tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13293227396639289512024-03-14T08:21:56.740-07:00The Cape BulbulMelandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-14891726890244185322009-07-16T13:38:00.000-07:002009-07-16T13:38:00.230-07:00Khayelitsha<div style="text-align: left;">My friend Kristen and I spent the night in Khayelitsha, the largest township in Cape Town. The place is home to around 1.5 million people, about a quarter of the population of the city. Most white South Africans have never been there. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Townships are colorful places, full of hand-painted signs and murals. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihANgJGcSljYIdF_5hlTvm5S7KxeHukt2irAKgowuNAylGaNgJV-RszCj06iVDh8qVAZxvgCBJALWOQFsEhh3k-kw4RU-4CJsFQAqD-Nb04iRfiCFy13sbLJB5T-j321KWPj66OCgvr255/s320/khayelitsha+002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358049449875838674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8JOcE8UoVPul68_xRdYHfjYTyZbV0pkwA5Z5abHbjWly_wS00A_tU3nxqqLTfDKbjd4ZCMVHLJC_68QuxSMEN3MVarOgJnoDBwoRGnKTkkO38nLBLLrSNagA2-29r4zfG5KldiHWBawF/s1600-h/khayelitsha+074.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8JOcE8UoVPul68_xRdYHfjYTyZbV0pkwA5Z5abHbjWly_wS00A_tU3nxqqLTfDKbjd4ZCMVHLJC_68QuxSMEN3MVarOgJnoDBwoRGnKTkkO38nLBLLrSNagA2-29r4zfG5KldiHWBawF/s320/khayelitsha+074.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358049462982765442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><div style="text-align: left; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnlDk33gId7zbtKQCG5znamvFV8a9jylEDQAstcfrs0TWy24YxASqJs95v0kY7SFvgxtb-02BbjAomYQqQsP51ACP2ChdbxahVyKiTkta69h140wbvk5nfnUMqduP-UgweNTUpOoco8IV/s1600-h/khayelitsha+072.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkuZDaa_wp32JwYc-vP3PIC1pKn2vIxMdGwDNaRlhxcYNNdh42zaNMJEgzsHv3pCkmJtMx5gAoMpaGGaPJQLn79MGRMWB_iYurB8AGvkuN3OMJfKiR0iKzRVzx15Dj1zvN2y-OjPpymmM/s1600-h/khayelitsha+060.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkuZDaa_wp32JwYc-vP3PIC1pKn2vIxMdGwDNaRlhxcYNNdh42zaNMJEgzsHv3pCkmJtMx5gAoMpaGGaPJQLn79MGRMWB_iYurB8AGvkuN3OMJfKiR0iKzRVzx15Dj1zvN2y-OjPpymmM/s320/khayelitsha+060.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358049457823659106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWzW1o3Tne7ByJL3fOimZH2ge5f-c7igBUnz9IqDpJtxsAneU02N0EEJBQUE97QkQlDvMnrWDeVP_-VKK9u8cXZy04VRVC35Z67kfW6TufzanqjB7Fog0InWMKGe8VpZBa0WAMstgKPVx/s1600-h/khayelitsha+058.JPG"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWzW1o3Tne7ByJL3fOimZH2ge5f-c7igBUnz9IqDpJtxsAneU02N0EEJBQUE97QkQlDvMnrWDeVP_-VKK9u8cXZy04VRVC35Z67kfW6TufzanqjB7Fog0InWMKGe8VpZBa0WAMstgKPVx/s1600-h/khayelitsha+058.JPG" style="text-decoration: none; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWzW1o3Tne7ByJL3fOimZH2ge5f-c7igBUnz9IqDpJtxsAneU02N0EEJBQUE97QkQlDvMnrWDeVP_-VKK9u8cXZy04VRVC35Z67kfW6TufzanqjB7Fog0InWMKGe8VpZBa0WAMstgKPVx/s320/khayelitsha+058.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358049449895314114" style="text-align: left; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO885lq1lYtq6vPYGrZuou3JtT4zZeGYJMZIxQKzvXvWYWp6UtZuwQWOnaA2EhfyBa1T14eq0Ajjupdq_VOqAaq_kJm494IIlEyDoJw_2MzDmIeDYn_Ku7_AyBGMSsWNWr-Bfs28xvaVfF/s1600-h/khayelitsha+077.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO885lq1lYtq6vPYGrZuou3JtT4zZeGYJMZIxQKzvXvWYWp6UtZuwQWOnaA2EhfyBa1T14eq0Ajjupdq_VOqAaq_kJm494IIlEyDoJw_2MzDmIeDYn_Ku7_AyBGMSsWNWr-Bfs28xvaVfF/s320/khayelitsha+077.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358049878708636034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWsFtSeObcaBeok4j3ulA8QFA5zgzwD2auL5ajI408ld0_Oof1W1zg3kUmUr8hBnYxCxhq-idfCIlsYFSQ_090xvShBOsjD0ZO7WY-BVxbnlkCCdgTqO5HRGr9BIKaVPkWvc80drzYqOc/s1600-h/khayelitsha+075.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWsFtSeObcaBeok4j3ulA8QFA5zgzwD2auL5ajI408ld0_Oof1W1zg3kUmUr8hBnYxCxhq-idfCIlsYFSQ_090xvShBOsjD0ZO7WY-BVxbnlkCCdgTqO5HRGr9BIKaVPkWvc80drzYqOc/s320/khayelitsha+075.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358049875318075586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnlDk33gId7zbtKQCG5znamvFV8a9jylEDQAstcfrs0TWy24YxASqJs95v0kY7SFvgxtb-02BbjAomYQqQsP51ACP2ChdbxahVyKiTkta69h140wbvk5nfnUMqduP-UgweNTUpOoco8IV/s320/khayelitsha+072.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358049460547713842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span>Melissa</div></div>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-62554811573526283492009-07-15T13:33:00.000-07:002009-07-15T13:33:00.298-07:00Joe Slovo<div>We visited the Joe Slovo informal settlement. Below are the inside and outside of one of the shacks. No matter how long I spend in South Africa, I don't really get used to seeing these places.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYLjVZWNbROE4T4u7F9J09KJKO8uQJ9eV2KZgCbwquz0WlqPfvG6CNDsl9GtQ8r76jHM-8zt3eBRMSFTDxO8Eh12pPcfvR_TpBOTB8WnayaLPYtZhBXBBbFtUCtMAUsp2CQFM2XD3z7Fj/s1600-h/993.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYLjVZWNbROE4T4u7F9J09KJKO8uQJ9eV2KZgCbwquz0WlqPfvG6CNDsl9GtQ8r76jHM-8zt3eBRMSFTDxO8Eh12pPcfvR_TpBOTB8WnayaLPYtZhBXBBbFtUCtMAUsp2CQFM2XD3z7Fj/s320/993.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358046373071498242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5H2nYP2THzojvrEt5ZDvdyxhBvzPFnpbcwfNieqQxhI-FYZRJIrT00mSp_VFSkO50GsOCk6HnUQijO7H2iU4o84uYLpnseKR5z99vU0Txc8iGsWR4VpAdUEJs5JJ5WcDhehszP0IufFRi/s1600-h/995.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5H2nYP2THzojvrEt5ZDvdyxhBvzPFnpbcwfNieqQxhI-FYZRJIrT00mSp_VFSkO50GsOCk6HnUQijO7H2iU4o84uYLpnseKR5z99vU0Txc8iGsWR4VpAdUEJs5JJ5WcDhehszP0IufFRi/s320/995.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358046368534186562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Melissa</div>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-23734101841116898762009-07-14T13:19:00.000-07:002009-07-14T13:19:00.620-07:00Guga S'Thebe<div style="text-align: left;">The Guga S'Thebe community center in Langa provides various services such as computer classes and job counseling to residents of the township. Cool murals, too.</div><div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGV2axcb-qgirzj2N7d-hDP6t4nv_GjuwfEVLToev6VuHoHXECrn_uikdQcaoAZ3zeuo7NoPQF5rKShc-cE4QTkALiAEo72Yo1PPw71YwIFWtoHv69E9u5pk1vp0C973SEPoe1Z507tYW/s320/979.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358043993165337522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliF0uUJrCsYiQuF0ldwagf4l2qV-PlkyBAMI2_2Cf_G9L4jh1jZ5Nt2bglsKcinU6iLOwnacB835Bx4mgCHnnysu4bOc4cIAihdB6ZoRlPjV2cupmDhZ81VHfbruxW_-H7nIdkYNXRH9e/s1600-h/981.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliF0uUJrCsYiQuF0ldwagf4l2qV-PlkyBAMI2_2Cf_G9L4jh1jZ5Nt2bglsKcinU6iLOwnacB835Bx4mgCHnnysu4bOc4cIAihdB6ZoRlPjV2cupmDhZ81VHfbruxW_-H7nIdkYNXRH9e/s320/981.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358043568495451810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhA144XluKfOAif_E7V2eJFkyBaMZZSf5vbZ-T1lpKxzFigtWjEdWf8ZAxgjqfO2-i4QWKMWljvOeaEQDZlW3woTiU27w38WBiEEbXE4obQa4JK9qPKob_LVYmREtFV7NIQmzszP5o_Yj0/s1600-h/974.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhA144XluKfOAif_E7V2eJFkyBaMZZSf5vbZ-T1lpKxzFigtWjEdWf8ZAxgjqfO2-i4QWKMWljvOeaEQDZlW3woTiU27w38WBiEEbXE4obQa4JK9qPKob_LVYmREtFV7NIQmzszP5o_Yj0/s320/974.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358043569434111586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>At the community center, local people learn to make and paint ceramic dishes. The center is also a venue for local craftspeople to sell work to tourists.