Ngorongoro Crater was my favorite Tanzanian park and home to one of the funniest and sadest things that happened all trip. The crater itself was formed by an ancient volcano, which imploded and became inactive. The sides are so steep that most animals never leave the crater, so it's teeming with amazing wildlife.
We went on Nathan's birthday with the best lunch packed we'd had all week: a BLT sandwich and the normal cornbread and hard-boiled egg, but stopped for lunch at a beautiful lake with harmless, large Kites circling overhead. Despite being warned of the "friendliness" of the birds several times, we decided to sit on the ground and eat our lunches. It didn't take two minutes, when, just after our guide, Dennis, had just said, "Nathan, be careful how you hold your sandwich" - a rush of air, an exploding sandwich, several kites, and suddenly Nathan was without his birthday lunch. Classic.
Here is Nathan's latest video in the safari series: Ngorongoro.
To read more about Ngorongoro, check out my previous post.
Showing posts with label Africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Africa. Show all posts
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Serengeti: The Video
My only regret is that we didn't take a picture of the giant spider in our bathroom that soon became our friend: Frederick. Mosquito nets are good for much more than keeping the mosquitoes off of you!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Lake Manyara: The Video
Here's the next installment of Tanzania Memories Revamped '08. Our first day of safari took us to Lake Manyara National Park. Again, this was all Nathan, so enjoy!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Kilimanjaro: The Video
We got some new video-editing software this month and Nathan is recreating our Tanzania video! Here's the first part: Mt. Kilimanjaro climb via the Machame Route in HD.
If you haven't heard the story and still want more details after viewing the movie, check out these old posts. I sure wish I were back in Africa right now!
Kilimanjaro Hike
Summit Journal Entry
If you haven't heard the story and still want more details after viewing the movie, check out these old posts. I sure wish I were back in Africa right now!
Kilimanjaro Hike
Summit Journal Entry
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Life After Africa
I haven't been writing lately because after seven weeks of living it up, it just didn't feel like anything I did after Africa was all that interesting. However true that may be, I feel the need to write again after decompressing a bit and gaining a little bit of perspective.
Last weekend we drove back home to the Milwaukee area to visit our parents. That was fun and it's really nice to drive on nice, paved roads and stop at delicious fast-food restaurants that are horrible for you. Ahh, convenience.
But, I miss Africa. Maybe it's the fact that it's snowing in Minnesota today or that there's a really annoying two-year-old election taking place. Or maybe it's the fact that things are more expensive and it's hard to find anything at the grocery store that doesn't have too much packaging. In the US, most people are far more worried about their 401k's than their national parks.
In Africa, if you tried to explain that 35% of your entire life savings just disappeared you'd be met with a friendly "Hakuna Matata" and a reminder that you can live off of a lot less than you're used to and be twice as happy. People would also wonder why we're strip mining our beautiful mountains when even the poorest African knows that you can make more money off of tourism and conservation than destroying your land.
The high in Arusha for Monday is a perfect 85 degrees and although it's 11:30pm right now it's still 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Maybe instead of being spoiled with material possessions, they're spoiled with great weather all the time. While faced with another winter in ND, I'm really torn on which I would pick if I had the choice!
Yes, I miss Africa and after just two weeks home both Nathan and I agree that we wouldn't mind going back for a couple of years if the opportunity arose. At least there, we wouldn't be faced with the prospect of having to campaign in the blowing sleet.
Last weekend we drove back home to the Milwaukee area to visit our parents. That was fun and it's really nice to drive on nice, paved roads and stop at delicious fast-food restaurants that are horrible for you. Ahh, convenience.
But, I miss Africa. Maybe it's the fact that it's snowing in Minnesota today or that there's a really annoying two-year-old election taking place. Or maybe it's the fact that things are more expensive and it's hard to find anything at the grocery store that doesn't have too much packaging. In the US, most people are far more worried about their 401k's than their national parks.
In Africa, if you tried to explain that 35% of your entire life savings just disappeared you'd be met with a friendly "Hakuna Matata" and a reminder that you can live off of a lot less than you're used to and be twice as happy. People would also wonder why we're strip mining our beautiful mountains when even the poorest African knows that you can make more money off of tourism and conservation than destroying your land.
The high in Arusha for Monday is a perfect 85 degrees and although it's 11:30pm right now it's still 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Maybe instead of being spoiled with material possessions, they're spoiled with great weather all the time. While faced with another winter in ND, I'm really torn on which I would pick if I had the choice!
