tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88044127876200823872024-03-12T21:13:38.655-07:00A Girl's Gotta FlyI believe in living life deliberately - making choices and not just existing. I also believe in experiencing life to the fullest degree. Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-91441683292618391142013-10-05T19:58:00.002-07:002013-10-05T19:58:59.071-07:00A Woman Alone - Part 2<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last week I
wrote about travelling alone. I wanted to continue that thought, with some
conclusions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had five days on the
coast near Mombassa before leaving Kenya.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During those five days, I was loathe to leave the comfort of my resort
unless I had an excursion planned with my trusted taxi driver, Dennis, at the
helm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I didn’t
want to stroll the beach, because the beach had men trying to sell souveniers
or trying to get me to take an excursion with them (snorkeling, camel ride, jet
skiing, etc.). And my resort wasn’t without pestering by staff, either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had one waiter who informed me the third
day (I had asked him the first day about what the dinner buffet entailed) that
he had the evening off and maybe I’d like to do something with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked a couple of times and I turned him
down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another
night, one of the chefs serving asked where I was from and when I said Canada
he asked if I could help him get to Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These two guys seemed more aggressive than the fellows I chatted to
while on safari.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the most persistent
was the guide I had at Bombolulu Village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He went through the usual questions… where did I live, am I married, how
many children, how many brothers and sisters, what kind of job do I do… and
then strongly hinted that maybe I could invite him to Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I ignored that, he repeated it again and
also asked for my email address.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said
no, he wasn’t getting my email address.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then, when he showed me the various huts, he talked about in one hut
people got naked before they had medical treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he showed me the Swahili master bedroom
he demonstrated how the camel bed swayed to enhance having sex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He definitely had sex on the brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was relieved when I got back to the taxi
and had Dennis drive me back to the resort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had plenty
of time to ponder why the personal questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was getting hit on multiple times a day, and this is NOT NORMAL for me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had developed a theory, but needed it
verified. Dennis, my taxi driver, was just the guy to do it. Why Dennis?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, beside the fact that he was friendly
and hadn’t actually hit on me, I felt I could trust him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At some
point early in my stay, we talked about Christianity and he told me he was a
Christian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I said I was too, it
made him very happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he told me
about his church and how his life had changed since becoming a Christian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The remaining excursions I had with him, he
played Christian music videos in his car, instead of the African folk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, when I asked if he could take me to the
airport on Sunday he said it depended on what time, because he would be busy
all morning at church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I said it was
late afternoon, he said he could manage that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He suggested that I could pray in my room on Sunday since I wasn’t going
to church.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, my
point being that I thought I could get an honest answer from him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>En route to the airport I mentioned how the
kitchen staff and men on the beach asked all these questions and asked him why
they did that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He verified my theory –
which was that the men are basically out to seduce western women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their plan was to get the woman to take them
back to their home country so they can have a new life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t matter whether they were married in
Kenya, they’d still take off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were
lots of these types of men, who were dishonest and according to Dennis, more
often than not got into trouble in their new country.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He asked if
I had noticed the number of white women on the beach with a black male
partner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said this is what the men were doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I don’t get is why women would go along
with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re in Africa, for crying
out loud, where AIDS is still prevalent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why start a beach romance with some guy who might have a new partner
every week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doesn’t sound very smart to
me!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">In keeping
with this topic, here’s a billboard I took a photo of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seemed to fit into this blog post.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1HvS1tm_qBk/UlDRQlibXlI/AAAAAAAAAZg/XiKWIoKKR7M/s1600/AIDS+billboard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1HvS1tm_qBk/UlDRQlibXlI/AAAAAAAAAZg/XiKWIoKKR7M/s320/AIDS+billboard.JPG" width="212" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am glad to
be home, where I can walk the sea shore in peace and don’t have all the
unwanted advances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And even better, I
don’t have to barter for my purchases in the stores!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m back in my cultural comfort zone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-24669935254807510272013-09-30T14:06:00.000-07:002013-09-30T14:06:04.353-07:00Feeding the Giraffes at Haller Park - September 28, 2013
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I had a fun excursion Saturday afternoon at Haller
Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It used to be a quarry but in 1971
they began the process to turn it into a private reserve – demonstrating
environmental management.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon arriving
at the gates, I saw four Rothchild giraffes grazing on the trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was also a giant tortoise mowing the
grass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s just a teenager – only about
100 years old.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-di9CiuVz_Z8/Uknh9EAId5I/AAAAAAAAAXA/Wz6eJjnk1AQ/s1600/HP+-+giant+tortoise.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-di9CiuVz_Z8/Uknh9EAId5I/AAAAAAAAAXA/Wz6eJjnk1AQ/s320/HP+-+giant+tortoise.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">As with most other attractions, once I paid my admission
there were guides to provide information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My guide, Angus, took us around to the reptile gardens, the fishery, and
then to the various feedings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For 50
schillings (about 70 cents) I got a bag of food pellets to feed the giraffes. You can see the monkeys stealing the pellets that dropped.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ROhNY3e78ZI/UkniP6TjMWI/AAAAAAAAAY0/wI2x3yy3MCg/s1600/HP+feeding+giraffe+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ROhNY3e78ZI/UkniP6TjMWI/AAAAAAAAAY0/wI2x3yy3MCg/s320/HP+feeding+giraffe+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6CpDgkMPrWI/UkniN4bAg6I/AAAAAAAAAYk/vSTd2m-Org0/s1600/HP+feeding+giraffe+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6CpDgkMPrWI/UkniN4bAg6I/AAAAAAAAAYk/vSTd2m-Org0/s320/HP+feeding+giraffe+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Giraffes have very long, narrow, tough-skinned
tongues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are designed so that the
giraffes can reach as high as possible and grab the leaves without getting too
many thorns in their tongues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The acacia
trees have thorns that are about 3 inches long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Very sharp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RfU0PwsvhNY/UkniE9kLggI/AAAAAAAAAX0/efYdSDR39JU/s1600/HP+Giraffe+long+tongue.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RfU0PwsvhNY/UkniE9kLggI/AAAAAAAAAX0/efYdSDR39JU/s320/HP+Giraffe+long+tongue.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This seems like a good time to mention a little giraffe
trivia…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Giraffes avoid certain ‘whistling’ trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trees whistle because a colony of tiny
ants have built a nest in the tree and get their food from chewing into the
bark – which makes it whistle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">There is a somewhat symbiotic relationship in
that the tree provides food for the ants and the ants provide protection
against giraffes eating the leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
ants do this in two ways – if a giraffe starts eating the leaves, the ants come
out in the hundreds to bite him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they
also let off toxic fumes, which turn the giraffes off their dinner. Apparently,
you can smell it from the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ultimately
though, the tree dies from the ants’ endless feeding on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tZCWk4QmqIg/UkniY5YlG-I/AAAAAAAAAZU/-JtuUQOWtA0/s1600/HP+giraffes+head+shot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tZCWk4QmqIg/UkniY5YlG-I/AAAAAAAAAZU/-JtuUQOWtA0/s320/HP+giraffes+head+shot.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvuStEQ9-wI/UkniDbbX0OI/AAAAAAAAAXs/eeKOs0h6vBQ/s1600/HP+Giraffes+wink.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvuStEQ9-wI/UkniDbbX0OI/AAAAAAAAAXs/eeKOs0h6vBQ/s320/HP+Giraffes+wink.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A giraffe’s heart weighs approximately 24 pounds and
beats around 150 beats per minute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
must pump blood at twice the human blood pressure to ensure it reaches all the
way to the head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also have elastic
skin around the legs which prevents blood from pooling in them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p7JcqkpaP-M/UkniDPvqcuI/AAAAAAAAAXo/Pdvgwynsbls/s1600/HP+Giraffe+portrait.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p7JcqkpaP-M/UkniDPvqcuI/AAAAAAAAAXo/Pdvgwynsbls/s320/HP+Giraffe+portrait.JPG" width="209" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When a male lion wants to kill a giraffe he lies in wait
at the watering hole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the giraffe
is drinking his front legs are spread wide and his neck is downwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The male lion will pounce on its neck, and if
my safari guide is to be believed, the blood pressure can make the head
explode.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The legs of a giraffe are about 6.6 feet tall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can gallop at 60 km/hour for short
periods of time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eS7vH_0FB50/UkniWZtKO1I/AAAAAAAAAZM/OLSk7vAThC0/s1600/HP+me+and+giraffe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eS7vH_0FB50/UkniWZtKO1I/AAAAAAAAAZM/OLSk7vAThC0/s320/HP+me+and+giraffe.JPG" width="209" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Having fed the giraffes, we moved on to the hippo
feeding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No group participation here,
just watching as two hippos emerge from the swamp to eat the food pellets laid
down by an employee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> And the monkeys were around to steal the food here, as well. </span>Wow, are hippos huge
beasts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite their short feet, they
can run up to 32 km/hr. They are responsible for the most deaths by a wild
animal in Kenya.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are grazers – they
don’t eat you – they just trample all over you if you’re in the way or if you
spook them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5qhe_asZ3QE/UkniHB_YOZI/AAAAAAAAAYA/0Prq_SpUnCo/s1600/HP+Hippo+food+thief.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5qhe_asZ3QE/UkniHB_YOZI/AAAAAAAAAYA/0Prq_SpUnCo/s320/HP+Hippo+food+thief.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Hippos, by the way, spend a lot of their day in the water
because they don’t have sweat glands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They use the water or mud to keep them cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At night, they come out of the water to
graze.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X4lDK-iwwvo/UkniHf7VBNI/AAAAAAAAAYE/j61drCRAN2Q/s1600/HP+Hippo+emerging.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X4lDK-iwwvo/UkniHf7VBNI/AAAAAAAAAYE/j61drCRAN2Q/s320/HP+Hippo+emerging.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g5JK556eFL4/UkniI8QxyuI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/s6roruhMKiM/s1600/HP+Hippo+staredown.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g5JK556eFL4/UkniI8QxyuI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/s6roruhMKiM/s320/HP+Hippo+staredown.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The last stop was to watch a crocodile feeding. They
bring a few small pieces of meat for the crocs to eat, but the main feeding is
once a month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crocodiles can go up to 5
years without eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can live for
80-100 years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vxdbsufSpN4/Uknh-nMr1yI/AAAAAAAAAXU/Ks7kl1DdTsw/s1600/HP+Croc+got%2527m.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vxdbsufSpN4/Uknh-nMr1yI/AAAAAAAAAXU/Ks7kl1DdTsw/s320/HP+Croc+got%2527m.JPG" width="224" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k_wPPsEa2Yc/Uknh_mluyrI/AAAAAAAAAXc/C3Vs1OLk2DI/s1600/HP+Croc+watching.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k_wPPsEa2Yc/Uknh_mluyrI/AAAAAAAAAXc/C3Vs1OLk2DI/s320/HP+Croc+watching.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">While waiting for feeding time, I was able to photograph a
weaver by his nest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had seen these
nests dangling from trees like Christmas ornaments throughout my trip, but
didn’t get a close up photo of the bird itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The male bird makes the nest and the female bird will inspect all the
nests and decide which one it likes best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whoever is the best nest builder, he becomes her partner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pair will come back year after year, do
some home renovations and then lay eggs and raise their young.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JVgTCc9lJL8/UkniUHW1MgI/AAAAAAAAAZE/VFstozrpq4w/s1600/HP+weaver+bird+and+nest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JVgTCc9lJL8/UkniUHW1MgI/AAAAAAAAAZE/VFstozrpq4w/s320/HP+weaver+bird+and+nest.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I was also able to get a photo of an African Baobab tree,
otherwise known as the upside-down tree (especially if there are no leaves on
it).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has a massive trunk – this one
is about 30 years old.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Two other creatures I was able to photograph was this red dragon fly and the agamas lizard. He's a vivid red and blue.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uWvvI_r-iBk/UkniK9UQ8pI/AAAAAAAAAYc/PCjw8KzDWQI/s1600/HP+dragon+fly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uWvvI_r-iBk/UkniK9UQ8pI/AAAAAAAAAYc/PCjw8KzDWQI/s320/HP+dragon+fly.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iHYMjGx4zA4/UkniJGvDN7I/AAAAAAAAAYU/MeaVAaFE7hQ/s1600/HP+agamas+lizard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iHYMjGx4zA4/UkniJGvDN7I/AAAAAAAAAYU/MeaVAaFE7hQ/s320/HP+agamas+lizard.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And here are a few more cute animal pictures. The first is a baby waterbuck, the second is a vervet monkey family, and with the third, I really like this little one's pose. He looks so innocent, but he's a rascal!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This was a great little excursion to end my stay in
Kenya.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-80116913797562562082013-09-30T13:34:00.000-07:002013-09-30T13:34:29.055-07:00Mombassa highlightsI had a successful trip to Mombassa on Friday. Dennis, my taxi driver, took me to Mombassa. He told me to keep all my belongings in the back until we got to our destination as the suburb we were going through was known for thieves reaching into the window and snatching anything on your lap. Oh goodie...<br />
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We parked in the secure grounds of the Castle Royal Hotel - which I think is from the early 1900s. It looks very colonial in nature.<br />
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From the hotel, we met Atwar, my official guide for the city. He was very friendly and informative. He was telling me about natural remedies - like taking the leaves from the Nim tree and making a tea with it to cure malaria. The Nim tree has quinine in it.<br />
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Dennis had told him I wanted to get some spices and some souveniers as well as see the old town. So off Atwar and I went to explore. I was shown through a Hindu temple. And then we went to the fish market. There were only two fish left, but the market had a great view of the bay which we didn't have to pay for. Next door, we would have had to pay.<br />
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We went through the streets leading to the markets. Individuals would set up shop on the sides of the alley but there were also proper shops and the market buildings. Atwar took me to a proper spice shop. The owner there showed me all his spices, and let me take a sniff of each one, explaining the different types of curries, peppers, etc. It was very interesting and no-pressure. I bought lots of spices to take home.<br />
