....Where do you come from and what do you do???? Who the
hell reads this page?? Add a post and i'll do the rest!
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Read the hundereds of posts here and you will find some terribly interesting people posting questions and giving very good current answers. If you are bored here, find some place that interests you, and go for it. It's a big world out there, -- and in here.
Zorro, I don't think Jaco meant that he was bored in HERE.
He meant that he was bored because it was a rainy day (or
whatever) so he decided to start a new post about the
people here.
If YOU read the hundreds of posts here, you'll find that
Jaco has written many of them himself.
rwl
zorro mate - no offense but if you follow the tree for a
month you'll see the same q's. most the answers can be
found on my site http://www.travelinafrica.co.za
So what i do want is something different like: hi - i'm
zorro from Mexico, i farm with prickly pears, drink mescal
and i read this page 'cause i want to go to Timbuctoo in
march.
comprende??
...I live just outside London with my lovely Zim girlfriend
and I work for a magazine. And you?
Sorry but I have not been myself lately. My name is Jaco and
I am an idiot. Cheers
Lighten up there little brother. Life's a real bastard sometimes, but it's the only one we've got.
My African (Sudanese) students were non-plussed when I swept into their classroom on that first day and wrote my full name in large chalked capitals on the blackboard. And when I'd finished, I turned to face them, smiled at them , and said, ". . .But you can call me 'Mr Ben' ."
And that's who I have been ever since. Mr Ben from New Zealand. Pleez ta mee cha, Jaco. I don't think you're an idiot at all.
At the moment, I'm a desk-top publishing executive in an international company but tomorrow I could be back in the Army trotting through the jungles of South-East Asia, or performing in Peter Pan in a touring theatrical company in Scotland, or being the head chef on an oilrig a hundred miles off the coast of Norway, or feeding dead-from- extreme-old-age chickens to sick saltwater crocodiles in Australia. Whatever. Feel better? Any time you want a bit of a chat, give me a call. Regards, Mr Ben.
Sorry Jaco if I wrote too fast. My apologies.
I world traveled Asia several decades ago. Since then I've
been stuck in a US office. Surfing reciently, I discovered
this Thorn Tree and have gotten so turned on and excited I
couldn't imagen anyone bored here. There's millions of
moments of discovery buried beneith these links. It's gonna
be hard to sit still at work tomorrow (Monday). So many
other places to be and see. Soon... See ya on the road
somewhere. Thanks to all for your
I'm Katrina, 24 years old from Canada and just got back from
spending 6 months on an international internship program in
Cote d'Ivoire. I travelled a bit but not as much as I would
have liked and finally fulfilled my dream to go to africa,
but now i need to find a way to get back! I guess my lurking
here in the thorntree helps me feel a bit back there.
Have a great day and feel free to email me if you like:)
Kat
Hi # 5 - you not only think that you're me but that you're
an idiot as well - strange.
So zorro and gistak --- where ARE you from??
mr BEN you sound like crocodile dundee
Katrina girl - keep lurking and one day soon when you wake
you'll be here
Plasticpaddy - i own word of mouth backpackers in pretoria
but i'm getting restless - i really need to travel soon
Thanks for the posts - even you # 5
Mistress of none
Hi my name is Lou (Louise) and at the moment I work at the
Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney. I've travelled a
bit all over except Asia (I know crazy because it's our
closest neighbour and it is on my agenda for end of this
year or next year to go there.) I have a MA in Theatre
Studies and am currently doing a Dip Ed - hope to teach in
Africa some day long haul but will try some short term
volunteer stints in Asia first to give me an idea whether or
not I can cut it.
Anyway 18 months ago went to Zim, Zambia (only made Zambezi
river - great pity I wanted to go on), only saw JoBurg and
then went to Gueckedou in Guinea via Abidjan in Coite I'voie
(HI KATRINA - it's a pretty special area isn't it?)
Anyway like Katrina I want to get back see more, do more, do
less - you generally hang out but finances (or lack there
of) will keep me in the land of OZ for a little while yet.
What else? Oh yes. I don't mind a beer or vino sitting on
a balcony watching the sun set -
Did that at Noosa Heads over new year - mightn't be Africa
but it was quite pleasant. We also took our picnic
baskets and champagne to a thing called SYMPHONY in the PARK
which is a part of our Sydney Festival- it's a free concert
and we had 120,000 people. The last piece is ALWAYS the
1812 - I know it's Russian but it's great. Anyway for the
climax we have real cannons and the church bells ring and
there's fireworks - all in all not a bad place to be on a
hot summer night. Well enough of the trivia about the land
of OZ - hope everyone is have a great time whereever you are
Lou
At the end of a very long boring Monday in an office here
near Seattle, Washington, USA. Feels good just to be
traveling the thorn tree. I've crossed Asia, but have very
little experience with Africa. Interesting how diverse it
seems to be - which shouldn't suprise me. Just never got
there - yet.
