Heat and power outages continue…Exciting new sighting in our garden!!!!…

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Spikey has been playing in the mud!

It was quite a night. After an early dinner at 5:30 pm, 1730 hrs, we came inside to stream a few shows on my laptop with the aircon and the fan turned on. Even after showering, we couldn’t seem to cool off from the hot 103F, 39.9C day with outrageously high humidity.

I had a hard time taking the clothes stuck to me to shower and get into one of Tom’s cool cotton tee shirts. My summer night dress was too hot to wear to bed with its silky fabric sticking to me. We got comfortable on the bed in the then-cooled room and watched an episode of shark tank, Billions, and America’s Got Talent.

During this period, yet another thunder and lightning storm shook the house. A few times, the power went off, which we feared would happen. Miraculously, moments later, the power returned much to our relief and amazement. With the delicate and inconsistent power grid in South Africa, outages from storms are more the norm than not.

New tiny bushbuck was eating pellets with mom watching in the background.

By 11:00 pm, 2300hrs, we were ready to doze off, but for some odd reason, neither of us could fall asleep. We both tossed and turned for hours. Fortunately, the bed doesn’t seem to move when one of us is moving every few minutes. It wasn’t until around 1:00 am that I finally drifted off into oblivion, and Tom did the same.

At 1:30 pm, we both bolted out of bed when the alarm went off, for no reason at all from what we could ascertain. Tom promptly shut it off, and we called the alarm company to inform them it was a false alarm, most likely due to the lightning. They weren’t answering the number we always called to tell them it was a false alarm. We kept trying to reach them to no avail.

A short time later, Tom noticed some light through the bedroom shade. It surely must have been the alarm company that was investigating our alarm during the storm. Either their phones were down, or they were too busy to answer. There’s a fee if they have to come out. I will explain what happened to Louise, and she will straighten it out for us.

Last night while sitting at the table on the veranda, I looked up to see a bushbaby sticking her head out of the hole in the bushbaby house.

Speaking of Louise, last night, she texted asking us if we’d like to join them for a braai at Frikkee’s Dam in Lionspruit this morning around 11:00 am. They have eight family members visiting for an early holiday celebration. All ten of them are attending along with a few other “regulars” that always join in on these brunch braais, Flo and JJ and their young adult kids, and Estelle and James, at times with their adult kids.

Everyone brings food to share. We are making our usual brunch egg with cheese, bacon, mushroom, and onions. As I write here, Tom is cooking the large pan on the braai. It’s too hot to turn on the oven in the house. I am back in the bedroom preparing this post in air-conditioned comfort, knowing we’ll be spending the rest of the day outdoors in the heat, expected to rise to 100F, 38C mid-day.

We’ll be bringing the camera, hoping to see some wildlife in the wide-open area where lions, Fluffy, and Dezi reside. We hear their roars night after night when they are on the hunt for their next meal. There is plenty of wildlife to sustain them in Lionspruit, especially after the recent culling and moving many antelope into Lionspruit from Marloth Park. The back border of our holiday home borders Lionspruit so we can hear some action from time to time.

Since bushbabies are nocturnal, she wasn’t quite awake yet.

More old friends have arrived in Marloth Park, Cees, and Rina, who we met and thoroughly enjoyed when they were our neighbors at the Orange house in 2018.  It’s hard to believe that was three years ago. We have already planned to get together for dinner on Tuesday evening at Amazing Kruger View, overlooking the Crocodile River. It will be great to see them again, and we’ll undoubtedly plan other get-togethers while they are here.

Dear friends Kathy and Don are leaving Marloth Park to return to Hawaii for the holidays. There will be a final braai and get-together at their house on Thursday night for a few other friends and us. It will be sad to see them go since they have been close friends since we arrived in December 2013 when they invited us for dinner on Christmas Eve when they’d never even met us.

This was the first time we’d seen a bushbaby in the house since we arrived last January.

