alicat

I just had to say how happy I am to be back to my home, my computer and the TFP!

Hubby and I were in South Africa for about 3 wks.. It was the chance of a lifetime, as my hubby was going for his work and they agreed to pay my way as a condition of him deciding to travel abroad. This was no small perk, as my ticket was approximately $3,000 round trip! It would probably be decade's before we would be able to afford a trip to S.A. on our own.

Although we didn't get to experience that much of the country (because Hubby was working most of the time and I was stuck in the hotel) we at least were able to visit a private "Big Cat" park. We were able to see the awesome adult and baby lions up close (literally anywhere from 2 ft.-15 ft. from our car). We were also able to see tigers, giraffes, bok's, hyeanas, zebra's and wild boars (one of the ugliest creatures on earth! Although kind of cute in an E.T. kind of way!).

The coolest part was at the end when we were able to get into a pen with baby lions! Hubby and I have watched a lot of episodes of "Crocidile Hunter" and "The Jeff Corwin Experience" as well as many dozens of documentaries in our 16 yrs. together where we've seen people playing with lion or tiger cubs. Nothing can prepare you for the experience. Those cuddly little cubs you see on TV are actually as strong as a 80 lb. dog! And they are no where as near as soft/cuddly as they look, their fur is actually quite stiff and they are powerful!

One of the three lion cubs in the pen that we petted decided he had a taste for my shorts. The next thing I knew, he was gripping my knee on either side with a massive paw (including massive claws). Now, this might not seem like a big deal until someone extends these cubs claws and you see that they are about 3/4" long and razor sharp! The gamekeeper came over and said "It's alright, o'kay?!". How was I supposed to know if it was alright, I'd never been in the grip of a lion cub before! He then proceeded to thump the lion cub on the nose and I thought "Great, a lion has my ham in his jaw and this guy is hitting it in the face, this can't be cool!".

I guess it was good that my Hubby managed to take a picture in the midst of this. Apparentely thumping a lion cub on the nose is an effective tactic because he let go. Just as I was giving a sigh of relief and preparing to stand up, the cub decided my camera-bag strap looked like a great new toy. Repeat the last senario except a camera strap in place of my leg! I now have a camera strap covered with dried lion cub spit as a souvenir, as well as a pair of shorts with lion tooth and claw marks in them. The ass of the shorts are also covered with South African dirt from me sitting down in the midst of the teeth/claw incident.

The above was the most exciting part of our trip to South Africa (besides all the great people we met there). I was stuck in our hotel room most of the trip (it was, after all, a business trip) and therefore we didn't get out much but were nonetheless way impressed with the country. After being awake for nearly 45 hrs. and making it through about 19 hrs. of flight time and 4 hrs. of airport running around, we managed to finally sit our asses down on our own couch.

Of corse, we still had postponed Christmas decorating to do, as well as belated celebrating with our families.....And here we were hoping to relax!!!!

Happy late X-mas and New Years to the TFP community! Glad to be back, I missed you guys!

Ali

P.S. I haven't had time yet but I hope to post some of our pictures for you to see!

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'Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun, The frumious Bandersnatch!'--Jabberwocky, Lewis Carroll

"You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late."--Ralph Waldo Emerson