Africa Animals

When I visited Livingstone, Debbie and I took a safari drive. I've been into smaller parks before but this was one of the National parks and so had many more animals. It was really interesting! This particular park was 22 square kilometers.

Even before we reached the park we came across these elephants just walking near the road. No fence at all!

Hello there!

I can't help but think of Madagascar when I see zebras now.

Impala

Warthogs. Also known as Pumbaa.

Hakuna Matata

Oh, for heaven's sake. I've forgotten the name of this one. Who can help me out?

All I can remember is that his bottom looks like he sat on a toilet seat with wet paint on it.

Hornbills

Debbie was most excited to see the giraffes. She wrote a college paper once about how she was most like a giraffe because they have the largest hearts. I agree!

This baby was adorable

I'm sorry. Did we disturb your lunch?

Wildebeests. Apparently the legends here say that the wildebeest was created from spare parts of animals: impala, buffalo, and hyenas to name a few. 

Our guide said we were really lucky to see these because they had been across the river in Botswana.

Buffalo! Not like the water buffalo from India or the Bison in the U.S.

Our guide warned us that buffalo are dangerous because they will charge at you without warning. The one on the right stared straight at us the entire time.

As the evening drew near and the sun went down we came across a field full of baboons. 

There were also impala, zebras and guinea fowl all happily enjoying their suppers.

This little guy stole my heart. 

Do you think I should adopt him?

Now it's your turn!

Which African animal would you most like to see?

Take a guess--which animal was my favorite and which animal made me squeal with excitement. And remember, I'm still looking for the name of that other animal.

Anyone who gets the answers right will get their name in lights on Friday.

Manic Monday

I've nearly recovered from this weekend so I am back in the saddle. If you're wondering what exactly happened over the weekend that would need recovering from take a look at what I did.

The links are from last year but everything was nearly exactly the same.

Roast Pork

The Kids and Mutomboko

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The morning after all the festivities this year I made Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls. On her blog she lists some of the things that might happen to you when you serve them to your friends. It is very funny and I can add to the list as well--people who eat this may pass into a sugar high that causes them to sit at the table with a silly grin on their face. It was a joy to see.

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Today my family took two of our guests to see one of my most favorite places in the world--Ntumbachushi Falls. I stayed behind because, as I stated above, I was still recovering and needed to get stuff done. I enjoyed my quiet morning thoroughly.

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One of the things I needed to get done was packing. Tomorrow (in the middle of the night--so technically today) we are driving down to Lusaka to drop our guests at the airport. They have been wonderful volunteers and we will miss them. As I've shared with you before, packing is not my strong suit so as I sit here typing this to you I am in the process of NOT packing. It will get done, just not right now.

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The other reason we traveling down to Lusaka is to take Chola to the doctor for an ultrasound. We're still trying to locate his missing testicle and schedule an operation to correct the issue or remove the testicle completely. Time is running out as he turns 5 years in October.

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Today I visited one of my favorite blogs: Musing Reviews and Nancy was asking what we had read the past week and what was on our radar for new reads. Here is mine:

Reading right now:
Entranced by Nora Roberts,
Waiting for Snow in Havana by Carlos Eire.

About to read:
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers 

(this will be read on my computer)

Also on the nightstand:
Flight to Heaven by Capt. Dale Black
Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles
Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

So, that is my Manic Monday. How is your week shaping up?

P.S Power went out as I was about to publish this. Ah, Africa!

Vic Falls

My friend, Debbie, is leaving tomorrow. Le Sob! I can't believe nearly an entire month has flown by. We have had so much fun together--don't make it stop. And! I haven't even had time to blog all the adventures yet. Our mini-vacation at the beginning of her visit is still being documented. I hope it isn't boring you too much but this is how I'll know it really happened 6 months from now when we're really and truly pining for each other. Wait! I just realized I'll be able to see her in 6 months. I'll tell you why soon.--I hope.

And now, on to the adventures!

Vic Falls. That is what the cool people in the know call Victoria Falls. They were named that by David Livingstone when he 'discovered' them in 1855. The natives of course had known them for years and called them by the name of Mosi oa Tunya (The Smoke that Thunders). This is because the Zambezi River rushes into the gorge with such force at high water season that the water sprays back up into the air, turns into a cloud-like mist (which can be seen from miles away above the treetops) and then falls like a monsoon rain. It's amazing!

Debbie and I looked at them first from one side of the gorge and then walked around to the top of the falls. 

Here you can see the mist obscuring the view of the other side of the gorge.

The deceptively peaceful river before it reaches the waterfall's edge.

Debbie looks down at the edge of the waterfall and wonders how many have attempted to go over. 