</div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGV2axcb-qgirzj2N7d-hDP6t4nv_GjuwfEVLToev6VuHoHXECrn_uikdQcaoAZ3zeuo7NoPQF5rKShc-cE4QTkALiAEo72Yo1PPw71YwIFWtoHv69E9u5pk1vp0C973SEPoe1Z507tYW/s1600-h/979.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERAm1fU7NGs_-4nz5KtvkAKqW6myggW-qdECm8sdkS3jseUB4X0VgVqp4S4MwzBDvoVekfZw62A5PfiZuLbeRSbuZMrSoR7_NWdLtyVXOhHSnNZieAyxBgkdxPx8lxh0mkZPQGgb-qdkB/s1600-h/975.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERAm1fU7NGs_-4nz5KtvkAKqW6myggW-qdECm8sdkS3jseUB4X0VgVqp4S4MwzBDvoVekfZw62A5PfiZuLbeRSbuZMrSoR7_NWdLtyVXOhHSnNZieAyxBgkdxPx8lxh0mkZPQGgb-qdkB/s320/975.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358043585469856114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRn-V9Z-HjUK9r4X64jS9s6ovOlGe3vWmarRf0ZWS3X6w1Y50855ij3AlJctXzwlpvn07teZyF2Bsm-kuQAW1uQDsgEvVYe8Fd47DqB4H7rOzjViWCaeEGwyB4ii_gGyJo82Z5wxyQcsmm/s1600-h/976.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRn-V9Z-HjUK9r4X64jS9s6ovOlGe3vWmarRf0ZWS3X6w1Y50855ij3AlJctXzwlpvn07teZyF2Bsm-kuQAW1uQDsgEvVYe8Fd47DqB4H7rOzjViWCaeEGwyB4ii_gGyJo82Z5wxyQcsmm/s320/976.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358043580356526258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1_PY0ZY2qkvZMPnb5J5VYloy4kTxjMnLj93BLOvXOK3UHn8y1w4KKkO33zqDAG2Mkm9yOX4pO3bJXkgEAwh49133nWFLhhabLKTKydj4qGq-YdxSkdjk3k9il_-NxKnRHll5JxUwxTNY/s1600-h/978.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1_PY0ZY2qkvZMPnb5J5VYloy4kTxjMnLj93BLOvXOK3UHn8y1w4KKkO33zqDAG2Mkm9yOX4pO3bJXkgEAwh49133nWFLhhabLKTKydj4qGq-YdxSkdjk3k9il_-NxKnRHll5JxUwxTNY/s320/978.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358043572985221666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div>Melissa</div></div>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-53829453074127331922009-07-13T12:23:00.000-07:002009-07-13T14:05:34.612-07:00Langa Township<div style="text-align: left;">Amber and Jeff and I took a tour of Langa township. Langa was a township created for black South Africans during apartheid, and the area is still almost entirely black today. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibwd6lz3qpcl2nA8TEl8i5Y0HvgkIjyDqWNGSDfhuyZabOPq6f6jJpMrolypPk-AS6y4RLtIWmn8ks35Y8mVqFzhiRv57oOXCLvF2R5NdIoDKO0JgArxI-h1m93ZNTiy9IRzdowmC4r02/s320/985.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358038689345308642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkus0vdm17BDliwIxX8kmYOAHv3qy3SvQm4plJlKsFYRze6cofrFwJItrqSsCegEA0eT43EsO_CwoWQ9TnClPPDf5Rzs2CBBZwFIR-1Xx-F0t9HvExApJT4g0bt95BAOxaF_su1ybr8ZR/s320/983.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358038702376267202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The townships are generally poor areas, so it was interesting to see a section of relatively upscale homes within Langa. The apartheid government built these houses close to the freeway because they hoped passing foreigners would think all black people lived in nice places.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobhdigHwXgJBr-lHQ7E8L0ZRPfIYMWZB_ceqGqs3diXljYmfQzKK13m6k1alNMM_rxG6rPyJw4n6yhPCSDuUwux_eaFm-5pu04pKf-_G6u9-aunOVlvLN0XLqPtYbGx6Rk8wcy1eKbsLY/s320/991.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358038699095649618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's common to see shops in shipping containers on the sidewalk. This shop sells telephone minutes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB13_DxbnTtqbMpA05o3UKQ8i_XczP9mxNTOTiBgjSVEXWhnNp7DgnjCs1UlxAPWhsJIVdcoMp-B3_Ai38bYe3-G_Vtcnk9iSsCVfj2UFU-FXUdMcqBup-ebJ2fGe1mISCUeeDL-oQLEkd/s320/987.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358038694085144322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">They were selling chickens on the sidewalk, too.</div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgjkx6TwHr3bYKDsfhxRiVlmrqXOPhKSyfy_cts9Iofje0sEFXG_QoPq3BLGCkvEidaALBsLVgotcTpXElyXZgX-nImdB0cDA9_Q2gLJNwScN-P_JXyi_tt_w4ZeCW7tU_3Kv9P3rA3yw/s320/1002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358038698600702978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Melissa</div>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-84465010347520738832009-06-28T13:28:00.000-07:002009-06-28T13:28:00.793-07:00Hippo PrintWe were out birding at a wetlands nature reserve here in Cape Town and saw some hippopotamus tracks. Pretty cool. I haven't seen a live one yet but I'll be looking for them when we're in Kruger next month. My hand is for scale.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y49fdOHTuwS9NU4XgqTzj6uDXPyaookMwsqXoMChbvkTeXzX1h5JF1A8bXJ2Ex9cAWd7zvJEbQ3MXCuRzYsDB9s9c4pOxD1mHMLZVDp7x0iB70m1pUUkDQPwialy57S7ujCwLSlEirDf/s1600-h/hippo_print.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y49fdOHTuwS9NU4XgqTzj6uDXPyaookMwsqXoMChbvkTeXzX1h5JF1A8bXJ2Ex9cAWd7zvJEbQ3MXCuRzYsDB9s9c4pOxD1mHMLZVDp7x0iB70m1pUUkDQPwialy57S7ujCwLSlEirDf/s320/hippo_print.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349881346290596242" border="0" /></a><br />-AndyMelandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-30653000030392948122009-06-21T11:41:00.000-07:002009-06-21T13:22:09.002-07:00Color PicturesFor a while now I've been taking what I call color pictures. Here are my favorites so far. They lose quite a bit by being scrunched down on the blog. Clicking on them will get a full-size image.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcI5KD-4F1hzPz9OV4X3JG5pyPEegUMGDXfnUqUfX-nilpOCnUjY3u730FO3yh8WMDz4N-5Pg86peqds2cEzhehP_BrNGCOiT1HW_Am32MKp0RRWENqgq_Rk_jZgOk7TdxwzJthGA3S-U9/s1600-h/fynbos.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcI5KD-4F1hzPz9OV4X3JG5pyPEegUMGDXfnUqUfX-nilpOCnUjY3u730FO3yh8WMDz4N-5Pg86peqds2cEzhehP_BrNGCOiT1HW_Am32MKp0RRWENqgq_Rk_jZgOk7TdxwzJthGA3S-U9/s320/fynbos.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349856698770762514" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Fynbos</span> hillside near Betty's Bay<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0VIG_urVpYpwlh8TuIciU-ZtfxhXGd0vLtHBY0BYp9RKQppyiV9H7CHqmt9QFQIyb7Pe8WED2JYEgqifMEQc29e16zowuYfd6RUDWLx3jGfd3h_JD1GxfPJpZv_ONHSRos-lcVG0GXlV/s1600-h/succulent.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0VIG_urVpYpwlh8TuIciU-ZtfxhXGd0vLtHBY0BYp9RKQppyiV9H7CHqmt9QFQIyb7Pe8WED2JYEgqifMEQc29e16zowuYfd6RUDWLx3jGfd3h_JD1GxfPJpZv_ONHSRos-lcVG0GXlV/s320/succulent.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349876795440366946" border="0" /></a>Succulent plant in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Namaqualand</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LX_OlEzhSWU0FYjrcunga73SU7A_Avh1pmvlqCg9lfQQePeWq0QLFF65GuCkBYFmBX7MvL3nVWGZxiy1Y419cjPJqnqcdoersJdW73nbh5YqBuyVuiDcdDdmilRNghpxAa0S2V9r_dK2/s1600-h/rocks_grass.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LX_OlEzhSWU0FYjrcunga73SU7A_Avh1pmvlqCg9lfQQePeWq0QLFF65GuCkBYFmBX7MvL3nVWGZxiy1Y419cjPJqnqcdoersJdW73nbh5YqBuyVuiDcdDdmilRNghpxAa0S2V9r_dK2/s320/rocks_grass.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349862819526313330" border="0" /></a>Rocks and grass near <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Augrabies</span> Falls<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZpR2-1YbJ8hW3-PdAbtAjTSdw-Rm9rKiP-cu5XyYOxbWM7ZbYrFq83EZ7tQ82McdaPgjVLw4Tu9rBdcPY-DzhSo-liSHA0KRxqtIKWA7L4QajMHlb8-NdMV5Ls0Ha2PtqB0J67Ubxpaw/s1600-h/rocks_water.