tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37095271767122904412024-03-13T11:29:06.424-07:00Hope to see you soontraveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-87979953774543842072009-06-20T02:18:00.000-07:002009-06-20T04:50:12.193-07:00The Mara<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFWi0BFhejliXopaTl6oCdTNzpwiczHfkTJh4imWyS3jXxezuNatRY77uRLIXNZBh-z3tz7voKmnMyxkOjT2skXuUh2wMgmtlQEd02SAP6TdyWiYDunveMTepwiw0yIzURmtzdCCkoDXO/s1600-h/IMG_5797.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFWi0BFhejliXopaTl6oCdTNzpwiczHfkTJh4imWyS3jXxezuNatRY77uRLIXNZBh-z3tz7voKmnMyxkOjT2skXuUh2wMgmtlQEd02SAP6TdyWiYDunveMTepwiw0yIzURmtzdCCkoDXO/s320/IMG_5797.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349375703786006002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mcBWz49KOSikBUca7Qr34btvFbaGuSIP-X0uOn21z4DpRNS9CRxiU1iFDbMztAYXRNbi3EUH2vnLKSspfpcWH-316VKLQuFLABeJUBj1RM5bbitl7UqWITc7caA7hGKmhwi6BwXlpOzw/s1600-h/IMG_5821.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mcBWz49KOSikBUca7Qr34btvFbaGuSIP-X0uOn21z4DpRNS9CRxiU1iFDbMztAYXRNbi3EUH2vnLKSspfpcWH-316VKLQuFLABeJUBj1RM5bbitl7UqWITc7caA7hGKmhwi6BwXlpOzw/s320/IMG_5821.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349375698804845106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLfpgBAbJJ8Ast2cvNGQ7JxlJngyQcKSVtRdUPzzMomNTbhRMOAAkiu48wjP6ORAv8X0RO1BWB76s7jnr7_HBzcSCc9I9iY9x5x9K5aqjm1imQdUHEJ0hdDQyLgOkbP0YL9bc3CvqG9ax/s1600-h/IMG_5829.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLfpgBAbJJ8Ast2cvNGQ7JxlJngyQcKSVtRdUPzzMomNTbhRMOAAkiu48wjP6ORAv8X0RO1BWB76s7jnr7_HBzcSCc9I9iY9x5x9K5aqjm1imQdUHEJ0hdDQyLgOkbP0YL9bc3CvqG9ax/s320/IMG_5829.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349375697371301106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7TQo9lamSWn0z3VVxiz4-ijLmQwm0ATpPtmOM5RICYYvIPP7SbOpxV8tcP0xFEI6GnRhzpRFGFItdKVRdXYWxkdHekE1H82sB8pVLgis_VBv10ylbAQ0zg40oTPrW9iRYbshVFBy5mjP/s1600-h/IMG_5874.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7TQo9lamSWn0z3VVxiz4-ijLmQwm0ATpPtmOM5RICYYvIPP7SbOpxV8tcP0xFEI6GnRhzpRFGFItdKVRdXYWxkdHekE1H82sB8pVLgis_VBv10ylbAQ0zg40oTPrW9iRYbshVFBy5mjP/s320/IMG_5874.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349375692654439042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYS58-EVU8KM1LNJgg3ayJn9uDUmggqlIPUKO0X5NyRWLJhyA6-z1jIjj7S573WZiBVtG2hB8Pruw-XUshtBRc4E80bj0rGOs5cUySPsjw_42S1Jr9-jNHWFUrWg2VFZXrI-846qJD9wl/s1600-h/IMG_5946.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYS58-EVU8KM1LNJgg3ayJn9uDUmggqlIPUKO0X5NyRWLJhyA6-z1jIjj7S573WZiBVtG2hB8Pruw-XUshtBRc4E80bj0rGOs5cUySPsjw_42S1Jr9-jNHWFUrWg2VFZXrI-846qJD9wl/s320/IMG_5946.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349374593474042946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6P0zOxtbTds4kqbnPXWi5FdHIjecFi9Cf6MGJrCt2p_GVQlL4GYSsQyGC1N2u8W5a1Hn5-gx-0_GPfR-_inue0onHt0Hj6cUpWWNPjCIehTrTskmok4iQy7k3jvtLpdvlbHaQNs7uvKC/s1600-h/IMG_5960.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6P0zOxtbTds4kqbnPXWi5FdHIjecFi9Cf6MGJrCt2p_GVQlL4GYSsQyGC1N2u8W5a1Hn5-gx-0_GPfR-_inue0onHt0Hj6cUpWWNPjCIehTrTskmok4iQy7k3jvtLpdvlbHaQNs7uvKC/s320/IMG_5960.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349374586331672002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptxzf1Fg19_5SKxhPff0feRcyedixBg_Lu3AqcBLwiVTWBw75Hpilh_kyfputfA-GumluRcBtTUsMOGy58H4jx1djW7gT7RbDsHNCVCMKkBYIOF-ktrX0wRRqLWyZn2F3neqnOU4Wpbdt/s1600-h/IMG_5988.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptxzf1Fg19_5SKxhPff0feRcyedixBg_Lu3AqcBLwiVTWBw75Hpilh_kyfputfA-GumluRcBtTUsMOGy58H4jx1djW7gT7RbDsHNCVCMKkBYIOF-ktrX0wRRqLWyZn2F3neqnOU4Wpbdt/s320/IMG_5988.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349374583470913138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTS8IoF5DMohsJfE_KqSll23V6osC-jxZoK4SEyXEEvDrMA-dAZ9AgjjOqOPFifyEWDkVgJYJ0QAWaelyyv7JhQpa1ufBJHDU_Py6DvBY5fBnjx7-H_r4Z4VCldgapAYIJ-icE-DFCvgIY/s1600-h/IMG_5991.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTS8IoF5DMohsJfE_KqSll23V6osC-jxZoK4SEyXEEvDrMA-dAZ9AgjjOqOPFifyEWDkVgJYJ0QAWaelyyv7JhQpa1ufBJHDU_Py6DvBY5fBnjx7-H_r4Z4VCldgapAYIJ-icE-DFCvgIY/s320/IMG_5991.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349374583764898770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBSbOtNT_q3c8kz79Y1A6-pkxfYHIkrNxiW7kl9fzMJxWch_yQXgM-aCqlnwvNmJxkMdfzBcKgBozhoyjsR573HQXdlw3BzVyNiruiOMXhQVKsWdyLrKkMnRqI8S9I3l_PteHsHeU1zTI/s1600-h/IMG_6004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBSbOtNT_q3c8kz79Y1A6-pkxfYHIkrNxiW7kl9fzMJxWch_yQXgM-aCqlnwvNmJxkMdfzBcKgBozhoyjsR573HQXdlw3BzVyNiruiOMXhQVKsWdyLrKkMnRqI8S9I3l_PteHsHeU1zTI/s320/IMG_6004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349374580429740018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxp_pYzjv-SGMeFIeKALKEBMlf8C_a85-Zzs-BMZ3rZbk9px5cV8S4oyMvV3WHivM2QAJkvQSjM8J7LKzeqOrP1HybtMUseifsPeCi6EZqA26H7_f5F_C_mGEsUsnZPlKRZx8_0CO0AA8E/s1600-h/IMG_6029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxp_pYzjv-SGMeFIeKALKEBMlf8C_a85-Zzs-BMZ3rZbk9px5cV8S4oyMvV3WHivM2QAJkvQSjM8J7LKzeqOrP1HybtMUseifsPeCi6EZqA26H7_f5F_C_mGEsUsnZPlKRZx8_0CO0AA8E/s320/IMG_6029.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349373340096325858" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXICYPylFeBdY0WxJRrAaOUc4vgQT9kGTunLd3KXZ6SzS0BDIIlqtLYhrtspTeE3fcYk3z0Q2ZWXmWn-SQcvP6GE3arcrbp6XIngo7KhyIKf8zom1N1Mn_TB9KZD-Hp4gN_r_cxev1gxEf/s1600-h/IMG_6048.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXICYPylFeBdY0WxJRrAaOUc4vgQT9kGTunLd3KXZ6SzS0BDIIlqtLYhrtspTeE3fcYk3z0Q2ZWXmWn-SQcvP6GE3arcrbp6XIngo7KhyIKf8zom1N1Mn_TB9KZD-Hp4gN_r_cxev1gxEf/s320/IMG_6048.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349373334584731218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkIIUPlzrgBPEv43AZDYRWUKU8PzdUt19xg1ol-DrgBjlpLtL2V4LIubsXNdD2XxnkvElV9Tu2xmf8QjWu-JUCPKGFr97FhZG6EqZ9xkOuz00U60NJotn8VrxyOgi-jI2zqzevFR_0LOx/s1600-h/IMG_6078.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkIIUPlzrgBPEv43AZDYRWUKU8PzdUt19xg1ol-DrgBjlpLtL2V4LIubsXNdD2XxnkvElV9Tu2xmf8QjWu-JUCPKGFr97FhZG6EqZ9xkOuz00U60NJotn8VrxyOgi-jI2zqzevFR_0LOx/s320/IMG_6078.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349373329238115554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eUL-Z055dJPAgLRyWoHHbzzXRVB5oTFxLFOIVq2fuR3zDmpToxlCA3xL2RLRE8RdJlefUZj-2siWvzArDZ4RDBiz4IHsBndMGnOxbVyqbTFiJd4fnRz4AwboYIdeSeC6W3muHx0W6Y7v/s1600-h/IMG_6084.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eUL-Z055dJPAgLRyWoHHbzzXRVB5oTFxLFOIVq2fuR3zDmpToxlCA3xL2RLRE8RdJlefUZj-2siWvzArDZ4RDBiz4IHsBndMGnOxbVyqbTFiJd4fnRz4AwboYIdeSeC6W3muHx0W6Y7v/s320/IMG_6084.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349373324765030530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNgZEndQzwzx0AgQ9I1PxqC4WQkq9H8E1zzV3Nik5FY4kpF9FV9POsnUKRV2zsuzPOuABg5b_FQTkHDVAcJNTDDr_mpDBQJPTnwxCJXmLi608uVIpldusOtHOsgKh_GIh6iVJGMrm3flV/s1600-h/IMG_6088.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNgZEndQzwzx0AgQ9I1PxqC4WQkq9H8E1zzV3Nik5FY4kpF9FV9POsnUKRV2zsuzPOuABg5b_FQTkHDVAcJNTDDr_mpDBQJPTnwxCJXmLi608uVIpldusOtHOsgKh_GIh6iVJGMrm3flV/s320/IMG_6088.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349373324145558146" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYne4_PIsF6OSqoE5y6fyb6S3zGc0zKZ306HuBNmhUx966eBEX1YmlvrqgkZuLzlNUozq34R1v968em4CxePXKJZPSiFtklP2LHpXYql426iVjQCrjtcFFUXDKKfLrMfFDNhvMTJbGzVO/s1600-h/IMG_6107.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYne4_PIsF6OSqoE5y6fyb6S3zGc0zKZ306HuBNmhUx966eBEX1YmlvrqgkZuLzlNUozq34R1v968em4CxePXKJZPSiFtklP2LHpXYql426iVjQCrjtcFFUXDKKfLrMfFDNhvMTJbGzVO/s320/IMG_6107.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349372245970631250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D1eq1st3EgfsSSzzdXuXV_K12tO0czSjRh2b8Puf_Yf018xLY5igh50NlTzcRS9DqqsA3JOvTfx9-JSshz1TufzJdcff1KCXwuYSrXuo2qzKVWguv-PpczGVbSQbaT5BLf-CPBQvCLST/s1600-h/IMG_6119.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D1eq1st3EgfsSSzzdXuXV_K12tO0czSjRh2b8Puf_Yf018xLY5igh50NlTzcRS9DqqsA3JOvTfx9-JSshz1TufzJdcff1KCXwuYSrXuo2qzKVWguv-PpczGVbSQbaT5BLf-CPBQvCLST/s320/IMG_6119.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349372242888727426" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSwjG0Yz7SFcRlRahqH6TWGtRPVC41C-ZxiMCplVkqkY2NLjU1ykSDvJ2AZy5PpUsnlVNAmg8PCOed3yGy_Gjv0Om8bnBcnJpjjCwMPhMxirpDp5GI_QvqkR3jZYOpC-5i5D___E5OIh3/s1600-h/IMG_6122.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSwjG0Yz7SFcRlRahqH6TWGtRPVC41C-ZxiMCplVkqkY2NLjU1ykSDvJ2AZy5PpUsnlVNAmg8PCOed3yGy_Gjv0Om8bnBcnJpjjCwMPhMxirpDp5GI_QvqkR3jZYOpC-5i5D___E5OIh3/s320/IMG_6122.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349372237758394242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftWHNBH5Mlg52xW9nd4YZyQknvwwnYu13V6oVcKhvk1Oykq-t5X5l6rD98oPeSq1sQz1v89lfaVSo8ElI3m9Ki3jZ8mYT6B-krSCZ_6GjvhFtV2_m3FyqruRXEE2PHXTWXtyIQnTjapNI/s1600-h/IMG_6139.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftWHNBH5Mlg52xW9nd4YZyQknvwwnYu13V6oVcKhvk1Oykq-t5X5l6rD98oPeSq1sQz1v89lfaVSo8ElI3m9Ki3jZ8mYT6B-krSCZ_6GjvhFtV2_m3FyqruRXEE2PHXTWXtyIQnTjapNI/s320/IMG_6139.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349372232392393730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6awJjWIINVds4utkdpD9z0Xy03PTzrJ_3TqPVjqPTrfKKlnAH8l58gQj-z0EIcfoFTkjqYWooMQ2Hhj3NVvLreHtPNoUoqycE_CjwNnc-VpB-jJSYZhkXOAwjxAuWsgmICEi0roklvbc/s1600-h/IMG_6143.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6awJjWIINVds4utkdpD9z0Xy03PTzrJ_3TqPVjqPTrfKKlnAH8l58gQj-z0EIcfoFTkjqYWooMQ2Hhj3NVvLreHtPNoUoqycE_CjwNnc-VpB-jJSYZhkXOAwjxAuWsgmICEi0roklvbc/s320/IMG_6143.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349372229573807474" /></a><br />Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya<br />June 9th, 2009 <br /><br />We entered the Mara early taking advantage of a 6:30 am game park opening time. Noticing the high number of lodge vehicles touring the park with long radio antenna (even though it is still low season) parked on a hillside we decided to investigate. This did not disappoint. There was a pride of lion snacking, actually more like feasting upon a buffalo carcass. We stayed here watching them with fascination as they pulled and tore the meat off the bones. Incredible. <br /><br />Noticing our neighbours were slowly leaving we decided to follow them once more. This time we were led straight to a leopard lunging in a tree. The leopard was huge. We happily snapped away.<br /><br />Again we saw that people were leaving and we decided they must be on route to cheetah because really what would you leave a leopard for. We were right. There were three cheetah. It was only 8:30. In two hours we saw eleven lion, a leopard and three cheetah. We stayed with the cheetah for awhile, seeing them lying down, sitting up and then going hunting. <br /><br />At 9:00 we then headed towards the Mara river. This is the river that the wildebeest cross when they migrate from the Serengeti towards the grass here. This river is also home to many crocodile that supposedly eat only once a year- when the wildebeest cross. The river was stunning and we did see a massive crocodile along with some hippo. <br /><br />After eating a huge lunch and enjoying the views at the Serena Lodge we made our way once more. We saw huge herds of giraffe numbering more than twenty in each, elephant, buffalo, gazelle and birds. We were also lucky enough to see another leopard and to later see an impala carcass in a tree- the leopard unfortunately wasn’t there any longer but it was impressive to see the carcass nonetheless.traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-70292012581782646332009-06-20T02:17:00.000-07:002009-06-20T04:25:02.815-07:00Hell’s Gate<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_VU5wT1ezMj1q18iVkG1iwZVSx-VgKbBzB_lfrIZL0AeNT8GF3sva66Pwlusv9bO_JLT-nVZf2kAM4Ier0VdnT1F8hgxeMi48sEULYkK_vOoKpqdGtvGm_5TcW85zhhN6Wo4ku73H-Jj/s1600-h/IMG_5666.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_VU5wT1ezMj1q18iVkG1iwZVSx-VgKbBzB_lfrIZL0AeNT8GF3sva66Pwlusv9bO_JLT-nVZf2kAM4Ier0VdnT1F8hgxeMi48sEULYkK_vOoKpqdGtvGm_5TcW85zhhN6Wo4ku73H-Jj/s320/IMG_5666.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349369128360373826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUSX_x8X6FFYKcFNkYsHMTBTrCNR9vBYTMfryqYki25jlTBWPl0C3oHlLHHHTzuXjg6jjHQikHDY-jJSabw0ymgtpvyznnKWOUJrrrKNWjpjGhflJZ0-PB1soFoHs1YcdkuBGfV4fNT5q/s1600-h/IMG_5676.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUSX_x8X6FFYKcFNkYsHMTBTrCNR9vBYTMfryqYki25jlTBWPl0C3oHlLHHHTzuXjg6jjHQikHDY-jJSabw0ymgtpvyznnKWOUJrrrKNWjpjGhflJZ0-PB1soFoHs1YcdkuBGfV4fNT5q/s320/IMG_5676.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349369125824693458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AKhYpoyAsg_cD8jTWe386PSb4qnKsJQjSt6VHdFuCerlsu6vTpwqXKuB3dk9KbatrJD7PMmePGFXwA4faATInOYwd7xqA5_CmR1v_AcMuRLaFxBV3CTOEWDtkohQpLIPan5yFlhAmHa-/s1600-h/IMG_5679.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AKhYpoyAsg_cD8jTWe386PSb4qnKsJQjSt6VHdFuCerlsu6vTpwqXKuB3dk9KbatrJD7PMmePGFXwA4faATInOYwd7xqA5_CmR1v_AcMuRLaFxBV3CTOEWDtkohQpLIPan5yFlhAmHa-/s320/IMG_5679.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349369125387067570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yp1PsV2zbRzCfsKANrDYjaH1qYmn726gmj7HLR7SBEda0j99kGKbE5d3FOa_So3ytgcnRcn3DMFlyqOhjKyc5KK1Ma5GEle7P97UW2-c0UH5Ib83Po9AXbvTlVDyG94ShBhyphenhyphen9nIE1iMX/s1600-h/IMG_5681.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yp1PsV2zbRzCfsKANrDYjaH1qYmn726gmj7HLR7SBEda0j99kGKbE5d3FOa_So3ytgcnRcn3DMFlyqOhjKyc5KK1Ma5GEle7P97UW2-c0UH5Ib83Po9AXbvTlVDyG94ShBhyphenhyphen9nIE1iMX/s320/IMG_5681.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349369121542734866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPP0a9EHgV55rSVEB-gFRg8P3hIgC818zCZU3PWVGu8D74fd-JmRQ5PO2fmz8wAkX3VHA8AcLtzscGNH3pJs-MxARWSRm4TojjGv9LJfbhr25y7LZCMg7-YAJM_DupVICiKTWee0F1-G4/s1600-h/IMG_5685.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPP0a9EHgV55rSVEB-gFRg8P3hIgC818zCZU3PWVGu8D74fd-JmRQ5PO2fmz8wAkX3VHA8AcLtzscGNH3pJs-MxARWSRm4TojjGv9LJfbhr25y7LZCMg7-YAJM_DupVICiKTWee0F1-G4/s320/IMG_5685.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349369117443131794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMub__3p9pNlRZ7lxDoN-e5JZvUuyecZsuktja0mI_edp3aTVTa5jzRT7ed6waryrYKtlbcG-bw472qRdPInmd7E9SHT9Ut6zVyKXAUNZfP8zsmbqEBtAUsJFPZEG4BiCaSX06vik1lsLH/s1600-h/IMG_5690.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMub__3p9pNlRZ7lxDoN-e5JZvUuyecZsuktja0mI_edp3aTVTa5jzRT7ed6waryrYKtlbcG-bw472qRdPInmd7E9SHT9Ut6zVyKXAUNZfP8zsmbqEBtAUsJFPZEG4BiCaSX06vik1lsLH/s320/IMG_5690.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349367442316542354" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5kpVK1hMcZS4OD68yYF17nadRLS7i2YQ79epBmcZ6RYy_wV-IaB-Y06TKc4u57EsGJWxyCmf7OCjdoH7bwe2cuvcjtNfyB_85uYY5yPeB-ZPCuAC4uP_noCUO17YooxPfMENJ8dQK4Aj/s1600-h/IMG_5695.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5kpVK1hMcZS4OD68yYF17nadRLS7i2YQ79epBmcZ6RYy_wV-IaB-Y06TKc4u57EsGJWxyCmf7OCjdoH7bwe2cuvcjtNfyB_85uYY5yPeB-ZPCuAC4uP_noCUO17YooxPfMENJ8dQK4Aj/s320/IMG_5695.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349367439145397938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2bhU_dFLYC6c5kN7-Me4AxGliWaV8mr4CgE1RD3GvvCkGwBzW_MC4ub_2dQacJdSa-HKBCqmsUn7mN2xI8_BH98TH86hxiq0Gj7MmiPac-x0RDOmMMoFpCIiT54uYPPgQP5rUMBjW5C8/s1600-h/IMG_5704.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2bhU_dFLYC6c5kN7-Me4AxGliWaV8mr4CgE1RD3GvvCkGwBzW_MC4ub_2dQacJdSa-HKBCqmsUn7mN2xI8_BH98TH86hxiq0Gj7MmiPac-x0RDOmMMoFpCIiT54uYPPgQP5rUMBjW5C8/s320/IMG_5704.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349367436016932786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxkUURuTJqPVcY8rmy9CmV7KxN9viLpwYkBjKU4-2EGTK4JH91XIDCjJPRu6GIx07_ssX80KYhHP9LkLs9BEhAgZF_0XdExx8J7Sh5Hud-FuhQvR-NDVNEyk1cdfW_2Mw7_19OnCUxmBa/s1600-h/IMG_5714.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxkUURuTJqPVcY8rmy9CmV7KxN9viLpwYkBjKU4-2EGTK4JH91XIDCjJPRu6GIx07_ssX80KYhHP9LkLs9BEhAgZF_0XdExx8J7Sh5Hud-FuhQvR-NDVNEyk1cdfW_2Mw7_19OnCUxmBa/s320/IMG_5714.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349367432784625506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoh43t4QdeqDHyGOgbQRBSRWGdJzZ5lvFj2RcJvPsqUbTyKLDRw5lvXB5g6ETpip9HV2cxO0u3wbKbaQIx2X1F-Z3slsgaY-7gfyd8Xf1gU8Bxz_R5pnCs2VrR2RTOBs_A8kqLAjWG7b4m/s1600-h/IMG_5724.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoh43t4QdeqDHyGOgbQRBSRWGdJzZ5lvFj2RcJvPsqUbTyKLDRw5lvXB5g6ETpip9HV2cxO0u3wbKbaQIx2X1F-Z3slsgaY-7gfyd8Xf1gU8Bxz_R5pnCs2VrR2RTOBs_A8kqLAjWG7b4m/s320/IMG_5724.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349367428868130994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKuDNCZE5Iq_FigrhmtKbVhctN0yIqILQEMDGfu_SszRq0WZ_rliJ-834D8OW86lEcuuiCpVIMbJy-6TkVZmxN5Gd0i_P0dYnzcg4SUzVS8xUGetvqDcS4Gk7h6cIykFBFTgOuyf0wSB2/s1600-h/IMG_5732.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKuDNCZE5Iq_FigrhmtKbVhctN0yIqILQEMDGfu_SszRq0WZ_rliJ-834D8OW86lEcuuiCpVIMbJy-6TkVZmxN5Gd0i_P0dYnzcg4SUzVS8xUGetvqDcS4Gk7h6cIykFBFTgOuyf0wSB2/s320/IMG_5732.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349365630352352146" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgnN4NTTLybOPySR_k3_HpKwIcNLDDYvvehxjf7Gnr7Ee7mHQGSdrfFyKmf5BJJfgTLTWjMEf34CAsJafi1JnDcxe2BbAaoTgLel38GlVc0nzszrjTx63ZdbXrgi4ErgP1F6921jbM0f0/s1600-h/IMG_5741.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgnN4NTTLybOPySR_k3_HpKwIcNLDDYvvehxjf7Gnr7Ee7mHQGSdrfFyKmf5BJJfgTLTWjMEf34CAsJafi1JnDcxe2BbAaoTgLel38GlVc0nzszrjTx63ZdbXrgi4ErgP1F6921jbM0f0/s320/IMG_5741.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349365627964583730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ggJBI3pswyoZfuqqYhdnauwdezf_MdHWay6EqAlOSGj8Gh9zpk5Z1ZeZ1BgGfJXwQnyUmVSoe6Ceo8xwFupZE8bc5_beDWv5ZGmM2IVe3yeAnqjOK17rm7bUNGr3KztOmeSrrV5yIYhU/s1600-h/IMG_5744.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ggJBI3pswyoZfuqqYhdnauwdezf_MdHWay6EqAlOSGj8Gh9zpk5Z1ZeZ1BgGfJXwQnyUmVSoe6Ceo8xwFupZE8bc5_beDWv5ZGmM2IVe3yeAnqjOK17rm7bUNGr3KztOmeSrrV5yIYhU/s320/IMG_5744.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349365625014807106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yu-PGwCHoMQ6YJ0jsNialmUn9Bq4J0JmPTRoDDiol8UCoYwNz6srJoxwQPuHXlmtB7uSG2yFvvjTe9jRAxnkM1VVxj1s9W4E4p7pxwCmJASBMOVjP1OViwLgHGJ7jB_hTv3-eMqNzctG/s1600-h/IMG_5745.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yu-PGwCHoMQ6YJ0jsNialmUn9Bq4J0JmPTRoDDiol8UCoYwNz6srJoxwQPuHXlmtB7uSG2yFvvjTe9jRAxnkM1VVxj1s9W4E4p7pxwCmJASBMOVjP1OViwLgHGJ7jB_hTv3-eMqNzctG/s320/IMG_5745.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349365619687029170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJvUvnTrXuQ-1fCcQM3V339cyt3NOpd5-BBlp9SgAYhny10MgNRt6mAYdxXR8PpjUQbH5j-LeaDmbBVq2RKsRG6vIKF_hJtoW9OfJc0AyvAkQIi3D6B9VVuEdpPAFwYQVaf-FPJBVhMUY/s1600-h/IMG_5751.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJvUvnTrXuQ-1fCcQM3V339cyt3NOpd5-BBlp9SgAYhny10MgNRt6mAYdxXR8PpjUQbH5j-LeaDmbBVq2RKsRG6vIKF_hJtoW9OfJc0AyvAkQIi3D6B9VVuEdpPAFwYQVaf-FPJBVhMUY/s320/IMG_5751.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349365620772510226" /></a><br />Near Lake Naivasha, Kenya<br />June 7th, 2009 <br /><br />I suppose it would surprise you to know that our next stop was another National Park. This time we went to Hell’s Gate, the only National Park where you are allowed to hike and cycle due to the absence of lion, elephant and rhino. It’s a stunning park filled with rocky hills and areas to go mountain climbing. It’s quite hot and humid in the area and fairly dusty. Calling our inner Indiana Jones we sported our safari hats, rented some bikes and headed off in the morning ready for adventure. <br /><br />As we cycled we spotted zebra, buffalo, gazelle, baboons, and giraffe. Heading in the direction of the Lower Gorge, we arrived about an hour later. After eating our picnic lunch we opted for a guide and made our way down. It was crazy walking through the gorge. In places we had to scale the side of the gorge inching our way along by sliding our feet and clinging on to whatever ledge we could. Other places we had to climb up two metres using a strategically placed branch (later we needed to descend in the same manner). It was brilliant though and we were able to access the natural hot water springs where in areas the water is boiling (locals actually bring eggs to the water to cook them). Apparently parts of Tomb Raider II were filmed here. <br /><br />After our two hour trek we hopped back onto our bikes and decided to access the gate via a different route- the Buffalo circuit. Off we went. The path started off okay, fairly level and not too rocky. This did not continue sadly. For forty five minutes we ascended, every time we thought we finally reached the highest point another turn we prove we indeed had not. Channelling our inner Kii strength we kept going, when we finally reached the top we enjoyed free cycling down whilst admiring amazing views of the nearby lake.traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-11279549414004243872009-06-20T02:16:00.000-07:002009-06-20T04:05:26.003-07:00The Pink Ladies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggW3UFgLr4d8arKRcVnnVhqDANUayO_c8ca5xVNev8Tgz5Mm711blg0VMpaHakqJbdkg4tClvl8_VfVmK2VoyHjUeGd4wVcTWY82ob7Z4O2lb8DeDNy1zeXrsTtHOpjwfdnKt2Ny2BA2wd/s1600-h/IMG_5336.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggW3UFgLr4d8arKRcVnnVhqDANUayO_c8ca5xVNev8Tgz5Mm711blg0VMpaHakqJbdkg4tClvl8_VfVmK2VoyHjUeGd4wVcTWY82ob7Z4O2lb8DeDNy1zeXrsTtHOpjwfdnKt2Ny2BA2wd/s320/IMG_5336.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349364182247223458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptFl0Xi1FFH3z_DMphVVcKpa0xpDBpdgwQ8X2QIaCFWrwFqqxqIZR7Jl6oDG3LAyYX6RV_gZtvoTR_yWnkIzX6VdwrK8EiDPPno3mRlyk-7C-Sbuhvny4LTAiXsdfphQoBpSlNFcMD-7i/s1600-h/IMG_5356.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptFl0Xi1FFH3z_DMphVVcKpa0xpDBpdgwQ8X2QIaCFWrwFqqxqIZR7Jl6oDG3LAyYX6RV_gZtvoTR_yWnkIzX6VdwrK8EiDPPno3mRlyk-7C-Sbuhvny4LTAiXsdfphQoBpSlNFcMD-7i/s320/IMG_5356.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349364177534435186" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78h1glAHLCV3HLNklo24U3aHQnDg-g0fhANrgOrwiD-kP83FVD3B8W3B6C7claL5YMp8k9q0-bZOqlcsp0NcdpK6RMRHCXJ_VwJY5Lm3CC3v640LL2MQTnHUxyjB9qZk-11g6WaTlyc7J/s1600-h/IMG_5368.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78h1glAHLCV3HLNklo24U3aHQnDg-g0fhANrgOrwiD-kP83FVD3B8W3B6C7claL5YMp8k9q0-bZOqlcsp0NcdpK6RMRHCXJ_VwJY5Lm3CC3v640LL2MQTnHUxyjB9qZk-11g6WaTlyc7J/s320/IMG_5368.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349364179008705938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYF-q4z1Sq3LL3nQrjlGHuLWd48Q1adTTtQ0CpcaCVieVVlPW7_WHoXbQ8n_Sk7TjnpTVWO_6DcN9gDm44PSfSoQ7Yhyw_FcRpHyDSx1W99Sya5MdnLz8nuDzMUc9UUb1-rrQQJ8m9BSgy/s1600-h/IMG_5369.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYF-q4z1Sq3LL3nQrjlGHuLWd48Q1adTTtQ0CpcaCVieVVlPW7_WHoXbQ8n_Sk7TjnpTVWO_6DcN9gDm44PSfSoQ7Yhyw_FcRpHyDSx1W99Sya5MdnLz8nuDzMUc9UUb1-rrQQJ8m9BSgy/s320/IMG_5369.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349363128634510626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4anEYxm9pTyVvQbJ_Sv1ag-PuEbH_FgmDXW8ylfq4djGdokxtl6-Yi6vcBVX2TlYqrFLqC60wVfDgmmbGY11L6GDM9i0UjgAvWFm9MKk6h-6aCDqtjvVo1_dlGVkvC6k7kZTghoAQoRLc/s1600-h/IMG_5378.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4anEYxm9pTyVvQbJ_Sv1ag-PuEbH_FgmDXW8ylfq4djGdokxtl6-Yi6vcBVX2TlYqrFLqC60wVfDgmmbGY11L6GDM9i0UjgAvWFm9MKk6h-6aCDqtjvVo1_dlGVkvC6k7kZTghoAQoRLc/s320/IMG_5378.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349363123035621938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbw2PXGn9bfYeXOH1VfNMF2oQcqCBZfR2yNGGyxLwDBfwoOkZqioporjCRMeJZ5F8r7W8yjWKqgeAAeZ1Q0dPj3Lb8IMYSeKxGpidOymm0XqWuyp5HoEFoYv5ZRcQCjsA-YLOVMJJuJVp/s1600-h/IMG_5385.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbw2PXGn9bfYeXOH1VfNMF2oQcqCBZfR2yNGGyxLwDBfwoOkZqioporjCRMeJZ5F8r7W8yjWKqgeAAeZ1Q0dPj3Lb8IMYSeKxGpidOymm0XqWuyp5HoEFoYv5ZRcQCjsA-YLOVMJJuJVp/s320/IMG_5385.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349363125930882594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NKUrnB8ZAczcwcqBkLzhvYiJnnvsIDP-FQJj3cZuUOtpiHmHo_ti94eIoK93prBR5W_3bFEsEMmcyz16pEBmdrHe_0NgT9kN60ncH2De__O6tVBfo8AI7QfBjJHchbHyltCEscrQXwra/s1600-h/IMG_5400.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NKUrnB8ZAczcwcqBkLzhvYiJnnvsIDP-FQJj3cZuUOtpiHmHo_ti94eIoK93prBR5W_3bFEsEMmcyz16pEBmdrHe_0NgT9kN60ncH2De__O6tVBfo8AI7QfBjJHchbHyltCEscrQXwra/s320/IMG_5400.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349363121848200802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfIjX396_zxnEgSXgR4su8umtKcZQAPwr8jR7mwUtLNIgwel5gXrU7_iEcvAJAG6FdZeL8MV_bJMl7hYpsvgcRUrs4OsHRvNjNLi0tRK2aVGica8GFCA1WG2FT3aRGHD6tMTcHWHwP8Xe/s1600-h/IMG_5437.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfIjX396_zxnEgSXgR4su8umtKcZQAPwr8jR7mwUtLNIgwel5gXrU7_iEcvAJAG6FdZeL8MV_bJMl7hYpsvgcRUrs4OsHRvNjNLi0tRK2aVGica8GFCA1WG2FT3aRGHD6tMTcHWHwP8Xe/s320/IMG_5437.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349363122589978706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExMQ_29zpdY35JhaXVBKBidrtILgwWIhLWRf3xoQjDDmnRCpzAuRcaZlfGGvTfqwTsNxeIoNwtpQWfX1yNfCg0lS5BnGDh27E9XpvJdGFDYfIY4YW-k-jbKyJu4Rw_keMUJ5DA6C51stt/s1600-h/IMG_5449.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExMQ_29zpdY35JhaXVBKBidrtILgwWIhLWRf3xoQjDDmnRCpzAuRcaZlfGGvTfqwTsNxeIoNwtpQWfX1yNfCg0lS5BnGDh27E9XpvJdGFDYfIY4YW-k-jbKyJu4Rw_keMUJ5DA6C51stt/s320/IMG_5449.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349361567618383010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajc6nNgHEf6vJBr4AQGaj4GgLG6iJAf1vWM5QdSlApfFlPNrq9VVlatZdbTU2TRbOYzl7JJeW3EeWY2aSE1Nsz-vcslVpTyR5xizPfPUa6j30fTiwx8hKT7mhRkJtBvGEq4J57PdBKNhU/s1600-h/IMG_5488.