The Paseli Pool team were in action last night while the rain drummed on the car port roof. Algerian, Indian, German and a person of doubtful origin.
The rainy season should have begun a month ago but it has been late. The heat of the first days abruptly changed yesterday evening with several heavy showers. The change was a joy and I slept through the night without the any restlessness. Breakfast in the compound yard with a couple of African agricultural specialists from the copper belt in the north. Interesting chat about the problems of storing farm produce.
Its been a pleasant sociable day with two of the pool team. We walked down to the city, again for me, and did a few things like changing money. Lusaka has its shabby side and this street more than meets that description. Pi... Alley perhaps?
Crossing the railway bridge, heading towards the bus station, I spotted the origin of some of the market porter's barrows. They are converted from wheelbarrows and fitted with a car wheel. Walking through the crowded market could be dangerous with these heavily loaded barrows crashing into your legs. I have had one slight collision and a scratched arm already.
We decided to try a lunch in a swanky hotel. The outside dining area beside a swimming pool was rather nice and quite a contrast from the events of the previous couple of hours. But even here the cost of an excellent meal and drinks costs only about £5.
Anyway, the main objectives of the amble were achieved which means that I now have a bus ticket to Livingstone (Tuesday) and also a bag of dried black caterpillars that Miriam is going to cook. If they seem a little too unpalatable we will have Rajish's (Indian) contribution to fall back on. I think it might be an eventful dinner tonight.
Sleeping was difficult last night with the heat and an accompanying ferocious headache. After making some tea at about 3 in the morning, and talking to Emanuel on night reception, things improved slightly with the room door open and the mosquito net firmly in place.
Breakfast time is very civilized at a table in the back yard. Scrambled eggs, toast, cornflakes, all plentiful and served up by Miriam, the daytime receptionist. Very nice girl, always has a smile on her face.
And then down to the market near the centre of Lusaka with some guys from the hostel. At this point in the day it was pleasantly warm but as the time went by the temperature began to rise, making us think it was time to get back to the hostel. We did some of the trip in a minibus taxi, crushed in like sardines. But during the wanderings around the vast market saw plenty of the goods and more interestingly the people.
This guy was selling some kind of grilled sausages but proud of his dyed fashionable hair.
Now the dried caterpillars that many people love to eat here. Miriam said she likes only the black ones which are first soaked in salty water, then fried. What could be simpler? Lovely!
Emirates airlines must be one of the best in the world, that's if you manage to find a bargain priced ticket. This Boeing 777 had the kind of leg room we expected back in the good old days before the likes of Ryan emerged. Anyway, nice food and chatty friendly staff and a choice of over 100 inflight movies.
The night spent at Dubai airport gave me a lot of time to take a look at this glitzy modernistic hub. Didn't realize how big Emirates is. But as a shopping centre it also beats almost any mall.
Then in the baking mid afternoon sun the plane set down in Lusaka airport. No disappointment at all, its just as I imagined an African airport would be. The low rise shabby functional building named after Zambia's founding father was stinking hot as I queued with countless others for an instant visa, which was readily granted in exchange for 50 USD.
This is the target of the last 30 hours of travel. The Paseli hostel is just as friendly as I thought it would be. So far, including the taxi driver who took me here, I think the people here are nice are as friendly as anywhere else in the world. http:/Paseli Hostel
Its been a long day and so must stop here to get some relaxation in the cool of the evening, with vast amounts of tea. D
