Friday, October 28, 2011
Do as I say and NOT as I do!
We have done things today that I would kill my children if they did them! The morning was exciting....as were trying to exit our cabin to go to the dining room, we were met by a herd of around 20 elephants. We had to be very quiet and back away back to our door until they passed. Fabulous to watch! We went on a tour of Victoria Falls early this morning. Truly breath-taking! And then we had signed up to do a lunch trip to Livingston Island which is in the middle of the falls very close to the edge. We were in a most unusual but interesting group that we enjoyed very much. We went by boat to Livingston Island....and then we did something that was fun...but stupid....we swam and walked/climbed over rocks very close to the edge....probably 30 feet from the "See Ya!" edge! AND THEN...HERE COMES THE REALLY STUPID PART (the Atkins family would say the IDIOT part) we slid/jumped into an area called the Devil's Pool. We did have 2 guides with us. We were right on the edge in an eddy area. AND THEN THE REALLY REALLY REALLY IDIOT PART......WE ACTUALLY LET THE GUIDE HOLD OUR FEET WHILE WE HUNG....WELL, MAYBE JUST LOOKED OVER THE EDGE!!!! Cannot believe we did that!!!!! Katie, Taylor, Caroline, Lane, and Davis....DO NOT EVER DO THIS!!!!!! We drove back to the lodge is a thunderstorm in an open top Land Rover! We then watched the elephants again that were right by our cottage and across the river until we took a boat with Junior up the Zambezi tiger fishing. We did't have much luck but it was beautiful and fun. Junior had to speed up the boat to go up the rapids which was fun except it threw me out of my seat and onto the floor of the boat and I broke my new prescription sunglasses!!!!! UGH!!!!! I have so enjoyed really seeing out of my new sunglasses, John McVey! I am very sad! Barry got his lure hung up and offered to get out and unhang it....Junior pointed out that they crocs would love a nice dinner.. Barry decided to cut his loses! We are off to Botswana for a week....no wifi....so no news from me! Take care everyone! Xoxoxo
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Only a Mississippian.....
I had to add that this could only happen to a Mississippian:
When visiting with the lodge manager at Sasakwa of course Barry made a connection! Mandy mentioned that her sister and brother-in-law had lived in Memphis for a short time and now live in Charlotte. (Mind you that they are from South Africa!!!). Before she even finished describing them to us, Barry interrupted her and said....."I bet I know him!". And of course, he did! SMALL WORLD!!!!!
When visiting with the lodge manager at Sasakwa of course Barry made a connection! Mandy mentioned that her sister and brother-in-law had lived in Memphis for a short time and now live in Charlotte. (Mind you that they are from South Africa!!!). Before she even finished describing them to us, Barry interrupted her and said....."I bet I know him!". And of course, he did! SMALL WORLD!!!!!
Sad, Sad, Sad to leave Singita Saskawa!
After 3 bumpy flights, we are in Nairobi for the night. All of the flights were HOT! One of the flights was very much like Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disney World...only it lasted a lot longer and you would not leap off this ride running as fast as you can to the entrance to do it all over again!
We were so sad to leave our new friends at Singita Sasakwa! We loved everything about it! Can't think of a thing I would change! WOW! We are already planning our return visit!
Yesterday, once again we witnessed a part of the Great Migration! Just can't describe it! Pictures and words can't express what we saw and felt...both here at Sasakwa in the Grumeti as well as in the Masai Mara in Kenya witnessing this spectacle! In the Grumeti (which is adjacent to the Serengeti National Park....with no fences), we saw thousands of thundering wildebeest and zebras. They are moving.....specially the wildebeest....all the time. Rarely do they chill! We also got in the middle of a group of 600-700 elephants. It was fantastic....even when our vehicle was charged by a bull elephant. I was really glad when Lee, our fantastic guide, put the pedal to the medal! We saw so many topi, eland, dik dik, duiker, impala, warthogs, Grants gazelles, Thomsons gazelles, Cape Buffalo, giraffes, and the list goes on! I felt like I was on Noah's Ark! And that was all before breakfast!
