My visit to Hong Kong was full of excitement, filled with exciting events and attractions. The atmosphere in the city of Hong Kong is full of color and fun. The museums I was fortunate to see were absolutely fantastic and the festivals were so spectacular that I feel they were perhaps some of the greatest time I had with my family. The hotels and restaurants of Hong Kong are outstanding and we were impressed with their world class standards and international menus.
We were highly attracted to Victoria Peak which is considered to be the premier tourist attraction and provides magnificent views of the city and harbor. We were advised by the locals to visit the area in the late afternoon so as to be able to experience the alluring landscape of Hong Kong Island, the harbor, and the hills beyond. We felt very comfortable at Victoria Peak which offered us a whole host of fantastic entertainment, dining and shopping options.
Hong Kong offers its fair share of indoor fun and entertainment in the Peak Tower and Peak Galleria. The world renowned Madame Tussauds has also unveiled its wax portraits museum in Hong Kong. The Peak takes care of dining facilities and we were bombarded with many a mouth watering option at the Peak. Two joints which were impressive were Café Deco and Movenpick Marche restaurant. Their international menus and outstanding services are very impressive.
As little boys grow up, their fantasies and imaginations develop and are indulged by the thoughts of ordinary people possessing super human powers; therefore, a superhero party is a guaranteed hit.
Starting out in comic books, then moving on to television shows and finally ending up in toys and movies, superheroes are represented in all aspects of entertainment. A child has several options to indulge his fascination. Whether your little boy or girl is climbing up the walls like Spider-man, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound like Superman or turns green with anger like the Hulk, there is a superhero party waiting for him or her.
From plates to napkins, and cups to goody bags, there is everything you will need for your party at www.partysuppliesetc.com. What about allowing the children to dress up as their favorite characters? Supply Spider-man masks and web blasters for a Spider-man-themed party (just make sure that it’s an outdoor party because the “webbing” gets everywhere). Supply green face paint for your Incredible Hulk party. Maybe your child is into X-Men. Have different X-Men costumes on hand so that guests can dress as their favorite X-Men character.
Also, look into hiring somebody dressed like the superhero to come to the party. What better way to excite a child than allowing them to actually meet their hero face to face? Little boys are filled with enough energy to outlast even the most active parents.
There has to be a lot of activities to keep the guests occupied. Consider having races where all the children can participate at one time or in teams. If you have sufficient yard space, set up an obstacle course that all of the guests can compete in at once. Avoid games that require standing in line and waiting turns. Whatever activities are planned, rest assured that the kids will have fun because they’ll be together, and that always equals a good time.
Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible
The Adam & Eve Hotel — in the Belek region of Antalya, Turkey
This new hotel’s expansive press release claims…
“It’s Sexiest Hotel in the World!”
And it goes on to say that, “The Adam & Eve Hotel is the latest agent provocateur of pleasure in the Mediterranean — with soft white floors and floor-to-ceiling mirrors that reflect views of the surrounding pine forest and the turquoise waters of the Sea — which serve as a backdrop for whatever life guests want to lead…”
But, what’s the reality…?
What follows is not the company-line you’ll read if you visit the Adam and Eve Hotel website, but we think it’s a lot more interesting… It’s the first hand impression of human-interest columnist Onur Bastürk (Hürriyet Newspaper) — when he paid a visit to the Hotel (after its delayed opening) with his special Eve in early December.
Onur says…
There has been non-stop advertising for a year… the opening date was postponed… I’m talking about the Antalya ‘Adam and Eve Hotel’.
So what are the rumors, myths, and facts about this fabulous hotel?
Well, one of the rumors I had heard was that VIP customers upon arrival, besides their own room key, would be given another room key. That key would open a special door, right around midnight, to a surprise party, where all the carnal pleasures awaited.
Another rumor was that couples would find an extraordinary ’sex box’ upon entering their rooms. When they’d open it they’d find every imaginable sex-toy they might need ‘for playing house’.
At this very moment, I’m seated in my large (64 square meter) standard-sized room at the Adam and Eve Hotel — together with my special ‘Eve’ right next to me. But on entry, neither a second key nor a ’sex box’ did we receive.
In other words, those first two rumors are just hot air, probably (…unless you’re a very special guest).
But what are the facts? Let’s explore a few of the hotel’s features — to see if your eyes pop out (or not) about this sexy hotel legend…
In Part 2 — The ‘Top 6 Features’ of ‘The Sexiest Hotel in the World’…
[Click following to access a fully illustrated HTML version of
What better way for the frugal traveler to stretch both her budget and her vacation allotment than by taking road trips during long weekends? Here are some of my top tips to reduce that cost even more.
