Parrot Mountain

A representative from the parrot Mountain brought three of the birds to our resort on Wednesday. We got to hold and interact with them. After his talk we thought it might be fun to visit Parrot Mountain. It is past DollyWood and truly is on top of the mountain. The last hundred yards were UPHILL.
They have many different birds that you can feed and a pen of Lorikeets that you can feed a small container of nectar while they land on you and fight for the nectar. I found one of the birds was very dominate and didn’t want the others to eat. This bird would even bite me when I took the nectar away for the other birds.
Some of the birds had a sign to not feed or pet as they would bite. In addition to having birds on display they do breed birds for sale. Of course some of the birds are given to them by owners that can no longer care for the birds. Since the birds can live for 70 to 100 years, they can outlive their owners or just no longer have that great attraction they had at first.
Some of the birds talk and one even says “Kill the cat” when you say kitty, kitty. But as with many animals they don’t always act on cue. The bird said “Polly wants a cracker” for me.

DollyWood

No trip to the Smoky Mountains is complete without a trip to DollyWood. After all if a mouse can create a theme park why can’t a woman. We spent the day listening to a number of different groups. They were all good and either country or bluegrass but I will admit I had my favorites. We also rode the train and visited a number of craftsmen presentations.
I would say my favorite group was called the Country Crossroads. They were a group of young performers, four women and two men. They did a very nice job of presenting nice arrangements of a great many country favorites. One of the women even had a resemblance to Dolly Parton.
Another group of young people called The Great American Country Show did a nice job but had too much Multi-media big production to be country for me. They did have live musicians but all of the big production just didn’t have it for me.
I did regret that the Kingdom Heirs, a Southern Gospel Quartet did not perform when we were there because of illness. I would have enjoyed hearing them. I didn’t enjoy James Rogers, the “Big” performer with a 55 minute show that went to over an hour. I would have been happy if it ended in half and hour like most of the shows. He is a favorite Tennessee performer and I guess I didn’t fit into the local fun.
A group of four young people did a nice job of singing 70’s songs acapella and we saw parts of there show three times. They were street performer and we when by several times on the way to some other show. It is difficult to sing out in the open without some form of accompaniment and I did enjoy their work.
All in all it was a nice day and introduction to Dolly’s home town culture.

Driving the Smokies

We have now finished three drives suggested by one of the tourist map-ads we picked-up when we got to Gatlinburg. On these trips we learned that you can’t be in a hurry on Memorial Day Weekend, discovered why these mountains are called the Smoky Mountains, and got a chance to see a number of old churches and homesteads. There were people everywhere, even out on the roads and you really can’t pass on a two lane road with heavy traffic going both ways.
The first drive was to the top of the mountain to Clingman’s Dome. This drive provided a number of overlooks to see the great views of the surrounding hills but all of them are restricted by the haze that hangs over the mountains, thus the Smokies. Brochures explained that the haze is worse now than it use to be because of human pollution and that some days are better than others. We had great views but it would be nice to have been able to see all that was shown in some pictures and postcards. The only problem is how many days do you have to wait to get that perfect day? At the top of the mountain they have created a ramp to take you up to a viewing platform that overlooks the trees and allows you to see as far as the haze will permit. It was a half mile hike up hill to get to the viewing platform and though Marilyn was not sure she would leave bench #4 (of five) to finish the hike, she did and we have our picture to prove it.
The other two drives were similar to each other but different. Both of the drives had a number of farms and homes build about 1900. With the homes there where also water powered grinding mills, barns, and other building that the families would need. Most of them were in very good shape consider the years and the lack of regular maintence. The one very sad thing that could be seen everywhere was the need for people to have to write their name so they could let people know they where there.
The Cades Cove Loop was a more open area and had many areas that were covered only with grass. While the Roaring Fork Trail didn’t have the large open areas and was much rockier. Trees had taken back the land and what once was a corn field was now covered with trees. All the churches we saw were on the Cades Cove Loop. The hard life of the early settlers was evident in the rocky ground they used to grow their crops and the small homes that provided shelter for their families. Both of the loops were one way roads but the Roaring Fork Trail was very narrow and winding up and down hill while the Cades Cove was flat and more open.
We didn’t see a lot of wild animals which is to be expected as each time a deer or bear was spotted there where people stopped and out trying to get that great picture. The animals were soon chased away to more peaceful locations. We did see both bears and deer without a chance to get the perfect picture and a number of wild turkeys in the grassland of the cove beyond the distance for settable pictures. Of course there were the flowers and butterflies along with the pesky small flies.

