Really??? THAT is my Trail ?? I had clearly bitten off more than I could chew: the Göynük Canyon in the foothills of Türkiye’s Taurus Mountains is stunningly beautiful, but not exactly easy to walk through!
I knew it might be tough – just not how tough!
I had booked myself a supported walk on the eastern section of the Lycian Way on the southern coastline of Türkiye. The full walk is 540 kilometers (335 miles), typically completed in 25 to 30 walking days – well beyond my ambitions or stamina. I decided on the eastern section because I had a group tour planned around Türkiye later in my proposed stay, and some of the stops on that itinerary overlapped with the WesternLycian Way.
Then COVID-19 hit. Travel stopped. I deferred my deposit. By the time I prepared to actually undertake the walk, I was two years older.
I arrived into Antalya on the bus from Bodrum (see: Bodrum: Türkiye’s Charming Southwestern Port) the evening before my trek, and was then driven the 45 minutes to my guest house in Göynük. After too much food and too little sleep, I was transported to and deposited at the entry of Göynük Gorge the next morning.
Estimates of the difficulty of this track vary. Some say “medium to hard”; others just say “hard” – and include words like “challenging” and “rugged”. In any event, I was panicked enough by the descriptions of the first day that I opted to send my cameras with the rest of my luggage rather than carry them. It was absolutely the right decision! I would have never finished if I had been carrying the extra weight.
My trip notes said: “You walk uphill all day …” and that felt about right. They also predicted: 17km (10.6mi) / 6hrs / +1200m / -510m. By contrast, my walker tracked: 22.31 km / 8:30 hrs / +1692 m / -1014 m. I emptied two external battery packs; thank heavens I had them, as the track was not always well-marked or obvious, and without the gps on my phone, I would have never found my way. I also drank copious amounts of water, and was grateful to find a kiosk where I bought an extra bottle towards the end of the day – which I also finished.
I’ve done the hard work; you can tag along with ease:
Pomegranate – Punica Granatum Nothing says “Mediterranean” to me like a tree full of fresh pomegranates! My guesthouse was set into beautiful gardens.
Follow The Food : A Turkish Breakfast for One! Add a pot of coffee – and I’m happy.
Entry to the Göynük Canyon This is the official start of the Likya Yolu – the Lycian Way. I don’t know whether I am more excited or nervous.
A Wild Turkish Goat Although bezoar ibex (Capra aegagrus aegagrus) are well distributed in this region, the statues at the park entry are the only ones I saw. Mind you, I spent a lot of time watching my feet on the incredibly rocky ground!
Lake at the Bottom I was worried about stopping too long here, but I couldn’t help admiring the Taurus Mountains as they reflected in the still waters.
Picnic Pagoda Contained within the Beydağları Coastal National Park, the Göynük Canyon is a popular recreational area.
Reflections in the Turquoise Because the water here comes down from the high surrounding mountains, it is incredibly clear – and cold year round.
Cream Pincushions – Scabiosa Ochroleuca This pretty little member of the honeysuckle family is widely distributed in Türkiye.
Göynük Canyon Clearly I had been distracted by the views – I missed my turn-off and had to backtrack.
It’s a Rough Trail to Follow! A narrow and exceptionally rocky trail zig-zags up through the pines.
Greek Strawberry Tree – Arbutus Andrachne – Ağacı
Views of the Mountains High above Göynük Canyon, I’m surrounded by Mediterranean pine and glimpses of mountaintops.
Sing in Praise of Good Boots! I’m thankful for the ankle support in my boots: the path continues rocky and steep. A twisted ankle while walking alone would not be ideal!
In the Mountain Peaks
Trees and Rocks on the Ridge It is ruggedly beautiful. I take a lot of pictures: partially because the constant uphill climb is killing me! I’m three hours in – and well behind schedule already.
Rocky Cairns Occasionally, small cairns mark the path to follow. I actually look out for them, because other markings are few and far between.
Mediterranean Pine – Pinus Brutia Also known as, Calabrian pine or Turkish pine, these trees grow tall and straight on the ridge lines – and twisted and gnarled on the windy edges of the forest. The pine needles are deep and soft underfoot.
Colchicum Variegatum Small members of the lily family decorate the forest floor.
Wild Buckwheat? Asteraceae?
Cyclamen Maritimum around a Boulder Little flowers hide everywhere – a welcome distraction from my fatigue.
Rocky Creek Finally I reach the creek I should have found by lunch time.
