Sunday, March 9, 2014
Interesting strategic geo-political crisis in Crimea and Ukraine
Interesting to see how Putin's perceptions and calculations that the West including the US and the European Union as well as NATO is too weak, and unable to get unified... and took advantage of the lengthy diplomatic efforts of the West to advance into Crimea... which is a strategic peninsula for the Russian Federation because of its only warm-water naval base close to the Mediterranean Sea and the flashpoints of Syria and Egypt... I do not think that the Western or international coalition will be united. This is especially true because Western Europe is depending so much on Russian oil and natural gaz for its energy grid... It is interesting to see the Russian propaganda machine using WW II arguments and painting the new Ukrainian government as Nazis and fascists who have engineered a coup (Actually a people's revolution) to kick the corrupted government that was in place. Putin is also using the argument that the Russian-speaking minority in Crimea does not want the government change in Kiev, and is under attack from pro-Kiev elements. Thus far, there have been no report of such attacks. Putin is a former KGB officer and wants to retain its sphere of influence over some countries in Eastern Europe... like Georgia, and Ukraine... I believe that he is afraid that the Ukrainian people's revolution could spill into Russia, and also questions the high level of corruption in the Russian Federation. This is why Putin had to act pro-actively, and the international community is faced with a fait-accompli that will further decided by the results of the referendum in Crimea scheduled for next week-end! The West got out-smarted by Putin...once again as in Georgia. Interesting to see that NATO has deployed air force squadrons to Poland... Are we facing WW III? Some clashes between Russian and Ukrainian units could be the spark that would ignite the whole region... The next week will be a test between the Western governments and Putin... Let's hope that a diplomatic solution and a face-saving alternative for Putin can be negotiated. Crimea is going back to Russia... Will Putin invade the eastern regions of Ukraine?
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Sunday May 16 2010
Sunday May 16, 2010
What a full day! The morning was spent spotting two white rhinos, and getting out of the vehicle, and tracking them on foot with our guide equipped with a gun in case there could be danger…
We came close to the animals on foot twice, about 10 meters from the two animals that were grazing… We also were able to see three crocs at a water hole. Two were sunning themselves close to the shore… The third one looked like a piece of wood at the surface of the water. We also saw several marabou storks and guinea fowls.
The afternoon was spent trying to spot three female elephants, and after several tries in the same area, our guide saw fresh foot tracks in a thicket area, and we were able to spot them and track them as they were travelling and eating foliage from trees. Once they were spotted, other game viewing vehicles joined us, and a couple of times, the elephants became agitated because we were following too closely. Once, one of the larger animals charged toward our jeep. I was seated in the front passenger side, and the animals was so close to the front of the vehicle that I did not have time to zoom back my camera and I took a picture of each of its eyes… It was that close to us… only the front hood length separating us!
What a full day! The morning was spent spotting two white rhinos, and getting out of the vehicle, and tracking them on foot with our guide equipped with a gun in case there could be danger…
We came close to the animals on foot twice, about 10 meters from the two animals that were grazing… We also were able to see three crocs at a water hole. Two were sunning themselves close to the shore… The third one looked like a piece of wood at the surface of the water. We also saw several marabou storks and guinea fowls.
The afternoon was spent trying to spot three female elephants, and after several tries in the same area, our guide saw fresh foot tracks in a thicket area, and we were able to spot them and track them as they were travelling and eating foliage from trees. Once they were spotted, other game viewing vehicles joined us, and a couple of times, the elephants became agitated because we were following too closely. Once, one of the larger animals charged toward our jeep. I was seated in the front passenger side, and the animals was so close to the front of the vehicle that I did not have time to zoom back my camera and I took a picture of each of its eyes… It was that close to us… only the front hood length separating us!
Saturday May 15 2010
Saturday May 15, 2010
The next morning, all six of us plus four other people, also from the US, who had arrived on the same day but at earlier times, met our game drive guide, Chris, in a ranger uniform, with a walkie-talkie and binoculars… for the morning safari on the ZuluNyala Reserve… The weather was overcast but pleasant… We immediately saw three giraffes, an older male called George, with just one horn, and two young males playing near a watering hole…
We then drove to the southern part of the reserve where two male cheetahs had been tracked via telemetry, and sighted that very morning, and we found them successfully and approached them carefully as close as they allowed us to get to them before they moved on… Their ability to blend into the brush and tall dried grass was absolutely amazing… It was hard to spot them once they would lie down in the tall grass… We also saw other species of animals: Antelopes, Nyalas, Warthogs, Cape Buffaloes…
We came back to the Lodge for lunch and had a buffet meal of venison meat, impala meat, which was prepared in a stew… The dish was very tasty…
We went back out after lunch with Chris in his vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser with open sides, and a driver’s door that could not closed that he had continuously to close it along the way… I was afraid that he might be scaring the animals.
