Brighton, Bath and Boats....and Christmas

Victory

Brighton "beach"

Roman bath's, Bath



Did a bit of sight seeing while staying with relatives down in the south of England (thank you so much for everything John!!) I found Brighton lovely, athough they have a poor excuse for a beach-beaches have sand, and not pebbles the size of golfballs!!! But non the less, I enjoyed my day there, seeing the Old pavillion and the Pier.

I also went to Portsmouth, and visited the old dockyards, having a look on the Vicory and the Warrior, both amazing ships, and completely different to each other. You could easily spend a day or two there, looking at all the museums and boats etc.

Christmas was spreak over two days, with family coming over on Christmas day, and then more on Boxing Day. Both were lovely, meeting all these relatives, and enjoying a Christmas somewhat different to home (although there was no snow, it was cold).

On my last day John and I headed out to Stonehenge and Bath. Both are amazing places, I found Stonehenge facinating-how they could move the stones as far as they did (some all the way from Wales at least 150 miles away, and weighting up to 45 tonns), the actual making of the circle (the rocks were shaped so they fitted together and locked in place) and what it was actually used for.

In Bath we had a look at the Roman Baths, again I found it interesting how they could build such a thing so long ago. And to think that over 2000 years later it is still standing, complete with the lead piping, admittedlty with parts missing.

24 Hour bus oddsey

The joys of catching buses and trains while traveling-love the budget travel. While catching a train from Munich to Bonn, I was told that Bonn station was closed, and I would be dropped off a station early-at 5.30am, in a country where I really dont speak the language, and with no sleep all night-I was told that I would have to find my own way to Bonn via either a taxi or the tram. Thankfully I found the tram to the correct station!!!

A week later I was catching a bus from Berlin to London-a lovely 18 hour trip. Unfortuanately, there was a train stuck in the Eurotunnel, and after a 6 hour wait (we did managed to move about a mile in that time) on the bus to get onto the Eurotunnel train, my 18 hour bus ride, turned into a 24 hour bus ride.

Gotta love budget backpacking-thankfully I had my book, talking book and MP3 player, so managed to pass my extra 6 hours without too much bordam, but did miss out on my 4 hours sightseeing in London.

Opera, Ice Skating and Culture

Have been out and about in Berlin, went on a walking tour, where I met a couple of Aussies (Melanie and Alex) from Melbourne and an American (Chris). After the tour we went to a museum on Museum Island, and then decided to be very cultured and go to the Opera. We couldnt understand a word of it (it was in Spanish??? with German subtitles), could see about 3/4 of the stage if we stood up and peered over the edge of the railing, but thoroughly enjoyed it. What more can you expect for a very well spent 8 euro's.

We then decided to meet up again the next day and go to some more museums. Unfortunately Alex didnt make it and Chris was running late, but Melanie and I enjoyed the Nues Museum, then met Chris and went to the Anne Frank Museum, the Bodes Museum and the Altes museum before we decided that we had been museumed out, and went to the Christmas market. We decided to have a go at Ice Skating, as I was the only one who had been, and my one attempt was many moons ago, and I failed spectacularly. We were quite proud of ourselves, were passed by everyone on the ice, but had fun.

It has been snowing for the last couple of days in Berlin, and been thoroughly cold-not above 0 for the last few days, and just getting colder-send warm thoughts to me!!!! One more day in Berlin, and then a night bus back to London, and Christmas with family.

Berlin

The tour around Germany has continued, I left Nuremburg, and headed to Munich for a few days, then up to Bonn to stay with a second cousin (Geoff), and then up to Berlin for my last few days in Germany.

Loved Munich, it is such an interesting city. Visited the toy museum (gotta relive that childhood!), the Residence, the Christmas Market, the Glockenspiel, famous beer house (sorry no beer, urgg) and the English market.

I also took a day trip out to Neuschwanstein Castle. It was beautiful, really is like a fairytale, painted inside in scenes from fairytales and legonds. It was never finished as King Ludwick died, but the parts that are there are spectacular. Also went to the other castle which was there, which was also spectacular. It was different in that the outside was painted a yellowish colour-unusual!

In Bonn I stayed with Geoff, who very kindly showed me the local area-thank you so much Geoff, I loved it!!! Took in some museums, saw some lovely scenery (was really lucky with the weather and had sunshine most of the time)and went to some awesome mineral baths.

Stopped off at Cologn on the way to Berlin, for a whorlwind tour, saw the Cathedral (amazing, nearly died climbing to the top-5 months of no exercise is not good!), the old city gates and walls, then onto Berlin where I arrived last night.