You are Kidding??? This section is even more overwhelming than I had anticipated. I couldn’t quite believe that a makeshift ladder was my only egress. Believe me: I looked for alternatives!
A Taurus Mountaintop Somehow, I made it through. I don’t remember how, but some tears and a lot of swearing were involved. Eight hours into my day, I was back in the mountaintops.
More Pine and Rocks
“Panoramic WC” Eventually, my path widens out into an actual track, and there are signs of civilization – including this charming loo with a view.
I never did quite reach my end point.
After finding a dirt road – about a kilometre from where I was meant to meet my ride – an unmarked car with an undindistingued driver pulled up beside me and offered me a lift. At least I think he did: he spoke almost no English, and I speak no Turkish. I politely declined, as I had no idea who he was. He then named the hotel I was aiming for. But, I was in the middle of nowhere – where else would I be going? Again, I declined, as this wasn’t the correct meeting spot. He then mentioned “Mr Deniz”, who was my local contact, and I relented and got in.
I later learned that every second man in this region is named Deniz! Fortunately, this actually was the driver for my hotel. We finally managed to chat a little in in German – which we both spoke badly. I arrived at my hotel late, drenched in sweat, and exhausted – but alive!
Fortunately, I had organised an extra rest day for myself – so hopefully – after that and a good sleep – I’d be ready for the next leg of this adventure.
A Lantern in the Labyrinth The narrow, winding laneways of the old medinas in Fes, Morocco, are distinguished by ornate multi-storied wooden buildings, richly decorated with carved cedar corbels and geometric lattice screens, and adorned with intricately carved stucco arabesques and calligraphy.
This is one of the world’s largest and oldest urban pedestrian zones (car-free areas) and I’d challenge you to find your way through the maze without getting lost. Fortunately, I was travelling with a small group (see: Intrepid Morocco in Depth) and we had a local guide who grew up in Fes el-Bali, playing in the tangle of narrow laneways around his home.
We started our day in the newer Fes Jdid (New Fez), established in 1276. We spent time admiring the magnificent gates of the Royal Palace of Fez (Dar al-Makhzen). The palace was originally built by the Marinid sultan Abu Yusuf Ya’qub in 1276, but much of what we see today dates to somewhere between the 17th and 20th centuries.
We then crossed outside the old city by bus to the locality of Ain Nokbi, where the city’s potters were relocated in 2013. There, we had views over the rambling old Fes el-Bali, and a chance to admire (and purchase) some wonderful traditional pottery (see: Traditional Moroccan Pottery and Ceramics).
After that, we headed into Fes el Bali, the Old Town, which was founded between 789 and 808 AD. There, we explored on foot – albeit with a careful eye out for our guide, so as not to get lost.
So much to see, so little time! Join me for a foray into an ancient city.
Man and a Map of the Medina Our local guide gives us an overview of the old city of Fes.
Main Gates of the Dar al-Makhzen The original foundation of the Fes Royal Palace dates back to 1276. These magnificent front gates, however, were built between 1969 and 1971. The seven monumental wooden doors are decorated with brass and framed by intricate zellige tilework and carved cedarwood canopy lintels.
I 💙 These Brass Door Handles!
Zellige Tilework Everything is ornately decorated. Traditional zellige tilework is made from handcrafted terracotta tiles, baked and mineral-glazed, then tessellated into intricate mosaics.
Behind the Fes Palace Away from the palace, a wide arterial street winds through one of the old quarters.
Storks on the Ramparts White storks (Ciconia ciconia) are big birds that range across Europe, Africa, and Asia. Here in Fes, they build their large stick nests on the fortifications in the city wall.
Fès el-Bali From a hill in Ain Nokbi, we have an extensive view over the terracotta rooftops and stone walls in the oldest walled medina in Fes: the Fes el-Bali.
A Window in the Wall The remains of old fortifications are everywhere.
Metal Fence
Guide in the Medina Inside the Fès el-Bali, our guide talks about his childhood growing up in these narrow lanes where everyone knew each other.
Breath In! Some of the walkways are impossibly narrow; many are dead ends.
In the Historic Medina de Fez Buildings rise up multiple stories either side of us.
Man in a Corridor This is still home for a lot of people. In fact, UNESCO cites the ever-increasing population in an already dangerously overpopulated area – and the urban over-development which is a consequence of that – as one of the principal risks to the site.
Under a Lattice Roof After a while, we come out into a wider avenue of shops.