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZpR2-1YbJ8hW3-PdAbtAjTSdw-Rm9rKiP-cu5XyYOxbWM7ZbYrFq83EZ7tQ82McdaPgjVLw4Tu9rBdcPY-DzhSo-liSHA0KRxqtIKWA7L4QajMHlb8-NdMV5Ls0Ha2PtqB0J67Ubxpaw/s320/rocks_water.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349865519751156482" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Tanniny</span> water and rocks near Betty's Bay<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8KI8ynFVCytwm8kqrj61tdS_hvN6_dNU9hho4_WegEgdhqetDkSJmUqAHW4m4H7zPbYCm0VmH03_FA17KGeimf0IFdh0eWROjG2G2uDDr2UrLqEsMzEGY1oMdVMdq9ZFycaqMptA7Ftn/s1600-h/native_forest.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8KI8ynFVCytwm8kqrj61tdS_hvN6_dNU9hho4_WegEgdhqetDkSJmUqAHW4m4H7zPbYCm0VmH03_FA17KGeimf0IFdh0eWROjG2G2uDDr2UrLqEsMzEGY1oMdVMdq9ZFycaqMptA7Ftn/s320/native_forest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349872960812316578" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Native forest in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Marloth</span> Nature Reserve<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6PK7RcN1xsweej9I93vwurdUrzPZ0JvnzSEjUDPokUYBsNMuWBpqLyvJyDmhT4rrAyyu3bT2gF5nEuifY7a6Eh8Im3xKdqbyxwLmOoyhgGY7ATEV61d3v6DvuZ6WJLBVEcp8FrcRSfeb/s1600-h/water_foam_leaf.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6PK7RcN1xsweej9I93vwurdUrzPZ0JvnzSEjUDPokUYBsNMuWBpqLyvJyDmhT4rrAyyu3bT2gF5nEuifY7a6Eh8Im3xKdqbyxwLmOoyhgGY7ATEV61d3v6DvuZ6WJLBVEcp8FrcRSfeb/s320/water_foam_leaf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349873931504598594" border="0" /></a>Water and foam in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Marloth</span> Nature Reserve<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">-Andy<br /></div></div>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-47685367212868228512009-06-08T12:53:00.000-07:002009-06-06T13:49:32.038-07:00Penguin Posse<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyEIE_9rNAb4RdZqNG01ZJAAQtWZ4axv24B4HLbOM6for8V0Uysjim5_ie_DwadsOoTeCtBjV0q-MrjdUTk8Ob0Sa_6CQFTPu8btyezfa4OHKkS1iip_TiZZe2PB7rajcQ3q3RVdD41o_/s1600-h/IMG_0830.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVP0sUnuTb6EWYml9CvvJbfJlfwp5S6G54k89t09I8INCKgzdeOd-I9TFN9Aq3r9mD-aPBKaZA-HPxJg9x8LB3k0RzcBNy92E6PnhHBkUNkihtLxOmoQ04RiFlOoTWYyHMtJAwrN_gIud/s1600-h/IMG_0908-2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVP0sUnuTb6EWYml9CvvJbfJlfwp5S6G54k89t09I8INCKgzdeOd-I9TFN9Aq3r9mD-aPBKaZA-HPxJg9x8LB3k0RzcBNy92E6PnhHBkUNkihtLxOmoQ04RiFlOoTWYyHMtJAwrN_gIud/s320/IMG_0908-2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344306867929045730" border="0" /></a>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-72615271511740620022009-06-07T14:00:00.000-07:002009-06-07T14:00:02.642-07:00Far from Home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSKR6aSP2HJz8xHnIgmktpbkv7nVOgtNcVYLhKKRYR3d5G-hg9Pt_AMghI54ZkmzDeSCARWUOaZfeTXVEcXPSGfILzGW_6nFWCHatyMlhp3GOrkVoWypMelkN47FHx74ayXcyOLHGO4iB/s1600-h/IMG_0840-2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSKR6aSP2HJz8xHnIgmktpbkv7nVOgtNcVYLhKKRYR3d5G-hg9Pt_AMghI54ZkmzDeSCARWUOaZfeTXVEcXPSGfILzGW_6nFWCHatyMlhp3GOrkVoWypMelkN47FHx74ayXcyOLHGO4iB/s320/IMG_0840-2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344304304204657954" border="0" /></a>Don't worry, they made it back safely. You will too, if you come and visit us.<br /><br />MelissaMelandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-16700027269834382382009-06-06T11:28:00.000-07:002009-06-06T13:48:11.262-07:00Robben IslandA couple of months ago, our friends Amber and Jeff came to visit with their son Benedict. One of our outings was a trip to Robben Island Prison, where political prisoners were housed during apartheid.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDb9VviurkTlsGPXeB4-pJQUjd9RNalhK8tpu6jl2ynYgsPAzdqPnITAH5ojL_lJaUHwZj9e2x88JTQW4v-oE26JP5dfG8t2MN6O69TIMlqbrXYqNw8VuO6kINiuRr_OnfFJYy1Y-LDZfb/s1600-h/IMG_0791.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDb9VviurkTlsGPXeB4-pJQUjd9RNalhK8tpu6jl2ynYgsPAzdqPnITAH5ojL_lJaUHwZj9e2x88JTQW4v-oE26JP5dfG8t2MN6O69TIMlqbrXYqNw8VuO6kINiuRr_OnfFJYy1Y-LDZfb/s320/IMG_0791.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344294158280423554" border="0" /></a><br />We saw the lime quarry where the prisoners were forced to spend their days digging lime by hand. When they could, they gathered into groups, and the older prisoners taught the younger ones about South African history, economics, and the history of the freedom struggle. Partly because of this, Robben Island was sometimes called The University.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UhgB8hyZUZWfTDPVaSQY13vgyoOnFmZ8d3P-To7BPPNupx9vJrsUdlS0QBeRYMz6HNQ4QzZ7Z_No_Hir2fpGbgMh2-fyIuMQpUfVB-YfEfUfLNheeMSxwnynkrKEE8VYJiZLPIQlHaTw/s1600-h/IMG_0791-2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UhgB8hyZUZWfTDPVaSQY13vgyoOnFmZ8d3P-To7BPPNupx9vJrsUdlS0QBeRYMz6HNQ4QzZ7Z_No_Hir2fpGbgMh2-fyIuMQpUfVB-YfEfUfLNheeMSxwnynkrKEE8VYJiZLPIQlHaTw/s320/IMG_0791-2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344294162015127538" border="0" /></a><br />We also saw Nelson Mandela's cell and the place in the exercise yard where he buried his autobiography in order to hide it from the guards. It was found and destroyed, but the prisoners had already smuggled another copy out of the prison, so it didn't get lost.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4s8wmRkXJ3rPqwkluMQLa1m-eaCJzRJfr5BxGk9kirQf1TdmMRCOnxHL73ge9llL5AQWW1UeAFGFVvrIeObkD8e1dmK_MCcYYSio8oii1liytklTjVQ_FCi8zGlk0bDD51zvmVGENCAp/s1600-h/IMG_0819-2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4s8wmRkXJ3rPqwkluMQLa1m-eaCJzRJfr5BxGk9kirQf1TdmMRCOnxHL73ge9llL5AQWW1UeAFGFVvrIeObkD8e1dmK_MCcYYSio8oii1liytklTjVQ_FCi8zGlk0bDD51zvmVGENCAp/s320/IMG_0819-2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344296411883089442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7vUmJP-sKmlmoPTymlmx9WWtA8EQIrQcKa8gtrgoA8DzblOtXg4FPiDLdC2EciVnZsO4g40bA4Yx5uV-R9IRe4UWJAq7rY8n4LPLx58F3M1HcPuh_x3od7w0l3cLdHxxM0m7la7FiSQc/s1600-h/IMG_0817-2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7vUmJP-sKmlmoPTymlmx9WWtA8EQIrQcKa8gtrgoA8DzblOtXg4FPiDLdC2EciVnZsO4g40bA4Yx5uV-R9IRe4UWJAq7rY8n4LPLx58F3M1HcPuh_x3od7w0l3cLdHxxM0m7la7FiSQc/s320/IMG_0817-2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344296406793824562" border="0" /></a><br />The boat trip to and from the island was lovely, although it was very touristy. We had a great view of Table Mountain from the bay.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsuG5aN1a0v7sz_BdIMLYt85uRT_we283Q7aogmc1j7MZ6pYLIm9y5tjG5H2kHjRuGxCqmc2sm1k6uPh2gIpxBuwh99m_jeRHcP6ulA_IWzddctu8JBqZAtDJh1jiY80RD408PIkIqzvb/s1600-h/IMG_0800-2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsuG5aN1a0v7sz_BdIMLYt85uRT_we283Q7aogmc1j7MZ6pYLIm9y5tjG5H2kHjRuGxCqmc2sm1k6uPh2gIpxBuwh99m_jeRHcP6ulA_IWzddctu8JBqZAtDJh1jiY80RD408PIkIqzvb/s320/IMG_0800-2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344294167440420306" border="0" /></a><br />We also saw whales, even though they were out of season. I know readers of this blog (if I have any readers left after so many months with no posts) are fond of my fuzzy shots of whale tails, so here's another one:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Z7GmuMcJIKYGzEfXXWgXj4yPdFNNTsm8TvHil7Ce4clgIXd39Ohesy4R8058xoAiPLa4dxvu39UAk8gFLgYzU8NMT7GZQNk7yMpuTIREcVhY1Xg_SbLcSoCeux3DgMhgwG5V4nyQVEPO/s1600-h/IMG_0799.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Z7GmuMcJIKYGzEfXXWgXj4yPdFNNTsm8TvHil7Ce4clgIXd39Ohesy4R8058xoAiPLa4dxvu39UAk8gFLgYzU8NMT7GZQNk7yMpuTIREcVhY1Xg_SbLcSoCeux3DgMhgwG5V4nyQVEPO/s320/IMG_0799.