Friends Lynne and Mick, whom we hope to see in Jersey, UK, in spring 2022, met us at Jabula a few days before Christmas that year, introduced to us by owners/friends Dawn and Leon. When we all chatted for a bit, they later spoke to Kathy and Don, saying they should meet us. Just like that, Kathy and Don invited us for Christmas Eve dinner along with family and other friends.

We were thrilled and flattered to be included and so warmly welcomed. Now, eight years later, we’ve been included in their circle of friends as we’ve included them in ours. That’s how it is in Marloth Park, one of the main reasons we love it here so much, along with our love of our animal friends.

Soon, she tucked her head back inside, perhaps to sleep a bit longer. Later today, when we get home from the braai at Frikkee’s Dam, we’ll put some sour cream mixed with jelly (leftover from having guests) in a bit of cup for her.

When we reviewed last night’s trail cam, there wasn’t a single photo on the card. We weren’t surprised. We doubted any of the animals would have been out and about during the storm.  When the lightning flashed every few minutes during the night, I often wondered if they were scared. Undoubtedly, the young ones would have been terrified, staying close to their moms for shelter and comfort.

This morning, they were all back: Spikey, as shown in the main photo, Broken Horn, Frank, The Misses, Lonely Girl, Sigfried and Roy, Thick Neck, Gordon Ramsey, Sylvia, Mom, and Baby Bushbuck. It was a lovely start to yet another hot day.

Be well. Be happy. Be safe.

Photo from one year ago today, November 7, 2020:

This photo was posted one year ago while in a hotel in lockdown in Mumbai, India, on day #229. The end of the elephant’s tail has hairs that act as a small brush, suitable for swatting flies, bees, and other insects. For more photos, please click here.

Exciting day in the bush…New visitors add to the adventure…See our photos!…

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This adorable zebra was lounging in our garden. He must have spotted something interesting on the ground.

I’d stepped inside the house to hang wet laundry on the indoor track. Tom, who was outdoors, whispered in an excited tone through the screen door, “Hurry and come outside. We have a zebra lying down in the garden.”

His friend posed nicely for us between two trees.

Dropping what I was doing, I gingerly opened the screen door with the camera in hand, on and ready to shoot. And there he was, a handsome young-looking male, lounging as if he’s done this many times in our garden. He had not. This was the first time we’d seen him. Moments later, we noticed another male standing nearby, checking us out.

The standing zebra inched his way forward to the awaiting pile of pellets on the ground while the lying zebra contemplated whether or not he should get up and check out the situation. Were we safe? And, of course, did they have pellets? Without waiting for a second, Tom began tossing pellets their way.

A convenient spot to scratch one’s head.

We laughed. Was he that well-fed from residents in Marloth Park that his protruding belly was full? They both looked well fed.

Zebras are “non-ruminants, so plant matter passes through their system in one fell swoop. Their single, relatively small stomach necessitates several small meals a day. The nutrients from cellulose digestion are absorbed into the zebra’s blood next via the large intestine walls.

Before arising, a little preening was necessary.

As a result of this and their daily consumption of the plant, matter results in frequent expulsion of gas: “Large quantities of gas are released as a by-product, and this inflates their bellies so that they always look fat and healthy. It is also the cause of the flatulence experienced when zebras take fright and run away.”

We’ve been well aware of these facts about zebras since we came to Africa in 2013. Mainly, their big bellies alerted us that they have only one stomach, unlike many other animals. Most antelopes, buffalo, and other wild animals are ruminants.

Once on his feet, he began staring at us for pellets while his friend was already eating.

What precisely is a ruminant?”

“Ruminants include cattle, sheep, goats, buffalo, deer, elk, giraffes, and camels. These animals all have a digestive system that is uniquely different from our own. Instead of one compartment to the stomach, they have four.”

Here is an interesting article that further explains the ruminant digestive system, if you’re interested. However, I anticipate few readers will be interested in this information.