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This is what pilau looks like ground and unground.</div>
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The vegetable markets were next - and there were lots of sellers, selling various fruit. There were Kenyan bananas but also red bananas from Zanzibar (more expensive of course). I also learned there were three types of passion fruit. I've had the fruit a few times since I've been here and have also had passion fruit juice for breakfast most mornings.<br />
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Beyond the vegetable markets was the meat market. Lots of sellers here, too. Atwar showed me the camel stalls. Very tasty, he said.<br />
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The last market we went to was the textile market. Atwar took me to a shop where he said I could find good cloth. I forget the name of the cloth that people wrap around their legs as skirts of that the Masaii people use for clothing. It's either thin cotton or wool. We could use it as a shawls, skirt, tablecloth or wall hanging. I skipped the traditional African stripes and asked to see any of the animal ones. He came back with about ten and I chose a few as gifts.<br />
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We made our way to Old Town then, to get a view of the giant elephant tusks on Moi Avenue - the main street in Mombassa, named after the second prime minister. The tusks aren't real tusks, but still look impressive.<br />
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We stopped at a quality souvenier shop so that I could buy some wooden animal carvings as well as one in malachite. A gorgeous green marbled stone. I had seen a couple of them on my travels and thought they were quite beautiful and would go well with my elephant figurine collection. One place we stopped at while on safari, the guy tried to sell it to me for $200. I declined - told him I only wanted to pay about $20. He wouldn't take less than $100 for it. So I was prepared to pay around $50 for one in Mombassa - we settled for $55.<br />
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We walked to Fort Jesus, built by the Portuguese in 1593. "Very big on outside, very small on inside," Atwar said. "Free to see outside, pay to see inside." So we saw one wall and went back to the hotel. Worked for me.<br />
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Back at the Castle Hotel, I had a chance to rest with a cold bottled water before meeting with Dennis again and getting back into the hot vehicle.<br />
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Dennis made sure we left the city centre before 2pm when the muslims finished their prayers. He said one of the terrorists was killed in Mombassa yesterday (not true, we found out the next day) and he expected protests in the streets after the prayers were finished. He said the muslims protest about many things. <br />
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I had wanted to visit a cultural village where I could see the traditional huts of various tribes. Dennis told me not to go to the one that was closest to my hotel (it had just the huts) but to go to Bombolulu<br />
Workshops and Cultural Centre instead. It was along the way, but in addition to the huts, they also had various workshops which employed people with disabilities.<br />
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I saw various huts. This one is one of three huts that served as the tribal equivalent of a hospital. One small hut held the medicines (herbs, etc), this one was the treatment centre, and the third was a consultation hut.<br />
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The last dwelling I saw was for the Swahilis. They had fewer and larger, cement houses as opposed to small but many twig or sod huts of the other tribes. Here's the entrance...<br />
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But what I found more interesting were the workshops. They had workshops for horticulture, leather work, jewelry, textiles, woodworks, and my favourite - for mobility aids. At the mobility aids workshop they build wheelchairs and hand cycles. They cost $195 each. Several of the workers had their own cycles, and the back seat cushion would say who donated them. Apparently Oxfam purchases many of the wheelchairs and hand cycles to give to people with mobility issues in other third world and developing world countries. It is a good business for the centre.<br />
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The tour was finished by watching four native dances (I was the sole audience) and a visit to the gift shop.<br />
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Dennis took me back to my hotel where I relaxed for the evening.<br />
<br />Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-80992256033100359732013-09-28T03:30:00.000-07:002013-09-28T03:30:07.185-07:00A Woman Alone - Part 1
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Two days ago...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I first let people know that I was going on a solo trip
to Kenya to go on a safari one of the comments I frequently heard was that I
was ‘so brave’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first day of my
safari the married woman in my van asked how I liked travelling alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her it was my first real big trip
alone so I wasn’t sure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I tried to mitigate the dangers as much as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided against finding my own
accommodation in Nairobi and tootling around on my own for a few days and
instead had my tour company pick me up from the airport and bring me to their
preferred hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a lot more
expensive, but more safe and less stressful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While on safari, the only thought I had to being brave and
safe was making sure I stored my money, passport and cameras in the safe while
I was sleeping at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the day,
my camera bag with my cash and documents was with me at all times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who’s going to take it while sitting in a
jeep in the middle of a game reserve?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well, the babboons might, but they won’t commit credit card fraud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The hotels were in the middle of nowhere and the staff were
highly educated people (a job requirement, apparently).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were porters and security all over the
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At night, we would get escorted
to our rooms because it was dark and you never knew if a hyena was lingering on
the grounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(As an aside, I went to two
hyena feedings and none showed up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
only hyenas I saw were in the middle of the day, basking in the sunshine
sleeping the day away.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But in Bamburi (North Mombassa), I often question what is
being brave?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it being out in a
dangerous place?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it interacting with
the locals?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it accepting and
overcoming cultural differences?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kenyans love to barter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hate it – mostly because I am very bad at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel guilty offering half of what they are
asking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guide books say that they
will give a price based on what they think they can get out of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our safari driver/guide said if the ask for
1500 shillings, offer them 750 and then go from there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m still not very good at it, but have now
done it a few times. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I walk along the beach and the hawkers call out to
me, I pretend I don’t hear them and keep walking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or if they come right up to me I say ‘no,
thank you’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And occasionally I actually
have a conversation with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They start by asking where I am from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this my first time to Kenya?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did I go on safari?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would I like to go on safari?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I become more wary when they ask if I am
married, how many children I have, how many siblings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This happened while on safari, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d be sitting outside my hut working on my
laptop before supper and one of the employees came by to turn on the lights in
front of each hut as sunset was nearing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He stopped and visited for about 10 minutes asking similar
questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the ladies I shared my
van with later said I was being hit on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Perhaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what motivation did
he have in asking these questions?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
could he get from me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He seemed genuinely interested and we had a
good discussion about marriage and families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In Kenya, he told me, men only get married to have children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What happens if you don’t have children, I
ask.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we both go to doctor to fix it
so we can have children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I find asking them personal questions back certainly helps
curb some of their questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the
fellows on the boat today asked if I was married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I asked him if he was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, he
said, Kenyan wives are very expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dowry, he adds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, in Masai Mara
the man must give 10 cows for a dowry, I say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you live in the city and don’t have cows, what do you give for a
dowry?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Money, he replies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of money.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I reason that if you’ve already paid for something, the
questions tend to be harmless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
just interested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, if you haven’t
bought anything, they are looking for a hook in which to draw you in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether it be for an excursion, souveniers,
or sex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was warned that in Mombassa,
it is not safe for tourists to be out at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And if going from a restaurant to the hotel to get a cab.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had also been warned that with all the
tourists, it is a place where black men solicit white women for sex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And black women do the same for men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t been asked outright, but one of the
waiters in my hotel’s restaurant informed me this morning (I spoke with him
briefly yesterday about the dinner menu) that he had the evening off and
perhaps we could go out and do something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I declined.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is taking a toll, and making me reluctant to explore
much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having said that, I think I’ve
found a way to get around it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
taxi driver who picked me up at the airport was very friendly and
non-aggressive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He and I had talked
about different places to see here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
said I had wanted to see a forest, and he offered to take me on two different
excursions – about 80km away and costing over $100 each.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him I wanted something close and that
someone recommended Haller Park which was very close to where I was staying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d go there instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we did agree for him to take me to
Mombassa for the day tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
paying $40 for a day’s taxi service and he will accompany me to all the sites I
go to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He isn’t allowed to be a tour
guide for the city and I’d have to go without a guide or hire one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve learned that once a Kenyan is beside me, the others
don’t bother me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, $40 is a fair price
to pay for not only the taxi but for the chance of not being bothered
much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like that he can take me to
where I want to go (like the post office, spice market and local museum) and
not have to figure things out for myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another bonus is when the men pester me on the beach to go
on excursions, I can tell them that I am all booked up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every day is booked so I have no time for
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not quite true, but close enough. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, where was I going with this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh yes, how do I like travelling alone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think being alone makes me a bigger target
in this environment, so in that way, I don’t like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I don’t think it would be a problem in
North America or Europe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was a guy in my safari van who was travelling
alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s been to 70 countries and
prefers travelling alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t
have to worry about other peoples’ likes and dislikes, and can go where he
wants when he wants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should have asked
him if the Kenyan women ask if he’s married and how many children he has.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could afford 10 cows, I’m sure!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-38773538941062932582013-09-26T11:40:00.002-07:002013-09-26T11:40:52.497-07:00I found Nemo!<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DSAqsa4Cx54/UkR7hzy7LJI/AAAAAAAAASY/6jwAfi7kABU/s1600/clown+fish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DSAqsa4Cx54/UkR7hzy7LJI/AAAAAAAAASY/6jwAfi7kABU/s320/clown+fish.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I went snorkeling this afternoon, and yes, I found Nemo and
a few of his friends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fnZ2hjn1n68/UkR7glARywI/AAAAAAAAASQ/hi6gF9ocQ2A/s1600/boat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fnZ2hjn1n68/UkR7glARywI/AAAAAAAAASQ/hi6gF9ocQ2A/s320/boat.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s the glass-bottomed boat I went on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me tell you how that happened…<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Snorkelling was the one thing I wanted to do while here in
Bamburi/Mombassa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I arrived late
yesterday afternoon and checked with the front desk about how one can arrange a
snorkeling excursion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They told me they
could arrange a full day package for $140 which included snorkeling, all the
crab I wanted to eat, drinks and a club at the end of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I explained I only wanted a trip for a
couple of hours and didn’t eat crab or go clubbing he said there was no other package
he could offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then said I could
have it for $110.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It still wasn’t
something I wanted to do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I decided to go for a walk on the beach and after passing
about a dozen hawkers trying to sell their wares, I went to one of the resorts
along the beach for refuge and something to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chatted to the waiter and told him that I
wanted to go snorkeling, but my hotel could only arrange full day excursions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said he would call his friend who does excursions
and his friend would talk to me about where he could take me and then we could arrange
a price.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Turns out that each hotel deals with certain outfits and my
hotel just dealt with the outfit that did full day jaunts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple minutes later a guy walks up the
steps and the waiter introduces him as his friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kassim showed me his boat users licence with
his photo ID, pointed out his glass-bottomed boat and then told me where we
would go in the Wildlife Service’s Marine Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had in mind a price I wanted to pay and with very little bartering we
agreed on 3200 shillings (about $40).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Seemed a fair price to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I paid
a deposit and we agreed to meet the next day at 2pm.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I arrived for my tour today, Kassim and I settled up and
he took me to the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We waited a bit
for another tourist who never showed up and then my trip began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just me and two Kenyans who were his
employees.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the two stayed on the boat and the second came into
the water with me for a while to show me the corals and point out different
types of fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one on the boat would
