Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Lusaka to Livingstone, Zambia






Lusaka, how does one describe it? Polluted, Soviet-esque, Grey, heavily Christian. Africa.

We had some random experiences there. Stumbling upon a meeting place for the African Union, Parliament, playing Soccer with Zambian youth at a Church, going to the market (called Arcades). As well, any Zambian in a car will call to you and shout "Taxi?"

Zambia has a small economically important Indian population--mostly Shopowners and restaurateurs.

At our hostel, goods were known to go missing. Oddly enough, they tend to get replaced when one complained to the staff--like my Mosi beer which conveniently reappeared when I had a lengthy discussion with the guard/ handyman, John--a bright lad of 20, who complained that dowry for wives had doubled to 200,000 kwatcha, or about $50.

People love Obama. If anything, the first sentence they speck to you usually follows this pattern.... mumble mumble mumble Obama!? mumble!

From Lusaka we traveled to Livingstone by bus, a 7 hr journey. The Bus station is not for the faint of heart--you have to steel yourself for the barrage of bus offers and stares. We were also treated to a complimentary fire-and-brimstone sermon on the Mazhandu Family Bus Service, bus.

It would be about two days by train. Trains by the way, look as if someone took them off the tracks, burned them. Dissembled them and reassembled them with junk parts. Highly ill-advisable.

Livingstone is a more touristy location due to Victoria Falls. Victoria falls are hectic. Thousands of gallons a second, mist so intense that there is constant torrential rain (you can't bring a camera close to the falls!). Pictures do it more justice than words.

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