"Christmas Drive"

In the beginning of November we got together for a "packing party", to pack the donations we collected for the poor community we are in touch with.
It was a huge pile of clothes, household stuff and many toys.
The expat community also donated some money. We actually collected enough money to buy at least one mosquito net per household!


Unloading cars.

 

Our drivers helped a lot with carrying the heavy bags. Also together with some community members armed with sticks they did their best to keep the crowds calm and at a distance.
There were some people they asked for more, complaining and were not satisfied at all with what they have received. I also heard someone shouting that "finally the government is doing something for the poor". Therefore we had to repeatedly explain that we are just a group of families that have collected donations from the expat community and that we are trying to give to everyone as equal as possible.

Luckily some were having fun dancing to loud music.
Maybe we could not make everyone happy, but hopefully there will be plenty of smiles from the children when they unpack the toys.
And if we get to save one life from malaria, it will be worth the effort. (thanks Charlie!)

 

Finally it's done! Lucia is the wife of the village chief. It seems like she knows every family there. She helped us distribute the donation equally to each household because it is hard to know who belongs to which house and such. There are more than 200 households. It took us about 3 hours to finish, so it was quite a job for her. (thanks Aon!)

International Day at school

 

The International Day held annually by the Luanda International School is one big popular party and very colorful event. Here cultures from around the globe come together to celebrate the schools diversity and show respect for other cultures.

This year there was a Dutch booth even though without any food and entertainment.  However, the kids could stamp their passport with an original Dutch stamp cut out of a potato!



Maarten was enthusiastically volunteering with helping out at the booth. He seemed to be very proud of "his country".  At last he could identify himself as belonging to a particular group.
Sorry, no Czech booth at this event.  My half-Czech and I are the only ones at LIS so far.



Unfortunately I had to miss all the fun as I felt miserable and had to stay in bed.



Trip to Muxima and Kissama NP

Angola celebrates Independence Day on November 11th  which means also a long weekend!
It was a stressful week of phone calls trying to book cabins and safari tours and of course to get the important permit allowing us to cross the "boarder" outside of Luanda.
At last on Sunday together with other three families we traveled east from Luanda through Catete all the way to the village of Muxima. This was a picturesque place located on the banks of the river Kwanza.
There is a Portuguese fort built up on the hill with a cute little church beneath it. This place is one of the  important Angolan pilgrimage places.
We did a bit of sightseeing enjoying the beautiful views and relaxed atmosphere so different from Luanda.
From Muxima we continued west towards the coast as we booked a cabin for the night in the Kissama National Park.  
Upon our arrival the lodge was very busy, as usually during the long weekends. We booked also a safari trip for 4 p.m. but they let another group go instead of us. But seemingly they booked several groups for the same trip. There were many frustrated visitors at the reception and some were very emotional.
That was only the start. They offered a boat trip instead but when we arrived at the river the captain requested certain receipt we didn't have...
...We ordered dinner for 7 o'clock but at 8 it was still not there and the kids were very hungry and adults too actually!

I was looking forward to spend a quiet night surrounded by nature while listening only to the soothing sounds of the night bush. But the generator located just behind the cabins was so loud it literally vibrated the floor where Maarten was sleeping on. Luckily he didn't mind.

Our safari trip was postponed to 6 a.m. I was O.K. with getting up early but in the morning all visitors showed up at 6 and it was obvious that this trip was offered as a compensation to the yesterdays afternoon one to everyone staying in the lodge!
We were lucky to get on the first truck but still it was a bit stressy again.

While living in Angola you already know what to expect and that the patience is the key. That's how it was this time again.
All and all it was quite an experience and I know that in the end we will only remember the nice moments and definitely the stunning nature!
Yes, it was kind of worth all the effort even though I might use a little break.

 

Descending down into Muxima Village

 

Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Muxima.

To the fortress.

 

Almost there!

View from the fortress down to the village and the Kwanza river.

Many came for the holy mission on Sunday and pitched their tents  pitched their tents in the direct surroundings of the church.

 

 

Entering the Kissama NP.

Descending down to the river for the river safari in the late afternoon.

Seems we miss an important receit!

Aboard at last!

Happy!

Fishermen.

Village at the riverbank.

Crockie!

Watermonitor.

Beautiful scenery.

Some of us decided to walk back to the camp.

A little bit of adventure.

The views were stunning...

with every step uphill...

but it was getting dark.

 

 

Food finally!!

 

 



 

 

Monkeys in the camp.

All excited!

 

After the sleepless night.

This bull obviously didn't like the safari truck!

He was really angry.

Wildbeasts grazing in the valley close to the Kwanza river.

View from the camp restaurant.

Our cabins and many monkeys!