throw food into the water so there would be lots of fish near the boat.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j-UGn3fF_9I/UkR7poVaeuI/AAAAAAAAASo/RhOVLyvmLLs/s1600/coral+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j-UGn3fF_9I/UkR7poVaeuI/AAAAAAAAASo/RhOVLyvmLLs/s320/coral+1.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X6A0KSRRd1c/UkR7s5_UYXI/AAAAAAAAATE/JySwuamFH4M/s1600/coral+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X6A0KSRRd1c/UkR7s5_UYXI/AAAAAAAAATE/JySwuamFH4M/s320/coral+2.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Wb6imo4nOw/UkR7tH38JpI/AAAAAAAAAS8/RmwWEdB9MdY/s1600/fish+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Wb6imo4nOw/UkR7tH38JpI/AAAAAAAAAS8/RmwWEdB9MdY/s320/fish+1.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">The water was comfortably warm – like bathwater when it has
cooled off and it’s time to think about getting out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was telling the guys that where I live one
wears a wet suit like a diver because the water is so cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This also led to comparing various sea life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have red starfish and blue
starfish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s a red one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G3aGDxj0N0Y/UkR7pS62ENI/AAAAAAAAASk/ucmcZoRtrnc/s1600/a+starfish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="234" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G3aGDxj0N0Y/UkR7pS62ENI/AAAAAAAAASk/ucmcZoRtrnc/s320/a+starfish.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I think we have a much larger selection of starfish back
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we have similar types of
anemones and sea urchins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And their fish
are more colourful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One that really
intrigued me was this one – with it’s yellow fin and pink/blue side fins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its body shimmered like a rainbow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone know what it is?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VvartQqYyv4/UkR-TZ9rzfI/AAAAAAAAATg/kmU35Coz4Vk/s1600/fish+rainbow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VvartQqYyv4/UkR-TZ9rzfI/AAAAAAAAATg/kmU35Coz4Vk/s320/fish+rainbow.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I think I probably saw a dozen different types of fish
including the trumpet fish which are long and skinny like the body of a
trumpet, and some electric blue ones that were about 3 inches long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were a few schools of fish that hung
around beneath the boat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zs2NTzy0FWo/UkR7xfODgOI/AAAAAAAAATY/ytiVgb8hFxc/s1600/fish+school.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zs2NTzy0FWo/UkR7xfODgOI/AAAAAAAAATY/ytiVgb8hFxc/s320/fish+school.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I was taking pictures of the fish near the surface and
they fed the fish, the guy must have put some right in front of me because all
of a sudden I could feel the fish jostling around me to get to the food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a bit startling, but very cool to see.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VP3amGwSrGI/UkR7w7ZzQmI/AAAAAAAAATU/-G5txYLgn18/s1600/fish+frenzy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VP3amGwSrGI/UkR7w7ZzQmI/AAAAAAAAATU/-G5txYLgn18/s320/fish+frenzy.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">In case you were wondering, the sharks stay on the other
side of the reef – the deep side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
in the area between the reef and the shore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And such a nice shore it is.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDH42dRnT5o/UkR7r9cl0OI/AAAAAAAAASw/LlM8UZh2jAA/s1600/coastline.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDH42dRnT5o/UkR7r9cl0OI/AAAAAAAAASw/LlM8UZh2jAA/s320/coastline.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I am really impressed with my Olympus Tough camera which is
what I used to take my pictures under water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It took clear pictures, the zoom worked well and the best part – it didn’t
spring a leak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which means I can use it
again!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DlCD_PrNxkQ/UkR7t_QCMxI/AAAAAAAAATI/pNFfgDIPGkU/s1600/fish+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DlCD_PrNxkQ/UkR7t_QCMxI/AAAAAAAAATI/pNFfgDIPGkU/s320/fish+2.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-27656380128787513712013-09-25T09:52:00.001-07:002013-09-25T09:52:35.910-07:00Masai Mara Game Reserve - Day 1<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s been a long day – with lots of goods and bads in it.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bad:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Woke up with a
sore throat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Good:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hasn’t gotten
worse and don’t have any other real flu/cold symptoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lodge I am at tonight have Strepsils to
soothe my throat.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bad:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saw a farmer’s
cow run on to the highway in front of us and it was hit by a truck.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Good:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t us
who hit it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an aside, the government
is trying to discourage the cattle herders from letting the animals roam near
the highways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If an animals runs into a
vehicle, the driver of the vehicle is legally required to stop and get the
herder’s information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is then
required to take him to court to get the vehicle repair costs back from the
herder.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bad:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Took about five
hours to drive to our lodge near the Masai Mara Game Reserve.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Good:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only the last 2
hours were the worst washboard I had ever experienced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’ve had lots of rain recently so parts
were washed out, ruts could be over 1 foot deep.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Bad:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It started
raining as we reached the game reserve, which meant we had to keep the roof on
most of the time. Several of the windows wouldn’t open properly so the vehicle
got foggy inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It made it more difficult to get
pictures.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Good: More rain means less dust which makes it easier for seeing things and also maintaining the camera.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-odp4gBkV5SY/UkMRjZN8BmI/AAAAAAAAAR0/0IDpqMeiAXo/s1600/MM1+-+Wildebeast+-+wet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-odp4gBkV5SY/UkMRjZN8BmI/AAAAAAAAAR0/0IDpqMeiAXo/s320/MM1+-+Wildebeast+-+wet.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Bad:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rain made
the animals want to stay dry and under cover so we didn’t see as many as on a
sunny day. Wildebeests, zebras and a few other animals just stand still with their butts facing the direction of the rain and wait it out. These wildebeests were looking pretty wet.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Good:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We saw two of
the ‘big five’ – the cape buffalo and lions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Another vehicle had spotted the first two male lions, but I was the
first one in the convoy to spot the lioness out in the distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our driver went off the main path to get
closer so we had the best views before the other vehicles followed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were probably about 20 vans - it was quite the traffic jam.</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mW2nU4kDLXw/UkMP27L1-9I/AAAAAAAAARc/x4JNYYDR6jc/s1600/MM1+-+Traffic+Jam.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mW2nU4kDLXw/UkMP27L1-9I/AAAAAAAAARc/x4JNYYDR6jc/s320/MM1+-+Traffic+Jam.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Apparently the only time safari vehicles are allowed to go
off-roading is if a lion is sighted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After all, they want to give the tourists what they came for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lion is usually highest on most people’s
list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a vehicle is caught off-roading
in all other circumstances, they are fined 10,000 Kenyan Shillings – about $130
US.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was very glad we were able to get close to the lions. Here's one of the males...</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XCA8Tnoh9OU/UkMRLWEWtmI/AAAAAAAAARw/niUfqrazVVI/s1600/MM1+-+Lion+best.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XCA8Tnoh9OU/UkMRLWEWtmI/AAAAAAAAARw/niUfqrazVVI/s320/MM1+-+Lion+best.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">And here's the lioness.</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iHYdWFO4fKs/UkMRKnEDIHI/AAAAAAAAARs/3wPJGQcitic/s1600/MM1+-+Lioness+best.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iHYdWFO4fKs/UkMRKnEDIHI/AAAAAAAAARs/3wPJGQcitic/s320/MM1+-+Lioness+best.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">lso saw lots of wildebeest (several hundred anyway, several
Plains zebras, Thompson gazelles, Grant’s gazelles, dik-diks, impalas and
vultures.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JbVO3ae02lw/UkMSCFkviEI/AAAAAAAAASA/wz-oWKRB48E/s1600/MM1+-+vultures+and+carrion.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JbVO3ae02lw/UkMSCFkviEI/AAAAAAAAASA/wz-oWKRB48E/s320/MM1+-+vultures+and+carrion.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bad:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Got a little wet
on the ride, but enjoyed the lightening in the distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Good:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Were able to
come back to our comfortable lodge for a fabulous dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The buffet meals are amazing – so much to
eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had some amazingly good grilled
beef today – the marinade was awesome.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; tab-stops: 207.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Time to get to sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I drew the mosquito netting around my bed
before I went for the 4-6:30pm game drive in case we didn’t get back before
sunset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Got one mosquito bite yesterday
in Nairobi – none today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my
fellow passengers was saying that Kenya is trying to persuade the CDC to change
their ruling and list Kenya as a malaria free zone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Supposedly none of the mosquitos in the
country carry malaria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good to
know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still taking the anti-malarial
tablets, though!<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
</div>
Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-88308866032852917082013-09-23T11:43:00.001-07:002013-09-23T11:43:37.955-07:00So much to say, so little connectivityFirst off, I wanted to let you know that the reason I haven't blogged isn't because I'm being held hostage at the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi. It's because Kenya is not keen on wifi - and out near the game reserves it is almost non-existant. I've got another 30 minutes before the electricity goes off and the connectivity at tonight's lodge is spotty and slow at best.<br />
<br />
So, no photos for a few more days until I reach civilization again. Other than wanting to let everyone know how it's going - I haven't missed technology. As long as I have a functioning camera and enough electricity to charge my camera batteries I'm a happy girl.<br />
<br />
I've been through 3 game reserves in four days - some of them for multiple game drives. It has been absolutely amazing and I can hardly wait to show you the best of the best photos. I've seen four of 'the big five' - lions, elephants, rhino and buffalo. The leopard was elusive. But I've also seen many other animals including giraffes, a cheetah and more zebras, wildebeests and gazelles you can count. But I'll give a show and tell at a later date.<br />
<br />
Have two game drives tomorrow to see more elephants in Amboseli National Park and head back to Nairobi on Wednesday for a flight to Mombassa. I'm spending four days in Bamburi - a beachside tourist community where I am hoping to do some snorkeling with my waterproof camera and also explore some of the coastal forests (with a guide to deal with any snakes or other unwanted creatures).Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-6706848877605150812013-09-19T09:46:00.000-07:002013-09-19T09:46:08.939-07:00Nairobi - resting up for the safari
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had an uneventful flight from London to Nairobi
yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We landed around 9:10pm at Jama
Kenyatta International Airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
have set up some temporary buildings due to the International arrivals/departures terminal being destroyed by fire last month. Although they warned on the plane that
there would be delays due to the disruption, I actually got through the airport
very quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had about a two-minute
wait to purchase my visa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What took the
time was the coach ride from the plane to the temporary terminal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was met by someone from SITA tours who stayed with me
until the driver arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The drive to
the Safari Park Hotel took about half an hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And along the way I decided the drivers were crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw three traffic accidents and we had at
least that many near misses ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yikes!</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am really glad that I decided to pay the extra money to be met at the airport and taken to the hotel. My original idea was to save money and find my own way from the airport to downtown and stay at a less expensive hotel there. But it would have taken me a long time and much stress to get where I needed to go. Here my biggest concern was finding the greeter who had a sign with my name on it.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Safari Park Hotel is lovely – with lots of trees and
flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is advertised as the
premiere place for conferences in Nairobi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It has five restaurants, a small shopping village, a couple of swimming
pools and several hundred rooms.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I checked in, I asked about whether or not they were
able to arrange a tour for me to go to the baby elephant sanctuary and Nairobi
National Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They could arrange to
hire a taxi driver who would drive me around for the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cost was going to be a lot more than I
had imagined - $60 entrance fee to Nairobi National Park (one of the more
expensive parks) plus the driver’s fee of approximately $140.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told them I’d sleep on it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Got to bed shortly after midnight and set my alarm for
6:30am (4:30am London time).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kept
resetting it for every half hour later until 8am when I decided that daytrip
wasn’t going to happen today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides
the expense, it made sense for me to rest up and have a leisurely day around
the complex instead.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Had a huge breakfast buffet at the café pictured below – they had the traditional
Western breakfast foods – pancakes, crepes, chicken, pork and beef sausages,
beef bacon, potatoes au gratin, sweet potatoes, brown beans, grilled tomatoes,
omlettes, scrambled eggs, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they
also had a selection of Asian foods (kimchi, anyone?) and also cold cuts, fresh
fish, cheeses and many pasteries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Enjoyed a full English breakfast with pancakes and passion fruit
juice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yum!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E1uCxJwdENw/Ujsk7d0pvSI/AAAAAAAAAQM/qUVCnZUGAnk/s1600/Cafe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E1uCxJwdENw/Ujsk7d0pvSI/AAAAAAAAAQM/qUVCnZUGAnk/s320/Cafe.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> <span style="font-family: Calibri;">I spent the next few hours bird watching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-btV3TTynWD0/UjskxVSbXJI/AAAAAAAAAQE/a42-VpI8DSs/s1600/Bird+-+yellow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-btV3TTynWD0/UjskxVSbXJI/AAAAAAAAAQE/a42-VpI8DSs/s320/Bird+-+yellow.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Can’t say I’ve ever really done it before as
it always seemed a boring thing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
Having said that, i</span>t gave me a chance to practice using the manual focus on my camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I was finding t</span>he auto focus didn’t always focus on the
bird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, birds don’t stay
still for long so by the time I had the focus correct they were ready to take
flight.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s a selection of the better bird photos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s three of one with a longer beak – I think
he’s the Eurasian bee eater.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7V7E_RhnVQ/UjskQBJC1NI/AAAAAAAAAPs/7KHHCntASTw/s1600/Bird+-+bee+eater+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7V7E_RhnVQ/UjskQBJC1NI/AAAAAAAAAPs/7KHHCntASTw/s320/Bird+-+bee+eater+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wy_5SQCv5wM/UjskHGJqd1I/AAAAAAAAAPk/rf0r8sn5gx8/s1600/Bird+-+bee+eater+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wy_5SQCv5wM/UjskHGJqd1I/AAAAAAAAAPk/rf0r8sn5gx8/s320/Bird+-+bee+eater+2.JPG" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P535rTGtRos/UjskGRJtoRI/AAAAAAAAAPg/X4Dm-d4GbAk/s1600/Bird+-+bee+eater+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P535rTGtRos/UjskGRJtoRI/AAAAAAAAAPg/X4Dm-d4GbAk/s320/Bird+-+bee+eater+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pnryI4cIReM/Ujskq23mSWI/AAAAAAAAAP8/w2uollxzq98/s1600/Bird+-+long+tail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pnryI4cIReM/Ujskq23mSWI/AAAAAAAAAP8/w2uollxzq98/s320/Bird+-+long+tail.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also got a few pretty flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The smell of the grounds reminds of the
