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NOMADIC LIFESTYLE, EARTH, United States
After getting my first passport in 2006 and traveling to climb Kilimanjaro in Tanzania my life changed. I began the process of getting rid of all my possessions and traveling the world. Traveling to over 125 countries and all 7 continents, hostels have been my home. This "new life" has taught me what is important and it was NOT accumulating money or possessions. Traveling is the best education. I hope my blog will encourage others to travel. My World Tattoo was a way for me to express my PASSION FOR TRAVEL.

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ZIMBABWAE, Travel Day

January 3, 2013

Will be leaving Fawlty Towers Hostel and Livingstone, Zambia at 10 am on the free shuttle to the Park. From there it is a short walk to the Zambia/Zimbabwae bridge where the bungee jumping is located and where I will enter Zimbabwae. Either a 20 minute walk or short taxi ride depending on the price and I will be in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwae. I will be meeting Absolute Africa overland truck safari at Shoestring Backpackers where I will spend the night and meet all the people already on the tour. No more soft bed for the next 21 days. Not really much of a camper but will endure it due the cost and accessibility one gets by camping in the parks in Botswana and Namimbia. Will not have much internet access for the next 21 days. It is going to be a very special trip I believe with lots of animal sightings.   

Little sad saying bye to Fawlty Towers as backpackers get a feeling of home when we stay in one place for a while.


ZAMBIA, Victoria Falls, Ultralight flight


Ultralight flight over Victoria Falls
January 2, 2013

Up early at 6 am to get ready for the 7am Ultralight flight over Victoria Falls. I was there today because my Dec. 31st flight had to be rescheduled due to rain. Unfortunately, the price increased by $14 on January 1st. Theflight was really amazing and provided some really great views of the Falls. The flight was only 15 minutes but it seemed very long. I never got completely comfortable but it was not too bad. There was only a single belt over my lap which surprised me. I expected to be totally strapped in. The flight was $170 and the pictures were an additional $22. Two splurges in 2 days of the New Year but 2 AMAZING EXPERIENCES.












ZAMBIA, Victoria Falls (Devil's Pool or Devil's Armchair)



Victoria Falls (Devil's Pool or Devil's Armchair)

January 1, 2013  Happy New Years

Went to Livingstone Island on a tour for breakfast and swim in the Devil's Pool. ($70)  I took the FREE hostel shuttle to the hotel and realized when I got there I had forgot my money and camera. Luckily I was the only one in the shuttle and the driver agreed to take me back to the hostel and then again to the hotel. Luckily, I still made it back in time to catch the boat to the very small island at the edge of Victoria Falls. The view of the Falls was spectacular and we were told that this is the perfect time to see and swim since the water level was high but not high enough to completely cover the island as it will in a few more days. We had to SWIM in the rapids to get to the staging point. The current is very strong and only strong swimmers are allowed. They have one guide near the Falls in case some one is not a strong enough swimmer to handle the rapids.   

The guide did a back flip first into the pool. I jumped 3rd and quickly was looking for a rock to hold on to. The current is not as strong there but still strong enough to feel it pushing you towards the edge. After a while and some pictures, they threw a rope to us so we could pull ourselves back to safety. 


















Great breakfast of Eggs Benedict, Scones, Biscuits and Jam and Juice to finish off our day after receiving our certificates. Ultralight tomorrow.

ZIMBABWAE, Victoria Falls

 December 30, 2012.  (Victoria Falls,  Zimbabwae side)

 Checked in with Absolute Africa at Shoestrings Hostel and then went to view the Falls from the Zimbabwae side which gives a better overall view and much wetter view. Much more water from the Zambia side though. I got pretty wet but still great to see both side and also from the air on my Microlight flight. When I first arrived at the park two monkey can running at my feet and I kept having to shoo them away. Seemed like they want to either bite me or climb on me. Rest of the monkey were well.












ZAMBIA, Victoria Falls

December 28, 2012

Still have days and nights a little mixed up. Tried booking the trip to Livingston Island where you can swim in the "Devils Armchair" right at the edge of the falls. It is booked solid through the next few days but finally got a reservation on New Years Day. Great way to start out the year. The Zambezi River is rising so the Island will be closed soon. Nothing cheap here. $75 for the 1.5 hr visit but definitely on my "bucket list". 
 


December 29, 2012 (Victoria Falls,  Zambia side)


I went to the Livingstone Fall Heritage Site today to get my first view of Victoria Falls from the Zambian side. It was spectacular. Encountered a lot of baboons upon entering the park. I spent about 1.5 hrs viewing and hiking around the falls and then walked to the bridge to Zimbabwae. I walked to the middle of the bridge and watched the bungee jumping. I had my excitement of that when in New Zealand so saved my money. First picture is Picture of a Picture. Wish I had taken this.










SOUTH AFRICA, Johannesburg and ZAMBIA, Livingston

December 26-27th, 2012

Arrived in Johannesburg around 5:45 pm after a 15.5 hr. direct flight from Atlanta. Either the longest direct flight or tied for it in the world. I got South African money (Rand), collected my bags and called the Shoestring Airport Lodge to pick me up. I am only 1.5 miles from the airport which is convenient since I fly to Livingston, Zambia tomorrow to visit Victoria Falls. I will stay there until Jan. 4th and then go with African Trails on a 21 day Overland Truck Safari. Not sure how camping for that long will sit with me.  Victoria Falls below on flight to Livingston, Zambia.



SOUTH AFRICA, Johannesburg

December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas to all. Woke up in Natchez at 5:30 am to no electricity and pouring rain. Not the start I had hoped for to begin my Africa trip. Fortunately for me, my cousin, Brad, had agreed to drive me to the airport. I arrived at the airport at 9:25 am and within 5 minutes I had checked a bag, cleared security and made it to my gate. No one flying today. Now only 2.5 hr wait but better safe than sorry.   

I will have a 2 hr. layover in Atlanta and then a 15 hr. 20 minute direct flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. I am staying at a hostel only 1.5 miles from the airport in Johannesburg because I fly to Livingston, Zambia the next day to begin my week at Victoria Falls. Victoria Falls has always been somewhere I wanted to visit.On January 4th, I will join an Overland Truck Safari. We will be camping in tents most of the time and will travel to Botswana, Namimbia and end in Cape Town, South Africa. The 21 day safari will include 4-5 National Parks and will include the incredible sand dunes in Namimbia.

At the end of the safari I will spend another 5-6 days in Cape Town and then head out on my on through South Africa and Zimbabwae before flying to Uganda for 3-4 weeks. Searching for and visiting with the mountain gorillas will no doubt be the highlight of this trip but you never know.  Not sure of any other destinations, will play it by ear.

Will post pictures when the internet is available and affordable.     

AFRICA, Egypt, Luxor (Luxor Temple) East Bank

October 19, 2012

Waited until 1 pm, hottest part of the day, to walk the 35 minutes to the Luxor Temple. Very few taxi drivers, horse carriage drivers or salesman at that time of day compared to rest of day. I was only Tourist  in the Luxor Temple for the 1st 45 minutes I was there. A few more tourists arrived as I was beginning to leave.

Of the more than 700 human-headed, lion-bodied statues that once lined the Avenue of Sphinxes between the Temples of Luxor and Karnak, around 60 still remain. The Avenue of the Sphinxes is where my photos begin.