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344299068729780930" border="0" /></a><br />Sorry about the long gap between posts. I'll try to be better. I think Andy is planning a post or two, too.<br /><br />MelissaMelandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-24097303795393036682009-03-19T10:36:00.000-07:002009-03-19T11:07:05.619-07:00Cricket!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHRYD_S51xJZYKrZhFBbesUmhOHs0ZVE7UA3ZD0PWRSdgmDcG2gBQb_yNtJ9uNquBqtlnis55Vifu-vhZPiKvbE3B8VvMlwTiEGacYDcGfRSXFmG2RLvkcVFhfB_86ecVHXVAkGvjQpJO/s1600-h/IMG_0771-2.JPG"></a><div>We went to our first-ever cricket match. By the end of it, we were fans. It was the national final match, so there was a great deal of pomp: dancing girls, guys dressed up in silly suits. The referrees were delivered to the field in a helicopter. They do the wave here, and they call it the Mexican wave. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyilTZa1UKPvLJbNY7HoOSTeeK7IXIGQt9j1xYED2Jkf5ozQwmUJbk4mSxeTDV8z1QzHKei5HXw206lyu6Yt1QTj0ZqHvs4itk6Zt5ovUkwj31j2btgML1UqK7GhD48kNiRiPo2FTEXAE/s320/IMG_0733-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314958929968849218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQNvYfTomyxuYkuYBXGkpuYwVUumxfqAcbxN3fE5uCU8VVxS2NIqG97nudPMYScW3sCkGp6v9FP4ORU7UxTsMU_vyZrQU20WjTUUYe-A0_9qO-0AdX5Qt6MA5Sw4Gh8UGQSuvi8orTrjd/s320/IMG_0745-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314958929583239090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px; " /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLD393YvURQvnYTP1FnfRSui7ckMqn5A58tIwiHs3RkwkZWTIMdCq-DRQqJXnoqUaxAwsbGYD9PSmn1pMOPWASnUAkU9Fxzh5uZrUWOKpVjoj0_5QhIlM79zirDT4uD_F_TRZ9HgowjbWv/s1600-h/IMG_0758-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLD393YvURQvnYTP1FnfRSui7ckMqn5A58tIwiHs3RkwkZWTIMdCq-DRQqJXnoqUaxAwsbGYD9PSmn1pMOPWASnUAkU9Fxzh5uZrUWOKpVjoj0_5QhIlM79zirDT4uD_F_TRZ9HgowjbWv/s320/IMG_0758-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314958935808924898" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehnVFEEWfWYhNEsJbBnurznarrJWsSy-X81wMdLI9EUJwZ8X4oD2V-aZzMrX6uyy7-5eTP3UgnZiesUNd68h79iUK4ExdLHhZPyHu_KrF8NpDgVK2dvh_t02A3dszNylgUZYt9oN5_J2U/s1600-h/IMG_0763-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehnVFEEWfWYhNEsJbBnurznarrJWsSy-X81wMdLI9EUJwZ8X4oD2V-aZzMrX6uyy7-5eTP3UgnZiesUNd68h79iUK4ExdLHhZPyHu_KrF8NpDgVK2dvh_t02A3dszNylgUZYt9oN5_J2U/s320/IMG_0763-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314958936070041682" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQNvYfTomyxuYkuYBXGkpuYwVUumxfqAcbxN3fE5uCU8VVxS2NIqG97nudPMYScW3sCkGp6v9FP4ORU7UxTsMU_vyZrQU20WjTUUYe-A0_9qO-0AdX5Qt6MA5Sw4Gh8UGQSuvi8orTrjd/s1600-h/IMG_0745-2.JPG"></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHRYD_S51xJZYKrZhFBbesUmhOHs0ZVE7UA3ZD0PWRSdgmDcG2gBQb_yNtJ9uNquBqtlnis55Vifu-vhZPiKvbE3B8VvMlwTiEGacYDcGfRSXFmG2RLvkcVFhfB_86ecVHXVAkGvjQpJO/s320/IMG_0771-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314958943931164642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Melissa</div></div></div></div>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-25497214250868674922009-03-16T09:35:00.000-07:002009-03-16T09:35:00.360-07:00The Obligatory Diminishing Road Shot<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zIjSasMUDDaPG9tZ8c-KpO6QL9k-T8qWD22xOYILdEt2igqYrinrHQADpSt8IL-SKDdfZfa7mYATlzB4Bkqmyc1GI9vJHGP0OS7y1SYWh8oCzo7Blg6sSkmMzAByiu4H7qPWhh_fOW2X/s1600-h/IMG_0634-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zIjSasMUDDaPG9tZ8c-KpO6QL9k-T8qWD22xOYILdEt2igqYrinrHQADpSt8IL-SKDdfZfa7mYATlzB4Bkqmyc1GI9vJHGP0OS7y1SYWh8oCzo7Blg6sSkmMzAByiu4H7qPWhh_fOW2X/s320/IMG_0634-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313089021012378690" /></a>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-43059667436482198262009-03-15T09:28:00.000-07:002009-03-15T09:28:00.389-07:00Porcupine Quill<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2heUZ_y0knjisT2BipS7VHCxIH2Hy0alzNF_1uExgcyFBw8AZ5XFxwhbX7VYxK68GxIrSQOK7uasKCECBSBuXm3BYVQTdUX6s1BSKQ_aerkkFYy9uhxNDC2_BhjX1-1Bw3PyvPfqPXR1/s1600-h/IMG_0645-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2heUZ_y0knjisT2BipS7VHCxIH2Hy0alzNF_1uExgcyFBw8AZ5XFxwhbX7VYxK68GxIrSQOK7uasKCECBSBuXm3BYVQTdUX6s1BSKQ_aerkkFYy9uhxNDC2_BhjX1-1Bw3PyvPfqPXR1/s320/IMG_0645-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313082715943084306" /></a>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-10169186265285509432009-03-14T09:08:00.000-07:002009-03-14T09:27:28.061-07:00They Feel Edible<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqPsO8QIrVo5LUB_DV1OZDAV5MWPzE9SusDwylpfdBcdFhAi2Zv6lY5tKzhS3-jOE7ruQL819ssrLpWwzr2kTS2iQmzpa0_T0Ln7Yzt2aAP0Jp6SjqNqiOK0Z0tewhVBvM1m0wc4CTdbq/s1600-h/IMG_0669-2.JPG"></a>To the touch, this plant feels like fruit leather.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptOdhPS0vIaz_0PE7-EM6HnZ4X3PLajCsthYDnRQtaHJ6n3gp6A0iQldtdLrsKOjnRTwUjnF6hoDHEKUV9uqwF4s3WwfuRHArdUnIu_gYCGswKG4dpKLybwKcRIWpxPs_RNOoWM-oXZZ8/s320/IMG_0380-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313078922324645890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>This one feels like a red rope.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqPsO8QIrVo5LUB_DV1OZDAV5MWPzE9SusDwylpfdBcdFhAi2Zv6lY5tKzhS3-jOE7ruQL819ssrLpWwzr2kTS2iQmzpa0_T0Ln7Yzt2aAP0Jp6SjqNqiOK0Z0tewhVBvM1m0wc4CTdbq/s320/IMG_0669-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313078930372236434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Melissa</div>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-78704750723971073132009-03-13T10:02:00.000-07:002009-03-14T09:08:15.442-07:00Monkey Wars<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1A8i6g_Q6ZMoGJTuaA39s7v2cgjYezPOKDb8KtHgGDV12047nJIOJhLDuC1bpPECSuqCN8WCmkSV4EVENTRcQlk69qIC-aSBSBQ8QHv8pbXWfOAVEATywht25PBqIZSl5ixAGrKjpppv/s1600-h/IMG_0460-2.JPG"></a>There was an ongoing battle between people and monkeys at the Augrabies Falls campground, and the monkeys were winning. I think this was because the monkeys wanted one thing from the people: food. The people, meanwhile, wanted a bunch of different things from the monkeys, often all at the same time. <div><br /></div><div>Some people (like me) wanted to take pictures of the monkeys playing on tents and cars. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2of8gULuWLPQ0EGBdoqTmTLIDD57SjNcg_f8a2QSEVHDRHa_X7eWjoOLijsNYYfn3A8AE_IjUGW7bVtmPMJUTFzVM8m7c1F3ztRy0MKJOXggvjsXKoZIeaMTFQzuq2M-tRvufcbNkC8X/s320/488-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313066987753455122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Some people wanted to chase them off. (In between throwing sticks, these people kept shouting, "Stop pooping on my tent!")</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjpQyqmwIPQYUpo8iuNcKEUw7JlSK56Oab88YZ_FsdZVn2j4en7l_u4a2M8RrNo3FHthoKwpzPKVJfWEySY_fjwi4mXXNqmP0WTGsGj9337XIUXccFGXEk4_IIFKGBRU5lQbcobFZfcAK/s320/IMG_0542-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313066991853356146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Some people wanted to feed the monkeys.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuU_nKDiQ7Lrz2AI0GMUTPcR0RzSGb3Ka2MBaQ6avh7a-v4YKtShYRu1b8BLwUpJIlKaxK6Wucnnc_d526Yx8eVrDWEjZ5CPGfBtO8rl0R01HrsMLs7H2AjiB6CprIn_xnZwE_jdN7FEu5/s320/IMG_0588-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313066978489524818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>And a few fools wanted to get them drunk. (It didn't work. They spilled all the wine.