An Elephant at the Gate: Great Safari Experience in Kenya

I remember the drive was long, dusty and bumpy. At first the smooth highway from Nairobi (capital city of Kenya) led northwards into lush, green highlands, whose slopes were squared off into maize fields, cow paddocks and coffee plantations. From the cool shoulders of Mt. Kenya, the road branched eastwards and veered downwards into the vast savannahs and scrublands of Meru National Park.

Driving along, the tarmacked freeway gave way to an all-weather, murram (earth) road that guaranteed a rutted, dusty drive to the untouched wilds of the eastern frontiers.  It is a vast terrain of flat, tawny earth and olive-green trees bathed in the brilliant sunrays of equatorial Africa; a land of unspoiled rugged beauty that stills the mind and stirs the soul.

The first sightings of grazing gazelles, antelope and zebras were greeted with delighted ‘oohs’ and finger pointing by my siblings and me. But after countless kilometres and (seemingly) a hundred hours on the road, the excitement inevitably fizzled into the sweltering mid-afternoon.

“I’m hungry…Are we almost there…Mum, he’s sitting on me!”

Cries of three tired children and a toddler crammed into the backseat of a saloon car without air conditioning. With vast relief we finally arrived at the safari lodge in the park. Tumbling out of the car with stiff knees, the khaki-uniformed staff received us with wide smiles and warm greetings. We ran about the cool interiors of the reception with its flagstone floors and thick, wooden beams that held up a tall, thatched roof.  In the luxurious lodge bedrooms we explored every inch, even onto the porches that overlooked the yellow-bark acacia trees along the river. It’s such a sense of adventure for city children arriving at a new game park and a new safari lodge. Even now, a safari holiday still fills me with a child-like thrill.

Having investigated everything down to the toilet-paper brand and hastily staked claim to the various beds, we decided to mosey about the lodge grounds. Permission granted by the parents, with strict instructions to stay within the lodge boundaries, I scooped up my year-old brother and off we went.

After some time of wandering around we found ourselves in the car park area, with the gated entrance about 100 yards off and the staff quarters close by it.  It was getting to early evening now and we took it into our heads to go and check out the staff quarters.  What novelties we expected to find there I’m not certain anymore, but what found us was far beyond our expectation.

I remember it like it was yesterday.  He suddenly emerged from behind the staff lodgings, walking in a slow and stately manner; a solitary bull elephant sauntering silently towards us.  I remember thinking, ‘Oh, here comes an elephant’, much the same way you’d blithely dismiss a cat or dog that crossed your driveway. After all, what else would you expect to come strolling through safari lodge.

Ah, the blissful ignorance of the young. It never occurred to us that the situation might be dangerous, what with a wild, six tonne giant coming our way. Plus there wasn’t a single adult in the vicinity to knock some sense into our heads. So we continued walking towards him and him towards us. Finally, about ten yards ahead, the bull elephant halted. That must have been when he finally saw us — or smelled us.

Elephants, alas, have notoriously weak eyesight and the wind must have been blowing away from him. We too stopped in our tracks and for a few idyllic moments, in the golden-orange light of dusk, we just stared at each other quietly.   A lone elephant and four children: me, the eldest at 11 years, my 9 year-old sister and my two brothers, 5 and 1 year respectively. The ‘tusker’ was massive and magnificent with brownish-gray creased skin, broad ears and a long, wrinkled trunk. Only a gentle flap of the ears broke his statuesque stance.  After a while, convinced that we meant no harm or perhaps his curiosity satiated, he turned round and trod quietly off, disappearing into the twilight of the bush.

Many years on and mother still breaks into a sweat, thinking of how she could have lost all her four children in a day. I, on the other hand, will forever treasure that wonderful encounter with an elephant at the gate.

Copyright © 2010 GeminiWrites.com. All Rights Reserved.
Kari Mutu, P O Box 25310-00603, Nairobi, Kenya.

Balaklava and Its Reputation as a Scuba Divers Paradise

Crimea an autonomous republic is re-inventing itself after the ending of the old soviet union. Private enterprise is flourishing and well-stocked shops and good restaurants are the norm. Transport and accommodation are cheaper than the Mediterranean resorts but the weather is better and the sightseeing amazing!

