In just a few weeks, the national conventions for the US presidential elections will take place. The Republican convention will be held in Tampa, Florida while the Democratic convention will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina. Both states are key to the November election. Recalling the electoral votes from 4 years ago, here is the 2008 Electoral Map.
As the campaign enters the final months, no doubt the political rhetoric will heat up and the candidates will make all kinds of campaign stops. The presumed nominee for the Republican Party, Mitt Romney is on an international tour. After day one, he was already stumbling. You cannot go to some one's country and criticize them. It just does not work like that, but he did. He criticized the British on their ability to host the 2012 Summer Games just days before the opening ceremony. I guess since he was the chairman of the Salt Lake City winter games, no one was in a better position to say something than he is.
Despite all of the criticism that President Obama receives, many people around the world believe that he is on their side. The other day, I came across a picture from Niger, a country in West Africa and one of the poorest in the world. There in a fishing village, a man was wearing a shirt that should bring any American to tears. Here is the picture taken by Anthony Pappone, Festival on the Niger. This man may never meet President Obama, but he knows of him and seems to believe in him. President Obama's decisions go far beyond the shores of the United States. If people in the US want the world to respect them then they need to start respecting their own president. It seems the rest of the world does, for Barack Obama is a president for all.
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
27 July 2012
06 July 2012
Photography
Wow!!!!! I can't believe how much time has passed since my last post. Sufficient to say, I have been busy. It has been a rather hectic time. Stress from the financial markets keeps everyone on raw edge. Thus, it is really a good thing that I rekindled my love for photography. It is a hobby, that allows me to be close to nature and forget about the everyday stress in life.
A few years ago, my father gave me a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera. I already had one, a gift from my husband which started to reintroduce me to photography. My father bought one which was on the professional level, and found it required a lot of time to learn all of its features. When I saw it, I told him that when he tired of it, he could pass it on to me. Within two months of my saying that, he decided he would give it to me. I, too, was overwhelmed with all of the features, but I was very grateful for his generosity. I received the camera at the end of 2008 and 3.5 years later I am still learning new features.
There are many types of photography, portraits, landscape, nature, wildlife, still-life, sports, etc. I like landscape, nature, and wildlife. These allow me to be outside. For some reason, I don't like using flash. May be it is because I have not yet mastered the skill or may be just being outside is more relaxing.
During my junior high school days, I was the photographer for our yearbook. In senior high, I took a photography class. My father helped me to learn the foundations of photography and continued to help me over the years. Once on a recent visit to my parents, my father and I went to the zoo to take pictures of the animals. As each day passes and I see more and more incredible pictures, I want to improve my photographic skills. I have been able to learn a lot on my own, but really think it would be fun to take a workshop. The internet is a great resource for improving photographic skills there are so many tutorials both free and paid courses. It is also amazing how many people are willing to share their knowledge about photography. I have found some fantastic blogs as well.
Today, with technology there are a lot of people interested in photography. Some are professionals and others like me do it as a hobby. I don't spend much time in post-processing. The key to a good photograph for me is capturing the image you want when you take the picture, not adjusting it afterwards. I think cropping is within the limits, but color enhancing does not interest me. The key to good photography, like everything else, is practice. With the digital medium, taking thousands of pictures is more affordable than when film had to be processed. Often, I feel that I lack a subject to photography. Since reading a few blogs and watching some tutorials, everything item is worth capturing; be it as mundane as a bottle cap to a majestic picture of an iconic mountain peak.
Finally, photography has a side benefit. It is a way to get good exercise. On the days, when you just don't feel like hitting the gym or making a major effort to play around of 18 holes of golf. Take the camera and go for a walk and see what new things you discover. Recently, I took the camera to some of the villages in the area. These are places I pass on a regular basis, but just never stopped to really look at them.
Just remember get out there and shoot, shoot, and shoot some more.
A few years ago, my father gave me a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera. I already had one, a gift from my husband which started to reintroduce me to photography. My father bought one which was on the professional level, and found it required a lot of time to learn all of its features. When I saw it, I told him that when he tired of it, he could pass it on to me. Within two months of my saying that, he decided he would give it to me. I, too, was overwhelmed with all of the features, but I was very grateful for his generosity. I received the camera at the end of 2008 and 3.5 years later I am still learning new features.
There are many types of photography, portraits, landscape, nature, wildlife, still-life, sports, etc. I like landscape, nature, and wildlife. These allow me to be outside. For some reason, I don't like using flash. May be it is because I have not yet mastered the skill or may be just being outside is more relaxing.
