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Part 1…What to bring for an African safari….Lions…we can’t get enough..

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Male lion checking his surroundings while he rests.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Lounging poolside.

As more and more travelers, especially retirees from all over the world, decide to fulfill a lifelong dream of going on a safari, tourism to Africa is increasing exponentially according to many online reports.  

Many come to Africa for its beautiful beaches and luxury resorts, for business  and surprisingly, only 15% actually come for tourism as shown here at this link, stating the following (see below photo):

Female lion at a further distance, hard to spot from afar.

“More than 30 million tourists visit Africa every year. Over half of the international arrivals are for business purposes and may partake in tourist activities as well, while 15% travel for pure tourism and 30% visit friends and family.”

As a result, many travelers struggle with what to pack to bring for, a let’s say a two-week visit to Africa, in order to go on safari. Of course, it depends on where you’re staying and the dress codes or suggestions based on your chosen bookings.

Female lion lounging.

While in Zambia, we discovered that the Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara required male guests are required to sports coats to dinner in the upscale dining room and women must wear dressy clothing. During the day, the guests may be on safari and at night be prepared for a more formal dinner.  

This may sound appealing to those seeking luxury accommodations but for most travelers intent on an all-encompassing safari experience, a more casual and laid-back environment may be more appealing.

The long-distance across the Crocodile River made taking photos a challenge

There hasn’t been one occasion in almost 17 months in Africa (combined two visits, one in 2013-2014 and our current stay) have we ever felt underdressed or too casual for any dining establishment.

Here in Marloth Park and Kruger National Park, all restaurants and venues allow wearing appropriately styled shorts, shirts, and women’s tops as long as they are in good taste. Sandals and flip-flops are generally accepted as proper footwear.

Male lion soaking up the warm sun.

One must always consider the weather which can change dramatically in minutes whether on safari, sightseeing, shopping, and dining. High winds, rain, and temperatures can vary considerably and one must bring suitable attire for those occurrences.

With our friends Lois and Tom coming to stay with us for three weeks beginning October 9th, yesterday we sent them a lengthy email making suggestions as to what to bring for their stay in Marloth Park, keeping in mind most likely we won’t be visiting any fancy establishments in the near proximity. This is bush country. Fancy is not required here.

Male lion at rest.

However, if one is staying at a resort or upscale bushcamp it might be worth inquiring as to any special dress codes when booking your stay. Thus, today’s suggestions are based on a casual environment, not those staying in upscale luxury resorts that may include packing a few extra items suitable for specific events and occasions.

The question always arises as to whether or not to purchase insect repellent clothing. Cost is a big factor here since most of these items can be expensive, as much as ZAR 1506 (US $100) each. We opted to purchase shirts, pants, and hats before we came to Africa in 2013.  

Female lion lounging on the dry grass

It was a wise decision for our extended current stay and we’re still wearing those items on occasion today, especially when on safari or outdoors during the spring and summer mosquito season. In most cases, the special clothing will withstand 70 washing before losing its built-in repellent effectiveness. 

Also, travelers can purchase permethrin which can be added to existing clothing for protection for shorter periods, which can save considerable cost. When we decided to return to Africa for our current long-term stay we purchased a few new insect repellent items on eBay, brand-new with tags. The cost was at least half as much as retail and we’ve been thrilled with our items.  

Waterbucks are beautiful animals.

Clothing:
1.  Shirts, pants, shorts, socks, good walking shoes (tennis shoes are OK) or boots.  
2.  A cool cotton scarf to cover one’s face in the event of an insect swarm and/or high winds.
3.  Swimsuit, if sunbathing or swimming is desired.
4.  Water repellent jacket (weight depending on the time of year) and other such cover-ups in the event of cold weather.
5.  Hats to protect the face and neck from the sun and the elements. Some safari vehicles do not have a covered roof, although most do.  
(During a self-drive into Kruger National Park, for example, one is generally not allowed to exit their vehicle, making one’s attire is of less importance. But, being prepared in the event of an emergency should be a consideration.
6.  Clothing colors: Bright, colorful clothing is not suggested as it may attract insects. In keeping with the African theme, beige, tan, khaki, and white are most appropriate while on safari keeping you cool and less attractive to a wide array of insects.
7.  Cool casual clothing/shoes for everyday living, dining, lounging, and sleepwear, if worn.  

Impalas grazing on the bank of the Crocodile River.

Tomorrow, we’ll cover digital equipment needs, adapters and converters, toiletries and prescriptions, insect repellent, and miscellaneous items you may find useful.

Please check back for Part 2!

Photo from one year ago today, September 12, 2017:

Tom holding the broom (escoba) made of vegetation at El Toledo Coffee Tour. For more photos, please click here.

A tour of the visually enticing and historic city of Livingstone, Zambia…Twenty years from now?…Is it possible?…

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A craftsman at work encouraged us to take the photo.

“Sighting of the Day in Zambia”

Everywhere we travel in Africa and other parts of the world, we see women, not men, carrying heavy baskets atop their heads.

We prepared today’s post yesterday after uploading the post for August 19th.  With a plan to leave the hotel in Livingstone with Steve from Chris Tours picking us up at 7:00 am, we realized there would be no time to prepare a new post for today.

Our driver dropped us off at this outdoor arts and crafts market in the center of town.

Luckily, the editing site in blogger allows us to select a time and date we’d like a particular post to be automatically uploaded. This has proven to be invaluable for our commitment to post a new story with photos each and every day.

We encountered some of the most “assertive” vendors we’ve seen anywhere in the world, comparable to those in the souks in Marrakesh, Morocco.

No doubt, this commitment we made to our worldwide readers many years ago has kept us on our toes when we have activities planned that impinge upon the hours of the day we reserve for doing our posts.

