Tag: travel

Namibia – From the Air

Every line and shadow of Sossusvlei was incredible. But it was time to leave. After a great night’s sleep, we climbed on the plane to experience it from the air as we traveled from Sossusvlei to Swakopmund to visit another part of Namibia.

Air Namibia

Carlos was our pilot and Aravind sat in as co-pilot. I’m not sure Aravind could have assisted if the plane was going down, because he was just as busy taking pictures as I was.

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Here’s the video view. It was an amazing flight and with the patch and Dramamine, no motion sickness for me!

And here is an aerial view of Deadvlei. It’s not the best picture, but I’m really glad I caught it.

Deadvlei Namibia

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Sossusvlei Namibia

We flew over the fairy circles. Scientists still are not positive about what causes them.

Fairy Circles Namibia

It was incredible to see the Atlantic Ocean from the air.

Atlantic Ocean Namibia

And…the shipwrecks caused by the rough seas and possibly inattentive captains.

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I’m so glad we experienced the area from both the air and the ground. It was beautiful both times, but in very different ways.

Skeleton Coast Namibia

Awesome!

If you’ve missed some posts and would like to read about the whole adventure, click here.

Call of Deadvlei Namibia

Single grains of sand
blowing, building,
Nature’s monuments that reach to the sky

Trees outlasting lifetimes
dead, dry
Strokes of dark brown against a vibrant background of color

Travelers climbing
stepping, sinking,
Trying to conquer what nature has created

Languages of the world
appreciating, celebrating
Still failing to capture indescribable beauty

Footprints in the sand
filling, erasing
All evidence we were here

Memories of moments
breathing, thinking
Surrounded by monuments built of single grains of sand.


This was one of the reasons I came to Namibia, to stand in the pan of Deadvlei and see the beauty of the dunes and the trees. 

Deadvlei Namibia

We began by climbing a portion of Big Daddy, one of the largest dunes in the area.

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While I only climbed a short way, it was still an amazing experience. I climbed to the section just above the travelers in the below photo.

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Looking down to the right, it seemed as though the side was straight down.

Toni, our guide, was with me and asked if I was ready to head down. 

“You mean straight down?”

I thought maybe I’d be walking back the way I came.

“Yes, put your camera inside your shirt and grab my hand.”

“Okay…”

I was very hesitant, but trusted Toni. So I grabbed her hand, leaned back and took my first step. My foot slid down and I took another step. It was a hot day but the sand was delightfully cool as my feet sunk down. Then finally I sat down and slid the rest of the way. It was so much fun. I laughed the whole way.

Then we walked over a small hill, and there it was.

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It’s hard to describe what a beautiful place it is. The pan is made up of cream colored dried clay. The trees died after the dunes blocked the water source hundreds of years ago. They are estimated to be 900+ years old.

Deadvlei Namibia

Here is a photo of people walking across the pan and people coming down the side of Big Daddy. The mirage created by the heat reflecting off the sand is amazing. Yes…this captures some of the vastness of the area.

I had time to sit down beside one of the trees and to take in the beauty and spirit of this unique place on Earth. Seeing, listening, feeling…I will never forget.

There are some grasses and short bushes that have sprung up in a few places- survivors in an area where most things cannot live. It was hot, but the slight breeze helped cool me down a bit.BlogDeadvlei11

Because it is such a large space, it’s easy to find solitude. It was a spiritual experience that touched my heart.

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Once again, the shadows and textures helped set the stage.

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Deadvlei Namibia called and I’m so glad I answered.

Namibia on Safari

One of the best things about an organized safari is stepping off the plane in a country where you’ve never been before, and seeing a friendly person holding a sign with your name on it. Phew!

I was finally in Namibia and Barnabas, from Wilderness Safaris, loaded my luggage into the car and took me to my hotel. I stayed at the Galton House in Windhoek. It was a nice place, but frankly, I was so tired I checked my email and went to bed. I’d had such a busy day, I’d forgotten to keep hydrated and wasn’t feeling up to par. I should know better…

The hotel agreed to store my large suitcase and so I packed my safari clothing into a small duffle bag. I was a bit worried the zipper was going to break, but at least the camera gear was safely stowed in my backpack. There was some good and some bad news. My safari pants? After losing 20 pounds in the months prior to the trip, they were WAY TOO BIG. I looked like the Pillsbury Dough Boy with all the extra fabric. I tightened the belt and did my best to evenly distribute the rest of the waistband.

