tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57058255171342344432024-03-13T23:42:29.072-07:00Around The World With EaseAround The World With Ease is a movement empowering the citizens of the world to explore and enjoy every part of our planet.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17478207608117378612noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705825517134234443.post-25396237844826076862011-12-11T21:00:00.000-08:002011-12-11T21:03:05.602-08:00Chased by a vulture --- a must-seehttp://clepswashere.tumblr.com/post/14100996953/farai-chideya-talks-to-dan-krauss-the-director-of<br /><br />http://clepswashere.tumblr.com/post/14100996953/farai-chideya-talks-to-dan-krauss-the-director-of<br /> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img style="border: medium none; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=3f2217e5-00bd-480a-b2c7-ec1936a351d5" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17478207608117378612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705825517134234443.post-46941483711498913422011-12-11T12:18:00.000-08:002011-12-11T12:21:45.501-08:00Georgia (Europa)<span class="zemanta-img separator" style="clear: left;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Regions_of_Europe_Map.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; display: block; float: left; clear: left;"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Regions_of_Europe_Map.png/300px-Regions_of_Europe_Map.png" alt="Regions of Europe Map" style="font-size: 0.8em; border: medium none;" height="199" width="300" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; float: left; width: 300px;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Regions_of_Europe_Map.png">Wikipedia</a></span></span><br /><p>Write text here...</p><div class="zemanta-related"><h6 class="zemanta-related-title" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 1em 0pt 0pt;">Related articles</h6><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/3/prweb8202197.htm">Rick Steves Announces the All-New (Free!) Audio Europe App</a> (prweb.com)</li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebAvalonTravel/RickStevesLowellThomas/prweb8900218.htm">Rick Steves Named 2011 Travel Journalist of the Year</a> (prweb.com)</li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://goldmanstravels.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/rick-steves-the-new-emperor-of-rome/">Rick Steves, The New Emperor of Rome</a> (goldmanstravels.wordpress.com)</li></ul></div> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img style="border: medium none; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=bc13dec3-0ee5-4b41-9003-1b6b9469bff1" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17478207608117378612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705825517134234443.post-3012627604501150962010-03-10T05:13:00.000-08:002010-03-10T05:28:11.567-08:00Descanco Gardens Tulips in Bloom!<p class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; float: left; display: block; width: 310px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Camellia_sasanqua1JAM343.jpg"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Camellia_sasanqua1JAM343.jpg/300px-Camellia_sasanqua1JAM343.jpg" alt="Camellia sasanqua" style="border: medium none ; display: block;" width="300" height="225" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Camellia_sasanqua1JAM343.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></p>TUESDAY the 18<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">DESCANO</span> GARDENS - a train for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ike</span>, and us - <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">don't</span> be afraid of too much walking - you're w/me! There's also <a class="zem_slink freebase/en/japanese_people" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_people" title="Japanese people" rel="wikipedia">Japanese</a> Tea AND you can bring your sack lunch or buy food there! ... TULIPS in full bloom - lots o space for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ikey</span> to run round - DYING to go !!!!<br /><br />ALSO; it is HALF-OFF that day!<br /><br />and check out this yelp review from March 09:<br /><br />"I highly recommend this garden when you have to entertain family. There are fewer screaming babies and tour groups. Admission is cheaper (the third Tuesday of the month is half off!) and the <a class="zem_slink freebase/en/camellia" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=4441" title="Camellia" rel="ncbi">camellias</a> are blooming madly through the pines.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Aba</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">btw</span> I've tired multiple times to reach u <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">thru</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">dif</span> entities - what is best way to reach you exactly? if u say call, tell me which one<fieldset class="zemanta-related"><legend class="zemanta-related-title">Related articles by Zemanta</legend><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2010466875_ciscoemorris10.html?syndication=rss">Plant Camellia sasanqua to attract hummingbirds to your garden</a> (seattletimes.nwsource.com)</li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://recycleemail.com/uncategorized/new-time-for-tea/">New time for tea</a> (recycleemail.com)</li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A//www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/7397416/Worlds-rarest-camellias-blooming-in-19th-century-conservatory.html&a=14391414&rid=8da570db-c87a-4c34-8290-ab46775917ec&e=ba15c5271e35630c38b7fe192d403a47">World's rarest camellias blooming in 19th century conservatory</a> (telegraph.co.uk)</li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://wellylady.blogspot.com/2010/01/january-ex-flowers-non-flowers-and.html">January ex-flowers, non-flowers and would-be flowers</a> (wellylady.blogspot.com)</li></ul></fieldset> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=8da570db-c87a-4c34-8290-ab46775917ec" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related more-info pretty-attribution paragraph-reblog"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17478207608117378612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705825517134234443.post-86151735425397299252010-03-09T15:45:00.000-08:002010-03-09T16:39:37.228-08:00Safari<blockquote><p class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; float: left; display: block; width: 310px; font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Masaidance.jpg"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Masaidance.jpg/300px-Masaidance.jpg" alt="Dmitri Markine.com http://www.dmitrimarkine.co..." style="border: medium none ; display: block;" height="200" width="300" /></a></span><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size:100%;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Masaidance.