Visitors from all over the world are welcomed in a country which has opened its doors to foreign tourists by reducing visa requirements to a minimum.

Whether you want wine-tasting or scuba diving, mountains or sea, to visit the Byzantine ruins of Khersoness, or the fabulous Livadia Palace near Yalta, home of the last of the Russian Tsars – or if you just want to relax on the beach and then while away a warm summer evening in a gourmet restaurant, Crimea has something for you.

In this article we will focus on the Balaklava and its reputation as a scuba divers paradise.

Balaklava Harbor lies on the Black Sea coast of the Crimea in the Ukraine. It is a fine natural harbor and provides excellent all round shelter. In the past the harbor was closed to all private vessels and was home to the Soviet submarine fleet. Yachts should establish the current position before attempting to visit Balaklava.

Balaklava is rapidly changing from being primarily a working port and (in Soviet times) a secret submarine base for the Russian navy, to a leisure destination for tourists, lured by the history of the place and the drama of the rugged coastline. Period houses along the waterfront are being restored, a new hotel, the Golden Symbol, with its own harbor has opened and the place has an air of fresh prosperity.

The harbormaster at the Golden Symbol, himself an ex-submariner, will tell you about the maze of tunnels within the hillside, that allowed large numbers of Soviet submarines to hide unobserved. It is an indication of the way things are moving that you can now take a tour inside the previously secret base, and the large floating dry dock which used to be used for submarine repairs is to be moved to the naval harbor in Sevastopol this year. Crewing a submarine was a dangerous business, and the town has several memorials to sailors and commanders who are remembered for acts of bravery.

Unlike elsewhere in Crimea, restaurants in Balaklava are generally called Tavernas – a nod in the direction of the `Archipelago Greeks’ from the islands, who settled this part of the coast under Catherine the Great. It was a Greek battalion which attempted to prevent the British occupation of Balaklava at the start of the Crimean war by holding out on the commanding heights where the ruins of the Genoese fortress overlook the town. There are locals with Greek names today, who can trace their encestry back to this period.

Apart from the excellent restaurant `The Gavan’ on the ground floor of the Golden Symbol, there is a famous seafood restaurant with a good selection of Crimean, Georgian and French wines and an English menu, as well as numerous tavernas along the waterfront.

The `Aquamarine’ diving centre offers scuba diving along the coast, and from the Golden Symbol you can get a variety of boat trips, from sea fishing to dolphin spotting.

There are three swimming beaches along the Balaklava inlet, but the locals will advise you to walk the extra distance to the far side of the Genoese fortress, where the beach faces the open sea – or to get a boatsman to take you to a wild beach along the coast, accessible only from the sea (but make sure he remembers to come and collect you!) or to swim in one of the numerous sea caves which abound under the cliffs.

A submarine turned by its bow to the shore and went with a slow speed towards the rock. The rock parted and hid the black-deck cabin at first, then the entire submarine.

Those who found themselves at the Balaklava seaside late evening could watch such a scene. A tourist would hardly understand what happened, whereas the local people would guess that the next submarine that entered its shelter would be at the underground ship-repairing factory.

For a long time, residents of Balaklava did not know exactly what was happening in the underground factory. Nowadays, it’s possible to wander the dark winding halls with a guide. The excursion to the navy complex-museum “Balaklava” clarifies the mysterious past of “Facility 825” -a top secret complex where the Soviet subs were hidden and repaired.

In the mid 1950s, Josef Stalin, a leader of Soviet communists, amazed by results of A-bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, gave the order to hide the underwater fleet from possible nuclear attacks. The order had to be carried out and soon military engineers prepared the project for the constructing of a giant underground complex, located in the thick of the rock, deeply underground. This facility had to serve as a house for subs. It had to include such a roof and doors that could allow the ship to enter and exit by its own speed. And inside, it had to be able to survive A-bombs in the company of other subs, surrounded with the consideration and care of commanders and repairers.

You can hire motor launches and sailing yachts by the hour to take you out to sea or to perfect beaches accessible only by boat because of the steep cliffs. You may want to take a dip from the boat and swim into sea caves. For more serious diving, scuba equipment and guided dives are available from `Aquamarine’. The Black Sea is home to the bottlenose dolphin and chance encounters are not uncommon.