So, while I made a fashion statement on my trip, it was probably “what not to wear” or worthy of the worst dressed list in safari attire. 

Toni, our guide with lovely bright red hair, picked me up and after adding Aravind, another traveler originally from India, we hit the road. Both of them were very friendly and interesting people. Our first day together included hours on the road, much of it on gravel roads. The main roads are very well kept, although dusty.

It had been a long time since I’d relieved myself behind a bush…but…heck, I was in for the whole adventure. It was a bit of a challenge with my oversized pants. I added the used toilet paper to the trash bag and we were back on our way to Sossusvlei and the Kulala Desert Lodge.

Namibia Road Trip

We had lunch at the Khomas Hochland escarpment. The views were incredible!

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I still wasn’t feeling too great, so I tried to drink as much water as possible and to eat what I could. The drive was long and I’m sure I was very quiet. Still, I enjoyed the company.

We did see ostrich and our first Oryx. The oryx is the national animal of Namibia and is represented on the Namibia Coat of Arms.

Namibia Oryx Antelope

After we were welcomed at camp, I headed to my free standing suite where I unpacked and took a quick nap. The accommodations were fabulous and very comfortable. We ate dinner and I fell back into bed for a good night’s sleep.

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It’s cool in the evening at this time of year, perfect sleeping weather. And…the hot water bottle at my feet was an added treat.

Plethora of Penguins – Betty’s Bay, South Africa

I left the Mosaic Sanctuary early the next morning so that I could take Marcelino’s advice and visit the penguin colony at Betty’s Bay. It was worth every minute. The last time I visited South Africa ten years ago, I saw the penguins at Boulder’s Beach in Simon’s Town. I do love penguins.

After paying an entrance fee of 10 South African Rand, or about 1 US dollar, I stepped onto the raised wooden path. Penguins always put a smile on my face.

Betty's Bay Penguins

Betty's Bay penguins

Betty's Bay Penguins

Please excuse the rough video skills. I’m still working on it.

This little guy lives in Unit 53. He’s got beachfront property. We should be so lucky…

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Betty’s Bay was beautiful and I’m glad I had a chance to visit.

Betty's Bay

Then it was off to the airport and on my flight to Namibia.

A visit to the penguin colony at Betty’s Bay and/or Boulder’s Beach comes highly recommended.

Three Days in South Africa

Recap: It was time to go to Africa, again, and Namibia was my first choice. My travel agent, Ian, from the Africa Adventure Company helped with the arrangements for the 16 Day Great Namibian Journey. It was originally scheduled for May and I got sick, so I after receiving my refund from Travel Guard Insurance, I was able to reschedule in August of this year.  As a change to the trip, I had the option to include three days in South Africa. After Ian suggested a cage dive with the great white sharks, it was confirmed.

I arrived in Cape Town and picked up my Budget rental car which had been upgraded to an Audi. NICE!

This was my first time driving a vehicle on the other side of the road and I’d been doing my best to think the process through. In other words, I was a nervous. I had spent a long time worrying about something that wasn’t such a big deal. I’m sure the rush of adrenaline that hit after I climbed off the airplane in Cape Town helped. I couldn’t stop smiling as I followed the other cars down Highway N2. I did get a bit lost as I turned off onto the dirt road, but I turned perfectly into the “other” lane.

This milk wood tree graces the entrance of the Mosaic Sanctuary lodge area. It was a welcome and beautiful sight.

Milkwood Tree at Mosaic Sanctuary South Africa

I loved everything about the lodge including my suite, the food and the people who made my stay so special.

Here is how Simone describes the Mosaic Santuary in one of her poems. She and her husband Marcelino are the sanctuary managers who live there.

” At Mosaic the sun rise can set your soul on fire, the mountains witness to a life time past, the Milk wood leaves moving to the rhythm of the wind. At Mosaic the fish eagle will call your heart to listen, your senses coming alive, at Mosaic a smile cross borders, at Mosaic the nightjar sings to the symphony in the sky. MOSAIC is a place of majestic beauty.”

