Embrace Your Gifts and Soar!

Breaking The Rules

Alone, I stand on the top level of the Eiffel Tower, gazing through a cyclone fence upon a city I have always dreamed of visiting. The strong breeze caresses my skin and I am grateful to have a small respite from the crowd of people who obviously have shared my dream.

Suddenly, a dark headed boy, about eight years old, appears. As I turn to see who has joined me, I watch the little boy quickly tuck his guilty hand back into his coat pocket. He is attempting to hide a small piece of paper that is begging to be set free. With a big smirk, he looks up at me and silently says, “I wasn't really going to do it.”

Without thinking, I whisper, “i won't tell.”

Upon hearing my words, a twinkle returns to the little boy's eyes. After a second of hesitation, the paper goes sailing from the little boy's hand. We watch the paper sprout invisible wings as it comes to life and dances in the wind. As I watch the paper magically sail away into the unknown, I wish that I could have attached myself to it. The paper looks so free and here I am, stuck behind a fence that keeps me safely confined to a spot I have already grown tired of.

The little boy breaks the spell that the flying paper has cast upon me. For the first time, I hear him speak out loud. “Wow! That went a lot farther than I thought it would!”

As I turn to respond to him, I see him dash away. The little girl in me is puzzled. Why are you leaving so quickly? Do you think I will tell on you? Are you tired of this game? The adult in me returns. I know the little boy is responding to the energetic tug of his nearby parents, calling him back into the safety of their arms.

I turn my eyes back toward the spot where I last saw the flying paper. Sadly, my vision can not recapture it. I know I will never see the flying paper or the little boy again. I stand there feeling empty for just a moment because I didn't get to tell either one of them good-bye.

I take solace in knowing that I was the only lucky person who got to watch that little boy throw a little piece of paper off of the Eiffel Tower. Oh how I loved sharing that experience with him! 

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Text by Beverly Keaton Smith, Copyright 2009

Photos by Greg Smith, Copyright 2009

Journey to South Africa - Kruger Park

     

Sunday - Sunday, March 8 - 15

We arrive at Kruger National Park on Sunday afternoon. As we drive to Camp Satara, we begin looking for animals nonstop until we depart a week later. Kruger Park offers continuous opportunities to see animals in their natural habitat and every game ride gives us an opportunity to see something amazing. At night, millions of stars are visible and the Milky Way and the Southern Cross are easy to spot. There simply is no end to the awe and wonder that comes with observing nature and animals.

 

This is our cottage in Kruger Park in Camp Satara. We also visited Camp Olifants and Camp Letaba. Each area offers scenic views in a peaceful setting along with overnight lodging. All campsites and rest areas located in Kruger Park are surrounded by a gate that protects areas from wild animals. Vehicles can only leave the campgrounds during designated hours.

  

   

Watch the video to get a quick look at the many animals we saw during our time at Kruger Park.   

After an eight hour drive from Kruger Park to the Johannesburg Airport, we board an 18 hour flight that eventually returns us to home sweet home. Weeks later, I occasionally find myself longing to see the brightly lit night skies, animals that roam freely and experience the peace that only only a trip into the heart of nature can provide.

Going to South Africa was a dream come true for me. Just another reminder to hold tight to your dreams. They will come true!

     

Thanks for reading!

With love,

Beverly

Journey to South Africa - Swaziland

   

Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15.

We leave Cape Vidal to begin our journey to Swaziland, a small country in South Africa. Our goal is to arrive at the Malolotja Nature Reserve before dark. When we get to the border, it takes us awhile to get through because a busload of people are in front of us. I have never visited such a small country and I'm a little fearful of the unknown. In the small building that houses the border patrol, I see individual pictures of the King and Queen of Swaziland hanging on the wall. I expect something more elaborate for royalty. The photos are low quality and the plain, wooden frames are unimpressive. The pictures are crooked and this bothers me. I wonder if it would bother the king and queen too?

Since my mind has drifted into the wondering state, I also begin to wonder if we know what we are doing. I silently begin to play the “What If?” game. What if they don't like us? What if they don't let us out of their country once we get in? What if I say the wrong thing? What if that guy with the rifle decides to shoot me? What if the king decides to chop off my head? Okay, the last two are a bit extreme. Maybe lack of sleep had started to take a toll on me. After a man behind a window stamps our passports, we pay the money required to drive through the gate that is being monitored by officials dressed in regular clothes. This feels strange to me. How do you know who is really an official? It seems there are people everywhere! Once we are in Swaziland, I am relieved that crossing the border is non eventful--The negative possibilities I explored in the “What If" game were completely unwarranted. From now on, I'm playing the positive version of "What If?".

