tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4633577612468590482024-03-13T11:39:06.369-07:00Rue SansregretFollow me on my journey down a new road...Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-77148638821794870222013-07-28T13:38:00.000-07:002013-07-30T19:35:05.626-07:00Us on the BusIt's been a few weeks since I've posted anything. I think it's because now that I've settled into a familiar routine, things don't seem so interesting to me anymore. It's funny, because some of the things I wrote about the life in Botswana were pretty routine and mundane (my daily commute, for instance) -- but because they were new to me, they seemed interesting at the time and worthy of sharing through a blog post. <br />
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Who knows ? Maybe someone out there in cyberspace has a slightly different perspective than me and would like to know about the daily commute of a downtown Edmonton office worker -- so here goes nothing....<br />
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In Gaborone, I lived close enough to work to justify a morning walk to the office. It was one of the highlights of my day -- the opportunity to think through the tasks ahead while passing by friendly faces, sweet smells, and feeling the sun warm my face.<br />
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In Edmonton, I live too far from the office to consider walking to work. Even if I did live closer, I might be detered from a walk by our mostly wintery climate. I am not a fan of driving at the best of times, and parking downtown is very expensive, so I take the bus. <br />
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It's not so bad, really. The entire commute takes about 50 minutes, which, ironically, was the same time it took me to walk to work in Gaborone.<br />
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I have a community of neighbours who take the 118 Jasper Place bus. There are about 6 of us who catch the bus before it leaves Rio Terrace for Meadowlark and Jasper Place, where it transforms into the 120 Downtown route.<br />
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We call ourselves "Us on the Bus".<br />
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First, there is my across the street neighbour, John. John catches the bus at the same stop as me, and is with me for the entire commute. He not only lives across the street from me, but he also works across the street from me. John is probably one of the friendliest and most upbeat people I know. His early morning good nature can be a bit hard to take for an introvert like me who values her time alone in thought, but I read somewhere that happy neighbours are good for your health. I have to remind myself of that from time to time when I feel a dismissive response to his comments or questions coming on. I do miss him when he is not on the bus.<br />
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The next to join us is Duncan. I don't know what Duncan does, but I do know that he recently returned from a trip to Italy and that he is facing similar issues as me with basement flooding (sigh). We have bonded over the sharing of prevention and repair tips.<br />
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At the next stop, we are joined by the stylish and studious couple, Bob and Sylvia. I only recently started getting friendly with them, as they would poke their noses in books and newspapers as soon as they got settled in their seats. I didn't want to disturb them, knowing they must value their quiet time and space as much as I do. For the longest time, I tried to guess what they did for a living. I figured they worked in media, and imagined them running a communications firm that provides news clippings and summaries for businesses and government offices. I was close -- they do work in media ! Bob is a reporter and Sylvia is an editor.<br />
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Finally, we see Ken. Ken is a neighbourhood icon. He is a dignified, well dressed, and cordial gentleman. I figure he must be close to 90 years old now. He owns a menswear and tailoring shop downtown. His shop makes the robes for judges and lawyers. I am not sure why he still works, but seeing him on the bus every day is reassuring -- a gentle reminder that all is well in the world. <br />
<br />Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-357077557089276042013-06-10T20:07:00.002-07:002013-06-11T14:17:15.839-07:00Spring CleaningWhen I moved to Botswana, I stored most of my personal effects at my father's house -- the house I grew up in. <br />
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Prior to leaving, I spent many weekends at Dad's house sorting through some of my late mother's things. I didn't get through it all. Some processes take time, especially when they evoke memories. <br />
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My father lived for all that time, navigating around my things and my mother's things. A couple of times when we were speaking on Skype, he talked about donating some old clothing and other items to the many charities knocking at his door. I asked him to please wait until I returned. I wanted to make sure we didn't give away anything of measurable or sentimental value. <br />
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Of course, I am likely the most sentimental one in the family about some things. I realized that when I looked through the contents of my old childhood bedroom closet. I kept school books from the first grade onward, newspaper articles, plus some cherished toys. You see, I was going to become a famous author, and some day, someone was going to need articles from my childhood for the "Stephanie Bishop Museum". My followers would want to see what influenced and shaped my worldview, right? What can I say?<br />
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When Dad recently expressed an interest in moving to a retirement home in Ontario to be closer to my brother and the grandkids, I knew the time had come to take stock of the household inventory. I didn't want the daunting task of clearing out and packing up a house to hinder his move, if and when the time comes.<br />
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We figured that even if he doesn't move soon, we would still need to clear out the things he no longer needs or uses -- things that are just getting in his way and could better serve their intended purposes with others. <br />
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Afterall, he is now one person, living in house outfitted for a family of four, with odds and ends that had accumulated over close to forty years. <br />
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Knowing it would take too long to tackle this task on our own, we decided to call in the pros. Yes, we hired a professional organizer to help us make the tough choices about what to keep and what to send away. We hired, Anita, <a href="http://www.theclutterhelper.com/" target="_blank">The Clutter Helper</a>, for her experience working with seniors.<br />
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We undertook this process over the course of five days, sending heaps of once loved goods for donation and recycling. We also took advantage of Anita's services to set up a new filing system to help my dad manage the mountains of paper that come to the house.<br />
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The task is now done, and I hope the house will now be a little more liveable for my dad. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anita, The Clutter Helper, taking away a load of donations.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The garage as a staging ground for charitable donations and eco-centre contributions.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clearing out my childhood bedroom. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course, some things just had to be saved !</td></tr>
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Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-10949458526628425622013-05-23T19:42:00.000-07:002013-05-24T11:44:18.712-07:00Rue Sansregret: Full CircleI attended a debriefing session for recently returned Uniterra volunteers in Montreal. It was an opportunity to discuss and share experiences and give program related feedback to the Uniterra team.<br />
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I was in the company of those who recently returned from placements in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Bolivia, Peru, Senegal, Ghana, and Malawi. I was the only one there who had been placed in Botswana. <br />
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While we had a range of experiences, we agreed on one thing: when you experience life in another country or culture, you do so on the tips of your toes -- making everything you see, do, hear, feel, and yes, even smell, that much more vivid and intense. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNvlXYOhv6U0AI-c5j_klVcADtHRfopL7iWKNB0sPQ4I7g-DI7r3Yw1fXsgZnGbfyR_bzlRgV1hrsdDvE8vX_fXNzrFmrFKBKco9fH7ZQsKJi7y8LyQUZAkVNXqZmpkfnon_EbnUA7UdU/s1600/IMG_1920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNvlXYOhv6U0AI-c5j_klVcADtHRfopL7iWKNB0sPQ4I7g-DI7r3Yw1fXsgZnGbfyR_bzlRgV1hrsdDvE8vX_fXNzrFmrFKBKco9fH7ZQsKJi7y8LyQUZAkVNXqZmpkfnon_EbnUA7UdU/s400/IMG_1920.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcpxQgH2BhR02fbS5XUNCJF1h3V1qMTw-XP8dJ2kCOx8PLzokC0FDF-4tW7cw0oFj0685B8n-_ulW4AsOIPSb7lKKR_9zmtT2RyBvezoo_psZwBnytlH8lyHDGYt8m9jY7EXQt5vHL4Wd/s1600/IMG_1927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcpxQgH2BhR02fbS5XUNCJF1h3V1qMTw-XP8dJ2kCOx8PLzokC0FDF-4tW7cw0oFj0685B8n-_ulW4AsOIPSb7lKKR_9zmtT2RyBvezoo_psZwBnytlH8lyHDGYt8m9jY7EXQt5vHL4Wd/s320/IMG_1927.JPG" width="320" /></a>I stayed, once again, at the gîte (bed and breakfast) down the street from Rue Sansregret -- the street (alley) I happened upon one mild November evening when I was in Montreal for my pre-orientation. If you recall from my very first post, I noticed the sign when I was startled by a clown. To me, it was more than a street sign. It was a sign that beckoned me to take a detour from my regular life to explore an unfamiliar territory. Sometimes, when you reach life's crossroads, there is no parking allowed. Sometimes, you just have to choose one direction over another...</div>
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...without any regrets. </div>
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I am so glad I took the path down Rue Sansregret. </div>
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Like the graffiti painted on the alley walls, it was a fun and colourful journey !</div>
Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-30968925331099065112013-05-14T14:50:00.001-07:002013-05-14T14:55:32.046-07:00My hands are small...<em>My hands are small, I know</em><br />
<em>But they're not yours, they are my own</em><br />
<em>But they're not yours, they are my own</em><br />