I saw the fish eagles and the incredible beauty. It was a perfect place to begin my travels. I stepped off the deck of my suite to see this view of the Hermanus Lagoon.

Mosaic Sanctuary Panoramic Photo

My biggest disappointment was that the cage dive with the great white sharks had been cancelled due to weather. The wind was blowing and it was raining on and off. Still, I couldn’t have been happier with the location and the activities. Another trip back to South Africa for my appointment with the sharks doesn’t break my heart. I think I’ll probably be back a number of times, God willing.

So, instead I quad-biked with Vitalis. What a blast!

I’d never done it before, so it was a great adventure and I saw more really beautiful sights.

Mosaic Sanctuary, South Africa

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What’s a visit to South Africa without a wine tasting?

Creation Wines

So the next day, I was treated to a tasting at a local vineyard. Creation Wines had some fabulous options and treats to go with each of them. If I could have added a few bottles to my luggage, I’d be sipping on a glass right now. Hopefully, I’ll be able to find it locally.

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Then it was a quick trip to Hermanus. I’ve shared some photos already, but I needed to add one more for good measure.

Hermanus, South Africa

The crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean were magnificent. There was still one final visit to make and that was the beach near the Mosaic Sanctuary. I needed to step into the ocean just like the first time when I visited South Africa in 2004.

Atlantic Ocean

The wind was blowing and it was chilly, but still amazingly beautiful.

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The ocean was C-O-L-D! I was freezing and trying to keep the hair out of my face. Vitalis and I were laughing so hard, it’s amazing that we got a photo. Just looking at it makes me giggle.

While I was looking forward to leaving for the airport the next day and beginning my journey to Namibia, I was still sad at leaving such a magical place and the wonderful people I’d met along the way. I had another great dinner, joined by Marcelino. He’s originally from Namibia, so it was good to talk to him about what to expect.

Marcelino told me that with all the contrasts in Namibia, I couldn’t take a bad picture. I wasn’t sure that was true, especially in my case, but I was still excited to test out his theory.

I headed back to my suite and on my last night at the Mosaic Sanctuary, dreamed about Africa.

Maine- Acadia National Park

Back to the sisters’ New England adventure in Maine.

We may have only seen a small part of Acadia National Park the day we visited, but what we saw was beautiful. The leaves have just started changing into the glorious fall colors.  I hope to return when I have at least a few days to spend exploring this amazing place.

Acadia National Park
Otter Cliff portrait

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My favorite place was Jordon Pond. There is a wonderful trail that goes around the pond, weaving in and out of the forest. Every step brought a new discovery.

Exploring Jordon Pond
Exploring Jordon Pond

Jordon Pond

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View of Bar Harbor from Cadillac Mountain.

We had dinner at The Whale’s Tooth in Lincolnville. Disappointing.

Whale's Tooth Pub

When we arrived back at our apartment, Skip and Judi met us and invited us up to their place just in time to view the foxes and raccoons out their back window. I could have sat there all night. They are such wonderful hosts.

Final Thoughts for the Day:

Acadia National Park:  I loved the park. As a photographer, I usually try to be places early in the day or later in the afternoon. It just wasn’t possible during this trip. Which means, I need to go back. I’d love to plan sunrise at Cadillac Mountain. There were also so many places we missed that I want to visit. Still, it was incredible. Sisters’ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

The Whale’s Tooth Pub: We were looking forward to dinner after a busy day so we stopped at the Whale’s Tooth Pub in Lincolnville. It was a disappointment. The service was terrible and the food wasn’t much better. My fried clams had too much breading and little flavor. Even a hot fudge sundae wouldn’t have changed my mind. After speaking with the manager, she comped the whole meal. At least we didn’t have to pay for our disappointing meal. Sisters’ Rating: 1 out of 5 Stars

Abstract Travel Quiz – Answers

Thanks to those of you who played along on the quiz, both on Facebook and here on the blog. Check it out if you missed it yesterday.