Interesting fact: When the water level is low--at the end of dry season--you can walk across the top of the falls.

We had decided to view Victoria Falls au natural without any rain gear. We knew we'd get wet but thought it would make the adventure more authentic.

As we headed down the path we met a young lady who strongly suggested we head back and rent the ponchos and Crocs. She said even with that protection we would end up wet.

We're glad we took her suggestion. The outfits were goofy with the rental people first putting a garbage bag over us and then a poncho but it made the experience more fun.

I'm claustrophobic and the thought of being encased in 2 layers of plastic including a hood that obscured my view made me a little crazy. I said my prayers as they dressed me and then opted to leave the hood down and take my chances.

This is the first viewing point. So far so good.

This is the second. Already we were in monsoon-like conditions with 'rain' pouring down on us.

I risked this one last photo with my camera in a ziploc bag and then decided to put it away for safekeeping.

We were so grateful for the Crocs as we crossed a narrow bridge that was a solid rush of water. 

We inched across carefully and just stood in awe at the majesty of God's creation. If you'd like to see more photos of the waterfalls google it and you'll agree that God did good! We said that this type of experience really helps you to appreciate the word awesome in connection with the holiness of God.

We finally made it safely out a bit wet but so so happy.

A little extra treat as we left the park was watching this huge baboon attack jump on a teenage girl, walking right in front of us, so he could steal her bag of potato chips. An interesting mini-adventure to round out our day. I bought a little wooden baboon for Debbie's desk to commemorate the experience.

Happy Bloggiversary to ME!

It has been one whole year since I first put fingers to keyboard and typed the story of our Mutomboko Festival. I had no idea what I would write about every day but I've been amazed at how many stories there are to share as well as what everyone finds interesting.

The first time I got a comment from someone I didn't know personally I did a little dance. How exciting! People, real people who didn't have to love me, enjoyed my stories. Who knew?!

It really does help that I live in a place where the unusual is fairly usual. Not many other people can say that their pet monkey stole their car keys out of the ignition. It's true! Yesterday Tom found his car keys on the gravel driveway by just happening upon them. We weren't even aware they were missing yet. We shudder to think what might have happened if Kanono had taken them far off into the trees or garden! 

I started out simply with the blog and am gradually getting bolder. There are still many things I need to learn. Any long-time bloggers out there that want to help me learn more--please let me know. I have questions!

SITS has been a big help over the past year. I learned from them how to make a three column layout and so many other tips.

Thank you all for reading and following the adventures. I love sharing my life with you! It makes me feel that I have a community supporting me. What a treasure!

Sundays in My City--Vacation Day Four

I have so much to say regarding Raphael and his passing and the medical system here plus some good news regarding the care we're able to give babies here. For now though, please sit back and enjoy photos from one of the most beautiful places on earth!

The day we took the bus down to Livingstone we had booked a sunset cruise to see the wildlife along the banks of the Zambezi River as well as to see the sunset (of course!). As the day passed I realized we were cutting it close in our arrival time at our lodge where we would be picked up by the van that would take us to the boat. We called Jollyboys (our backpackers lodge) to tell them our expected arrival time. They assured us we would be in time.

As soon as our bus arrived in Livingstone we hurried to the lodge and checked in. They said the cruise van had just left but would be right back for us. We changed and then waited outside. and waited. and waited. Finally, we went back inside and the lady at reception called the company only to find there had been a mis-communication and the boat had already left. No!
No worries though. The van came back for us and told us we would get to take smaller boat out on the river to catch up with the slower moving cruise boat.

As we drew closer to our boat we saw elephants on the shore. Because we were in a small boat we were able to get right up next to them. 

Aren't they beautiful?

I was worried about how to get from the small boat to the larger one but there was a convenient little ladder. 

The cruise was really nice with a three course 'dinner' and unlimited drinks included in the package. Everyone milled around taking pictures and having a good time.

We saw impala on the shore and do you see the holes in the side of the cliff?

That was home for these brightly colored birds.

Very exciting for me was seeing hippos for the first time in the eight years I've lived in Zambia.

Did you know they are considered the most dangerous animal in Africa?

Debbie had a great vantage point when she climbed the stairs to the captain's level.

I had to pretend I was five years old and crawl around between people's legs.

The sky was too cloudy for a perfect sunset but we'd see that the next day.

As it was the scenery was amazing!

Sadly, I missed out on getting a good shot of the waterfall's mist billowing up above the treeline. It is what David Livingstone saw when he first caught a glimpse of Victoria Falls and saw why the natives called it Mosi O Tuna (pronounced Tune-ya) meaning-- The Smoke That Thunders.

Check out more pictures from around the world by clicking on the button below.

