Kenya Pics - Now with Film Images too!

[Sugar]

Thanks so much for posting those. My daughter and husband even crowded around the computer with me to look at them! Such beautiy captured in your fantastic photos. Loved your blurbs too.

Now my daughter keeps saying, "Can we go?" She just wants to pet the animals... So does my husband...

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by Sugar

Thanks so much for posting those. My daughter and husband even crowded around the computer with me to look at them! Such beautiy captured in your fantastic photos. Loved your blurbs too.

Now my daughter keeps saying, "Can we go?" She just wants to pet the animals... So does my husband...

That's so cute. Thanks for your compliments. Next week I'll be getting the film developed and I think there's going to be some really special images there. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I shot 18 rolls! I have a pretty good zoom too and my peeps were giving me preferential treatment in the crowded van so I could get some good shots.

If anyone does want to go to Kenya for Safari my recommended itinerary would be to go to Nairobi, rent a car to Lake Nakuru, stay at Sarova Lodge for a day or 2 and have a guide drive you around the park. That's the place with all of the flamingos and there are so many animals, it is a great place to start. Then take a plane from Nairobi to Masai Mara, because the road is just awful, about 6 hrs of potholed madness. Stay at Mara Serena which is paradise on earth and have a guide drive you around the park. Have them stop at the Maasai village for you. If you just do those 2 things you will see so much.

It is expensive though, very expensive. We were lucky to get Kenyan rates. They give Kenyans discounts to encourage national tourism. We got the rates because 3 of us were Kenyans. If you go at this time of year it is right after rainy season so it is not too hot. However, since the wildebeast migration had not come yet the big cats were all in Tanzania and the Serengeti. That might be an even better place to go this time of year, some of us went there and I will post their pics on my site too. They got to see quite a few lions and some cheetahs!

[Livia]

WOW! I feel like I just went on vacation myself looking at at these pics! Sooo beautiful, just kept taking my breath away...I wanna goooo! I adore giraffes and zebras. Well, all animals really, even the creepy sea creatures. That one you had marked ??? is brain coral, I believe.

I have these same purple plants in my backyard, and the front. I think they're called purple hearts. Some home designer got cute and paved the driveway around a tree near the street, with a flower bed all around it. The tree died (concrete disease), and I bought some purple hearts to fill up the hole. They make great ground cover, and they are very heat tolerant. The flowers pop out in the morning. I love them!

I believe that lantana is actually called "confetti." Another great plant for the Texas heat.

Amber - Dr. Seuss trees! Bwah!

How cute is that dik dik? I just like to say dik dik....and that lion! Gorgeous kitty!

I'm glad you had a good time - how's Mufi? I'll bet he missed his mommy. Did you tell him all about his ancestors?

[irishgrl]

Suz I really admire your adventurous spirit, I have never traveled abroad at all....so, it was kinda like going myself looking at your photos! How cute was that young married couple? Chalz looks like a pretty good catch! I loved his wedding shirt, was it traditional?

Those Acacia trees certainly do look striking in the landscape one thing I remember about Acacia trees, they have THORNS! and giraffes apparently are not bothered by them, as Acacias are their food of choice...odd!

I must be the only person who couldnt really see the lion very well, but his profile looked regal enough!

I dont like baboons, I hear they really are nasty little buggers, and the teeth on them are so formidable! The compounds where you stayed were so lush and green, which was a surprise to me, I always have a mental picture of Africa as brown and dried up...so, I guess you must've gone during the rainy season, or you were in a greener area (or both!)

[WelshWitchPMD]

Amazing photos, Sue! I felt as if I was looking at National Geographic or Life magazine. You really did capture the spirit of the people. The animals and flowers are all gorgeous. I loved the starfish ones.
I admire your adventurous nature. I could never do it. I get grossed out at the zoo when the animals relieve themselves.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by irishgrl

Suz I really admire your adventurous spirit, I have never traveled abroad at all....so, it was kinda like going myself looking at your photos! How cute was that young married couple? Chalz looks like a pretty good catch! I loved his wedding shirt, was it traditional?

Thank you. I always dream about traveling to exotic places. Other than the Caribbean this is the first time I've done it. I was afraid of everything before I went, getting a disease, eating the food, etc. After being there for 2 - 3 days all of that just faded to the background as I enjoyed myself.

His wedding shirt was along the lines of traditional. It's called a ketenga which is a traditional African shirt, although his had a modern twist. The maid of honor and best man had the most traditional outfits. Would you believe the tailor ruined Wanjeri's skirt? It wasn't even wearable which she realized trying to pick it up the day before the wedding. She wound up buying a new skirt and borrowed that shirt from Kristin!

Chalz is one of my best friends from high school. We dated back then and it wasn't good. It wasn't all bad but we didn't fit together. They really do and I love her so much, she is quite a lady! Imagine traveling here from Africa to go to college! She's got some cajones. She supported him through school for his mechanical engineering degree which he got last year with honors. Smart girl since now he makes twice as much money!

Originally Posted by irishgirl

Those Acacia trees certainly do look striking in the landscape one thing I remember about Acacia trees, they have THORNS! and giraffes apparently are not bothered by them, as Acacias are their food of choice...odd!

This is true, and the thorns are about 4 inches long! Heavily grazed areas show the trees with just the thorns and no foliage. Somehow the giraffes eat around the thorns!