Keeping The Cooler Cool
Packing an accessable cooler full of drinks and snacks is a great cost reducing option. To maximize cooler space, instead of filling with ice, freeze water bottles and low filled beverages (including drinking boxes, makes a healthier juice slushy). No more soggy sandwiches or spilled water in the backseat.
Eating Where The Truckers Eat
For longer road trips, travelers may have to look outside the cooler for a meal. Instead of haunting the usual fast food chains, keep an eye out for any local roadside restaurants with transport trucks parked outside. When truckers find a spot with good, affordable meals, they tell their buddies.
Note: Just because the sign says truck stop, doesn’t mean the truckers stop. The vehicles never lie.
Keeping The Kiddies Entertained
This is a trick I’ve stolen from my Mom. Whenever we went on a long road trip, she would dig out the coloring books and crayons. That may not seem exciting except it was…to us. During a road trip was the only time we were allowed a new coloring book.
Updated for today’s kid, keep a few toys or video games only for use on road trips. This could be a brand new toy or a favorite. The novelty of the toy will keep kids busy and looking forward to the long car rides.
Prepping The Vehicle
Road trips mean relying on your vehicle so prep work is essential. Check all fluids, oil, antifreeze/coolant, windshield washer solvent (for the bugs all road trip vehicles collect). Check the tires, ensuring that they are properly inflated and in good condition. Check all belts and hoses, looking for wear and tear.
AAA Or Other Vehicle Assistance Programs
Frequent road trippers should consider an AAA or other vehicle assistance program membership, especially if they have an older vehicle. One tow and the membership pays for itself. Plus no scrambling for local mechanics/tow trucks.
One of the benefits that I love about AAA is their TripTiks which are route maps complete with information such as road works (very helpful during the summer road work season) and rest stops. There are even blurbs on each town passed.
Road trips are a great way to see more local destinations and to stretch the travel budget.
For more frugal travel tips for road trips or cities, visit freephotooftheday.com freephotooftheday.com
Information on Ski Vacations, like planning your ski vacation, budget ski vacations, what to pack on your ski vacation, ski vacations with ski clubs &, for the real beginner, learn how to ski in readiness for your ski vacation
I am sure you will agree that, before departing on any vacation, a little information on preparation & planning can only help. Our purpose is to provide you with exactly that regarding your ski vacations!
Ski Vacations – Learning How To Ski
If your family wants to go skiing on your next vacation, but you don’t know how to ski, go ahead and plan that ski vacation anyway! You can learn how to ski, and you will have a great time doing it. You don’t even need to know the first thing about skiing before you arrive at the resort – all of the knowledge you will need is there waiting for you, and you can literally be skiing down a mountain after an hour of instruction.
Learning to ski is really quite easy. Most resorts have a ski school on the premises, and lessons are reasonably priced. Group and private lessons are usually available. It is a good idea, however, to schedule an appointment before you arrive at the resort. This will ensure that you can start learning to ski the very first hour of your vacation.
Most ski instructors start by showing you how to manoeuvre around with your equipment. When you are wearing ski boots, you will be inclined slightly forward – there is a reason for this…when you are skiing down a mountain, you will be inclined forward! Walking in ski boots the first time is a bit difficult – but it works just fine if you learn to walk with your knees slightly bent.
The first manoeuvre you will learn is called the plow, or snow plow. This is a technique that is done by literally using your skis as a snow plough. You make the back of the skis slowing move outwards, away from your body by applying pressure – and this stops you. You guide yourself on skies by bending your knees and leaning in one direction or another, depending on which way you want to go. All of these techniques can be learned in one hour, even if you have never been on a pair of skis in your life.
The beauty of skiing is that after you have learned how to snow plough, and how to guide yourself on the skis, you are ready to ski! Get on the lift, head up the mountain, and give it a try. Control your speed by snow ploughing – go slow at first. When you want to pick up some speed, draw your skis back in to pick up a little speed, then push them back out into the
plow position to control that speed.
As a beginner, you should stick to the trails that are designed for beginners. At most resorts, these trails are marked with a green emblem. Blue trails are for intermediate skiers, and after one day of skiing the beginner trails, you may be ready for those trails. The black trails are for experts. These trails can be dangerous for people who don’t have the skill level to handle them! Avoid black trails until you have had a great deal of ski instruction and experience. You will know when you are ready! Enjoy your ski vacation!
Ski Vacations on a Budget
When you start thinking about ski vacations, you will find a lot of information about various resorts and packages. Finding terrific vacation spots isn’t difficult, however, finding ski vacations that fit into your budget can be a challenge.
To save money, look for lesser known resorts. This doesn’t mean that these resorts won’t provide you with a fun vacation – it simply means that they aren’t quite as well known as other resorts, and therefore, the prices may be a great cheaper. Also look for ski vacation packages that will include your lodging, lift tickets, lessons, rentals, and possibly even some meals.