Short question: Is a total transit, via LandRover, or Public
Transportation, down (N-S) one side and back up the other
possible. Or, are there impassible sections (physical or
political)? Using reasonable world travel skills, of
Hi Zorro. When the world was less complicated and everybody was a little newer and a little more innocent, I would have said that a total circumnav of the African continent---across the top,down one side, round the bottom, and back up the other side---would have been the experience of a lifetime.
Today however, with land squabbles and long-festering civil wars in many of the countries to be traversed, together with the hostage-taking, kidnapping and assorted muggings and murders which appear to be an integral part of everyday life in contemporary third-world Africa, I suspect that a lot of serious eyes-wide-open-and-no-romantic-nonsense planning would be necessary for such an adventure. Not to mention a hefty suitcaseful of visas and assorted paperwork.
But . . . what a fantastic, truly epic, journey it would be. Regards, Mr Ben.
Hi - I live in Winnipeg, Canada, and I work with an airline
in a reservations office here. A coupla friends from the
office and I are planning a trip to Maasai Mara, then on to
Zanzibar, in May. It will be my 1st trip to Africa, and I
can hardly wait!
Hey Jaco
I think you know who I am - Nicky I own Wacko Travel in
Harare, Zimbabwe. We operate from the Internet Cafe in the
Eastgate Centre. I am 23, a South African with Zimbabwean
Residency. I also reply to many of the postings here on the
page. You think you're bored cause its raining - it hasn't
stop raining here in Harare for 3 1/2 months now - at least
Pretoria has some sun - so have fun!!
NICKY
hi Nicky ---- i've crossed your path many times.
hi Becca ---- your heart must be beating faster every day!
mr. Ben -- you left the middle out
Zorro --- ....of what????
Lou ---- glad to see there's some educated people on the
tree ! are you gonna be in Sidney for the Millenium ?
Looks like us Canadians are ahead. Are we more literate or
are we just being civil ?
If you want a competition heres another one for the Aussies.
Just happens to be another Louise. Does that mean the
Louises are in front. I live in Sth Oz and we have had some
dam hot weather, not too bad today but Sunday I felt as if
someone had a blow torch to my head. I am sitting here at
my rather mundane job dreaming about travelling around
Africa later this year, that's why I am on the Tree right
now and not working. But I better start doing something
before the boss gets back.
Are you pretty? We're freezing our nuts off and if you ARE
the thought will keep me warm!
Yes Louise it up to the Aussie Louise's to keep up the side.
Better than Aussie Bruce's (sic). Do you work at Flinders
Uni?
I don't know about more literate but Canadians are
definitely more forward!
Jaco, I think I might be going to Penang or somewhere for
the millenium and for the Olympics there is talk of REALLY
cheap deals out of here to Europe or America - like the
equivalent of $US300-$500 RETURN - at the moment the
cheapest deal you can get is about $US1,000 and that's
travelling OFF OFF OFF Peak. I don't know if we can make
Africa as a stopover but I'll do my best. Want to check out
Zambia and Mozambique (dreaming again)
Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that we have the Olympics and
all that but I figure I'll be one less person in the crowd
and the people that are really into it can enjoy it while
I'm somewhere else sipping on champagne.
Jaco - you haven't said where you're from and what you do
apart from claiming to be an idiot?
Have a good day guys
Lou
Pita - please feel free to use your imagination, I wouldn't
normally feel that way but I pitty the condition you are in
at the moment.
Hurricane - you got it, I work at FUSA. How do you know it?
Jaco - sorry I forget to say hello and thanks for your web
site. I bookmarked it some time ago, it's going to be a
real asset for African travellers.
are a flirt! Poor Pita will be in a right state on hormone
overdrive (tee hee) Anyway, your email address says
"edu.au" - I'm doing a Dip Ed through Charles Sturt and the
e mail is @csu.ed.au - so I added two and two. So when and
where do you want to go in Africa? I'm jealous - I'm
still saving.
Lou
hi, looks like the Louises are definately in front - any
more out there????? Louise, thanks for giving my site a
punt - hello and you live where? Sth - where's that?
hurricane Louise - that penang deal sounds fantastic - go
for it. i did say in post # 9 ; i run/own Word of Mouth
backpackers Pretoria http://www.travelinafrica.co.za and
the idiot in #5 helped making this Topic the most posted!!!
sad git
ANYONE WHO LIVES IN KHANCOBAN HAS TO EXPECT TO BE BORED
Hello, I am a Canadian male, I surf this for any ideas on
travelling Europe this fall. I plan to work and travel for
the rest of my life, kind of nomadic wouldnt you say? There
is way too much out there to see and experience. To be
locked down is a shame.
I just wanted to thank Jaco for the trend he has started. I
am a University student in the US studying fine art. I lived
in Africa in 1995 and traveled Malawi, Bots, Zim and SA. I
am applying for a scholorship to come back to Africa during
our summer break. Reading all the messages on the TT makes
it seem so much more possible. I await the magic!
Jaco, you poor thing - why on earth are you bored? We live in one of the most beautiful places
in the world - I am biased, I know. There is too much to do, too much to see, too little time! Come
and play at ESSA (Exploration Society of Southern Africa) email: pamarais@global.co.za
and see what happens - you never know.....!!!!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
.....for all the posts.
canada replied 3x - propably 'cause they're snowed in
austalia 2x - cause aussies do
usa 2x - cause they get free internet!
uk, nz, zim, swazi all 1x
unkwown a couple
idiots 2x
it's been most educational!!! cheers jaco
Email me Lou, I tried to send you one but it wouldn't go
through.
Jaco, I'm in South Australia. Creative name ah!
I am headed for Zim on Feb 24...for volunteer stuff. I
can't wait to get out of this cold! This is my first time
on this thorn tree, and some of the neg stuff has been a bit
inimidating. But it's mostly good, so I am going to be
optimistic. I'm Tammy, 30, and I love to travel.
Unfortunately, this is my first really exotic destination
(although I guess exotic depends on which side of the world
you see things from!) I have seen parts of europe (Danmark,
Germany, Holland, Norway, Sweden, and a sunset/rise on
Iceland), parts of Canada (Alberta and east), the eastern
seaboard of the US, Cuba.....now Zim...
I like to see the "real" places I am going to...I am tempted
to skip Vic Falls for Great Zim - I will be limited in my
travel time outside of Harare. But I am playing it by ear!
Hey Jaco, good job man to get a few people chatting. You can
make that strike three from Oz. I'm talking from Melbourne and
am leaving for a 5 month trip to Egypt, Europe and the States
in two week's time. Anyone who'd care to correspond, drop me a
line.
unbelievable - Vic ; thanks for the nice punt before it
dies. Tammy --- where didn't you say you were from?????
Sorry...shouldn't have used the short form of Canadian I
guess. I live in Ontario, not far from Niagara Falls. 24
days and counting to my trip. By the way...for Zim...is
there any cultural dress codes for women? I am going to be
working at an orphanage, and they require pants or long
skirts, with shirts that have sleeves (tshirts ok, but not
tank tops or sleeveless blouses). This kills my wardrobe.
But is this common throughout Zim? Or are these just my
work directions? What does one wear roaming around Harare
as a single white female?
....picked up on that but i didn't read your title - even
the chilly bit is a giveaway !!!!
You should be Ok - when I was there it was pretty casual.
Although in in the heat etc and if your not used to the sun
it would be best to cover up at first. It's like Australia
- one step at a time - otherwise - pink and peeling is the
name of the skin game. Also, if you are on malaria pills
some versions take you resistance to sun totally away (well
that's what my doc told me) so slip on the screen quite
often.
Have a wonderful time
Lou
Thanks Lou...
My countdown is on, and I am incredibly excited. 19 days,
12 hrs, but who is counting???
Tammy
Jaco, Thanks for the interesting topic. Travelers are
fastinating people. - - - - as this thread slips into the
sunset.
Hi! I'm Olga and I live in Athens. It's been six months since I returned home from Pakistan and I am stuck here. I can't quite my job cause I have no money now, so the only thing to do is dreaming and reading the pages here to "smell" destinations and people!
The wheather is great and it's making my day!
It's like sunny days in Indonesia!
To anyone who's leaving, I wish the best of the best time!
Hey Jaco looks like you started a good thing, it sure makes
a change from just reading travel questions regards to all
who made this a fun read.
cio peter.
Dear there,
My messege is within the title.
NO COMMENT.
HANY
I am just another South African living in London and wish
that we could have a day's sunshine. I visit this site not
as often as I want to. I work in a research company. And
there is not as much work as I hope to have. I think it's
great chatting with travellers all over the world.
Especially to people who would like to know more about SA.
I am not an expert like Jaco but I try to help as much as I
can. You really need all the help you can get. If you
don't like the place: LEAVE!! Then you are obviously not
the right person for it. A traveller is suppose to enjoy
every trip. By all means it was your choice to go to the
country you went to. But don't try and make other people
negative.
I really hope to read some more mail from South Aricans.
Love
Liz
Just what our England needs - another miserable bloody South
African living in our capital and moaning constantly about
the weather. If South Africa is so great why not fuck off
back there?
Go there to earn your Pounds did you? Hope you're skint and
living in a shithole in Clapham.
How dare YOU moan about travellers, who've just had a couple
of shitty experiences, when all you're doing is being
amongst the mind-numbingly BORING crop of assholes who are
stupid enough to think they'll make it in England. Shame eh,
you naive and pointless individual.
In case you hadn't realised, this is a page for TRAVELLERS.
Understand the concept? No, thought not.
No address cos I can't be arsed with the shit. And you're
dull anyway. My god, I'm bored this evening.
If this page is for travellers why are you logged on. And
by the way. This topic is just to find out what people are
doing round the world at the moment. Not to critisize
their intensions of visiting a country.
Hi everyone. I am here accidentially, I usually 'live' on
the Indian subcontinent branch. By the way, I think many of
you will enjoy the discussion under 'Is there life after
backpaking?' post there. I think there are over 150 replies
now. I just decided to take a glans at the African site. To
check out the crowd. You all seem very nice, but I guess
every branch got psyco's like mmm.
Anyway, I am Russian and I live in Copehagen. I have
travelled to India, S.E. Asia and Central America.
I have always had this feeling that Africa should be saved
till last, I feel somehow that that would be the last
continent to go after visiting all the others. I feel one
should be prepared for it somehow. What do you think? Now,
there is only one thing left to say: GO TO INDIA IF YOU
HAVEN'T BEEN THERE!!!!! Happy travels, all of you!
German to reply to this post :) Right now i'm stuck in this
real horrible job, can't leave so easily, 'cause I'm broke
and not entitled to any benefits really (happens if you
haven't payed your contributions here for over 2 years).
Can't complain, had almost 3 great years in the UK and 5
months travelling down under and Asia during the past 5
years. The TT (whatever branch) makes my job bearable
(sp???) and gives me ideas for my next trips.
Suzanne, 34, Minnesota USA. Yes, there's snow on the
ground here. I've travelled extensively in Asia and
usually hang on the Indian subcontinent thread. I also was
a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco, so I like to hang in
the Africa web now and then. Mostly I just wish I were
"out there" right now, but it'll happen, so for now I'll
just web hang in between work.
I guess I'll throw in my lot with the Canadians. There
seems to be a lot of us lurking on this site....and I
haven't even been snowed in yet this year. My middle name
is Louise, so do I count as one of them, too? Hi, everyone.
And I know better than to do that, too. 'Scuse me.
Had not seen Dutch guys on this follow, so here I am.
Also called Holland by stupid tourists for some reason...
Vheers,
Ed
Hi all!
I was reading through a bunch of happy posts (respect to
Jaco)when I come across a fellow Brit.. (Tasmanian Standard
Time?) doing the whinging pom thing- "Just what our England
needs" OUR England, OUR capital. Bog off.
Frankly, the weather IS shitty in London at the moment, as
ever... Tell it like it is - don't let petty nationalistic
impulses cloud your judgment, and leave your mail address
if you're going to be vitriolic, I love a verbal scrap -
but in private.
Everyone else, I'm Al done a bit of Oz., Thailand, Europe
and am looking at spending the summer in Italy doing the
whole language, culture, signoritas thing. Possibly Beirut
and the Middle East thereafter.
Is there anywhere a tad more permanent for likeminded souls
to get together and have a yarn and does anyone else use
Yahoo Pager? (id alaricdavies)
Regards, a friendly Brit!
Looks like I'm in Tasmania as well! Funny that, it always
LOOKED like London!
Al
Hi there, I'm a Kiwi who has moved across to good ole
London. Did a two month stint in Malawi and Zimbabwe on the
way over in the hope that the travel bug would bite the dust
by the time I arrived in the UK. Unfortunately it hasn't
but work commitments are preventing me from heading off
anywhere for quite a well. Boo hoo. But I do get to travel
the Lonely Planet site and read of everyone else's exciting
adventures. Better than nothing me thinks. Anyway, happy
travels to all and sundry, be that via the wonders of
technology or not! Toodles, Jo
I've just booked my flights to Jo'burg for Nov 7th.
