I'm in great health thank you very much) but most of all I seek to be humbled. Somewhere along the line I've lost touch with what it is that I need to live. We grew up with only the minimal necessities but from that time I think perhaps I've lost perspective and the essential trait of living within my own means and being COMFORTABLE doing so. Not to want all the excesses, just to HAVE and be grateful for everything that I do enjoy in life.

Valerie and I oftentimes discuss how complex, unnerving and stressful life gets when too caught up in thinking of all that you ought to do, should do or need to do. One never needs to do anything, anything other than what you feel like doing at the instant you think about doing it. Free will is a beautiful thing, just like optimism and the confidence of knowing that everything somehow, anyhow and anytime will ALWAYS work out.

It will be difficult to be away from Val for 5 weeks but the comfort I take in the (long or short) perspective of time is the investment of making the best me for me, and inevitably the best partner for her. My appreciation for Val is that she is the gift I've received from putting my best out in to the world. :)

I've spent most of the summer reading about Africa, it's politics, it's socioeconomics and it's geography. A passage that most impacted me comes from the book "Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles" thoughtfully bought for me by Dan and Lise Leger, Val's parents for my 31st birthday.

"Westerners arriving in Africa for the first time are always struck by its beauty and size- even the sky seems higher. And they often find themselves suddenly cracked open. They lose inhibitions, feel more alive, more themselves and they begin to understand why, until then, they have only half lived. In Africa the essentials of existence- light, earth, water, food, birth, family, love, sickness and death - are more immediate, more intense. Visitors suddenly realize what life is for. To risk a huge generalization: amid our wasteful wealth and time-pressed lives we have lost human values that still abound in Africa."

Peace to all.

Tanzanian visitor Visa....Double Check

My mum was visiting just this past weekend, when I got the call to pick up my passport at the Tanzanian High Commission. So back downtown we went, on another beautiful Ottawa day and NOW FINALLY THE TRIP SEEMS TO BE WITHIN MY REACH.

Sorry for yelling.

After printing out and detailing my itinerary on maps of Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda for my mother- the trip and all the planning and everything seem so close (1 month and 1 day to be exact).

Reading over the plans and putting the city and place names on maps has definitely stirred my interest. The pesky matter of whether I got my last few shifts off while away will be cleared up shortly, with the new schedule and then it's just a matter of waiting (been doing that forever).

Mum had a nice visit, I had a great 3 days of Spin classes and not only have I passed my 50lbs goal, shall we say that I've now lost 52lbs?

Gubbs out.

Kenyan Visitor Visa- - - - Check!

This morning was again the last of my four days "on" at work which means I can now be "off" for five days of whatever, whenever and however. Today it was a chiropractic appointment to fix my eighty year old parts (thanks Mum, Dad). Slept for two hours and went to a Spin class. Without Spin class, I'm not exactly sure I'd have been able to shed the weight but nevertheless I was determined to do it one way or another. Today was a particularly tough class, regardless of my sleep quality (not quantity)....but I had requested a song and as the rules state "work out like crazy"......Hey, "I gotta feeling" by the Black Eyed Pea's is my song du jour. And work out like mad I did, I had a very vocal....but very motivational instructor making sure I a) worked hard b) rode safe and c) had fun. Throw in a couple (emotional) songs for me and it was a great way to wake up and get going....the songs today seemed to strike a bigger chord than usual, I guess I am that sensitive (or was it the two hours sleep?).

Five days off goes by quickly, or is it that the four days on seem to take forever?

Energy spent, lungs gasping (some muttered curse words for good measure), legs feeling like an overworked/overstretched rubber band and I leaned back in the bike....wiped my brow, drank some water only to hear I'd have to do it all over again. To round out the class, Wendy played "Man in Motion." I'm sure other people take and 'get' other things from the songs in Spin class but what motivates me most are the songs pulling me in "those" directions. Probably why I enjoy going to classes so much, especially Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays.

So it was on the bus, down to the Kenyan Embassy. Got my passport back and in it, the glossy new Visitor Visa for travel to Kenya. A beautiful walk down Range Rd., a street lined with Embassy's/High Commission's of Burkina Faso, Morrocco, Pakistan, Gabon, Egypt, Dem Rep of Congo.....all along the Ottawa River on a rare, bright sunny day. So on to the Tanzanian High Commission where I have to also apply for Visitor Visa status ($$$)....Hey, it'll be a nicely plaqued passport to rival my sisters. From there I brought Valerie a flower, rescued her from work for a nice 30 minute break laying in the grass along the canal. With a job like Val's, that ought to be one of the biggest perks.

My thoughts: People are always asking about how excited I am about the trip....? For all who know me, when I am excited I am 100% distracted, hyper& overzealous, everyday and everything is like laying in bed on Christmas Eve. I think for right now THE TRIP, feels still so far away....It's always been something that was so far off. Methodically, I've recovered from the excitement of actually booking EVERYTHING in March and I've accumulated most everything I need for the trip, not sparing any detail....

Right now, I'm living my life just trying to point myself in the right direction. Everything I've experienced and done has culminated in this TRIP. All I've experienced good, bad....and alot of great has pointed me in the direction of NOW. Where I am, at this moment.

Val reminds me to appreciate all the simple things because all things, regardless of their irrelevance, insignificance or inconsequence are there to be cherished.

I know that what I'm writing is probably "heavy" and "deep" by other people's standards. To them all I can say is this, "Hello, my name is George Gubb."

Visa

Took a nice stroll through the embassy district in downtown Ottawa yesterday, where I handed the small Filipino secretary at the Kenyan embassy my Visa application. So I should get that back next week and then bring it down the road to the Tanzanian embassy. I'd much rather have the documentation here and IN my passport when I arrive then to deal with the potential greed of customs people over there. I've never been fond of border agents since my days working in the 'States and the hassles I'd received.

Going to Bushtukah with my coupon, see if I can get any more gear for my trip. I have most everything, except for some first aid supplies and I have a good idea where I can get those.

Currently I've lost 48.5lbs since January 2, 2009. So 1.5lbs to go. The weight loss is just numbers, I think my challenge will be more the sustainability of it. I suspect the Mountain climb may just be a little less of a strain, but I didn't do it solely for that. Though it did serve as a good "goal date." Suppose perhaps my next goal will be running 10km next year during the race weekend?

Apart from being excited about the whole trip in general, I am particularly excited to go hiking in Rwanda in search of Mountain Gorilla's, commonly known as Silverbacks. Apparently you can get pretty close to them, and it's a large part of what I planned my trip for. The first time I ever really looked outside Canadian borders was the news coverage of the Rwandan genocide and I took alot of pride in the fact a Canadian General, Romeo Dallaire was leading the UN mission. Like my trip to Oz and New Zealand, I have different reasons for wanting to see all three countries this fall, Tanzania-Kenya-Rwanda.

For a chuckle, check out the movie preview for "Old Dogs" I'd be lucky if I didn't end up like Seth Green (the small red headed guy).

Enjoy: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiB1cz6y-8o

.....less than two months away from the trip....

George

Day one

Well, at the suggestion of friends I've created a BLOG. By no means should this be interpreted that I have been 'internet savvy', as my main skills remain emails and Music uploads! Honesty is policy.

Where should I start. I met Valerie Leger, my wonderful girlfriend on March 19, 2008. We had a Starbucks Date and I believe I mentioned it then, when asked something about something or I merely volunteered it as I am known to do that I had ambitions to travel to Africa for at least one month. From there it was always on the backburner of discussion. My mother met Valerie in December 2008. Shortly after the initial meet and greet, mum pressed Val with a simple question/statement (as is mum's way) "You're letting him GO to Africa, right?" Mum smiled awkwardly humming to herself, awaiting Val's response to a question (debatable still if a question, it was?) and of course Val was and always has been resoundingly supportive in my trip preparations. The departure in September will be a mix of selflessness (a trip I've always wanted for myself), selfishness (actually doing something for myself and leaving Val at home in Ottawa) and of course, excitement.

Trip is booked, and paid for. Despite Val's protests, I'd given myself most of my immunizations (save for Yellow Fever-had to have someone give me that one, for documentation purposes). Even had my wisdom teeth (2) removed so they don't act up in Africa.

Still gotta get my VISAS, some odds and ends I'll need for the trip that I haven't already picked up. Whatever vacation days I didn't get, I'll give away or try and trade....but those are just details.

September 28, 2009
From the train station here in Ottawa, I will be heading to the airport in Montreal for a flight to Amsterdam(KLM) and then on to Mt. Kilimanjaro airport in Arusha, Tanzania. I'll have about 1.5 days to acclimatize before I set out to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, which up and down the mountain.....summit to doorstep will be 8 days. I will be carrying a letter to my father up the mountain (with some hopes & dreams written in too) which I will burn in a campfire on the mountain top. I've invited siblings to write the same kind of letter. My letter will signify the physical feat of not only climbing the mountain but thumbing my nose to all that my dad and our family lost with what Multiple Sclerosis gave us.



From Kilimanjaro.......well there are just some things I'd rather do, and then write about...

George