fuhget abat it!

It's 7:08am right now... just minutes away until I have to meet up with my choir peeps and board the bus to Calgary!

Packing? It's done! Did I meet the baggage restrictions?? NO!!! I've been up ALL NIGHT taking stuff out. It's been quite a stressful venture. THANK YOU to my little sis, Karen, for pulling an all-nighter with me to help solve my dilemma. She loves me THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS MUCH!

My goodness! At one point I looked like the Michelin man, with the amount of layers I heaped upon myself! After all, they can't weigh ME, right?!! Anyway, I've seriously limited the amount of clothes I'm bringing. But it's SO FRUSTRATING because clothes hardly weigh a thing, so it was disappointing to see that the numbers on the scale hardly change.

The heavy things I'm bringing are mainly gifts (from the association and personal items I bought to give away) and electronic stuff (e.g. camcorder, camera, chargers, adapters, etc.). Man, I was SOOO TEMPTED to leave my personal gifts behind, but it would be SUCH A BUMMER to go to Africa empty handed, especially after spending LOADS of thought and time in purchasing these gifts for people in Africa.

Oy! You know, WHY STRESS?!! I would much rather pay the overweight luggage fee than to arrive in Africa naked and empty-handed!

HERUMPH! I'm out!

Hah... it's been a LOOONG night! I'm going to enjoy the bus ride and flights! YAY SLEEP!

Ta ta for now, tout le monde! I shall keep y'all updated at the journey unfolds ;p

PEACE!

BOOOOO to packing!

K friends, I am SO TOTALLY procrastinating! It's 11:30pm right now, and instead of packing my suitcase, I decided to whine on my blog! Hahaha... well, at least I unzipped the thing! Sigh... where are my organization skills when I need them?? Honestly, it really ain't THAT bad, but I always make the CHORE way bigger than it is. Sigh... there I go... WHINING!

Besides that, I'm trying to multi-task. Hah... which really means I'm EXTREMELY distractable right now. I'd be making a move to put something in my suitcase when... *POP!*... I remember something that I *cough cough* MUST do. Like cutting my nails and cleaning under my bed and uploading songs to my iPod... REALLY important stuff, right?! HAHAHA... let me just repeat... I am a practiced procrastinator! Heading into my 4th year of university, baby! THAT'S RIGHT!

Yea... the iPod... I'm trying to be selective with the tunes I'm loading into it. There are a total of 5615 songs on my iTunes right now. That's 15.5 days worth! Heh... really, do I listen to the whole shebang?!! HECK NO! I don't even know half the songs on there! Yea... let's just say that I used to be a compulsive CD-shopaholic back in my junior high days. Anyway, my mission is to finish this TONIGHT! Hah... or soon to be tomorrow.

oOooo... THANK YOU to those of you who came to our farewell tour concert tonight! It was so nice to see familiar faces in the audience. WOW! It's been a long time since I performed in a Koko uniform. I almost forgot they come with built-in saunas! Lemme tell ya, there was a lot of shveating involved - both audience and choir. That venue was HOT, HOT, HOT in more than one way! Music wise, we raised the roof with most of our pieces! I'm looking forward to perfecting our repertoire as the tour unravels. It's going to be FUN!

Aight! Enough slacking for now. 8am on Saturday is looking mighty close now. EEEK! I think I'm not going to sleep for the new couple days!

going with the flow

Hah! Don't be fooled by our established itinerary! Most plans have already been confirmed, but still, we are warned to be prepared for ANY sudden changes. Nothing is TRULY set in stone. As my choir director, Scott, commented, "Africa... is very unpredictable."

Some recent challenges, for example...

One of our correspondences from Africa, who was helping us with the Tsumeb arrangements, BAILED on us! That was like 2 weeks ago! She gave us the impression that everything was fine, and all of a sudden, she ditched the whole thing for a family issue. I understand, but this means that the Tsumeb thing (originally planned for July 15 or something) will NOT happen. And so, my director was left with 80 choristers with no where to stay and a measly little list potential accommodations! See, that would've been ok, except that accommodations in Africa for a group our size is nearly impossible, in such short notice! Long story short... we've shuffled activities around, extended our cruise on the Zambezi River, figured out some sort of living arrangement for that portion of the tour, etc. So really, everything is ALL RIGHT :)

Oh, here's another one! So, as you all are probably aware, MALARIA is a high risk in Zambia right now. We didn't really comprehend the extent of this pandemic, until one of the workers at the hostel where we'll be staying at called us last week... "Hi. I don't think I'll be able to follow up on your arrangements at the Fawlty Towers. I think I've contracted Malaria." HA HA HA (sarcasm), and he said it casually as if he caught the common cold or something! Sheesh... umm... yea... I'll DEFINITELY have my malaria pills with me. Ooo... getting sick on this tour would SUCK! So I pray that it won't happen... to anyone!

Yep, so there's a taste of what kind of lifestyle I will be living for the next couple of months. I better be on my toes! Well, I have no choice really. Oh what a thrill!

Hah... I haven't REALLY attempted to finish my packing yet. My room is a JAMBALAYA of stuff! Man oh man! But I gotta crack down on this task right away, since I leave THIS Saturday!

Hey, if you're available, you should come check out our tour performance tomorrow night! It's an opportunity for friends and family to see what we'll be singing on the tour and to wish us BON VOYAGE! Details...

