Saturday, 29 August 2009
Cross-Mozambique
Friends, family,
After having spent the majority of last week in a Toyota 4x4 – Mozambique is HUGE – I have finally found some time to log on and update.
Currently, I am in Ilha de Moçambique, a small UNESCO world heritage island of a mere 3km long and a max width of 500m. Some amazing pictures (including one that should become the cover of the next Lonely Planet for Mozambique) will follow once I am able to log on with my own laptop, probably at the end of the coming week once I’m back in Maputo. For the first time in basically two weeks, I have some spare time on my hands, and can enjoy my Saturday relaxing and reading a book, updating the blog, making plans for the upcoming week.
Tomorrow, I’ll go back to Nampula, 3rd biggest city in Mozambique, where I’ll start doing some work for a couple of days. I will then make my way back in stages until I reach Maputo, probably by the same time next week.
Internet time is precious, so I’ll keep it short for now.
Ate logo
Luc
p.s. I have recovered from the mental shock of the tragic accident I witnessed last Monday (see previous entry). I still think about it multiple times a day, but have been able to place it in my head. I will carry it with me for the rest of my life, of that I am sure. But I am here now in Mozambique, trying to make a difference for these children that are currently walking the side of the road from one village to the next.
After having spent the majority of last week in a Toyota 4x4 – Mozambique is HUGE – I have finally found some time to log on and update.
Currently, I am in Ilha de Moçambique, a small UNESCO world heritage island of a mere 3km long and a max width of 500m. Some amazing pictures (including one that should become the cover of the next Lonely Planet for Mozambique) will follow once I am able to log on with my own laptop, probably at the end of the coming week once I’m back in Maputo. For the first time in basically two weeks, I have some spare time on my hands, and can enjoy my Saturday relaxing and reading a book, updating the blog, making plans for the upcoming week.
Tomorrow, I’ll go back to Nampula, 3rd biggest city in Mozambique, where I’ll start doing some work for a couple of days. I will then make my way back in stages until I reach Maputo, probably by the same time next week.
Internet time is precious, so I’ll keep it short for now.
Ate logo
Luc
p.s. I have recovered from the mental shock of the tragic accident I witnessed last Monday (see previous entry). I still think about it multiple times a day, but have been able to place it in my head. I will carry it with me for the rest of my life, of that I am sure. But I am here now in Mozambique, trying to make a difference for these children that are currently walking the side of the road from one village to the next.
Monday, August 24th
Yesterday I was over the moon: dissertation was finished, and I was looking forward to learning more Portuguese, driving to Beira, travelling around the country.
Now, a mere 24 hours later, I’m sitting in front of my computer, and have no idea what to think or what to do. I have no words for it, cannot talk about it, cannot place it. So I have tried to write down the events of today.
We were just 2 hours out of Maputo, around half past 6 in the morning, and were making good progress by following a big bus on the roads that are still in good condition. It had rained the night before, so the roads were still damp. All of a sudden, the bus, with us driving some 50 metres behind, started swerving while taking a weak high speed corner. Aquaplaning. The bus driver clearly tried to correct the first swerve, but overcompensated and the bus flipped the other way around, going round two times and snapping an electricity cable before coming to a halt on its side in the area next to the road.
We stopped the car immediately, and when we got out people were already climbing out of the vehicle. We briefly talked to one of the passengers who got out safely (wore seatbelt!), and only then did I realise the real horror of the crash: while flipping around, the bus had hit several people that were walking next to the road, including two children. Halfway between us and the wreckage of the bus, lay a small body on the ground. The other child was under the bus, we were told.
The police arrived 10 minutes after, along with all the inhabitants of the village. We drove off shortly after, as there was not much we could do. I was horrified, was feeling sick, and my legs were trembling.
The crash happened 12 hours ago, as I write this, and I have replayed the accident in my head at least a hundred times over. My euphoria for finishing something as trivial as a dissertation has been scattered by the harsh reality of everyday life in Mozambique.
While I write this down, I still see the bus swerving, the wreckage, the dead body, both villagers and passengers next to the road in shock and crying. The child was 6 years old, I think. I’m not sure whether it was a boy or a girl.
My head is spinning, mind in overdrive. I think I’m still somewhat in shock. The 24th of August is a day I will never forget.
I miss you all.
Luc
Now, a mere 24 hours later, I’m sitting in front of my computer, and have no idea what to think or what to do. I have no words for it, cannot talk about it, cannot place it. So I have tried to write down the events of today.
We were just 2 hours out of Maputo, around half past 6 in the morning, and were making good progress by following a big bus on the roads that are still in good condition. It had rained the night before, so the roads were still damp. All of a sudden, the bus, with us driving some 50 metres behind, started swerving while taking a weak high speed corner. Aquaplaning. The bus driver clearly tried to correct the first swerve, but overcompensated and the bus flipped the other way around, going round two times and snapping an electricity cable before coming to a halt on its side in the area next to the road.
We stopped the car immediately, and when we got out people were already climbing out of the vehicle. We briefly talked to one of the passengers who got out safely (wore seatbelt!), and only then did I realise the real horror of the crash: while flipping around, the bus had hit several people that were walking next to the road, including two children. Halfway between us and the wreckage of the bus, lay a small body on the ground. The other child was under the bus, we were told.
The police arrived 10 minutes after, along with all the inhabitants of the village. We drove off shortly after, as there was not much we could do. I was horrified, was feeling sick, and my legs were trembling.
The crash happened 12 hours ago, as I write this, and I have replayed the accident in my head at least a hundred times over. My euphoria for finishing something as trivial as a dissertation has been scattered by the harsh reality of everyday life in Mozambique.
While I write this down, I still see the bus swerving, the wreckage, the dead body, both villagers and passengers next to the road in shock and crying. The child was 6 years old, I think. I’m not sure whether it was a boy or a girl.
My head is spinning, mind in overdrive. I think I’m still somewhat in shock. The 24th of August is a day I will never forget.
I miss you all.
Luc
Sunday, 23 August 2009
Just in: Blog and Luc are BFFs again!
Forgiveness!
This has been way too long! But as is to be expected: I have my reasons :) I always do.
But all that matters is that my blog clearly needs me, and I need my blog. End of story, nothing more to it.
All is well here in Maputo, though moving to Beira up North tomorrow morning. My dissertation has now been uploaded, which means that a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Now it's back to regular working, and evenings filled with Portuguese classes! I can't wait! (actually, i do look forward to it)
Short message for now, but updates will come almost daily now! Yes! I take it you are as excited as I am? Good :)
For now:
ciao!
your blogger, back in service
Saturday, 1 August 2009
Hi everyone,
Today I visited Maputo in true tourist-style, although I did manage to use some of the Portuguese I've been learning (they understand me, now I just have to learn to understand them!).
I've added some pics just so that U, my trusty reader, can feel almost as if you were actually walking besides me (if u so wished, obviously). The last pic is already one of my favorites: globalisation works, doesn't it?
Enjoy; more updates will hopefully follow in the week, when I actually start working!
Boa noite
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