Ready, Steady Here I go...



Just trying things out on this new blog...

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Overlanding in Namibia Part II

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Spitzkoppe to Swakopmund, Namibia (March 31-April 3) Spitzkoppe (March 31-April 1) Our third day overlanding brought us to Spitzkop, i.e. "the Matterhorn of Namibia." It is an area of great natural beauty consisting of a group of red rocky granite peaks rising spectacularly above the surrounding flat plains. We camped near the largest peak (1787m) and went on a short guided walk of the area in the late afternoon. During our exploratory walk, we were shown some Bushmen rock paintings that depicted different animals. The red color used in some of these paintings was achieved, so we were told, using a mixture of iron and sacrificial animal blood. Umm...lovely? Our guide kept checking his watch and trying to hurry us along for he had planned for us to reach the "rock bridge" in time to watch the sunset. Unfortunately, time was not on our side due to our dawdling so the guide suddenly urged us to " Run! (Forest) Run!! " And off we all went, sprinting towa...
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We're (NOT) Gonna Need a Bigger Boat!

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BAZ BUSSING (Stop #1): Mossel Bay, South Africa (April 12-16) Before I begin recounting my toothy exploits in Mossel Bay, I would like to offer a few words of explanation on what precisely it means to be "Baz Bussing." Baz Bus is an exclusive South African backpacking hop on/off bus service which allows backpackers, like yours truly, to travel the length of the country conveniently, safely, and fairly cheaply. One can buy tickets for the bus for a limited time period or opt for an open-ended ticket like I did which permits me to travel from Cape Town to Johannesburg (one way), taking my sweet ass time in the process. My flexi-pass ticket also includes a few tours, such as the Cape Peninsula Tour I described in a previous blog entry. One simply has to book a seat on the bus a couple of days in advance but that is NOT a problem for someone as organized anal as me, ha ha. I definitely think that it is an incredible service and hope that other countries hop on the Baz bandwa...
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Caution! BIG ICE Up Ahead!

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El Calafate, Argentina (Feb 2-4) My bus journey from Ushaiia to El Calafate (503 pesos=$117) was an exercise in excruciating endurance. Starting at the ungodly hour of 5 AM, there were numerous obstacles which stood between me and my destination, such as 4 tedious border crossings, a temporary vehicular breakdown in the middle of Bumblefuck, Egypt Argentina, and a ferry crossing delayed by 2 hours due to fierce Patagonian winds. Thankfully, I was supposed to have a 3.5 hour layover in Rio Gallegos so being 2 hours late to arrive there only meant having to wait a further 90 minutes before my bus left for El Calafate. We arrived at nearly 12:30 AM, but I had fortunately booked a dorm bed in a hostel only 2 blocks from the bus terminal so I managed to hit the sack by 1. I was so plum tuckered out that I didn't even notice whether or not any of my bunkmates were snoring the Hallelujah chorus. The next morning I was rudely awakened at 6:30 by the loud, grating voice of an elderly w...
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