tropical gardens and tropical house at the Winnipeg zoo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were some very aromatic flowering
shrubs and trees.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wRSAIYguCMw/UjsmOyIXhCI/AAAAAAAAAQc/nDup_75YYqw/s1600/Flower+-+Bird+of+Paradise.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wRSAIYguCMw/UjsmOyIXhCI/AAAAAAAAAQc/nDup_75YYqw/s320/Flower+-+Bird+of+Paradise.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OpStAESQU24/Ujsmw-jboNI/AAAAAAAAARM/XmSdk33yUv8/s1600/Flower+-+purple.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OpStAESQU24/Ujsmw-jboNI/AAAAAAAAARM/XmSdk33yUv8/s320/Flower+-+purple.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w7TnDPLIpg0/UjsmpDeOppI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/rhRvbLCdoSQ/s1600/Flowers+-+fuscia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w7TnDPLIpg0/UjsmpDeOppI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/rhRvbLCdoSQ/s320/Flowers+-+fuscia.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The hibiscus flowers I took from my balcony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m used to hibiscus plants or shrubs – but this
is from a huge tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BqKIV4rC_7Y/UjsmQau4BnI/AAAAAAAAAQk/HCvPsTYgzms/s1600/Flower+-+hibiscus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BqKIV4rC_7Y/UjsmQau4BnI/AAAAAAAAAQk/HCvPsTYgzms/s320/Flower+-+hibiscus.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>While I watching
for birds on my balcony I thought I saw a hummingbird – it was about the same
size and hovered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took a few photos
with my furthest zoom and now that I look at it closer, I can see it wasn’t a
bird, but a pretty big insect!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LFLP-ahyZCg/UjskV9eiwGI/AAAAAAAAAP0/9GvBCpvXZ_0/s1600/Bug.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LFLP-ahyZCg/UjskV9eiwGI/AAAAAAAAAP0/9GvBCpvXZ_0/s320/Bug.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
I’m glad he didn’t find his way into my room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the
absence of mosquitos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw one in my
room last night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I still used the
mosquito nets anyway.</div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7DyW4e7sQ3c/Ujsl10VpzYI/AAAAAAAAAQU/UGTD3vi_NwM/s1600/Bedroom+Safari+Park.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7DyW4e7sQ3c/Ujsl10VpzYI/AAAAAAAAAQU/UGTD3vi_NwM/s320/Bedroom+Safari+Park.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
My bed was very,
very hard but I still managed to sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had the window open as I slept and had all the insects and birds lull
me to sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very nice!<o:p></o:p></div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This orange flowering plant reminds me of the ginger plants
in Hawaii.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not sure if that’s what it
is, though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JVGuXfUdne0/UjsmTW7RYeI/AAAAAAAAAQs/Fdb8Bxl3hRk/s1600/Flower+-+orange.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JVGuXfUdne0/UjsmTW7RYeI/AAAAAAAAAQs/Fdb8Bxl3hRk/s320/Flower+-+orange.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Towards the end of my walk, I came across a small lizard –
maybe five inches from head to tail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
was quite shy at first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d duck behind
the rocks and then after about 30 seconds would poke his head over the side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0lPXutO4iJ8/UjsmWvbg8tI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/pXuGcJOpBJ0/s1600/a+lizard+peeking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0lPXutO4iJ8/UjsmWvbg8tI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/pXuGcJOpBJ0/s320/a+lizard+peeking.JPG" width="231" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> If I was still he’d get back on top of the
walkway rock ledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I moved he’d duck
away again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was able to get some great
pictures of him, in focus.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T6o7IxIVlWU/Ujsmu3F6FjI/AAAAAAAAARE/cRnfN5CBxU8/s1600/a+lizard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T6o7IxIVlWU/Ujsmu3F6FjI/AAAAAAAAARE/cRnfN5CBxU8/s320/a+lizard.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Had a three hour nap this afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And soon I’ll head over to the Italian
restaurant for an oven-baked pizza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
decided to skip the big barbeque and dinner show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pizza has been calling my name and should
be a lot cheaper and tastier than the dinner and show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I walked by the barbeque restaurant I
could smell the mutton cooking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think I’ll
pass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My safari officially starts tomorrow at 7am so I’ll try to
get to bed early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not sure when I’ll next post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned the internet is very
expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In London I paid 3 pounds
sterling for two hours – a bargain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
the business centre on the grounds I could use their computer for 30 minutes
for about $12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or I can get the internet
in my room for 24 hours for $25.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that’s
what I’m doing today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not sure what it
will be like when I’m in the more remote areas of Kenya.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-49944547353065289782013-09-17T14:09:00.000-07:002013-09-17T14:09:04.627-07:00Bath: Aqua, Angels and Architecture
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I went to one of my favourite cities today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turns out the city of Bath, England was granted
World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1987 which identifies it as “a masterpiece
of human creative genius whose protection must be the concern of all.“ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much of the heart of Bath is built from Bath limestone
during the Georgian period – which is a very elegant stone, especially in the
sunlight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Didn’t get any of those golden
hues today though as the fairly constant rain gave me a very good reason to
linger indoors – be it at the Bath Abbey, the Roman Baths or the pub.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s an outdoor photo of the plaza in front of the abbey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can see the limestone buildings as well
as the crowds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plaza is the start of
most walking tours and groups visiting the baths to the left of the abbey.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N-TDCfbZbG4/Uji-srYLSvI/AAAAAAAAAN0/KEQ0IR4IMFU/s1600/Bath+Abbey+courtyard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N-TDCfbZbG4/Uji-srYLSvI/AAAAAAAAAN0/KEQ0IR4IMFU/s320/Bath+Abbey+courtyard.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The abbey has amazing architecture – I don’t know the
correct terminology, but I can certainly appreciate its beauty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s a picture facing the front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stained glass is actually over 50
different depictions from the bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g4EwWefNrVA/Uji_fkFy3LI/AAAAAAAAAOM/uTP9ES8jEG0/s1600/Bath+abbey+interior.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g4EwWefNrVA/Uji_fkFy3LI/AAAAAAAAAOM/uTP9ES8jEG0/s320/Bath+abbey+interior.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Here’s a close up of the ceiling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FXIfPtxuyEg/Uji9wTytuzI/AAAAAAAAANc/Jz6YciRzOdY/s1600/Bath+Abbey+Ceiling.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FXIfPtxuyEg/Uji9wTytuzI/AAAAAAAAANc/Jz6YciRzOdY/s320/Bath+Abbey+Ceiling.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On all the walls and alcoves were stained glass
windows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s one of King Arthur and St.
George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Didn’t think the biblical
figures and Arthurian legends could co-exist in a place of worship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9fDwtwu_cx4/Uji9xDpq32I/AAAAAAAAANY/gjV52fo-eAM/s1600/Bath+Abbey+King+Arthur.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9fDwtwu_cx4/Uji9xDpq32I/AAAAAAAAANY/gjV52fo-eAM/s320/Bath+Abbey+King+Arthur.JPG" width="250" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I learned to play the organ as a child so I am always drawn
to pipe organs in churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one is
splendid and has angel musicians playing below it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aQEDWREsqC8/Uji_JGnBwDI/AAAAAAAAAN8/P3GliFH8gz8/s1600/Bath+Abbey+organ.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aQEDWREsqC8/Uji_JGnBwDI/AAAAAAAAAN8/P3GliFH8gz8/s320/Bath+Abbey+organ.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was amused to see one of the angels playing the
bagpipes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who knew, eh?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SWwLudg29X0/Uji9hvfKLfI/AAAAAAAAANM/HgVjF1smWwg/s1600/Bath+Abbey+Angel+piper.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SWwLudg29X0/Uji9hvfKLfI/AAAAAAAAANM/HgVjF1smWwg/s320/Bath+Abbey+Angel+piper.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Meandering slowly around the building there were a plethora
of wall and floor tablets to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
were from the 1700s and 1800s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my
favourites was this one for Anne who died on August 19, 1733:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sacred to the dear
memory of Anne, only daughter of George Finch, Esq. of Valentines in Essex. An
excellent person, well natured, discreet and virtuous, most affectionately
beloved by her relations & most justly esteemed by all who knew her.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It pleased God to
visit her with a tedious and severe illness, which, (tho in the flower of her
age & blessed with a plentiful fortune) she bore with great evenness and
constancy.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She prepared herself
by frequent and fervent devotion for her dissolution which she waited for with
such pious resignation as manifested her heart to be affected with the power of
religion and the well grounded hopes of a beloved eternity.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her being the more
desirable in that the first real occasion of grief she gave her sorrowful
mother was her death.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wEqXTp5_N44/Uji_Y3OxaxI/AAAAAAAAAOE/T-q0C74qvMA/s1600/Bath+Abbey+wall+marker.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wEqXTp5_N44/Uji_Y3OxaxI/AAAAAAAAAOE/T-q0C74qvMA/s320/Bath+Abbey+wall+marker.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After reading my fill, I joined the queue of people waiting
to see the Roman Baths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve never
actually visited the Roman Baths on my previous visit so decided I was
overdue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the entrance with its
elegant limestone and signs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UFzDEo1ihFo/UjjB-ZToRtI/AAAAAAAAAOs/StoZYQI2ht0/s1600/Baths+entrance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UFzDEo1ihFo/UjjB-ZToRtI/AAAAAAAAAOs/StoZYQI2ht0/s320/Baths+entrance.JPG" width="193" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I didn’t know what to expect as all I ever saw on postcards
and advertising was the main bath. Was that all there was?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The area was built by the Romans and named it
Aquae Sulis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to many baths
of varying temperatures there was also a temple dedicated to Sulis Minerva.
Wasn’t Minerva with the head of snakes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These baths are “the finest Roman spa north of the Alps, still flowing
with natural hot water, the only hot springs in the UK.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are only two pools that are full now
most everything else is in ruins and the museum shows artifacts and talks about
how the baths worked and the social culture around them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QEjLtIkFQTg/UjjCsktzvqI/AAAAAAAAAPE/zz65CsyWQJ0/s1600/Baths+with+abbey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QEjLtIkFQTg/UjjCsktzvqI/AAAAAAAAAPE/zz65CsyWQJ0/s320/Baths+with+abbey.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because it was a cold and rainy day one could see the steam
coming off the 35 degree Celcius water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The water is tinged green as the pool no longer has a roof like it did
in Roman times so the sunlight has caused algae to grow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xYE3px75yBc/UjjBaRsAvNI/AAAAAAAAAOg/88rb2j0s7I0/s1600/Baths+-+Linda.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xYE3px75yBc/UjjBaRsAvNI/AAAAAAAAAOg/88rb2j0s7I0/s320/Baths+-+Linda.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Above this largest pool was a terrace and Roman historical
figures will built on top in the last couple of centuries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The terrace was a great place for me to get a
different viewpoint of the abbey and also of an archway between the adjacent
buildings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UwFcWJZ0YZY/UjjBiNBK9TI/AAAAAAAAAOo/KuPDiqQdMUw/s1600/Bath+Architecture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UwFcWJZ0YZY/UjjBiNBK9TI/AAAAAAAAAOo/KuPDiqQdMUw/s320/Bath+Architecture.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KGG1jgr03s0/Uji-miDOqUI/AAAAAAAAANs/n-5Eq2tEZHc/s1600/Bath+Abbey+from+Baths.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KGG1jgr03s0/Uji-miDOqUI/AAAAAAAAANs/n-5Eq2tEZHc/s320/Bath+Abbey+from+Baths.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the lower level, I was better able to get the steam in my
photos and even managed to get a photo without any tourists in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BeLN7_mOp0o/UjjCubBqxUI/AAAAAAAAAPM/SA5qmHYNEcQ/s1600/Baths+mist.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BeLN7_mOp0o/UjjCubBqxUI/AAAAAAAAAPM/SA5qmHYNEcQ/s320/Baths+mist.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o496c4zxVAI/UjjCjTJn3hI/AAAAAAAAAO8/f0WCNGl9mW0/s1600/Baths+mist+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o496c4zxVAI/UjjCjTJn3hI/AAAAAAAAAO8/f0WCNGl9mW0/s320/Baths+mist+2.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s a smaller, hotter pool which I took through a gap in
the walls (Cheryl, I can hear your muttering about holes from here!).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HAJ37rjpdDA/UjjBV-2xWnI/AAAAAAAAAOY/AJ-5prvwvaY/s1600/Baths+-+smaller+pool.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HAJ37rjpdDA/UjjBV-2xWnI/AAAAAAAAAOY/AJ-5prvwvaY/s320/Baths+-+smaller+pool.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before heading to the train station I stopped at a pub for a
pint of Thatcher’s cider and a lunch of fish and chips (and peas – not mushy
ones thankfully).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have now arrived in Southall, London.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I’m staying in an Indian neighbourhood I
think I’ll grab a curry from the restaurant on the ground floor of my small,
family-run hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Need to get to bed
early tonight as I’ve got a 9 hour flight tomorrow during the day and another
time change – three hours I think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-49321950327788935152013-09-16T16:03:00.000-07:002013-09-16T16:03:42.654-07:00A day in Cardiff
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Had an early start this morning – grabbed the train from
Newport into Cardiff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lO1BQXtdJ00/UjeGzuamVJI/AAAAAAAAALA/F56bC8ktbfQ/s1600/IMG_0467+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lO1BQXtdJ00/UjeGzuamVJI/AAAAAAAAALA/F56bC8ktbfQ/s320/IMG_0467+(2).JPG" width="226" /></a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>It took a little
while to reorient myself to which streets were where and was fortunate enough
to find the right arcade for Troutmark Books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Spent a few minutes chatting to one of the booksellers there who knew
Beth and I when we lived here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spent the rest of the morning exploring the shops before I
met up with some ex-colleagues from Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning for
lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was wonderful catching up with
old friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hard to believe it has been
more than seven years since I left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was very cool to see that some of the signs I created as timetabling officer are
still there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I only had the day in Cardiff so wanted to enjoy as much as
I could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talking to friends was a big
part of it, although I also wanted to explore the park where I used to jog and
photograph the wall of animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
I was in a gargoyle kind of day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s a Welsh Dragon which sits on a post in front of City
Hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wuhNi1FZtaY/UjeHIyZGKhI/AAAAAAAAALI/ZPPwfDhfQDA/s1600/Cardiff+Dragon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wuhNi1FZtaY/UjeHIyZGKhI/AAAAAAAAALI/ZPPwfDhfQDA/s320/Cardiff+Dragon.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beyond City Hall is Bute Park which is a lovely large park
with the River Taff, small streams and lots of trees and greenery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Here's one of the streams outside the castle wall.</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7lweMSCZ28I/UjeHs01dyRI/AAAAAAAAALQ/ikdlV18ppXs/s1600/Cardiff+Castle+rear.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7lweMSCZ28I/UjeHs01dyRI/AAAAAAAAALQ/ikdlV18ppXs/s320/Cardiff+Castle+rear.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>At one end of the park is Cardiff Castle and