<em>And I am never broken</em><br />
<em>We are never broken</em><br />
<em>We are God's eyes. God's mind. God's Heart. </em><br />
<em>We are God's hands. </em><br />
<em>(Jewel)</em><br />
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My nephew, Henry Robert William Bishop, came into this world Saturday, May 11 at 25 weeks gestation, and weighing 850 grams. He is in the care of the NICU staff at McMaster University Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario, steps away from his daddy's lab. Russ and Kari will be frequent visitors at Henry's bedside in the weeks and months ahead. You are in good hands, Henry.<br />
Love, Aunt Stephanie<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbj5hbX_6WB9_beVxDOazAtuY4jquSgKtWFsol7HcM3xXUj6Gbrhj67z8GYf17S7VJyJkF0E5Hz1eigQvymSKeWhZaAfrn9bCD5qmGZlPLoS6FNNk9ZeaNkt1vWiAQWyeSUicKnGqtjB0o/s1600/Baby+Henry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" pua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbj5hbX_6WB9_beVxDOazAtuY4jquSgKtWFsol7HcM3xXUj6Gbrhj67z8GYf17S7VJyJkF0E5Hz1eigQvymSKeWhZaAfrn9bCD5qmGZlPLoS6FNNk9ZeaNkt1vWiAQWyeSUicKnGqtjB0o/s320/Baby+Henry.jpg" width="236" /></a>Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-42619204561093253222013-04-24T13:47:00.002-07:002013-04-25T05:32:14.185-07:00...And Then Some !My Aunt Eleanor was a true inspiration to all of us. <br />
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She was the eldest of 5 siblings, raised in Montreal, Quebec. My father describes her as an "ice-breaker" who cleared the waters for her younger siblings. She challenged convention and tradition to make life a little easier for those following along behind her. <br />
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Aunt Eleanor had a war-time romance with a young Australian airman. They married and settled in Australia, where they raised three children and a lot of chickens. <br />
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My father was 13 years old when his eldest sister left Canada. Aunt Eleanor remembered a gift he sent to her -- a glass perfume atomizer -- with a note proudly stating, "I paid for this with my own money."<br />
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Apart from a brief reunion when Aunt Eleanor returned to Canada for a visit in the 1980's, they hadn't spent any time together as adults.<br />
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In October of 2011, I took my then 80 year old father to Austrailia to visit his sister. It had been his dream to visit her for many years, but the timing was never quite right. <br />
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We crossed the ocean and made the trek to Far North Queensland, driving up the winding ocean road from Cairns, past sugar cane plantations, to the peaceful village of Wonga Beach. <br />
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It was a touching reunion, with short daily visits, a trip to a nearby animal sanctuary, and the reliving of fond memories over copious cups of tea. Aunt Eleanor said she had always wondered what kind of man the sweet little boy she once knew had become. I think she was pleased with the outcome.<br />
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On our first visit, we found Aunt Eleanor working on a university paper at her desk. The paper she was preparing was for a creative and professional writing unit. Her eyes sparkled as she described the character development and plot turns of her story, a tale about a young university student. <br />
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Aunt Eleanor was at the top of her class as a student in Montreal. She had been offered a university scholarship, but was a little ahead of her time. In the late 1930's Montreal, a young woman was expected to work or raise a family. <br />
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At the age of 89, she started working towards a bachelor of arts degree in ancient and modern history -- proving it is never too late to pursue your dreams. She did this through distance education courses, and had to first become proficient in computers and online research methods. Aunt Eleanor soon gained recognition as the eldest university student in Australia.<br />
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Along with her research skills, her writing skills blossomed. She won several awards for her poetry.<br />
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Aunt Eleanor shared a copy of her memoirs, called, "My Twentieth Century". At the time of our visit, she was working on editing the sequel, called, "...And Then Some".<br />
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On our last day visiting with Aunt Eleanor, my dad gave her a pretty little glass perfume bottle we picked up in Port Douglas, along with a card saying, "I paid for this with my own money." She was delighted.<br />
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My Aunt Eleanor passed away on Monday, April 22, at the age of 95. <br />
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She will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by us all....And Then Some !<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brother and Sister Reunion, October, 2011.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My famous Aunt, 2012.</td></tr>
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Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-44802329538163310242013-04-04T20:29:00.000-07:002013-04-07T06:50:57.402-07:00Celebrating winter, friendships, and birthdaysI have been back in Edmonton about 6 weeks now, and have managed to spend three weekends on out of town excursions with friends. <br />
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I posted an item earlier about my weekend to Jasper with Lisa and Louie. It seems the lure of the mountains was strong enough to draw me back for another weekend at the Jasper Park Lodge -- this time with Lorraine and Bin, with whom I celebrated Bin's birthday, my birthday, and the Easter long weekend.<br />
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I also caught up with Roxanne, Diane, and Andrea on a girls' spa weekend escape to Red Deer, where we stayed at a guest ranch and celebrated Roxy's milestone birthday (I won't say which one !). <br />
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Here is some evidence of our shenanigans !<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MnW3TbZT-3SKrfK1x9JWzm5kSast9i06OtPcc86K4lCTxrggjNT4ySejz2mI28YmPtX44pSe514ka-Dsz50pAiFz5Y33Pz3_zCVLUGWyjrevqacZ_6sO4nYf7HWXIbkao8_i_z5ULJ5N/s1600/IMG_1783+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MnW3TbZT-3SKrfK1x9JWzm5kSast9i06OtPcc86K4lCTxrggjNT4ySejz2mI28YmPtX44pSe514ka-Dsz50pAiFz5Y33Pz3_zCVLUGWyjrevqacZ_6sO4nYf7HWXIbkao8_i_z5ULJ5N/s320/IMG_1783+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday girl stoking the fire.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigy4JKkyF-QscrQFPp21Uohn01PJrUpXvdH86aHNFF3xJfQhrL55jAjGGjbTPu-AaUMeWBCwlCs1clHphVs1fcxq8q0hWnptENBGJNilxr0aS0xjonCwIY0tGv4LihRZvextXhPmvgPfSL/s1600/IMG_1779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigy4JKkyF-QscrQFPp21Uohn01PJrUpXvdH86aHNFF3xJfQhrL55jAjGGjbTPu-AaUMeWBCwlCs1clHphVs1fcxq8q0hWnptENBGJNilxr0aS0xjonCwIY0tGv4LihRZvextXhPmvgPfSL/s320/IMG_1779.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flannel pjs, a blazing fire, a hot beverage, and the company of giggly friends<br />
-- what a way to spend a wintery weekend!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LwZQzP4OsgHa8jVFIbSrT6jfq1RWkiFP1PRw2a3V3t94KTBhUvMdNV664RtrPwX1vpHtTVuIYI50LM1dSXPzX0KMAU5Sf8xosaPCU9axSQWbcALa6B-HwnrsDtOK72ujhresWt2iBXXo/s1600/IMG_1795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LwZQzP4OsgHa8jVFIbSrT6jfq1RWkiFP1PRw2a3V3t94KTBhUvMdNV664RtrPwX1vpHtTVuIYI50LM1dSXPzX0KMAU5Sf8xosaPCU9axSQWbcALa6B-HwnrsDtOK72ujhresWt2iBXXo/s320/IMG_1795.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karaoke Queens.<br />
I got high score with Karma Chameleon. <br />
The deer did pretty well, too.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubzcwr9ca1LRJo5FDld1h76HAM-wMs9uTUZhRM_ASH0HnIvpYmPlq5Sqkx2xaF56GrxvEAH6L2iGeeNmPSXcZTXw3A_YZYIEzybWOER3Sxidt_vqSc7myc1z7nX9PzE0zsXhT-3yAH9yJ/s1600/IMG_1806+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubzcwr9ca1LRJo5FDld1h76HAM-wMs9uTUZhRM_ASH0HnIvpYmPlq5Sqkx2xaF56GrxvEAH6L2iGeeNmPSXcZTXw3A_YZYIEzybWOER3Sxidt_vqSc7myc1z7nX9PzE0zsXhT-3yAH9yJ/s200/IMG_1806+(2).JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sparkly evidence of our trip to the spa !</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7RabWKtNhkvt0r7adouudd7mtOc5v4UA1VVJA64cezN9IPRsUIFHy2khcohZau1_m_lBmK1V2AaB-rO2u3JGuMFJfV8GEpvFTt15yCDj6ownN4Sf4PWXUSfKoPqEX86eTczL-PhSGMsr/s1600/IMG_1815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7RabWKtNhkvt0r7adouudd7mtOc5v4UA1VVJA64cezN9IPRsUIFHy2khcohZau1_m_lBmK1V2AaB-rO2u3JGuMFJfV8GEpvFTt15yCDj6ownN4Sf4PWXUSfKoPqEX86eTczL-PhSGMsr/s400/IMG_1815.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We woke up the next morning to find beautiful horses staring through our kitchen window. <br />
Our hosts were away at Cowboy Church. Uh huh - there is actually a church for cowboys !</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAmekZSoshELZyM_Js7t4topd8RKL7doA8vXhC7pBmSeRh31rK23ry8VKztatL-Kc9QvW-7Kf3UIdw7QDlkvkRXIegxA8n_prFZg0vnnjcFZqOU397XlEuPfy_R7pf16fPuvdWuHEthdz/s1600/IMG_1839+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAmekZSoshELZyM_Js7t4topd8RKL7doA8vXhC7pBmSeRh31rK23ry8VKztatL-Kc9QvW-7Kf3UIdw7QDlkvkRXIegxA8n_prFZg0vnnjcFZqOU397XlEuPfy_R7pf16fPuvdWuHEthdz/s200/IMG_1839+(2).JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saying hello to our new <em><strong>neigh-</strong></em>bours. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cTQsr7-9mcyC1PNuPlDpUZzUa38THyavCz0oBWfytSqPuYSxEcHCqO63sXQM-KNoBXUDFHsTcDOw0vy41okhovs2kC4U3W9JEu8kJpG1_ZYSH2nD_vaGaKlhHx-xLaAxhRtxxuVd2oD-/s1600/IMG_1828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cTQsr7-9mcyC1PNuPlDpUZzUa38THyavCz0oBWfytSqPuYSxEcHCqO63sXQM-KNoBXUDFHsTcDOw0vy41okhovs2kC4U3W9JEu8kJpG1_ZYSH2nD_vaGaKlhHx-xLaAxhRtxxuVd2oD-/s1600/IMG_1828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cTQsr7-9mcyC1PNuPlDpUZzUa38THyavCz0oBWfytSqPuYSxEcHCqO63sXQM-KNoBXUDFHsTcDOw0vy41okhovs2kC4U3W9JEu8kJpG1_ZYSH2nD_vaGaKlhHx-xLaAxhRtxxuVd2oD-/s1600/IMG_1828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cTQsr7-9mcyC1PNuPlDpUZzUa38THyavCz0oBWfytSqPuYSxEcHCqO63sXQM-KNoBXUDFHsTcDOw0vy41okhovs2kC4U3W9JEu8kJpG1_ZYSH2nD_vaGaKlhHx-xLaAxhRtxxuVd2oD-/s200/IMG_1828.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMa3sGRCK4CgzSboQtpGi33WJ4TpQc56mHQQ-CZyOLWj1a_26HjpUioPneNHCMnFtg6mO_VBJBM1maouPUCMduhewckyV2Vxg2UPo3iGGw9xCCSajDt17LfT3HBgkTGzPbTuyRZlFng2mT/s1600/IMG_1852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMa3sGRCK4CgzSboQtpGi33WJ4TpQc56mHQQ-CZyOLWj1a_26HjpUioPneNHCMnFtg6mO_VBJBM1maouPUCMduhewckyV2Vxg2UPo3iGGw9xCCSajDt17LfT3HBgkTGzPbTuyRZlFng2mT/s320/IMG_1852.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The artist at work ! - Painting Easter Eggs at Jasper Park Lodge.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl10d3h_8gmlr26sBAnrOma3EhwGrt7fwrwUi7hyphenhyphenRkoh8xEsWjLpis8IsNW9cslZve-ncpp774sIXfYLvq5dFa_aucBO-rnu673iCIqMzm_nZ9f2rBWVQzIBqc4kSf3Lj_02XmqNZvQkkE/s1600/IMG_1866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl10d3h_8gmlr26sBAnrOma3EhwGrt7fwrwUi7hyphenhyphenRkoh8xEsWjLpis8IsNW9cslZve-ncpp774sIXfYLvq5dFa_aucBO-rnu673iCIqMzm_nZ9f2rBWVQzIBqc4kSf3Lj_02XmqNZvQkkE/s320/IMG_1866.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Was it weird that we were the only people there without kids, and managed to make the most mess ? Heck, no ! <br />
