Hello, all!
We're having the times of our lives on our travels throughout Southern Africa. We're currently resting for 1 1/2 days in Swakopmund, Namibia, a small, Germanic-influenced town along the country's coast.
Thus far, we've travelled through the Cederberg Mountains and the Orange River in South Africa up the Western coast. Also, we went to Fish River Canyon, the oldest canyon in the world; spent 2 days in the vast, beautiful Namib Desert (climbed up Dune 45, viewed countless, bright red dunes at sunrise, explored desert wildlife, etc.); stayed in Solitaire, Namibia, a town with a population of 1; and much, much more!
We miss you all and hope that you had a great Thanksgiving! We're thankful for you. We taught our international friends on our tour with us (we're the only Americans out of the 24 travellers) about Thanksgiving. Last night around the fire, we each said what we were thankful for.
Will post again when we can!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Joshua: Mozambique
We're alive and well!
Mozambique was absolutely incredible. We travelled on a sleeper train called the Shosholoza Meyl. It had a restaurant car and hot shower per car. We spent 2 days in Maputo with a wonderful British couple we found on Couch Surfers and then spent 2 1/2 days on the beaches of Xai-Xai. Xai-Xai is the most beautiful place on earth.
Will post more later. Just wanted everyone to know we're okay. We leave tomorrow at 8AM for Namibia!!!
Cheers.
Mozambique was absolutely incredible. We travelled on a sleeper train called the Shosholoza Meyl. It had a restaurant car and hot shower per car. We spent 2 days in Maputo with a wonderful British couple we found on Couch Surfers and then spent 2 1/2 days on the beaches of Xai-Xai. Xai-Xai is the most beautiful place on earth.
Will post more later. Just wanted everyone to know we're okay. We leave tomorrow at 8AM for Namibia!!!
Cheers.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Joshua: Southern Africa, here we come!
To all our family and friends,
We leave tomorrow at 8:00 AM for Maputo, Mozambique, where we will be until Friday! After that, we leave Sunday for a 26 day camping trip throughout Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Kruger National Park in South Africa. We'll have sporadic Internet access (probably twice over the entire month span), so we'll post quick sentence blurps to let you know we're still alive.
Don't send us e-mails at our sun accounts anymore. They're closed.
By the way, when we return to the USA, we'll compliment this blog with awesome pictures from our month tours. So even though we'll be home, check the blog again for the photos.
Cheers! We'll talk soon.
The South African Crew
We leave tomorrow at 8:00 AM for Maputo, Mozambique, where we will be until Friday! After that, we leave Sunday for a 26 day camping trip throughout Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Kruger National Park in South Africa. We'll have sporadic Internet access (probably twice over the entire month span), so we'll post quick sentence blurps to let you know we're still alive.
Don't send us e-mails at our sun accounts anymore. They're closed.
By the way, when we return to the USA, we'll compliment this blog with awesome pictures from our month tours. So even though we'll be home, check the blog again for the photos.
Cheers! We'll talk soon.
The South African Crew
Friday, November 7, 2008
Drew: Cape Point, Penguins, and One Very Mean Baboon
On Sunday, October 26, we went with the international student organization on a trip first to Boulder's Beach, which boasts a large penguin population, and then to Cape Point at the Cape of Good Hope. They don't have penguins there; they have baboons. I wish they didn't have baboons... One attacked me and stole my package of cookies. If you look closely at the fifth picture below, you'll see the clear plastic bag that at one time had my cookies in it...
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Drew: YES WE DID!!!
Barack Obama won and the whole world is celebrating!
From a small tv in the lobby of the residence, the three of us have been glued to CNN International for several hours. The scenes of excitement and celebration are chilling to watch as it would seem as though America herself emerged triumphant from a long struggle.
And how about that acceptance speech?! Inspirational and empowering, to say the least!
However, in light of such a brilliant victory for our nation, there were unfortunately setbacks in the struggle for equality and dignity for all.
While I thought it had been removed from the ballot, Arkansas widely passed a ban on unmarried couples adopting children. Mainly affecting homosexuals, this initiative clearly holds the interests of self-righteous, right-wing prudes OVER the health and security of children within the foster care system. This measure brings shame not only to the state, but to this nation which claims to want the best for future generations.
Florida and Arizona both passed amendments to their state constitutions defining marriage as between one man and one woman. It would seem as though people still ignorantly think that they go to the courthouse and obtain a marriage license from God, rather than participating in a civil contract that aims solely to provide security and reduce eventual dependence on the government.
And in California, where nearly twenty thousand gay and lesbian couples have wed in recent months, voters actually enshrined into their state constitution something that REMOVES rights from its citizens. Aren't constitutions supposed to protect people? Seems like they are playing with fire.
So election night had its ups and downs. I'm thrilled that Obama was chosen in landslide victory, but the coattails of his message of hope, change, and equality were not long enough to combat this era's civil rights abuses.
From a small tv in the lobby of the residence, the three of us have been glued to CNN International for several hours. The scenes of excitement and celebration are chilling to watch as it would seem as though America herself emerged triumphant from a long struggle.
And how about that acceptance speech?! Inspirational and empowering, to say the least!
However, in light of such a brilliant victory for our nation, there were unfortunately setbacks in the struggle for equality and dignity for all.
While I thought it had been removed from the ballot, Arkansas widely passed a ban on unmarried couples adopting children. Mainly affecting homosexuals, this initiative clearly holds the interests of self-righteous, right-wing prudes OVER the health and security of children within the foster care system. This measure brings shame not only to the state, but to this nation which claims to want the best for future generations.
Florida and Arizona both passed amendments to their state constitutions defining marriage as between one man and one woman. It would seem as though people still ignorantly think that they go to the courthouse and obtain a marriage license from God, rather than participating in a civil contract that aims solely to provide security and reduce eventual dependence on the government.
And in California, where nearly twenty thousand gay and lesbian couples have wed in recent months, voters actually enshrined into their state constitution something that REMOVES rights from its citizens. Aren't constitutions supposed to protect people? Seems like they are playing with fire.
So election night had its ups and downs. I'm thrilled that Obama was chosen in landslide victory, but the coattails of his message of hope, change, and equality were not long enough to combat this era's civil rights abuses.
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