During my junior high school days, I was the photographer for our yearbook. In senior high, I took a photography class. My father helped me to learn the foundations of photography and continued to help me over the years. Once on a recent visit to my parents, my father and I went to the zoo to take pictures of the animals. As each day passes and I see more and more incredible pictures, I want to improve my photographic skills. I have been able to learn a lot on my own, but really think it would be fun to take a workshop. The internet is a great resource for improving photographic skills there are so many tutorials both free and paid courses. It is also amazing how many people are willing to share their knowledge about photography. I have found some fantastic blogs as well.
Today, with technology there are a lot of people interested in photography. Some are professionals and others like me do it as a hobby. I don't spend much time in post-processing. The key to a good photograph for me is capturing the image you want when you take the picture, not adjusting it afterwards. I think cropping is within the limits, but color enhancing does not interest me. The key to good photography, like everything else, is practice. With the digital medium, taking thousands of pictures is more affordable than when film had to be processed. Often, I feel that I lack a subject to photography. Since reading a few blogs and watching some tutorials, everything item is worth capturing; be it as mundane as a bottle cap to a majestic picture of an iconic mountain peak.
Finally, photography has a side benefit. It is a way to get good exercise. On the days, when you just don't feel like hitting the gym or making a major effort to play around of 18 holes of golf. Take the camera and go for a walk and see what new things you discover. Recently, I took the camera to some of the villages in the area. These are places I pass on a regular basis, but just never stopped to really look at them.
Just remember get out there and shoot, shoot, and shoot some more.
28 November 2011
The Big 5 in the Okavango Delta
When going on safari, everyone wants to see the "Big 5". What are the "Big 5" and why are they called that? The "Big 5" is a term coined by big- game hunters in the late 1800's. The "Big 5" were chosen based on the difficulty and danger involved to hunt them. They are: the lion, leopard, elephant, cape buffalo and rhinoceros.
There is no guarantee that you will see the "Big 5" when you go on safari. But, if you are lucky to see the "Big 5" in their natural habitat like in the Okavango Delta, it is amazing. While you are not allowed to walk near the animals, vehicles can approach them without disturbing them. Thus, you might find yourself parked next to a pride of lions, which was our case. There were ten lions, two females and 8 cubs, relaxing and playing.
Elephants and cape buffalo were rather numerous, so we often saw them, but rhinos and leopards are more difficult to find. We were lucky as we were able to see two of each. One morning we saw a beautiful leopard in a tree. She was scouting the area for food. She had two young cubs to feed. Nearby were two groups of impalas. She was trying to decide which one to ambush. Leopards do not pursue long chases of their prey. They rather quietly sneak up on them and then pounce on the unsuspecting animal. We tried to watch the ambush, but unfortunately some birds alerting the nearby impalas and they fled.
Later that same morning we spotted a rhinoceros. We quietly approached him and tried to take many photos of him. He was not interested and ran off in the bush, alluding our 4X4. Fortunately, our afternoon drive provided us with another chance, but this was a different rhino and he was eager to have some fun with us. His name was Sargent. He is known by his broken horn. Several times he tried to charge or 4X4, but out driver was quick and nimble, so we were never in danger. Can you imagine staring at a 3500 kg (77,000 lb) rhino and he wants to have some fun with you?
There is no guarantee that you will see the "Big 5" when you go on safari. But, if you are lucky to see the "Big 5" in their natural habitat like in the Okavango Delta, it is amazing. While you are not allowed to walk near the animals, vehicles can approach them without disturbing them. Thus, you might find yourself parked next to a pride of lions, which was our case. There were ten lions, two females and 8 cubs, relaxing and playing.
Elephants and cape buffalo were rather numerous, so we often saw them, but rhinos and leopards are more difficult to find. We were lucky as we were able to see two of each. One morning we saw a beautiful leopard in a tree. She was scouting the area for food. She had two young cubs to feed. Nearby were two groups of impalas. She was trying to decide which one to ambush. Leopards do not pursue long chases of their prey. They rather quietly sneak up on them and then pounce on the unsuspecting animal. We tried to watch the ambush, but unfortunately some birds alerting the nearby impalas and they fled.
Later that same morning we spotted a rhinoceros. We quietly approached him and tried to take many photos of him. He was not interested and ran off in the bush, alluding our 4X4. Fortunately, our afternoon drive provided us with another chance, but this was a different rhino and he was eager to have some fun with us. His name was Sargent. He is known by his broken horn. Several times he tried to charge or 4X4, but out driver was quick and nimble, so we were never in danger. Can you imagine staring at a 3500 kg (77,000 lb) rhino and he wants to have some fun with you?
24 November 2011
Wi-Fi in the Bush
It has been awhile since my last posting. The reason is; I was on vacation. This year our travels took us to Botswana and Zambia followed by some R&R in the Alps.