Only one vendor refuses to allow us to take photos. (Not necessarily this one).  We respected his wishes.

Yes, I know. Some of our kindly readers have written saying, “No worries, miss a post or two from time to time.” Thanks to all of you for your support!  However, if we miss one or two posts here and there, suddenly we may find ourselves missing four or five or ten or twelve.  

The items offered for sale consisted of inexpensive jewelry, Africa-themed arts and crafts, fabrics, clothing, toys, and such.

We all know how this goes. Change a consistent habit or process and suddenly it gets away from us. It’s kind of like being on a diet, only one piece of cake and then I’ll go back to my diet.  

Often tourists can’t resist buying items for their homes.

Well, we know what happens then, a leftover piece of cake beacons us sitting in the fridge in the morning calling our name and once again we re-commit to the diet after we’re done eating this “one last piece.”

With no intention of making purchases, we wandered through the busy area stopping to appreciate some of the items.

Writing these daily posts is one diet we want to stick to, as long as we continue to travel the world and perhaps even after when we can’t continue any longer due to health as we age. As long as I still have my wits about me, I can’t imagine ever stopping.

Colorful dolls with handmade detail.

Imagine, we had to stop traveling due to health concerns or merely old age and we were thrown into the reality of staying put. How we handled this may be of some interest to others for both retirees and working folks.  

It appeared many shoppers could easily be locals shopping for themselves and for gifts.

At this point, neither of us can conceive of living out our lives without this magical way we approach each day. But, most likely, someday, it will happen.  When I think that in 20 years, God willing, I’ll be 90 years old, it’s hard to imagine doing what we’re doing today, riding on bumpy dirt roads on safari in Chobe National Park in Botswana.

There are numerous banks and financial businesses in town.

I’m sure some travelers out there have done this at 90 years of age. Please point them out to me. I’d love some inspiration that it’s indeed possible, if not likely.  Tom will be a measly 85 years ago…quite the youngster.

A typical day in the city of Livingstone.

When I think of how fast the past 20 years flew by, it makes me realize how quickly the next 20 will come. So, missing a day’s post is not in my wheelhouse.  Each day counts. Each moment counts and our intent is to continue to live each one to the fullest, sharing our story with all of you.

We waited for our driver to pick us up while people watching on the busy street.

Tomorrow, we’ll be back with a short post since we’ll be on safari all day once again. However, we’ll upload a few photos from today’s safari and a few snippets of this return experience to Botswana.

May each moment of your day be special.

Photo from one year ago today, August 20, 2017:

Lavender bougainvillea on the grounds of La Perla, villa in Atenas, Costa Rica. For more photos, please click here.

Rain, at long last…Few visitors last night…Today is Women’s Day in South Africa, a national holiday…

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Wildebeest Willie is drinking from the cement pond.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

It’s a little bit challenging finding a comfortable position when you have razor-sharp tusks!

Miraculously, last night it rained and continues to drizzle throughout the day. It’s cold again, today as low as 13C (55F), and after the scorching day recently, this feels very cold. Thank goodness for the outdoor heat lamp that enabled us to stay outdoors last night and will again tonight. It makes all the difference in the world.

As for last night’s visitors, we were pleasantly surprised when no less than eight warthogs, some we didn’t know, stopped by to say hello and check out the pellet situation. It was pretty good, they observed.

View of the Crocodile River from the overlook.

A short while later, several bushbucks and two duikers, female and male, all of whom we do know, appeared, anxious to get in on the action. It was easy for us to help them participate. 

 We got up to feed them several times during dinner, leaving our dinners to get cold. This is such a common practice. We no longer mind a bit. Now, chilled to the bone, we’re still sitting outdoors while the drizzle continues hoping to see more and more vegetation turn green for the wildlife. It’s a happy occasion in the park today.

Three little pigs…not so little…Mom and babies eating pellets at the bottom of the steps, intended for Ms. Bushbuck.

We thought it is important to mention that instead of frequently apologizing for late postings, in the future, please plan to see a post between the usual posting time and five hours later. We’re so busy here in Marloth Park. We often head out on mornings to shop, go to Kruger, or head out on a drive, especially when we see notices posted on Facebook on unusual sightings.

 As much as it seems we may have idle time, we’re swamped each day with only a few idle hours in the late afternoon. I’m sure this is the case with many retirees. How did we ever manage to have a “regular” job and get anything done?  

Croc lounging on the bank of the Crocodile River.

We’ve often heard retirees make such comments as “I’m busier now than when I worked.” I suppose it’s no different for us when each day we strive to engage in more fodder for the next day’s stories and photos, have a social life, cook most of our meals while spending the bulk of each day interacting and observing wildlife.

Tom says, “Being retired, I get up every day with nothing to do, and by noon, I’m three hours behind.” Hahaha, so true.

Three zebra butts.

Add the fact we spend at least three to four hours each day preparing a post, proofreading, taking and managing photos, and coordinating photo ops for future posts. It’s surprising to us that we have any time at all left for frivolity. But, we make sure we do.

So, for now, we’re back from shopping for the next week until we depart for Zambia and Botswana next Thursday. We’ve eaten almost everything in the big freezer except for two boxes of fish we recently purchased from the traveling “fish guy.”  

Little Wart Face often naps in our garden.  He’s so at home here.

If the power goes out for an extended period while we’re gone, Lousie and Danie will rescue the fish and other frozen items in the fridge’s freezer and put it all on ice.No worries.

Today, when we drove to Komatipoort to shop, we noticed the pharmacy was closed at 10:00 am. While at the Vodacom store purchasing my new phone (more on that tomorrow), the sales staff stated that due to Women’s Day in South Africa as a national holiday, the pharmacy would open for only one hour. How weird was that?

Vervet monkey on a rock on the bank of the river.

