OBLIGATORY TRAVELER

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Tag: nature

  • Visiting Victoria Falls-Zambia Side

    Visiting Victoria Falls-Zambia Side

    The relationship between the mind and body is interesting. As I stared up at the stairs on the Zambia side of Victoria Falls, looming before me, by mind said, they are just steps. Easy peasy. You just walk up them. No big deal. I started my upward climb, but around step ten, the pressure in the…

  • Visiting Victoria Falls-Zimbabwe Side

    Visiting Victoria Falls-Zimbabwe Side

    We arrived to the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls bright and early. If you are staying in the town of Victoria Falls, you can walk to the visitor’s entrance from most accommodations. If like us, you end up staying outside of the town, almost all of the hotels have complimentary shuttles that drop you off…

  • Chobe National Park-Botswana

    Chobe National Park-Botswana

    The line looks endless as we queue up at the border. “Here, hand me your passports,” says one of our transport staff. We hand them over, and she disappears for a brief time. Reappearing, she hands back our passports, freshly stamped. “Okay, let’s go, follow me,” she instructs, and without fuss, we are in the…

  • A’Zambezi River Lodge-Victoria Falls-Zimbabwe

    A’Zambezi River Lodge-Victoria Falls-Zimbabwe

    Shannon settles down for a much needed post-flight nap, but I’m too excited. I am in Africa, and I want to see it all, RIGHT NOW. I spot a cluster of chairs placed at the edge of the river. I take a seat. Soon a troop of monkeys come romping in my direction. They take…

  • Exploring Curu Wildlife Refuge-Costa Rica

    Exploring Curu Wildlife Refuge-Costa Rica

    The final afternoon of our Uncruise Adventure is spent in Curu Wildlife Refuge. Jenny, who has a keen eye for spotting the refuge’s wildlife, is our guide. She assures us that we will hike several Curu trails, but not the ominously named, “Killer” trail. Perhaps the animals of Costa Rica know that it is our…

  • Kayaking Isla Tortuga-Costa Rica

    Kayaking Isla Tortuga-Costa Rica

    I wake up and realize that it’s our last full day. I immediately put the thought out of my mind. We have a morning of kayaking ahead. I don’t want my the-trip-is-almost-over-blues to ruin the fun. We launch our kayaks directly from the ship and set out to paddle around the rock formations near Isla…

  • Manuel Antonio National Park-Costa Rica

    Manuel Antonio National Park-Costa Rica

    Adventure guide, Rey, breezes by our table during the cocktail hour. “Make sure to bring your phones tomorrow. Trust me,” he smiles, before moving to the next table. Being firm instruction followers, we pack our phones in our daypack as we prepare for our day at Manuel Antonio National Park. Our skift lands on one…

  • The Story Behind the Shirt

    The Story Behind the Shirt

    Since it makes its debut appearance in my next post, I thought I would explain the story behind the t-shirt I am wearing. We’re sitting in a diner. In my experience diners are often where the best ideas are birthed. I suddenly remember an article I read earlier in the day, and become extra animated.…

  • Life for Life Turtle Project Hike-Costa Rica

    Life for Life Turtle Project Hike-Costa Rica

    Hiking boots laced and poles in hand, we make our way to the Life for Life Turtle Project. At times, the hiking trail is narrow. At one point, we must step aside to allow a horse to pass. We learn that it is Ricardo’s (Life for Life’s operator) sons who are leading the horse home.…