As a child my father taught me about photography. I was a photographer for my junior high school. I continued with photography a bit in high school and then just took pictures on vacation. About six years ago my husband bought me a digital SLR. I had used SLR cameras in high school, but in the digital age I was using more of the compacts. I was starting to rediscover my love for photography again, when my father decided to give me his professional digital SLR. If you have never seen or used a professional digital SLR let me just say that there are so many functions to learn, that it takes a lot of time to understand what to do. The manual itself is over 300-pages. Once I mastered many of the functions and took pictures of just about everything I could, I really wanted to go on safari.
Last year hubby and I almost went, only to cancel and take a cruise instead. On the cruise we met some wonderful people who suggested that if I loved taking pictures that we really should go to Botswana for safari. We, of course, knew of Botswana, but were considering more to go to Kenya or Tanzania. After our friends told us of their visit to Botswana, we investigated and decided to head there for safari.
My hubby researched and organized everything. When he told me that we would sleep in tents, I was about to change my mind about going to Botswana. He said not to worry, these tents are like hotel rooms. The second issue that was difficult to accept was that we had to fly in small planes. Now, I don't mind flying and I know something can happen to all planes, irrespective of size, but I prefer those planes that hold at least 50, if not 100 passengers. Flying over the bush, a 12-passenger is considered a large plane. The thought of taking pictures of the "big five" was too strong to let those issues interfere.
After six months of planning and preparations we were off. It took us four flights to get to our destination. We left a balmy Europe for the hot climate of southern Africa. We transited through Johannesburg, South Africa, before flying to Maun, Botswana. Once in Maun, our adventure began. Waiting on the tarmac at the Maun International airport were rows of small-passenger planes to take guests off to their camps in the bush. Once all of bags were collected, a guide walked us to a small plane, a six-passenger, including the pilot. There was a couple on the flights from Europe to Maun, who joined us on this small plane. We were a total of five people. Our flight to our camp was 15 minutes, but it seemed like much longer than that. Once my feet were firmly on the ground, I could begin to enjoy our new adventure.
Our plane landed on a small airstrip in the bush. A 4X4 was awaiting our arrival with our guide, Carter. Once we had all of our gear, the pilot and the other couple left and hubby and I were standing in the beautiful African bush. Carter told us that it would take about 40 minutes to reach the camp. On the way he was pointing out different animals, plants and birds. We saw a baby Nile crocodile, giraffes, warthogs, and impalas. With all of this natural beauty, I was way too excited to be tired after such a long journey. The camera was already in action.
We arrived in the camp to find the hotel staff singing us a welcome song, We went to the reception area for welcome drinks and check-in. The manager explained all of the safety rules and ended by saying we have wi-fi in the reception area. Wow!!! I had never thought we would have had internet services in the bush, never mind that we did not have phone service. I quickly connected to the wi-fi and sent a text message to my friend. We were both so surprised that we would be able to communicate easily during my trip. I was able to send a few pictures from my phone. Photos from my DLSR were simply too big and they could wait until I returned home.
As a child my father taught me about photography. I was a photographer for my junior high school. I continued with photography a bit in high school and then just took pictures on vacation. About six years ago my husband bought me a digital SLR. I had used SLR cameras in high school, but in the digital age I was using more of the compacts. I was starting to rediscover my love for photography again, when my father decided to give me his professional digital SLR. If you have never seen or used a professional digital SLR let me just say that there are so many functions to learn, that it takes a lot of time to understand what to do. The manual itself is over 300-pages. Once I mastered many of the functions and took pictures of just about everything I could, I really wanted to go on safari.
Last year hubby and I almost went, only to cancel and take a cruise instead. On the cruise we met some wonderful people who suggested that if I loved taking pictures that we really should go to Botswana for safari. We, of course, knew of Botswana, but were considering more to go to Kenya or Tanzania. After our friends told us of their visit to Botswana, we investigated and decided to head there for safari.
My hubby researched and organized everything. When he told me that we would sleep in tents, I was about to change my mind about going to Botswana. He said not to worry, these tents are like hotel rooms. The second issue that was difficult to accept was that we had to fly in small planes. Now, I don't mind flying and I know something can happen to all planes, irrespective of size, but I prefer those planes that hold at least 50, if not 100 passengers. Flying over the bush, a 12-passenger is considered a large plane. The thought of taking pictures of the "big five" was too strong to let those issues interfere.