We ate breakfast at one of the other Singita sister camps that is on the Grumeti called Singita Sabora. It is a tented camp on the plains. It was wonderful! Very "Out of Africa" looking! We loved all 3 Singita camps here on the Grumeti.....having eaten breakfast at the Singita Faru Faru the first day. All 3 are stunning and each offers a unique experience.
We were so sad to leave our new friends at Singita Sasakwa! We loved everything about it! Can't think of a thing I would change! WOW! We are already planning our return visit!
Yesterday, once again we witnessed a part of the Great Migration! Just can't describe it! Pictures and words can't express what we saw and felt...both here at Sasakwa in the Grumeti as well as in the Masai Mara in Kenya witnessing this spectacle! In the Grumeti (which is adjacent to the Serengeti National Park....with no fences), we saw thousands of thundering wildebeest and zebras. They are moving.....specially the wildebeest....all the time. Rarely do they chill! We also got in the middle of a group of 600-700 elephants. It was fantastic....even when our vehicle was charged by a bull elephant. I was really glad when Lee, our fantastic guide, put the pedal to the medal! We saw so many topi, eland, dik dik, duiker, impala, warthogs, Grants gazelles, Thomsons gazelles, Cape Buffalo, giraffes, and the list goes on! I felt like I was on Noah's Ark! And that was all before breakfast!
We ate breakfast at one of the other Singita sister camps that is on the Grumeti called Singita Sabora. It is a tented camp on the plains. It was wonderful! Very "Out of Africa" looking! We loved all 3 Singita camps here on the Grumeti.....having eaten breakfast at the Singita Faru Faru the first day. All 3 are stunning and each offers a unique experience.
Monday, October 24, 2011
The Serengeti
It is our second night at Sasakwa! We are at dinner....they feed us constantly. And the food is out of this world. This morning we came upon 2 cheetas that were killing a wildebeest. It was really something to watch. We left them and came upon 2 male lions that obviously had eaten well....they were fat and sleepy. We came back to the cheetas in less than 4 hours...and there was nothing left except bones! What the cheetas didn't eat, the vultures did. We went back late this afternoon to where we left the sleeping lions......they had not moved except for one had changed sides....just had a fabulous dinner. We have become very good friends with the chef and pastry chef!
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Ngorongoro Crater
Today, once again, we had an early wakeup call. The sun rise over the crater was something to behold! How anyone can believe that all of this happened by chance bests me!!! The trip down the crater is not for someone with a bad back! It was beautiful watching all the creatures wake up! We enjoyed having a picnic breakfast on the crater floor followed by a tailgate lunch on the crater floor, too. We saw 10 lions today which was fun. We also got to watch a cheeta stalk a gazelle, chase it...and miss it! It was a fun but really dusty day! We leave tomorrow for Singita Saskawa. Looking forward to it! I kind of think this is a one time is a must...but one time will do you kind of place!
Friday, October 21, 2011
From the Mara to the Ngorogoro Crater Lodge
Barry woke up at 3:09am this morning due to the hippos having a large party in the river right outside our tent! I was sleeping peacefully until Barry felt the need for me to know that he couldn't sleep which was at 5am! I was then up for the day and he promptly fell asleep. I got up and watched the sun rise (thank you, Barry!) on our porch while watching the hippos have a jolly good time!
As we were sitting on the terrace/deck at breakfast...where we can also access wifi, we learned that one of our most nearest and dearest went home to be with her/our Savior after a courageous battle with cancer. We are so sad that we are not in Jackson to be with Sherry Greener's family, but we are thankful for the special times we...especially Barry..spent with her before we left Jackson. We will miss her so very much...but we rejoice knowing that we will be with her for eternity in heaven!
