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Zambia
Dec 18, 2016 21:32:22 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 18, 2016 21:32:22 GMT 2
It would be interesting to know how death/burials were handled in pre-colonial times in Zambia. Christianity was sniffing at the door of the country long before it became British colony but it would have needed contact with Europeans to start it off. What happened with dead people before that I have no idea. If I come across the information I'll post it. To me the British system of leaving the tomb for all eternity is odd. For what it's worth. You have temporary tombs then? If it worked for the Ancient Egyptians, it's good enough for me.
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Zambia
Dec 19, 2016 0:08:06 GMT 2
Post by Baz Faz on Dec 19, 2016 0:08:06 GMT 2
In a French cemetery we saw signs on long overgrown graves that said that unless someone took care of them they would be considered abandoned by the family and the plot released to newcomers. I don't know what happened to the bones.
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Zambia
Dec 21, 2016 7:34:19 GMT 2
Voy likes this
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 21, 2016 7:34:19 GMT 2
Our Christmas tree this year is made from disused water bottles -
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Zambia
Dec 22, 2016 10:59:01 GMT 2
Post by Baz Faz on Dec 22, 2016 10:59:01 GMT 2
Did you bring them with you? Did you pick them up? Don't tell me you've drunk all that bottled water.
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Zambia
Dec 22, 2016 11:42:07 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 22, 2016 11:42:07 GMT 2
We have drunk some but mostly they are just ones we've picked up or been given when we asked. In the house we have 5 litre bottles which we use for tea/coffee etc but use tap water for cooking. The 1 litre or 1 1/2 litre ones we rarely have.
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Zambia
Dec 22, 2016 15:38:37 GMT 2
Post by Voy on Dec 22, 2016 15:38:37 GMT 2
how did you build the "armature" ?
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Zambia
Dec 22, 2016 16:47:08 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 22, 2016 16:47:08 GMT 2
I know an armature as - "... an armature generally refers to one of the two principal electrical components of an electromechanical or electrical machine..." But then I looked it up and saw you mean "a framework around which the sculpture is built". It is chicken wire, a bit of metal and a bit of wood.
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Zambia
Dec 22, 2016 18:19:53 GMT 2
Post by auntieannie on Dec 22, 2016 18:19:53 GMT 2
love the tree!
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Zambia
Dec 23, 2016 10:20:06 GMT 2
Post by slowcoach on Dec 23, 2016 10:20:06 GMT 2
A malleable word is armature. It once meant a protective covering, as in armour, now mostly some internal part or structure.
Back in the UK, we used to have a live tree until it grew to big for me to carry in and out every year.
Here the concept doesn't seem to exist, for one thing there are no fir trees, which I guess is the same for you and a big proportion of the world, but no decorations either, or cards to buy and post.
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Zambia
Dec 23, 2016 11:13:44 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 23, 2016 11:13:44 GMT 2
I remember last year in Spain buying some decorations and a plastic tree from Carrefour, and that was about it.
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Post by OnlyMark on Dec 23, 2016 11:30:29 GMT 2
With a nod to Baz in the back of my mind, we opened an account in a local bank yesterday. I had already called in a got the required paperwork, which took us about five minutes to fill out at home, no more. Armed with that and a passport photo we called in yesterday morning, Mrs M had cleared a couple of hours to go through the process. It took at the most ten minutes for the man to check the paperwork, put our details in the system and open the account. I had to call back for another few minutes in the afternoon to deposit a little opening money, pick up our bank cards and get them activate my internet access. That was it.
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Zambia
Dec 24, 2016 17:13:23 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 24, 2016 17:13:23 GMT 2
I've received a Zambian ID card. It affords me diplomatic status, something I've never had before. I'm now wondering what offences I can commit and get away with.
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Zambia
Dec 24, 2016 18:29:44 GMT 2
Post by Baz Faz on Dec 24, 2016 18:29:44 GMT 2
I had a friend who worked for the World Bank in Washington. He didn't have diplomatic status but through, some quirk of the system he had diplomatic plates for his car. We went on holiday with him, driving up the eastern seabord to Canada. He set a good pace because he had a Mercedes, I struggled behind in our rental car. In Massachusetts I was the one who was pulled over by the state troopers while he disappeared over the horizon. Cost me 50 bucks.
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Zambia
Dec 25, 2016 23:57:43 GMT 2
Post by ninchursanga on Dec 25, 2016 23:57:43 GMT 2
...It affords me diplomatic status... Duty free shopping. Cheap alcohol and cigarettes come to my mind.
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Zambia
Dec 26, 2016 2:00:33 GMT 2
Post by auntieannie on Dec 26, 2016 2:00:33 GMT 2
...It affords me diplomatic status... Duty free shopping. Cheap alcohol and cigarettes come to my mind. Not sure that'll be such a good deal for our Dr Only.
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Zambia
Dec 26, 2016 20:29:24 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 26, 2016 20:29:24 GMT 2
The regulation in Zambia is it is only for the first 6 months.