After six months of planning and preparations we were off. It took us four flights to get to our destination. We left a balmy Europe for the hot climate of southern Africa. We transited through Johannesburg, South Africa, before flying to Maun, Botswana. Once in Maun, our adventure began. Waiting on the tarmac at the Maun International airport were rows of small-passenger planes to take guests off to their camps in the bush. Once all of bags were collected, a guide walked us to a small plane, a six-passenger, including the pilot. There was a couple on the flights from Europe to Maun, who joined us on this small plane. We were a total of five people. Our flight to our camp was 15 minutes, but it seemed like much longer than that. Once my feet were firmly on the ground, I could begin to enjoy our new adventure.
Our plane landed on a small airstrip in the bush. A 4X4 was awaiting our arrival with our guide, Carter. Once we had all of our gear, the pilot and the other couple left and hubby and I were standing in the beautiful African bush. Carter told us that it would take about 40 minutes to reach the camp. On the way he was pointing out different animals, plants and birds. We saw a baby Nile crocodile, giraffes, warthogs, and impalas. With all of this natural beauty, I was way too excited to be tired after such a long journey. The camera was already in action.
We arrived in the camp to find the hotel staff singing us a welcome song, We went to the reception area for welcome drinks and check-in. The manager explained all of the safety rules and ended by saying we have wi-fi in the reception area. Wow!!! I had never thought we would have had internet services in the bush, never mind that we did not have phone service. I quickly connected to the wi-fi and sent a text message to my friend. We were both so surprised that we would be able to communicate easily during my trip. I was able to send a few pictures from my phone. Photos from my DLSR were simply too big and they could wait until I returned home.
12 October 2011
Living Abroad
Every year thousands of people leave their home country and move abroad. Some go for professional reasons, and some go for personal reasons. But if you had the choice would you leave your home country? What factors would impact your decision to go or to stay?
Moving to another country is not an easy decision and one that should not be taken lightly. If family members are going, then situation becomes even more complex. How will the children adjust? What schools will they attend? What will my spouse do? How will my spouse adjust?
Living abroad is not for everyone, but for those who are willing to try it then it can be a remarkable and life changing event. Of course, there are negatives and positives about one's home country and one's new country. Each person has to decide which is more advantageous for him or her. One important point to note is that traveling abroad and living abroad are definitely not the same thing. Think of traveling abroad as the summer internship, where companies roll out the red carpet. Think of living abroad as being employed by the company.
For the first five years one still feels more acquainted to one's home country, but once one passes the 5-year mark, one belongs more to one's new country and the international community than one's home country even if one moves from one country to another during these five years.
In the beginning everything will be new from understanding the postal system, the transportation system, the social culture, etc. After 5 years it will all be rather routine, but when you return to your home country the challenges begin again, you might not even know how much it cost to mail a letter or to use the local transportation.
With all the challenges of living abroad, there are many wonderful experiences from meeting new people to seeing new places. If you are considering living abroad embrace it and the experience will be life changing.
Moving to another country is not an easy decision and one that should not be taken lightly. If family members are going, then situation becomes even more complex. How will the children adjust? What schools will they attend? What will my spouse do? How will my spouse adjust?
Living abroad is not for everyone, but for those who are willing to try it then it can be a remarkable and life changing event. Of course, there are negatives and positives about one's home country and one's new country. Each person has to decide which is more advantageous for him or her. One important point to note is that traveling abroad and living abroad are definitely not the same thing. Think of traveling abroad as the summer internship, where companies roll out the red carpet. Think of living abroad as being employed by the company.
For the first five years one still feels more acquainted to one's home country, but once one passes the 5-year mark, one belongs more to one's new country and the international community than one's home country even if one moves from one country to another during these five years.
In the beginning everything will be new from understanding the postal system, the transportation system, the social culture, etc. After 5 years it will all be rather routine, but when you return to your home country the challenges begin again, you might not even know how much it cost to mail a letter or to use the local transportation.
With all the challenges of living abroad, there are many wonderful experiences from meeting new people to seeing new places. If you are considering living abroad embrace it and the experience will be life changing.
The Journey Begins
For some time I have debated about writing a blog. Actually, more than two years ago, I started a blog, but it is mainly a photoblog. Now I am endeavoring to write/develop a real blog. Why? Recently, I have been reading blogs by others and some I really enjoy. Some of the issues I read about are very important to me and I believe they can be developed further. I am going to weigh in with my two cents.
The name of the blog is "La Voyageuse" (The Traveler). I choosed this title because in one word it decribes me. While there will be entries on traveling, there will also be discussions on multi-cultralism, books, photography and many other dynamic topics.
The journey starts now from the shores of Lac Léman and who knows which paths and trails it will follow.
The name of the blog is "La Voyageuse" (The Traveler). I choosed this title because in one word it decribes me. While there will be entries on traveling, there will also be discussions on multi-cultralism, books, photography and many other dynamic topics.
The journey starts now from the shores of Lac Léman and who knows which paths and trails it will follow.
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