Germany

Glockenspeil

Nuremburg Christmas Market

Nuremburg City Walls

Frankfurt Christmas Market

Ruins, Bonar Bridge

So I have finished in Scotland for the moment, and have arrived in Germany. Made it up to Inverness before leaving, and visited the ruins of where some relatives came from. I then headed back to Forfar, where I went to a wedding (Darrens brother), and then after a day of relaxing, caught a flight across to Germany.

Unfortunately it is just a quick visit to Germany, landed in Frankfurt, and am now in Nuremburg, leaving tomorrow to head to Munich.

It has been warmer here than it was back in Scotland, but still quite cold, no thermals, just jacket, gloves, scarf and hat!!! Wasnt hugely fond of Frankfurt, it was basically destroyed during the war, so not many old building survive, but they did have a lovely Christmas market.

Nuremburg is lovely, have spent the last couple of days wandering the old city, walked the entire lenght of the city walls, been to a few museums, and have thoroughly explored the (world renowned) Christmas Market, even managed to find the red light district by mistake (and beat a hasty retreat out of it).

I have fallen in love with Christmas markets, so many differnt foods to try, lights, decorations. Have been trying the different foods from the areas, potato cakes in Frankfurt, hot fruit punch, Gluckwein (yes it was disgusting but it had to be tried), gingerbread, lebkucklein (kind of like gingerbread).

Cold, rainy, windy....Sunny?? Scotland

Faerie Dells-Isle of Skye

Wonderful weather



Golf...being played...on a golf course...in St Andrews...Really????






So I have been in Scotland for the past two weeks, having a nice quiet break, doing a some sightseeing, and experiencing the varying weather they get. It has been a shocking couple of weeks, heavy rain, floods, crap weather, but surprisingly some sunshine thrown in. (Blink and you will miss it though!)

I have spent most of my time in and around Dundee, seeing some castles, ruins, St Andrews (and yes there is a golf course there!), Stirling (learnt about William Wallace, apparently it is bad if you havent heard of him!). I then went up to the highlands on a 3 day tour to the Isle of Skye. A lovely place, when you could see it through the rain and cloud, it must be amazing during the sunny times.

Back in Dundee again planning a trip up to Inverness before heading over to Germany for a couple of weeks.

Some video

Back to civilization

Vulture


Tulia


Our wonderful showers


Chris and I on our aborted sleepout


Jackie and Boloka


Jackal


Elephant


Eagle


Jackie, Boloka and Tulia


Cheetahs feeding


Carla and Mabela


Brown Hyena


Aardvark



I have returned to civilization with a bit of a shock. From 40 degrees to about 10 degrees in 12 hours, bright sunshine to rain and windy absolutely no-one around to the middle of London-quite a culture shock.

I abslotely loved Tuli, a true untouched environment, full of wildlife which is truelly wild, and not used to humans so to see anything was amazing. Back in London, I visited the Tower of London, the Science Museum and spend an afternoon exploring Greenwich, visiting the observatory and a fan museum. I then caught a midnight bus up to Scotland where I am staying with a friend from Africa.

Still at Tuli

So I am still alive-loving it up in the bush. Am currently in town to renew my visa (Botswana only gives you 30 days at a time). Have had an amazing two weeks of interesting and unusual sightings-so lucky. Started with Bushpigs (not common in the area), then Bat Eared Foxes (very shy), and a Leopard that night (OMG!!!!) Then we saw Honey Badgers (rare to see), and more Bushpigs then Bat Eared Foxes during the day (normally nocturnal animals). We then saw an Aardwolf (first on this property, rarer than Leopards) and a couple of days later an Aardvark (my second for the holiday, very lucky). We then saw Bushpigs again, a herd of over 90 elephants Cheetahs on a fresh kill. To see any animals is amazing as the area is so remote, large, and the animals arent used to humans or cars, so just run away when they hear or smell us (unlike in game reserves like Kruger where they are used to humans).

Will post more when there is time, and I am back in the UK, as well as photos I promise!!!!

Tuli-Botswana

I am still alive, having a ball, dont want to leave-but then again whats new. I am currently doing a project where we are recording the animals found in the area we are in, the Tuli Block. We do game drives in the morning and afternoon and then a couple of times a week also at night, and record the types of animals we see, the number, where they are. Interesting work, get some great views of animals, and some close sighings of Lions and Cheetah, just waiting for a Leopard sighing-they are in the area so keep your fingers crossed for me. Also learning tracking so I can identify the different tracks we see.

Will post photos and more when I have more net-prob back in the UK, we have no electricity, power, phone-not much where we are, but it is so awesome!!!

