Starting my blog...#1

Not sure how to do the titles, so I thought that I'd number them, to show some sort of order (must be that Dow training thing), so...

By now, I thought I'd have lots of time to create, post, and publish my blog.  Have lots of pictures, etc., but guess what!  I can't believe how fast time has gone and I haven't done anything with it yet.  I'm forcing myself to start this, so I can continue daily.  I already have lots to share, and want to organize my thoughts (now that's a first), so I'm just going to start.

Our flight over to Antananarivo, Madagascar (which is east of South Africa, 4 hour plane ride) from Auckland, New Zealand was an experience in it self.  We left Auckland to fly to Perth (8 hour plane ride).  Landed there to catch a Saturday night 23:45 flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, only to be told 3 hours later that the plane needed a part which had to come from South Africa on Monday.  Thank God for Business Class lounges.  They put us up in a lovely hotel for 2 nights with buffet meals.  Very nice.  Had a chance to visit the city of Perth.  Some folks did not see it that way.  Quite irritable.  I say, jump on the plane then, and don't complain when it crashes into the Indian Ocean.  We toured the city on a tram and double decker bus in +37 degrees.  Of course we sat on the top, as I told Rick we could see more, and we did that day, but that night we couldn't see anything cause our eyes were swollen shut from being sun burnt.  Just kidding,  pretty damn close though.  Got back to the hotel, thinking we would have a little lay down (bagged from the heat), then have supper.  As it worked out, we woke up at 6:00 in the morning.  Breakfast was lovely!  Hopped on the bus at 11:00 to the airport, caught the next flight out to Johannesburg (11 hour flight).  Spent the night in Johannesburg, as we missed our connecting flight.  South African airlines also put us up in a very nice hotel with meals for one night, then caught the flight out the next afternoon.  I LOVE JOHANNESBURG!  I didn't see much, but what I saw, I like.  I'm definitely going back there for a visit.  Landed in Antananarivo on Tuesday, and it was hot and humid.  It hits you like a brick.  Zacka, our driver picked us up and went to the hotel, (cause you know, we just can't seem to fly and drive, oh no, we need to spend the night).  Got up the next morning to go shop at "Super Score" (like a Superstore, Madagascar style) to purchase some items that I didn't bring (yes, folks, there were some things, I didn't bring), then head home to Tamatave.  This is a 300 kl drive that takes 7-8 hours.  The roads are sooo windy, lots of deep cliffs, hills, valleys and or course no railings (safety first you know), and villages that are attached to the road.  Absolutely, zero space between the shoulder of the road and the hut.  I'm surprised that we didn't hit anybody when we drove through the villages.  The car trip was pretty nauseating.  It's so windy, at one point Rick said it was a good thing he didn't eat, cause he probably would of lost it.  Finally made it after 6 1/2 hours, Zacka was travelling pretty fast.  Got home, unpacked and put things away.  Rick went to sleep, as he had to work in the morning, but I don't and was pumped to get things in order.

Did I mention we were over in luggage and it only cost $1275.00 for one extra bag from New Zealand to South Africa, and another $1150.00 for 2 extra bags from South Africa to Madagascar!

This is all for today.  More tomorrow.

Sherry