Random Thoughts

I seem to have picked up a cold or, at least, a runny nose - probably from the bus tour yesterday. Great timing - the only thing that works for me is Tylenol cold&flu. Since I’m headed to Dubai, i had to leave it all behind or face, well, death. They have very strict drug laws and pseudoephedrine is on the no-no list. I have one for the flight - the question is when to take it…above Dar-es-Salem seemed like a good choice.

Enroute to Dubai today on Emirates. While i like the creature comforts of

Business class, i have to say that the people and lounges are rather boring.

I saw a lot of fantastic landscape and animals on this trip but don’t feel i experienced a lot of african culture except for a bit in Cape Town. Many people who work in the tourism industry are from, or were trained in, South Africa. 

I discovered on this trip that my bike at home is a tank - I’m tempted the trade it in for something lighter when I get home.

I mostly used my iphone for taking pictures - i may ditch my big camera for future trips.

I have avoided politics for the past 4 weeks. It has been wonderful! Someone tried to bring up the US election one night and the conversation went no where. I did get a couple of interesting insights though. The east germans on the trip were defending the Russian people, with whom they have a good relationship, against the western Europe/north American press. They claim that the Ukraine is the most corrupt country in Europe and that Putin was justified in repatriating the russians in crimea and adjacent area.  My uber drivers in Cape Town all thought trump was the best choice for president for the sole reason that he said he would stop the russian/ ukraine war. They were empathetic about the young men being senselessly killed on both sides. Kamala Harris was just seen as an extension of the Biden administration and therefore ineffectual.

The emirates certainly pushes a lot of liquor for a Muslim country.