Today is my last day in Zambia (for now) as tomorrow I will be off to South Africa, for the next leg of my travels. I have been so very happy in Lusaka and it was a great place to start dipping my toes into this travelling life.
My last week here started off at the immigration office because I needed to renew my visa. Once I found the correct room to report to, this went very smoothly, and a new stamp in my passport.
Following getting my visa extension, I went into the Intercontinental Hotel, next door, for a cold drink….In case you were wondering it’s 37 degrees here!! Sorry for you English folk, I’ve heard it’s not stopped raining since I left ?. While I was at the hotel, sitting in the garden, I got chatting with a really nice young woman called Precious, who was a single mum of 3 boys and was asking my advice on dating sites??? I couldn’t help her much on this subject, but we did continue to chat and put the world to rights. It’s so interesting to hear other opinions on life, divorce, homosexuality, HIV and raising children etc. We obviously didn’t agree on everything, but by sharing ideas and life experiences maybe we can make a make a spark of change. I really wish Precious well and hope she meets a lovely man to treat her right.
It’s not leaves that are falling from the trees in Zambia
Prior to getting my visa, I had been stopped at a police roadblock, these are very common, and it’s happened several times to me. This one however, I got asked lots of questions, asked for my driving licence and asked what was wrong with my tyre!!! I said it was a hire car and I had no idea what they were talking about…..I was allowed to go, I think they thought I was more trouble than it was worth. Once I got ‘home’ I thought I ought to check the tyre out and it was really badly shredded, with not a lot of tread left ?? I contacted the rental company and told them I needed the tyre changing. I took the car to them, and instead they gave me a different car because apparently that would be quicker ??♀️ They then tried to charge me 400 Kwacha for not returning the car with enough fuel in it….I wasn’t having that, and I didn’t ??. My ‘new’ car wasn’t as nice as the other one, but at least I wasn’t going to have a blow out.
On Wednesday I took Matt and Thandi’s (The airbnb owners) children to the cinema and for lunch. As it was so hot we thought we would see Abdominal, lovely film. I got 1x adult 2x children cinema tickets, the children then both had a slushie and a bucket of popcorn each, And finally 3x adult Nando’s with drinks…..the whole trip cost me £24. The cost of living is much cheaper here, but I’m sure that the local wages reflect this. Had a lovely day, such wonderful children.
Thursday was Zambia’s Independence Day. Every year on October 24, Zambia celebrates its Independence Day in commemoration of the day it attained its freedom from British rule in 1964. I was really hoping that I would find some sort of parade/celebrations, but despite driving around I saw nothing!! Not sure if I missed it or was just looking in the wrong places ??♀️ Very disappointed not to see anything. Treated myself to a nice lunch instead ?
My last couple of days have been getting ready to move on. I got my roots done!!! Thanks again to Jo for making me see that I need to always look fabulous ??. £9.50 for colour and blow dry!! I then must have gone to at least 10 banks/bureau de change to try and get South African Rand (money) to no avail, so hopefully there will be an ATM at the airport in Johannesburg. I also went to the Dutch Reform Church Market, which would have had some lovely souvenirs to buy, but I am already having trouble fitting everything in my backpack and I’ve still got a long way to go.
Poogate I hear you yelling ??? Ok as you insist ? Up until yesterday (Saturday) I’d have a bit of a clear out first thing and then be fine for the rest of the day. Yesterday….nothing, I was super excited by this turn of events, had I finely got over my Lusaka Looses…. Sunday…. nope ????? lets hope I don’t need to go on the plane tomorrow ? The worse bit of having the LL is that I didn’t get to go back and visit Emma’s mum, as I really wanted to see her again, but I was not going to put her at risk of getting my bug.
And finally….my thoughts on my time in Lusaka, Zambia. I really like the people, they are very friendly, warm and welcoming. I have felt very safe here and happy. They do drive like crazy people though, with what appears to be no rules of the road, the mini-bus drivers are the worse. It’s very hot here, but no humidity makes it more pleasant. I’m going to miss the rainy season which apparently brings the country alive with colour and wildlife. I miss seeing the sea and definitely love being with wildlife and nature, city life isn’t for me. My airbnb was brilliant. I was made to feel like one of the family. I hate mosquitos and having the shits ?? I am feeling very relaxed, sleeping pretty well, definitely not in so much pain (from my knee), not missing work, although I would have liked to have done something while I was out here, but it wasn’t meant to be. I don’t feel lonely, a little bored at times, not yet homesick but am missing certain people. Feeling a bit anxious about moving on, the internet is a scary place if you read and believe what some of South Africa has to offer, but I’ve got this.
Not my words, but a very clever Brené Brown, look her up, she’s amazing.
“I want to be in the arena. I want to be brave with my life. And when we make the choice to dare greatly, we sign up to get our asses kicked. We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both. Not at the same time.”
Bye for now…see you in South Africa ??
Another great blog Michelle don’t feel you’re so far away when I read them.
Xxx Muv