Abstract Travel Quiz

Photo 1:

The first photo is a picture of flamingos from the air just south of Walvis Bay. Here is a closer look in a second photo I took in the same area, although they are still far away. Here’s a link to a National Geographic post about the flocks of flamingos.

travel quiz

Photo 2:

I confused a couple of people who thought the second photo was from Maine based on my opening paragraph. It is actually taken in an area not too far from the flamingos in Namibia, but from the ground. The area is called Sandwich Harbor and we took a tour of the dunes on in a 4 x 4. The dunes rise up right next to the Atlantic Ocean. It was a wonderful surprise.

Here’s a picture of me standing on the dune near where I took the second photo. It was incredibly beautiful.

travel quiz

Abstract Travel Quiz

In between processing photos for my trips to Namibia and Maine, I came across a couple abstract style travel photos that I thought you might like. Any guesses on what they are?

Photo 1:

travel abstract

Photo 2:

travel quiz

If I didn’t remember where I was when I took them, I’d have a hard time guessing myself. I love abstracts just as much as I love panorama photos. 🙂

Day Two- Sisters on the Loose in Maine

After arriving at our apartment very late night before last, we all slept in. Sleeping in was more about not waking to an alarm than actually sleeping late, since we were all up by 7am Maine time, which is 5am in Denver. So, when Judi stopped by with the still hot-from-the-oven blueberry muffins, we were ready. Yum! What a perfect way to start the day.

Then we were off to start our day in Camden, a beautiful sea side town just a couple miles away.

Jim Rogers, from Oklahoma helped us park and then told us where to get the best photos of the harbor. He and his wife have visited Maine 8-9 times. He especially loves Camden. Michael was just walking by with his early morning cup of coffee and agreed to take the photo for us. Thanks Jim and Michael!

Jim Rogers and the girls.

Camden Maine Harbor
Camden Harbor

Camden, Maine Harbor

Then we heard a splash, and there was little Stella in the water. I never would have guessed a dachshund would be willing to jump off a wall into the water for a ball. I wish I would have captured that shot.

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Straightening the flag
Straightening the flag

We had lunch at Cappy’s. We have mixed reviews of the food. Wendy loved her haddock chowder and I had an excellent reuben sandwich. Mary and Victoria were a little disappointed with the clam chowder and club sandwich. Our server Mark was fabulous and we had no complaints on the view.

The view from Cappy's.
The view from Cappy’s.

Then we couldn’t resist the LL Bean Flagship store in Freeport.

Mary and I next to the boot.
Mary and I next to the LL Bean boot.

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After seeing the area, I wouldn’t really call it the LL Bean store, instead an LL Bean village. The best part? They will ship our purchases at no cost and they can do it right at checkout. Thank goodness. I can’t afford all those overweight luggage charges.

So what happens on a sisters’ trip in between eating, shopping and visiting the sights? Maybe just a little bit of fun.

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What happens in Maine stays in Maine, except when you have a blog.

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We ate dinner at the Taste of Maine and with one minor exception that was fixed right away, it was fabulous. The best parts were the quirky atmosphere and our waiter, Tommy. Tommy had a great sense of humor and the food was really good, especially my hot fudge sundae!!

Mary and Tommy
Mary and Tommy

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It was a late night once again, but we wouldn’t have skipped anything.

I discovered sea glass jewelry.

Only Wendy held back and didn’t buy from LL Bean.

We had delicious food all day, starting with Judi’s homemade blueberry muffins.

Final Thoughts for the Day:

Camden– This is a beautiful town with fabulous small shops and a lovely waterfront. We only saw a small portion of the area, but we really enjoyed our time here. I would definitely visit again.  Sisters’ Rating- 5 out of 5 stars

Cappy’s Chowder House– The food reviews were a little mixed, but my reuben sandwich was wonderful. Wendy also loved her haddock chowder. The clam chowder was a little watery and the turkey on Mary’s club sandwich was a bit dry. The atmosphere and views are wonderful. I’d suggest a visit if you’re in town. Sisters’ Rating- 4 0ut of 5 stars

LL Bean Flagship Store– Freeport was a bit of a drive from where we were staying, but it was well worth the trip. I can’t usually find my size in the local stores, but found the perfect fitting pants in a very short time. The stores are fantastic. I think the ability to ship things home at no cost could be dangerous. It’s easy to forget exactly how much you’ve bought, so be very careful. This is another place I highly recommend. Sisters’ Rating- 5 out of 5 stars