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajc6nNgHEf6vJBr4AQGaj4GgLG6iJAf1vWM5QdSlApfFlPNrq9VVlatZdbTU2TRbOYzl7JJeW3EeWY2aSE1Nsz-vcslVpTyR5xizPfPUa6j30fTiwx8hKT7mhRkJtBvGEq4J57PdBKNhU/s320/IMG_5488.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349361560517695186" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34xqr5wFQU5bdJKZfAWGLhDjoXxw-ch9s8_rfKL1nKRUqf6LKZBjIbC2FeXVmrpDTIwh8IHoYO6aLYYgNyy9yTOSEvYnpgpTPgjGJUY_s2Zg01A9Sv12Jixx0yKsyEfvXqat_IqE5sVGc/s1600-h/IMG_5544.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34xqr5wFQU5bdJKZfAWGLhDjoXxw-ch9s8_rfKL1nKRUqf6LKZBjIbC2FeXVmrpDTIwh8IHoYO6aLYYgNyy9yTOSEvYnpgpTPgjGJUY_s2Zg01A9Sv12Jixx0yKsyEfvXqat_IqE5sVGc/s320/IMG_5544.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349361560556236626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRdGcjlUe52FXk2gMNbCNS1_Qn9-ve3prZT3PhdmT6M7WKN9oox8qe3M5YnOk6kkDfHtUqphLN3NXwZ7Ar6S4_jOC0LHsSjY-t3nsoHrkqYCVUXaQCehE7Cpm9EzdF7yWVILOl6LS6rsu/s1600-h/IMG_5546.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRdGcjlUe52FXk2gMNbCNS1_Qn9-ve3prZT3PhdmT6M7WKN9oox8qe3M5YnOk6kkDfHtUqphLN3NXwZ7Ar6S4_jOC0LHsSjY-t3nsoHrkqYCVUXaQCehE7Cpm9EzdF7yWVILOl6LS6rsu/s320/IMG_5546.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349361558834020098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5W30cEWYchN4XtY2WhZ3SG_doKFoW2HG5iUcKqJ5_C8KCuzYzJOcCWt2Efs9vz0sBus6fTS5bqZX4h5x52TyrELgTvWNzafO3bDaGAnaU7SlFFdKS3VTYwFpsf503msmIC4VYWZcBIbHO/s1600-h/IMG_5560.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5W30cEWYchN4XtY2WhZ3SG_doKFoW2HG5iUcKqJ5_C8KCuzYzJOcCWt2Efs9vz0sBus6fTS5bqZX4h5x52TyrELgTvWNzafO3bDaGAnaU7SlFFdKS3VTYwFpsf503msmIC4VYWZcBIbHO/s320/IMG_5560.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349361554562484738" /></a><br />Lake Nakuru, Kenya<br />June 5th, 2009 <br /><br />After some more R&R at a gorgeous campsite in Elderet we headed towards the famous National Park- Nakuru. This park is especially known for the volumes of flamingos which flock there due to the tremendous soda lake.(the park’s namesake). We were not disappointed. We saw thousands and thousands of them. It was amazing to see how they moved- in little groups no more than ten following a leader, moving tightly together and making sharp turns. The nice thing about the lake is that you can get out of your car close to the shore for those all important pics.<br /><br />Besides the birds we also saw loads of Rhino. We saw two before heading up to a viewpoint and then proceeded to see another two- mother and child. By the end of the day we counted twenty six of them (twenty five white and one black). It was so nice to see the rhino close up and watch them graze completely unconcerned. Apparently Lake Nakuru has the highest concentration of rhino in East Africa parks with a total of 76 rhino, the Serengeti by comparison has only about ten and they are kept under armed guard due to the serious nature of poaching. Curious fact for you- a rhino’s horn is actually made up of hair. Completely unrelated but still interesting a hippo’s skin is four inches thick and bullet proof, and it’s skin can weigh up to a ton (the skin is 25% of its total weight).<br /><br />We also saw huge, and I mean huge herds of buffalo, giraffe, zebra and buck. Most exciting though for me was seeing a Black and White Columbus monkey, two of them to be exact. These monkeys are endangered and to see them you often have to pay a guide and go on a primate trek without any guarantee that you will see them at all. They are very funny looking with long black and white patches and their little faces make them look like small old men. Very cute.traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-12518748366692844102009-06-20T02:15:00.000-07:002009-06-20T03:44:23.804-07:00The Source of the Nile<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQD6m_Im6Jvm4EfqfvNSnmf_EVWIAV11SRTvYYvnKtxTPmhl8YubWLmVXFnhuI7IEUovnYzVsL7LSmcliy-C5Gft-esCYyeXvmT3k5gAqOdhbUk8-gwkbh9QGGtiTgklF1T_0xkCiNW5l3/s1600-h/IMG_5289.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQD6m_Im6Jvm4EfqfvNSnmf_EVWIAV11SRTvYYvnKtxTPmhl8YubWLmVXFnhuI7IEUovnYzVsL7LSmcliy-C5Gft-esCYyeXvmT3k5gAqOdhbUk8-gwkbh9QGGtiTgklF1T_0xkCiNW5l3/s320/IMG_5289.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349358672971478914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGhuY5YUTTiLvXGtkMcuspUP-Js-qbfRUulLmA0g3ZINwFliegijpBrf748nxfyXxgoCh_oYRCNCIt8Sfdf1lRAXSSk1qKppPc3PIWWkG6XOXddRtYdmGEz2emdg2DF6V1DQ99Rs92YFv/s1600-h/IMG_5292.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGhuY5YUTTiLvXGtkMcuspUP-Js-qbfRUulLmA0g3ZINwFliegijpBrf748nxfyXxgoCh_oYRCNCIt8Sfdf1lRAXSSk1qKppPc3PIWWkG6XOXddRtYdmGEz2emdg2DF6V1DQ99Rs92YFv/s320/IMG_5292.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349358664704042450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgfWtZe-FNYS5jniSo4GPU7GYNrq25LoFDf17_2p4Vx4wP9uLk0NSjZrA8NpjWV1-cSEpjjLRXvKUOyanxo-tPzryiVQpHuM8KwqkdSFtFByIErjd3l7DaOpieSZKokqnLiSe0NNu8RED/s1600-h/IMG_5295.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgfWtZe-FNYS5jniSo4GPU7GYNrq25LoFDf17_2p4Vx4wP9uLk0NSjZrA8NpjWV1-cSEpjjLRXvKUOyanxo-tPzryiVQpHuM8KwqkdSFtFByIErjd3l7DaOpieSZKokqnLiSe0NNu8RED/s320/IMG_5295.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349358664822123778" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4K-_q6dPUekzWJHTd_8cP0eBTEnz_cT-lCPgb_xIrxB69Swid2zDGUdWzhCBhs1uyW0TCX5wFVzl-OOpKTfzu5DItvud9Y8G15YcxYUWLv8sjJeFJLfHrRT26u7zzMUQS4GNjhN2sUTI/s1600-h/IMG_5301.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4K-_q6dPUekzWJHTd_8cP0eBTEnz_cT-lCPgb_xIrxB69Swid2zDGUdWzhCBhs1uyW0TCX5wFVzl-OOpKTfzu5DItvud9Y8G15YcxYUWLv8sjJeFJLfHrRT26u7zzMUQS4GNjhN2sUTI/s320/IMG_5301.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349358663517607810" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56JayM2R_u82nGlg5oSon2iRco9HMXp4xFr0XmHGOQP5G9GlOwRbIEVi8S68_6uwPCqmFRJVBzpe_3d7Oo9XVz12R-tJHnkNmW2VMtikU205284GeY4PW8RdQ6NZLhutA-LBQkStRapvv/s1600-h/IMG_5308.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56JayM2R_u82nGlg5oSon2iRco9HMXp4xFr0XmHGOQP5G9GlOwRbIEVi8S68_6uwPCqmFRJVBzpe_3d7Oo9XVz12R-tJHnkNmW2VMtikU205284GeY4PW8RdQ6NZLhutA-LBQkStRapvv/s320/IMG_5308.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349358657580868370" /></a><br />Jinja, Uganda<br />May 29th, 2009 <br /><br />Our last touristy stop in Uganda was the source of the Nile (well supposedly the source of the Nile- there are several claims to the fame). It’s an adventurer’s haven with bungee jumping, white water rafting, kayaking and more. The closest K and I came to major adventure was watching the white water rapids from the comfort of our campsite. It was a major veg-out for us with me reading books and K watching rugby. We did later explore the Bujaguli Falls which were stunning.traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-59887115286738628792009-06-20T02:14:00.000-07:002009-06-20T02:15:45.151-07:00Inconsiderate DrivingKampala, Uganda<br />May 28th, 2009<br /><br />Most of you have probably heard me brag about how proud I am of Karel’s driving, I’ve made statements to the extent of “Karel’s driving like a true African” where he navigates through traffic like locals without any obvious rules or regulations with confidence (thanks bulbar) and bullies through seemingly impossible traffic build-ups. Now imagine my surprise when we get stopped by a police officer for a ticket for none other than and I quote “inconsiderate driving”. <br /><br />Let’s begin our story. Karel and I are driving back from enjoying a movie, at a cinema watching Angels and Demons which we both think is a much superior film to the Cyborg special we saw on route to Zanzibar. Anyways so we are driving along minding our own business following the GPS. No problems. Following along we reach a round about and slightly distracted we noticed we were about to go off on the wrong exit so Karel merged lanes and thus was slightly out of lane. Along comes one of the police officers supposedly “directing” traffic (although the only thing they direct are traffic jams!). Ok, not a problem. We unwind our windows. The officer asks us what we are doing. We say we are from out of town, new to Kampala and we got a bit mixed up with what turn off we needed to take. He tells us that what we are doing is inconsiderate. He then asks if he can come into the car to explain to us what we are doing wrong. Karel and I exchange looks. Next thing we now the police officer, who I should say is armed with an AK47, opens the car door by manually unlocking the door from the open window and climbs into the passenger sit. We are then informed that he is taking us to the police station. <br /><br />As we aren’t new to Africa anymore and slightly unfazed I figure, now how can I get us out of this. I first started my strategy by trying to appeal to the fact that we’re foreign and weren’t sure what we were doing, surely this is some sort of misunderstanding and I am cared of not knowing what is happening. Many minutes pass and no luck. I then up the anti and bring on the tears. Still no luck. Karel then starts with a strategy of his own and asks what exactly is happening, are we under arrest because we need to let our embassies know what is happening. Karel also says at this point that we need to let the embassy know that the officer entered our car without permission. The police officer gets a little nervous at this stage. Bring on the grand finale…we are now quite close to the police station. Stopped at a light another officer notices that there is a police officer in a car with mazungas (whities) and wants to know what’s going on – just curiosity. This is the point where I unleash massive waterworks and between tears say that we were lost in Kampala and the officer stopped us, unlocked our door and got in, and we don’t know what’s happening, and we’re very scared, and he has a gun, and we’ve called our embassies, then cue major tears. The other police officer says something to the guy in our car, who responds by jumping out of our car. Alas ticket free we were safe to go home, mind you a ticket for inconsiderate driving would be the ultimate souvenir from Africatraveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-37030869635417668602009-06-20T02:13:00.000-07:002009-06-20T03:31:46.840-07:00Winnie's Winning Combination of Kew Gardens + Zoo*<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRrDMZLk6teI5twlx8Dya07TXE_bdtiqkuaizZSDe7FJtf9dDb_lqKQK7VtEa6L1DbBuemvXeCmNsp7UmJpatndYPbNKlNWB9M_nOXE-1srVJ5aEE2QK7tsd5s3qLnWccNkqZvliZ2QUg/s1600-h/IMG_5137.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRrDMZLk6teI5twlx8Dya07TXE_bdtiqkuaizZSDe7FJtf9dDb_lqKQK7VtEa6L1DbBuemvXeCmNsp7UmJpatndYPbNKlNWB9M_nOXE-1srVJ5aEE2QK7tsd5s3qLnWccNkqZvliZ2QUg/s320/IMG_5137.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349354440144035746" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZYiPzdDI7uEm2cVeyjsRObwbXthAG069L9CY-pPA95c9Ztbw7qzqlTWEXjMpnLF0YymUvOKMB8q189x8GECVnKlVEgLrAtTDl48GJqSyR3seUrxSwFIk97WxMScZts0ACgdou58rwYzN/s1600-h/IMG_5141.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZYiPzdDI7uEm2cVeyjsRObwbXthAG069L9CY-pPA95c9Ztbw7qzqlTWEXjMpnLF0YymUvOKMB8q189x8GECVnKlVEgLrAtTDl48GJqSyR3seUrxSwFIk97WxMScZts0ACgdou58rwYzN/s320/IMG_5141.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349354441277563970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNA6wSQBdI5m7UzGN9Cw_UBoiIxfCUQZWZUx1Tc5YXTEgCBcQggtO9hbOWyCqv3lT9PUwFZERaJ2s9s85_0Upd9J1V_EVFIjJu9DwshFYMi-WbzsvLacs3n4r6E1NUBZE9m7F_C8JavdPy/s1600-h/IMG_5147.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNA6wSQBdI5m7UzGN9Cw_UBoiIxfCUQZWZUx1Tc5YXTEgCBcQggtO9hbOWyCqv3lT9PUwFZERaJ2s9s85_0Upd9J1V_EVFIjJu9DwshFYMi-WbzsvLacs3n4r6E1NUBZE9m7F_C8JavdPy/s320/IMG_5147.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349354435240360338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSntvSp3HOZa2ELhHZFhTEkhEAkDf-7hcE8lOQ7xhtjwcWu1CTO_EJoEjUmed2m_-qC9lW9TQXiV4kWvjiZ1eoYNzCUMDJjwV80d7HXQpRAm0N3adEedG5DskgMjTvohUd6oy7o4Z05V3/s1600-h/IMG_5151.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSntvSp3HOZa2ELhHZFhTEkhEAkDf-7hcE8lOQ7xhtjwcWu1CTO_EJoEjUmed2m_-qC9lW9TQXiV4kWvjiZ1eoYNzCUMDJjwV80d7HXQpRAm0N3adEedG5DskgMjTvohUd6oy7o4Z05V3/s320/IMG_5151.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349354432890633826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItw5CXQCNaEzO7-Nr9ihu0eM3qCOQY816rgOMyrpbBqt-_J2WunUldeBh0uiYnow8mv6KM-uFKReegkRU_y-4amzCM-yOnRg9AQKDxmbrTVL8HB6uvHPavdOLY_PwJ9kGjXumosjEwCzv/s1600-h/IMG_5176.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItw5CXQCNaEzO7-Nr9ihu0eM3qCOQY816rgOMyrpbBqt-_J2WunUldeBh0uiYnow8mv6KM-uFKReegkRU_y-4amzCM-yOnRg9AQKDxmbrTVL8HB6uvHPavdOLY_PwJ9kGjXumosjEwCzv/s320/IMG_5176.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349354430059950258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNsegT3wh0bxvluCdVCUdb0D1kTpD2BTruoqvlrKYo7M_RH1-_rciXJNNTJjWieeGg422X2vHuHXn9x31lo-v27XLyHZLWOSbfFPPN3acF1q4JVjxd6XoKgTXfcUquY785XLdgmyR8ZYJ/s1600-h/IMG_5192.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNsegT3wh0bxvluCdVCUdb0D1kTpD2BTruoqvlrKYo7M_RH1-_rciXJNNTJjWieeGg422X2vHuHXn9x31lo-v27XLyHZLWOSbfFPPN3acF1q4JVjxd6XoKgTXfcUquY785XLdgmyR8ZYJ/s320/IMG_5192.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349352770974480338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEar_Xg0x4vDNNlOlrbVKxNrQHloMBMp4x3ft2xJS3Bz1cIeSlJrLGS2XZeiUbRCXvq_SZAROdOG4SoGIew532oFioS8zCDvJNb4gc-oBoPB79Twi3q59Dmg3U8BUGaEwamY4DblNvvIu6/s1600-h/IMG_5194.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEar_Xg0x4vDNNlOlrbVKxNrQHloMBMp4x3ft2xJS3Bz1cIeSlJrLGS2XZeiUbRCXvq_SZAROdOG4SoGIew532oFioS8zCDvJNb4gc-oBoPB79Twi3q59Dmg3U8BUGaEwamY4DblNvvIu6/s320/IMG_5194.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349352763762941794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5P2EvwtlxvD5Iu_wI9zvbcfO1e3ulxQGjCXvGNCStByl74E3fQtW06iRuduvRXGti78m7XlpcHVz6Zs3rvQGBoHQB67alsT9pqJWDA1zPV_q5TDDwotr9XYJoLJbtzcmECJvkyVoO1ih/s1600-h/IMG_5215.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5P2EvwtlxvD5Iu_wI9zvbcfO1e3ulxQGjCXvGNCStByl74E3fQtW06iRuduvRXGti78m7XlpcHVz6Zs3rvQGBoHQB67alsT9pqJWDA1zPV_q5TDDwotr9XYJoLJbtzcmECJvkyVoO1ih/s320/IMG_5215.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349352759471419474" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfFHb-Bl3HH1ySf91wdPGYoj9uIx3HQfc89y2fRHXO89CEXAVe7F2XQ_SSCYjKllKFlfYR-aHlRqVGLsGuWRL6Q-ocDmkitn9lm5HX7k7EYhmlW4Nqq9E2RdF1iu2RYFByVuN8QrNPGCx/s1600-h/IMG_5221.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfFHb-Bl3HH1ySf91wdPGYoj9uIx3HQfc89y2fRHXO89CEXAVe7F2XQ_SSCYjKllKFlfYR-aHlRqVGLsGuWRL6Q-ocDmkitn9lm5HX7k7EYhmlW4Nqq9E2RdF1iu2RYFByVuN8QrNPGCx/s320/IMG_5221.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349352757655955794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaE83JmtlmqCfDP48jsFU2mddu_M1WWlaxLpuRgbQvoEslm5GRLNv7k6LVPYJtxzzV3_BwHdDjOsSpRjGfDcbkUh11AySyJd9bVSSLyioR5tr_s1G5ZPou_yq0_K6R0-tbAGSQ7_Ld9HH/s1600-h/IMG_5226.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaE83JmtlmqCfDP48jsFU2mddu_M1WWlaxLpuRgbQvoEslm5GRLNv7k6LVPYJtxzzV3_BwHdDjOsSpRjGfDcbkUh11AySyJd9bVSSLyioR5tr_s1G5ZPou_yq0_K6R0-tbAGSQ7_Ld9HH/s320/IMG_5226.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349349857388209106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xcduq3w6-MvY_DPHXExwnUJufzDTFYlDorS5EcxtTD4ClL9a-6kkAlHsAPXRtEMY3N8syA8DNC6rsRU6xpsjV4w4BR3A7q-CE1U8rkCURPRhIlBraxig9Cz4zIx8kRXI63pF61tR8jTm/s1600-h/IMG_5228.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xcduq3w6-MvY_DPHXExwnUJufzDTFYlDorS5EcxtTD4ClL9a-6kkAlHsAPXRtEMY3N8syA8DNC6rsRU6xpsjV4w4BR3A7q-CE1U8rkCURPRhIlBraxig9Cz4zIx8kRXI63pF61tR8jTm/s320/IMG_5228.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349349858632467698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4pbkYjz6h4aTdcxfS7gMrJqXoRJIk7Yb85i_K85SBH7c8bYUgF-idY8AVJP0BBOygM5LqiC5Ed4iwCYri58cvEHe0O-6aEorJzg4_NbAmJqi73GmwN7iTMW0jDzuGLHbLk-J4ceci5tz/s1600-h/IMG_5236.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4pbkYjz6h4aTdcxfS7gMrJqXoRJIk7Yb85i_K85SBH7c8bYUgF-idY8AVJP0BBOygM5LqiC5Ed4iwCYri58cvEHe0O-6aEorJzg4_NbAmJqi73GmwN7iTMW0jDzuGLHbLk-J4ceci5tz/s320/IMG_5236.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349349855250759282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGi9NWyu0f4b1kYvAaY3fUDi76R01GTlii3yy0KPQ9gv3yFZaRBpGhCWd3A1VHixfwCk3sgNYwDXwQi0U-zCbBZxpZGanN3BAY6gwg5k0mS6IxUuBPVtf5eWQYEmXuzhyMXYd3sJMljxQ/s1600-h/IMG_5247.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGi9NWyu0f4b1kYvAaY3fUDi76R01GTlii3yy0KPQ9gv3yFZaRBpGhCWd3A1VHixfwCk3sgNYwDXwQi0U-zCbBZxpZGanN3BAY6gwg5k0mS6IxUuBPVtf5eWQYEmXuzhyMXYd3sJMljxQ/s320/IMG_5247.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349349849750759122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8j-Fu0uIKLK6W7uAqeHCI7V9PEN7OFzu9IXGd6Ik3dI6FD2Zd7kBJmiimuqqi9MN67uzylaccZWhHVIh89hBYb3xnwJRrEDb__XpJV2I8Y0b91LtIJzXQrRA8H9msocdKpyYMQK2_wj_9/s1600-h/IMG_5257.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8j-Fu0uIKLK6W7uAqeHCI7V9PEN7OFzu9IXGd6Ik3dI6FD2Zd7kBJmiimuqqi9MN67uzylaccZWhHVIh89hBYb3xnwJRrEDb__XpJV2I8Y0b91LtIJzXQrRA8H9msocdKpyYMQK2_wj_9/s320/IMG_5257.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349349846262685282" /></a><br /><br />Murchison Falls, Uganda<br />May 24th & 25th, 2009<br /><br />Our next stop was Murchison Falls, a National Park which was frequented by the likes of Teddy Roosevelt, Sir Winston Churchill and Ernest Hemingway. This of course was before the massive fighting occurred- the park is now in a period of regeneration. The main reason I especially was keen to go, was because of the boat safari you can do. <br /><br />We spent the night of the 23rd just outside of the park gates at a camp site with a brilliant view of the river, and headed inside the next morning. Our first stop was to see the falls from a viewpoint. Off we drove seeing men with machetes cutting the grass in the ditches of the road. We arrived and made our way down a trail leading to the view. It was noting short of amazing. The waterfall has been described by some as the most exciting thing to happen to the Nile and it certainly earns that reputation. The roar of the falls was spectacular and the foam you could see below was stunning.<br /><br />After we finished ogling the falls we made our way to the ferry port where we could take our cruise. At 2:00pm we boarded. Deciding we wanted to avoid the German tour group sitting below we climbed up a small staircase to the top deck. After standing for a few minutes I had a brainwave and thought we should get our camping chairs for ultimate comfort. Karel asked the park staff if he could quickly get something and off he ran to collect our chairs. Sure we looked like hill billies but we had the best seats in the house and had the feeling like we were the only ones on the boat.<br /><br />The cruise was great. Along the way we saw buffalo, elephant and buck along with tons of hippo and some Nile crocodile. We also had great views of the falls and saw amazing amounts of foam beaded along the river.<br /><br />The next morning we took a ferry over to the other side of the park where the highest concentration of wildlife live. It was stunning scenery with palm trees and lush grasses. We saw tons of buck,giraffe, elephant and buffalo. More interesting though, was seeing some fisherman who came across from the Congo. They were using simple netting and dhow boats. Karel and I spent time speculating on what their lives must be like on 'the other side' and what do they think about seeing white people or any people really in game vehicles taking photos. What a different world they must live in. <br /> <br /><br />a.k.a. The “Pearl of Africa” as coined by Sir Winston Churchill himself upon visiting Murchison Falls which he described as Kew Gardens and the London zoo of infinite scaletraveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-11114263350814121532009-06-20T02:10:00.000-07:002009-06-20T02:55:24.830-07:00Chasing Chimps<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtdspjeB-RdxNUBmw9RPudqLZ69zMJIbowc1WAdSXjw1Z6aErCgjg_P2FAGIQ2IfbnGYuEWF3KMOAlRKrCbwno6b4NBhPFvRR8jtc_6k8ydN7CDD6gM03sj3ldLhyphenhyphenOqLYz-c6uzZ2FHcY/s1600-h/IMG_5115.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtdspjeB-RdxNUBmw9RPudqLZ69zMJIbowc1WAdSXjw1Z6aErCgjg_P2FAGIQ2IfbnGYuEWF3KMOAlRKrCbwno6b4NBhPFvRR8jtc_6k8ydN7CDD6gM03sj3ldLhyphenhyphenOqLYz-c6uzZ2FHcY/s320/IMG_5115.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349343451319239474" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkyvN9MiPbYHxPRM18nTP-Iu9Q_wK5_n7-yZwFSoBKTSspNnorfW6YzZiXIoJO6PuJnLquIDHOmbyJtxry2u2TtkBmVyd8zIwEQrxdomKcTrHJ2Hd5bLt-Lk20pbRZio2IivrNdAaj6t2/s1600-h/IMG_4865.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkyvN9MiPbYHxPRM18nTP-Iu9Q_wK5_n7-yZwFSoBKTSspNnorfW6YzZiXIoJO6PuJnLquIDHOmbyJtxry2u2TtkBmVyd8zIwEQrxdomKcTrHJ2Hd5bLt-Lk20pbRZio2IivrNdAaj6t2/s320/IMG_4865.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349343444727404018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEZKQM_qWRsU6WilyOLV5727B6UKwG7oxWXtie2AlAshIhGwJnTkpO06rZsiuCYHHLRYjW3QC09e6rDES4bK6Zjv_JHzUxUvEKpV609OrwdrlbK3ZPb9CN7RvH4yJ2SN-JhmcMtheMu00/s1600-h/IMG_4873.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEZKQM_qWRsU6WilyOLV5727B6UKwG7oxWXtie2AlAshIhGwJnTkpO06rZsiuCYHHLRYjW3QC09e6rDES4bK6Zjv_JHzUxUvEKpV609OrwdrlbK3ZPb9CN7RvH4yJ2SN-JhmcMtheMu00/s320/IMG_4873.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349343441967873442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwVukdjsKRiVuu8RKRvxnIbudQ7Q9qMtObTSpsMNvaPdi7KKNL1ofceZ1UnD8PlODdAlca2FqaEBtxulAWzJNGBRxlr1WkwyVNnmAPVFYog9avoGouv6eTt9cvy9X76yQKpBJD8QKVsee/s1600-h/IMG_4900.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwVukdjsKRiVuu8RKRvxnIbudQ7Q9qMtObTSpsMNvaPdi7KKNL1ofceZ1UnD8PlODdAlca2FqaEBtxulAWzJNGBRxlr1WkwyVNnmAPVFYog9avoGouv6eTt9cvy9X76yQKpBJD8QKVsee/s320/IMG_4900.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349343436949184098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrk05ljxXJt5P-VAjCEC8MVbTS1_ABx9HkSdqBS9TSb_TiGQ_x7DVBhyphenhyphenzLFi99ZWfE_EH0T3GzoxLDP-BjjBSihpMefG3gxJSgad2GZVLqVwSHycysjgimdKguVZra39Sdfs8mhxOYKbp/s1600-h/IMG_4960.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrk05ljxXJt5P-VAjCEC8MVbTS1_ABx9HkSdqBS9TSb_TiGQ_x7DVBhyphenhyphenzLFi99ZWfE_EH0T3GzoxLDP-BjjBSihpMefG3gxJSgad2GZVLqVwSHycysjgimdKguVZra39Sdfs8mhxOYKbp/s320/IMG_4960.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349343432510871442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwtmpcWFq-Gv2XBXIzxfsB5J07Po3xgG_UoY4IHCa73tTRo4bY_7mCurpF4wr9j7qChmmmGtvzl992YyHm5z7bLI7BzVl8XNttctUCambnlA0fO-UMWF3CrzWgHM2RFAMTPK73-BUq_Qj/s1600-h/IMG_5010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwtmpcWFq-Gv2XBXIzxfsB5J07Po3xgG_UoY4IHCa73tTRo4bY_7mCurpF4wr9j7qChmmmGtvzl992YyHm5z7bLI7BzVl8XNttctUCambnlA0fO-UMWF3CrzWgHM2RFAMTPK73-BUq_Qj/s320/IMG_5010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349341768600543346" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtVQ6d3IqjrVQu50wXvSxHqD4FIklMs84EULtzkf4QwMXsU2wCsC0fkO8I0YpYG2oG2q9wXty4ztJJaJwqUWgO2LaEnGjWFl_LLrMRMugNFJedW4atZdG9vQnufMUghxf3bNvKCVJQJzh/s1600-h/IMG_5021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtVQ6d3IqjrVQu50wXvSxHqD4FIklMs84EULtzkf4QwMXsU2wCsC0fkO8I0YpYG2oG2q9wXty4ztJJaJwqUWgO2LaEnGjWFl_LLrMRMugNFJedW4atZdG9vQnufMUghxf3bNvKCVJQJzh/s320/IMG_5021.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349341767033003746" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gkJBnqoaXpgGcm_1CZt3NoqjF7dKtutN8ifqVpOH0ety0ry62lYMcvsd_ipuCzaNid4Ul95_gdZaBf3GaZCZFtIpSM2S79YzKYXxhPblw27ENGnaBm7I_PfsdVMgMtzHTrRL68FMwobP/s1600-h/IMG_5057.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gkJBnqoaXpgGcm_1CZt3NoqjF7dKtutN8ifqVpOH0ety0ry62lYMcvsd_ipuCzaNid4Ul95_gdZaBf3GaZCZFtIpSM2S79YzKYXxhPblw27ENGnaBm7I_PfsdVMgMtzHTrRL68FMwobP/s320/IMG_5057.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349341759551869458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEjmhOqsTefEmOuOi69Iu5qV_71iQrWVmkFdVB8py_oQj96XStarRwEl3DTWEkcZrEv56TdMEw1bBZAIARxyGB7K3y2FiyG9vvTzngnwpKWtvEFRjN5ypgXdN-lXdIu8dCuFWIhLeLdz2/s1600-h/IMG_5062.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEjmhOqsTefEmOuOi69Iu5qV_71iQrWVmkFdVB8py_oQj96XStarRwEl3DTWEkcZrEv56TdMEw1bBZAIARxyGB7K3y2FiyG9vvTzngnwpKWtvEFRjN5ypgXdN-lXdIu8dCuFWIhLeLdz2/s320/IMG_5062.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349341758870006018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcMKAsum2ZI5e3jvOmoGj2EolXMdmjSPutqGwNbF0pVOQ7_7NQ0RGohCfygUfb79h5EfInxhVLTFUiAumosG7AxLYOrC0b0MVKKwyA7POMhyHaGiorEujq0-tvuUQFTHT3ZNPcU48Wu77/s1600-h/IMG_5064.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcMKAsum2ZI5e3jvOmoGj2EolXMdmjSPutqGwNbF0pVOQ7_7NQ0RGohCfygUfb79h5EfInxhVLTFUiAumosG7AxLYOrC0b0MVKKwyA7POMhyHaGiorEujq0-tvuUQFTHT3ZNPcU48Wu77/s320/IMG_5064.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349341752401994882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHlK8PitcxF_JJ0-Y1E5jURNGNt_fw_HWzgoga3BX14i9677PqqtLWZKGMtDe0dIyYJdzSO7RGFt3hgWZxS8IZepAMh3NDnHN-CfKd1AuRnILowAFi6-kETII6HWzbjh9dQA_iVeEW2Uq/s1600-h/IMG_5114.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHlK8PitcxF_JJ0-Y1E5jURNGNt_fw_HWzgoga3BX14i9677PqqtLWZKGMtDe0dIyYJdzSO7RGFt3hgWZxS8IZepAMh3NDnHN-CfKd1AuRnILowAFi6-kETII6HWzbjh9dQA_iVeEW2Uq/s320/IMG_5114.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349339943138654290" /></a><br /><br />Mabale National Park, Uganda<br />May 22nd, 2009<br /><br />We arrived early at Mabale National Park, a park known for its vast numbers of primates, and headed to the Park Headquarters. Once there we enquired about the Chimp Habituation Experience (oh, yes every capital is needed- it's quite the experience). Essentially this experience involves making an early start at 6:00 am and tracking chimps in hopes of seeing them rise from their nests and following them throughout the day until they make their new nests for the night. Extremely excited we set up our camp and signed up for the next day's tour.