If you fancy a spot of sea-angling, you can hire a boat, rod and line and the services of a local seaman who can take you to the best fishing areas. In some cases you can cook and eat what you’ve caught on board.

So if you want a vacation with a touch of the deep sea extreme, head for the Crimean Peninsula. The sea waters will gently embrace you and the Black Sea shelf will readily reveal its historical secrets of sunken ships and ancient epochs, breathtaking underwater landscapes, caves and volcanoes, as well as acquaint you with marine life. Even though this underwater fairytale is quickly over; the memory of it will stay with you for the rest of your lifetime.

Like a museum, the Black Sea preserves military relics. A great number of shipwrecks were left following the Crimean War of 1853 – 1856 that enveloped the waters of the southwestern Crimea from Cape Lukall to Cape Sarych. During a single hurricane in November 1854 in Balaklava Harbor, 60 British, French and Turkish vessels sank just as they readied themselves to bombard the fortress city of Sevastopol. On that fateful day, the sea took into its embrace the pride of the British fleet, the sailing frigate “Prince” and 20 thousand Pound Sterling in gold and silver. The legend of dozens of barrels filled with gold and silver still attracts treasure hunters all over the world and frigate itself was long ago renamed “The Black Price” in order to make the intrigue more exiting.

One more wonder of Crimea’s underwater realm is an English frigate, whose name still remains in mystery, which went to the bottom with a cargo no less precious than that of the “Price”, numerous bottles of wine and cognac, which caused divers to christen it in “The Drunken Jack”. Today in the wreckage of the ship, you can find a bottle of wine or cognac that has already been maturing for more than a century. At depths from 6 to 15 meters, one can finds the eternal resting place of other heroes of the Crimean War: the legendary “Lord Reglan” and his fair lady the “Duchess of Glendaloge” and the majestic warriors “Gung”, “Pyrenees” and “London”.

The Second World War also left its marks in Crimea’s submarine spaces. In Unforgettable impressions will remain after a visit to Balaklava, a small town in the vicinity of Sevastopol. During the Sovjet era, there was a submarine shooting range there in the area of Mramorna Balka. Today, at a depth accusable to divers, one can see the remains of broken targets and unsuccessfully lounged torpedoes.

Anjuna Beach Attractions

Hemmed by azure water of Arabian sea and with a hill in the background, Anjuna Beach is a paradise for vacationing in India. Lies 8km west of Mapusa town and 18 km from Panaji, the capital of Goa, this beach chock-a-blocks with holidaymakers throughout the year, especially during the occasion of Christmas and New Year.

Blessed with an unusual arrangement of red laterite rocks, spread across the white sands, beach Anjuna in Goa attracts travellers from all walks of life. Foreign backpackers as well as Indian tourists from other parts of the country loves to keep Anjuna at the first slot of their Goa itinerary. All thanks to its numerous natural and artificial treasures which has great tourism value.

Tourist attractions:

Anjuna beach is bedecked with numerous tourist attractions which captivate the imagination of holidaymakers with the very first glimpse. Some such famous attractions of Anjuna are as follows:

Wednesday Flea Market: Anjuna Beach, famed as the ‘freak capital of world’ breaks into riot of colors on every Wednesday. Starts around every 11 a.m and lasts till the sunset, the flea market on Anjuna Beach is the paradise for hardcore shoppers and good bargainers. Anything and everything under the sky can be found here. Wonderful stuffs like Tibetan, Kashmiri and Gujarati trinkets and handicrafts, European snacks, cassettes of Goan Trance music, artificial ornaments carvings, colorful T-shirts, used paperbacks are for sale in this market. To add up more to its glory, a ride on the bumpy back of elephant is also available in this bustling market.

Mascarenhas Mansion: The ancient Mascarenhas Mansion is another charm on Anjuna Beach. This monument has some of the classic balconies and the finest stained glass floral etchings. The porch of the edifice has a L-shaped seat, which is made up of expensive wood.

Chapora Fort: Situated at the vicinity of Anjuna Beach, Chapora Fort gives a picturesque view of the entire beach. Chapora Fort was built by Muslim rulers of Goa before it was invaded by Portugeese. This ancient fort is well preserved except for a few ruins.

