Pics we took on our dinner trip to Avani Resort
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Saturday, September 17, 2016
The Dinner Train
Our dinner train to the Zambia / Zimbabwe border where we could stroll across the Victoria Bridge, spanning through gorge at Victoria Falls
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Monday, September 12, 2016
Joburg Sept 12th
Mon. Sept. 12th Johannesburg Africa
By Jain
On the quick flight from Livingstone to Joburg I had a nice conversation with a couple from Sweden. Well they live in Sweden half the year and St. Petersburg, Florida the other half. We swapped stories and found out he was kicked by a zebra that sent him flying into the air. I guess when the security guy that told me to beware of the Zebras, he was right. The Zebra has a very swift kick. He didn't suffer any broken bones but has a huge bruise. They are very pretty animals like so many others here…..but they are only animals.
Our plan was to make ourselves at home in the Delta lounge waiting three hours for our 16 hour flight to Atlanta. Well that was the plan. However, the Delta lounge is now closed here. Too bad; from our past experiences it was a very nice one. Now we have a three hour wait in an airport restaurant... yuk.
We both agree it has been a very good trip, however if we were to do it again we would do things differently. We would spend more time in Botswana rather than Zambia and maybe a take a flight to Tanzania into Serengeti region. This is the place where the lion is king and you might even witness the migration of lions.
Looking back we agree our best accommodation was the tented camp in Nkwazi, and that is where we had the best meals too. Overall the activities we chose were fun and we would go again. We are especially quite pleased with how many animals we have seen on our boat and game drives. Of course we didn't spot any cheetah or leopards but maybe next time.
We look forward to coming to Africa again, but for now there are lots of other places to go. We leave at the end of October for our 21 day cruise from Rome to Dubai. After this cruise Jay says we will have been to 100 countries in the world! Talking to others we have learned there are so many places we would like to go. There is whole big world out there for us to explore and enjoy, maybe you too?
By Jain
On the quick flight from Livingstone to Joburg I had a nice conversation with a couple from Sweden. Well they live in Sweden half the year and St. Petersburg, Florida the other half. We swapped stories and found out he was kicked by a zebra that sent him flying into the air. I guess when the security guy that told me to beware of the Zebras, he was right. The Zebra has a very swift kick. He didn't suffer any broken bones but has a huge bruise. They are very pretty animals like so many others here…..but they are only animals.
Our plan was to make ourselves at home in the Delta lounge waiting three hours for our 16 hour flight to Atlanta. Well that was the plan. However, the Delta lounge is now closed here. Too bad; from our past experiences it was a very nice one. Now we have a three hour wait in an airport restaurant... yuk.
We both agree it has been a very good trip, however if we were to do it again we would do things differently. We would spend more time in Botswana rather than Zambia and maybe a take a flight to Tanzania into Serengeti region. This is the place where the lion is king and you might even witness the migration of lions.
Looking back we agree our best accommodation was the tented camp in Nkwazi, and that is where we had the best meals too. Overall the activities we chose were fun and we would go again. We are especially quite pleased with how many animals we have seen on our boat and game drives. Of course we didn't spot any cheetah or leopards but maybe next time.
We look forward to coming to Africa again, but for now there are lots of other places to go. We leave at the end of October for our 21 day cruise from Rome to Dubai. After this cruise Jay says we will have been to 100 countries in the world! Talking to others we have learned there are so many places we would like to go. There is whole big world out there for us to explore and enjoy, maybe you too?
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Sunday, September 11, 2016
Sept 11th Livingstone
By Jain
This is our last day in Zambia. The weather is nice but everyday is nice here, clear sunny skies, and warm. We didn't really do much today just laze around the pool watching the elephants across the river drinking at the river's edge. No monkeys today, but that doesn't stop me from looking out for them. Yesterday, when I walked back to the room alone there were a half a dozen within 10 feet of our door.These monkeys are at least two feet high with another two feet of tail. I stomped my foot trying to act tough thinking they would scatter and instead they chased me! I ran back to the lobby and got Fred the door guy to walk me to our room. As I cowered behind him approaching our door I sensed even Fred was not all that keen being there either. When I write this hotel's review I am going to suggest that along with your wi-fi password every guest needs to be given a slingshot to scare them off.
We probably have met more people on this trip than most other trips. There seems to be an instant rapport when you are in a far away land and seeing spectacular sights and animals. When one person spots an animal they are quick to share it with others. Between the oohs and aws it is easy to strike up a conversation, and form a common bond.
