It is probably better to put some of my thoughts about life and death in here, rather than on Facebook----in the end, each one of us is dead.  Indisputable.  I am not afraid of death.  It just breaks my heart to think that I am causing pain to all of those whom I love and who love me.

Our newest piece of art

One of our two new works by Susan Mitchinson from Namibia, now framed and hung over the mantle in our dining room.  I love it!!

A wonderful coincidence!

And here is the artist of that wood-block print...Susan Mitchinson and her daughter, Rebecca, at their home in the desert, east of Swakopmund.  When I was arrived at my room at Doro, I saw a wood-block print on the wall that I knew was by the same artist as the ones that we have been living with for twenty years.  Of course, I exclaimed loudly!  Co-manager, Danize, replied that the artist is Susan Mitchinson and that she lives in Swakopmund.  The long and the short of it is that Danize arranged, through her friend and Susan's other daughter, Abigail, for us to meet in Swakop. 
Susan, Rebecca and I were together for five hours.  Soul mates.  I am now the proud owner of two more of the evocative works done by Susan.  Woot!!!

From our collection

20 years ago, Al was in Namibia on professional business.  He purchased this print and another, by the same artist.  They have been prominently displayed ever since.

And the sun rises on Doro

Wonderful kids. The same as being at home.

Ludwiga, Buruxa/Ignatius, me, Suzan.  Or, Buruxa in his glory.  LOL

The will to survive

All heroes to me.  "Just let me get my toes in here."

Doro !Nawas friends and me

Voila!!!

On our way back from where ever we were, Buruxa decided that, instead of taking the paved road back to Doro, he would follow the Huab river bed. Hot diggety!!  A long march of ellies, returning from where ever they had been, to De Reit.  They had not been seen at De Riet for several months.  What possessed the matriarch that now was the time?   Our extreme good fortune!!  They numbered in the 20s.  Forever etched in my mind is the view, from an elevated bank of the river bed, of these most intriguing fellow creatures coming up the river.  Thank you, ellies, for allowing us to share your space.

Satellite dishes

We drove into this village and saw three or four houses with satellite dishes.  Baruxa said that there used to be one, but in the last while, the rest have been added, so that the folks can watch the World Cup.  Certainly!!  Just because they don't live in a metropolitan area does not mean that they don't want to be connected to the rest of the world.  Of course, not.  More power to them!!!!!!!

A tip for female travelers

When you travel, rocky places are the best---an ischial tuberosity perched upon a rock is a comfortable toilet seat.  You will thank me!

Grasses

I wonder what kind of grass this is?  So beautiful, waving in the breeze.

And Baruxa found some ellies!

From Oscar's group or Rosie's group.  I really HAVE to go back again, to get the lay of the land!

Etendeka volcanic rock

http://petrology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/39/2/191
Oh, my word, the knowledge that one can acquire with travel!  There are many of these mountains, all of the same height.  They look as if they were sheared with a hedge trimmer.  Anyone have any idea how old 129-132 Ma is?  Time to study rocks, I guess.  And the "geomagnetic polarity timescale at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary". 

On our way to find the elephants

Buruxa, where are you when I need you?  Can't remember the name of this tree.  And, yes, the sky really is this blue!

Wednesday, 12 May 2010 05:32 PM

The fading light on the ancient, red sandstone rocks of Damaraland.

Yes, I was there.

Trees that have become petrified

Oh, lordy!  How does petrification happen?  Geographically, where do they occur?  I can see more research in front of me!  How much fun.

And more W. mirabilis

The plants are either male or female.  It is now thought that the Welsitchia bug is not involved in pollination.  There are several sites to learn more about this unique plant.  It has taken me all afternoon to post these pics, because I keep finding more information to read!!

And more W. mirabilis

"Welwitschia mirabilis grows in isolated communities in the Namib Desert, in a narrow strip, about 1 000 km along up the coast from the Kuiseb River in central Namibia to Mossamedes in southern Angola. The plants are seldom found more than 100 to 150 km from the coast, and their distribution coincides with the fog belt. Welwitschia is still common in its habitat and shows variability, which is a sign that it is far from extinction. They are neither endangered nor rare, nevertheless they are protected by law."  Quote from this URL http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantwxyz/welwitschia.htm

Welwitschia mirabilis!!!!

Male Welwitschia mirabilis.  We saw these plants at the Petrified Forest, west of Khorixas.

Another web site for Doro !Nawas

http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/namibia_kunene/doro_nawas_camp/

I one clicks on 'in pictures', on the right, one will see a gallery of Doro pics.

From a 'sundowner' spot

Just Baruxa and I out exploring the river bed.  I am ready to do that again!!

Down in the Aba-Huab river bed

The beautiful red sandstone walls of the river valley.  A magical place, indeed!

Rest In Peace

Sad commentary on man's inhumanity to man.

By googling Riemsvamakers De Reit, one will get some history of the people.