We left Olonana mid-morning after a fun game drive with Benson and after saying our good bye's to one more place that we fell in love with! We flew from the Mara back to Nairobi where we met out wonderful A&K coordinator Patricia at the airport. She had already filled out our necessary papers that we would need to leave Kenya for Tanzania. We had to go through immigration in Kenya....pay some $$$! We left on a small plane on an airline that I can't pronounce bound for Kilimanjaro airport. We had someone from A&K meet us and take us through customs and deal with our luggage! They also handed us box lunches and get us from the back of the line to the front of the line! Luckily, we got to go through customs and fill out more papers and pay more $$$!!! We then got on another 12 seater plane bound for Lake Manyara airport! INTERESTING!!!!!!!! We had a driver meet us at the airport and drive us up from the airport to the Ngorogoro Crater Lodge! Wow! Besides the lodge being believable, looking out over this "wonder of the world" is quite fantastic!!!! We have an early morning awaiting us to in the bottom of the crater!
As we were sitting on the terrace/deck at breakfast...where we can also access wifi, we learned that one of our most nearest and dearest went home to be with her/our Savior after a courageous battle with cancer. We are so sad that we are not in Jackson to be with Sherry Greener's family, but we are thankful for the special times we...especially Barry..spent with her before we left Jackson. We will miss her so very much...but we rejoice knowing that we will be with her for eternity in heaven!
We left Olonana mid-morning after a fun game drive with Benson and after saying our good bye's to one more place that we fell in love with! We flew from the Mara back to Nairobi where we met out wonderful A&K coordinator Patricia at the airport. She had already filled out our necessary papers that we would need to leave Kenya for Tanzania. We had to go through immigration in Kenya....pay some $$$! We left on a small plane on an airline that I can't pronounce bound for Kilimanjaro airport. We had someone from A&K meet us and take us through customs and deal with our luggage! They also handed us box lunches and get us from the back of the line to the front of the line! Luckily, we got to go through customs and fill out more papers and pay more $$$!!! We then got on another 12 seater plane bound for Lake Manyara airport! INTERESTING!!!!!!!! We had a driver meet us at the airport and drive us up from the airport to the Ngorogoro Crater Lodge! Wow! Besides the lodge being believable, looking out over this "wonder of the world" is quite fantastic!!!! We have an early morning awaiting us to in the bottom of the crater!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Up, Up, and Away!
We had a wakeup call/visit at 4:45am this morning! It had rained most of the night.....so we endured quite a ride from Olonana to Governor's Camp for a unbelievable hot air ballon ride. We slid all over the road even though we were in a 4-wheel drive vehicle. At a couple of points, our driver had to drive off the road and the rest of the time he had 2 wheels on the mud road and 2 wheels off just to keep traction! We arrived just in time to jump in the ballon. We missed the safety talk and instructions. What a treat to see the sun rise over the Masai Mara and all the animals from above. We saw 8 lions literally spreading out around a herd of antelope....WILD! Most of the animals looked up at us. We had an uneventful landing and were greeted with a large champagne breakfast. We then rode with a guide and his 5 visitors around until we met up with our guide Vincent. This morning we had fun watching a Cheeta stalk an impala and then go after it...but she missed. We saw 2 male lions with a zebra they had killed and dragged into a tree. Saw a rhino...which are rare to see in Kenya unlike South Africa. Just finished a lovely lunch and about to go visit a Masai village.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Oh! My!
It is late afternoon at Olonana. It is raining softly outside with a distant rumble of thunder every now and then. Reminds us both of rainy Sundays at DeSoto and Alpine...until we hear the loud chortles and splashes of the hippos right outside our window.....and that would be a tent window. We elected to not go back out on a game drive this afternoon...we are just piddling. We had such an unbelievable morning! We saw 8 lions and thousands of zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, cape buffalo and other things that I surely can't spell! The plains were brimming with hundreds of elephants, giraffes, and so on. I just can't describe what it is like seeing this huge open plains called the Mara that is literally filled animals everywhere you turn! The Great Migration is indescribable! Other highlights today were coming up on a lion kill...they had taken down a Cape Buffalo....had their fill and left the rest for the vultures to fight over. We got to witness a very unique encounter in the river...Huge crocodiles had gotten a large zebra as they were crossing the river. They were fighting over the zebra when along came a hippo that fought for the zebra, too. Hippos are the only thing that crocs are afraid of. There was one hippo and about 12 crocs! We saw the hippo bite several crocs! Very exciting! I didn't even feel faint when the river water turned red! I will have to say that being woken up this morning by 8 hippos was pretty fun, too! Will post pics on FB. This blog will hardly let me upload any pics! Instead of piddling....we really had massages. The spa treatment room is open on one side over the river. It was pretty special...
