Swakopmund - Ocean Swimming, and More ...
I didn't come to Swakopmund planning to become an ocean swimmer. It happened completely by chance.After joining Nikola on her wonderful Swakopmund history walking tour, she invited us to watch the rugby (and a meal and drink) on Saturday - the Springboks were playing Scotland. There we met a friend of hers, Wil-Merie, and during the conversation she mentioned that she belonged to a local ocean swimming group. She wasn’t swimming at the time, but she smiled and said, “You should g...
July 25, 2026Camp Xakanaxa on the edge of the Okavango Delta
I am a kleptoparasite with these photos. These photos were taken by Gabrielle Brooks (a 19-year-old student from Stellenbosch), who was on safari with us at Camp Xakanaxa. This is where we were. ...
July 10, 2026The Living Desert tour, Swakopmund
We had met Chantal at the talk about hydrogen power in Namibia at the Museum education centre. She got up at the meeting and said she would offer free Living Desert tours to anyone there. This was in response to discussion about putting hydrogen plants in certain places in the desert.She said," The desert is living, not a place to put just anything." She quoted her trainer, saying she had been leading Living Desert tours for 11 years. She told us she was trained by Tommy Collard...
July 9, 2026Visiting Serowe Farm: A funding project for SOS Children's Village
Danielle had said Mr Bikkie might give me a tour of the farm. I asked, and he was very happy to do that, first the village, then the farm. Mr Bikkie manages both. Here we are, ready to go. ...
July 6, 2026Serowe, Botswana - Young People Co-Creating Stories, Day 3
The next day arrives. I have printed the story books at the hotel. I also sorted through all the resources I prepared, along with the games and activities we didn't do, and packaged them up to give to Katso so she can play later. I also put them in a drive she can access. See at the end. The young people arrive at 7.30am. We arrive at 8.00am. First, I hand out their journals and name tags....
July 5, 2026Serowe, Botswana - Young People Co-Creating Stories, Day 2
The second day started for the young people at 11am, because the All Blacks, our NZ rugby team, were playing France and I wanted to watch. It was a tight game and the All Blacks won 34-32. I told the young people I was excited that the All Blacks won. We started the day with "Leopard is Hungry" and then headed to the classroom. I did this because we had to learn more, so they could create a story. Then we used a drama convention called "Role on the Wall':"Each group becomes...
July 4, 2026Serowe, Botswana - Young People Co-Creating Stories, Day 1
We left Maun Airport to head towards Serowe. We were going there because over the next three days, I was leading 'Young People Co-creating and Sharing Stories about Native Species Thriving', at SOS Children's Village in Serowe.This had all come about from when we knew we were coming to Botswana, a week before we left. I contacted Danielle Dal Cortivo, a friend I knew had contributed to children in Botswana. We have been in many growing and developing courses together and speak each week as...
July 3, 2026A kleptoparasitic safari - three days at Camp Okavango in the Okavango Delta
Above - Vee, me, Aodi and Bill. Below - Bess, Mauricio, Bill and me....
June 22, 2026A three-day visit to Sosussvlei and Deadvlei
We spent a day travelling to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, a day there and a day travelling back. Lots to see, and the road is very bumpy in patches. Here is what we saw. ...
June 20, 2026A day at Sandwich Harbour, Marine cruise, and in the Namib Desert
Marama, a reader of the blog, suggested a map or two. Great idea. Here is Namibia, in south-wes Africa. This is also for the grand-nieces and nephews. ...
June 16, 2026Swakopmund, the Moon, Mars, Oasis and Seals, 12th-14th June
Here are the blog's youngest followers! Thank you to Caitlin who is sharing it with them. Now that I know they are interested I will include some fun facts for them. This is grand-nephews Saxon pointing, Conor behind him and cousin Freddie looking on.Last night we went to a talk at the Museum on 'Namibia - Hydrogen opportunity or not?' Nikola had suggested we might enjoy it, and we did. (This was definitely not for young people.) ...
June 14, 2026Windhoek and Swakopmund 7th -11th June
We saw that a Sunday market was 5 minutes from where we were staying. We chose to spend most of the morning there and enjoyed the stalls and the music. As well, we both worked at our fulfillments (Bill calls it work, I call it our inspiring commitments.)...
June 8, 20262026 travels begin - Let's Go To Windhoek 3rd-6th June
Can’t wait to share our African travels with everyone!Here we are again for another epic travel adventure. For those of you who have not read the blog before, Robin is the writer, and Bill is Ed (editor). Sometimes he will come in as Ed (but not very often, Ed.)We arrived in Johannesburg late on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 4. It felt a little strange to leave Auckland at 6am on June 4, and then arrive on the same day nearly 24hrs later. The flight was 3 1/2 hours from Auckland to Sy...