The four hour drive to the Malolotja Nature Reserve is stressful. It is hard to see in the dark plus we go in and out of rain and fog. Numerous potholes, occasional roaming livestock and pedestrians make it feel as if we are on an obstacle course. My hopes to see the king and queen's palace are dashed when fog blocks our view of it. When we arrive at our cabin around 9:00 p.m., everyone is tired and hungry. We shake off our disappointment about arriving so late, check in to our cozy cabin, unload the car and go to work in the kitchen—Chicken, corn on the cob and steamed broccoli never tasted better!

 

 

 

   

Even though we only have time for a short morning hike the next day, I am glad we came here. The Malolotja Nature Reserve is one of the most peaceful places I've ever visited and the views are absolutely breathtaking. I hope to return in the future and soak in all that this paradise has to offer.  

On our way out, we make a quick stop at Tintsaba Crafts to look at Sisal baskets--high quality, hand woven baskets of Africa. (Sisal is a plant fiber used for making rope.) It is easy to see the many hours of labor that goes into making each high quality basket. For example, a 30 cm diameter basket takes about 50 hours to weave. (The last photo shows the grade of the basket I purchased is 18. The cost: 640 Emalangeni--the equivalent of $64 American dollars.)

I imagine a circle of women working together to create baskets. What do they talk about? Do they enjoy making the baskets or is it just work? How many baskets do they own? I can't resist purchasing a basket before we get back on the road and head toward Camp Satara in Kruger Park.

 

 

  

Sitting in the van once again, I watch scenery zip by and think about Kruger Park. I've heard so much about it. Can it really be as wonderful and thrilling as people say it is? I can't wait to find out!

Beverly

Photos by Greg Smith

Journey to South Africa - Cape Vidal

 

Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14

After being in a moving vehicle for about ten hours, it is absolutely thrilling to see the sign welcoming us to Cape Vidal. We still have a couple of hours of daylight and I can't wait to cast my eyes upon this ocean side. We check into our cabin that has this view....

unload our bags, put on swimsuits and go directly to the short, dirt path which leads us from luscious green grass and trees to an abundance of brown sand that reaches out into the Indian Ocean. At first, I hesitate to go in the water because the waves are fiercely super-sized. Apparently, a storm left behind high winds and feisty water.

Once I take the plunge, the waves toss me around as if I am a rag doll. If I try to control the effect of the waves on my body, sand shoots into my swimsuit as my body twists and turns without mercy. It is such a contrast to sitting in the back seat of a van! I am tempted to run back to the safety of the shore, yet the thrill of being in the water is stronger than my fear of drowning. I quickly learn to close my eyes and bow into the turbulence of the crashing waves. This act of surrender allows me to gracefully float forward. I am very aware that the saying “go with the flow” is being reinforced by Mother Nature with each mighty wave she sends my way.

Every one else chooses to go back to the cabin to escape the rough water and high winds. I stay on the beach and soak in all of the energy I can from this incredible place. The remote setting makes it easy for me to feel as if I am one with water, sand, trees, sky, air and God. I am definitely having a “heaven on earth” experience.

 

The next morning, Greg and I get up early so we can watch the sunrise over the ocean, one of my most very favorite things to do in the world! The violent waters of yesterday have now turned ultra calm and inviting.Our check-out time of 10:00 a.m. comes around way too soon! After my early morning solitary walk along the shore, I hang out in the ocean until I shower and climb in the van once more.

 

After we explore more areas along the coastline, we are off to Swaziland, a small country I have never heard of before. The good times just keep on rolling!

Thanks for reading!

Beverly

Journey to South Africa - Back to Nature

Friday, March 13 Hluhluwe Game Reserve

It's 4:30 in the morning and we are on our way to Hluhluwe(pronounced Shuh-Lu-We) Game Reserve, a park that is well known for white rhinos. Since it is my first time to visit a game reserve, I eagerly await our arrival. In case you don't know, a game reserve is an area of land set aside for the maintenance and well-being of wildlife. As a visitor to the park, you can ride on the designated roads and look for animals or enjoy the scenery as long as you stay in your vehicle (aka: cage!) at all times. Animals have the right of way. There are camp sites or rest stops sprinkled throughout the area so if you want to get out of your vehicle, you go to a designated spot that is either fenced and/or monitored by guards with guns. (Kruger Park, one of the most famous game reserves in South Africa, is where we spend our last week in South Africa.)