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Barry's email to our kids tonight. Pics on FB!
Well we are in Africa now. Nairobi, for a city of 4 million, is as 3rd world as any place I have been except Cambodia. But the American Embassy was great and solved a nagging passport problem. We got away late for the bush. This is the Africa you see on TV. We are in the Massai Mara. It is part of the great plains of Africa and is connected to the Serengeti where we go next in Tanzania. It is an awesome site and the animals are out in the open everywhere. We got here on a one hour single engine Cessna plane ride from Nairobi. We landed on a dirt runway next to thousands of animals on migration . Yes, Angelyn timed it right. We got here just in time for the great migration that you see on TV. Right by the runway you could see thousands of wilderbeasts, zebras and elephants on their way hundred of miles back to where they started. We got into a land rover and headed across the great Mara plains and quickly spotted at the end of the runway two cheetas that were just finishing off a small Thompson Giselle that they had just run down. We drove right up to them ( one male and one female cheeta ) and watch them fight over and ultimately split their kill. To get to our new camp we had to cross the Mara river in a small boat with all our luggage that a guide pulled us across to the other side by way of a rope that the boat was tethered to. We then had at least a 30 minute ride across this beautiful untamed landscape looking at many new animals we had not seen in South Africa. The camp is on the same river. Our tent is on the river bank that is filled with huge hippos right beside us. They actually growl and make many unpleasant noises we will hear all night long along with the sounds of the running river and the rapids just upstream. Yes, I said tents. These are not Four Seasons tents but they are better than the room we had last night in the luxury hotel we stayed at in Nairobi. Actually the tents are awesome. Guys you would love this place. Actually the whole staff is native Kenyan males, primarily from the Massai tribe. Those are those incredible tall guys with very deep voices and very black skin. They wait at night outside your tent to walk you to dinner in the dark so that no bad animal will get you. They are more scary than the animals. Watch for Mom's pictures the next few days. They should be awesome.
Shortly before we arrived in Kenya, the army of Kenya invaded Somalia in part because Somali rebels had recently killed and kidnapped some tourists visiting Kenya. The Somali rebels promised retaliation, in part, against other Kenya tourists. I am not concerned but it does add to the excitement of the adventure.
I know I married the most interesting woman alive but this adventure just proves it. This is all any husband could ask for and I wish that each of you could experience it one day. If you want an adventure, let Angelyn plan it. I loved Angelyn and this trip but miss you guys badly. Thanks Caroline for all you are doing at home. Best family ever!
You all know that
Shortly before we arrived in Kenya, the army of Kenya invaded Somalia in part because Somali rebels had recently killed and kidnapped some tourists visiting Kenya. The Somali rebels promised retaliation, in part, against other Kenya tourists. I am not concerned but it does add to the excitement of the adventure.
I know I married the most interesting woman alive but this adventure just proves it. This is all any husband could ask for and I wish that each of you could experience it one day. If you want an adventure, let Angelyn plan it. I loved Angelyn and this trip but miss you guys badly. Thanks Caroline for all you are doing at home. Best family ever!
You all know that
Got 'er done!!!!!
First, let me say that When I titled the post last night..."Whew....". That didn't mean YAY! I guess I should have titled it WOW!