R’cif Mosque Back in the open, we have a view of the R’cif Mosque. Built between 1792 and 1822 on a cliffside along the shore of the Bou Khrareb River (Oued Bou Khrareb), its minaret stands tall against the sky. The river is mostly underground now, but is followed by a major road which allows access for public transportation and emergency vehicles into the old city.
In the Fresh Foods Back under more lattice roofing, the crowded market aisle is lined with fresh and colourful produce.
Waiting for Customers The crowded market has as many locals as tourists, but the butcher has no customers.
Wool, Textiles, and Dye Pots We move from fresh goods to fabrics. Many of the shopfronts in the medina are also workshops where artisans dye and prepare wool.
Souk Sebbaghine – Dyers’ Market The colourful laneways are cobbled underfoot, and the lattice roofing allows some light and air.
Dyed Yarns Vivid yarns hang from the walls and overhead. The skeins include wool, cotton, and sabra (cactus silk).
Dyes – Natural and Otherwise Similarly, the dyes include traditional pigments like indigo for blue, henna for brown and orange, and turmeric or saffron for yellow, as well as more recent (and often cheaper) chemical dyes for virant reds, greens, and purples.
Medersa es-Seffarin – The Metalworkers’ Madrasa We round a corner out of the textiles and into the metalworks neighbourhood. The façade of the madrasa, or religious school, here is beautiful: decorated with intricately carved stucco and cedarwood.
Painter Meanwhile, everyday like goes on. Buildings need repairs …
Mailman … and mail gets delivered.
We had barely scratched the surface of this wonderful warren – but we still a few hours left!
Nature’s Artworks : An Evergreen Cycad against a Eucalyptus Forest The sights and scents of the Australian ‘bush’ are unique. The forests along the southeastern coast are home to a range of endemic plants. Here, the delicate-looking rich green fronds of a Burrawang (Macrozamia communis) – a locally-specific cycad – contrast against the tall, muted, trunks of the eastern Australian spotted gums (Corymbia maculata).
It is so easy to take one’s own backyard for granted!
After years of good intention but little action, I finally joined a local community walking group this year – the Bega Valley Bushwalkers -and managed to fit in some coastal walks in my region before setting off again on travel further afield.
One of these, back in early autumn, was in Mimosa Rocks National Park, just an hour north of me. While it is not the first time I’ve walked in this park (see: Coastal Walks, Far South Coast), this particular walk covered some sections that were completely new to me.
We started at the campground at Gillards Beach and hiked north, hugging the coast between Middle Beach and Middle Lagoon to the heritage-listed coastal property of Penders on Bithry Inlet, where we lunched. The return was via a different track through the woods back to Middle Lagoon, and then retracing our steps back to our cars.
This is considered a moderate hike by AllTrails, who follow the shorter straight out-and-back route. Thanks to the beach-walking and a few short uphills, I was exhausted when I finished. But the views and the beautiful coastal forests made it well worth it!
Join me among the eucalyptus:
Overlooking Gillard’s Beach It’s a short walk from the carpark to the path, which overlooks the stunning coastline, rich with the colours of the Sapphire Coast.
Coastal Rosemary – Westringia Fruticosa Although this regional native is named for the shape of it leaves rather than it’s smell, the flowers carry a very faint, sweet fragrance that contribute to the fresh smell of the bush.
Nature’s Sculpture: Rocks on Middle Beach There is beauty and drama everywhere I look.
Reeds and Grasses on the Lagoon Soon we are working our way along the narrow stretch of land separating the South Pacific Ocean and Middle Lake.Middle Lake is a coastal lagoon that is intermittently open to the sea.
A Tangle of Trees Twisted grey mangroves (Avicennia marina) are among the vegetation that grows along the shores of Middle Lagoon.
Across the Sands
Middle Lake Reflections
Still Waters Middle Lagoon is a pristine body of quiet water framed by dense eucalyptus forest and backed by the coastal hills of the Sapphire Coast.
Green Sections of Middle Lake are sheltered by the surrounding native coastal scrub and eucalyptus forest. The shady, shallow waters are covered with bright green aquatic plants.
Beautiful Invader Not all of the vegetation belongs here. Smooth cassia (Senna septemtrionalis) is an introduced shrub, widely considered an environmental weed in these eastern coastal regions.
Coastal Eucalyptus Forest We continue into a beautiful forest, mostly consisting of spotted gums (Corymbia Maculata), which thrive in these sandy coastal areas,
A Giant Eucalyptus The tallest known spotted gum in the world is in a forest about three hours north of here, but this one must be almost as large and old.
