CROATIA
Strolling quaint town of Split with its winding streets and beautiful stone boardwalk which stretches along the Adriatic Sea
Clear and blue waters of the Adriatic, which we jumped and swam in off our boat
Hearing choir of church singers practice in small church next to our Inn
Hearing my mother sing with the great acoustics of the small church next door
Being woken up every hour by the church bells ringing at the church next door ;(
Riding bikes through acres of fields dotted with small stone walls created by farmers clearing and stepping fields
Tasting olive oil and cheeses and visiting with the artisan that makes these products from their farm atop the rocky island
Spectacular views overlooking the ocean as we flew down on our bikes for miles after a good climb
Old stone fortress atop the small town of Hvar which had a hopping night life and rental lounge chairs all along the rocky coast where you could literally be out in the ocean
Enjoying an all organic freshly made meal from the garden of a restaurant in Hvar, which also had the best fish I have ever eaten
Serenaded by Klappa Singers which included the chef and his quartet between entrees at a family farm restaurant on the hillside of Korcula
Diving off the boat into the sea, watching Sydney pull a backflip from the railing, then seeing Jess Hatch pull one right after ;)
Biking all along the coast and having the boys pull off and jump in and then hop back on their bicycles
Exploring Dubrovnik on kayaks, swimming off one of their rocky points with the girls, exploring the shops and finding sunglasses with Syd and Kendall, holding Sam's favorite birds in the square at night, walking the large stone walls early in the morning, taking the tram to the top of the view point and purchasing coin necklaces, doing a walking tour of the city
POLAND
GERMANY
The stones and rails that mark where the wall stood around Berlin
Remnants of the wall around the city and the East Side Gallery which has over 100 murals now painted on it
The Berlin Dom/Cathedral - one of the most beautiful I have ever seen because it was light and uplifting.The painted glass murals above the alter captivated me and loved hearing the organ play as we attended a 30 min service
The Holocaust memorial with the thousands of stones different sizes and causing us to ponder what it meant to us
The Brandenburg Gate and restored to it's formal glory but with a past that is a reminder of a lot of history of Germany and most recently the divide between a city that was repaired nearly 30 years ago
The stones throughout the city which mark where Jews had lived and had been forced to leave and then killed in the Holocaust
Checkpoint Charlie, reminder of a divided city and the Cold War
Autostadt and the glass car silos and the mechanical arms that move the cars up and down for pickup each day
Tour of the car plant and the miles of roads that weave between the machines that are assembling the cars and the thousands of bikes of the 25,000 plus workers in the plant which help them get around the factory
The mirrored Bugatti Veyron on display in the Bugatti Pavillion
The design of the Porsche Pavillon out of metal which it's contemporary and sleek design
Weltvogel Bird Park 3 hours outside of Berlin and the sheer joy Sam experienced as he held tons of his favorite birds and was in the Bird Show
The immense variety of colorful pigeons and parrots and the magnitude of size and power of the birds of prey at the Bird Park in Walsgrove
Our visit with the director of the Bird Park after dinner and to see Sam so engaged in conversation and asking about how they acquire birds and them talking as boys that loved birds
Cruising on the Autobahn at over 125 miles per hour in our rental Mercedes
Time at the Frankfurt temple and being able to stop and serve and discover this beautiful and unique temple
Arriving in Bamberg with no expectations and being blown away as we walked the city that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and everything we were looking at had been restored and it was like a walk through time. Lovely colorful homes and bridges and potted flowers and flowing rivers,...
Discovering Sam's family's Schmitt home and being able to go inside and see a family photo on the wall and it just taking our breath away. The photo was of Grandma Elouise's mother's family taken back in 1906. Exploring the courtyard and doing up the winding steps to see several of the doors that had been done by her grandfather.
Being able to hear the testimonies in church of members in Bamberg and then meeting a woman at church that was a tour guide and having her walk us around the neighborhood and share some history, as the church was in the Jewish Quarter
Exploring with the missionaries who generously gave us their time to translate and help navigate us to where we needed to go to retrace some important places, including the St Martin's Chapel where family was married, St Michael's Cathedral which was closed but has 5 stained glass windows in it. They pointed out the famous rose garden by The Dom too.
Riding bikes around Bamberg and being able to see more of the city and paths along the river
Strolling quaint town of Split with its winding streets and beautiful stone boardwalk which stretches along the Adriatic Sea
Clear and blue waters of the Adriatic, which we jumped and swam in off our boat
Hearing choir of church singers practice in small church next to our Inn
Hearing my mother sing with the great acoustics of the small church next door
Being woken up every hour by the church bells ringing at the church next door ;(
Riding bikes through acres of fields dotted with small stone walls created by farmers clearing and stepping fields
Tasting olive oil and cheeses and visiting with the artisan that makes these products from their farm atop the rocky island
Spectacular views overlooking the ocean as we flew down on our bikes for miles after a good climb
Old stone fortress atop the small town of Hvar which had a hopping night life and rental lounge chairs all along the rocky coast where you could literally be out in the ocean
Enjoying an all organic freshly made meal from the garden of a restaurant in Hvar, which also had the best fish I have ever eaten
Serenaded by Klappa Singers which included the chef and his quartet between entrees at a family farm restaurant on the hillside of Korcula
Diving off the boat into the sea, watching Sydney pull a backflip from the railing, then seeing Jess Hatch pull one right after ;)
Biking all along the coast and having the boys pull off and jump in and then hop back on their bicycles
Exploring Dubrovnik on kayaks, swimming off one of their rocky points with the girls, exploring the shops and finding sunglasses with Syd and Kendall, holding Sam's favorite birds in the square at night, walking the large stone walls early in the morning, taking the tram to the top of the view point and purchasing coin necklaces, doing a walking tour of the city
POLAND
Blown away with the beauty of Wroclaw and the old restored buildings and their painted facades and unique cookie cutter shapes, many resembling gingerbread houses.
The many unique polish treats which were being sold in little cottages on the Rynek
The majestic copper roofed tops of cathedrals that sprinkle the skyscape
The enormous amounts of food fed to us by an elderly sister for dinner. Kendall had warned me but nothing compared to the amounts I witnessed: 2 bowls of soup, 2 cabbage wrapped meat and rice paddies, turkey goulash over boiled potatoes, large bowl of grated carrots and almonds, a bowl of fruit, 3 kinds of ice cream, and a massive plate of homemade flaky cookies with date filling!!!
Tasty meringue treat with cream inside
Kendall knowing the streets of Warsaw and guiding us around on trams and bikes
Kendall knowing the streets of Warsaw and guiding us around on trams and bikes
Walking the streets at night and seeing the city lit at night in Wroclaw
Auschwitz- the horrors that occurred there. One of the best guided tours with so much information that I have been on.
