One more sleep.

Ok, this is it.  I had the day off work today and managed to get everything done that needed doing (except tidy the house, but that probably wouldn't have gotten done even if I had nothing else to do).
I promise this will be short because I am tired and want to go to bed somewhat early.

Updates:

Vaccinations - I finished my Typhoid pills a couple of weeks ago.  If I get typhoid, it will be Nikki's fault.  I was supposed to take my pills on an empty stomach but on the night of my last pill, I went out with Nikki, Richard and Robin to Café Brio on Fort St.  It was so good and I ate SO much.  There was no way my stomach was empty when I went to bed.  So I got up at 5am to take the pill but I am pretty sure there was still some dinner residuals.  Worth it (unless I get typhoid).

Dukoral done.  I must be getting used to it because it was only moderately disgusting this time. I got a flu shot through work last week. And I started my malaria pills today.  I am not keen on the malaria treatment as it is a month of antibiotics but in for a penny, in for a pound.

Packing - Just yesterday, so long ago, I was confident that I was going to be fine.  Today, not so much.  Hours of packing, weighing, moving stuff from one bag to another, weighing, removing some stuff, weighing, deciding that I don't really need clothes, deciding I do need shoes, weighing until I have the perfect balance of bag size and weight.

Final tally.  Wheely checked bag:  Dimensions - 17' + 14' + 26' = 57' (62' inches allowed). Weight  - 50.7 lbs.  Ok this is slightly higher than the allowed 50lbs but my plan, if questioned, is to open the bag, remove a soccer ball, tell the Air Canada person that it is too bad some African orphan can't play ball and then stare at her until her heart grows three sizes.

Ticket and passport please.

 Checked duffel: Dimensions - 21' + 10' + 15' = 46'.  Well under the 62' allowed.  Weight - 36.2 lbs.  Also well under the limit.  I know, you are asking why not shift that .7 lbs from the wheelie bag.  No can do, this bag is so full I suspect it may break apart during transit.  I already moved all of my shirts to the front pocket.  The pocket is so small, I only had room for four shirts.  The wheely bag has my one extra pants and my shoes.  (I will be wearing my boots, pants and four layers of t-shirt, long sleeve shirt, fleece, rain jacket.)

Carry on: Dimensions - 7' + 21' + 15'.  Allowance - 9' + 21.5' + 15.5'.  Close but still under.  Weight - 21.6 lbs.  Allowance - 22 lbs. 

Personal bag: Dimensions - 6' + 11' + 17'.  Allowance - 6' + 13' + 17'.  Weight - 13.2 lbs.  Allowance - 22lbs.  I would move some stuff here too but it is stuffed.  I am already pushing the dimensions.  If I cram in any more stuff, it will be higher than 6 inches.  Actually now that I think of it, I have already added a bunch of stuff since I measured it so it is probably already over.  (New plan, if questioned, remove a book and say, it is too bad an African orphan can't read Ian Rankin's latest Rebus book and hope that works)


All told, 121.7 lbs. 
See that front pocket on the blue bag, that is all of my clothes, minus 1 pair of capris.
No cat in this picture, she is definitely not talking to me now that
she has figured out that the bags mean I am abandoning her

Other updates.  I finished the Game of Thrones book.  I bought snacks.  I cannot figure out podcasts. I bought some Kenyan shillings.  No updates on the Francis/Gorilla front except now I know that the name of his company is Afratrek (not Afrtrek or Afritrek). I thought I should let you know so that when the wedding invitations arrive, you won't think it is someone else.

Ok, that's it. I am going to bed. See you in Africa (or Amsterdam, if I have time). 

Packing: Size does matter (title credited to Val)

I was watching a TV show the other day (show already forgotten) where a procrastinating character claimed that packing was 90% mental so even though he hadn't started, he was practically done.  Of course, since I hadn't started packing but had put a lot of 'thought/worry/panic' into it, this sounded completely reasonable to me. 

I had stuff just for the school, enough to cover my spare bed. 

