England Swings

Merv and Lorraine visited the UK in December 2007 to visit Jeff, Adele and the Wee Ones who were living near Warwick at the time. They also toured around and tracked down the towns Lorraine's ancestors had come from before moving to Canada. Although Merv didn't send out a travel report, here are some notes, thoughts and photos from this trip.

Castles and Family with Rosy Cheeked Children

The Dark Continent - Safari Part 5 - on to Tanzania

East African Safaris continue...
 
From the Mara we traveled to Nairobi where I was to say goodbye to the Dragoman group. Several were staying with the truck as it continued on its way towards Cape Town. Others were heading home, and still others, like me, were heading off to join different safaris.

The Dark Continent - Safari Part 4 - Balloon Ride in the Mara

East African Safaris continue... still in the Maasai Mara

The night before we were to leave the Maasai Mara I signed up for a balloon flight. I had been thinking about it, but it’s not cheap, about $500 for one hour. But then again, how many times am I going to be in Africa? Along with five others in my group I was picked up at 5:00AM to be taken to the launch site. When we arrived two of those huge bags, partially filled with hot air, were lying on the ground like brightly painted whales. Still in darkness, the morning quietness was shattered with the roar of the hot air being pumped in and soon the balloons were hanging in the breaking light. Just as the sun was about to peak over the horizon, we lifted off. Within moments the sun rose and the African savannah spread out below, a magical sight. Mara means ‘dappled’ in Maasai and it refers to the dappled appearance acacia trees give to the savannah, perfectly named as I could see from my perch in the basket below the balloon.

The Dark Continent - Safari Part 3 - Maasai People

East African Safaris continued... the Maasai People & Village

The Zulu peoples may have been the true warriors of Africa, but the Maasai are the ones which now best represent tribal Africa. Although they only account for less than 5% of the population in Kenya and Tanzania, the Maasai have a very high visibility with the men wearing their red plaid blankets, carrying a club and spear, and with bright plate like necklaces, and considerable body decorations including burn scars and tattooing, as well as ear lobe cutting, sometimes twisting and contorting them into near knots. Descendents from Nilotic people who 1,000 years ago migrated from the Sudan south to the Serengeti, these tall, slim, striking, nomadic herdsmen, to this day, tenaciously maintain their traditional life style.

The Dark Continent - Safari Part 2 - Kenya

East African Safaris continued... on to Kenya

The Dark Continent - Safari Part 1 - Uganda

Relaxing at Mweya Safari Lodge, Queen Elizabeth Park

 Dear Family and Friends,

“Jambo.”

“Jambo, mambo?”

“Hatujambo”.

I’m not sure of the spelling, but that is about how all conversations start in East Africa. “Hello.” (How are you, really.) “I’m fine, how are you?” “I’m fine”.

The Dark Continent - Muzungas in the Mist

Dear family and friends,

Spike Jones:  “Doodles!  Hey Doodles!  Did you hear about the owl that married a goat?”

Doodles Weaver:  “Yeah, they had a hootnanny!”

I know.  It’s not funny.  Not even in the least.  But here in Rwanda, not much is. 

Rwandan Kids at Mt. Bisoke

Vietnam Redux Redux

Dear family and friends,

I sent this letter a few days ago but for various reasons I don't think it went through to your addresses. Mainly, I think I had too many photos attached for your inboxes, so I am sending this without them. I have tried without success to establish a Yahoo Photo link, but again without success. Sorry. Anyway...

Cupping on the Street, Ho Chi Minh City