The churches in the main square of Krakow
The underground Medieval city in Krakow
Wawel Castle and Dragon Cave
Schindler's Factory where there was a history of German occupation of Poland and the Jewish Ghetto and Schindler's story
Riding 3 wheeled scooters around town
Horse drawn chariot around town
Spectacular altar at St Mary's Basilica in the Main Square in Krakow
Orchestra concert at St Paul's and Peter's Church in Krakow
Great train from Krakow to Warsaw
The Palace of Science and Culture- Soviet's "gift" to Warsaw
The Uprising Museum
The Uprising Memorial
The History of Jews in Poland Museum- huge museum
Lovely parks and rebuilt old and new old city
Chopin Museum- state of the art
Milk Bar, Polish institution
Jewish Ghetto walls
Mozart concerts going on for free around the city
Hearing Kendall speak fluently with families in the areas she served
SPAIN and PORTUGALWawel Castle and Dragon Cave
Schindler's Factory where there was a history of German occupation of Poland and the Jewish Ghetto and Schindler's story
Riding 3 wheeled scooters around town
Horse drawn chariot around town
Spectacular altar at St Mary's Basilica in the Main Square in Krakow
Orchestra concert at St Paul's and Peter's Church in Krakow
Great train from Krakow to Warsaw
The Palace of Science and Culture- Soviet's "gift" to Warsaw
The Uprising Museum
The Uprising Memorial
The History of Jews in Poland Museum- huge museum
Lovely parks and rebuilt old and new old city
Chopin Museum- state of the art
Milk Bar, Polish institution
Jewish Ghetto walls
Mozart concerts going on for free around the city
Hearing Kendall speak fluently with families in the areas she served
Walking Madrid early in the morning with no one at the palace of the large main cathedral
Fado singers in Lisbon
The Geronimo Monastery in Lisbon
The Tile Museum in Museum with it’s gilded chapel marking the golden age in Portugal with gold found in Brazil
Pena Palace in Sintra with it’s colors and fantasy architecture and arches
The town of Sintra charming
standing in the wind with a similar lanscape really of the southern most tip of Africa and standing on the most western point of the European Continent
Seeing Kite surfers rule the sky and sea off the windy western point of Portugal
The streets of Cascais with patterned black and white limestone cobble stones
The Villa Italia’s rooms- so elegant in blues and grey with balcony looking out onto the ocean
Riding bikes early in the morning along the boardwalk in Cascais with beaches filled with students and their first days of summer
Paddle boarding in the Atlantic watching kids jump off cliffs and schools of large fish swimming everywhere
Laying on the beach, baking with fellow sun worshipers, appreciating the Portuguese love of sun
walking the streets of Cascais at night and finding a little 2nd story Italian restaurant for dinner
Riding bikes to Gonuche beach and watching schools of kids surfing
Soaking in what I new was my last day of baking in the sun on the beach in Cascais
Exploring for 4 hours on foot the streets of Lisbon and finding a perfect spot to watch one smooth talker persuade people into the restaurant he was hired to fill the patio with, which he did. Made great entertainment during my dinner.
The stones and rails that mark where the wall stood around Berlin
Remnants of the wall around the city and the East Side Gallery which has over 100 murals now painted on it
The Berlin Dom/Cathedral - one of the most beautiful I have ever seen because it was light and uplifting.The painted glass murals above the alter captivated me and loved hearing the organ play as we attended a 30 min service
The Holocaust memorial with the thousands of stones different sizes and causing us to ponder what it meant to us
The Brandenburg Gate and restored to it's formal glory but with a past that is a reminder of a lot of history of Germany and most recently the divide between a city that was repaired nearly 30 years ago
The stones throughout the city which mark where Jews had lived and had been forced to leave and then killed in the Holocaust
Checkpoint Charlie, reminder of a divided city and the Cold War
Autostadt and the glass car silos and the mechanical arms that move the cars up and down for pickup each day
Tour of the car plant and the miles of roads that weave between the machines that are assembling the cars and the thousands of bikes of the 25,000 plus workers in the plant which help them get around the factory
The mirrored Bugatti Veyron on display in the Bugatti Pavillion
The design of the Porsche Pavillon out of metal which it's contemporary and sleek design
Weltvogel Bird Park 3 hours outside of Berlin and the sheer joy Sam experienced as he held tons of his favorite birds and was in the Bird Show
The immense variety of colorful pigeons and parrots and the magnitude of size and power of the birds of prey at the Bird Park in Walsgrove
Our visit with the director of the Bird Park after dinner and to see Sam so engaged in conversation and asking about how they acquire birds and them talking as boys that loved birds
Cruising on the Autobahn at over 125 miles per hour in our rental Mercedes
Time at the Frankfurt temple and being able to stop and serve and discover this beautiful and unique temple
Arriving in Bamberg with no expectations and being blown away as we walked the city that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and everything we were looking at had been restored and it was like a walk through time. Lovely colorful homes and bridges and potted flowers and flowing rivers,...
Discovering Sam's family's Schmitt home and being able to go inside and see a family photo on the wall and it just taking our breath away. The photo was of Grandma Elouise's mother's family taken back in 1906. Exploring the courtyard and doing up the winding steps to see several of the doors that had been done by her grandfather.
Being able to hear the testimonies in church of members in Bamberg and then meeting a woman at church that was a tour guide and having her walk us around the neighborhood and share some history, as the church was in the Jewish Quarter
Exploring with the missionaries who generously gave us their time to translate and help navigate us to where we needed to go to retrace some important places, including the St Martin's Chapel where family was married, St Michael's Cathedral which was closed but has 5 stained glass windows in it. They pointed out the famous rose garden by The Dom too.