Yes, I miss Africa and after just two weeks home both Nathan and I agree that we wouldn't mind going back for a couple of years if the opportunity arose. At least there, we wouldn't be faced with the prospect of having to campaign in the blowing sleet.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Last Post From Africa
This will be my last post from Africa, but not my last post about Africa. In a few hours I'll be hopping on a plane to come back to the US. I really thought I wouldn't want to leave, but I am READY to come home!
Over the past couple of weeks, Nathan and I have done and seen some amazing things. I'll be posting later with details and pictures, but here are some of the highlights:
1) Reached the top of Kilimanjaro.
2) Watched a cheetah for 30 minutes from about 10 feet away.
3) Watched two lionesses devour a warthog and listened to them purr the entire time.
4) Saw a plethora of other animals that you'll have to wait to hear about.
5) Went snorkeling in the Indian ocean off of Zanzibar.
There have, unfortunately, been some really, really tough things about being here though, and those are what make me very excited to come home. I am sick of people trying to sell me things every ten feet. I am sick of people making me pay extra because I am not a local. I am sick of the pollution, the garbage, the poverty, the dust, the attitudes (not everyone's mind you - there are plenty of great people here), people peeing on the street, not being able to walk at night, squat toilets, bad service, the list could go on and on and on.
Am I saying that Africa was a bad experience - HECK NO!! It was the best experience! I learned more here in 7 weeks than in 4 months in Spain and 4 years of college. Why am I so happy to come home? Because I like it better in the U.S. Because we have it so good and I want to cherish and take advantage of all of the little luxuries that we've worked so hard to have. We have an awesome country and yes, we've still got problems, but being here makes them seem almost trivial.
I'm sure I'll miss Tanzania a lot when I'm gone and I'll forget about all of the annoyances I just listed, but for now, I'm enjoying holding onto this plane ticket home! See everyone soon!
Over the past couple of weeks, Nathan and I have done and seen some amazing things. I'll be posting later with details and pictures, but here are some of the highlights:
1) Reached the top of Kilimanjaro.
2) Watched a cheetah for 30 minutes from about 10 feet away.
3) Watched two lionesses devour a warthog and listened to them purr the entire time.
4) Saw a plethora of other animals that you'll have to wait to hear about.
5) Went snorkeling in the Indian ocean off of Zanzibar.
There have, unfortunately, been some really, really tough things about being here though, and those are what make me very excited to come home. I am sick of people trying to sell me things every ten feet. I am sick of people making me pay extra because I am not a local. I am sick of the pollution, the garbage, the poverty, the dust, the attitudes (not everyone's mind you - there are plenty of great people here), people peeing on the street, not being able to walk at night, squat toilets, bad service, the list could go on and on and on.
Am I saying that Africa was a bad experience - HECK NO!! It was the best experience! I learned more here in 7 weeks than in 4 months in Spain and 4 years of college. Why am I so happy to come home? Because I like it better in the U.S. Because we have it so good and I want to cherish and take advantage of all of the little luxuries that we've worked so hard to have. We have an awesome country and yes, we've still got problems, but being here makes them seem almost trivial.
I'm sure I'll miss Tanzania a lot when I'm gone and I'll forget about all of the annoyances I just listed, but for now, I'm enjoying holding onto this plane ticket home! See everyone soon!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Road Trip - Africa Style
I already blogged about our Road Trip from Dar to Arusha, but I also made a video so that everyone could see for themselves what the journey was like. Caution: If you get car sick, you may not want to watch some parts of this as I've captured Africa flying by, in all of its bumpy glory.
Monday, September 8, 2008
The Pulse
At about 5am this morning I woke up to a happy Arabic tune playing in the night. For a country where at least 1/3 of the population is Muslim, that was really the first time I’ve heard Arabic music since I’ve been here. On the streets you mostly hear African rap and at nights sometimes a pick-up truck with a full marching band in the back will go by playing band music – I haven’t figured that one out yet.
Anyway, I realized that we’re in the middle of Ramadan and that music was probably keeping one of our neighbors company while they quickly ate a feast in preparation for the day of fasting ahead. I was worried that Ramadan would mean many of the restaurants around here wouldn’t open for lunch, but I was wrong. Ramadan in Arusha doesn’t bring about many changes. In fact, Arusha has very few Muslims compared to the coast and Zanzibar. I hardly ever see women walking around in burkas or head scarfs – but they’re there.
In our hotel room we have both CNN and Al Jazeera. I watched Al Jazeera for a while, trying to figure out if there really was something wrong with the network, or if that’s just the West’s perception. From what I can tell, it’s just a normal news network, covering stories from around the world, but most of them from the US.