For details on this holiday, see below from this link:

National Women’s Day
National Women's Day.jpg
Women in Lesotho at a National Women’s Day protest against violence against women at the National University of Lesotho
Observed by Republic of South Africa
Date 9 August
First time 9 August 1995

“National Women’s Day is a South African public holiday celebrated annually on 9 August. The day commemorates the 1956 march of approximately 20,000 women to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to petition against the country’s pass laws that required South Africans defined as “black” under The Population Registration Act to carry an internal passport, known as a pass, that served to maintain population segregation, control urbanization, and manages migrant labor during the apartheid era.

The first National Women’s Day was celebrated on 9 August 1994. On 9 August 1956, more than 20,000 South African women of all races staged a march on the Union Buildings against the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act of 1950, commonly referred to as the “pass laws.” In 2006, a reenactment of the march was staged for its 50th anniversary, with many of the 1956 march veterans.

The march was led by Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa, and Sophia Williams. Other participants included Frances Baard, a statue unveiled by Northern Cape Premier Hazel Jenkins in Kimberley (Frances Baard District Municipality) on National Women’s Day 2009. The women left 14,000 petitions at the office doors of prime minister J.G. Strijdom.

The women stood silently for 30 minutes and then started singing a protest song composed in honor of the occasion: Wathint’Abafazi Wathint’imbokodo! (Now you have touched the women, you have struck a rock.). In the years since, the phrase (or its latest incarnation: “you strike a woman, you strike a rock”) has come to represent women’s courage and strength in South Africa.”

Moms and babies.

What an important day for South African women! We wish the very best for every woman as they are reminded of this critical period in time to celebrate together.

We’d heard about this important day of celebration but had no idea some stores would be closed or open for only short spans of time. After keeping an eye out, we managed to get into the store during the one-hour-open period and purchase a few toiletries for our upcoming trip.

Five waterbucks and lots of elephants near the river.

Tomorrow, we’ll be back with photos from Tom’s new haircut and the story of purchasing a new smartphone in South Africa, where there certainly are a few differences from buying in the US.

Have a spectacular day!

Photo from one year ago today, August 9, 2017:

The view of the main pool from the master bedroom in the villa in Costa Rica. These sliding doors and others on an adjacent wall open wide with fine screens to keep out insects. It was such a treat for us to have screens! For more photos, please click here.

Part 2, Kruger National Park reaps many rewards…Supporting other travelers in their quest to travel the world…

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The pillow-like puffs of white clouds against the bright blue sky and a few elephants create a heavenly scene in Kruger.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

This cute little bird landed in our bird feeder. According to our helpful friend Lynne, this is a juvenile male red-headed weaver.  Thanks, Lynne!

Not a day passes that we don’t hear from some of our readers contemplating changing their lives to travel the world. They often have many questions we’re always more than willing to answer based on our personal experiences over this past almost six years.

It’s always thrilling to see elephants along the road.

We’ve had little to offer in a few cases when the inquirer is planning to backpack, stay in hostels, or use an RV, camper, or caravan. But, the majority of inquiries revolve around places we’d suggest, holiday/vacation home rental sites we prefer, health insurance and medical care, refilling prescriptions, car rentals, credit cards to use, visas, and the most cost-effective means of converting money.

Elephants crossing the road is extra special.

We are always happy to oblige and most often respond within 24 hours. The irony of it all is that everyone travels differently. No single person or couple seems to do it precisely as we do.

And most exciting when large numbers of elephants cross the road.

That’s the beauty of the vast numbers of primarily retirees/baby boomers who are making the drastic decision to change their lives. The single most significant difference in the way we travel and how others travel or desiring to travel may include some of these:

  • We have no home, apartment, condo, or bedroom in the homes of family or friends where we go for downtime or regrouping. 
  • We have no storage anywhere. We unloaded everything we owned in our old lives.
  • We own no rental property, often the traveler(s) former residence they keep in case “they change their minds” or tire of traveling.  This may be a significant source of worry and stress; maintenance, management, rental issues, wear and tear, and market conditions. We each had owned homes for over four decades.
On our way to the Mug & Bean restaurant on Lower Sabie, we noticed it was raining at a distance. We certainly need rain here but most likely won’t encounter much for several months.
  • Typically we stay in vacation/holiday homes for one to three months. (Although this year in Africa is a rare exception, as mentioned in yesterday’s post, where we’re recovering from the big expense of the Antarctica cruise).
  • Often, for short stays, we negotiate special pricing for hotels while we await the next venue.
  • We use cruising as much as possible as a means of transportation while providing living arrangements during the sailing period. We don’t think of cruising as a holiday or vacation. 

We have minimal luggage. If we purchase something to add to our bags, we must dispose of something else. Maximum kilogram per bag: 23 (50 pounds)

A waterbuck is looking across the river for possible predators.
  • We do not stay in the homes of family and friends.  We don’t want to burden anyone with our peculiarities, nor do we expect a free ride (except for son Richard in Henderson, Nevada, where we’ll stay for a few weeks every two to three years. Thanks, Ricky!)
  • We don’t have a “bucket list.” If we discover something along the way we’d like to do, we research, analyze the costs, and make a decision to include it in our itinerary.
  • We often book some events two years in advance to continue shaping our itinerary. We thoroughly enjoy the planning process, with each of us playing a very active role.
  • Every day, 365 days a year, we spend half of each day documenting our daily lives with photos. Doing so is not a chore for us. It’s a pure pleasure! We can write about the second part of each day we spend experiencing aspects of our lives the following day.
  • Our overall goal: stress-free living.
There’s never a shortage of moms and babies.  From this site: “Elephants have the longest gestation period of all mammals. These gentle giants’ pregnancies last for more than a year and a half. The average gestation period for an elephant is about 640 to 660 days or roughly 95 weeks. By comparison, a human pregnancy lasts an average of 280 days or 40 weeks. Female elephants live for 60 to 70 years, but only have about four offspring throughout their lifetime.”