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Zambia
Dec 26, 2016 20:29:35 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 26, 2016 20:29:35 GMT 2
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Zambia
Dec 26, 2016 22:38:08 GMT 2
Post by auntieannie on Dec 26, 2016 22:38:08 GMT 2
are you trying to confuse us. Dr Only?
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Zambia
Dec 27, 2016 20:19:01 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 27, 2016 20:19:01 GMT 2
No. It's Zambia. More another time.
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Zambia
Dec 29, 2016 22:14:50 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 29, 2016 22:14:50 GMT 2
I've received a Zambian ID card. It affords me diplomatic status, something I've never had before. I'm now wondering what offences I can commit and get away with. Got stopped for speeding today. It's a lot easier than you think to speed as there are very few, and I mean very few, speed limit signs. Especially out of the capital. I walked up to the Captain(?), the head officer involved with the radar trap anyway, and told him I was stupid. I told him I have no excuses and I made a stupid mistake and I was sorry (good at grovelling, me). At the same time I handed him my driving licence and the aforementioned ID card. He tutted, shook his head, handed me back the documents and waved me away. All done with a smile.
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Zambia
Dec 29, 2016 22:16:36 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 29, 2016 22:16:36 GMT 2
Kariba and Operation Noah.Before independence, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi were called Northern and Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, and ruled by the British. To be able to produce enough power for the rising populations and industry it was decided to build a hydroelectric dam on one of the great rivers of the African continent, the Zambezi. Construction began in the late 1950's by an Italian consortium called Imprasit and completed in 1958 when the final sluice gates were closed and the dam began to fill. It took a further five years for the maximum level to be reached. Plus the death of 86 workers in the process – around 18 of whom are entombed within the dam's cement. The resultant body of water behind the dam became so large that it can have its own climate and has affected seismic readings. It is reputed to be four times as large as that of the Three Gorges in China, is the largest man made reservoir by volume, is 223km long and up to 40km wide. The dam wall itself, though sturdy, is not so impressive but due to its carefully chosen location it has managed to trap an extremely large amount of water. The dam wall is located as per the map and the lake/reservoir is self apparent – It was built on the site of an existing gorge and the local name Kariba/Kariva referred to a specific rock which formed a trap within the walls. The rock, now about 30m or so below the surface, was the home of the river god Nyaminyami who caused anyone who ventured near to be sucked down for ever into the depths of the river. As usual whenever a dam is built it tends to displace large numbers of people who originally settled in the rich lands now to be covered. These here are called the Batonga people or tribe. It took many years of coaxing and probably threats to evict them from their ancestral lands and all sorts of promises made. It comes as no surprise that the colonial authorities and then after independence, the governments have fulfilled some of the short term and easy responsibilities, but after an initial flurry of activity, they have been left to make the most of what they can. All fifty odd thousand of them.
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Zambia
Dec 29, 2016 22:17:41 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 29, 2016 22:17:41 GMT 2
They were relocated and schools, clinics and infrastructure built, but these things have been left to rot and corrode away leaving only the fortunate few who ended up living on the banks of the new reservoir to eke out a living by fishing and recently, tourism. Before being filled the vegetation was strip cleared and burnt, making the lake rich in chemicals to assist in the promotion of fish growth, which seems to have worked to a certain extent. A sardine/sprat like fish called a karpenta was introduced from Lake Tanganyika which bred successfully and enough so that a commercial fishing industry has grown up around it. A local game fish, called a Tigerfish, originally in the river, also feeds quite happily on the karpenta, this resulting in a boost to tourism in and around the lake. Crocodiles, hippos, cormorants and fish eagles have stayed and thrived with the occasional herd of elephants using the easy shoreline to have their sundowners. Apart from the downside of displacing thousands of people there were two other major disadvantages with the building of the dam. One was immediately dealt with to the best of the abilities at the time, the other ongoing and leaving an enduring legacy. The second was a massive rise in water-borne infections from schistosomiasis. No more the clean fast flowing river. Now static water, and lots of it with a large 'coastline' to promote the growth of freshwater snails. Bilharzia is found in Lake Kariba, but only in certain areas. Unfortunately, it isn't possible to pinpoint its whereabouts exactly and you're unlikely to contract it whilst in deep water in the middle of the lake. I've swum there many times but always in the middle somewhere and away from the crocs and hippos. I hope anyway. There is a growing tourist industry around the area but mainly better on the Zimbabwe side where it is a little more organised and a greater variation of lodges, boats and fishing. I've spent many a happy couple of nights on a houseboat cruising round, fully inclusive, with cooks etc to see to your every whim. This time though, because we had to pay for it ourselves, we just went for one night on shore at took a little boat so Mrs M and the kids could get a sense of how large the lake is and have a quick look at the wall. Where does Operation Noah come in? You may well have guessed, but I'll mention that later. For now, something to look at. We stayed at a fairly basic lodge above the shoreline, but basic as it is, it still cost $100 per room per night. With breakfast though. The standard in most places falls well below that of what you can experience in Europe and many other African or especially Asian countries. It was only really worth half the price. It always looks nice in the photos but in real life you can see how poorly maintained these places are. For example, I've only seen once a clear and not cloudy swimming pool. Cloudy enough you struggle to make out the bottom - Good view from the room to be fair –