<br /><br />Arriving promptly at 6:00 am we met our guide, Austin, a man who has been tracking chimps in this rainforest for the past twenty years. He was a lovely man who led us on our epic journey. It was amazing to see a proper tracker in progress. Every little thing which we were essentially oblivious to was an important clue to where we needed to go. A few seeds here, a smell there and faint,an almost non-existent sound led us to four hours later finding the chimps. Apparently chimps spend 68% of their lives on-the-go scavenging and socializing, they even make new nests in trees every night.<br /><br />After those four hours sweating in the humid forest, avoiding huge ants (not to worry our trousers were stylishly tucked into our trousers), walking through some steep inclines, and jumping over small river crossings we made it. High up in the canopy were a large family of chimps. We strained our necks for ages staring up at them, it was a Sistine chapel kind of moment- well except for the fact that the chimps frequently pee and spit out seeds and pieces of fruit! Luckily we weren't hit.<br /><br />Sitting down and eating our lunch, Austin told us that soon the chimps will be coming down. We packed up our belongings and the chase began. It was amazing to watch the chimps navigate themselves down the tall trees with such ease, it was something like a fireman sliding down a pole. As soon as the chimps hit the ground (which they did in quick succession) they ran off. And so did we. The rest of the day was spent catching up with a small group and watching them either groom or eat. It was an exhausting and exhilarating experience as once the chimps were satisfied with whatever they were doing off they went deep into the thick forest and off we went stumbling along to find them.traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-4880762857388904652009-06-15T04:07:00.000-07:002009-06-16T03:41:22.746-07:00Lake Kivu<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRK0HoyJ9HMB3IVl9s965Qbwm5wXNVvHr3ztze65ZXBZ_fS1qBgeblUKxB_kk73F1O3o5DRtdIwm1tmqjnd4o3V6OZJgZA96H1pgby3sXNfDgR8e_e0jbTNHBoFdsMtUS5hsOrj0G-SR3/s1600-h/IMG_4434.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRK0HoyJ9HMB3IVl9s965Qbwm5wXNVvHr3ztze65ZXBZ_fS1qBgeblUKxB_kk73F1O3o5DRtdIwm1tmqjnd4o3V6OZJgZA96H1pgby3sXNfDgR8e_e0jbTNHBoFdsMtUS5hsOrj0G-SR3/s320/IMG_4434.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347873180523395362" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsS_sqsnwMIOB4zGSBpvlwxz4t66C56vSSFfAiL1datLCtnY3iOPKgFVD3hfEAwQY8Y4wQTm5u8eBpxJxCETZ2ikChTbd9y1NQkjjFdpLbgR5wI4hRkXVAsatuMzEZzKGG55Bf_hmWyne0/s1600-h/IMG_4443.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsS_sqsnwMIOB4zGSBpvlwxz4t66C56vSSFfAiL1datLCtnY3iOPKgFVD3hfEAwQY8Y4wQTm5u8eBpxJxCETZ2ikChTbd9y1NQkjjFdpLbgR5wI4hRkXVAsatuMzEZzKGG55Bf_hmWyne0/s320/IMG_4443.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347873175164966370" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpHU0jD9vL5SMc3I0AliBMESqBoWea03tTvkBIIB-_-CjxC8GB9Hio-ao5aO97QpB9mFDE2nBSxo_yYObk1hIotdg6hanUzUzpw_V1eFjkAbUhcGYZKAw5tO-wcrg1XJOYCQGZc3DZq7Y/s1600-h/IMG_4463.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpHU0jD9vL5SMc3I0AliBMESqBoWea03tTvkBIIB-_-CjxC8GB9Hio-ao5aO97QpB9mFDE2nBSxo_yYObk1hIotdg6hanUzUzpw_V1eFjkAbUhcGYZKAw5tO-wcrg1XJOYCQGZc3DZq7Y/s320/IMG_4463.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347873175152115522" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGPO6aSUqDswWq1elxXnQSObDtEcMTEOttT3In3nVLfPZXTS9p-y2LguXQi65A97fQCEj78byqRVz2q9ISka1gEH4Z2bQSb-O0mKEW2lzhEWGSY3Py0fhmnDzjQvxjmJw908PrvNhNKTi/s1600-h/IMG_4785.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGPO6aSUqDswWq1elxXnQSObDtEcMTEOttT3In3nVLfPZXTS9p-y2LguXQi65A97fQCEj78byqRVz2q9ISka1gEH4Z2bQSb-O0mKEW2lzhEWGSY3Py0fhmnDzjQvxjmJw908PrvNhNKTi/s320/IMG_4785.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347873172256455890" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGsSPon-AsY1ZLsme_cT9PPXMRXuBr47H8QnVvaQPijjuH5VO2rWx-gPb07bjrXcvthQ0e0NscSiGDk7hIbC2UWwEdQEwrVIq2OJ-jl5qhTTh0B64WvKYmF63992CMUJ0xXiHpZ6BL7rl/s1600-h/IMG_4788.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGsSPon-AsY1ZLsme_cT9PPXMRXuBr47H8QnVvaQPijjuH5VO2rWx-gPb07bjrXcvthQ0e0NscSiGDk7hIbC2UWwEdQEwrVIq2OJ-jl5qhTTh0B64WvKYmF63992CMUJ0xXiHpZ6BL7rl/s320/IMG_4788.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347873168483766082" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQ9DZFDkqPNGwDvw-G9Yz38CdQfzPsZWD2gMJ6aHU0E4RoMiY4nvUXQYLrWS-l1rlvYy0rDaOxEg4jkxXSh21k_UBo9fewDEFfHqGHbf2t-wE_IcqSiesj_2AymcuIIjfnKepEHs1inn7/s1600-h/IMG_4789.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQ9DZFDkqPNGwDvw-G9Yz38CdQfzPsZWD2gMJ6aHU0E4RoMiY4nvUXQYLrWS-l1rlvYy0rDaOxEg4jkxXSh21k_UBo9fewDEFfHqGHbf2t-wE_IcqSiesj_2AymcuIIjfnKepEHs1inn7/s320/IMG_4789.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347872130744036386" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilY7DsfrnSqx38erPAygXi8rnoIeIXbVn9_wV9vF2lv_3AqLh3QQepfMeIAnc5xyLgATwh_nbspSLFOKPBsw5qJQVeFPqIk4ESb5xyYdRCYzGgm7SaPHmZSfSfSDVJB4dLBwku_iI-rIGw/s1600-h/IMG_4790.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilY7DsfrnSqx38erPAygXi8rnoIeIXbVn9_wV9vF2lv_3AqLh3QQepfMeIAnc5xyLgATwh_nbspSLFOKPBsw5qJQVeFPqIk4ESb5xyYdRCYzGgm7SaPHmZSfSfSDVJB4dLBwku_iI-rIGw/s320/IMG_4790.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347872127180660498" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZ_d34-IRxO3YLEHl8lMdOAZ5I__d501G8_YBqRvg7gJ0PXi1f2IPAEWppHHmbnHs3TSpIJQjzBHJxdZ7cGi-bl0_4EC85CRvYaM98GEHrrG3iRWZX6Xzrs8MS_l7BKbGtiw0epCB48po/s1600-h/IMG_4795.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZ_d34-IRxO3YLEHl8lMdOAZ5I__d501G8_YBqRvg7gJ0PXi1f2IPAEWppHHmbnHs3TSpIJQjzBHJxdZ7cGi-bl0_4EC85CRvYaM98GEHrrG3iRWZX6Xzrs8MS_l7BKbGtiw0epCB48po/s320/IMG_4795.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347872122951877442" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstOsKAFXgmHh1RriORzClZkIt_POPwvjts26gjIcgz7pUB4MjCO3xIAow4jZJyuFOMDJyAdsYDzg5h2PAsoWNPrj-HD1zhiwf9GeG0CMpfvM4kh8pogKQWpXhj4oY9-mANWB4esxf6ZPI/s1600-h/IMG_4796.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstOsKAFXgmHh1RriORzClZkIt_POPwvjts26gjIcgz7pUB4MjCO3xIAow4jZJyuFOMDJyAdsYDzg5h2PAsoWNPrj-HD1zhiwf9GeG0CMpfvM4kh8pogKQWpXhj4oY9-mANWB4esxf6ZPI/s320/IMG_4796.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347872120159169810" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFKlWN3_ke6zkpHvPOvbl3K21ci9JhLo3b4Qqu1Po29XQcTMaW5nXmvANYaEiHqsJvMGfp4ZHR8JP4l06PYY33Y83WKh7lwTSbydjmw15NdU3F8jLNhR7w0GS4LRFXFhdJUT2E2ZQKapk/s1600-h/IMG_4798.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFKlWN3_ke6zkpHvPOvbl3K21ci9JhLo3b4Qqu1Po29XQcTMaW5nXmvANYaEiHqsJvMGfp4ZHR8JP4l06PYY33Y83WKh7lwTSbydjmw15NdU3F8jLNhR7w0GS4LRFXFhdJUT2E2ZQKapk/s320/IMG_4798.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347872114798272402" /></a><br />Rwanda<br />May 17th, 2009<br /><br />After enjoying the gorillas and the Parc des Volcans we decided to go on the lake route (as recommended by Alex) and follow the eastern side of Lake Kivu. It was definitely worth it. Beautiful views of lush tea plantations on rolling hills were abundant. It was definitely a fairy tale atmosphere.traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-65566314656155605352009-06-15T02:34:00.000-07:002009-06-16T03:27:22.193-07:00Meeting the Susas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9w4gBe9LbykshHhuT45EMPMfePbO80xbxAzNwnL21cciBY99bd0P7fHiFCBub_G8B0PYzrqbOpgKjAT-l59ZR-LA-L0Wh73Q4XvzeynS9oD93n8tbYOBf9lIR6-t-yLPKLQOJ0mVu_1g/s1600-h/IMG_4456.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9w4gBe9LbykshHhuT45EMPMfePbO80xbxAzNwnL21cciBY99bd0P7fHiFCBub_G8B0PYzrqbOpgKjAT-l59ZR-LA-L0Wh73Q4XvzeynS9oD93n8tbYOBf9lIR6-t-yLPKLQOJ0mVu_1g/s320/IMG_4456.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347869820344304930" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwYs3Zfsofn8ROSw0O6AP7gLIeYXW3OBoKZCatIiSSabRt00K2iNZnAvboLy9emeZ0W3wkiDh0k_cXs2Tc40D8XBnJs8Mw2rnDeFx_xIgLhyphenhyphen2xLl8nlge_pN0YyccarR6qwdVBZ5eaETd/s1600-h/IMG_4470.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwYs3Zfsofn8ROSw0O6AP7gLIeYXW3OBoKZCatIiSSabRt00K2iNZnAvboLy9emeZ0W3wkiDh0k_cXs2Tc40D8XBnJs8Mw2rnDeFx_xIgLhyphenhyphen2xLl8nlge_pN0YyccarR6qwdVBZ5eaETd/s320/IMG_4470.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347869816430855970" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOiRxdDFt4ZymMM1OeKBysvKLAZPSEbC9Re2Z7toVZ7OAA3zJlAXX3VKSdWniPfxnMozCjyK-kpatQjTV81_BO9n8E4HexQq_SjTPCzPk2YHFGk8dS0jYEpRPl3Qyi0y1JJjpwvq2TeTw/s1600-h/IMG_4476.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOiRxdDFt4ZymMM1OeKBysvKLAZPSEbC9Re2Z7toVZ7OAA3zJlAXX3VKSdWniPfxnMozCjyK-kpatQjTV81_BO9n8E4HexQq_SjTPCzPk2YHFGk8dS0jYEpRPl3Qyi0y1JJjpwvq2TeTw/s320/IMG_4476.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347869810736064178" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZNjJ2IH5qkFC9SERIXQiLhBuSkYr1NSeXnaFx65CVelCkJqpKVFh6GeeCqldoS1Q7-WMs5FlNMmp2YQKP_Y7YAlSYgaUhd7UDvZBFKHKNQD3aATTY7XE_N_AoUOAo5bF-C3KaUD8kP7m/s1600-h/IMG_4477.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZNjJ2IH5qkFC9SERIXQiLhBuSkYr1NSeXnaFx65CVelCkJqpKVFh6GeeCqldoS1Q7-WMs5FlNMmp2YQKP_Y7YAlSYgaUhd7UDvZBFKHKNQD3aATTY7XE_N_AoUOAo5bF-C3KaUD8kP7m/s320/IMG_4477.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347869806439446834" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAL87YD_DvgYilo23yzB1J8d1ccv-eTOcNvFEVLNsURObGr7AS0U2KaKNiGGA6EoCJ_IBmQUlhoc9E3v1a5TQBSIKi7GEW4DVv31cICip1Nx-Iaowpsdhk3pO6U7IYRkslJPff_N1lJQF/s1600-h/IMG_4500.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAL87YD_DvgYilo23yzB1J8d1ccv-eTOcNvFEVLNsURObGr7AS0U2KaKNiGGA6EoCJ_IBmQUlhoc9E3v1a5TQBSIKi7GEW4DVv31cICip1Nx-Iaowpsdhk3pO6U7IYRkslJPff_N1lJQF/s320/IMG_4500.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347869801537048818" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEuHF2QzsUiu4ratq6G7DQdio3REdIguMVPaitzi6avQ5_5BoLVqgBWf63Gn2NkjchiwVpIOSptzREVLHVDfFXRGYP2kYrSP-VV67j5NJbiSAkjqCqUQdmskLqSMGBycEK9f9_HA_Cq50/s1600-h/IMG_4507.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEuHF2QzsUiu4ratq6G7DQdio3REdIguMVPaitzi6avQ5_5BoLVqgBWf63Gn2NkjchiwVpIOSptzREVLHVDfFXRGYP2kYrSP-VV67j5NJbiSAkjqCqUQdmskLqSMGBycEK9f9_HA_Cq50/s320/IMG_4507.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347867887676822802" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaOn21jKBNeOQfXO1SpRVFIqSNhIHpNDhH3HYTi6TzP-IPYaWsDSFpyIWHSuZeHDtSpj0l7DZIJ3J0Aji-UCuSHi-1vkDbWTYNLHbLlsK2KDRedYC8mPqP5c4cnLCSpov3N_ZiqQ1y0dW/s1600-h/IMG_4518.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaOn21jKBNeOQfXO1SpRVFIqSNhIHpNDhH3HYTi6TzP-IPYaWsDSFpyIWHSuZeHDtSpj0l7DZIJ3J0Aji-UCuSHi-1vkDbWTYNLHbLlsK2KDRedYC8mPqP5c4cnLCSpov3N_ZiqQ1y0dW/s320/IMG_4518.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347867883991980962" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Rsgfl_JhHQdZwrZ3mSu3WXsYgeoLQTXLCtIBhqkABczQHjiLuMu2dFoQ87ppK0lg-eLJs8dpIe75956a0saAHdeXbIW9XprD5mkyyZMFLZ9_W2DvQmcMeqzGK86Nz7Bmhbw4EHg0kiDf/s1600-h/IMG_4589.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Rsgfl_JhHQdZwrZ3mSu3WXsYgeoLQTXLCtIBhqkABczQHjiLuMu2dFoQ87ppK0lg-eLJs8dpIe75956a0saAHdeXbIW9XprD5mkyyZMFLZ9_W2DvQmcMeqzGK86Nz7Bmhbw4EHg0kiDf/s320/IMG_4589.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347867882118265202" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4rU-iomImA02h21rglxf4laNFOnKLK1V_hyrOVKMfWNyINx2gi_JpkikpjzUuoZb2DczHxsrS_U9s9J6stOzKKgrKAa0Gts-OLZNZyGDnbx2bSrnxhZUj4F8QlvJF_uEQO-c684y7rCy/s1600-h/IMG_4602.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4rU-iomImA02h21rglxf4laNFOnKLK1V_hyrOVKMfWNyINx2gi_JpkikpjzUuoZb2DczHxsrS_U9s9J6stOzKKgrKAa0Gts-OLZNZyGDnbx2bSrnxhZUj4F8QlvJF_uEQO-c684y7rCy/s320/IMG_4602.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347867878877332658" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiC5L4MGLNuhKf0NXofWwkaZoIcDKpqb7qvG82fB94M0icHqlIkHNjjT7H4CLM773qQhuOQYGygzTrNVLIpKKP73Rig_zEDifP82UWPYnRi68EHi3ISGHzTRqMsfKy8ooaGYFdAMqqFkC/s1600-h/IMG_4619.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiC5L4MGLNuhKf0NXofWwkaZoIcDKpqb7qvG82fB94M0icHqlIkHNjjT7H4CLM773qQhuOQYGygzTrNVLIpKKP73Rig_zEDifP82UWPYnRi68EHi3ISGHzTRqMsfKy8ooaGYFdAMqqFkC/s320/IMG_4619.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347867868890744498" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rpTHVxXGz9ud-sv0hDsaeVlkaXlwghRCP9qiJAdu-bVgolS_oZJOZRluPIjBMYx1BMur4AJ7ogAD-u19Z9VUUx3BybHytOb4Jy3WzfX78sjtCS9PeDv0zNr5U_GvkP60cvjBlh8Py26F/s1600-h/IMG_4620.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rpTHVxXGz9ud-sv0hDsaeVlkaXlwghRCP9qiJAdu-bVgolS_oZJOZRluPIjBMYx1BMur4AJ7ogAD-u19Z9VUUx3BybHytOb4Jy3WzfX78sjtCS9PeDv0zNr5U_GvkP60cvjBlh8Py26F/s320/IMG_4620.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347865352325873570" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJz3RRsAHB8Hanllmo7Jgcdr6UThXicYn3sOhyiqNG9tDDg75vh5uPdVOFgsUX9nEls9cG8ba4BwiCXpe9M9McDazAl6MTP-sl83dyYhyvGJqyqbDuslfr64OcYn7b2ZK6CgxCY9buQVa/s1600-h/IMG_4622.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJz3RRsAHB8Hanllmo7Jgcdr6UThXicYn3sOhyiqNG9tDDg75vh5uPdVOFgsUX9nEls9cG8ba4BwiCXpe9M9McDazAl6MTP-sl83dyYhyvGJqyqbDuslfr64OcYn7b2ZK6CgxCY9buQVa/s320/IMG_4622.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347865349025588738" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGR0Mi99meb855EZxEZATZef0jaAbejeTXFoeAQ95io20jrKiiEKnkBTSGcz-ZJDBZQmm0HJLJxVfo3Xm-jUJUV47X41e3JhfFvIZBTQZq3qmL4Lvat1tzsWianfj72Q8yU7q6Z9xS0I1/s1600-h/IMG_4626.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGR0Mi99meb855EZxEZATZef0jaAbejeTXFoeAQ95io20jrKiiEKnkBTSGcz-ZJDBZQmm0HJLJxVfo3Xm-jUJUV47X41e3JhfFvIZBTQZq3qmL4Lvat1tzsWianfj72Q8yU7q6Z9xS0I1/s320/IMG_4626.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347865343775380162" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyoVShvKgN5tjWenvMs7rPGEwKS2U5S1ydEl6-wl4qzF-kvKdYSY_Y2hfHGosyCx3ioGKLIQGZftfYhR1GzVV5V31eoSNLbZl41GwhbcQwaSb04WgzsoNUVi9BDVARwQDE_zbxrVsSYW3/s1600-h/IMG_4638.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyoVShvKgN5tjWenvMs7rPGEwKS2U5S1ydEl6-wl4qzF-kvKdYSY_Y2hfHGosyCx3ioGKLIQGZftfYhR1GzVV5V31eoSNLbZl41GwhbcQwaSb04WgzsoNUVi9BDVARwQDE_zbxrVsSYW3/s320/IMG_4638.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347865340435065442" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHY-i9kLbrUWH3yhFV_CHZZw1652WUV_ls77jLFhdFze5CwO6gdqiJlzx7Q3ZtIrjxcM2whnNQlHqvR2z0ATahI2T1Y9J8cK4gWVJ6GTxDzN9dNurPRurbWM-QPTeq4gxnywcIM7GahBkt/s1600-h/IMG_4703.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHY-i9kLbrUWH3yhFV_CHZZw1652WUV_ls77jLFhdFze5CwO6gdqiJlzx7Q3ZtIrjxcM2whnNQlHqvR2z0ATahI2T1Y9J8cK4gWVJ6GTxDzN9dNurPRurbWM-QPTeq4gxnywcIM7GahBkt/s320/IMG_4703.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347865335586474578" /></a><br />Parc des Volcans, Rwanda<br />May 16th, 2009<br /><br />We were lucky enough to meet one of Rwanda’s most prestigious families- the Susas. The Susas first came to fame thanks to Dian Fossey who originally habituated them several decades ago. This family is the largest of the gorilla families in East Africa and has 40 members. It is also the only family to have successfully raised twins (usually at least one twin dies). <br /><br />In order to meet them you have to hike in the forest alongside a guide and tracker. You also have armed guards. We were told that these guards were in case we met some buffalo along the way leading Karel to ask “Does that make them Buffalo Soldiers?” – no one got the joke. As it is bamboo shoot season the gorillas head to the lower part of the mountain so luckily we didn’t have to trek very long before we reached the family as it’s very humid and steep in the forest. <br /><br />Two hours of walking later we spotted them. It was nothing short of amazing. The first one we saw was still in his nest on the tree top and as we rounded the corner we spotted four more. It was brilliant. There were two younger gorillas that were super curious about us. For health and safety reasons (I know health and safety in Africa?) we weren’t allowed to touch or let the gorillas touch us. We share 70% of our make-up with gorillas and apparently that means any disease is contagious, although it can manifest with different symptoms. Anyways these two small gorillas kept creeping closer and closer so our guide had to keep shooing them away by moving branches to scare them off. The curiosity behind those gorillas’ eyes was intense.<br /><br />We trekked another hundred metres and came across the rest of the group. It was brilliant timing as they were having their ‘social time’. Everyone was on the ground. We saw the gorillas eating, grooming each other, playing with each other, banging their chests- it was amazing.traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-66432033381589224002009-06-15T02:13:00.000-07:002009-06-16T02:56:38.144-07:0015 Year Anniversary<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfdlRj4vN08tkDMNi6IyrPhjaiJ3n77qa9R6pm5-zf7haASOOc70d6c9Gi4WipAZe22JzoRJt5EH5dFYnss55HgLiTe_wKyLl-8xxZZvi1DecKhxKppbmk_RkWe68hakhuNzDAVQ_1Ap0/s1600-h/IMG_4428.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfdlRj4vN08tkDMNi6IyrPhjaiJ3n77qa9R6pm5-zf7haASOOc70d6c9Gi4WipAZe22JzoRJt5EH5dFYnss55HgLiTe_wKyLl-8xxZZvi1DecKhxKppbmk_RkWe68hakhuNzDAVQ_1Ap0/s320/IMG_4428.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347862050708901090" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbHDbFUgsv50L3oJyQnqND92f4veA-IF4CJE77eggppXfY6Kgqsv6Dm-llNlwPQfpxVTxBBsjB7dpuQ_CiiaoCvS9ClPsAp6DLo_KkF4lSK58PjB9hTXfQ9IMi9IhHZ5vXup8QjDm-kDh/s1600-h/IMG_4845.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbHDbFUgsv50L3oJyQnqND92f4veA-IF4CJE77eggppXfY6Kgqsv6Dm-llNlwPQfpxVTxBBsjB7dpuQ_CiiaoCvS9ClPsAp6DLo_KkF4lSK58PjB9hTXfQ9IMi9IhHZ5vXup8QjDm-kDh/s320/IMG_4845.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347862047758325490" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRGQKAPlDmfkNhmrQ-vnNDL3EABDq52vSuhviIK7Yxfzygwzt_FZaNPCZApb-D_WaF35CU8umUJrkvFp7s2f05RJsJy5rnVxzZ_bNpaAXlCM3pnSBKJHCfrdMzsi2wmt4VR3KwIdS-R5u/s1600-h/IMG_4841.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRGQKAPlDmfkNhmrQ-vnNDL3EABDq52vSuhviIK7Yxfzygwzt_FZaNPCZApb-D_WaF35CU8umUJrkvFp7s2f05RJsJy5rnVxzZ_bNpaAXlCM3pnSBKJHCfrdMzsi2wmt4VR3KwIdS-R5u/s320/IMG_4841.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347862043201911506" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZW0Xu-lT5iNV2raLYn5XbWfjZPER-rpYYRglQqVnagsHm_39jDeZ8RtpBT6G3QDP_tiyII7a6TlmGiE0olq-3HI8s8dKMaoRT2GZVeN-pCFtCTsiAqVOI_VaD5cM6-G8ZiqdgiucvSqKU/s1600-h/IMG_4842.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZW0Xu-lT5iNV2raLYn5XbWfjZPER-rpYYRglQqVnagsHm_39jDeZ8RtpBT6G3QDP_tiyII7a6TlmGiE0olq-3HI8s8dKMaoRT2GZVeN-pCFtCTsiAqVOI_VaD5cM6-G8ZiqdgiucvSqKU/s320/IMG_4842.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347862038152114114" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4KfprXpkdRCBVGPvSsQwGE9FJHIlq4Ph4WnWx853uKfm7NSGfCFGiK18SM2Ffw31x3Kw9qeyT-cRGe6V3-U-YpbLAfYxmCV-bCTtmXoEC0lRYcc1Uu21zkTB9FsJZwQ_JRIkgxoTEfxU/s1600-h/IMG_4844.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4KfprXpkdRCBVGPvSsQwGE9FJHIlq4Ph4WnWx853uKfm7NSGfCFGiK18SM2Ffw31x3Kw9qeyT-cRGe6V3-U-YpbLAfYxmCV-bCTtmXoEC0lRYcc1Uu21zkTB9FsJZwQ_JRIkgxoTEfxU/s320/IMG_4844.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347862039310618434" /></a><br />Remembering the Genocide<br />Genocide Memorial Centre, Kigali May 14th, 2009<br />Technical College Memorial, near Butatare, May 17th, 2009<br /><br />We entered Rwanda not knowing much about the horrors which took place in 1994. Typically Western maybe, or perhaps just naïve we were only just aware that there was a genocide. They say knowledge is power, but sometimes it feels like a burden. Past mistakes weigh heavily on guilty western conscience. Starting at the Genocide Memorial Centre in Kigali we started reliving the sickening events. Historically there were always tensions between the Hutus and the Tutsis, however this tension escalated due to Belgian colonialism. In efforts to control the colony, the Belgians decided to divide the region placing strong emphasis on the differences between the groups of people including measuring physical differences in nose shape and making people carry status relating identity cards indicating belonging to either group. They then ‘rewarded’ the minority population, the Tutsis by giving them all positions of power and declaring them to be superior. Time passed, the country gained independence, a more balanced population gained positions of power (both Hutu and Tutsi), but hatred grew.<br /><br />Plans emerged, sickening detailed plans. The UN had a small presence in the country at this time including Romeo Dallaire and ten Belgian soliders (Beligan was the only western country to offer soliders). Romeo Dallaire received information that an organized genocide which was going to take place from an informant. He repeated sent word to New York UN headquarters only to be ignored. Days later the plans took shape. A helicopter was shot down carrying the Rwandan Prime Minister and the Burundi Prime Minister. The Hutu faction took control of radio and t.v. stations beginning a propaganda campaign blaming first the Belgians for this event and later the Tutsis. The ten UN Belgian soldiers were killed and mutilated beyond recognition- so much so that when Dallaire saw the bodies he thought there were eleven men not ten. The UN was then unwilling to send any additional troops and Dallaire was left. He gained a force of Ugandan troops and began his battle to end the genocide.<br /><br />The facts which remain are disturbing. The amount of soldiers used to evacuate the western population would have been enough to prevent the genocide from occurring. A French bank funded the Hutu weapons. Churches where people fled to for safety were often locked and set alight- sometimes the Minister himself would alert the Hutu to kill his congregation. Innocent people fled to the hills where they would fight against machine guns by using sticks and stones. Women were systematically raped by known HIV positive men. Children were killed in front of their parents. Neighbours killed neighbours. In three months over 900,000 people died. The death toll is greater than that though, as the killing continued in refugee camps along with other killers such as cholera (killed 1.2 million) and estimates are as high as four million people died as a result.<br /><br />In times of travesty true heroes emerge. We read stories of individual rising above and helping the victims. One man dug out a trench in his yard and had 19 people live there. Over the trench he put planks and dirt and planted sweet potatoes to disguise what he was doing. A woman who was known in her local area as being a witch doctor housed people in a shed in her garden. When demanded by rebels to open it, she told them if they did terrible things would happen to them. Luckily they believed her.<br /><br />Besides the information we learned at the Memorial Centre we went to a Technical College Memorial site. During the genocide Tutsis were told that they would be protected if they came here. Thousands fled here. They were held here for two weeks without any food and water. Then they were systematically killed. 50,000 people died there- men, women, children and babies. They were then buried in shallow graves. After the genocide the mass graves were excavated. Many of the bodies were cast in lime and are thus preserved so one can see them. The sadness and horror Karel and I were able to witness first hand was powerful. We were taken to see volumes of bodies in room after room until we could stomach no more. They were small bodies which are just bones now, some wearing clothing, some missing limbs which were macheted off, some with crushed skulls, I could go on. We both felt the sensation of wanting to be sick. The smell and stuffiness was thick- even though the rooms were ventilated. Conflicts were between wanting to see and wanting to avoid seeing. The corpses were so fragile, so vulnerable that I wanted to pick them up, cradle the bodies and rock them like a small child. <br /><br />It is now the 15th anniversary of the genocide and the country is working hard at building relations and a status of being Rwandan- there are no longer Hutu and Tutsi. It may seem like the violence is over- and it may be in Rwanda- but it’s not. During the genocide the French provided safe passage for Hutu rebels into the Congo where the murdering and raping continues- we might not hear about it in the UK, Canada or elsewhere but its happening. Yesterday on BBC Africa we heard that remote villages in the DRC on the eastern side of Lake Kivu (which also borders Rwanda) were being burnt. Woman raped. Limbs cut off- arms, legs, breasts. The UN is present in the DRC, but is not currently in access of this region. Let’s put pressure on them and not have another empty promise of “never again”.traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-44675422793171418262009-06-15T01:53:00.000-07:002009-06-15T02:17:59.825-07:00We Aren’t in Kansas AnymoreKigali, Rwanda<br />May 10th, 2009<br /><br />We arrived in Rwanda a bit unsure of what to expect. The country’s international reputation is shadowed by the events of 1994. What we weren’t expecting was the modernization of the capital. We’re talking traffic lights, working traffic lights. We’re talking motorcycle taxis where the drivers wear helmets (!) and there is a spare helmet for the passenger. We’re talking coffee, proper café latte coffee with croissants! And dairy products- not just Blue Band solid vegetable oil (which apparently even flies avoid) but butter, sweet salted butter with fresh baguettes! And did I mention high-speed internet. Needless to say Karel and I were extremely comfortable and loved our stay. We quickly became locals at our favourite spots (bakeries, restaurants, coffee shops, internet café, and forex). In addition to these comforts, the beauty of the city comes from its multiculturalism. Locals outnumber foreigners in atypical or non-traditional African activities, if I can call it that. Rwandans love going out and having espressos, eating at posh coffee shops and surfing the net. It was fantastic to be a minority when enjoying these things.traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-41259395052669687992009-05-12T09:34:00.000-07:002009-05-14T05:27:42.908-07:00Sweet Sixteen Plus Thirteen- My 29th Birthday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVDPnaWQ4Ipi8vlJSZ76cqgznmFjqEzpaGAOXFcz9l-2UN79PDbz0uOqUvP9rBlBDleWlssZnIRbzfqjpT2cjcg7ek_LYufOzXBjubOgBNneygdTw4ynS06oA1-EKvp9Km6wGnEyMANbI/s1600-h/IMG_4040.