None of the above is stated to imply that the way we’re doing it is ideal. However, over these years, we’ve fine-tuned our goals, objectives, and expectations and are content with how we’ve chosen this path in life.

From this site: “The South African giraffe (G. c. giraffa) is found in northern South Africa, southern Botswana, southern Zimbabwe, and south-western Mozambique. It has dark, somewhat rounded patches “with some fine projections” on a tawny background color. The spots extend down the legs and get smaller. The median lump of males is less developed. A maximum of 31,500 are estimated to remain in the wild, and around 45 are kept in zoos.”

However, we always welcome inquiries regardless of the ways you may choose to travel. Please don’t hesitate to inquire at any time. Also, if you know of someone interested in long-term lifestyle travel, please forward our site to their email.

Two giraffes are crossing the road near a historical marker on the paved road.

Tonight, we’re heading out to dinner with friends Sandra and Paul (both MP Honorary Rangers), who happens to live a few doors down the road from us. No doubt, as always, it will be an enjoyable evening with this lovely couple.

In certain parts of Africa, giraffes are being killed for their tails used as a status symbol. For a video and story on this horrifying practice, please click here.

Tomorrow, we’ll be back with lion sighting photos! Please check back!

Have a beautiful weekend.

Photo from one year ago today, July 21, 2017:

We purchased our new Brother color scanner in Nevada to replace the five-year-old Doxie model we used in the past.  For details on living a paper-free lifestyle, please click here.

Tall and tan and young and lovely…Great night out with friends…

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What could be more fun than stopping on the way to dinner to let these magnificent beasts cross the road? Most likely, this was a mom and growing youngster.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

We never fail to stop to observe an ostrich. What a fantastic bird!

Today is a busy day! We’ve been up and prepping since 7:00 am with company coming for homemade pizza, salad, and dessert. Soon, we’ll take off for a quick trip to the mini-mart here in the park to see if they have a few odds and ends we discovered we needed.

However, even on these busy days, regardless of what’s on the agenda, we ensure there’s ample time to upload somewhat of a post for the day. Although mundane and a mere representation of quiet days “at home,” the words come quickly.

They always seem mindful of observing oncoming traffic,  But then again, we’re cognizant of giving them the right-of-way.

Photos may be a challenge when we’re aren’t always out and about searching for new and unique photo ops. Yesterday, we embarked on our usual two-hour drive here in Marloth Park and encountered several situations we’ll share over the next few days as we wind down the weekend.

On Monday, we’re off to see Deidre, the director of Wild & Free, Rescue, Rehabilitate and Release, to discuss her and her center’s research on Bovine TB, mainly how it affects its animals in the antelope family of which there are many in Marloth Park.

Such beautiful and graceful animals.

Also, while there, we’ll have an opportunity to take photos of many species currently being rehabbed at the facility and discuss the great work for wildlife. Everyone in the park knows about Deidre’s devotion and dedication.  

Although we met her before under more social circumstances, we’re enthused to see her again in her outstanding role as a conservationist and caregiver for wildlife. We’ll be posting the story with photos via a series over several days, beginning on Tuesday. We’re so looking forward to this opportunity.

All the cars in front of us also stopped to watch the giraffes.  That’s why people live in and visit Marloth Park.

Last night, we joined friends Linda and Ken for dinner at Phumula. Although the food isn’t as outstanding as at Jabula Lodge, we had a nice dinner and enjoyed the lively conversation. They had been traveling non-stop for the past almost three months and shared some spectacular experiences, some we’ve had in these past years and others that inspire us.

That’s what is so special about making friends with other world travelers. We learn so much about places we’d like to visit in the future. The world is a huge place. We’ll never run out of enthusiasm to see more and more as time marches on.

This giraffe was way more interesting in dining than paying attention to the motorists.

It is exciting to share our recent travels to Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, locations which they’d already visited in the past. It’s the commonality of most of our friends here in Marloth Park that certainly adds flair to conversations, where we’ve been, where we plan to go in the future. The myriad experiences we have each day engaging with the wildlife while living in this magical place.

Those conversations were so unlike discussions with friends in our old lives that were spectacularly over-the-top, mentally stimulating, and often filled with loud laughter.  The talks are equally mentally stimulating, filled with loud laughter, but the topics are very different.

Stopping to check out the passing cars.

Now, we focus on sharing a plethora of world travel-related topics, wildlife, and nature.  Wow! This experience certainly has rounded out our interests as opposed to what may have been had we “stayed put” in the US in our retirement years.

No doubt, had we never conceived of the idea to travel the world, now in our sixth year, we’d have found a level of contentment enjoyed by many retirees, often moving to warmer climates, making new friends, and staying in touch with old friends.

These two giraffes were on the opposite side of the road munching on greenery.

This “stepping outside the box” premise far exceeded anything we ever imagined for our lives.  Last night, on our way to the restaurant, stopping for giraffes crossing the road, Tom looked at me and said, “Who would have to thunk it?  Did you ever imagine stopping on the road to let giraffes pass?”

I smiled, looking deep into his eyes and, without a word, he knew my answer.

Have a fabulous weekend and be well and happy.

Photo from one year ago today, June 2, 2017:

This pretty flower at Butchart Gardens attracted flying insects, as shown in the upper left. For more photos, please click here.

Marvelous, majestic, magical Marloth Park…Keeps on giving…

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Such a big scary world out there!

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

This is a Dark-Capped Bulbul, thanks to friends Lynne and Mick.

It seems that never a day passes without us seeing something new and unique.  It’s nearly a full-time job seeking the unusual, the heartwarming, and the exceptional sighting that evokes emotions we can hardly describe.