Albuquerque Mansion: This colonial mansion which still displays the opulent lifestyle of its former owners was another tourist attraction at Anjuna. Built in the year 1920, Albuquerque Mansion is bedecked with octagonal tower and attractive Mangalore tile – roof.

The Acid House Party: Amongst all of its attractions, the thing which beckons and hook thousands of tourist to Anjuna Beach are the full moon trance parties. Also known as Acid House Parties, these parties are the best place for fun, frolic and merriment. Lasts till the wee hours of dawn under the moonlit sky, the Acid House parties on Anjuna is popular among both localites and foreign tourists. Beside the merriment of the party, you can also enjoy your drink sitting along the campfires which burns bright entire night.

Paradiso Club: Last but not the least, Paradiso club is another prime charm of Goa’s Anjuna beach. It is counted among of the famous discotheques of the state which woos both tourists and locals to dancing and drinking in its bars and dance floors.

So, immediately plan a trip to Goa and enjoy Anjuna ‘s various tourist attractions.

A Fort That Has Seen Many Battles in Doha

The Doha Fort has been a silent witness to the checkered history of the Middle East since its construction in the 1880’s. Some of the fiercest battles fought against the Ottomans centered on this fort. Therefore, it is not secret that many heroes were made within its walls and many more died outside it.

The reasons for building the fort are as complex as the politics of the Middle East but it is historically important as the location where the Qatari Sheikh Qassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani defeated the Ottomans, thereby rejuvenating Qatar’s struggle for independence.

Despite its bloody history, the Doha Fort today houses a museum and serves as centre for showcasing traditional arts and crafts to tourists. The architecture of the building is notable, as it is one of the few Arabic war forts to exist in good condition until the present day. The thick mud brick walls were meant to keep out powerful armies and the tall towers were used by archers to rain down arrows on enemy positions. The design of the fort was primarily intended to give the defending army a tactical advantage; nonetheless, the intricacy of their masonry and the subtle details lend it a much more refined air.

The museum houses a number of artifacts dating back to the 19th century, particularly those concerned with the Ottoman War such as daggers and muskets. It also holds a few Moorish works of art and historical manuscripts that detail the action on the battlefields of yesteryear.

Because of its reputation throughout the Middle East as an important historical landmark, the Doha Fort can be seen teeming with tourists. Doha accommodation such as Somerset West Bay offers you the chance of being close to this attraction, luxury serviced apartments Doha being usually popular with business travelers and long stay tourists.

Beautiful Hearth of Europe – Slovakia – a Little Big Country

In a world, where urban development is unstoppable, there is country, a country where time seems to have stopped. A country where old fairytales seems to have survived adversity of time. Slovakia – little big country in the hearth of Europe. Full of myths, legends, castles and beautiful mountains. The most spectacular country in Europe. Visit Slovakia and walk through green woods of Slovak mountains, swim in crystal clear waters of Slovak lakes or visit castles, which managed to survive bloody battles or castle ruins which show us, that nothing lasts forever.

Don’t forget to visit Slovak towns and cities where historic architecture intersects with vibrant contemporary lifestyles of their residents and which are the main areas of economic development. Slovakia offers all these attractions for everybody who is willing to explore its beauties and discover this stunningly beautiful country which so often stayed unnoticed.

Slovakia is so rich of a must-see monuments that no one can see them all. To help you decide which you should see, visit Slovakia Site where you can find anything you are interested about Slovakia. We provide information about the whole Slovakia including geography, transportation, accommodation, interesting places and other useful tourist information.

At Slovakia Site we offer many types of accommodation – from 5 star luxurious hotels in big cities to guest houses in small villages which offer big privacy. We will find the most suitable accommodation which fits to your needs. If you like pulsing nightlife in cities or just relaxation in quiet countryside with fresh air and beautiful nature, Slovakia can offer you everything.

With our website you will feel like you have your own personal Tourist Guide accompanying you on your wanderings through Slovakia. We will help you get to know Slovak customs and traditions and show you routes to take so that you will never feel lost. This will allow you to fully concentrate on enjoying your adventures and spending unforgettable holiday in Slovakia. We believe that Slovakia and its welcoming warm-hearted people will grow on you and you never stop coming back.