Be willing to make some sacrifices if money is a real issue. For instance, instead of eating in an expensive restaurant each night, eat cheaper fast food, or make sandwiches in your room. Borrow equipment from friends instead of renting it. Join a group for lessons instead of taking private lessons. Don’t stay at a lodge, stay at a motel farther away from the slopes if necessary. There are numerous ways that you can cut down on the expense of your ski trip. It is all about
the powder after all! Have a great ski vacation at budget prices!
Ski Vacations with Ski Clubs
There are many different types of clubs throughout the world. In fact, there is a club or organization for just about everything that you can imagine! Skiing is no exception. Ski clubs are a great way to learn new things, and to go on ski vacations with other members. In fact, ski club members often get discounted rates on ski vacation packages.
No matter where you live, there is a ski club near you. This is true even if you live in a place that does not ever get snowfall! These clubs regularly get together for trips to various mountains, ski areas, and ski resorts. Some are local clubs, meaning that the slopes that they ski on are within driving distance, while others are more national or global, which means that they not only ski locally, if possible, but they also plan ski trips.
Again, members of ski clubs often receive deep discounts on ski vacation packages. Arrangements are usually made through the club, so that everyone is eligible for the discounts. The money that is required from each member for the trip is usually paid to the club, and the club passes the funds on to pay for lodging, airfare, meals, lift tickets, and other perks that are included in the trip. Because arrangements are being made for a group of people – which is usually fairly large – discounts are given. This benefits all members of the club.
The discounts aren’t the only thing to be excited about. These clubs get together regularly – even if they aren’t getting together to ski. They join together for other activities as well, such as cookouts and fundraisers. Many ski clubs do annual fundraisers to help less fortunate families and children at Christmas time. Others do annual fundraisers to help preserve the environment – which is usually a topic of great importance to skiers who love being out in the wide open spaces and fresh air.
While skiing is what brings these groups together in the first place, it is not necessarily what keeps them together. Their love of a common sport, and their common interests and feeling of community is what keeps them together – and it keeps them skiing together for years and years. If you are a skier, you should definitely consider joining a club. It doesn’t matter – in most cases – what level you are at. Beginners are usually welcomed, and this is a great way for beginners to quickly improve their skills and techniques out on the slopes. Ski club ski vacations can be a great experience.
Ski Vacations – What To Pack
If you will be traveling for a ski vacation, it is often difficult to know what to pack. You may not even have a problem knowing what to pack, but instead have a problem figuring how to get everything that you need from your home to your destination. Skis do not easily fit into suitcases, and if you are flying, this presents a huge problem.
Start by knowing what is available at your destination. Is there a rental shop? How much are the rental fees for skis, boots, and poles. If it is reasonable, and you don’t mind skiing with rented equipment, this is a viable option – and it makes packing and travelling much easier.
If you don’t care for rented equipment, there is another option. Find out if there are any ski shops in the area. There usually are. Get prices on skis, poles, and boots, and then ask if they buy used equipment. If they don’t, ask if there is anyone near by that does purchase used equipment. Call that place to get an estimate on how much you could get for barely used ski equipment. Figure the difference in the money you will spend on the ski equipment, and the
money you will get for the used equipment when you are finished with it. If it isn’t much more than what it would cost you to rent the equipment, go for it!
Ski suits, ski jackets, and sweaters can be very bulky, and hard to pack. These items will take up a lot of room in your suitcase, and leave less room for other clothing and essentials. If you are trying to pack for a two week ski vacation, it will be impossible to fit everything you need into one suitcase.
There is a way to solve this. Call the lodge or resort where you will be staying. Tell them that you need to ship a package, for yourself, to them, and that you need that package to be there when you arrive. Ask them if they will hold it for you at the desk. In most cases, they will. Next, get a box, put all of your ski suits, your ski jacket, and any other bulky items in the box, and ship it to yourself, in care of the lodge or resort. Shipping can be overnight, two day, or three day depending on how far it must travel. Depending on how much the box weighs, you will usually pay less than fifty dollars to ship a package in the continental United States….which is a lot less than you would pay an airline for extra baggage! Enjoy your ski vacation with the peace of mind that comes knowing you have everything you need with you or at your destination.
We hope that you found this information of use &, should you require further information on other ski vacation destinations, you can find many articles on destinations from A – W in this article series on ski vacations!
Barry Williams is the Managing Director of Sun Villas Direct Ltd sunvillasdirect.com sunvillasdirect.com
who offer all kinds of vacations & travel related services worldwide,
There is nothing quite like taking a vacation to a warm, sunny destination, especially during the most busy and stressful time at work. The absolute freedom of dodging all duties to lie out on a beach sipping fruity drinks garnished with an umbrella is something all people should experience at least once.