We are thrilled that we have solved a nagging potential problem. We were worried that Barry didn't have enough pages in his passport. Some countries take a page or more and require empty pages!? We had been assured before we left that Barry's passport was fine....we were not 100% convinced. As we have watched pages get stamped and stapled, we became more and more worrisome. We showed Barry's passport as well as mine to our contact here in Nairobi, she was very alarmed and that he must get new pages and that I should too to be on the safe side. To make a long story short, we changed departure plans this morning. Went to Embassy. Got the extra pages. Wow!! What a ride to the embassy! Eye opening for sure! Now instead of flying out this morning to private airstrip at camp, we are flying to another camp....being taken to the river where we will get in little boats and be pulled across the river with our luggage! Can't wait!
We are thrilled that we have solved a nagging potential problem. We were worried that Barry didn't have enough pages in his passport. Some countries take a page or more and require empty pages!? We had been assured before we left that Barry's passport was fine....we were not 100% convinced. As we have watched pages get stamped and stapled, we became more and more worrisome. We showed Barry's passport as well as mine to our contact here in Nairobi, she was very alarmed and that he must get new pages and that I should too to be on the safe side. To make a long story short, we changed departure plans this morning. Went to Embassy. Got the extra pages. Wow!! What a ride to the embassy! Eye opening for sure! Now instead of flying out this morning to private airstrip at camp, we are flying to another camp....being taken to the river where we will get in little boats and be pulled across the river with our luggage! Can't wait!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Whew! We are not in Kansas anymore!
It has been a very interesting day! First, I am happy to report that our luggage did fly with us to Nairobi! Yay! After Barry and I got on the flight,I was reading the newspaper in Jo'burg and there was an article out the luggage robberies that are occuring at a rate of 15 per day at the airport by baggage handlers! So we were glad to see it at baggage claim in Nairobi. Our South African flight from Cape Town to Jo'burg was very nice. Nice planes...nice staff. When we arrived at Jo'burg we had to go back through security to change flights. Our Kenyan Airlines was an older plane. The staff couldn't be nicer. There were 2 people sitting close to us that everyone knew...but us! People kept bowing to the man sitting in front of us as well as shaking hands and speaking to the man across the aisle. Mid-flight, there was a lady that they carried by the arms and legs to the front of the plane. She was limp. They had her laid out in the aisle and "worked on her". Not really sure what they were doing even though she was right by our seats....no doctors or health care people involved or summoned? Then they picked her up by the arms and legs and took her back and put her in her seat? Who knows? I am sure a lot of you have been to the Niarobi airport! Wow! Not sure what to say!!! We then went and got in line for Visas. Got to the front and were given
papers to fill out and then come back and get in now VERY LONG LINE!!! Finally made it through. We are at the Norfolk Hotel. Lotta history. We are dealing with a problem of not enough passport pages! We have our wonderful son-in-law working on this from Washington and we are contacting the American Embassy tomorrow morning here. Our ride from the airport to the hotel was informative! Love our contact person here! We get "collected" at 8am !!!
papers to fill out and then come back and get in now VERY LONG LINE!!! Finally made it through. We are at the Norfolk Hotel. Lotta history. We are dealing with a problem of not enough passport pages! We have our wonderful son-in-law working on this from Washington and we are contacting the American Embassy tomorrow morning here. Our ride from the airport to the hotel was informative! Love our contact person here! We get "collected" at 8am !!!
Leaving on a jet plane...Hopefully with luggage!
We had a 5:30am wakeup call in order to drive from Franschhoek to Cape Town airport. We fly from here to Johannesburg...switch airlines and then on to Nairobi. It was and still is a little concerning when the South African Airlines ticket agent told us that he wished we had enough time in Jo'burg to collector luggage and rechceck it ourselves. Our layover is not long enough he said! He explained that he had checked it on to Nairobi, but it would have been "safer" to collect and recheck. Safer because why??? It might not make it to Nairobi or because it will be broken into even though is it locked? He shrugged his shoulders as if to say...BOTH!!!! UGH!!!!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Serenity...
