ATW 2016 - Perth, Australia - Mar 27-30

March 27-30, 2016 - Margaret River, Western Australia

My 2016 Around the World trip is posted in 10 separate entries.  Scroll down or up to view them all.  You may have to hit the older posts or newer posts button on the bottom of the page.

I'm staying at the beautiful Pullman Bunker Bay Beach Resort South of Perth.  The drive was over three hours from the Perth airport, all on the left side of the road.

Bunker Bay

I relaxed my first day but could not stand the flies.  They were nowhere near as bad as in Ayers Rock, but still so annoying I had to go back to the room.

In the afternoon I visited town.  I saw my first kangaroo jumping across the road.  Luckily it didn't jump into my car.  I wasn't quick enough with the camera.

On my last day I went to some wineries.  The wine was good, but all I bought was chocolate.

March 30 to April 1, 2016

It was a long journey home.  I drove three hours from Margaret River to Perth.  Then a flight to Sydney where I overnighted.  The next morning I boarded my 2.5 hour late flight to Los Angeles.  I had over 12 hours in the Admirals Club before my red-eye to Orlando.  I think I will sleep for a day or two.

ATW 2016 - Auckland, New Zealand - Mar 25-27

March 23-25 - Mali to Hong Kong to Auckland

My 2016 Around the World trip is posted in 10 separate entries.  Scroll down or up to view them all.  You may have to hit the older posts or newer posts button on the bottom of the page.

Another marathon journey.  Two long flights with 12 hours in Hong Kong.  I spent most of the time in the Cathay lounge with lots of dumplings and noodles.  Then I moved to the Qantas lounge.

March 25-27 - Auckland, New Zealand

It was a very short stay in Auckland but I've been here a few times in the past.  The Asian food was fantastic, especially with a good bottle of NZ wine.  I took a ferry to Wiekeki Island and walked to town from the dock.  I am now convinced I have allergies since for seven weeks I had no problems and all of a sudden I was congested.  The following day everything was back to normal.

There were no purchases in Auckland, everything was quite expensive.

Ferry terminal

Wiekeki Island

1000s of sailboats

Auckland from a distance

America's Cup Yacht

ATW 2016 - Male, Maldives - Mar 21-23

March 21-23, 2016 - Hulhumale, Maldives

I stayed on the reclaimed island where the airport was located.

On my first morning I walked almost all the way around the residential/tourist section of the island.  They were still reclaiming more land.  The beaches were beautiful but there was a lot of litter everywhere.

The beautiful beach and blue water

On my second day I took the ferry to Male, the capital.  The cost was about 40 cents each way.  It was much more crowded then Hulhumali.  I finally bought a few souviners, which I rarely do.  The afternoon was spent in the sun and swimming in the beautiful blue Indian Ocean.

Mosque in Male

Shopping street in Male

The Male Opera House

I had an overnight flight to Hong Kong to catch.  I was so glad to get a drink on the plane.  I really don't enjoy dry countries.

ATW 2016 - Africa - March 12-19

March 12-16 Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Chobe, Botswana and Namibia

My 2016 Around the World trip is posted in 10 separate entries.  Scroll down or up to view them all.  You may have to hit the older posts or newer posts button on the bottom of the page.

This turned out to be the most exciting part of my adventure.  I started in Victoria Falls, recovering from my 24+ hour flights.

The next morning the guide took me to Victoria Falls.  We started at one end, where it was free from the mist.  There were 15 stops as we walked along the falls.  The first seven were dry, but after that the mist was really a downpour.  We got drenched even with rain gear.  It is a toss up as to whether Victoria Falls is more impressive then Iguazu Falls.  Both are amazing.

Here I am at the entrance to Victoria Falls

The roar was amazing

Later that day I walked across the bridge to Zambia.  In the afternoon it was time for a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River.  The highlight was seeing four or more hippos coming up for air every minute or so.

The bridge from Zimbabwe to Zambia

I actually had Kudu for dinner

The Zambezi River after the falls

Hippos kill more people then any other animal in Africa

Katherine Hepburn, where are you?

Sunset on the river

The next day I packed my bags and headed to Chobe, Botswana.

My cabin at the Chobe Marina Lodge was an apartment overlooking the Chobe River.  Namibia was on the other shore.

The first afternoon I took a boat safari.  I was pleasantly surprised at how many animals I saw.  I saw elephants, hippos, buffalo, impala, giraffe, bushbuck, kudus, a mongoose and crocodiles.  There were always many in sight.  It was probably the first day I took 200+ photos.  I think the giraffe was my favorite.  It was way in the distance but I got a great shot.

Elephants

Hippo eating

Kudu on shore

Crocodile

The next day I took two game safaris.  On the way we saw a hyena - but too dark for a photo.  We left at 6:00 am.  Our first siting in the reserve was a small female giraffe.  Then hundreds of impalas.  We also saw buffalo, jackals, warthogs, fish eagles, guinea fowl, hippos and baboons.  Surprisingly there were no elephants.

Giraffe

Always 100s of impalas

Baboons

Buffalo

In the afternoon I took another game safari.  This time the park was full of animals.  We saw some black sable antelope, puku - another type of antelope, waterbuck, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, and hundreds of impalas and elephants.  But today's highlight was stopping less then 25 feet from four resting lions.

More giraffes

Lions

Zebra - I wonder if this is the same one I saw the following day

Next morning I wasn't sure if I wanted to wake at 5:30 am, but I'm glad I did.  We saw elephants, buffalo, impala, and giraffes.  Then we heard there was a killing, so we sped to the sight of four or five lions devouring a downed zebra.  It is a good thing my driver knew how to take a video with my camera.  When I figure out how to upload my videos, I will send the link.

Lions having their breakfast - zebra

I then left the lodge for my flight to Johannesburg.  On the way I only saw vervet monkeys.

March 16-19, 2016 - Johannesburg, South Africa

I had a beautiful apartment in Sandton, which was great since it rained the first 36 hours straight.  Luckily the mall was close so I could get food to cook in the apartment.

They say it was safe here, but every building had high security including electric fences surrounding the property.

On my final day the blue sky came out.  I walked to the large mall at Sandton Center.  It had every high end store you could imagine.   I also visited Nelson Mandela square.  While walking there I came across one or two white people.  The mall was packed with them.  I suspect they drive from one location to the next.

Nelson Mandela Square

Hand made Magnum Ice Cream Bar

March 19-20, 2016 - Johannesburg to Hong Kong to Male, Maldives

The day started with an UBER ride to the train station.  I used the same account that I have at home.  It was half the price of a taxi.

The 12 hour flight to Hong Kong went quickly with 7 hours if sleep.  In Hong Kong I took the train to Kowloon to have two of the shirts I previously purchased corrected.  Of course I couldn't resist purchasing two more.

My flight to Male was delayed so I was exhausted when I arrived.