Do you like my earth-after-global-warming egg ?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXGKL9881v_aENZsi_uvGJLgQVzfeo3Vjop5vKfxZQJ3rgA3OOWi1sHt_TPvUZ-_kJjo_OxZTfrZds-Hd6cPOFdJvZU0seU1Fx7k65o1ffzuV8epil97YVENrez10z3KDT6_XRV1jSqxc/s1600/IMG_1864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXGKL9881v_aENZsi_uvGJLgQVzfeo3Vjop5vKfxZQJ3rgA3OOWi1sHt_TPvUZ-_kJjo_OxZTfrZds-Hd6cPOFdJvZU0seU1Fx7k65o1ffzuV8epil97YVENrez10z3KDT6_XRV1jSqxc/s200/IMG_1864.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lorraine's tulip egg.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6aQSyn-R0dHoXy1eiiQnuvMEwOFR7yYhoI-tbYnpctPwWnjNNDDX750pDdimAU_J5TnCHTFq1c1-_OeMZ-nNHPHVh7bt92moYoS81OiMSK_m91uZGpszP2yCCjtSilhv5l_Zq6GHTw_IT/s1600/IMG_1870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6aQSyn-R0dHoXy1eiiQnuvMEwOFR7yYhoI-tbYnpctPwWnjNNDDX750pDdimAU_J5TnCHTFq1c1-_OeMZ-nNHPHVh7bt92moYoS81OiMSK_m91uZGpszP2yCCjtSilhv5l_Zq6GHTw_IT/s400/IMG_1870.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring the frozen floor of Maligne Canyon.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYw-cqE6pE1J35h1zniu-6Fr7idWA3jMS2lI7a0hrUzlL25Cy4sCkNZTG7MACqmgWxPnkQrr4x3QqZj8E-hJ5iHOBXVxwjoRvNNdsCvedy05m6VpZLgkUEyKrPWKc_WrcCayMWsW2v_ILI/s1600/IMG_1874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYw-cqE6pE1J35h1zniu-6Fr7idWA3jMS2lI7a0hrUzlL25Cy4sCkNZTG7MACqmgWxPnkQrr4x3QqZj8E-hJ5iHOBXVxwjoRvNNdsCvedy05m6VpZLgkUEyKrPWKc_WrcCayMWsW2v_ILI/s400/IMG_1874.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Other worldly !</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJTXg0FJxN-rsW9dLcIiKhfevnqYoVDOHCZ-9xB_8eW-7b5maphFT2P9nup-hrBMC6mfo0FOcptbERsVAy0ONa3U92mrpzZ-WWntovCnt61QnXERqWv8EZ8IyY-5dlnSXsPwsfrucZ44U/s1600/IMG_1879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJTXg0FJxN-rsW9dLcIiKhfevnqYoVDOHCZ-9xB_8eW-7b5maphFT2P9nup-hrBMC6mfo0FOcptbERsVAy0ONa3U92mrpzZ-WWntovCnt61QnXERqWv8EZ8IyY-5dlnSXsPwsfrucZ44U/s400/IMG_1879.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdKNzMb9Mag5xxa-UUSzNJ00kixYtzPkWmBAB8iYXRNZbCNc3tITgzXMDXaRwlRVbLZnnAI8b0WY-K2at8Dee923lCUjHpxU5Vm3DRxJoG9jYiWL7z3A43FqB3caRsqouXMC3Ll0eZB05/s1600/IMG_1889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdKNzMb9Mag5xxa-UUSzNJ00kixYtzPkWmBAB8iYXRNZbCNc3tITgzXMDXaRwlRVbLZnnAI8b0WY-K2at8Dee923lCUjHpxU5Vm3DRxJoG9jYiWL7z3A43FqB3caRsqouXMC3Ll0eZB05/s400/IMG_1889.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering an ice cave, beneath a frozen waterfall. How cool is that ?!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01oKMAUYzRtT0CxV3kEn9IrduZcfubKO0mQnC2e-V0tCBeuPyHKhPlybsAvvDekF61EzOvQihcJqdYkPvd-vstQ37xmXIDXhjMApKwnLSd7innhtm3b-_MdNS7hp9bisHbX7OGQPabzPY/s1600/IMG_1890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01oKMAUYzRtT0CxV3kEn9IrduZcfubKO0mQnC2e-V0tCBeuPyHKhPlybsAvvDekF61EzOvQihcJqdYkPvd-vstQ37xmXIDXhjMApKwnLSd7innhtm3b-_MdNS7hp9bisHbX7OGQPabzPY/s400/IMG_1890.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out from inside the ice cave.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikipKscK6j-seRsfEX93o6EFMANSoXOMGZn_QP7jYB9ibxtD3MG6D0JI6AEG6E1CM4_lGiVoiV_bbQ4UrbRpZDPZLjl9z-wAFaF0w-ivKNZkQ6EbQwWhB-KV3Olb9rHGA_7xgXQNlH04ne/s1600/IMG_1882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikipKscK6j-seRsfEX93o6EFMANSoXOMGZn_QP7jYB9ibxtD3MG6D0JI6AEG6E1CM4_lGiVoiV_bbQ4UrbRpZDPZLjl9z-wAFaF0w-ivKNZkQ6EbQwWhB-KV3Olb9rHGA_7xgXQNlH04ne/s320/IMG_1882.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXMKAoau0HdPgmM1hehsqfU2qCQ1rhugHDL0dGhD1-atoDX4WQyphgRc7JzIf61m3dE3s5g55sT_cqpVBQTgVKae_PQZqGaOvLOvg6ETzg1CAu8kYAdtIwb7OZkbUVqXO9wF_qQEHclS2/s1600/IMG_1883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXMKAoau0HdPgmM1hehsqfU2qCQ1rhugHDL0dGhD1-atoDX4WQyphgRc7JzIf61m3dE3s5g55sT_cqpVBQTgVKae_PQZqGaOvLOvg6ETzg1CAu8kYAdtIwb7OZkbUVqXO9wF_qQEHclS2/s320/IMG_1883.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup - they actually climbed this.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sign that spring is on the way.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Lac Beauvert.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fancy birthday dinner.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fine food, wine, and friends -- What more could a girl want on her birthday ?</td></tr>
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Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-48718886185664527112013-03-13T14:40:00.000-07:002013-03-13T14:42:20.565-07:00Motho Ke Motho Ka Botho<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I will be presenting tomorrow to my colleagues in Health Canada on some of my learnings from my year volunteering in Botswana. I did a trial run with my small work team last week, and am excited to share my experiences with a broader audience. </div>
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There is a saying in Setswana, <em><strong>"Motho Ke Motho Ka Botho"</strong></em> that roughly means <em>"you are what you are because of other people",</em> and I want to acknowledge that I was able to experience all that I did in Botswana because of the people here who allowed me to do so, by granting me a leave and covering my workload. This is my way of saying, "<em>Look what I was able to learn and achieve because of your support".</em>..and to demonstrate that I did more on my year away than have pool parties and go on safari -- haha !</div>
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I will be presenting again next week to the Edmonton Branch of the United Nations Association in Canada, and again in May, to the Health Canada Human Resources Team. Each presentation gives me a chance to focus on a different angle of my work in Botswana.</div>
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I am curious to know what kinds of questions people will have !</div>
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Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-37226632587621030912013-02-28T09:36:00.001-08:002013-03-01T09:31:59.589-08:00And I Say Hello...I left Botswana Feb. 12, arrived home, Feb. 13, and was back at work Feb. 15. After my first full week of work, my friend Lisa and her dog Louie took me to Jasper for a relaxing weekend getaway. It was a great chance to catch my breath and unwind. Thank you !<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louie models the latest in mountain wear.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main Street, Jasper.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me -- back in my natural habitat !</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from my 9th floor office on a snowy day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from my 9th floor offfice on a sunny day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My office cubicle is now clear, but was festooned in feather boas and Hawaiin leis when I arrived.</td></tr>
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<br />Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-35732259918239301432013-02-26T09:07:00.000-08:002013-03-01T09:31:43.684-08:00You Say Good-Bye...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XafbshjxCcrT5cEKIbqaK0lTEoxfUzF57HiWHwce3f1HCLRWbR6z5w-EdGRBfWJDWI0wCjVDP73jxuMrWRD2apXvViKdNQVV-gc3_TIdpVsMMmc4RS5IkCjylcrflXBhXZBaA6RFVaPY/s1600/IMG_1716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XafbshjxCcrT5cEKIbqaK0lTEoxfUzF57HiWHwce3f1HCLRWbR6z5w-EdGRBfWJDWI0wCjVDP73jxuMrWRD2apXvViKdNQVV-gc3_TIdpVsMMmc4RS5IkCjylcrflXBhXZBaA6RFVaPY/s200/IMG_1716.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the friendly faces I will remember from my good-bye pool party.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing quite like outdoor living ! Sigh !</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Philip demonstrates adaptability. I had no bbq tongs, so he used wooden spoons.</td></tr>
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<strong>Scenes from my last days in Gaborone</strong></div>
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36 friends and their families came to my house for a </div>
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Sala Sentle / Tsamaya Sentle Farewell Party. </div>
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I hosted it at my house, as I couldn't pass up another opportunity to make use of the </div>
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awesome entertaining space (and pool and braai / bbq). </div>
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When will I have this kind of space again ?</div>
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I was very touched by the kind words and turn-out.</div>
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Also, my house-mate prepared a farewell dinner for me, </div>
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and my colleagues at BOCAIP hosted a good-bye office party.</div>
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I am so fortunate to have worked, stayed, and played with so many wonderful people. </div>
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We will stay in touch, and hopefully meet again !</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My house-mate Anaisa prepares a yummy Portuguese cod and potato dish.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I will miss your sweet smile !</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwzUX0FmTUB0-AMBM5Gz4YzTcfEG_JWqVFqpUuJhYBdLIBIPVOLkUjJZT2cH5DHGtQ3IPDvzQ5yp97mje-ZMu6cU4axETtCOwnFUonv5zjqdDB2-VE9JWxRNYMnQbux4VqIC1NGdOmbl4/s1600/IMG_1701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwzUX0FmTUB0-AMBM5Gz4YzTcfEG_JWqVFqpUuJhYBdLIBIPVOLkUjJZT2cH5DHGtQ3IPDvzQ5yp97mje-ZMu6cU4axETtCOwnFUonv5zjqdDB2-VE9JWxRNYMnQbux4VqIC1NGdOmbl4/s320/IMG_1701.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the team at BOCAIP.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxO5ITsqzw298IS9VuKTkDQE9SEONChAwIht6__0K272EhIUzaKgISl5quwrANAore-7lSUlgECZGq1jT0HWglL015YFO_alob7B2I3pR3OylCFiEyWBBM5evlnCV5N0i_uoy83Wl2FUI/s1600/IMG_1650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxO5ITsqzw298IS9VuKTkDQE9SEONChAwIht6__0K272EhIUzaKgISl5quwrANAore-7lSUlgECZGq1jT0HWglL015YFO_alob7B2I3pR3OylCFiEyWBBM5evlnCV5N0i_uoy83Wl2FUI/s320/IMG_1650.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ever gracious Mma Kwape.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZZVDpzGKAHgJFaY9cgjJNMWXObEeH6A5jmSS4GYAlsoe_CJs0zjyxX5L27MPspt06G6Squbz7xr6eApc6vzg39ubdN7wwgPOaZX4YwvaIERLucMGk4ujn2qA5pSqaQ_6LKB8BBvNpqME/s1600/IMG_1655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZZVDpzGKAHgJFaY9cgjJNMWXObEeH6A5jmSS4GYAlsoe_CJs0zjyxX5L27MPspt06G6Squbz7xr6eApc6vzg39ubdN7wwgPOaZX4YwvaIERLucMGk4ujn2qA5pSqaQ_6LKB8BBvNpqME/s200/IMG_1655.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julia prepares drinks for the party.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIdoUqwts0X0e5exw1_zGB1B2EwzDboszjSPL_1vci5j4HFc_xC7x8rG_is-YMtzrPJtyBXLZnsX-k07GKiNMs30mipXQgWbUmMAb5DFHYu7_x0yTkIIr6HYZFXWW4os54bypqEwI9ae9/s1600/IMG_1689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIdoUqwts0X0e5exw1_zGB1B2EwzDboszjSPL_1vci5j4HFc_xC7x8rG_is-YMtzrPJtyBXLZnsX-k07GKiNMs30mipXQgWbUmMAb5DFHYu7_x0yTkIIr6HYZFXWW4os54bypqEwI9ae9/s320/IMG_1689.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you for the kind words and gifts.</td></tr>
