Acacia Tree

June 15th, 2007 | By Lee | 2 Comments »

I get a lot of emails asking about things I post or pictures that I have up. A common question is about this picture which I have at the top of my homepage. It is an Acacia Tree which is generally seen in Africa and especially on the Serengeti plains which is where this picture was taken. They are as cool as they look and they are just randomly dotting the horizon. There can be one such as this one with no others around it for miles. It is of course common to see animals under them taking in the little shade they do offer during the ridiculous African daytime heat.

Kilimanjaro Ice Cap Update

June 12th, 2007 | By Lee | 4 Comments »

According to scientists, now global warming is not responsible for the decreasing glaciers atop Kilimanjaro. You can read their findings here. I couldn’t care less about the reasons but they say the shape of the ice has something to do with the decline and also decreased snowfall. I am not a scientist so this really doesn’t make my day one way or the other. The point is that the glaciers are melting and receding and you should climb the mountain as soon as possible to experience the best views I have ever seen atop the summit of Africa.

New 7 Wonders Profile-Pyramids, Egypt

May 9th, 2007 | By Lee | 14 Comments »

Man fears Time, yet Time fears the Pyramids - Ancient Arab Proverb

The amazing Pyramids of Egypt, among the largest constructions ever built, constitute one of the most potent and enduring symbols of the mysterious Ancient Egyptian civilization. They are the only surviving member of the original and ancient seven wonders of the world. It is generally accepted by most archaeologists that they were constructed as burial monuments associated with royal solar and stellar cults, and most were built during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods. Basically, what this means to everyone reading this is that the Pyramids are really cool and they will make you feel miniscule in the grand scheme of the history of the world.
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Victoria Falls

April 28th, 2007 | By Lee | No Comments »

When most people think about awe-inspiring natural beauty, visions of the Grand Canyon might shoot to the front of somebody’s mind. Perhaps a beautiful mountain range such as the Alps, Himalaya, Rockies or Andes with their breathtaking landscapes and dizzying heights might evoke a sense of majesty. Our friends in Australia might boast the Great Barrier Reef which is unparalleled in its natural aquatic beauty or Ayers Rock in all its mystery can engage a person for days with its changing colors and Aboriginal history. I, however, have my own ideas.
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Climbing Table Mountain

April 20th, 2007 | By Lee | 2 Comments »

Table Mountain looms over Cape Town, South Africa like a mother elephant looms over her young in the African wild to protect and watch over them. It is a truly awe-inspiring sight that can be seen from anywhere in Cape Town like a beacon guiding you home. It is a large and impressive, perfectly placed tabletop mountain directly in the center of the city which thrives below it. At night, it is lit up for all to see. The night and the light lend a mysterious, Gotham quality to its already awesome plateau-like appearance. Although it is just a big rock above a beautiful oceanside city, it is impossible to take your eyes off its majesty.
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Worlds Highest Bungy Jump

April 18th, 2007 | By Lee | 14 Comments »

The world’s highest bungy jump beckoned my name from the instant I heard about its towering height, 216 meters (710 feet). It’s location was far from close to anywhere, but the distance would not stop me from conquering the crown jewel of an adrenaline junkie’s resume. This past January my two friends and I set out to face adrenaline and conquer all our biggest fears; taking the ultimate leap of faith off the Bloukrans River Bridge in the heart of South Africa’s beautiful garden route.
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Swaziland

April 15th, 2007 | By Lee | 6 Comments »

My friend Mike and I left from Lesotho early in the morning for the long drive into the small Kingdom of Swaziland. The southern border entry was about an eight hour drive the way we were going and we had planned to drive up to the Ewulzini Valley between the only two cities in Swaziland, Manzini and the capital Mbabane. We had heard wondrous things about the Sondzela Backpackers, which was the famous hostel in the valley. We thought it would be a nice way to spend a few days getting in touch with nature in an obscure place like Swaziland.
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Zanzibar

April 9th, 2007 | By Lee | 3 Comments »

My friend Jake and I stayed in Zanzibar for the last four days of our East Africa trip last September. We stayed in Nungwi Beach on the northern tip of the island which is supposed to be the fun area with the biggest full moon party of the year before the Ramadan holiday, which is celebrated by most people of this mostly Muslim island.
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Death in Maputo

April 4th, 2007 | By Lee | 1 Comment »

We arrived in Maputo, Mozambique with no expectations. We decided to visit Mozambique on a whim because Mike and I were in nearby Nelspruit, South Africa after a four-day safari in Kruger Park.

We were pleasantly surprised at how nice (for an African city) Maputo seemed to be. The former Portuguese city is located on the Indian Ocean, has some lovely areas and a lot to do. After a few days, we decided to take our lives and put them in jeopardy in a five-hour ride up to some of the northern beaches, supposed to be some of the most unspoiled in the world. At the “bus station” is where our ordeal started.
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Asleep in Lesotho

April 3rd, 2007 | By Lee | No Comments »

Driving in Africa is always an adventure. You never know what you are going to run into. Whether its drunk drivers, crazy minibuses or animals hogging the street, you are always in for something memorable. This was the case for Mike and I as we drove through the lovely country of Lesotho. The unusual part is what we encountered on the highway.

We had left Maseru, the capital of Lesotho, early in the morning heading toward the Drakensburg Mountain Range. Lesotho is a small, poor country wholly within South Africa - its claim to fame. As I was flying down the highway, nobody around, cruising toward the eastern border, I noticed something on the road.
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