At times, we also seek the simple beauty of nature at its finest in photos taken to the best of our ability. Recently, I’ve considered taking some online photography lessons, hoping to improve the quality of our photos.

Mongoose regularly visit.  Each time we give them a bowl of raw eggs mixed with a bit of sour cream. Their little faces get dirty, resulting in them cleaning each other after the feast.

We aren’t sure where the time goes. Somehow, right now, there doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to spend time taking a course. Once we’re up and on the veranda, getting the post done and uploaded by noon or 1:00 pm, half the day is gone.

Lately, we’ve been hearing stories of ostriches attacking humans. There are many more here in the park now than there were four years ago. We always proceed with caution around any wildlife.

Then, we hop in the little blue car to head out in search of more, usually returning by 2:00 or 3:00 pm. There’s dinner to be prepared, email to respond to, financial matters to attend to, and before we know it, the day has come to a close.

Yesterday, we spotted these two hippos by the river.

On occasion, we take a short nap since neither seems to get enough sleep most nights. I guess it’s an “old age” thing when many of our friends our age seem to suffer from the same affliction, awakening in the middle of the night for no reason at all.

I’ve never been a napper, although I’ve tried off and on over the years. Realizing a short nap is most beneficial, I’ve recently discovered I may get in a 20-minute doze now and then, which perks me up. Tom doesn’t do so well, but he too tries for a short siesta. 

Some of the rest of the family took Marta’s broom and decided to play with it. 

If the nap is too long, it seems to impede the ability to sleep that night. If too short, it doesn’t seem to offer much added benefit. That perfect 20 to 30-minute window always appears to do the trick. 

Our housekeeper Marta lives in a guest cottage on the property. A few days ago, we noticed this Vervet monkey sleeping near her house.

Thus, sometimes in the afternoon, when time allows, and we feel a little sleepy, we wander off to the bedroom, turn on the AC, pull on a light blanket, and try to wander off.

I suppose most retirees’ daily lives are filled similarly to ours; busy planned activities, “taking care of business,” almost daily outings to “here and there,” and responding to social media in one manner or another.

The kudus love munching on this tree in front of our veranda.

The fact that we get dozens of email messages from our worldwide readers each day, which we usually answer in the afternoon, always attempting to reply within 24 hours at most, adds to the time spent filling up our day. 

Regardless of how annoying monkeys are in the park, this tiny baby is irresistible.

Tom also receives many email messages, Facebook, and Cruise Critic inquiries to which he always responds promptly. Also, he spends a certain period each day gathering more data for his Ancestry.com file, a genuine and enthusiastic passion.

Throw in the time necessary to continue to research future travels; our days are jam-packed. By the time we set up the veranda for our nighttime viewing, we’re finally able to relax and enjoy a glass of wine or beer; it’s time for the final prep for dinner. 

View of the Crocodile River from the overlook in Marloth Park.

It’s usually dark when we dine since we’ve changed our eating time closer to 7:00 pm than our last 5:00 pm in other locations. Somehow, the later dining time seems to work better for us while here. We eat while we “watch” for wildlife and the playful antics of the bush babies who only make an appearance after dusk.

We used to watch episodes of Shark Tank, Master Chef, Hell’s Kitchen, etc., during dinner; Now, in this extraordinary life in Marloth Park, instead we’ll watch for wildlife which has ultimately proven to be more entertaining than any show imaginable.

Another view of the Crocodile River.

Once we’re off to bed, we bring my laptop into the bedroom and usually watch one episode of a favorite show. At that point, I have trouble keeping my eyes open, during which Tom constantly awakens me. He knows if I fall asleep too early, I’ll be up a long time during the night. At the time, it annoys me that he awakens me, but his intentions are spot on, so I don’t protest too much.

Ah, our lives sound so mundane and straightforward when I read this back to myself, checking for errors. We have difficulty wiping the smiles off our faces in the depth and meaning of these daily activities in this magical place.

A mongoose was resting on a root after an egg-feeding frenzy.

Oops, I hear Frank, our resident francolin, making some noise in the bush. I’d better go fill up a cup of birdseed to toss his way, and soon, he’ll be making contented little sounds as he pecks at one seed after another. 

Is birdseed for one bird? Doesn’t sound like much in the realm of things. But, for us, it’s all a part of the awe and wonder that washes over us, day after day in majestic Marloth Park.

May the simplicities of daily life bring a smile to your face.

Photo from one year ago today, April 4, 2017:

These houses are all valued well over AU $3,000,000, US $2,269,500. As we’ve mentioned in prior posts, home prices are high in Australia, more than we’ve seen in any country. We lived in the house on the far left with views of the bay. For more photos, please click here.

Tom correcting me when I’m wrong…

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Pigs were cuddling while snoozing in pen.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

Tom took another excellent distant shot of a bird we couldn’t identify online. Costa Rica neighbor and bird enthusiast Charlie identified this bird as a Clay-colored Thrush or Yigüirro in Spanish.  Thanks, Charlie!

After reading yesterday’s post, Tom corrected me on a few items, which is often the case when I make an incorrect or inconsistent statement. After 1,935 posts in five years, I’m bound to be inconsistent from time to time. 

In this post dated June 17, 2013, I referred to our “bucket list” upon visiting Venice, Italy. In yesterday’s post, as shown here, I stated we don’t use the phrase “bucket list” so much anymore.

I can justify my inaccuracy by saying that we’ve changed our views on specific topics or phrases over these years, one being “bucket list.” It had become too repetitive and overused in travel circles, and I became tired of using the phrase. 

In searching our site for how many times I referenced this phrase, it appears it may have been dozens of times dwindling as time passed, as it became apparent to me that it may not necessarily apply to us.

Squirrel Monkeys in pen.

