Thursday, May 26, 2005

36C

Not my bra size.
That's the temperature announced over the loudspeaker as my plane
descended in Niamey at 930pm. Correct, PM.
Many of you know I was flying to Ouagadougou but in an extreme example
of 'can I follow you to where you're going' I got off the plane one
stop ahead.
I've been in Niamey since Monday night. I'm being cheap and sleeping
in a dorm with an electric fan. My digital thermometer informs me
that our dorm room is body temp (and I may still be malaria-free). I
love my hotel and have a new best friend there, but the heat is
killing me. Imagine the hottest thing you've ever felt. Sustain it
for several days. Welcome to my new world.
Still, things are good. I seek giraffes. Today I rode a boat of sorts.
Photos are difficult to obtain. It feels too much like a violation to
start snapping away. I have a photo of a cow though. My film may be
fried. Hopefully not.
I will probably leave a week early. There seem to be no other tourists
here. The climate makes it rather obvious why, I suppose.
Gotta go now and seek a cheap way to see giraffes. And yes, I am
actually going to make it to Ouagadougou eventually.
By the way, Africa is a seriously expensive destination.
Comment roll call from what i remember....
Phu - Rolling is a bit of a myth I think. My sleeping sheet is smaller folded.
Darcy - See, even though I'm not at work I'm still around to entertain
you. And don't be mean to fat kids =p
Justine - There are rather big lizards in our compound, but none
inside. I'm convinced one peed or pood on me today as I sat outside
b/c I felt something on my head.
Bosun - Thanks for the Kylie update. I wasn't sure how Glasto would be
affected. Oh well, lots to choose from anyway.
All London people - Anyone mind having a small Tess staying with them
for a while? And/or hanging on to some of my random souvenirs while I
traipse around the rest of the summer?

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Tess, good to hear that you're having a great time. Hope you get to see a giraffe.
From Janny, Sandra and Jenn: saw Athlete with Snow Patrol a few wks ago. Want you to see Athlete while at Glastonbury.
Bye!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Tess!!! I've finally finished unpacking and have just caught up on your blog. I love that you do things that I would never do--it makes for great reading :) Stay safe and have fun!
Love,
SG

Anonymous said...

I saw Madagascar on the weekend, which had a cartoon giraffe in it. I was looking forward to seeing real photos of real giraffes. Hope you can get some soon! (PS - I just got home from Ontario - Marissa threw a fit because I wouldn't stay while she peed.)

elva said...

do you have my mailing address? i want postcards dammit!

124 gosling gardens #32
guelph on
n1g 5k6

hope you are well!!!

Anonymous said...

well, i just rolled into Islamabad today and it's 41C, so i win (hehe). i'm sorry to hear about North Africa being a bit rough -- i think you just gotta give it more time. for example, i hated India for a month, and then loved it for 14 weeks afterwards. hated Ethiopia for a day -- and then almost cried (no lie) when i left for Sudan three months later. it's definitely harder for girls -- which is why you gotta keep at it! don't run off to Europe! Europe is SO over! those clowns peaked with the Renaissance and it's been all downhill from there. my new Swiss friend (who has been busy battling creepy Pakistani dudes for a month), concurs. so, stay in Africa! kill whitey! NON and NEE to Europe!

anywho, i'll keep checking in on you because it looks like we may end up in China around the same time. i'll be crossing into Chinese Turkestan around July and hitching through Tibet into Yunnan province and then on to Beijing by September. that's the plan, anyway.

p.s. not to brag or anything, but i have also had to fend off my fair share of sexually frustrated muslim men out here. sometimes they come right out with the age-old question, "do you like sex?" -- other times a more subtle rub of the ass on a crowded bus, or (this one's my favourite) they'll shake your hand and give you the middle-finger-palm-tickle. you just gotta roll with the punches baby! it's a small price to pay for the privilege of seeing the world's most beautiful places.
peace and pancakes,
josh