A Big Tree and a Massage

After commiserating with Ruth about how our eyes have been feeling, I looked up the humidity - thinking it might be a possible cause. The humidity in Fredericton right now = 96%. The humidity here in Victoria Falls = 19%. Yips; probable cause.

Our last full day in Africa. *sigh*

To make full use of our last day, we slept in and then I decided to go on a hike to the Big Tree. Ruth sensibly stuck around the hotel and read.

The baobab tree is about 3 km from our hut. As I set out on my journey with $27 in my pocket for emergencies and a small bottle of water, I ran into the usual characters who try to hustle you for money changing to local currency, the sculpture and craft hawkers etc. 

The road had a dirt path on either side so I smartly choose to walk on the right side facing oncoming traffic.

I eventually found the entrance to Victoria Falls National Park.

And then Andrew showed up beside me. He started chatting me up, telling me he sold souvenirs just beyond the big tree. I conversed a little but got a real desperate vibe off him as he told me he needed a shirt and sneakers with tread on them - like the ones I'm wearing? Am i going to wind up stripped down to my underwear, walking back to the hotel in bare feet? Or beat i death with a rock and left for the lions to eat?

I stopped to pretend I was texting and he kept walking. 

I didn't see him selling stuff by the tree but he did seem to know the sellers. Fortunately for me, there was a busload of schoolkids visiting the tree and Andrew disappeared into the bush.

The Big Tree is really something: almost 1500 years old, the trunk is 18m across, and it's 23m high. 

Incidentally, we had lunch at a craft brewery and I had a drink that was a mix of ginger beer and baobab fruit. It was so good, I considered buying a keg and shipping it home DHL, since there's a DHL drop off near the hotel. But I didn't. Of course. That was just sunstroke-thinking.

The walk back was far less eventful. I ran a bit but the 19% humidity pretty much shut down my lungs so I walked. 

I kept an eye on the bush for this who might want to snatch my sneakers and clothes. They can have my socks. They should be burned after what I've put them through today.

After the craft brew lunch, I got a Hawaiian massage in a tent down an alley from the hotel. It only had a few makeshift curtains, three very used massage tables - and flies. The collection of massage oils made it look like they sent some kid to the corner store with $4 to get what he could and he pocketed half of that.

But the massage was great! I feel like fifty bucks!

I think the antimalarial drugs in taking might be causing me to make questionable decisions. Check out the possible side effects and you decide:

anxiety

attempts at killing oneself

back, leg, or stomach pains

black, tarry stools

bleeding gums

blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin

blood in the urine or stools

blurred or decreased vision

change in near or distance vision

chest discomfort or pain

chills

cold sweats

confusion

continuing ringing or buzzing or other            unexplained noise in the ears

cough

dark urine

diarrhea

difficulty in focusing the eyes

difficulty with speaking

difficulty with swallowing

disturbed color perception

dizziness

dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position

double vision

drooling

fast, slow, irregular, or pounding heartbeat

feeling that others are watching you or controlling your behavior

feeling that others can hear your thoughts

feeling, seeing, or hearing things that are not there

fever

general tiredness and weakness

halos around lights

headache

hearing loss

inability to move the eyes

increased blinking or spasms of the eyelid

joint or muscle pain

large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs

light-colored stools

loss of balance control

lower back or side pain

muscle trembling, jerking, or stiffness

muscular pain, tenderness, wasting, or weakness

night blindness

nausea

overbright appearance of lights

painful or difficult urination

pale skin

pinpoint red spots on the skin

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

red skin lesions, often with a purple center

red, irritated eyes

restlessness

shuffling walk

skin rash, hives, or itching

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth

sticking out of the tongue

stiffness of the limbs

sweating

swollen or painful glands

tightness in the chest

trouble breathing

tunnel vision

twitching, twisting, or uncontrolled repetitive movements of the tongue, lips, face, arms, or legs

uncontrolled movements, especially of the face, neck, and back

unusual bleeding or bruising

unusual tiredness or weakness

upper right abdominal or stomach pain

vomiting

yellow eyes and skin