If you ask me how I’m doing…
I would tell you about the crazy stories from Swaziland. That there is supposedly a snake that lives under the waterfall that is 40ft long. The witch doctor says that kids have gone missing, and its been seen eating a small cow. I hiked down there with my great friend John Michael but we couldn’t get close enough as there was a sheer cliff that seemed a bit too dangerous to climb down. But if I was a 40ft snake, that would be where I live. Its like a legit African jungle down there. But I am going to try again…
I would tell you about the Marijuana fields. Our contact said, “The best weed in the world grows in Swazi. I don’t know anything about it, but I know that the Marijuana grown here is very valuable. Be careful when you are out hiking because they grow it everywhere.” So of course when we went hiking we were looking for it. It not hard to find. About 1000 yards from where we sleep there is a “pot field” that is about 1/4 acre. And the plants are at least 5 feet tall. I took pictures. Its insane. I know certain people will wonder, did you take any? To which I will quote Jam (John Michael), “I wouldn’t steal drugs from a drug lord in the United States, much less deep in Africa, its like asking to get our rooms ransacked and our people pillaged.”
I would tell you that I took “Doxy” (a malaria med) right before laying down one night. And I woke up thinking I was having a heart attack. So apparently the pill dissolved in my chest and burned my esophagus, developing an ulcer. All I know is I haven’t been able to swallow anything without excruciating pain. Its been 6 days since I have been able to eat more than 2 or 3 bites. Its been rough. I’m told it takes about a week before you get relief. I wish to never repeat this again.
I would tell you about the scenery. They call Swaziland little Switzerland, just without the snow. It really does look like the set of “The Sound of Music.” And more than once I have channeled my inner Julie Andrews to sing, “the hills are alive with the sound of music.” The view out of my window is the envy of postcards.
Yep…I would say I am doing just fine,
Matt