All of the Sam's school supplies

Plus my personal things which are never much until I start putting them into a pile and then I remember, oh yea, I take too many electronics and books.  I checked my baggage allowance.  My international flight allows two checked bags of 50 pounds each.   One carry on of 22 pounds and a 'personal bag' of 22 pounds. 

As it turns out, the weight is not going to be an issue.  But the dimensions will be. 

The hockey bag, with cat for scale (and because one
cannot bring a bag into the house without formal
inspection so getting a picture without her
was pretty much out of the question.)

Knowing I had some much stuff, I bought a hockey bag off of Used Victoria.  It was perfect.  It was huge, wheeled and had Team Canada written all over it.  Since I plan to abandon it in Africa, this will be a nice 'gift' from Canada for the school or whomever wants it. But, alas, the dimensions.

But first things first.  I invited my friend Val (of the Ecuador trip) to a movie to lure her to my house to trick her into helping me pack.  Then I cancelled the movie but too late for her to back out.  haha!  First task:  measure everything. 

Checked bag maximum linear dimensions are 62 inches.  We measured the bag.  At first I got 11,000+ inches.  But even for a big bag that seemed way too big.  I was measuring cubic dimensions.  I will remember this the next time a student asks me why he has to take Math as part of his program.  Back to the measuring tape.  Oh oh.  91 linear inches.  I could still do it.  Length + Width worked as long as I didn't fill it more than 9 inches high.  Since Air Canada is in crack down mode for luggage and the first leg of my flight (Vic -> Van) is Air Canada, I suspected they may give me the works. Oversize bags cost an additional $100.  Plus, the stuff would have way too much room for uncontrolled shifting.  Not good. 

Second task:  come up with a Baggage Plan B.  Off to Value Village.  Side note, do not ever, under any circumstance, go to Value Village mid-day, the Saturday before Halloween.  Just don't. But we did.  There we were in the back corner, way to close to the 'costume' section, pulling out every suitcase that might meet out size/volume needs.  We had a herd of 7 or 8 wheelie bags blocking the aisle.  I whipped out my little pink measuring tape and we checked the linear dimensions of each bag.

Measuring!  Action shot.

The best one was way too big.  Another one was 63 inches.  Since I have no faith in Air Canada, I could imagine them not accepting that extra inch.  The rest were in the 'zone'.  Then we checked zippers and pockets.  But my biggest concern were the wheels.  I was about to load up to 50 lbs in the one bag and then attach another 50lb bag to the top of it.  So those little wheels may be carrying up to 100 lbs. They had to be sturdy.  Four Wheel Drive sturdy.  And the handle had to be solid enough for that second bag too.



Plan B.  Smaller bag (with cat).

Wheels that mean business

There was an American Tourister, with skookum wheels that was a bit smaller (56 inches) but it was solid and didn't weigh too much.  We had a winner. The extra 'unused' inches would give me some leeway for cramming and stretching. (I just reread this and it seems a bit suggestive.  Instead of cleaning it up, I will leave it in to amuse the SofB lunch room crowd).

Val, who is an expert packer, had almost everything into the new bag while I stepped out of the room to refresh our coffees.  But, I couldn't lift it and it was clearly over the 50 lb limit. 

Plus, she was not pleased with my choice of a second bag, the big black duffel.  It was within the 62 inch limit but it is a long tube shape with zero support.  So, once packed, it was going to be very difficult to attach to the wheeled bag.  New plan for Bag 2. 

I have a crappy old duffel that I use for weekend trips.  It is a good size for that, but I would not have thought it would be big enough for this endeavor.  Fear not, says SuperPacker Val.



Super Packer Val, making it work.

We also came up with the idea to only half fill the wheely bag with the heavy school supplies and then save the top half for a separate bag filled with my clothes.  Since I don't need much, this should be small and not too heavy.  And should keep the bag under 50 lbs and manageable.

So, now I just have to figure out what clothes I am taking.  Pack up my backpack as my carry on.  My backpack is the right dimensions so as long as all of the electronics fit in, it will be heavy but ok.  Plus my personal bag will be my day pack with food, book, money, passport.


