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July 22, 2015 I'm going to start today to record on a daily basis whatever happens to strike my fancy. So, it is a very cool breezy day. I just posted 5 short book reviews to The Monthly Reading Challenge. I'm suppose to put away some winter wood today from the woodpile outside but I'm playing hookey from work to write so starting this blog will get done. I'm having a daily fight with a flock of English Sparrows that are trying to take over my barn. They are making a terrible mess so they have to go. I have destroyed several nests so far they don't leave but they get out of the barn when I am around. I'm just starting the fight so I guess I don't know how far I have to go to discourage them. I'm trying not to spread myself to thin on WDC because I find so many things that are interesting here and I am trying to work on a new story. I really enjoy sitting at my desk with a cup of tea and reading blogs on WDC. |
| We're going to be here for a couple of days. https://www.safaribookings.com/tours/t29369 The mountain kingdom of Lesotho is out-of-this world for its sheer mountain beauty. Combine that with its unique culture where the people have combined a 21st approach to certain day-to-day activities whilst holding onto their culturally unique way-of-life and it blends into an amazing experience. Our guests are often visiting Lesotho whilst on holiday in South Africa. We have perfected a 3-day tour which incorporates many of the top things to do in Lesotho, despite being on a time budget. This is our lodging, Bird Haven. We're leaving from Dar-es-Salaam, it's a seven hour flight from Tanzania. We will be arriving at 3:00pm then directly heading up the Pass. So get some sleep on the plane because we have a real long day ahead. what was your impression of Sani Pass? This culture is very unique. What were your impressions?   Kingdom of Lesotho At Bird Haven we stayed in a rondavel which is a kind of house built in the African Style. It is a round house built with cement walls and a unique looking roof. There was so much to see here. With 330 Species of birds and 60 species of mammals inhabiting the kingdom of Lesotho we were never out of sight of some kind of animal life. Lesotho is its own kingdom, landlocked within the state of South Africa. It is not unusual to find South Africa and Lesotho teaming up for one kind of project or another. One such project is the Katse Dam. I like to view dams. They are amazing feats of building architecture. The particular dam causes water to flow into 3 different rivers. These rivers are stocked with trout. There are also fish hatcheries for trout that can be viewed within the waters of the dam. Trout is therefore one of the major exports of Lesotho. The people export the fish to Japan and other countries. The Dam is the highest one in Africa. The water for it comes from summer rain and winter snows. Taking a side trip with our group Blue Moon, WakeUpAndLive, Lynn, Hullabaloo, Sandra Lynn, Carla we drove in a 4 by 4 rental to Maletsunyane waterfall. The gorge is very deep. There are not any safety rails in the viewing spots so don't get to close to the edge. While we were there a storm came up. It actually seemed to climb up from the mountain behind the falls like a living thing. When storms arrive so quickly in these mountains, the temperature drops suddenly so with our cameras it sent us running for the vehicle. The drive up the mountain to the falls was very scenic. We got a good view of the way rural people of Lesotho live. Many are livestock herders. They keep herds of cattle, goats, and sheep. They build and maintain terrace gardens. The average pay for approximately 77 percent of the residents of this country is about $3.10 USA dollars per day. The local currency is called maluti. The farther you drive from the airport the higher the rise of land becomes. The people are referred to as the blanket people. They wear colorful costumes. Much of the travel by rural people is accomplished by horse or just walking. In the cities the traffic lights are called robots by the people. There are schools for the rural children but they must walk long distances to attend each day. They are a friendly people and will not be worried if you give them a lift in you vehicle if you see a group walking along the roadway. They seem to be jovial and happy to meet tourists. Always willing to discuss local happenings and talk. A drive up the Suni Pass has some rules that must be followed. It is illegal to drive the single lane pass road with anything other than a 4 by 4 vehicle. The single lane road is gravel and rough stone. It passes through water streams and can be very muddy. Since it is so mountainous constantly rising as you drive and also rural you may see wildlife and local flora, along the way. There are some places along the way where you can move off the road to let another vehicle pass you. You may see abandoned automobiles along the way that were not up to the rough terrain and were left by their passengers. No matter where you are within the Kingdom it is a beautiful wild and scenic country. It is a mixture of old ways and new ways. The children growing up are dreaming of becoming Doctors, Lawyers, pilots, and others while their parents, and grandparents are maintaining a seriously rural lifestyle. A nice place to have an adventure. ![Merit Badge in Travel