The news is very interesting over here, regardless of which channel I’m watching. CNN’s weather forecast, which is based in London, covers every continent and there is a disproportionate amount of air time allotted to the Democratic and Republican National Conventions back home, the election, the recent takeover of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and hurricanes in our region. It makes me wonder if the rest of the world isn’t sick of hearing about us, actually. The channels definitely cover the world more broadly than our news networks do, however.
People here are very interested in the election, but it’s very one-sided. If East Africa got to vote, Obama would win unanimously. There are bumper stickers and signs everywhere. When anyone finds out you’re from the US they immediately ask you what you think about Obama. I don’t mind it, any little thing that comes up that reminds me of home makes me feel a little bit more comfortable here in a land of so many differences.
One more note on media: since this is a tourist town, on the streets you can get papers in almost every language for most major countries. Of course, street vendors hound you at every corner to buy one but my friend, Mike, from New Zealand discovered that they don’t have one from there. So, the secret to getting by the paper guys is to ask for the Dominion Post.
Anyway, I realized that we’re in the middle of Ramadan and that music was probably keeping one of our neighbors company while they quickly ate a feast in preparation for the day of fasting ahead. I was worried that Ramadan would mean many of the restaurants around here wouldn’t open for lunch, but I was wrong. Ramadan in Arusha doesn’t bring about many changes. In fact, Arusha has very few Muslims compared to the coast and Zanzibar. I hardly ever see women walking around in burkas or head scarfs – but they’re there.
In our hotel room we have both CNN and Al Jazeera. I watched Al Jazeera for a while, trying to figure out if there really was something wrong with the network, or if that’s just the West’s perception. From what I can tell, it’s just a normal news network, covering stories from around the world, but most of them from the US.
The news is very interesting over here, regardless of which channel I’m watching. CNN’s weather forecast, which is based in London, covers every continent and there is a disproportionate amount of air time allotted to the Democratic and Republican National Conventions back home, the election, the recent takeover of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and hurricanes in our region. It makes me wonder if the rest of the world isn’t sick of hearing about us, actually. The channels definitely cover the world more broadly than our news networks do, however.
People here are very interested in the election, but it’s very one-sided. If East Africa got to vote, Obama would win unanimously. There are bumper stickers and signs everywhere. When anyone finds out you’re from the US they immediately ask you what you think about Obama. I don’t mind it, any little thing that comes up that reminds me of home makes me feel a little bit more comfortable here in a land of so many differences.
One more note on media: since this is a tourist town, on the streets you can get papers in almost every language for most major countries. Of course, street vendors hound you at every corner to buy one but my friend, Mike, from New Zealand discovered that they don’t have one from there. So, the secret to getting by the paper guys is to ask for the Dominion Post.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Africaitice
I had a little bit of what I'm calling Africaitice yesterday. Every morning at 6:15am I try to call Nathan using Skype, which requires me to be online. Yesterday, there was a downpour around that time, so I got out my poncho, shoved the computer under it and ran to the hotel's computer lab. It was closed. Not only that, but our team had installed a wireless access point for the hotel, but they turn off the power in the computer lab every night, so the wireless wasn't even working.
Darn, I thought, but the hotel down the street has an unsecured wireless network, so I decided to walk down there to try to connect. However, not only was the gate to our complex closed and locked, but theirs was too. I got our guard to open our gate and, standing on the driveway, was able to connect to their wireless connection - 48%. I found it really interesting that, here I was, in the middle of Africa, standing in the rain on a driveway, connected to the world - albeit a very slow connection. I never did get a chance to talk to Nathan yesterday after all that shenanigans, but I guess it is pretty amazing that I was able to connect at all. Looking on the bright side, I think it symbolizes that Africa is coming along. From what I've seen, I don't think they will be able to catch up to the rest of the world very quickly, but they are catching up.
Darn, I thought, but the hotel down the street has an unsecured wireless network, so I decided to walk down there to try to connect. However, not only was the gate to our complex closed and locked, but theirs was too. I got our guard to open our gate and, standing on the driveway, was able to connect to their wireless connection - 48%. I found it really interesting that, here I was, in the middle of Africa, standing in the rain on a driveway, connected to the world - albeit a very slow connection. I never did get a chance to talk to Nathan yesterday after all that shenanigans, but I guess it is pretty amazing that I was able to connect at all. Looking on the bright side, I think it symbolizes that Africa is coming along. From what I've seen, I don't think they will be able to catch up to the rest of the world very quickly, but they are catching up.
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