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1A8i6g_Q6ZMoGJTuaA39s7v2cgjYezPOKDb8KtHgGDV12047nJIOJhLDuC1bpPECSuqCN8WCmkSV4EVENTRcQlk69qIC-aSBSBQ8QHv8pbXWfOAVEATywht25PBqIZSl5ixAGrKjpppv/s320/IMG_0460-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313067002024212786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>As confusing as human behavior must seem to the monkeys, it's clear that they're willing to put up with us. They came to visit us for breakfast and dinner, whether we invited them or not. </div><div><br /></div><div>Melissa</div>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-13176554803790766322009-02-05T09:27:00.000-08:002009-02-06T10:02:01.226-08:00Cute Little Thieves<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUfuZO86qxJc59pauBnefnbHdnKzco2xFR-FVKbR0GGmkmLVuaCG-m4mypv-h7ei6MreWa9uMQkVkMwlxOP0kkPkU3Ti4Vd5UC9qxeAXfpVFbNEO_4u_6C08p7xC1U1qdm9nX9bpi6Su6/s1600-h/IMG_0485-2.JPG"></a><div>When I was in college, I read that vervet monkeys have three different alarm calls to warn each other of eagles, snakes, and leopards. Now that I know these animals well, I can say for certain that everything else in their communicative arsenal means, roughly, "You go over there and do something adorable while I sneak up behind the people and grab that bag of nuts."</div><div><br /></div><div>This monkey might look like it's just hanging out on a post. But I was cooking dinner when I took this picture, and oddly enough, the monkey was one post closer to me every time I turned around.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAifTT4qTehsgUgfgurOweu1QOZF5q-tGS5LXJoj6mIz9qPjq6pClOYsc-uZaWCr-ZPhCZ_4p9njrYXj1Dv5bK5JNl4XP8ydQ2KcR7F12phbHEqDSQSKPG1_a9pkkzEpWRNTRMcZkdtCZ/s320/IMG_0491.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296407290796598770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Eating leaves? Uh-uh. This one has an eye on my bread. <br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNy5nVUcVvRIIvXlU-zPcXYFFnIW2LqD4WhzbwYWBunWk8FsibffyEueQCEMsB0pHcCwux0GDEqXaxXNDsZWXJbaBFH77kpZsa45HtjQlogIuUzrGVP4WTWUTvkZZLTALpM9yUuhte9JR/s1600-h/IMG_0494.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNy5nVUcVvRIIvXlU-zPcXYFFnIW2LqD4WhzbwYWBunWk8FsibffyEueQCEMsB0pHcCwux0GDEqXaxXNDsZWXJbaBFH77kpZsa45HtjQlogIuUzrGVP4WTWUTvkZZLTALpM9yUuhte9JR/s320/IMG_0494.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296407295665945842" /><br /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNy5nVUcVvRIIvXlU-zPcXYFFnIW2LqD4WhzbwYWBunWk8FsibffyEueQCEMsB0pHcCwux0GDEqXaxXNDsZWXJbaBFH77kpZsa45HtjQlogIuUzrGVP4WTWUTvkZZLTALpM9yUuhte9JR/s1600-h/IMG_0494.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;text-decoration: none; ">I'm afraid my bread didn't survive its attentions. </span></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUfuZO86qxJc59pauBnefnbHdnKzco2xFR-FVKbR0GGmkmLVuaCG-m4mypv-h7ei6MreWa9uMQkVkMwlxOP0kkPkU3Ti4Vd5UC9qxeAXfpVFbNEO_4u_6C08p7xC1U1qdm9nX9bpi6Su6/s320/IMG_0485-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299744409553478850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "> <div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">It wasn't a fair contest. There were about two dozen of them and only one of me.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Melissa</span></div></span></div></div>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-25617716385290133912009-01-28T09:00:00.000-08:002009-01-28T09:26:38.540-08:00Sociable Weavers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim40lFZirSBiV08E2ARlcMwsO8__kiKIcap_LhLs0KBQLT7ZLCldSpjszsAp5_S1uM8PKJW8g4U42-q_nlvcyTbfZ33wQ29o8P33Bmrnen5-S7Z331taPb9NImyDvXmq1Qk-xPpa0EkcbS/s1600-h/IMG_0509-2.JPG"></a>Sociable weaver nests can weigh up to a ton and last 100 years. The individual birds don't live that long, but their colonies can. As the weavers keep building, the weight of these nests can eventually fell a tree.<div><br /></div><div>The nests provide better shade than trees (or, in this case, power poles), so animals such as <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">wildebeests</span> often hang out beneath them. These visitors, along with the weavers themselves, contribute organic matter to the soil. As a result, young desert plants often thrive <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">underneath</span> the nests.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKL64wJEt18S8jUwz_AH0t5MidkWsXrPhFHyDxWIKS2Cmvn9tYYmJwthKT16XwWJYYnYzyj79v-BN0lih9KtM1Bvi19eS9GY-woA9fsx37KGy996FFDxV0sWfIDHAbe3yPK2u2fz5Eg9r/s320/IMG_0506.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296394878856136690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>This little guy apparently doesn't think his nest is big enough yet.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim40lFZirSBiV08E2ARlcMwsO8__kiKIcap_LhLs0KBQLT7ZLCldSpjszsAp5_S1uM8PKJW8g4U42-q_nlvcyTbfZ33wQ29o8P33Bmrnen5-S7Z331taPb9NImyDvXmq1Qk-xPpa0EkcbS/s320/IMG_0509-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296394876786687954" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 260px; " /></span></div><div>Melissa</div>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-12835163484103890672009-01-18T00:00:00.000-08:002009-01-18T01:41:58.141-08:00Dassie Trail<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQ_MeNMQb75xyFQpwlfHKDb1XJLlX0KcSbLN10QQIId1wZdX5eaQs6nN1bJWhOhBstlvh-9bFwr8UKWizW1U6BNHEhjxE0QwH3OLDzoQ-u65EwISd3egln01pyjYYH5qmf94VjbStBidC/s1600-h/IMG_0432-2.JPG"></a><div>We took a hike on a trail called the Dassie Trail, a nice little desert stroll with a few challenging moments. </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_e0KVzOciyG_eAfHiVtibUgrzgFpR83u4vQEGdzWNBP52Q98ynWAMca1oQCOaxUYTOffjQezdw2AoSpDOGZ3S4f6NIyWWI2D_AcJI9jQlEtv2FxFx3aHnKs2AsAf0LQuGw3ARd-zi59_/s1600-h/IMG_0422-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_e0KVzOciyG_eAfHiVtibUgrzgFpR83u4vQEGdzWNBP52Q98ynWAMca1oQCOaxUYTOffjQezdw2AoSpDOGZ3S4f6NIyWWI2D_AcJI9jQlEtv2FxFx3aHnKs2AsAf0LQuGw3ARd-zi59_/s320/IMG_0422-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291937582607050306" /></a></div><div>Our destination was the Moon Rock, which you can see against the horizon on the righthand side of the photo below.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCYhw1DNb8Iu9b3GxVLwb1ur-DumQiHwngwOgC1xfZAv4L4NglLQB4xlMWpTv7JbJRWWdYfFwhuX-zqV_4FhSZe3vVicZUwVXZaRvbQApZZWjj3Eah4C9k31vEvJsRIHTh-Kd8D_1D3Dy/s320/IMG_0426-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291937592680670130" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">When we came across a safety sign in the middle of nowhere, Andy just happened to disobey it. (If you can't read the sign, it says, "Potholes may be hidden by plants. Don't step on the old, dead reeds.")</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDSQ2U_OLoDOjYTjtYC5lyc3ltF83Y33nsVOoQAKLlikNAsIeFsdc2QOIr7EWtWXbfpKI5gL3PzsPoXHIh3gmAcH3mkTXN94bsyckV1ck6h8iENqMBdVzgxr7q9CK2zILLbrSqdUBdmBU-/s320/IMG_0435-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291946411720521842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">These klipspringer stood completely still for several minutes as we approached them, and then they bounced away. These were the first we saw, but not the last. Their habit of standing watch on top of big rocks made them some of the easiest wildlife to spot in the park.