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVDPnaWQ4Ipi8vlJSZ76cqgznmFjqEzpaGAOXFcz9l-2UN79PDbz0uOqUvP9rBlBDleWlssZnIRbzfqjpT2cjcg7ek_LYufOzXBjubOgBNneygdTw4ynS06oA1-EKvp9Km6wGnEyMANbI/s320/IMG_4040.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335655217632690722" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi675tSIMJ42VZJMeVYtW3XIJ7P_DQJ6IscHtKTB5Isfgs-uucZgiOALSyBwSza8zNbEP7pAO2XzTPK4vDd1iy9mcDA1meCB_olC6-sDA__i41A6RwuyktpQNwBAbr2ANeY2BXHEwKUsg89/s1600-h/IMG_4041.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi675tSIMJ42VZJMeVYtW3XIJ7P_DQJ6IscHtKTB5Isfgs-uucZgiOALSyBwSza8zNbEP7pAO2XzTPK4vDd1iy9mcDA1meCB_olC6-sDA__i41A6RwuyktpQNwBAbr2ANeY2BXHEwKUsg89/s320/IMG_4041.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335655214890649746" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkqKKq__24pBnhF_7cTtjl4wPMZ2-I50QUYZauSnaENLhTcwXNccRpAL1uS6Fq83wO9PQa6rzBTse57LQVn2fORz6bpEpy3BRgyZsZ2gSkT9oLXDndZ778tHpGpz35GAJZ3CqrPim7ZdZ/s1600-h/IMG_4070.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkqKKq__24pBnhF_7cTtjl4wPMZ2-I50QUYZauSnaENLhTcwXNccRpAL1uS6Fq83wO9PQa6rzBTse57LQVn2fORz6bpEpy3BRgyZsZ2gSkT9oLXDndZ778tHpGpz35GAJZ3CqrPim7ZdZ/s320/IMG_4070.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335655211550804834" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhldQxdKaEigpnQkTkEVuhXTG-QvF1I9gwwN25mZeG6gYVyQi-nRBI8yqzRNHGl82QYfLwiPBeYHQ_Ht4YdS0YHZN76kpdDWN0ze5C0Cq9UcPq0RHN0lcXi-_E1uQuLBrlS1rqfIqmE6Gd/s1600-h/IMG_4076.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhldQxdKaEigpnQkTkEVuhXTG-QvF1I9gwwN25mZeG6gYVyQi-nRBI8yqzRNHGl82QYfLwiPBeYHQ_Ht4YdS0YHZN76kpdDWN0ze5C0Cq9UcPq0RHN0lcXi-_E1uQuLBrlS1rqfIqmE6Gd/s320/IMG_4076.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335655207039359458" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoCbx2DPuSltxd76pUQ6v3ijt1aegWXAtyHSlnALpmzQVx4_wBpPs8ZPmbHKDldQcKM1XagtltDWleggr0w1iGVGUHOHC-o929LYwikNzhq9EppR8NXbEQaPJ5NkDR23IwaAMsnX0FbKQ/s1600-h/IMG_4077.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoCbx2DPuSltxd76pUQ6v3ijt1aegWXAtyHSlnALpmzQVx4_wBpPs8ZPmbHKDldQcKM1XagtltDWleggr0w1iGVGUHOHC-o929LYwikNzhq9EppR8NXbEQaPJ5NkDR23IwaAMsnX0FbKQ/s320/IMG_4077.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335655206716606562" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOqOevbSU8KJfo1FUMhw4L1LMNGuahnY_6MPo3jsLt9-xYupgwj6OOAT9X2EfqXsW9CC2RpUUYnrg9SUsimp1w0YHBJ6WV6NsBbIA4zLLjA1cdAPc9mZq4xwgACj1HZFQ2VSTZ0FC4M7I/s1600-h/IMG_4088.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOqOevbSU8KJfo1FUMhw4L1LMNGuahnY_6MPo3jsLt9-xYupgwj6OOAT9X2EfqXsW9CC2RpUUYnrg9SUsimp1w0YHBJ6WV6NsBbIA4zLLjA1cdAPc9mZq4xwgACj1HZFQ2VSTZ0FC4M7I/s320/IMG_4088.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335654884338044306" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNgMSBk_S_tf30wIBBaKuzDbCQiRzGuNBeFBP8YCq59fKcf2gGQJLVO7qJZHHKWVJn2KTk5AdOaKlp1Cqb-7xpRVHRErUaiEk0YpHo4qvN0oPGt506FufEHWRgqFNwQFZuHgRBg7ddPcR/s1600-h/IMG_4110.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNgMSBk_S_tf30wIBBaKuzDbCQiRzGuNBeFBP8YCq59fKcf2gGQJLVO7qJZHHKWVJn2KTk5AdOaKlp1Cqb-7xpRVHRErUaiEk0YpHo4qvN0oPGt506FufEHWRgqFNwQFZuHgRBg7ddPcR/s320/IMG_4110.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335654884831633554" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQfFb0sMyR-pftjT86z9ZGNSOgxnMKDi-K6Qdjsduh1PfSafohpepfreVxyvAPylqntpTktVHJssEbTObmjm-lEXC4P7Nf5fNL0nQL7OQVioPB9mowvo15dZTeeMtx3h7Kd7wIrE-NTOo/s1600-h/IMG_4132.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQfFb0sMyR-pftjT86z9ZGNSOgxnMKDi-K6Qdjsduh1PfSafohpepfreVxyvAPylqntpTktVHJssEbTObmjm-lEXC4P7Nf5fNL0nQL7OQVioPB9mowvo15dZTeeMtx3h7Kd7wIrE-NTOo/s320/IMG_4132.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335654882703654914" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQ2NwLEqYunW4ek-8RrUEA1_9nJ5zynA6QN2Kj3Pm-ar_p1kIhAA3iQsD17ihTP3WnXqW4-KR8qGw1a3M2HsQsMZKzfttUdYTB48sphfNu4BqlugIxfJwOmTaaw5knDTkhCrlGFkRxHoZ/s1600-h/IMG_4140.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQ2NwLEqYunW4ek-8RrUEA1_9nJ5zynA6QN2Kj3Pm-ar_p1kIhAA3iQsD17ihTP3WnXqW4-KR8qGw1a3M2HsQsMZKzfttUdYTB48sphfNu4BqlugIxfJwOmTaaw5knDTkhCrlGFkRxHoZ/s320/IMG_4140.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335654880423404386" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1v2428GiDtRFGk6SnP7Vwu6yiTnuW-VRHRTGkQA-r12pfCTyWOjUo7zG9vGifWIbYg6rOgjWvFJXdDIch4hbO_-BF-5GNNjG1c_FJM213ROVQzyMzVPCKLAMeuh3t5oqEzU76IqWDj7N/s1600-h/IMG_4147.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1v2428GiDtRFGk6SnP7Vwu6yiTnuW-VRHRTGkQA-r12pfCTyWOjUo7zG9vGifWIbYg6rOgjWvFJXdDIch4hbO_-BF-5GNNjG1c_FJM213ROVQzyMzVPCKLAMeuh3t5oqEzU76IqWDj7N/s320/IMG_4147.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335654881732690242" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxKVZoQiNXewXUYRYGDBxGIQMeh-9-PMyTfzQoSSBvrdMLOwnVJTpmFEIFlyCbp5WTEFaM0_7AsBjaqXjPzD8fGNXQNbU91Mkf-wUzUsM1pIezYXDNRRu4-3HYijbLRjzZglLH1h93hqo/s1600-h/IMG_4167.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxKVZoQiNXewXUYRYGDBxGIQMeh-9-PMyTfzQoSSBvrdMLOwnVJTpmFEIFlyCbp5WTEFaM0_7AsBjaqXjPzD8fGNXQNbU91Mkf-wUzUsM1pIezYXDNRRu4-3HYijbLRjzZglLH1h93hqo/s320/IMG_4167.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335654518356671922" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHVEd0lRoHQOnmImiUA8gassYhGVsTugibPogglDRkhXtw39E5kUf1ZN3yQ3pe9SJp6r34AUqovFcNW_SePmTolnEI44UetFRGW7jubzHhm2VZ8SROEXw0_K-BxxzjRCpPwrLP4Im3-xQ/s1600-h/IMG_4174.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHVEd0lRoHQOnmImiUA8gassYhGVsTugibPogglDRkhXtw39E5kUf1ZN3yQ3pe9SJp6r34AUqovFcNW_SePmTolnEI44UetFRGW7jubzHhm2VZ8SROEXw0_K-BxxzjRCpPwrLP4Im3-xQ/s320/IMG_4174.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335654512887907058" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Dk52_9w2KN8qb_xb29EjFvSwo7Q_wE5rcsreWZ8TsrgjJZxESCnhzl70tgfZYXQVMQiq72jhTNGrKtx5JEDzLX2PRD-0Oa9bGv6WP-dnGisDxeIIQe7LAFXs0NT4dZUtnGqyrGEl1rfa/s1600-h/IMG_4179.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Dk52_9w2KN8qb_xb29EjFvSwo7Q_wE5rcsreWZ8TsrgjJZxESCnhzl70tgfZYXQVMQiq72jhTNGrKtx5JEDzLX2PRD-0Oa9bGv6WP-dnGisDxeIIQe7LAFXs0NT4dZUtnGqyrGEl1rfa/s320/IMG_4179.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335654511576063282" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSj7TWiiCPOn3txhaMmzLPlrG0OZqLm6tytOj2fygz9c3DgOU57L_A_ckCcXlVifAP-UOVPdGqCYcrHwf3IKcGHQX9kTI-NklYDNMJChCu3BoukCLMLeTPZAKvRyzgBy5mfkv6As2AwfXr/s1600-h/IMG_4187.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSj7TWiiCPOn3txhaMmzLPlrG0OZqLm6tytOj2fygz9c3DgOU57L_A_ckCcXlVifAP-UOVPdGqCYcrHwf3IKcGHQX9kTI-NklYDNMJChCu3BoukCLMLeTPZAKvRyzgBy5mfkv6As2AwfXr/s320/IMG_4187.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335654514781262162" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwi-AiVPOme9E0HG1QK5kGj4ayXprbAQAyvVakA3ceOEZTy5SO-b4Ryv54xcd9mhUx4S_tTaiPuxFK-BWxgYjICpiimf690qyTzKLnwsx8VipFBerjpVGo1oal59uYpGKUfln0WE45ndj/s1600-h/IMG_4193.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwi-AiVPOme9E0HG1QK5kGj4ayXprbAQAyvVakA3ceOEZTy5SO-b4Ryv54xcd9mhUx4S_tTaiPuxFK-BWxgYjICpiimf690qyTzKLnwsx8VipFBerjpVGo1oal59uYpGKUfln0WE45ndj/s320/IMG_4193.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335654506894022498" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRKyMIdYtTNefQcT4vyrBgj11_ZdMRouQQUsBJAEA597GkZXVSBf-eeBRGg85NdL2w_imH_euSxH3GUeAPq3XJTwXP08FgNYit88MFDinBM7KKKEYAZJyeIom6G23CZpA3q4lrdM2iYWo/s1600-h/IMG_4196.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRKyMIdYtTNefQcT4vyrBgj11_ZdMRouQQUsBJAEA597GkZXVSBf-eeBRGg85NdL2w_imH_euSxH3GUeAPq3XJTwXP08FgNYit88MFDinBM7KKKEYAZJyeIom6G23CZpA3q4lrdM2iYWo/s320/IMG_4196.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335654258029995458" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQTvZfLdP4o2pdcb7EvCeAZLNZpvm5CcuHGHhU8jTP8UVGRXG4vuMmzrDMK_IHXfPZqzzJz2bi6FjPshbxDBu66zwD-LbiWMuNnJR5rJKHAdnBWNSv3fs7YTJ73NtdFMNeleWeLNqysmB/s1600-h/IMG_4204.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQTvZfLdP4o2pdcb7EvCeAZLNZpvm5CcuHGHhU8jTP8UVGRXG4vuMmzrDMK_IHXfPZqzzJz2bi6FjPshbxDBu66zwD-LbiWMuNnJR5rJKHAdnBWNSv3fs7YTJ73NtdFMNeleWeLNqysmB/s320/IMG_4204.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335654260945116594" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEIr5bU4feY0ci99p4QaqcyINKqFnUApyQOHn4WY_lXAsEJIDBkGs-dehCXHyZcHZIJVThrGVUIltt-B1W4u2IR76tTAJrvvoKqmmlSUiqpXSHzCstSH9rVagFrkHNyMim-AhnUSZpPl8/s1600-h/IMG_4221.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEIr5bU4feY0ci99p4QaqcyINKqFnUApyQOHn4WY_lXAsEJIDBkGs-dehCXHyZcHZIJVThrGVUIltt-B1W4u2IR76tTAJrvvoKqmmlSUiqpXSHzCstSH9rVagFrkHNyMim-AhnUSZpPl8/s320/IMG_4221.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335654256354455378" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-eqpPZhWJsFN45i06oJvUhS1YngG6dkPe3B5FE6IyoXOtN7ryq71BtAfpCwg38PYrHHnim1E-Uho8zb6U4p49c_70AWTsMPXHLg8J5h2ikHp28Pq4EvHK67vXhzK46IrRnVViY2hwDex/s1600-h/IMG_4254.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-eqpPZhWJsFN45i06oJvUhS1YngG6dkPe3B5FE6IyoXOtN7ryq71BtAfpCwg38PYrHHnim1E-Uho8zb6U4p49c_70AWTsMPXHLg8J5h2ikHp28Pq4EvHK67vXhzK46IrRnVViY2hwDex/s320/IMG_4254.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335654250922449282" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSrmH8IP1ch96blSlE_0oguYXS9uJhz3p1vhIwCcwxFjzDkjsEU_u49nUBpKN-NcX5auaHNiTgwlXlLB7xPFigGPUGDTd7e4hoviekotw1jRIQD7FaHV4TEnJA6Qd7T_hvdfD4Q7MGcJE/s1600-h/IMG_4266.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSrmH8IP1ch96blSlE_0oguYXS9uJhz3p1vhIwCcwxFjzDkjsEU_u49nUBpKN-NcX5auaHNiTgwlXlLB7xPFigGPUGDTd7e4hoviekotw1jRIQD7FaHV4TEnJA6Qd7T_hvdfD4Q7MGcJE/s320/IMG_4266.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335654248837246450" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7brtAfpsz_Yv8MZLKfoRIQcUnXVqfSuKWdEe8TRYk-MOWM0EUf6ibsheUzRQrLaN-wPC3wGhfTItv-00RrDbWqPyjjuecaE_ROyQIL-tR32tnrj_zBdh0OetEnGhNHZTe8LyB4NvMGZ0Z/s1600-h/IMG_4268.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7brtAfpsz_Yv8MZLKfoRIQcUnXVqfSuKWdEe8TRYk-MOWM0EUf6ibsheUzRQrLaN-wPC3wGhfTItv-00RrDbWqPyjjuecaE_ROyQIL-tR32tnrj_zBdh0OetEnGhNHZTe8LyB4NvMGZ0Z/s320/IMG_4268.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335653930594531458" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4v_xazjgDtQP7BdBL3DsEf0SpqEXOwfGSHeh9MzyamUPROLbFrkV4kCX2OfsxExpoz17VPLienJaV8RrjrrBYw2TTBQZMOfTzGMuV6ki0mnI84LmOaT2eEqdEFM9rBDFt-GNU8L-qYRqc/s1600-h/IMG_4272.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4v_xazjgDtQP7BdBL3DsEf0SpqEXOwfGSHeh9MzyamUPROLbFrkV4kCX2OfsxExpoz17VPLienJaV8RrjrrBYw2TTBQZMOfTzGMuV6ki0mnI84LmOaT2eEqdEFM9rBDFt-GNU8L-qYRqc/s320/IMG_4272.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335653923929362386" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRj9rUo_asxUC7xIwnAOC8WumKOMHNHFkfmXEDPjw586RViW5u9izgx8DUjxdCad1efyX9bldqD1K6ldEqW6iM6xPpdvE28oyyjIgrZoouVFgizRFDWSgFHhUy95pyqiI44jSFJ-TXFy2/s1600-h/IMG_4275.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRj9rUo_asxUC7xIwnAOC8WumKOMHNHFkfmXEDPjw586RViW5u9izgx8DUjxdCad1efyX9bldqD1K6ldEqW6iM6xPpdvE28oyyjIgrZoouVFgizRFDWSgFHhUy95pyqiI44jSFJ-TXFy2/s320/IMG_4275.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335653922833885474" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rljngLi4lhUwnglmBMdT1SYDVvMq0_3uOwXz0jOoq-YOYF4KbWamtAX4tog6uTb230mI-eGbwmJGW33Eabdv7PPZ0cB8zKm8s2g0-SG67mOU2hZZT0dcARqUlGS7z9DHmxAJY827U2jp/s1600-h/IMG_4281.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rljngLi4lhUwnglmBMdT1SYDVvMq0_3uOwXz0jOoq-YOYF4KbWamtAX4tog6uTb230mI-eGbwmJGW33Eabdv7PPZ0cB8zKm8s2g0-SG67mOU2hZZT0dcARqUlGS7z9DHmxAJY827U2jp/s320/IMG_4281.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335653921005050162" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3j2nvHFn5SXZiHG9BhRFBaT3h8pq4Vd0kJFJJiMUsfqcTkrbDf72-6AEMRLbjezyyFRHaPRh70oTQaHJT-kDLIPFcLSGCq7-NqX-sAl-rjTdC8KSAuaPdWCu520bskygAGzDns0DDaML/s1600-h/IMG_4296.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3j2nvHFn5SXZiHG9BhRFBaT3h8pq4Vd0kJFJJiMUsfqcTkrbDf72-6AEMRLbjezyyFRHaPRh70oTQaHJT-kDLIPFcLSGCq7-NqX-sAl-rjTdC8KSAuaPdWCu520bskygAGzDns0DDaML/s320/IMG_4296.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335653922082191170" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH45JEmBvhCQUYtB7R7hSbJmnam_uBn_KNjiY6IKlG05J-ypPaTc-_H_HeNmkr5wvd1y7enZQaG6vBDji9RLN6ebXRXdleAW-_Gm-Zrtr9mpFGhTgghpNpOfp5UNkXCqfztTFyHQuJjxYq/s1600-h/IMG_4308.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH45JEmBvhCQUYtB7R7hSbJmnam_uBn_KNjiY6IKlG05J-ypPaTc-_H_HeNmkr5wvd1y7enZQaG6vBDji9RLN6ebXRXdleAW-_Gm-Zrtr9mpFGhTgghpNpOfp5UNkXCqfztTFyHQuJjxYq/s320/IMG_4308.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335653594324991298" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksAZorZOB41nNjqbToBGLT1fPZgx-VDvf4LbolfLgy5Hrqq3ynjQRWAelYR1g7nvEx9Sz7PeUY0kU1Ly3AOgvTyLVNs1-LEY9vUavQZc0XWRrHlKAwmJDfQZSUDwtCgOsEYyZkP22D4dC/s1600-h/IMG_4334.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksAZorZOB41nNjqbToBGLT1fPZgx-VDvf4LbolfLgy5Hrqq3ynjQRWAelYR1g7nvEx9Sz7PeUY0kU1Ly3AOgvTyLVNs1-LEY9vUavQZc0XWRrHlKAwmJDfQZSUDwtCgOsEYyZkP22D4dC/s320/IMG_4334.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335653595206498962" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESjdp7GJFBdEByvrza-TtFxFNv0wK0OHYgbhmajJ37cotBlMG989c3Gdh-nmhsvAyvhrTvlqbXuukdNyeHEVFQrn6SxSaE13kYwhiRgyjzj7jo72NKCZMpOyNBQRtPeFyRT56GJ0EhVy7/s1600-h/IMG_4361.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESjdp7GJFBdEByvrza-TtFxFNv0wK0OHYgbhmajJ37cotBlMG989c3Gdh-nmhsvAyvhrTvlqbXuukdNyeHEVFQrn6SxSaE13kYwhiRgyjzj7jo72NKCZMpOyNBQRtPeFyRT56GJ0EhVy7/s320/IMG_4361.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335653592570414898" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGuZIGbYyTZZNgrgwI4VNd2L3bgfjQwwAxO_SlJOgkwLi-haYbOLu4FWELWYsml5wFzzabC2hTo7zZDAUQQyGToSqtHo_ayb3t0DxUVF7icaz-zqZOLDT0CD2aVOZNedRLQZxVHYlJfBb/s1600-h/IMG_4373.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGuZIGbYyTZZNgrgwI4VNd2L3bgfjQwwAxO_SlJOgkwLi-haYbOLu4FWELWYsml5wFzzabC2hTo7zZDAUQQyGToSqtHo_ayb3t0DxUVF7icaz-zqZOLDT0CD2aVOZNedRLQZxVHYlJfBb/s320/IMG_4373.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335653589210097954" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcot6svZ6zsB_hvBE-XrASKWePjiwlq6rcj8rivOIDelLRcoj3ZALo0BMNmcs-Hnvkb2jyQhCghM5MsJZ5sIRb_SXoJpvQ_YcreVZZYYqvogLdkTICLV6_YVawhFn1EgKoIL2Oyq_fqz0O/s1600-h/IMG_4380.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcot6svZ6zsB_hvBE-XrASKWePjiwlq6rcj8rivOIDelLRcoj3ZALo0BMNmcs-Hnvkb2jyQhCghM5MsJZ5sIRb_SXoJpvQ_YcreVZZYYqvogLdkTICLV6_YVawhFn1EgKoIL2Oyq_fqz0O/s320/IMG_4380.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335653586048019490" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAhMm_5SKkrfKOhJ_Vgemnh-0beaN3CUbb9YD0biSVu9jQ4cdnhtxnvk-tQ-SJ4nTAbwqHKL1lGBvhjNYF2iRCKqAi0Zrotgn3QoN6AAJLPEdbbOa5CsjQtjNOBR2CNG3DOuGCVm6pVkX/s1600-h/IMG_4382.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAhMm_5SKkrfKOhJ_Vgemnh-0beaN3CUbb9YD0biSVu9jQ4cdnhtxnvk-tQ-SJ4nTAbwqHKL1lGBvhjNYF2iRCKqAi0Zrotgn3QoN6AAJLPEdbbOa5CsjQtjNOBR2CNG3DOuGCVm6pVkX/s320/IMG_4382.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335653239360344034" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKB5WU4zMe96rtllqb8_mVDACHz3OQnltylvoU0DXXyBDRa2AUyIBC4tqb35rwEAqbYVjrHoCDpywrkuf472a680OQPibJWSqs1tFm_q04fMv8MtC024nqSHbx19mLy5UbVDDeH5D2tYT/s1600-h/IMG_4400.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKB5WU4zMe96rtllqb8_mVDACHz3OQnltylvoU0DXXyBDRa2AUyIBC4tqb35rwEAqbYVjrHoCDpywrkuf472a680OQPibJWSqs1tFm_q04fMv8MtC024nqSHbx19mLy5UbVDDeH5D2tYT/s320/IMG_4400.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335653240102207426" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKt1tlvuint1zQ1V7soqGqPOjnRX-ds27Oli38eju4vJr4nGzUQUMqW56WoSV2RfuojkigM-n0AOkS0xqvU42AWF0OZkT1GByWX_9_53ffMhShH7Up21aBq59xNqQ6czPPjNMGchBS_qP/s1600-h/IMG_4406.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKt1tlvuint1zQ1V7soqGqPOjnRX-ds27Oli38eju4vJr4nGzUQUMqW56WoSV2RfuojkigM-n0AOkS0xqvU42AWF0OZkT1GByWX_9_53ffMhShH7Up21aBq59xNqQ6czPPjNMGchBS_qP/s320/IMG_4406.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335653235314866610" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkhvZahxhN7k2ZXLXAd22QGM8HjmwxrxG5jJqMlYr7TdJK_ZC34KHvyVFC1q8XxPVu83dMkNUwykQqaZAblsZrLk85xHHmgQNfttRTC1M4c9DGqO_K1nVefDLIc2ZagpUPrIRpXfLpmZN/s1600-h/IMG_4408.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkhvZahxhN7k2ZXLXAd22QGM8HjmwxrxG5jJqMlYr7TdJK_ZC34KHvyVFC1q8XxPVu83dMkNUwykQqaZAblsZrLk85xHHmgQNfttRTC1M4c9DGqO_K1nVefDLIc2ZagpUPrIRpXfLpmZN/s320/IMG_4408.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335653237050214674" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR37BOiWfXfWMeDJqtAmCcp3W3eq_LiwjJHOyveUCh2Ah8cDEUJM_Oxk2bB1rVa7k1fyyIwy3_b_fn6Uj7OPZg2hMFmDoTWWTSO-4_W49DlHKjeVIBatAFyWzTbhNOPgzeNPbytne7abnH/s1600-h/IMG_4413.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR37BOiWfXfWMeDJqtAmCcp3W3eq_LiwjJHOyveUCh2Ah8cDEUJM_Oxk2bB1rVa7k1fyyIwy3_b_fn6Uj7OPZg2hMFmDoTWWTSO-4_W49DlHKjeVIBatAFyWzTbhNOPgzeNPbytne7abnH/s320/IMG_4413.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335653233102472290" /></a><br />Serengeti National Park<br />Tanzania<br />May 7&8th, 2009<br /><br />After the previous days excitement of Ngorongoro Crater and rekindling our love of the bush we were extremely excited to go to the Serengeti. The beauty of the park is incredible and we had a fantastic two days. Serengeti translates as ‘the plains’ in Swahili and proved to be so. The plains are mainly made up of short pale yellow and green grass with the occasional shrub, but change to more heavily bushed areas with thorn and acacia trees where elephant and giraffe frequent. The landscape is extremely conducive to game spotting and we were once again lucky in our sightings. Our timing was near as perfect as one can get as the wildebeest were making their way from the central Serengeti where we were towards the west. <br /><br />I don’t know how many wildebeest we saw but it was surely in the hundreds of thousands. At the heaviest of our sightings we spent ten kms in the thick of them, seeing them as far as the eye can see. It was incredible. The fresh smell mixed between fresh air and manure and the sound mixed between a donkey and a sheep. Along with the wildebeest we also saw hundreds of zebra tagging along for the ride. It was impossible to capture on film what we witnessed, but we sure tried (translation- hundreds of photos).<br /><br />Along with all the prey come the predators. And boy did we see plenty. We saw several groups of lioness lounging about in the sun, cubs hidden from predators on the top of rocks, lions lying in the shade, lions lying in the grass and our favourite- lions lying in a tree. We also got to see a group of five cheetah sunning themselves on a group of rocks. <br /><br />Besides the wonderful wildlife we enjoyed the comforts of a lodge celebrating my birthday in style. Thanks to my parents. It was full board so we ate brilliantly, sipped G&Ts, and again enjoyed the comforts of hot water. Africa is heaven.traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-86315261089326595062009-05-12T09:13:00.000-07:002009-05-14T05:16:29.121-07:00The Lion Sleeps Tonight*<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oFQMdCkw-kb84-TVxsCAuAaYdbWYNotH7kufaj2RKLYptyWevPc0wzD-yTsFBnamxLFqbBF2N99EB-hRVenz64A3OKLjgOy0j3WWM-5E04dw-2DAtORhwuJV5BY6NScfru0vgwzHdnZJ/s1600-h/IMG_3763.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oFQMdCkw-kb84-TVxsCAuAaYdbWYNotH7kufaj2RKLYptyWevPc0wzD-yTsFBnamxLFqbBF2N99EB-hRVenz64A3OKLjgOy0j3WWM-5E04dw-2DAtORhwuJV5BY6NScfru0vgwzHdnZJ/s320/IMG_3763.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335652307560942882" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHR96T5hB8_MvLBcs9VjLAI5RLkDx4xxQrKyIpGp85IQUT8C-vkwUk80QIv_SX7uc4VchD7zc1YOUCQz-69R6ZvKHoNXDt2FehV10ji2bEmlf_uz3Ou6gSh9c465RsTYA8x1lxuhhq4nlB/s1600-h/IMG_3768.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHR96T5hB8_MvLBcs9VjLAI5RLkDx4xxQrKyIpGp85IQUT8C-vkwUk80QIv_SX7uc4VchD7zc1YOUCQz-69R6ZvKHoNXDt2FehV10ji2bEmlf_uz3Ou6gSh9c465RsTYA8x1lxuhhq4nlB/s320/IMG_3768.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335652303249093138" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykeOp2RltbmzBf2At4wcyFIqJNFp-ZasN4k1fnJjPI-cxP889qzDdItt-seeyCWzikCHcA27ZwCUfpbo_TDicaJ3eUeUGQHUqFaOAKqlORV5ixthI7xrm_sD4mSPg_XyrUmY7BkXJhssC/s1600-h/IMG_3772.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykeOp2RltbmzBf2At4wcyFIqJNFp-ZasN4k1fnJjPI-cxP889qzDdItt-seeyCWzikCHcA27ZwCUfpbo_TDicaJ3eUeUGQHUqFaOAKqlORV5ixthI7xrm_sD4mSPg_XyrUmY7BkXJhssC/s320/IMG_3772.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335652303696860098" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3KAlwFBszFZkFXMtAF3ZHLgOQMCMb1m0F8IJ-kQnbprDXZv7h6pUVJhELLMP9eMm9OS3nUkn4NerH-dY7tzIABW-cGEAyUQK9lthAJ8ZrSU9dn5uVeUlgyH6gVef60owmUtAKDjXakGv/s1600-h/IMG_3798.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3KAlwFBszFZkFXMtAF3ZHLgOQMCMb1m0F8IJ-kQnbprDXZv7h6pUVJhELLMP9eMm9OS3nUkn4NerH-dY7tzIABW-cGEAyUQK9lthAJ8ZrSU9dn5uVeUlgyH6gVef60owmUtAKDjXakGv/s320/IMG_3798.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335652060731487266" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM06EmyEFnr25TmZw3B1Ib0JE7F45ERbRDRGwpC82gHXSwVbP9xT2FT3bmmhCv5K4jhNTsLlzPZ_WJBRq8fLPgrycSAPGEl6gTCdT-BTVYSQc49QcB5PqMOqjSF5bKn9bgS1sHcSc7Bo2S/s1600-h/IMG_3804.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM06EmyEFnr25TmZw3B1Ib0JE7F45ERbRDRGwpC82gHXSwVbP9xT2FT3bmmhCv5K4jhNTsLlzPZ_WJBRq8fLPgrycSAPGEl6gTCdT-BTVYSQc49QcB5PqMOqjSF5bKn9bgS1sHcSc7Bo2S/s320/IMG_3804.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335652061890913778" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7i-h7D810_IvNrrD8F7iDjXxfInc_ZZV62S6bvHz1z0Uisk0gisNR70DrUxfKk7Jk-E12G8BbV_XXsW2W8AFezv1YZFhY_bzmivAZFnwUiqOAaD_DtF_8Z1jY87J4oa1Qc6FspzXzzAS7/s1600-h/IMG_3815.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7i-h7D810_IvNrrD8F7iDjXxfInc_ZZV62S6bvHz1z0Uisk0gisNR70DrUxfKk7Jk-E12G8BbV_XXsW2W8AFezv1YZFhY_bzmivAZFnwUiqOAaD_DtF_8Z1jY87J4oa1Qc6FspzXzzAS7/s320/IMG_3815.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335652061032424962" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzv8MsrcuPNJ6OcbrAQt4W2PAdR6d2bVSK2dJ8U4d15NKl97VWXJHPMuURFv0mpqeG2Cu30h9Oz8ciQ8OgkBKb8Q14rrH9hvmE5zXMFqOb9MkGp5Ko-kwgJZV9e9Np_Lk0vIDsiO6JfLn1/s1600-h/IMG_3819.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzv8MsrcuPNJ6OcbrAQt4W2PAdR6d2bVSK2dJ8U4d15NKl97VWXJHPMuURFv0mpqeG2Cu30h9Oz8ciQ8OgkBKb8Q14rrH9hvmE5zXMFqOb9MkGp5Ko-kwgJZV9e9Np_Lk0vIDsiO6JfLn1/s320/IMG_3819.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335652054314492290" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMrmfKmQmaKPg2iIqQeNauT8x3NIkHmAkU-YFc8RHQz7cVKzZYU__QheVWJJt3OLpVFQyof7Vcl4XoIYZ3Q_EiuzfpgeEfleREbY_oTfA7qMGRIB0kCNlAbmIbp_Li8KHksF30qrS3rUw/s1600-h/IMG_3860.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMrmfKmQmaKPg2iIqQeNauT8x3NIkHmAkU-YFc8RHQz7cVKzZYU__QheVWJJt3OLpVFQyof7Vcl4XoIYZ3Q_EiuzfpgeEfleREbY_oTfA7qMGRIB0kCNlAbmIbp_Li8KHksF30qrS3rUw/s320/IMG_3860.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335652056919927874" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPZFrfpySJDKTobvM2ks8Y-JrO38TZZs6H3olbXsFTuwcPrxA-Oc6GEwj7fhqCxwGtTzqfdNBD_tOQtV9ENUSFo_fI1KyZ-_Q49mxZqGH3XoEeL1lTpahS2HM1bP-2XD2myLvOp3cRk0h/s1600-h/IMG_3865.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPZFrfpySJDKTobvM2ks8Y-JrO38TZZs6H3olbXsFTuwcPrxA-Oc6GEwj7fhqCxwGtTzqfdNBD_tOQtV9ENUSFo_fI1KyZ-_Q49mxZqGH3XoEeL1lTpahS2HM1bP-2XD2myLvOp3cRk0h/s320/IMG_3865.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335651723517909858" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5H09-zprLkER-4DZ3KvOfYoJ7RnmKSksw8hflKD3bec5qM1uiFq522YJfM_ximUR17-Ay06yWoORETAvc4zDyNBvSwfQjqkgIoxp1s82YJ4c5dAcQ6ZhbNyn8cP0j0VUyvyvpHGRpHc-/s1600-h/IMG_3870.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5H09-zprLkER-4DZ3KvOfYoJ7RnmKSksw8hflKD3bec5qM1uiFq522YJfM_ximUR17-Ay06yWoORETAvc4zDyNBvSwfQjqkgIoxp1s82YJ4c5dAcQ6ZhbNyn8cP0j0VUyvyvpHGRpHc-/s320/IMG_3870.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335651719336894978" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTs7IxTWRJ3KbL2vHzvRdvd8IOuRcZdvDww7UUIv17Fz-eQ89xLlJ1KmZbx9zqZ3WSnuAisSocFwYnFaL__dFe70QX4WH2YtrVl275q1LEjHnA2xnj_pxwEcmD6Iav-B15ayMolyfk3Mz/s1600-h/IMG_3880.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTs7IxTWRJ3KbL2vHzvRdvd8IOuRcZdvDww7UUIv17Fz-eQ89xLlJ1KmZbx9zqZ3WSnuAisSocFwYnFaL__dFe70QX4WH2YtrVl275q1LEjHnA2xnj_pxwEcmD6Iav-B15ayMolyfk3Mz/s320/IMG_3880.