Riding bikes around Bamberg and being able to see more of the city and paths along the river
Biking through Tiergarten
Climbing to the top of the Berlin Victory Column
Berlin Zoo- beautiful parkland with great exhibits
Charlottenburg Palace and Gardens- iconic german palace and gardens
Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church- stunning in how the old bombed out church stands almost as a contemporary structure of resilience in a city that was all but destroyed
Sony Center- multiple buildings with contemporary glass architecture and a great outdoor cafe area
FRANCE
Coastline of Nice
Grand Prix course along the coast in Monaco with a backdrop of ocean and yachts and lined by high rises with balconies and ocean breezes
The streets of Monaco filled with Ferraris, Mercedes and cars I can’t even spell the name of that cost 2.5 million but that Sam would know ;)
Roar of Formula 1 engines as they race below you 50 feet on a track that wraps around the city of Monaco
Immense crowds riding the train in and out of Monaco
Saint Paul and the winding narrow streets and cobblestone paths through the Medieval village
Lunch overlooking the sea and the fields outside Nice in Saint-Paul
Fields in Provence with buttercups and small white flowers and poppies
Our hotel La Ferme outside Gordes where we stayed - old farm house and fields and wonderful farm fresh food
Gordes village and farmers market and the ebike shop which allowed us to tour the countryside around and get back up the mountain of a city
Our touring around on mountain bike trails on our ebikes and to the Monastery outside Gordes
Great pizza off the main square in Gordes
The view from the basilica overlooking Lyon with it's beautiful and sparkling mosaic murals
The old city of Lyon with the streets of Bistros and outdoor cafes with checkered cloths
Delicious dinner at a bistro in lyon with the perfect creamy mushroom sauce and chicken
Walking streets of Lyon in the morning
Chambord and the fields of wheat and wild grasses and flowers
Our hotel outside Chambord which sat on the Loire River and we immediately took bikes out and could have rode for 100 miles on the perfect paths through this region
Riding bikes along the river and loving the light and grasses and park area around the river
Biking to Chambord on tree line forested paths and dirt paths that wind into the grounds of Chambord
Versailles and it's shear magnitude and miles and miles of perfectly manicured hedges and trees and paths
The country French gardens of Marie Antoinette's village she had built within the grounds of Versailles
Paris and the historic and well preserved buildings and tree lined paths and Seine running through the city
Riding bikes around Paris
Running into my cousin Michelle Marriott in the Louve
Meeting up with the Hartsfields in Montmartre and then taking in views of the city after dinner
Hearing part of a Mass in the Basilica that overlooks Paris at Montemarte and hearing the organ plan and a nun sing so beautifully
Going to Roland Garros for the first time and seeing Djokavak and Serena- world's number one man and woman play on the court where we had seats as we enjoyed the sun and the game.
French man Richard Q playing Kevin A. from South Africa- a 4+ hour match which all the French were passionate about and hollering and chanting and doing the wave for the whole match
INDIA
Varanasi at sunrise- noisy clanging incredible, candles, boats, monks, cremation ghat
Varanasi at sunset- worshiping along ghats, large crowds of pilgrims, people on boats and along ghat participating in the sunrise ceremony paying tribute to the Ganges
Monkeys, temples, rickshaws through wild streets filled with honking horns and cows
Going to Shiva's wife's temple and hundreds of worshipers and milk, and herbs and flowers and priest, and frenzy
Cremation ghat and man shaving his head, rituals along the Ganges, women mourning, priests blessing, holy men
In Delhi visiting the Seikh temple and the holy men that look like 3 wise men with their large swords
The huge kitchen of the Golden Temple and people donating time to feed thousands
Huge new Hindu temple and the elaborate stone carvings that covered this temple
Rickshaws through the streets around the ancient temple in the center of Delhi
How much cleaner Delhi seemed and quieter than when I last came
A night of learning about Indian food and tasting a huge variety at the Marriott
Learning more about the LDS Church in India from our new friend Benson and the challenges of being a Christian in Hindu India
Shopping in Delhi and Sam purchasing a meditation bowl and paintings
Boarding the Maharaja Express and the fanfare with every stop with flowers lining the red carpet
Painted elephants
Camels adorned in elaborate costumes and Sam riding one that was supposed to be in the procession
Visiting incredible forts and places, dinner in palaces and sunsets overlooking palaces
Dancers in the dessert, musicians playing, ladies dancing on nails and broken glass
65 million years ago dinosaur eggs
Decorated dancing horses, late brass horns blowing, drums beating, African/Indian dancers, colorful quilted dancers with umbrellas and sticks entertaining us before lunch at the summer palace in Balasinor
Final night of dancing on board with the staff of the Maharaja Express
Dash making animals out of towels each night on our bed so happy to surprise us
Beautiful pastel paintings on the floors in Hindu temples in Chennai
Going to testimony meeting at the LDS Chennai Branch for Easter
Seeing Keerthika and Divya for the first time in 7 years, the girls we sponsor at Rising Star
Seeing my son make friends will boys at RSO and playing basketball with the kids during playtime
Seeing how well the RSO students spoke English and being able to talk with them and be with them during playtime and bedtime
Humbling day doing the hygiene clinics and visiting with Sarahl one of the women severely affected by leprosy and seeing how she still has found joy in her journey and so friendly
Visiting one of the leprosy colonies and holding a little new born naked baby and knowing this baby wasn't going to have leprosy because of RSO
Visiting Keerthika's family and how generous they were with us and grateful for our sponsorship- loved the mom and dad
Visiting Divya and having Gokul and Divya show us around their farm, where they grow rice, their cows and their watering hole- which Gokul jumped in and invited Sam to join him
Divya warming up to me and then wanting to hold my hand like she had done 7 years ago when she was small and so loving to everyone and a generous and kind spirit
The day we tutored the children at school I had one girl whose birthday was that day and she was glowing ear to ear and it was a present to me to have her for a half hour and be able to speak with her- since we were practicing conversation. A bright light.
Going to the craft fair that the students had put together from their semester of learning different crafts and being the biggest buyer and an opportunity to support these girls in their own labors
Going to a temple as we were leaving RSO and seeing Sam get a blessing from the elephant at the temple as the elephant took the coin from his hand then tapped the top of Sam's head
Saying goodbye to Keerthika and Divya and knowing that I may not be able to see Divya again which broke my heart but also felt like a proud parent when your child is ready to launch and leave the nest
Amazed at the sacrifice offered by the volunteers at RSO, those that have been there for months and years, as they give their time and heart to help these children and leprosy affected people and how they really are making a change in their lives and then equally in return in the volunteers lives
THAILAND
Bangkok's Sky View tram system through the city
The weekend market in Bangkok
Dinner on the roof of Banyan Tree Hotel
Chinatown at night with all the street food
Asiatique outdoor night markets along the river
Tuk Tuk around Bangkok at night
Imperial Palace grounds
Emerald Buddha and temple
Coronation Halls of the King
Golden Stuppa
Long Tail boats through canals of Bangkok
Flower Market
Puppet Show along the canal in Bangkok
Long tail ride to the floating markets outside Bangkok
Chaos of tourists at the Floating Markets
Sam, Syd and Austin freaking out while holding a squirrel at the coconut farm
Crazy monkey show outside Bangkok ;)
The islands on the water outside Phuket and around Krabi
Kayaking through the mangrove forests and alongside limestone cliffs in Krabi
Swimming in the pool at Phulay Bay
Enjoying the sunset at the beach at Phulay Bay
Our huge bed at Phulay Bay
Taking a bath in a stone pool under palms at night in our garden
Hiking to the top of the Tiger Temple 1267 steps up a mountain- what a view
Karting at the Krabi Raceway with the gang- fast!