Once he was on his feet, I noticed an injury on his rear right leg. Zebras are mighty kickers. This injury could easily have come from another zebra.

But, as somewhat obsessed observers of animals in the wild, this becomes an exciting fact that further explains animals’ eating habits and associated behaviors. After all, we’ve spent the better part of over two years observing wildlife. Each new visitor brings a wealth of opportunities for us to learn more.

Finally, the lying zebra perked up, using his front legs to lift him with a bit of effort, and he joined his cohort in the pellet eating frenzy. Tom must have tossed ten one-quart (about one liter each) containers of pellets to them, and they easily could have stayed for more.

Zebra’s tails appear to be braided, but they are not. The pattern on their tail hair creates this illusion.

During their visit, several kudus joined in and Broken Horn, who was lying in wait in the bush and could hear the sound of Tom tossing pellets. There were numerous helmeted guinea-fowls, a few warthogs, and bushbucks. We realized that the ten-day school holidays starting today with holidaymakers flooding the park that this plethora of wildlife may be the last we’ll see for a while.

Zebras form strong bonds with the same sex, often spending their lives together.

This morning, the two zebras returned, remembering the generous pellet offering, ate their fill, and took off. Since then, we’ve seen several bushbucks, including Torn Ear, Spikey and Thick Neck, a few warthogs including The Imposter, Fred and Ethel, Little and Frank, and The Misses, who are always here regardless of the numbers of tourists in the park.

Tonight, we’re off to Jabula with Rita and Gerhard and Kathy and Don. For us, this will be one of three remaining Friday nights at Jabula until it’s time for us to go on October 21st.

Lots of playful teasing and biting occurs, especially around food and other distractions.

Have a fantastic first day of October!

Photo from one year ago today, October 1, 2020:

This photo was posted one year ago in lockdown in a hotel in Mumbai, India, on day #192. Tom was thrilled to be in Hawaii in 2014. For more photos, please click here.

Thick Neck/Bad Leg and Broken Horn, two of our favorites…

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It’s easy to see why we call him Thick Neck. His neck is almost twice as thick as other bushbucks.

At the moment, Thick Neck/Bad Leg, Broken Horn, Frank, and the Misses are here. We’ve hardly seen many warthogs since last week’s holiday ended on Sunday, and by Monday, most holidaymakers were gone. Starting tomorrow, a new round of tourists will flood Marloth Park for the ten-day school holiday. We’re preparing ourselves because we may only see the wildlife mentioned above until October 11th, after the holidaymakers leave.

Now that I’m beginning to heal from the dry socket and feeling more like myself, we’ll make a point of staying busy with our friends during this period, knowing few animals will entertain us during the day and evening. We will attempt to keep the knowledge we’ll be returning in December 2022 amid the realities of the Christmas season in busy Marloth Park and focus more on having fun with friends during that visit.

This is Mom from “Mom and Baby” bushbucks. Baby was in the bush while Mom checked out the pellet situation. We have countless helmeted guinea-fowls in the garden all day.

We’re still contemplating applying for the four-year retiree visa. Still, the problem is it requires an extraordinary amount of paperwork, legal fees, and lots of our time to get everything done. Plus, it must be done while we’re in the US. Once approved, the four-year time clock begins. Ultimately, we could lose the first eight months of the four-year visa before we get back to South Africa. It’s a lot to consider.

Before we return to Africa, we’ll have to decide if we’re only staying the three months allowed by our visas or if we should book a visit to another country in Africa for the new 90-day visa stamp to be able to stay for a total of six months less the short break in between.

He spends his days and nights in our garden. He’ll have to find another location when we leave in three weeks. It will be sad to think of him waiting for us. But, with the bush turning green now, he’ll have plenty of vegetation available for him soon.

