Saturday, July 9, 2011

My Thought for the Day...

I'm a vagabond of the air. 
Flying signifies freedom. 
In flying I see no borders only horizon!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Driving West Across The U.S.A

Freedom on the open road!


There is nothing quite like the experience of driving from east to west across our breathtaking country. Many individuals may never take the opportunity to travel at a snail's pace from one state to another for a number of reasons, and I'm here to tell you it is a big mistake if you don't. Throw out the excuse that it's not a priority to see everything in between because truth is, life is about discovery, and you will be pleasantly surprised by the enjoyment you'll have from the unexpected experiences. Stomp on the notion that there just isn't enough time in your schedule: what happens if your life is cut shorter than you think - have you done and seen all the things you really wanted to - or did you allow the dull-drums of everyday life fog your vision and cloud your spirit? Well, if that's the case - tell those clouds to be gone!  And surely you know better than to think that the destination is important but not the journey. The journey is in fact a 'destination' and the memories you'll cherish will include the adventures you found and created along the way! Now I'd like to share one such journey of mine...


On a lovely September morning in Michigan we hit the road. We departed Detroit on the 94 West headed to Chicago. We stayed in Chicago for 2 nights. The first night we went out on the town - headed down to the action packed area of North Rush Street. We dined at Carmine's for dinner and then stopped in a few places for drinks, live music, and dancing. The next day we tooled around Chicago - visited Millennium Park and "The Bean", had a leisurely lunch, and rode bikes around the infamous Lake Shore Drive. The second night we laid low and caught up on some rest so we could head out bright and early the next morning. Chicago was fabulous however we had our sights set on unchartered territory neither one of us had experienced.


Early on the third morning we drove out of Chicago on the 90 / 39 towards Madison, Wisconsin - we spent the afternoon in the town of Madison, on the campus of The University of  Wisconsin - Madison, and at the lakefront area of Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. Wisconsin is a wonderful place and the people were so warm and friendly. I have to admit, unless I drove right through it I am sure I would not have had a chance to visit this area as it just wouldn't have been one of my priorities... now do you see what I mean about the importance of the journey and the unexpected surprises!?


55' Jolly Green Giant
Towards the late afternoon we hopped back in the car and continued on the 90 West to Onalaska, Wisconsin. We checked into a hotel and then decided to venture out to see what Onalaska was all about. We had a fabulous mexican dinner at a place called Manny's Cocina - who would have ever thought the best Mexican dinner I've ever had would be in Onalaska, Wisconsin - highly recommended if you ever find yourself in this part of the country! Upon filling our bellies and catching some zz's we began the next day fresh and eager to hit the road progressing westward. But, not before visiting the 55 foot tall Jolly Green Giant in Blue Earth, Minnesota. Now that's exciting!  LOL! It made me want to sing the jingle we all know, "Jollllyyy Greeennnn Giannnttt!" Supposedly, Blue Earth, Minnesota is also the birthplace of the ice cream sandwich. Who would have thunk it?!


Mitchell Corn Palace in SD
By late morning we were well on our way - travelling on the 90 West all day to Rapid City, South Dakota. The trek across South Dakota was long, flat, and sparse, except for all the corn and ethanol plants lining the desolate highway. We did stumble upon two worthy sites to stop off and visit - the world's only Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota and South Dakota's Original 1880 Town. Let me tell you about the Corn Palace... !! What a weird place. First off, after all the road signs for miles and miles telling us to be sure to visit the Corn Palace ahead - I envisioned we would see something more like Buckingham Palace but maybe made out of corn?! Not sure really, but, in reality it was literally just a gymnasium that had corn attached to the facade to give it the illusion it was a "Corn Palace"! Ha Ha!!! 


1880 Town in SD
Thank goodness 1880 Town was a bit more worthy of our time. 1880 Town replicates an authentic 1880 to 1920 era town from buildings to contents. The best part of all - most of the props that were used to make the movie 'Dances With Wolves' was what made-up the majority of 1880 Town. I have always loved that movie and so seeing much of what went into setting the scenes was really cool! After making a quick exit from the Corn Palace and spending more time than allotted at 1880 Town we only had enough steam left to make it to Rapid City, South Dakota for the night. Falling asleep with thoughts of era's past on my mind I was appreciative of my journey thus far.





