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Published: June 22nd 2011
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Russian Underground. Safe?After 2 months travelling it is good to get home to recover from jetlag and to review what seems in retrospect a dream. Here is what I learned:
It is good to have a bucket list and it is even better to pursue it. What is the point in vegetating in front of TV or in a job you do not enjoy?
The sounds that stick in my memory are:
The Painted Reed Frogs that call like windchimes in the night along the riverbanks in Maun Botswana in the Otavanga.
The Hippos snorting at night in the hippo grass. What a sound to fall asleep to.
The nocturnal shunting of trains that woke me in Siberia.
The dogs that barked around the transportable accomodation in Maun when the moon was full and the Jackals and Hyenas were howling
The people that stick in my memory:
The unconditional generosity of total strangers that I probably will never see again, especially in Botswana.
The warmth of school friends, vet friends and lost friends that seem to come out of the woodwork in Ireland everytime I go back.
The native people of Botswana with their carefree smiles, their quiet docile children and their courage
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Russian WW2 Veteran in Red Sq with James in the face of awful adversity ( HIV).
The beauty that will haunt me forever:
Victoria Falls and the great Zambesi River in full flood. The best in 30 years!
The Giraffes and Elephants heading to water in the evening.
The lillypads of the Otavanga stretching as far as the eye can see.
The things that scared me the most:
The wilderness of Siberia, the cold hearts in Russia and the KGB contribution to security at the Victory Parade.
The savagery with which cattle are slaughtered in Africa, out in the open in front of kids.
The diseases that exist in Africa: Milaria from a mosquito bite, HIV making hospital a high risk zone, Bilharzia( Shistosomiasis) from water contact, Food poisoning if you don't screen your food.
In summary, the world is a keleidoscope of people doing things very different from us. There is still astounding beauty out there in nature, art and achitecture. The vast majority of people we met were kind and considerate. A simple smile says so much in any language.
Thanks James for being a great travelling companion and thanks to all of you that were with us in spirit.
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Jackie Fitzgerald
non-member comment
I can't wait for Part 2 ! Seriously Brian, I have enjoyed following your amazing journey and your photography skills have improved along the way..... Look forward to catching up and hearing more stories.