Wheely bag, bottom half full of heavy stuff, top half
ready for my clothes.



  

Smaller, very stuffed duffel (35 lbs) with cat (7 lbs). 
This bag fits right on top of the bigger, wheely bag 



Gorilla Part lll

Just a quick update on my plans for the Gorilla Trek and my dubious guide, Francis.  So, last week, he emailed me and said he has received my Western Union money and will send me a copy of my permit.  Knowing that these things take time, and even more time that expected in a non-Western country, I was patient.  I have dealt with foreign bureaucracy before and it is not pretty so I said nothing for the weekend.  Uganda is 10 hours ahead so if I email in the day, Francis is unlikely to get it until the next day and then I will get his response the day after that.  But I said nothing on Monday or Tuesday.  Patient.  La Di Da.  Then on Wednesday morning I checked my email and someone had sent me an itinerary for a flight to Uganda.  hmmm? 

Just a few issues with the ticket: 
First, who booked it?  It is in my name, but I sure as heck didn't book it or pay for it. 
Second, it is for November 13, three days before I want to go.  This issue has sub-issues, I will let you imagine those.
Third, this is my favourite, the flight literally goes to four countries.  Uganda is right beside Kenya.  But the flight as booked starts in Mombasa, Kenya, stops in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, change planes in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and then finally arrives in Entebbe, Uganda.  Umm, even if I was drunk and had been dropped on my head as a baby, I would not book this horrible flight. 
Fourth, the flight gets into Uganda at one o'clock in the morning, 
Fifth, I have no idea how much I will be expected to pay for this flight.
And sixth, and most alarming, it is one way!  Melissa assures me this is because I am likely betrothed to Francis (my permit money was my own bride price) so no need to come back. 

Plus, no permit attached!  But, still being cross-culturally understanding, and thinking that my flight was a good sign, I waited another day before I send a gently worded 'What the hell is going on, Francis' email.  I was pretty much ready to write off my $400.  That I was ok with and half expected it anyway.  But what I hadn't figured on was the time delay.  Each day that I patiently waited for Francis to not rob me, I was losing a day toward booking an alternate trek.  And, as I have mentioned, there are limited permits.  Still calm, not freaking out, I emailed Francis and suggested that the zig-zag Air Ethiopia flight was not going to work for me.  And that I would book my own flight once I had confirmation that my permit was bought. 

Francis, so solicitous, said he hadn't sent it because he was worried about 'hacking' and he wanted to protect my permit.  Lovely.  But, in the grand scheme of things, I calculated that the risk of that is considerably lower than me arriving in Uganda in the middle of the night to no pick up and no permit.  So I insisted (still gently) that I would brave the hackers and please send me my permit.

Amazingly, today he sent me a scan of the permit, paid in full with my receipt showing my name and the number that matches the permit.  Granted, he bought it today,  but let's not quibble. I'm also not 100% sure that this will get me into the correct park on the correct days, but I have faith (just not devout faith, more like agnostic faith)

This is what my card looks like. Obviously this isn't my real card because you might try to hack it.

I might still be in for a White-Masai type marriage but hopefully not until after I see the gorillas.


If you think I am a crazy white tourist, I have nothing on this lunatic. 

 

Ebola and Gorillas: Part ll

It is a beautiful Saturday in Victoria.  I am home drinking a coffee and waiting for the sun to dry my lawn a bit more so I can mow it this afternoon.  Time to update the blog.

Ebola:  The last time I went to Africa, anytime I would say to someone "I am going to Africa" they would say "Wow, that's awesome".  Now when I say I am going to Africa, they say "But you will die of Ebola! Are you crazy?."  No I won't.  Perhaps I am but not because of Ebola.  Which leads to the Gorillas.