Phi Phi Island tour with clear warm waters and thousands of fish, large stone and green islands
Elephant trekking
Playing with Coco the elephant at Phulay Bay
Playing with elephants at the trekking and feeding them pineapples
Exploring the islands near the hotel with Syd and Austin and laying on Hong Island
Boat trip to and from the hotel cruising through the Andaman Sea
VIETNAM
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Walking around the lake in the center of Hanoi
Water Puppet Show in Hanoi
Great food all over Vietnam
Rice paddies and ancestor Worship Temples
Emperor's Mausoleum outside Hue
Dragon Boats beached
Fishing boats and basket boats peppering the coast
Goddess of Mercy Statue overlooking the bay outside Hoi An
Hoi An lit up by lanterns at night
Nam Hai hotel
massage at the Nam Hai
Vietnamese Cooking class
CAMBODIA
Temples of Siem Reap
Markets of Siem Reap
Angkor Wat at sunrise
Khmer dancing during dinner at the Grand Hotel Raffles
Water Blessing at the Buddhist temple inside the temple grounds by a Buddhist monk
MYANMAR/BURMA
Floating Gardens
Fisherman in their long boats
Sunset over Inle Lake
Long Tail Boat
Oval Windowed Monastery on Inle Lake with all the glass inlay work in the wood work inside the temple
Bustling of the 5 day market at Inle Lake
Walking up to Monastery in the morning and visiting and taking in view from the mountain
Floating villages and going into homes of those living on the lake
1000 pagoda ruins on the hillside over Inle Lake
Dozens of temples and Stupas on hilltops overlooking lakes
Monks chanting in temples in the morning
Hot Air Balloon at Sunrise overlooking Bagan and it's thousands of temples
Lacquer ware process and all the etching that happens- the 20 steps to make a piece of Bagan Lacquerware
Lotus weavings - how they create a fabric from the lotus reed
Sunset over Inle Lake
Fisherman fishing in the old way with the baskets and in the new way with nets and slapping the water
Sabbath Full Moon at the Temples
Women with colorful patterned scarves on their heads at Inle Lake
Flying up stream in narrow canals to the area with the 1000 pagodas and seeing people doing their morning wash and in the evening seeing them all bathing in the lake
Visiting monasteries and nunneries and visiting with the monks and seeing young boys entering the monastery
Oval Windowed Monastery on Inle Lake with all the glass inlay work in the wood work inside the temple
Bustling of the 5 day market at Inle Lake
Walking up to Monastery in the morning and visiting and taking in view from the mountain
Floating villages and going into homes of those living on the lake
1000 pagoda ruins on the hillside over Inle Lake
Dozens of temples and Stupas on hilltops overlooking lakes
Monks chanting in temples in the morning
Hot Air Balloon at Sunrise overlooking Bagan and it's thousands of temples
Lacquer ware process and all the etching that happens- the 20 steps to make a piece of Bagan Lacquerware
Lotus weavings - how they create a fabric from the lotus reed
Sunset over Inle Lake
Fisherman fishing in the old way with the baskets and in the new way with nets and slapping the water
Sabbath Full Moon at the Temples
Women with colorful patterned scarves on their heads at Inle Lake
Flying up stream in narrow canals to the area with the 1000 pagodas and seeing people doing their morning wash and in the evening seeing them all bathing in the lake
Visiting monasteries and nunneries and visiting with the monks and seeing young boys entering the monastery
THAILAND
The White Temple- incredible modern temple- spectacular in all it’s detail and adornments
The hillside people that were immigrants from China and their decorative and ornate headdresses
The Karen People- long necks from Burma
The terraces of tea, which replaced the growing of Opium in the hillsides of Northern Thailand
Zipling through the jungle forests of Chiang Mai and seeing Gibbons swinging from trees
The night market of CHaing Mai with thousands of shops and artists which did photo perfect charcoal drawings of people and wonderfully colorful abstract paintings
Riding bikes through the backstreets of Chiang Mai
Dance performance in Chiang Mai seeing all the different hillside tribes and Siamese dancing
MYANMAR
Shwedegon Stupa- incredible comples of gold buildings and over 6000 Buddhas with stairways coming from all sides that take your breath away, all carved and gilded and wide and supported by large wooden columns. The umbrella and orb at the top of the temple and adorned in jewelry given by devotees.
The Reclining Buddha- huge with the detailed feet which have all the symbols of the three worlds- living, nonliving, and forces…
The stupas and Temples you see popping up all over the skyline
The lake that we were on that had this huge building that looked like a floating palace supported by dragons and the impressive royal building and decor on the outside and inside as we had dinner and saw traditional dances performing in traditional costumes
The monks all chanting over their final lunch day meal
The small boys being initiated and welcomed to the monastery
The nunnery with the many girls with shaved heads and pink roads so inquistiive and one girl in particular memorizing her recitations from the book of Buddha’s teachings
The story of the ON Son Su Chi and the Lwins
PHILLIPINES
Manila traffic! Can't go anywhere in Manila without 2 hours of traffic
Rice fields outside Manila
Coming into small town with a parade going on and dozens of trikes everywhere and road covered in streamers and marching band
Steep roads of Baguio and more crazy traffic
The nice big LDS Church in Baguio and learning there are 700,000 LDS members in the Philippines
Burnham Park and all the fun things to do with kids and hundreds of bikes kids rent and ride around the park
Dinner at the Bishop's humble home on the steepest street I have ever seen
The cave maze in the Botanical Gardens in Baguio
Surf city of San Juan and the crazy beach bungalows made and patched together on the beach including old military planes on the beach and a surf break like Bali for beginners with tons of people out surfing
Riding a Kaliglig and driving a trike in Rosales
The beatuful waters of Boracay
Fire dance and fireworks on the beach in Boracay - Spring Break 2015!
SINGAPORE
Wings of Time laser show at Sentosa Island- best show!
Science Center and their countless displays and exhibits and my favorite being the Human Body Experience
Gardens by the Bay and the 4 story garden and lush Chinese gardens in honor of Chinese New Year
Marina Bay Sands Hotel and pool and views
Singapore Flyer- huge ferris wheel with great view of the city
Night Safari- seeing so many animals at night
Singapore Bird Park- Lorakeet feeding area and having birds sitting all over you
Chinatown in Singapore at night with all the lanterns lit and the glowing goats, it being the year of the goat
Science Center and their countless displays and exhibits and my favorite being the Human Body Experience
Gardens by the Bay and the 4 story garden and lush Chinese gardens in honor of Chinese New Year
Marina Bay Sands Hotel and pool and views
Singapore Flyer- huge ferris wheel with great view of the city
Night Safari- seeing so many animals at night
Singapore Bird Park- Lorakeet feeding area and having birds sitting all over you
Chinatown in Singapore at night with all the lanterns lit and the glowing goats, it being the year of the goat
BALI, INDONESIA
The Rice Terraces of Ubud and walking around the hillside
Monkey Forest and the huge dragon stone sculptures that line the park
Monkeys climbing all over us wanting bananas
Purifying waters of Holy Spring Water Temple with Sam
The bubbling spring water pool inside the Holy Spring Water Temple
The Barong Dance in the Batualan Village and the amazing costume and large puppet of Barong, the good Tiger god
Sunset over the rice paddies in the outskirts of Ubud
Beautiful birds at the Bird Park including my favorite the Cassowary
Watching in the evening from our hotel pool a man climbing up and down a coconut tree and cutting off coconuts and letting them fall 50 feet
Thousands of scooters filling the streets of Denpasar as we made our way to our hotel near the beach
Scooters heavy laden with recycled goods or heaps of wares for sale
Countless Hindu temples adorned with checkered cloths (symbolizing the balance between good and evil) decorated with floral offerings everywhere you look in and around the center of Bali’s countryside.