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| Day 2831: August 17 Arusha,Tanzania Prompt: Write a story or poem about your Miracle Experience Balloon Safaris | Serengeti https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g297913-d15883436-Miracle_Ex...  Reality Balloon "Do you wanna dance and hold my hand?" Don't do it. Shuffling around inside the basket by several people will give a feeling on instability to the basket. Before we get into the basket the pilot weighed us. So, only a certain amount of people can ride depending on how much people weigh. We are told to visit a bathroom before we go. There are no bathrooms on board. The trip will probably not be more than two hours today. There are not any seats. If you cannot stand up for two hours maybe you should not go on the trip. No one will stop and let you off if you feel uncomfortable. The balloon will move in the same direction as the wind. This will seem to achieve a very serene movement. However, the balloon is kept in the air by hot air. We all know that hot air rises so the super burners will control the height of the balloon by heating the air inside it. When we need to come down the air inside the balloon will be cooled. The burners turning on and off will heat the basket and the air in the balloon. The sound of them will be noisy and will interrupt the serenity of the floating sensation by the loud sounds of the burners. The sound is like the force of shush in the air. People are fitted with safety harnesses and attached to the basket as they climb into it. Hang onto your hand holds when it takes off because there will be an abrupt jolt as the lines of the balloon stretch out to include the basket as it rises. And another jolt when the basket hits the ground on landing. If serious wind drags the balloon along the ground the basket will also be dragged. Your pilot is a master at running the burners so this won't happen. The pilot of a hot air balloon is an expert on wind currents. He rises or lowers the balloon according to how the wind currents are traveling and which air currents will take the balloon close to where he wants to go. The balloon will land wherever the wind takes it. One of the reasons you fly a balloon early in the morning is because the wind and weather currants are more stable before the sunrises high. It isn't the safest way to travel. Just a daring adventure. Good luck over the Serengeti. ![Merit Badge in Blog Camping
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Traveling with you in Europe was so much fun, hope you join us again next August! Until then, we hope all your blogging experiences inspire you equally as much!
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The afternoon we'll be enjoying some of the awesome amenities at our hotel before the BCoF people take us to our next adventure. We're staying at Arusha Serena Hotel and Resort Spa.  When we took the unforgettable Miracle Hot Air Balloon ride, the staff were so organized. They took every precaution against Covid 19, even taking temperatures and special hand washing. We were assured that the car was also disinfected before each use. Sandra Lyn was snapping pictures, as we all were. It was startling to see the herds of animals moving below us alive. These are pictures I have seen on TV in movies and documentaries, now live below us. You know if you were standing on the ground the movement of such a large herd of zebras with their heavy weight would make the ground thunder under your feet. The guides know where to maneuver the balloon so we see the most different types of animals. The hot air balloon moves quite a bit faster than I expected. Sailing like a ship through the air. I could feel the quietness of the air flowing around us as we sailed forward. The sky was clear blue. The atmosphere dry and hot. There was a slight rise in the ground below and sparse bushes and trees. That is when we saw a pride of lions with cubs lazing around on the ground below. They did seem to notice us floating by above. Some rose from resting places looking up. A large male let out a fierce roar and trotted into some brush. Back at the Arusha we gathered for a meal where we shared pictures we had taken and impressions of the hotel and Serengeti ride. I was able to take some pictures of a tree that was totally immersed in large birds which I have not yet identified. Even while we are sitting here there are several different types of parrots chattering in the trees. I haven't seen live parrots in garden trees since I lived in the Panama Canal Zone for a few weeks in 1963. One of the interesting things about the trip was the ability to have fairly reliable WIFI even at the launch site of the Balloon ride. Perhaps more technology will have a good affect on people and there will someday be less violence in the world. The guides are very knowledgeable about the wildlife refuge and the poaching that the game wardens have to guard against always. This is certainly a beautiful environment. I'm going to be researching plant life as well as bird names and animal species. |
