Top shots

By special request, here are a few favorite pictures from my trip to Africa.

To start with, have you ever seen a happier pig than this warthog at Mkuze National Park in South Africa?

This is something I have always wanted to see: a giraffe drinking water. Totally awkward and vulnerable to lion attack!

This is the lovely Paternoster, with whitewashed fisherman cottages, in the Western Cape, South Africa.

This is the Sea Point Pavilion, where you can do laps with an ocean view, in Cape Town.


This is the interior courtyard at the lovely Winchester Mansions in Cape Town.


My village, Tsineng.


Petrified forest in Sossusvlei, Namibia (where part of the J. Lo movie "The Cell" was filmed).


Sunrise over the Sesriem dunes, Namibia.

Rock formations, Namibia.

Giraffes at dusk, Etosha, Namibia.

Okavango Delta, Botswana.

Victoria Falls by helicopter.

Victoria Fall, dangling over the edge. I didn't take this picture; instead, my guide took my camera and clambered over rocks until he was barely clinging to the edge. I was like "Dude, the shot is not worth dying for!"

Sunset over the Zambezi

Zanzibar! Now you see why I stayed an extra week.

Lions, Ngorongoro Crater.
Olduvai Gorge, the "Cradle of Humankind."

Baby lion cub, yawning. You know all about its tragic fate.

Antelope, Masai Mara.

Full Moon, Lamu

New York, Reprise

March 31, 2010
Johannesburg, South Africa

On the way to the airport, I had one of many conversations about race in the New South Africa with my driver, an Afrikaaner dude. You know that whatever is to follow "I'm not a racist, but..." is going to be objectionable!

I arrived at the airport early and spent some time having my luggage inspected by the VAT officials. I also considered having my bags shrink-wrapped (it's Johannesburg, after all), but I didn't bother. I won't cry if my rooibos tea, rusks, peri-peri sauce or other silly items are pinched (although J. might!).

As you can see, South Africa is totally excited to host the World Cup; these countdown signs were everywhere in the airport. I hope it goes smoothly and the country makes a bundle from the World Cup, but I'm definitely glad I won't be around. Football fans who smell of vomit are not my favorite peeps!

After a leisurely lunch at Mugg & Bean, I passed through security and submitted my VAT receipts at the office. I got R450 back (60 USD)! Wonderful! Then I realized that I only had an hour to spend my windfall before I had to proceed to my gate. Where can you easily spend R450? Duty Free of, course! I loaded up with Amarula chocolates, Blance de blance and sherry and hightailed it to my gate, where I endured three extra security screenings, a special treat from for all passengers bound for the US.

Seventeen hours later, I landed in New York. JFK, in all its shabby glory, never looked so good! And it is wonderful to be home!