Waterfalls along the lush jungle canyon on our river rafting trip down the Ayung River
Huge surf along Barong Batong Beach
Biking through rice paddies
The serene setting of the Desa Sani yoga resort
The beautifully designed grounds full of sculptures and pebbled paths and Koi and Lotus flower ponds.
Sunset dinner on the beach
Walking the beach at sunset on a Sunday evening and seeing hundreds of families gathered taking in the evening and playing along the beach
The beach side Hindu temples along the cliffs on the west coast of Bali
Sardine restaurants setting in the middle of tiki torch lit rice paddies
Sam enjoying his fish eating manicure ;)
Watching the Balinese dance show overlooking the ocean at the Uluwatu temple
Seeing the shrines and temples set on the rock outcroppings and people coming to worship bearing offerings and wearing white
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
Water Taxi system of Brisbane and the Brisbane River bike paths that go all along the river on both sides
The Herb Garden in South Bank, Brisbane
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
View from the top of Harbor Bridge
Petting Koalas and feeding kangaroos at the Wildlife Park in Sydney
Learning more about the unseen world and WWII at the largest Imax theater in the world in Sydney
Watching a film overlooking Sydney Harbor and the Opera House on a gigantic screen that rose out above the bay
Seeing Magic Flute opera with Sam, it being his first opera at the Sydney Opera House
Taking in the views and dinner in Sydney Harbor after the opera
Morning ferry ride in Sydney Harbor
Delicious ice cream with friends from Sydney whom we met in TZ
Temple visit in Sydney and Sam doing work for a woman's father
HERON ISLAND, AUSTRALIA
Flying over the Great Barrier Reef and landing on the shallow waters at Heron Island in a sea plane
Views from the sea plane as we left land for 40 minutes only seeing 1 small island and a couple sand bars before we landed at Heron
Seeing my first gigantic Green Turtle come to the beach to lay eggs
Seeing my first baby hatchling turtle scramble down the beach to the water
sharks swarming waiting for turtles
sharks in the bag with a fever of rays- over 24 the first day and 35 the next day
Rays lined up at 7 a.m. at the pier like they are going to battle, looking all stealth half hidden in the sand with black tip sharks circling
colorful garden of coral as we explored the reef on our second day dive.
Seeing an unusual camouflaged nearly furry looking shark in the reef
seeing sharks 16 meters down in the bommy
seeing two grey egrets attacking each other
seeing 2 dozen hatchlings scampering across the sand making their way to the water under a nearly full moon on Heron Island
Reef walking with Sam and discovering all kinds of sea cucumbers and colorful clams and a variety of coral and colorful stars
baby birds on Heron Island
Flying by helicopter towards Gladstone
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND
Sunrise in Queenstown overlooking the lake
Faithful small LDS Branch with beautiful lavender bushes outside the large windows
Charming town of Arrowtown and gorgeous green mountains that shoot out from the small mining main street
Tasty ice cram at Patagonia’s in Queenstown
Entertaining street show with bikes, fire and knives at sunset in Queenstown overlooking the lake
Taking the Nevis Swing, biggest in the world, and free falling hundreds of feet and then swinging across a canyon with Sam by my side
Standing on the edge of diving board out at a tram building in the middle of a valley between two mountains then plunging off into a river bed being strapped by my ankles with a bungy. Taking the 400 foot drop and then riding up over the canyon knowing that I had actually jumped!
Seeing a Kiwi bird inside the Kiwi Bird Sanctuary
Playing the most elaborate mini golf course on a rainy day in Queenstown
Riding the gondola and then racing Sam down the Luge track in Queenstown
Waking up in the morning in Queenstown to see snow at the tops of the Mountains
MEDFORD TRACK/SOUND, NZ
Getting dropped off at the start of the Melford Track and cruising across Lake Te Anau to get to the starting point
Getting dropped off at the start of the Melford Track and cruising across Lake Te Anau to get to the starting point
The view from Glade House
The lush wetlands and green path that we hiked and the waterfalls that fell around us , the views from our lunch hut and arriving at Pamplona Lodge - 2nd day and night on the Melford Track
Spotting a Blue Cuck (Whio) in the bushes around our lunch spot on the second day
Spotting a Kea bird before we climbed up the pass at the Mintaro Hut along the Track
Mackinnon Pass and the Monument at the top of the pass with its 360 degree views looking over rivers, falls, snow capped mountain peaks and lush and rugged mountains
With achy feet beyond foot pain I had ever known, I hiked to Sutherland Falls, tallest falls in the world, and my breath was taken away by the magnitude of force, water, height and beauty that stood before me.
Walking along the tropical forest path and arriving at Boatshed and watching some of the group drop from the 30+ foot bridge into the cold and perfectly clear waters
Mackay Falls with its beautiful pool
Bush Robins along the track
Lunch overlooking another spectacular falls on our last day
Finishing the hike and taking the ferry into the Melford Sound and seeing Mitre Peak jutting out from the Sound/Fjord
Looking out the window from our Mitre Peak Lodge in Melford Sound and seeing the night sky just totally lit up with millions of stars - looked like I was in a Planetarium but even more breathtaking
Flying in a small plane back over where we hiked including the Mackinnon Pass and back into Queenstown
QUEENSTOWN, NZ
Skydiving from 12,000 feet with Sam and seeing the gorgeous waters of the lake in Queenstown and having a speed landing pull into a quick stop on my feet
Skydiving from 12,000 feet with Sam and seeing the gorgeous waters of the lake in Queenstown and having a speed landing pull into a quick stop on my feet
Seeing Sam so excited about Sky Diving
Before bed standing out on the deck off our room and looking at all the stars in the clear skies and being able to see the Southern Cross and all the other constellations that were lit up above me.
Enjoying Sunday at the Queenstown Branch and having lunch with all the members after and being able to feel a part of the small community
AUCKLAND AREA, NZ
Hobbiton, Waitamo Caves and their glowworms, Rotorua geysers and mud pools, watching a sheep being sheared, Maori Dancing and women swinging Poi balls and group throwing sticks while dancing.
