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Tuesday 19th February
I awoke after a good nights sleep. I wasn't sure on the time as my phone had died, but the sun was shining. Tine had already left the tent, so I assumed it was nearly 9am and breakfast time so I got up. There was no one around our truck so I decided to go put my name down for the 2pm shuttle, I also took my Australia guide book, in the hope I could read and plan a little. When I got to reception I looked at he clock and it was only just gone 7.30am. I saw Tine, Nelly, Claude and Enricko sat at a table so I decided to join them. They were just discussing small matters. Then Jess walked into the bar and I overheard her say something about someone going to hospital, but I though nothing of it and assumed it would be the result of some drunken antic from the previous night. As she left the bar with milk we made the comment that why wasn't she still asleep, breakfast wasn't for another 90mins. She had said James hadn't been very well in the night and started hallucinating and having fever and sweats, he was the one taken to hospital. Jess was hoping it was malaria as then it's easily treated and he would be ok in a few days where as if it was something like typhoid it could be more serious. Jess looked slight shaken but not panicked. She went back to camp and the rest of us chat and chatted, with Enricko providing advise on Australia. After a while I suggested we went to camp to keep Jess company as she must be worried. As we got there we saw some others from our group and told them of the news, everyone was shocked and concerned. As we got to camp Jess was making pancakes and there was already people there with her. Jess seemed content cooking away and didn't want any help. I sat down and had some cereal (the good old mixture) and a cup of tea, as the pancakes were cooked (think breakfast pancakes)a I had 5 (2 chocolate, 2 honey and 1 jam), we were all eating them but the plate kept getting filled with them. Slowly but surely everyone started to emerge, some feeling a little more fragile than others. The news if James was explained to people but the mood was still happy in the camp. We sat there for a while. Tine, who was leaving at 10am for her plane, gave me a Nyami, a sea force like figure which was linked to the legend of the waterfall, it was meant to mean luck. I put it on my necklace with St Christopher and thanked and hugged. Just before 10am I went to reception to say buy to Tine and Diane who were leaving together (they also had Miken and Jason in their taxi), I also said bye to those getting the shuttle into town as I wasn't sure if they would be back before I left. It was strange saying bye again, it didn't seem that long ago we had just all meet. I headed back to camp where most people still were and where the last few had woken up. The pancakes were still being made. As soon as we started having breakfast some monkeys came and watched us, sometimes daring to get a little closer before someone would attempt to scare them off. We had obviously let our guard down, as in a flash one brave monkey came in and grabbed two pancakes and ran off to the trees. There he sat looking smug eating his steals. I sat and people provided me with recommendations and advise for Australia. It was all great, I just hoped I could remember it all. Maggie highlighted a couple of things in my book and recommended getting a highlighter as it was a perfect way to mark things. One of the guys who had taken James to the hospital came back and said James had malaria and was back after treatment and was on pills, he was sleeping in his room and the guy would get him some food from the restaurant. Once everyone had finished breakfast I decided to go pack my bags, as now the tent was half empty it would be easier. Also, Jess was by the truck so I could get my purse out if 'Bob' and bags off the bus. It didn't have to be packed perfectly as I could do that before my flight, I just needed to be able to take it to the hostel. It was surprisingly easy, I had my main bag (with sleeping bag and boots attached), day bag (with gifts inside), handbag and my food bag...I had forgotten how much my bag weighed. Once this was packed I headed to the restaurant to read my guide book and keep an eye on the time. It was around 11.15am and most people had moved to the bar, to sunbath or read. I sat their happily underlining things in my book getting a picture of what to do in Perth. Just after 1pm I went to take my bags out the tent, as Kate wanted to sweep it out and put it down before she went bike riding at 2pm. They were having our tent as theirs was not in good condition. I took my stuff and and helped Kate take it down and sweep the ants off it. Whilst helping I kept a watch eye on my bags as I could hear moneys lurking about! By the time I had finished it was about 20 to, so I headed over with my bags. For some stupid