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<br />Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-86422302678840843782013-02-21T13:43:00.000-08:002013-02-21T13:43:17.193-08:00I'm Back...I am back in Edmonton...and also back to my blog. My friends in Botswana encouraged me to continue with my postings, to show what life is like here, in Canada. It is a good opportunity for me to look at the familiar with new eyes. I am still getting re-settled, so haven't quite got my act together enough to start sharing stories and pictures...but I will soon ! I left Botswana Feb. 12, after a series of sweet good-byes (which I will write about another time) and returned to Edmonton on Feb. 13, after a safe and uneventful journey. I then reported back to my job on Feb. 15. I am adjusting to the streamlined work environment and life at home, which for the moment is my old, childhood home. I am bunking in with my father until my tenant moves out of my house at the end of this month. So, once I get properly resettled, I will resume writing about the continuing adventure....Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-48881895730741565962013-02-03T23:23:00.002-08:002013-02-04T03:29:46.191-08:00Marula SeasonIt is marula season. They are ripening and falling off the trees in droves. I was almost hit on the head on my morning walk to work today. I have to step gingerly around then, to avoid slipping. Occasionally, I will pick one up, break the skin, and suck the sweet/tart juicy pulp. I don't see many people doing this, and am surprised that they are not scooped up and harvested. The marula fruit is a great source of Vitamin C. Each tiny fruit contains five times the amount of Vitamin C of a single orange! They are also high in fibre, and can be dried, fermented, or cooked for jams or jellies.<br />
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One of our WUSC/Uniterra volunteers is working with a women's cooperative in Palapye to produce and market marula products The folks in Gaborone, however, seem content to let them rot on the ground. Maybe if I was here longer, I would learn from my friend in Palapye how to dry them or turn them into jam.<br />
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When I arrived here over a year ago, it was at the tail end of marula season -- and mango season. I didn't know much about marula fruit then, but I knew I loved mangos, and I had the bright idea of making and canning mango chutney and salsa. However, by the time the idea occured to me, mangos were no longer in season. <br />
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Again, if I were to stay longer, I would jump on the mango wagon and make some products to enjoy for future times. I would also eat more watermelons when they are in season in April. I love watermelons. Did you know that watermelons originate in the Kalahari Desert ? -- Botswana's sweet, juicy gift to the world !<br />
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I have learned that these wonderful treats come and go, and, like most of life's opportunities, you have to make the best use of them when they present themselves to you. How many of life's opportunities do we let pass us by because we do not recognize how precious and fleeting they are or are not prepared to reap them when they are ripe ? <br />
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It takes a good year or more of living in a place to get a feel for the rhythm of the seasons. I feel I am just getting into the groove, so to say --- but now I have to get ready to adjust to an old, familiar beat, back in Edmonton. <br />
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I leave in just over a week....can you believe it ? <br />
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Let's hope I remember to take the best advantage of Edmonton's seasonal offerings and any opportunites that come my way. <br />
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Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-80679183752843121992013-01-29T11:56:00.000-08:002013-02-01T10:34:09.481-08:00The Power of SoccerThere was 5 minutes left in the movie I was watching when the power went out at Riverwalk Mall. The power went out just before 7:30 pm -- which is not so coincidentally when the latest Africa Cup of Nations game was about to start.<br />
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You see, Botswana has been hit by a series of power outages, following faults in the system and a delay in completing the country’s new 600 megawatt power station. Until the new power station is complete, Botswana will continue to rely on power from it's neighbor, South Africa.<br />
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I have been learning to adapt to these power outages. The other night, I hosted a dinner party entirely without power. Instead of calling it off, I used candles for light, my friend's i-pod for music, and the gas oven to bake our "build-your-own" pizzas. It worked ! We had a fun power-free evening.<br />
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Last Friday, when temperatures soared close to 40 degrees Celsius, my office-mates plugged away in the heat, without air-conditioning, and long after the batteries on their laptops had died, until quitting time. My colleagues are very ethical (I love them for that!) and no one wanted to set a bad example by leaving early.<br />
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Our power outages are happening more frequently these days. This is because South Africa is also experiencing its own power shortages and has to ration the available amount. <br />
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It so happens that South Africa is also at this time hosting the Africa Cup of Nations soccer tournament. When it is time for games to broadcast, the South African powers-that-be make sure they will air in their key markets. Botswana is not a contender in the Cup this year, so they must suppose that no one here wants to watch the games and can do without power for a while. So, just before a game was set to broadcast at 7:30 pm this evening, Gaborone experienced a blackout in the area around Riverwalk Mall.<br />
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On the dimly lit taxi drive home, I started thinking....if a soccer game can be the cause for a power outage, could it not also be the solution ?<br />
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When I was in Kenya last August, I learned about an ingenious invention called <a href="http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/next-generation/soccket-the-power-generating-soccer-ball-is-ready-to-go-global" target="_blank">Soccket</a> that harnesses kinetic energy generated from a soccer ball to power electrical appliances. Surely, the African Cup of Nations game balls could be so equipped to keep a movie projector running. <br />
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I will have to see if the powers-that-be can agree to that proposal....in the meantime, is there anyone out there who can tell me what happens in the final 5 minutes of the movie <i>Argo</i> ? Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-80226796397132792532013-01-24T23:36:00.003-08:002013-01-29T12:03:43.432-08:00Magical MadikweLast weekend, I had a magical time in Madikwe, a game reserve just across the border in South Africa. It is so close -- less than an hour and a half drive away, including time for the border crossing. I can't believe I had never been before ! <br />
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I accompanied Amanda, a WUSC Leave for Change volunteer wanting to have the safari experience, and we were joined by my friends John, Naki, and Tomek on Sunday. <br />
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I found accommodations for Amanda and I at <a href="http://www.motswiri.com/" target="_blank">Motswiri Lodge</a>, a 5-star luxury lodge, and we were not disappointed. It is low season, now that the holiday rush has abated, and we had the whole lodge to ourselves ! We were thoroughly spoiled -- gourmet meals, game drives -- we didn't have to lift a finger. And it didn't hurt that they charged us less than half the normal rate !<br />
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Can you blame me for planning to go back again this weekend ? Yes, I am heading back tomorrow with Anaisa, my Portuguese house-mate. I have only 3 weekends left here, and I am thrilled to be able to spend another one in the bush. <br />
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Here is a taste of what we did and saw:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2Bb8hRIIvidxfc6c7SQoQ78ma51cTYkDQN0VbDq2reOxmWpQHOibAF2tTfALYJi-vZVrBQORzOHPyDtmra2G0CI4d5bkrNi54yweLfTrOsACnUQ2TJl1_7fa4yPIgj5cJr3Y4HkmOr0V/s1600/IMG_1296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2Bb8hRIIvidxfc6c7SQoQ78ma51cTYkDQN0VbDq2reOxmWpQHOibAF2tTfALYJi-vZVrBQORzOHPyDtmra2G0CI4d5bkrNi54yweLfTrOsACnUQ2TJl1_7fa4yPIgj5cJr3Y4HkmOr0V/s200/IMG_1296.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amanda and John, in the Motswiri Lodge lounge.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbiWlpOQ5rAIxBV0DS0sHLU5TobAaoPywkhpM24Id8BSj0BlBaI_dNvoJJv6fNBi6kgz_SLnNHHdQsSgOtJ-esxpVOfhtKKnq6M9bysUq1zKCRWD1iJnbJybK0rGazFdPere8iycASrUo/s1600/IMG_1295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbiWlpOQ5rAIxBV0DS0sHLU5TobAaoPywkhpM24Id8BSj0BlBaI_dNvoJJv6fNBi6kgz_SLnNHHdQsSgOtJ-esxpVOfhtKKnq6M9bysUq1zKCRWD1iJnbJybK0rGazFdPere8iycASrUo/s200/IMG_1295.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naki and Tomek.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiP8Yf8pEd2tRatVR5tDHBvi0_6hZ2K2V1JWUG6dEthjoA5YLBBnrc5Ds9TgVsgQZND6Cb6Tzf_lHdILFXYB4eYYRzRjrOdw96RI2CBKHzzA3cjJMHQO-hGbBpuTOu-6TZAwwujglA-LvO/s1600/IMG_1352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiP8Yf8pEd2tRatVR5tDHBvi0_6hZ2K2V1JWUG6dEthjoA5YLBBnrc5Ds9TgVsgQZND6Cb6Tzf_lHdILFXYB4eYYRzRjrOdw96RI2CBKHzzA3cjJMHQO-hGbBpuTOu-6TZAwwujglA-LvO/s320/IMG_1352.