from Swaziland backpackers

10 more days and counting now. I'm staying here for at least 6 of those days so much to see and do plus the place is like a palace. Way out in the country with little mini buses packed full of people to take you to town costing only 4 rand about .50 cents. The ride here from St. Lucia was an eventful one quite eventful. The driver had not one but two cell phones one in each hand while driving mind you and shifting with his knee as he did not want to stop his conversation or look up a number while driving. We had to go through customs to get into the country dropped us off it seemed forever to walk to cross over and when we did he was no where in site. Did the toilet routine looked in a shop bought some more brain food and still no driver or baz bus. finally he arrived and away we go again. The country is beautiful and the people are the best. It is not at all dangerous here compared to S. Africa. One of my room mates I was with at Mantis & Moon she being black and from Namibia made a big difference on our travels we did yesterday. Met up with another German girl and away we went for our first day out here in the country. We caught the mini bus into the town of Manzini a real african experience and went to one of their markets. At least 100 mini buses were about where we got and all really wiondering if we could find the right one to get back to the hostel. I've never experienced a day like yesterday. After the market and the bargining down on prices we again went back to the crazy mini bus place to try and find another one to take us to another place where candles are made also a craft market as well. Having no idea where this place was and finally finding the right bus craming ourselves in and I mean cram away we go again. The country side was beautiful but getting a bit risky as this place was in no wheres ville. With the music playing loud and everyone bumping and grinding in their seats (including me) being the only white people on the bus the rest thought it was great. Did the look around thing now wondering how we were to get back again to town which was about 40 minutes away decided we would go to another place instead further up the road but did not know how far the next place was. We tried to haul down the mini buses but they were to full so the next thing to do is hitch hike. We finally got a ride got in the back of the pickup truck the driver dropped us off and told us where to walk to find another mini bus. We got to our destination had a look around another Swazi market got on another bus back to Manzini when we decided again lets go the the place "house on fire" after finally getting on the right bus off we go again only to find house on fire was closed when we got there. Went to the Irish pub next door to it and got a ride from one of the patrons drinking there back to our hostel. In all we were gone over 14 hours. The house on fire is having a huge rock concert tonight getting tickets for it as well as for my two friends arriving here around 7 on the baz bus. The dutch guy again and another friend from Norway. They called me to make arrangements for this as Michael had seen this group in Namibia. On Monday going back to Manzini to the soccer arena to celebrate the King's birthday. It will be a full day of watching just about anything and everything including seeing the kings entrance around 2 o'clock with his 12 wives. that should be interesting. Going to the capitol city tomorrow for a look around and who knows where else. Well a nice surprise my Swedish friends just arrived with their rental car. My new best friends of course will be heading out again real soon as food shopping needs to be done. don't forget live the life you love and love the life that you live. If life was like a parachute and it did not open well you know the rest.

bye for now,
Me

Emily I am doing great Darby needs me to work earlier than I expected that is the only reason for my not stopping over in the UK. Start making plans however for the return visit.

Darby Did you get my airline information I sent you?

Chris in Bangor How are we doing on the case? Do we have a date yet for what I have to do?

Fr. Marc Have I got some music for the 5 O'clock mass you will love it. Going to a full black gospel church on Sunday to hear the singing and Sat. night to the Cathedral in Manzini.