| BCoF: Let's talk about Ethopian cuisine. There's a few things listed, what would you recommend for us to try and why? What did you think about the coffee section? What's your favorite hot beverage coffee, tea or hot chocolate?  I guess if I was to recommend a food to you it would be the Wat. It is a curry dish containing meat, maybe lamb or chicken; served on injera, which is a sourdough flatbread. I've cooked dishes similar to the sourdough flatbread. Actually, at some time in my life other mothers I knew were passing around the sourdough starter for flatbread. The stew Wat, has vegetables, and spices something close to a favorite dish in Cairo. My favorite hot beverage has always been tea. I say this puts me in peril because the people around here favor coffee as a rule. They seem to remember that tea was the beverage dumped in the bay while the coffee was not touched.  Any way, I don't drink a lot of hot chocolate. I never drink coffee. It makes me happy to see that so many of the places we are traveling to offer tea as a choice beverage.The priests that are in charge of worship in the churches are also farmers. They are educated by church to care for the worship services and take part in the social aspects of their village. One of them on a YouTube is far sighted enough to see the modernization that is coming into the local towns. He knows it will make some changes in the social attitudes of the people and is working toward educating some of the younger males of the villages, so if they leave and attend higher education they will understand the roots of their worship and culture. He is hoping that his sons will have a dual education as priests but also as doctors of medicine. I did not think the information I read took into account the upheavals in the area in the last few years. |
| Our trip has been customized to meet our needs.We will not be having the down time listed in the beginning. https://www.safaribookings.com/day/t21782 We're arriving and immediately leaving by plane to our adventure to Lalibela which is home to the 12th-century hand carved rock churches of King Lalibela (1181 - 1221) whom the town is named after. We'll have lunch in our hotel, then visit the first group churches of Lalibela (UNESCO World Heritage Site) which are found northeast of a stream named ‘River Jordan’. In a 1970 report of the historic dwellings of Lalibela, Sandro Angelini evaluated the vernacular earthen architecture on the Lalibela World Heritage Site, including the characteristics of the traditional earth houses and analysis of their state of conservation. ://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g480193-d7619296-Reviews-Tomb_of_A... Our meals are included but no alcoholic beverages so we're doing a brew tour. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g480193-d12133587-Reviews-Lalibela...  I found the tour of the churches interesting. In a way it is something that I view from a distance mentally, because when ever I see buildings like this I wonder how they came into being so many years ago. Were the people who built them willing participants in carving out the rooms? I toured the church in the sky. I'm not sure if I could take the crawl up the side of the mountain just to attend a service there. The inside was so artistic and beautiful. I watched a CNN documentary on PBS about the religion of the people of Ethiopia about 2 years ago. It specifically focused on their kind of Christian worship. In the Tigray region which is very close to Lolibela there are also stone churches. Du to a story about Queen Sheba and a son born to her and King Solomon. The story says the Ark of the Covenant is in the caring hands of the people of Ethiopia. I have found two different versions of how this came to be. As for the alcoholic brew tour, I find it also relevant to the study of the area. All societies over the years have been brewing types of alcoholic beverages. Maybe I'll study the historic ideas about this some time since, it is always something we wonder about. Home brewed wines and beers have been medicinal as well as sometimes the drink served with meals. Problems only arise when the drinks are used in a glutinous manner. Even though we are inclined to make fun of the results of to much of these beverages. I'm off subject somewhat today so my details are scanty. Just need to spend some time resting in the hotel. |
| Camel Riding: It did not take long for me, WakeUpAndLive, Prosperous Snow, Blue Moon, Sandra Lyn, Lynn, Carla, and hullabaloo, To realize that Camel riding is a very slow but effective way to travel the desert. Because of their size they cover a lot of ground as they walk. Camels are very long legged with an average leg length of 7.4 to 11.3 feet long. Their body length is approximately 10 feet when full grown. It’s foot has a large ball of fat in their heel which absorbs shock when walking.As it walks the rider experiences a slow forward and backward sway which is very comfortable. Like sitting in a rocking chair. The saddles had places to hold on. Just don’t fall asleep while you ride. You are at least 6 feet off the desert sand. The camels pictured were wearing beautiful colored rugs over saddles. Quote:They can eat almost anything be it vegetation, meat, or bone,-- salty or sweet, a camels stomach knows no limits. But it is their temperament that is truly endeared the camel to man. Docile and sweet under a caring hand, but stubborn and angry if ill treated, the camel both wins your heart and your respect reference:Camel Pictures and Facts - Fohn.net .https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3604619/Camel-bites-owner-s-HEAD-left-t... Desert Ship Desert ships in sand don't sink. Moving faster than you think. Long legs striding atop the sand. Keep a rhythm over land. |