Harbor in Auckland and seeing the America's Cup boats in the water
The Domain and the Auckland Museum and the amazing collection of Wearable Art
Tasty Best Ugly Bagels
The lovely home and gardens of Gill in Auckland where we stayed
Riding bikes around the charming seaside town of Devonport
Watching some guy do donuts in the road outside a popular restaurant in Ponsonby, NZ
Seeing Queenstown as we flew over the rivers and the dramatic mountains
Going to church and feeling like we were home in Queenstown
Watching Sam use his priesthood as he passed the Sacrament in Queenstown Branch
Enjoying the beyond charming town of Arrowtown which is just 20 mins outside Auckland
Seeing the NZ Kiwi
Caddyshack Mini- Golf course in Queenstown, chalk full of fun and creative golf holes
Watching the juggling/comedy show in Queenstown after dinner as the sun set and it just seemed surreal
Paradise Ice Cream
Watching the sunrise in the morning and being astonished at it's majesty
UTAH, USA
Skiing with all my family the Saturday before I left for Pacific
Skiing with my three children before Christmas at DV and having a great time and meeting up with friends for lunch
PUERTO RICO
Puerto Rico's lush rainforest
Ziplining over the rainforest on The Beast, 2nd longest zipline in the world
Watching Kite surfers at the Ritz Reserve beach
New Years with a killer DJ, great decor, Fat Joe, fireworks and girls swimming, releasing lanterns, dancing
Boat Cruise to an island off San Juan Puerto Rico on New Year's
Exploring San Juan and having dinner at one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten at Marmalades
Watching dozens of people of all ages flying kites in the park overlooking the water surrounded by fortress walls overlooking the Atlantic Ocean
WASHINGTON, DC, USA
The US Capital building
The Bureau of Printing and Engraving
Lincoln, FDR, Martin Luther King Memorials
Korean, Vietnam, World War II Memorials
Washington Mall
Hirschorn/Smithsonian Sculpture Garden
FBI Museum
Kennedy Center Honors honoring Sting, Al Green, and Tom Hanks and all the celebrities that were there to recognize them
Seeing all those that were dressed up and sparkling in jewels and gowns at the KCH
NEW YORK CITY, USAAscela Train to NYC
Christmas Spectacular
Dining with Emma Stephens on the top of the Marriott Maquis
911 Memorial and Museum
Firefighters memorial wall
Seeing windows at Bergdorf's
Visiting with Marjorie Levy for the first time in 20 years!
Seeing IMAX on Sharks
Touring the Natural History Museum
Seeing Sam in heaven at the Nike Store
5th Ave with all it's Christmas lights and traditions
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, USA
Plymouth Rock and Plimouth Plantation and finding out we were related to William Bradford and seeing the sacrifices made to come to America and get a better idea what it was like to be a Pilgrim.
Stepping aboard the Mayflower 2
Understanding more about our New England history
NEW HAMPSHIRE, USA
My first snowstorm in NH- 18 inches on Thanksgiving Eve
Being on Lake Winnipesaukee in the winter
Thanksgiving day with all my family in NH
Having a big sleepover at my sister's home in Boston
DUABI, UAE
Ski Dubai in the Emirates Mall- only indoor ski hill and tubing hill
Tubed and Zorbed and tobogganed at Ski Dubai
LDS Church in Dubai - 1st Ward, great speakers and sweet spirit there
Old Dubai and Water Taxis and History museum and Gold and Spice Souks
Burj Al Arab- $35,000 suites with gold iPads!
Vier from the hotel looking over the new World Islands and Palm Island
Atlantis Hotel at the end of Palm Island
Swimming with the dolphins at Atlantis
Swimming in the 1st or 2nd largest Aquarium in the world
Saw dozens of million dollar exotic cars
Burj Khalifa - tallest and most gorgeous sexy building in the world
Hashi- best asian food meal I have ever had in Armani hotel at bottom of Burj Khalifa
Dancing foundation show in front of Hashi
View from the top of the Khalifa
Mall of Dubai- largest mall in the world
JW Marriott- tallest hotel in the world
Qasr Al Sarb and their falcon show and saluki dog show
Dinner in the desert on rugs out from Qasr Al Sarabb surrounded by sand dunes
Sunrise hike up sand dunes to watch sunrise
Sam's dune bashing
Morning Archery behind the hotel in the dunes
Camel farm and horse farm in the desert
Enjoying the hotel and its beautiful pools and great breakfast
ABU DHABI, UAE
Favorite building - Nickel Building
Ritz Carlton in Abu Dhabi- gorgeous!
Formula 1 race track and the Viceroy hotel that is in the middle of it
Yas water world - all the rides!
Emirates Palace, rode camels on the beach
Grand Mosque of Abu Dhabi
Ferrari World and the Formula Rossa- fastest roller coaster in the world inside the world's largest indoor amusement park
EGYPT
Old Souks of Cairo
Pyramids of Giza
Philae Temple moved up onto a new island after High Dam built
Sobek Temple and their huge mummified crocodiles
Aswan High Dam- huge holds back the Nile and created a lake
Falucca ride in Awan on Nile
Men in boats lassoing themselves to the ship and calling for Syd on upper deck to buy a dress
Karanka Temple In Luxor
Luxor Temple
West Bank- Valley of Kings in Luxor
King Tut's Tomb
Hetsheput Temple
Nile River Cruise
Ancient Mosque from 9th century AD
Cairo Bazaar in Old Cairo
Nile River
TANZANIA
Homes of the children we are sponsoring
Waterfalls near the base of Kilimanjaro
Banana Market in the foothills of Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro
The adorable little students at Step Up Nursery School
The elderly whose homes we visited in Kananga Village
Large banana forests
Moda Bodas (motorcycle taxis) and Dala Dalas (minivans with 25 people crammed in them)
Little kids playing with tires and a stick in the streets
Learning to make coffee
Ancient cave where 1000 Chagga people from a village would hide with their animals from enemies up until 1960 at the base of Kilimanjaro
Learning to Batik and being amazed at Sam’s artwork
Ngorongoro Crater
Maasai performing at night outside the Crater Hotel
Maasai village and huts and visiting their school
Sunrise in the Ngorongoro Crater with elephants grazing outside our room
Male Lion eating a huge Cape Buffalo
Flocks of flamingos flying over and round Lake Manyar
Sleeping in a tree house and hearing monkeys outside our room
Taking outdoor showers in Seychelles and outside our tree house in Lake Manyara
Eating on the sand outside by bonfire in the boma at Lake Manyara lit by candle light
Troops of Baboons in Tanzania
Maasai market on the way back from our safari
Snake enclosure and watching feeding time with baby chicks and small mice
Bartering in the shops in Moshi from buying paper to souvenirs
Field trip with 65 kids to the big outdoor field where we played games and gave them lollypops for Halloween
Drinving a beater stick shift Moke around Praslin with Sam as my navigator up and down steep hills and even at night
SEYCHELLES
Seeing the Black Parrot and Sam being so excited about it on Praslin
Seeing the Black Parrot and Sam being so excited about it on Praslin
Seeing the Coco de Mer palms- the only place along where the Black Parrot can be found
Exploring the spectacular beaches of Praslin by car, bike and foot
Our first scuba dive in Praslin and seeing spectacular coral and fishes
Our second scuba dive and being able to look down and see a huge ray that swam over Sam
Going to dinner at one of the nice hotels and eating a huge plate of crabs
Our spectacular hotel and room at Raffles
Swimming at the incredible beach at the northern end of Praslin island all day on our last day in Seychelles
Taking ferry from Praslin, Seychelles to Le Digue and exploring the island by bike and seeing Giant turtles and enjoying spectacularl beaches and warm water
Swimming in the giant warm pool at Le Digue
BOTSWANA
Seeing thousands of Pelicans and Storks all over bushes in the water at the Okavenga Delta
Seeing a leopard on our night drive
catching talapia and catfish while fishing in Okavenga Delta
Meeting Leon on our flight through Niarobi to Seychelles who had been to 119 countries
Meeting Charlotte and Nev at Okavenga Delta and becoming friends with our guide Ona
Having elephants sleeping outside our tent and eating all night long
Showering with large wall spiders
44 celcius- 110 degree heat in the Okavenga Delta
zip line between Zambia and Zimbabwe
rode an elephant and sat with it and fed Him, Tuska
Watched a herd of elephants crossing the river
saw our first crocodiles
saw the victoria falls
saw vervet monkeys in the wild
went to the opening of a branch the first one in Kasana, Botswana
went had a braii in the bush and rescued a night-jar bird
saw hundreds of buffalo and hundreds of elephants and maribu storks
Went on the chobe river
went to namibia and sa a traditional hut and village
saw a dug out canoe in use with fishing nets and saw boys catching fish with their nets in their canoe
Went on an evening cruise in a little outboard and saw thousands of animals including dozens of big hippos out of the water and dozens in the water
was in charge of a family home evening lesson and played games with the kids of the branch at Cornelia’s home and sang songs to her playing the guitar
saw snakes and sam hold tiger snake and python.