June 6, 2026Praia D'El Rey, Óbidos, and Peniche
We are off for 3 more nights at a golf resort north of Lisbon. Because we have work to catch up on, and we need to hit some golf balls. ...
June 23, 20252025 Second Leg, the Algarve - As Cascatas Golf Resort, and Carvoeiro
We went from Lisbon to Vilamoura in the Algarve by bus - Rede Expressos, the Portugese national bus operator. ...
June 19, 20252025 Portugal - First Week, Lisbon and Sintra
We flew Emirates for the first time, because they had the just one stop to Lisbon route. On the first leg from Auckland to Dubai, a 17 hour flight, Bill saw there was a deal going so we went Business Class. I have never flown Business Class before. I am not sure I could go back to Premium Economy! In Business Class Emirates have a small lounge. The toilets are at the far end of the lounge. At the time I went, there was a queue. The guy behind me gave me the best pick up line ev...
June 3, 2025Day 3 and 4: Lake Como and travelling to Cinque Terre
Lachie and Chiara are planning. We are enjoying Lake Como.I wake up early and get croissants from our 'local'. This below is early morning 40m from our apartment....
January 4, 2025Lachie and Chiara's Wedding in Italy: Day 1 & 2 - Auckland to Lake Como
We are going to Italy for two weeks for Lachie and Chiara's wedding on January 11th. It will be in Chiara's home town of Reggio Emilia. We are travelling with Daniel and Mahkaila, and Anna and Harry. Lachie and Chiara will join us for our first few days at Lake Como. Then we have a few days at Monterosso, one of the five villages in the Cinque Terre, then we go to Reggio Emilia for the wedding. The New Zealand crew leave Auckland....
January 2, 2025Exploring Marine Magic, to Inspire Restoration/Conservation Leaders
I believe this topic can revolutionise our education system. Inspired by a global organization called the Foundation for Climate Restoration, I asked Peter Kaiser if I could trial a class in a created programme based on what the Foundation teaches.I was privileged to be given Room One and we have been engaged in a climate and self restoration program for 11 weeks. On the last day of those weeks we all did a day trip with Explore Ferry Group to see marine mammals and visit Rotoroa Island. T...
December 15, 2024Berlin City Bike Tour
We generally try to when we visit a city for the first time, go on a city bike tour. It is the first thing we do and so we did in Berlin. This tour is 6 hours, Nick is our guide. He is English and loves Berlin. I did history at school and learnt a drop in the ocean. After this tour I learnt a few more drops. We met at the Fat Tires tour office, at Alexanderplatz, just under the TV Tower....
August 2, 2024Santa Magdalena in the Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy
Santa Magdalena is a small village (population 340) in the Dolomites of Italy. Chiara's Ficarelli family have been here before and it is one of their favorite places, so they had recommended we all meet up and holiday together. Where is Santa Magdalena on the map?...
July 30, 2024Palio June 29th - July 4th
Ciao! This is the Palio for the second time for us. This time we are with friends Richard and Pip Lawrence. We will have five days in Siena together. Bill and I have a pact to do no comparisons with the first time. We arrive by Flix bus. Then we get a local bus up to the old city where we are staying. The Lawrences arrive by train a bit later....
July 4, 2024Vienna June 23rd - 29th
This is Bill's photo - of Lachie and of Vienna. He went into the hills above Vienna with Lachie one evening on a drinks invitation from Lachie's Institute friends. I stayed back in our Airbnb as I chose to do a course. I didn't get the course time clear. I had a clash and tried to sleaze my way out of the course like a slippery eel after I registered. I didn't tell Bill, I didn't get a time flat in plenty of time but then knew I wanted to do it. The course is all about having y...
June 27, 2024To Vienna and time with Lachie - First three days 20th - 22nd June
We drive back to Charlotte then to get to Vienna, we fly to Munich on American Airlines and then to Vienna with Lufthansa....
June 22, 2024US Golf Open at Pinehurst No. 2, North Carolina
25 years ago (in 1999) Payne Stewart won his iconic US Open victory, at Pinehurst No. 2. Golf Course in North Carolina. It was redemption after he had lost a four-shot lead on Sunday at the 1998 US Open. Stewart was a complicated figure, and his triumph at Pinehurst became all the more poignant when he died just 4 months later, at age 42, when everybody lost consciousness on his plane and it eventually crashed. His celebration on the 18th hole after his win is the image for this year...
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