From afar, he spotted a black male rhino grazing in an open area. Chris’ last sighting of this animal was about three months ago, and all occupants of his jeeps were thrilled at the excitement… Our guide had been the first to spot it, and we were first in the pecking order of the jeeps that congregated to see the animals after Chris confirmed the sighting by walkie- talkie to other viewing parties. We then stayed in the park after dark to try to spot leopards with a search light but we were unsuccessful, although we saw monkeys, and bush babies (similar to koala bears)…
Dinner was an impala roast with excellent vegetables, and terrific dessert. At the end of the meal, we had a show of Zulu male and female dancers accompanied by drums…
The next morning, all six of us plus four other people, also from the US, who had arrived on the same day but at earlier times, met our game drive guide, Chris, in a ranger uniform, with a walkie-talkie and binoculars… for the morning safari on the ZuluNyala Reserve… The weather was overcast but pleasant… We immediately saw three giraffes, an older male called George, with just one horn, and two young males playing near a watering hole…
We then drove to the southern part of the reserve where two male cheetahs had been tracked via telemetry, and sighted that very morning, and we found them successfully and approached them carefully as close as they allowed us to get to them before they moved on… Their ability to blend into the brush and tall dried grass was absolutely amazing… It was hard to spot them once they would lie down in the tall grass… We also saw other species of animals: Antelopes, Nyalas, Warthogs, Cape Buffaloes…
We came back to the Lodge for lunch and had a buffet meal of venison meat, impala meat, which was prepared in a stew… The dish was very tasty…
We went back out after lunch with Chris in his vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser with open sides, and a driver’s door that could not closed that he had continuously to close it along the way… I was afraid that he might be scaring the animals.
From afar, he spotted a black male rhino grazing in an open area. Chris’ last sighting of this animal was about three months ago, and all occupants of his jeeps were thrilled at the excitement… Our guide had been the first to spot it, and we were first in the pecking order of the jeeps that congregated to see the animals after Chris confirmed the sighting by walkie- talkie to other viewing parties. We then stayed in the park after dark to try to spot leopards with a search light but we were unsuccessful, although we saw monkeys, and bush babies (similar to koala bears)…
Dinner was an impala roast with excellent vegetables, and terrific dessert. At the end of the meal, we had a show of Zulu male and female dancers accompanied by drums…
Thursday May 14
Thursday May 14
Arrived safely at ZuluNyala game Lodge after an exciting first flight on the Airbus 380 from Paris to Johannesburg that locals call Joburg… The flight was very smooth, and the aircraft has the least flight noise in the cabin than other planes…
We were lucky that the flight was not full and Antoinette could stretch out over four seats in the middle of a row.
The Joburg airport is very modern, and all decked out with advertising posters from the World Cup sponsors… The color of the South African team is everywhere, and many people are wearing their yellow jersey. The team is called the “Bafana Bafana”.
We transferred to a South African Express flight to Richards Bay on the east coast of South Africa about one hour north east of Durban… The flight was one hour and a half long. A driver and a van were waiting for us to bring us to the lodge, about two hours from the airport. We were with four other Americans, a couple from Wilton, Connecticut, and two sisters from Portland… The couple was celebrating their 10-year wedding anniversary. One of the two sisters received the trip as a retirement gift from teaching.
The road conditions were very good, surprisingly in good conditions when compared to other African countries I visited previously. We arrived at about 6:00 p.m. at the Lodge, checked in, and went to dinner for 7:00 p.m. A good shower was welcome after a whole night on the plane (we left at midnight from Paris and the flight was 10 hours…) Joburg and Paris are on the same time zone so the jet lag was minimal.
We were told to meet up for breakfast and to assemble with other people who arrived on the same DAY at 8:30 a.m. the next day to meet our ranger guide named Chris…
Arrived safely at ZuluNyala game Lodge after an exciting first flight on the Airbus 380 from Paris to Johannesburg that locals call Joburg… The flight was very smooth, and the aircraft has the least flight noise in the cabin than other planes…
We were lucky that the flight was not full and Antoinette could stretch out over four seats in the middle of a row.
