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If you don’t know anything about the Masai people.  You should do some research.  Very fascinating people.  While we were on our safari we had the chance to take a few hours to visit the neighbouring tribe… The small fee we paid went to medical supplies – which they need desperately!!  Here are some of my favourites:

We were welcomed with a tribal dance.  They circled us while jumping up in down with their hands to their side.

They will often have jumping competitions… the highest jumper gets the girl!

FIERCE competitors!

The young Masai (I like to call them Masailets

I LOVE the photo on the right… he’s already started practicing his height!!!!!!!

There are many sick and diseased children in these tribes.  And that’s why I love what Dr Anne-Marie Zajdlik is doing for these people (more about her below).

The huts take seven months to build by the women of the village. They are built of branches, twigs, grass, and cow dung and urine formed into a plaster and applied to a branch frame.

Amazingly, when the mixure dries in the sun it is as strong a cement and does NOT smell!

Stretched ear. Amy, mom, & I each bought a Masai “blanket” that I use regularly actually… the RED colour scares away the animals.

Here’s Amy with hers.

I couldn’t decide which I like best… in b&w or in colour??? Fire maker.  They tried to have me make one… but I failed.  I would never survive on Survivor!! Cattle herders. As I mentioned before, Dr. Anne-Marie is a family doctor and an HIV physician in Guelph, Ontario. In 2005, she founded and now directs the Masai Centre for Local, Regional and Global Health, in response to the growing numbers of HIV/AIDS patients in the Guelph area. The birth of an HIV negative boy named Masai to two HIV positive parents from Ethiopia in 2003 turned Anne-Marie into an international AIDS activist.

Click HERE for more information on the Masai Centre for Local, Regional and Global Health and the Bracelet of Hope Campaign.

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My last post tomorrow will be on the second half of my journey to the country of Rwanda!!

A few weeks into our african adventure, we left the little village of Machakos and headed for the Rift Valley for a few days of relaxation.  Our destination was the Maasai Mara (a large park reserve in south-western Kenya).  Our tour guide kept on telling us that we would see animals but it may take longer than expected…. this is not your African Lion Safari (Ontario styles ).  These animals are not kept in a fenced area… they roam around freely.  We were SO lucky to have seen all the animals we did.  Obviously, they’re not all posted here.  But here are a few of my favourites:

The Rift Valley

Some kids on the side of the road seeing us in our van!

They were VERY ecxited!

Catchin’ a ride up a large hill…

We hadn’t even arrived to the official reserve area and we saw some zebras.

Young Masai kids

This photo is hanging in my living room  There’s something amazing about Acacia trees!

The lazy lions would not wake up, until….

….I started yelling out with my cat voice!!  It was quite ridiculous and hilarious… but as the lions started waking up, everyone was very happy with me!

thank you 70-200 mm f2.8L lens

I love the birds hanging out on this giraffe’s back

My favourite photo of the safari… Our eagle-eyed tour guide spotted this cheetah LAYING DOWN IN HIGH GRASS from VERY far away!!!

My heart was racing as I was trying to take the photo because he kept on yelling “We’re not supposed to be here… hurry take your shot and let’s go!!”

Can you see Shrek in this next photo?

check out his legs!

Tomorrow’s post will be about my experience visiting a MASAI TRIBE!!!

Thanks for reading… and don’t forget to comment

By now, you may have come to realize that I have a passion for traveling.  But what you may not know is that I would rather travel on a mission 9 times out of 10.  There’s something about going to a place and being thrust into a different culture – with people who live SO differently than you!  There’s nothing like it.  I’m always left inspired and impacted for the better.

In recent days (and because of my upcoming trip to Zambia!!!) I’m reliving my Kenyan/Rwandan trip I took back in 2007.

FYI photogs… these photos were taken pre Mark III 1Ds.  Back then, I was still rocking out the 20d  :)

First stop Nairobi… This was the view we had from our hotel called “the WAB”!

The potholes in Kenya are SO brutal.

While in Kenya, we spent most of our time in Machakos… a little town an hour outside of Nairobi.

The kids have gorgeous spirits… and they LOVE to touch the top of your head (you’ll see this in many of the photos!!) I have NO clue why!!

the facilities

my sister Amy and her lovely friend Bella – whom she became very fond

their reality…

I’m not sure about this scaffolding!

their security system

The simple joys of life.

On the left: humble toys.  On the right: Amy giving the kids stickers.

TIP: ALWAYS bring stickers!!!

This kid had NEVER seen a MUSUNGU (white person) and kept yelling “musungu, musungu” as we walked by!!

MY best Kenyan memory… arriving at a local church and being welcomed with dancing!

What we didn’t know was that, another church was expecting white people to come and visit (photo below)… and we weren’t planned for that.  But I took on the challenge and decided to go to that church and speak to them!

I will never forget this moment. While I was speaking, the translator paused.  When I asked her why she wasn’t asking the children my question “how old are you?”.  She told me “I can’t ask them that question because these children do not know their ages.”

a young girl counting the mornings church offering

the church I spoke at…

And lastly, here’s a photo of my mom holding a “gift” for speaking at the church

I took thousands of photos while I was in Kenya/Rwanda… so there will be a few more posts to come this week

Happy Monday!!

Hey friends, there a few things I wanted to share with y’all (ever since my Houston trip… I’ve managed to use y’all at least once a day!!)

First, I’ve recently been reviewed on The Wedding Ring!! It went up this week and I’d love for you to click HERE, check it out, and give me some feedback  For those of you who don’t know, The Wedding Ring is “…changing the way brides plan weddings…”. It is a great place to find all the help and resources you may need to plan YOUR wedding. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you should. I personally like the tips&tricks section!

Secondly, for you sweet as iphone users out there… you’ll be glad to know that our blog is iphone friendly
This is what you’ll see when you type in our blog address:

There you have it!
I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!