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong></strong></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;">by Tori Sloane</span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Nearest City: <a class="zem_slink freebase/en/nairobi" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=-1.28333333333,36.8166666667&spn=0.1,0.1&q=-1.28333333333,36.8166666667%20%28Nairobi%29&t=h" title="Nairobi" rel="geolocation">Nairobi, Kenya</a></span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Detailed Location: <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=-1.49,35.1438888889&spn=1.0,1.0&q=-1.49,35.1438888889%20%28Masai%20Mara%29&t=h" title="Masai Mara" rel="geolocation">Maasai Mara</a></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"> We immediately departed on our first game drive right after we got settled into the camp.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">We boarded our new vehicle, that we would be using for the duration for the trip; a new 4-wheel drive open-topped <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Range_Rover" title="Range Rover" rel="wikipedia">Range Rover</a>. There's six seats plus the driver and front passenger seats and we all climb over the front and middle seats to get seated, made easier by the fact that it is open-topped (there is a vinyl top that goes over it if </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">it rains).</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Already everyone is standing up looking about above the truck. We get to get out about waist high if we stand on the seats, lower if standing on the floor. Just outside the</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">camp you are in complete wilderness, vast, vast areas of dry yellow grasses, bush, acacia </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">trees, either solo or in groves, and animals. It is so beautiful. You see <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antelope" title="Antelope" rel="wikipedia">antelope</a>, <a class="zem_slink freebase/en/zebra" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra" title="Zebra" rel="wikipedia">zebra</a>, a few ostrich, tons of other birds (all very colorful - but metallic shiny colorful), gazelle, dik-diks, and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildebeest" title="Wildebeest" rel="wikipedia">wildebeest</a>. Bridget, an <a class="zem_slink freebase/en/irish_people" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_people" title="Irish people" rel="wikipedia">Irish</a> lady, pronounces wildebeest 'will-DEE-beast" so we all do, for the duration of the journey. We also see hartebeest (which we all pronounce 'har-TEE-beast') which are more deer-like, elegant and pancake-colored than the wildebeest. These are all in herds. We drive along, Steve patiently stopping as much as we want so we can take pictures. Gary really likes the hartebeest and takes a roll of</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">pictures of them.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Giraffe!</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">We're cruising along, just 20 mintues outside camp and encounter a group of giraffe</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">grazing on trees just up ahead of us. Steve stops the truck. We look at the giraffe.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The giraffe look at us. We look back at the giraffe. The giraffe look back at us. </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">They are all ears-twitching, eye-lashing batting, roundly cud-chewing creatures. Their</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">necks are really, really long. There's babies! Some of them are more shy than others</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">and peek at us from behind the trees through the treetops. We madly pass binoculars</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">back and forth, trying to get the best look at them possible. It is really thrilling!</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">We are sure they are thinking "Wow, here comes another group of those humans, check</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">them out! Some are taller than the others. Some look younger. I think there are four females and three males. Look! One of them is grooming themselves.", which is exactly</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">how we talk about them.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">As we move away, they do, too. If you have never seen a giraffe run you are in for a</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">treat! Wow, it is really cool the way they run! We get so excited we are all jumping</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">down in the truck, emitting squeals of delight. Steve has to tell us to calm</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">down because this isn't quite exactly the best behaviour when trying to seek out game</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">in the wild. </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Already more animals are spotted by Steve, who is utterly remarkable at sighting the</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">creatures. I know this is his job, but I'm telling you, you see a micro, micro, spec, way, way, way, across the savannah through your binoculars, and Steve knows</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">what animal it is and heads over. I cannot believe we are going to go so far as he</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">is pointing, but, as we become accustomed to, Steve just heads off directly across the</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">grasses, making our own tracks, up and down slight hills, toward the spec. We also get</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">used to holding on to the truck for dear life, our hands becoming numb doing so. We </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">girls also all get bruises on our hips from continually hitting the sides of the top,</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">as we stand as we bump and speed our way across the grasses toward specs. </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Elephant!