Of course, I include myself in that category of people that ought to experience the freedom, as I have not really experienced anything similar to freedom since the 4th grade. Just like everyone else, I’m tangled in the web of day-to-day work, I don’t have the money to go anywhere remotely close to warmth and sun, and if I skirted my duties for a random tropical vacation, I’d return home to find that my employer would have permanently skirted me.
However, the middle of my three problems is in the process of being solved. With my frequent flyer credit card program, I receive frequent flyer miles on purchases I make daily. Without ever setting foot on an airplane, in fact, I might be able to gather enough miles over time to cover my entire ticket to a place where the sun is actually visible on a regular basis.
At first I was awed by the various frequent flyer miles credit cards available. Every single credit card issuer seemed to offer so many different flavors that I was afraid to commit to any particular one, in fear of missing a better deal with a card I had not yet looked at.
So I did a little research. I checked what airline had the cheapest fares to places I frequently visit, and what companies it had frequent flyer miles credit card programs with. From those I decided on the company I trusted most, and the card that also had the best features for my personal situation. The top things to consider are if the rewards can be applied to an airline you might actually use, if any black-out dates coincide with your preferred time to vacate and if the rewards will expire before you can accumulate enough miles for a first-class ticket to Maui.
I couldn’t be more pleased with my credit card choice. Aside from the fact that I fantasize of islands every time I remove it from my wallet, it works perfectly for me. I can literally fund vacations with nothing but patience and purchases that I have to make already. In essence I am getting frequent flyer miles for free.
Right now I’m saving up my miles for a trip to Hawaii – a trip that my employers will actually know about, that is, contrary to the freedom I extolled earlier. Each time I use my card, on anything from groceries, to clothes, to gas, to gifts, I get a little bit closer to Honolulu. I can feel the lei draped over my neck when I pump my gas, I feel the sand playfully warming my bare feet when I buy a gallon of milk, and I can hear the clumsy waves tumbling over one another when I buy a new dress shirt and tie.
Derek Lenehan is majoring in Magazine Journalism at Kent State University. He is also a lead
Renault’s 2005 car, the R25, will be unveiled on 1 February in Monaco. Renault is the sixth team to announce the launch date of their car. Up to now, they are only the second to choose a non-testing venue. The Sauber team has chosen Kuala Lumpur to launch their new car.
The Renault team has launched new cars outside France lately because of the stringent anti-tobacco advertising legislation, as the team is sponsored by the Japanese cigarette brand Mild Seven. The launching took place in Palermo, Sicily in 2004.
The Drivers
The 2005 Renault drivers will be Giancarlo Fisichella and Fernando Alonso. Fisichella returns to the team after a three-year absence. He feels that the team is even more motivated to win. He is reported to have said that it was the perfect time to be with Renault again, declaring himself satisfied with the competitive atmosphere, focussed on victory. Both drivers will be present in the Principality at the launch, as well as the boss of the Renault team, Flavio Briatore.
The Car
The team was generally satisfied with the 2004 car. Their only reservation was that the car was quite tricky to drive at top speed. The R25 shows kay improvements in this area. Changes were also made to the chassis and the aerodynamics. With a new electronic system and huge improvements to the engine, the new Renault car fills the team with great confidence.
The team had a good season in 2004, finishing third in the championship, after BAR Honda and Ferrari and ahead of BMW Williams and McLaren-Mercedes. Renault has fixed the target for 2005: last October The Renault F1 president announced that the R25 will challenge for the constructors’ title.
Laura Ciocan writes for ilovemontecarlo.com/ ilovemontecarlo.com/ where you can find all you want to know about ilovemontecarlo.com/learn living in Monaco
Please feel free to use this article in your Newsletter or on your website. If you use this article, please include the resource box and send a brief message to let me know where it appeared: mailto:lauracio@gmail.com
Feeling excited? You have finally decided to get with the program. Down tools at work, and book up an exciting trip to foreign lands. Cool! Think about it. Warm beaches, sunshine, cocktails and a good vibe. It’s going to be great! Only one thing. First of all you have to get there. And whilst it is great to splurge out the cash when you actually get away on holiday. It is a nice feeling to know that you haven’t splashed the cash on the flight to get yourself over there in the first place! So, this is where this article will start to set you on the right track. Ok. So you want a cheap air flight to somewhere exotic. What’s the first step?
To answer that question the first step really comes with planning. Before you can decide on an exotic location it is necessary to plan. Such factors as budget, length of time that you have available for the trip, preferences in terms of the type and style of holiday that you seek, and the availability both of yourself in terms of time, and any companions that you wish to travel with must be considered. Because, whilst it can be great to go traveling on your own. And in fact some of the biggest adventures you will ever have will come when you are traveling solo! It is also a fact that traveling with someone you like, get on well with, and whose company you enjoy, can make the experience that much sweeter, and that much more fun. (Especially when you only have two brief weeks away from work!)
