personal writings, thoughts, experiences
Published on October 8, 2006 By apojoe In Misc
It has been more than two years since I left Zambia. And these days always fill me with memories that make want to go back. It is warm there this time of the year. The last rain fell in April and the chill of June and July is replaced by a crispy dusty warm wind. The grass if not burned are brown. But the trees are exploding into foliage. Buds shoot and clothe branches stripped naked during the cold months. Hues in between deep red and green reach out and fly in the wind.

But what I remember most is the arid earth and the people who till them this time of year, in preparation for the coming of the first rain. The hardened soil that explodes dust is turned, little by little, with every lift and fall of the hoe. The big molten sun swells as it seems to kiss the land at sunset. Then people move home, casting long shadows in the surreal orange glow when the sun and earth meet at the horizon.

This time of year, I can easily be found at Mindolo dam for a swim or at Kumasamba Lodge spending a lazy Sunday afternoon. In both places, I can go fishing or in Kumasamba, trek in the wooded area and be in for a pleasant surprise like a duiker suddenly crossing my path, a bid of exotic colors lands on a brach near my way or a rhino bathing by the river.

Zambia is beautiful. Some of its beauty comes in magnificent splendor (see the Mosi-o-tunya, Luangwa Valley). But it has also the quiet and subtle charm in its ordibary sights that gradually overtakes by those who stay longer. And once this appears to the beholder, it remains a color a sound or an experience of a place with all its spirit ans soul.
Comments
on Oct 08, 2006
I really enjoyed reading this - you brought Zambia to life in the post. I was born in Ndola many many moons ago!

I do not remember much of Zambia except my father trying to shoot a cow for the workers and the cow refusing to die! Chopping down my first tree! (hardly a tree though, it was so small and spindly!) My mother accidently overdosing her horse Crushione resulting in its death.

I have no visual memories of the land, I was too young to get those. Thankyou for the images you painted in your blog.
on Oct 08, 2006
okay Admin there is a problem
on Oct 08, 2006
Fixing...
on Oct 08, 2006
Thank you jennifer 1 for the alert. I am glad to know that you were born in ndola. you might also like to read my post "Visit to Dag Dammarskjoeld Memorial" . That is site near ndola towards Kitwe but I did not write "okay admin there is a problem" reply too. May I know the problem regarding this from the admin?
on Oct 08, 2006
Fixing...


thanks Zoomba - fast work.
on Oct 08, 2006
May I know the problem regarding this from the admin?


never mind they have fixed the problem, I wrote a reply on Trudys blog and it came up as your name, some how yours and my names got muddled, so I gave admin the alert to fix it.