Many of these types of decisions are based on what happens with Covid-19 over the next 18 months. We do not want to risk losing money or dealing with deposit refunds for housing, flights, and other travel-related expenses. We’ve already been through this five times since the onset of the pandemic and don’t care to deal with this again if we can avoid it.

Speaking of Thick Neck/Bad Leg, we’re considering dropping the second part of his name and going back to Thick Neck only. His bad leg seems to have healed, and he’s no longer limping. A long time ago, Danie told us how many wild animals have robust health and strong immune systems, often healing without incident from various injuries they may get living in the bush.

This morning, Broken Horn has a muddy face. He could have been digging in the dirt or rolling in mud at another location.

Over the collective two years we’ve spent in Marloth Park, since 2013, we’ve witnessed countless animals with injuries, only to watch them heal over time. Recently we posted about a female kudu whose eyelid had almost been ripped off. It looked awful, and we contacted the rangers when blood was dripping down her face. You can see that post with her photos here.

Now called Bad Eye, she stopped by a few days ago, a full two weeks since her injury. It looks as if it’s already begun to heal nicely. She may never be able to close that one eye, but she’s alive and appears to be thriving. Often, injured animals attract the attention of wildlife-lovers such as us, and we feed them more than the others. The added food surely must be instrumental in their recovery.

Broken Horn spends considerable time in our garden with his head down, looking for pellets. He doesn’t look undernourished.

Broken Horn, a wildebeest, is also known as a gnu, pronounced “new.” I recall learning about gnus in grade school but didn’t realize they were also called wildebeests until we arrived in Africa in 2013. They are fascinating animals with prominent personalities, memorable bark, and a keen sense of their safety and protection ability. Broken Horn has a quirky disposition we’ve thoroughly enjoyed.

After speaking to Louise yesterday, we may consider a different, larger house when we return. My only hesitancy is we won’t see these same familiar animals when they only wander a specific area. It’s a big decision we’ll address in the future.

Guinea-fowls don’t fly much, preferring to walk. But they do fly when they are frightened of seeking higher ground to check out their surroundings, as in this case.

May your day be pleasant!

Photo from one year ago today, September 30, 2022:

This photo was posted one year ago while in lockdown in a hotel in Mumbai, India, on day #191. My dinner in 2013  in Kenya was seasoned grilled red snapper with sautéed non-starchy vegetables. For more photos, please click here.

Sorry, if we missed responding to your comment…Remembering…

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Zebras along the bank of the Vurhami Dam in Kruger National Park.

Within the inner workings, on the admin pages, I can see comments posted by our readers. Each day before I begin preparing the post, I check the “comments” section to read comments posted on any past or present posts. Comments may be posted on historic entries as far back as our first post on March 15, 2012.

Recently I noticed I hadn’t responded to some comments, and I apologize for that. In the future, I will make every effort to respond to each comment and email. Some days we receive more email messages that I can respond to in a day. So please bear with me as I attempt to get caught up.

A zebra was taking a drink at the Vurhami Dam. Note the elephant on the opposite side of the wall.

With some technical issues impacting our WiFi signal in the house, I haven’t been able to work on the corrections for the past posts for several days. After uploading this post, I will spend the remainder of the afternoon beginning this process once again. At this point, I still have 1200 or so posts to correct.

So far, I have completed about 2286, which was quite a task in itself. But, it’s the nature of the beast, and I chose to go back and do the corrections, never knowing how long it would take. Since I can comfortably correct about ten posts per day, I expect I won’t be done with this task until four months from now, hopefully by the end of the year. It will be a relief to have my afternoons to work on other things I may enjoy more.

There is an adorable youngster in this photo.

Life is filled with responsibilities, some pleasant, some not so much. This morning I made Tom homemade, from scratch, blueberry muffins. His weight remains stable, and he’s been able to enjoy some treats. Each time we grocery shop, he makes his way to the bakery section, checking out the muffins and doughnuts.

