Inspiration: Seek Your Joy

"One cannot divine nore forecast the conditions that will make happiness; one only stumbles upon them by chance, in a lucky hour, at the world's end somewhere."

Will Cather

















Photo: Zanzibar, Tanzania

Tanzania - Happy Birthday Charles Darwin

I’m not one to celebrate birthdays, especially as I get older but I overheard on the national news yesterday that Wednesday, February 12th, is Charles Darwin’s birthday. We all know Darwin and let’s thank him on his special day for helping spur the debate of evolution versus creation which rages on to this day. Thank you Charlie (wink wink!). For those of you who know me well you know I have a propensity to learn towards the theory of evolution. To me, it makes absolute sense and when you consider the common thread that is shared through all of human life (despite race, color, creed, religion, joys and struggles), the amazing diversity and complexity of animal and plant life, the concept of how the continents shifted, how man and woman evolved from apes out of the middle of Africa based on archeological findings; it just all makes terrible sense to me. However, I admit I struggled with science in high school and college bigtime so, don’t consider me an expert.

Past the Serengeti in East Tanzania in to the Great Rift Valley lies the Olduvai Gorge, or more commonly referred to as 'The Cradle of Mankind.' Here lies one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world and is instrumental in understanding the theory of human evolution as well. Fossil remains of human beings, their families, footprints and artifacts were found here dating back more than 2.5 million years ago. It is incredibly dry and arid there, the wind sweeps up so swift and powerfully from the gorge you can barely keep your hat on. Overlooking the gorge from up top there was dead silence except for the whistling the wind made as it passed up and across the dusty plateau. It was a slightly eerie feeling, not in a bad way, but deeply mysterious. To stand there and imagine what life must have been like for our very earliest ancestors: how did they walk? Where did they find food, water or shelter? Why here in this barren landscape and why not leave? Leave they did. And here we are.

I just don’t have the answers. I don’t know and I'm pretty A-OK without knowing. There are times when I delve deep down inside and ponder the truly big questions in life; how did we get here? why are we here? more so why the Hell am I here? what happens after we die? And when it all gets too much I head out shopping and maybe pick up a handbag, or enjoy a couple glasses of Shiraz wine with a girlfriend or the best remedy of all, I watch endless reruns of Larry David’s ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm.’

Most of you will know Larry David as the co-producer (i.e.: comic genius) behind Seinfeld and if you don’t know Seinfeld then, according to Charles Darwin’s Survival of the Fittest theory, you might not be the crunchiest carrot in the bunch. Hopefully your genes will not propagate into the future. Larry has covered every facet of the human struggle: irony, perversity, shame, isolation, idiocy, nothingness, hypocrisy, curiosity, apathy. So, if laughter is the path to redemption then through the grace of Larry, I think I might be saved.

Again, standing there on top of the gorge I laid eyes on three little boys playing and dashing down the valley, hiding behind huge rocks, pouncing down the gritty, dusty, dirt barely escaping a tumbling fall all the way down. They wore the traditional Maasai brightly colored red and/or purple robes and no shoes for them (how brave!). They were laughing out loud, having a terrible amount of fun as they chased after each other and soon they disappeared into the valley somewhere out of my eyesight. Really, I sure don’t have answers although I do have opinions and regardless of where you stand on the issue of evolution versus creation I’d say that laughter is a blessing.

Serengeti, Tanzania - The Thrill and the Skill of the Kill

Story in progress...please stay tuned.

Photo: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Kenya - Guess What? Americans are Likeable Again!

Although it wasn't that long ago (2007) that I was posed next to a picture of Hillary Clinton in a hotel in Lima, Peru. The receptionist giggled as she took my picture. In my usual handicapped Spanish I tried to communicate "This is going to be the next Presidente of the Estados Unidos." Tapping my finger on the picture. Presidente=President, Estados Unidos= United States. The hotel staff gently smiled as well as I anticipating how exciting it would be to have such an enigmatic woman in the White House, the leader of the free world.

