Life on Mars – Brendan

When I Went To

This tale starts with a strawberry daiquiri.  Or soon gets to the strawberry daiquiri.  I had been working as the National GIS coordinator in the British Virgin Islands (or BVI) for about four months.  Apart from a quick trip to the UK for Christmas, and a few promises from people to visit when they had time, I had hardly seen a Britisher since I had arrived.  I was not particularly complaining, I was enjoying the weather, the new work, getting to know both the Tortolans and the others who worked with me, and exploring  novel new environments.  But there is something about your native psyche which is inexplicable to foreign minds, and you crave company from your own native land to share a joke, use idioms and can mention references without explaining them.

An email dropped into my inbox one day regarding a Scottish turtle expert who was visiting the…

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STRING KNIFE AND PAPER – Postscript

After that day, I continued to travel far and wide on that trip.  A ferry ride to Zanzibar (where I celebrated my birthday), via Harare I spent a few days in Lusaka.  Via Lilongwe I travelled up, c…

Source: STRING KNIFE AND PAPER – Postscript

Airplanes – Reflecting on the African Transect

The hotel Karibu was an amazing place.  Out in the northern suburbs of Dar,  on the Msasani Peninsula, the kind of twee, manicured and spacious neighbourhood that you find in any African city wher…

Source: Airplanes – Reflecting on the African Transect

Airplanes – Leg Four and Dar

We traced a ridge of mountains down to the coast and swung out over the Zanzibar Channel before coming down to land in the western sprawl of Dar itself.  The tempo of life had changed again and I w…

Source: Airplanes – Leg Four and Dar

Airplanes – Leg Three

Some planes landed. Other planes took off.  Some were surprisingly large.  It was now approaching noon.  Apart from two chocolate éclair sweets, I had eaten nothing.  I didn’t like the look of anyt…

Source: Airplanes – Leg Three

Airplanes – In the Departure Lounge

I finally asked the UNHCR staff where the entrance was.  She pointed at an unmarked door where everyone seemed to be going in and out.  I thanked her and barged my way forward through the throng.  …

Source: Airplanes – In the Departure Lounge

Airplanes – Processed in Mwanza

This was where the fun really started, and how Africa can really hit you.  One minute you are remote, you have the whole world beneath you and it is treating you to sights beyond your wildest dream…

Source: Airplanes – Processed in Mwanza

Airplanes – Kibondo and Leg Two

Despite this being a tiny flight, we were told in his best hostess manner that for those passengers in transit we shall be on the ground for twenty minutes and please do not leave the plane.  So wh…

Source: Airplanes – Kibondo and Leg Two

Airplanes – Looking for the strip

The GPS was now reading less than five minutes to go.  The pilot had already started to lower the craft out of the sky.  I put my hand to my forehead to shelter my eyes from the sun and peered out …

Source: Airplanes – Looking for the strip

Airplanes – Leg One

He handed me a small Tupperware box with several Cadbury Eclair sweets inside.  I passed them back into the cabin and everyone took one. “Breakfast” said the pilot.  He looked around the aircraft o…

Source: Airplanes – Leg One