Chattanooga

You can’t visit Chattanooga without visiting the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Well sorry it isn’t a train, it is a motel. Well there is a train there but it never moves. You can sleep or eat in a train car but that is about it. The lobby is the old train station so it is nice but we didn’t take a ride on the Chattanooga Choo Choo.
The views around Chattanooga are great and we did enjoy all of the views of the river and hills but one of our big days was a trip to the Aquarium. It is located in the river front area and part of the development they are doing. Also by the river is a wonderful park and we even took a ride on the carousel.
We spent a good part of the day visiting the aquarium and all the animals. I even got a few good pictures to share. The sea horse exhibit was fun and I really enjoyed the butterfly exhibit. The fresh water exhibit was nicely done and where we spent most of the time because it was new to us. It is all in a small footprint because the exhibit is really displayed in a vertical fashion. You take an escalator up to the top and wind your way down through all the displays.

We also saw a model home from the 60-70's that never really caught on. It is now for sale and you can buy it if you want.

What is my favorite?

What was the favorite among the animals we saw? That is a hard question. It was great to see large herds of zebra and wildebeest grazing together and it was great to see the occasional fight between rival males. But then we never saw a serious fight over territory and though interesting the large herds are not exciting more like very enjoyable to see the large group of animals roaming free.
The baboons were the most fun to watch as they played and fought over about anything. We saw many troops of baboons and never tired of watching as they chased after each other or small babies tried to get a ride on their mothers back. They impalas were fun to watch as they would run leaping high in the air. Of course for many of these things pictures just don’t show what your mind sees. The baby baboon is only in one position and you don’t see the falling off or the hard work they do to stay on. Only video can really show the running or even walking of the animals as they move across the plains.
I guess I could comment on the photos I didn’t get. Some like the rhino, leopard, and male lion we just didn’t see. I guess the failure to see a large male lion was my biggest disappointment. But then this is hunting and how many times has a hunter gone out to find that great trophy or even to get meat to eat and failed to find their game. It was interesting to read in the guest books at the lodges to see what animals the others had seen. While we were at the two game camps in the middle of our stay we saw very few animals but people would talk about how many lions or zebra they had seen. We were just after the rainy season and many of the animals had dispersed to other areas while the water was plentiful.
The other frustration about taking photos is you never get just what you want. With the digital camera, I now feel free to take many pictures and hope that somewhere in the vast number of pictures I will find the one I want.

Elephant Safari

I guess it is time to write about our elephant safari. Marilyn always mentions that as one great thing we did. Well it was really more of and elephant ride but then it was four kilometers in a game area that has all the standard game animals. It is just that the noise and guide walking with a gun in front of the walk does discourage the animals from sticking around. We did see two warthogs up close, a giraffe far away, and storks in the tree. That was about it.
It was a fun time and we rode the elephant much like you would a horse. Even had the stirrups. The ride took about 45 minutes and then we had time to interact with our elephant. Each elephant has its handler or guide and two riders. Ours was the largest male elephant in the group and I believe he was fourteen years old. The guide has an ample supple of molasses filled hay pellets in his fanny pack so the elephant is more than happy to perform and get its treat. They told us that was the secret to training African elephants. First attempts to train by force just didn’t work because it is difficult to force and elephant to do anything they don’t want to do. Going up and down some of the steeper paths was interesting but everyone survived. There where 16 of us that where doing the morning ride. One family of four and a couple from Zimbabwe another couple from South Africa joined some of us from the tour to make up the group. Half did the ride while the others had breakfast then we switched.
The interaction after the ride was feeding the elephant and sitting on his leg for pictures. Our guide said that sometimes the warthogs will come in during the interaction because they like the pellets too and there are always some falling to the ground. I will share more on elephants later and as Connie said we really have more elephant pictures than we need but you are always sure this one is better than the last. I won’t mention how many pictures of elephants I have but only that I deleted about twenty.