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQ_MeNMQb75xyFQpwlfHKDb1XJLlX0KcSbLN10QQIId1wZdX5eaQs6nN1bJWhOhBstlvh-9bFwr8UKWizW1U6BNHEhjxE0QwH3OLDzoQ-u65EwISd3egln01pyjYYH5qmf94VjbStBidC/s320/IMG_0432-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291953696995480482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">For the benefit of all the geologists in the family, we snapped some pictures of neat rocks.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNi3Bq1G24-399GG9ji50SDkfrSbDR8wEDT_2ET0eEHJ2Fwna7UZNVfcWHAs80KnHusouvKteLqfcHLwMIxL7-bb-LO3oJnNj86DzK9I-VXY07Lw-yDdZucSEaTRuIV2AMhsgGSfzIAnW/s1600-h/IMG_0438-2.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNi3Bq1G24-399GG9ji50SDkfrSbDR8wEDT_2ET0eEHJ2Fwna7UZNVfcWHAs80KnHusouvKteLqfcHLwMIxL7-bb-LO3oJnNj86DzK9I-VXY07Lw-yDdZucSEaTRuIV2AMhsgGSfzIAnW/s320/IMG_0438-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291949992443937026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEl40x-OsMbYxk59hrtKpV5i6kNBOyKKOhcEDslnVvdYVZVCdStHULaWCeqfbQGhCeMURhfk_8vtHXsU37YA_sghu80gs7pLN4X3a8NsWmqMr6TPNiEcDSUP6p2sMH2_h1jvkcHTEO0q8/s1600-h/IMG_0434-2.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEl40x-OsMbYxk59hrtKpV5i6kNBOyKKOhcEDslnVvdYVZVCdStHULaWCeqfbQGhCeMURhfk_8vtHXsU37YA_sghu80gs7pLN4X3a8NsWmqMr6TPNiEcDSUP6p2sMH2_h1jvkcHTEO0q8/s320/IMG_0434-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291946393714103906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">And then we climbed the Moon Rock. From the top, the view stretched pretty much forever. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuPMaPqyn8GcSnUzxB2RVy_VUeDWT5nyzDR1oP2WybHds_tSlhQoRrY5VedVFKdjfdbC_DjqrXhpjiwdGCACbPUEY2ATwco7GNytohTXks7r6Zex5A02MaAyt_CqvUFQCNGBWMe7URxC8/s320/IMG_0441-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291949996728735634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">On the way back to camp, we had to go wading a bit. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIGi0BcpGSWUdwgCUQvQvkSyypUmcACBd5LyIXYe8OofjfABEg5W38xsgfGruY2_R2IWFw8pmLFr4fyOWmJEbB-vQgcJm_LydqsRQ0PfbwDs78IQE0HaClqVH1xgPdPylE2XsnJ-cdsH8/s320/IMG_0444-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291950004806111650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Incidentally, I got the car stuck on this exact spot a day later. If Andy hadn't done a Hercules and picked up the back end, we might never have made it home.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Melissa </div>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-73418183408279932292009-01-15T09:26:00.000-08:002009-01-16T08:26:50.542-08:00Augrabies Falls<div style="text-align: left;">The word "Augrabies" comes a from a Khoi phrase meaning "Place of great noise." The khoi used to avoid the waterfall because they believed it was the home of a monster. <br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwJ0Xc9zzVaUMv09NUsy-5afDMi8xghiUd94_DVgls54EZTCQ2vCzOotZBsdL3kYk3i7ue4LAaLlDXjR1BbSANXb0Uz9d2E_8QBWinoNLF6H1RD4_Zx5P1vGOhENaRORI6rKhHhUHhU-x/s1600-h/IMG_0408-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwJ0Xc9zzVaUMv09NUsy-5afDMi8xghiUd94_DVgls54EZTCQ2vCzOotZBsdL3kYk3i7ue4LAaLlDXjR1BbSANXb0Uz9d2E_8QBWinoNLF6H1RD4_Zx5P1vGOhENaRORI6rKhHhUHhU-x/s320/IMG_0408-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289953892233702002" /></a><br /></div><div>On our first full day in the park, Andy and I wandered around the falls, admiring the views and the neat potholes in the rocks.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpk5_3RI4ehgaOMeoqxkATPkT5Kc3Z1DLjsFNob2RyScme-U-b9VVNquHbohai0IPGPziZpxQkZz2Zzc46IXv8OBxzmj2Ondyw4IC5ThdRyJ4hYkMGrCfTXyfKHto81CnsSJV7_ZAn24e/s320/IMG_0403-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289953877810147314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvu_ZvGHLvyHBrcGVN8UQii4dq3ifLxusaBJUyyP4avZaA_vuWB8NmfiPLjwGYWzO5FBOFGwRunjEkPVWCrtLJ7cYZCqPriXptrrypCSSkvxgZSNdr0GTSj-823HTDApdxobIcp0fQMfy/s1600-h/IMG_0407-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvu_ZvGHLvyHBrcGVN8UQii4dq3ifLxusaBJUyyP4avZaA_vuWB8NmfiPLjwGYWzO5FBOFGwRunjEkPVWCrtLJ7cYZCqPriXptrrypCSSkvxgZSNdr0GTSj-823HTDApdxobIcp0fQMfy/s320/IMG_0407-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289953889192499314" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpk5_3RI4ehgaOMeoqxkATPkT5Kc3Z1DLjsFNob2RyScme-U-b9VVNquHbohai0IPGPziZpxQkZz2Zzc46IXv8OBxzmj2Ondyw4IC5ThdRyJ4hYkMGrCfTXyfKHto81CnsSJV7_ZAn24e/s1600-h/IMG_0403-2.JPG"></a>When we stopped for lunch, Andy invented a new food: hard-boiled eggs wrapped in slices of ham. Very tasty.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJZcJJSPrpPHmVe_BrwIuSlUHJQ-FgehFwgN_C-ZtJvIl39RORwzFSOwVjz7XiADKzLMdbDaMNc8l1ZBnAc1BMyL0KTSAi-dwNjwkop41u1ilQeSieyDcYqdzmdNjb1ZKKAHTbhYaJfcc/s1600-h/IMG_0410-2.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJZcJJSPrpPHmVe_BrwIuSlUHJQ-FgehFwgN_C-ZtJvIl39RORwzFSOwVjz7XiADKzLMdbDaMNc8l1ZBnAc1BMyL0KTSAi-dwNjwkop41u1ilQeSieyDcYqdzmdNjb1ZKKAHTbhYaJfcc/s320/IMG_0410-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289953898036979490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Dozens of lizards ran around us while we were eating lunch. I think they were after our crumbs. They were not shy at all. One of them ran up on my shoe. </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvP3NdFEsLIlfgpFUyLdfS0hQGjNyjuNUL6wv9ecQ7tITKaVb0SDeWUmHinko5Q3QOgKl9QFA2vQCf2C-iFIhHc-XdZJGZnEv3JiQP63sdAj3PRQvyUQG9bxeFDnJW_oLSf1C6oD_pcmQx/s1600-h/IMG_0412-2.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvP3NdFEsLIlfgpFUyLdfS0hQGjNyjuNUL6wv9ecQ7tITKaVb0SDeWUmHinko5Q3QOgKl9QFA2vQCf2C-iFIhHc-XdZJGZnEv3JiQP63sdAj3PRQvyUQG9bxeFDnJW_oLSf1C6oD_pcmQx/s320/IMG_0412-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289957619612197858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8g6rvn_HA7VXRSO_kVQG26wuYUsyHOk4JeV2CC01lbpB3nadmb3UKr4kpzuj1M_pTvXao78guM0ryKz2_XDWPwxWW_1Z1JQ4JtTRjVTnz0TzSPQYR_bHyHjMr8xVD1IsdV3m2pVZbY0Ut/s1600-h/IMG_0411-2.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8g6rvn_HA7VXRSO_kVQG26wuYUsyHOk4JeV2CC01lbpB3nadmb3UKr4kpzuj1M_pTvXao78guM0ryKz2_XDWPwxWW_1Z1JQ4JtTRjVTnz0TzSPQYR_bHyHjMr8xVD1IsdV3m2pVZbY0Ut/s320/IMG_0411-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289957614942693346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJZcJJSPrpPHmVe_BrwIuSlUHJQ-FgehFwgN_C-ZtJvIl39RORwzFSOwVjz7XiADKzLMdbDaMNc8l1ZBnAc1BMyL0KTSAi-dwNjwkop41u1ilQeSieyDcYqdzmdNjb1ZKKAHTbhYaJfcc/s1600-h/IMG_0410-2.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJZcJJSPrpPHmVe_BrwIuSlUHJQ-FgehFwgN_C-ZtJvIl39RORwzFSOwVjz7XiADKzLMdbDaMNc8l1ZBnAc1BMyL0KTSAi-dwNjwkop41u1ilQeSieyDcYqdzmdNjb1ZKKAHTbhYaJfcc/s1600-h/IMG_0410-2.JPG"></a></div><div>Melissa</div>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-58278073837490887872009-01-12T00:00:00.000-08:002009-01-12T00:00:00.767-08:00Rock Dassie<div>These things look like rodents, but they're actually related to elephants.