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Zambia
Nov 18, 2016 9:08:47 GMT 2
Post by shrjeff on Nov 18, 2016 9:08:47 GMT 2
is that mirror on the left wheel cover original equipment? never noticed one on the wankers around home but then i've never looked...
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Zambia
Nov 18, 2016 10:37:57 GMT 2
Post by slowcoach on Nov 18, 2016 10:37:57 GMT 2
That is not much kilometrage at all, but at 11 years it is roughly due its second replacement of that silent engine killer, the timing belt. Changing the water pump may be a good idea while it is at it. Is there a service history that would be definitive on whether it has been changed recently, if ever.
There seems to be something amiss when high clearance 4wd vehicles can survive so long without serving their purpose.
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Zambia
Nov 18, 2016 11:59:52 GMT 2
Post by slowcoach on Nov 18, 2016 11:59:52 GMT 2
You mention elsewhere just how expensive lodges are. It is especially sad for people who get priced out of their own country by foreign tourists.
I remember listening to the grief caused in Namibia and since then it seems to have become worse.
For instance, if you could get yourself there, you could stay at the then DAS camp at Serra Cafema, all in, for the same price, or less, as at their Palmwag Lodge, i.e. not a lot. Now run by Wilderness Safaris it is fly-in only and for a couple sharing it is 900 or 1600 euros per night depending on the season. To add insult to injury camping in Hartmann's Valley is/was not officially permitted.
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Zambia
Nov 18, 2016 15:31:34 GMT 2
Post by kuskiwi on Nov 18, 2016 15:31:34 GMT 2
Nothing wrong with a Mitsi (I have one but not the wanker version). May you and Mrs M enjoy many miles of comfy travel.
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Zambia
Nov 18, 2016 18:23:57 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Nov 18, 2016 18:23:57 GMT 2
jeff, it is probably standard in Japan, and that is where all I see here come from. They all have it.
slow, the service history is in Japanese. I am attempting to get it understood. In zambia there is a vast gulf usually between certain prices for accommodation. Lodges can be from 200 usd to the sky's the limit and all per person per night, full board. Rarely is it quoted for the room. At the other end of the scale is camping which is about 10 - 20 usd per person per night. Usually there is nothing in between. Sometimes you can get accommodation only but as you are often out in the middle of nowhere you end up eating at the lodge anyway. Self catering places are also rare. I can't recall where I did camp in or around Hartmann's Valley. Probably just stopped somewhere.
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Zambia
Nov 20, 2016 16:13:41 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Nov 20, 2016 16:13:41 GMT 2
It is Sunday today so what do decent civilized people do? They have a lie in, go out for breakfast and then sometimes go for a bit of a walk to blow the cobwebs away. That's what we did. Around the capital in the countryside are a number of Lodges that offer various incentives to visit and/or stay there. Some have walking paths, some offer day visits with use of the pool, many have off season rates to make them more attractive and so on. The one we decided to visit does all this and also has an elephant sanctuary. This time we didn't visit the sanctuary as I'll probably do that when my daughters come for Christmas. As they were growing up I convinced them that elephants were really called Efalumps. It wasn't until one of them had an embarrassing conversation with some friends when aged sixteen that they realised I was having them on for so many years. I had to apologise. The lodge is about an hour's drive from the centre and has hectares of land that has been stocked with various animals. As there are no predators you can follow a few marked paths varying from 3km to 10km long. There is a 5km path we decided to take, just for the exercise more than anything, as I didn't really expect to spot anything and so I'd only taken my poor point and shoot camera. At the lodge you can stay in what they call chalets but the proper name is a rondavel - After breakfast, which to be honest wasn't very good, we stretched our legs. Initially the walking paths start long the main track in for just a few hundred metres - But soon divert off. I forgot to mention that before setting off you have to tell the reception which path you are taking, when you are setting off and what time you expect to be back. You must then 'check out' upon your return. You can see the countryside is very dry as it is just the start of the wet season and everything is gasping for water. It would be good to return after the rains have finished to see the difference. The off season rates at these places are actually called 'Green Season' due to them being available when the rains come and everything blossoms and grows. A few not very good pictures of what we did see - Just to mention there is no zoom as such on this camera so we were able to get reasonably close to some things. Too far away though to capture anything of merit were also some giraffes and wildebeest. The latter I didn't want to get too close to anyway as they can turn nasty. I am hopeful I can do better when in a proper game park, but we'll see how that goes.