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335651721118623234" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32nnpknkK9EdI8vVSMg35cHClI9epMrohvZuCQGYDhwD8lazbdNl8ZtK2_hLem4YfMz8K2hmcu4H2C6kicScbm3TqfCg6kBI6Bx-lacAcs_VMoBBiZR7BYslMt-xUcf-sMA3R8HiFP-5T/s1600-h/IMG_3887.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32nnpknkK9EdI8vVSMg35cHClI9epMrohvZuCQGYDhwD8lazbdNl8ZtK2_hLem4YfMz8K2hmcu4H2C6kicScbm3TqfCg6kBI6Bx-lacAcs_VMoBBiZR7BYslMt-xUcf-sMA3R8HiFP-5T/s320/IMG_3887.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335651722884852882" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYW9tsHvSuJi8Oqkt1z4-DO1YVXCYfaxJDLxaLHc-Zb-RJssdx7mx4MUQrbovdjEUQuwcgm2eWAVx9hjDnTR9X_wgz6dpfBKKqosdc_QFB5DG88umJSul6Op8s8Up3uQ-H33Uh8a4i1htI/s1600-h/IMG_3893.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYW9tsHvSuJi8Oqkt1z4-DO1YVXCYfaxJDLxaLHc-Zb-RJssdx7mx4MUQrbovdjEUQuwcgm2eWAVx9hjDnTR9X_wgz6dpfBKKqosdc_QFB5DG88umJSul6Op8s8Up3uQ-H33Uh8a4i1htI/s320/IMG_3893.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335651716297035538" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmp5mNQG0vabBcUZQCHzgI2lXoPU3Ktyl5Ja2Qd54lvSv9KVx7F4wITXdXC-_ECQFMkziBGa2ijqC0QJO2lemh5oKX36IBevT8gQC3UonifT8mH1Je4n6qs2ge0-m0yJIaZDg186N5Ok6Z/s1600-h/IMG_3894.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmp5mNQG0vabBcUZQCHzgI2lXoPU3Ktyl5Ja2Qd54lvSv9KVx7F4wITXdXC-_ECQFMkziBGa2ijqC0QJO2lemh5oKX36IBevT8gQC3UonifT8mH1Je4n6qs2ge0-m0yJIaZDg186N5Ok6Z/s320/IMG_3894.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335651345246372738" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCiBM6Ev6tK2x5dPkPX20WIBeALSnlRZQcfoEg3nc2tXyQWRa0IghUgf5yL6Q99N6I1yPQMBhYP1KxbhKmEzYN0Z5PAzzrswo1pPpZYsHt4F5z55ccOCauBhJk0sp_A1ww8gPVUP_AQKl/s1600-h/IMG_3895.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCiBM6Ev6tK2x5dPkPX20WIBeALSnlRZQcfoEg3nc2tXyQWRa0IghUgf5yL6Q99N6I1yPQMBhYP1KxbhKmEzYN0Z5PAzzrswo1pPpZYsHt4F5z55ccOCauBhJk0sp_A1ww8gPVUP_AQKl/s320/IMG_3895.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335651348629684082" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUPsB0Tod1JRVFwLSYQ_m88dbNQWjhDvbSdrs-BkWL65Dnf7iKj3iPx72dj6owsYqdUM0SSwrrIsz6W2WKJ07hcaFvh0-2eHA7u_wuEEkLMnA_wErYfywcRZm5Dd4HFuRmU-qASuqC99p/s1600-h/IMG_3902.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUPsB0Tod1JRVFwLSYQ_m88dbNQWjhDvbSdrs-BkWL65Dnf7iKj3iPx72dj6owsYqdUM0SSwrrIsz6W2WKJ07hcaFvh0-2eHA7u_wuEEkLMnA_wErYfywcRZm5Dd4HFuRmU-qASuqC99p/s320/IMG_3902.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335651344868412130" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sy5A1lx3SupOv41OHRj_GgMLMw42q8sail8X_zfZ_drwOoEUSB6AlNvkevsRZppJzMr-J8qbrXmRU8cKIGMx907_lDVOiYAMBlflFCqx5VG7Rxmio318Os1aJfU1Vxuhw3CvwwSdoVsa/s1600-h/IMG_3919.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sy5A1lx3SupOv41OHRj_GgMLMw42q8sail8X_zfZ_drwOoEUSB6AlNvkevsRZppJzMr-J8qbrXmRU8cKIGMx907_lDVOiYAMBlflFCqx5VG7Rxmio318Os1aJfU1Vxuhw3CvwwSdoVsa/s320/IMG_3919.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335651341222017778" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFP0tOJaPo6sbHClfVtXEw2o9dHfjAw0FbfVK9g5jC2onu4Ijthkj9QdIi8uWctFdjcfqLnz6zkpJRtqs2p-I6ztMZeO2REZ2MHXhljvZlRWl9Vl47gMkmor39KSWUZ3DdbTVSp8HK6FSE/s1600-h/IMG_3941.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFP0tOJaPo6sbHClfVtXEw2o9dHfjAw0FbfVK9g5jC2onu4Ijthkj9QdIi8uWctFdjcfqLnz6zkpJRtqs2p-I6ztMZeO2REZ2MHXhljvZlRWl9Vl47gMkmor39KSWUZ3DdbTVSp8HK6FSE/s320/IMG_3941.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335651338585596386" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvNrmkCgiH3dRjD1oyzLv6nO_Am5gSBGe1iXwDHUPw4-Ho8SoG_TQAq2GCux4AMg4_94wbISPaIkFEqDfjpe5F1sgr7QtwS50us7Ql38NMZu-JcBjQtCb6f4oFAMj0Npu8AwyzsoykGIR/s1600-h/IMG_3943.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvNrmkCgiH3dRjD1oyzLv6nO_Am5gSBGe1iXwDHUPw4-Ho8SoG_TQAq2GCux4AMg4_94wbISPaIkFEqDfjpe5F1sgr7QtwS50us7Ql38NMZu-JcBjQtCb6f4oFAMj0Npu8AwyzsoykGIR/s320/IMG_3943.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335650999306644114" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZx4rf17WlgHYLvpiZ4cGtGj7cvNrNaFveLrv7_lzI6HhmdbGpdSgmpt-cJkDqZxLClck5v7WVJEcj0wjMBr9RKPRIm_fmhNn2fpho01Mu944DKEvtL_gQwDtPUILlHyJzicDEL_u_Fg/s1600-h/IMG_3956.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZx4rf17WlgHYLvpiZ4cGtGj7cvNrNaFveLrv7_lzI6HhmdbGpdSgmpt-cJkDqZxLClck5v7WVJEcj0wjMBr9RKPRIm_fmhNn2fpho01Mu944DKEvtL_gQwDtPUILlHyJzicDEL_u_Fg/s320/IMG_3956.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335651000541980514" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LuzAz-BQLyh2wKzd_LZc_sJLxYTajCvxMmuv74FA7AIt2rRAhEQiRqXKrsF96iQzBP-X1Qw9z-3pSAXZgZ8p9j8M0HFKEqfuj3td9JGIOQXOYpQ3HWQvassGnJfNs4ND7Ocpp5wRfcSJ/s1600-h/IMG_3962.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LuzAz-BQLyh2wKzd_LZc_sJLxYTajCvxMmuv74FA7AIt2rRAhEQiRqXKrsF96iQzBP-X1Qw9z-3pSAXZgZ8p9j8M0HFKEqfuj3td9JGIOQXOYpQ3HWQvassGnJfNs4ND7Ocpp5wRfcSJ/s320/IMG_3962.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335650995797743026" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPawWXzej2ki9CzbwPhN_-zOejIEBwf7rQlDqZmgcGMNnnYObO7lkDp2t66lt5-anT2_Bl_5Ukor7tOKIbogWL-rFSxxUru1I66u8-WTUk6jCnextiAXPiTffs2dlkhUZwXnLaKrAbX5BY/s1600-h/IMG_3989.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPawWXzej2ki9CzbwPhN_-zOejIEBwf7rQlDqZmgcGMNnnYObO7lkDp2t66lt5-anT2_Bl_5Ukor7tOKIbogWL-rFSxxUru1I66u8-WTUk6jCnextiAXPiTffs2dlkhUZwXnLaKrAbX5BY/s320/IMG_3989.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335650989076386338" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhjg9BRrgAEkZmUmNLxg8n4jlWGRNCiSspONrIjbFiZSOBTiNOL3d682Jxz_wQBIQnqj0aaYOuKZdfBq5LPhNeDoB8P6wSvPpzc0xSF21ZylTgR2ZCZTupjbTBjQKt5zuaNAZNWq1PGv9/s1600-h/IMG_4014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhjg9BRrgAEkZmUmNLxg8n4jlWGRNCiSspONrIjbFiZSOBTiNOL3d682Jxz_wQBIQnqj0aaYOuKZdfBq5LPhNeDoB8P6wSvPpzc0xSF21ZylTgR2ZCZTupjbTBjQKt5zuaNAZNWq1PGv9/s320/IMG_4014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335650989157649362" /></a><br />Ngorongoro Crater <br />Tanzania<br />May 5th, 2009<br /><br />The world famous Ngorongoro Crater was our next destination. Hearing so much about it we were curious what we would see. We arrived at the park around ten and paid our hefty park and vehicle fees and crossed our fingers that it would be worthwhile. It didn’t disappoint. Driving through the park towards the crater we admired the stunning views and beautiful thick green vegetation. It was also striking seeing so many people walking about either with cattle or goats or just walking. We almost wanted to stop and say “you know there’s lion out there right?” but we didn’t. <br /><br />We went to the park office and picked up our mandatory guide, Daniel who turned out to be a delight. His English was fantastic as was his knowledge surrounding the park. Driving down the steep descent into the crater we were glad the brakes were working well. <br /><br />The crater itself was stunning. Absolutely stunning. Views of grayish and red soil with faded green grass and pale green bushes were beautiful. The wildlife sightings were equally impressive. We saw a male lion drinking at a water hole, loads of elephant in the distance, a black rhino, tons of zebra, impala, gazelle, hippo and a huge amount of birds- including a kite who wanted to share my lunch and several hundred pink flamingos. All in all we spent about seven hours in the crater.<br /><br />That night we camped at the only public campsite in the conservation area- called Simba (which is Swahili for lion). We set up our camp, did our laundry, enjoyed a cuppa and went to bed. In the middle of the night I woke up after hearing a roar. I knew it was a lion. I woke up Karel. There’s a lion I said. Karel thought it was just baboons. We heard it again and got the torch. Opening the tent window we shone the light. Five metres away from our tent was a lion. Amazing. I love the bush.<br /><br />*actually we slept, he roaredtraveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-21290107908277056702009-05-12T09:09:00.000-07:002009-05-14T05:07:55.480-07:00Climbing Killer Hill*<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOT5hbuw740_-su-5EliEbbQFFLHO4bId6-XH6-kwU2thj81LM0CCJO789tU-bno4vHmY-w1ShvsPYQq_8R9TGgoXPo30MVZbF0N8faza6q742h6OJt8cRMzdaezqhAFmenXYcGdvgDYs/s1600-h/IMG_3374.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOT5hbuw740_-su-5EliEbbQFFLHO4bId6-XH6-kwU2thj81LM0CCJO789tU-bno4vHmY-w1ShvsPYQq_8R9TGgoXPo30MVZbF0N8faza6q742h6OJt8cRMzdaezqhAFmenXYcGdvgDYs/s320/IMG_3374.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335650093919116802" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeRxloZIDcAAlKJ6TQVWSyd3smvAQ6jWa64HZ3YtP_JaaZrwuvPzqtnUXxMBwEDCRuPVSyUfn4Xmo1dqRzbWUyv41mEaNe0ZNgJ3zmn5I4LdEIN0aMaBn_PqqI36fwTC4BNr0JxrogGo/s1600-h/IMG_3378.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeRxloZIDcAAlKJ6TQVWSyd3smvAQ6jWa64HZ3YtP_JaaZrwuvPzqtnUXxMBwEDCRuPVSyUfn4Xmo1dqRzbWUyv41mEaNe0ZNgJ3zmn5I4LdEIN0aMaBn_PqqI36fwTC4BNr0JxrogGo/s320/IMG_3378.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335650093464297954" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjbWIIz0fMT5cIpWvZm2VSmN1ebzmX5F0CtHS5upthlw08Kw04UCu3xau4j8_88yppdk35279sNJyrzT4-BfAWwPQcHGzSjW-QecvWZ7mfm3yR_Psmo0K_CVqUUZqVNpd1jNhu64QtS8/s1600-h/IMG_3401.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjbWIIz0fMT5cIpWvZm2VSmN1ebzmX5F0CtHS5upthlw08Kw04UCu3xau4j8_88yppdk35279sNJyrzT4-BfAWwPQcHGzSjW-QecvWZ7mfm3yR_Psmo0K_CVqUUZqVNpd1jNhu64QtS8/s320/IMG_3401.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335650088395920082" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pxYodjAiV0fQvy-KK_tXOHPiop7f9CtqjjNcQg4_1fO7ZlY9MknxZbDy1RGjlDBA4sXN4SfTYXDvhArJaGgGhQ5qCD1n3ydpoL3jtRrKhHAULRfh8TNGDpZG49EKXL7x58qHxEqjeJk/s1600-h/IMG_3419.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pxYodjAiV0fQvy-KK_tXOHPiop7f9CtqjjNcQg4_1fO7ZlY9MknxZbDy1RGjlDBA4sXN4SfTYXDvhArJaGgGhQ5qCD1n3ydpoL3jtRrKhHAULRfh8TNGDpZG49EKXL7x58qHxEqjeJk/s320/IMG_3419.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335650090651795922" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYTXbZ9GwMpEwHRRknKprppq3lf4CEN8FqaHUjD8GhnuLznmFgd4OztRzjD6qt05hB36OEEVsx9tP2gKjgkBbzYZ5GGOckVsg9eCkkp34Kd_XWX5igbgSvhodga3Gsrrc8EdZGVqJJ1Y/s1600-h/IMG_3424.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYTXbZ9GwMpEwHRRknKprppq3lf4CEN8FqaHUjD8GhnuLznmFgd4OztRzjD6qt05hB36OEEVsx9tP2gKjgkBbzYZ5GGOckVsg9eCkkp34Kd_XWX5igbgSvhodga3Gsrrc8EdZGVqJJ1Y/s320/IMG_3424.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335650090491968690" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7W6CkhI650QYHtfCB7bLc7hVVzhj-IwSjPVdu0eIVl9srmv58jQonvIun-hK7HAn0Q8sTFds4jJ2U9Q3QJ_-bsZ-Ru4B0ITgpjTQJT-gWHXpsLrlCIsDWZrDvadE1MYMs980mu2TZ_vc/s1600-h/IMG_3428.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7W6CkhI650QYHtfCB7bLc7hVVzhj-IwSjPVdu0eIVl9srmv58jQonvIun-hK7HAn0Q8sTFds4jJ2U9Q3QJ_-bsZ-Ru4B0ITgpjTQJT-gWHXpsLrlCIsDWZrDvadE1MYMs980mu2TZ_vc/s320/IMG_3428.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335649748446322434" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMI9G8RovCB9YGeCJpHWoyvCvg5WLl4qYxQYC_aJtT9Pxhx52NVHvf8Vf0Qa00TNcZcby28CmJNyUvjG4KPWdSMUkC6TiE5HO8JnCVaaKbLFyKtXkms3q1yJ4v1T1omdDWmtdZYirOTSI/s1600-h/IMG_3441.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMI9G8RovCB9YGeCJpHWoyvCvg5WLl4qYxQYC_aJtT9Pxhx52NVHvf8Vf0Qa00TNcZcby28CmJNyUvjG4KPWdSMUkC6TiE5HO8JnCVaaKbLFyKtXkms3q1yJ4v1T1omdDWmtdZYirOTSI/s320/IMG_3441.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335649747975959250" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnf0UjEVsHexl5Ltx7QTAz218BGQnVJLpI7CpKB7EQIZarzCU_celDeXg6cuKe0b6Cuj1d7UWb9FfCnfuao8WNW4i2xqdA9IKvobazotEh_QLApwJhnUwNVQBmzVEUKWUaFiUA4eVh-Dc/s1600-h/IMG_3447.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnf0UjEVsHexl5Ltx7QTAz218BGQnVJLpI7CpKB7EQIZarzCU_celDeXg6cuKe0b6Cuj1d7UWb9FfCnfuao8WNW4i2xqdA9IKvobazotEh_QLApwJhnUwNVQBmzVEUKWUaFiUA4eVh-Dc/s320/IMG_3447.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335649749166199282" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0XQbiWyzEfKS3Zp7KbYLSqaHS0SjmSsLr0GO1I-D08X0mzal5c-mf2dGIqe_ApEWmsvrtvE0ytevgXyghYrg56pKibb6obAetfgFKLo0VFyH0MjQxXCvVp1uTEe0iT2gWI_IMUCNdK8/s1600-h/IMG_3458.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0XQbiWyzEfKS3Zp7KbYLSqaHS0SjmSsLr0GO1I-D08X0mzal5c-mf2dGIqe_ApEWmsvrtvE0ytevgXyghYrg56pKibb6obAetfgFKLo0VFyH0MjQxXCvVp1uTEe0iT2gWI_IMUCNdK8/s320/IMG_3458.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335649748702717682" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhT9x6pCYDDw_AN6Rq3l98h6qy3srvDhFT7ovmOOXl4BVIz-a_w8Z2zt4Z_CzYZ4vbFyQnAu_N2Vv7VakluT4KyeP0KSXH3WI70Zocko_napzQ25xH6Bb-xtqGsO6eVJ2oHJ5pG9aUn4/s1600-h/IMG_3458.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhT9x6pCYDDw_AN6Rq3l98h6qy3srvDhFT7ovmOOXl4BVIz-a_w8Z2zt4Z_CzYZ4vbFyQnAu_N2Vv7VakluT4KyeP0KSXH3WI70Zocko_napzQ25xH6Bb-xtqGsO6eVJ2oHJ5pG9aUn4/s320/IMG_3458.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335649747152038098" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlU15asUxngfVwdaGl0cml5CRY-3oK9HTfqfTW-8aaQpz3zQbSm2Rpm4gzXWvmtZODii0ArZquSaTPM_lJOIL9-54XNsgZfYPGTJPQ72ZtZcmeFIzvRQfA6Hi_mRzsx3HjK9fXWAYQeLI/s1600-h/IMG_3507.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlU15asUxngfVwdaGl0cml5CRY-3oK9HTfqfTW-8aaQpz3zQbSm2Rpm4gzXWvmtZODii0ArZquSaTPM_lJOIL9-54XNsgZfYPGTJPQ72ZtZcmeFIzvRQfA6Hi_mRzsx3HjK9fXWAYQeLI/s320/IMG_3507.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335649319003536354" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5KkIRSIyd8R6Y42_glMvIvU807QIV42ZzdyCBcltCHYsxCS_l3v4eLBO6CaoEYIK9mCgL7UdqxD8Xc79Awgh5UXvBxUp-q4TfXyHyxdPnDeDrJ22CgEUZkSiO_U6z8qVX-kUCLhSnFU/s1600-h/IMG_3509.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5KkIRSIyd8R6Y42_glMvIvU807QIV42ZzdyCBcltCHYsxCS_l3v4eLBO6CaoEYIK9mCgL7UdqxD8Xc79Awgh5UXvBxUp-q4TfXyHyxdPnDeDrJ22CgEUZkSiO_U6z8qVX-kUCLhSnFU/s320/IMG_3509.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335649318866954754" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSH1kc1SMOphPEcBNtlQUbWGoApxtdTwMOixAtwlRofuJ4uM73VMFT9Cnh8_ZrUHgEiNuTTnoKW7FVieIduaeSN6GT4cdfQAbsw0EII1Hmm0lNTWPP2OYwlN3mzdP5eeAueArPHW0uQ5w/s1600-h/IMG_3511.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSH1kc1SMOphPEcBNtlQUbWGoApxtdTwMOixAtwlRofuJ4uM73VMFT9Cnh8_ZrUHgEiNuTTnoKW7FVieIduaeSN6GT4cdfQAbsw0EII1Hmm0lNTWPP2OYwlN3mzdP5eeAueArPHW0uQ5w/s320/IMG_3511.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335649316990828594" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtKwS9nSItBJfvS7X4oQqWV8IIVJr_5O1aCxANkGGqcisy8ukOhWfBLaWT3-e0GekxHVTddlITa9RrY7NRFNZing3SXZLV6ZvoP6K5Y632aaQbzQJwuDJP_x4lLzHwEAH56QH1M75c7k/s1600-h/IMG_3522.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtKwS9nSItBJfvS7X4oQqWV8IIVJr_5O1aCxANkGGqcisy8ukOhWfBLaWT3-e0GekxHVTddlITa9RrY7NRFNZing3SXZLV6ZvoP6K5Y632aaQbzQJwuDJP_x4lLzHwEAH56QH1M75c7k/s320/IMG_3522.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335649316780571202" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxO1pLgS_LMEg1w2fFJ4D_pOMKT7plkDWwBgrSMgGFd0WMWLkTwmXEwlkJBSs2MBxduGi0VP3EOv7Zm2BdL83e1WMLrOwLgTUNhGf0mz9v6My_b9FNVDSL-05zhnqQNcu_TEz4iYmlgpI/s1600-h/IMG_3545.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxO1pLgS_LMEg1w2fFJ4D_pOMKT7plkDWwBgrSMgGFd0WMWLkTwmXEwlkJBSs2MBxduGi0VP3EOv7Zm2BdL83e1WMLrOwLgTUNhGf0mz9v6My_b9FNVDSL-05zhnqQNcu_TEz4iYmlgpI/s320/IMG_3545.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335649313149230770" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqn5QjuPjSud9QYzXU-9Yz88pCN70GvNMQudhEeHkFvmt6KMpUkqfoKjzbnkVGCigYP1f9G8CDt_yAWFPMJ4A2I758rhnv5LIzfOllY-qT2csWKvyEYqdCkmjLhnQ9Wwwmyw3KTa0MLDk/s1600-h/IMG_3554.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqn5QjuPjSud9QYzXU-9Yz88pCN70GvNMQudhEeHkFvmt6KMpUkqfoKjzbnkVGCigYP1f9G8CDt_yAWFPMJ4A2I758rhnv5LIzfOllY-qT2csWKvyEYqdCkmjLhnQ9Wwwmyw3KTa0MLDk/s320/IMG_3554.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335648981574691250" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHuDSmcHvoOmRWVjif3CMOlTagnVa-KLAqSO8eNxB2wfItC2UHmM9ETo_7ok46MbpaGku88XtxEL5-WinWCCl3En0WDXgFwC7RU6Yuv3_V98hfNiBhqjFo5D_XS0JPCPV9_2Q8S3e_hU/s1600-h/IMG_3571.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHuDSmcHvoOmRWVjif3CMOlTagnVa-KLAqSO8eNxB2wfItC2UHmM9ETo_7ok46MbpaGku88XtxEL5-WinWCCl3En0WDXgFwC7RU6Yuv3_V98hfNiBhqjFo5D_XS0JPCPV9_2Q8S3e_hU/s320/IMG_3571.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335648980375961522" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJ_Icy_P35SzswukXCrsKay15m7RDMYA1geo8mJZcPn2Df9Inid4oTkeCc3tEOrWGAyp4_2Vv-9wRcTPPKan_4bfSwMLKeja3Do1lAFB-GVW3edLERaN2ocknxhhZ7WlxKU7Lkj8qdOQ/s1600-h/IMG_3594.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJ_Icy_P35SzswukXCrsKay15m7RDMYA1geo8mJZcPn2Df9Inid4oTkeCc3tEOrWGAyp4_2Vv-9wRcTPPKan_4bfSwMLKeja3Do1lAFB-GVW3edLERaN2ocknxhhZ7WlxKU7Lkj8qdOQ/s320/IMG_3594.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335648978203123778" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXz6BQZtJJHVZgVglzvFNDySlhvfEYqHh_LCAyv-GwJBhyphenhyphenELUK3dUdgfidns6QBHuR7fIAtFsw_Fq567pek7fRe90AnhhntX8Mgmss7c3qkPCXMJCdj4C_MAgM8KUhNQumv2hgVMEUB2E/s1600-h/IMG_3605.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXz6BQZtJJHVZgVglzvFNDySlhvfEYqHh_LCAyv-GwJBhyphenhyphenELUK3dUdgfidns6QBHuR7fIAtFsw_Fq567pek7fRe90AnhhntX8Mgmss7c3qkPCXMJCdj4C_MAgM8KUhNQumv2hgVMEUB2E/s320/IMG_3605.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335648978089336162" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJtB2nhFmgXx3uWhHQA7zphfbr0qRexKPRMCLBT3mOf1FgzOLaYIt0_VqW3SFjlVsA1jOfOjAApHMuA1CTaIplEAjIk_A8wHayKrXK5VMh1-G2rIRA0bLJhqJkgiZIe0wmzEiyT1DjPM/s1600-h/IMG_3615.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJtB2nhFmgXx3uWhHQA7zphfbr0qRexKPRMCLBT3mOf1FgzOLaYIt0_VqW3SFjlVsA1jOfOjAApHMuA1CTaIplEAjIk_A8wHayKrXK5VMh1-G2rIRA0bLJhqJkgiZIe0wmzEiyT1DjPM/s320/IMG_3615.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335648974733374674" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wI5Na6Iw1YKX-IGj9KXXqaSgy3P2KMBn0Pvi0cjl9kQ_XGTR_62hrt26oJ_LLvL2uR6gJOFHTAqlq1lK4lsSniS8X76bPf0jtUT05TWOVR9vTqIaNEjGcXh_GbUWhRVFnUHOBT9deL0/s1600-h/IMG_3617.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wI5Na6Iw1YKX-IGj9KXXqaSgy3P2KMBn0Pvi0cjl9kQ_XGTR_62hrt26oJ_LLvL2uR6gJOFHTAqlq1lK4lsSniS8X76bPf0jtUT05TWOVR9vTqIaNEjGcXh_GbUWhRVFnUHOBT9deL0/s320/IMG_3617.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335648635964189090" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6eB04mX6sBbbyy7y0AmE0HK01HpeyIA4XHClT4BgYDMiof9hrdYoWh3hBt6W_pFd5w2Xanwo3uGazDe8ImcNhKHOF8aG317MsNsRBMmcPvXuQRj9XmEAZzO7i3vRgVNmP13rtQ2MeP8/s1600-h/IMG_3651.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6eB04mX6sBbbyy7y0AmE0HK01HpeyIA4XHClT4BgYDMiof9hrdYoWh3hBt6W_pFd5w2Xanwo3uGazDe8ImcNhKHOF8aG317MsNsRBMmcPvXuQRj9XmEAZzO7i3vRgVNmP13rtQ2MeP8/s320/IMG_3651.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335648632493749170" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8I4Df5pq8Y6xeoBh4XOIqxi_3iUBz9mTwPCQS8VknF8vYuA6iw3-Se033iRNwk1Z-MGTeVf9RavMROSYKRByd2zB4usfK4NszA9OG1FOCfq0teOiFQu44FnPOZm-3qpawgsdrAGzTQZA/s1600-h/IMG_3653.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8I4Df5pq8Y6xeoBh4XOIqxi_3iUBz9mTwPCQS8VknF8vYuA6iw3-Se033iRNwk1Z-MGTeVf9RavMROSYKRByd2zB4usfK4NszA9OG1FOCfq0teOiFQu44FnPOZm-3qpawgsdrAGzTQZA/s320/IMG_3653.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335648634736902594" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8MJU6ExEzkepUvVx31tSeJdi_D5bq2HOTMLU2M1f1HCj0lMCdCnjqfg9Uff2VH7ydoVRLk3aRwIgo5LgYXUy_6ZlVdX2rsj1dapNozujc3qrbs6rjs3twr68pCxVU1IIeuR7X8rMFkw/s1600-h/IMG_3659.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8MJU6ExEzkepUvVx31tSeJdi_D5bq2HOTMLU2M1f1HCj0lMCdCnjqfg9Uff2VH7ydoVRLk3aRwIgo5LgYXUy_6ZlVdX2rsj1dapNozujc3qrbs6rjs3twr68pCxVU1IIeuR7X8rMFkw/s320/IMG_3659.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335648629608969026" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaWqbwmw9PpblrHs0voPpyLa9Gh9jWAJiL1z4xHmM9gSv0cMwN6D582Tr2Q_82PhrTv3HPpDWFEnDwd5z05OVn8z9qNx-q_rcH-eiCpeeGTRN22-Y3zhz4DpJPaVT917c_4Mwwyxox3E/s1600-h/IMG_3660.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaWqbwmw9PpblrHs0voPpyLa9Gh9jWAJiL1z4xHmM9gSv0cMwN6D582Tr2Q_82PhrTv3HPpDWFEnDwd5z05OVn8z9qNx-q_rcH-eiCpeeGTRN22-Y3zhz4DpJPaVT917c_4Mwwyxox3E/s320/IMG_3660.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335648627911745794" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jNMd7OuBNmZCOiY5evirIhzQh_f09LU6OzTYsVutfR321W1dQmCSQ_XdELcF1SgOyowffVdA6mSngh7s5Ighyphenhyphens6QTSshYBs3dhy3KN98hXZXD2bjOjev0TlPE08riSownMehTwjRx_E/s1600-h/IMG_3670.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jNMd7OuBNmZCOiY5evirIhzQh_f09LU6OzTYsVutfR321W1dQmCSQ_XdELcF1SgOyowffVdA6mSngh7s5Ighyphenhyphens6QTSshYBs3dhy3KN98hXZXD2bjOjev0TlPE08riSownMehTwjRx_E/s320/IMG_3670.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335648359331589042" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMC60CMZRZF5gnOaAAt5tidvWD26e2gb2e4dqevM7tYHMKKiWLcmLY44qTdtkVVKywQS5sxI_F1GBqkLitGv0Bq8ONlh2APMdyyP3ktc94uJ7WD8UnaxHuIWZhAUX8eA9QdrXJLvr0Ujs/s1600-h/IMG_3683.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMC60CMZRZF5gnOaAAt5tidvWD26e2gb2e4dqevM7tYHMKKiWLcmLY44qTdtkVVKywQS5sxI_F1GBqkLitGv0Bq8ONlh2APMdyyP3ktc94uJ7WD8UnaxHuIWZhAUX8eA9QdrXJLvr0Ujs/s320/IMG_3683.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335648352402476530" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMVJVPsJg1COzOyyqX3Yb0AIibmo8X07IOX7oYvr_eeFLZC0G3C3IDS1-_VeOIzbubUcWZt3ClFjdTKQCTAT5uaRXYQJdPo3eOAnJWGlBu-SapvqNd3N9np1d0IAAW1peuR-1FmoLmIs/s1600-h/IMG_3685.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMVJVPsJg1COzOyyqX3Yb0AIibmo8X07IOX7oYvr_eeFLZC0G3C3IDS1-_VeOIzbubUcWZt3ClFjdTKQCTAT5uaRXYQJdPo3eOAnJWGlBu-SapvqNd3N9np1d0IAAW1peuR-1FmoLmIs/s320/IMG_3685.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335648353832921714" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAAFkZiwNZRLB9mfZ0sFbq6uySdbq_U9I31OolN0LOkrKLGZQChEhRNSYG0LF4Ybfa5NoBOxQlUGsph5OqH8kNPzBO5D7blPUAhlKErW-tSkUIYqUf9uY83UHQ6jxKR-8T6n7F_JM7nk/s1600-h/IMG_3689.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAAFkZiwNZRLB9mfZ0sFbq6uySdbq_U9I31OolN0LOkrKLGZQChEhRNSYG0LF4Ybfa5NoBOxQlUGsph5OqH8kNPzBO5D7blPUAhlKErW-tSkUIYqUf9uY83UHQ6jxKR-8T6n7F_JM7nk/s320/IMG_3689.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335648349670017810" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rUlzr8d1LHoxH5yn8J7ndmcE0ejY1iBRHFlvbv_f1VBeghCDrI8u2eG1AELtMo1WPJpiUuHWA1ReYv8ZJBAFDJHbvuD-vuwbDVAkvnL3UDXiupDOSo3wFChIppOjS5kJavdT6jz523o/s1600-h/IMG_3694.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rUlzr8d1LHoxH5yn8J7ndmcE0ejY1iBRHFlvbv_f1VBeghCDrI8u2eG1AELtMo1WPJpiUuHWA1ReYv8ZJBAFDJHbvuD-vuwbDVAkvnL3UDXiupDOSo3wFChIppOjS5kJavdT6jz523o/s320/IMG_3694.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335648347851524738" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2KagiDrozmpqQ1mkeHN2Meh6KO1m3hMtUt6Ng0DfvkW3JDU33Q-EYKwYLPYxzx1y3yoa6OHF2GEyHkdI7IrMta7oPS8cP3KYeeRhYPmqozoopi8VmyZdryefYTDMPhTySTNxE3Amf4k/s1600-h/IMG_3697.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2KagiDrozmpqQ1mkeHN2Meh6KO1m3hMtUt6Ng0DfvkW3JDU33Q-EYKwYLPYxzx1y3yoa6OHF2GEyHkdI7IrMta7oPS8cP3KYeeRhYPmqozoopi8VmyZdryefYTDMPhTySTNxE3Amf4k/s320/IMG_3697.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335648064651267698" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tkTywNxjDFcer8NAtsL3FXgaG7oPzFFuCoEYUmZVTYBxQAvouJVk4jnR8TIehzzh3Wihw9vE7XIRX0QLhTeBgwWF0kVganxe462hypuCI0ruz5jq9ADwgFsu-X5m8C-RoO9dzoBCxXM/s1600-h/IMG_3699.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tkTywNxjDFcer8NAtsL3FXgaG7oPzFFuCoEYUmZVTYBxQAvouJVk4jnR8TIehzzh3Wihw9vE7XIRX0QLhTeBgwWF0kVganxe462hypuCI0ruz5jq9ADwgFsu-X5m8C-RoO9dzoBCxXM/s320/IMG_3699.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335648067245416050" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cqFsOFO1cKF95HMgstgq2Odlur42BkXif5viBMAdPs1j3YY-dxqKwW1wBcfMmwGzu6MDbUxjbxNxCLoaZ4N0n-q1x4SforD8mf_dBPm8fICdDz0736kQ5JT4BeyVECL5DKbvwpT_ZKk/s1600-h/IMG_3701.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cqFsOFO1cKF95HMgstgq2Odlur42BkXif5viBMAdPs1j3YY-dxqKwW1wBcfMmwGzu6MDbUxjbxNxCLoaZ4N0n-q1x4SforD8mf_dBPm8fICdDz0736kQ5JT4BeyVECL5DKbvwpT_ZKk/s320/IMG_3701.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335648062733085330" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExv6DkPhKJ0_Qyc4f6YBEP_G3_oFhAxHsvgyOmEEyU20CMz7_YtS3uRB6VLZ6LNsTheMSz3IXyCMiLZET-ssKJW5HtGtsa4LgqOO8sGYfGN-3UkPKUfZFnAHMjcLoLoPdirfWrui9BxI/s1600-h/IMG_3704.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExv6DkPhKJ0_Qyc4f6YBEP_G3_oFhAxHsvgyOmEEyU20CMz7_YtS3uRB6VLZ6LNsTheMSz3IXyCMiLZET-ssKJW5HtGtsa4LgqOO8sGYfGN-3UkPKUfZFnAHMjcLoLoPdirfWrui9BxI/s320/IMG_3704.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335648060085710946" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjXVBKotnwnYmMmp8l5LcXNGGerESCD54uzO78FbLBnuXUYRsE07KlQzLhnsw8WKmMCpzH1hQEFbLe-uuSz-epbwYCTSka9gwnkteNpItxBCZctc_4EvVIXKBHLjdMmYUiVMgI47ohrU/s1600-h/IMG_3709.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjXVBKotnwnYmMmp8l5LcXNGGerESCD54uzO78FbLBnuXUYRsE07KlQzLhnsw8WKmMCpzH1hQEFbLe-uuSz-epbwYCTSka9gwnkteNpItxBCZctc_4EvVIXKBHLjdMmYUiVMgI47ohrU/s320/IMG_3709.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335648063444681714" /></a><br />Mount Kilimanjaro<br />Near Moshi, Tanzania<br />April 27th, 2009 <br /><br /><br />Do we or don’t we. It was a big debate for me rather than Karel as I am the one who reads the guidebooks religiously and likes researching the goings on and the possibilities of goings on. The books were truthful saying not to “underestimate” the mountain and “be prepared mentally” for the challenge. I must say I was torn. Enamored with the thoughts of climbing but hindered by the warnings of caution. Then in Zanzibar we met Chris and Christine, a fun couple who had just climbed the mountain. It was tough they said but amazing. They also passed on the details and phone number of the guide they had who was brilliant. Sold. We were sold.