I Thought I'd Seen Everything!

I'm still in shock hours later. 

It took me solid minutes to even be able to verbalize what I'd seen. 

And for me that's a record.

Tom thought that I was holding myself in reserve for the sake of our guests and that if not for them I would have been screaming, shouting and throwing things. 

I'm not sure......I think I was in too much shock to do more than sit with slack jaw and barely speak.

What is it that got me so upset?

Well, I will tell you the story:

Today while we were eating lunch I saw the kitchen helper take one of my steak knives out to the wash room where she was preparing food for the nannies' lunch. Because I prefer for her to use the proper knives for each job I followed her out to tell her to choose a different knife.

As I opened the door to the wash room I saw the lady in the corner of the room with her skirt hiked up and her hands between her legs. My first thought was, "What the heck is she doing with my knife??"

 When I asked her what on earth she was doing she produced a can and said, "I'm sorry, madam, I am urinating." (This room is less than 50 yards from a fully equipped bathroom with three toilets) 

When I found my voice I asked her why on earth she hadn't used the bathroom. She replied, "I apologize, madam, I failed to go to the toilet." 

I had no words to say but managed to sputter: "Well, go wash your hands right now!!"

This all took place less than 3 feet from the food she was cooking for the nannies.

I honestly sat in stunned silence for minutes on end today and I don't think anything can erase that image from my brain. What would you have done in my shoes?

*Update* I should explain that the knife was safely lying on the counter and not involved in this woman's misdeeds. 

Vacation Days Two and Three

The continued adventure of my recent mini-vacation:

 

After eating dinner Sunday night I found out that some good friends were in town so Debbie and I headed over to the chinese restaurant where they were eating to say hello. We negotiated with the taxi driver to take us to the restaurant, wait 30 minutes and then take us to our hotel. After agreeing on the price we headed out. 

The restaurant was located in a place called the Showgrounds where during Agricultural Week it is packed with booths and shops but the rest of the year there are just a few business scattered around the different fields along winding roads. At night it is a bit  dark and spooky even though some of the best restaurants in town are located there.

We got a bit nervous when the taxi turned toward what appeared to be an abandoned warehouse. He started to drive up a ramp into a deserted room. I admit freaking out a bit at this point but then we turned and there at one end of the warehouse was the restaurant.

The entire seating area for the restaurant was upstairs. Only bathrooms were downstairs. --I posted a picture of a sign from these bathrooms a couple weeks ago.

That sign to the right of the photo is for a local African beer (ale) and yes, it is very common to have advertisements painted on the walls of businesses.

Remember we had negotiated with the taxi to wait for us for 30 minutes. Well, when we got to the restaurant he told us that he needed to go put gas in his car but that he'd be right back. We told him we were concerned that he would neglect to come back but he insisted he would be right back. 

Well, thirty minutes went by, then forty. Every time I called the taxi he said he was on his way. Over an hour passed without an appearance. We were getting a little worried. It was quite late at night and he also had a blanket in the car which I'd purchased earlier. Finally he called and said that he was outside the showgrounds but the security guards wouldn't let him in so he was coming in on foot to collect us. We started walking and boy, was it scary. Here I was with a relative newbie to Zambia trying to stay calm and reassure her that "sure, this happens from time to time. Nothing to worry about." We eventually met our driver and walked to the gate and he drove us safely home. Another adventure tucked away.

The next morning we went to the bus station to travel to Livingstone to see Victoria Falls. 

Debbie was eager to find a coffee shop, and look! we did!

The shop attendant asked if Debbie wanted the styrofoam cup to have a cover and when Debbie said yes, she peeled off some Saran Wrap and covered the cup. 

Our bus was advertised as a 'luxury coach'. This meant it had only four seats across instead of five and......(drumroll please)......airconditioning! Debbie was so grateful for the latter about halfway through the trip.

I was surprised to see so many Muzungus (white people) on the bus. Living out in the bush you forget how many tourists come to Africa. When we visit Lusaka with all the embassy personnel and tourists and missionaries we have to hold ourselves back from yelling and pointing: "MUZUNGUS!!" 

The bus ride was pretty much absent of adventures. I did see a drunk in the back of a pick up truck in front of us try multiple times to climb out of the moving vehicles. The other fifteen people crammed in the back with him kept pulling him back in. That was entertaining.

Then not so entertaining was the fact that the bus company chose to show a slasher movie (after first showing Rendition) as the 'on-board' entertainment. There was an American family right at the front of the bus with all these little kids. Thankfully the bus conductor finally changed the movie to G-Force. Much better!

You'll have to come back tomorrow to see what adventure awaited us at the end of our trip.