Happy Easter! We've been so separated from real life, that it was an effort to keep track of the day. Our traditional Easter includes church, family, lots of food, naps, pretty clothes... Here this year we find none of that, making the meaning of the day that much more poignant. He is risen. He is risen indeed.
Here are some fun things about this trip:
This morning, through the foliage between our cottage and the river, we watched a group of boys pole downstream in a dugout canoe, strip down, and spend a happy hour playing, washing, swimming not 50 meters from a sign reading, "Beware of Crocodiles and Hippos." Local people believe that the river is theirs to use for bathing, drinking and fishing, and use it freely. They feel that when it is their time to die, they will die, so choose not to worry about crocodiles, snakes or hippos.
Weaver nests on the river. The male builds nest after nest, until he constructs one the female can't tear apart. Once satisfied, she gives him his joy, knowing that the eggs and chicks won't fall out into a hungry snake's mouth.
New foods we've eaten: impala, sorghum, gemsbok, wildebeest, kudu, bream, waterbok, water buffalo, eland, springbok, monkey gland sauce.
Time: the things we would prefer to go slowly go very fast, as in road speeds. Things we would like to be fast are painfully slow, as in Internet (when we can get it at all), and settling bills at hotels and restaurants.
Most of the monkeys are as smart as we are, and more devious.
This little vervet (cat-sized) is quite satisfied with himself after robbing a dozen sugar packets off the breakfast table and inhaling them like cocaine.
They call it darkest Africa for a reason -- we've yet to find bright lighting, even to the point of literally needing flashlights to read menus. And if you have to out on makeup by a 15-watt light, well, why bother.
No clocks. Anywhere. Or outlets by the bed to plug one in.
Electrical outlets are few and far between, and never in bathrooms. Maybe this is because local people don't require things like flatirons or hair dryers.
Outdoor showers are the norm, and I love them.
There are no self-service gas pumps. Once you get used to waiting for the attendant and your change, it's nice to have someone do this for you.
In the US, "Share the Road" signs refer to motorcycles. Here, we've seen signs warning of cattle, elephants, various boks (antelope varieties), even painted dogs. And they aren't kidding.we've had to stop for all of these, and more. With the traffic going more than 140 kmh on 2-lane roads, lane splitting, and looking into the brightest sun I've ever seen, I'm amazed and astounded at how little road kill there is.
And finally, the sunsets are nothing short of amazing.
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