<br /><br />We arrived in Moshi and called the number requesting to speak with John. Meeting John at The Coffee Shop we discussed details. The Machame route – the whiskey route would be our path and Monday we would start our six day five night epic climb. He arranged to meet us the next day to get equipment – tents, warm down jackets, warmer sleeping bags, ponchos, you name it. Kitted out we then helped by driving John and his right hand man and brother-in-law Alex to the market to pick up all of the things we needed. We were invited back to John’s house for lunch and were led into a lovely living room with a lace covered blue couch and large poster of a young Bob Marley. Toasting our upcoming journey over Fantas and Cokes, we ate a delicious lunch of a coconut milk based stew with cooked bananas. <br /><br />The next day, slightly nervous we made our way in a mini-van with crushed orange velvet seat covers towards the Machame gate. Our ponchos were a must have item as the rains certainly came down. The first day of hiking was easy with a slow and steady ascent. Following our guide John we carefully made our way through the rainforest admiring the many beautiful mountain flowers. We also made many pee stops as we drank the recommended four to five litres per day of water. The porters didn’t move as slowly as we, instead they steamed along sharing the weight of the food stuffs and equipment between their backs and their heads. Once we arrived at camp we had the pleasant surprise of having a bowl of hot water ready for us to wash our hands and faces, and the even more pleasant surprise of having a tent lined with a red and black checked cloth, lit by a candle and filled with every hot drink mix imaginable along with a thermos of boiling water. We ate well enjoying spaghetti with a beef sauce and fresh fruits. Alex was our cook and what a cook he was. After eating we peacefully feel asleep at Machame Camp.<br /><br />Day two was more difficult. It was a short climb of three hours but it was extremely steep. We went slowly taking one step, then another in slow motion. The scenery changed from rainforest to a mossy coated forest. Again it was stunning. We stopped frequently and admired the views. The last hour of the hike Karel and I got drenched. It really poured and the poncho didn’t quite earn its keep. When we at last arrived at our camp, Shira Camp, we spent the majority of the day in our tent avoiding the rain and doing our level best to dry our shoes and clothes. Karel had a slight headache due to the altitude but luckily a few tablets later was fine.<br /><br />Thankfully day three was sunny. Our shoes dried quickly along with our clothes. We had a longer day of hiking- about seven hours. This time it was proper mountain climbing with some scrambling up bits of hardened lava. The scenery change this time moved towards a rocky and barren landscape. Karel’s headache worsened and by lunch he was really struggling. We switched bags as I was feeling strong and had the unusual occurrence of an increase in appetite, which is highly unusual given normal altitude adjustments. Karel downed another couple of headache pills and had a nap once we reached Barranco Camp. He was feeling better by dinner and I made Karel eat as his appetite was affected. <br /><br />On day four we were speaking to a French couple about the trek and talking about altitude sickness. The woman who is a neurologist said she had some mountain sickness tablets and would give us some. Karel eagerly took them and downed them along with additional headache tablets. He was told to take some now, and then some later that night when we would wake up to make our final ascent. The day was taken up by two three hour hikes. Slowly and steadily we made our way, happy to have a rain free day. The landscape continued to be rocky. We arrived at Barafu Camp at four in the afternoon and had a quick nap. Waking for dinner at six we ate quickly and went to bed for a restful four hours sleep as we needed to wake at eleven to begin our final ascent.<br /><br />Day five was long. Really long. We woke at eleven, dressed in several layers and had our head torches ready. We began our ascent at eleven thirty. A six hour ascent. Uphill all the way. On four hour sleep. The first few hours went quickly enough but the last two hours for me were killer. I don’t know what was worse the pain in each step or that fact that I had Madonna’s “Time goes by so slowly” in my head- actually it wasn’t even the whole song just that line on repeat. We reached the top. We saw the glaciers. It was heaven. One of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever been lucky enough to witness. We snapped photos until we could no longer feel our hands as they were frozen with cold (we have several blurry photos as a result). Sadly the saying what comes up must come down also applies to people who have climbed a mountain. And so down we went. It was a three hour descent. I’m not sure what happened to me, I was doing so well climbing up not feeling sick but on the descent I felt totally out of it. Karel was doing fine thanks to the tablets, but he said I looked so vacant. I don’t fully remember the descent I just know I was out of it and struggling to move. John and Alex helped me down and we went very quickly. Once we were back at our camp I was feeling 100% again. We had a two hour nap followed by a soup lunch and then continued our descent. Another four hours downhill. Each step was difficult as the route was extremely steep. Essentially day five consisted of walking for thirteen hours out of sixteen. We reached camp enjoyed an African stew and feel peacefully asleep trying to block the next day’s walking from our minds.<br /><br />Day six I was back to feeling totally energized and enjoying the descent through the rainforest. Karel was feeling the pain. It was only a two and a half hour walk down to the gate. Upon our arrival we received certificates for reaching the Uhuru peak at just over 5896 metres. I think we’ll frame them. Once we arrived back at the car, we decided that we deserved a hotel. In fact the idea of having a bath kept me going for most of day five and it turns out Karel was thinking the same. We checked into the Impala hotel for two nights where Karel enjoyed the rugby and I had a bath for three hours. It was our second taste of Heaven that week. <br /><br /><br />* A slightly different Killer Hill than the one in Saskatchewan hey dadtraveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-45572569327451804672009-05-12T08:05:00.000-07:002009-05-12T08:08:11.860-07:00Overheard at the immigration counter in ZanzibarA tiny vignette I hope you enjoy as much as we did (and still do)<br /><br />As overheard at the immigration counter in Zanzibar:<br /><br />Immigration officer: “What profession are you?”<br /><br />Young adult: “Do you want my profession here, or at home? Here I’m a teacher. At home I’m a cleaning lady.”traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-44328392768399748672009-05-12T08:04:00.001-07:002009-05-14T04:55:06.985-07:00Beach or Bust<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_q9j098wWo9B3VuTt3fVp_GqdYEZCNOpSdXTuXvfoprBYhGQ-paSDwGA4_cEn464huIejNYCVL248BAjv_x-yl46xyYc0fGzG6n_lP6fRYGdMj24tbRUuWQNoivGOCll_9lpKlKqv8Q/s1600-h/IMG_3233.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_q9j098wWo9B3VuTt3fVp_GqdYEZCNOpSdXTuXvfoprBYhGQ-paSDwGA4_cEn464huIejNYCVL248BAjv_x-yl46xyYc0fGzG6n_lP6fRYGdMj24tbRUuWQNoivGOCll_9lpKlKqv8Q/s320/IMG_3233.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335646804026146130" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3GLrNyhtNcAX7Y-1_Wb1PXV7gdhcLEZk4VHqxt37e2r3yEj6bgQtl0_aw3iTEaTpe6QLXm5-DZRtHZCKrNxy6urtMxwk5GSnvIO4b6NIXPNlyeXzC5ssp_q5JSCfGHlDvaFPPFXzKIE/s1600-h/IMG_3234.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3GLrNyhtNcAX7Y-1_Wb1PXV7gdhcLEZk4VHqxt37e2r3yEj6bgQtl0_aw3iTEaTpe6QLXm5-DZRtHZCKrNxy6urtMxwk5GSnvIO4b6NIXPNlyeXzC5ssp_q5JSCfGHlDvaFPPFXzKIE/s320/IMG_3234.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335646800075564770" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipK_Ayw82zb2nFzCMVoSt7zAhwj8RvWNDsxbqb2tYvl3fYPVntLhckcjsw1BEYSVnqDVE5AqrzCWsdxesEou2odo7NpknSvts9VjFcSThBMyUhh2EGRCHWfQ3JQlbk67i5FTzkQ03mg2Y/s1600-h/IMG_3239.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipK_Ayw82zb2nFzCMVoSt7zAhwj8RvWNDsxbqb2tYvl3fYPVntLhckcjsw1BEYSVnqDVE5AqrzCWsdxesEou2odo7NpknSvts9VjFcSThBMyUhh2EGRCHWfQ3JQlbk67i5FTzkQ03mg2Y/s320/IMG_3239.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335646797879541874" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShhW3AEvTlbbhRQLtWK6i55UXLG0BGNqaTiPafnvnYx4EqWW8SSt04ERLa3KAYxgOIfyPft6xxfEVQTOP-qXD1Doa97GKvdFm-DXFFx53Ep0BHvZZtNsIKHwZTkDqBGO2wXhKlNMjnfU/s1600-h/IMG_3248.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShhW3AEvTlbbhRQLtWK6i55UXLG0BGNqaTiPafnvnYx4EqWW8SSt04ERLa3KAYxgOIfyPft6xxfEVQTOP-qXD1Doa97GKvdFm-DXFFx53Ep0BHvZZtNsIKHwZTkDqBGO2wXhKlNMjnfU/s320/IMG_3248.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335646796630986738" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0OAYkhh5C1gvGfS4AGze6nugZJsizDB0l55IOungpu0CHVR7FjCFHeXCZ_XOJuSD_TJdfl9cktG1QgPLf40uiVI4X8KrxoXDryUfdyIEe0eG-WFQF7hmmagds7ifxEhp7RJViK34-Rs/s1600-h/IMG_3254.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0OAYkhh5C1gvGfS4AGze6nugZJsizDB0l55IOungpu0CHVR7FjCFHeXCZ_XOJuSD_TJdfl9cktG1QgPLf40uiVI4X8KrxoXDryUfdyIEe0eG-WFQF7hmmagds7ifxEhp7RJViK34-Rs/s320/IMG_3254.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335646792493003666" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mEUzFwF24qztYjg7zQ7lgwkVY6u2sB4wDdGigydlyXOR3lmfeI-oUmr-aj6EPRdoopRmTD1WMpvIqsURMgRCmq_pKUL60wzX2_TWUK8cfBtqd7VwjeTLEbl07zMD30V6rgaGDPc66_U/s1600-h/IMG_3259.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mEUzFwF24qztYjg7zQ7lgwkVY6u2sB4wDdGigydlyXOR3lmfeI-oUmr-aj6EPRdoopRmTD1WMpvIqsURMgRCmq_pKUL60wzX2_TWUK8cfBtqd7VwjeTLEbl07zMD30V6rgaGDPc66_U/s320/IMG_3259.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335646534185210834" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMvOsG_0HvBeLvN7J0fneU9yFcPMkoxN44wWgQOqBwg2HWrkhGm3aJ0C1xYOAtANuQMA3O9PesLoYPP5xCDB-Og3MM7WUM_ZGEstyYueZzaeP1-4Hns_eIQrC9jCxmltzNswIaaA2c64/s1600-h/IMG_3261.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMvOsG_0HvBeLvN7J0fneU9yFcPMkoxN44wWgQOqBwg2HWrkhGm3aJ0C1xYOAtANuQMA3O9PesLoYPP5xCDB-Og3MM7WUM_ZGEstyYueZzaeP1-4Hns_eIQrC9jCxmltzNswIaaA2c64/s320/IMG_3261.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335646534593007378" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3mQGma4osZh4cR21GtBHR_5p_c4WjREWfe3O5Y9Ygu2fVv9mY5THXmgYe9MOFsCnIS8MIZ4SBMD7Q-64EPWf9w0ZeKtK-W5XhvnmvBM5YJ3aZXRw-1e018kee3NsNvJN8NdR1-0R15s/s1600-h/IMG_3266.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3mQGma4osZh4cR21GtBHR_5p_c4WjREWfe3O5Y9Ygu2fVv9mY5THXmgYe9MOFsCnIS8MIZ4SBMD7Q-64EPWf9w0ZeKtK-W5XhvnmvBM5YJ3aZXRw-1e018kee3NsNvJN8NdR1-0R15s/s320/IMG_3266.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335646530131728466" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59S1o241lrXfMYvEL9Asgk6grZPg5XctdVhn1JWmkjSLm8hJBJZZvTDaK2sdH-uay9yR6M5EQygPfipk1AVZuCO5PMB2udnZyv40kWO0kQD8EiLOvC-lYK-EJNIfJdpDwzAZ_mIU8irw/s1600-h/IMG_3270.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59S1o241lrXfMYvEL9Asgk6grZPg5XctdVhn1JWmkjSLm8hJBJZZvTDaK2sdH-uay9yR6M5EQygPfipk1AVZuCO5PMB2udnZyv40kWO0kQD8EiLOvC-lYK-EJNIfJdpDwzAZ_mIU8irw/s320/IMG_3270.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335646529645345314" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwS0cEC-0Hl1iunrdft2PcuuorERW3sOb4b54qqwNvKoa4zWEA1a54rNL92bk3rCyAu2Yq3GFulzXwyh0gsiIYsOLneIAO0l2VnjjDAKmNxVNrrT67vkSbs6wUt5o0Pb9LlH2UFO0U20I/s1600-h/IMG_3288.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwS0cEC-0Hl1iunrdft2PcuuorERW3sOb4b54qqwNvKoa4zWEA1a54rNL92bk3rCyAu2Yq3GFulzXwyh0gsiIYsOLneIAO0l2VnjjDAKmNxVNrrT67vkSbs6wUt5o0Pb9LlH2UFO0U20I/s320/IMG_3288.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335646527384977698" /></a><br />Nungwi, Zanzibar<br />Tanzania<br />April 21st, 2009<br /><br /><br />The next stop on our tour of Zanzi was Nungwi, one of the northern beach spots. We headed there using a daladahi (a public bus which is really more like a minibus). It cost next to nothing for the one and a half hour trip and was quite an experience. The speed limit postings were for 30kms/hr and we spent most of the time 100kms/hr. It was a mix of incredible speed for an aging vehicle and a liberal use of braking to pick up passengers along the way. At some stages we had twenty six people in a space which comfortably would seat twelve. <br /><br />Arriving at our stop at the end of the line we picked up our bags and headed towards the beach. Unsure of where to stay we ended up asking each hotel and guesthouse their prices. Again low season played into our favor and we scored a clean but decaying hotel room for $30 a night including breakfast- the same price as the decaying and dusty backpackers a few doors down. <br /><br />The beach was amazing and Mozambique like in status with warm clear aqua waters and fine white sandy beaches. We spent our afternoons there and evenings admiring the ocean views, sipping delicious G&Ts (which we never drank before, but somehow in Africa they just make sense) and eating pizza (a mini-holiday from African cuisine). <br /><br />We spent our last day in the North on a snorkeling trip to a protected marine area. The boat ride was smooth on the dhow and we saw several groups of flying fish. The snorkeling itself was brilliant too and had all the requirements of a healthy coral reef life. We saw starfish, barracuda, eel, trumpet fish, paper fish, several cleaning stations and feeding stations, sea cucumbers, sea urchins and more. After snorkeling for over an hour and enjoying the gentle rain whilst we were in the water we headed to a nearby beach for lunch. Treated to freshly caught grilled fish and beautifully steamed rice we were very content with our trip.traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-73699958269131531602009-05-12T07:46:00.000-07:002009-05-14T04:51:57.632-07:00An Arab Venetian Wonderland<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEKM368PQRFGXOQqSEd5UbBG7dak571hXEvqVgQ36oLcfsmkNX_eRs6fXYzFO830xgzDzHtRaaER8kr8OIMG36tIpwf5mkr2U3nQoAx226BgzRg2wfrLnuujXR4wF7lJt1QYd8T9V5m8/s1600-h/IMG_3012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEKM368PQRFGXOQqSEd5UbBG7dak571hXEvqVgQ36oLcfsmkNX_eRs6fXYzFO830xgzDzHtRaaER8kr8OIMG36tIpwf5mkr2U3nQoAx226BgzRg2wfrLnuujXR4wF7lJt1QYd8T9V5m8/s320/IMG_3012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335645983562325650" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lrnr9KGLcUVxsG5eLZKm09nw-1LbmNORp1nkVKVuu-cK9XjOnEYArNOdrumDPOICQiOugXjmZEgjpdyw0PlR8TL_decLfcoZX2Pl91RZDPrYnpvWPHUDs7lPLNQXafg7H7ZXjRzGaZs/s1600-h/IMG_3015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lrnr9KGLcUVxsG5eLZKm09nw-1LbmNORp1nkVKVuu-cK9XjOnEYArNOdrumDPOICQiOugXjmZEgjpdyw0PlR8TL_decLfcoZX2Pl91RZDPrYnpvWPHUDs7lPLNQXafg7H7ZXjRzGaZs/s320/IMG_3015.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335645983338832530" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7-ecjrKuptVu-IUniM4cOszkLqk4AaHDnMmypKf4WbdVKIVgjYKvI_ubKsZc3SXOPF-GYMYDBMSpCSGbI8NZB8d6pxTI1r1lPUxiqTtCq4PPpGfZrZWFOnam_QcPFuYcgaxP1fcbc7I/s1600-h/IMG_3016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7-ecjrKuptVu-IUniM4cOszkLqk4AaHDnMmypKf4WbdVKIVgjYKvI_ubKsZc3SXOPF-GYMYDBMSpCSGbI8NZB8d6pxTI1r1lPUxiqTtCq4PPpGfZrZWFOnam_QcPFuYcgaxP1fcbc7I/s320/IMG_3016.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335645978201494322" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDy9DcXqroCP9m06XBD698CIKMei5-3iF9A0JJk6JuRI6fupRHXxiEQwq3IBjjtrhD_gaJO2qQBOc93vxEquR86FlP9Sj5fGoqJUlsR9Dch9RCy1VgBS0l1qea4r1AhRSbayNTUa6qsnU/s1600-h/IMG_3047.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDy9DcXqroCP9m06XBD698CIKMei5-3iF9A0JJk6JuRI6fupRHXxiEQwq3IBjjtrhD_gaJO2qQBOc93vxEquR86FlP9Sj5fGoqJUlsR9Dch9RCy1VgBS0l1qea4r1AhRSbayNTUa6qsnU/s320/IMG_3047.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335645979079574930" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtN8o36yJlMqTi03J98y-iVCFL_DhTqv0DRaW4usw6j-p8rp0BY2ydJYS-nl9_NJNP-oxE3VG4qOSFy8O18Pd4EHFGbnzW81LmIwu26lIE4DYt0IzdM_LhXw6fTzCvBfJVp6DJY-5iyg/s1600-h/IMG_3088.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtN8o36yJlMqTi03J98y-iVCFL_DhTqv0DRaW4usw6j-p8rp0BY2ydJYS-nl9_NJNP-oxE3VG4qOSFy8O18Pd4EHFGbnzW81LmIwu26lIE4DYt0IzdM_LhXw6fTzCvBfJVp6DJY-5iyg/s320/IMG_3088.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335645972332375730" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vFqrPvTVONSGui6ywUB1WTKZEZkO32y2X0sadIeCQq0AWujhrKaermo0_9KGcJSgSafzXTjWUA2QLVjXl9qCBBcCuDiyoJnK3Jy6TxWFNd28VhxNUfC-bclIwnzNBL2bECrmwLuJOAE/s1600-h/IMG_3092.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vFqrPvTVONSGui6ywUB1WTKZEZkO32y2X0sadIeCQq0AWujhrKaermo0_9KGcJSgSafzXTjWUA2QLVjXl9qCBBcCuDiyoJnK3Jy6TxWFNd28VhxNUfC-bclIwnzNBL2bECrmwLuJOAE/s320/IMG_3092.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335645663307035266" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7Ljt0eU1JTtHCJdRAx7nL2l0VJFWxQbeLLxerzW6dLoHTnvYvoaD6nKvCqZS720fbcLfz-mxsIxLtifSQVHjUjtxaKPWwB8BUvBd_Y4idAuZy-58y01zFp_aH-rvcmg0LY6q1Pj9CpY/s1600-h/IMG_3098.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7Ljt0eU1JTtHCJdRAx7nL2l0VJFWxQbeLLxerzW6dLoHTnvYvoaD6nKvCqZS720fbcLfz-mxsIxLtifSQVHjUjtxaKPWwB8BUvBd_Y4idAuZy-58y01zFp_aH-rvcmg0LY6q1Pj9CpY/s320/IMG_3098.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335645658826545682" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNLCAmC6hME3ze08nIkB43ShUdHxnWb7pyZcQSVufdOoyI3E0enEVCT-XhQ518KU-OLhGyuvQNXdDfhtv4cx7BilGUk3yuH5yFAQaBJs7lc5089CzdSD2vQnngGQp9JA6UqrKvA7vDlc/s1600-h/IMG_3108.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNLCAmC6hME3ze08nIkB43ShUdHxnWb7pyZcQSVufdOoyI3E0enEVCT-XhQ518KU-OLhGyuvQNXdDfhtv4cx7BilGUk3yuH5yFAQaBJs7lc5089CzdSD2vQnngGQp9JA6UqrKvA7vDlc/s320/IMG_3108.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335645658922058514" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSujVKlx_sKBJ5D0Uit5s08y3-OmqlpJjqKPQ15IOi3fvwPnLl0NmBRKCMIHaSMvAgdjXDjSNHGMvbQFbcTtT3-nkQC64GGF4BG4jDIUMztYCuYELhWCxYPIO8H5ICzROf6gdqw0xAFzs/s1600-h/IMG_3109.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSujVKlx_sKBJ5D0Uit5s08y3-OmqlpJjqKPQ15IOi3fvwPnLl0NmBRKCMIHaSMvAgdjXDjSNHGMvbQFbcTtT3-nkQC64GGF4BG4jDIUMztYCuYELhWCxYPIO8H5ICzROf6gdqw0xAFzs/s320/IMG_3109.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335645659035649746" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqmAL6087nwXuoB9oUZxwpN0xkZ1tzugca63BhPM1A8WU5PdA-NBoD1kPKa8ytWqvz8qzNDhHffxex274d_qblr7B7gYc9Zn-VnOIw4FGhUa5Hk9uPhbqx6nxpllirQ9KDq1ybH7S9u0/s1600-h/IMG_3116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqmAL6087nwXuoB9oUZxwpN0xkZ1tzugca63BhPM1A8WU5PdA-NBoD1kPKa8ytWqvz8qzNDhHffxex274d_qblr7B7gYc9Zn-VnOIw4FGhUa5Hk9uPhbqx6nxpllirQ9KDq1ybH7S9u0/s320/IMG_3116.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335645656437469714" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOtXm9lcAysKPeJT9AIPjCviYF9_XfhoUDkDzwJswKQ6Fl0cr0dSVE6b-eJnMidCi2BlZseUbA2gpHAC7XoBl1w82oUkLlqtXt8qEbU1U2T4CQCgi-sjjw7BuhKmBskICkETBVw1u2Ps/s1600-h/IMG_3141.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOtXm9lcAysKPeJT9AIPjCviYF9_XfhoUDkDzwJswKQ6Fl0cr0dSVE6b-eJnMidCi2BlZseUbA2gpHAC7XoBl1w82oUkLlqtXt8qEbU1U2T4CQCgi-sjjw7BuhKmBskICkETBVw1u2Ps/s320/IMG_3141.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335645351500941090" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvE6DT_JvyjIs5JzgN3x3qbay0apXhYv6NNXVLdCK4aT2d2Byn4gxtdcXUvZn3mOHANWy6jDUNDEBYD6lY2HRkWhf8-f6CaKlw9ch5-CZ_1P2XtPeLuls4y6DWfbMzkO16mzZQnSVTbU/s1600-h/IMG_3144.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvE6DT_JvyjIs5JzgN3x3qbay0apXhYv6NNXVLdCK4aT2d2Byn4gxtdcXUvZn3mOHANWy6jDUNDEBYD6lY2HRkWhf8-f6CaKlw9ch5-CZ_1P2XtPeLuls4y6DWfbMzkO16mzZQnSVTbU/s320/IMG_3144.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335645353539275682" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMQsznwCNIlEighvd0Y-par9R8bV7SKDIung1wVOzw9-JW543pSRsXUAzL3h2sRAGPUwRJ3fyEgOltLWg8TyQgZmSRgWwTc0vos10S6Dqr1uovXuU4UfuXnw1kWEcSD3dIg84qOp6TNA/s1600-h/IMG_3201.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMQsznwCNIlEighvd0Y-par9R8bV7SKDIung1wVOzw9-JW543pSRsXUAzL3h2sRAGPUwRJ3fyEgOltLWg8TyQgZmSRgWwTc0vos10S6Dqr1uovXuU4UfuXnw1kWEcSD3dIg84qOp6TNA/s320/IMG_3201.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335645348973917346" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwzFa_u9UUmGSSDNKgyRVWHvLNE2EBQVMjcL0ct9pRS7VL7xtyjUwk9s05DZlowKRhYFOArJ8sTuHuSbhdZ3w7kTYxaGZ8eizN6UyNr-K2U783YxIq4GgFoTVglWoT49hWgpdJmAWcD0/s1600-h/IMG_3290.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwzFa_u9UUmGSSDNKgyRVWHvLNE2EBQVMjcL0ct9pRS7VL7xtyjUwk9s05DZlowKRhYFOArJ8sTuHuSbhdZ3w7kTYxaGZ8eizN6UyNr-K2U783YxIq4GgFoTVglWoT49hWgpdJmAWcD0/s320/IMG_3290.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335645349031264418" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrplDp9imMi5__2d_m5uY_0c79fQQc1lE_ias9aMsGJ-MXyGSssJoTQ1nEv8b7K6XZMmflWm1ATN_sLyTtdvbAVDo-JI6hnryXn6xZjN8oyu5ahKxriHbYUGSPrNK4J274ekb0R6GWRE/s1600-h/IMG_3292.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrplDp9imMi5__2d_m5uY_0c79fQQc1lE_ias9aMsGJ-MXyGSssJoTQ1nEv8b7K6XZMmflWm1ATN_sLyTtdvbAVDo-JI6hnryXn6xZjN8oyu5ahKxriHbYUGSPrNK4J274ekb0R6GWRE/s320/IMG_3292.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335645344565208018" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjO18LL4alU-HjKrh43uuOeKRZahOz7cXlsHzNmK88C_w-emCB6mGOBwv4syFp6CdBLf8r9-tWOS9qMUV_a5y7v1g7HCbQb4w5vOqhssps4t6BGHKFkKDHoo1TD0wF4kcOeTrvDT7HiI/s1600-h/IMG_3295.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjO18LL4alU-HjKrh43uuOeKRZahOz7cXlsHzNmK88C_w-emCB6mGOBwv4syFp6CdBLf8r9-tWOS9qMUV_a5y7v1g7HCbQb4w5vOqhssps4t6BGHKFkKDHoo1TD0wF4kcOeTrvDT7HiI/s320/IMG_3295.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335645010585449410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTl7R_z4OLwMOFhOw0QFkwDCVcYk0qLY1-DmD4t2KYcSXdtRc4c_C7kw4ZgcslzMqxcDKG-OVBKA4gx4I-gkYyUoZ2-W2Ihs5m-V0wbllq1yizv1IpIbb3vFOd4eZ7QX3qcNeQzu2LX0k/s1600-h/IMG_3317.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTl7R_z4OLwMOFhOw0QFkwDCVcYk0qLY1-DmD4t2KYcSXdtRc4c_C7kw4ZgcslzMqxcDKG-OVBKA4gx4I-gkYyUoZ2-W2Ihs5m-V0wbllq1yizv1IpIbb3vFOd4eZ7QX3qcNeQzu2LX0k/s320/IMG_3317.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335645007456965906" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kegf7VHPQdux0Duqyhii1I6aoh9LoU3o358I49wmAb4a_Wf3DUV5Rw_h-Kb9tpF_6oDZlaJuei6LoLt2YZGRG0YEOiLfEktlPZLBWT0hN5Cjn5BRGa2-3Osfby9mubqC9FayArk8SZk/s1600-h/IMG_3321.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kegf7VHPQdux0Duqyhii1I6aoh9LoU3o358I49wmAb4a_Wf3DUV5Rw_h-Kb9tpF_6oDZlaJuei6LoLt2YZGRG0YEOiLfEktlPZLBWT0hN5Cjn5BRGa2-3Osfby9mubqC9FayArk8SZk/s320/IMG_3321.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335645002111410578" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6do7QpFnhmPQC3VJIxvA0hD3fny_JCOh_qhtlSMNOJapIZZAHttgSC6BHoxysX4XQaQHNnvFqRM56dvWLQZSKuWEyGS_HgCxOq7YpbCQ5yosXFNEBimsrIyi0Qvu7pT7ShsHbZx-0mE/s1600-h/IMG_3343.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6do7QpFnhmPQC3VJIxvA0hD3fny_JCOh_qhtlSMNOJapIZZAHttgSC6BHoxysX4XQaQHNnvFqRM56dvWLQZSKuWEyGS_HgCxOq7YpbCQ5yosXFNEBimsrIyi0Qvu7pT7ShsHbZx-0mE/s320/IMG_3343.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335645001703997282" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VLznBV6mgaWGUL1a96KVdBslE9uOWTA6IH4Rr16Y0qiRyrIEsDrFX3WSsegFhWxDprRZFinspSF_qMZV-RpRnU1Mc7GS6E0lIbHEmnnyZHC9mMg13u1Xm08fc-2z4CQA-RZGjDd68vU/s1600-h/IMG_3349.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VLznBV6mgaWGUL1a96KVdBslE9uOWTA6IH4Rr16Y0qiRyrIEsDrFX3WSsegFhWxDprRZFinspSF_qMZV-RpRnU1Mc7GS6E0lIbHEmnnyZHC9mMg13u1Xm08fc-2z4CQA-RZGjDd68vU/s320/IMG_3349.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335645005261849394" /></a><br />Zanzibar, Tanzania<br />April 18th, 2009 <br /><br />Hearing mixed reviews of Zanzibar (“highlight of our trip” and “too touristy”) we made our way to see for ourselves what it would be like. We took a luxurious ferry, especially when compared to the Ilala of Malawi, but paid a luxurious price of $140 return for the two of us. The ferry was smooth sailing, air conditioned and comfortable. I slept and Karel watched a pirated movie about Cyborgs trying to take over the world (yes it was as good as you imagine it could be). I woke up just in time to see the end of the movie (don’t worry the humans won) and a few episodes of Mr. Bean. <br /><br />We arrived in good time, around noon and started to make our way to a friend’s recommend of St. Monica’s guest house. Unfortunately we picked up along the way a tout and it took the best part of an hour to get rid of him. There were a few touts about on the island and we learnt that the only way to avoid having them following you was to completely blank them. A bit uncomfortable to do in the beginning as it feels so rude but we quickly adjusted and enjoyed our free status.