If our travel lives consisted of a “bucket list,” we may have felt restricted to fulfilling each item on the arbitrary list.  Instead, our curiosity and desires have been fluid, changing from time to time. As a result, I dispensed with using the expression overtime during the past five years.

When meeting ambitious travelers throughout the world, I often chuckle to myself when I hear the phrase repeated repeatedly. In essence, for most travelers, it clearly defines an objective…see these places while we can.

Secondly, Tom reminded me of yesterday’s post when I went on and on about what Tom had envisioned for his retirement years, failing to mention what I’d imagined for myself.

“Oh, good grief,” I spewed. “Haven’t our readers heard enough of what I think and what I imagined?  Surely, after 1,935 posts, don’t our regular readers see me like an open book and easily recite my opinions and perceptions with an uncomplicated sense of fluidity?

Two parrots who refused to turn around for a photo op.

Tom reminded me that at any given moment, don’t we have hundreds of new readers stopping by to grab a snippet of that which we espouse in our endless ramblings? They may not as yet have grasped the flow of opinions and ideas that fly off these pages day after day.

To satisfy Tom over my supposed incomplete post yesterday, I agreed, albeit tentatively, to share what I had imagined my retirement years long before we decided to travel the world. After all, we decided in January 2012 and left Minnesota on October 31, 2102, less than 10 months later.

I began contemplating my retirement years after I turned 50, which was long before I changed my way of eating to achieve pain-free living, which transpired in August 2011 from a hereditary spinal condition.

By the end of November, I awoke one morning, and for the first time in decades, I could stand, walk and maneuver without pain in my back and legs. It was indeed a miracle. Only a few months later, Tom asked me if I’d like to travel the world now that I was pain-free, and we, unsure as to how long that would last, began planning the adventure.

Easy walking path in Zoo Ave.

At that time, little did we imagine we’d last this long. We thought, two or three years tops and we’ll lose interest after tiring of moving around. It hasn’t happened. 

However, before that recovery in 2011, always in chronic pain, preferring not to complain to family and friends, I imagined my “elder years” would be wrought with the painful condition while continuing to attempt to live as normal a life as possible.

My life would have consisted of spending time with family and friends, cooking and entertaining, keeping a tidy and organized household, and attending an endless array of activities, functions, parties, and events. 

Cute sign, Zoovenirs as opposed to souvenirs.

It would have been a relatively simple life comparable to that of many retirees, which was highly enjoyable when I could mentally put the pain aside.

That’s it. But now, my imaginings are very different…in 82 days from today (February 2, 2018), we’ll be standing on Astrolabe Island, Antarctica, with 100,000 Chinstrap penguins.

In approximately 90 days, we’ll be living in the bush in South Africa, surrounded by wildlife with a camera in hand, reveling in the wonders of nature and wildlife far beyond any dreams we may have had in the past. Pinch me. Is this really our lives?

Am I going to awaken one day to be pushing the grocery cart at the Cub Foods store in Minnesota or…awakening in Buenos Aires beginning in 41 days staying in a lovely hotel in the hub of the fascinating city for an entire month? 

Variegated Squirrel at the rescue facility, Zoo Ave in Costa Rica, comparable to those we’ve seen at the villa.

We made a choice. It wasn’t an easy or flippant decision. We have no regrets. Life is good. We’re grateful, we’re humbled, and we’re at peace.

Thanks to all of our readers for sharing this life with us.

Photo from one year ago today, November 12, 2016:

We dined almost every night during the 33-night cruise circumventing Australia, with new friends from the top, left to right, John and Kat from Australia, Cheryl and Stan and Lois and Tom from the US and us. (Not our photo). For more details, please click here.

Reflections on this life…No “bucket list” for us…

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On a rainy day in Zarcero at the Senor Scissorhands Topiary Garden.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

Another of Tom’s wonderful bird photos, in this case, a small Green Parrot.

Often retirees contact us asking questions about traveling the world when they retire, after their house and belongings sell, or after some other life event that allows them the freedom to travel the world.

Some have a few specific locations in mind that’s they have on their “bucket list,” visiting family and friends in foreign lands, the cuisine they’d love to experience, and specific sights they long to see. 

Others are on a mission to visit a certain number of countries, all seven continents (we’ll have this accomplished in January), or other goals on a growing list as they contemplate life in the future.

We don’t have a “bucket list.” We never have. Nor do we refer to such a list as impacting our goals of travel.  We’ve often been asked, “What are your goals?”

It was fun to walk under the topiary arches.

What else is there? And, the answer is always clear to us…to experience nature, wildlife, culture, and history. For us, there’s no timeframe within which we must accomplish a particular feat, with no clock ticking other than that of old age.

We decided early on to maintain a life without constraints, restrictions, and unrealistic objectives. On a larger scale, we wanted to feel a sense of freedom with few obligations other than managing our daily lives, health, and finances with the utmost care and diligence. Selfish? Perhaps.

But after a lifetime of obligation and “must do” items on what seemed to be an hour-by-hour schedule, we finally unentangled our lives in such a way that we have the flexibility to experience exactly what appeals to us without feeling any pressure to perform, achieve or accomplish.

And yet, without conscientiously trying, we’ve performed, we’ve achieved, and we’ve accomplished in ways we never imagined possible for either of us. The sense of fulfillment and joy reaches far beyond that which we ever dreamed possible at these ages. Tom will be 65 years old on December 23rd and me 70 on February 20th.

The door to Senor Scissorhands Topiary Garden

How had we previously imagined these years of our lives? From Tom’s perspective, he imagined spending three months in Washington, DC, scouring the Smithsonian and other American history facets. Also, he imagined driving two-lane highways and stopping along the way to read historical markers and visit out-of-the-way points of interest. We’ll do these someday.