Gorilla Trek:  This is plodding along now to the point I am worried I am a bigger idiot than most suspect/know.  Jenny gave Melissa's info to Francis Sentongo, some guy in Uganda who says he will be my guide.  Francis sent me an itinerary for a 9 day tour of Uganda.  It sounded pretty awesome.  But I didn't want to go for that long, I was thinking a weekend.  So he sent me a three day version, which is basically Day 1: travel, Day 2: gorillas, Day 3: travel.  That wasn't nearly so enticing as the 9 day version.  So, I proposed a 6 day trip cutting out some of the non-gorilla, more safari-type stuff and the tour of a city (big urban centres in poor countries all look depressingly the same).  Plus, cutting down the days reduced the price by a third. 

I asked a few questions.  (this is where my potential idiocy may have first become apparent).  The name of his tour company is Afrtrek or that might be a typo and it is Afritrek.  Either way, it doesn't exist on the internet.  This led to another question.  Who will be on this 'tour' with me.  Well, it turns out it will just be me and Francis except on Bwindi (park with the gorillas) days.  Is this guy going to kill and/or rob me?  Maybe but I am still going forward with this crazy plan.  Just imagine if he doesn't kill/rob me how amazing it will be!

I read up a bit on what to expect about the gorilla trek.  As regular readers of my blogs know, I hate climbing mountains yet I always seem to be doing just that on my trips.  It turns out that Mountain Gorillas live on mountains.  Seriously, this should be made clearer for tourists!  Who is the marketing team for these gorillas?  Ok, I am not that stupid.  But the tourist comments on Trip Advisor has completely differing views on what will be involved in getting to the Gorillas.  Some commenters mention almost dying on the many hour trek up the mountain, others mention a leisurely stroll across a short, flat distance. 

It turns out either version, or any point in between, may be true. Apparently, there are 6 or 7 gorilla families and the hike will depend on which family you view and where they are that day. Each family can only be visited by a few people once a day for one hour.   A specific person's trek will depend on which gorillas they will be seeing and where that family group is located on the mountain.  But some commenters also mentioned that the Bwindi guides suss out the tourists at the bottom of the mountain and divide the groups by ability to get to the different groups.  I asked Francis about this in an email.  When I called him, he had checked with the guides and he assured me that it is true.  So, I may not have to die to see my gorilla family (at least not from the climb, guerillas/shady guides are still possibilities). 

The limits on visitors is the reason for the permits.  If all of the spots are filled, you can't go until there is an opening.  Everyone agrees that it is important to buy the permit as far in advance as possible to avoid missing out.  Permits are $350 US in Uganda ($750 in Rwanda).  Francis has to buy my permit before I arrive. Which means I have to send Francis some money.  And a copy of my passport (more evidence for the trial of guilt in the crime of idiocy).

Pro tip:  Don't joke about Uganda swindlers to the Western Union lady.  She may not send your money.  Plus, be prepared for another Ebola lesson.  (Ebola lesson aside, I appreciate the concern. It is probably warranted).

I sent my copy of the passport.  I went to Western Union to send $400 US to Francis's home phone number (this also did not please Western Union lady).  It turns out that Western Union has limits on the amount and the currency that can be sent to Uganda.  Maximum $400 Canadian (not quite $350 US) and it has to be 'received' as Ugandan Schillings.  It turned out to be almost a million schillings.  Either Francis has a bit of a windfall, or if he is smart, he will hold out for double that amount in guide fees.  He emailed and said he got the money yesterday and that he would get the permit and email me a copy but it hasn't arrived yet.  So, I guess time will tell.  At worst (at this point) it all makes for an amusing, yet expensive, blog post. 

(Backtrack) Back in the pre-money, planning phase, Francis proposed a start date of Nov 6.  I asked Anke what she thought of this.  This is when I learned that the schools will be finishing their year two weeks into my trip.  If I go to Uganda on November 6, I will only spend one week with the kids and miss out on their end of year festivities.  So, I emailed Francis and he just moved the whole thing to Nov 16.  Too easy?  Or just part of the benefits of being on my own tour?  I'll let you know.

Couple of short updates/anecdotes:

I had a lovely weekend away with my friend Judy (from my India trip) and her family to celebrate Judy's birthday in Seaside, Oregon.  At some point, I pulled something in my back and now I am somewhat hobbled.  I am frantically visiting my massage therapist and a physiotherapist (Avril and Sean, respectively; both as Cook Street Village Health Centre and both awesome) to try to get back to regular mobility.  It is getting better but still not perfect. 