Originally Posted by irishgirl

I must be the only person who couldnt really see the lion very well, but his profile looked regal enough!

The photo is grainy and cropped. Grainy due to setting the camera at a higher ISO because of the low light situation. I've got more in my film camera with the zoom, keep your fingers crossed that they come out. If they do, those will be the ones to gasp over.

Originally Posted by irishgirl

I don't like baboons, I hear they really are nasty little buggers, and the teeth on them are so formidable! The compounds where you stayed were so lush and green, which was a surprise to me, I always have a mental picture of Africa as brown and dried up...so, I guess you must've gone during the rainy season, or you were in a greener area (or both!)

They are nasty but their behavior cracks me up. We did go at the tail end of rainy season so we had the luxury of mild, warm weather, lush greenery, and no rain! It had just wound down the week before. We were a charmed bunch for sure.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by Livia

... to say dik dik....and that lion! Gorgeous kitty!

I like to call him a little dik dik, that is even funnier.

Originally Posted by Livia

I'm glad you had a good time - how's Mufi? I'll bet he missed his mommy. Did you tell him all about his ancestors?

Mufy is very happy we are home. He was really affectionate as soon as we walked in the door. I wondered if he'd do any sulking - I've never left him for more than a couple of days before - but he did not. He just began purring and snuggling instantly. What a sweetie! I did tell him I saw a lion that reminded me of him, hehe.

[cliffdweller]

Suze, those photos are absolutely stunning! What a richly colorful and beautiful region! And the people..they are so regal and amazing looking. I loved your photos of them the most I think. The lion wasn't too shabby either. Weren't you just freaked out when you saw that? Were you scared? Yikes .

I've got to go to Kenya now. That's all there is to it. How much would the trip be if one wasn't eligible for the Kenya rates? I'm really serious, I would LOVE to go!

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by cliffdweller

Suze, those photos are absolutely stunning! What a richly colorful and beautiful region! And the people..they are so regal and amazing looking. I loved your photos of them the most I think. The lion wasn't too shabby either. Weren't you just freaked out when you saw that? Were you scared? Yikes .

I've got to go to Kenya now. That's all there is to it. How much would the trip be if one wasn't eligible for the Kenya rates? I'm really serious, I would LOVE to go!

I'm not sure how much it would be. I would contact a travel agent or these folks http://www.serenahotels.com/kenya/mara/activities.htm. Our flight was $1200 from Boston. You would also want to check out Lake Nakuru since you can see so many animals there. This safari looks good http://safari.go2africa.com/tours/to...ults/TourID~62, although it doesn't have you staying at Mara Serena. Personally I would skip Treetops, it was okay, but anticlimactic compared to Mara.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by sara1998

You're a great photographer! I especially loved the pictures of the flowers. Really very beautiful.... Those stores are amazing. It's a far cry from our strip malls with large anchor stores in them. Thanks for sharing, sweetie! Glad you had a great trip.

Thank you. We stopped in one of those stores to use their restroom. Ugh. Thank God I had the sense to bring antibacterial wipes with me. Their restrooms are just holes in the floor. You better have your own paper with you too. Fortunately I did think of that as well and had some. It was really nice of them to let us use the facility though since you could see the distrust in their eyes. Or maybe it was something else. There is a strange reverence for white skin there that I think is a result of their having been colonized. Its awful and I hope that Kenyans can reclaim their identity.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Good God!!! Those pictures are amazing!!! I'm in awe and in total envy all at the same time. What an amazing opportunity - thanks so much for sharing the pics...they're absolutely stunning...

You're welcome, I still can't believe I went. You just never know what opportunities will come your way so long as you are open. Amazing.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by DavidMn

Those were fantastic pictures!!! I love panoramic shots like the valley pictures you took. They encompass such a wide area in a single photo. Reminds me of the one I took overlooking Hong Kong on top of Victoria Peak.

Thanks, I'd like to put them together and make a poster, that was the intention behind those shots anyway.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by golden braid

Awesome pictures, Suze.

Seeing your pictures makes me think that I really need to travel since I've barely been anywhere. But at least I get a little glimpse into another land and culture through pictures like yours.

Well you certainly have plenty of time.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by Sugar

Thanks so much for posting those. My daughter and husband even crowded around the computer with me to look at them! Such beauty captured in your fantastic photos. Loved your blurbs too.

Now my daughter keeps saying, "Can we go?" She just wants to pet the animals... So does my husband...

Sue, my Mom told me that her coworkers gathered around and I've heard it from others too. I'm really stunned by the impact of the photos and delighted that people are enjoying them. Tell your family they can feel free to pet the animals, so long as they are not attached to their limbs! You are not allowed outside of your vehicle on safari, hence the armed guard when we went to see the hippos.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by WelshWitchPMD

Amazing photos, Sue! I felt as if I was looking at National Geographic or Life magazine. You really did capture the spirit of the people. The animals and flowers are all gorgeous. I loved the starfish ones.
I admire your adventurous nature. I could never do it. I get grossed out at the zoo when the animals relieve themselves.

I know Pattie, animals can seriously be gross. It is amazing how little it bothered me though. I did see this donkey with a penis that was just 4 inches off of the ground, if that. I think that was the most disturbing thing I saw. :shudder: Seriously, I couldn't believe the other people I was with did not see it. I was so speechless and disturbed that I did not photograph it. Of course, in hindsight, I wish I had!