Two nights ago, we went to Ryan's Kitchen in Franschhoek for a 7 course dinner with wine pairings. Of course, I was in nirvana! And all who know Barry know that he would be most happy with a root beer and corn dog or red hots and chocolate milk! But he held up well! I think he even enjoyed it.....he didn't even start rubbing his face when the bill was presented! All who worked with me on Come On In! will remember that if Barry liked a recipe, it did not go into the cookbook and vice versa!
Yesterday, we just piddled all day. We went into the little town and strolled around. We ate lunch and walked back to La Residence. It was such a perfect weather day! I think this is what it must be like to live in Santa Barbara all year round! We had a wonderful meal here by a roaring fire last night. We need to be loving this weather because in a little over 2 weeks when we are in Botswana, it is going to be HOT HOT HOT!!!!! And no A/C!!!
About to sort through clothes and repack. We leave for Nairobi tomorrow. We can only each take a soft sided duffle that weighs very little. We are having our THREE rolling duffles shipped to Johannesburg to our hotel where we will reunite with them on November 6. I think I will have wifi in some of Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia.....but will be totally out of touch in Botswana. At least Barry won't be able to check up on Ole Miss football (or lack thereof)!!!
Yesterday, we just piddled all day. We went into the little town and strolled around. We ate lunch and walked back to La Residence. It was such a perfect weather day! I think this is what it must be like to live in Santa Barbara all year round! We had a wonderful meal here by a roaring fire last night. We need to be loving this weather because in a little over 2 weeks when we are in Botswana, it is going to be HOT HOT HOT!!!!! And no A/C!!!
About to sort through clothes and repack. We leave for Nairobi tomorrow. We can only each take a soft sided duffle that weighs very little. We are having our THREE rolling duffles shipped to Johannesburg to our hotel where we will reunite with them on November 6. I think I will have wifi in some of Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia.....but will be totally out of touch in Botswana. At least Barry won't be able to check up on Ole Miss football (or lack thereof)!!!
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Picasa
Because I have had such a hard time uploading pics to the blog, I am trying to upload to Picasa. So search for me on their website and we will see what happens. I think I am Angelyn A Cannada on their site. Let me know!!
Blog isn't working well!!!!
This imperfect blog isn't letting me upload many photos. It is bouncing almost all of them! On the other hand, FB is letting me upload lots. So....check out FB! In the meantime, I am going to check out some other blog sites and I may switch to another site. Anyone have any ideas of better sites? Email me at acannada@aol.com if you do.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Franschhoek......a jewel!
Sadly, after a beautiful breakfast we departed Birkenhead House. The trip over the mountains to Franschhoek was very picturesque. For awhile it looked like we were in Tuscany.....then the Dolomites.....especially when we saw the one car Masserati accident! And as we winded down the montains and into Franschhoek, it felt like we were in Aspen. What a fabulous surprise our destination turned out to be! We LOVE La Residence! After settling in, we enjoyed a fine lunch before a roaring fire. We walked around and explored the property a little this afternoon. I uploaded too many photos, but I just couldn't choose which ones were favorites! Tonight we went to a really wonderful restaurant and hadna 7 course dinner! Exhausted from eating all day! Ha!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Getting close to great whites was NOT on my bucket list!
Had another fantastic day! Barry and a went great white shark diving. YES!, we wore wet suits! YES! It was freezing! YES! We saw lots of whales up close! YES! We saw lots of dolphins! YES! We saw a zillion seals! YES, great whites are ginormous! YES, Barry discovered this morning that he brought 2 right Teva water shoes! It was really fun and I must say exhilarating ! I felt teensy next to one in the water. Barry and I tried to get some pictures...but they werent very good. It is hard trying to concentrate on snapping the pic with blue fingers while on the look out for great whites! It took me a long time to get warm after we got back to Birkenhead House. We enjoyed a sensational sunset and another memorable dinner. Oh yeah....did I mention we were in a cage?
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