Saw a female and male lions and ran across some testy lions that ear making charge movements and warning us
flew on the worst small flight ever, so so sick from all the thermals and the terrible turbulence caused by these thermals
had cockroaches and spiders in our room that we killed before falling asleep
Woken in the night by a herd of elephant outside my tent
Went in a Mokura and caught frogs and saw a pod of hippos
Saw thousands of Yellow Billed Pelicans and Maribou Storks and Pink Backed Pelicans
Saw Sam catch 4 fish, which we ate for dinner, and I caught one big catfish
Watched a fish eagle sweep down and grab one of our fish we caught
Startled to death by two male baboons fighting over a female right behind me while I was at the pool cooling off- huge male fighting with a younger male over a female
Came up close to a bushbuck grazing around our tent
In evening the frogs and crickets are so loud you have to speak over themZIMBABWE
How one family and those with generous hearts can literally change lives and help sustain a nation
Serving 1000 children from 4 years old up to high school age ATMIT porridge and the joy that a toy brings
Visiting a home where a child lives with a serious leg injury and how her life may change because Rachel will help her get the medical attention she needs
Seeing boys just being boys despite race, circumstances...children just love to play, not judgement, just play
The beauty of streets lined with blooming acacia trees covered in purple flowers
SOUTH AFRICA
9/29 Coming into a herd of Cape Buffalo
Finding a tower of giraffes- over 12 and watching them as they moved together
Sunset horseback ride through herds of antelope and wildebeests
Breathtaking last sunset in South Africa at Ant's Hill
9/28:Spotted on our game drive: Eland antelope, Velvet Monkeys, Brown Neck Eagle, Waterbuck antelope, Egyptian geese, Blacksmith Lamping birds, Blesbok antelope, Wildebeest, Impala, Kudu, Wart Hogs, rhino and a journey of giraffes to name some of the animals we saw.
9/27:Going out to capture huge wild animals, the Kudu, where they find and tranquilize them using a helicopter and then being able to haul them into a trailer and then wake them up and relocate them to Ant's farm
Sam rode in the Vet's helicopter
Holding the horns of a live Kudu
Getting up close to a giraffe on our horseback safari
Sitting and getting inches from rhinos while they fed and watching the female get testy with the male, and other large game coming to where the rhinos were being fed
Dinner under the stars on the lawn and recognizing Scorpio and the planet Mars in the night sky and better understanding where and what are the southern hemisphere's stars and what we see at home is so different
9/26:Seeing South Africa from the air on our small Cessna we flew to Watervall and witnessing its greatness and follies from the sky- mass amounts of dry arid land, mines, bush fires, controlled fires, formal and informal settlements on the rise, plains and mountain ranges...
landing on a small mowed field in the bush with no airport or any others around
horesback ride at sunset with Sam and seeing him do his first trot and canter
having sunset with huge white rhinos at Ant's home and being 6 inches away from them
first outside by candlelight dinner in the bush this trip
Seeing a huge Kudu right when we arrived
9/25:Understanding what life is like for a friend that lives in a more rural area of South Africa and the good and the struggles that come from living here
Seeing first hand the separation of means and how each group has their struggles
Enjoying the countryside of Witbank with the kids walking through the fields and down by the river in Witbank
Going to the LDS Temple in Johannesburg and doing service there with my son, it being his first time to the temple, since he wasn't able to go before 12 years old. Seeing what a wonderful experience he also had was very precious.
9/24:Seeing Johannesburg and the huge golden hills of gold mining tailings.
Pulling into the Rovos Rail Train Station by an awesome shiny Steam Engine
Our vist to Apartheid Museum was moving and inspiring
Our drive around Soweto and the important role and people that came out of this township where Blacks had originally been moved out the city to these areas during Apartheid had been a center for activity that over many years lead to the end of Apartheid: Mandela's home, the sight of the Student Uprising and where children were killed during their student strike, the home of Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Seeing the landscape change from gold tailings to mountains of coal tailings as we headed towards Witbank
The first home and friends we have met up with in Africa at the Grundys' in Witbank
9/23:My first diamond mine- The Kimberly Mine. Interesting to learn about the geology behind diamonds and how diamonds can change a country, including making Kimberly the wealthiest town in the world during it's boom time in the late 1800s.
9/22:My first overnight train trip and to be on the "Most Luxurious Train in the World" the Rovos Rail Train met all expectations.
Viewing from the moving train out my bedroom window the spectacular mountains that soar above vineyards and hillsides covered in wildflowers as you leave Cape Town heading north
Having a 5 star meal with my son dressed in a coat and tie aboard a moving train through the African Karoo
9/21:Tarantula!! Big furry brown tarantula that was sitting on Sam's coat this morning as I was trying to pack up. Seeing it was more terrifying than finding a baboon in our room!
Enjoyed our first Sunday service at an LDS Church in Hermanus, South Africa
Countless shanty towns that are set up along the highways with corrugated metal, and now since the government is recognizing these "temporary" settlements as permanent they have power and outhouses set up as well to improve the safety and living of hundreds of thousands of South Africans.