| We're staying at Heliopolis Towers Hotel. Let's hear what caught your attention? Talk about what you saw and learned about the pyramids or the artifacts or the crafts. EGYPT Giza: The pyramids are built of limestone. Each block of the great pyramid that we visited weighs 2.5 tons. The weight of the entire pyramid is a total 7.5 million tons. Our guide stood up next to one of the blocks which gave us an idea of how large these blocks really are. The sphinx is massive and I could only think that the man who had it built was trying to intimidate. The city of Giza is built on the west bank of the Nile. Besides the pyramids it has as an attraction, an 80 acre Zoo, which is one of the only green areas in the city. The zoo houses many endangered species. Camel Riding: It did not take long for me, WakeUpAndLive, Prosperous Snow, Blue Moon, Sandra Lyn, Lynn, Carla, and hullabaloo, To realize that Camel riding is a very slow but effective way to travel the desert. Because of their size they cover a lot of ground as they walk. Camels are very long legged with an average leg length of 7.4 to 11.3 feet long. Their body length is approximately 10 feet when full grown. It’s foot has a large ball of fat in the heel which absorbs shock when walking.As it walks the rider experiences a slow forward and backward sway which is very comfortable. Like sitting in a rocking chair. The saddles had places to hold on. Just don’t fall asleep while you ride. You are at least 6 feet off the desert sand. Cairo:This is an awe inspiring city. An interesting fact is the part called Islamic Cairo is called that not because it has more Islamic people; but because it has more Islamic monuments, than any other part of the city. Here is the Khan el-Khalili market. I believe I could furnish a house of a closet from this market. It is so large. I entered a place at the end of one row of merchandise stalls that had spokes running off the center like a wheel. Each spoke was a part of a district and had merchandise related to the needs. As I moved along looking at perfume, paintings, rugs, jewelry, vegetables, I heard a merchant say to someone, “I don’t know what you are looking for but I have what you need.” I saw beautiful fabrics, and such pretty dresses. To wear one of those dresses would be to look like a princess. One of the spokes emptied onto a square with a garden in the center of desert plants. Also there was a massive building, The Al Hussein Mosque, built in 1154 over a cemetery. Many of the buildings in this city are ancient. Buildings made of limestone, tall and cool inside. Another place called the Quolavan Complex also massive. Has a school and hospital inside. It was built with slave labor and took 13 months to build. Many structures in the city cite a particular Sultan each someone who caused buildings and parts of the city to be built. Even the Khan el-Khalili market was started in the 1400 s by one sultan, then added to, rebuilt, or expanded by other sultans as they came into power. People are everywhere. There is feeling you get when you walk through the city. I just can’t describe it. Mystery, atmospheric heat, weariness, busyness, all seem to be waiting for something else to happen. For dinner at the hotel I ate Koshari which is a mix of lentils, rice, noodles topped with a sauce of onions, tomato, and spices. It is very good. I also had the baked sweet potatoes as a side dish. Hawawshi was also served. It is basically a crisp pita bread stuffed with good things and is eaten any time of day. I enjoyed this kind of food at the end of such a busy day. |
| BCoF.. discuss the different types of entertainment that are popular in India. Is it different than what we're used to and why? Would this type of entertainment work in the U.S. or the U.K. or where our friend Wiesblaize lives? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arts_and_entertainment_in_India https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfN7M6SD-T0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgAnj6r1O48  Generally, India literature is believed to be the oldest in the world. The country has at least 22 languages spoken. Oral and written forms of literature.are both important India has its own forms of classical music and dance. There are at least nine styles of these forms. Bharatanatyam: Is dance style. Kathakali: is for story performed as a play. (think of the word opera) Odissi: A vary ancient style of dance. Folk dances celebrate seasonal changes and expected weather. This names just a few of the types as examples. Each one has special music and meanings attached dating to ancient times in India. India is also known for it's ancient and beautiful sculpture Petroglyphs have been found in the country proving that ancient culture is the beginning of the artistic mind. Today the Indian film industry is the second largest in the world. In spite of the beauty and wonder our journey is giving us there is a down side to all cultures. In India there is a large street dog population. Because of Covid 19 the dog population that was not treated well to begin with are now in an even worse way. This problem is in all the large cities including Agra. The good news is that there are now more Indian people becoming aware of the problem. Groups and Individuals are beginning an effort to control street dog populations and feed them. This particular breed of dog which has been the main problem over the years is an ancient breed particular to India. When cared for properly they are a large , intelligent breed of dog worth saving. |