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Zambia
Dec 29, 2016 22:18:49 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 29, 2016 22:18:49 GMT 2
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Zambia
Dec 29, 2016 22:21:25 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 29, 2016 22:21:25 GMT 2
It's big – You can just make out in the distance the top of the dam wall. Totally undramatic, and understandable that both the Zambian and Zimbabwean authorities don't like you getting close to it. The left side is Zambia, the right side is Zimbabwe – On the way back to the jetty a nice little cloud to look at – I mentioned two further disadvantages of building a dam. One was the disease the other...... In Europe maybe this wouldn't be so much of a factor but in Africa, where in many places there is abundant wildlife, what do you do with all of it? When the Aswan Dam was built in Egypt all they had to contend with was a couple of broken and falling down old temples (joke) but here there were an uncountable number of animals. This is where Operation Noah tried to sort this out. Even to the small degree it was probably done, it had to be done. As the dam began to fill, it became evident that thousands of animals were being stranded on islands. Appeals were made and money raised to buy boats and equipment for their rescue and relocation. The operation would be better clarified by quoting from the following article rather than me trying to paraphrase it. "As the dam wall closed and the waters rose, milliards of large crickets, mice, rats, and the like emerged and scurried away from the encroaching waters. The skies above were blackened by swarms of birds sating themselves on the harvest. In the water the voracious tiger fish rampaged and, glutted with drowning insects, died. Many animals, notably the larger carnivores, retreated inland. Others, however, instinctively made for high ground to wait out another seasonal flood, and were trapped on temporary islands created by the unrelenting upsurge as Lake Kariba filled. Senior ranger Rupert Fothergill, Brian Hughes (an ex-fireman who could not swim) and their assistants arrived. Under-manned and under-equipped, Operation Noah had begun. They began by trying to manoeuvre the large animals into the water and shepherding them to safety. In so doing, it was revealed that many mammals could swim long distances – waterbuck a full mile and baboon 400 yards, for instance. They also discovered that hornless female buck could paddle further than the males. And they observed instances of intelligent, adaptive behaviour such as waterbuck ferrying offspring on their backs and large horned bull antelope supporting their heads on logs, or resting them on others’ backs, during their journey to safety. Others, declining the swim, were driven into the water for easier capture before being trussed and transported to shore. During this time tranquilliser darting techniques were pioneered. This was a heroic period, when a handful of men drove themselves to the verge of collapse whilst their gains were pathetically small as thousands of animals drowned or died from shock or injuries sustained during the rescue operations." www.mv-matusadona.com/the-remarkable-history-of-lake-kariba/Eventually over 6,000 animals (elephants, antelopes, rhinos, lions, leopards, zebras, warthogs, birds and snakes) were rescued but for some reason, probably just ease of logistics, most people we relocated to the Zambian side whilst most of the rescued animals to the Zimbabwean side. That's all for now.
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Zambia
Dec 29, 2016 23:17:17 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Dec 29, 2016 23:17:17 GMT 2
It would be interesting to know how death/burials were handled in pre-colonial times in Zambia. What happened with dead people before that I have no idea. If I come across the information I'll post it. I visited a small museum recently that mentioned this, so I can now answer. People were traditionally buried, usually curled up and on their side. No box or anything as a container. Cremation wasn't done at all and rarely was there anything to mark the grave. As it was usually done near their village the relatives just 'knew' where the grave was anyway.
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Zambia
Dec 30, 2016 1:58:46 GMT 2
Post by auntieannie on Dec 30, 2016 1:58:46 GMT 2
thank you for this, Dr Only!
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Post by sophie on Dec 30, 2016 7:38:59 GMT 2
Thanks. Having swam in various bodies of water in Africa, that danger of disease is ever present. I remember being more afraid of hippos in the water in Zambia.
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Zambia
Dec 31, 2016 22:48:28 GMT 2
Post by Scrubb on Dec 31, 2016 22:48:28 GMT 2
Great photos - I spent a week or so at Kariba in about 1992 or so, on the Zimbabwe side. Great wildlife spotting, and the cabin we rented in the park was unfenced so we had elephants walking right by it. ONe stretched his trunk up to our balcony and felt around for a while. We also found a baboon spider hiding out in someone's backpack as we were packing up to leave...
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Zambia
Jan 5, 2017 13:05:53 GMT 2
Post by OnlyMark on Jan 5, 2017 13:05:53 GMT 2
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Zambia
Jan 5, 2017 17:07:10 GMT 2
Post by auntieannie on Jan 5, 2017 17:07:10 GMT 2
and the graun recently published an article pointing out we don't need a women's day off for periods but rather equal salaries for equal jobs.
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