the wall of animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are a
selection of gargoyle-like animals from the wall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-doinIxJtsiY/UjeICwlYHlI/AAAAAAAAALk/lhhmpZikd_s/s1600/Cardiff+Animal+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-doinIxJtsiY/UjeICwlYHlI/AAAAAAAAALk/lhhmpZikd_s/s320/Cardiff+Animal+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NXYt7ohMYyM/UjeH8GQ0RPI/AAAAAAAAALc/LFgsiw2JliU/s1600/Cardiff+Animal+1+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NXYt7ohMYyM/UjeH8GQ0RPI/AAAAAAAAALc/LFgsiw2JliU/s320/Cardiff+Animal+1+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As you can see the rain poured down intermittently, and me
being the ill-prepared tourist left my rain jacket back in my room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I decided to get out of the rain by touring Cardiff Castle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been on the grounds once before but had
never seen the furnished rooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know
how it is… you live in a city but always think there’s time to see its sights
another day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then when you move away you
still haven’t seen the big tourist attractions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Castle was interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I learned that during the second world war, during the bomb raids people
took shelter in the castle walls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s
a poster instructing citizens how to put on their gas mask.</span></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-koZKcXuGea0/UjeJV3A-SaI/AAAAAAAAAL8/x-hI9DVkwT8/s1600/Bunker+sign+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-koZKcXuGea0/UjeJV3A-SaI/AAAAAAAAAL8/x-hI9DVkwT8/s320/Bunker+sign+1.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-koZKcXuGea0/UjeJV3A-SaI/AAAAAAAAAMA/RXmapMwHzkg/s1600/Bunker+sign+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There were several posters advising people how to help the
war effort – growing vegetables, keeping healthy, using potatoes instead of
bread, and inviting the women of Britain to work in the factories.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ISowni0oylc/UjeI2LHuWVI/AAAAAAAAALw/KBrS3pvn2iY/s1600/Bunker+sign+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ISowni0oylc/UjeI2LHuWVI/AAAAAAAAALw/KBrS3pvn2iY/s320/Bunker+sign+2.JPG" width="224" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kjnyk7mB378/UjeJcGcl8xI/AAAAAAAAAMI/8ya53rb3pmY/s1600/Bunker+sign+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kjnyk7mB378/UjeJcGcl8xI/AAAAAAAAAMI/8ya53rb3pmY/s320/Bunker+sign+3.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s an example of the kitchen.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KZtXxuvj1OI/UjeJScOMRBI/AAAAAAAAAL4/l5ow7jcUeZE/s1600/Bunker+kitchen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KZtXxuvj1OI/UjeJScOMRBI/AAAAAAAAAL4/l5ow7jcUeZE/s320/Bunker+kitchen.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The keep survived fairly well over many centuries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KSkyKNA59Sc/UjeLOn7hYcI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/PKRsfb_pFF4/s1600/Cardiff+Keep.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KSkyKNA59Sc/UjeLOn7hYcI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/PKRsfb_pFF4/s320/Cardiff+Keep.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s the clock tower which had its beautiful colours
restored about the same time we moved from Wales.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was nice to see the finished product<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UL52wcIG95g/UjeLxra0UxI/AAAAAAAAAMY/LXuUPZsfC7I/s1600/Castle+clock+tower.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UL52wcIG95g/UjeLxra0UxI/AAAAAAAAAMY/LXuUPZsfC7I/s320/Castle+clock+tower.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Inside were several rooms accessible to the public. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I particularly liked the stained glass windows
of which there were many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even managed
to take a few photos of them when the sun peaked out amongst the rain clouds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cGhdgZvr5Kg/UjeMbf3yRfI/AAAAAAAAAM0/vzAfxPVjF7E/s1600/Castle+stained+glass.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cGhdgZvr5Kg/UjeMbf3yRfI/AAAAAAAAAM0/vzAfxPVjF7E/s320/Castle+stained+glass.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This dining hall is often rented out for fancy
weddings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-in25jgki9ak/UjeMS0K2NlI/AAAAAAAAAMs/5ytxmlULAGk/s1600/Castle+Dining+room.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-in25jgki9ak/UjeMS0K2NlI/AAAAAAAAAMs/5ytxmlULAGk/s320/Castle+Dining+room.JPG" width="213" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a recreation of a
medieval dining hall and had elaborate woodwork, even in the ceiling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O5lhd5cSyZM/UjeMQoAvG0I/AAAAAAAAAMk/LvqrBh_0cO8/s1600/Castle+Dining+room+light.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O5lhd5cSyZM/UjeMQoAvG0I/AAAAAAAAAMk/LvqrBh_0cO8/s320/Castle+Dining+room+light.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think my favourite room was the library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I seem to feel at home with lots of books –
odd, that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S8uMvgIBe2w/UjeMfDWcYQI/AAAAAAAAAM8/a6y4XaC-3AM/s1600/Castle+library.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S8uMvgIBe2w/UjeMfDWcYQI/AAAAAAAAAM8/a6y4XaC-3AM/s320/Castle+library.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once I saw all there was to see, I took the train back to
Newport and had an enjoyable evening with my hosts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have a dog and two cats – one of whom
spent the whole evening lying in my lap soaking up the attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Makes me want to have a cat, now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’d have to move somewhere pet-friendly
before that can happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And before I can
move I’d need to downsize the number of books in the apartment.</span></div>
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Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-17358181562247850042013-09-15T14:36:00.001-07:002013-09-15T14:36:49.548-07:00Planes, Trains and Automobiles
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Trying to catch my breath while the train departs London
Paddington station en route to Wales.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cheryl kindly drove me to the Victoria Airport yesterday afternoon for
my 25 minute flight to Vancouver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once
in Vancouver I had about an hour before I boarded my flight to London Heathrow.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was a long flight – about 9 hours, but I did manage to
get almost four hours of sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would
have liked more but it wasn’t to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
its now 3:30am Victoria time and I’ve just started my afternoon in Britain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Been thinking about Beth a lot today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recall our ‘Dai-boken’ or grand adventure
to Japan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now it’s just me on the next
grand adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt very weird to
have been packed a couple of days early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And while I still have a lot of luggage, it’s not anything like it was
when travelling with Beth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
wheelchair, no oxygen concentrator with three fully charged batteries, and no
need to dedicate a whole bag to medical supplies – break packs, pills, Gatorade
and the list goes on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the best part
is that I didn’t have to watch her go into seizures, pass out and stop
breathing during ascents and descents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The down side is that I don’t have her beside me sharing the
adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had seen so many parts of
the world together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told me a few
months before she died that once she was gone I should go on a safari.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had dragged her with me to various IMAX
films about Africa and also watched several BBC documentaries together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last one we watched at IMAX decided it
for her – too much motion for her, too much heat and far too many bugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would have been impossible for her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even I’m having concerns about whether my body will endure
the long flights and the bumpy roads while on the safari. I’m sure after a good
night’s sleep I’ll feel more positive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Feeling a little draggy at the moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s an overcast day in London –
now there’s the London I remember!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
expect Wales to be much different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
spending three days in Britain before flying on to Nairobi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m hoping to catch up with several friends
in Wales while I’m here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friend Nicci
is letting me stay at her place, which I really appreciate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just about bedtime for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nicci picked me up from Newport’s city centre amidst the rain which was "tipping" (pouring) down. We got to her place in
time for a quick cuppa before heading into Cardiff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had "tea" (dinner) at a pub where I was able
to have a proper Sunday dinner – roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and roasted
potatoes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was on my list of favourite
things to eat while in Britain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
dinner we went to the church I used to go to – City URC Church for “the
Gathering”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s an LGBT+ group which
meets weekly to sing some worship songs, have a discussion about being an LGBT+
Christian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Got to meet up with another
friend of mine which was lots of fun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I miss going to an open and affirming church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think I’ll look for something similar in
Victoria when I get back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
wonderful meeting up old and new friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Funny story… I had forgotten that in Britain it isn’t
uncommon to leave the pub with your pint glass in hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hadn’t finished my cider with my dinner
before our meeting started so I was encouraged to take it with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So there I was singing worship songs and
drinking my cider.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bit of a surreal
experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After our meeting half of us headed back to the pub to
return my glass and have another round.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Haven’t drunk this much cider since I left Wales.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m out of practice – but I figured it will
help me have a good night’s sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Talk to you tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-79991784328560390532013-06-10T21:20:00.000-07:002013-06-10T21:20:55.619-07:00Finding a resting place for Beth Beth had wanted her ashes to be buried under some blackberry bushes at one of her favourite parks on the island. Two weekends ago, along with Cheryl and two other of my friends, we went in search of the perfect spot. <br />
<br />
I knew I had found it when I came across a small meadow with a big clump of bushes in the centre, surrounded by daisies in full bloom. The edge of the meadow was covered with huge wild rose bushes, about 8 feet tall.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-szE2hc86Ry0/UbahjpqQf_I/AAAAAAAAAKQ/cPfty-4kQhI/s1600/a+friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-szE2hc86Ry0/UbahjpqQf_I/AAAAAAAAAKQ/cPfty-4kQhI/s320/a+friends.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In amongst the bushes were blackberry plants.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RIWO2djkjvo/UbahtWtLcsI/AAAAAAAAAKY/-9KuxWHIrx4/s1600/a+blackberry+plants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RIWO2djkjvo/UbahtWtLcsI/AAAAAAAAAKY/-9KuxWHIrx4/s320/a+blackberry+plants.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was able to dig a hole at the base. Here I am holding Beth’s ashes. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vplwofC9VxE/Ubah1xYTcdI/AAAAAAAAAKg/a7v1oVVDKp0/s1600/a+holdinging+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vplwofC9VxE/Ubah1xYTcdI/AAAAAAAAAKg/a7v1oVVDKp0/s320/a+holdinging+box.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As I was holding the box I remembered how many times I had wished she were the size of a toddler so that I could pick her up off the floor when she fell or could carry her from one room to another. I often felt helpless because I couldn’t do those things and when I tried getting her into a better position I ended up hurting her muscles. She was so fragile the last few months.<br />
<br />
I was a bit reluctant to open the box because I didn’t know what to expect. As there weren’t ashes falling out of the box I figured they were in a bag so I needed to get them out of the bag so they could decompose in the ground. For those who might have a morbid curiosity, you can read the rest of this paragraph. For those who don’t… skip ahead to the next one. Ashes are heavy. I would say the box was at least ten pounds in weight. There were soft ashes but also harder tiny pieces that reminded me of oyster shells that we used to feed the chickens on the farm so that their egg shells would be firm. Calcium.<br />
<br />
We hadn’t planned to say any special words. I thought about poems or excerpts from books that Beth liked. But Beth liked and read so many things that I didn’t know where to start. All the heartfelt words were said while she was still alive. So instead we listened to the birds and the breeze and smelled the mossy soil and the salt water in the air. Some of the things Beth loved about the area.<br />
<br />
The meadow was about 50 feet away from a bay. Here’s the view from her resting place. Daisies in the front, roses to the left and beyond the evergreens is the water.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQ7AyM_W6kM/UbaiIN0KzEI/AAAAAAAAAKo/4oX-SzKzLyc/s1600/a+meadow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQ7AyM_W6kM/UbaiIN0KzEI/AAAAAAAAAKo/4oX-SzKzLyc/s320/a+meadow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We went for a walk and Cheryl and I reminisced about our trips with Beth – how she’d struggle over these tree roots or those rocks. And how at this point she actually had to get out of her chair because the two of us couldn’t maneuver the chair around the obstacles. Or how at this point Beth would be dangling off the edge of the cliff.<br />
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We saw a heron on the dock. This past year Beth and I had seen a number of herons. To me they'll be forever linked with her.<br />
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Back in the car, before we left the area I played a song Beth requested be played. It’s the Gift to Be Simple by the King’s Singers. I’ve found a youtube version – the song is the first 2 minutes - you can ignore the rest.<br />
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It is a lovely song that many will be familiar with – perhaps you sang it at church or around the campfire? I can see why the song appealed to Beth. She’s finally free of all the pain and all the difficulties she had to face.<br />
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Rest in peace, Beth. Be free and fly.Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-37795787064805157252013-05-24T23:15:00.003-07:002013-05-24T23:15:36.525-07:00Corsets, Tattoos, Skulls and HeronsA big thank you to everyone who celebrated Beth’s life by wearing a corset, tattoo or anything skull-related this past Sunday on May 19th, Beth's birthday.<br />
<br />
I had my parents take this photo of me at the Winnipeg airport while waiting for my flight back to Victoria.<br />
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This one is of Cheryl. No corset, but with a Hello Kitty/dragon tattoo and goth tank top.<br />
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If you have a photo or a blog link that you’d like to share, please send the photo to linda dot mcclung @shaw.ca. Blog links can be added as a comment.<br />
<br />
Someone recently asked me whether I would start blogging more frequently now that Elizabeth is gone. Not sure how frequently I’ll write, but will give it a try. Next post I’ll write about my trip to Manitoba.<br />
<br />
I haven’t written for a while as it has been a busy few weeks. Cheryl has been over all week helping me sort stuff. We’ve found over 300 graphic novels and have prepared them for a comic book expo in Victoria next month. We also sorted clothes and got rid of some of the medical equipment.<br />
<br />
In between all the hard work we took a few breaks to check out the local sites all the while debating whether Beth would have liked the place or not.<br />
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Here’s Floyd’s Diner which has been featured on the Food Network and serves amazing food.<br />
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<br />
We had burgers for lunch and I didn’t eat for the rest of the day. Beth and I shared a love for thick milkshakes. This milkshake was so think I think I worked off all the calories just by trying to get the shake through the straw! The food was awesome! The restaurant was wheelchair accessible which a bonus for those with accessibility issues. It would have been a bit too noisy for Beth though.<br />
<br />
Another day we went to Witty’s lagoon near the naval base. It’s a huge lagoon with mostly sandy beaches.<br />
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I had totally forgotten about the lagoon – Beth and I hadn’t been there
in about 15 years. It’s a great place for birdwatching and she would
have loved it. Cheryl and I saw at least half a dozen herons.