Okay, so let’s get down to planning. So you have decided you want to go on this trip. So how much money do you have to spend? This is a biggie. I was watching a programme on MTV the other day about heiresses. There was one lady on there who had a fortune of some $300 million dollars. And so to all intents and purposes, her budget was limitless. The trips that she had planned included an island in the Caribbean. Only, not just any island. An island that cost $10,000 a day! So you can bet that her idea of getting cheap air flights to her destination, would not be the same as yours
So, assuming that you aren’t a $300 million heiress, and that money is a consideration. What cheap flight options do you have? One of the first aspects to look at with cheap flights is to see whether any discounts are available through your work. This is an often overlooked aspect of getting cheap flights, but is in fact quite useful to consider at times. Especially if you work inside a large organisation say for example like American Express or a big car company where they have big buying power for their executives. These organisations will often have travel discount deals already in place with major airlines. So if you enquire with your human resources Department. You may find you can save money, right off the bat!
Another group of people who can often get cheap flight deals are students. There are many student discount travel arrangements, and these apply to all forms of transport, including rail and buses as well as flights. (For example inter-rail passes around Europe). One easy thing to do if you are a student (or under 25) is to check directly with the airlines, whether they have any arrangements specifically for students or young people, and if they do, then to make sure you take them up on them! There’s no point in leaving money on the table, especially when you’re a student! And it could be better spent elsewhere
Also, the day of the week that you travel is also a key consideration. You’ll find if you travel midweek that the flights will cost considerably less than if you travel at the weekend. This is simply a case of supply and demand. People tend to work during the week and take the weekends off, so that tends to be when people fly. So if you can in fact fly during the week, instead of the weekends, then you will save yourself some valuable cash. In the same way, a great way of getting cheap flights is simply to book them at the last minute. Be aware that this doesn’t always work. And can in fact backfire, especially if you do it during peak season, when most flights will be fully booked. (And so can in fact get MORE EXPENSIVE!) But at low season, airlines are typically looking to fill the seats on their flights, and so, what this means is that they will often let them go for much, much lower prices than they would if you bought them several months in advance. For Example, if you are flying to places like Ibiza off-season, (from the UK), then your flight may well cost you one third (or less) than if you fly during high season.
Hopefully, this article has given you a bit of an insight into seeking our cheap flight deals. Obviously, this is only one article, and so is difficult to go into too many specifics, in such a short amount of space. However if you visit the links below. You will find many more resources, and information to help you to seek out those travel bargains. Happy travel hunting!
For the very latest information about news-box.info/cheap_air_flights_student_airline_fares_103812.php how to get cheap travel tickets and other
travel resources. Visit news-box.info News-Box.info and you can also learn more about insurancesalesman.com/travel-insurance.htm travel insurance quotes
These days, chances are that betrothed couples already have all of the blenders, towels, dishes, silverware, and other household items they need. With the swing toward men and women getting married later in life, most couples either have individual homes that they’ll combine once they’re married, or they have been building their own trousseau while living together. Because they’re often footing the bill for all or part of their wedding, the one thing couples don’t have is money for the honeymoon of their dreams. That’s why the latest trend in bridal registries is the honeymoon travel registry.
Perhaps a couple wants to go on a cruise, vacation in Europe, or enjoy a Disney vacation. They may dream of four-star hotel accommodations or flying first class on their favorite airline. Whatever their fantasy honeymoon, more and more couples are opting to register with an online travel agency.
With a bridal travel registry, the couple can have their dream honeymoon while wedding guests can be assured that their gifts will combine to form memories that will last a lifetime. And, the process of both registering and giving is easy and straightforward.
Essentially, a honeymoon bridal registry allows the couple to set up a personal registry web page. If the couple already knows their honeymoon destination, they can reveal that on their web page and select items to include in their gift registry. For example, if the couple is traveling to Hawaii for their honeymoon, they may decide they’d like to go to a Hawaiian luau and list two luaus (one for the bride and one for the groom) in their registry. They may also select a romantic candlelight dinner, breakfast in bed, and a hotel room upgrade. They can include entertainment and activities, such as scuba diving lessons, a helicopter ride, horseback riding, and snorkeling. The couple can even add travel items like inter-island flights, limousine service, and a rental car.
Similarly, if the bride and groom have decided that London is their destination of choice, they can include an English afternoon tea in their travel registry, dinner for two at Jamie Oliver’s restaurant, a medieval banquet, and a Harrods’ shopping spree. Perhaps they would like tickets to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, London theatre tickets, or a tour of Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. If so, they can add those items to their travel registry as well.