The next day we spent the morning and early afternoon at Mount Rushmore near Keystone, South Dakota in the Black Hills. Fantastic visual history... between October 4, 1927 and October 31, 1941, Gutzon Borglum and 400 workers sculpted the colossal 60 foot high carvings of U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln to represent the first 150 years of American history. These presidents were selected by Borglum because of their role in preserving the Republic and expanding its territory. The grounds surrounding the National Park were beautiful - it was definitely a place to see!


After completing our tour around Mount Rushmore we were ready to continue westward towards California. We took the 90 West into Wyoming to the 25 South through Wyoming into Colorado and then finally onto the 70 West. This was a long day of driving but it was well worth it because the landscape was spectacular... you could see how the scenery was changing the further west we traveled. From city-scape to the flatlands of the midwest to the mountains in the pacific. Amazing! After making it through some tough terrain on the winding roads of Colorado at night we made it to Leadville, Colorado. Exhausted and happy to feel the comfort of a bed we both quickly drifted off to sleep.

Rising the next day with the sun and the sight of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains in the background smiles lit our faces. We were ready to explore. We hopped in the car, turned on the tunes and proceeded on  the 70 West again. Since we were so close to Aspen we decided to take a detour to visit this marvelous ski town. The GPS directed us to the 91 South to the 24 South to the 82 West into Aspen. The drive was so inspiring - everywhere you looked you felt like you were part of an Ansel Adams photograph. It was that beautiful! Too bad Rocky Mountain High by John Denver or Mountain Music by Alabama wasn't playing on the radio! On our way along the 82 we came to the Continental Divide at the top of Independence Pass in the central Rocky Mountains (12,095 feet).  This is the highest paved pass in Colorado - at the center of one of the most spectacular stretches of road in the state, passing clear rivers, beautiful valleys, steep peaks, and extensive aspen forests. As you can imagine, at that elevation the weather was quite brutal. In such a short period of time we experienced the rather comfortable temperature of the valley to the blustery conditions on top of the mountain. We snapped some photos and moved on. We arrived in Aspen in time for lunch, a stroll around town, and browsing the shops. Such an inviting and quaint place! After a few hours it was time to continue driving. We made it to Grand Junction, Colorado where we spent the night.


We were now on the home stretch of our journey to California and ready for what the day was to bring. We continued on the 70 West into Utah. Once again, seeing the landscape slowly change from the mountainous region to more arid and desert-like was what made travelling by car so special. We stumbled upon a wonderful apple orchard where you could pick your own apples. The sun was shining and the sky was crystal blue - a picture perfect morning to wander around the orchard. After this mini excursion we were anxious to make our way to Arches National Park. Arches National Park preserves over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, like the world-famous Delicate Arch, as well as many other unusual rock formations. In some areas, the forces of nature have exposed millions of years of geologic history. The extraordinary features of the park create a landscape of contrasting colors, landforms and textures that is unlike any other in the world. We drove the park and in many spots along the way we parked, hiked, and took some amazing and unique pictures. It was well worth the visit! Tuckered out, hungry, and the stress of almost running out of gas - there wasn't a gas station anywhere in sight - it felt like we were on Mars - we got a room at the first hotel we spotted which just so happened to be the only exit that also had a gas station and a Denny's. Score!

About 9 hours later, feeling pretty well rested and having a car full of gas we got back on the70 West. We stayed on the 70 through Utah then connected to the 15 South. We arrived at Zion National Park (Southwest corner of Utah) by early afternoon. Massive canyon walls ascend toward a brilliant blue sky. To experience Zion, you need to walk among the towering cliffs, or challenge your courage in a small narrow canyon. These unique sandstone cliffs range in color from cream, to pink, to red. They could be described as sand castles crowning desert canyons. It is a place made from the heavens! We spent all day enjoying the Park where the photo opportunities were abundant. If you ever have a chance, I highly recommend visiting Zion National Park! We exited Zion just as the sun was setting and stopped somewhere along the 15 not too far from Las Vegas. We originally thought we would make it all the way to Las Vegas but with the day's activities we were too tired. Tomorrow was another day.




Waking up in Nevada, we knew we were within hours of arriving into Los Angeles. Although we were quite anxious at this point to complete our journey, we did stop off in Las Vegas for a bit. We've both been there many times so we didn't stay long. Long enough to have lunch and try our hand at Lady Luck. By late afternoon we arrived in Los Angeles. By this point we had driven over 3,000 miles across the great U.S of A! I was very excited, anxious, and a bit overwhelmed with emotion. So many thoughts were flooding my mind. I was about to start a new beginning! To reinvent, revive, and rekindle my spirit. I kept reminding myself that life is a journey and not a destination and I was embarking on a new chapter in my journey - my life.