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Zambia
Nov 20, 2016 18:44:44 GMT 2
Post by Baz Faz on Nov 20, 2016 18:44:44 GMT 2
The rondavels look nice. The problem with the Green Season is that the exuberant growth can hide the animals. Well, not the giraffes or efalumps.
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Zambia
Nov 23, 2016 20:38:44 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Nov 23, 2016 20:38:44 GMT 2
I promise you I will get better at this video thing but for now I'll say it is a taster. One route through from where I am staying to the main area of the city where most work is through an area where the local workers live. There are worse areas which I will get to in time. I drove that way today using the dash cam I bought in Spain. Yes, the quality isn't so good and yes it is too low down and the windscreen is dirty, but as an idea of what the place is like, it'll be fine for now. The camera records in 3 minute segments and when next week I get settled in a more permanent place with better internet, I'll arrange to combine them. As it is you can have two for the price of one then. They do follow on.
You can see the time displayed and this is about the time when most workers are heading home. The video starts on the way into their area and the second video ends where the middle class homes begin.
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Post by OnlyMark on Nov 26, 2016 15:17:43 GMT 2
There was a wedding reception today where I'm staying. I didn't want to intrude but managed to get a couple of quick shots. Handsome couple -
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Zambia
Nov 26, 2016 18:37:38 GMT 2
Post by Baz Faz on Nov 26, 2016 18:37:38 GMT 2
I think you should ask the groom for the name of his tailor..
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Zambia
Nov 26, 2016 18:52:22 GMT 2
Post by auntieannie on Nov 26, 2016 18:52:22 GMT 2
very handsome couple.
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Zambia
Nov 26, 2016 20:51:51 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Nov 26, 2016 20:51:51 GMT 2
Can't you get decent suits where you are then Baz?
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Zambia
Nov 27, 2016 22:48:38 GMT 2
Post by kerouac2 on Nov 27, 2016 22:48:38 GMT 2
I would like to see more of the lady in pink on the left.
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Zambia
Nov 28, 2016 8:28:59 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Nov 28, 2016 8:28:59 GMT 2
I shall ask them to do a rerun so I can take more photos.
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Zambia
Nov 30, 2016 8:25:57 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Nov 30, 2016 8:25:57 GMT 2
Big day today. Moving into our more permanent accommodation. It'll take some settling in and as usual, there are things to be done by the landlord that have not yet been completed. To be fair though it isn't his fault it is just that to get anything done here seems to take a long time.
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Zambia
Nov 30, 2016 18:26:33 GMT 2
Post by Baz Faz on Nov 30, 2016 18:26:33 GMT 2
You have been in training for this ^^^ with manana.
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Zambia
Nov 30, 2016 19:26:32 GMT 2
Post by Voy on Nov 30, 2016 19:26:32 GMT 2
and hoping you will have wifi??? so Mark-in-Zambia can continue reporting!
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Zambia
Nov 30, 2016 20:32:22 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Nov 30, 2016 20:32:22 GMT 2
Baz, a lot of things move at a glacial pace and when you do get a result it is often incomplete or just wrong. For example, I've contacted two places as regards getting a roof tent for the car. The first one got the enquiry wrong three times and I'm still waiting for a proper answer from them after three weeks. The second place didn't get back to me at all after I paid them a personal visit to ask. Eventually I chased after the contact guy with phone calls pestering his work. He told me he needed photos of the car to make sure to get the right one after also three weeks of ignoring me. I told him maybe he should have asked as soon as he found out. I sent them to him and told him he needs to reply to me within 24 hours or I will take it further. He did get back to me, to his credit, with full answers.
Voy, one of the first things I did when I got here was to get info on internet service providers from various sources. It took a couple of weeks but I made a decision and two days a go signed up for one to start there and then. Thus, there has been a smooth transition between wifi at the Lodge we were at and now at the house. How long it stay good is another question though.
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Zambia
Dec 2, 2016 2:02:26 GMT 2
Post by outside cat @wino on Dec 2, 2016 2:02:26 GMT 2
Make sure you have a spare bedroom for 'visitors'
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Zambia
Dec 2, 2016 7:06:22 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 2, 2016 7:06:22 GMT 2
Already sorted.
