Kruger National Park, South Africa

The first thing I noticed after visiting uganda is how different South Africa is. Uganda is a very poor country and here you can get cappuccino, butter, things that it just aren't available there. There were even two places within Kruger where you could get ice cream and coffee drinks! The park itself is huge! I'm sure I saw only a small portion despite doing 3 game drives and a night Safari as well. The guide I had all to myself except for one day shared with 2 others was great. We saw so many animals with the exception for me being the leopard. They can be quite elusive and that was the case for me although thanks to a new friend, I was able to see videos of the elusive leopard and even some wild dogs!

Despite having great reviews on TripAdvisor, I found I could/should have booked directly with the lodge where I stayed which offered everything without the necessity of the "tour" company.    Due to this, I missed the leopard and dogs but it was still quite lovely and I saw many animals and met some very nice people.  Ah, well - live and learn and I have no regrets.  

Night Safari

Martial eagle with monitor lizard meal

European roller

 

These guys were very close!

A friendly hyena

Another kingfisher

Wildebeest

Ground hornbill with snake dinner

 

 

Lastly a few shots of Blyde River Canyon, Potholes and Lisbon Falls

Potholes

Blyde River Canyon

Lisbon Falls

Of course there are 100's more photos of giraffes and many of the same animals I saw in Uganda but no need to publish more!  I am now in Hout Bay, Cape Town which is incredibly beautiful.  Blog to follow.

Uganda- The Pearl of Africa

 Where to begin about this amazing country? I came here with a bit of trepidation but it has turned out to be the trip of a lifetime! I'll try to keep the dialogue short. 

The people: I have never seen so many happy, smiling, innovative, singing, dancing, joyful, friendly people. They make things out of nothing. I have seen shepherds brick makers, farmers of all kinds of crops, beer makers, artists, sewers, basket, weavers, and even a person who makes beer and gin out of bananas! 

The country: There's a great deal of beauty here. The cities are pretty terrible- crowded and noisy, but there aren't very many of them. The countryside is hilly with farms and banana plantations and tea plantations and coffee plantations and mountains and the thickest Forest /jungle I have ever seen. The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is so large and thick with the most sweet smelling fresh air I have ever breathed. There are also many lakes including lake Victoria, the source of the Nile River and lake Bunyoni where I spent the night last night, one of the deepest lakes in Africa. It has a river flowing in and out of it so the water is fresh and cool and because it's over 6,000 ft in altitude there are no hippos or crocodiles and the swimming was so refreshing! 

The wildlife: This is why I came here and I have not been disappointed! I have seen Lions up close, hippos up close, elephants up close, giraffes, zebras,in addition to waterbucks, Impalas, elands, Bush bucks, warthogs, baboons, colobus monkeys, red tail monkeys, one blue monkey, cape Buffalo and so many birds and other wildlife too numerous to mention. And of course The reason I came to Uganda, the gorillas!

In short, I have fallen in love with this place and highly recommend it to anyone with an adventurous spirit. You will need that because the roads are the worst I have ever seen in my life! My Fitbit said I got over 12,000 steps yesterday when I hadn't walked at all! My driver and guide, Derek, calls it the African massage. 

T

The photos below are from a walking tour at sunset with a park ranger that was incredible. To walk amongst these animals was something I didn't ever dream of... Awesome!

And this morning....

Shoebill stork, Lake Victoria 

Turkiye Part Three - Historic Sites & Ruins

 If there is one thing . . . if I could only say one thing about Turkiye (which of course I cannot), I would comment on how incredibly ancient this country is. There are dwellings and sites dating back to the neolithic period!  That's over 12,000 years ago!  So, mainly part three is about the archeological sites that we visited and the ones that we didn't have time to visit.  There is so much exploration and research and so many unknowns still about this beautiful country that has yet to be discovered.  Here are some photos.  I was totally enthralled with Turkiye and hope to return someday . . . It is a country with much to offer including some of the kindest and friendliest people, delicious food and captivating sites! 

HIEROPOLIS AND THE TRAVERTINE POOLS - PAMUKKALE

Sunrise from my room in Pamukkale

Healing waters from the travertine pools at Pamukkale/Hieropolis

The arena at Hieropolis. The site on the far left is the excavation of St. Phillip's tomb

The Portal to the Underworld - named because of deadly gases that killed most animals that entered.  Humans figured out where the gas pockets were located and were, thus, able to survive.

The travertine pools were mostly without the beautiful aqua water due it being the dry season and much of the water going to local pools, hotels, etc.

Sultanhani Caravanseri - A stop for travelers along the Silk Road

Where the Virgin Mary spent her last years.

EPHESUS

Ephesus Library

 

Communal Toilets!

PERGAMON - Site of an ancient hospital/healing center with 100% cure rate - this due to the fact that they didn't accept anyone with a serious or uncurable ailment.  There were pools, incubation rooms, arenas and in a gorgeous area of the country.  

TROY

At the site of the battle of Troy

This is where the battle took place - now farmland.

The horse from the film left for the people of Bursa near Troy

A street scene along the way

The stamen of the crocus is where saffron comes from

Olive and fig orchards