Author Archives: John

Red Rocks, Black Rhino

At our second camp in Namibia, we were told that we could see black rhinos.  This really piqued our interest because rhinos are a critically endangered species and very difficult to spot in the wild.  Seeing one is a very … Continue reading

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Red Dunes

   Before we knew it morning had come and we found ourselves trying to wake up in a Land Cruiser rumbling toward Namib-Naukluft National Park.  It was about an hour’s drive from our camp.  As we drove, we watched the … Continue reading

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We made it to Namibia

Our journey from New Zealand to Namibia – 4 flights, one flight cancellation, 14 hours of layovers, about 40 hours total travel time – left us completely exhausted.  But, the excitement of finally being in Africa really helped us deal … Continue reading

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Hiking New Zealand

New Zealand is such a beautiful place, you can’t help but want to be outside.  And that’s pretty much how we spent our time in New Zealand – outdoors enjoying the view. Visitors wanting to get outdoors in New Zealand … Continue reading

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The Money Trail – Australia

On our way to the Sydney airport, Shelley remembered that I hadn’t yet gotten a picture of Australian money.  So, here’s a quick, taxi cab edition of The Money Trail. 1 USD ~= .97 Australian Dollars

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Sydney

There aren’t many cities in the world that could lure me away from my beloved Austin, TX.  Sydney, however, is one.  When our short time in Sydney was over, I just didn’t want to leave! Everything about Sydney was compelling … Continue reading

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The Money Trail – India

The local currency in India is the rupee.  The visage of Mahatma Gandhi is prominently displayed on each bill. Rupees were also difficult to spend, due to the need for small denominations.  ATMs would provide 500 and 100 rupee notes. … Continue reading

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New Delhi

To begin our tour of India’s capital city, Shelley, Anne, John (the 1st) and I took a bicycle rickshaw ride through the streets of “Old Delhi,” an area within the city that was once the capital of the Mughal Dynasty, … Continue reading

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Sikkim

Shelley and Anne’s father, John, arrived in Kolkata a couple days after we did and joined us on the rest of our India adventures.  Next stop, Sikkim. Sikkim is a small Indian state in the Himalayas, bordering on Nepal and … Continue reading

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On to India

As we waited in baggage claim for our backpacks in the Kolkata airport, we quickly learned that the most popular piece of checked luggage in India is the 42 inch flatscreen TV. Kolkata Baggage Claim Seemingly every person on our … Continue reading

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