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Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-44649807781581854332013-05-03T10:00:00.002-07:002013-05-03T10:00:21.085-07:00Vampire fangs, temp tattoos, corsets and skullsAviatrix had a great idea - Could you have a part of the event that people touched by Elizabeth all over the world can participate in? I don't mean a webcast, or something we watch, but something we do or wear. Something out of the ordinary enough that people will ask us why, and we can tell them about Elizabeth.
If anyone would like to participate, I propose that on May 19th you apply a temporary tattoo and if you own something with skulls on them or own a corset that you go wear them. On May 19th Elizabeth would have turned 43. You may recall that she challenged readers on a previous birthday to go outdoors and experience life, and so many of you did. I think Elizabeth would have liked a remembrance from her virtual family.
I think Elizabeth would have also approved of the lady who's doing her cremation. When I gave her Beth's yukata kimono she asked if there was anything else. I gave her one of Beth's skel-animal plushies and Beth's new fangs. She asked if I'd like her to put them on. I said she didn't have to, but she was really cool about and with a big grin said she would. She also gave me some tips on scattering ashes illegally.
Will keep you posted on a local celebration of life. Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-74996477476959259942013-05-01T00:19:00.000-07:002013-05-01T00:19:09.853-07:00Remembering ElizabethElizabeth wanted to be cremated and have her ashes buried under a blackberry bush (a favourite summer activity for her was picking and eating blackberries).
She didn't want a funeral, but Cheryl and I think some celebration of her life is in order. Elizabeth was a unique person so her celebration ought to be unique too, right? Any suggestions? Two thoughts that come to mind are having a wake at a local pub or having a picnic at one of her favourite parks.
I will post periodically as plans are finalized.
Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-71314410924431896952011-11-27T23:24:00.000-08:002011-11-28T00:27:51.410-08:00Giving thanks<div><span style="font-family:arial;">Thursday was American Thanksgiving, so it seems an appropriate time for me to share some of the things for which I am thankful.<br /><br />1. <strong>My health.</strong> I’ve been battling a cough for the last 8 weeks, but am on the home stretch now. Even with the cough, I see myself fortunate in that I am well enough to work, to do chores, to exercise with Beth, and to support her physically. My memory isn’t so great, but I think not enough REM sleep does that to a person.<br /><br />2. <strong>Beth is still alive </strong>and there are moments where we can be together. There are a lot of ups and downs and neither of us are perfect, but we both want to have a better relationship. And we keep working towards that.<br /><br />3. <strong>BC Palliative Benefits program and hospice.</strong> Beth was registered palliative earlier this year, which meant some of her medications were free of charge. This has saved me hundreds of dollars each month – money which I didn’t have to begin with. Beth was registered with the Hospice Society a few months back, and while we haven’t used their services much yet, Beth was able to talk to a counselor for a few weeks. Hopefully, she can do more as she is able.<br /><br />4.<strong> My job.</strong> Islands Trust has a mandate to preserve and protect the southern Gulf Islands between Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia. It does this by regulating planning and development on the island, and preserving pieces of land in trust. The work has little stress, which is something I appreciate at the moment. The people I work with are great, especially my boss. He is really flexible when it comes to my needing to take time off for care giving as he himself was a primary caregiver a couple of years ago.<br /><br />5. <strong>Family. </strong>We don’t have any family in the area, but I appreciate the occasional phone calls from my parents and my sister-in-law. My parents flew me out to visit them this summer and attend my grandparents’ 60th anniversary. It was wonderful to reconnect with them. I am also excited about my cousin moving to Victoria this winter to work at CFB Esquimalt as a military police officer. I haven’t seen him in years.<br /><br />6. <strong>Friends.</strong> Words of encouragement are priceless. Beth feels so alienated so any correspondence would help her feel part of the living. I always feel stronger when I know there are people behind me supporting me. Also, while I was unemployed a number of friendly readers reached out and assisted us -people we have corresponded with for years but also complete strangers who to this day we don’t have their address to even send a thank you card. If you are reading this and you were one of them – thank you so much. I don’t know what we would have done without you.<br /><br />Thank you to those of you who have purchased off the Amazon wishlist (especially when accessed through </span><a href="http://elizabethmcclung.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Beth’s blog</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> so that she receives a small percentage of what you paid as a credit she can put toward her purchases). Someone has kept us supplied with </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Biocodex-Florastor-50-count-250mg/dp/B000NB1OMO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=IJCKD64QI44S9&colid=2T7MGTH62OA7D"><span style="font-family:arial;">Florastor</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> which Beth needs to aid her digestion (P.S. I only have half a bottle left). Other medical items on the wishlist we always need restocking are the </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/3M-Tegaderm-Transparent-Film-Dressing/dp/B000PQ5NM4/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I311PZW675FRLF&colid=2T7MGTH62OA7D"><span style="font-family:arial;">tegaderm patches </span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">(which prevent her pain patches from coming off) and the emla cream or other </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Numb-STRONGEST-Anesthetic-lidocaine/dp/B003VEBG14/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=IZEOC8HSK6PYS&colid=2T7MGTH62OA7D"><span style="font-family:arial;">topical anaestheti</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">c for medical tests. Batteries (AA and AAA) are always needed and my rechargeable ones aren’t recharging any more. The </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Duracell-AAA-Alkaline-Batteries-Count/dp/B002UXRXE6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=IN1XQIUXF3B09&colid=2T7MGTH62OA7D"><span style="font-family:arial;">AAA batteries </span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">are used for Beth’s noise cancelling headphones which she couldn’t survive without, mp3 players for working through the pain while exercising, flashlights (so I can keep most of the lights off while Beth is sleeping), computer mice and other gadgets.<br /><br />Purchases for the soul, rather than the body, have been equally important – books and DVDs to help Beth live beyond the pain, books for me to escape for a few hours, and DVDs we watch together as a couple. Those are special times for us together.<br /><br />Financial donations go towards medications mostly, but also recently have been able to buy Beth some clothes she desperately needed – pajamas, sweats, tshirts and hoodies. Next on the list – warm socks, </span><a href="http://www.mobilitysmart.cc/wheelchair-accessories/gloves/globaleather-full-fingered-wheelchair-gloves-p-7905.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">wheelchair gloves </span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">(hers have split at the seams), more bottoms and a haircut for each of us.<br /><br />While my job is great, the pay is not. There isn’t enough for extras no matter how nice or needed they might be. One of the reasons Beth did not go to Hospice for respite is that you had to pay for a week – something we really couldn’t do. We have come up with an alternative, which is possible with your help. We’d like to give Beth a two night stay at a local hotel in Victoria. There are some very nice hotels downtown and with winter rates they would be less than $100/night. Beth would still be able to get care workers to come and check on her and make sure she has meals. They could go for walks with her to Starbucks or to the museum. And she’d still have access to the internet. I would be close enough that she could call me in an emergency. We are hoping to give Beth this respite/mini holiday in mid-December before the prices go up. If you could help with that, please click the donate button on the right.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uiheN6Mrvvc/TtNFmFOY9cI/AAAAAAAAAI8/ivdIEP1FfhY/s1600/victoria.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 269px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 188px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679960075584206274" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uiheN6Mrvvc/TtNFmFOY9cI/AAAAAAAAAI8/ivdIEP1FfhY/s400/victoria.jpg" /></a><br />I have my own mini-respite in the first week of December. I am going up to Gabriola Island to do some work in our office there. I’ll be on Gabriola for two days and will spend the night in Nanaimo at a nice hotel where I can relax – go for a walk, read a book, soak in the whirlpool, or whatever else strikes my fancy. It is only one night, but it will be a welcome break.<br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SYecF2fL2-k/TtNDWhPVOiI/AAAAAAAAAIw/LUE4UOEjb-4/s1600/gabriola.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679957609203186210" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SYecF2fL2-k/TtNDWhPVOiI/AAAAAAAAAIw/LUE4UOEjb-4/s400/gabriola.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /></span></div>Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-67606867317059891982010-12-08T03:58:00.000-08:002010-12-08T04:03:22.243-08:00Asking for help as a caregiver<span style="font-family:arial;">One of the hardest things I’ve had to learn as a caregiver is to ask for help. Turns out I am not alone. I share this problem with a lot of caregivers, especially those who are taking care of their spouses. We’ve been taught in society that it is our responsibility to take care of our spouses in sickness and in health. This is especially true for women as they are expected to take care of others – their children, their spouses, their elderly parents, etc.<br /><br />In reading caregiving books and speaking to other caregivers, I’ve been told that often people want to help but don’t know how. As as one person said, if we stepped back for a minute we can figure out all kinds of ways for people to pitch in. So, I’ve taken a few minutes to figure out ways people can help if they don’t leave nearby and that’s what this blog is about.<br /><br />When I was working full-time I learned to accept help from the local health authority which brought in homecare workers to give Beth lunch while I was away and for a while, give me one night a week where I could sleep uninterrupted through the night. I also had a steady income and medical benefits which covered the majority of medications. This gave me some semblance of stability and control over life.<br /><br />Being unemployed has taken so much of that stability away. My employment insurance income doesn’t cover all our basic costs, never mind the extras like clothing, haircuts, car repairs, and many others. I try to shelter the stress of finance from Beth, but it still manages to leak out especially if I am tired or cranky. She’s really sensitive about it and with not being able to put occurrences into a time perspective it’s all there in the forefront of her brain as if I said it an hour ago.<br /><br />Beth mentioned in her recent blog that for those who wanted to send a Christmas gift, the best gift you could give would be to help with medical costs. This would take the edge off the financial worries. She doesn’t know how much the costs are, just that they are significant. I handle all the monetary costs, with the exception of the occasional donation people specifically give for the postcard project or money Beth has made on selling her own books. Please don’t mention actual costs to Beth if you are talking with her as that will cause her a lot of stress (and as a result, me too!).<br /><br />If you would like to help with the basic expenses, I would be grateful. Monetary donations through paypal (see the button to the right of this blog), purchasing the actual items (please let me know to avoid duplicates) or donating loyalty points are ways anyone can help. So, if you can help fiscally, here’s a list of basic things we need:<br /><br /><strong>Medications… the biggies are:</strong><br /><strong>Lyrica</strong> – this costs about $90 for a two-week supply if we get it through the pharmacy here in Canada, about half that if we order it online through a pharmacy in the UK. Without it Beth gets a lot of seizures and increased nerve pain.<br /><strong>Antidepressants</strong> – Beth’s anti-depressant is from the UK because Pfizer doesn’t produce it here in North America. $30/month. It’s the only one we found that works for Beth. Also an anti-depressant for me to help me cope with everything that life throws at me.<br /><strong>Fentynol patch</strong> – this is Beth’s main source of pain control – about $150/month. Without it the pain becomes unbearable – Beth sleeps interrupted with teeth clenched and muscle and bone pain all over. They take about 12 hours to work and last about 2 days. We have to change them regularly so that she’s never without the drugs in her system.<br /><strong>Tramacet</strong> – Beth’s breakthrough pain medication. This pill takes about 20 minutes to kick in and really helps on bad days and in the mornings to get her full hours of sleep.<br /><strong>Tramadol</strong> – Beth’s night pain pills – they cost about $50 a month, but we’ve got a month’s worth of samples at the moment.<br /><strong>Florastor</strong> – to replace the flora in the intestines and regulate bowel irritability ($30/month)<br /><strong>Birth control pills</strong> for both of us – as hormone replacement for Beth as her body isn’t producing estrogen and as a mood stabilizer for me.<br /><strong>Muscle relaxants</strong> – to ease some of the muscle pain before bed<br /><br /><strong>Other basics –</strong><br />Crest toothpaste and toothbrushes<br />Ear plugs – the orange foam ones from Flents that are rated 33 NRR<br />Gatorade powder or drinks – We have a giant tin of lemon flavoured crystals, but could use other flavours to break up the monotony<br />Dill Pickles and small manzanilla olives (stuffed with pimentos if anything) – to aid in digestion, moving things through the intestines<br />Grapes and grape juice – to add soft fibre to her diet and keep her regular<br />Gasoline/petrol for the van to take Beth to appointments, getting me to the grocery stores, etc.<br />Haircuts – neither of us have had one since spring<br />Clothing – due to Beth’s edema there are very few of her clothes which still fit her. She could really use some underwear, thick socks (does anyone know how to darn wool ones with holes?), and comfortable clothes to wear during the day. Sizing is a bit tricky, especially with leg length, so if you want to help, please let me know and I’ll give you more info.