“All of life is a journey which paths we take, what we look back on, and what we look forward to is up to us. We determine our destination, what kind of road we will take to get there, and how happy we are when we get there.”


"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

Sunday, June 5, 2011

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Me and my Mom...!!

By now most of you know that I've jumped out of a plane. Not only did I live, but I loved it so much I've done it two more times since then. Two major victories in the world of skydiving: living and becoming a repeat customer. 

I slept horribly the Friday night before our scheduled jump. Tossing, turning, trying to wrap my brain around jumping out of the open door of an airplane at about 17,500 feet and then free falling at 130 mph for one full minute. Forget about it. There is no preparation.

Saturday morning both my mom and I woke up early.

Our conversation went a little like this:
"Are you ready for this, mom?"
"Are you kidding me, I'm 73 years old. What do you think?" 
"As if this is the craziest thing you've ever done? Yeah right! Let's go!"
"You're right, you only live once!" 

We arrived at the Warren County Airport in Lebanon, Ohio around 8:30 AM. This particular municipal airport is quite familiar to me because it is owned by my brother and located in the vicinity of where I grew up in Maineville, Ohio. I've spent much time there but until this day I never had the nerve to venture over to the skydiving operation hangar: Skydive Warren County. By all accounts it was a perfect day to *gulp* jump. A small part of me wished it wasn't - an excuse to back out would have been ok with me at that moment. Winds were calm. Sun was bright. Flatlands and corn fields in the area were breathtaking. I was oddly comforted by how many people were there to skydive that day. Kind of like there was nothing out of the ordinary about doing this. It normalized it for me... slightly.


My brother, dad, and a few friends were there to witness our jump. We signed a gazillion liability forms, none of which I read. I thought they would freak me out further with their “In the event you plunge to your death we are not responsible,” clauses. We each met our respective professional skydiver tandem partner. Talk about getting to know and trust someone uber quickly, afterall, I was entrusting him with my life! The funniest thing... my mom's partner was nicknamed "Crash" - he was a character and a half - cracking all the wrong kind of jokes, such as, "Oh boy, I forgot to take my narcolepsy medication. Hope I don't fall asleep." Ha Ha. Thank goodness my mom is a kindred spirit and found the humor in it! At this point we were briefly instructed and suited up in these amazing blue flight suits.


Before we knew it, they called our names - it was time to make our way over to the take-off / landing site. I imagined it felt a little like walking the plank towards the inevitable. My mom and I waved our goodbyes to our onlookers as my mom and I gave each other a nervous smile. Here’s the thing. If I was so scared, why do it? Because my desire to jump exceeded the fear. Because in life, you have to keep living and sometimes that means doing things even when it makes your knees tremble and you think you can’t. That's when life really happens.


We boarded the plane - it didn't have any seats, but simply, padded benches on the floor. We buckled in, deafened by the roar of the engine. There were about 7 jumpers in our plane. I had been told you should jump first to minimize the fear, but my fear was already so maximized, I didn’t think it would matter. Not that we had a choice anyway.


Half Way Up
8,750 feet. My instructor, Kip, told me to sit on his lap so he could connect us together. He proceeded to vocalize his checks and re-checks in systematic fashion as he was pulling and tapping each harness. I kept telling myself that I needed to relinquish all doubt and put my total faith in this virtual stranger who had me attached to him. There was simply no room for questioning if I was going to make the jump. My heart was beating like a phonebook in a dryer. The door opened. 17,500 feet. Go time. People started jumping out. One after another. My mom and I looked at each other and gave one another the thumbs up. I watched my mom careen out of the plane first. I was so proud of her. Now it was my turn. We shimmied toward the *dreaded* open door of the plane. Kip told me to take a deep breath. Then another. He said it would only be scary exiting the plane (I doubted that). We were now on the edge, dangling over the earth below.


Jumping Out
This was the moment. Three seconds that simultaneously flew by and lasted a lifetime. As I heard and felt the cold, strong wind and stood looking out into openness that was only sky, I took a second to look down. “F***” is the only word that came to mind. Every molecule of my being felt it was wrong to jump from the safety of the plane. But, every part of me also knew I would do it. The photographer video-taping me climbed onto the outside of the plane (WTF?), waiting for us to jump. My instructor rocked us back and forth three times, then we dove out.


Tumbled was more like it.


The first five seconds were a sensation of falling. Think roller coaster or tower of doom. Plunging to the earth. Kip tapped me which was the signal to take my hands off of my harness at my chest and put them up, kind of like making the “Y” in the YMCA song, only not quite so high. No, I did not start singing our going through the moves. Although that would’ve been funny.


Suddenly, we were floating. Flying. Although we were moving at speeds faster than most cars are capable of going, there was no sense of falling. The noise from the wind was deafening as we fell. I remember looking at the photographer, just a few feet away and giving him the thumbs up. I remember looking down. I remember my eyes watering, despite the protective goggles. I remember the force of air entering my nose and filling up my cheeks, so much so that they seemed to be flapping (not a pretty sight on the video footage. LOL) I remember thinking that one minute felt like a very long time. I remember smiling. Wide. I remember being completely and totally present.


BAM! The chute opened and we were yanked upwards. Uncomfortably so. The photographer continued falling and I watched him disappear towards the earth. Kip maneuvered us in different directions so I could take in the view. He allowed me to take the controls. When one cord in one hand was pulled down and the cord in the opposite hand was raised we'd start spinning. The sensation of verdigo or butterflies in my stomach was overwhelming. When we would just let the wind carry us, it was so peaceful and eerily quiet - a moment in time feeling as if I was on top of the world. I cherished those minutes. As the ground was approaching I saw my mom land safely and smoothly. How great!? I was right behind her - legs up - sliding into "home base" on my bum. The biggest adrenaline rush I had ever experienced swept over me.   


The Verdict
Would I do it again? Absolutely. Would I recommend it to someone else? Check. I would go so far as to say it was life-changing in some ways. It was one of the most thrilling, exhilarating, and exciting things I've ever done. Sharing the experience with my mom made it especially memorable.


My advice: if you have even the slightest inkling that you want to skydive or do anything else that fills you with fear, do it. I promise it will only make your life richer and will instill within you a sense of "yes I can" about every aspect of your life. Skydiving might not be for everyone, but what is your "thing"?


Here's a quote that I found that I think is apropos and one that I love:
"The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live." - Leo Buscaglia 

Saturday, June 4, 2011

A SHARK Tale


scI watched with rapt attention as the diver from Stuart Cove's carefully opened the lid of the bait box, skewered a piece of raw fish onto the end of a hand spear and slowly held it above his head. Instantly, an eight-foot reef shark swung its head sideways, turned upwards, snatched up the bait, and then swam a short distance away to enjoy its morsel. Meanwhile, a dozen other sharks swam over, around us, and even bumped into us as we knelt, motionless on the sand, among the coral heads 50 feet below the surface. The sharks appeared to be maneuvering into a favorable position as they stalked the bait box, knowing that more food was on its way.
The Bahamian Tourist Office takes every opportunity to promote the country’s pleasant climate and beautiful clear waters. There is an extraordinarily diverse amount of marine species thriving amongst the coral, caverns, and blue holes. The diving possibilities are endless. Reef sharks are prohibited from being caught and harvested in United States waters. It is also forbidden to feed sharks in the waters off the coast of Florida, so you must go to the Caribbean to participate in scuba shark-feeding dives.
You can find a shark dive in many parts of the Bahamas; however, participating in Stuart Cove's shark feeding dive is the ultimate adventure! Stuart Cove's is located on the southwest side of New Providence Island. Stuart Cove landed a job as a stunt diver in the James Bond feature film For Your Eyes Only (1981). Subsequently, he bought his first dive boat and started his own dive business, which soon grew into one of the leading dive operations on New Providence Island. In 1983, Stuart and his partner, Michelle, became underwater film production coordinators on the island during the filming of another Bond movie, Never Say Never Again. He trained Sean Connery and Kim Bassinger as certified divers, so they could complete their roles in the film. Stuart also choreographed the underwater shark wrestling. Later, the site was part of the set location for the movie Flipper, and by 2003, it had become one of the leading dive centers of the entire Caribbean. I figured that if Stuart’s operation was good enough for James Bond, it was good enough for me, so we booked the shark-dive event for a Saturday morning in October of 2006. It was to be an adventure of a lifetime - albeit a short one-day event.
We arrived early at Stuart Cove's with eager anticipation and a good amount of butterflies in our stomachs. It was about a 45-minute ride out to the dive location - a flat sandy area called the Runway and Shark Arena - near the New Providence Wall and the Tongue of the Ocean.