I called the bank on Thursday on my lunch break to pre-order some Kenyan money.  But, I guess I still had most of my brain on work because the RBC guy said it would take three days to arrive, it wouldn't be in until Tuesday.  Never mind, I said, I am leaving that day.  Somehow I just forgot about next week.  I will have to call them again on Monday.  I really have to start writing lists.

Important things: I started reading the latest Game of Thrones book (yes, GoT purists, I know it is Song of Ice and Fire, I don't care).  It is over 1000 pages.  I have 200 to go before I leave.  Figure out how to use podcasts so I can load up the IPod Melissa gave me.  Figure out what I have room to record on my PVR for a whole month.  Buy snacks for the plane.  Who says I can't write lists. 

I was going to update my packing woes too but as usual this post is too long.  And I am finished my coffee and the grass is dry and the sun is still out.  It is good to remember on a sunny day such as this how lucky I am.  I get to see the world but I always know that when/if I return it will be to Victoria, the most beautiful place on earth. 

Ebola: facts, myths and cartoon explanations

Many people have asked me if I am worried about getting Ebola in Africa.  I can honestly answer, no, I am not.

Fact: So far, Ebola is not in Kenya.  All Ebola cases are concentrated in West Africa.  Africa is a very big place.  Kenya is very far away from Liberia. 



Look how far away that is (ok, there is a tiny, unrelated outbreak in DR Congo but that one is contained)

Fact:  As of this writing, there are more Ebola cases in the United States than in Kenya.  I am also not afraid to go to the US (but I would wear a hazmat suit if I had to go to Arby's)

Fact:  Ebola is actually pretty hard to catch.  It is not airborne.  I would have to touch a symptomatic Ebola victim to contract it.  I promise not to touch anyone who looks sweaty (that will always be true, Ebola or no).  Ebola cannot be transmitted until symptoms appear. 

Myth:  the opposite of all of the above. 

Here's a gentle, non-scary (except for the blood font title) infographic with a cartoon Ebola victim to help explain

Source: http://designtaxi.com/news/368151/Learn-More-About-The-Ebola-Virus-And-Its-Symptoms-With-This-Infographic/

There is one problem though.  The early signs of Ebola are also the early signs of Malaria and the flu.  So, if I come home and appear feverish, go to the hospital and tell them I have recently been to Africa, they may have to put me in lock down until they can test me.  But probably not since I won't have been in an affected area. 

So, no worries my friends.  I may be killed by a gorilla but this little guy won't get me.

 

Planning for Kenya 'to do list': 1. buy toys!

This summer has been busy and then school start up was busy and then I bought a car (not time consuming but I had to mention it somehow) so I have been neglectful on my planning posts.
But I have managed to get some things trip-related done.


Just in case you missed it, I bought a new car!  Look, it was made in this century
(with cupholders! and power windows!). 
Note the beautiful new fence we had built this summer too (when I say we, I mean we paid for Chuck to build it and he is 100% the reason it is beautiful)

 Planning for Kenya: 'to do list'

1.  Fun stuff for the kids.  Once all of their recorder needs were fulfilled, I thought they might need some other stuff too.  Handily Staples and Walmart were having a price war on back to school supplies in August so I dropped by Staples a couple of time.  I bought 20 or notebooks with a picture of Canada on the front, boxes and boxes of crayons and pencil crayons. 


Thanks for trying to beat Walmart, Staples.
 

A sack of recorders

Tara brought over some things to take.  Some puzzles that Simon, Sam's big brother, contributed and some 'lesson' books for little learners.
I also bought some soccer balls at Sports Traders.  Again, the 'I'm going to Africa to work with kids' line clears paths and lowers prices.  Jessica, who was working the cash area, lowered the price on all of the soccer balls I wanted to $5 each (they are not cheap normally) so I bought six.  Wayne in the back was kind enough to deflate them for me.  They are still kind of bulky but they don't weigh too much and hopefully can fit around stuff.  Plus an air pump to re-inflate them, a few discounted Frisbees and I was set. 