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzQZPdpHO5dcAim9ZuzsdXpF2QiX9bVfE1jMnT219bHy2OkXwhkYLHvFbY3Fzx8Byb-hDG1P-xitHpoFmILnXCobVi8Vxoq7Z-aihmRB-3ro8FRm5brIKPOHmyc246O6iCrn34zyalJFc/s1600-h/IMG_0392-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzQZPdpHO5dcAim9ZuzsdXpF2QiX9bVfE1jMnT219bHy2OkXwhkYLHvFbY3Fzx8Byb-hDG1P-xitHpoFmILnXCobVi8Vxoq7Z-aihmRB-3ro8FRm5brIKPOHmyc246O6iCrn34zyalJFc/s320/IMG_0392-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289943563927019570" /><br /></a><div><div style="text-align: left;">Melissa</div><br /><br /></div>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-88512940371415383072009-01-10T23:53:00.000-08:002009-01-10T23:58:34.175-08:00Mongoose<div>At the Augrabies falls campground, these guys checked out the empty braai pits almost every morning. <br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0bMejHvdJeVxz5Y2gXUqLnGsxyZDWx8mYyyh7cMesHhjN8tghknLu6W-jDgRRcFCN-UsVv3fvn1FwgT7mMLwxxi93oQq6fRktx031CEdL-QmM7ksgHewKwWrQsEDoG0I-qrNXB-IhRWf/s1600-h/IMG_0387-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0bMejHvdJeVxz5Y2gXUqLnGsxyZDWx8mYyyh7cMesHhjN8tghknLu6W-jDgRRcFCN-UsVv3fvn1FwgT7mMLwxxi93oQq6fRktx031CEdL-QmM7ksgHewKwWrQsEDoG0I-qrNXB-IhRWf/s320/IMG_0387-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289942090781901746" /><br /></a><div><div style="text-align: left;">Melissa</div><div><br /></div></div>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-27665351389743384292009-01-10T10:58:00.000-08:002009-01-10T23:23:13.790-08:00The Drive to Augrabies<div style="text-align: left;">On the second day of our trip, we drove up to Augrabies National Park. On the way, we stopped in the town of Calvinia. Not for the first time, I was glad I'd given up being a vegetarian before coming to South Africa. We bought some tasty lamb chops and sausages at this braai (barbecue) place.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6fDf81oedS0wgaQXVnOFkJEwr9hf6aZd9TF_NGl00F0lMYB_N4mjzUqF_1yaSMLvDlygcoHMZlybnAz8WqAGiaAa-7bUPIMn46Cnng6AgebkEOcDv_6ZkmCxvxGRPdN5PfTa9C7UUHfB/s1600-h/IMG_0367-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6fDf81oedS0wgaQXVnOFkJEwr9hf6aZd9TF_NGl00F0lMYB_N4mjzUqF_1yaSMLvDlygcoHMZlybnAz8WqAGiaAa-7bUPIMn46Cnng6AgebkEOcDv_6ZkmCxvxGRPdN5PfTa9C7UUHfB/s320/IMG_0367-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288929348676114882" /></a><br /><div>We also went into the town's museum, which is the building behind the train engine in this photo. It had nice displays about the San, who were the earliest known inhabitants of this region; the Boer settlers who moved in later; and the sheep farming that supports the region today. It also had a whole room dedicated to a set of quadruplets who were born in the town some time ago.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRmmU6srC97WAP5jUYiRDXFKow9EHHA6Kc563EbHpR66QvxGjwkkpR4XoHvy8EfgwoVRw6-rj7FFQG5ynEfrt_kth1dkHrMCduKCakPfUvJl1FWsb8l4L4QcTGkbq48igXQWcWhFmYxZA/s1600-h/IMG_0368-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRmmU6srC97WAP5jUYiRDXFKow9EHHA6Kc563EbHpR66QvxGjwkkpR4XoHvy8EfgwoVRw6-rj7FFQG5ynEfrt_kth1dkHrMCduKCakPfUvJl1FWsb8l4L4QcTGkbq48igXQWcWhFmYxZA/s320/IMG_0368-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288929333752903138" /></a><br /></div><div>Back on the road, we passed a forest of aloe trees, which are called quiver trees because the San used to hollow out the branches and use them as quivers for their arrows.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFY8VFHArkBNmAW40pWboXfn1e9Mhq7N3nREI4H6i7J8rEUZjLMe0M09l-xZOJELh5WbSvucp2lzQRCEIqhRhOKu-9hxpSlId0AD-1LHJcFChymK5_IUx-lziC4znecZ9s5E5C-s3rR7_H/s1600-h/IMG_0377-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFY8VFHArkBNmAW40pWboXfn1e9Mhq7N3nREI4H6i7J8rEUZjLMe0M09l-xZOJELh5WbSvucp2lzQRCEIqhRhOKu-9hxpSlId0AD-1LHJcFChymK5_IUx-lziC4znecZ9s5E5C-s3rR7_H/s320/IMG_0377-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288631455052124050" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtvjnLMYJs0pZ88lrcxh6-IkZMoTUFthxkDLhSC2NARUzuqD8_n4wvm2mLQQV0kDiPDY4VzSCgCtWASMiwr13_gsxKH-FrW3x2wrmpTIlszW3Z6KZpdT-kSWtYdbqywHPVrbRbgtTGq_q/s1600-h/IMG_0376-2.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtvjnLMYJs0pZ88lrcxh6-IkZMoTUFthxkDLhSC2NARUzuqD8_n4wvm2mLQQV0kDiPDY4VzSCgCtWASMiwr13_gsxKH-FrW3x2wrmpTIlszW3Z6KZpdT-kSWtYdbqywHPVrbRbgtTGq_q/s320/IMG_0376-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288929351014043778" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6fDf81oedS0wgaQXVnOFkJEwr9hf6aZd9TF_NGl00F0lMYB_N4mjzUqF_1yaSMLvDlygcoHMZlybnAz8WqAGiaAa-7bUPIMn46Cnng6AgebkEOcDv_6ZkmCxvxGRPdN5PfTa9C7UUHfB/s1600-h/IMG_0367-2.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6fDf81oedS0wgaQXVnOFkJEwr9hf6aZd9TF_NGl00F0lMYB_N4mjzUqF_1yaSMLvDlygcoHMZlybnAz8WqAGiaAa-7bUPIMn46Cnng6AgebkEOcDv_6ZkmCxvxGRPdN5PfTa9C7UUHfB/s1600-h/IMG_0367-2.JPG"></a>We also stopped at this farmstall/junk shop/souvenier shop/cafe:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PRG1X-Tl2e1AzkkAaWCcoNhVw3JrnRHtOG5y3pnE0VjIoSVYWfygkenTy3tIjCK-GAl12zdDRJgdwP5jwQki4FqSKjdmd4uAa0TsYcMF3hzsbJVnsBU5xbXvguc1Lxkatl9Wm34dwwW5/s1600-h/IMG_0383-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PRG1X-Tl2e1AzkkAaWCcoNhVw3JrnRHtOG5y3pnE0VjIoSVYWfygkenTy3tIjCK-GAl12zdDRJgdwP5jwQki4FqSKjdmd4uAa0TsYcMF3hzsbJVnsBU5xbXvguc1Lxkatl9Wm34dwwW5/s320/IMG_0383-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288631426071310578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRW5QonDCF4aPvwAKlhCodxaLCTWMp8PHHmK5kd7g6GTNWgxG8nPmXp4_9Txf4tOFZuSfpYAqgJU_tts9tmuxVoMwnOnj9Q4rl_1bAaCR9TMMjXy5IYA-7Ospc9ZnoV4gJ51x7aJQjO2z/s1600-h/IMG_0384-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRW5QonDCF4aPvwAKlhCodxaLCTWMp8PHHmK5kd7g6GTNWgxG8nPmXp4_9Txf4tOFZuSfpYAqgJU_tts9tmuxVoMwnOnj9Q4rl_1bAaCR9TMMjXy5IYA-7Ospc9ZnoV4gJ51x7aJQjO2z/s320/IMG_0384-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288631401854574402" /></a><br /></div><div>In spite of all the stopping, we did manage to reach our destination. We caught our first glimpse of Augrabies Falls, the sixth largest waterfall in the world, just as it was getting dark. We didn't have time to hang around and take many pictures that night, though, because we had to go set up camp. I'll post the next day's pictures of the area soon.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIj8y3LpjlDsU_Mbm7u-2hgSqB50mybdx7zMRbK4IImYDhKnpbaeU7gJdaGC0_yX0aBn_-eML_km5cZp25_9CBzweDP5tEjEehLBwvM8qemSTwXQqrAVD_LfDH7ofU6B77X5OZuEQiFPi/s1600-h/IMG_0398-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIj8y3LpjlDsU_Mbm7u-2hgSqB50mybdx7zMRbK4IImYDhKnpbaeU7gJdaGC0_yX0aBn_-eML_km5cZp25_9CBzweDP5tEjEehLBwvM8qemSTwXQqrAVD_LfDH7ofU6B77X5OZuEQiFPi/s320/IMG_0398-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288631352669109090" /></a><br /></div><div>Melissa</div></div>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-27893900039448560412009-01-07T13:20:00.000-08:002009-01-07T13:20:01.545-08:00You Know You're a Tourist When....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KoEcscIa9-lEbkoV7BBVidHmkM9mPX4HTEZHu0Wox-luGmmPR81QJ804c3jzfDFYIADPhlCpkndROVD-PPYmAICasvIi_ociPJYG99Pn7rjZVJkTUEQ_9XxG2wBLrq5Jt1qaoVkhCcV4/s1600-h/IMG_0360-2.JPG"></a><br />...you stop the car, get out, and take pictures of the bug that lands on your windshield.<div><br /><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KoEcscIa9-lEbkoV7BBVidHmkM9mPX4HTEZHu0Wox-luGmmPR81QJ804c3jzfDFYIADPhlCpkndROVD-PPYmAICasvIi_ociPJYG99Pn7rjZVJkTUEQ_9XxG2wBLrq5Jt1qaoVkhCcV4/s1600-h/IMG_0360-2.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KoEcscIa9-lEbkoV7BBVidHmkM9mPX4HTEZHu0Wox-luGmmPR81QJ804c3jzfDFYIADPhlCpkndROVD-PPYmAICasvIi_ociPJYG99Pn7rjZVJkTUEQ_9XxG2wBLrq5Jt1qaoVkhCcV4/s320/IMG_0360-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288222325119386450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9oNm4MRFqBI-01s4v2E5GQIZjc-_xzhYUjhBG9gdyORdxXKDEQlZkoYW26kcxUg3OUEnyIhh-T24_wnLhUhbVAvgGn2c7AV4XcyHFi4rPjrhoXtnikX81ENBTLorJLTEafo6k9CJdSfJ/s1600-h/IMG_0364.