Spotted Gum – Corymbia Maculata It stretches up, straight and tall, through the canopy. These trees that typically grows to a height of 45–60 m (148–197 ft) – but I suspect that this one is taller.
Colourful Bark Spotted gums are distinguishable by their distinctive patchy and shedding bark …
Almost Abstract … which, with the leaf litter, makes colourful patterns at our feet.
Into the Woods The vegetation changes dramatically as we continue towards Bithry Inlet.
Lily in the Pond Know as Pender’s, this area is part of a State Heritage site that was home to a collection of buildings designed by the renowned architect Roy Grounds (1905 – 1981).
Quiet Waters on Bithry Inlet After lunch near Penders Beach, we find an alternate track back towards Middle Lagoon.
Eastern Grey Kangaroo -Macropus Giganteus We are treated to some native wildlife.
Bangalay Trees – Eucalyptus Botryoides Colloquially known as southern mahogany, these tree can grow as a straight-trunked tree to 40 m (130 ft) high in favourable conditions. In these coastal areas, however, winds, storms, and salty air twist and contort them into wonderfully gnarled shapes.
Twisting Gum Some of the eucalypts seem to grow more sideways than up.
Nature’s Artworks: Fabulous Fungus Shaggy cap mushrooms (Boletellus emodensis) love the sandy soils, leaf litter, and decomposing wood found here in the shadows of the eucalypts and she-oaks.
Lace Monitor A tree goanna (Varanus varius) scuttles off the path in front of us.
Back on Middle Beach Soon we are back walking along the beach, and almost back at our starting point.
From inside the Pyramid The Musée du Louvre, the national art museum in Paris, France, contains approximately 500,000 objects – an overwhelming number! And, the building itself is its own work of art.
The Musée du Louvre, the national art museum in Paris, France, is so expansive and so crammed full of incredibly works of art that one can easily be overwhelmed.
I had visited the museum on a brief stay in Paris many years ago – but remembered almost nothing about it. Of course, as most people know, it is home to one of the most celebrated paintings in Western art, the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci. And, it houses many magnificent ancient Greek and Roman sculptures collected by French kings over the centuries.
In 2024, 8.7 million people visited the Louvre. I was just one onf them.
I had a couple of short stopovers in Paris as part of a longer trip. I spent my days walking through the historic streets, eating in little cafés, and playing tourist on the Seine (see: On and Around the Seine). I had booked myself a timed-entry to the Louvre (good luck getting in without one!), and although it was a long walk from my boat dock, just below the Eiffel Tower, to the museum on the Right Bank of the river, that allowed me to appreciate some of the other iconic buildings that line the UNESCO-listed banks of the Seine.
The expansive art museum occupies most of the Louvre Palace, originally built in the late 12th to 13th century under Philip II as a defensive fortress. Since then, no fewer than twenty building campaigns have seen it develop and change. It has served a range of functions over the centuries, including as a palace, and later as a display space for the French royal collection. During the French Revolution (1789 – 1799), the National Assembly decreed that the Louvre should be used as a museum to showcase the nation’s masterpieces.
The Louvre we see today has undergone many further changes since then, with visible elements representing various architectural styles, including Gothic, French Renaissance, Louis XIII style, French Baroque, Neoclassical, Neo-Baroque and Second Empire style, and Modernism.
It was this beautiful space – as much as the works of art displayed in it – that commanded my attention.
Walking along the Seine After a walk along the Left Bank from the boat pier, the third oldest bridge in Paris, the Pont Royal (1685-1689), comes into view. The first part of the huge château complex we see belongs to the École Du Louvre, a selective institution for higher education established in 1882.
Lions at the Louvre The Porte des Lions or Lions Gate wasn’t open for my visit. These green bronze lions are attributed to to the French sculptor Antoine-Louis Barye (1795 – 1875).
Cour Napoléon – Napoleon Courtyard The new entry to the Louvre was designed as part of a decade-long project initiated by French President François Mitterrand in 1981 to expand and remodel the building and museum. The Louvre Pyramid, a large glass-and-metal entrance way and skylight in the main courtyard, was designed by Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei and completed in 1989.
In the Courtyard The Cour Napoléon is surrounded on three sides by the 19th-century palace wings.
The Sun King An equestrian statue of Louis XIV by Italian sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598 – 1680) sits on a plinth near the entrance pyramid.
From Inside the Pyramid
Draped Grecian Marble In the Department of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities on the ground floor of the Sully Wing, the cool Grecian marble begs to be touched.