Birds of Africa

I don’t normally think of birds when thinking of and African Safari but I will make that my first little note about animals. We did see a lot of birds and one couple in the group were bird watchers and very interested in see how many different birds they could see. For most of us we had a few favorite but were looking more for the larger animals. Not that we didn’t see larger birds, we did. But birds being what they are they were either too far away to get a good picture or they were flying before I could get the shot.
The Secretary Bird was one that was large and far away and I was never able to get a shot of the Ground Hornbill before it was gone. I think one of the general favorites was the Lilac-breasted Roller. In flight their blue feathers shown out in a beautiful display. I wanted to get a shot of them flying but of course I didn’t. We saw lots of Guineafowl, Francolin, and Hornbills. At our last camp we saw many Ostriches and they are always fun to watch. I was always amazed by our guides and their ability to see and identify birds and animals from a great distance. Of course many times they would get out the binoculars to verify they call. But then if they were wrong who among us would know the difference?
One time we came upon a very large number of storks out sunning and enjoying themselves. It was great to see so many in one place. The Fish Eagle looks much like the Bald Eagle and was always on the top of the tree, too bad. I am not sure what to say about the birds. We enjoyed them but did not go out in the morning hoping to find a new bird. I was sometimes hoping to get a good picture but size and flying prevent that. One thing I will say is the starlings were even beautiful.

Sunset in Africa

I always enjoy taking pictures of sunsets and trying to get just the right moment and angle. Using a digital camera makes it so much fun. You can take fifteen pictures of the same sunset from just a different spot or different time and select the one you want latter. Each picture is unique. Sometimes the best color is up to a half hour after the sun goes down and sometimes the clouds just don’t let it happen. Every time I am in Hawaii I seem to take at least another twenty pictures of the setting sun. Maybe it is because it is so easy to just go across the street from our condo or maybe it is that I don’t have anyone rushing me to go or do something.
The hard thing about taking pictures of the sunset on a group tour is the same problem you have with taking animal pictures. It takes time and not everyone wants to just stand and wait for just the right moment. I did get a chance to get some nice shots on this trip to Africa. Sometimes we were at the lodge waiting for dinner and sometimes we were out on a game drive with a stop for drinks as we watched the setting sun. Both allowed me the chance to take the time I wanted to shoot several shots. I have included two of the same sunset separated by only twenty seconds but what a difference in the color.

Soweto

On our way to the Wilderness Camps we had a layover in Johannesburg so several of us took a tour of Soweto. This city which claims both Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela as a few of its famious residents, although niether of them are living them now. You can find more about Soweto at http://www.joburg.org.za/soweto/history.stm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soweto.
As we drove past several of the shantytowns, dorms for single men as well as some of the newer houses. Of course there is also the rebuilding of the soccer stadium for the 2010 World Cup. We did stop at two places the Regina Mundi Church and the Hector Peterson museum. Both of these are symbols of the turbulent past that South Africa has experienced. As I think of my own life in 1976 when the uprising was occurring and how I knew little about what was happening, I realize how easy it is for us to live in our comfortable homes isolated from many of the things going on around the world. Of course now with many news channels provide 24/7 coverage of what is going on and many times repeating the current crises much like the recent shooting at Virginia Tech, it is more difficult to ignore what is happening.
Our Guide for the tour of the Regina Mundi Church was a young boy in 1976 and convinced is older teenage brother to accompany him to the church to listen to some of the speakers for the evening. When the police raided the church shoot both live bullets and teargas they ran from the building. He was separated from his brother how was found the next day frozen to death in a freezer in a local butcher shop where he and some friends had hid to escape the police only to have the door closed on them. There was no way to open the door from the inside. This simple church still has the bullet holes in the wall and ceiling from the raid.

The Hector Person museum shows many pictures and videos of the activities from the time of his death on June 16, 1976. Like many people killed or injured, he was not one of the leaders but simply someone in the wrong place and the right time.