<br />Batteries – AAA and AA<br />Lifeline response phone service - $24/mo<br /><br />If you want to help, but don’t have any disposable income, another way to help would be to transfer loyalty points if you have them. Ask and I’ll give you the account numbers. <br /><br /><strong>I have the following Canadian loyalty points cards:</strong><br /><strong>Airmiles</strong> - I often trade in for gasoline coupons and the occasional Starbucks card so that I can go out and have a treat sometimes when the homecare workers are here. <br /><strong>Save On Foods</strong> – for groceries or gas<br /><strong>Thrifty Foods</strong> – for groceries<br /><strong>Shoppers Drug Mart Optimum</strong> – for over the counter meds (muscle relaxants, emla topical cream, etc)<br /><br /><strong>In the US, I have:<br />Albertson’s Preferred</strong> – for when I’m in Port Angeles, WA<br /><strong>Rite Aid Wellness +</strong> - for when I’m in Port Angeles, WA<br /><br />I know we are not the only ones having a hard time financially, so if you can’t help, please do not feel bad. You could provide the emotional help – an encouraging letter or card in the post. Or a photo of you so that Beth can be reminded who you are and feel connected to someone.<br /><br />My next task is to see if I can get more hours of homecare workers so that I can spend more time on job hunting and find that stable income and with any luck, some medical benefits, too. </span>Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-30711899153570898972010-08-25T23:06:00.000-07:002010-08-25T23:10:40.586-07:00A little miracleWhen we came back from our road trip we noticed our portable air conditioner in the living room wasn’t cooling like it used to. It was four years old and pretty much goes 24/7 all spring, summer and fall. It has done a remarkable job cooling down all of the apartment (except for the study which has its own a/c) for such a long time. It not cooling properly really had me worried – I couldn’t afford to buy a new one, could I find someone to repair it? How much would that cost me? We couldn’t live without it – Beth would really overheat when she left the study. And a heat wave was on its way.<br /><br />I called all the air conditioner businesses and they all said fixing a portable wasn’t worth their time. Go buy a new one. When I explained I was unemployed they still didn’t change their mind. Finally, I found an old guy who repaired appliances. He was probably around 80 years old, had very limited vision and puttered around outside his shop. He and I spent a couple of hours taking the a/c apart and cleaning it out. Fortunately, he didn’t charge much. The a/c was working a bit better, but still not cooling like it used to.<br /><br />I was telling my friend here in Victoria about it on the phone one evening. We were arranging when to meet up for a cup of tea. It was my turn to host – and we were going to try out some of the tea we bought at Chado’s in California. A day or two later she was forwarding links to a/c ads and asking me which was closest to the one I currently had. When she arrived a few days later for tea, she said she needed some help getting something out of the vehicle, and to bring my trolley. <br /><br />Apparently we have a guardian angel. One of my friend’s connections bought us a new portable air conditioner which was a new version of our current model. It was amazing. Someone who has probably never met us found out we had a need and they filled it. It was humbling. It took a huge weight of worry off my shoulders. And it was easy to install – just had to take it out of the box and switch the air vent from the old a/c to the new one. No fitting hoses and panels into the window. It was all already there. We set it up in the middle of the heat wave and it has made a big difference to Beth’s quality of life. Mine, too, as I spend most of my day in the living room. It works so well I’m usually wearing a sweatshirt inside. And, with the help of a couple of fans, the cool air reaches the bedroom and bathroom. This is a big bonus as when it was hot Beth would go into heat exhaustion sitting in the bathroom and in the bedroom I couldn’t wake her up because she would be so overheated.<br /><br />It has been a few weeks and the air conditioner is still working great. I don’t know who was so generous to buy us the new air conditioner, but I am very grateful. What was an impossibly huge expense for me was possible for someone else. Their generosity was a real miracle. Being unemployed and trying to live off employment insurance cheques is pretty difficult. There are always decisions to be made as to what can we live without. After paying rent, groceries and medications, there isn't much left. There's no way I could have replaced the a/c on my own.<br /><br />So, guardian angel, if you’re out there reading, I just wanted to say ‘THANKS!’Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-38860335760664121752010-07-28T10:39:00.000-07:002010-07-28T10:47:10.940-07:00News From the RoadHi All<br /><br />Cheryl here...<br /><br />Just a real quick blog to update you on Beth and the San Diego adventures...<br /><br />The camera was found! That was a very happy moment.<br /><br />We DID ComicCon and some sightseeing. Beth is pretty tired by this point so it may be a day or two before she updates her blog. I'll let her tell you of her adventures.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-4550473193524267522010-04-09T00:37:00.000-07:002010-04-09T00:51:51.328-07:00The Case of the Missing Scooper PlatesThanks to everyone who sent medical supplies. I tried to send personal emails to all, but may have missed a few. Sorry about that! All the supplies have been really useful. Your generosity has been appreciated and I don't think I'll ever need to buy chapstick, aspirin or echinacea again. Ear plugs and florastar, on the other hand, we can never have enough.<br /><br />Someone kindly bought some of these blue scooper plates this past winter but they never arrived. If you ordered them and had them sent to our address, you may want to contact the seller to see where they went missing.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/S77bdDzGUCI/AAAAAAAAAIM/NJa-z0K56VQ/s1600/blue+scooper+plates.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458041090701938722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/S77bdDzGUCI/AAAAAAAAAIM/NJa-z0K56VQ/s400/blue+scooper+plates.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Someone also bought these sandstone scooper plates and they haven't arrived either.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/S77bdbgtmBI/AAAAAAAAAIU/di40A6UijlI/s1600/sandstone+scooper+plate.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458041097067272210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/S77bdbgtmBI/AAAAAAAAAIU/di40A6UijlI/s400/sandstone+scooper+plate.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Can you solve these mysteries?Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-45212556635462500122010-02-14T01:05:00.000-08:002010-02-14T01:15:57.180-08:00Ready... set...For those of you who read Screw Bronze, you’ll know that Beth has a dream to go to <a href="http://www.sakuracon.org/">Sakuracon</a> in Seattle April 2-4th. Cheryl and I would love to make the dream come true (we want to go too!) and think with your help we can make that happen.<br /><br />A few of her readers have emailed her to ask how they can help. So we thought it might be useful for everyone to see what our expenses are. I’ve also put deadlines next to items if applicable. <br /> <br /><strong>Convention Tickets</strong> - $150 by March 8th – Beth committed to sell books on Amazon/ebay to pay for these.<br /><br /><strong>Hotel</strong> – 3 nights - $520, $30 parking – reserved! It’s Easter Weekend so we wanted to get our room before it’s too late. We’re staying at the <a href="http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/seasc?&stopredirect=true">Holiday Inn </a>in downtown Seattle. It’s far enough away from the convention that it’s relatively quiet and will give us a good night’s sleep. It has suites and depending on the room type, free continental breakfast. It is also more reasonable than most other hotels. <br /><br /><strong>Coho Ferry</strong> - round trip (Victoria – Port Angeles) - $151 – reserve ASAP! This year we need to take NDY, Beth’s power chair as she’s too weak to hold herself up all day. NDY will give her full back and head support and also has tilt and recline in case she has seizures or is too weak to stay upright. With a minor tilt she is cradled in the chair. We need to take our van as NDY won’t fit into Cheryl’s Jeep. We take the Coho ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles and then spend the night at Cheryl’s. Then we drive across the Olympic Peninsula and catch the Washington ferry to Seattle. The Coho has a limited number of reservations for each sailing and as this is Easter weekend we want reservations. The alternative is to arrive at the terminal and park the vehicle the night before and then walk/roll down the next morning several hours before the ferry leaves. This would really wear Beth out.<br /><br /><strong>Gas</strong> - $60 – we’ll pick up the cheaper American gas in Port Angeles.<br />Washington Ferry – round trip (Bainbridge – Seattle) - $40 – need to take this ferry to get from the Olympic Peninsula to downtown Seattle.<br /><br /><strong>Parking</strong> – $24/day reserved at least 30 days in advance (March 1st) at the Convention Centre = $75. This will cost about the same or less than getting a taxi that takes the three of us and NDY, Beth’s power chair. Having it at the Convention Centre means if the noise and people get too much for Beth (or Cheryl or I for that matter) we can sit in the van for a while and chill out. I need to check, but it may even let us come and go multiple times a day which would mean we could go back to the hotel for naps and return in the evening.<br /><br /><strong>Food</strong> - $200 – we will buy groceries at the grocery store nearby our hotel and this will cover most of our meals. We usually have take out one night for a change.<br /><br /><strong>Costume for Beth</strong> – to be determined – but it’s gotta be hot! Suggestions are welcome. One reader suggested this black <a href="http://www.pyramidcollection.com/itemdy00.asp?c=20&scat=Y&GEN1=Wedding&Parent=&T1=P87544+S&PageNo=2&pos=12">lace dress </a>with a corset bodice. Beth would also like me and Cheryl to dress up a bit. She has offered to share her hair accessories with me. We’ll see how that goes.<br /><br /><strong>Spending money</strong> – Beth and Cheryl want to go back to the dealers who were selling $2 and $5 manga as well as the art books and sellers of Japanese merchandise. Last year Beth found some great gifts that she sent out over the course of the year – items (clothing, stationery, etc) with Boots the cat were really popular.<br /><br />If you would like to help out, please let me know at linda.mcclung at shaw.ca or use the donate button to the right. If you are planning to join us at Sakuracon, could you email me as well so I can keep track so we make sure we don’t miss anyone?<br /><br />CheersLinda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-78607077544379635682009-12-14T11:06:00.000-08:002009-12-14T11:10:33.650-08:00Not Enough, Never Enough…<span style="font-size:130%;">Go ahead and fill in the blank after enough. There are many words that will do. In my case I will just look at the three that I feel are having the biggest impact on our reality.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Help or Assistance<br /></strong><br />From the medical community we get delays and excuses, “You are too complicated. It’s not my area. I just feel we need to run more tests before I can sign off on anything.” No effort is made to address symptoms or provide for basic relief from pain, anemia or a hundred other things that detract from quality of life and therefore from quantity of live.<br /><br />From the caregiver agency we get told, “This is all the hours you are allowed. Family has to fill in for the rest of your needs.” The fact that there isn’t an extended family available to help doesn’t matter. There are two of us in this family who are regularly here helping. Linda provides the majority of care as she also works full time. I come on weekends and do what I can to help Beth and give Linda a chance to have some non-caregiver time. The non-caregiver time for Linda often doesn’t work out as it takes both of us to care for Beth.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Money<br /></strong><br />If we had enough money we could have taken Beth to specialists early on in this illness and possibly have some treatments and diagnosis. If we had enough money we could provide a more disability friendly home environment. If we had enough money we could have all the hours of quality care giving we need. If we had enough money we could make more dreams realities and have more moments of joy. If we had enough money Linda and I could be on leaves of absence to be with Beth.<br /><br /><strong>Time</strong><br /><br />There is never enough time. There’s not enough time to just spend together. There’s not enough time to help Beth complete tasks she wants to do. There’s not enough time outside of work when I can be here. There’s not enough time to know this amazing person. There’s not enough time to not feel constantly pressed for time and resentful of things/circumstances that use what time there is. There is never enough time for Linda and Beth to just be together. No matter how much time there is, it is never enough.</span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-91169147362947483972009-11-11T18:35:00.000-08:002009-11-12T18:05:31.409-08:00Flowers of Hawaii - Part 2This entry will have plants and trees - with and without flowers - real and imaginary!<br /><div></div><div>Beth took this photo at sunset at Waikiki Beach. The banyan tree was pretty common around Hawaii. This one was huge. In the town of Hilo (near where we stayed on the Big Island) they had famous people plant banyan trees - Mark Twain being one. I think there is a tree there that started as a cutting from a cutting from the tree Buddha supposedly planted back in the 6th Century BC. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403059977466534770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/SvuGbEEF23I/AAAAAAAAAHk/8iwntNEDbnY/s320/IMG_7755.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>But back to the island of Oahu... the next morning we went to the Byodo-Inn temple, which was a replica of a famous Japanese temple. To reach the temple we had to go through a cemetary. Along the way we stopped by this egret perched on flowering bushes who was so close we could have reached out and touched.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403040909351648850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto; WIDTH: 258px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/Svt1FJzO_lI/AAAAAAAAAFk/llIdJeNH018/s320/egreta.jpg" border="0" />On the temple grounds we found mini bamboo forests. This particular forest intrigued me, but it was the sign which caught my attention. Okay, I admit, I have a weird sense of humour. But really, wet floor? I never considered grass to be a floor, nor needing a sign.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403040897047586978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 212px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/Svt1Eb9t6KI/AAAAAAAAAFU/5-COjPoL-_o/s320/bamboo+signa.jpg" border="0" />I enjoyed playing with the sepa setting on my camera. I thought it made the bamboo forest seem even more exotic.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403040891090206962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/Svt1EFxXgPI/AAAAAAAAAFM/ENnPU8ukWkA/s320/bamboo+sepiaa.jpg" border="0" />On the Big Island, between the tide pools and the evening hike to see the lava flowing, we stopped at the Lava Tree State Park. There was a lot of greenery.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403042971892579186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/Svt29NXT-3I/AAAAAAAAAGs/DgdGdngEiec/s320/IMG_8182.JPG" border="0" />Here you can see the chasms created during an eruption in 1790.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403042097085914882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/Svt2KSdJnwI/AAAAAAAAAGE/FWpXMX8zSbc/s320/IMG_2502.JPG" border="0" />But the lava trees were what I had come for. Lava trees form when flast flowing pahoehoe lava encounters wet 'ohi'a trees. As the flow drains away, it leaves a thick coating around the dying tree. So really, you aren't looking at trees, but what formed around the tree. The trees themselves died long ago. In this picture you can see two small trees and around four stumps.