He’d added a few items to our grocery trolley on a few occasions, but after trying them with his coffee the next day, he always mentions they aren’t very good. Finally, I made homemade blueberry muffins for him, not from a box but scratch. I found a good-sounding recipe at this link, entitled “To Die For Blueberry Muffins.”

A group of zebras is called a dazzle.

By the time I finally finished making and baking the muffins, he’d already had his coffee for the day. But, he didn’t waste any time, eating two warm muffins, each topped with a dollop of butter. He loved them! I was thrilled. I’d made a double batch ending up with 18 muffins. To keep them fresh, I froze them in ziplock bags of four. The entire batch will last a total of nine days, eating two muffins a day.

I won’t be surprised if he asks for another batch at the end of the nine days, and of course, I will be delighted to make them again. In the meantime, I was tempted by his muffins which aren’t gluten-free, sugar-free and low carb. As a result, I made a batch of suitable lemon/poppyseed coconut flour muffins for me. I have been longing for such a treat for so long.

This elephant was too far for a good shot.

This morning, the wonderful smells emanating from the kitchen brought back many memories of past times. I’m reminded of all of the years I worked full-time and spent my spare time cooking and baking for us, for family, and friends. I love the life we have now. No, I don’t miss that life. But, it’s pleasant to go down “memory lane” when amazing smells fill the house, stirring up memories from the past.

Today, we’re staying here, cooking a flattie (a flattened chicken) on the braai and some side dishes, feeding our endless stream of visitors and continuing to revel in this life in the bush, seven months after arriving, with almost six more months to go. Then, we’ll be off again to other adventures in this chaotic world, as restrictions and lockdowns allow.

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, August 17, 2020:

One year ago, this photo was posted in lockdown in Mumbai, India, on day #147. Taken from our seats on the Eurostar from Paris to London in 2014. The seats were more comprehensive than airplane seats. I had pictured a four-seat configuration with a table in front of us, which was not the case with our seats. For more photos, please click here.

Load shedding is annoying…New friends in the garden…

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Here is our new friend, One Tusk. We’ve seen another warthog with only one tusk, but this one has a substantial remaining tusk.

Who’s in the garden this morning?

  • 5 warthogs – inc. Little, Tiny, Lonely Boy, Lonely Girl, and others
  • 11 bushbucks – inc. Thick Neck, Bad Leg, Spikey, and others
  • 12 kudus – inc. Bossy, Baby Daddy, Medium Daddy, two youngsters, and others
  • 1 wildebeest – inc Broken Horn,
  • 2 Frank and The Misses
This is another new friend, Old Man, who had lost both of his horns. He is very old based on visible signs of aging on his face and body. However, he seems to have a friendly disposition. We hope to see him again.

Load shedding during the evening is the most annoying time for us, especially from dark to 10:00 pm, 2200 hrs. Now, as the cold winter weather rolls in, staying outdoors is uncomfortable. Also, we noticed very few animals stopping by after dark, based on photos on our trail cam during this cold spell. They, too, are chilled and prefer to hunker down together for warmth or find a warm spot for the night in the case of solitary animals.

If the power is out for 2 ½ hours from 7:00 pm, 1900 hrs, there’s not much to do in the dark other than play mindless games on our phones. Unfortunately, when the power is out, so is the WiFi, and we cannot stream any of our favorite shows. I tried downloading some movies from various sites, but this is not easily accomplished with a Chromebook. Doing so would get us through these dull and boring periods.

Old Man and Broken Horn arrived in the garden within minutes of one another. Of course, they could be related, but many of the animals in Marloth Park are related in one way or another.

We can add a few apps to aid in this process, but at this point, I don’t feel comfortable downloading these obscure apps with few, if any, reviews, which could easily create some issues. We don’t want to take any chances right now. Tom’s new laptop should arrive today and my keyboard, although improved, is still acting up.