The event was organized as a two-tank dive. The first dive was an exploratory dive  and "free swim" with the sharks along the magnificent wall at a depth of about 40 to 50 feet. No bait was exposed on this dive so there's time to relax and get used to seeing a few sharks in their environment. It also provided an opportunity to change our minds and return to the boat if swimming with the sharks suddenly seemed too intimidating. None of us opted out.


By the time we dropped anchor, donned the dive gear, and entered the water, sharks were already swimming around at a distance, waiting for an easy lunch. The arrival of the boat and the anchor hitting the bottom must have sounded like a dinner bell to the sharks in the area.
While changing tanks for the second dive, we received careful instructions to follow during the feed. It was important not to panic or make any sudden moves, to sit still on the sand with our hands and arms tucked close to our bodies, and to avoid waving our hands or touching the sharks as they swam past. A professional underwater cameraman was present to capture this memorable event on film. The internationally recognized “buddies” safety system was enforced. We were set! 
With tanks on and masks in place, we entered the water once again and formed a semicircle on the sandy bottom about 50 feet down. The feed took place at 11 a.m. every morning. Several sharks were already starting to gather in anticipation of the next feed. Soon the Stuart Cove feeder left the boat with the bait box and slowly drifted downwards to the center of the semicircle that we had formed. The sharks saw the bait box, knew exactly what it was all about, and immediately followed the feeder to the bottom. By then, plenty of sharks were on hand and they proceeded to swim closer, passing between us, over our heads and all around, several even bumping into us. I watched a couple members of our dive group struggle to get the correct negative buoyancy that would allow them to sit comfortably on the bottom, and hoped they would not provoke an attack with all their thrashing about.
The Caribbean Reef Shark (classification: Carcharhinus perezi) is not considered a threatened species and lives in abundance in the tropical western Atlantic and the Caribbean waters, from Florida to Brazil. Generally, they inhabit shallow waters near shore, cruising along the edge of a reef or continental shelf over deep water, feeding on rays, crabs, and other small fish. The reef shark has six very keen senses to detect its prey, including smell, sight, sound, taste, and electric pulses. They are also able to pick up low-frequency sound vibrations.
When the sharks were being baited they became quite bold and hyper, creating a feeding frenzy atmosphere. The Stuart Cove feeder carefully presented the bait on the end of a two-foot long stainless steel spear in order to keep the sharks a bit further away at the critical moment when they chomp the food. Each piece was small enough to be gulped easily in one bite. The feeder never removed more food from the bait box until the previous piece had been completely consumed and the sharks settled down while waiting for the next serving. That technique controlled the pace of the feed and kept everyone safe. When the energy level of the feed became excessive and the sharks became a bit unruly, the food was withheld until the situation calmed down. It was amazing, exhilarating non-stop action during the entire dive. At any given moment looking around to see 20 or more beautiful sea creatures within touching distance was a sight to behold. 
At one point during the dive, a shark peeled away from the group, flicked its tail slowly and headed straight toward me. Its beady eyes, chipped teeth, and diabolical smile succeeded in frightening me for an instant as it passed over my head like a silent submarine. As it turned and came back toward me, the photographer caught me and the shark in a perfect pose - I momentarily held my breath so the bubbles wouldn't obscure the view. 
At the end of the feed, all the sharks quickly disappeared as if to be excused from the dinner table. We remained at depth until they had gone and then explored the area to look for the sharks’ teeth that would often fall out and settle to the bottom. Only a couple of divers were lucky enough to find one. I wasn't one of them. Finally, our group surfaced, made the way back to the boat, and eventually back to shore. At the conclusion of each day's dives it became a tradition to find the nearest pub where we could enjoy a filling lunch and a cold, locally brewed beer over conversation about our latest adventure. 
The Bahamas offer some of the best shark encounters in the world today. Most are well organized; the waters are warm and crystal-clear, and there's plenty of action. The experience exceeded my expectations! I recommend it to anyone that's an adventure junkie and thrill-seeker, such as myself. Now, I hope my next shark encounter will entail cage diving with the Great Whites off the coast of South Africa! It's on my bucket list!


