Not sure what that guy was cooking, but I bet it smelled amazing! EDIT: Also, how come nobody is posting on the blog? Fiddy's going to a lot of trouble to post that stuff, and the few pictures he posts here are just a fraction of the material. If you're not reading the blog you're missing out.
Just because people don't comment doesn't mean the blog isn't being read (speaking for myself at least) And go figure you'd be barefoot in the tree, hippie. The scenery is beautiful though.
Spicy beef, and it tasted fantastic. Also, because it's an easy way to share, here is my quick safari at Mikumi national park: http://imgur.com/a/OHTDE
Oh, also I made a silly little video: [video=youtube;wUfq9N8Sokc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUfq9N8Sokc&feature=youtu.be[/video]
If you're into the water like that, I take it that your ear infection is better? Oh, and Egypt has lifted its travel ban on Americans... for the moment at least.
Fuck Fiddy... your trip is coming along nicely. Awesome pics and vid, dude. Stay safe, and I look forward to your updates! NOTE: I'm glad I got to hang out with you in Seattle when I did. You really take life by the horns!
Did you take that video with the GoPro or with the Panasonic DMC-TS3 ? I used the TS3 down in St. John and it took great pics underwater.
(nice shoutout in the comments Goofus!) My ears are finally better, I've done 6 dives here on Zanzibar now. And yes that jumping video was with the GoPro. All the underwater photos in this new blog post are taken with the Panasonic however. Not sure of our plans right now, the third guy Weon has parted ways with Chris and I for now and honestly I don't know what's going on in his head. I think he isn't having a great time on the trip, and he can't really afford it anyways. Which is a problem for us since he is the one who owns the 4x4.... so potential group problems. I'm thinking that the trip in this current form won't last more than another month or so, but I have no idea. Either way life is good, Zanzibar is sweet, the diving has been good, and the future is bright as always. New blog! http://scottsnextadventure.blogspot.com/2012/03/welcome-tanzania-safari-scuba-diving.html
That's a drag about your 3rd guy bailing out. I wondered at the start what the group dynamic might be like, particularly with what is presumably a free spirited bunch of young guys. So has he left yet, and if so how are you getting around? You packed for a truck trip, would it be feasible to scale down and backpack the rest of the way? EDIT: Just popped in my head, is it going to be safe for him to drive back to South Africa alone? Or is he heading elsewhere? Either way doesn't sound like a rational course of action to me.
Comments from Nidex: The rubber processing was very interesting. Also, playing soccer barefoot? Uhm... ouch? The view at the Mushroom Farm campsite is stunning. I am envious of whoever is on that hammock. I find it interesting that you have to register the vehicle every time you enter a new country. Not like North America, where you don't re-register the car unless you're moving there. I'm sure the fishermen doing damage to the ecosystem don't care. When you need to eat, you need to eat. (Using "eat" as a general term for anything that requires having money) For Christ sakes man, it's b-o-r-d-e-r.
He hasn't bailed yet. We have split up and will reunite back on the mainland at some point but not sure when. But I really doubt he will want to continue a whole lot longer but I honestly don't know. He doesn't like to talk about things. And that is a problem. We did pack for having a vehicle, and while I can continue via a backpack if I have to, and will do just that if it comes down to it, it will be a hassle. I'll have to ship back all my dive gear, lots of my clothing, my whole GoPro setup, maybe even my laptop and get a netbook again (or have my parents ship mine out to where I am if that costs less). It also sucks because of all the money we invested in supplies as well as paying ahead some of the value of the vehicle. *shrug* LOL, my mom emailed me with a spelling correction as well I really enjoyed the rubber factory as well, it was a fascinating and surprisingly simple process. Glad to know you are reading it so thoroughly, ahaha
So holy shit. I just bought a plane ticket from Dar es Salaam all the way back to Cape Town, so I can go to http://www.afrikaburn.com/ , THE BURNING MAN OF SOUTH AFRICA. It cost me a butt-load of money, but it should be amazing. I was really planning on doing Burning Man in the states this year and found myself in Africa instead. I only found out about AfrikaBurns recently, and couldn't get it out of my head. If I didn't go, I KNOW I'd regret it. Money be dammed!
No, I'll just be parting ways with the other guys for about two weeks, then meet up with them again. That's the plan. So, I think the way I'll do it will be to just put all I need in a backpack, get the flight, do my thing, than fly back, meet up with them again. BUT Chris just told me he has a job here on Zanzibar, so maybe the driving trip is over anyways. *sigh*
Damn, that really sucks. I was looking forward to seeing pictures of and hearing about Egypt. If I went to Africa, Cairo is the place I would start. I would be walking around in awe at all of the history, not to mention the architecture and infrastructure (but I'm also an urban planning nerd). With a population of almost 7 million, and seeing as it's older than dirt... it would be so much fun to explore. I am disappoint. :[ Another thing I was looking forward was seeing your transition from "the real" Africa (sub-Saharan) into the Arab world. It's already becoming more Islam/Muslim as you move further north... so going back south = BOO. :]
So the group just fell apart. Chris took the job here on Zanzibar. I don't blame him. It's the best dive shop on Zanzibar, he's getting paid good money for being new (most new dive workers are working for free), he gets a free place to stay, and so on. The truth is our group never got along, I thought it was going to fall apart three days in, so did Chris. The problem is neither of us, and me in particular just don't get along with Weon. We never did and we never will. I knew this was a risk when I started, but I decided to take a chance. The worse thing that could happen is the group would fall apart and I'd be out a bunch of money I invested in supplies. Now that has happened, but whatever, I'm still here in Africa and I'm still going to go on on my own. More freedom this way, but it makes a lot of things far more difficult. I have to ship a bunch of shit home (can't backpack with a full scuba setup, full size laptop, all my GoPro shit, big tent, etc). I could continue for a few weeks with Weon as he still wants to go to Uganda to visit some family he has there, but honestly I just can't get along with the guy. We haven't been able to have a real conversation, EVER. So it's time to fly solo. No idea what's next honestly. It's a little fucked up to be honest. But all part of the adventure.