He’d envisioned visiting the Suez and Panama Canals, both of which we’ve already experienced, and soon, in 16 days, we’ll see the new, improved Panama Canal for the second time.

He never imagined being a “snowbird,” owning two homes and going back and forth during the bitter cold Minnesota winters. But he did conceive of the concept of having a “loaf of bread and a gallon of milk” on hand during a blizzard. 

A good TV show, reading the daily paper, and visiting with family and old friends could have been satisfying in many ways. Add a donut and a Bismarck from SuperAmerica and a good cup of freshly brewed coffee, and he’d be content.

Basilica Nuestra Senora de las Piedades in Naranjo, Costa Rica.

Throw in our enjoyable time spent together and with family and friends; what more could a person need or want? We never dreamed of this life until it happened. 

Now, five years later, we can’t wrap our minds around any other type of lifestyle other than that which we currently live, filled with awe, gratefulness and wonder, never feeling a need or desire to “settle down.” 

So, dear readers, we continue with 11 more nights in Costa Rica, treasuring every last moment here while anticipating the future with boundless enthusiasm and joy.

May your day be filled with enthusiasm and joy.

Photo from one year ago, November 11, 2016:

View to the ceiling and elevators in the Centrum area on Royal Caribbean Radiance of the Seas. For more details, please click here.

More photos…The museum at Puente Ferrocarril Rio Grande Atenas… Another power outage…

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Juan Ramon showed us a railroad calendar. As Tom went though the pages, month by month, he was excited to find this page with the Great Northern Railway (photo from 1964). In the background is the Mississippi River, the Hennepin Ave Bridge and behind it, the Great Northern Railroad Bridge.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

In this photo, taken yesterday before the big storm, the mountains almost appear as a tidal wave.  Freaky.

Yesterday afternoon, about 30 minutes prior to our plan to walk down the steep road to a neighbor’s home who’d generously offered to take us with her to the restaurant where the rock and roll fiesta was being held from 4:00 to 7:00 pm, a downpour occurred of such magnitude that we decided not to go. 

The rain didn’t let up for hours.

Juan and his family in this old photo.

Not wanting to inconvenience her by asking her to come get us in the downpour, coupled with our lack of interest in getting soaked and the consideration that many others may have decided to stay home anyway, made staying in an easy decision.

Juan Ramon photo as he became in charge of managing the historic depot.

Moments after we notified the kindly neighbor that we wouldn’t be coming, the power went out during a close flash of lightning. This was around 3:00 pm. Unfortunately,  shortly before the power outage, I’d been using my laptop to watch a Netflix movie without using the power supply. 

The depot in the early 1900’s.

Subsequently, my battery was partially drained, leaving me with only a few hours of use remaining should the power not come back on. Again, I reminded myself of the recent hurricanes in the US and the thousands that continue to be without power, including thousands whose homes were uninhabitable due to the devastation from the storms. A short-term outage here in Costa Rica is nothing, comparatively.

The walls in this area were covered in old railroad photos.

My phone’s battery was half drained as well. Tom’s laptop was fully charged so if we were stuck in the dark all evening, we could use his laptop to watch a movie as opposed to sitting in the dark. There are only a few candles in the villa. All of our books are on our phones on Kindle apps.

Train arriving at the station in late 1800’s or early 1900’s.

I knew my laptop wouldn’t make it through one entire movie so I used our portable hard drive, plugged it into my laptop and downloaded several shows and movies. This way I could transfer them to Tom’s laptop where we could watch them there if need be.

In 1926, a tragic derailment resulted in the death of 14 passengers and crew.

At this point, Tom decided to take a nap, a rare occurrence for him. He laid down on the comfy bed and in minutes, was sound asleep. I wandered about the house, looking for something to read.

Many photos of the 1926 derailments lined the walls of the museum.

Although some vacation/holiday homes have somewhat of a “library” along with puzzles and games,  this particular property had only one paperback book, a military-type thriller in the desk drawer. I picked it up and began reading.

Axel and wheels of an old cart as shown in above old photo. Not all items in the museum were related to the railroad.

I hadn’t read a paper book in years. Even in our old lives, years ago I began reading books online, long before it was popular to do so. I loved the technology and simplicity of always having my “book” with me wherever I might be. Now, due to weight and space restrictions, neither of us ever carries a paper book.

The museum was a hodgepodge of antique items, including these tools and handmade masks.

The book kept me busy for the half hour Tom dozed. He awoke with a start asking if the power had returned. With not much to do and with it still pouring rain, we walked around the house, staring out in the sheer wonder of how it can rain so much day after day. Thank goodness for the usually sunny mornings.

By 4:30, we decided we may as well make dinner since it’s usually dark by 6:00 pm, hopefully only opening the refrigerator a few times until the power came back on. We busied ourselves in the kitchen.  Luckily, I’d already done most of the prep for the meal earlier in the day. 

When planning to go out to the music fest we figured it would be best to have a meal ready to cook in the event the food at the restaurant wasn’t suitable for my way of eating. 

Railroad switch locks.

We had Asian burger patties ready to cook (luckily the range runs on propane gas); a salad made and ready for dressing; vegetables to throw into a pot of water on the stove.  Dinner would be easy to prepare without electricity.

As for keeping the refrigerated food cold, Tom had been saving ice in the bottom bin of the freezer in a large plastic bag. He had enough ice to keep the refrigerated products cold overnight, if necessary.  If the power didn’t come back on the next day, we could begin eating everything in the freezer. We had a plan. 

Old seats from a passenger train.

By 5:15 we were seated at the dining room table with our plates of food in front of us, while we watched an episode of Master Chef. If the power didn’t come back on overnight, we had it covered.