</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">We're approaching a herd of elephant! Some are still hidden in the thickness of some</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">bush. They're on a hilly part. As we get closer, the elephants get bigger and bigger.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">They are really big. They're all roaring! I've never been so excited in my life! There's</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">elephants! They're big and grey! They are in a herd! They all walk RIGHT behind each</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">other coming out of the bush. They're kicking up dust. They're roaring. There's bigger</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">ones way out in front. There's babies in between! Baby elephants. Oh, they are so cute!</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Baby elephants are really, really cute. The big males face us out in the front. Gary </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">actually says, "They're not going to ram us, are they?", which we are all thinking. </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">They could tip us over and kill us in a second. Squash us like little bugs. This is</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">probably why they are not afraid of us. </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Also, Steve explains, all the animals in the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maasai" title="Maasai" rel="wikipedia">Maasai</a> are younger than the 53 years or</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">so the area has been protected from poaching, so they are used to cars and many just</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">absolutely ignore cars, letting you get real close to them. Since the cars have no</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">scent the animals just think they are like mobile rocks. What you CANNOT do is just</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">get out of the truck as you please. Then you're dead meat. They kill to protect their</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">young.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">After he explains this, Steve tells us about the Walking Safaris we are going to be</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">going on, albeit lead by rifle-armed guides. </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">We move across the hills, waving good-bye to the herd. </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Lion!</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Male lion! We are approaching a big rock that has a huge male lion, mane and all, sitting</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">high up atop it. We cannot believe the amount of animals we are seeing already! The lion's mane is blowing in the wind. He is really big. He is king. He kinda looks like</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">your stuffed animal image of a lion, all yellow, with a big darker brown mane and a </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">huge long tail with the brown puffy part at the end that he moves back and forth, except</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">that this is very, very real. We kinda all lower ourselves slightly more into the truck</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">as we stop before him. On cue, he lets out a giant yawn, opening his humungous mouth and revealing saber-size incisors. </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">As his mouth opens, our jaws drop. When he gets to the part where his mouth is entirely open, head thrown back, so that all you can see is mouth, mammoth pink tongue and roof, and razor-sharp teeth, he pauses. </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">For what seems</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">like forever we stand there, our jaws open too, stunned, as this great mouth is set open before us. You are just immobile. Finally he closes it with a big clamp and then kinda lowers his eye lids. I guess it's nap time.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">You can tell Steve is excited for us, but we all just stand there in shock doing </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">nothing but staring at this great beast. He could make one leap in be in the truck. </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Steve offers, "Maybe you want to take a picture?" We just keep standing there. Finally,</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">someone gets the courage to turn their camera on and snaps a shot. We all hold our</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">breath, thinking maybe the lion won't like this, but he just langourously looks from</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">side to side. We stand there for quite awhile, both possessed by this beast, and also in</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">disbelief that we have actually seen him, before we move on. </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Unbelievably, just around the way, we spot another male lion. This one's walking.