http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7704859.stm
Thursday was election day in Zambia. Excitement has been mounting ever since I've been here, people reading newspapers on the street early in the mornings, rumours flying about corruption and policies and there was a brief tear gas incident last Tuesday in the town. As in the article above, the results were announced yesterday and THANKFULLY Rupiah Banda got it, rather than PF (Patriotic Front, with a leader more offensive than Alex Salmond) who would have turned Zambia into Zimbabwe, possibly.
So, back to last Wednesday, I packed some things and headed back into town after school to Jollyboys- Helen from Manchester who I'd met on my flight here and hung out with at the start of my trip had emailed to say she was returning from her 3 week mud-hut building project so we met up and caught up on the last few weeks. The kayakers had left in their truck which DID eventually turn up, Steven the kindest South African in the world was also back from fishing and the wedding party were still revelling. So nice to see some familiar faces. Stayed up late Wednesday singing with some guy and a guitar which was nice and relaxed. Thursday everything in town was shut, and Helen and I were trying to avoid the cottage pie option for dinner so I headed to a market quite far away in the middle of a field (which , as it turned out, was also an open sewer, mmm) where I also bought a cheap white sheet for my zebra outfit. Bumped into Mike music teacher who was out and about voting and had a very random squashed bus journey with an over excited older lady who had spent time in Derby, I do like adventure though.
Rest of Thursday was spent catching the Jollyboys bug that was sweeping the place- effecting those who had been spending too much time there the most. And we still suspect the cheese toasties were involved. Was very, VERY poorly, had nothing left in my body by tea time and couldnt eat a thing. Played cards with Helen and Olly (amazingly fantastic Irish man with a wicked sense of humour) and didnt stay up late...
Friday was Halloween party, but I literally woke to find I could hardly move. I felt SO poorly still and drank alot of water. Had about 5 cold showers to try and shift the sweats and then gave up and drank some red bull with a crazy woman with one lung. Helen had caught bug too- just in time for her flight back to the UK.....nasty.
The Jollyboys staff put on traditional dancing entertainment for us at night, I couldnt manage food STILL so sat swaying in my feeble state whilst I watched it. Then we all got dressed in our costumes (pictures to follow) and headed to Fez Bar- I have no idea how I managed to go, but I didnt end up staying for that long. All the regular characters were out, there's quite a bunch now that Ive been chatting to- including Pete the man with a peg leg from Warrington who likes to say 'its not in Lancashire cos Thatcher moved the fuckin' border' alot. And he knows the most filthy limericks. Steven the south african and James the lovely aussie guy from my dorm came out to join us, they'd both felt awful too in the day. Got a fairly early night, for me. And most of the costumes ended up discarded due to the crazy heat.
Saturday was mooching around, playing with ball in the pool to cool down- and then mooching a bit around town. Had a quiet-ish evening. I think.
Sunday the RAINS CAME- not just rain but THUNDER and LIGHTNING. It was a bit scary.
Stayed on at Jollyboys for an extra night as was worried it may have been flooded, but apparently they didnt get it as bad in the rural areas as we did in town. Also we had sad news at the hostel as James the lovely aussie had an accident, fainted off the back of a stool and broke his back- luckily he was with saviour of illness Steven the South African who flew with him to Jo'Burg as they just dont have the facilties here to deal with that. Awful too because he'd been all over Africa, doing all these activies and then one freak accident.
I decided I needed to DO something Sunday so I tried to book onto every leisurely activity available- elephants were full, so was High Tea at Livingstone Island and so I ended up taking a HELICOPTER ride over the falls!!! I didnt realise the copter would be so small so it was quite terrifying but I got some amazing pictures and the captain kept pointing things out. Was well worth it, although bit scary when it rained.
Back to school today, things are going well although I still feel like I'm about to pass out. At least I havent had Malaria yet.....
Total number of Giraffes seen : 0
Top of Hippos now seen: 50
Rest of a Hippo seen : 0
Bottles of Mosi lager drunk : erm....
Sad good byes to hairy unsuitable men: 1
Welsh girls who think Get 100 is a crap programme : 2
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