If you want the same results keep doing the same thing

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.

Victor Frankl

And thus it is winding down for Jeanne and I. We are the only two left of our group. Due to a airline schedule change we had to stay an extra day here at Katambuga Lodge. The staff are taking incredible care of us. it is wonderful to see a staff which is not totally pressed to get things done. They seem to have time, almost too much. Seems every time I turn around they ask if all ok and if I need anything. In an hour I will find my bar bill for past three days here.

And thinking of the past month and remembering. Of course the animals stand out – mammals, birds, insects reptiles, plants, and thinking of interactions. But also thinking of people and humanity, interactions and history.

I had never thought too much about it, but history can tell a lot about the present. Slavery was a big thing here, dating back to beginning of humanity really , but in Africa it became a modern day commercialized industry. It destroyed cultures and people. Look at the modern world and many countries are messed up because of their slave history. It is hard to just dismiss it and go on without being affected. Look at the United States, it is still suffering 160 years after slavery officially ended.

Then there is colonialism. Similar to slavery but very different. One culture comes in and moves in on another. Africa is full of it as are many places (unnamed). People think they are better than others or are unsatisfied with their lot in life and move elsewhere. As one fellow here I was talking with said colonialism taught the people to be taken’ care of and not fend or think for themselves. Finally colonialism has ended (although one could make an argument takeovers have not.) many years though of subservience did not immediately go away.

Back to the good things – it has been an awesome trip. Both Jeanne and I agree we would do it again in a heartbeat. But every trip is different. Like doing the same bike ride every day. Each day is different. The past is gone and a pleasant memory. The future who knows, but the present is as said a present, enjoy it.

I have said it before when people comment on how wonderful it must be to have the adventures and travels we have had. Yes quite true But I look at it through my lens and everyone has a story and their own adventures.

Ok departed the wondrous lodge after lunch, and shower. Departed at 13:58 now through customs and in lounge (thanks to our status with alaska air). Nice to have a beer in air con without crowding. 3 hours to here. ok Wi-Fi is bad here at airport so will give up for now.

Ok random thoughts talked with lady returning home to Spain. We agreed Tanzanians very happy and friendly people laughing smiling

COVID was denied in Tanzania. Although numerous people died including the president. Tasmania to the best of my knowledge, depends on about 45% of its economy on tourism, and it halted for 2 years. They were quite happy to see us.

The Tanzanian flag has three colors. Blue for the ocean, yellow for the minerals, green for the vegetation, and black for the people. Public school children wear uniforms in those colors.

And going home. Currently in the cattle corrals at Qatar airport awaiting departure to Seattle. They did not have a full staff waiting for us with fresh juice at airport hotel. This airport is huge. We are in c gates which number well over a hundred. Presuming a, b,& d gates are same.

And home where it is our bed and our food our cooking, our schedules, done our way. As my dad would say not right or wrong just our way.

Six hour plane ride to Doha, Qatar, where again had a hotel room. 45 minutes after landing we were in bed. Slept delightfully and at gate 15 minutes after depart room. Urgently 13 hours from Doha and 1 1/2 hour to go supposedly arriving just before noon Seattle time. Not bad read (audio) one book watched one movie, ate 3 meals watched the map a lot of progress And ponder being cold at home.

In Seattle customs easy but security getting off the plane always cracks me up and never left secure Area. Jobs program. Now have been through 3 to get here. Plus 1 to get off plane.

Pain nourishes courage.

You can’t be brave if you have had only wonderful things happen to you.

Mary Tyler Moore

I am finding internet interesting. The last post -“Gombe”, had a lot of photos and some video. When I look at it before hitting the post button it looks fine. But when I looked at posted version not all the pictures were there just the labels. Perhaps, if I wait longer, implying it takes a while to load from the server, but that did not seem to fix it.

Wondering if photos showed up for anyone else. Perhaps leave a comment as I am curious and need to delve farther or is this just a local problem.

Traveling always presents some problems. I recently read a saying by someone I cannot remember the name of

“One does not learn about other cultures while traveling, you learn about yourself”

I find this quite true. One can never really learn a culture just by looking at it from the outside. One needs to experience it from living the culture, which entails a lifetime of living. One can look at a farmer and see them tilling the soil, sowing the seed etc but one cannot really see or feel what that is like without doing it. Travelers like to look at something and see it, have it explained but most often they want to experience it through their own lens.