Silenus cradling the infant Dionysus This tender and beautiful Roman statue of the elderly satyr Silenus cradling baby Dionysus, the god of wine, is a 1st or 2nd CE marble copy of a Hellenistic Greek bronze from 300 BCE.
Alexander the Great 330-30 BCE
Old Centaur Tormented by Cupid 2 CE
Il Caprone – The Billy Goat I’m a Capricorn born in the year of the goat, so they always grab my attention. This magnificent fellow is part of an exhibition titled “Masterpieces from the Torlonia Collection”. The statue is a hybrid of ancient and modern craftsmanship: the body dates to the Imperial Roman period (late 1st century to early 2nd century CE), while several other parts were restored in the 17th century. The head is attributed to the Italian Renaissance man: Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598 – 1680).
The Torlonia Collection The Torlonia Collection is the largest and most important private collection of ancient art in the world. The Torlonia princes in Rome starting collecting antiquities in the 19th century. They acquired major collections from other Italian families and through excavations on their estates. This exhibition, installed in the renovated summer apartments of Anne of Austria, marks the first time these artworks have been on public display since the 1970s.
Statue of Nilus This 2nd century CE Roman marble is another breathtaking sculpture from the Torlonia Collection. It shows of the god of the Nile River holding wheat and a cornucopia as symbols of the fertility and prosperity that follow the annual floods.
Look Up! Even the ceilings are extraordinary. This one in the Rotunda of Mars is known as the Creation of Man. Originally painted by Jean-Simon Berthélemy in 1802, this version was repainted or restored by Jean-Simon Berthélemy in 1826. The picture shows Prometheus bringing life to a human figure with fire, as Athena and other Olympian deities watch.
Through the Window Everywhere, there is light – as windows look out across the courtyard to the other wings.
Venus de Milo Some things are just breathtakingly luminous in real life. Created some time between 130 and 100 BC, during the Hellenistic period, this is believed to depict the Greek goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite.
The Winged Victory of Samothrace This is a marble Hellenistic sculpture showing the Greek goddess of victory, Nike, landing on the prow of a warship. Created around 190 BC, it is considered a masterpiece of ancient Greek art and a symbol of triumph.
La Gioconda – Mona Lisa I’ve been up close to this 16th-century oil painting by Leonardo da Vinci before. Arguably the most famous portrait in the world, the crush to view this little gem was impossible. I settled for second-hand!
Arched Hallways People make their way down the Escalier Daru (Daru Staircase) as closing-time looms.
Steps in a Corridor I was distracted regularly by the beauty of the space itself.
Gift Shop Naturally, exiting the museum involves running the gauntlet of souvenir shopping. One can hardly complain, though, when the shops in the underground Carrousel du Louvremall include the legendary Maxim’s de Paris!
Back in the Courtyard When I find my way outside, the light has fallen over the palace square.
Having enjoyed a feast for the visual senses, it was time to walk back to my hotel.
Naturally, it was not hard to find a charming bistro in which to stop and eat along the way!
Elephants in the Wild It’s such a privilege witnessing these magnificent African bush elephants (Loxodonta Africana) lumbering across the Masai Mara‘s open savannas in Kenya. I couldn’t help but smile every time I saw them – especially when I watched the females interacting with the young calves.
The grass was as high as an elephant’s eye.
Well – as high as a young elephant’s eye, at least.
The rains came early to the grasslands of East Africa this year. In Kenya’s Masai (Maasai) Mara, February and March were exceptionally wet, and April followed suit (see: The Governors’ Camp Blog). When I arrived in May, rains continued sporadically, the grass was lush and tall, and water sat in puddles on the saturated ground.
Driving south from Nakuru, where we had spend a day following the birds and animals around Lake Nakuru National Park (see: In Search of the Five #1 and #2), most of our four-hour drive was on paved roads – first the local C57, then onto the Chinese-built C12 Highway. These roads worked their way through small villages, lush farmlands, and colourfully painted cement-block shops with corrugated metal roofs. In contrast to our relatively smooth paved motorway, the rainy weather had reduced most of the frontages and slip roads into a patchwork of ruts, mud, and puddles.
Once we entered the Masai Mara National Park, all semblance of paving disappeared. It is no surprise that only 4WD vehicles – most of them specially-adapted safari Toyota Land Cruisers – can navigate the difficult terrain. To prepare passengers for the extraordinarily rough rides that are the consequence of these dirt roads, drivers promise customers a ‘free Kenyan massage’.
