Posts from Gianna
Mumbai
Fish market
We woke up at 5 in the morning to go to a fish market run by the real citizens of Mumbai, the Koli people. The Koli men go on one-to-two-day fishing trips, then they go home and do almost nothing but drink. The Koli woman sell the fish, buy the fish, and run the household.
The smell was intoxicating. There were fish guts everywhere. I had to wear plastic wraps on my feet, to keep my shoes clean. We saw baby sharks, eels, fish, and sea flap-flaps (stingrays).
The people in the rest of India were extremely nice
The people outside the fish market were amazingly friendly, throughout the rest of India in fact. All of the kids waved and yelled “Hi,” and the grownups all thought Tori was cute. In the fish market, however, people were not as friendly. People pushed and shoved their way in front of us. I even saw several women beat a man for accidentally dropping fish on the ground.
Elephanta Island
We set off on an one hour boat ride to nearby Elephanta Island. The caves on Elephanta Island were amazing. The island had seven caves, but we only visited one. It had pillars built from top to bottom every eight feet and beautiful carvings of the Hindu god Shiva, destroyer of evil.
On the island, Zoe almost fainted from the heat. I was also affected a lot by the heat. The return ride was horrific, but at least their was a breeze. Stomachs were hurting and bags were used. I learned that I can get seasick.
Leopards!
We went to South Africa. If there is one thing I can tell you, it’s hot. Every place we have been in South Africa has been sweltering! First we went to Cape Town, then to Kruger, then to Jo’burg. From relaxation to safari, South Africa is the place to be. I will begin telling you with Cape Town.
First I went to Cape Town. The house we stayed in was really nice. We were a short walk away from the beach. If you ever go to Cape Town, go see the penguins. They are the most adorable little things besides the Dassies. The Dassies are a mix between an anime small seal and an anime small groundhog! Go to table mountain, too. I didn't go, but I imagine it has a wonderful view.
The next stop on our list was Kruger National Park. We saw lions: first we saw one mom and her small cubs, the second lion appearance was of a grown male. The male lion's tooth had been knocked out by a giraffe’s kick. Ouch! We also saw leopards, hippos, elephants, rhinos, squirrels, duiker, impala, nyala, baboons, vervet monkeys, etc. {.img-center .img-8-8}
The last of South Africa for us was Johannesburg. We took a hop-on and hop-off bus, saw Nelson Mandela square, and his house too. I learned that people swarm around Mandela’s house that he only lived for 11 days! People came to Jo’burg because of the promise of gold. In just 20 years, the entire Johannesburg city was made! Jo’burg is indeed a wonderful city.
Moroco
Marrakech
The first and last place we went in Morocco was Marrakesh. I lost my tooth in a potato and I was happy because it had been bothering me. We saw the market, cobras, and lots of monkeys in neon shirts. The nightlife is amazing here! We bought salwars in a labyrinth of a market. What an interesting city.
Sahara
We rode camels into the Sahara. I named my camel Camelio. Tori named her camel Fluffy, like the three headed dog in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's stone. When the camels stood up and sat down it was startling and the best thing ever at the same time. Up, down, and up again across the Sahara desert. My expectations of a desert were exceeded.
Berber Camp
While in the Sahara, we rode to a Berber camp. The first two tents we got assigned had really big holes in them. A sand storm blew in and that doesn't mix well with holes in your tent. We had to walk to a newer camp.
We wore turbans; mine is green. It was a sandy night, but I enjoyed all of it. We also got to sandboard on the dunes; it was my favorite.
Dades Gorge and Atlas Mountains
Let's start with tagines. There are dishes of meat or vegetables, in a clay, round plate with a clay cone on top. In the Atlas mountains we had a lot of tagines. Dades Gorge is basically the Morroccan Grand canyon; I've never been to the Grand Canyon, so that metaphor was lost on me. We stayed in a hotel with a pool in Dades Gorge.
Cough
The air in Morocco is extremely dry. The dry air can cause you to get a cough that can last a long time. We took cough medicine, but I still have the cough.