after travelling for 2 days from ethiopia's capital, we finally reached the kenyan border. how to describe the remaining 800 kms from the border to nairobi...was it an excellent adventure? yes, one of the hardest and most unforgettable things we've done.
was the scenery nice? absolutely, an endless expanse of wilderness and desert...picture "the lion king" except real.
would we do it again? never! not if you paid us.
the trip is done on a giant cattle truck and the road (if you can call it that) is atrocious. the truck is packed full of supplies and people (many sitting up on those bars). we were in constant concentration and tightly gripped anything we could find as the truck bumped along. a few 'highlights':
9am: first of many police passport checks - money changes hands between the ethiopians on board and the armed guards - spirits are high
11am: the driver comes out and pours oil on the tarp we've been using as a seat(apparently sitting "spoils" the tarp...the oil is meant to keep us off) - it's now standing room only - spirits are lowered
1pm: we get bad sun burn
10pm: we are chilled to the bone
2am: an all out brawl erupts on the truck. people are yelling and fists are flying. after about 10 minutes the truck finally stops and things are sorted out. i remember canada with much fondness.
3:30am: i ask the guy beside me if we're close to the end - he just laughs and says no. matt hears the exchange and yells from his corner, "lars, there's no pain in memory!" the bruises on my butt and back disagree.
4am: i hear matt mumble, "oh man, lars, i would kill for your spot right now. it looks like you bounce less..." i eye matt suspiciously... (from my sweet spot)
5am: matt says, "i don't think i'll be able to walk again." i laugh - but it's a forced, nervous laughter
6am: we see some giraffe, antelope, zebras, and crazy birds as the sun rises. it almost makes the trip worth it
in the end, the trip took 22.5 hours (with only a few short breaks). we arrived at 7am in arusha and took a bus at 7:30am for a 5 hour bus ride to nairobi (...well, it would've been 5 hours except that our bus broke down...which is another story).
it's nice to be here in nairobi!
12 comments:
Oh man, it sounds like you guys are having some crazy times out there. Hopefully you're stiff muscles are loosening up a bit after that terrible cattle-truck ride. Thanks for the updates, it's great to read about what you're up to.
i can hear the forced chuckle lars. i don't think i could've done it.
That's crazy Tubby. But now you'll be able to take any roadtrip in stride no matter how crappy it is.
Gary
yikes, that sounds worse than a cramped 'rush hour' chicken bus ride lars!! sounds like you guys are having a blast...i'm so jealous. stay safe and keep the stories coming.
Wow! I am impressed that you would take such an adventure (the cattle truck). I saw loads of people piled into trucks for trips upcountry in Sierra Leone...also, crazy roads that take hours/days longer than they should to travel.
I rode on the insane roads in the "comfort" of a British Military Land Rover, and that STILL wasn't very comfortable. You guys are my heroes...either that I think you are extremely stupid. :)
I also go back and forth between envy and relief that I am not making that trek. (Though I think envy wins every time)
Prayers continue to follow you.
i am crying from laughing, feeling your pain and envy. sounds like a crazy adventure. i cant even begin to imagine what that would have been like. hope to catch you online one of these days...
haha! Wow sounds painful...But you will recover and the memory will be remembered as laughable. Its great to hear about your adventures, Lars, I totally agree with melody's comment that its good to have something to think about to remind us of the poverty we experienced. Anywho keeping you in my prayers and keep having an awesome time!
Hi Matt and Lars. Hope you have recovered from the bumps and bruises. Our Neighbor went down the Grand Canyon on a mule in April and is still complaining about his aches...Youth is on your side!
We loved the Domino picture. We've been playing here with your Parent's. We played with Brian last Saturday and he said his life was sad, playing dominos with his parents on a Saturday night. Think he'd rather be in pain with you both.
Is McDonalds food close to home? Brian's comment on "kushari gas" scared us.
You are in our prayers and thoughts. Keep safe but have lots of adventures. Thanks for the Blog and bringing us all along on your trip!
Glenn and Debbie
Sounds like you guys need a massage from Buster!
wow. what a crazy trip. what do you think the locals were thinking? thanks for keeping us with you. i miss you both.
wow! Comapred to that Semesche sounds like first class!
Melody
PS at least you didn't have to throw up at any time during the trip...
totally hear ya, Lars! the scenery is SO beautiful but you are just so distracted by the discomfort! in Cameroon Kent and I were crammed in this mini-bus with all these slogans painted inside. "No vomiting" (as if a sign will prevent it), "don't send head or hand out the window" (must... get... air) and then there was "no vitamins." We still don't really get that one. Anyway, glad you made it out alive!
Kara
Post a Comment