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Zambia
Dec 2, 2016 14:20:51 GMT 2
Post by Baz Faz on Dec 2, 2016 14:20:51 GMT 2
Mark, on the old Thorn Tree they used to say TAB - That's Africa Babe.
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Zambia
Dec 2, 2016 14:58:59 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 2, 2016 14:58:59 GMT 2
You are right Baz, it is Africa and that is what was often said. When I was running trips I remember hearing other 'punters' (I hate that word) on other trips complaining and being told by the leaders(s), "You are in Africa now". It is as though nothing can ever be done to improve anything "because it is Africa". That always seemed to me to be a fatalistic attitude and nothing can be done about it. Just sit back, accept it and let it happen. Not me though. When I encounter something to which the phrase would fit, I usually question if it is acceptable to those living here. Usually they say it isn't. I asked as part of the conversation with the man I had to chase if it was ok if I did the same to him. He obviously said no it wasn't and I told him to try and 'treat others as you would wish to be treated'. I've often said to those here not to accept crap service and being treated like crap. Complain about everything that isn't good and if you personally can do something about it, then do it.
I doubt things will change but maybe every little bit helps and it makes me feel better anyway.
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Zambia
Dec 2, 2016 18:48:27 GMT 2
Post by Baz Faz on Dec 2, 2016 18:48:27 GMT 2
Your approach is needed in Thailand. There the phrase is This Is Thailand. I suspect the censors would get rid of the acronym but even a nun could work it out.
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Zambia
Dec 2, 2016 19:26:54 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 2, 2016 19:26:54 GMT 2
Here's another thing and I may need help with it. In fact I do. Is there anyone living in the UK on here (hello Baz!) who wishes to solve what could be an international diplomatic incident? It would mean though you stooping to the lowest common denominator, to demeaning yourself and possibly becoming the laughing stock of your neighbourhood. Appealing, no?
I bought a foodstuff (term used loosely) in Zambia. It is an item that can be bought in all civilised countries. It consists of a number of the same thing in a packet. However, I am aware the package size may vary from country to country - but each individual item, the manufacturer assures me, is the same size. I maybe just getting old and with a fading memory, but I get the impression the item sold here is smaller than that sold in the UK. I wish to conduct an experiment whereby I measure one of these here and someone in the UK measures one of theirs.
What am I talking about? Salt and vinegar Pringles. I've been in touch with the makers who tell me each crisp, the world over, is the same size. Though packets do vary. I've just gone to my larder to try and get a whole one from the packet I bought a few days ago. But to my chagrin, there are only broken bits left. I will buy a new one tomorrow for sure. So, if anyone wishes to clear up my confusion, I would be obliged. The reward for doing so is that after measuring one, you may eat the whole packet.
Any takers?
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Zambia
Dec 3, 2016 0:56:22 GMT 2
Post by auntieannie on Dec 3, 2016 0:56:22 GMT 2
their size may have been reduced everywhere in the world. thought of that? I notice a few items get smaller little by little.
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Zambia
Dec 3, 2016 5:44:10 GMT 2
Post by Voy on Dec 3, 2016 5:44:10 GMT 2
In Zambia do they come in the cardboard cylinders? or in regular "bags"... I have some sourcream and onion ones, will try tomorrow.
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Zambia
Dec 3, 2016 6:42:30 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 3, 2016 6:42:30 GMT 2
Annie, that could have happened certainly. They all are smaller. I don't know. Voy, they come in the tubes like everywhere else.
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Zambia
Dec 3, 2016 14:20:53 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 3, 2016 14:20:53 GMT 2
Here one is. As near as damn, 55mm.
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Zambia
Dec 3, 2016 14:43:35 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 3, 2016 14:43:35 GMT 2
I've now done some research into this issue. I don't know what I didn't before though. It seems there were nearly riots in Australia because of a reduction in the size of the crisp and of the package. Pringles say it is due to a new factory opening in Malaysia. They say, "Pringles have been replying to the complaints saying they have moved production to Malaysia to keep up with Pringles demand, "as this made sense to cater to the south pacific region".
"The equipment we use in our new home in Malaysia is a bit different to our sister factory in the US – this means that the way we make Pringles and the size of the packaging has changed. You’ll notice that both the chip and can are a little bit smaller than the US versions to fit in with the production facility," the company write on their website."
I've looked at my tube and it did come from there. That is why then it is smaller.
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Zambia
Dec 3, 2016 14:56:02 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 3, 2016 14:56:02 GMT 2
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