Monday, April 6, 2009 - After a quick breakfast and checking out of the Serena, we loaded our luggage and drove to the airfield. It gave us one last opportunity to see some of the wildlife again. Our plane was ready for us to board, and we took our seats. Since I had been on the left side of the aisle on the first flight, I decided to sit on the right this time. We prepared for takeoff but had a short delay. Bird strikes are a major concern at large airports like those in New York City. Our problem was [View Full Entry]

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Tuesday, April 7, 2009 - We gathered our gear and entered a luxurious bus that Sanjay himself drove to the Kilimanjaro Airport. I was in the front seat across the aisle from him, right over the wheels with a panoramic view through the large windshield. The scenes and activities of the countryside provided good photo ops. I was so busy taking pictures that we were at our destination before I realized it. Our plane was waiting on the tarmac near the private lounge. We took our seats for the flight back to Dar. Some slept, some read, but I didn't want [View Full Entry]

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Wednesday, April 8, 2009 - I was sorry to be leaving Tanzania. What an unbelievable experience. Bill would stay until Sunday, while Lennard and Dan would be there a few more weeks. I went down to breakfast, converted my Tanzanian shillings to US dollars and was greeted by Sheiba in the lobby. James was there, too. We weren't sure who was going to the airport with me, so said our farewells just in case they wouldn't be coming back to the hotel. There wasn't a sense of finality, because deep in my heart I felt I'd return to Tanzania sooner rather [View Full Entry]

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Preface: The International Year of Planet Earth's Africa Launch in Tanzania May 8th and 9th, 2008, gave hundreds of scientists, students and others an opportunity to discuss important issues concerning the future of our world. IYPE organizers asked filmmaker Dan Molina, former NBC Chicago Bureau Chief, to produce a short documentary concerning the event. Bill Megalos, whose credentials include directing, teaching and many other aspects of television and film, was the cinematographer, while I served as the associate producer. Saturday, May 3, 2008 The venue of the c [View Full Entry]

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Sunday, May 4, 2008 Two Land Rovers left the lodge to begin a four-day pre-conference excursion. The group included international scientists and IYPE leaders Eduardo de Mulder, Executive Director, and Larry Woodfork, Chairman of the Board; Rainer Ellmies and Vicky Niku-Paavola, geologists from Namibia; Marc Urvois, a geoscientist from France; and Eva de Mulder, IYPE Event Organizer and Ed's daughter; Charles Saanane, Majura Songo and Fredrick Mangasini, scientists from the University of Dar es Salaam; and me. Wanda Smoragiewicz, a Polish biology professor from Canada, and he [View Full Entry]

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Monday, May 5, 2008 We were awakened early the next morning in order to eat and leave soon after the sun came up. Instead we found it was cloudy with occasional chilling rain. We finally set off at 9 a. m. The fog was so dense at times that it was difficult seeing where to drive on the mountain road. The lanes were even more narrow, due to construction. In some areas only one was open, so we had to be especially careful, not knowing if a vehicle was coming around the bend. We passed one truck that was stuck in [View Full Entry]

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Tuesday, May 6, 2008 After an early breakfast the next morning we left for a day full of activities. Taking the road to Engaruka, we waited for the other Land Rover outside a small shop. A woman brought corn to be milled, and we watched it being ground into meal, then put into a large burlap sack. Nearby, another woman was setting up her fruit stand. We bought bananas for the trip. We stopped at a large souvenir shop where a wide variety of handicrafts were sold. I bought a red checkered Maasai blanket and various items for gifts. Because of [View Full Entry]

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Wednesday, May 7, 2008 Though we all left wake-up calls, there were no phones. Instead, one of the workers knocked on each door. I quickly showered and dressed, hoping to get a good picture of the sunrise. I was a bit too late. The photographers in our group said I had just missed a beautiful red sky. I took other shots, including Majura with two of the workers. One was dressed in traditional Maasai garb, while the other wore Western clothes. Some of the young adults we saw later had a combination—Maasai dress, tennis shoes and socks. We ate and went [View Full Entry]

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Thursday, May 8, 2008 Early the next morning we met for breakfast and got ready for the conference. Dan had been kept so busy since arriving in Tanzania that he didn't have an opportunity to see any of the country. At that point, almost all his time was spent at the lodge preparing for the big event. Exhibitors were busy setting up their displays. Among them were UNESCO and BRGM, the French Geoscience Institution. Marc Urvois who traveled with us is Project Manager of its Mineral Resources Division. Friends from the excursion looked very professional in their suits. We all c [View Full Entry]

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Friday, May 9, 2008 My stomach was still bothering me, so I ate only an egg and one thin pancake. I was afraid to eat anything else. The sunrise was wonderful, especially since I could see Lake Natron in the distance. A majestic view of Oldoinyo Lengai was in another direction. I felt completely at peace. Bill shot video from the hill, while I walked around. Each of us took pictures of the clouds and scenes. We could see some of the villagers moving about, ready to start their day. Soon a beautiful Maasai woman straight out of Central Casting came [View Full Entry]

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