A site for global citizens interested in life, style and the nexus of the two from the POV of a six continent chickLoggin on: taking off
So here I am in pre-dawn Brussels, after an eight-plus-hour hop along a route I've never flown before: from the Equator, over the source of the Nile, over Elba and Malta and Turin -- cities with historical resonance ranging from Napoleon, to falcons, to shrouds -- and touching down in Brussels.
I've been fortunate to be traveling business class and on this trip have availed myself of the associated benefits as never before. No, I don't mean plundering the free food and drinks, rather the free internet access and most humanising of all, the shower facilities!
Though I admit to a brief moment of sadness as I washed off the dust and humidity of my home continent. An early close to the retreat provided me with the opportunity to get out of the hotel and make an unannounced (or as I call it, 'parachute') visit to our offices in Kampala. The visit and colleagues were great.
The taxi ride gave me a mini-tour through part of the city on a wonderful sunny day with perfectly temperate climate; a view of bushes and trees groaning with avocadoes, mangoes, lady finger bananas and passionfruit (a.k.a. grenadillas), and that was just in random gardens. (I have been over indulging in all of the above all week, as well as the endlessly delicious varieties of goat and root dishes, at every meal.)
That unmistakeable smell of Africa, of the soil; the scattered blooming jacaranda trees punctuating the graduated shades of green with flashes of mauve (yeah, yeah, I am all for invader species removal, but as a Pretoria gal you have to allow me this one, Brazilian import) the soundtrack of Bantu-tongues and bees (and yes, large mosquitoes) buzzing lazily. It is something to miss.
Oh... boarding announcement, time to log off and take off.
Technorati tags: Brussels business class fly travel
That would be the equator, and not the Middle Earth of Tolkien novels. Yes, I am currently sitting smack on the earth's midsection in Kampala, Uganda. As I'm one of the facilitators of an an intense, four-day programme management retreat, I have not seen much of the world outside of our hotel -- the Imperial Royale. 
As if the first time being away from one's baby isn't intrinsically stressful enough, my countdown to take off went something like this: 
And why's it been so silent for the past fortnight? Have we been away? Check. Have we been techonogically challenged? Check. Have we been swamped with priorities other than updating our blog? Check.Too busy for even a photo? Nah.
There's a reason why they call middle America the heartland. And it has more than a little to do with the outpouring of warmth, support and welcome that is extended by those who call this area of the country 'Home.'
This one on the right was not a keeper, though. I mean the tiny blue gill fish that Calvin's Pop caught. This was one of quite a few, which were all returned to sender in perfect working order into the pond in the background. 
Speaking of curious, Calvin was more than mildly so about the dozens of spectacular trotting racehourses we got to see at a friend's family farm. These large creatures didn't daunt the little guy at all, although we made sure his little hands didn't get into harm's way. He took in the farrier, stables and grooming with great interest. (And if you're wondering how to tame your mane similarly, try giving the horse in your life a regular vaccuming. No joke.)
And what better way to end each day than a home away from home? That would be Grammy's home, complete with a crib and accoutrements, fun toys and a throne-like high chair. It was a haven for the little guy, his folks and Bobo too, and spacious enough that we all got t have our own bedrooms without displacing a soul. Wow. Calvin was thrilled with a new discovery -- wall-to-wall carpeting. It makes learning to crawl and sit up a much more pleasant experience. 
One month, two adults, one four-month-old, 39 hours of flying, 11 places of accommodation... it's the South African 'safari.' That would be 'safari' in both sense of the word -- journey and game viewing as there were lots of miles and lots of creatures involved.
As we start to relate some of the highlights of our trip to South Africa, we'll start with the statistics. I'm sure you'll agree that with this much under his belly button, our little Calvin has earned his frequent flier miles. (Here you see him relaxing with dad on his first flight ever!)
It's been exactly three days since we returned from our month-plus-long safari to South Africa. And while Calvin seems back on Eastern Daylight Time, I seem to have parted company with my brain and body somewhere mid-Atlantic. 
This genius toy, the Oball, will be one of the items in our carry-on luggage. Completely squishable, Calvin has gotten to grips with it, and loves holding it in one, the other and then both hands and sticking his tongue through the holes. He also loves moving it about with his feet and grabbing it with his toes. How much more complete body workout and fun can you get for under $5?!
Perhaps you're a fan of the TV programme '24' starring Keifer Sutherland as character Jack Bauer. Each season is a day in the life of Bauer, presented in real time. Bauer works with the U.S. Government as it fights threats on its soil, and the show is based in Los Angeles. (You can read much more about it 
One of the sounds that Calvin has been practicing is "go"; it's a variation on "goo", which he is very profficient at. (Interestingly, he does a very competent rendering of the word "grenouille", French for frog!) It's a good thing, because this little guy is ready to go. Go on a jet plane that is. 
We've been having day naps in his capacious travel bassinet -- I wish they made adult tents this easy to erect (you just remove the safety strap and get out the way as it self-erects) and luxurious (it comes complete with inflatable air mattress, fluffy pad, SPF fabric and anti-bug screens, creating a snug and safe Calvin cocoon. Verdict: Calvin gives two feet up.
As autumn settles in to the Eastern Seaboard, it's time to look back on the season recently past. Especially when yours truly hasn't uploaded the blissful images depicting one of our summer highlights. (
In the world of vacationing, there are some fundamentalist believers. Think fishing enthusiasts, dive junkies and, oh yes, villa living fans. 
Okay, so after taking a number of photos of that ship that was supposedly featured in '
You might regret asking us to post those honeymoon photos... there are quite a few of them! So to make it all more digestible, we've broken down the photos into different chunks. So today's offering provides somewhat of a smorgasbord of our trip to St. Lucia, a windward island, an island part of the Lesser Antilles and an island in the southern Caribbean somewhat north of Venezuela.
We're baack!
When pure good fortune results in one being able to give one’s mom the trip to a place she has always dreamed of going to for Mother’s Day, you know it’s both great but problematic. After all, how on earth do you top that?
Until this weekend, I have felt sympathetic for those California residents whose homes have been washed away by mudslides and landslides. Then I discovered that what I had attributed to an act of God, is in fact attributable to an act of stupidity!
I had only one sightseeing hope for this trip: a peek of the Panama Canal. So imagine how thrilled I was to get a scheduled opportunity to see it all in action at Miraflores Lock, located just minutes from our offices. (
Okay, so Ciudad de Panama or 
30 April ? Today?s set-up day, but I?m determined to use every opportunity to work out so I hit the pool and then head to breakfast. We decide to go to the Hapuna buffet restaurant, which offers a giant number of serving stations offering Western, Chinese and Japanese breakfasts.
It?s 32,0000 feet up, 10:15 PM in New York and 11:15 AM in Tokyo.