<br /><br />We found St. Monica’s and booked a room. It’s a beautiful place to stay, on the budget end of things but extremely clean and supporting a good cause. The church itself was built on the former slave market and gives tours of the slave chambers where slaves were kept for three or four days without food and water awaiting market day. Market day would involve the slave being tied to a tree post and whipped so that buyers could see the strength of their potential purchase. East Africa’s slaves were sent to Persia, Arab nations and Madagascar. These slaves were separated by sex. The females were essentially added to harems and the males were castrated and used for work thus having a very different history to those in Europe and America where those slaves were encouraged to procreate as more slaves meant more laborers. <br /><br />Our days in Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar were spent wandering around the narrow alleyways and getting deliciously lost admiring the beautifully carved doors, hearing children running and laughing and enjoying the men drinking their strong coffee. It really was heaven, especially as April is extremely out of season and the number of Muzungas (whites) is so low. We loved eating in local restaurants and tasting all the traditional dishes and going for our tea and cake at the church café. We also spent one day on a Spice Tour seeing the array of spices grown from the vanilla which is hand pollinated, to the nutmeg, lemongrass, cloves and more. It was brilliant fun and we met some great people.traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-8212013164084738152009-05-12T07:14:00.000-07:002009-05-14T04:46:39.463-07:00Welcome to Dar Es Salaam<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGcv7tEQcPs70gn7g0CTg08Yj1B4Iagq2_h_60QgQVVhS07px1pWJZ4ldGu9F5OQPG4L6G_MLEnp3gbplR0qOQKoPvrWKKOkQfvF0NEMhR2_hSN4ABGqHIG8Ke7xKvx8opH9u5bdwYKg/s1600-h/IMG_3354.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGcv7tEQcPs70gn7g0CTg08Yj1B4Iagq2_h_60QgQVVhS07px1pWJZ4ldGu9F5OQPG4L6G_MLEnp3gbplR0qOQKoPvrWKKOkQfvF0NEMhR2_hSN4ABGqHIG8Ke7xKvx8opH9u5bdwYKg/s320/IMG_3354.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335644704165624098" /></a><br />Tanzania <br />April 17th, 2009<br /><br />We arrived in good time into the city of Dar. Or so we thought. It was late morning, around 11am on Friday so we presumed we would be able to navigate the city with relative ease. A lesson my friend, presume nothing when in Africa. It took over an hour of maneuvering before reaching our destination- the Sudanese embassy in hopes of acquiring some much sought after information. After parking the car on the pavement we headed inside, following a security guard. We were delivered to what we assumed was a waiting room- a room with lovely burgundy sofas and two other gentlemen sitting down. So we sat. It turns out we weren’t in the waiting room but rather in the company of the officials themselves. We chatted with the gentlemen and discovered what we needed to know.<br /><br />Glancing at our watches and feeling our stomachs rolling the next stop had to be lunch. We stopped at a busy local café and ate brilliantly while politely declining the offers of watches, sunglasses, pirated DVDs and other bargains. Once finished we jumped back into the car and headed towards Mikadi Beach, our camping spot for the night. Driving along in busy traffic once more, we stopped at a light. Waiting in traffic a young man, a street child grown up, walked past our car. We thought nothing of it. Suddenly he ran back and with tremendous speed and technique he ripped our left side mirror completely off. It took less than thirty seconds. WTF!!! I know. We were completely stunned. I jumped out of the car first but couldn’t see the guy, then Karel jumped out. It was complete reaction no thought process at all. Luckily we were fine and so was the car, besides the mirror.<br /><br />Deciding we needed to pit stop at Toyota to find a replacement mirror was our next move. No luck. It would take six weeks to order. The manager kindly told us this sort of crime happens all the time. He also said he would try to call around the black market and see if he could get our mirror back for us. No luck. Unfortunately for us, we need the side mirror as we don’t have a rear view mirror due to the steel plate in the car. Driving towards the campsite we decided we would deal with everything once we got back from Zanzibar.<br /><br />April 24th, 2009 <br /><br />Armed with directions from ex-pats (behind Shoprite there’s a place, look for Shama’s), our point-it picture book and our Swahili phrasebook we set off. We found the place with relative ease. Karel parked and jumped out beginning the search. Finding it difficult due to language barriers we changed our strategy and took a picture of the missing mirror (got to love the digital age). Quickly thereafter we found a place that could help. They said they had another mirror at a different shop and would get it for us. Only fifteen minutes they said. In reality it took about half an hour, but they did return with a mirror that fit. It wasn’t exactly the frost free heated luxury mirror of former, but it did the trick. Whether it was a stolen to order we’ll never know. What we do have now is a strategy- the mirrors have our license number in tip-ex/white-out on them, are double cable tied and in every major town we go through I ensure that I have the Tabbard bug spray handy so if anyone loiters around the car they’ll be sprayed. Watch out F@%$ers!traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-31642393742332042782009-05-12T06:26:00.000-07:002009-05-14T04:44:27.865-07:00Swahili for Beginners<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0256MRXB1tXNpUjm8w8tJzVumxTSGXrni5mEN8Ci-3JGx4xNnYV1X63ClHT6a20qgWjye2yNPr2u0iUg0AlTG8GvzRPn10NoPnfAs4ZtKDygMfr0OAGki-aKP-1r6aW9jGhgpwcC0ncg/s1600-h/IMG_2985.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0256MRXB1tXNpUjm8w8tJzVumxTSGXrni5mEN8Ci-3JGx4xNnYV1X63ClHT6a20qgWjye2yNPr2u0iUg0AlTG8GvzRPn10NoPnfAs4ZtKDygMfr0OAGki-aKP-1r6aW9jGhgpwcC0ncg/s320/IMG_2985.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335644110330761026" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_SOMEkM-H1CeiOwfvOzQLkW2Qkp37bX-yDU7y2aAOFMYSy0NFVXK-KJ94x7bZDuzkOgTDaY3bujzlFDNqMJJDhnJ5lfVT9mRFkl4eXmWWh8532j3XYTVfl5kvS-_755MsJuoYw5RSIo/s1600-h/IMG_2986.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_SOMEkM-H1CeiOwfvOzQLkW2Qkp37bX-yDU7y2aAOFMYSy0NFVXK-KJ94x7bZDuzkOgTDaY3bujzlFDNqMJJDhnJ5lfVT9mRFkl4eXmWWh8532j3XYTVfl5kvS-_755MsJuoYw5RSIo/s320/IMG_2986.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335644106507109458" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QDxOm08hXR8-HU3qWpq-_vN4Hj9OZb-HbN0uSmBgn_7ftGK3mOhxF-G_qZj7shRAsjUp9eFWHDwgfX462_HXjMe0wguWBjqiUYPEDKuVh0hxbWzhdzm5HePW2N8aLqu_JQ7z87NVCv0/s1600-h/IMG_2987.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QDxOm08hXR8-HU3qWpq-_vN4Hj9OZb-HbN0uSmBgn_7ftGK3mOhxF-G_qZj7shRAsjUp9eFWHDwgfX462_HXjMe0wguWBjqiUYPEDKuVh0hxbWzhdzm5HePW2N8aLqu_JQ7z87NVCv0/s320/IMG_2987.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335644105544181970" /></a><br />Iringa, Tanzania<br />April 14th, 2009<br /><br />Entering the border at Tanzania proved to be an expensive experience with the two of us shelling out $50US each for visas and an additional $25 for the car. Once we crossed the border and were driving along the road we were struck by how beautiful the country is. The south has an amazing landscape with thick deep green leafy trees and bushes and rolling hills. Admiring the luscious views we worked our way towards the Old Farm an infamous campsite near Iringa known for its amazing culinary delights. We arrived as it was dark, set up our tent and fell fast asleep. <br /><br />In the morning we woke up and organized for breakfast. We may have missed the famous dinner but wanted at least a sample. On route to breakfast we met the owner, an amazing woman named Nicky. She brilliantly runs the camping and lodging and manages the farm and has a staff of over 300. After asking a few questions, we decided to stop at the Toyota dealership in Iringa rather than Dar Es Salaam for a few things we needed to get done on the car. <br /><br />After enjoying our breakfast of fresh bread, eggs, yoghurt, fresh fruit and fantastic coffee we made our way in to town. Finding the Toyota dealership proved to be dead easy given the instructions we received from Nicky. Unfortunately the car couldn’t be looked at that same day and instead we booked an appointment for the following day. We spent the rest of the day wandering around the market and struck by how different Tanzania is from Southern Africa. We were experiencing our first communication complications and stuck easy language had been until now. Stopping for a quick lunch in the market of mostly rice and a few pieces of meat (which actually couldn’t be cut and had to be swallowed whole) we chatted happily as best as we could to the woman running the restaurant who in return for conversation gave us some more lumps of meat (joy!). Following our lunch we went for a Pepsi, yep Pepsi not Coke (we were super surprised). Over our Pepsi we spoke to the owner who taught us our first Swahili. He was a lovely man, very patient and kind and enjoyed sharing his knowledge with us. It was wonderful speaking to a person so proud of their culture and so anxious to share it.traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-29780545292226614772009-05-12T05:49:00.000-07:002009-05-14T04:42:53.542-07:00Livingstonia<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcStbqi1Vahd1OxDrgdjZNLcDhB7-yuAKTxzAYpNysdFLdXuf2sXCP3yBQdjl1cNzwbPh6vPo7MB14o-Q0RgQ8fp5Sjh957EYZMV7VxVunS4VaDyztmutR_iTnePuaLf5vYqqsIeRQdM/s1600-h/IMG_2886.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcStbqi1Vahd1OxDrgdjZNLcDhB7-yuAKTxzAYpNysdFLdXuf2sXCP3yBQdjl1cNzwbPh6vPo7MB14o-Q0RgQ8fp5Sjh957EYZMV7VxVunS4VaDyztmutR_iTnePuaLf5vYqqsIeRQdM/s320/IMG_2886.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335643685664219346" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHUaigrm6KDxzOBmlgoh5Y6yY253eE8xMwfvfZvoMmn5GXBvDT0GmYPS9f8zSDyqEXJ79xu5AABeucKVxbafHHl4m1TyrN2BnifaeoKu3BjUSf8dCAJTDX1AVIWBbEIjcxTlkAToY_7Y/s1600-h/IMG_2891.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHUaigrm6KDxzOBmlgoh5Y6yY253eE8xMwfvfZvoMmn5GXBvDT0GmYPS9f8zSDyqEXJ79xu5AABeucKVxbafHHl4m1TyrN2BnifaeoKu3BjUSf8dCAJTDX1AVIWBbEIjcxTlkAToY_7Y/s320/IMG_2891.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335643683667978066" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDM6f9xesRMW7N7jG_PQCV99PzkzGN5WhCDFwd66F_ZUtYxnjEP9K-FsjqbVs6iIdghabdj7dGZo9jz514Es6ijhTCFXm_TDAjTWBXSVuY8RlVq6SDmuu7ZpA2n7gJmr6c1XeNgSf6Y0/s1600-h/IMG_2900.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDM6f9xesRMW7N7jG_PQCV99PzkzGN5WhCDFwd66F_ZUtYxnjEP9K-FsjqbVs6iIdghabdj7dGZo9jz514Es6ijhTCFXm_TDAjTWBXSVuY8RlVq6SDmuu7ZpA2n7gJmr6c1XeNgSf6Y0/s320/IMG_2900.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335643681427584514" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_K63DnKMbt0m-xXxgfitZlK8MfhuH-RLBYFrrU7e3XyTMrGAEXVwnPn8N8Dc28WSBqAnFcU9bLdzybjHnlUkhUhKtp0YfCxPw0iSuKFH1MmwzO3tRrMfDxRI9TyCJUzKwxYn5fpYWijo/s1600-h/IMG_2902.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_K63DnKMbt0m-xXxgfitZlK8MfhuH-RLBYFrrU7e3XyTMrGAEXVwnPn8N8Dc28WSBqAnFcU9bLdzybjHnlUkhUhKtp0YfCxPw0iSuKFH1MmwzO3tRrMfDxRI9TyCJUzKwxYn5fpYWijo/s320/IMG_2902.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335643679273272722" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZhm4xVSlSrcbRhSAEkiGyECPKNfiVqjpslL3mDa6YbuHsbxr7qpkLsnDuXEx0t4JUQYMC1o2eFwlvHdXf8NnlpFKGKxOnRuWf3YR3j5lSjd5UlXsE6GQSA4rCiKWH4F_dO8C3dNjpNw/s1600-h/IMG_2904.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZhm4xVSlSrcbRhSAEkiGyECPKNfiVqjpslL3mDa6YbuHsbxr7qpkLsnDuXEx0t4JUQYMC1o2eFwlvHdXf8NnlpFKGKxOnRuWf3YR3j5lSjd5UlXsE6GQSA4rCiKWH4F_dO8C3dNjpNw/s320/IMG_2904.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335643397680306610" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkm2qoAXktgMkuYulQASBKaKZKWln4KXDVErFcBN4OnDGf9KinSLfO-vrYBIKnwSotZmZ388Torq3y_gaS-HyLDaVl8RLj1sgFST2z4sAr_pEWLRadStsscHOb8QEJhPIetgFc0ICAAQ/s1600-h/IMG_2912.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkm2qoAXktgMkuYulQASBKaKZKWln4KXDVErFcBN4OnDGf9KinSLfO-vrYBIKnwSotZmZ388Torq3y_gaS-HyLDaVl8RLj1sgFST2z4sAr_pEWLRadStsscHOb8QEJhPIetgFc0ICAAQ/s320/IMG_2912.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335643392563119394" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0mfKCc90UuQQc253VmdokiF64132ws-Y-5P0xvUvlV_u10kdLeRqird6ArvDq_bUCHvkeJRK5FEphfFR8y33QnLaKhy3zLmx7tQpaPZ7K-2MHwg2N6SO4YyJt1HED7-tQ0UHPqWHpOo/s1600-h/IMG_2919.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0mfKCc90UuQQc253VmdokiF64132ws-Y-5P0xvUvlV_u10kdLeRqird6ArvDq_bUCHvkeJRK5FEphfFR8y33QnLaKhy3zLmx7tQpaPZ7K-2MHwg2N6SO4YyJt1HED7-tQ0UHPqWHpOo/s320/IMG_2919.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335643393025860690" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOk3gAGPJ4rfFifkc-hC6Ch15F_GtnN3hKgRyTRZAY-qeSa7mflPSHe0USzpVz1anQWtfXFx9iTj07kBCFV5lvRDRHX6n-vsMecvKzpDbbIDTM7Di2KcCe34p-B6NP7SjyIo0-TWmDBpk/s1600-h/IMG_2925.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOk3gAGPJ4rfFifkc-hC6Ch15F_GtnN3hKgRyTRZAY-qeSa7mflPSHe0USzpVz1anQWtfXFx9iTj07kBCFV5lvRDRHX6n-vsMecvKzpDbbIDTM7Di2KcCe34p-B6NP7SjyIo0-TWmDBpk/s320/IMG_2925.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335643393079238882" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-RP1jliIFLXprytKJtIQZqKIaeBlq8hR740L8QZW-_2tjiA_NF-CTi4osRWanuExZPjnrcXzCdV8N_2w7e0VfP2KwF6GcfpuRD1wonGQZm_wuB0yuRQA7vrzjJO5wCKCyVlnPLh17Bc/s1600-h/IMG_2954.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-RP1jliIFLXprytKJtIQZqKIaeBlq8hR740L8QZW-_2tjiA_NF-CTi4osRWanuExZPjnrcXzCdV8N_2w7e0VfP2KwF6GcfpuRD1wonGQZm_wuB0yuRQA7vrzjJO5wCKCyVlnPLh17Bc/s320/IMG_2954.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335643387260905410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjM3IRwNHQxtggxMBWLFfeAAfwSlkUXgFqmK_j05M_Le8mp4wctYcSIy0xeHNkHbEZyUGJMb7Osopvd9Vvx3utFTzOXw5_idmTybB4pd6DbcIYQvBcWJVYFDDXgbeM-6SMElAyxdQb2OY/s1600-h/IMG_2961.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjM3IRwNHQxtggxMBWLFfeAAfwSlkUXgFqmK_j05M_Le8mp4wctYcSIy0xeHNkHbEZyUGJMb7Osopvd9Vvx3utFTzOXw5_idmTybB4pd6DbcIYQvBcWJVYFDDXgbeM-6SMElAyxdQb2OY/s320/IMG_2961.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335643041709096962" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XaXRJur7FbGBx0Ft57BZ1epXCCboUIBKuv33GX6uy_7gMaW6TWKW_i3ZJPKzlRHOnmFUANsUrCd7uUAN3pK84vIq4I5QgUkkhdZXUG0iPYBc8S0Lyr0v8cZeZ1nzmhBdzePxEMmY1jc/s1600-h/IMG_2962.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XaXRJur7FbGBx0Ft57BZ1epXCCboUIBKuv33GX6uy_7gMaW6TWKW_i3ZJPKzlRHOnmFUANsUrCd7uUAN3pK84vIq4I5QgUkkhdZXUG0iPYBc8S0Lyr0v8cZeZ1nzmhBdzePxEMmY1jc/s320/IMG_2962.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335643037338485762" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_Mxgw3ZUyGKxRDsaONhN7AVdsWmmIPTjY2ElgH_r6SHByY1znSruhMeUvlh0kpwPJTfxEKpiBUQoLjFwoVUePSaN4Ajx_tyxBz-utPbDApRyvpvtZG7u9z-XyksMwW8i9l7IGOpeMUY/s1600-h/IMG_2964.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_Mxgw3ZUyGKxRDsaONhN7AVdsWmmIPTjY2ElgH_r6SHByY1znSruhMeUvlh0kpwPJTfxEKpiBUQoLjFwoVUePSaN4Ajx_tyxBz-utPbDApRyvpvtZG7u9z-XyksMwW8i9l7IGOpeMUY/s320/IMG_2964.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335643037535138946" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicK1xWxNX6WXlY3KVyu_jVjamNJGv8OxRU6v3dsWkE16S3DP_t0FIu0RRtqtE7ozh9GOeK5aNzXaUai7oWXAU7c9j_Xp8QUEGdisNbhv8BBy0z1oM2cYhi92HIpVJ4q-QfThYrBW2uA1A/s1600-h/IMG_2971.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicK1xWxNX6WXlY3KVyu_jVjamNJGv8OxRU6v3dsWkE16S3DP_t0FIu0RRtqtE7ozh9GOeK5aNzXaUai7oWXAU7c9j_Xp8QUEGdisNbhv8BBy0z1oM2cYhi92HIpVJ4q-QfThYrBW2uA1A/s320/IMG_2971.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335643034194843394" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1MDgn7bH4WTZ2SJb8gu7dpgi6JOb7r1Jp5Jph6INroT-qYKkqVc7rWS8Yt00trVzWzTbJ5sWKUTNneP2tjsM7P__B6qHfyuCGJ1eGeBVjnp60uLFvRnIqSQbZnryLHANrSxPHeoE3_4/s1600-h/IMG_2973.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1MDgn7bH4WTZ2SJb8gu7dpgi6JOb7r1Jp5Jph6INroT-qYKkqVc7rWS8Yt00trVzWzTbJ5sWKUTNneP2tjsM7P__B6qHfyuCGJ1eGeBVjnp60uLFvRnIqSQbZnryLHANrSxPHeoE3_4/s320/IMG_2973.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335643033163650562" /></a><br />Malawi<br />April 12th, 2009 <br /><br />Bidding a rainy farewell from Nkota Bay, we headed further North to Livingstonia. Adding an extra couple to Nessie’s load, Alex and Veera- friends from Chizzy, we made our happy way. The company was great and the drive wasn’t too long, but the last section of the road was extremely steep. This particular section of road had been shut the previous week due to rains and mud slide, but was fine now- well drivable anyways. We set up camp at the Mushroom Farm (a few kms short of Livingstonia) and admired the views of the hills and lake below while enjoying a G&T. I do mean a G&T – there was a whole bottle of gin but only one tonic, we had to make due with soda which worked rather well as the four of us polished off the bottle quite nicely. <br /><br />The next morning we headed up the final few kms to Livingstonia. Arriving we drove straight to the church, which is the main attraction of the town. Climbing out of the car we headed for the wooden doors. Locked. What? Yes it was locked. Not people to give up we decided to try and find the vicar to open the church for us. The vicar it seems was away in South Africa for a Sunday School meeting. However we did enjoy a tour of the cathedral (set up specifically in a Malaria free area) given by the vicar’s son of twelve. The tour consisted of a pointed out impressive stained glass window, a tour up steep and rackety steeps past the church bell and on to the roof of the church for lovely views, and the back room of the church where meetings are held.<br /><br />Satisfied with our tour we wandered around town. Feeling hungry we asked two people sitting on the steps of the town department of antiquities (yes I know) where we could eat. They told us we could eat there. Deciding to be forward thinking we thought it best if we ordered our lunch then, so we could wander as meals often take about an hour to prepare. No problems. Order taken and we happily continued to explore. An hour later we returned and waited an additional half an hour. At last the meal was ready. Unfortunately it just wasn’t the meal we ordered. No beef stew only fried chicken- but fried chicken African style with maybe three bites of meat on the poor roadrunners wing. No fair. Our next stop was to find a bottle shop where we stocked up on beers and an interesting bottle of gin with an illustrated label consisting of a man without hands eating you guessed it, fried chicken. <br /><br />The final destination of the day was to see the waterfalls nearby. Not exactly sure where to go, we heard some children shouting ‘waterfall’ and stopped. Parking the car we had another tour, this time led by four boys aged 10. Quite cute they led us to the first waterfall, and then to the second. On route to the second though, they decided it was too dangerous but only after we jump crossed some water and navigated some slippery mud. All in all it was a fun couple of days, and we enjoyed your company so much A&V. Thanks for the good times.traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-4614172163428308722009-05-12T03:42:00.000-07:002009-05-14T04:37:39.908-07:00All Aboard, Next Stop – Paradise<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyE4a5lfPNSw4zjwfLusaqPmc4S64L4sF_uX4498shYMf52vJyEGDD5mRUUrk1PP1A2tg-P7zmirdyxhTgnnBO-MIQyZz9K4zNGbPEEhpGGRTc24Q4eO3a2Eg4ZYekjE7NSYT7u3OTsYw/s1600-h/IMG_2441.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyE4a5lfPNSw4zjwfLusaqPmc4S64L4sF_uX4498shYMf52vJyEGDD5mRUUrk1PP1A2tg-P7zmirdyxhTgnnBO-MIQyZz9K4zNGbPEEhpGGRTc24Q4eO3a2Eg4ZYekjE7NSYT7u3OTsYw/s320/IMG_2441.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335642252110200594" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DnVQrI-_RjKPBI9awWnjnYJmwlrG_kiprq_YOa3EkDKPxZaCf_pz8TMqu62NirVuKtLpYD33BEPz4z6fRDjNzoRlm0ojw2e_SQObXpX6CGhIWHjlZ0NxNY6tOESh4rknXwrYKnLjQPc/s1600-h/IMG_2498.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DnVQrI-_RjKPBI9awWnjnYJmwlrG_kiprq_YOa3EkDKPxZaCf_pz8TMqu62NirVuKtLpYD33BEPz4z6fRDjNzoRlm0ojw2e_SQObXpX6CGhIWHjlZ0NxNY6tOESh4rknXwrYKnLjQPc/s320/IMG_2498.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335642251673978514" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSqQi8FDbajInGiYnV71OvD9NF1N7WIG8gT0L-pqTaBuuVrZrkFVZ4HMAUvoSRij-7ZtbkZI0NHEQrmoxwRt8t80QnVpxiA7MsW8gfQmQUS9-UMoSRjNQKBs5jcnNv0Uh-1XEKw7pkqE/s1600-h/IMG_2504.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSqQi8FDbajInGiYnV71OvD9NF1N7WIG8gT0L-pqTaBuuVrZrkFVZ4HMAUvoSRij-7ZtbkZI0NHEQrmoxwRt8t80QnVpxiA7MsW8gfQmQUS9-UMoSRjNQKBs5jcnNv0Uh-1XEKw7pkqE/s320/IMG_2504.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335642249615019762" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFLHgxcvV362c6D2FLUTD1GtAShBCkIkOCYwJX_widDOmJ2R2N_y9GEJIZ9v6L_k_iJKvaNj6w9s6_xzmLWxa1lZNKmWVUlBTgMn7hRn1r-wAkkjjYV-XtbI3QuBhcPSCpe0JINcA8bk/s1600-h/IMG_2534.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFLHgxcvV362c6D2FLUTD1GtAShBCkIkOCYwJX_widDOmJ2R2N_y9GEJIZ9v6L_k_iJKvaNj6w9s6_xzmLWxa1lZNKmWVUlBTgMn7hRn1r-wAkkjjYV-XtbI3QuBhcPSCpe0JINcA8bk/s320/IMG_2534.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335642247823947394" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEmkIwnUW9t9ZUW0IjxCoORfWlW9WKiE5V9E-BOyaXdQbt9Hy1DYi28yIcdRDJigp1MxirJaWbGhen6jtxbkh2zVMkngp-jZrCHVYUDZTsPn3eMbD1PCeKxKb-uMPikCjvPW9RS3xUcM/s1600-h/IMG_2543.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEmkIwnUW9t9ZUW0IjxCoORfWlW9WKiE5V9E-BOyaXdQbt9Hy1DYi28yIcdRDJigp1MxirJaWbGhen6jtxbkh2zVMkngp-jZrCHVYUDZTsPn3eMbD1PCeKxKb-uMPikCjvPW9RS3xUcM/s320/IMG_2543.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335642244279172130" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZEK2B47C7l9-axHsuLGXr6doKsnBR4FHkL3A0ePm_qDrbEQmMLHWvoZ2TIBxxgy0JitZLU9dh4i9YnmYxWn9AS_OvzcoPRfc8VDXyW0Sg4P9ku3vuRlLp6ylC_1aruMxQWwyFZVmGqU/s1600-h/IMG_2547.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZEK2B47C7l9-axHsuLGXr6doKsnBR4FHkL3A0ePm_qDrbEQmMLHWvoZ2TIBxxgy0JitZLU9dh4i9YnmYxWn9AS_OvzcoPRfc8VDXyW0Sg4P9ku3vuRlLp6ylC_1aruMxQWwyFZVmGqU/s320/IMG_2547.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335641890009939394" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEIl35gqtNgctJUuO-fEtZ4NigQjN1CUnZKNCLF5pDXpkw0AEsuA-_spUCqEeJQdUNdGreNNQ43uFtnjZddNoP45o11B6rX6e3ErkgiT_8ZdmkJQqwWzPY3otXJufJTMSJwndpxlA0dQ/s1600-h/IMG_2577.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEIl35gqtNgctJUuO-fEtZ4NigQjN1CUnZKNCLF5pDXpkw0AEsuA-_spUCqEeJQdUNdGreNNQ43uFtnjZddNoP45o11B6rX6e3ErkgiT_8ZdmkJQqwWzPY3otXJufJTMSJwndpxlA0dQ/s320/IMG_2577.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335641891075509762" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJz8B2DEAN4KudAwW_6UhC3iAHJfCBtxRVa2BYuo3PPD8lwdTpfmDpDUrz4DATv2dcZldYHg2XjSlTxq5tyE8upHv29ErX6G5cgfb2QD91iRq6MV_-ZG68gAxandwaxqzDmekH4m5kxJA/s1600-h/IMG_2579.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJz8B2DEAN4KudAwW_6UhC3iAHJfCBtxRVa2BYuo3PPD8lwdTpfmDpDUrz4DATv2dcZldYHg2XjSlTxq5tyE8upHv29ErX6G5cgfb2QD91iRq6MV_-ZG68gAxandwaxqzDmekH4m5kxJA/s320/IMG_2579.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335641886526644146" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb85y6MGhLQfwiRawaZ8924y8XscEMyEc-R3bESDkLj5vcQN9kLxYRmzH67CJMRLW1qdDCk0lcnoZ2grod3SPHt-2peK0av3RN4fSRWh0imKRIHescXTS94oNfXGRLyLv-KMAsY6ID5g/s1600-h/IMG_2586.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb85y6MGhLQfwiRawaZ8924y8XscEMyEc-R3bESDkLj5vcQN9kLxYRmzH67CJMRLW1qdDCk0lcnoZ2grod3SPHt-2peK0av3RN4fSRWh0imKRIHescXTS94oNfXGRLyLv-KMAsY6ID5g/s320/IMG_2586.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335641882645450258" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijofvM8bF7bG5dFdE34RGFXSqiyQWjp2-DD1UrjQqSXQI8q1_Sb-3uTzwzJEoR0629BBNa1D4fLw3MDIVHSL8dQQqC1qDc1FcM0OqCBbtwqeyP10HElaHKKkD8unEUUl95henQr_Oltko/s1600-h/IMG_2591.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijofvM8bF7bG5dFdE34RGFXSqiyQWjp2-DD1UrjQqSXQI8q1_Sb-3uTzwzJEoR0629BBNa1D4fLw3MDIVHSL8dQQqC1qDc1FcM0OqCBbtwqeyP10HElaHKKkD8unEUUl95henQr_Oltko/s320/IMG_2591.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335641880072683746" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAY1NfyeJKMz1Y7kBvQHxR_nzAwq3qojFQrCe2fC_9UuzJwVLRvGWR8jUUTl9mGwqoxQ_cnDk7aiUXpnndTzEnYe-TAAj-erbnfMFW6f5DnZ7CbToJkc1j08GkoCQc3pSGutiouVpyo5E/s1600-h/IMG_2599.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAY1NfyeJKMz1Y7kBvQHxR_nzAwq3qojFQrCe2fC_9UuzJwVLRvGWR8jUUTl9mGwqoxQ_cnDk7aiUXpnndTzEnYe-TAAj-erbnfMFW6f5DnZ7CbToJkc1j08GkoCQc3pSGutiouVpyo5E/s320/IMG_2599.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335641454365364930" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Sfi8kriRYNYjVVziqsEF40zzaEZ9IJ7hMua0BgMpirMa3tXZfmk5cLP4uiBiF0y3Cc65iGCsHIIeuUuyXY89-lmWh9oDtZ5KsaMWcZ2e9sGnAf6Er9qnnZhdnbB9dx4SZWRDW4In1Jo/s1600-h/IMG_2609.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Sfi8kriRYNYjVVziqsEF40zzaEZ9IJ7hMua0BgMpirMa3tXZfmk5cLP4uiBiF0y3Cc65iGCsHIIeuUuyXY89-lmWh9oDtZ5KsaMWcZ2e9sGnAf6Er9qnnZhdnbB9dx4SZWRDW4In1Jo/s320/IMG_2609.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335641455884608146" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzstftCSAbJVIy2XXcXDpdUJB7DbjSuiR5fmz3zy9hAIN6DV6y7TDW6PAGoeL7ejEfyb_DesOPhWE7JzHPkn94BI76FmJKi2pO59F-HZfXg3_gb_Uai0k97NNwpdUrTZgshU3NMVIhPs/s1600-h/IMG_2681.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzstftCSAbJVIy2XXcXDpdUJB7DbjSuiR5fmz3zy9hAIN6DV6y7TDW6PAGoeL7ejEfyb_DesOPhWE7JzHPkn94BI76FmJKi2pO59F-HZfXg3_gb_Uai0k97NNwpdUrTZgshU3NMVIhPs/s320/IMG_2681.