Archive for May, 2008
Wednesday, May 28th, 2008
St Lucia: Crocs if by Land, Hippos if by Sea
I left India’s Andaman Islands last December convinced that I had just experienced the best scuba diving in the world. At that point, I’d only been certified for a few months, but I’d been diving enough to recognize what was just ok and what was stunning. Three dives in South Africa’s Sodwana Bay redefined for […]
1 Comment » - Posted in South Africa by Shanna
Sunday, May 25th, 2008
Where in the World is Swaziland?
If you’re like me, you probably know very little, if anything, about Swaziland. In fact, the only mention of this small country throughout my travels came from a kayaker we met a few months back in Laos; according to him, Swaziland had some great white water rafting. Leaving Kruger National Park and heading toward the […]
No Comments » - Posted in Swaziland by Derek
Thursday, May 22nd, 2008
Wild Thing
Officially opened to the public in 1927, South Africa’s Kruger National Park is the oldest and largest game reserve in the world. Its 6.2 million acres play home to more than 500 species of birds and 147 kinds of mammals, among them 31,000 wildebeests, 23,000 zebras and 7,000 giraffes. The park also has large numbers […]
1 Comment » - Posted in South Africa by Shanna
Sunday, May 18th, 2008
Get Out the Map
Few things say “adventure” like the idea of a road trip. Grabbing a map and favorite travel companion, hopping into the car and setting off into the Great Unknown for a few days–there’s nothing better. Except for road tripping not for just a few days, but instead for 31. That’s better.
And that’s exactly what we’re […]
3 Comments » - Posted in South Africa by Shanna
Monday, May 12th, 2008
Living History
Affectionately called Jo’burg or Jozi by its residents, Johannesburg, South Africa is one of the most interesting cities in today’s world. A huge, sprawling city with over 6 million people, it is the heart and soul of South Africa and a remarkable study in contrasts. In the suburbs to the north of the city, glitzy […]
No Comments » - Posted in South Africa by Derek
Friday, May 9th, 2008
We’re on a Mission from God
Paraguay has one of the most homogeneous populations in South America; nearly all of its citizens today are of mixed Spanish and Guarani Indian descent. In the mid-1600s, though, the two populations had not yet been combined. In those days, Spain targeted the Guaranis for a colonial takeover. Sensing this (as well as an opportunity […]
1 Comment » - Posted in Paraguay by Derek
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
Falling for Iguazu
Iguazu Falls, located on the borders of Argentina and Brazil, is considered by many to be the most impressive set of waterfalls in the world. Meaning “Big Water” in the language of the Guarani people native to this area, Iguazu consists of over 275 falls along 1.67 miles of the Iguazu River, most of which […]
2 Comments » - Posted in Argentina by Derek
Monday, May 5th, 2008
The Many Faces of Buenos Aires
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: To us, Buenos Aires feels a lot like home. It’s not just that we rented an apartment, though that has certainly helped. It’s also that Buenos Aires often seems to us like a combination of some of the best parts of a few of the American […]
