Saturday morning, with all four adults and one baby loaded into the Kollets' Jeep, we headed toward West Maui to see the sights and find our way down to the Olivine Pools , which are tide pools in the middle of barren lava rock that you have to hike down to. We had heard Sharmon and Grant talk about how cool it was there, and we were glad they were with us so we'd have an easier time of finding the trail and knowing how to climb down to the pools. The drive was really pretty, with hairpin turns, green hills and cliffs overlooking an endless ocean. In fact, most rental car companies will give you a map that says these areas aren't "covered" by them since the two-lane road can be a little treacherous in ... read more

Oh Canada Part I While my mom was visiting the Pacific Northwest, we decided to get some use out of our passports and head to Victoria, BC, for a girls weekend. We made our way from Seattle to Victoria on the Victoria Clipper and I have to say it was a pleasant experience once I got the tip to pick up our boarding passes as early as possible to avoid the cattle drive that happens when they announce the boarding groups. In true "first-in-line" fashion, I picked up our boarding passes a full 6 days early, so that we were in the first boarding group. Of course, this meant that we were able to head upstairs on the Clipper and grab our choice of window seats for the best view. A few minutes later, a group ... read more

9/16/08 & 9/17/08 Another early morning, another tour bus-- this time headed to the winelands with a German couple and a couple from New York traveling the world for a year (so jealous!) First stop: Nelson's Creek in Paarl. One of the winemakers, Lisha Nelson, led us on a cellar tour and tasting while her dog, Tyson, followed close behind. 5 half-glasses of wine and some cheese later and we piled back into the van for the 20 minute drive to Franschoek. In Franschoek, we visited La Corrone for another 5 wines and, thankfully, lunch. Courtney and I both had an upscale version of bobotie before crawling into the van again. Before our last winery, we were let loose for a bit of browsing in downtown Stellenbosch. We found an amazing store that sells products made ... read more

Friday 9/12/08 An 8 hour bus ride from Kruger, and it was time for me to say goodbye to the UW crew at the airport. I felt like a lone farewell committee as I hugged almost everyone, then headed to my gate alone. It's a strange thing to slip back into single traveler mode after traveling with a group of 37 for almost two weeks. I was pondering the differences at the gate when one dreaded word popped up next to my flight number: DELAYED. As it turned out, I didn't have to beat myself up over having chosen a low-cost airline for long. It was only a half hour delay and then I was in the air on my way to Cape Town. Once again, I found myself on a cocktail cruise at 30,000 feet! ... read more

5am. Somone is knocking on the door to my hut. I opened the door to see two large security guards with a clipboard, and just as panic began to rise, one of the guards said, "Wake up call" in that delightful South African accent. Time to get ready for our first drive into the Kruger National Park. (As a side note, I've been here long enough now that I'm starting to talk to myself in a South African accent. Is that wierd? Probably.) I grabbed a pre-made breakfast at the lodge and boarded our new, hopefully improved, bus. Sefapane Lodge is in Phalaborwa, just outside the gates of the Kruger, so it took minutes to enter the park. Our Go Africa Guide, Mark, was at the front, helping us spot animals and identify them, and he ... read more