AFRICA!!!

Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls are one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. While we could not stop taking pictures of the beautiful rainbow over the 108 m deep "Rainbow Falls", we were a little disappointed that the water level of the Zambesi river had not reached its peak in order to create the famous uninterrupted 2 mile long water curtain which made it look less impressive than the Niagara Falls. The atmosphere in Zimbabwe was a little depressing and we can not really recommend this as a vacation destination. The stores are empty, no food in the super markets and artists are willing to barter used shoes and socks for beautiful little stone sculptures. (Inflation in Zimbabwe is running at 11,000% ! - no kidding)

Luckily Botswana was not far from Victoria Falls which allowed us to escape for a one day safari to the beautiful Chobezi National Park. We can highly recommend the beautiful Chobezi Safari Lodge at the Chobe River with direct access to river wildlife viewing (lots of Nile crocodiles, Hippos, water monitor lezards, red litchwe antelopes and beautiful birds). We enjoyed a half day boat safari and could even witness how nature works according to the "survival of the fittest" rule when a little slow swimming red litchwe (similar to an antelope) was swallowed by a crododile while crossing the river with the rest of the herd. The highlight of the afternoon Jeep safari was watching a big group of African elephants during their bathing rituals. We can definitely recommend Botswana for Safaris and we would love to come back to see the Okavango Delta.

After lots of rain in Zimbabwe, we found strong winds and stinging hot temperatures in Cape Town, South Africa. Our Ten Star Guesthouse was spotless clean, modern and very comfortable directly situated at the foot of table mountain - not far from the city center. The Cape's beaches are white and fine and the water is very cold but beautiful turquoise blue populated with little Penguins from Antarctica. We visited Cape of Good Hope and Africa's most south-westerly point where famous European explorers like Vasco da Gama and Bartolomeu Dias landed on their way to India.

(Sorry but we had problems with our flash drive and are not able to post our zimbabwe and botswana safari and cape of good hope photos)

(Table Mountain at sunset)

(Nordhoek Beach as seen from Chapman's Peak near Cape Town)

Very moving was our visit of the shacks of Cape Town's townships where still 3 million people live in poverty.

(Shop owner preparing lamb's head for sale to the local township)

(First B&B in the Township)

We found a beautiful gem in South Africa's wine country: Franschoek with its cute little town center and the beautiful winery gardens where Chamonix, Boschendal and La Petite Ferme serve gourmet lunches to accompany their wines.

(La Petite Ferme Winery - Franschoek)

After 8 short days in Africa we are heading to Brazil to spend Christmas in Rio de Janeiro!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all of you!

Bali Spirits

Thanks to Hilton Honors rewards we were able to stay five nights for free in the 5-star Conrad Resort on the Tenjang Benoa peninsula near Nusa Dua, South Bali where Tony enjoyed early morning Yoga work out in the beautiful landscaped gardens, Bettina Aquacised in the large Lagoon pool and both road bikes along the beach to temples and seaweed farms. Nusa Dua was hosting the UN World Climate Conference and security was everywhere which made us feel very safe. However, after days of pampering we rented a car and made our way to the ricefields, woodcarvers and painters of the royal city of Ubud in the middle of Bali. After a rather scary first night in a dark room at the Bali Spirit hotel (overlooking a river gorge with gardens full of demon figures...) we explored the town's museums, palaces temples and cafes in between rain showers. The highlight of the day was our monkey encounter.

(Our room (top level - AlamShanti) in Ubud)


While walking off the beaten path through beautiful ricefields we found a little paradiese, at the Alam Shanti boutique hotel which was just finished and designed by a local famous painter who also owned the best bakery in town (we just loved our breakfast and afternoon tea cakes served on our private veranda). Since we loved our room so much, we decided to stay for three nights and enjoyed the best food and local dance performances. Tony found a great meditation center just down the road where Tini joined him at the evening community meditation class (she was shining white in between the local crowd.....).




Well we could have stayed for weeks but wanted to explore more of the island and moved on to the North of Bali to the black sands of Lovina Beach. Highlight here was the sunrise outrigger boat cruise to see dozens of dolphins jumping right next to us. From Lovina we drove over tiny little roads through the fishing and salt panning villages of the East Coast back to Bukit Island to see the Uluwatu temple on a majestic rock overlooking the rough see. Our Bali farewell dinner was at sunset on Jimbaran Beach where local fishermen serve affordable lobster on nice romantic cancle light lit tables set directly on the beach next to the Four Season's hotel. Next destination: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Cape Town, South Africa

(Tony and Tini get a flat in the middle of nowhere. It is a good thing that the locals had a car jack.)

T^4

- Bali, Indonesia: a) find art, tradition, great food, spirituality, yoga and mediation in the middle of the picturesque rice fields of Ubud (try to stay at the 8 room Alam Shanti Boutique hotel with Alam Wangi Spa and associated Wayan bakery and Laka Leke restaurant). b) For great ocean views, stay at Blue Moon Villas near Amed Beach. c) Find a Paul Bocuse trained chef and hidden luxury villas above Lovina Beach at Damai resort and hire an outrigger boat for a sunrise cruise to see the Dolphins making flipper jumps right next to you. d) enjoy sunset on the beach while eating affordable lobster at Jimbaran Beach. e) Visit famous Uluwatu temple before sunset and enjoy the traditional Kecak and fire dance performance at 06:00 p.m.

Good Morning Vietnam !!

Many Vietnamese start their day at the crack of dawn with exercise (Tai Chi, Aerobics, Martial Arts) in the local park. This is a tradition which started when Ho Chi Minh ordered the country’s citizens to exercise back in the 50s - and they're still exercising today.




Tony and Bettina tried their best to indulge in the local culture by drinking tea and a smoking from the shared (Tobacco) water pipe in the morning.

Tony and Bettina’s budget is being depleted at a faster rate than expected so they had to work a bit.

Tony worked with the Red Zhao, weaving textiles, for a few days in the northern rural area called Sapa located only 2 km south of the Chinese border. (Rice paddie fields in the mountains of Sapa)

Bettina did a great job selling fruit on the streets of Ha Noi despite having difficulty understanding what her customers were asking for.

To get away from it all Bettina and Tony decided to take a long trip. How long you ask?
Well they spent 2 days in the quiet, serene, natural wonder of the world nominnee Ha Long Bay.
It was quite nice, especially "surprise" cave with all of its stalactites and stalacmite.
(Stalacmite in Surprise Cave ?)

So far Tony and Tini have been healthy except when they got food poisoning from something they ate either in Vietnam or Singapore. Luckily they had already checked into their resort in Bali and were able to recover within a day.

(P.S. Bettina and Tony are still "workin' it," having been inspired by the hard wood carvings at the Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi)

T^4

- Ha Noi, Vietnam: a) take the soft sleeper 4 pax berth overnight train to Sa Pa, stay at the new Green Bamboo hotel and hire a H'mong girl to trek with you to her village and try even one night Homestay at Tan Van village. b) Take a two night Halong Bay cruise on a new Deluxe Junke (stay two nights on board while cruising this world natural heritage site).