For more information on the Shark Adventure dive click here

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

My Kenyan Excursion

Kiambethu Tea Farm is the oldest tea farm in Kenya and is just 40 minutes from the heart of Nairobi in Limuru. My visit to Kiambethu Estate provided a tranquil insight into the life of a settler farm - it was quite a memorable experience. 

The Kiambethu Estate is located at an altitude of 7000 feet above sea level, in a truly magnificent garden with views of the spectacular Kilimanjaro and Ngong Hills and has lush acres of tea plantations that seem to vanish in the horizon. Two English families, Mitchell & McDonnell built the Estate in the early 1900's. These families are said to be the first to have ventured into the tea business. 

The tour of the farm started off in the garden where one of the owners introduced us to what a tea bush looks like. Next, we were taken into the house and explained the process of tea production over our own cup of tea and homemade bisquits. Yum Yum! I learned that within 24 hours tea goes from being picked off a bush to ready for consumption. The oxidation process is that quick. The quality of tea is dependent upon what part of the leaf was used to make it. In the afternoon, a walk through the tea plantations and forest displayed the conditions needed for the tea to grow. There is plenty of rainfall in the region so tea is picked all year. Kenya is the third largest producer of tea after Sri Lanka and India and Kiambethu Estate has been home to four generations of the first family to plant and make tea in Kenya. 

One other fun and rewarding part of the day was simply strolling around the gardens around the home, especially to catch a glimpse of the resident colobus monkeys! 


*This video footage was not mine, however, it is exactly what the monkeys were doing when I visited Kiambethu Tea Farm.

Cherished memories are worth sharing...


Monday, May 23, 2011

Kissing Giraffes


Kissing Giraffes in August 2004


File:ZOO PLOCK04.JPG

It's not often you land in a foreign country and wake up to a kiss from the local wildlife. But it can happen in Kenya. And this is exactly what delightfully happened to me! My first full day in Nairobi included visiting the Giraffe Center, a wildlife preserve in the suburbs of Nairobi where a herd of endagered Rothschild Giraffes call home. The Giraffe Center is located in Langata, approximately 5 kilometers from the center of NairobiKenya. It was established in order to protect the endangered Rothschild Giraffe which are only found in the grasslands of East Africa.
These Rothschild Giraffes are a subspecies of the world's tallest mammal, with distinct white stockings and five-horned heads, and a back-story worthy of Hollywood.
In 1975, Betty and Jock Leslie-Melville, a colorful colonial couple living in a country house outside Nairobi, learned from friends that a massive Kenyan ranch was about to be subdivided into small lots — which meant the native Rothschild Giraffes that grazed on the land were doomed.
Betty's son Rick Anderson says three wild Maasai giraffe were already roaming his mother's property, so it was a short step for her to think she might "adopt" a Rothschild, and hopefully help preserve the breed.
A rancher was enlisted to "rescue" a baby, which he did, from horseback, with a lasso.
"Daisy Rothschild," as the little giraffe was named, spent a few terrified days in a pen before a seven hour drive to her new home. She made the trip in a mini-bus filled with straw, her head sticking out the top.
If it sounds a little politically incorrect, the Leslie-Melvilles weren't without compassion: for the next year they bottle-fed Daisy around the clock and later provided her with a new giraffe friend they named Marlon.
Word got out about the eclectic couple with the country house who kept giraffes on the lawn. People started calling about other vulnerable Rothschilds around Kenya. Giraffe Manor, as its name became, would go on to shelter 25 of the world's largest mammals, helping to breed and relocate many of them to national parks. The population of Rothschild Giraffes in Kenya is now a healthy 300+.
Over the years, the Leslie-Melvilles were able to buy adjacent property. Now, Daisy's grandchildren roam over 140 acres, feasting on acacia trees. They spend days at the Giraffe Center, where visitors hand-feed them while learning about Kenya's climate and environment from trained educators. Some 70,000 schoolchildren alone do so each year, thanks to funds raised by the center. Most Kenyans can't afford the park fees or transportation to see animals in the wild; for many of the poorest kids in Nairobi, a day at Giraffe Center is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to encounter the wildlife that the country is famous for.
And for the most daring among them, the giraffes reward kindness with kisses. Place a food pellet between your lips and let a wild creature tickle your cheek with her tongue as she gobbles up her treat. Who needs mistletoe?

Friday, May 6, 2011

Travel Quote

“Adventure is a path. Real adventure – self-determined, self-motivated, often risky – forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind – and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white.”
- Mark Jenkins