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gang, at Jaci's Safari Lodge for lunch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsTG73MDWWOz4p6mbuWOTewq910UoWo6Ogj0Dc7K82iHxdxEIyQrYHn6EtPpP-ZxMgigOVXfduyRrMn-gpqznlPHnQqvYsNwuxrRottspwtrqiwY_-KVKZ3G3hr88MiopIsDNupjvvxVT/s1600/IMG_1119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsTG73MDWWOz4p6mbuWOTewq910UoWo6Ogj0Dc7K82iHxdxEIyQrYHn6EtPpP-ZxMgigOVXfduyRrMn-gpqznlPHnQqvYsNwuxrRottspwtrqiwY_-KVKZ3G3hr88MiopIsDNupjvvxVT/s320/IMG_1119.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amanda and I with our guide Andre.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYmK9JExfqkqadVXI6EOCM5eRpBB7TCMrvFgXwTScTYIIRkPx2MRqhOs75fvwi6vrPIyIx2GjyDNB8QuMIHcir_7eOC1A7qW0cFKIFFaahCcQVDXXkke9Q94jUUpgQwejkETV8-YWlK6Q/s1600/IMG_1111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYmK9JExfqkqadVXI6EOCM5eRpBB7TCMrvFgXwTScTYIIRkPx2MRqhOs75fvwi6vrPIyIx2GjyDNB8QuMIHcir_7eOC1A7qW0cFKIFFaahCcQVDXXkke9Q94jUUpgQwejkETV8-YWlK6Q/s200/IMG_1111.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roughing it in the bush.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVHEhRkHYugCAt_mAVD2RcOASACmIZmrf4mBBVtHqCZkvWU1-_KyHcGhEItju3KWTYWJjYWuYUz0UnJ03W3sKdvKOQEiqBsJcTEI4QfujX76ych4HupkmUASb568TrBbCo1oMdlhnH9lC/s1600/IMG_1110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVHEhRkHYugCAt_mAVD2RcOASACmIZmrf4mBBVtHqCZkvWU1-_KyHcGhEItju3KWTYWJjYWuYUz0UnJ03W3sKdvKOQEiqBsJcTEI4QfujX76ych4HupkmUASb568TrBbCo1oMdlhnH9lC/s200/IMG_1110.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our gorgeous room, with fireplace, spa tub, and outdoor shower over-looking the water hole.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUB9f8uvQ-dEWwuXJvRcRHhoTUWwEhl_0eObUmUAI2bukaEtuTHzuE_M_OmBFAot2bCMG2AJyzleycDIo2oyiNyNsCenWjn9Te3wDFaiYEw15P9fVM8MXvH34nvyxX-WdyhGeB-9g0Uca/s1600/IMG_1197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUB9f8uvQ-dEWwuXJvRcRHhoTUWwEhl_0eObUmUAI2bukaEtuTHzuE_M_OmBFAot2bCMG2AJyzleycDIo2oyiNyNsCenWjn9Te3wDFaiYEw15P9fVM8MXvH34nvyxX-WdyhGeB-9g0Uca/s200/IMG_1197.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amanda's first safari experience !</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlR1EcsZAJfWFXgMYHJRwK-Pl0oqauldcG1jjsA6FcQHa1e9CtzyYflilHyrWWdzpc8RE-AA2dbD_1ss0PjPEvlhOk9ScwXL98-c74HTuW4NU8K3sLJKw0cyLeRbKE7_XfLRGkjq52KLv/s1600/IMG_1190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlR1EcsZAJfWFXgMYHJRwK-Pl0oqauldcG1jjsA6FcQHa1e9CtzyYflilHyrWWdzpc8RE-AA2dbD_1ss0PjPEvlhOk9ScwXL98-c74HTuW4NU8K3sLJKw0cyLeRbKE7_XfLRGkjq52KLv/s320/IMG_1190.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup - We got this close !</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_6UWKZ0QBlTe-H_5LQBhVXf8M9lUvSu2ukWsTHbTkkMaNhDXMB9SFRtQijgxAN5zHiOD94cENEgr3tnX9mX2alnFw-uZJzxywlpVCTMdxr45dPWRnLsJWz-iL5xCD5SVgx1BH1xMCawI/s1600/IMG_1191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_6UWKZ0QBlTe-H_5LQBhVXf8M9lUvSu2ukWsTHbTkkMaNhDXMB9SFRtQijgxAN5zHiOD94cENEgr3tnX9mX2alnFw-uZJzxywlpVCTMdxr45dPWRnLsJWz-iL5xCD5SVgx1BH1xMCawI/s320/IMG_1191.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47JvqzLonH8aM_YwKE2lPZ_sk81gA2l6sh4LgF_tBmi8u0_1GezDsgZf5-TVc7tVKqPlH47gAksZOHMV5Lvf3NGJDCbULrz69bQ3cMP81Nrwr8o3gYthwXtmxRFJuyw97zlja6f-QTezw/s1600/IMG_1223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47JvqzLonH8aM_YwKE2lPZ_sk81gA2l6sh4LgF_tBmi8u0_1GezDsgZf5-TVc7tVKqPlH47gAksZOHMV5Lvf3NGJDCbULrz69bQ3cMP81Nrwr8o3gYthwXtmxRFJuyw97zlja6f-QTezw/s200/IMG_1223.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flat tire from following lions over the stony terrain.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QBz8bjeVV_UXAi_4QKLtcGb4-MHMdj70zqNs5D1FOlwDI4Vi39UH2DjN9w7da4YCUhafdRuBLZOls4aO-XxhsUUDStiaKZ68D4QHGFHp4osNJ_MoUr9vis_dyu8m4sS7t3oQgtFSD0sK/s1600/madikwe+dung+beetle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QBz8bjeVV_UXAi_4QKLtcGb4-MHMdj70zqNs5D1FOlwDI4Vi39UH2DjN9w7da4YCUhafdRuBLZOls4aO-XxhsUUDStiaKZ68D4QHGFHp4osNJ_MoUr9vis_dyu8m4sS7t3oQgtFSD0sK/s200/madikwe+dung+beetle.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't forget the little guys !</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMG6APbfIPm1TKIjhbxWozMBw-9H5s2GXtbhlz6vR-PiHxKxIKVV8NPENG5mXDT44GSSIG2n5BW2nPpxv1sGAQgJEI1jFN0DkShHjHQv7QRC0WTwMhFVa6Cw_MS-jyoA9DWSy0YiJMV4sY/s1600/RIMG1055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMG6APbfIPm1TKIjhbxWozMBw-9H5s2GXtbhlz6vR-PiHxKxIKVV8NPENG5mXDT44GSSIG2n5BW2nPpxv1sGAQgJEI1jFN0DkShHjHQv7QRC0WTwMhFVa6Cw_MS-jyoA9DWSy0YiJMV4sY/s320/RIMG1055.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hyena with remnants of wildebeest.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjih_JA4HgxnbgFXkdbFDbkSBVdB7Q8bXJcXTlSZMV6Kv-XPzr1KqSUaTRpOan7ZHLFJaw9rxFyrZYxRlD_V32sfvx_U_7JrzOoEAuAn2gUyyMxU4eacMGwOw_m0yYCDNDd1hDDkQHxXmna/s1600/RIMG1049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjih_JA4HgxnbgFXkdbFDbkSBVdB7Q8bXJcXTlSZMV6Kv-XPzr1KqSUaTRpOan7ZHLFJaw9rxFyrZYxRlD_V32sfvx_U_7JrzOoEAuAn2gUyyMxU4eacMGwOw_m0yYCDNDd1hDDkQHxXmna/s320/RIMG1049.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhino.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii023wSzC0t5yvtykTQLBuSqKbScBSa1GMx7eQ6J7O07reywevwhW2jN3BJlkDLeihX3gVxIYci1eidW-LA5RHAgsDTq7Q3zYGReOyTxbGLA5spxu-Ki_TpoVVmmZZ1lPwg25HVy9eCHeL/s1600/RIMG1053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii023wSzC0t5yvtykTQLBuSqKbScBSa1GMx7eQ6J7O07reywevwhW2jN3BJlkDLeihX3gVxIYci1eidW-LA5RHAgsDTq7Q3zYGReOyTxbGLA5spxu-Ki_TpoVVmmZZ1lPwg25HVy9eCHeL/s320/RIMG1053.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kudu is my favourite antelope. I love the curly horns!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLV8iyX4_mczSuiYSd9dXfrkdBL3u_DM5Fe9c-SH5aUwcnwS3vxBKFqeDm3xKJaYOICHFIOGyMArNyi9FWm7kQCLUqIPJlftcJE7KqHWcisXc9GcTNs_HFSFhAsO5FpP-OekPAQUa4YvAb/s1600/madikwe+kudu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLV8iyX4_mczSuiYSd9dXfrkdBL3u_DM5Fe9c-SH5aUwcnwS3vxBKFqeDm3xKJaYOICHFIOGyMArNyi9FWm7kQCLUqIPJlftcJE7KqHWcisXc9GcTNs_HFSFhAsO5FpP-OekPAQUa4YvAb/s320/madikwe+kudu.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUOsOjS8l7Z_Un2wMBi_aPSYhdwfi9CD5nSNWxd8jkiaiHk4IxJBl8iXHYPjrHSs9kL6SK_VPs-YYp26xzG7oEJ8gSQ9D8HMvtRmmsWibGhGc6czMsu0X39HOPrL2bSQifBCH9nJO5l54/s1600/madikwe+wildebeest+mom+and+calf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUOsOjS8l7Z_Un2wMBi_aPSYhdwfi9CD5nSNWxd8jkiaiHk4IxJBl8iXHYPjrHSs9kL6SK_VPs-YYp26xzG7oEJ8gSQ9D8HMvtRmmsWibGhGc6czMsu0X39HOPrL2bSQifBCH9nJO5l54/s200/madikwe+wildebeest+mom+and+calf.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch time!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheya7DRbd31Gs8l0mNuFgPmFrcS15Zqjz71zvNCj4wqRXF3iYI3I1obNaZjXWnwZzoPNkq2pWVpq0dSa6cHBycKuzGxmitvKFB0-xUtjs6UM8BYj2g4z4in-D5xdpt7AasqKZ6ln0yGWFX/s1600/IMG_1377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheya7DRbd31Gs8l0mNuFgPmFrcS15Zqjz71zvNCj4wqRXF3iYI3I1obNaZjXWnwZzoPNkq2pWVpq0dSa6cHBycKuzGxmitvKFB0-xUtjs6UM8BYj2g4z4in-D5xdpt7AasqKZ6ln0yGWFX/s320/IMG_1377.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wildebeest.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlRGWRHRhGlgpJ1tKhxb7-D8NGbfJmDBogV_PruggKU0baMosgISAA0eC1R6e0Qke8W57S5tyIsBrtdX0HsAWvRuEvf7u7UKsuMWQw3AMVt2kcHzt02b33YECefx_zQTCQu89FbNUrcIo/s1600/madikwe+lion+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlRGWRHRhGlgpJ1tKhxb7-D8NGbfJmDBogV_PruggKU0baMosgISAA0eC1R6e0Qke8W57S5tyIsBrtdX0HsAWvRuEvf7u7UKsuMWQw3AMVt2kcHzt02b33YECefx_zQTCQu89FbNUrcIo/s320/madikwe+lion+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We followed this black maned lion for quite a while. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYK5sx51SFUXFIRuHXjLgraSFWrOr1LxKVYtzsT8wablJ6KZ-KuUUCyyCYpmZdNr0jaf_YAZn0bHiLpG-qUcZihexJCUcpTwxoxSr8NswUeG0rRJjfc3Ol3UGm_BY979A0YpcxpjCt0WP/s1600/madikwe+lion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYK5sx51SFUXFIRuHXjLgraSFWrOr1LxKVYtzsT8wablJ6KZ-KuUUCyyCYpmZdNr0jaf_YAZn0bHiLpG-qUcZihexJCUcpTwxoxSr8NswUeG0rRJjfc3Ol3UGm_BY979A0YpcxpjCt0WP/s320/madikwe+lion.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He was looking for his pride, and would call out for them every now and then.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69rDmhbPPIskCAywcO-1PbHxlhyOeZQatMxsfGf4QYcr2Br8JGDiE70EINFtty6ll5MD9dck68LPX9JcaoVFKppBV_pu73DqMS-c3FeL4S4FKZtTNWX3_DMNGqrfAANK2ZJDXk60x5dyQ/s1600/Madikwe+lion+2013-629-400x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69rDmhbPPIskCAywcO-1PbHxlhyOeZQatMxsfGf4QYcr2Br8JGDiE70EINFtty6ll5MD9dck68LPX9JcaoVFKppBV_pu73DqMS-c3FeL4S4FKZtTNWX3_DMNGqrfAANK2ZJDXk60x5dyQ/s320/Madikwe+lion+2013-629-400x300.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eventually, he gave up and flopped down under a tree.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmufORbOSaND8WgqGVAaDuBWZ7SWiQFVrn7_OL2UzrGlHHNgMxlAbtCHbYKSCrjJsD_WO2rZwb77LkNGinJuNdFn6AM4MCmWYzI-YMWfoict7u2-VcoqWqGBiSTXeV6Gbjf5sj2yEhQkWh/s1600/madikwe+zebra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmufORbOSaND8WgqGVAaDuBWZ7SWiQFVrn7_OL2UzrGlHHNgMxlAbtCHbYKSCrjJsD_WO2rZwb77LkNGinJuNdFn6AM4MCmWYzI-YMWfoict7u2-VcoqWqGBiSTXeV6Gbjf5sj2yEhQkWh/s320/madikwe+zebra.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Have you got my best side ?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnbDlE22bYA5NgIJb67M2BppIAzbpnmHLJW7zeM6Wns8HYUEWQpwJk2Ni_4asTdjefANQt-9hVfdvOXSg_Z4cTakisf6iWPhLn-bzlL36iDDZwP5Bt81F7ZDDa_dKTDbRaHefPToPXySU/s1600/RIMG1038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnbDlE22bYA5NgIJb67M2BppIAzbpnmHLJW7zeM6Wns8HYUEWQpwJk2Ni_4asTdjefANQt-9hVfdvOXSg_Z4cTakisf6iWPhLn-bzlL36iDDZwP5Bt81F7ZDDa_dKTDbRaHefPToPXySU/s320/RIMG1038.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chin rest.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKXplpbaCB7HGZWIe-781wSdNHeiXJXcMpYry4X5W_hR7botrdA2TfFFyIu3PK4HRz5f2mUE2y77l5XhZT_qUqlqhRngmwAM0z5bkE0s2ZLtrsajQi-ToFIH_plwbqJ2R4dojmRN6fw__/s1600/RIMG1015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKXplpbaCB7HGZWIe-781wSdNHeiXJXcMpYry4X5W_hR7botrdA2TfFFyIu3PK4HRz5f2mUE2y77l5XhZT_qUqlqhRngmwAM0z5bkE0s2ZLtrsajQi-ToFIH_plwbqJ2R4dojmRN6fw__/s320/RIMG1015.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and babe.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzRKxkaJVFeLyspSkppPbK1TBTXI8fGXqcy3DsMfEae32PzlQpXhUyWz2Qh13h44_EXf_RI7IE1rAy9_DU1-QdPlSVwNZyPMGU-gk-FkFogqxItYLuFmYM8S9DG8980ISPeHwWhu7rojF/s1600/madikwe+lions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzRKxkaJVFeLyspSkppPbK1TBTXI8fGXqcy3DsMfEae32PzlQpXhUyWz2Qh13h44_EXf_RI7IE1rAy9_DU1-QdPlSVwNZyPMGU-gk-FkFogqxItYLuFmYM8S9DG8980ISPeHwWhu7rojF/s640/madikwe+lions.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This pride of two lionesses and nine cubs was feasting on a zebra.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-82032690171082795752013-01-22T10:25:00.000-08:002013-01-22T10:27:49.615-08:00On going away<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[17].[1][2][1]{comment10151330715432808_25460322}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[17].[1][2][1]{comment10151330715432808_25460322}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0"><b><i style="color: #4c1130;"><span id=".reactRoot[17].[1][2][1]{comment10151330715432808_25460322}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[0]"><span id=".reactRoot[17].[1][2][1]{comment10151330715432808_25460322}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[0].