Springbok Rugby Museum, interesting to see the part they played in Apartheid and also in the reunification of a country
Serving 1000 children from 4 years old up to high school age ATMIT porridge and the joy that a toy brings
Visiting a home where a child lives with a serious leg injury and how her life may change because Rachel will help her get the medical attention she needs
Seeing boys just being boys despite race, circumstances...children just love to play, not judgement, just play
The beauty of streets lined with blooming acacia trees covered in purple flowers
SOUTH AFRICA
9/29 Coming into a herd of Cape Buffalo
Finding a tower of giraffes- over 12 and watching them as they moved together
Sunset horseback ride through herds of antelope and wildebeests
Breathtaking last sunset in South Africa at Ant's Hill
9/28:Spotted on our game drive: Eland antelope, Velvet Monkeys, Brown Neck Eagle, Waterbuck antelope, Egyptian geese, Blacksmith Lamping birds, Blesbok antelope, Wildebeest, Impala, Kudu, Wart Hogs, rhino and a journey of giraffes to name some of the animals we saw.
9/27:Going out to capture huge wild animals, the Kudu, where they find and tranquilize them using a helicopter and then being able to haul them into a trailer and then wake them up and relocate them to Ant's farm
Sam rode in the Vet's helicopter
Holding the horns of a live Kudu
Getting up close to a giraffe on our horseback safari
Sitting and getting inches from rhinos while they fed and watching the female get testy with the male, and other large game coming to where the rhinos were being fed
Dinner under the stars on the lawn and recognizing Scorpio and the planet Mars in the night sky and better understanding where and what are the southern hemisphere's stars and what we see at home is so different
9/26:Seeing South Africa from the air on our small Cessna we flew to Watervall and witnessing its greatness and follies from the sky- mass amounts of dry arid land, mines, bush fires, controlled fires, formal and informal settlements on the rise, plains and mountain ranges...
landing on a small mowed field in the bush with no airport or any others around
horesback ride at sunset with Sam and seeing him do his first trot and canter
having sunset with huge white rhinos at Ant's home and being 6 inches away from them
first outside by candlelight dinner in the bush this trip
Seeing a huge Kudu right when we arrived
9/25:Understanding what life is like for a friend that lives in a more rural area of South Africa and the good and the struggles that come from living here
Seeing first hand the separation of means and how each group has their struggles
Enjoying the countryside of Witbank with the kids walking through the fields and down by the river in Witbank
Going to the LDS Temple in Johannesburg and doing service there with my son, it being his first time to the temple, since he wasn't able to go before 12 years old. Seeing what a wonderful experience he also had was very precious.
9/24:Seeing Johannesburg and the huge golden hills of gold mining tailings.
Pulling into the Rovos Rail Train Station by an awesome shiny Steam Engine
Our vist to Apartheid Museum was moving and inspiring
Our drive around Soweto and the important role and people that came out of this township where Blacks had originally been moved out the city to these areas during Apartheid had been a center for activity that over many years lead to the end of Apartheid: Mandela's home, the sight of the Student Uprising and where children were killed during their student strike, the home of Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Seeing the landscape change from gold tailings to mountains of coal tailings as we headed towards Witbank
The first home and friends we have met up with in Africa at the Grundys' in Witbank
9/23:My first diamond mine- The Kimberly Mine. Interesting to learn about the geology behind diamonds and how diamonds can change a country, including making Kimberly the wealthiest town in the world during it's boom time in the late 1800s.
9/22:My first overnight train trip and to be on the "Most Luxurious Train in the World" the Rovos Rail Train met all expectations.
Viewing from the moving train out my bedroom window the spectacular mountains that soar above vineyards and hillsides covered in wildflowers as you leave Cape Town heading north
Having a 5 star meal with my son dressed in a coat and tie aboard a moving train through the African Karoo
9/21:Tarantula!! Big furry brown tarantula that was sitting on Sam's coat this morning as I was trying to pack up. Seeing it was more terrifying than finding a baboon in our room!
Enjoyed our first Sunday service at an LDS Church in Hermanus, South Africa
Countless shanty towns that are set up along the highways with corrugated metal, and now since the government is recognizing these "temporary" settlements as permanent they have power and outhouses set up as well to improve the safety and living of hundreds of thousands of South Africans.
Springbok Rugby Museum, interesting to see the part they played in Apartheid and also in the reunification of a country
9/20:Views overlooking acres of flowering Fynbos, Walker Bay coastline and the white sand dunes that spill inland from the beach towards the hills. Spotting a Bushbok on our hike, along with a millipede, and a huge beetle.
Seeing up close and personal Right whales and a Great White Shark, flock of swimming penguins, and thousands of seals cloaking an island near Gasanbaai.
9/19:Mountains with 3 waterfalls on drive from Cape Town to Gansbaai
Rolling hills of Fynbos at Grootbos outside our room down to the beach at Walker Bay
Spotting Right whales along the majestic coastline
Views from inside the ancient cave along the beach
Sunset over the Atlantic Ocean- large orange yolk setting
9/18/14:Spectacular drive along the coast down to Cape Point with bays and white sand beaches on one side and magnificent Table Mountain on the other the whole way down and back
Cape Point and the howling winds and dramatic views and cliffs surrounding the Point
Baboons walking around the Point and one with a tiny baby
First ostrich sighting
Cape of Good Hope and the beach views and fields of Fynbos surrounding the area
Boulders Beach covered in hundreds of African penguins, some swimming, some cleaning each other, some sunning, others molting, all adorable
View from atop the large Ferris Wheel along the Waterfront in Cape Town during a wild rain storm seeing the calm Harbor, rain pouring down and washing machine waves beyond the harbor
9/17/14:Being out on the ferry to Robben Island looking back at Cape Town and the World Cup Soccer Stadium
Arriving at Robben Island and touring around the prisons knowing what an almost sacred place it was in terms of the sacrifices made there in the name of freedom and equality and human rights
Clock tower along the docks where the Ferry left from- gave me the impression of where people may have been launched, sold and taken into slavery away from this continent and within this continent and the history of human suffering that this land has endured and the process of healing it takes to recover and move forward from that
Seeing the black Anglerfish at the Aquarium and being mystified by its blackness and beauty
9/16:Going to breakfast and looking out the window at the magnitude of Table Mountain standing over the harbor
Taking the cable car up the mountain and seeing the views of Cape Town for the first time
Walking the paths around the perimeter of Table Mountain and the spectacular views from each side, dramatic coastlines, Robben Island, other mountains like Lion's Head and Devil's Peak, small towns, big harbors,...
Discovering the World of Birds and being totally blown away with getting up close and personal with exotic birds from all over the world, some that looked like dinosaurs to birds of prey you were almost afraid they would prey on you. Sam and I marveled and were amazed for hours
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