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403053882972735234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 199px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/SvuA4UTihwI/AAAAAAAAAHM/rHYDF2cE0BI/s320/IMG_2506a.jpg" border="0" />Here is a bird's eye view of where a tree used to be.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403053888471006498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/SvuA4oybfSI/AAAAAAAAAHU/i7RxZKa6jlc/s320/IMG_2509a.jpg" border="0" /> I'm not sure what these plants are. The yellow 'flowers' reminded me of bullrushes. Any ideas on what this one is called?<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403059969389734466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/SvuGal-bqkI/AAAAAAAAAHc/aZmuhMg6R1Q/s320/IMG_2507a.jpg" border="0" /></div><br />I don't have names for the rest of these flowers. Please jump right in if you do! I'm not all that knowledgeable about plant names, but this reminded me of a morning glory. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/Svt3JrKkyyI/AAAAAAAAAHE/UTE9jc_QtkQ/s1600-h/IMG_8577.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403043186050648866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 182px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/Svt3JrKkyyI/AAAAAAAAAHE/UTE9jc_QtkQ/s320/IMG_8577.JPG" border="0" /></a> This was a delicate little purple flower. I much prefer large, fat flowers to tiny.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/Svt29kHkNBI/AAAAAAAAAG8/ZHTVeCUMZMs/s1600-h/IMG_8492.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403042978000548882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 185px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/Svt29kHkNBI/AAAAAAAAAG8/ZHTVeCUMZMs/s320/IMG_8492.JPG" border="0" /></a> This red flower looked like it was growing horns!<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/Svt28JNLSSI/AAAAAAAAAGc/u1a3ZkuXeso/s1600-h/IMG_2568.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403042953596455202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/Svt28JNLSSI/AAAAAAAAAGc/u1a3ZkuXeso/s320/IMG_2568.JPG" border="0" /></a> My guess for this one would be burning or flaming something or other.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403042080678414674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 235px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/Svt2JVVTCVI/AAAAAAAAAF0/Mv82fDxR8uk/s320/day+2+3a.jpg" border="0" />These cut flowers we found at the market. They grow in the wild in Hawaii. Still hard to believe I was in such an exotic place that grew these flowers and I didn't have to visit a florist to see them. There's a Chinese couple who have a flower shop 2 blocks from where we live in Victoria. I often stop by to pick up a little boquet of flowers for Beth to look at during the day while I'm at work. They have the best selection. When I was in the shop last week I saw they had grown a number of orchids like these purple and white ones. Each plant had one orchid stem with a handful of flowers. And each plant was about $35. I never asked how much they were at the market in Hawaii. Probably a couple of bucks as there was a great supply of them.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/Svt2LKqnxRI/AAAAAAAAAGU/MoZklwfPBto/s1600-h/market+flowersa.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403042112174802194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 234px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/Svt2LKqnxRI/AAAAAAAAAGU/MoZklwfPBto/s320/market+flowersa.jpg" border="0" /></a>One of my regrets is not getting to the market earlier in the trip to buy lots of exotic fruit. I'm not very adventurous when it comes to eating, but did try a fresh pineapple (I could smell them from about 20 feet away), star fruit (the sour variety our driver in the Waipio Valley picked for us) and papaya. The market had huge papaya's 4/$1. I found some in our local grocery store the other week and they were about $4 for 1. The papaya tasted okay, but I think I'd stick with the pineapple. They will never taste or smell as good as the one we had in Hawaii.Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-14145661304171241542009-10-19T22:08:00.000-07:002009-10-19T23:16:58.259-07:00Flowers of Hawaii - Part 1<span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">When we first arrived on The Big Island we had a few hours to kill before our rental van was ready. While we waited we looked through the tourist literature and looked at places to visit. Beth found a botanical garden and said we should go there so “Linda can take pictures.” I told her I wasn’t into flowers so much that I needed to visit the botanical gardens.<br /><br />Those words came back to haunt me as Beth and Cheryl had to wait while I took pictures of every type of flower I came across. </span><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1O0ACY2ZI/AAAAAAAAAEs/bnPhw52AvZM/s1600-h/Lindaa.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394554583929903506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1O0ACY2ZI/AAAAAAAAAEs/bnPhw52AvZM/s320/Lindaa.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><br />I was taking pictures of this pretty little plant which didn’t seem to mind all the sulphuric gases from the craters and steam vents. </span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1O0nDjHPI/AAAAAAAAAE0/xTgZHKiEkjA/s1600-h/volcano+floora.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394554594403753202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 253px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1O0nDjHPI/AAAAAAAAAE0/xTgZHKiEkjA/s320/volcano+floora.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><br />These plants fared better than these bushes which had many dead and dying leaves and berries. The flower sure is pretty, and if memory serves me correctly there’s a myth about how Pele (the volcano god) turned a beautiful woman into the flower so that she could stay near her lover forever. </span><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1OXAWVv8I/AAAAAAAAAEk/f1XIadPkTns/s1600-h/red+volcano+busha.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394554085797380034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 294px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1OXAWVv8I/AAAAAAAAAEk/f1XIadPkTns/s320/red+volcano+busha.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><br />Flowers seemed to be everywhere. Orchids are wildflowers on the Big Island and grow in bushes along the side of the road like the one to our vacation rental home. So delicate. </span><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1OW0w6KaI/AAAAAAAAAEc/gBKgVUXhvro/s1600-h/purple+orchida.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394554082687592866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto; WIDTH: 292px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1OW0w6KaI/AAAAAAAAAEc/gBKgVUXhvro/s320/purple+orchida.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><br />Right outside our house were some hibiscus plants and there was only one flower on them while we were there. But what a beauty. </span><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1OVYpFxDI/AAAAAAAAAEE/27XKcfcrsjY/s1600-h/day+8a+hibiscus.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394554057958736946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1OVYpFxDI/AAAAAAAAAEE/27XKcfcrsjY/s320/day+8a+hibiscus.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><br />The hibiscus is the state flower of Hawaii. We saw two other types of hibiscus when we were in the Waipio Valley. These ones are called sleeping hibiscus because they don’t ever open. </span><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1OWQ4EIEI/AAAAAAAAAEU/WRsWe3CbTEk/s1600-h/sleepng+hibiscus+-+Copy.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394554073053929538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 287px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1OWQ4EIEI/AAAAAAAAAEU/WRsWe3CbTEk/s320/sleepng+hibiscus+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><br />There was also the more rare double hibiscus which our guide picked for us. The valley was the only place we ever saw these. </span><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1OVgsrfsI/AAAAAAAAAEM/HEMCkv5AATk/s1600-h/double+hibiscus.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394554060121276098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto; WIDTH: 219px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1OVgsrfsI/AAAAAAAAAEM/HEMCkv5AATk/s320/double+hibiscus.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><br />The Waipio Valley is where I was first introduced to ginger flowers. I never connected ginger root with big bushes with lovely scented flowers. We saw them in three colours: white, yellow and purple. The white had my favourite scent and was most appealing to me esthetically. I was so happy to find the hand lotion and some bars of soap in this scent. Thanks Beth for convincing me to buy the second bottle of lotion for ‘you’. </span><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1HatPxH3I/AAAAAAAAAD8/LmBH9fQ0KPk/s1600-h/day+8+wild+ginger.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394546452807622514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1HatPxH3I/AAAAAAAAAD8/LmBH9fQ0KPk/s320/day+8+wild+ginger.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The yellow grew in big bunches and seemed a bit more spindly. </span><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1HZ9c7WVI/AAAAAAAAAD0/WfarXLAbrTk/s1600-h/day+8+wild+ginger+yellowa.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394546439977916754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1HZ9c7WVI/AAAAAAAAAD0/WfarXLAbrTk/s320/day+8+wild+ginger+yellowa.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Then there were the purple ones which I didn’t even realize were ginger until I saw them in a store which was selling the roots. </span><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1HZUf5maI/AAAAAAAAADs/P9dcvXz1QOY/s1600-h/purple+ginger.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394546428984531362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto; WIDTH: 216px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1HZUf5maI/AAAAAAAAADs/P9dcvXz1QOY/s320/purple+ginger.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><br />Beth teases me about my exclamations when I find things growing or living ‘in the wild’ when the only place I’ve ever seen them before is in stores or conservatories. This applied to the flowers and also the </span><a href="http://elizabethmcclung.blogspot.com/2009/10/hawaii-adventure-day-6-kapoho-tide.html"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">fish</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"> I saw in the tidepools. I’ve seen these leaves in the conservatory back home in Winnipeg but didn’t know what they were. </span><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1HZJ4lLCI/AAAAAAAAADk/JVIx-LGHQQY/s1600-h/wild+tarota.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394546426135260194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 307px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1HZJ4lLCI/AAAAAAAAADk/JVIx-LGHQQY/s320/wild+tarota.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Turns out they are wild tarot – and not edible like the domesticated tarot which is grown a lot in the Waipio Valley.<br /><br />Speaking of flowers which are bad for you, the valley also has Angel Trumpets. </span><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1HYhKujnI/AAAAAAAAADc/Gm9-5WXdSF8/s1600-h/Angel+Trumpetsa.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394546415205518962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 232px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1HYhKujnI/AAAAAAAAADc/Gm9-5WXdSF8/s320/Angel+Trumpetsa.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">They sound, well… angelic but are anything but. They are very poisonous and if you touch them you really need to wash your hands and anything else that got in contact with them.<br /><br />Here are a few other exotic looking flowers we found in the valley – of which I have no names for… </span><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1GsFr6pVI/AAAAAAAAADU/W1sGTTvWZ-8/s1600-h/IMG_8414a.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394545651914286418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1GsFr6pVI/AAAAAAAAADU/W1sGTTvWZ-8/s320/IMG_8414a.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"> Please let me know the names if you happen to know what they are. </span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1S8vRddkI/AAAAAAAAAFE/YeZeb3mOdNk/s1600-h/red+pointy+a.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394559132095051330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1S8vRddkI/AAAAAAAAAFE/YeZeb3mOdNk/s320/red+pointy+a.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">This one is really strange and kind of gives me the creeps. </span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1S8JsqlFI/AAAAAAAAAE8/JH2XYD8-PVU/s1600-h/browna.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394559122008609874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto; WIDTH: 241px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7-uCyEj-z3o/St1S8JsqlFI/AAAAAAAAAE8/JH2XYD8-PVU/s320/browna.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><br />These are about half the flower photos. Will post the others on another day. Looking over the photos I took, I guess I was more ‘into’ flowers that I thought.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span>Linda McClunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03135680064533305212noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804412787620082387.post-78530624278520340522009-08-30T12:58:00.000-07:002009-08-30T13:06:44.200-07:00Making the Dream Reality<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_r2SwGi1rrF8/SpraVa5w77I/AAAAAAAAABg/vrz5Unf8_uM/s1600-h/lava+dreams.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375849166753820594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 408px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 270px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_r2SwGi1rrF8/SpraVa5w77I/AAAAAAAAABg/vrz5Unf8_uM/s400/lava+dreams.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">It is finally happening… plans are falling into place and we are going to Hawaii in a few months! I normally plan vacations pretty thoroughly but this time there are more considerations as Linda and I also plan for Beth’s needs. I find myself making contingency plans to prepare for any breathing problems Beth will have when we go up Mauna Kea (13,000 feet in elevation). I surf the internet looking for all the disability friendly sight seeing opportunites on the Big Island. I have researched possible options which would allow Beth to snorkel with us. I make and remake packing lists to be sure nothing important is forgotten. I am looking forward to this trip and will cherish every moment and every memory.<br /><br />On a weekly basis I see Beth grow weaker. I see her systems seemingly fail randomly and sometimes, just as randomly, begin functioning again. I am there with Linda as the pain steals her strength and her sanity. I watch as she uses sheer determination to push past the pain and LIVE rather than exist. I don’t have any idea how long it will be before Beth flies away. So, I work to build happy memories. I want Beth to know joy and love as much as possible. That’s why even when it seemed an impossible dream I started planning for the possibility of going to Hawaii.<br /><br />Now that dream is coming together. We have our flights. We have most of our accommodations. We have a rental vehicle reserved. We are making lists of what we want to see. Linda and I are planning the budget to cover it all. We may eat a lot of peanut butter sandwiches before and during the vacation. We will certainly be stretched thin financially but, we will have the chance to make Hawaii memories with Beth and that is worth every sacrifice.<br /></span><div></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1