by Loti | Nov 24, 2013 | Architecture, Environment, India, Wonder of the World, World heritage Sites
India. Mark Twain, after visiting the Taj Mahal, said the world is split in two parts-those that have seen the beautiful monument and those that have not. I am now one of the lucky ones. Along with approximately 50,000 other visitors a day. Considered by many (including me) to be the most beautiful building in the world, this World Heritage Site is at risk of being damaged by modern pollution. Built in 1632 with no electricity, power tools, trucks or other modern day conveniences, it took 20,000 workers (building and crafting 24 hours a day) over 20 years to build. It completely boggles my mind! Yet in the last century, air pollution has been eating away at the white marble exterior and water pollution threatens the foundations on which the mausoleum is built. Pollution monitoring devices are everywhere, no gas powered vehicles are allowed within a half mile of the Taj Mahal and nearby coal based factories have been closed or converted to natural gas. But alas, all the pollution monitoring devices don’t work without electricity, which was off routinely for 6-10 hours a day due to power outages during our visit. And when the power is out, diesel generators kick on to supply power which just adds to the pollution. Old meets new. With no easy solutions, it is an interesting juxtaposition (my lexicon for the...
by Loti | Nov 12, 2013 | Africa, Animals, Conquering Fear
Kenya. I never dreamed I’d be taking a photo of a hot air balloon from above it, in the air, in another balloon. But here I am at 6:30 one morning in Kenya. High above the hippos and gazelles who didn’t give us a second glance. Ballooning. Something in all my years, I had never done. And now that I have experienced, I will do it again. It was the most awesome floating sensation. Eerily quite in spite of the large blast of propane every now and then. I didn’t realize ballooning is the oldest (dating back to 1783) flight technology which carried people. And who could forget Dorothy missing her balloon ride home to Kansas in the Wizard of Oz. Or Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days (published in 1873) which oddly did not involve a single hot air balloon for the trip (and I thought the whole trip was by balloon!) Balloons have soared to 69,000 feet high (oxygen required), travelled 4,800 miles on a single trip (by a duo including Richard Branson), and in our case flown a couple hundred feet over the Maasai Mara Preserve. What an amazing way to spend a morning. I was just sorry our ride was a short hour. Pure...
by Loti | Nov 6, 2013 | Africa, Animals, Conquering Fear, Wonder of the World, World heritage Sites
Kenya. So I have to admit I was somewhat apprehensive about going to Kenya after the Sept mall attack. Ok, more like terrified. Lions, tigers and terrorists, oh my! Adding to my anxiety was the maze of airport parking lots we walked through at the Nairobi airport after landing. Past the charred, empty buildings of the international terminal. Charred buildings! Apparently I was one of the few who hadn’t heard about the massive electrical fire at the airport in Aug. After boarding our turbo prop plane (triple yikes) for the 45 minute flight to the Maasi Mara game preserve, I finally breathed. At this point I am wondering why we just couldn’t fly in on the private jet and then I saw our landing strip below (pictured here). Now I get it. I am doomed! Of course we made a perfect landing. And so began the most memorable experience of my life, the migration of over 1.5 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle with a few warthogs, hyenas, lions, giraffes and baboons thrown in. Although we were at the end of the season, I have since learned the migration is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World (according to USA Today). So by experiencing sheer terror, came sheer joy. The coolest gift of...