For wedding guests, a honeymoon travel registry makes it easy to find a personal, yet remarkable gift. Giving a sunset cruise, for example, is much more memorable than a set of mixing bowls. Gift givers can even opt to send the couple a customized gift card, or print one out and bring it to the wedding.
A honeymoon signifies the beginning of a couple’s life together, and is a welcome relief from the stresses of planning their wedding. Having a honeymoon travel registry can help make the couple’s dreams come true and give them memories to last a lifetime.
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular majon.com internet marketing companies on the web.
Learn more about TravelPackageDirect.com Wedding Travel Registries or Majon’s majon.com/directory/Travel Travel directory.
March is at the height of the rainy season in Zambia. It is also the green season again – water and green everywhere. This morning is special and we are ready to go!
We live in Chingola on the Zambian Copperbelt. It’s about 400 kilometers north of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. My wife, Molly and I had decided that I take a few days off from work. I work as a geologist for one of the mining companies. So you guessed right, rocks and minerals are my business! But so is the Victoria Falls. Did I mention that it was our destination for that day’s ‘trip’?
Livingstone is home to the awe-inspiring, mystic…Victoria Falls. It is over 500 kilometers south of Lusaka. Now you know why we had to brace ourselves for this ’small trip,’ a trip covering some 1000 kilometers – a great driving test for a day! The look of the morning suggests fine weather, but as usual afternoon rains were expected. You learn to predict such with age, you know : – )!
It is 6:00hrs in the morning and we are packed ready to go. The children, there are four nice guys we wouldn’t like to be without, are hovering around. The youngest Martha says, “See the falls for us too and come back home safely.” They had to remain because they were going to school later that morning.
I threw the hold all bag in the boot of our family car. It’s a Toyota Chaser, a saloon car still good on its wheels. It still drives effortlessly on asphalt roads and that was our type of road all the way; from Chingola to Livingstone. Literally cutting Zambia in half. See the butterfly-shaped map of our magic country Zambia.
Kitwe Zambia’s Second City
We were on our way…and stealing from a Chinese saying “a journey of thousand miles starts with one step”. Just about thirty minutes later we arrived in Kitwe. This is the first town outside Chingola. It is the hub of the mining activities in Zambia and the town is centrally located on the Copperbelt. Its ‘wealth’ comes from the four surrounding mining towns of Chililabombwe, Chingola, Mufulira and Luanshya.
Kitwe has a small central business district surrounded by residential areas. There are a few tall buildings within the business district. But business is growing and is now encroaching onto the nearby suburbs. Fancy offices are coming in the suburbs. You know, they pull down homes to replace them with office blocks.
Kitwe is a small cosmopolitan city, sort of busy, people crisscrossing, shopping and some with all sorts of wares for sale. Hawker traders are everywhere. It’s like everyone is selling some thing and everybody is buying …incredible! The central business district is small, just a couple of blocks or so and we were on the other side of the town center.
Ndola, the Friendly City
We left the town behind as we drove on. Another thirty minutes later we arrived at Ndola, the capital of the Copperbelt Province. Dubbed the friendly city of the Copperbelt. Ndola was built as a commercial and distribution center. You can still see the impressions of its former glory when times were good. It has suffered the fate of the former regime’s economic experiments! The manufacturing companies either shut down or migrated elsewhere. A most hurried privatization took its toll here!
The central business district of Ndola is much larger and more spacious. The roads are wide and clean. The shops are many and you see a lot of people and cars everywhere. Lots of tall buildings too! In the old days the beauty was complete. There was a lake on the river that bordered the town center in the south. It separated the town from the southern suburb of Itawa. The International airport of the Copperbelt is beyond Itawa. Planes land here straight from Jo’burg (South Africa), Lubumbashi (D R Congo) and East Africa. It was built before the International Airport in Lusaka.
The little lake in Ndola has a history. It used to be large and serene. Quite a beauty really. Now only a boating club still exists but the water spots, which used to be the usual weekend activity, are gone. Now you see people in a dugout canoe fishing illegally.
What brought about this sad story? “One bright” fellow brought from abroad a water lily, a water hyacinth we called Kariba grass. It attacked the lake and nearly chocked it into extinction.
So there is no boating, no water spots, nothing! Just a small dam in the center of what was the lake. The municipality is busy fighting the wed, claiming back the lake. The lake is slowly coming back growing. It appears great times are coming ahead, I hope?
Kapiri-Mposhi
We are back on the road and over an hour later we made it to Kapiri-Mposhi. This is the only town in Zambia with a hyphenated name. Kapiri as it is normally called is a small town but on a rail and crossroad. It must grow to meet the challenges of crossroad settlements. It is here where the Chinese great railway to Dar-es-Salaam begins.
The Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) railway connects Zambia to the east coast of Africa in Tanzania. Using Chinese technology the hills were cut and the valleys were buried during construction of the railway line. Over a thousand such engineering fits are found on its 3,000 plus kilometre length to East Africa.
Kapiri is a gateway to East Africa. If you feel adventurous you can drive to the northeastern of Zambia. Then cross Tanzania to Dar-es-Salaam on the east coat of Africa. I have done this trip once and driving just over a thousand kilometers to the border was my frequent pastime in my earlier life. But that is another story!
We did not stop at Kapiri but drove through the small but growing shopping center.
Kabwe, the First Mining Town
Forty minutes or so later, hello Kabwe. I think the Bemba speaking people will not object if I say the name means ’small rock’. Kabwe has a great history. It was once called Broken Hill. Yes you can guess it, the famous Broken Hill Man, a skull of our recent ancestors (homo rhodensiensis) – we as human beings are homo sepiens. This skull is now resident in a UK museum. The Broken Hill Man skull was discovered at the start of mining operations.
Kabwe is the first mining town in Zambia. There’s a billboard saying just that at the entrance of the town. The mining operations ceased in 1994 but Kabwe did not become a ghost town.
Help came from the fact that it lies on the Great North Road that joins Lusaka, Zambia’s capital city and the Copperbelt in the north. Farming has taken root here. The central business district continues to be a hive of activity. It’s rather a sprawling town center, spacious and lots of room. The largest textile manufacturing company in Zambia is found in Kabwe. It is an example of Chino-Zambia government partnership.
Lusaka, the Capital City
We were back on the road and after one and a half hours of driving brought us into Lusaka. Hello Capital …and the traffic is just dissipating after the morning rush hour. Its 10:00hrs two hours after the factory and office workers had managed to sneak into their work places! (I wouldn’t want them to hear me say that).
Lusaka was once described the fastest growing city in Sub-Sahara Africa. In 1964, at independence from Great Britain, Zambia was born with a ’silver spoon in its mouth’, or should I say a copper spoon? With the excitement in the air and pride boosting the egos Zambians were a happy lot. The neighbouring countries to the south were all still under colonial rule. The economy was booming buildings were going up everywhere. The government was building schools; in fact a school in every district and a hospital too! Education was free. The times were great. Voila! Wake up Zambia!
The country has fallen on bad luck. Poor policies, high oil prices, etc did get paid to that. Now it’s a struggle for Zambians BUT there are signs that better times are yet to come.
However Cairo road is still a great major street. Beautiful skyscrapers cover the horizons. Shops are in every building. And the people… they’re everywhere. Lusaka’s population is two million people and that’s 20 percent of Zambia’s population… all in one city. Like every great cosmopolitan city in Africa you will find anything you want. The street venders are everywhere selling all kinds of goodies and nice ones too!
When you look at the cars on the main streets of Lusaka no one would blame you if you momentarily thought you were in Japan. Japanese cars are everywhere. And most are brandy new too! Cars from South Africa, the UK, Germany, and France are all found here. New buildings are popping up everywhere and in sundry places as if space is in short supply. Is this country poor, you might ask.
Sorry I digressed… We decided to surprise Molly’s cousin at her home. Well, perhaps I should say we were more interested on the homemade breakfast? Remember we started off without it that morning. After some greetings and enquiries about her children who were then at school and her husband who was busy at work, they were at each other! Chatting and hooting happily like schoolgirls – who ever said schoolgirls do that, I wonder?
Suddenly it was lunchtime and a quick light lunch was served. But we decided to leave before the family was back. We didn’t want a further delay that would result if the family arrived while we were still at their home. Remember the Victoria Falls was still further than the distance we had already covered from Chingola.
Oh, before I forget. Looking back we probably drove through rains twice or three times. You stop to count rainfalls when it’s a daily occurrence. I never seem to stop enjoying this though! Windows closed, a touch of heat from the car AC, my favourite music on – this time it was an African beat by Oliver Mtukudzi from Zimbabwe. The sound of the raindrops and the swishing sound of tires on the wet asphalt road, occasional cars and trucks going the other way! Just imagine that feeling, the sense of security against the elements of the weather – rain and wind as you drive past. Unfortunately driving in the rain gives Molly some discomfort. Poor her! She couldn’t enjoy that great pleasant feeling!
Kafue
Kafue is like a dormitory town being a mere 35 kms south of Lusaka. That was our next town but it took about thirty minutes – what with the heavy traffic and a few turns on the hilly road. The turns are great for those with a dare devil attitude. Imagine, you’re driving down the hillside and then up the slope… and suddenly a speeding truck shoots out of a bend! But I kind of enjoy that. The excitement of danger, you know!