We when pass through the gate at Hluhluwe, it isn't until I see my first free elephant up close and personal that I understand the thrill of seeing animals in their natural habitat. Not only do I see his magnificence, I feel it in every inch of my body. As I look at the elephant, I do not feel sorry for him like I would if I were observing him in a zoo. He is the boss in this setting and we have the utmost respect for him. We know that he can charge the car and crush it as easily as we crush an empty soda can if he decides he doesn't want us in his territory.

Mendy explains that the animals do not know that humans are in the cars that are moving about their territory. They can not see inside a vehicle so we simply look like a big steel object. They don't see our peering eyes and cameras unless someone breaks the rules and gets out of their vehicle. The elephant is the main threat to a vehicle. It is very important to give him space and to get away quickly if he starts to flap his ears aggressively or stomp a foot into charging position. These body movements give fair warning that he is agitated. (There were only two times when I felt we might be on the receiving end of an elephant's anger and both times, Mendy handled the situation beautifully.)

As we go on our game ride, every second is exciting because I never know what I might see next. There are all kinds of birds and animals that are new to me. Here are some the animals we see.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow I will post beautiful photos from our time at Cape Vidal.

Thanks so much for reading!

Beverly

PS: Photos taken by Greg Smith.

Journey to South Africa - City Life

Wednesday & Thursday, March 11 - 12

Driving toward Pietermaritzburg, we see a sign by a construction site on the highway that makes us laugh. It simply states, “Please Don't Kill Us!” We have to admire the direct request. No beating around the bush here!

We are in Pietermaritzburg because Mendy is working with colleagues at The University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Since her work is demanding her attention, we are on our own today. Our hour long drive to Durban to visit the Victoria Street Market gives Greg his first opportunity to drive in South Africa. He does a great job and gets us there safely.

I find it difficult to write about Durban and I only have two photos from our time there. (had to take one of a store that sells Mississippi seafood!) Durban is like other big cities around the world--Busy people bustling from here to there, bumper to bumper traffic, tall buildings, hotels, taxis, shopping, businesses and a continuous low level buzz that accompanies frenetic energy. Just goes to show the vast variety of settings that South Africa has to offer!

We find a parking space on the 14^th floor in the garage parking lot at The Royal Hotel and begin our short walk to the indoor market. Vendors are monitoring their individual booths and attempting to entice us to purchase their goods. Most of the items for sale reflect African culture and I am fascinated to see everything they have to offer. We walk around the whole area before making a few purchases. Next we return to the The Royal Hotel to enjoy a nice lunch. After lunch, we have to deal with an unexpected problem—The kind of problem that makes a trip a little more memorable! 

Our rented vehicle is leaking diesel fuel. That's right. We left a trail of diesel fuel on the parking lot floor of the hotel all the way up to the 14^th floor. As we leave Durban, we take a detour and go to Avis car rental so we can get a new vehicle. This takes up most of our afternoon and with the vehicle upgrade that we receive for free, I think this little ordeal is actually a blessing in disguise.

The next day, we have the honor of attending a presentation that Mendy is giving at the university entitled “From Genes to Eco-Systems: Ecological Implications of Social Change.” As I watch my sister-in-law give her informational presentation to a full lecture hall, I am so proud of her for all she has achieved and accomplished as a professor, scholar, researcher and scientist. She is a phenomenal woman and a prime example of someone who continuously Embraces Her Gifts and Soars!

Friday will leave at dark:thirty and start a long drive to the Hluhluwe Game Reserve where will be keeping our eyes peeled for wild animals. After that side trip, we are spending the night at Cape Vidol. I am eager to return to the tranquility that nature offers and I can not wait to watch the sunrise over the Indian Ocean! Please come back and see the photos tomorrow! Beautiful!

(PS: Since I don't have photos of the city, I'm posting a few Zebra photos that Greg took at the Hluhluwe Game Reserve.)

 

Thanks for reading!

Beverly
 

Journey to South Africa - The Joy of Hiking

 

Tuesday, March 10^th,

The morning greets us with clearing skies so we store our luggage in the van before going on a six hour hike. The trail starts out easy before slowly becoming steep and rocky. Even though I am careful, I slip, slide and fall a few times. The higher we climb, the more I feel my heart pumping—alive and happy. Eventually, we reach a river full of flowing, clear water. We go across it by stepping on large, slippery stones. This slows everyone down, except for Mendy. Nothing slows her down! The trail continues to get steeper and rockier until we finally reach a peak that allows us to see our reward—magnificent, majestic views from every angle.