If I go somewhere I want to experience the travel. But take food for instance. We are trained to like and eat certain things and ways. We want to experience but not be out of our comfort zone. Inupiat native foods are an example. Fermented meat with blood is actually very good but takes some adjusting and learning. Or eating insects. Or eating a freshly shot Genet cat. But eating the cat as a tourist is one thing, eating it as a Hadza is different. That is their sustenance.

And getting back to internet, we come from a world of internet. It has become a source of communication, sharing, learning, and education for us westerners. Over the past years we have learned this mode of communication. And we have begun to depend on it. Look at many places in the world, people are looking at their phones. Look at home and see how much technology is at the table.

And then when we are cut off from that technology it throws us off. We want our connection to our world.

I guess this little rant is now directed at me. I am mad at myself for getting upset with not having good Wi-Fi. When one is traveling somewhat one should accept the local customs. Hopefully for the 5-10 people reading this (on a good writing) you can interpret my writing and accept the foibles. Written on the phone and most photos with phone.

We can know only that we know nothing. And that is the highest degree of human wisdom.

Leo Tolstoy

Ok now in process of moving from western Tanzania with Serengeti and animals to the east and Zanzibar with a whole new culture. On the Indian Ocean and beach. Yesterday flew from Serengeti to Arusha where spent night at lodge stayed at on 2nd night out. hence yesterday on arrival while others went shopping I loaded four days of writing.

Here are a few pictures I may have already posted or not. numerous of these photos were taken with iPhone as easier to work than the bigger camera and definitely could get close in the vehicle. Animals have habituated to the cars.

And so we move on. Another flight this pm and a new adventure. Hope all is well with you.

The only lasting truth is change

Octavia spencer

A long day started 6 am listening to lion roaring seemingly outside our tent. But turns out was 2 k away. When up for coffee Simon says let’s go find lion so we did. Amazing.

Finally depart about 8:45 and arrived here at north end of Serengeti park about 5:40. Very hot lots of animals. Wildebeast going on forever. A lion kill hyena tearing apart the remains with jackal and vultures going for whatever. Rhinoceros, and at end of day hippo pool with about 100 hippo spending the day in water.

Now exhausted as was very Hot.

He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions

Confucious

Well the dilemmas continue. Tourism is it good or bad? Vouyeristic tourism

A wondrous afternoon and departed at 4 in search of a cheetah, driving a lot, wild cross country.

Saw a lone Wildebeast calf. Which began following us. Apparently somewhat common, as if imprint on mother does not occur within that 15 minutes when they can walk and run they will follow anything. Birth can be interrupted by a predator or whatever. The calf will then follow anything, have even been seen to follow a lion. It followed us for a while, and all agreed it would not make it through the night, unless it found a herd of Wildebeast, of which we saw none.

We did see a cerval cat and a family of black backed jackals and a mess of hyena. And managed to get stuck but other truck came along and just gave us a push.

Then we started to return to camp. Doudee saw a cat way off in distance. Turns out a cheetah and we followed it a bit, then got a bit ahead as cat sat down and rested. Doudee thought it was full from just eating. But then along comes the Wildebeast calf. Totally unexpecting it was a very short chase and the calf was down. And for the next 36 minutes we watched and filmed the cat begin its dinner. Simon says it was in a hurry because there were hyena around and they would come in and chase the cheetah away, so the cat had to eat rapidly. Meaning the calf was not dead with an occasional moan and squeal and kick.following is a video and if queezy do not watch.

The sun was beginning to set and and the storks went into the trees to roost. Got some I believe incredible sunset pictures to complement the sunrise pictures.











It’s kind of fun doing the impossible

Walt Disney

Interesting – awoke to absolutely first light gorgeous sunrise out tent door. I say no mountains to block the view. Breakie and off for a hike, 3 kilometer taking 3 1/2 hours looking at sign but no big animals except giraffe. But dung beetles (quite entertaining), harvester ants and the ants in galls of whistling acacia. Now having a delightful quiet time over an hour seemingly the biggest break of able to relax. Just sitting and looking. Possibly maybe figured out why camera is running through battery. (I chose the camera with AA batteries rather than rechargeable).

Turned off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on the camera.

Concerning gear quite happy with gear packed so far. Concerning camera camera I had 5 to choose from. Each had its attributes I played with all chose this one Nikon cool pix 500 and I thinking working better than I give it credit for Important thing concerning gear is play with it first and know how it works.

A very nice break for lunch