Germany - After Home Hospitality

So where were we.. so after the two day stay back in Regensberg we went to a monastry (Kloster) in Ensdorf that has a whole program for the youth. We spent 3 days learning about alternative energy. I am ever grateful to my supervisor at work for briefing me on the stand that Soth African companies take on alternative energy because I spent a lot of time explaining myself to the german energy peoples.

We went to a solar park on a day when it rained.

The germans love to recycle sewerage and dung. Imaging a mountain of what looks like cocoa powder or a swimming pool of chocolate sauce to those fortunate enough to not be able to smell. the trouble is that the smell is so rich and powerful it did make me think of chocolate. The smell leaps out and assials your senses. the exception being that the smell does not induce a dreammy happiness but rather a strong desire to see your lunch again... mmmm dung!

we also went to a power plant that generates energy from burning trash which was EXTREMELY interesting to me and my camera battery was dead :( :( :( :( Anyway they took us into the main control room and I had to be physically restrained from jumping over the front desk and having a good and proper look.

After Ensdorf we went to a Scout camp near a teeny tiny town called Krickelsdorf - No running water, long drop toilet and sleeping on a hard wooden floor - on the positive side we were right next to a forest and by the wheat fields and the camp fires were awesome casual easy going affairs. I think the camp fires were a highlight of the entire trip for me (that and the bear playing in the rain)

While I was there I went for a walk and took this picture. The sunset and the wheat fields. I love my little blue camera!



Anyway so I stayed at the camp fire on the last night until the very early hours and then when to sleep until I couldnt take the snoring (sorry these were ladies make that heavy breathing) anymore. So I got up very very early for another walk. The only other thing awak was Mr Frog...




He actually stuck around a while for me to try all the different features on my camera to get a nice shot of him. Funny thing is this picture is the first one I took.

Frankies Travels - a desert of connectivity

So after a week in the foreign land I can say this:

Germany is very beautiful. Im getting a sore neck from staring around everywhere round and round and round.

We started in a little village called Regensdorf outside of Regensburg. in a pretty little two story house belonging to the Scouts. Out the window we could see the river Regen

It rained some.

We visited a 'green classroom' at a local youth centre and picked some herbs and made a herb cottage cheese spread. we also picked berries and made a delicious dessert.

then it rained some ... more.

We visited a kindergarten in a forest. it was wesome to see the tall tall trees and the little children playing under them. after lunch we saw the children playing with a hammer and saw. Yes, no lies a 6 year old child playing at cutting wood with a read grown up saw... hmmm... seems these germans take their forestry seriously. Mom, fancy adding a sharp saw to your school toy box?

and then it rained a bit.

we stopped off at a farm to use the facilities because the ladies have impatient bladders and the farmer who was carrying a full bucket of cherries left the bucket with us while he went to show the girls to the bathroom.

Half a bucket of cherries later.... we left... because it was raining

We had a campfire but had to chase the snails away from the beer.

Lesson: Snails love beer. Who would think?? maybe it's just the gernman snails with their little shell leederhosen.

We went for a tour of Regensberg which has a very long history. And tall buildings along the streets. We were set loose to do some shopping for curios, most girls went clothes shopping. I went to vodafone to find out about feeding my addiction to teh internet, only to discover that data is 19c (like €0.19) PER KB!!! dont faint when you do the maths back into rands. So I decided to not have a connection to the internet via the cellphone(das handy)

then it rained a bit

We packed up to move accross to Landshut. but first we swam in the river Regen. it was cold... very cold.

We stopped off at the National Mountain nature park and went for a hike. The forest was stunning but it erained and then poured and then thundered and then rained. I loved it! Hiking in the rain was way way cool - it helps if you have the group umbrella tho ha ha ha. as we ran past in the rain I saw a bear playing in a water pool loving teh rain too. way way cool! wish I had taken a photo or a video or a bear for my collection.

in Landshut we went to the town festival that happens every 4 years celebrating the marriage of the previous king of the area to a polish princes. The pagent and procession of locals dressed up all medeval was amusing and interesting. They kept shouting HAALLLLOOOOOO! - 'tis traditional I think. in the free time I snuck off and got lost in the town and had a nice time getting un-lost again. Landshut is another classically beautiful town. with a castle on the hill.

it rained during the walk back to the sleeping place.

we then went for a visit to an organic farm

Saw some sheep (Lauren, stop laughing) snuck off and snapped some photos of the sheep. the Sheep were cheesed off that it was raining. there was a tour of teh organic farm too. the organic farm... with Sheep :D

Then the whole gang was split up for visits in pairs to peoples homes. where i am now.