Just about the time we’d finished our meal and the show ended, the lights flashed when the power came back on. We looked at each other, smiled and jumped up starting to clear the table. As always, Tom washed the dishes while I busied myself with other cleanup tasks.

Tom wrote in the guestbook as he often does as we travel the world.

By the time darkness fell, we made our way to the screening room, selecting a few shows on Netflix to watch until bedtime. Sure, we were disappointed not to go out with our neighbor but we do have other social plans on the horizon.

As for today’s photos, enjoy these museum treasures that Juan Ramon excitedly shared with us as we toured through the dusty old museum on the grounds of the railway depot. He was delightful and we appreciated every moment he spent with us.

Soon, Tom will watch the Minnesota Vikings game on the app on his laptop with the HDMI cord plugged into the huge flat screen TV while I prepare tonight’s meal. It’s a typical Sunday in the life of retirees.

Gee…I just might get back into that paper book!

Photo from one year ago today, September 17, 2016:

What a lovely family in their colorful holiday clothing as they walk to a local shrine with their offerings. Gede, our house man in Bali, stopped by for a visit with his wife and two daughters.  hey have since added a son to their family after we left almost a year ago.  For more details please click here.

Part 2… A journey to yesteryear in Costa Rica… A railroad depot and freight house… Puente Ferrocarril Rio Grande Atenas… Culture and history…

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No, thanks. We had no interest in walking on this bridge at Puente Ferrocarril Rio Grande Atenas.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

Inca Doves can mate for life and typically spend considerable time preening one another during the mating season. Tom took this great photo from the veranda.

After we toured the locomotive and the museum (photos coming soon) with Juan Ramon, he enthusiastically encouraged us to make the walk down the railroad tracks to the abandoned bridge at the end of the tracks.

A railroad high stand switch was used to switch the train from one track to another.

It has been raining every day for these past weeks since we arrived, and the ground was muddy and slippery in spots. Luckily, we were both wearing our water shoes which we could easily wash with the garden hose when we returned to the villa.

Several houses line the railroad tracks.

With the issue of ruining our shoes out of the way, I contemplated whether this long walk over rough terrain would work for me. At the same time, I continue to recuperate after all these months, having yet to restore my previous level of fitness and stamina. 

There was no road accessible by car to reach the houses along the railroad track.

Hesitating to go at all and realizing how long Tom and Juan Ramon would be gone, I decided “what the heck,” and I began the trek along with them. At a few points, as shown in a photo in yesterday’s post, they stopped to wait for me. 

Although difficult to see in these photos, the river runs under the bridge.

Tom stuck close to me at other points, holding my hand as we navigated the more difficult spots. The trek was much further than anticipated, although some TripAdvisor reviewers mentioned it in their comments. I knew that the more walks we do like this, the stronger I’ll become.

Walking on the bridge didn’t appeal to us.

Finally, after stopping from time to time to take photos, we made it to the bridge. Oddly, Juan Ramon and I communicated a little while I explained that our world travels in my choppy Spanish. He asked me to name some of the countries we’ve visited and seemed most intrigued with those in Africa, as is often the case.

We didn’t see any reason to walk on the old rickety bridge, so we went as far as we could without doing so.

He told me about his family and his years of working on the railroad.  He was particularly fascinated with Tom’s 42½  years spent working for Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He kept this in mind as we toured the property and museum, knowing Tom was a highly experienced railroad man.

At a few points, we could see the Rio Grande River.

Moving on to more current events of today, we finally reached out to make social contacts in Atenas. A few weeks ago, I joined an Atenas ex-pat group on Facebook, spending a few minutes each day lurking without commenting.

Although the ground was pretty level as we walked toward the bridge, walking was precarious at times. It has been raining daily, and some spots on the dirt path were slippery and muddy. At many points, we had to walk in the center of the track. 

Yesterday afternoon, I stuck my neck out and wrote the following post on Facebook:
“Hello, we’re world travelers staying in Atenas for almost four months in Roca Verde. We’d love to meet some of you. Any suggestions on where and when we could hang out and have an opportunity to make some friends would be appreciated. On October 31st, it will be five years since we sold everything we own and started this journey. We don’t own a home, have an apartment or condo anywhere, or have storage anywhere. We’d love to hear about your travel experiences and more about Atenas. Please message me or click my email on our blog at www.worldwidewaftage.com”

A least half of the way, we walked on the gravel on the tracks when the dirt path ended. The railroad ties were a combination of wood, concrete, and steel.

We’d heard ex-pats in Costa Rica were as friendly as the locals. After receiving 12 comments following my post, we already have plans for tonight to go with a neighbor living in our gated community of Roca Verda to an event in town, a rock and roll festival, and a barbecue at a local restaurant. Next week on Wednesday, we’ll attend a luncheon, mainly a women’s group, but the men come along and sit at a separate table.

At 3:30 today, we’ll walk down the steep road to Barb’s home and ride with her to the event. We’ll explain we’ll arrange a taxi to take us home so she doesn’t have to give a thought as to when we’d like to go or stay. Easy peasy. 

This house on stilts along the tracks appeared to be occupied.

Then, we received a few email messages for more plans for next week when we’ll have a car again. How fun is this! Tom and I both shook our heads, wondering why we hadn’t done this sooner.  After all, we’ve already been here for over six weeks.

We have no doubt we’ll have a good time as we often do with other retirees, many of us who’ve stepped outside the box to live a different life from what they knew living in their native country. It’s always interesting to hear “why” others have chosen this path.

We’ll be back tomorrow with the story of what we discovered when spending the late afternoon and evening with ex-pats from several countries. Of course, we’ll be taking photos to share here.

Have a fabulous Saturday! 

Photo from one year ago today, September 16, 2016:

Locals fishing along the shore in Sumbersari Bali as seen from our villa’s veranda, one year ago today.  For more photos, please click here.