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9oNm4MRFqBI-01s4v2E5GQIZjc-_xzhYUjhBG9gdyORdxXKDEQlZkoYW26kcxUg3OUEnyIhh-T24_wnLhUhbVAvgGn2c7AV4XcyHFi4rPjrhoXtnikX81ENBTLorJLTEafo6k9CJdSfJ/s320/IMG_0364.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288222313463526578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Melissa</div>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-62228533103886896282009-01-04T08:27:00.000-08:002009-01-06T08:35:27.399-08:00Road Trip<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvng4y5PjsrYE6fhFqavsAkainEc8G7WsSOcM-ipDKNgadQRH7WI-K0tUWbt0iG9YvGQ7jlU3GdvoIymXd__fijtTgCnIT_9zlXdxJ9N8Ob6apySj8oEzJCrCSdwtkfD5bPrLVY29cc0A/s1600-h/IMG_0504-2.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We took a road trip up to Augrabies Falls National Park, which is in the northwestern part of South Africa, on the border of Namibia. The morning we left, Andy pulled this message out of a Christmas cracker:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDZ9f8AeM1MOkADUx1WqU56GWrRkONYsJUce6cwu6CvRbQEj70e7SnuOCK4sn7yY1e9h90YLyTMFsDKeYHWbaFPpiQukkqwAsAjBdnsZb5Zb0n8firZNqjNP08RuFYrMaapmP_9GBAlJ6/s1600-h/IMG_0350-2.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDZ9f8AeM1MOkADUx1WqU56GWrRkONYsJUce6cwu6CvRbQEj70e7SnuOCK4sn7yY1e9h90YLyTMFsDKeYHWbaFPpiQukkqwAsAjBdnsZb5Zb0n8firZNqjNP08RuFYrMaapmP_9GBAlJ6/s1600-h/IMG_0350-2.JPG"></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvng4y5PjsrYE6fhFqavsAkainEc8G7WsSOcM-ipDKNgadQRH7WI-K0tUWbt0iG9YvGQ7jlU3GdvoIymXd__fijtTgCnIT_9zlXdxJ9N8Ob6apySj8oEzJCrCSdwtkfD5bPrLVY29cc0A/s320/IMG_0504-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287507485381922690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>This seemed like a good omen. We set out, and soon we saw some spectacular views of farms, pastures, and mountains. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdd-g2wyPFNyddvYdFAup0xw_cpY04L3l9oHS2Wfy7eYhtQasn42WNLNJSqlrwRlYOOJJkfBkISMgOdClvXGyDm77odtCSzpl25eX0t99k2GAmUuxsjwWKuChuu2tuduuykQy92MaPHaiv/s320/IMG_0350-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287507482475941522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSHVA095HcnZB_YdZTF43-OFRcw2Vfo6sqw5AfnaOxQ5YZvrhXsvPL31JLTgjMmbDFlBDCI2AnWpTxT20qH14NDS3dQmG93QbhL3Kxt_3RKm7QrbeBwZ0qxCaN2pFSSJIDZxZtOXZWWLB/s320/IMG_0356-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287501545409812706" style="text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>We stayed the first night in a small town called Neuwoudtville. It's a tourist attraction during flower season, but there wasn't much going on at this time. People were out in the streets, but none of them seemed to be going anywhere. The unemployment rate in South Africa is about 25% overall, but we think it might be higher here. </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKEJPgBAm6DMXcXozGCOgqQxLIHMTjoUlEDGp3kgco3ycD4k63WsNOfpUMemjGFITXAlRzJaZATcjrZdUZ64Y2MC7yKaKYUbH_SXoJj9jkCvj8NH8ebVgjqfy4CSDIMZA0TywaTFU3NGb/s1600-h/IMG_0365-2.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKEJPgBAm6DMXcXozGCOgqQxLIHMTjoUlEDGp3kgco3ycD4k63WsNOfpUMemjGFITXAlRzJaZATcjrZdUZ64Y2MC7yKaKYUbH_SXoJj9jkCvj8NH8ebVgjqfy4CSDIMZA0TywaTFU3NGb/s320/IMG_0365-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287501551353216994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSHVA095HcnZB_YdZTF43-OFRcw2Vfo6sqw5AfnaOxQ5YZvrhXsvPL31JLTgjMmbDFlBDCI2AnWpTxT20qH14NDS3dQmG93QbhL3Kxt_3RKm7QrbeBwZ0qxCaN2pFSSJIDZxZtOXZWWLB/s1600-h/IMG_0356-2.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSHVA095HcnZB_YdZTF43-OFRcw2Vfo6sqw5AfnaOxQ5YZvrhXsvPL31JLTgjMmbDFlBDCI2AnWpTxT20qH14NDS3dQmG93QbhL3Kxt_3RKm7QrbeBwZ0qxCaN2pFSSJIDZxZtOXZWWLB/s1600-h/IMG_0356-2.JPG"></a></div><div>Melissa</div>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-74469826800283495482008-12-26T08:00:00.000-08:002008-12-26T08:00:02.726-08:00Regarding Christmas<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Just so you know, we weren't the only people in South Africa who thought of going to the beach on Christmas Day.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>(Oh, and that whitish stuff on the ground is sand, not snow.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjMGAFO7hjxO9RNKPFz32k4N3Sx88p16SW43NfmUP8qKpvStP5fzEx9qSc0uWHYVbY6wPCILS_9l3SqqVCBVQ7Yk6kUgQ5eXS-hC8eNQkWrBza22m_4zsQicrecuYx0rCHZdiOXKAkM5o/s1600-h/IMG_0341-2.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjMGAFO7hjxO9RNKPFz32k4N3Sx88p16SW43NfmUP8qKpvStP5fzEx9qSc0uWHYVbY6wPCILS_9l3SqqVCBVQ7Yk6kUgQ5eXS-hC8eNQkWrBza22m_4zsQicrecuYx0rCHZdiOXKAkM5o/s320/IMG_0341-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283840581890824354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pHrPXUNBQwniMyjaSgxt1vBv_DIyNFjIiTfh91Tb-effxh2MJnhSXEP0Ibl7a7mg1L7Gmuvbi5pn5uDK-FfbXImRSq82xPiYbP3t4KO5sR_nmFl9eZmE3LuYc6TwPLt81mxkMBgbf7Wd/s1600-h/IMG_0347-2.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pHrPXUNBQwniMyjaSgxt1vBv_DIyNFjIiTfh91Tb-effxh2MJnhSXEP0Ibl7a7mg1L7Gmuvbi5pn5uDK-FfbXImRSq82xPiYbP3t4KO5sR_nmFl9eZmE3LuYc6TwPLt81mxkMBgbf7Wd/s320/IMG_0347-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283840572487330450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77VbFU13P2bfVB2iSxGL0V0mb8Kl8aEQqs7aBMdGwk6adTyxCi-vfcD8hLoStPX_duBR84lA_lJ6aUTi0O2lyNgjoBF3WSUR8veWbbTCKdtp6ve6K-FX7WSqcblNGuk3WUHzVUQYOUWHg/s1600-h/IMG_0349-2.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77VbFU13P2bfVB2iSxGL0V0mb8Kl8aEQqs7aBMdGwk6adTyxCi-vfcD8hLoStPX_duBR84lA_lJ6aUTi0O2lyNgjoBF3WSUR8veWbbTCKdtp6ve6K-FX7WSqcblNGuk3WUHzVUQYOUWHg/s320/IMG_0349-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283840559691999394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLph-fglOHkU4SUaWNz__f4Jh51l-NafBCksNhdg8eCiKwZ0zQExuzgiskepkUZkIYocs6ezrL4yT-udDmNXInLY-jYWsx5SYFSjxjcDkgyW_-XTbyUAOL2lyuajHdC31TLBTS9SKsdKt5/s1600-h/IMG_0339-2.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLph-fglOHkU4SUaWNz__f4Jh51l-NafBCksNhdg8eCiKwZ0zQExuzgiskepkUZkIYocs6ezrL4yT-udDmNXInLY-jYWsx5SYFSjxjcDkgyW_-XTbyUAOL2lyuajHdC31TLBTS9SKsdKt5/s1600-h/IMG_0339-2.JPG"></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLph-fglOHkU4SUaWNz__f4Jh51l-NafBCksNhdg8eCiKwZ0zQExuzgiskepkUZkIYocs6ezrL4yT-udDmNXInLY-jYWsx5SYFSjxjcDkgyW_-XTbyUAOL2lyuajHdC31TLBTS9SKsdKt5/s320/IMG_0339-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283840544429308018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Melissa</div>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1329322739663928951.post-40755286633554624132008-12-25T12:24:00.000-08:002008-12-25T12:28:39.668-08:00Merry Christmas!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsk-_0vtX4E1NRGZRqJJJkkn2TUqQBYCnX3z1j7Q4A3rsavBLFFsEoLrGuHvgRpkAtNZ05_G3LaEMa_jo_q3Kr3ZGdAMUyRiwILJEnb_URyKtrMNHe1VydmlbEpHsuv5d8t7TlpbDpdnb/s1600-h/IMG_0343-2.JPG"></a><br />Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family, especially those in the northern hemisphere. <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsk-_0vtX4E1NRGZRqJJJkkn2TUqQBYCnX3z1j7Q4A3rsavBLFFsEoLrGuHvgRpkAtNZ05_G3LaEMa_jo_q3Kr3ZGdAMUyRiwILJEnb_URyKtrMNHe1VydmlbEpHsuv5d8t7TlpbDpdnb/s320/IMG_0343-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283826971280619682" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 235px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Melissa and Andy</div>Melandy Koosingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436967508615468915noreply@blogger.com0