Zambia (May 2015)

Posted on June 18, 2015 by drbonnieanderson under Uncategorized

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A first glimpse of Victoria Falls from Livingstone, Zambia

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Another view

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Commuters

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We went on another game drive at the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. We saw lots of animals.
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Wildebeest

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Giraffe relaxing

A yawning hippo

White rhinos

We had to be accompanied by two armed guards to go see the white rhinos.

The bathroom at one of the “rest stops” on the 7-hour bus ride from Livingstone to Lusaka.

Some very poor areas.

We had a reception with the US Ambassador to Zambia, Eric Schultz. The American Chamber of Commerce members, Embassy staff and the Zambian Minister of Finance came.

We visited Zambeef–“Feed the Nation.” We had to put on boots, lab coats, and hair nets.

They have quite the dairy.

Also beef production and grains.

We also went to the Chinese Special Economic Zone. In 2006, Hu Jintao said China would open 3 in Africa, and the one here is just getting off the ground. We went into an exhibition hall which hosts Chinese who want to sell and Zambians who want to sell or buy, too.

Producing mushrooms.

They disinfected behind us.

We went to the Chamber of Mines–heard about the mining situation in Zambia right now, quite a few challenges. Copper is king.

The University of Lusaka–quite a money maker. The Vice Chancellor spoke to us for an hour and gave us a tour of campus. He reminded us of Idi Amin.

The driveway to the university. The parking lot was even worse.

The “cultural craft center” for souvenir shopping.

Johannesburg (May 2015)

Posted on June 18, 2015 by drbonnieanderson under Uncategorized

An interesting visit to Dimension Data IT consulting firm, with Derek Wilcox (CEO over Africa and Middle East).

The Apartheid Museum in Soweto

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Soweto

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Orlando cooling towers in Soweto

Desmond Tutu’s and Nelson Mandela’s houses–tour of Mandela’s.

Johannesburg Temple

Zimbabwe (May 2015)

Posted on June 16, 2015 by drbonnieanderson under Uncategorized

We made the short trip into Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. We had to pay $30 for the Visa. Zimbabwe uses US dollars as the currency because they had hyperinflation ($1 = Z$35,000,000,000,000,000).

The bridge that separates Zambia and Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls.

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And your US dollars. Another $30 to enter Victoria Falls park. Great views, lots of rainbows, some soaking wet sections with the mist. Probably a better experience than the Zambian side.

Doctor Livingstone, I presume?

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Some very aggressive baboons. Watch out!

Bought some souvenirs in historic Victoria Falls town.

Namibia (May 2015)

Posted on June 16, 2015 by drbonnieanderson under Uncategorized

About 20 of us got to go to Namibia. The boat took us barely downstream to the immigration center to get stamped out of Botswana. Another 10-15 minutes down the Chobe River to land in Namibia. Primitive immigration station (paperwork), then our guide Daniel took us to Kafubu village (mud covered walls with tin roofs, no electricity)

The baobab tree is central in the community.

I gave the kids some rubber finger puppets.

Botswana (May 2015)

Posted on June 16, 2015 by drbonnieanderson under Uncategorized

Lots of elephants in Botswana!

We had to cross the Zambezi River (from Zambia to Botswana) at Kazungula.

Big rig trucks lined up for miles to get on ferry to cross the river. There have been plans for years to build a bridge, but for now it is a single ferry, taking one semi at a time, across the river. It’s one of the classical examples of government corruption.

Our boat.

We stayed at a very nice resort: http://www.chobemarinalodge.com/.

We went on a game cruise and saw a variety of animals on or near the Chobe River. We saw elephants, cape buffalo, impalas, wart hogs, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, and tons of birds.

A “tower” of giraffes (if the group is walking, they are called a “jenny”).

Hippo chilling in the grass

Chobe River sunset

There were lots of mosquitos and they carry malaria around here, so there was a mosquito net around my bed. We did some star gazing to see the Southern Cross.

Early morning game drive sunrise

We had a game drive at 5:30 am and 3:30 pm.

Giraffes have to spread their legs to drink water or lick the minerals from the soil. Looks pretty uncomfortable.