We met our friends from Great Britain just walking down the street. He was carrying a bucket. I asked him, "What's the bucket for?" He replied, "For my fishing tackle, I am going fishing at our hotels wharf". We discovered he was staying at our hotel. He didn't catch anything but the day after we left Botswana, he wrote Jay an email saying he caught 2 catfish, a nine pound and ten pound one. I am sure people at the Old House hotel didn't go hungry that night. Sorry we missed out on the big fish fry.
We have met people from all around the world, from Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, Maldives, India, Great Britain,China, Japan, Dubai, South Africa, Canada and a few from U.S. Our friends from Mexico City gave us some great tips about what to see and do next time in Mexico City area. A kid working in Abu Dhabi is in the film industry. He was fun, and he is a trivia expert in movies! Another lady who works for Turner Classic movies had endless stories about stars in their heyday. Who knew Betty Davis was so petite. Then there was that poor chinese girl at the pool. The airlines had lost her luggage and she has been without it for 2 weeks. A tiny thing she was able to buy some African clothes but couldn't find a swimming suit.. not a lot of Africans have a swimming pool here.
On the river boat trip we met a English guy whose name was John who started out working in bakery at the age of 16. At one point he owned 12 bakeries then sold them and started a milling company. I think he has boo coo bucks. Then there was Bill (who looked like a young William Shatner) and his wife and daughter. He is a consultant in Abu Dhabi whose job is looking at possible energy replacements for oil that seems to be drying up. Tomorrow they start off on their 10 day safari. For the most part these people are well traveled and seem to be spending their children's inheritance.
In the late afternoon we call Ivan our driver to take us to the Avani Hotel where we passed a tower of giraffes 2 feet away from the road, just munching on the tree tops. Ivan stopped the car and Jay has some great photos ops. Dinner which was okay but the ride home was better. While Jay and Ivan were talking about how hard it was to drive on a dark road at night all of a sudden we had to stop for 3 elephants crossing the road! It was pitch black. This taxi ride was better than a game drive!
We probably have met more people on this trip than most other trips. There seems to be an instant rapport when you are in a far away land and seeing spectacular sights and animals. When one person spots an animal they are quick to share it with others. Between the oohs and aws it is easy to strike up a conversation, and form a common bond.
We met our friends from Great Britain just walking down the street. He was carrying a bucket. I asked him, "What's the bucket for?" He replied, "For my fishing tackle, I am going fishing at our hotels wharf". We discovered he was staying at our hotel. He didn't catch anything but the day after we left Botswana, he wrote Jay an email saying he caught 2 catfish, a nine pound and ten pound one. I am sure people at the Old House hotel didn't go hungry that night. Sorry we missed out on the big fish fry.
We have met people from all around the world, from Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, Maldives, India, Great Britain,China, Japan, Dubai, South Africa, Canada and a few from U.S. Our friends from Mexico City gave us some great tips about what to see and do next time in Mexico City area. A kid working in Abu Dhabi is in the film industry. He was fun, and he is a trivia expert in movies! Another lady who works for Turner Classic movies had endless stories about stars in their heyday. Who knew Betty Davis was so petite. Then there was that poor chinese girl at the pool. The airlines had lost her luggage and she has been without it for 2 weeks. A tiny thing she was able to buy some African clothes but couldn't find a swimming suit.. not a lot of Africans have a swimming pool here.
On the river boat trip we met a English guy whose name was John who started out working in bakery at the age of 16. At one point he owned 12 bakeries then sold them and started a milling company. I think he has boo coo bucks. Then there was Bill (who looked like a young William Shatner) and his wife and daughter. He is a consultant in Abu Dhabi whose job is looking at possible energy replacements for oil that seems to be drying up. Tomorrow they start off on their 10 day safari. For the most part these people are well traveled and seem to be spending their children's inheritance.
In the late afternoon we call Ivan our driver to take us to the Avani Hotel where we passed a tower of giraffes 2 feet away from the road, just munching on the tree tops. Ivan stopped the car and Jay has some great photos ops. Dinner which was okay but the ride home was better. While Jay and Ivan were talking about how hard it was to drive on a dark road at night all of a sudden we had to stop for 3 elephants crossing the road! It was pitch black. This taxi ride was better than a game drive!