Kafue is a stone throw away from the banks of Kafue River from which the town derived its name. The Kafue River comes out of the Kafue Flats as it meanders on its way down stream. The Kafue Flats are home to Lochinvar National Park, a bird sanctuary situated up stream of the river within the flats. More than 741 bird species have been recorded in Lochinvar and the counting continues! Birders, this is your paradise.
Outside Kafue we cross the bridge over the river. There is a new bridge now. The former bridge was a “transplant” from the UK, a present from the British Overseas Office. Its stay lasted nearly a century on this site. After its usefulness was gone the bridge was replaced with a brand new one – a Japanese technology! And that’s what we drove on.
Mazabuka, the “Sweetest Town”
Hello Mazabuka! The town is nicknamed the “sweetest town” in Zambia due to the sugar cane and the sugar factory. Zambia Sugar Plc owned by the Ilovu Sugar Group has a sugar cane plantation. It’s situated a few kms outside the town on the Kafue Flats.
In it’s meandering the Kafue gets very close to Mazabuka.
Zambia Sugar produces more sugar than the country’s local demand. The surplus ends up filling part of the African quarter on the market of the European Union. Opportunities are great in Zambia. Just recently another sugar company has sprung up on the other side of the Kafue, outside Lusaka.
Mazabuka is now experiencing a lot of activities. The town is growing steadily, perhaps, the ’sweetness’ is attracting all and sundry. But then Mazabuka is right on the Great North Road in the farming block of Southern Province, once called the maize belt. Large quantities of maize grain used to be grown around here in the 1960’s and 70’s. Not any more, at least not as much!
We are on our way again. This time we were heading for Monze, a small town on the highway. We drove past it without stopping except to slow down a little to avoid the wrath of the traffic police. They “pitched a tent”, I mean, put up a road block to check for car road fitness, driving licences and road tax. So we had to pretend that we were driving below the maximum speed limit through a built up area.
I don’t know about you, but it seems to me that the traffic police are the same everywhere. They’ll delay you unnecessarily. When they stop you just watch them walking towards you slowly and majestically, like they own the world. You get filled with chagrin as you see the minutes tick by. What a torture they’re!
Back on the road and another trading center, a really small town flicks by. We don’t bother to stop because our target the Victoria Falls is still way too far ahead.
Choma
It is now Choma town. Once again right on the highway. The traffic is light at this time of the day. So driving is a pleasure. We stopped for some refreshment. Nothing beats a little stretching after seating in the car for so long like we had endured. Choma is another town I love so much. This love emanates from those old university days as a student on a field excursion – you know, learning rocks and all, geology again!
During my student days and on two occasions we ventured into the Zambezi Rift Valley, south of here, to have a look at a coal deposit and how it was being mined. You know, coal formed under intense heat due to a huge covering layer of rock deposited many millions years ago. Coal is a cousin of black gold, ‘oil’, but unfortunately it doesn’t pull in as much cash. What a pity!
So I digressed again… Choma is a neat town with its main buildings and shops all on the throughway. We took some drinks and a little rest at a popular stop for buses and motorist. And we had to leave. This was only just about half way to Livingstone from Lusaka.
As we leave town it’s raining again and I m pleased to note this. Molly is a ‘touch’ too unhappy. “This horrible rain is back again”, I can almost read her mind and audibly she remarked, “Won’t it ever stop raining?” Bad me I answered to spite her. ” You know, we need the rains, at least the farmers do”. I deliberately avoided looking at her but I could feel the mood. I knew what she thought. I was incorrigible just as the persistent rain itself.
Kalomo is another of those trading centers on the highway. A lot of farming activities in the surrounding area and shops to “siphon” the hard earned cash from the farmers. It’s a two-way thing really. Farmers are happy to buy goods after selling their crops. Again no stopping. We were now kind of tied. Only looking forward to a good night’s rest in Livingstone. Quickly we were past this small town.
Here is a beauty. There is a town, uncomfortably small though, named after me, yes me! Well, it’s only a coincidence. The town is called “Zimba” exactly spelled like my name is. So you see, how proud I feel about it. I actually pretend the town is named after “great” me. What a wish! Sadly our desperation was now heightened and we really wished we could just be up and we’re in Livingstone. But unfortunately we were only driving past my ‘beautiful little town.’
We were now on our last leg. We were driving again, the Toyota Chaser eating up the road with ease, heading to our destination …Livingstone…and the Mighty Victoria Falls!
Don’t forget that! 76 kilometres later and as the French say “Voila” we had arrived in Livingstone and safely too…
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Enestle Zimba is geologist of over twenty years and manages Zambia African Safari (ZAS) part time. Enestle is dedicated to the promotion of safaris and tourism in Zambia and the conservation of wildlife and the environment.
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