Catch up a year and so later, as we all know, we elected our first African American president, Barack Obama. Admittedly my hopes were dashed (I even volunteered in San Francisco for the Hillary Clinton campaign) yet I hold no disappointment, rather, hope and huge expectations for our nation's future. Mostly, that people of all nations around the world return to the once high level of admiration and respect that they once held for all Americans.

I always look forward to meeting people from different cultures and have tried to hold an open mind that regardless of their nation's political leaders and structures; they are just like me. They work to pay the bills, they care for friends and family and wouldn't mind once in a while a little bit of fun to come along the way.

In my early experiences backpacking Europe, young Americans would sew a Canadian flag patch on their packs as to not immediately be targeted as American. As we moved through the 8 years of the Bush administration, attempts to disguise one's nationality became more savvy. I have always been proud to be an American and I know in my heart where our finer qualities lie; we are friendly, outgoing, funny, curious and kind. In the past few years, upon meeting new travelers the immediate question asked is "Where are you from?"

"America" I'd say.

"Ohhh....(hiss, hiss)George Bush!" in a tone of disdain.

I never got in a conflict of the political kind with anyone and the people I've met and traveled with have shown me the same respect. Best to talk about fine wine and landscapes than hapless leaders. Although, on occassion I have fibbed just to not get in to it. I've been everything from Swedish to German. In India I bonded with an older, retired couple from the middle of England. I found it really difficult to bargain with souvenier vendors. I couldn't ever get them to knock down pennies and I suspected the spectacle of a young, blonde, woman traveling on her own was tarnishable if not loose in thier terms. The English husband kindly suggested that while we shopped together, perhaps I should pretend that I am their daughter. I giggled at the opportunity to dust off my English accent learned from long ago drama days. At one vendor stand, I was asked "Where are you from?"

In my posh English accent I spoke "Ohhh I'm from the middle of England and this is me Mum and me Dad."

"Ohhh, how lovely to see a family traveling together," and I got the price of a delicately hand painted wooden box knocked off over 30%.

As of November 4th, 2008, Americans are likeable again. We are loved, admired, looked up to and the world danced in the streets on that night. Recently, I traveled to Kenya and Tanzania in Africa with my mother. After a harrowing journey, one that summed up over 35 hours, it goes without saying that our nerves about stepping foot on the dark continent and exhaustion made us feel vulnerable muche less exhausted. Upon meeting our first guide at the international airport in Nairobi, Kenya it was after initial greetings that he smiled and said "Ahhh, Obama..." moving their heads up and down in a gesture of yes and smiling. Each guide from there on and many people we met along the way smiled and spoke kindly "Ahhh...Obama (moving their heads up and down in a gesture of yes and smiling!). Things are going to be good from now on!"

I sincerely hope so.

Photo: En route from Nairobi, Kenya to Arush, Tanzania

Serengeti, Tanzania - Symphony In Flea Major

story in development...stay tuned.

Photo: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Vacaciones? Serengeti, Tanzania

Why Did You Go? Call it the mother/daughter version of 'The Bucket List' and to experience Africa's wildlife up close and in person vs. on the Discovery Channel!

What Should I Not Miss? The annual migration of thousands of wildebeast from Kenya to the Serengeti and the interplay (and preying) of animals involved in this movement.

What Should I Skip Out On? Weighing yourself down by packing too much, a backpack is enough. You're gauranteed dirt, dust & sweat! So just deal with it, the locals do!

What's The Coolest Souvenier You Brought Back? A designer bag by Doreen Mashika (http://www.doreenmashika.com/), luxury Italian leathers mixed with local, tribal and eco-friendly fabrics. African style couture!

What Should I Splurge On? A meal at the Arusha Coffee Lodge Resort. Dine amongst the plantations indulging in far from home delights like coffee grind glazed steak.

What Should You Absolutely Pack? A cheat sheet for the musical and bouncy Swahili language. Locals speak English well but a friendly "Jambo Rafiki" (hello friend) gaurantees a wide smile in return

Photo: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania