Saturday, October 3, 2009

And back where we began...

After Chaing Mai we spent our last days of the trip in Hoi An, Vietnam resting and having a holiday before coming home.  We luxuriated in the joy of knowing I would soon have an income so we spent money in reckless ways (having mango shakes for $1, rather than water for 30c) and other similar extravagances. We also went shopping for the first time in 18 months getting clothes made and buying a bag to put our new wardrobe in.  Other couples in Hoi An on two week trips were mailing their clothes home as they had 40kg of luggage for two weeks – it was fun seeing their faces when we explained we had only had 15kg of luggage (between us) for 18 months so could happily shop away without excess baggage worries. 

We are now, however, back in Sydney and nearly home… it won’t quite be home until Lily is able to jump up on me and lick my face when I get back from work.  We are living in a youth hostel for the first month as my job started before the tenants lease on our flat ended.  We’re catching up with family and friends and being asked awkward questions.  The worst of which is “What was your favourite country/best experience?” There is no answer to that as how can you compare the Tower of London to trekking Gorillas in Rwanda… for that matter can you rate learning about the genocide in Rwanda as a good experience?  Yet, it is something that touched us and learning about the world (the good and the bad) is part of what this trip was all about.

But here is an attempt at answering that question, or a variety of it.

The best places to relax: 

  • Zanzibar – amazing beach, beautiful snorkelling and we went there at a time we needed it more than anything. 
  • Myoka Village – this is the place we stayed on Lake Malawi.  Crystal clear water, with a pontoon floating in the middle of the lake for sunbathing, friendly social place, great food.
  • Croatia – The coastline was amazing, the water beautiful and people friendly.  Our favourites were Hostel Adria near Split and Mijet Island.

Best animal encounters:

  • African safaris – We loved every one we did.  Self driving in Kruger was amazing, but not something I would recommend if you haven’t done a safari before.  The northern Tanzania circuit was great, but we also loved South Luagwa…. As I said we loved them all!
  • Galapagos – If you want to go, you will love it.  If you can’t see the appeal, you really won’t. 
  • Elephant owner in Thailand – just for one day I became a mahout to Nui and washed, rode, swam with and had my pocket ransacked by an elephant.
  • Simien Mountains – Ethiopia.  Standing surrounded by a troop of Gegelda baboons is intimidating, thrilling and amazing all at once. 
  • Walking with lions – and more importantly having adult lions play fighting around you whilst you’re on foot.

Best adrenalin hits:

  • White water rafting the Nile in Uganda – of course they’re planning on flooding the area so get in quick before the opportunity is gone.
  • Ziplining in the Amazon jungle, through the canopy at monkey height!
  • Microflight over Victoria falls
  • African buses – an adrenalin rush and cheap too, plus you can do all your shopping on board!

Best places to know you’re not at home anymore

  • Kasawa Village – living like the locals in Zambia do.
  • Ethiopia – trust me, just go there.  Fly don’t take buses (unless you’re a cheap backpacker, but do go there).
  • Croatia – getting out to a small village and drinking the home brewed wine whilst we all talked in our own languages.

 For the history buffs

  • Macchu Picchu – and the surrounding area too
  • Krakow and really most of Europe
  • Castles of gondor, Ethiopia
  • Rwanda – not a pleasant history but what I saw there still brings tears to my eyes.

 Nature and getting away from it all

  • Night sky in South America was unsurpassed.  Whether from a boat in the Galapagos or a bus in Bolivia we’ve never seen stars like it.
  • Geyser fields near San Pedro de Atacama
  • The African bush, particularly the Okovango Delta

There’s so many more amazing things we’ve seen and done but you can’t write them all down.  The other awkward question we’ve been asked is “How have you changed?”  Well, we’ve learnt to find joy in a hot shower, in a toilet that flushes, in a toilet that has a seat, in a bus that has working brakes and doesn’t proclaim “Speeding our way to heaven” proudly on the front.

But, seriously, yes we have changed.  I can see how Jason has changed and he can see how I’ve changed but maybe we’ll just let you figure out if you can see how we’ve  both changed.

29 countries, 6 continents, 75 weeks (I know, we didn’t make 80 weeks… but it still has a better ring to it), 2 hospital visits, 7 pairs of glasses and 15,000 photos.  So who wants to come to the slideshow?