That dead elephant was feeding 8 female lions and 4 cubs. There were lots of vultures waiting for a turn Africa 888

I made it to church. I got to play the “organ” and speak in Sacrament meeting. About 20 people were there. Maybe 6 or 7 families.

Cape Town, South Africa (May 2015)

Posted on June 15, 2015 by drbonnieanderson under Uncategorized

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Cable car up Table Mountain. They have rolling blackouts of power all over South Africa, so we had to wait 30 minutes before they could get the generator operating. The cable car rotates so you get a panoramic view during your ride.

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A great view of Capetown and Robben Island (and the Atlantic Ocean).

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Some pretty steep hiking.

Table Mountain with the clouds moving in.

District Six where during Apartheid they destroyed all the homes and moved the less desirable people out to townships. Only the churches didn’t get leveled.

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Castle of Good Hope

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The University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business is in a former prison. We heard from some very interesting professors about business in South Africa.

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The University of Stellenbosch–classes are still taught in Afrikaans. We heard from an anthropology professor who is in charge of the Centre for Chinese Studies. China has played a big role in Africa recently.

We drove by some townships on the way back to Cape Town. Extreme poverty.

A few of us got to go to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for a long time.

Inside Mandela’s cell.

We had an evening at the US General Consul’s house with Ambassador Teddy Taylor and other foreign service officers. Very smart people.

LDS Chapel in Fish Hoek.

Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point (a little further South)–the southern tip, where the Atlantic and Indian Ocean meet.

A bit of a hike out to Cape Point.

Boulders Beach for the Jackass Penguins–they really bray.

Tokyo (April 2015)

Posted on June 15, 2015 by drbonnieanderson under Uncategorized

Shinjuku: The view from the Tokyo Metropolitan Govt Building 45th floor.

Yakisoba and gyoza in a tiny shop in restaurant alley in Shinjuku.

We were able to do a session at the Tokyo Temple.

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Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park–cool armor and swords from Meiji samurai era.

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Asakusa Temple

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Some women dressed traditionally.

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Tokyo Skytree tower

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Tokyo North Mission home

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Attended church in Nakano Ward where I served on my mission and chatted with the Takase family whom I knew many years ago.

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Imperial Palace.

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Tokyo Tower. Used to be the highest point before the Skytree was built. Based on the Eiffel Tower. Still a functioning communications tower. April 27 2015 879

Shibuya Scramble Crossing

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Dinner at a ramen shop–ordered and paid for food at a vending machine outside.

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Natto–fermented soybeans. Apparently you need to be Japanese to enjoy it.

Yasukuni Shrine and war museum –shrine to war heroes (all soldiers killed in was in the past 150 years), Museum had the Japanese spin on all their wars since about 1850. Interesting to see no remorse for any atrocities committed by the Japanese.

Also had some weapons including a single-human suicide submarine.

A great trip overall.

Seoul (April 2015)

Posted on June 15, 2015 by drbonnieanderson under Uncategorized

10 story pagoda

National Museum of Korea in Seoul

We were able to do a session at the Temple in Seoul.

We spent a lot of time getting all over Seoul using the subway. Very nice and clean. The War Memorial Museum . They had lots of military equipment outside (planes, boats, rockets). They had panels with the names of all the ward dead from the Korean War. Interesting exhibits inside. The school children on field trips were anxious to get photos with some of the war veterans visiting from Canada and Australia. The Korean people seem very grateful for the UN/US forces.

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The party palace.

The guards in traditional costume.

How do you like your octopus?

The last train stop heading from South Korea into North Korea–Dorasan. We did the full DMZ tour.

The DMZ museum.
The 3rd Tunnel of Aggression (the North tunneling into the South). We were required to wear hard hats. The average tunnel height is 4 ft, so it was helpful when we kept banging out heads. My hand is hiding the “no photography” sign.

The UN Command Military Armistice Commission (UNCMAC) conference room (exterior). North Korea begins halfway through the conference room. The building behind is in North Korea.Our foray into North Korea.Standing on guard with the wall offering partial protection.