packman

JUMPING AROUND THE WORLD: 160 days, 15 countries, 28 commuter flights, 2 prop planes in the delta, 100+ hours on planes, 3 oceans crossed, 1 helicopter ride, at least 10 new friends, overland/ overnight trains, a sleeper bus, 4WDs, a stick shift rental car on the wrong side of the road, 4 seasons (from fall to spring to summer to winter, in that order), from $1/per night bungalow to a nice treat at the St. Regis, from Asia to Africa to the Middle East and back, and with that over 25,000 photographs (or 50+GB) with three (and two broken) cameras. Yes, I said 25 THOUSAND pictures…more than. What an incredible journey. I can remember when I went into my boss’s office after Memorial Day to ask about taking the time off and how I thought if ... read more

Well, I have completed my volunteer program with African Impact, Cape Town. I now have one week to explore this most picturesque city on my own and I couldn’t be happier. Sunday morning I packed up my crap and headed to Simon’s Town with Ashley, Charlotte and Becky for brunch and to walk around. I really liked the marina and all of the boats…so pretty to photograph especially with the amazing color of the ocean. It’s really a cute little place with lots of shops that I could have bought a suitcase worth of stuff! But alas, I didn’t buy a thing…well, at least until we went to the Green Point Sunday Market. Helen picked us all up in Simon’s Town and drove me to my hostel which is in Green Point and essentially across the ... read more

Safe arrival in Cape Town! SOOO excited to be here…even more so now that I am here. It is just stunning as are the views from the house…it’s a 360 of mountains and oceans and homes up on the hillsides…just lovely. So while I was worried about my connection in Jo-burg being a little tight I had more than enough time, even more so when my flight was delayed over an hour until 1030PM. So I finally landed around 1AM and we were at the house by 2. Amanda is the project leader who picked me up and Becky is an Aussie who had flown in as well that day. It was just Becky and I in the house last night…and its a lovely house…not quite as fantastic as St. Lucia but no complaints, although there ... read more

Sunday morning started with saying goodbye to Leslie. She was so cute and so sad to leave. I’ll definitely miss her around the house. Later in the morning Annabel, Gabi and I went for a two and a half hour horse ride in the bush and on the beach. It was a ton of fun, especially the beach with the breeze and the water and the sand and the CLOUDS. I’m sure my bum will be feeling it tomorrow. Later in the afternoon, Marleen, Annabel and I took Peanut to the beach for a nice hour stroll around 4. It was fantastic…we frolicked in the water and watched Peanut running and smiling. The dog actually smiles… I swear it. The breeze was just beautiful. Then about a half hour into it Annabel quietly and sweetly asks ... read more

I have arrived in St. Lucia and at the African Impact house. It’s a gated property as are most of the properties in South Africa for safety precautions. And it’s rather nice, despite hearing about the mosquitoes and cockroaches. We have a cook and a pool and a Jacuzzi and a common room with satellite TV and a DVD player…pretty set up here. Oh and it pretty much looks like Fred Flintstone’s house, red rock and thatched roof. We have a dog as well…looks like Daisy from my Hamptons share house and I keep calling her that despite her name being Peanut. Annabel is the project leader who was nice enough to take me for a drive around town, which is a street of about 800m in length but very busy. The town is not a ... read more