Wildebeest are Dumb,
Zebras are Smart,
Crocodiles are Hungry

 

Kathy and Curtis stand on the banks of the Mara River

Kathy and Curtis stand on the banks of the Mara River

    Our adventure to The Serengeti was timed to coincide with The Great Migration. Our four days on the Serengeti provided more than enough opportunity to witness this bucket list worthy spectacle of nature first hand.

    The migration consists of 1.7 million wildebeest who wander in a large circular region throughout Kenya and Tanzania, following seasonal availability of grazing and water. The migration has various interwoven parts. There are the wildebeest themselves who get it all started. Then there are the zebras who travel along with the wildebeest as companions, along with gazelles, antelopes and impalas. Then there are the predators. The crocodiles lie in wait in the rivers, waiting for a meal to cross. Following the large migrating herds are the large cats and hyenas, right on their heels, picking off the young, old and weak stragglers. Lastly comes the cleanup crew, the vultures. Oh, and I forgot to mention the humans. Dozens of Land Cruisers, loaded with tourists and their cameras, lining the riverbanks watching the spectacle unfold Read more →

Dutch Delicacy Delight: Pickled Herring

 
One of the best ways to discover what a country is all about is through their food. The Netherlands is no exception. We checked around and discovered that one traditional local food is none other than “Pickled Herring”.

 

Curtis buying the herring at a sidewalk stand

Curtis buying the herring at a sidewalk stand

The small raw fish are pickled whole in salt, and then in vinegar. In The Netherlands they are served as a street food with pickles (the cucumber kind) and onions. There are two varieties of this Dutch delicacy, Amsterdam style and Rotterdam style. The only difference is in the presentation, not in the herring itself. Simply put, Amsterdam style is served whole and Rotterdam style is served with the fish cut into bite size pieces. We opted for the Rotterdam style, since we would be sharing.
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Face to Face with Magnificence in the Mist

My Story of Tracking Gorillas in Rwanda and the Congo

 

It is a very special privilege awarded to very few people. I am honored to have been blessed with the opportunity to experience what I consider to be one of the greatest adventures in my life; tracking gorillas in the remote mountain jungles of Rwanda and the Congo. The sights, sounds and emotions of those two days will remain with me always as some of my most cherished memories of all time.

 

The idea for a Gorilla Trek had always been a dream of mine. Gorillas are my absolute favorite animal. Once I started planning this adventure to Africa, I knew above all else it had to include Gorillas (and Flamingos, which are Kathy’s absolute favorite animal). It took lots of research and planning to pull this off. The permits are the most difficult part of the process. There are only so many permits issued, and when they are gone, they are gone. We managed to secure our 4 permits about 9 months before the trip. Early planning is the key to success with this type of adventure.

 

After several days of safari adventure in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Manyara and Arusha, we boarded a small 12 seat bush plane for our trip to Rwanda. After about 4 hours of flying, with one stop for immigration, and 3 stops to let other passengers off at various camps, we arrived at the capital city of Kigali. Read more →

Visit to a Maasai Village and School

The Maasai are a semi-nomadic ethnic group of people living in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. (Wikipedia: Maasai People)

Village Map Diagram

Village Map Diagram

We visited a family unit in their village one afternoon after a game drive through the Ngorongoro Crater. The family consisted of a man, his 15 wives, and their dozens of children. The village we visited was located just outside Ngorongoro Crater at -3.129148, 35.681014.

Upon arrival just outside the village we were greeted by the chief’s eldest son. I paid him $50 to allow unfettered access to the village and permission to take photographs of the people and structures. When we first arrived in Africa our guide explained that people here are generally very private and do not like their photo being taken. But, they are willing overlook this for a little cash, and $50 goes a really long way in a remote village like this.
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Indigenous Amazonia – The Kichwa Part 3

This is a three part series on the Kichwa people living near the Yasuni National Park in the eastern Ecuadorian Amazon Basin along the Napo River. In Part 1 of the series, we discuss the village, schools, and infrastructure. In Part 2 of the series, we visit a Kichwa farm. In Part 3 of the series, we visit a cultural center and see how the Kichwa women are working to preserve their culture.

 

Part 3 – The Cultural Center

During our recent trip to the Amazon, we have several opportunities to visit with the local indigenous population. We were able to visit a Kichwa community, a Kichwa farm, and a Kichwa cultural area.

The Kichwa (or Quechua) are an indigenous people in South America. They speak the Kichwa language, which is also the same language the Inca’s spoke. They are found primarily in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina. Total population of Kichwa people is between 10 and 11 million people, with about 2.5 million of them in Ecuador.

In Part 1 of the series, we looked at a village commune and visited a school.

In Part 2 of the series, we looked at a farm.

Our third visit was to an Añangu Kichwa Cultural Center. Read more →

Indigenous Amazonia – The Kichwa Part 2

This is a three part series on the Kichwa people living near the Yasuni National Park in the eastern Ecuadorian Amazon Basin along the Napo River. In Part 1 of the series, we discuss the village, schools, and infrastructure. In Part 2 of the series, we visit a Kichwa farm. In Part 3 of the series, we visit a cultural center and see how the Kichwa women are working to preserve their culture.

 

Part 2 – The Farm

During our recent trip to the Amazon, we have several opportunities to visit with the local indigenous population. We were able to visit a Kichwa community, a Kichwa farm, and a Kichwa cultural area.

The Kichwa (or Quechua) are an indigenous people in South America. They speak the Kichwa language, which is also the same language the Inca’s spoke. They are found primarily in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina. Total population of Kichwa people is between 10 and 11 million people, with about 2.5 million of them in Ecuador.

In Part 1 of the series, we looked at a village commune and visited a school.

Our second visit was to a Kichwa farm. Read more →

Indigenous Amazonia – The Kichwa Part 1

This is a three part series on the Kichwa people living near the Yasuni National Park in the eastern Ecuadorian Amazon Basin along the Napo River. In Part 1 of the series, we discuss the village, schools, and infrastructure. In Part 2 of the series, we visit a Kichwa farm. In Part 3 of the series, we visit a cultural center and see how the Kichwa women are working to preserve their culture.

 

Part 1 – The Village Commune

 
During our recent trip to the Amazon, we had several opportunities to visit with the local indigenous population. We were able to visit a Kichwa community, a Kichwa farm, and a Kichwa cultural area.

The Kichwa (or Quechua) are an indigenous people in South America. They speak the Kichwa language, which is also the same language the Incas spoke. They are found primarily in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina. Total population of Kichwa people is between 10 and 11 million people, with about 2.5 million of them in Ecuador.

Our first visit was to a Kichwa commune. Read more →