reason I thought this was a good time to try and take photos of monkeys for mum, with all my bags on and being a good target, but I got a few. As I got to reception, people were congregating, as they either had a trip planned or were going on the shuttle. This made goodbyes easy as they were all there. Again it was a strange feeling saying bye, a mixture of sadness to be saying bye and the tour ending, happiness to have met them all and excitement to being moving onto the next adventure. The bus arrived, so all those who had signed up climbed onboard. I hadn't gone to find Jess as I assumed she would be getting her well needed rest and I didn't want to disturb her and James. The shuttle was a quick drive and soon we were getting off. I felt excited to be moving on (especially as James had said a lot of people do stay at the hostel). Maggie and Gay helped me load myself up with my bags (they did offer to help me carry them) and I said my final farewells and asked them to say bye to Jess and James for me and I was off down the street heading to my hostel. It is only a 7min walk from the market to the hostel, but it seemed to drag and take forever. Weather this is because it was a very hot day, or because I was carrying in bags, or because I felt so much like a tourist (more than normal) and this made me feel more vulnerable. It wasn't too long before I arrived to my relief. I got through the gates and headed to reception. It seemed like a busy, friendly hostel. I checked in and they showed me my bed, a bottom bunk in the far corner (I like being in corners). They told me I could pay later once I've settled in. I tried to unpack a few belongings, and had some lunch (a cereal bar and some milk biscuits) and then after asking about the kitchen I headed to town to a supermarket. This hostel was going to be very different from the last (much more of what ninjas hoped for), but I was unsure on how security and keeping things safe would work, but when I walked into the room it was obviously that people were very relaxed as people had things all over the place and it also looked like some were here for the long term. I stored my passport and second purse in the cubby boxes they had in the main area and locked it with one of my padlocks. I then ventured into town. I looked in a couple of stores (Spar and ShopRite) to compare prices, they were both similar, I ended up shooing at ShopRite. I brought a few bits; cereal, milk, pasta, tomato paste, tuna, quick noodles (2 packs), bread, peanut butter, eggs, mushrooms, peppers and some nectarines. I was hoping this would keep me going for the next 6 nights. Once I dropped the food off at the hostel, and labelled the food I put in the fridge and found myself a draw. I then decided I would go to the Italian for a cup of tea and use their Internet. I felt bad that I was again wanting to go into the Internet, but I had replied to some emails I wanted to send and I also wanted to look into flights in Australia so I could plan a little more. I headed to Olgas around 4.45pm and sat and used their wifi. I received some emails, sent some, read some message and bugged people stuck at work back home. I also searched for some travel agents in Australia to get some advice about which way around I should fly. I felt like I had made good progress although I felt bad I was just sat in the restaurant (or seats just outside by the bar) abusing their Internet. I left around 6.30pm and headed back to the hostel. Once I got back I paid for my room and then showered, the shower was ok, it was warm and had semi decent power. It felt like a shower at one if the campsites. Once I was cleaned I went to cook dinner. I decided I would have some quick noodles with a few mushrooms and a bit of pepper. It wasn't as bad as I thought. I then had some peanut butter on toast for pudding. Whilst eating I sat and wrote in my diary. I met some Swedish girls in the kitchen and we started talking, they were here as part of their thesis for university, they had been here a week of a two month visit. It. Was nice talking to people. As we washed up our things the power went out and throw the hostel into complete darkness. I say down with the 2 Swedes and chatted, the power came on shortly only to go back off again. I was glad I had cooked early as there was a rush for the kitchen when the power came back on. After a while one of the girls went to go and speak to her mother. I then decided I would head to bed, I got changed and started to read a little. The power came on again, but only short lived before it went off again. It was nice and dark in the room, although as the fan was not on a slightly bit warm. I was surprised at 9.30pm the majority of people in the dorm (it was quite empty) were already in bed. I got into y sleeping bag liner and slowly drifted off into sleep, it felt so nice to be back in a bed!!
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