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.
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