Before having Chromebooks, we used the fantastic downloading site Graboid for US $19.95, ZAR 271 a month. When we tried to download the app after buying the Chromebooks, we were disappointed to find out that it wouldn’t work on them. Downloading a different browser wouldn’t help. It was due to Chrome’s operating system. Unfortunately, there was nothing we could do about that.

Old Man’s small horns could have been from fighting over the years.

Tonight from 7:00 pm, 1900 hours, load shedding will commence for 2 ½ hours. When Rita and Gerhard suggested we all get together, as usual, it dawned on me that if they came here for sundowners at 4:00 pm, 1600 hours and the four of us entertain ourselves in idle chatter, we can head to a restaurant (most have generators) for dinner by about 6:30 pm, 1830 hrs, and take our time ordering diner and dining.

It’s not too difficult to spend three hours in a restaurant with fun friends. At least, we’ll get through another night this week during load shedding. As for restaurants, meals and drinks must be paid in cash since WiFi is out during load shedding, and they aren’t able to use their credit card processing machines. Makes sense.

Another thing we noticed about Old Man was the length of his tail which almost reached the ground. Broken Horn’s tail is half a meter shorter.

Load shedding requires residents to do a little planning, especially in the evenings. Daytime is less bothersome when most have tasks and projects they can do around the house during the day. Heading to Kruger National Park is a great way to spend time during power outages.

Walking in the park is also an excellent way to pass load shedding time. Unfortunately, with my legs less steady from the surgeries two-plus years ago, we don’t take a risk and walk on the uneven dirt roads in Marloth Park. Reading books, either paper or on devices, is an excellent way to spend time during outages.

He appeared rather content in our garden, staying for over an hour, spending most of the time looking at us.

For us, we had both read so many books in the first few years of our world travels that we have since lost interest in reading any fiction, preferring to read non-fiction on topics we enjoy online, at any given time which may not work during load shedding.

Some locals may stay busy with puzzles during load shedding if they have some suitable source of light. I like this idea, but we don’t have a proper table where I’d be willing to leave an unfinished puzzle. Moreover, Tom has no interest in puzzles. And, after years of playing Gin and me beating Tom, he lost interest in that. Ha!

Today, Tom will set up his new Chromebook that just arrived from Takealot, South Africa’s version of Amazon. Tonight, we’ll have a delightful evening with Rita and Gerhard.

Have a fantastic day!

Photo from one year ago today, June 9, 2020:

An appropriately named Fish Eagle stood watch over the “catch of the day.” For more photos, please click here.

Future world travelers…What does it take besides a willingness to “let go”?..

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Ulysses, the groundskeeper, brought us these fresh limes this morning plucked from a tree on the property.  There’s an electric juicer here, so I juiced the lime and mixed the juice with my water and a slice of the lime. Delicious!

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

Another exquisite sunset from the veranda.

Over these past years, we’ve had countless potential future world travelers contact us with questions. Many have been in the process of selling their homes or contemplating doing so. Some have decided to keep their homes and rent them to see how they feel after traveling for a year or two.

Many “baby boomers” and others have decided to downsize, keep a small apartment or condo with enough of their “stuff” should they choose this life isn’t for them. This way, they can return to a life intact in a desirable location containing their familiar belongings. 

Some who decide to become “homeless,” per se, put their belongings in a storage facility, providing them with peace of mind should they find the nomadic life is not for them in a year or two.

The formal dining room is lovely, but we’ve yet to dine at the table.

Those that can afford to do so may choose to keep their homes as a base and travel outside their home country for a while, returning every few months or so to take care of their homes, spend time with family, attend to their financial responsibilities, repack and plan for the next adventure.

All of these scenarios and many more consist of world travel. All of these scenarios will provide the adventure seeker and self-proclaimed explorer an opportunity to see the world.

However, when many travelers contact us, our answers may not be befitting their chosen path. Therefore, we try to keep this in mind and address the solutions to accommodate their personal choices.