The fresh, clean air invites me to stand tall and breathe deeply. My lungs expand with renewed vitality and my heart is full of gratitude for everything that has brought me to this moment. We are removed from civilization and the silence that abounds is cushioned by the abundant sounds of nature. Snacks refuel us and we continue to admire the beautiful views before starting our journey back down the mountainside. Hiking down the peak, we see more stunning views as clouds begin to part and reveal taller peaks that had been shielded from our eyes. We take another break at the river, cross it once more and head back toward the van.

For six wonderful hours, I have been held by the arms of a mountain and I am reluctant to leave. However, more adventures are waiting so we say good-bye to the  Drakensberg Mountain area and settle into the van for another long drive.

As we drive away, we see African women carrying bundles of firewood on the top of their heads. They have walked for miles to gather the wood and will carry it back to their homes with nothing but their heads to assist them. Imagine the strength of these women and all that they are willing to do to provide for their families. I long to sit down with one of them and simply listen to what she has to say. I want to hear about her life. What brings her joy? What makes her heart ache? For now, I admire these women from afar and even though I do not envy their lifestyle, they have my utmost respect and admiration.

Once again, we pass groups of children walking along the road who hold out their hands and scream for money as we drive by. I look at their houses—mostly small huts with thatched roofs. I wonder what it would be like for a family to live in such a small dwelling. Please, God, help me to practice daily gratitude for all of my many blessings!

Our next stop is in Pietermaritzburg where we will remain for three nights. Along the way, we stop at the Liberty Midlands Mall which is surrounded by a gate. We must get a ticket from an attendant before entering the parking lot and when we leave, we must give our ticket back to the attendant to get out of the parking lot. This system has been put in place to control car theft. The mall is surprisingly large and modern. For better or worse, we have returned to civilization. After we leave the mall, we go to a Bed and Breakfast and like most of the houses and businesses in this area, it is surrounded by a gate. I notice that I feel a tinge of sadness for those who feel that crime is the best option they have.

After a long day, we treat ourselves to dinner at a restaurant. Mendy tips the parking lot attendant who will be watching our vehicle. While I know that we are in a crime ridden area, I do not feel afraid. I believe that we are protected. We return to the Bed and Breakfast, sit in the parlor and chat until late in the evening.

Tomorrow we will visit Durban and go to the Victoria Street Market. Our hostess at the Bed and Breakfast tells us that Durban is the San Francisco of South Africa. I wonder if I will agree with her?

 

 
Bonus! Can you find the frog in this photo? Hint: There is a natural green stripe down his back!

Stay tuned for more!

Beverly

Journey To South Africa - Drakensberg Mountains

 

Monday, March 9^th, 2009

We arrive at Injisuthi Camp after being on the road most of the day. The time has passed quickly because everything I see is new and captivating. Rural areas showcase green pastures, small homes, livestock and children of all ages who are dressed in blue and white school uniforms. The children are walking along both sides of the main road and look as if they have just gotten out of school. They hold out their hands and scream for money as we drive by. This is disturbing because some of the kids are very young and many of them do not hesitate to approach our moving vehicle.

At one point, a group of older children form a line across the path of our oncoming vehicle and place a broken, glass bottle in the middle of the road. Obviously, they really want us to stop! Mendy, our fearless driver, keeps driving forward and the children scatter at the last minute as she dodges the bottle.

Women also are walking along the side of the road. With less enthusiasm, they hold out their hands and ask for money too. I am intrigued by the African women who balance items on top of their heads as they walk along this road. I am in awe of their keen ability to do this. (We had the opportunity to ask a young African woman why men do not carry items on top of their heads. She laughed and said that men have no sense of balance.) I hope this ability is something that the African women take pride in. I think it is a very remarkable skill and I envy their great posture!

As we move away from the rural towns, we enter the Drakensberg Mountains area. After reaching our destination, we check into our cabin, sit on the front porch and hope that the afternoon rain will stop so we can go hiking. Eventually, the rain tapers off and we start walking on a path that will lead us to Bushman paintings. That's when I see a baboon! I wonder if I should be afraid. Mendy tells us that he won't approach us so we stop and watch him for awhile. Next, we see other adult baboons with their babies. I am thrilled to see these animals in their natural habitat! Next, we come upon some eland, the world's largest antelope. 

As we continue our hike, we hear thunder rumbling in the background and clouds are moving in. I am feeling unsettled about this. The path we are walking on is steep and fresh rainwater will make it very slippery. Lightning begins to strike and as it gets closer, we play it safe and turn around. It is disappointing to fall short of our goal, yet I marvel at the perfect timing of our decision. Just as we get back to our cabin, the rain begins to fall and continues for most of the night.