[0]">"When in the end, the day came on which I was going away, I learned the strange learning that things can happen which we ourselves cannot possibly imagine, either beforehand, or at the time when they are taking place, or afterwards when we look back on</span></span></i></b><span id=".reactRoot[17].[1][2][1]{comment10151330715432808_25460322}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3]"><span id=".reactRoot[17].[1][2][1]{comment10151330715432808_25460322}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0"><span id=".reactRoot[17].[1][2][1]{comment10151330715432808_25460322}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[0]"><b><i style="color: #4c1130;"> them." </i></b></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[17].[1][2][1]{comment10151330715432808_25460322}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[17].[1][2][1]{comment10151330715432808_25460322}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0"><span id=".reactRoot[17].[1][2][1]{comment10151330715432808_25460322}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3]"><span id=".reactRoot[17].[1][2][1]{comment10151330715432808_25460322}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0"><span id=".reactRoot[17].[1][2][1]{comment10151330715432808_25460322}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[0]"><b><i style="color: #4c1130;"> </i></b>– Karen Blixen, Out of Africa, 1937</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZf6_6En0U8RwDkgiOx2rjWT6ZQuSWeSl8pOd7KkoLc4f8m1X1vY4TDXH_8e5YeZsSJUn3nao6Wds72PICQNCoOcAhRQIN4iLvu7pkIfjWdbWtwtE_LNWim3EQtR9cK6YOupazdd6JBjyY/s1600/IMG_1362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZf6_6En0U8RwDkgiOx2rjWT6ZQuSWeSl8pOd7KkoLc4f8m1X1vY4TDXH_8e5YeZsSJUn3nao6Wds72PICQNCoOcAhRQIN4iLvu7pkIfjWdbWtwtE_LNWim3EQtR9cK6YOupazdd6JBjyY/s320/IMG_1362.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[17].[1][2][1]{comment10151330715432808_25460322}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[17].[1][2][1]{comment10151330715432808_25460322}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0"><span id=".reactRoot[17].[1][2][1]{comment10151330715432808_25460322}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3]"><span id=".reactRoot[17].[1][2][1]{comment10151330715432808_25460322}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0"><span id=".reactRoot[17].[1][2][1]{comment10151330715432808_25460322}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[0]"> -- Once I have returned home, and settled back into a familiar routine, will I look back on this past year, and wonder if it was all a dream ? --</span></span></span></span></span>Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-42844262279916428382013-01-21T10:45:00.001-08:002013-01-21T23:56:00.250-08:00Fish FoodIt's no secret that I am a fan of spas. Being pampered every now and then makes me feel good. Call me crazy! Last week, when I was recovering from my mystery Maun malady, I booked myself a spa appointment immediately following my visit to the doctor's office. The doctor prescribed water and rest; I prescribed a back massage and pedicure.<br />
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My transition to life back home is going to be a little tough, as I will be leaving a job, a life and people I have grown to love. My friends intuitively recognize this, so a couple asked what they could do to help me settle back in. My answer: "Two words -- Spa Day". So, I have a spa day with friends to look forward to when I return. That will lift my spirits, I am certain.<br />
<br />
Last November, when I was visiting with my Czech friends in Cape Town, we had to come up with a rainy day alternative to the outdoor plans we had made. Alice and I decided we would book ourselves into a spa for pedicures. Standa, the ever patient and obliging husband, resolved to hang out in a coffee shop and wait for us. The spa Alice and I found specialized in Fish Therapy.<br />
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I haven't blogged about this sooner, because I knew I would get a scolding from my public health friends back home. I am fully aware that Fish Spas have been closed in parts of Canada and the USA due to public health concerns. Please be assured that I did ask about their water filtration system and made sure I had no open wounds that would spread or receive infections. <br />
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That being said, I was still a little uneasy about dipping my feet into a fish tank. I couldn't look down. I felt little electric shocks all over my feet and calves. Soon, I got used the the tingly sensation, but I still couldn't look.<br />
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Alice, who had been chatting with Standa about which coffee shop he would go to, took one look at the activity around my feet and told the clinician, "I am cancelling my appointment. I will join my husband for coffee and come back for my friend in 30 minutes." That is exactly what she did -- but not before snapping this photo.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0xbGM-v6__jr_XrzyXTRO4psgFanNULAz0f4lO_-EM-fptddns0fDThyphenhyphengpi6pp4V36AcrkoGcwYZa0EQd4z_I5-NexHqYTLoW7a2N4_puJOvKIZJbwovYGCcvOQWsTb3G1f-5D3skZta/s1600/IMG_0377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0xbGM-v6__jr_XrzyXTRO4psgFanNULAz0f4lO_-EM-fptddns0fDThyphenhyphengpi6pp4V36AcrkoGcwYZa0EQd4z_I5-NexHqYTLoW7a2N4_puJOvKIZJbwovYGCcvOQWsTb3G1f-5D3skZta/s320/IMG_0377.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The fish did their job of sloughing off the dead skin before the clinician went to work on my nails.<br />
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As I was leaving, the spa offered me a frequent customer card. I politely declined.<br />
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<br />Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-16564357907258785552013-01-16T05:19:00.000-08:002013-01-18T22:30:31.923-08:00I Left My Mark on Maun<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last week, I flew to Maun to assist the Ngamiland Council
of NGOs (NCONGO) with their Organizational Development Plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an
Organizational Development Advisor placed with BOCAIP, I had already been through this
exercise once, so was happy to be able to help another organization with
theirs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew a couple of the dynamic, young NCONGO
staff from Maatla project meetings, and was looking forward to working with
them and learning more about their organization.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When it came time to board the plane, the dozen of us
waiting in the departure lounge walked towards the Air Botswana plane, only to
be redirected to a tiny, 20-seater charter plane run by Kalahari Air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no standing room in the plane, so
we had to duck to get to our seats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
should mention that of the dozen of us, about half were unaccompanied minors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pilot crouched down through the aisle to
buckle in the kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About 10 minutes
into the flight, the passenger sitting in the front row reached into a cooler
box behind the pilot and passed out cans of Coke and Fanta.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We dipped and turned to skirt past a couple
of isolated rain showers, and the kids made the appropriate shrieks and yelps and airplane
noises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the most fun I’ve had
on a flight in a long time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was greeted at the airport by a handsome young man
holding a framed sign with the NCONGO logo and my name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We chatted a little bit as he drove me the few
metres to the airport hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He seemed
slightly disappointed to learn that I had been in the country for almost a
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had been told to pick up an
Organizational Development Advisor from Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I settled into the hotel, which had only been open a few
months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The staff was helpful and eager to please, which made it easy to overlook some of the kinks (unfinished fixtures, lamps with no light bulbs, a restaurant with missing menu items). The bed was comfortable, the air conditioning and wireless internet worked, and I got my cable tv fix. I was happy.</span></span><br />
</div>
<o:p></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>The next morning I met with the Director, and we agreed
on a participatory approach for getting the plan done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He assembled the staff and we went over the
template format.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then started to
populate it by turning priorities previously identified through an
organizational capacity assessment into activities with realistic targets,
timelines, staff leads, and sources of outside support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I noted their comments, and then worked for the
rest of the day and evening on incorporating their input. I also added items from
their Maatla project workplan and their Strategic Plan for their
consideration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was getting a feel for what work must be like for
consultants, who have short windows of time to become familiar enough with an
organization to make a contribution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Director was quite keen to have a finished product at the end of my visit with
them, and so was I.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Day Two, we repeated the cycle of review, discussion, and incorporation of their input. At the end of the day, I felt I had done as much as I could, so found a taxi driver to take me to one of the riverside lodges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We went to a couple of lodges before finding one with
space on a sunset cruise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a
lovely, peaceful trip down the river, where we stopped to watch and learn about
birds, spider webs, termite mounds, trees, and talk to local fishermen and
women gathering lily roots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guide
was full of information. I would have loved to have asked him more
questions, but I was coming down with a splitting headache, muscle aches, and a fever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most I could do was smile and nod and
utter the odd “Aah” or “Is that so?”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I was setting up the meeting room the next morning, I
was overcome by a wave of nausea and left a not so pleasant gift in NCONGO's
kitchen sink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I managed to hold it