Do join me!
Morning at Ziwa Bush Lodge Our day starts in a breakfast room just outside the Lake Nakuru National Park. Soft rains keep the dust down and the temperature lower.
Colourful Buildings and Tin Roofs The morning drive takes us past simple settlements of wooden shanties with corrugated metal roofs.
Scenes from a Land Cruiser Nakuru County includes high-altitude agricultural zones with rich and fertile soils.
Shop Fronts : Njoro Nakuru County I am fascinated by the simple row-buildings with their fancy names – like this strip of ‘hotels’ and food outlets.
Safety First? Different rules are applied to Occupational Health and Safety standards in many countries.
Tano Bora Curio Shop Decorated with animal murals, this souvenir shop not far outside the Lake Nakuru National Park is a popular stop – and not only because it offers tourists clean and working toilets.
Carved Heads The inside of the dark store is packed wall-to-wall with all kinds of arts, crafts, and trinkets.
More Scenes From A Land Cruiser As we continue south, the road is bordered by large acacia trees, rustic outdoor stalls, parked motorcycles, and utility trucks.
Narok Roadside We cross into Narok County and the rains start again. The ramshackle shop fronts continue and the litter increases.
And the Road gets Worse! Once we cross into the boundaries of the Mara Conservancies, the asphalt disappears. Surprising, really, considering that tourism is one of the core contributors to Kenya’s economy.
Maasai Cattle We share the road with Maasai, who live in traditional tribal communities and herd their precious animals the way they always have.
🎶 ‘I’m a GNU – How do you do?’ 🎶 We cross into the Masai Mara National Park – and while the road doesn’t improve, herds of animals now surround us. The first to greet us were the wildebeest. One of the Ugly Five, these are known to me from childhood as gnu, thanks to the amusing song by Flanders and Swan.
Topi Antelope – Damaliscus Lunatus Thanks to the rich grasses, the animals don’t need to concentrate at the waterholes. Instead, many are not far from the main roads.
Masai (Maasai) Giraffe – Giraffa Tippelskirchi Who knew there were four species and seven subspecies of giraffe? I didn’t! These ones, sometimes called called the Kilimanjaro giraffe, are found across East Africa.
Ostrich – Struthio Camelus The only ostivhes we saw were quite distant.
Lioness (Panthera Leo) in the Grass The lions, on the other hand, pay us no attention as they go about their lives. There is also a male here – hidden by the grass. During their mating season, lions pair off for days on what the guides call their honeymoon. They will mate as often as the female allows until she knows she has conceived.
Sharing Information Everytime we pass another Land Cruiser, we stop, and the guides chat. They share what they have seen, or ask about the whereabouts of particular animals. My guide was in search of more lions …
African Bush Elephants – Loxodonta Africana … even though I’m just as happy to watch these gentle giants as they make their way across the landscape.
An African Savanna Elephant These elephants are the largest and heaviest living land animals. It was once believe there was only one species of African elephant; today, however, these bush or savanna elephants (Loxodonta Africana) are recognised as separate from their much smaller forest cousins (Loxodonta cyclotis).
When your Driver Misjudges the Size of a Mudhole … In his determined search for lions, my driver managed to get bogged. We were a long time stuck, in spite of the help of two other safari vehicles.
Another Safari Vehicle All the customized Toyota Land Cruisers are much the same. This one, who tried to come to our aide, belongs to the same company I was travelling with. After an hour or so, a large truck manage to extract our 4×4 …
Lioness on the Dirt … and we continued on to find the lion pride that my driver was in search of.
Sleeping Lion Unless you catch them at a hunt, or in the midst ot mating, most of the time lions are simple conserving energy.
Sleeping Lioness
Another Bush Elephant The light was falling as we made our way back to the park gates.
Black-Backed Jackal – Lupulella Mesomelas A pretty little jackal was my last sighting before we exited the park and drove the rocky road to my overnight accommodation.
Truly a memorable day!
I had to pack myself off to bed, as we had an early start – back into the wet grasslands – the next morning for a full day of game-driving.
- Performing the Ganga Aarti from Dasaswamedh Ghat, Varanasi
- Buddha Head from Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar
- Harry Clarke Window from Dingle, Ireland
- Novice Monk Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery, Myanmar
Packets of 10 for $AU50.
Or - pick any photo from my Flickr or Wanders blog photos.
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In the meantime, 
Naturally, it was not hard to find a charming bistro in which to stop and eat along the way!
Until then,