Beautiful built-ins containing many treasures from Bev and Sam’s world travels.

Traveling for a month or two, staying short-term in resorts and hotels in tourist areas, and even perhaps traveling to a new location every week or two is far removed from our reality. 

Of course, we encourage everyone who can get outside of their “comfort zone” to explore whatever it may be that “trips their trigger” (no pun or political reference intended). 

Whether it’s sightseeing in your hometown, something few people ever do or visiting a nearby state for a weekend, we all benefit from getting away from the day-to-day stresses that can be suffocating. Unfortunately, we felt this creeping up during the nine weeks we spent in the USA;  traffic, noise, smog, pushy people, and waiting in long lines for almost everything.

This pretty plant in the dining room is situated next to one of two speakers for the sound system.

We’ve yet encountered a couple who took this leap of faith with no home, no stuff, no storage, with no end in sight; health and longevity providing.  Oh, we’ve met couples “out in the world” who’s let go of all their worldly possessions and plan to travel for a year or two. 

But, we’ve yet to meet the couple who’ve gone to the extremes that we have. That’s not to say there’s anything special about us. There’s not.  Perhaps, we just were in a headspace that has made this life meaningful and comfortable for us.

Indeed, my vastly renewed health after changing my diet (six years ago this month) after 25 years of chronic pain was highly instrumental. Perhaps, Tom’s good pension from 42 plus years on the railroad was highly instrumental. Finally, maybe, my desire to document, write, and share our story played some role.

Bev and Sam have also traveled to Africa, returning with many handmade works of art.

Perhaps, above all, the commonality Tom and I shared and continue to share in our passion for wildlife, nature, and culture was highly instrumental in making us the right couple to live this often challenging and always unusual life…a life of travel with no end in sight.

We had no idea at the onset that both of us would continue to find this lifestyle suitable and fulfilling. While we were planning, we committed to one another that should one of us want to “stop,” the other would agree to do so without issue.  Now we laugh when we jokingly ask one another, “Do you want to stop?”

We’ve heard many stories of how couples who seemed compatible in their travel desires have found after a while. However, they can’t seem to make the 24/7 commitment and decision-making process work for them.

The dining room is decorated with many fine works of art and decorator items.

Regardless of one’s motivation or method of traveling the world, each person/couple will decide for themselves what works for them, economically, emotionally, and spiritually in satisfying what for some is an innate desire to travel. Therefore, the terms and conditions determined and established for such a life are unique from one person, one couple to another.

For us, it’s the uncertainty; it’s the complexity. It’s the sense of adventure. Although to a degree, it’s an element of risk in stretching ourselves to our limits based on our age, ability, and health; all play a vital role in making this life joyful for us.

The sizeable exquisite table seats eight.  It surely could be fun to host a dinner party for eight.

No, we don’t do as much sightseeing as some travelers. But, browse through our archives over this past almost five years, and you’ll find how much we’ve been sightseeing and exploring. 

For us, that’s not what it’s all about. We love being able to immerse ourselves into the daily lifestyle of the locals living nearby us at any given time. We love learning, researching, and exploring to discover the nuances and intricacies of life in other lands.  We come away with knowledge, stories, and photos we’ll be able to carry with us wherever we may go. 

Most of all, having the opportunity to share our day-to-day lives with all of you in words and photos has enhanced our travels in a truly indescribable way. 

The view from the dining room is not unlike the sweeping views from most of the rooms in this unique property.

Even if, our dreams of world travel are different from one another, we’re always delighted to share tidbits of information we’ve gleaned from our experiences, maybe saving you hours of research in the process.

Thanks to every one of our readers for traveling along with us, and please, never hesitate to share your stories or questions with us. We love hearing from YOU!

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

Not our photo. Police and investigators searched for clues after a bombing not far from us in Phuket.  Many victims were taken to area hospitals. See this link for details. Here’s our story one year ago.