together long enough to review the final changes with the staff and get their
consensus on who would do what by when.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At the end of the morning, we had a realistic plan the Director felt he
could present to their board for approval.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My work was done!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I still had several hours to kill before my return flight
to Gaborone, the only one going that day. After cleaning up the kitchen sink, I had the
NCONGO driver drop me off at the lodge where I took my boat ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed a pleasant enough place to spend
the afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ordered a ginger beer to help settle my
stomache, but that was just enough to set me off again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I left the lodge a memento of my visit in
their courtyard bathroom, and again in the bushes by the pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just couldn’t get comfortable, and
time marched slowly by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, I
decided it was time for a change of scenery. I called a taxi to take me to
the café by the airport. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the café, I
ordered an iced coffee, and promptly left most of it in the washroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not long after, I left the rest in the
airport washroom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think it is safe to say I left my mark on Maun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only did I leave an organizational development
plan for their council of NGOs, but I also left a little piece of myself everywhere I went!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>(Post-Script: I did see a doctor once I returned to Gaborone, and we were able to rule out more exotic illnesses to come up with the medical diagnosis of "tummy bug" and too much heat. I fully recovered after a couple of days of rest and rehydration.)</i></span></div>
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Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-62173527738181626112013-01-14T05:41:00.002-08:002013-01-14T09:48:52.413-08:00I am WOMANOn November 30th, I represented BOCAIP at the 50th Anniversary of a well-known international women's organization in Botswana. The anniversary date happened to fall within the 16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence. The event organizers and keynote speakers were careful to note the links between gender-based violence, women's development, and the spread of HIV -- topics I could expand on, but will reserve for discussions with those willing to so engage. <br />
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So, I was a little surprised, in this enlightened environment, to see some text in the inside of the event folder that seemed a little...shall I say...out of step with the times.<br />
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The word <b><i>WOMAN</i></b> was written out as an acronym.<br />
<br />
<i><b>W - Wise</b></i><br />
<i><b>O - Ornament</b></i><br />
<i><b>M - Multiskilled</b></i><br />
<i><b>A - Advisor</b></i><br />
<i><b>N - Noble</b></i><br />
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<b><i>"Ornament"</i></b> ? Really ? Need I say more ??<br />
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I am not even sure how the word <b><i>"Advisor"</i></b> is meant, in this context. <br />
Advisors to whom ? -- Decision-makers who are not women ?<br />
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I've struggled with blogging about this sooner, as I don't want to come across as judgemental or culturally insensitive -- afterall, women continue to be objectified as 'ornaments' in our Western society -- but I like to think that my Batswana friends are pretty progressive, and I welcome insights from those who wish to comment. <br />
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And, I welcome suggestions for an alternative <i><b>"O"</b></i>.Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-69168805920177501372013-01-07T00:04:00.000-08:002013-01-12T22:39:56.115-08:00Christmas Road Trip - St. Lucia Wetlands Our journey neared its end at St. Lucia, a small town nestled between the St. Lucia wetlands and the sandy shores of the Indian Ocean. I spent the afternoon at the beach and then enjoyed an evening boat ride in the estuary, watching hippos, crocs, and bird life until the sun set.<br />
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From there, it was on to hot and humid Durban, where I enjoyed a city break, hanging out at the UShaka Marine Park, the local beach, and the air conditioned mall.<br />
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All in all, it was an enjoyable Christmas break, with a good mix of scenery, wildlife, and cultural offerings, spent in the company of a kind, retired couple from New Zealand and our South African guide/driver.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother and child, assessing the waves.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quieter stretch of beach.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hippos galore !</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yet another glorious African sunset. </td></tr>
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<br />Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-55545535693143781862013-01-06T00:03:00.000-08:002013-01-07T12:06:11.707-08:00Christmas Road Trip - Zulu VillageOur visit to a Zulu village included a session with the local sangoma (traditional healer). The one we visited is a diviner, who gets her messages from the ancestors. She put on quite a show, lighting incense to invoke the ancestors, who then rested on her shoulders as she knelt on the floor. She never revealed her face to us the whole time we were with her. The hut was adorned with animal skins and various animal parts and feathers were stuck on the walls. I am not sure why - perhaps she reads the patterns as they are flung and adhere to the walls ? Through the guide, she told us about some of the more common remedies for various afflictions. Most were herbal or mineral concoctions, but some used dried and powdered animal parts, bones, and blood. She read my future (no animal parts required), and told me that my ancestors are looking out for me (always reassuring) -- oh, and that I think too much !<br />
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From there, we made a few friends walking through the village to the cultural centre where we were given Zulu warrior fighting and dancing demonstrations.<br />
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<br />Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-68233732666353181232013-01-05T00:01:00.000-08:002013-01-07T12:07:17.268-08:00Christmas Road Trip - Hluhluwe Game ReserveWe continued our journey to the coast via Hluhluwe Game Reserve, the oldest game reserve in Africa. Fortunately, its resident rhino population is under tight surveillance and the reserve is known for its conservation efforts. Rhino poaching is still a big problem in South Africa. Hluhluwe is lush and green with rolling hills -- a refreshing change from the dry, desert environment I have become accustomed to in Botswana.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj468Z7-wL-V7FWSOhA2FOG8INj2yhyphenhyphenGJOan3afC-ctSCiSoatDsJFq3557Nymh413nKCtCe-dSxswdlXpx0B2VUFDz8aoUTNnLPGNMWImelk0yhthlQUXXn7TnRgy0C9dl32ZJ51wUMase/s1600/warthogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj468Z7-wL-V7FWSOhA2FOG8INj2yhyphenhyphenGJOan3afC-ctSCiSoatDsJFq3557Nymh413nKCtCe-dSxswdlXpx0B2VUFDz8aoUTNnLPGNMWImelk0yhthlQUXXn7TnRgy0C9dl32ZJ51wUMase/s320/warthogs.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<br />Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-22617986081483760142013-01-04T05:53:00.000-08:002013-01-07T20:37:02.943-08:00Christmas Road Trip - Swazi VillageOn Christmas morning, we wrapped sarapes emblazoned with the King's face around our hips and made a short trek to a local village. In the village, we were greeted by the Chief, a grandmotherly woman who inherited the title from her late husband. Female Chiefs are not too common in patriarchal Swaziland. The Chief happens to be a member of the Swazi Royal Family, and is King Mswati III's aunt. <br />
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Swaziland is the last absolute monarchy in Africa. The Swazi King prides himself on upholding local traditions, including the practice of polygamy. He currently has 14 wives. He is also known for his lavish and opulant lifestyle, which is criticized by some as being maintained at the expense of addressing the many challenges that plague the citizens of Swaziland, who have the dubious distinction of living with the highest HIV prevalence rate -- and the lowest life expectancy -- in the world.<br />
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The Chief doesn't seem to benefit from the Royal Family's wealth, and instead, invites tourists to her homestead as a means of raising funds to provide for the 327 AIDS orphans under her charge. It was a pleasure to spend Christmas morning with her and the kids, as they took us through their daily routines and patiently taught us songs and dances.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As you can see, I couldn't get enough of this little warrior.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am grinding cornmeal for the children's Christmas lunch.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chief.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our guide, demonstrating Swazi attire.</td></tr>
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Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-80316423914335649792013-01-04T01:37:00.000-08:002013-01-07T20:39:39.676-08:00Christmas Road Trip - Swazi SanctuaryI don't think I would have thought, a year ago, that I would be spending Christmas 2012 in a grass hut in Swaziland -- but I am so glad I did -- it turned out to be a delightful treat !<br />
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We stayed at the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, in traditional Swazi style beehive huts. The sanctuary was a virtual Garden of Eden, with all sorts of species of antelopes (bleisboks, nyalas, impalas, waterbucks) and zebras roaming freely. We didn't bump into the resident hippos, which is probably a good thing, but we did see crocodiles, turtles, and plenty of bird life in the little lake we looked out over while having breakfast. I had to wait for a herd of zebras to cross my path one evening on my way back to my hut.<br />