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">He moves along, toward the river. You can almost see the crown on the head of this</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">king of beasts. He walks right by our truck! He is big. We watch him walk on, and</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">then down to the bank of a river. We cross the river and can see him from the other</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">side as he takes a long drink of water, then dissappers into the undergrowth before</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">we drive on.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Buffalo!</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">My god, we are already seeing a second member of the Big 5 !!! Across the valley, </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">at the base of an upslope of a hill is a herd of buffalo! They are big and black.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">It is all dusty around them. They look really menacing. We don't get so close this time. </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Some of them, in front of the herd, look straight at us. They have the curled horns on each side of their face so that their heads look like this: ~0~ , with the horns poking out on each side, each ending in a sharp point. They snort. You can see their breath.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">They are all snorting. </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">If you are an American, your heart can't help but go out at the realization that great herds of beast like these once roamed the prairies of the American West. We are pretty moved by these creatures, thinking how strong and tough and impenetrable they look, but yet could easily be completely wiped out. They are Protected, thank goodness.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">As we drive back toward the camp, passing more of the regular animals, the antelope, the zebra, the tons of other birds gazelle, dik-diks, wildebeest and hartebeest, huge great smiles are spread across our faces; all just beaming at one another and laughing. We</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">also spot (okay, Steve spots) a big 5-foot kinda rooster-looking bird that has a big</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">spray of thin feathers sprouting out the top of its head. It is wildy colorful. I forgot</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">the name of it, but it is originally from neighboring Uganda.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">When we arrive back at the camp we have to wait for dinner and sit silently with the Maasai around the campfire. We look at the Maasai. The Maasai look back at us. We look at the Maasai. The Maasai look back at us. Travis gets up and walks toward the tents. </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">We all watch as Travis crosses the camp, reaches the tent, bends over, zips open the tent, goes into the tent, comes back out, zips closed the tent, and walks back over toward us.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">He's got a frisbee.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">He tosses it to Gary. Gary kinda tosses it back. A couple of the Maasai are familiar with</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">the frisbee. It is the original neon orange frisbee color. We all get up and head over</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">to a more spacious area and form the regular frisbee circle. </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">We all stand around in the knee-high yellow grass, us in our pale safari suits, the Maasai in their traditional bright dark red, silently tossing the frisbee all around, enthusiastically cheering with each good catch and throw. </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">We're playing frisbee with the Maasai.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">We can't get the smiles off our faces. The wind whips around our ears, the sun begins to set, sitting low in the sky, throwing long shadows off the acacia, and, in the distance, the hills turn purple.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Off in a corner, three Maasai are crouching in the grass watching the game. Margaret, Jacinta and I go join them, crouching down too, and we all watch the game for awhile. </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Maasai look at us. We look at the Maasai.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">We smile at the Maasai.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Maasai smile back at us.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">We're in Africa.</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <fieldset style="font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="zemanta-related"><legend class="zemanta-related-title"><span style="font-size:100%;">Related articles by Zemanta</span></legend><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://socialactions.net/QA6">Lion Proof Bomas/Protecting Lions</a> (socialactions.net)</span></li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://budgetnomad.blogspot.com/2009/12/where-wild-things-are-for-real.html">Where the Wild Things Are for Real</a> (budgetnomad.blogspot.com)</span></li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.thestar.com/travel/article/773862--travel-on-tv">Travel on TV</a> (thestar.com)</li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.neatorama.com/2009/10/13/the-strange-elegance-of-the-giraffe-necked-antelope/">The Strange Elegance of the Giraffe-Necked Antelope</a> (neatorama.com)</li></ul></fieldset> </blockquote> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px; font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);" class="zemanta-pixie"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/1edbb144-fd6a-4897-bad8-decb432d0d38/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_b.png?x-id=1edbb144-fd6a-4897-bad8-decb432d0d38" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related more-info pretty-attribution paragraph-reblog"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17478207608117378612noreply@blogger.com0