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335641452782305106" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUu2lCTmJ9-o0lGDqIxd78HjeRr9UtHEbsvZ8upG-3CAPtx2a2_Kit0HJ-tNwM4T1_lMlFyojmwZaeFyaUOT_4KdiVqXGIpJpq2W42ivYL1dyX-PIxFpo7iCI0TKMp1DUxB46AqoBGhJg/s1600-h/IMG_2735.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUu2lCTmJ9-o0lGDqIxd78HjeRr9UtHEbsvZ8upG-3CAPtx2a2_Kit0HJ-tNwM4T1_lMlFyojmwZaeFyaUOT_4KdiVqXGIpJpq2W42ivYL1dyX-PIxFpo7iCI0TKMp1DUxB46AqoBGhJg/s320/IMG_2735.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335641450743857154" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhsDUXFPyH9ecsbedoKj8MUa-aQct3DzxnisiU3lzWd3JdJPfBdFQlhivBJxpivwK22inoNNmluuIZLCgASPOsLGH9vrSeRVJ8hqMHShJODPDNqkA-owQjGe9jyi7y0HMJvO0gPPOKgw/s1600-h/IMG_2742.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhsDUXFPyH9ecsbedoKj8MUa-aQct3DzxnisiU3lzWd3JdJPfBdFQlhivBJxpivwK22inoNNmluuIZLCgASPOsLGH9vrSeRVJ8hqMHShJODPDNqkA-owQjGe9jyi7y0HMJvO0gPPOKgw/s320/IMG_2742.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335641452986824130" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipW4EoWvBXq5UqQ9QoxbfGDu3Pg3t0HV54katlNkb-08coe3nWE2MTRFv0yroiENck312MVOWfgj82GtEoD9om6nFcnbMaEkiBQeMFhHMtnhxGotwmI5j__LMMgjVWWeb3FoBFojvgS-k/s1600-h/IMG_2763.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipW4EoWvBXq5UqQ9QoxbfGDu3Pg3t0HV54katlNkb-08coe3nWE2MTRFv0yroiENck312MVOWfgj82GtEoD9om6nFcnbMaEkiBQeMFhHMtnhxGotwmI5j__LMMgjVWWeb3FoBFojvgS-k/s320/IMG_2763.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335640853233559298" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg937Wt9DWSQRnr7ZWPdwphP2-esFgFoigccr9FpQDsawuvLIEavgJ64ql1WmXYdIqCGDxLCyXAgBDuNcxvhpwyvltZNLVPaowDWvl0GHFpRjOHPZ5GuN_G78yle_8lLc54fX3BIkHBZPc/s1600-h/IMG_2769.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg937Wt9DWSQRnr7ZWPdwphP2-esFgFoigccr9FpQDsawuvLIEavgJ64ql1WmXYdIqCGDxLCyXAgBDuNcxvhpwyvltZNLVPaowDWvl0GHFpRjOHPZ5GuN_G78yle_8lLc54fX3BIkHBZPc/s320/IMG_2769.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335640850275161074" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfl8cvwzwggwaQKmm1lQSqJ0RXjIfVq8MR-bz5c9JUyA_GU1izIsnj4QEsMO2wEB16y5G2RB1jJTKIerE0isa2O7uTsnM5D7jL-d9gj2-n1fNOjVCSVWAIxOH9HsP2A_jK2AYELNcx7c/s1600-h/IMG_2772.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfl8cvwzwggwaQKmm1lQSqJ0RXjIfVq8MR-bz5c9JUyA_GU1izIsnj4QEsMO2wEB16y5G2RB1jJTKIerE0isa2O7uTsnM5D7jL-d9gj2-n1fNOjVCSVWAIxOH9HsP2A_jK2AYELNcx7c/s320/IMG_2772.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335640851435674594" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSiJ_TJei7Ld664F1i9O2QVQ20l4G9PIYZ5_b3C5W6m4IHEOnATmfdErkmozmJwCBQPp-m_7jT6GZt0aiEzo5f1jEvs_Njrzi_32D34kK_rEvQk_v9sxbdEWKDRo6EG712T_jwFU5TkM/s1600-h/IMG_2784.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSiJ_TJei7Ld664F1i9O2QVQ20l4G9PIYZ5_b3C5W6m4IHEOnATmfdErkmozmJwCBQPp-m_7jT6GZt0aiEzo5f1jEvs_Njrzi_32D34kK_rEvQk_v9sxbdEWKDRo6EG712T_jwFU5TkM/s320/IMG_2784.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335640848199798290" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DYBzGaWpYDN522bburBWqEZrgzuLDFWwCyJqFWuGAuUtgcH9NlPYGLZlVdHGZE-gy-EMMGi6Vy9miloQGOqvr7C-JjW8SLmNXqJrAQdESVpqzWTHbt9lL2t4iQoniAb6jeVy2_Wzrzg/s1600-h/IMG_2826.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DYBzGaWpYDN522bburBWqEZrgzuLDFWwCyJqFWuGAuUtgcH9NlPYGLZlVdHGZE-gy-EMMGi6Vy9miloQGOqvr7C-JjW8SLmNXqJrAQdESVpqzWTHbt9lL2t4iQoniAb6jeVy2_Wzrzg/s320/IMG_2826.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335640844326673106" /></a><br />Cruising the Ilala<br />Nkota Bay, Malawi<br />April 5th, 2009<br /><br />After visiting several of Lake Malawi hotspots (Cape MacClear and Kande Beach) we decided to continue to follow the lake and enjoy the islands. Once a week on Monday, there is a public ferry which departs from Nkota Bay at 8pm and makes its way towards the islands of Chizimulu and Likoma. We decided that on this particular Monday we would be on it. Upon hearing the ferry horn blow and announcing its arrival, we grabbed our backpacks and walked down towards it. <br /><br />We bought our tickets and then climbed aboard the white ship up a steep wooden plank, which has seen better days. Standing on deck we had a fascinating time people watching. Every possible person you could imagine climbed on board, carrying with them every imaginable item from bananas to TVs to bread rolls to mattresses to boats to well you get the picture. There was a very Titanic feel to the whole thing.<br /><br />Deciding to get something to eat we entered the ship’s restaurant. The beef stew was nice, but the cockroaches running around were not. With a TV present in the restaurant Karel was hopeful for a DVD especially as there was a Wesley Snipes Chinese illegal pirated collection, but alas it wasn’t to happen. Wandering on the top deck and using our backpacks as pillows we slept for a couple of hours.<br /><br />At midnight the ferry horn blasted and we gathered our things and were amazed to see the two lifeboats being lowered down. The chaos which followed would have been entertaining if it wasn’t so confusing. Luckily the owner of the backpackers on the first island affectionately known as Chizzy was on board and told us what to do. After several boats left we headed downstairs and navigated ourselves through thick crowds and got on board. One five minute boat trip later and we arrived- paradise.<br /><br />We spent three nights at Chizzy in a fantastic backpackers, Wakky Retreat, and enjoyed swimming in beautiful waters, snorkeling and wandering around the island. Wanting to visit the other island, Likoma, we took a fishing boat across the waters. Another interesting experience to stay the least. It was a short trip, only about two hours in length, but extremely long in terms of the current and sea sickness feeling factor. However once we arrived all was forgotten. Likoma was much like Chizzy, except the beaches are sandy and the island is bigger. There is also an incredible Cathedral there, the beauty of which was an unexpected surprise. A big recommend if you’re in Malawi.traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-21856706432168802312009-05-12T03:39:00.000-07:002009-05-14T04:29:57.989-07:00Unexpected Kindness<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpxwArxtSATbCSVBzmuvOgDPdlcvpUP8YDZaRHqVoWPu9dhq5xPIM6101ua1ji5_KPeBF0OVGMMzXNVaimvsI4XYnzY1cVY9CcIRFiMDz_plDyaXc2otjh4cEz2hRbQtOsxH9ba11NYk/s1600-h/IMG_2420.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpxwArxtSATbCSVBzmuvOgDPdlcvpUP8YDZaRHqVoWPu9dhq5xPIM6101ua1ji5_KPeBF0OVGMMzXNVaimvsI4XYnzY1cVY9CcIRFiMDz_plDyaXc2otjh4cEz2hRbQtOsxH9ba11NYk/s320/IMG_2420.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335640371193261122" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcls_Gjuqhau6_DzJY35OPCXfhJjj9QQAkiJwA0CQ-qxxr_3vJnxuHh8_Usss5pmwq4OKEd7JwF9iwNdvpvn9pC648tLtu1jtU08s_EyFSRdfDQLgPz15KrSkEh0sLX7CHnBEWNwqWI4/s1600-h/IMG_2422.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcls_Gjuqhau6_DzJY35OPCXfhJjj9QQAkiJwA0CQ-qxxr_3vJnxuHh8_Usss5pmwq4OKEd7JwF9iwNdvpvn9pC648tLtu1jtU08s_EyFSRdfDQLgPz15KrSkEh0sLX7CHnBEWNwqWI4/s320/IMG_2422.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335640368331679586" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6MKglxPaWaLeX8i9iUk_Y0UJOjBdD6k5qMbBwz7wYjG4lK0ZUH7gufPHakN5mmXxeTaNP79DW45TVJ5o2y-S3xljKDajEeDxfQf6PHWakeAxYK8HBcbarL6TnVSOFQ6giNXLx-DFH2g/s1600-h/IMG_2425.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6MKglxPaWaLeX8i9iUk_Y0UJOjBdD6k5qMbBwz7wYjG4lK0ZUH7gufPHakN5mmXxeTaNP79DW45TVJ5o2y-S3xljKDajEeDxfQf6PHWakeAxYK8HBcbarL6TnVSOFQ6giNXLx-DFH2g/s320/IMG_2425.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335640369290458402" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfGD8VL0HsNivcoofwVorztM6QjV2xkjX2WB0gYsGqY9JWV0_7NvZRY8QowHkiUyQ9BdYaMTX9Mq_9vJ39Pcj7shkySo1JAwfeCC2DFqwT61_cMN1Cr8pY9N8bhuMZDjff_4eVeodOs4/s1600-h/IMG_2426.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfGD8VL0HsNivcoofwVorztM6QjV2xkjX2WB0gYsGqY9JWV0_7NvZRY8QowHkiUyQ9BdYaMTX9Mq_9vJ39Pcj7shkySo1JAwfeCC2DFqwT61_cMN1Cr8pY9N8bhuMZDjff_4eVeodOs4/s320/IMG_2426.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335640363636057874" /></a><br />Meeting Ernesto, his family and the Head Mistress<br />Near Cape MacClear, Malawi<br />March 29th, 2009 <br /><br />We cleared the Zambian and Malawian borders easily mid-day and started driving towards our first destination in Malawi- Cape MacClear on the famous Lake Malawi. It was a long day spent driving in shifts and darkness approached sooner than either of us expected. With the huge population of Malawi and the villages built next to the roadside, as dusk approached we knew we needed to find a place to stay for the night. Soon after we decided we needed to find a place to stay we saw a sign for a school.<br /><br />Pulling off the main road onto the school grounds we asked a man if it would be alright to stay there for the night. He told us we should ask the Head Mistress and guided us towards her house. I spoke with the Head Mistress and she said it would be fine, but she needed to speak with the others- the others being another well respected teacher Ernesto. All was cleared, we met Ernesto and were told to camp right next to the house. <br /><br />We unpacked our tent surrounded by a host of children and various adults. Ernesto then invited us into his house. Bringing a flask of herbal tea we entered. We got the seat of honour sitting in comfort on a faded pink loveseat facing the household’s two televisions. The lovely Ernesto, our host, introduced us to his lovely wife and two children. It was an exciting night we were told, as Malawi was playing the Ivory Coast for a place in the World Cup! The atmosphere was incredible as we were surrounded by every person in the village- either camped out on the floor or peering through the house windows. The t.v. had extremely poor reception however and was mostly a series of black and white dots, but one could gather that the Ivory Coast were giants compared to the small Malawian footballers. It was almost painful to watch as in the first few seconds of the match Ivory Coast had already scored! There was a definite David vs Goliath feel to the whole thing. <br /><br />The next morning we were woken by the school bell and packed our belongings up. Greeted by the Head Mistress, we were told that there was water for us to have a bath and we were thought very unusual indeed when we politely declined. Ernesto was also up, saying he hoped we had a good night’s rest and thanking us for staying with him. He then said he had something for us and went inside his house. Returning outside he presented a beautifully carved dhow (canoe). I was almost in tears thinking of how unexpectedly kind this man and his family are. Our words of thanks didn’t seem to match his actions of kindness. I can only hope that one day we might be able to return the same level of thoughtfulness to someone else.traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-49845911242305090482009-05-12T03:06:00.000-07:002009-05-12T03:07:32.002-07:00Bad Boys, Bad Boys, Whatca Gonna Do When They Come From YouPolice Stop<br />Lusaka<br />March 28th, 2009 <br /><br />After a “restful” stay at ChaChaCha Backpackers (a complete hole- we don’t recommend to anyone) where Karel awoke to hear an ex-pat lovers quarrel (kissing followed by ‘no Murray, no, don’t hit him!’) we ran some errands around Lusaka. Once achieving our objective of obtaining our African yellow card for inclusive third party insurance for East Africa we headed for the hills. Unfortunately before we could successfully leave the city limits we were pulled over by a traditional built Beyonce haired (well not exactly as glamorous, actually it’s probably completely unfair to mention the two in the same sentence, perhaps a “badly wigged braided blonde and red haired extravaganza” is more appropriate) police woman.<br /><br />We pulled off the main road to the appropriately directed position and waited to hear the news. There was a speed gun on the main road so needless to say I was thinking about what was coming. As we waited Karel was already in the pooper, another bloody speeding fine. The woman approached us and asked for Karel’s liscence and wrote down all our details. Handing over the documents she said something like “Did you know you were speeding? You were doing 72 in a 65 zone. What do you have to say for yourself?”. Karel responded by saying he wasn’t sure how fast he was going, which he didn’t. The police woman replied by saying that we have a fine of 540,000 Kwacha (about $100 US) payable now and that she has a receipt book. I said we don’t have that much money, that’s too much money to carry, and was wondering if I might be able to negotiate us out of this. She immediately dropped the fine to 270,000 Kwacha. Karel and I knew then that something didn’t add up. We said we didn’t have any money, but we would happily go to the police station and pay there. The police woman was stuck explaining that as she has the receipt book the police station wouldn’t be able to accept any money. She then asked us what money we had. Nothing we said. She looked us up and down, wandered around the car and told us we could go, but “next time carry more money, the next police officer won’t be as nice”.traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-9462455761713822482009-05-12T02:45:00.000-07:002009-05-14T04:27:53.100-07:00Lord of the Flies<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLzsHK64QDhlAzuAVnMaDYnuJoTJWopeLXjvyJ8_B6AX8YeQFNtw_vuntWc1Tj_UI1SbzRYhGVQg1Rq_NuZoGr3nGk5yad0vcNQhTkSMrWllbZXWDyB-faBUSx2Fn_kUYfoKEPRdYHkU/s1600-h/IMG_2390.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLzsHK64QDhlAzuAVnMaDYnuJoTJWopeLXjvyJ8_B6AX8YeQFNtw_vuntWc1Tj_UI1SbzRYhGVQg1Rq_NuZoGr3nGk5yad0vcNQhTkSMrWllbZXWDyB-faBUSx2Fn_kUYfoKEPRdYHkU/s320/IMG_2390.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335639878700926834" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnm7YWcO3vP08XXJfTRMaYEHV0sON2mZU04T1ttrjLNhM0UyrVfSDMo1WFhqdUzhF0ftHw6HTEqDp7y_l_MIy6nialq0CYpHEJBD-ld2r4YoIoAx8yKe7ZsR3UQCuKJIUjk1AeGW7FzqE/s1600-h/IMG_2368.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnm7YWcO3vP08XXJfTRMaYEHV0sON2mZU04T1ttrjLNhM0UyrVfSDMo1WFhqdUzhF0ftHw6HTEqDp7y_l_MIy6nialq0CYpHEJBD-ld2r4YoIoAx8yKe7ZsR3UQCuKJIUjk1AeGW7FzqE/s320/IMG_2368.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335639544792894418" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgK5_r3ziuM4kypafXxYGnfCOnszf1DU9aWWWZksXJd0Ao50hEHbZ1lBttX3WDCpVZ2vpeU_TlZlqj9tTWZw-j0cf_of_LeyFMe89qtVfhTN4YGKtBPiSwM5-qBRKmOTtDBerAH80kCSo/s1600-h/IMG_2364.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgK5_r3ziuM4kypafXxYGnfCOnszf1DU9aWWWZksXJd0Ao50hEHbZ1lBttX3WDCpVZ2vpeU_TlZlqj9tTWZw-j0cf_of_LeyFMe89qtVfhTN4YGKtBPiSwM5-qBRKmOTtDBerAH80kCSo/s320/IMG_2364.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335639541580437714" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vkwN1PIxnXBAXYsl7OMz5Ewo7_BkMP7Fu9UdT-fzahrsaXg4O6l0rKqvyEPhVl9OJDqlK9pTZfLILNxGHIte5WmspCPTzLyorgQrgn6zV1NbrPWw_Blz_IuGo6eycrsjYjNeG752QF8/s1600-h/IMG_2357.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vkwN1PIxnXBAXYsl7OMz5Ewo7_BkMP7Fu9UdT-fzahrsaXg4O6l0rKqvyEPhVl9OJDqlK9pTZfLILNxGHIte5WmspCPTzLyorgQrgn6zV1NbrPWw_Blz_IuGo6eycrsjYjNeG752QF8/s320/IMG_2357.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335639540918122978" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98eWvaxb8bIlfr9-rnJGb_P1PiK4wiAuvGqgdVn1XIL5m9BRIqr1MDBCKw9ozkFxskUhIS7azVrzuysKg5i-2lrW9F9bhz-sOIfLJiFSiQ7Nfxm-EA9MJnbyxv8WWhEKNwOaR46IL3Ww/s1600-h/IMG_2348.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98eWvaxb8bIlfr9-rnJGb_P1PiK4wiAuvGqgdVn1XIL5m9BRIqr1MDBCKw9ozkFxskUhIS7azVrzuysKg5i-2lrW9F9bhz-sOIfLJiFSiQ7Nfxm-EA9MJnbyxv8WWhEKNwOaR46IL3Ww/s320/IMG_2348.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335639539180460882" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lNUFAKwFbEhCPvjtwORCnSXQTJpZsnIy6gM_2qmhB7F9TFPIp8dW6_06wXmPnLRDtWsesumBKSR5oml38zsKhaFcyYf5GGSziOoweoarYPNT97WIpfolfVJIiOszNmjWdSRt8dPLhRc/s1600-h/IMG_2346.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lNUFAKwFbEhCPvjtwORCnSXQTJpZsnIy6gM_2qmhB7F9TFPIp8dW6_06wXmPnLRDtWsesumBKSR5oml38zsKhaFcyYf5GGSziOoweoarYPNT97WIpfolfVJIiOszNmjWdSRt8dPLhRc/s320/IMG_2346.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335639535557070322" /></a><br />Kafue National Park<br />Zambia<br />March 26th, 2009 <br /><br />Our next destination was Kafue, a National Park about 150kms from Victoria Falls. Following our trusted Tracks 4 Africa GPS, we made steady progress on potholed roads which then lead us to a very remote dirt road. We kept checking our route as this particular path was single lane and passed small village after small village. Yep, we were right on track. Steadily steaming along at about 20kms an hour we loved seeing what normal life would be for a rural Zambian. Small huts dotted the roadside along with cyclists. We saw a man riding his bicycle with a live chicken under his arm ready for dinner. We saw a young man with a homemade wooden guitar strumming along with his mates. And we saw loads of children running and playing eager to wave to us. Brilliant. <br /><br />Time ticked on and we had to set up camp. Judging by the amount of traffic we encountered (none) we pitched the tent right on the road. Hearing the nearby villagers chatting along we wondered if we would have an audience. Inside the tent we planned our escape- waking up at five and packing up just before sunrise. Satisfied with our plans we settled in to reading our books. About half an hour later we heard two bicycles coming down the path. Looking at each other listening and unsure about what to do, we heard the bicycles stop suddenly and the two men chatting animatedly to each other most likely about their near miss of running straight into the back of the vehicle.<br /><br />The next morning we followed our plan and packed up the tent promptly. High fiving our foresight we were well chuffed. Just before we left, two children came walking past. Expecting them to be interested in us we wondered what they would do. Well, they didn’t do much just walked past as if they see white people camping on their road everyday. <br /><br />We entered the park early, at about seven in the morning. The scenery was beautiful with thick trees, tall elephant grass and leafy bushes. The most amazing thing was the lake in the park. It was stunning. Crystal clear blue water with huge boulders dotted along the shore set the tone for a peaceful afternoon lunch. We later discovered another part of the lake with dead trees patterning the water. Again it was beautiful. We set up camp there and enjoyed the sunset. Hearing hippos grunting as we slept was the perfect lullaby. <br /><br />The most memorable moment for this trip was our introduction to the tshe fly. Mother f***er. The flies look peaceful enough, somewhat like a large housefly. The exception is though that they bite, and that bite hurts like hell. Anytime the window or door was open for even a minute they would flock in. Their entrance was followed by either Karel or I (whoever was in the passenger seat) stalking each and every one of them. We stopped counting at how many we killed after several hundred. The scary part about it is that once you have smashed one (sorry for the gory details but the satisfaction about killing one is immense) you see how much blood they have sucked from you.traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709527176712290441.post-39224354123318705092009-03-24T09:22:00.000-07:002009-03-24T09:31:04.145-07:00Go to Africa- Become a Trillionaire*<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj80bkZTF7p58_V2isk1qTSjMzAYJHBBKrv6FCEut8DFj7D3JOiGTglgQR1ElNhmjoTkPy9rO7f1KhskAouNiZtHoAobHo2zWhC5Yu1OQZqpeHLmSbg4rt6S_0_ABJ3cW9qf7cqe15Puw/s1600-h/IMG_2286.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj80bkZTF7p58_V2isk1qTSjMzAYJHBBKrv6FCEut8DFj7D3JOiGTglgQR1ElNhmjoTkPy9rO7f1KhskAouNiZtHoAobHo2zWhC5Yu1OQZqpeHLmSbg4rt6S_0_ABJ3cW9qf7cqe15Puw/s320/IMG_2286.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316792551604724066" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoAmFtWhEXWDdjMBRsNKnJONCAwuFEOPErpLQhILqI40VgJxW-ah0bOi-tFNRcqBrhv7kmL8ca-vGj_OrAvWzR0r1MtICzT3mhogyN0kXsbxD67AWnGawg2gYZYn0MMu6B8IK5hGP7Js/s1600-h/IMG_2316.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoAmFtWhEXWDdjMBRsNKnJONCAwuFEOPErpLQhILqI40VgJxW-ah0bOi-tFNRcqBrhv7kmL8ca-vGj_OrAvWzR0r1MtICzT3mhogyN0kXsbxD67AWnGawg2gYZYn0MMu6B8IK5hGP7Js/s320/IMG_2316.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316792546634418226" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1SS2JvKBOHQVPyCR7Z0MrHl1uBDylEmsHjbWpco0H6VvTM0pVC6r_ZcjdDCnAuPYQ7AmQ3put_Lge9FrrtQdND6ptJY6kPapI3o9YqKclV10R-1O7cqPH_zn-fIkBMqA4jydzpnnuj4/s1600-h/IMG_2252.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1SS2JvKBOHQVPyCR7Z0MrHl1uBDylEmsHjbWpco0H6VvTM0pVC6r_ZcjdDCnAuPYQ7AmQ3put_Lge9FrrtQdND6ptJY6kPapI3o9YqKclV10R-1O7cqPH_zn-fIkBMqA4jydzpnnuj4/s320/IMG_2252.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316792548927104594" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYr3TkED_NJjkMSMLUx9xqV9k5QBgKibz6lQsx5leuEG-nUDSLmjq1cLNVAyHFYUYqvJ2DO8WQ4UeQL7kTeIXdZAgKHvwHsvmzs_vug3U-K7n3Pf5J_GKN8ffkFLORh1_x8sS47EWSSg/s1600-h/IMG_2278.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYr3TkED_NJjkMSMLUx9xqV9k5QBgKibz6lQsx5leuEG-nUDSLmjq1cLNVAyHFYUYqvJ2DO8WQ4UeQL7kTeIXdZAgKHvwHsvmzs_vug3U-K7n3Pf5J_GKN8ffkFLORh1_x8sS47EWSSg/s320/IMG_2278.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316792542038495026" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSe5akiH-j5Dtg7IkJd48lGP8V29uQ5xUsIyqVorjrTjgB3dcwCoSCrVkUd4_1lJYCFhXb54ndk8LL-PVQjslfb61N_2hrTKhmht1V2LVedMwd9pDbjIefrvkqxe-ZMAJUXXj2VCLOYc/s1600-h/IMG_2291.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSe5akiH-j5Dtg7IkJd48lGP8V29uQ5xUsIyqVorjrTjgB3dcwCoSCrVkUd4_1lJYCFhXb54ndk8LL-PVQjslfb61N_2hrTKhmht1V2LVedMwd9pDbjIefrvkqxe-ZMAJUXXj2VCLOYc/s320/IMG_2291.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316792538832284114" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjexkodXLhc9Awh-XGOhbMF7CY4f7PfMC8JKS3PHEixcL5scim1XQBP9gIqzPTNRuDtMdbRBky-tegQ0No8v3jUiMe838RWGVtiZ8eWmKZxRtfU99SRZ13fpXLFBSBliR7cA-Vreq4d0/s1600-h/IMG_2282.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjexkodXLhc9Awh-XGOhbMF7CY4f7PfMC8JKS3PHEixcL5scim1XQBP9gIqzPTNRuDtMdbRBky-tegQ0No8v3jUiMe838RWGVtiZ8eWmKZxRtfU99SRZ13fpXLFBSBliR7cA-Vreq4d0/s320/IMG_2282.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316791968769861298" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhA1RvdA3tZcSq8UduTtFb1bxlehUWJAR6pV9A7rX7V4Tr80YcwpM_CT4D6LInplRDLa1fbVRmaawV660qYN3QcZAyE_lstkseb0ZVI-7DMETRJE8Q6a2b56x3QmE3dNvxq81gHgd2S0Y/s1600-h/IMG_2284.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhA1RvdA3tZcSq8UduTtFb1bxlehUWJAR6pV9A7rX7V4Tr80YcwpM_CT4D6LInplRDLa1fbVRmaawV660qYN3QcZAyE_lstkseb0ZVI-7DMETRJE8Q6a2b56x3QmE3dNvxq81gHgd2S0Y/s320/IMG_2284.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316791963449622722" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9hR_EiItNFalZFKKOe9t_y1FqGpktp2pW1eKKX1q3G8Sl_ucnrTuAqonotaoehHyIN1zjQTcWbmF7KvGvv82pBRKoYOLfJrCI_2Hkziw_aye1acLoHASE1z647wbusP1hf_M1qbXD9E/s1600-h/IMG_2280.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9hR_EiItNFalZFKKOe9t_y1FqGpktp2pW1eKKX1q3G8Sl_ucnrTuAqonotaoehHyIN1zjQTcWbmF7KvGvv82pBRKoYOLfJrCI_2Hkziw_aye1acLoHASE1z647wbusP1hf_M1qbXD9E/s320/IMG_2280.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316791967082903458" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0bdVNBYsi_Er4vupCEd3U6jo_se_-9FKB_CbGEqYaforFAk8f0iQwVzwE4an400jFSLLNrVUbfh0196RKxR48YdB_QVD_yB23EL1K2BFKRA-bv8sOOUrkp-snAd7v3v1ehb7OQ0DXss/s1600-h/IMG_2293.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0bdVNBYsi_Er4vupCEd3U6jo_se_-9FKB_CbGEqYaforFAk8f0iQwVzwE4an400jFSLLNrVUbfh0196RKxR48YdB_QVD_yB23EL1K2BFKRA-bv8sOOUrkp-snAd7v3v1ehb7OQ0DXss/s320/IMG_2293.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316791957400165746" /></a><br />Victoria Falls, Zambia<br />March 24th, 2009 <br /><br />Our first stop in Zambia was to one of the seven natural wonders of the world- Victoria Falls. We first saw the falls driving from the border post in the direction of Livingstone. The spray we saw was from over 30kms away. Amazing. Arriving in Livingstone we were struck by how untouristy the town is. Besides the addition of several craft stalls and some backpackers the town could pass for any other small African town – I mean there isn’t even a KFC (I know, crazy).<br /><br />Seeing the falls in the flesh didn’t disappoint. The sound was of thunder, the spray was finer than rain, and the smell was of fresh dew. It is truly spectacular especially as we were lucky enough to see it during it’s finest. The Zambezi River levels are incredibly high at the moment and the famous Victoria Falls rapids are closed to rafting due to the water levels (and will mostly likely be closed until May/June). <br /><br />Spending the better part of the day at the Falls we wandered around the different paths and admired the views. It was spectacular. And crossing the knife edge bridge was fantastic- walking a few metres we got completely soaked. I mean not just wet totally drenched. Fantastic. <br /><br />*We also scanned the craft market and picked up a few of the Zimbabwe bills to become instant trillionaires!traveljunkieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773033385088289803noreply@blogger.com0