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We spent Christmas morning at the homestead of a Swazi Chief (see next post) before returning to the lodge for a sumptuous Christmas lunch. We retreated to our grass huts to wait out a glorious afternoon thunder and lightening storm, while the local revelers continued their picnics and swims (not too wise in a thunderstorm?). As it turns out, the Swazi hut builders know what they are doing -- not one drop of water leaked through my grass hut !<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merry Christmas, 2012 !</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our breakfast area overlooked this lake, teeming with birdlife, crocs, turtles, and fish.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Local revelers enjoy their Christmas afternoon with a braai, picnic, and swim...despite the impending thunder and lightening storm!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While I didn't run into the local hippos, I did have to make way for a herd of zebras on the way to my hut.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Swazi hut !</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bleisbok.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_qVZK-EeNq4jJ4d6DRJ9mgUoeeNqdy6Yi-vofeRbhGilxdf71KDgetXGOpFLIUW3eFGwi9s9fcHs2d22-7PXVtjv_Da7xbzNzOf2SFiKjASoc-ADxM6GbmbxOWHL-MxZXz_IZ6_aLlxH/s1600/IMG_0882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_qVZK-EeNq4jJ4d6DRJ9mgUoeeNqdy6Yi-vofeRbhGilxdf71KDgetXGOpFLIUW3eFGwi9s9fcHs2d22-7PXVtjv_Da7xbzNzOf2SFiKjASoc-ADxM6GbmbxOWHL-MxZXz_IZ6_aLlxH/s320/IMG_0882.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The nyala who greeted me outside my hut on Christmas morning.</td></tr>
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<br />Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-31290535146398813342013-01-03T09:25:00.000-08:002013-01-07T20:40:26.681-08:00Christmas Road Trip - The Little GuysI thought I would share some of the smaller creatures that graced my path on my recent travels. Like all life's little treasures, they are easy to miss if you are too preoccupied with finding the bigger stuff.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilnz1wkmljFmWsmrC9oYQH8p-hGQJilpYthjJWLnOgGuxo16NqShCrIALjad6xFs1Bb8jAoj9htCpUuCD153gfQxR3w_wFfY7ABBtqRezwMzetd6yF7blwbeAhgAPdXAm6NnfGXBfyTonP/s1600/kruger+cameleon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilnz1wkmljFmWsmrC9oYQH8p-hGQJilpYthjJWLnOgGuxo16NqShCrIALjad6xFs1Bb8jAoj9htCpUuCD153gfQxR3w_wFfY7ABBtqRezwMzetd6yF7blwbeAhgAPdXAm6NnfGXBfyTonP/s200/kruger+cameleon.jpg" width="168" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chameleon figures prominently in local folklore.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agama tree lizard.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgKRZyZDTRXW20qiBXNROY3uuUHvWMuQyr_FeDKIV9Yh4bfBSbK14ocf-aosEHI28zz49sx6qJbEMZRJJxEC1ImUkIsicj4AhMmJQfF3x1LN45uj3fLCOWx8YLfzfAi-0zd1oBtwP9iqd/s1600/IMG_0889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgKRZyZDTRXW20qiBXNROY3uuUHvWMuQyr_FeDKIV9Yh4bfBSbK14ocf-aosEHI28zz49sx6qJbEMZRJJxEC1ImUkIsicj4AhMmJQfF3x1LN45uj3fLCOWx8YLfzfAi-0zd1oBtwP9iqd/s200/IMG_0889.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know the name of this tree lizard.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8jUWQPd1szr3lTSgUb-RzIDaMc3x8JvVe69WBkAa4IQtzuCfTpX0OBdi8C8b_kgS7D_Gaj_LxhiPq9RtNYHRkEBTQ_I4Bj5j89bRUFu325awKdVfEUMcAQHpPElraf3CMbkSP4WisSqv/s1600/kruger+tortoise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8jUWQPd1szr3lTSgUb-RzIDaMc3x8JvVe69WBkAa4IQtzuCfTpX0OBdi8C8b_kgS7D_Gaj_LxhiPq9RtNYHRkEBTQ_I4Bj5j89bRUFu325awKdVfEUMcAQHpPElraf3CMbkSP4WisSqv/s320/kruger+tortoise.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leopard Tortoise.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saddle-billed stork.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzIw2FO9DTZwLcegdf3g1bBq1DmwjOLkXPsKbjkrnalp1XWX-PqIiYdZ8j3wp9MBLPj7yAnJrmURXmkf97_hp-nueN0ECaWciRuYiG_9g1CpwCLLcb2J4f6cUr9Sg9jnQwH01O5K9QZsp/s1600/swazi+red+bishop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzIw2FO9DTZwLcegdf3g1bBq1DmwjOLkXPsKbjkrnalp1XWX-PqIiYdZ8j3wp9MBLPj7yAnJrmURXmkf97_hp-nueN0ECaWciRuYiG_9g1CpwCLLcb2J4f6cUr9Sg9jnQwH01O5K9QZsp/s320/swazi+red+bishop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Red Bishop visited our breakfast area on Christmas morning.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkHw4c32zk2BS2e2CmEnQiC0lEpcu_OGvNDYtG35YJokwk0NIj2AqzEGW04X2r-Z8cS5qt1Yvq5dTIgrKdlfEl_3BtwIC15AYvpIxNouoQKgpwVfOl3rx5HccpsBV1ysI8dra0kL02Z5J/s1600/IMG_0826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkHw4c32zk2BS2e2CmEnQiC0lEpcu_OGvNDYtG35YJokwk0NIj2AqzEGW04X2r-Z8cS5qt1Yvq5dTIgrKdlfEl_3BtwIC15AYvpIxNouoQKgpwVfOl3rx5HccpsBV1ysI8dra0kL02Z5J/s320/IMG_0826.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This croc was a Christmas morning visitor, too.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NajPLabK_po7tEF1eMYrH51fIuzO_1z54hVjxfeR2Ygajw4tcOK_eaf3RxYtT2vFHFTnWjrNrdWTes5lVwVJC18YcgwNxtNbK_9lPsKrvVlAXBtX52nwrNAWKQsugX5eI8ypgFZU88qi/s1600/GoldenOrb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NajPLabK_po7tEF1eMYrH51fIuzO_1z54hVjxfeR2Ygajw4tcOK_eaf3RxYtT2vFHFTnWjrNrdWTes5lVwVJC18YcgwNxtNbK_9lPsKrvVlAXBtX52nwrNAWKQsugX5eI8ypgFZU88qi/s200/GoldenOrb.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Orb Spider. I watched one of these, the size of my hand, weave a web of golden thread. I didn't think it would show up on my camera, so I got this photo from the web (the other web).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqkMB765aWbwqU8JCA_8Pgy3tu0G_Ht8DOVXmkF87Kw5GhFPBfCeYLt3Z-GNHbtMIYT1lniB1gY75DHxqn19HXYfF8ALehUuHyVVbUsOl_xiKLB8Fxkg-3VD_mfPl5GzabrPWfr8jTkpG/s1600/African_caper_white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqkMB765aWbwqU8JCA_8Pgy3tu0G_Ht8DOVXmkF87Kw5GhFPBfCeYLt3Z-GNHbtMIYT1lniB1gY75DHxqn19HXYfF8ALehUuHyVVbUsOl_xiKLB8Fxkg-3VD_mfPl5GzabrPWfr8jTkpG/s200/African_caper_white.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have also witnessed the migration of the African Caper White butterfly throughout my travels and in Gaborone.</td></tr>
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<br />Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-37542555088985816992013-01-02T09:25:00.000-08:002013-01-04T00:10:01.360-08:00Christmas Road Trip - Kruger National ParkHere are some pictures from in and around Kruger National Park.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yeCLY2CJQzqzN9_nIS9nsPDLUVirTtL_HHENyafkygw8eij_Zod_I1LeXTIfWxdSbv_3kjeUaXwWStRD0x3IEAxVHRW7xZRMPuZQIghPdCsdySi2yyLi3CiYJRfiLYNC46TsFG6oy9xQ/s1600/IMG_0636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yeCLY2CJQzqzN9_nIS9nsPDLUVirTtL_HHENyafkygw8eij_Zod_I1LeXTIfWxdSbv_3kjeUaXwWStRD0x3IEAxVHRW7xZRMPuZQIghPdCsdySi2yyLi3CiYJRfiLYNC46TsFG6oy9xQ/s320/IMG_0636.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giraffe snack.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0Z6LBaadCrySqI9489KGZThJnLzBOXLEdON3w-7d_-z5GMuUbXxJIoha84s1m-2RCwFkOmhppevOa5zw3yUSOpTagsLuW43KwTGlWlu9NW91OfF6xuoSL1SGn9YNIE95K4jynIpxShaE/s1600/IMG_0760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0Z6LBaadCrySqI9489KGZThJnLzBOXLEdON3w-7d_-z5GMuUbXxJIoha84s1m-2RCwFkOmhppevOa5zw3yUSOpTagsLuW43KwTGlWlu9NW91OfF6xuoSL1SGn9YNIE95K4jynIpxShaE/s320/IMG_0760.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant snack. We watched this elephant strip the tree of its bark. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI96z3fsjl7Blq-BKdYUPhDFvBe2mBVwBK8eiwnm2JNB_ZbeLpSw03aaSD3Wtzf0_eg-lbnzSGqYBDwidLO_h19oy5XD2DbVZkhihP3C9N4mSlFS-112H4PkQ0p7yNM6rW7TgS3rM3QcqX/s1600/kruger+cheetah+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI96z3fsjl7Blq-BKdYUPhDFvBe2mBVwBK8eiwnm2JNB_ZbeLpSw03aaSD3Wtzf0_eg-lbnzSGqYBDwidLO_h19oy5XD2DbVZkhihP3C9N4mSlFS-112H4PkQ0p7yNM6rW7TgS3rM3QcqX/s400/kruger+cheetah+2.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We came across this beautiful female cheetah resting under a tree.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYRzTmCQlq01hHBdYhywb8Bumk_lFBm-jQzrJm4i2uLdLVD5ZzBK5JyHayr1sX06EVxH5VtgTwpJvo0i4Hf8CyCqJmTj5cjb4e0HgqwgbSM9BmyU8kgl1Qb-6LZ-nCuyKeqOIEH3CJwqT/s1600/IMG_0731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYRzTmCQlq01hHBdYhywb8Bumk_lFBm-jQzrJm4i2uLdLVD5ZzBK5JyHayr1sX06EVxH5VtgTwpJvo0i4Hf8CyCqJmTj5cjb4e0HgqwgbSM9BmyU8kgl1Qb-6LZ-nCuyKeqOIEH3CJwqT/s400/IMG_0731.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We watched her for a while as she stretched and then disappeared into the bushes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE89q3sLZI8lHugaKCAWN20oIRepURAKSYM-FheAp6d8FbGbyel6loT-px0ID1P7om64J5b34NAu7iVxnIOj9-8WFj-K4YNLvpDk3HC0RapTB4N56Kih3mXvV_JhsvnbfNIdYlyAjZYjFs/s1600/kruger+hyena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE89q3sLZI8lHugaKCAWN20oIRepURAKSYM-FheAp6d8FbGbyel6loT-px0ID1P7om64J5b34NAu7iVxnIOj9-8WFj-K4YNLvpDk3HC0RapTB4N56Kih3mXvV_JhsvnbfNIdYlyAjZYjFs/s320/kruger+hyena.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was hot day, and this hyena decided to take a dip.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8iJYA9P_uI9sDAFeJvMCzYO_jTP5IcnVxQgjZnkKs2GpMkhr7995wjSWiO5uKqRqmgaOOMFSWW_EgrDvYeI2Q2CXu3V1_WqB14wIqJQQaP4hJF6EXZVU-pQRhGZKmf3EfGSuJMWdEaeV/s1600/IMG_0692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8iJYA9P_uI9sDAFeJvMCzYO_jTP5IcnVxQgjZnkKs2GpMkhr7995wjSWiO5uKqRqmgaOOMFSWW_EgrDvYeI2Q2CXu3V1_WqB14wIqJQQaP4hJF6EXZVU-pQRhGZKmf3EfGSuJMWdEaeV/s320/IMG_0692.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This elephant had the same thing in mind, but first had to bully us out of his way to the stream. We backed up rather quickly!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFZPO7YuKSdI93coZewRhB7Hwxi6HkyzMqDa-QVeF61R005l4_K11_-GMR1xqYuMMu6f-nESn5pQwPFwy3An-Xfq85Zuvc54CNWxbA5GyqgIh0KhIzG55QKSt6Ydj6VgAG4d8MGNKpXrh/s1600/kruger+zebras.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFZPO7YuKSdI93coZewRhB7Hwxi6HkyzMqDa-QVeF61R005l4_K11_-GMR1xqYuMMu6f-nESn5pQwPFwy3An-Xfq85Zuvc54CNWxbA5GyqgIh0KhIzG55QKSt6Ydj6VgAG4d8MGNKpXrh/s320/kruger+zebras.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah ! Now that's better !</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_750874400"></span><span id="goog_750874401"></span><br />Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463357761246859048.post-5083991841171023632013-01-02T03:29:00.001-08:002013-01-02T03:29:49.301-08:00Christmas Road Trip - en route to Kruger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Three Rondavels</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blyde River Canyon </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">God's Window</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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I took a tour over Christmas from Johannesburg to Durban, via Kruger and Swaziland. We took a scenic route to Kruger, passing through the lush Blyde River Canyon, which is the third deepest canyon in the world, after the Grand Canyon (USA) and Fish River Canyon (Namibia).<br />
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Did you see the movie<b> The Gods Must Be Crazy</b> ? The final scene where the San Bushman tosses the coke bottle off the edge of the earth was shot from the cliff at God's Window on a misty day.Stephanie Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562058619613204439noreply@blogger.com1