Taste of Maine– We loved the unusual atmosphere of the Taste of Maine. There were wonderful characters throughout, including some fantastic Halloween decorations. The view was nice and our food was good. The only exception was the clam chowder. I returned it because it was way too salty for me and a little too watery. But Tommy replaced it with my hot fudge sundae and I was a happy girl. We would definitely go back, especially if Tommy is working! Sisters’ Rating- 5 out of 5 stars

 

Waking Up in Maine

We interrupt the Namibia and South Africa programming to share sister related news: This morning we woke to the beauty of Maine.

Breakfast with Travis and the girls.
Breakfast with Travis and the girls in Denver.

Last spring, readers selected the New England area of the country for this year’s sisters’ trip. And…here we are. It is beautiful!

Cast of Characters:

Mary is the oldest sister currently residing in Flagstaff, Arizona. She can be bossy, but like most younger sisters, we’ve learned to ignore her. Mary’s steaming hot most of the time, but we attribute that to aging somewhat gracefully. (I think it’s a genetic hotness, because Wendy and I seem to be suffering from the same malady.)

Jennifer is the middle sister. (That’s me!) I like being in charge, so my sisters usually pretend that I am and then do what they want to anyway. They occasionally need to rescue me from approaching cars when I am singularly focused on getting that million dollar shot.

Wendy is the baby, and was always Mom’s favorite. (Don’t tell her, but she is our favorite, too.) She is frustrated by our total lack of organization, sometimes calling daily, or even multiple times a day until we’ve made our travel arrangements. This usually starts six months in advance of each trip. Her laughter stops the crowds and gives us the giggles as we walk away pretending not to know her.

Wendy working on the travel journal.
Wendy working on the travel journal.

Victoria has joined us as our adopted sister on this trip. She hasn’t traveled much, so she has entrusted us with this adventure. (I’m not sure Wendy warned her about us, so she may never travel again.) Victoria was the assigned navigator and kept arguing with Siri who was providing the directions. By the end of the night, she even started talking like Siri…kind of scary really.

Accommodations:

We are staying with Skip and Judi Moore at their over the garage apartment in Northport, Maine.  We found this home base on Homeaway.com.

SCORE!!

It’s a hidden gem in a forest just outside of Camden, Maine. Best of all, the four of us are staying here for four nights for just a little over $100 per night. That’s about $25 each for a beautiful place that includes a full kitchen and the amazing knowledge and blueberry muffins provided by our distinguished hosts.

It’s a perfect backdrop for our sisters’ get-together. Plenty of room to relax and catch up. Check it out:

Day 1 Script 

We flew in to Boston yesterday afternoon and after renting our car, pulled out onto the road. We stopped in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for dinner. It’s always funny trying to figure out how to pronounce the names of new places. Is it Ports Mouth, like you eat with your mouth? No. Our waiter, Jeff, let us know it’s actually pronounced like Port Smith.

When we first arrived in Portsmouth, we headed to the waterfront and meandered around looking for a restaurant. After about twenty minutes of exploring, I finally asked a couple local guys who suggested Jumping Jays. It’s always a good sign if people leaving a restaurant are talking about the amazing food. They were right. While the menu options are somewhat limited, the food was fabulous!

Jumping Jays in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Jumping Jays in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Then it was back on the road for a few more hours. Unfortunately, we were driving through some really quaint small towns after dark. We plan to revisit them during daylight hours. The drive was long and it was so nice to pull into the long driveway and to see all the lights on at our vacation rental. Skip and Judi met us as we pulled in and helped us carry our luggage up the stairs.

A Few Highlights:

We flew on Southwest Airlines and had a flight attendant with a wonderful sense of humor. As she was making final announcements after arrival in Boston, she wished “the sisters a wonderful trip”. Wow! We are famous!!

It was Ryan’s birthday. He was assisting people with getting on the bus to the rental car area. We sang happy birthday to him on the curbside. Other people in the crowd joined in. The smile on his face was huge.

After a good night’s sleep, we are off on today’s adventure. Wish us luck!!