May 19th
Vilankulo, Mozambique
So I got lost for a while but have resurfaced in southern Africa. There are many things that have occured but it is only now that the internet is working again and I have the patience to write. The last three weeks have led me across three countries en route to the World Cup. From the palm fringed Tanzania island of Zanzibar through Dar es Salaam I was self-forced to change my course through Northern Mozambique as the visa process would have required me to stay an extra week. I had some empty memory cards stolen as well as one of my two pair of shorts. As I have changed my lifestyle from day to day into moment by moment I made my way across the Tanzanian countryside through a nice game park to the border with Malawi. I luckily beat out all the bus station scams and money changers along the way and crossed the Malawian frontier.
Malawi was a beautiful change from all my previous stops. The people were wonderful and kind and it really hit the spot. I found myself a nice bungalow on the beach on the shores of Lake Malawi and vegged hard for 8 or days. Along with ten other guys we formed Mizungo United (aka white boy soccer team) and took on the entire town (we have a facebook page). Everyday we had a new challenger, some we won, some we lost. It was nice fun.
Then came the eye infection. A few days in one girl got it and her eyes were glued shut and pussing. Then it moved to her friend, then on to two members of Mizungo United. I was terrified. I was told it was a bacterial infection, it seemed nasty. Needless to say, I packed up and ran. I wanted nothing to do with it even though I was completely convinced I had it for days after.
It was time to head south. I hitched a ride with some Swedes to Lilongwe the capital of Malawi and began a grueling bus journey south. I still can’t remember how many days straight it took, but my neck and back are fucked, my brain aches and that music won’t stop echoing in my skull. Full blast is the only volume they have. Over the past few days I have pitched my tent (that being my home) in two bus stations. It was either that or who knows what. I crossed into Mozambique at Zobue and am now attempting to speak Spanish in a Portugese colony. At least I can tell the girls they’re beautiful.
Last night the bus ride finally finished in some cross road town at midnite. Of course there was no further transport. After much deliberation I pitched my trusty Big Angnes tent in the crossroads and went to sleep until dawn. I was a bit nervous seeing it is a new country that I know nothing about, but after 4 or so days of straight bus travel, a fever, headache and dehydration I was getting some rest!
I awoke this morning, hitched a ride to Vilankulo, which is a sweet little beach town on the Indian Ocean with great diving and seafood. Strikes and gutters, baby.