|
-----Original Message-----
From: Euan ****************
Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2001 9:56 AM
To: Pickering David
Subject: First trip of the year
David,
Well this one was a little more exciting. As usual I started off
by not knowing an exact
departure date in advance. So after a late night telephone
call, the next day was spent trying to get tickets, packed,
sorted out, and all those
things that one tends to leave till the last minute. I got to the
Air Madagascar office late in the afternoon as the "riot"
police were setting up for
the demonstrations. The next morning at five AM I was up, and off
to the airport. When I arrived in Johannesburg I overheard a
couple of people
discussing the "demonstrations", one of them got a whiff of tear
gas, her claim to fame I
guess. But to me it makes more sense, that when you come
across demonstrations, to head in the opposite direction,
works for me. As usual I
was met at the airport by a mate, but I informed him straight away
that I was on antibiotics and was not drinking. He was taken
aback, but there was no
choice, he would have to get inebriated without me. Which he
did, it is a totally different scene being the only sober
person, instead of the
most drunk. Seeing as it was nice warm weather, we headed off to
the Vaal river to visit
someone. The guy's brother in law is one of those people
with more money to buy toys, than time to use them. The
garage was full of jet
skis, and quad motorcycles. But on the river was a boat with wall
to wall carpeting, inboard
motor, and an excellent
stereo system. So we spent
some time just seeing how well the boat handled, after the sun
went down we retied to the
heated pool and a B.B.Q/Braai. Sometimes life is so difficult
:)) But I had to cut the fun short and head to Uganda the
next morning. The guy who
met me at the airport was late, which set the course to what was
to come. The next day I
started packing a shipment for Richard, the guy I work for. I
started doing the venomous snakes first, some nice Atheris, and
Forest Cobras. But whilst putting a Jameson's Green Mamba,
that was unship able, back
in it's box I was tagged. Stupidity really, I should learn not to
expect help from these people. So twenty four hours later I
was out of the clinic, though not quite on my feet so to speak. I
sat it out with a compressive bandage rather than take the
antivenin. Whole body numbness,
jerky legs, and a general feeling of highness. I spent the
next few days trying to
see where the exporter was in his husbandry knowledge. I wanted to
then go to Mount Elgon to see Chamaeleo hoehnelii, but time
was not on my side. So I
headed back to the South West of Uganda, where
the Mountain
Gorillas are found. Another trip passes and I still have
not seen the Gorillas,
though I have been in the National Parks where they live. It costs
$150 USD for a ticket to see them, that sort of money I
just never seem to find at
the right time. Though I did get to see Chamaeleo johnstoni from
another population outside of the Rwenzori mountains. They appear
to be a more sky blue
colour, and live in disturbed habitat. I was right next to
Lake Bunyonyi where Mr Schraml had found some interesting
cichlids, but alas as
usual I was unable to go "fishing". The driver I had the use of
was so experienced, I think he had never driven a car before.
Where you are supposed to
go right, he went left, when he was supposed to go left, he went
right. Potholes a hundred metres ahead, in full view, were
hit head on at 100 km/hr.
Not got for the vehicle. He even hit a cyclist on the return
journey, needless to say he is not working for the exporter
anymore. I had use of a VERY old Land Rover, that needed fixing
before I left, then again
half way through the trip, and on the return as well. You go
through a lot of petrol
when there is a hole in the fuel tank. Anyway I also went back to
the Rwenzori mountains, again the park was not open due to
rebel activity, so I was
unable to climb up into the mountains themselves. But I sat around
for a coupe of hours while the locals collected a few
chameleons, and I took a
few more photographs. I arrived back in Kampala in time to pack
another export. I photographed
everything before hand, and as per usual when I needed help there
was none. I wanted to photograph a Jameson's Green Mamba,
which was not too co-operative, I had it by the tail and
asked for a hook, and
asked, and asked, eventually I turned my head to see why a hook
was not forthcoming, only to get bitten on the upper thigh for my
trouble. Luckily I had
plenty of antibodies floating around. So the only effect was a
very sore thigh, a general
feeling of weakness and a splitting headache. I was able to
pack the export a couple of days after no problem, except
by the time everyone got
their act together the freight department had closed. So I
worked ALL day for nothing. I also did a couple of side
trips not too far from Kampala to see so Atheris hispida, and
Great Blue Turacos. I also
organized some Turacos, Hornbills, Barbets, and Crested Guinea
Fowl for myself.
Unfortunately they have not arrived yet, maybe in a week or so.
Luckily I could return to South Africa for some R&R.
Another day on the Vaal river, supposedly to learn skiing, but
alas we came across a group of
friends having a party, this time I was not on antibiotics
so joined in the fun.
Though when I went to the clinic in Kampala for the snake bite, I
found out that I had
Guardia, and Bilharzias. The joys of living in the tropics. I
spent a week in Johannesburg stocking up my stomach in
restaurants, and buying supplies to bring home. South Africa is
very cheap in comparison to
other parts of Africa, and the world. The locals just do
not understand how well
they live, on so little. I arrived in Antananarivo to notice from
the plane that it had been
raining a little while I was away. Tana looked liked
a lake full of islands from the air. The world's news
organizations just seem to forget about Madagascar. Last year when
the floods hit Mozambique,
people were not informed that the cyclones passed through
Madagascar before they got
to Mozambique. Ah well, it just goes to show how relatively
peaceful Madagascar is, that it does not even hit the news.
I arrived home to over a
thousand emails, and some welcome magazines in the post box.
Though as usual the "Reptiles" magazine has gone astray, in
one year I get three
issues, but get ALL other mail, I have heard of others having the
same problem in Europe.
Well hope you enjoyed. If I missed responding to an email just
remind me.
Regards
Euan *****************
|
