Masaki, I did get scared of the monkeys once in VF. They were much more aggressive there, and were right outside the door most of the time. One day, a little one just kept getting too close. The hotel employs full time monkey chasers to keep them at bay. One day, we were walking over to someone's room, and approaching the door, I saw a clip board being hurled out of a guest room door. Behind it came a monkey, who left a trail of tea bags in his wake! He managed to hold on to all of the sugar, and flew up a tree to enjoy it.

I also forgot to tell a story of a special greeter we had at Singita. Our "butler" escorted us to the room at check-in to show us around, and as I went to look out the window onto the deck, a snake slithered out from under a table in the room toward the window. Scared the bejeezus out of me, and fortunately the butler was with us and called reception to send someone to remove it. I think she was as scared as I was! I stayed right there to keep an eye on the thing, and got a few pictures of him on the floor, and wrapped around the arm of the man who came to our rescue. It was just a small one, but I don't think a cobra could have had my heart racing any faster!

Oh I would have been a basket case over a snake - would have thought his sister or brother was still in my room -

I'm with Joanna!

Two experiences you will not soon forget, Olivia!

We are home too. (Sort of... Marc left for Huntsville this morning) We got home last night about 9:30, did a load of laundry, looked through the mail quick and fell into bed.

Went to work this morning andd by 2:30 I could hardly keep my eyes open. So... even though it is only 6:15 I am off to bed. I'll post more about the trip later. Hopefully we'll get the pics sorted through and posted this weekend.

We are back to reality too. Arrived home yesterday around 2PM after 30+ hours of travel. Cats were so excited they forgot they were mad at us. Piles of mail and laundry, did not even turn on the computer last night. Fell into bed around 8PM and slept until 4AM.

This was the most fantastic vacation ever with a great group of people. I will post over the weekend when I begin to sort through the pictures. We both have hundreds of work e-mail messages to wade through and have spent most of the day catching up on work and doing laundry. The rest of the week is back to the usual craziness at work. Oh to be back at Singita again!

Mary Ellen

Welcome home!!!!!

Yes, welcome home. We still have a few LCT'ers out there somewhere in travel land.

Got home tonight after over a day (in real time) of traveling. Glad to say that the trip went as well as any trip of this length can go.
We had something like 5+ hours between flights in Amsterdam... so we checked our carry-on bags & found the train & went into Amsterdam Central. Walked about a bit, shopped & had lunch. made our way back in plenty of time. Nice way to end this amazing adventure.
I'n totally beat & need to get up & go to work tomorrow am. Ah, the harsh reality of the end of a dream vacation.

Doug

Welcome home, Andi and Doug!

Any word on the interviews, Andi?

Just wanted everyone to know that we loved Jo'burg. We stayed at the Westcliff (lovely) and had a wonderful 7 hour tour of Jo'burg and Sowenta. Will write more, but time for bed.

Just passing through the international airport in Windhoek, Namibia. Our day started with a one hour flight in a 6 seater plane - just us and the pilot - over the dunes and NamibRand reserve and mountains back to Windhoek - then a drive to our first hotel to pick up luggage stored and then on to the international airport, about 40 minutes outside of town where it is flat. Now we have a flight to Johaanesburg, 3 hour layover, then on to London, another 3 hour layover and finally back to Chicago.

Namibia was spectacular! Will provide a full report later as our flight will be boarding soon and this connection is slow.

No Brad and Angelina sightings - we were told by a guide that they bought a house in Swapokond (sp?), a town on the Atlantic coast.

more later!

Hi Leslie and Brad! We're anxiously awaiting your reports and photos!

Wishing you safe travels home!

Glad to hear you had a great time. Eager to hear about new places to visit for ROAR II. Have a safe journey home.