by Loti | May 26, 2014 | Conquering Fear, Insects, Landscapes, Uncategorized, United States
North Carolina. My first hike in years. About 3 miles, considered easy to moderate. I was warned about poison ivy, getting dehydrated and even to be careful of my hiking partner since I had recently met him. Not to mention bears, muggers, mountain lions, snakes and whatever else my catastrophic mind could conjure up. Yikes, should I even go? It is amazing what fear can prevent me from doing (I tend to become immobilized). But it is even more amazing what occurs when I conquer my fears. I had an absolute blast hiking. I felt like I was 8 years and on top of the world. And what a magical world. I half expected a forest fairy to run out and dance around us. We found a huge green lunar moth, tiny wildflowers, moss covered tree trunks, cardinals, streams flowing under old wooden bridges, mushrooms, and millions of plants including jack in the pulpits which I haven’t seen since childhood. And we found this beautiful (remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder)centipede tucked into a rotting log. How very cool. It was so much fun discovering new things around every bend. It just reinforces that life is to be lived, every day. There is magic every where you look. And if I hadn’t faced my fears about the hike? I would have missed one of the best experiences in recent...
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...
by Loti | Oct 12, 2013 | Conquering Fear, Environment, Panama, Plants, Uncategorized
Panama. It is hard for me to comprehend 52 million gallons of water. But it is the amount of water required to move one ship (just one) through the lock system of the Panama Canal. With approximately 40 ships going thru each day, 365 days a year, just do the math. A staggering quantity considering the water is not recycled and ends up in the ocean. So where does it all come from? Is it fresh water or salt? How is it replenished? A lot of questions tumbling thru my brain as we pull into the lock behind a large container ship and the water starts pouring in behind massive gates. And a little unnerving. The water, it turns out, comes from 1.5 million hectares of protected rainforest which surrounds the canal. The day after our partial canal transit by boat, I find myself in one of four cool helicopters (reminding me of the TV show MASH) flying over the rainforest in formation. The water collects in the Gaton Lake (partially seen in the photo) and is released into the ocean (all 52 million gallons) each time a transit is made. Without the forest, there would be no canal. Without the canal, there might be no rainforest since deforestation is occurring at a rapid pace. For me, it is an amazing feat of nature and man working together to provide an efficient trade route between the Caribbean/Atlantic and the Pacific...
by Loti | Oct 7, 2013 | Africa, Australia, Conquering Fear, Easter Island, Fiji, Food, Indonesia, Panama, Portugal, Travel, United States
Miami/FT Lauderdale . Arriving at our kicking off spot for the jet trip around the world, I am vacillating between being totally terrified (I mean what was I thinking about signing up for a trip with 23 people I don’t know) and feeling completely exhilarated (what an adventure). We visit 8 countries in just 22 days on our Airbus (which hold 24 travelers plus 3 pilots, one engineer, 4 flight attendants, a full time chef and 4 tour guides, plus an IPad to use). So just how far is it around the world? I was guessing 50,000 but it turns out it’s just under 25,000 miles, barely enough to get Silver medallion status on Delta. So if you have any minimal status on any airline, you have probably flown the equivalent of around the world. I just happen to be doing it all at one time. And which way do you want to travel? East to west or the opposite, west to east? As with so many things, I never really thought about it. Our pilots feel flying from East to West is much easier on jet lag. You generally arrive during daylight and then can go to bed at a normal time. Which is great as our entire trip is east to west. We leave for Panama in the morning for a short 2.5 hour trip with no time change so I think we will be safe from jet lag for a couple more days. By this time tomorrow, we will have traversed one of the largest locks in the world (the largest is in Belgium). The journey...
by Loti | Aug 21, 2013 | Animals, Conquering Fear, Thailand
Thailand. So I am contemplating how to get on Bounma, my elephant, without passing out with fear. Breathe. I keep telling myself. Just breathe. But one thought which never occurred to me as I was climbing up on my gentle giant, is it fair to the elephant to ride her? An interesting question and one that I now learn, 6 months after returning from Thailand, is rather hotly debated. According to both the Humane Society and the Association of Zoos, it is not only cruel to the elephant, but dangerous to the rider. All sorts of statistics are quoted (which reinforces my opinion, facts can always be used to support both sides of an argument-it just depends which side you are on). On the opposing side is The Four Seasons Elephant Camp, where we were, which uses elephant riding as one way to support the rescued elephants in their care. So knowing what I know today, would I ride an elephant again? Absolutely! But at least now I am better better educated on the issues surrounding their treatment. Riding Bounma changed my world, literally. She helped me fall in love with life and, in turn, learn a little more everyday how we can be better stewards of our planet and all it offers. And for that I am eternally...