Riding the Mokoro

Another form of transportation we got to experience was the Mokoro. This was a dugout canoe in the past but now to save trees and still make many mokoros for the tourists to see and use they are made of fiberglass. They are used for fishing, getting across the water, and hauling things across the water in addition to the tourists. And if that wasn’t enough on special days they race them. Our two guides for the trip were the top racers in the area. Each of them have won and they say it is always fun to see who will win.
They only put two people and the guide in each boat. We got a nice little chair, without legs to set in and the guide would stand and use a pole to push the boat through the water. It seemed unstable as it rocked back and forth but the water was only about three to four feet deep so we were not in danger and I am sure the guide was very confident that he was not going to get wet.
We spent about 45 minutes going through the water looking at water lilies, frogs, and spiders. The little frog was less than and inch long but makes a bid noise that we would hear each night. While we were there a herd of buffalo came to the water but we only got a glimpse of them before they were gone.
Once we were back on land one of the guides showed us how they make a snare to catch small bird. A string is tied to a stick and pulled down to form a noose around a few small sticks on the ground. The bait is placed in the middle and rigged with a trigger that will release the noose. I was the lucky that got to try to remove the small piece of bait and my finger was quickly caught.
More pictures can be found at the flicker link and I will add to them as I sort them out.

Joys of TRavel

Travel in these modern days can be Amazing, Interesting, Painful, and Frustrating. I just returned from a 19 day trip to Africa to visit four wilderness safari camps and experienced it all in the trip. Travel is great but there is a price to pay.
Amazing is the only word that can describe the engineering that allows a 747 loaded with passengers, luggage, and fuel to leave the ground and fly almost 11 hours at 35,000 feat at almost 600 MPH. Yes I understand the physics of lift and even taught some of it but that doesn’t change the unbelief I have as I sit in the plane and wonder how could it ever get off the ground. And then the small 6 passenger and 12 passenger planes we used as we went from one remote camp to the next using dirt runways that often had some wild animal walking across just before the plane lands. The pilots were great and the use of gps has changed the way they can find all of these little strips they call a runway in the middle of the jungle.
A trip like this is truly Amazing. To see the animals in their own space not the zoo or maybe not see them because they have gone elsewhere or maybe are just hiding is fantastic. Yes I didn’t see some animals I would like to have seen like a male lion but then that is what game drives are all about. You have to hunt for the animals if you are hunting with a camera or a gun. To try to see the animals before the guide or sometime try to see it when they are telling you where to look is a game I loved to play. I got some pictures but then in some cases I didn’t because of light conditions or the camera I was using. I could have used a better camera but then you have to worry about the added weight and space that the nice SLR requires. One of the other ladies had a great Canon SLR and I would love to see just what she got for pictures.
It is Interesting to see the animal and the new country but it is also great to meet new people and talk about their customs, traditions, and food. In some ways we are the same but in others different and it is good to understand and not always try to change. Change comes very slow when you are dealing with customs and tradition that many times are tied to religious beliefs. And the food it was good but then most of the meals we had where planned to our tastes and customs to the local foods.
Painful, yes let me talk about the amount of space they allow in that big 747 in the economy seating for a person six foot four and 250 pounds. I had to get up several times just to walk and trying to sleep is difficult. The smaller planes are even worse. You can’t even stand up in them. One time the pilot hat me sit behind him and that did give me some leg room because he had the seat pulled forward so he could reach all the hand and foot controls but one time I sat in the co-pilots seat and was afraid to stretch out my legs for fear of touching the pedals I saw moving up and down as he controlled the plane. Then I could also mention my fear of heights. I was OK in the small planes for the first 1,500 to 2,000 feet above the ground but as he headed for 6,000 feet above the ground every bounce of the plane was a new fear. Closing my eyes and meditating was the best thing for me to do.The Frustration comes in the waiting. Five hours in this airport, ten hours on the plane, and wondering if you luggage is on the same plane. Two of the ladies never got their luggage for the whole time we where in Africa. Now they are told it is in Africa. As we checked into the Victoria Fall airport, first the computer wouldn’t work so they got a new computer. Then that computer couldn’t talk to the printer so boarding passes and luggage tags are hand written. You watch you luggage leave hoping that it makes it to LA at the same time you do so you can claim it to clear customs and transfer from British Airways to United. Did I mention as I put my credit card into the machine to get my boarding pass at United it said “That flight is canceled” and we had to wait an extra two hours more than the planned fours hours to fly to Portland. Well it all worked and I am home trying to adjust to all the time changes and lost sleep. Oh yes, I am also trying to sort out the over 1000 pictures I took. You will see more of them later.