Graveyard at De Riet, Namibia

Yellow-billed Hornbill

A very old tree in the dry riverbed of the Huab River.  Can you see the hornbill?

I 'googled' Aba-Huab river

http://www.horse-trails-namibia.com/damaraland_trail.htm
A way for the horse lovers among us to combine two passions in one.

http://www.safariadventurecompany.com/galleryShow.asp?LD_ID=9&picURL=DoraNawas%2022_resize.jpg
Three nights of sleeping on the veranda, under the stars!  I tell you, friends, that it was heavenly.  Truly, luxury camping!!!

Doro !Nawas camp in Damaraland/south Kunene

www.safariadventurecompany.com/lodge.asp?LD_ID=9&LC_ID=55

The surroundings, the silence, the visible stars---balm for the weary traveler.

My driver and his friend

Many thanks to Herman Gerber and Maria for providing transportation from !Uris to Damaraland and from Damaraland to Walvis Bay

And the journey continued

Because my friend, Anita, asked about more pictures from the Namibian trip, I decided to add some.

The French chef

Oh, wait, I forgot to tell you about the French chef, David Thomas, now in Walvis Bay, Namibia, who came to !Uris to prepare delicacies for us.  Oh, my goodness!!!  Thursday evening for 8 or 10 or 12 of us and, then, the feast on Saturday evening for 60 or so.  http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g298358-d1493429-Reviews-Lyon_des_sable-Walvis_Bay.html

Recognized by all of the world.

So there you have it.  Because the officiant for the wedding is from South African and not licensed to perform the legalities in Namibia, P & L went before a judge in Tsumeb on Friday morning to sign the legal contract.  They are well and truly married~~~the government says so, as does the church.  May they grow old together.

At the reception desk

Table arrangements

The morning after---

Now officially married!

Alana, Rory, Pieter, Lieschen, JP Levy, Ian and Sandra Johnston-Rory's parents, Neil Cronje-Lieschen's stepfather, Pieter Pretorius, Sr.

More Saturday preparations

Elsabe, Lieschen's mom; Maria, Herman's traveling companion; Robert, Lieschen's younger brother; and the beautiful bride.

Ben

Here is wonderful, 2 year old Ben, helping out.  He would have dragged the box all the way to Tsumeb, if his dad had not stopped him.   I think that I have this right--Ben's dad and Pieter are first cousins.  Their moms are sisters.

Just because I like this quote

“You don’t need to be an artist to be able to appreciate the beauty in art. Art is everywhere, in every form.” - Anonymous

Ever upward!

Still on the upward climb on the learning curve of a blog.  Helping to keep my brain as nimble as possible, I hope! 

An edited version--even better, I think!

The bridal pair on Saturday morning, 8 May.

Marinda Pretorius

The crystals on ribbons---one of the many exquisite details, from the minds of Irma and Marinda, that made this wedding such a beautiful occasion.

Danelle Pretorius

Pieter's youngest sister, Danelle, hanging the crystals from the light bar.

Romanda

Hello, again

Friends, I think that now would be a good time to tell you that I have lots of pictures of the preparations and events before the wedding, but none of the actual ceremony or of the post wedding party. When that time came, I was a guest and not the reporter from the Daily Planet.  And, as was expected, I had no alone time with P & L.  It was not the time nor the place for private conversations.  If you are still interested in further pics and musings on my trip, I welcome your company.



 

The koi pool, a guck and a piece of mining equipment.  A beautiful sky, also.

Would you look at the size of this Marula tree??  What a beautiful tree.  Lieschen made preserves from the fruit.

A little reminder to the guests that the chapel is off-limits until tomorrow!

And then Lieschen and Pieter discuss table settings!

Pieter and his step-mother, Marinda, discuss table arrangements for the wedding feast.  I want to note here that I have Pieter's permission to post these photos and details.

Some more examples of Irma's artistry.  Note the autumn leaves used in these arrangements as, of course, it is autumn in Namibia.

The preparations for the grand wedding event continued on Friday, 7 May.  Here, Irma Neethling continues with her all day flower arranging.  Irma and her husband, Andre, and Marinda and Pieter Pretorius, Sr. are the owners of !Uris Safari Lodge.  Irma and Marinda are women of immense talent and charm.  I feel so blessed to know them!

By Saturday afternoon, at 4 PM, with the addition of flowers and lighted candles and the late afternoon sun through the orange panels, the sight was splendid!

After a day's work, things were taking shape.

The panels being hung on the left openings.  Bird music to entertain us and a couple of cows stopped by to take a look.

I volunteered to clean the lanterns that can be seen against the wall.  Eventually we rounded up 9 of them.  In the back right is one of the pair of organdy panels that were draped on the wall openings.  An open to the air chapel---how groovy!

And there were boxes full of stuff and bakkies full of stuff and it was all a wonderful time.

More photos

The chapel as the festooning started on Thursday morning, 6 May.