We eat our pasta dinner that Mendy prepares for us and afterwards pull out a deck of cards and play Hearts until the electricity shuts off at 10:00 p.m. We attempt to keep playing by wearing headlamps but it's still too dark to see. We call it a night and hope for better weather tomorrow as we plan to hit a new trail at 7:00 a.m. 

As I snuggle into my bed, I can't help but reflect on how protected I felt that day. We turned around at exactly the right time during our hike. In my opinion, that was NOT a coincidence!

To be continued...

Journey To South Africa

  

Saturday, March 7, 2009; Noon

The most unsettling thing for me about going to South Africa is getting there. I do not look forward to sitting in a plane for 18 hours. Actually, I am quite nervous about it. The idea of being tucked into a tiny airplane seat for that long makes me squirm. Thankfully, colleagues coach me around this before my trip by reminding me to set good intentions and expect the best. It works! By the time I board the plane, most of my fears have subsided.

The plane ride is surprisingly pleasant. I sit with my husband and sister-in-law. Excitement fuels our energy as we devise our plan to escape jet lag. We entertain ourselves by watching movies, talking, eating, sleeping and watching more movies. The small movie screens that are implanted into the back of each seat provides us with an adequate menu of viewing choices: popular movies, tv shows, documentaries, music and kids' shows start playing right before our eyes after we make a few simple taps on the screen. When we land in Johannesburg around 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 8^th, it does not seem as if we have been on the plane for almost an entire day and night. Surprisingly, I don't need to immediately find a bed and crash. That is a good thing because once we check into our hotel, we park our bags in our rooms, do a sharp u-turn and head out to find a good restaurant.

The restaurant we decide upon is nice and affordable. We are seated at a table that is partially outdoors and the fresh air feels good after being cooped up in a plane for so long. The pop music of the 80's playing in the background catches my attention because it is not the kind of music I expect to hear in South Africa. I order Scottish Salmon, rice and veggies. It's perfectly cooked and tastes wonderful after eating three airplane meals. We linger around the table with a glass of wine before heading back to the hotel around 10:00 p.m. We make plans to meet for breakfast in our hotel lobby at 7:30 a.m. and agree that bags will be ready to load into our rented vehicle so we can move on to our next destination bright and early the next day. I am secretly wishing we did not have to leave so early and at the same time, I am eager to see where the next day will take us.

In only 24 hours after landing in Johannesburg, I have started to adjust to a time difference of seven hours, driving on the left side of the road, being in a vehicle that has the driver's side on the right side of the vehicle, calling traffic lights “robots” and calculating the exchange value of the rand versus the dollar. I am relieved that most people we encounter speak English with only a moderate accent. My culture shock is minimal at this point and it is hard for me to believe that I am really in South Africa. The climate and customs are familiar and I feel as if I am not so far away from home.

Tomorrow we begin our drive to the Drakensberg Mountains where a cabin is waiting for us at Camp Injusuthi. I must admit, I am already excited about leaving the city of Johannesburg and seeing some of the beautiful countryside of South Africa that I've heard about. The dream I've been holding close to my heart of visiting South Africa has finally come true.

More tomorrow!

Beverly

Bucket Listing

As I settle in for an eight hour flight across the North Atlantic Ocean. I look at my seat-mate who is a member of a women's tour group that I'm traveling with. I ask her if she is excited about the days ahead and she enthusiastically says, "Oh yes, going to Switzerland is the last thing on my Bucket List. I'm very excited!"

While her words impress me, the fire in her eyes pulls me in and makes me curious to know about all that she has already checked off of her Bucket List. I do not ask because I don't want to pry. Still, I'm amazed that she has been so timely and efficient at creating and completing a Bucket List. When I suggested that it is time to make a new Bucket List, she agreed. I could tell by her big smile that she had already been thinking the same thing. 

In case you don't already know this, a Bucket List is a list of things you want to do or see before you "kick the bucket". The term was made popular in the movie, The Bucket List starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. It's a very touching and inspiring movie that will be released on DVD on June 10th.

My ten day trip to Switzerland was rich with new sights and experiences. The photo above was taken as I took a solitary walk down the sidewalk by River Ruess in Lucerne, Switzerland. The sun was beginning to set and it seemed to cast a large spotlight on the far away snow covered peaks as a storm slowly made its way into the city.

I've been thinking about my own Bucket List. What next? What do I really want to do or see before I die?

Isn't it great to know that you can complete everything on your list and then have enough time left to make a new list?!

What would you put on your Bucket List?

Something to think and dream about, eh?

Blessings!

Beverly