Travelling thru' SA, Namibia, Botswana and then christmas
in Harare with my girlfriends family. Can't wait.
So, who else is taking off this year?
After growign up all over the USA, I have spent my entire
adult life in Phoenix, Arizona which is mostly high desert.
If anyone is headed this way, drop me some mail. I love to
tell people about places that aren't in the travel guides!
I choose to live in the city because that is where I can
most quicly earn the money I need (as a softwaree engineer)
to get to heck out of the city to play. My favoriate place
on the planet is Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, in
January when there are very few other people around.
Second favorite is Scotland; the further north you go and
the further away from cities you get the more wonderful the
people are! Next choice is Alaska; Denali National Park in
particular but most of the state is fabulous.
I'm now saving for a trip to Batswana. Ask me again in 18
months what my favorite is.
I'm a 26 year old bloke who is going to Namibia on my next
set of travels!
Why? Never been and looks lovely but the main reason is
that my girlfriend will have just finished a 3 month
expedition with Operation Raleigh! She has only been gone
for 4 days and I am quite lonely! Also have just given up
smoking for 4 weeks and am very proud!!
Any tips 'n' trick for when I'm there and I will be
eternally grateful!
Cheers peeps
Matty (UK) ICQ=34438298 AOL IM = pugsy999
Hi Matt and everyone else! Catherine, 31, here from about an
hour south of Sydney. Pooh-y rainy day but that's OK because
I'm doing indoors stuff at the moment. I'm up to my eyeballs
in LPs, tablecloth size maps, brochures and e-mails trying
to sort out the when/where/how of a two-and-a-bit month trip
to Namibia, Sth Africa, Mozambique and a little bit of
Zimbabwe (squeezing that back in - loved it so much last
time) from August to early October 1999. I'm going by myself
this time and I'm freaking out (so are my parents - they
didn't have a spare). I so wanted to do it more
independently (ie. drive) than the last time but my travel
buddies have fallen by the wayside (last month) and it's
just me. My employer also told me (last week) that we're
re-structuring (read: reducing staff) and they can't
guarantee me my job will be waiting for me when I get back.
I've been saving my leave and money for 2.5 years and I just
can't face not going so I'll leave it up to fate. Shame
really, unlike other posters above I really love my job, but
Africa calls me back...
Plasticpaddy - Christmas in Harare sounds cool bananas but
won't you fry Nov-Dec in Bots and Namibia ????
Anyone going over who wants to chat, mail me.
Regards to all, Cath.
Reading all these posts has made my feet unbearably itchy
(although that could be the athlete's foot I got from the
swimming pool...). I've so much to visit! Still, only 2
more months of this job (which the word dull was invented
for) and then it's sunny, dirty and inspiring Egypt. Oh,
and #56, good on you -I'd hate myself if after saving for
so long I didn't go through with it.
Hi I'm from Perth western Australia.....just wanted to say
hi...I read this stuff cos I went to Zim last year and have
fallen in love with th eplace and love to read anything
about it!!
I have two months to go working as a teacher in an Ontario, Canada board of ed. Took an x over y (4 over 5) to afford a one-year around the world experience. Sick of the political situation so looking for an 'out'! Just sold the motorcycle last night (snf,snf,...) and next the car. Hmmm, maybe the skis and the bicycle (computer, toolbox, etc) Can't wait for some solo adventure.
So, it's April and where's Jaco? You haven't sent since Feb! Are you travelling or just enjoying the show? Hey 57, how are the feet??
Bleedin' load of cobblers you're all spouting
Hey Barb:
What is it like to work as a teacher in Ontario. I have
been living in Taipei for 2 years, and my mom keeps trying
to tell me that I should come home and go to Teacher's
College. She claims that there are a lot of good teaching
positions opening up there? I don't know, sounds fishy if
I remember things with Harris? Sounds like the kind of
thing a mother says to talk her kid into coming home.
Rosanne
BTW...Very fun posts here, I am usually on the SEA branch.
My favourite country being Vietnam. Why???....Vietnamese
men. Although, there are a lot of them back home in
Toronto....nothing like going to the source!
I'm calling from Louisiana, USA...I've seen a lot of
similarities here to some of the lesser developed countries
I've been in...bad roads, history of less than honest
governments, large animals that will kill you and drag you
off to eat you later...I'm headed to Morocco this summer
for (unfortunately only) 2 weeks. The current job doesn't
really allow for a whole lot of long trips. Someday,
though, the dream is to do Cairo-Kampala-Capetown-
Casa...we'll see. Great site. Laissez les bon temps
roulez!! Aaaaaeeee!! (That was Cajun)