OUT OF AFRICA

I stood on my balcony this morning in 45 degree wather. I watched the rain fall on Maryland Ave the traffic backed up to only God knows where. I don't know why but I thought of Africa near the end of my time in the Serengeti I saw an enormous cape buffalo alone in an open field. On closer inspection I coul see he was walking in circles. I ask Rob what was wrong with him. He is sick and old his herd has left him to die. The lions will kill him. The buffalos odd march would attract the lions that would end its suffering. In Africa one comes to understand the genius of nature. In the Serengeti ones loss is anothers gain.
Its been 30 years since I left africa In St Louis its cold and raining . On the far side of the globe the moon is risening behind the lodge. Predators are on the prowl, and Massai warriors watch there cattle. Life goes on.

you should go but beware it is not the same africa I knew , there is far more danger now. In all parts the south is safer than the west or east centrial. and the north from Egypte to Morrco is all danger.

My people believe a Lion will not enter a burning hut to kill a person. My people believe this because they are uneducated, destitute of knowledege, ignoramuses.
I believe it to.

people human beings persons, my people distinguished from a special class

Lion animal

Old Jake,

About ten years ago i was in Malawi, Africa for 1 month. I understand your statement "In Africa one comes to understand the genius of nature" ... and how poetically stated by the way.

I long to return to Africa one day, as my experience there really helped me to appreciate all that life has to offer. I found the people to be so beautiful ... especially the children. It fascinates me to think that with so much illness and with so little, they are still so happy.

My travel through the south of Malawi took me backpacking and logging in clay shacks. It was important to me to experience the life of a Malawian, so my travel took me to small villages meeting the people and learning about their culture. I feel so fortunate to have done the things i have done.

Still today, i remember the all the scents of Africa.

Thanks for bringing the memories back home to me.

.................

About 7 years ago, i was fortunate enough to travel all through the South of India - starting point was Bangalore.

when I was young I ask a wise man a question, I said Granddad when I get older how will I know if I have seen the whole world like you. his answer was come back and ask me again when you have gone from timbuktu to katmandu. I am old now and I know what he ment.

Old Jake, what do you mean? Your distance traveled or the impact your experiences had on you?

Hey, how old are you anyway?

63 what he was saying was anyone can go to London , Rome Paris, but to see the world take the road less traviled, so thats what I did. Don,t get me wrong if you get the chance to go to Rome or Paris go. If you get the chance to go from Casablanca over the atlas mountians across the southern Sahara desart to timbuktu take the chance.

Now i understand and i would have to agree.

I do want to travel to Europe one day for my love of old architecture, history & culture, but the "road less travelled" has allowed me to see the world with my heart.

By the way, 63 is not old. The way you were talking, i was expecting you to say you were much older.

Live a full life luv so when you die you are all used up everything is done.

Thanks Old Jake. I hope to do just that. Sometimes "life" interferes with your true hearts desire, but i will do my best to live life to the fullest.

Thanks Old Jake. I hope to do just that. Sometimes "life" interferes with your true hearts desire, but i will do my best to live life to the fullest.

Its cold this morning, wind chill 10 F . As I drink my coffee I think back to a KLM flight from Amsterdam to Tanzaia. We entered Egyptian airspace at the border with Libya, it was a cloudless day the tan of the Sahara stretched for ever. On days like today I long for the sea of sand the hot dry wind the sun beating down. From that day until this one I have wanted to return to Egypt the Sahara and Sub Saharan Africa. I will have to do it soon if I ever do it time is running out life is to short.

Its a hot and sticky night in St Louis. The cicada chorus has died and the lights from a passing thunderstorm no longer dance on my livingroom walls. My whisky has melted the ice in my glass, I should drink it like the English no ice.
to night Africa has come calling. Its not the first night and likely not the last.
Africa is a barefoot child, standing in the doorway of a cinderblock house, eating a red banana. She is a baby elephant following her mother through the bush. flapping her ears and raising her trunk to trumpet in playful imitation. she is a whirl of colour and motion at the bazaar. the pure white crown of kilimanjaro. the bright red shuka robe of the Maasai.
In my mind her colours fade with time.
I need to return.
I have not been back seince my friend was thrown off his land in (Rhodesia) I know to some its Zinbabwe. To the day I die to me it will be Rhodesia.
If I do it , it will have to be soon.

will be going back looks like a trip in sept. Zambis southern Africa will be making a base on the Zambezi river at the Royal livingstone any one know it and how it is?

"Africa is a barefoot child, standing in the doorway of a cinderblock house, eating a red banana. She is a baby elephant following her mother through the bush. flapping her ears and raising her trunk to trumpet in playful imitation. she is a whirl of colour and motion at the bazaar. the pure white crown of kilimanjaro. the bright red shuka robe of the Maasai"

You took the words out of my mouth Old Jake. I am so happy you will be returning in September. It will be a pleasure to hear about all your adventures. Wish i was returning as well. Maybe someday ... before, "her colours fade" in my mind.

I leave for africa on the 20th of this month and will be back in St Louis on the 17th of Sept. Got my ticket need to pack a bag.

Old Jake, i am very excited for you. Enjoy yourself and be safe.

Old Jake, any stories of your recent trip to Africa to tell?

I came back on the first spent more time in Africa also in England. A friend traviled with me out of England and has returned to St Louis with me. I guess we are going to give it one more try for all the old times. She is a bit of a pain in the butt but what the hay.
I arrived in Africa end of august we stayed at the Royal Livingstone Hotel made it our safe haven when we wereent in the bush. winter here 40's at night 70 in the day. No rain went we went out on 2 day and 4 day treks and a two week safari. saw a lot of elephant snakes impala waterbucks eagcrocs and hippos no big cats I am not saying they werent there but did not see them.
one quick sad thing we may have seen the last two white rhinos in the entire country of Zambia they were shot by poachers killed for the females horn.

I will write more l;ater must leave now but have more to tell if anyone is interested.

I'm interested Old Jake. Tell us more when you have some time.

That's terrible about the white rhinos.

So this friend ... is she a love interest? Is that what you meant by giving it one more try for old times sake?

Lov interest we have three bastards together we have been on and off for 30 years. cant live with each other cant seem to stay apart.

One day we floated the Zambeze I must point out you have to be up to it. alot of crocodiles and hippo. the croc,s won't bother you in a canoe the fact is hippo's kill more people than croc,s or lions. the great ending to the trip is Victoria falls. I took up a point under a Knob thorn tree and down stream I could see the river fall 360 feet into the gorge.beyound the disappering river a white cloud of vapor rises 100 feet.the people here call this place mosi-oa-tunya the smoke that thunders. enough for now

Old Jake, that was just a tease. Tell me more about your adventures. :-)