By Felucca down the Nile

While waiting for the ferry to Wadi Halfa, I decided to take a felucca ride on the Nile. Feluccas are the traditional sailing boats used for transportation on the Nile. It turned out to be a great idea. We were a group of 5: Miles and I from NZ, Jeremy from Australia, Angelika from Germany and Jasmine from Canada, plus our two Captains, Captain Rambo and Captain Saeed (I think).

Jeremy has been sailing with these guys for a few weeks, learning the ropes of how to sail a felucca. It's nice way to spend time in a beautiful place.

We all got on very well and had a very chilled out time, as you can see from the pictures.


This evening I said goodbye to the others and took a minibus back to Aswan. They are sleeping another night on the boat, but I have to be at the port in Aswan by 10am tomorrow for my ferry to Sudan. I'll write more when I arrive in Khartoum in a week or so.

Aswan on the Cheap

I arrived in Aswan to find that there's still only one ferry per week down to Wadi Halfa in Sudan, and it doesn't leave until Monday afternoon. My name's on the list and tomorrow I'll buy the ticket, so my place is assured. It's all on, I just have to be patient.

I have time to kill until Friday. As I've been here before, I'm not motivated to go and visit all the tourist sites such as Abu Simbel again. But there are plenty of other things to do, especially as night falls and the restrictions imposed by Ramadan temporarily come to an end. Even at midnight there are still many people out on the street, shopping, chatting, drinking chai, or smoking sheesha.

This evening I took a felluca ride on the Nile at sunset up past Elephantine Island. Totally relaxing and chilled. Tomorrow I plan to explore the west bank of the Nile.

I'm staying at the Marwa hotel for 6 Egyptian pounds (US$1) per night in a dorm. It's grotty and cheap but in a likeable way. Even though every surface is dirty and it looks like nothing works, actually this place has everything a more expensive hotel has, but at 1/20th the price. There's aircon, hot water, a fan on the ceiling...plus the owner is a cool guy. Bob Marley posters adorn the walls. I dig this place.

On the Road

Cairo. I flew in from Brussels this morning and it's good to be back. Hectic and hot but I'm dealing with it. I'm staying just long enough to get my letter of invitation from the NZ embassy, which I need for my visa to Sudan. The visa for Sudan I'll get down in Aswan. By Thursday evening, I should be on the train heading south.

At sunset this evening I made my way to the Kahn al Kalili market and with the aid of a little baksheesh got up on top of a mosque to get a view over the city.The Imams were wailing, and the sounds of the market drifted up from below. Just an awesome spot to get back into the groove of being 'on the road'.

One Night in Paris

Nicolas and I spent the Sunday evening after the wedding in Paris. We relaxed in front of the Sacre Couer, watching the sun set over the city. A band played some chilled out tunes to an appreciative audience, while the crazy Mustafa danced to his own groove.

Goodbye Party

Here's a photo Eric just sent me from my Badenfahrt Leaving Party. It rocked, thanks to all who came and thanks for the cool leaving present!

At the Wedding

After a big stress Christina, Nicolas and I finally made it to Marc and Claire's wedding in Paris. I managed to forget to pack my shoes, but an early morning shopping trip in a nearby village solved the problem. Picked up some decent shoes for just 5 euros!

For me it was also the point of no return. I've now left Switzerland! It all happened in such a rush that I barely realised it. Now, a few days later, this fact is slowly sinking in...

Welcome!

Welcome to everyone tuning in to my blog! It's simple, but I hope you like it.

I decided to create this blog to inform everyone who's interested about my upcoming travels in Eastern Africa and subsequent return to New Zealand. After 7 years of Switzerland, I'm finally leaving. It's time for some adventure and to experience life on the other side of the world for a while.

My plan to return to New Zealand, where I grew up and lived until I was 23, became concrete at around the time of my 30th birthday, just over a year ago. It has taken this long to put the plan into action. Leaving Switzerland is not easy! After 7 years here I have a lot of friends and it is now my second home. I actually intend to return to Switzerland in 2009, but it is just that: an intention, and one which makes saying goodbye easier. Such intentions are notoriously uncertain. I originally intended to live in Switzerland for one year, and I ended up staying for seven...

Fortunately, my girlfriend Christina will join me in New Zealand. She's not coming to Africa, but we'll meet again when I arrive in NZ in mid-December. Christina is Swiss and a primary school teacher. I'm currently trying to organise three weeks of work experience at Hamilton East Primary School (my old school) for her, while she waits for me to arrive. I know it will be a challenge for both of us to find work in the same city for 2008, but I'm sure we're up to the task.

The adventures begin on September 14. Christina and I will take the TGV to Paris, where I'm Best Man at the wedding of Marc and Claire, two good friends of mine. For me, it will be a farewell to Switzerland for what could (unfortunately) be quite a long time. It will also be a sad farewell to Christina. I won't see her again until I arrive in New Zealand. After the wedding, she'll return to Switzerland, while I will take a train to Brussels for my flight to Cairo on September 18.

Cairo is the starting point of my 'Road to Nairobi'. I'm looking forward to returning there, as I have fond memories of my last visit back in 2004. My old website has some pictures of Cairo and Egypt here. My route south to Nairobi is not yet decided. One thing is certain: it won't be direct. I'll definitely visit Sudan. Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo are all possible destinations en route. I am constrained by only one (extremely) hard deadline: My flight to Auckland leaves Nairobi on December 12.

That's it for now. I'll keep you all informed of progress.