Last day at Moholoholo

Rhino and Warthogs at Hippo feed

With Lion Cubbie

Yes I have been here too long!!!! Locked in a cage ( I was meant to be cleaning it but we all go a bit crazy once we have been here a while)

Giant Baobab tree

Well my last day has finally arrived (3 weeks after it was supposed to!) and tomorrow I leave at 9am to drive back to J'burg and then stay overnight before another 9 hour drive back to Botswana and my elephant project. I have a friend who was here with me and is now at Tuli (my Botswana project), and says it is fantastic, lots of game drives, night drives, game counts, elephant and lions in the camp. Relly looking forward to it

As for here, it has been more of the same old, cleaning cages, getting madder by the day (see photo of me locked in a cage), went back to Nhoveni (part of the greater Kruger NP, and in big 5 country) where we saw lots of elephants, rhino, giraffe, had a poo fight (kinda smelly but good fun), and saw a lovely sunset. On the way home we saw some jackal cubs, so small and cute, just want to take them home.

Not sure how much contact I will have in Tuli, dont even know if there is electricity, so it may be 5 weeks before I post again, dont worry I am still alive, sitll having fun, and will try not to forget you all.

Still at Moholo

Feeding Alice (White Headed Vulture)

Releasing Brown Hyena

Carrying Brown Hyena

With Brown Hyena

Lion Cubby

Jan stalking with Lion Cubbies

I am still at Moholo, it feels like home now I have been here so long. I have about another week left here, not sure if I'm leaving on the 5th, 6th or 7th of October yet. I think I have to get out a bit more, as those of us who have been here for a while begin to go a bit mad!

Another quite week, just normal rounds, although we did release and collar a Brown Hyena yesteday which was nice. I can now say I have kicked a Hyena in the bum!! It was waking up quicker than we would have liked, and we had to get it into the cage quickly. Because it was so awake it put its paws out to stop itself from being pulled and pushed in, so after trying to push it in with our hands, I used my foot-definately a unique experience.

We have had really mild weather here recently, rain for a couple of days (I had almost forgotten what it looked like) thunder and lightening and the most amazing wind. It has all cleared up now,and is now stinking hot again and we are back to sweating!

I have heard great things about Tuli, the next project I am going to and cant wait until I get there-it is more basic than here, camping out and not sure if there is electricity or much mobile reception.

In answer to some of your questions:

The long pants are light weight, but the shirt is just a normal t-shirt so quite warm, and combined with hiking boots, makes for a toasty outfit.

Winston is a Wood Owl, so cute, when you go in to clean him or feed him he talks to you, and we talk back (yes I have been in the bush for too long, need some more human contact)

We were moving Xianandi between camps, and I was the first one to put my hand up for who liked Cheetahs. When told to get into the car I was somewhat shocked, and not sure but was well worth it!!! And yes I was locked in with her, so coulnt have got out if I had wanted to.

I'm still alive!

With Xianandi in car

Xianandi

Peter Pan

With Croc

Feeding Winston

View over Blyde river

Sorry its been a while, but the net here is so crap, and only one computer for about 30 people so can be hard to get on.

What have I been up to. We got a call to say a Leopard cub had been hit by a car, and went out to collect it. Unfortunatly, the mother had already called it through the fence by the time we got there, and we couldnt get to it, but looking at the wreckage of the car spread 20 meters along the road it wasnt going to survive. I also managed to roll my ankle while running in the dark to leave to get the Leopard, and a week later still have a massive scab on my knee, a lovely bruise on my foot, and can almost walk properly and pain free again.

I went to Kruger NP. Fantastic experience, saw 4 of the Big 5, Lions Buffalo, Rhino and Elephant, just missed out on seeig the Leopard. Unfortunatly, Kruger is being destroyed by there being way too many elephants in the park, and you can really see the damage. It is begining to look like a wasteland. (there are about 17000 elephants in an area designed for 7000).

Have also been on a river cruise through some unspoilt area, which was fantastic. the environment is so varied here, in so many ways it reminds me so much of Australia, except the animals are somewhat different.

I was meant to leave for my next project last Wednesday, but I am enjoying myself so much here, and have heard bad things about the place I was meant to be going to, that I have changed my plans, and am staying here for an extra 3 weeks (leaving 6th October now), and then heading up into Botswana to do some Elephant research and tracking, and maybe some Leopard, Lion and Cheetah tracking.

It is begining to get hot over here now, up into the high 30's during the day, and still staying quite warm at night (its compfy in an open toped car in shorts and singlet top. Unfortunately, the centre where I am working at the moment has very strict uniform rules, so its long pants and t-shirt while working during the day which gets very hot, although we can change and wear what we like at night.