Nailclippers

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Buying nailclippers on the street in Maputo. Just found this. You just have to love China.

I’m on a morning walk on my never ending street that despite its length never runs out of interestingness. People sell everything, everywhere. Vegetables, clothes, electronics, sunglasses, furniture.. whatever you might need. Bought a really good weekend backpack yesterday for 7€ – really starting to get into this street shopping thing. Need a coconut?

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Mind the gap

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One thing you learn early when living in Maputo is to always watch your step. This hole is 1,5m deep and could easily break a leg if it wanted to. But despite these horrendous sidewalks, I consider my daily walk home from work a pleasure. I wouldn’t call it relaxing, but it’s certainly not boring.

Namibia, part one – Take me to the desert

Before arriving to Namibia, I had been obsessed with Gregory Colberts “Ashes and Snow” for a while, and was very excited about finally getting to see those red sand dunes in the Namib desert. The main difficulty in Namibia is, however, the dependency of a car. If you don’t have one ot don’t have unlimited amounts of money to spend on renting one, you’re basically stuck in Windhoek. I put a note on the notice board in the hostel saying that I’m looking for a travel buddy and that my aim is to get around to see “cats & sand”. I only had four days to spend, and was slowly realizing that renting a car was far more expensive than what my budget could possible handle. I met Nate in the hostel, he was in the same situation and we both sat around thinking about a solution. Windhoek was a nice city and we went with some people from the hostel to eat at Joe’s beerhouse where we got to taste zebra, oryx, ostrich and Springbook meat. It was different, but tasty. And on the way back we were 8 people in the taxi, T.I.A style.

I was emailing with a friend from Copenhagen who had hooked me up with some contacts in the places I was going on my easter trip, and one of his Zimbabwean friends was based in Windhoek. We emailed about meeting up and I mentioned that I probably would need to rent a car. Baldwin didn’t hesitate a second before offering his car, just like that! I asked whether he had ever visited the Namib desert. He hadn’t. So I convinced him to join us. The more, the merrier!

Nate and I checked out and stood waiting outside the hostel as a black and sparkling Mercedes C220 pulled up. “Wait, is that the car?” Baldwin stepped out and greeted us, this was going to be random and fun. We laughed. We didn’t have any plan other than getting to the desert and camping there, so Baldwin had arranged tents and sleeping bags and all the equipment we would need – he was the best organiser ever! We went to shop for random food that we could eat for dinner and breakfeast, basically cookies, bread and fruits, and then we drove off. It didn’t take long before I was allowed to take over the driving and I was so happy! The guys were having beers and I was stepping on the gaspedal, going through dirt roads and amazing landscapes in a car that would respond properly to anything I asked it for, it was the perfect set up!

We arrived to Soussusvlei quite late and found out that we would have to camp in the people-packed camping area outside of the park which wasn’t really what we had hoped for when dreaming about tranquile sand dunes and starlit skies. We decided to try an alternative way, the acting stupid one, and got in to the park just before it closed. We found a sand dune that we liked and parked the car. Right there, we saw the sunset, waited until the stars came out, set up our enormous tent and had dinner. The guys were scared of snakes and scorpions and didn’t want to get out of the tent, but I refused missing out on sleeping under the full moon, so I took my sleeping bag out and spent the night there, alone, with a jackal howling in the distance.

Baldwin woke us up before six and we went to do what people usually do in the Namib desert, we climbed the dramatically red dunes, hung out in the beautiful dried out lake, and took many photos. Luckily, we got to the places before the tourist masses and could leave before the sun got too intense.

On our way out from the park we were asked why we hadn’t gotten out before closing and made up the best excuse in the world. It worked, and the drive home was even more fun as we had a great adventure to laugh about, and great music to sing along to. My hair was full of sand – and I got to drive all the way home.

Sunday in Blyde River Canyon

Once again, I will mention how amazing it is to live in Maputo, with the most beautiful places just a short drive away. Yesterday, Manuel got the brilliant idea to cross the border and take a daytrip to Blyde River Canyon in South Africa which is the world’s third biggest canyon. We got there just as the sun was setting and the gates had closed, but we asked nicely – and got in to see amazing light over a breathtaking view on our own. I love the flexibility of this place.

I drove us back home and everything was pitch black, but the roads in South Africa are a dream to drive on and going through all the curves in the mountains with the girls sleeping in the backseat was simply enchanting. It was me and my iPod against the world – singing to Vetusta Morla and swaying to electronic music. The drive would easily have made it to be my favourite part of the day had it not been for the overwhelming view of the canyon. Go there if you live anywhere close by. Or come visit me and we’ll go together.

Barefoot dancing

Went to a girl party at my friend Nara’s place on Saturday. It was a nice evening with girls, food and drinks – and later we went to Coconuts. The club was filled with palm trees and beach gear, people were drinking from their coconuts, the floors were covered with sand and we danced barefoot – beach theme all the way!