Yaay! (now with rain)

Frankies travels Lift off

So after months of preparation and complaining and excitement and running around Finally my trip to Germany is beginning

I assume we are on a massive plane because the queue to check-in was very very very long.

I'm kinda lonely because the girls front Rustenburg keep to themselves and all the Joburg girls are umm.... some what aloof.

Anyway Ill have to use my bossy wit and charm and make myself at home with someone.

Someone has put on some Saffer music and the girls are shaking what there mum's gave 'em Entertaining to tourists mostly. Maybe I should jump in for a dance lesson... Ai ai ai ai ai

Here's to new experiences!

Frankies Travels Germany Countdown One More Sleep!!!

So for those I haven't seen of recent days - I'm off to Germany tomorrow evening. Its kinda different from last time since
A) there isn't a delicious young man waiting for me at the airport (not that I know But Ill stay hopeful)
B) this is not a vacation but an exchange program (the difference being in wearing uniform for 3 weeks, the choice of where and what we do and the fact that I'm expected to be on my very very very best behaviour - as if that is different from normal hee hee hee)
C) I haven't had to scrimp and save and drain my bank account to go...

I'm getting pretty excited tho despite that my bag is probably overweight, I'm going with 11 other girls (interjection: of course they are all lovely nice girls but still 11 headstrong woman together for 17 days is like putting 11 alpha male cats in a basket) and I have a beautiful Amarula Cream fancy tin with a bottle of liquer in it packed as a gift that I hope will not be construed as a bomb - No more suspicious than the white brick of pap.... other than that....

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-(take another breath)-Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!! \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/

Botswana

I got up at 3am this morning.

I got to the airport at 4:30am this morning.

I arrived in Gaborone at 7am this morning.

I left Gaborone at 4pm this afternoon.

I arrived home at 6:30pm

Botswana was sunny and friendly but I am Finished uuuuggghhh....

Frankies Travels - The end...

So after a week and a bit break I am back on my blog. Internet was terribly expensive oh wait scratch that. as expensive as everything else in italy. and I was like busy seeing really really old stuff and things okay?

I think I will blog all the juicy info about my glorious Italy trip but not right now.

Patience my friends...


However right now I am sitting in a little computer room in the Dubai international airport paying a pretty price for internet and after 9 days away only 3 new emails!!! I am heartbroken.
I still have some dirhams left so I am going to go spend some money in the airport woo hoo for giant size boxes of cheap cigarettes and overpriced designer clothes. wait I don't smoke... hmmm...


See most of you sooon! I am quite homesick.. but in a nice way :)

Frankies Travels - Last day in Dubai

my Christmas was somewhat unauspicious... I (we) think it probably is because the usual build up to Christmas was some what overshadowed by the build up to travelling overseas. Ill have to enjoy the January blues with everyone else waiting for the glorious first payday of the year. oh wait First Pay Day EVER EVER!!! nice... :D

So today we pretty much spent the day washing clothes and packing. We did at least start the day with opening presents. I recieved a peace bracelet and a stunning gold necklace from my parents. I really wanted a necklace like that and I now have one... Yaay! it is super thin and is really subtle and pretty but sadly fragile and hence the demise of the previous gold necklace.

I also finally made dinner for Brian. Minute steaks, potato and salad Yummy! and now I wanna sleep instead of finish packing. I have a kinda problem where I dunno how I am gonna get all my curios home and still remain within the luggage weight limit... oh oh...

I have that weird sadness feeling of leaving Dubai but trhen my holiday is only halfway thru so I am excited too so I am flipping between melancholy and super excitement. Im flippen excited just for the next flight. Whoosh! I love flying! except for the 5 hours of cramped legs between taking off and landing. That bit is pretty horrible. ha ha at least I have a window seat again!

anyway back to the packing gotta be up at the crack of dawn to get to the airport on time. I hear early mornings are the standard on a Contiki tour :S gonna suffer that one... All that is left to say is....

Arrivederci Dubai! Buongiorno Rome-a!