Time is flying by much faster than desired and it's time to start thinking about personal preparations for Tanzania and not just those of our team. It's well past the time to get out the little vaccination booklet and realize damn my tetanus has run out. With everything else thats going on, ash clouds of death descending on europe and the like, im sure there won't be much time with last minute shopping and running around for all the things I need AND want to take.
To start off with the things I want to take, as that kind of shopping is always much more fun, not to mention the thrill of then trying to fit it all in the hiking backpack which will contain my life whilst in country. Camera things! I've always had a interest in photography but since landing my hands on a dSLR last year I must admit its intesified just a tad...and now given the opportunity of working in a wonderful country like Tanzania I want to make the most of it and fit in as much photography time as possible. Maddie is most definately of the same persuassion so we are going to try and keep you entertained during our time in country with not only funny and thrilling tails of our teams and our adventures, but also a wide spectrum of pictures showing everything the project and country have to offer. On with camera things: memory, memory and more MEMORY! I was dead chuffed when my new camera came with a full 12mp of shooting capability unfortunately my preexisting supply of memory gets eaten through like a flock of vultures on a zerba.
So I figure I should at least tripple my supply of memory, and if im taking so many pictures and the electricity went out? well then im going to need another battery right? (lets make that 2!, turns out energizer make a version of my camera battery priced at half that of canon's, so i figured since I'd already set aside the money for the battery 2 is better than 1 right?) I've recently been fortunate enough to pick up a Sigma 150-500mm lens for a good price, which is going to be put through its paces on all the wildlife in the region, and possibly the odd sneaky paparazi picture of the team, however cause its not the smallest lens in the world it's probably high time I invest in my own tripod as I don't think my family members would be so supportive of me borrowing theirs and promptly running out of the country with it. however how do i fit a tripod in my bag in the first place? and make sure its light enough, all without breaking the bank???? problem to be solved on a another day I think.
Last time I was packing ready to head out to TZ, I debated back and forth about taking my light weight hiking hammock with me, in the end I decided not to. Of course suprise suprise 2 weeks in coutnry and there was the perfect hammock spot! Worse than that my friend had thought to bring his so I had the pleasure of watching him gloat swinging back and forth whilst the sunset over the peak of Kilimanjaro! This is one mistake I shall not be repeating! A spork! wonderful things they are, how did I ever live without one in my past life? I'll never forget eating spaghetti with chopsticks fashioned out of pencils on my last tip and a spoon hastily carved out of a lump of wood lying around. And as much as I enjoyed?!?!? the unique taste graphite adds to a meal, I'm thinking a spork (spoon and a fork all in one for those not in the know) is a must. A digital watch with alarm function, after the unfortunate death of my last one in the YMCA swimming pool in moshi. A mixture of herbs and spices for cooking, I enjoy all the fresh food out there, but I got a bit tired of just salt to season things with.
First Aid kit- I make it a point of taking some new toy with me every trip. Usually this results from completing some form of advanced skills course, or persuading the odd vet friend to teach me things, like suturing :-D Maybe its about time I added a Bag-Valve-Mask (BVM) to my personal kit, its not going to break the bank, and the Oralphlageal (OP) airways purchased last time arent that useful without it hehe. Also the Rescue Knife by victorionix looks quite tempting to augument all the other random (but useful) tools found in my knife kits.