Thursday, June 28th

Riverbend United Church
14907 – 45 Avenue

7 pm

Admission by donation

africa tour 2007 itinerary... so y'all can follow along ;p

Sat June 30
8:30 AM Board bus to Calgary/drive to Calgary
11:30AM Arrive at Calgary Airport, check in
3:05 PM Depart on Air Transat to London Gatwick

Sun July 1
6:55 AM Arrive in London
9:30 PM Depart London via Air Namibia for Windhoek

Mon July 2
8:45 AM Arrive in Windhoek
Overnight at Roof of Africa Inn and Conference Centre

Tues July 3
Drive via 2 X 44 passenger luxury coaches to Swakopmund (stop at markets enroute, 4 hour journey)
Free Time in Swakop
6 PM Dinner provided by Mascato at Namib High School
They are hosting us and the Camtu Maluti Youth Choir, South Africa
Get together – informal sing, Mascato, Koko, Maluti
Hosted by families in Swakopmund.

Wed July 4
Tour in Swakopmund area
Dinner at Lighthouse Restaurant 5:30

Thurs July 5
Free Day – Many activities are available for booking: quading in the dunes, flights over the dunes, boat tours, etc.
Evening rehearsal with Mascato 6-8 PM Namib High

Fri July 6
School performances at Namib High, Swakopmund Secondary School, Da Duine SS (Narraville)
Climb dune 7, Visit/tour Walvis Bay
6-8 PM Evening rehearsal with Mascato

Sat July 7
2-2:30PM Kokopelli Rehearsal
2:30 PM – 5PM Koko and Mascato
7 PM Concert in Swakopmund
After concert reception

Sun July 8
2:15PM Meet bus. Depart for Walvis Bay
3 PM Kokopelli rehearsal
4 PM Meet with Mascato, run through program
5 PM Concert in Walvis Bay
7 PM Dinner in Walvis Bay

Mon July 9
Desert Adventure Day – Overnight at Desert Camp.

Tuesday July 10
Free Day (lunch $)
4 PM Dinner in the dunes with Mascato.

Wed July 11
Depart for Waterberg Plateau (2 or 3 hours), Visit Cheetah Sanctuary
Overnight at Waterberg Plateau Namib Resort (lunch $, Dinner $)
Possible concert

Thurs July 12
Travel to Etosha National Park
Overnight at Okaukuejo Camp (2 nights)
Facilities include: pool, post office, restaurant, shops, museum
Activities include: game viewing at waterhole, game drives

Fri July 13
Performance at Okaukuejo School
Safari in Etosha park

Sat July 14
Overnight in Namutoni Camp (Eastern Etosha)

Sun July 15
Travel to Tsumeb.
Hosted by families. Concert

Mon July 16
Travel through Caprivi to Victoria Falls (early morning departure)
Obtain visas to enter Zambia
Overnight in Livingston, Zambia at Fawlty Towers Backpackers

Tues July 17
Visit Victoria Falls
Many activities available - ziplining, boat tour, bungee jumping
Concert in late afternoon, Chief Mukuni Lands.
Evening Braii cruise on the Zambezi river, view hippos and other wildlife

Wed July 18
Travel through Botswana. (early morning departure)
Visit Okavango Delta.
Overnight at the Old Bridge Backpackers and Riley’s Hotel

Thurs July 19
Morning school concert in Maun Botswana
Return to Windhoek, Overnight at Roof of Africa Inn

Fri July 20
9:30 AM Fly to Cape Town, South Africa (Arrive 12:30 PM)
Check into NH Lord Charles Hotel Somerset West
Rehearsal at Somerset College with Siyacula
World Youth Choir Concert in Cape Town

Sat July 21
Morning workshop with Siyacula.
Afternoon prepare for GALA Fundraising concert
GALA Fundraising concert for Siyacula at Lord Charles Hotel.

Sun July 22
Day for sightseeing – visit Spier
Evening – meet host families

Mon July 23
8 AM – meet at Somerset college. Performance for school assembly.
After travel to Lwandle for performances at several schools.
Lunch at Somerset Mall $
Performance at Gordon High School
4-5:30 Workshop with Somerset College Choir
Dinner provided at the college
7:30 Public Concert at Somerset College

Tues July 24
Free Day, optional tour to Betty’s Bay and Stellenbosch.

Wed July 25
Head to Cape Town
Visit Boulders Beach (penguins) and Simonstown enroute
Overnight at City Lodge Hotel, VA Waterfront
Informal concert at VA Waterfront Market

Thurs July 26
Take tram up Table Mountain
Free Day – options, shopping, visit Robbin Island, see Cape Town sites.
SHARK DIVING!

Fri July 27
1 PM depart for airport
4 PM Fly to Windhoek (Arrive 5PM)
Stay at Arebbusch Travel Lodge
MY 23rd BIRTHDAY!!! WHOOP WHOOP!

Sat July 28
Workshop/rehearsal with Mascato and Ernst’s Choir.
Dress rehearsal at National Theatre
Concert with Mascato and Ernst’s choir in Windhoek at the National Theatre.

Sun July 29
Morning social event with Mascato – final farewell!
Free afternoon

Mon July 30
Check out of hotel
Lunch concert and workshop at University of Namibia
Check into Roof of Africa Hotel
Dinner at Joe’s Beerhouse – final celebration! ($)

Tues July 31
Free Day
6 PM Arrive at airport
KOKOPELLI returns home. I STAY BEHIND FOR ANOTHER MONTH!!!

Wed Aug 1 - Sat Sep 1
And so the 2nd part of my African journey unfolds...
Stay tuned :)