The Joburg airport is very modern, and all decked out with advertising posters from the World Cup sponsors… The color of the South African team is everywhere, and many people are wearing their yellow jersey. The team is called the “Bafana Bafana”.
We transferred to a South African Express flight to Richards Bay on the east coast of South Africa about one hour north east of Durban… The flight was one hour and a half long. A driver and a van were waiting for us to bring us to the lodge, about two hours from the airport. We were with four other Americans, a couple from Wilton, Connecticut, and two sisters from Portland… The couple was celebrating their 10-year wedding anniversary. One of the two sisters received the trip as a retirement gift from teaching.
The road conditions were very good, surprisingly in good conditions when compared to other African countries I visited previously. We arrived at about 6:00 p.m. at the Lodge, checked in, and went to dinner for 7:00 p.m. A good shower was welcome after a whole night on the plane (we left at midnight from Paris and the flight was 10 hours…) Joburg and Paris are on the same time zone so the jet lag was minimal.
We were told to meet up for breakfast and to assemble with other people who arrived on the same DAY at 8:30 a.m. the next day to meet our ranger guide named Chris…
Tuesday May 12
Tuesday May 12
Arrived in Paris safe after n Air France flight without any incidents and the great service… Which is the airline still offering free champagne and wine for dinner in the economy coach class? Which airline has stewards and stewardesses greeting you with a smile, and helping you to load your cabin luggage in the overhead bins? Air France… with Gallic flair!
So happy to find Paris again, and our apartment on the Rue Eugene Delacroix… “Puy d’Amour” as we had left it… It had been more than one year for me… since March of 2009, just before our home fire in Nashua…
Our regular taxi was there to pick us at the airport and the conversation immediately ranged from judo to soccer, and we discussed the relative chances of France, Portugal and the US to reach the final of the World Cup… Interestingly, our driver went to South Africa two years ago and related some of the unexpected things he saw while there… Great food and wine, Johannesburg as a city bigger than Paris, a big country where everything grows…
By the way, driving into Paris and seeing the 1998 World Cup Stadium, Stade de France, I noticed that France is a candidate country for the Euro Cup in 2016. More soccer thrills in the future!
Arrived in Paris safe after n Air France flight without any incidents and the great service… Which is the airline still offering free champagne and wine for dinner in the economy coach class? Which airline has stewards and stewardesses greeting you with a smile, and helping you to load your cabin luggage in the overhead bins? Air France… with Gallic flair!
So happy to find Paris again, and our apartment on the Rue Eugene Delacroix… “Puy d’Amour” as we had left it… It had been more than one year for me… since March of 2009, just before our home fire in Nashua…
Our regular taxi was there to pick us at the airport and the conversation immediately ranged from judo to soccer, and we discussed the relative chances of France, Portugal and the US to reach the final of the World Cup… Interestingly, our driver went to South Africa two years ago and related some of the unexpected things he saw while there… Great food and wine, Johannesburg as a city bigger than Paris, a big country where everything grows…
By the way, driving into Paris and seeing the 1998 World Cup Stadium, Stade de France, I noticed that France is a candidate country for the Euro Cup in 2016. More soccer thrills in the future!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Delays in Boston Logan
The trip is starting on the wrong foot... The incoming Air France flight was delayed about 5 hours due to the volcanic ashes... The flight was longer because it had to fly around the clouds of ash... From 5:40 p.m., the departure is delayed until 9:45 p.m.
Re-starting my Blog for a trip of a lifetime to South Africa
May 11, 2010... Full of excitement at the thought of leaving in a few hours to South Africa via France... My wife and I are finally able to fly to South Africa after bidding on a Game Reserve Safari for a Nashua Symphony Fund Raiser... two years back! Because of various events (i.e. house fire, job change, health issues, etc.) it is only now that we are able to embark on this adventure...
We are leaving today on Air France 337 from Boston to Paris, hopefully with no delay due to the volcanic ashes spewing from Iceland... We will continue on to South Africa on May 13 from Paris to Johannesburg on the new Airbus 380, the double-decker aircraft... and we will transfer to a South African Airways flight to Richards Bay on the East Coast of South Africa, and should reach the Zulu Nyala Lodge on the late afternoon of May 14. We will stay there until May 20 and returning to Johannesburg on that day.
You can visit www.zulunyala.com to see pictures of the lodge and the amenities.
The excitement is also that South Africa will be the 58th country I visit...
I hope to have access to internet and post daily blogs during the trip...
Wish us God's speed and Bon Voyage!
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