Deflated soccer balls.

Tara and Simon's books and puzzles

I have been researching 'cheap activities for little kids' and most of them involve paint.  So, I have tasked Rhonda with finding some pots of watercolours.  And Anke has requested some classroom banners so that will be my next shopping trip now that the rush of first day teachers (3 weeks late) has passed through the Teacher's Shop. 

Amy, one of the Accounting teachers at work had to clean out her office so she gave me some mini-blackboards.
 I will clean them off so little African kids won't be wandering around looking for the fun in Accounting. 
Even the pre-school kids will already know, the fun is not to be found in Accounting. 
They will be forced to acknowledge that the fun is in Recorders

The family pack of bug spray.

2. Travel clinic.  As always I went to Nova Travel Clinic for my info and vaccines.  No shots this time.  Yay!  Of course, the Dukoral is a given. It is still in my fridge waiting for me to build up my fortitude to drink my one dose.  It is just so gross, I don't care if they tell me it is berry flavor.  Is there such a thing as 'prairie berries' cause it tastes like a liquefied cow patty. 

I have started my typhoid vaccine two days ago.  It is in pill form.  Day 1, pill.  Day 2, no pill.  Day 3 pill,  Day 4, no pill etc until I have finished my four pills.  Not too difficult but I can't take it with other medications or with food for hours before.  Which, now that I am old, is difficult to work around my normal daily pill regime (two) and my busy social life of dinners and beer. 

Because I may be going on a crazy remote, death defying side trip, I am also going to take Malaria medication.  And the 'emergency' ciprofloxacin antibiotic if the Dukoral doesn't cut it.  Plus, I have booked myself in for a flu shot through work. 

 3.  Plan crazy remote death defying side trip.  Last time I was in Africa with my mom, we didn't have time to do any of the 'add ons' for our tour.  So, this time, I want to do the two we didn't do last time.  One is to go to Zanzibar.  It is close and that should be fairly easy.




Um, yes please.  Zanzibar Island
 

 The second was a gorilla safari into Rwanda or Uganda.  This is neither close or fairly easy. I asked Anke about it and she mentioned that there are limited numbers of people allowed near the gorillas per day so I can't just pick up and go at the last minute.  I would have to get a limited spot, with some sort of tour company.  And get to Rwanda or Uganda.  Not so easy to book from Canada. 

It doesn't look that far on this tiny map, but it is.

There are so few left, those black dots
represent individual gorillas (not really)

(Is it just me or is this blog getting very map-heavy?)

Bit of a back track.  I once told my friend Melissa that if I ever die, she can have my cat Gingy-puss.  Just keep that in mind and how adorable and sweet Gingy-puss is as you read this next bit and draw your own conclusions. 

I mentioned this Gorilla plan plus barriers to it to Melissa.  Melissa has an aunt, Jenny, who is from Uganda.  Jenny's brother is the minister of tourism in Uganda.  He has contacts who run tours.  That is all I know.  This may all be happening without me knowing details.  Or it might not be.  Or I might be thrown into the back of a jeep into the loving arms of the mountain gorillas/guerillas.  Who knows.  But I am going with it.  At least Gingy-puss might end up with a food provider who pets her more (but who cleverly plotted the death her previous food source). 

So she can get her arms around this.  I would do the same

Missy will send me into the arms of this...

(Of course I am just kidding, I am amazed and grateful at how much Melissa and Jenny are doing to make this happen for me.  But, just in case, remember that GP likes her Greenie Treats)

Anke is looking into tours as well.  That might be the more obvious option.  But less thrilling, don't you think?  Jenny had the best take on all of this.  When Melissa first mentioned that I wanted to go see the gorillas, Jenny asked why on earth any sane person would go into the jungles of Uganda, they are dangerous.  Melissa had to explain that North American tourists are not sane. Yup, that pretty much covers it.