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Saturday, September 10, 2016
Saturday, September 10th, Zambia
By Jain
I was sitting on our deck this morning braving the mosquitos when three monkeys flew from the trees and landed on our deck railing a foot away from me. I let out a scream that probably could have been heard in Botswana. As my tablet goes flying in the air I ran inside. Jay quickly retrieved By Bagg and papers in the midst of monkeys swinging back and forth. Having heard my screams the outside guard came over with his catapult (slingshot) and attempted to chase them off.
I am not a big monkey fan, they are unpredictable, as with baboons, apes, gorillas. But it seems I am in good company. A few years ago the Zambian President Rupiah Bandai was giving a press conference when a monkey urinated on his head. He took it in stride, made a joke but later he banned all monkeys from his official residence.
Monkeys are said to be highly intelligent and if extensively trained are used to help the disabled with feeding, fetching and personal care. I think I would rather have man's best friend doing the fetching for me. Monkeys just don't like me. They probably know I am from the U.S. and remember we made their kind the first primate astronauts. In 1948 we sent Albert up in spaceship and he died of suffocation during flight. A year later we sent Albert II up in space. He survived the flight but died on impact after a parachute failure.
Today we are poolside again. I am a bit nervous for my last venture out here was with the cyclone or whatever; has left me looking cautiously for things flying in the air. Between the reported snakes in the pool at 6:00 pm (like snakes know what time it is), monkeys swinging around the premises, I remind myself this is Africa. Jay orders me a strawberry daiquiri to calm me down. Having a good time, wish you were here. :-)
After our uneventful outing at the pool we are picked up by our driver and dropped off at the Royal Livingstone Express Steam train. Setting off from the Livingstone Railway Station this is an early 20th century vintage train that travels to Victoria Falls and across the border to Zimbabwe to view the sunset. It is sheer elegance.
We are greeted by 20 waiters offering us a cool adult beverage. As we step aboard it was like stepping back in time. Carriages are decorated in by gone romantic era. Once on board we learn about the history of the Victoria Bridge and the train, amazing feats for 1905.
The train stops at the Zambia / Zimbabwe border, halfway across the Victoria Bridge. The views are amazing. We have a chance to get off the train and walk on the bridge. I even got to sit in the engineer's seat and blow the whistle! Included in the price is a five course meal. First was cauliflower and coconut soup, second salmon cakes, 3rd mushroom risotto, 4th was lamb and 5th was lemon tart. All very eloquently served. It was an once in a lifetime experience, one we will never forget.
I am not a big monkey fan, they are unpredictable, as with baboons, apes, gorillas. But it seems I am in good company. A few years ago the Zambian President Rupiah Bandai was giving a press conference when a monkey urinated on his head. He took it in stride, made a joke but later he banned all monkeys from his official residence.
Monkeys are said to be highly intelligent and if extensively trained are used to help the disabled with feeding, fetching and personal care. I think I would rather have man's best friend doing the fetching for me. Monkeys just don't like me. They probably know I am from the U.S. and remember we made their kind the first primate astronauts. In 1948 we sent Albert up in spaceship and he died of suffocation during flight. A year later we sent Albert II up in space. He survived the flight but died on impact after a parachute failure.
Today we are poolside again. I am a bit nervous for my last venture out here was with the cyclone or whatever; has left me looking cautiously for things flying in the air. Between the reported snakes in the pool at 6:00 pm (like snakes know what time it is), monkeys swinging around the premises, I remind myself this is Africa. Jay orders me a strawberry daiquiri to calm me down. Having a good time, wish you were here. :-)
After our uneventful outing at the pool we are picked up by our driver and dropped off at the Royal Livingstone Express Steam train. Setting off from the Livingstone Railway Station this is an early 20th century vintage train that travels to Victoria Falls and across the border to Zimbabwe to view the sunset. It is sheer elegance.
We are greeted by 20 waiters offering us a cool adult beverage. As we step aboard it was like stepping back in time. Carriages are decorated in by gone romantic era. Once on board we learn about the history of the Victoria Bridge and the train, amazing feats for 1905.
The train stops at the Zambia / Zimbabwe border, halfway across the Victoria Bridge. The views are amazing. We have a chance to get off the train and walk on the bridge. I even got to sit in the engineer's seat and blow the whistle! Included in the price is a five course meal. First was cauliflower and coconut soup, second salmon cakes, 3rd mushroom risotto, 4th was lamb and 5th was lemon tart. All very eloquently served. It was an once in a lifetime experience, one we will never forget.
Sent from my Galaxy Tab® S2
Friday, September 9, 2016
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