THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 16, 1996 TAG: 9606140068
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Travel-Wise
SOURCE: Stephen Harriman
LENGTH: 122 lines
ABOUT A YEAR AGO I wrote about three young boys I had met by chance in the remote Zimbabwe town of Chivhu. They had ostensibly been selling bananas to the occasional traveler who passed along the hot, dusty highway that leads through a part of the African nation that very much resembles New Mexico or Arizona.
But mostly they wanted to talk, to practice their English, which is a second language to them. They asked if we could spare ball-point pens for their school work, and requested any sort of material I might send to them about America.
I printed their names - Mudzingwa Mhurura, Israel Makamure and Mexico Dongo - and suggested readers might want to send them something, or at least correspond with them.
I know that some of you did write or send parcels because I got a letter from Mudzingwa last week. Hearing from people one meets in a foreign land is, I think, one of the most delightful benefits of travel.
He sent with his letter a list of those people from South Hampton Roads who had written to him, indicating both those to whom he has been able to send his thanks and those who may expect a reply as soon as he has time. He is a rather busy young man in school, and I gather he's been hard at work trying to earn money for things he needs, as you will see from his letter.
He asked me to publish the list of names, but I have decided not to do that because some of you may wish to remain anonymous. Those of you who have written to Mudzingwa may call me to see if your correspondence reached him.
Here is his letter (very neatly hand written, despite his apology for the script; my notes, for clarification, are in parenthesis):
Dear Sir
Thank you sir for the big job you have done in publishing my name. I have received quite a lot of parcels that can push me at school. But there was a mistake on my surname. It is Mhurura. (I had misread it on the note he had given me.)
Now I am in Form Four (roughly the equivalent of the ninth grade). I am schooling at Liebenberg High School here in Chivhu. I am writing my final examination ``O'' level this year. To the people who managed to help me, I have replied them. But not all of them due to the fact that I was trying to find exam fees which is $60.00. (It is not clear whether this is Zimbabwe money, which would be about $7.50 U.S.; or U.S. money, which would be a lot.)
So if possible sir you may republish thanking the people who I am going to write on a separate paper. The ones which I have marked I did not reply them yet. But you can still include them when you publish them for a thanks. I am going to write them soon as the things get settled on my side.
By now I am trying to have school uniform (grey trousers and grey shirts size 30), shoes size 7 or 8, exam fees and other school stationeries like a watch, math set, novels, writing books and satchel/school bag.
If anyone can find me help on even one of the things above, he or she can send it to me at the below address.
Now we are in winter here. At school we have started ball games, we are heading into our mid-year examinations which are coming in June.
How are you sir? Back to me, I am okay. Pass my greetings to your friends, colleagues and family. Now I will post the letter to you! I am always in hurry - so the end result is bad handwriting. I hope you are going to reply to me soon. Thank you!
Yours sincerely
Mudzingwa Mhurura
16 Lords Road
Chivhu, Zimbabwe, Africa
``Dr. Beach's'' Top 20
Hawaii and Florida have claimed 15 of the country's 20 best beaches. Here's the list for 1996, from University of Maryland professor Stephen Leatherman, also known as ``Dr. Beach.''
1. Lanikai Beach, Hawaii; 2. Kailua, Hawaii; 3. Caladesi Island State Park, Fla.; 4. Kaunaoa, Hawaii; 5. Wailea, Hawaii; 6. Hulopoe, Hawaii; 7. Cape Florida State Recreation Area, Fla.; 8. Fort Desoto Park, Fla.; 9. Hanalei Beach, Hawaii; 10. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Recreation Area, Fla.
11. St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, Fla.; 12. St. George Island State Park, Fla.; 13. Ocracoke Island, N.C.; 14. Perdido Key State Recreation Area, Fla.; 15. Sand Key Park, Fla.; 16. East Hampton Beach, N.Y.; 17. Westhampton Beach, N.Y.; 18. Bald Head Island, N.C.; 19. Coast Guard Beach, Mass.; 20. Clam Pass Park, Fla.
Best walking beaches: Gay Head, Martha's Vineyard, Mass.; Hammocks Beach State Park, N.C.; Crescent Beach, Siesta Key, Fla.; Carmel Beach, Calif.; Kailua Beach, Oahu.
Best wild beaches: Jasper Beach, Maine; Cumberland Island, Ga.; Padre Island, Texas; Shi Shi Beach, Wash.; Kalalua Beach State Park, Hawaii.
Most romantic beaches: East Hampton, N.Y.; Kiawah Island, S.C.; Captiva Island, Fla.; Santa Catalina Island, Calif.; Hermosa Beach, Hana, Maui.
Previous winners (Hapuna, Hawaii in '93; Bahia Honda Recreational State Area in Florida, '92; and Kapalua, Hawaii, '91) are excluded from the survey for 10 years. Winners for '94 and '95 are not on the list because hurricane Opal took its toll on beach amenities; the beaches, however, are fine.
Alaska fire reports
Travelers concerned about the impact of the wildfire in south central Alaska (near Anchorage) can call 1-888-AKNORTH, toll free. Alaska Tourism officials will provide information and travel advice for those seeking to make alternate plans.
Holland America Line, Gray Line of Alaska, Princess Tours, Alaska Sightseeing/Cruise West and the Alaskan Railroad all use rail cars and motorcoaches to move passengers between Anchorage, Fairbanks and Denali National Park. All five tourism companies have reported very minor disruptions.
Crossing the Delaware
The Cape May-Lewes Ferry system across the Delaware Bay has added to its fleet the 1,000-passenger Twin Capes. The modern boat offers three air-conditioned decks with such amenities as two cocktail lounges, a food court, a buffet dining room with 21-foot ceiling, a children's playroom, and three meeting rooms.
The Twin Capes joins four other ferries making the 70-minute run between Cape May, N.J., and Lewes, Del. Like the others, the Twin Capes holds 100 vehicles.
Cost: $18 one way for car and driver, $4.50 for each additional adult, $2.25 for children under 14, those under 6 ride free. Reservations: (800) 717-7245. MEMO: Travel-wise is compiled from wire-service reports, news releases,
trade journals, books, magazines and the deepest recesses of the
writer's mind. Send comments and questions to Travel-wise, The
Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va. 23501-0449; phone (804) 446-2904. ILLUSTRATION: FILE photo
Ocracoke Island ranked 13th in ``Dr. Beach's'' Top 20 for 1996. by CNB