| We're staying at the Grand Imperial while we're in Agra. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g297683-d671997-Reviews-The_Grand_Imper... 30 day: https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g304551-d15008778-Taj_Mahal_... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal Everyone says this is the gem of India, what are your thoughts? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=665AHTNpf2o We're dining at Tea'se Me a recoomended place to see Agra at night from the roof top restaurant. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g297683-d7789920-Reviews-Tea_se_Me...  {/centerMausoleum Agra is a city on the banks of the Yamuna river.It has wonderful shopping bazaars,and majestic gardens. The Jama Masid mosque is located here. It is one of the largest mosques in India. The Taj Mahal is one of it's main tourist sites. The Yamuna river is a tributary of the Ganga. It originates from the Yamunotri Glacier. The river is polluted. Some parts of it are considered ecologically dead. The Indian government does have an ecologist C.R. Babu who is helping the government to develop better rivers. The Taj Mahal in India is a mausoleum for the 5th Mughal Emperor and his wife, Shah Jahan. Its very intricately designed and a beautiful building. It's however a tomb. Only one of his wives are buried in the tomb. I guess you have to be very important on the earth to rate this kind of burial place. It is a blend of Persian, Indian, and Islamic architecture and built of marble. Its a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Considering, I will probably be cremated and no one will even remember me after a few days or months. I'm guessing Taj Mahal may have a spiritual interest as well. There is another Taj Mahal. It is located on Randolph Air Force Base in Universal City, Texas. Which is near San Antonio. It is the headquarters for the 12th Flying Training Wing. It is a similar architecture to the one in India and also a very beautiful building. It was built in 1931. In 1987 it was added to the national register of historic places. One of the differences in the two buildings is a water pool in the front of the building in India. The building in Texas has water located in the dome at the top of the building. Dinner at Tea'se Mae was scrumptious. I enjoyed the setting which is especially modern. I ordered baked fish, pearl millet rice with a sauce and it was served with a flat bread. We had a lot of vegetarian options here. I really like turmeric and the pepper that is used in Indian food. Hot climates often have spicy foods because the spices help keep the food from spoiling. The people grow up with it so they are used to eating the types of spicy food we will experience on this trip. We can always fly back to Antarctica to cool off. I finished my meal with a cup of Masala Chai tea. The ingredients are black tea mixed with cinnamon, cardamon, black peppercorns, and other spices. It is suppose to aide digestion, boost heart health, and lower blood sugar levels. A nice ending to the day. |
| This prompt is for both 30 day and BCoF groups. So it will count if you have discussed different things in each post. EX. say in 30 day you discussed yoga and wellness treatment.For it to content you will need to discuss something different like maybe exploring the tibetan massage therapy and art classes or cooking classes. For BCoF:  Quote from the link: "Cultivate peace, kindness, clarity so you can offer it to others." by Phat Dung https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2016/11/22/13638374/buddhist-monk-mindful... For those of you who are wondering how a Christian can study about Meditation, mindfulness, and listen to the words of Monks I remind you of these words from the Messiah: Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. John 16:33 These things have I spoken unto you, that in me you may have peace, in the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. If you take some time to read the linked page you will see there is a way to approach what is happening in the world with President Trump and also in the media. Mindfulness and meditation helps people take part in life. It puts a space between your mind and any association with immediate confrontation that may occur no matter how small. One of the things I most treasure, that I have learned, is mindfulness (meditation) can be as short as 1 second or as long as infinity. You do have to practice. You can do it anywhere within or outside of walls or during any activity. In order to practice you must take part in activities where you can hear others and they can hear you. Be active in ways that don't put you in despair. Are you having trouble with that new Bhutan recipe? Stop! Close your eyes. Take a couple deep breathes. In through your nose out through your mouth. Doubling up on oxygen. Think of a field of flowers. This all takes 60 seconds. Now move forward with the ingredients for your recipe. Thinking in a more scientific way. If you stop your mind from fighting with any given situation the peacefulness achieved causes the mental panic to release. Real thoughts that work take over. Take what you need from this blog and discard the rest. Life moves on. |
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